I Squashed It with My Bear Hands!

Ok, so you're probably thinking, "Kristi does not know how to spell" but I meant to write "bear hands," although I did squash that mosquito with my bare hands... they were also my mama BEAR hands.

The other day I was sitting at the kitchen table doing some work and Gabriel was on the floor next to me, talking away and chewing on what he chews on these days... anything he can manage to get his hands on. Since it was such a beautiful day, I had the door to the balcony open for some fresh air. It was just growing dark and I had not closed it yet.

I guess a mosquito had managed to squirm its way in. I HATE bugs. Not only did it squirm in, but it managed to fly right onto my sweet little guy's back. His shirt had crept up some from scooting across the blanket on the floor and the bug landed right on his little love handles. The next thing that happened was truly a miracle, because with NO HESITATION AT ALL, I jumped up and squashed that mosquito right between my fingers.... ahh gross, the chill down my spine I get just thinking about it. But, in the moment the Mama Bear came out of me. And all because of a tiny bug.

I am growing into a die hard Mama Bear. I will protect my child with no fear. No fear of bugs. No fear of guts. No fear of bug guts between my fingers. Ewww. Chills. I think it is a true sign of motherhood.

I believe that this is just a silly circumstance, but in all seriousness and in the reality of life, our biggest protection over our children is prayer. Every night when Gabriel goes to sleep, we pray over him and every morning when he wakes up we ask that his guardian angel protect him. It is the grace of God through our request before His throne that places a wall of armor up around our sweet innocent soul. I hope I may always remember to protect his spiritual well being as quickly as I do with his physical... with no hesitation and with a sense of heroism.

Professional Pictures: 5 Months

Love that bath!

I hate losing.

Can you tell that my gums hurt?

On Saturday Gabriel turned 5 months old. The time has seriously flown. He is about 14 lbs, rolling over from his back to his belly constantly, scooting himself across the whole floor, sucking on his hands, giggling, and totally in love with the song "Sherry" from the Jersey Boys soundtrack. He can not stop smiling when we play it! He always makes us laugh and there is truly never a dull moment. We so love his big blue eyes and feel blessed to have such a chill baby. He never cries... unless he is in the car or is getting rice cereal wiped off his face! Gabriel has been a true blessing to us, teaching us selflessness and a sense of simplicity in this complicated world. Patrick and I grow more and more in love with him every day, while we like to think he is doing the same.

This Sweet Venture

Who knew I could love someone so much?!

If you look up the word venture in the dictionary it says something like "a risky or daring undertaking or journey" and I would have to say that more and more I am realizing how sweet this venture of being a wife and mother really is... it is similar I would say to running a small corporation (and some would argue: a huge corporation). So, my attitude has changed lately. Instead of being totally overwhelmed I have decided to take on the strategy of turning my home and job as a home engineer into the Bentley Corporation of Love! Sometimes I am totally enamored by the men and women in the work world (although I do work part time)... they seem in this zone to me, trying to organize their time, manage their business, save money, make money and form people into good employees. As mothers, we have a similar job... we always have more to do than time to do it and we are to organize and manage the home: cleaning bathrooms, dishes, clothes, buying birthday gifts, groceries and needed household items, cooking the meals, and at the same time, balancing a life of prayer, loving our husbands, caring for our children and then taking care of ourselves. It is truly an adventure and I would say quite a daring undertaking. In a talk I heard this week, we were encouraged to be a leader in the home, not like our husbands are called to be, but a leader with the heart, making every act of service done for our family an extension of love to Christ. Christ, I fold laundry because I love you. I change the 3rd poop diaper in an hour because I love you. In time, your home becomes a small corporation of love. So, this is my newest goal.