With a Wink and a Smile....

Ok, the "wink" is really just batting of her eyelashes, but look at how pleased with herself she is. She looks pretty darn cute either way!

And, don't you just love the encouragement by brother Whitt in the background.

Whittisms....

These are just a few from today.....

"There is the Mississippi River. One time God turned it into blood." (not quite the Nile, but hey, our city is named after Memphis, Egypt)

----

"Mommy, my favorite thing to do is to stay home from school and be sick. Let's do that tomorrow. That is a great idea!"

Me: "Why do you want to do that? And, by the way, you aren't sick anymore" (he was sick one day last week)

"I feel a cough coming on, and I need to get in bed to watch videos and have breakfast for dinner again to feel better."

----

"Mommy, we are the boss of our bodies."

Me: "Yes"

"But, we are not the president of our bodies, right!?"

----

At bath time, he decided to stand on the edge of the tub and "spray" it down just as I was about to run the water. And, yes, just in case you were wondering, the potty is only about two feet away. Not really sure why he decided to use the tub instead of it.

----

And, finally as he was being tucked in and we were saying prayers, he said, "Thank you Jesus for finding a home in my heart!"

----

What a perfect combination of boyhood wonder, precociousness, mischief, and sensitivity, and all in one day!

Touchstone

It is going to take some kind of woman to capture my Whitt's heart. She is definitely going to have to be pretty special to pull away from the shadow of his big sister.

He absolutely adores Mae. This picture says it all. Whitt is loud, rambunctious, enthusiastic, and loves an audience. Miss Mae is more reserved and pensive with an independent spirit and a quiet confidence. She doesn't mind that he is continually chattering while she hardly gets a word in. She laughs at his antics. One would think that the quieter one would rely on the energetic one, but not so. She is his touchstone, always there when he needs her. She so often is his strength and reassurance by being just who she is. Like I said, this picture says it all.

Grace

From the lips of children and infants, you have ordained praise..." Psalm 8:2a

Michael took this picture last weekend, and I immediately fell in love with it. I never would have seen the way Bruce was looking up at me if Michael hadn't captured that perfect moment (I was busy keeping my eyes on the older two as they danced and darted around the shell). That is the story of sweet Bruce's life-he quietly and patiently goes here and there, just about everywhere, following after Mae and Whitt.

Being a wife and mother of three, I am fully aware that I am unable to meet everyone's needs each day. I fail each of them at some point. I cling to the hope and knowledge that God fills in all those gaps for me, He is made perfect in my weakness. And, although I love them with an intensity I can't even begin to put into words, an ugliness bubbles up in me from time to time, the resentment in my selfish heart whispering when is there time for me. The reality is I always miss them the minute they are gone.

But, in this picture, my precious baby is looking at me with complete love. He isn't thinking about all the ways I have failed him or my many faults; he is just patiently waiting for me to turn and face him, holding on to me the entire time.

As I looked at that captured moment, I thought what a perfect reflection of God's grace for us. How amazing is a God who uses a fourteen month old to remind his mommy once again of our God's love!

This Mess is Best!

And, well worth the effort! This is how we get a little "culture" at the Stockburger house. We might not be the next Monet, Picasso, or Cezanne, but we sure had fun doing it.

I actually thought Whitt's humpty dumpty was pretty good!

O-R-E-O

Thirteen months old and B already knows how to eat an oreo perfectly. Tear apart the two outer cookies and go straight for the yummy white creme filling (or whatever man-made high fructose junk that they call the center). Obviously, he is both genius and highly dexterous! PS-My sweet mother-in-law is probably cringing as she watches this video.

Offspring

The intense heat seemed to vanish last week, and turned into the weather where you just can't seem to spend enough time outdoors. So, last friday afternoon, we headed to the playground for time with friends (even a friend from oxford appeared). After almost two hours of play, someone had the idea of trying to corral all the little ones in for a picture. We scattered goldfish in front of the toddler babies in hopes of keeping them still long enough for a few quick shots (it is amazing how kids are like pigeons when it comes to snack food). Next we tried to rope in Miss Mae and the older boys (one was a little reluctant to leave the slide, who could blame him: slide vs. getting blinded by multiple cameras-tough pick). And, then there were the fresh ones, sweetly sleeping on their respective mommies' laps, completely oblivious to the mass chaos inches away from them. Even with a bag of goldfish strewn everywhere, one person making every imaginable noise under the sun, and me shaking my tooshie for entertainment, the three cameras were not quite able to capture all our little banchees. A few days later, we spent the afternoon with some friends visiting from atlanta and some memphis friends. There was swinging, scooter riding, ball playing, running, yelling, water time (which eventually led to a bunch of nakedness)-okay, and, a little bit of destruction as well. With a final burst of energy, we gathered everyone for a bath. Seven children in one tub-yes, seven, and let me tell you, it was a tub full of cuteness! By the way, there were two newborn baby boys watching from the sidelines. Another year and they will be tossed in the tub as well and we will be up to nine! As I watched both these pictures being taken, I was overcome just thinking about how rich God has made our lives, entrusting each of us with His little ones. We are all literally covered in babies, and although parenthood can be exhausting and overwhelming at times, it takes one little moment like these to put the magnitude and miracle of it all into perspective. I am constantly hearing that this generation is facing the toughest times to grow up in, that the lines of real Truth are being blurred and constantly tested in this Postmodern culture, but as I am watching these little ones grow, I see different parts of their mommies and daddies in them, parts that I love their parents for-the best parts! It makes me hopeful. God's hands are all over this bunch of little ones, so watch out world! This little posse is going to be up to the challenge.