Boo Boo is Two and Jesus Has Risen for You!!!

April 4th.....My baby boy is TWO! Unbelievable!! This one is hard for me because I've always treated Boo Boo like a baby, he's super laid back and sweet, and the boy gets away with EVERYTHING (because of the first two things I mentioned)! Boo Boo has the best little personality. I love squeezing him all day long....and he lets me!

Boo Boo was my first homebirth and I think I feel very connected to him because of that. He was also the first child I did babywearing with as an infant (I found out about the sling when Angelica Pickles was around one). And he was in the sling or wrap all.the.time. So, mix that with the sweetest boy ever and you get a strict disciplinarian Mom turned into a mushy Mama!! I love my Boo Boo!

Boo Boo is a smart little kid. I was starting to teach him his colors and I started with red. I had him get me a red block over and over. A few weeks later I asked him to get me a red block and he picked up a yellow one and said "Blue!" I didn't even know he knew that was a color!

"No, that's yellow. Go get me a red block."

He picked up a blue one and says, "Yellow!" How in the world did he know that color word, too??

"No, that's blue. Go get me a reeeeed block."

He picks up a plain colored block and says, "Blue!"

I just laughed. A few minutes later I hear, "Mama, look!" I turned around and he had three red blocks stacked up with a huge smile on his face. Coincidence? Possible, but that's also something Boo Boo would do. He's a jokester. He loves to make people laugh by dancing or being silly. He loves to sing "Tomorrow" from Annie and when he sees Mickey Mouse he always says, "Oh, Toodles!" His favorite animals are penguins and giraffes.....not exactly sure why, but as a 6 month old baby he would put up a bunch of animals on this rotating toy, and as it spun he only knocked down the penguins. And after he learned the sign for giraffe, he would find them anywhere. I remember being at little friend's birthday party before he was one year old and he was signing giraffe over and over. Mr. Prince and I couldn't find a giraffe anywhere and just smiled to agree with him. I think he knew we didn't notice it, and finally at the end of the night as I was leaving I saw this tall wooden giraffe figure that had been clear across the room. I couldn't believe he could see it from that far away and notice it was a giraffe. He also loves balls and could roll a ball back and forth at 5 months old and could play catch really well before a year. He still love playing catch, basketball or soccer. And he loves skipping around playing ballet with the girls, too. He gets along with all the kids and everyone adores him. He really is the "angel child" just like his Daddy was. And he looks just like Daddy, too!

For his birthday "party" we had Mickey plates and napkins and invited family over. He adores his two cousins! We got to have cake and icecream and play outside on the playset. A nice quiet birthday party....for once!

No laughing at my cake....I just wanted him to recognize Mickey,
and he did For Your Information!!

Cousin 'siah and Sid the Science Kid
Agelica Pickles and Cousin Logie
Princess Pea and the Birthday Boy
Cousin Logie is a super climber on our playset

Cousin 'siah and Boo Boo adore each other

Grandma K made Boo Boo his 2-year-old quilt (she does a baby quilt and a 2-year-old quilt for each grandchild) and she used penquins and Veggie Tale fabrics....Boo Boo's favorites!


We got Boo Boo another penguin, a book that has pictures that move, a wooden pizza set by Melissa & Doug (he loves our birthday cake set), a Mickey book set with little figurines, an alphabet/shape/color flip car seat toy, and a Fisher Price camera because he loves taking pictures with my camera.



Happy Birthday, Boo Boo! We love you!!!

****************************************

I tried to get some good pictures from Easter, but didn't have much luck....

Boo Boo's birthday just happened to fall on Easter Sunday this year. Easter is a special time for us to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross at Calvary. My little sister-in-law Norah did an amazing human video at church today that depicted Christ as he was taken, beaten, put on the cross, and laid to rest in a tomb. They also showed how the tomb erupted when Jesus rose from the dead. It was very powerful.

Christ's sacrifice is the only way we live in hope of a new and better life with our King. The earth is broken, but as Christ enters our life we also begin a new life here on earth. One with purpose. The world is not perfect and life brings challenges and hurt our way constantly. But if we put our trust in a God who saves, He can continue to form us to His image as we live this life to bring glory to Him and to win souls that will someday enter the kingdom of God. I am so thankful for Christ's sacrifice and the hope Easter brings.

Myra in her hand-made Easter dress

The girls LOVED their matching Easter dresses....

This is also a special Easter because the three oldest children have accept Christ into their lives in the past few months. Angelica Pickles started a random conversation by asking, "When will we die and see Jesus?" I explained that I didn't know when but asked her if she wanted to live in heaven forever with Jesus some day. We talked about the only way we can do that (confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord) and we talked about Jesus dying on the cross so that we could someday be with Him forever. She said, "I want to be with Jesus forever, Mommy." I asked her if she wanted to ask Jesus to forgive her sins, to write her name in the book of life, to lead her to do what God wants her to do, and to allow her to someday live in heaven forever. She just smiled big and said, "Yes! I want to do that!" So, we prayed right there in the car.

I found this sweet Classic Pooh bonnet and Myra looks fabulous in it!

The next day Sid the Science Kid approached me a little apprehensive and said, "Mom, can I do what Angelica Pickles did yesterday?" I asked him to explain what he meant and he went on to say that he wanted Jesus to lead his life and allow him into heaven one day, too. Him and Princess Pea actually said the sinners prayer about a year ago, but he said he didn't remember. I told him he was welcome to ask Jesus into his life and he chose to go to him room and pray alone. I asked him afterward what he prayed and it was very sincere. Princess Pea separately came to me and asked something similar and also prayed again that same day after a long conversation. It was a very emotional two days, to say the least!

Boo Boo's new Easter basket

So, this Easter is a special Easter for them. They got to partake in nailing a nail to the cross at the Good Friday service and we got them special devotionals for boys and girls that Mr. Prince and I are going to do with them a few times a week. I think one of the greatest blessings a parent can have is watching their children accept salvation. More than any other accomplishment in this world, eternal life is my greatest hope for them. I know they are young and will probably still accept Christ over and over in their lives as they grow and change, and will possibly still turn from him at different points in their lives. But, I have high hopes that they will see Christ in the lives of the family members around them and stay in the faith.

Do you believe in the hope of Easter? I pray you do...

Besides Easter service and a wonderful dinner at my in-laws, we had our own little Easter Egg Hunt at home and a few little treats in their Easter baskets. We don't do Easter baskets every year, but the tradition I want the kids to remember is that we always get a family game for Easter. I picked this Mickey Yahtzee up a few months ago and so far it's a big hit! The kids had a great Easter weekend and we have a busy Spring Break ahead of us!

**************************************************

My random photo op of Boo Boo....LOVE IT!!