Quick Picture Post

On Monday Micah will be five months old... oh how he's changing! I'm planning to do another, more detailed post, giving more info on what he's doing these days, but that's going to have to wait. I'm going shopping instead.

But, here are a couple of updated pictures of the little man, who isn't so little anymore!

Ready to watch the Seahawks beat the Saints.... how did that happen?

He LOVES his jumperoo!



And he's figured out  how to stick his tongue out



Check out those chubby thighs! This is the only time in life when that's a good thing!

Not sure I love this picture... My hair is darker now in an effort to stop having to color it all the time.

And lastly, Micah loves his Maverick! He keeps sticking his hands out so Mav can lick his fingers. He has started sitting in his bumbo, which he couldn't do at Christmas (he just kept tipping to the side). (He doesn't drink out of this sippy cup... yet... we're going to try to bypass the bottle, I think, since I can't get him to drink out of it... we'll see if it works.

My Word of 2011: JOY

I love reading other people's blogs, and recently I came across this post by Lisa Leonard, encouraging readers to choose a word that will be representative and significant to them in the year to come (this was actually started by Ali Edwards). The goal for me in choosing a word is to implement it into my daily life, to focus on how I can be better at acting on this word, and to demonstrate it more in my actions.

The word I chose to be significant for me in 2011 is

JOY.

Dictionary.com has this as part of its definition of joy: the expression or display of glad feeling; a state of happiness

This is what I want in my life: the expression or display of glad feeling. I want to be in a state of happiness no matter what my circumstances!

James 1:2-3 - "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

Why did I choose the word joy? Because, daily, I want to choose joy in my life. I have a great life, which God has blessed, yet I am always complaining about and frustrated with my circumstances. I have a job which is perfect for my situation. I have students who are sweet and good learners. I have a beautiful, happy baby, who loves me and his dad, and sometimes needs his diaper changed. I have a house to live in that, though small, is filled with belongings, some of which I treasure and use frequently, some of which I don't.

God has richly blessed my life, and I want to choose to acknowledge that this year, rather than complain about the ways I wish he had blessed me differently. So, I choose joy!

Proverbs 17:22 - "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Who wouldn't rather have good medicine, a healthy spirit, than dried up bones? I would!

Okay, and I want this too:



found here

No Good, Very Bad Day(s)

Our poor Maverick has been banished from his favorite place.

Our couches.

We never should have let him on them in the first place. I know that now. But maybe you didn't see him as a puppy?

He was irresistable. And he loved to cuddle.

So, we let him on the couch to cuddle with us. And then to cuddle by himself, with his hair getting everywhere! Now, two years later, I can't handle it any more! The hair in every nook and cranny of the couch is driving me crazy. It's gross when you sit down for a minute and when you get up, you're coated with white hair.
 
We had to change the rules, and many times when I have walked into the living room lately I've seen this:

"Do I have to get down?"

Yes, he's laying on Micah's toy... he's not really in it for the comfort, just the privilege.
 
I've been saying, "Get down, Maverick!" over and over. Even in the middle of the night when I'm up to feed Micah. He sneaks out of our room and onto the couch.
 
It is getting better though. Right now, he's laying on the floor by my feet, happy as can be (and asleep as can be). And when he gets really desperate, he finds somewhere else to lay:
 

It's a hard life for a dog.

Hello 2011!

Today is already January 5th! We're into 2011, and I'm excited to see what God has in store for us this year. I'm not one to make resolutions, and in years past, when I have made them, I haven't been one to keep them. Instead, this year I'm going to set a few goals for myself. Not goals which can really be measured tangibly, but just in general there are a few things that I'd like to be better about.

* I want to be better about keeping this blog updated. It annoys me that I go so long in between posts. I'd like to be more regular about keeping this updated, not only with pictures of our cute little Micah, but also my thoughts and reflections on life as a mom, a Christian, and a person.

* I want to keep my house cleaner. And I want Maverick to stay off the couch so we don't have hair all over all the time - it drives me crazy!

* I want to read to Micah often. I'm not sure that in a year he'll be able to read.... but I'd like him to enjoy reading and know how much fun it can be to read. Reading is an activity that I love, and I hope he'll have the same love for it!

* I want to cook some really good food. Lately I've been really enjoying cooking (not really baking), and I've found some really good recipes online. It makes me feel proud of myself to know that I've cooked a full meal for David, and I think I can do it more often.

* I want to buy a new couch!

* Lastly, I want to do crafts like crazy! Well, maybe not like crazy, but regularly. I really like being able to give people gifts that are not only useful and (hopefully) pretty, but hand-made also.

I know that it's going to take effort and some changes, but I really would like to have some change in my life. I know that with God's help I can be a better person, and make a better contribution, not only to my family but to the community around me as well.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Thinking Back on 2010

***WARNING: There are a LOT of pictures in this post!

Wow, the last year went by quickly! It seems like not long ago that we were excitedly telling everyone we knew that we were expecting a baby. What a fun year of anticipation, planning, excitement, nervousness, and the joy of meeting a new, tiny person all our own!

Here are some pictures looking back through our year:

We started out the year with a trip to Salem for New Years with our college friends

Starting to look a little bit pregnant in March!

In April, David started playing Latino League soccer, and played throughout the summer.

We took our students to Multnomah Falls and the Oregon Zoo in May. What a fun trip!

My little sister (not so little any more) graduated in June. We were just two months away from having little Micah!

We went camping in July with our college friends. We stayed at Memaloose State Park, near Hood River. We had a great time, but it was really windy!

We spent our last weekend away without a baby in Spokane, where we went to David's cousin Sara's wedding. Our friend Matt lives there, and gave us a tour of the city and Manito Park.

Finally, what we'd been waiting for! Micah Owen Josheb Wattenburger was born on August 17, 2010, at 4:27pm.

One month old!

Two months old! (Our lives are now consumed with Micah, so we don't have any pictures of much else!)

First Halloween, as a scary little lion.

First Thanksgiving, at Gram-B and Papa's house. Uncle Daniel and Aunt Marci were there too, and we found out just before then that Micah is expecting a cousin this summer!

Micah's first Christmas was spent at Grandma and Grandpa TeVelde's house in Everson, with Uncle Brandon and Aunt Stephanie. He had lots of fun!

What a great year full of many blessings! God has provided for us in many ways, and we're very thankful. We're looking forward to an exciting year ahead, full of growing and changes.