God is good

I confess that the first thing I tend to do when times are tough is pick up the latest book or get counsel from someone who is wise. Doesn't sound all bad right?

Why do I not go straight to my knees and His Word?

A few months ago Dan got home from Iraq again and we wanted to spend some time doing some marriage counseling. This wasn't because we had major problems, this is just something that we decided we wanted to do every year or 2 as a way to keep our relationship growing.

Strangely, the biggest blessing was that it didn't work out. We tried to get together with our pastor but stuff just kept happening.

Once again, I was trying to go to someone other than the Lord.

The last 6-8 mo have been tough.

The entire summer we were living in TX and KS, back and forth constantly.
I got pregnant in Aug (planned and rejoiced over!) and the first trimester was quite difficult.
The summer was filled with me struggling with the idea that I was "just a mom" now.
Pregnancies have been the hardest times Dan and I have had to face in our marriage.
Dan was discharged from the military in Oct. and the hunt for work began... still hunting.
During pregnancy my hormones are all out of whack and I have had serious bouts of depression.
Our little Izzie is no longer a baby and the need for true training in righteousness increases everyday.
We are really struggling with the decision of whether or not I should go back to work full time for a year or 2.
And baby no. 2 is ONLY 6 weeks away!!


The Lord has been so faithful!!

I didn't need counseling from anyone but Him.

I have been learning to praise Him for the struggles that force me to the only One who is sufficient.

So many blessings of the last few months!

Dan has been able to find jobs that have made ends meet.
The sickness only lasted the first trimester of this pregnancy.
I don't have to face another deployment- birthdays, anniversaries, holidays without Dan.
My Dr found a new medication that is helping tremendously with the depression.
Somehow our savings has lasted SO MUCH longer than it should have.
The Lord continues to show me what an honor it is to raise children.
We found out we're having a little BOY!
The water heater wasn't broken after all.
Izzie is not nearly headstrong as her Mommy and Daddy.
We have gotten through the winter so far without a single ear infection.
My dad gave me the best gift in the world- a remodeled bathroom with a TUB!!!!
And theres ONLY 6 weeks left till Levi gets here!!!

God is good.

So it begins...

We have had our first official battle over what we would wear to church.

My mother in law has been warning me that this day would come. Apparently, Isabella's father began at 18mo a one year battle against overalls. He got a spanking everyday and still kept coming back for more.

Up until this point I was holding out hope that maybe Izzie had none of her Mommy or Daddy's personality... as we were both a little difficult to raise.

I'm losing hope!

This morning I tried a dress on Isabelle to see if it still fit.

As you can see, it's a little small.

Not too bad, so why would I make this one a battle??

Well... Izzie is becoming quite proficient in snaps and zippers and I was a little concerned that THIS is what would happen during church! Seeing as it's the first thing she did as soon as I put it on her.

We may end up getting the child we deserve, which I'm prepared for. But I'm really hoping to avoid raising the "church streaker!"

This is what she actually wore. After some tears (and a candy corn) she was finally proud to wear it. :)

Cabin Fever!

The last couple have weeks have been nothing but stuck in the house! It's funny how after a few days Isabella is happy to see ANYONE but me. One day we went to Home Depot just to find the cat! Ok, so I picked up some paint too, but Izzie was just interested in the cat and I was perfectly fine wasting time walking around looking for him. :)

We also went and hung out with Ammaw and Papa and made BROWNIES! Isabelle is quite the cook... and bowl licker!

Jillian came over for a little bit one evening and I don't think either of them have ever been happier to see each other. They'd both been couped up and sick of their Mommies and Daddies!

No, I do not normally let my child drink bath water or soap. :)

Jillian thought Izzies hair looked dirty, she offered to help.

I love winter weather, but I have to say it is quite different with a child. Being couped up is so much worse when you have a little ankle-biter dying to go outside or get out of the house. And it's been even worse because all the cousins have all been sick at one point or another so we're trying to keep them apart as much as possible. I now know why mommies are always saying that they can't wait till spring. God continues to show me new ways that it was great that He moved us back to TX!!!

Rockin' Out

Thanks so much to our buddies, Hendrix, Baden, and Remi for the playdate! It was fun to hang out in our jammies and play a little Rockband.

Yes, my kid is the one that wears random hats all the time. This happened to be the choice of the day. :)

Catching up on few pics

Well, a FEW things have happened since my last post... to say the least!

Izzie turns 1!

She is such a "help" with the laundry.

Actually, she's learned lots of ways to help around the house and she loves it! This particular day she decided to watch some toons while I folded, but she picks up her toys, helps to unload the dishwasher and takes things to the trash. Boy does it take patience to teach your kids to work around the house. It also takes some altering of expectations! :)

Chillin' in a cardboard box with our favorite gal pal, Jillian.

Is there ever a happier child than one with a box?

Our little ballerina ready for trick-or-treating!

She was far more interested in filling her bucket with sticks and acorns off the sidewalk.

Checking out the pumpkins at the pumpkin patch.

"Loving" the snow! :)
She looks like the kid off of A Christmas Story.


Lets go sledding!

Keeping with the tradition of pregnant sledding I had to go just once. I went when I was 5 mo preg with Izzie and I was 6 mo with Levi. Isabella doesn't love sledding either. She did eventually grow accustomed to the snow and she loved being pulled behind Papa's golfcart for some "redneck sledding" as we Joneses like to call it. :)


A rare picture of Dan and me.

At the Mavs game with Kaci and Kyle. We are so blessed to be able to get out without kids once in a while. But I'm going to try to be better about taking pictures of Dan and me.

"i used to be cool" - a blog reborn

"i used to be cool"

This is a bumper sticker that I recently saw on the back of one of the newest, "coolest" minivans on the market and it inspired a Kelso family blog redesign.

Dan and I- we used to be cool. We loved late night poker games, camping in sub-freezing weather, UFC fights, catching a no-name band at a pub, roadtrips to absolutely nowhere with absolutely no planning . . . or gear, going to the movies to catch the latest comedy. I loved shopping for clothes and decorating. Dan loved to fish and sit around talking with the guys about "man-stuff," whatever that is.

Yeah, we used to be cool... I think. At least we felt that way.

"They" say having children changes things and boy are they right! Whoever "they" are.

Cool is gone! The things we get excited about now...

getting to bed early
avoiding our turn to change the dirty diaper
getting through a meal at a restuarant without a complete and total meltdown
teaching Izzie to throw away her own diapers
hand-me-down kids clothes
the spit-up hitting the floor instead of our shirt... or face
GOING TO WALMART ALONE!
making it through a whole movie before falling asleep
getting out a few times a month just Dan and I


It sounds all bad, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Even though becoming parents has changed our lives tremendously, its definitely not for the worst. Sure at first glance it doesn't seem "cool" to have spit-up crusted hair or poop on your freshly washed bed sheets. But our definition of cool has been changing over the last couple of years, especially over the last few months.

I wont lie, just a few months ago I was struggling. I am big pregnant with stretch marks that make me look like I belong on Animal Planet. It seemed like everyday something new happened that made me think... "i used to be cool" and now I'm just a mommy. All day everyday. I hear that this is a common emotion for mothers, so I'm hoping that I'm not the only one. But the Lord has been doing some amazing work on my heart.

Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.

Psalm 127:3-4

What a joy to be chosen as a mother! To be given the responsibility of yeilding the arrows our children's lives. Sure, it's totally scary! But its totally cool! As Isabelle is getting older I am beginning to see the first fruits of raising your children up in the Lord. Why is my life wicked cool?

I get to see Izzie sing "Jesus Loves Me." Which pretty much consists of her saying "jeus" over and over.

She holds our hands to pray.

She runs to get the Bible to read with us at night.

Yeah, my definition of "cool" has changed.

Sexy Girl!

Izzie had to try on her new bathing suit. Is this not the most precious thing in the whole world!? And yes, I know she's going to look back at this and throw a fit when she's 14 and I won't let her wear a string bikini. I'll just tell her it was because her Daddy wasn't here to say no. :)

Look at those sexy thighs!!!!

We cannot wait to hit the pool! We are gonna spend the whole summer in the water!