Six weeks and counting for baby Kyler's arrival. Kolby and Gabby love touching my belly, kissing it, and talking to it. It's pretty cute how excited Kolby is to have a brother. My "baby to do" list is pretty big, but I have been blessed with some extra time this week to get stuff done. That feels good. Gabby is now in her big girl bed but has developed some new habits :) like sucking her thumb and carrying the pack n play sheets around everywhere! No one has ever seen her suck her thumb outside the pack n play...but now she is doing it all the time. She likes to ask Jon and I to hold her like a baby and rock her. Oh man! This should be fun for her when the real baby arrives...
Our quick run to France...Jon practiced taking care of both kids on the flight while I sat across the aisle in bliss! He did a great job by the way. We are practicing for the long flight to America. My job will be easy compared to his I think. I guess it depends on Kyler's personality...
Kyler likes coffee :) Waiting for our flight home from Lyon.
Okay, and so does Gabby! I swear she steals my cup often and this is what happens...she seriously drinks it all.
Kolby enjoying his beverage of choice...with his new friend Marty. We visited Toys R Us in Lyon...a WHOLE new world for them! I'm sure Kolby has been there before but he didn't remember, Gabby has never been there...and we were pretty overwhelmed ourselves. What a treat! Toys R Us, McDonalds, Starbucks, a mall, and our favorite mode of transportation--subways, metros, and lots of walking. It was a refreshing time to just be together and enjoy life a little.
Gabs lounging at Starbucks...it's hard to believe how grown up both our kids seem some days. We were trying to enjoy how easy it is to travel just the 4 of us right now. They are such experienced little travelers that it makes our trips pretty enjoyable (for the most part!).
A baby shower for our friend Susie...who is due next Saturday. We are all pacing around waiting...and praying she has her little girl before Ramadan starts...but there is a big chance both of us will give birth during Ramadan. Veronica is due in Feb. with a BOY! So our girls (Gabby and Ellie) are 6 months apart and our boys will be about 5 months apart. We have had a great support system through friends here...so thankful for that this summer being huge pregnant, 2 kids, the heat, and no car! I have had to rely on our friends for LOTS of help!! Thanks, friends!!
Jon bowling on a Friday night with friends.
Kool-aid popsicles with Daddy outside one day while playing in the sand box and baby pool.
This morning I am reading Philippians 4...being reminded by Paul that my contentment and reliance on Christ should not be based on my circumstances. Of course, this summer has been a roller coaster for us it seems like. Kicked it off with moving to a new place (harder than it sounded back then!), our mode of transportation stuck in the shop for 2 months, an off or on internet...just to name a few things that sent us spinning a couple times. It has been serious work to not lose my mind most days...just ask Jon! Poor guy. But now that we have our truck back (as of Friday) and our internet back (as of Friday too), it's amazing to me how my stress level has dropped and my contentment level has went up. Maybe I failed the contentment test this summer :) or maybe I have grown. I hope I have grown....at any rate, my stomach has! But I hate that my contentment relies so heavily on what is going right around here and what is going wrong.
These verses also grabbed me, written by Paul:
"I have received FULL payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:18-19
The song in my heart this morning...we've received full payment this summer...from prayers, words of encouragement, packages, pictures, letters, phone calls, emails...all fragrant offerings!! Everything we needed to help us survive. May God meet all YOUR needs also...thinking of you this morning, family & friends!
And now a performance from Gabby...imitating Alex the Lion in Madagascar II.
4 comments:
OH I LOVE these updates!!! :) And I love that He is blessing you SO! ...well amidst the trials. His nearness is SO good.
I miss you girl!
Oh and for both of my pregnancies I used a Castor Oil shake* to help "induce" me. Well, it's so mild it's nothing like the stuff they use at the hospital, but it TOTALLY works! It's natural too, so it's easier on the body. Maybe you can have Kyler before Ramadan!!
*just castor oil (have someone send it from the states) and OJ or a homemade smoothie. It's nasty, like drinking oil...but SO worth it!
I'll also be asking that you get the *angel* nurse I had with Brennan!!! :0)
Blessings to each of you!!! I want a recap birth story afterward!!! :0) Birth in T is SOOOO much fun! (It was actually wonderful, really! Comical, but wonderful!)
Sally
Oh I loved it- all of it :) The pictures are great. You look so good. Must be all that walking! And taking care of two kids! Contentment is SO hard, I have to remind myself of it everyday and pretty much fail the test everyday, but we are a work in progress right! Love you lots and miss you.
thanks for the update friend! i really liked the picture of the belly with the coffee on top, jon being super dad, and gabby drinking the coffee! I used to do that when i was little :) oh, and i liked hearing your voice on the video :) you were telling kolby to eat his dinner- so good to relate with you miles away! so excited to meet yours and the runyons little ones!
Awesome post reasa- It's so great to see pics of you guys. Gabby is so sweet! I can't believe how much she's changed! And I can't believe you're so close to having Kyler- crazy. And about the part you wrote about maybe you've grown... I'm without a doubt SURE you have. Reasa, I've always been so encouraged by you, your faith, what an amazing friend you are to SO many, an incredible wife and mommy, and always looking for ways to grow and mature. From the minute you first came up to me in youth group and comforted me during that tough time, I felt a connection with you. I just love you! Can't wait to see you soon.
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