Happy Boy

Poor Matthew has a cold...actually all the boys in the house have been hit with it. But through it all he still manages to smile!

Vacation anyone??

Jackson was playing in Daddy's closet and when he came out I was wondering if he was ready for a vacation?? Where I don't know! I think he had it covered either way - hot or cold!

SEE

I have a new favorite - and yes I got my Steven Curtis Chapman CD for Valentine's Day from my sweet husband! I love this CD! So my new favorite is called SEE. This whole album is about Heaven and the loss of his little girl, Maria, who was accidentally ran over by his son.

Here is what he writes in the booklet about this song (yes I know it is long...I had to retype it all, but it is worth the read)!

'This three letter word took on enormous meaning to my family and me on May 22nd of 2008. The day after Maria went to Heaven Mary Beth and I went to our house with friends to get some clothes for the next few days. (We had decided to stay with our friends The Andersons until we felt we could return to our house for good.) We walked from room to room feeling like we were lost in some terrible dream and tried to imagine ever living in this house again that had suddenly become so terribly quiet and empty. As we walked through the dining room I noticed a piece of paper on Maria's little art table where she and her sister would spend hours coloring and drawing and cutting and gluing. (Maria especially ennjoyed the gluing part!) On that piece of paper was a flowerthat had been drawn and colored with markers. It was one of Maria's signature flowers that she loved to draw, but this one appeared to be unfinished as only one of the six petals was colored in with blue marker...the others were just outlined. The I noticed something that was written with marker on the back side of the paper. Now let me back up for just a minute and explain the other part of this story. Shortly after Maria had been carried away to Jesus, all of us, and particularly Caleb and I began to talk about how desperate we were to just "SEE" something...a dream or a vision...anything that would help confirm in some tangible way what we were holding onto by faith, that Maria was truly "okay", and even more than "okay", that she was safe in the arms of Jesus. It was a plea that I heard us all say several times in those first few hours..."God, please just let us "SEE" something"! So back to the flower artwork on the table, I turned the page over and was completely stunned to find a word written on the back in Maria's handwriting. To any of our knowledge she only knew 6 words that she could write..."I love you", "Mom", "Dad", and her name, "Maria". But there on the back of the paper she had written in all capiltal letters the word "SEE". Even as one that is usually careful not to attach more meaning to something than it deserves, I was and still am completely convinced that this was a precious "gift" from the broken heart of our Father in Heaven delivered thorugh our daughter's own hand the very morning before she leeft us for Heaven...I could picture the face of our little girl smiling at us saying "SEE mom and dad, SEE everybody, it's just like you said, only so much better...and I really am "okay!" And it was our Father's way fo saying, "SEE with eternal eyes, SEE that I have your little girl safe and sound with me, and SEE by faith My promise of the day that's coming very soon when I will make everything new and wipe every last one of these tears from your eyes." It wasn't until several days later that we also began to recognize a significance in the "unfinished" flower that she had drawn on that same paper. Of the six petals, only one was colored in with her favorite color, blue. Of our six children, only one has been completely "colored in" and made whole. The rest of us are still waiting for that coming day when finally we will clearly and completely SEE! 1 Cor. 13;12.'
Steven Curtis Chapman

Click here to listen to my new favorite song!

And here is Maria's picture!

Kitchen - DONE

Mom Akins helped me paint the kitchen, Cranberry, this weekend and I so appreciate the help since it took 3 coats! I really like the color though! This is also the color we (I) am going to paint the Dining Room in the next week or two!

Papa and Nana Akins come to visit!

Jackson wanted a BooBoo like Papa

Getting a ride on Papa's scooter

More cookies with Nana

Our boys and their Bailey

Bailey loves the boys! She is always protecting Jackson and I think she will be the same with Matthew! She is such a sweet and gentle giant - letting Jackson crawl and lay all over her. It is not so much that way with poor Harley! Jackson loves to aggravate him - I am expecting him to die an early death b/c of Jackson! lol
So here is Miss BayBay and her boys!



Matthew about to get one BIG kiss!

5 months

Matthew turned 5 months last week! He is getting to be such a big boy now! He loves to eat and is eating everything in Stage 1 baby food- he hasn't found anything he doesn't like yet! He loves being on his belly, strengthening his legs and arms to start crawling before long! The time is flying by!
He still is waking up once a night to eat and seems to be becoming an early riser like his brother. He needs to learn the rule in this house....no one awake before 6 unless it is Daddy getting ready for work!


Here is Jackson's 5 month picture below!

A couple videos of the boys!

Here is Jackson smelling Matthew's feet! He was entertaining him while I was cleaning up in the kitchen!



And here he is again...this time with a GUN!

Bam Bam

Here is our little Bam Bam....with attitude!

Matthew and Scout

Matthew is enjoying, Scout, the puppy that Great Gma Orr gave him for Christmas! It is super cute and I was able to personalize him to say Matthew's name and sing certain songs, etc!

Comparison Pictures!

I have been going through and getting all of our pictures on our External Hard Drive and I thought it would be fun to compare the boys up until now! I am glad I did b/c I began looking for some of Jackson's pictures and they weren't all there....so through a little digging and searching - David and I have found them all! :) And now they are all in ONE PLACE!

BIRTH
Jackson

Matthew

1 MONTH
Jackson

Matthew

2 MONTHS
Jackson

Matthew

3 MONTHS
Jackson

Matthew

4 MONTHS
Jackson

Matthew

Stay tuned....5 months will be here next week! :)

Curtains

I finally got our curtains up in the Living Room....we are just using the same ones we had in MS b/c we will only be here a few years. I want to pick out fabric one day and have them made but why do it when you move all the time!
I still need to find stuff for the mantle, but I haven't found the time to get out and about. And I think I may look for a BIG clock with decorativeness (is that a word...umm NO) around it to go over the big chair. I have a large space to fill!

We also finally got up out AKINS sign....it is currently over the TV until we decide to move it. I think I like it there???

Being a Baby

While I was changing Matthew's diaper, David was playing with Jackson and put him in the crib. He was all into into it and didn't want to get out. I guess he still loves that crib and believe me - I would still have him in it if Matthew wasn't here!

Teething??

Do you think this little boy is teething?? I think we are at the beginning of it anyway!

Playing Wii

We got the Wii out to see if Jackson would want to "play"! He had fun with it and he actually beat me in one game with the help of his dad!

They were playing Mario Cart

concentrating! lol

Jackson stayed in the grass most of the time!

Where did he learn this??

David and I use coasters for our drinks and I guess Jackson has caught on b/c he usually sits his on one too. The other day I found this - notice his coaster on the carpet with his cup on it!

Playdate

Analise came over to play with Jackson last week! We knew them in Columbus and it was nice to know someone when we moved here. The first time we got together the kids seemed to fight more than get along, but this last time they seemed to play so well together!
Jackson and Analise are also in the same class at MDO....I think we have a budding relationship! :)
Isn't she cute?? And she has a baby sister on the way too, so someone for Matthew to play with!

They were chasing each other with Jackson's guns.....and look at the mess they made!

More guns

More mess

Awww cute kids!