Jacob Cole Messer- FIVE!!!

So hard to believe. My baby is FIVE! Wow-- how time flies. It seems like it goes by quicker and quicker, the more babies I have. With Jacob, he was my first, my only for nearly 3 years, so it was a little different. I had that alone-time with him, and we learned together, how to take care of each other. Oh- what a sweetie! Where do I begin?

I remember how happy we were when we found out we were pregnant with him! It took us 4 months to conceive him, and it felt like forever to me! I was SO ready to be a Mommy, and had trouble waiting on God's timing. But, as always, His timing was perfect. Jacob was born on the longest day of the year, and a Saturday afternoon. He was beautiful, and I've never felt such joy! To meet him face to face for the first time, and to become a Mommy for the first time-- what a gift!

Jacob grew SO fast, and was always SO big. He was always off the charts, and we knew he had a lot of Helton in him. I remember soon after he started walking, how quickly he thinned out, and simply looked tall, instead of big. It's crazy to me how much everyone thought, myself included, that he looked like Ronnie for a good year or two, before he started showing some of my characteristics. Like Ethan, not only with looks, but personality, we're alike. Poor little guy, has my emotions for sure! He is SO soft-hearted. It's so easy to hurt his feelings.

Jacob has the most amazing memory. He forgets NOTHING-- no matter if it was yesterday, or a year ago. He always worries about his family, if someone is sick or hurt. I always have that reminder at bedtime from him, to pray that they will feel better. Ahh- melts my heart.

To think, we were, well me mostly, so worried about him at 2 years old, with his speech delay. Little did we know how he'd be talking our ears off 3 years later. He has come so far, and I am SO proud!!! In fact, I have to be careful of my shhhhing of him. Oh, how he can talk-- and volume!!!! He's got Ronnie's voice, that's for sure! :) Little guy doesn't know the meaning of a whisper.

I have to admit, I am thrilled for this new baby, that he'll have Jacob as an older brother. He's the best big brother. Ethan drives him absolutely crazy, and for the most part, Jacob has complete patience with him. It's nothing for him to give up a toy, to help make Ethan quiet, sometimes before we ask him to. If Ethan's grumpy, Jake's the first to go find him a toy to cheer him up. He told me a few days ago-- 'Mommy, I can't wait for the baby to get here!' I love to hear that! To know that jealousy doesn't even exist for him in this-- just excitement.

I've learned a great deal from Jacob. If I stop what I'm doing, for just a minute, and play with him, he chimes right in with, 'I love you, Mommy', making it obvious how very important our time together is. I love making him happy. He so deserves it.

His Aunt Tanya said it best not too long ago, and I feel the same way. She said, 'I could just eat him with a spoon!' He's just that sweet, and I'm so proud to be his Mommy!

Happy Birthday, Buddy!!! Daddy and I love you so much, Jacob!!! Thank you for five wonderful years!!!

Ethan Blake Messer-- TWO!!!

It's hard to believe that two years ago today, our second little blessing, our second little boy, Ethan, came into our lives. I remember seeing his sweet face for the first time, smelling his breath, touch his cheek. Feels like just yesterday.

This little guy gave us lots of scares during pregnancy, so seeing him nearly perfect for the first time, was indescribable. It just made all of those feelings of relief that we first felt when getting good results back from all the tests that had been run on him, come flooding back. He was born with a lung infection, which we totally didn't expect, nor were prepared for, because it put him in the NICU for 10 days on antibiotics. But, God had a plan, and we accepted it, and witnessed even more healing on our sweet boy. Meeting and getting to know the NICU nurses was wonderful. They were all so caring, and wonderful with Ethan. I remember our favorite nurse, Sonny, his only male nurse, called him the 'big boy', since he was 9 lbs., next to all of these tiny preemies in the NICU.

Wow, two years-- two years watching this little boys grow and mature. He is doing so well developmentally. I'm amazed at just his speech already. He can be very independent, when he's not on Mommy's hip. He has such a different personality from Jacob. Oh-- he is SO much like his Daddy-- not only looks, but attitude!!!(sorry, Ronnie:) He is very feisty, very strong-willed, and did I mention has lots of attitude??!!! On the other side, though, he's so very affectionate, and such a sweet cuddler. I hear 'Mommy, holdy' all day long now, and even though I get tired, I still love that he wants me so much. He is still very much a Momma's boy, but I think will transition quickly into a Daddy's boy. When Ronnie's not home, or even not in the same room, he constantly asks, 'where Daddy?'. Ronnie can't dare leave the house without Ethan saying, 'Ont Daddy hug....ont(want) Daddy mmmpppchh(kiss sound)'. And, when Ronnie gets home, Ethan's knocking things over to get to the door to be the first to greet Daddy. I know it melts his heart, and makes his day.

I love how much Ethan looks like Ronnie. He's such a cutie-pie-- basically a blond Ronnie. His eyes are a little different, so I'm thinking he has my eyes, and Ronnie says he has my lips. Better than nothing. His eye lashes, like Jacob's, are soooo long-- so gorgeous. He's just so 'pretty'! I think I can get away with saying that about a boy at least at this age.

Ethan, Daddy and I are so proud of you, more than you'll ever know. I am so happy to be your Mommy. You are my little shadow, and I know I spoil you rotten. But, you're my baby, and will only be little for so long, so I can't help it. One day, you probably won't let me love on you as much as I do now, so I've gotta soak it all up while I can! I adore you sweet boy, and I thank God for you daily. Thank you for two beautiful years. Happy Birthday, Boogie!!! Daddy and I love you so much!!!

(*photo compliment of Uncle Lance*)

Always in His Arms

Well, my next post was going to be all about our vacation last week. But, something more important has happened, and I want to focus giving this more attention today. Only our immediate family and closest friends know about it, so let me share a little.

Yesterday morning, about 11:15a.m., Jacob, Ethan, and I were in a auto accident. We were hit by a minivan running a red light. The van hit our Yukon on the driver's side, mostly on the front wheel and my door. The impact turned us a full 90 degree angel. I hit my head on the window, but other than that, no injuries for any of us. The boys seemed untouched, Jacob just a little shaken up, and he started to cry as soon as it was over. I held him immediately, letting know everything was okay. I honestly don't know what happened on the driver of the minivan's side, as to why she ran the light. My guess is she was really distracted, because she hit us at full speed, since I didn't hear any streaking of tires, using her breaks. She was very apologetic, and very shaken up, as she had her two children with her as well. I reassured her I understood accidents happen, and just was thankful no one was hurt.

I was actually on my way to take the boys to Mom, because I had a scheduled OB appt. that morning, when the accident happened. Mom met us at the scene and took the boys, and once the police officer was finished with all the reports and released us, Ronnie and I headed to the OB office. Understandably, we were pretty late for our appt., and the midwife was at lunch. They were very sweet, and told us to come back at 1:30 to be fit in. They took us right away at 1:30, and we saw the midwife. She listened to the baby's heartbeat, and it was strong and sounded great. She did, however, surprise us, telling us she wanted us to go on to the hospital to be monitored for a while, and have more tests run. We then spent the next 5-6 hours at the hospital having a very in depth ultrasound, blood work, and hooked to a baby monitor for 4 hours.

A nurse and our OB doctor commented on how well our baby boy registered on the monitor, to be so young, and how very active he was. He moved yesterday more than he ever has. I truly believe none of this is a coincidence. We were discharged from the hospital at 9:15pm. last night with a great report on our baby boy, and told just to let them know if I had any pain or problems.

The boys spent-the-night with Mom, and are doing great this morning, after sleeping great all night. Thank you, Mom for taking such good care of my boys, and not letting that ever be a worry for us yesterday! Thank you, also, to the Messers for offering several times to help out with the boys!

My reason for this post is to praise my precious Lord and Saviour!!!! You see, we almost drove our Honda Accord yesterday, instead of the Yukon. Our car seats were still in the Accord from our vacation, and Ronnie decided to move them over for me at the last minute before I left. Again, no coincidence there. The Yukon shows little damage, even though right now, it's not drivable-- the front left wheel is bent out. It acted as a 'tank', and none of the inside was damaged. The minivan looked much worse. It was our hedge of protection for sure!!!

I KNOW God put us in our Yukon yesterday. I KNOW he held not only me, Jacob, and Ethan in His arms yesterday at 11:15a.m., but our sweet little Nathan as well.(that's his name, by the way) I know it was God who had his heartbeat register so well, and made sure I felt his movement non-stop yesterday afternoon all day. I am blown away by God's love for me and my family! Thank you, God, for watching over us! Thank you for protecting our sweet little unborn baby boy, Nathan. Thank you for loving us so unconditionally every day, all the time. Your angels were truly felt yesterday. I still have chills thinking about it.

Thank you family and friends for checking up on us constantly yesterday. We felt your love non-stop, and it means the world to us. Thank you for your constant prayers for us and our baby!!! Nathan Chase is a tough little guy, and we'll have plenty to tell him about one day, about his time in Mommy's belly!