Update on the Wallace’s Big Move!

Ok, so it is crazy to move into a new house! A new house does not have a hirby kirby, blinds, etc. Last week we did not have A/C for 2 nights. Normally that would be fine, but for some reason it was like 90 here in Columbia. This week I feel like I can deal with anything because we have A/C. Whenever I have a hard week, I am just so much for thankful for things! Last week also was difficult because it is hard to keep a safe environment for a toddler with 100 boxes and random pictures everywhere. But this week is going great and I am loving getting organized and having a great new house (with this beautiful fence). Pray that I have time to unpack boxes this week. I think we had like 100 boxes and we have only gotten to like 30 of them. This week is crazy for Charlie because the Fall Festival is Sunday and I think there is going to be like 2,000 people there. Jackson is going to be a cow (Jake’s first Halloween outfit) and Charlie and I are going to be matching cowboy and cowgirl outfits that we got at Halloween Express store. We went to a costume Birthday party and that is the cow pants he is going to where for the Fall Festival in the pictures above.

Jackson is a lot happier right now since he is used to whole milk and all this food. He loves to dance (I have to get some video of that), he is growing up so fast! He eats scrambled eggs, cheerios, and a slice of raisin bread (with butter) for breakfast and 6 ozs of milk with some juice…yeah he is drinking out of his cup! For lunch he has squash baby food (stage 3) Yoplait yogurt, some goldfish (juice), and 4 ozs of milk. For snack he has 6 ozs of milk, vanilla pudding, and some crackers. For dinner he usually has either some hamburger or frozen breaded chicken breast or a grill cheese (juice), and 4 ozs of whole milk. Finally right before bed he has a 6 oz bottle of formula. He only has about 4 or 6 ozs of juice a day. Food has been a little hard transition so I thought I would share what worked for Jackson. My goal is by 15 months (December) to have him off formula completely and off bottles…he has had no normalcy since June (the fire) and is very attached to his bottles. It is a slow process with Jackson, he just now is starting to really like his cup. Step 1 for me is to get that last formula bottle gone. Step 2 is for him to drink his milk cold from a cup (just changing 1 feeding to strictly a cup and keeping it that way for 3 days). Step 3 is for him to eat more food in general! IF ANYONE HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO GET a little toddler to eat more veggies (especially green ones) I am all ears! Jackson is very happy right now but yesterday he was put in the pack in play 5 different times for not listening to me after I said no repeatedly. So that is how Jackson is doing (loving his zebra toy and his little people truck toy).

Today in my devotion I read Luke 6-7 and some of Jesus’ words amaze me more ever time I read them.

Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
24"But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

Doesn’t Jesus say that we are blessed if we are hungry and weeping? If this is the case why are we women always complaining and stressing out about things that will not matter in eternity. Why do we always complain about things to each other and never talk about things that matter in eternity such what we are learning in our quiet times.

There is so much more I could comment on and post on about these chapters, but I am not going to here (I think this post is long enough) I just wish I could hide God’s word in my heart more, and be completely focused not on myself, but on eternal things!

We Are Home Owners!

Here are pictures of our house that we closed on yesterday in West Columbia (15 minutes away from FBC). This is the first house we have owned and we love it. It is new and has everything that we wanted. The fence will be complete this Tuesday so I will hopefully have a picture of the backyard by the end of the week. We are moving in this Monday October 15th and so we will not have internet for a couple days. God has really blessed us, and our new neighbor is a girl I grew up with at First Baptist Spartanburg.

Fun Times!

Caroline and Jackson are so cute together! Wow, I cannot believe we have kids...it just seems like yesterday me and Katherine were in high school.

(2) Of course he has to play with her hair.

(3) Here is Jackson and Caroline (Katherine Kinard's little girl). It was so good to see them! She is having a little boy due the end of January. He had to wear his Carolina jersey that day because it was the Carolina Kentucky game.

(4) He is a big hugger.

(5) Here's Jackson and Sophie (Meg's daughter) at the park. Is he really playing with her hair?

(6) This is Jackson walking with his new stride rite shoes! Every time I put shoes on Jackson he cried. So we went to Stide-rite (the only certified shoe fitters for children) and we found out that Jackson has an extra wide foot. No wonder he was crying! He is walking really well in his shoes now ,and I would strongly recommend going to Stride-rite for your baby's first pair of shoes (they fit perfectly)! But first let them learn how to walk real well barefoot or with sock (this way the arches on their feet can form well). He also has 6 teeth now. 4 up top and 2 in the botttom .

(7) Here we are on a hay ride with First Baptist Columbia's children's ministry

(8) Here's Jake and Jackson are with their Mimi on her birthday!

Before The Throne

I am really enjoying this hymn and the version Shane Barnard does on their new cd.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great high Priest who's name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me

My name is graven on His hand
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When satan tempts me to despair
and tells me of the guilt within
upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin

Because a sinless Savior died
my sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah
Praise the One Risen Son of God
Behold Him there, the risen Lamb

My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The King of Glory and of grace

One in Himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God

How to Have a Devotion with a 1 Year Old

This has been on my mind a lot recently, so I thought I would share.

1. Jackson loves music, and he especially loves it when children are singing the music. I recommend the Cedarmont Kids cds. They are only $3.99 and kids sing. We just got the cd entitled “Gospel Praise Songs.”and “Bible Songs.” I actually enjoy them and I play them in the car and at home throughout the day

2. Get them a Baby’s Bible. Make it the most important book they have, and get all excited when he reads it. You can even make it a fun game and hide the Bible and try real hard to find it (advice I got from a sheet First Baptist Columbia gave me when he went to nursery there). I got Jackson a Bible entitled Baby’s First Bible (Standard is the company) by Colin and Moira MacLean. This Bible has a handle on it and he likes it. Make it a habit now of reading the Bible to them daily. I try to read him his Bible daily. Charlie has not seen Jackson in 10 days, but will see him Friday and Charlie cannot wait to read him his Bible.

3. Pray with them. The only time I can do this with Jackson is right before he goes to bed, he is real tired here. I read him a night night book (I bought Good Night Boz but I think this book is too old for him) and then we say a quick prayer.

If anyone else has suggestions I would love to hear them!

I know schedules and eating seem like the most important thing in the world now, but in eternity most of that will not make a difference. I would have loved some recommendations before spending hours at the Christian book store, so I thought I would share what has worked for us.

Ps— Lots of moms have asked me which cup works best on Jackson, believe me I have tried them all! The best cup for Jackson is the Playtex-spill proff cup (The First Sipster 7 ozs). I have to fill juice to the top and he actually drinks out of it! Pear juice helps him go to the bathroom (he drinks only like 2 ozs a day). I wish I had started him on this cup at 9 months along with many real food (although my doctor says that they only need 1 tablespoon of "real" food per serving at this age).

Video of Jackson Walking/Trying to Play with Millie Boo

Video of Jackson Laughing/August 2007

When Faith Grows Weary

I have to admit, during all this change in my life right now, my relationship with the Lord has suffered. I have not been reading His beautiful word at all recently. My heart has been on temporal things of this world that are only fading away. Buying the house, being semi homeless, taking care of Jackson is all I have been doing. But, there is no excuse. A wise goldy women in seminary once told me and I will never forget it, YOU HAVE TIME FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO HAVE TIME FOR. Isn’t that the truth? If I really wanted to exercise, I would find time. If my heart was really longing after my Redeemer, I would have found time to spend with Him.

Anyway, today in my daily reading (found here http://www.studythebible.com/daily.htm) I was on track to read the entire book of Malachi (it is only 4 chapters and the Last book of the Old Testament). The first words I read out of the student Bible is “When Faith Grows Weary.” Wow, after all we have been through this year I guess this phrase describes it best. I am just tired of lots of things. Malachi spoke to people who were just going through the motions....God spoke to me today through His Word. However, I do not think that the Bible is all about me. I know 100 percent it is about Jesus Christ and everything points to Him.

Malachi
Some key points:
1. The people of Jerusalem had grown lukewarm....let us fight not to be lukewarm about knowing Christ and making Him know!
2. The second verse the Lord says “I have loved you.” He loves everyone so much. He loves me like a daughter, I am his precious daughter who he wants to carry and help...ladies each of you are his daughter and he died for you. All you have to do is confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, believe that he died, was buried, and rose again, and finally turn from your sins----give your heart to Him (everyone is giving their heart to someone or something)
3. God’s name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun (Ch 1 vs. 10). Am I focusing on making His name great or my name great?
4. In Chapter 2 God is really concerned with the priests setting their hearts to honor His name. Isn’t that the key? Setting our hearts, giving our hearts to the one and only true God. Also, here is where God says that he hates divorce. I knew that but I always forget that He says “Has not the Lord made them one?”
5. Overall, throughout this whole book is a voice of a father pleading with his children....God’s voice dominates Malachi (student Bible study notes)

Update on Andrew--It has been a While

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2007 12:32 PM, EDT
As I read over the guestbook entries today, I was so touched to see how much support I have through your prayers. My life, it seems, is a testimony to how God never leaves us. Ever.
There was a point early on in my recovery that I had to deal with the physical and emotional pain of losing my legs. This is normal. What was not normal was that I was never once angry with God for doing this. I know myself, and believe me, I should have been very angry. Why me, right? Well God kept me under his wing of protection and guarded me against all sorts of negative thoughts. I continue to be amazed at how much I was aware that God was with me throughout this entire ordeal.
It might seem strange to some, but whenever I was especially hurting, I would picture Jesus standing behind my wheelchair with his hands on my shoulders. I told myself that He has never, and will never, leave me to handle this on my own. It was those moments when I was hurting the most, when I was trying to sort out my problems, that I drew closest to God and sought His grace.
I cannot describe to all of you how much all of your prayers have meant to me. This was also another way that I stayed so positive. Oftentimes I would think about all of the people that were praying for me. I can't even imagine it! To think that so many people pray for me that might not even know me, there's no way I'm going to let you down. Knowing that I was covered in prayer gave me so much energy to work hard in recovery from surgery and in therapy.
The 27th of October is coming up soon. I'm so excited about coming home to Spartanburg. I think the first thing I'll do is go to one of my favorite restaurants and drink about a gallon of sweet tea. Did you know that there's absolutely no decent sweet tea in the city of Washington? My time is up for writing an entry in my journal. I stay pretty busy with therapy and other engagements. Thank you all again for all of your prayers and support.

Andrew

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 08:25 PM, EDT
Hello all! Andrew is continuing to do great! I wanted to clarify on my latest post from earlier this month. The city of Spartanburg is hosting a 'Homecoming' event for Andrew--mainly so he has the opportunity to see everyone who's been praying for him and for everyone else to put a face to the person they've been praying for for so long. Any and everyone is invited (Sat. Oct. 27th). He will be returning to Walter Reed the next week though to continue with his physical therapy. With his desire to work on his walking, it will be a while before he's at a point where he can discontinue his therapy. So, he's not officially coming home for good, though he has come so very far this year. This will be a great celebration of what God has done in his life this past year. I have learned more about the power of prayer this year than at any other point in my life. Thank you for loving him in this way!
~Katherine

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2007 10:10 PM, EDT
Put Saturday October 27th on your calendars. Andrew will be officially coming home that day! We're all very excited. I'm not sure now on details (time and location etc to follow). He's looking forward to speaking and thanking everyone personally for their love and support. This homecoming will be just two days shy of the year anniversary of his accident. I honestly can't believe how far we've come. God is so good!
~Katherine

This was on the front of the caringbridge website: http://www.caringbridge.org/
“I want people to hear his story. The more people he can touch, the bigger impact he can have.”
—Katherine, Andrew’s sister

Lt. Andrew Kinard
Fighting for freedom

Second Lt. Andrew Kinard of the US Marine Corps knows what it means to hold onto his freedom.

Since sustaining massive injuries in a roadside bombing in Iraq in late October 2006, Andrew’s freedom of mobility has changed. But his freedom and passion to live hasn’t.

Andrew, a graduate of the US Naval Academy, lost both legs in the blast and has experienced complications in virtually every area of his body. Nearly 50 surgeries in the four months following the bombing only began to restore Andrew’s normal body functions.

Thousands of people from around the world have followed Andrew’s story through his CaringBridge website. “CaringBridge has been a huge blessing,” says his older sister, Katherine. Through the website, friends and loved ones can keep up with Andrew’s progress.
Prayers that heal

Katherine also uses the site to share Andrew’s prayer requests with his community of supporters.

Hundreds have posted guestbook entries of encouragement and promises of prayer, including Senator John McCain. Katherine believes that Andrew’s healing is bolstered by the awareness that so many people are following and praying for his recovery.

Holding tightly to his faith, Andrew optimistically looks to the future. He says, “I’m alive. I have my arms, my brain. What’s next?” He plans to go to law school after he’s recovered.

Andrew, Katherine and the whole family have a sense of peace about Andrew’s circumstances. They believe this is God’s plan for Andrew and that God will use Andrew to change and inspire others.

Jackson's 12 month visit to the doctor/Pictures from my 27th Birthday

I had a great 27th birthday in Sparkle with all my family...Aunt Sandi and Uncle Larry even came! I am so blessed! The last 2 pictures are of Sophie who came to play with Jackson (Sophie is Meg's baby girl and 3 weeks older than Jackson).

At the Doctor:
He was in the 50 percentile in Head—Yay!! He has always been in like the 20%
He was 50% in Length
He was 25% in Weight weighing in at 22 pounds. My doctor said she was not worried about the weight because of switching to whole milk and being so active walking everywhere. Right now he is on track to be 5'10," but who knows...

She said he was doing great and that I did not have to give up bottles as long as he does not lay down with it or go to sleep with it (that is what rots their teeth)
He is still on the bottle. Because we have had so much change the last couple of months, I am just taking things slow. He does eat whole milk all day and one formula bottle right before bed. He eats about 18 ozs of whole milk a day. My next step is to get him to drink it cold, and then we will go to the cup (which he is drinking 2 or 3 ozs of right now). By 15 months I really want his bottle to be gone .

He had 4 shots (even the chicken pox one!) and was hot the next day.

What I wish I had known/done
I wish I had tried many different foods at 9 months because he really does not like too many different kinds of food.
Started the cup more at 9 months.
That Target has the best plastic bibs.
Whole milk is harsh on their stomach and they do not need a lot of it. Formula is a well balanced meal and they get iron from it but not so much from whole milk
I was really glad that someone here on the blog recommended me to add 1 oz of whole milk everyday with the bottle. That was one of the best advices ever and worked. He was more fussy with the whole milk so some days I would not add any more whole milk
Babies need iron that comes from greens so I would have pushed the greens more.
The best toys for him is a “popper” that is like a vacuum that we got at Once Upon a Child, and this Noah book he can pull parts out of. He also loves anything that plays music loudly or any kind of ball or toy with a ball.
They stop listening when you say “no” and the Pack and Play works well with discipline issues.

Jackson's Schedule- 12 months old

Charlie and I are in Columbia right now and my parents have Jackson. We packed boxes all day in Sumter in a no air conditioned house. Praise the Lord we got 80% done! We are going to the USC game tomorrow and have a weekend just us! Next week is our last week in Spartanburg and then we are in Columbia for good. This is the crazy detailed schedule that I typed out for my parents for the weekend….I thought some of you might find this helpful/humorous

Jackson’s Day 1 year old

Morning
a) Wake up anywhere from 7:15-7:45 (do not wake him up)
b) Diaper Change
c) Eat either eggs first or adult yogurt (he will not usually eat both just one or the other)
d) Offer juice
e) While fixing the bottle if fussy and REFUSING TO EAT give him the little sweet potato puffs while in the high chair
f) Heat up 5 ozs of whole milk and 1 oz of formula (make sure the formula is on the top so he gets it) for 6 ozs total
g) Play time usually watching tv, Disney playing with balls, etc
h) Nap time AT 9:40 AT THE EARLIEST 10:30 at the latest–try to get him down about 10 AM. Make sure all 7 passi are in there and located all around the crib, turn fan on and turn down the ac. Make sure he has pants on when taking a nap

Midday
a) Wake up anywhere from a little after 11 am to 12 pm (Usually right at 11:15 am)
b) Diaper Change
c) Eat anywhere from 11:30 to 12:30 try for like 11:45 pm..try to get fruit in him if he had no yogurt that morning. Most days he will just he yogurt but you can try squash, bread, sweet potato or basically anything you can get in him. Offer juice again
d) Heat up 4 ozs again like stated earlier with 1 oz formula on top (he usually only eats 4 ozs or so here)
e) Play this is a hard time here I would advice going somewhere

Snack earliest 1:45-latest 3 pm ...try to do 2 pm
a) Diaper Change
b) Heat up 6 ozs again with 1 oz formula on top
c) Usually eats all his bottle here and usually does #2 here

Afternoon Nap earliest 2:45 latest 4 pm Usually sleeps till about 5:10 or so

Dinner earliest 5:15 LATEST 6:30 (this is important here not to feed him past 6:30) Usually eats at like 5:45
a) Diaper Change
b) Eats usually some sort of meet as some baby food or pudding or whatever you can get him to eat
c) Heat up 4 ozs here—he normally only eats 4 just make sure the top oz is formula
d) Play

Bath time at 7:30 I think yall know how to now

Night Bottle earliest 7:45 latest 8:30 try for 8 pm
a) Diaper Change, ALL FORMULA HERE YOU CAN GIVE HIM 8 OZS use the same bottle different drop in

Bed time earliest 8:45 latest 9:30 READ A BOOK TO HIM OR HE MIGHT CRY WHEN YOU PUT HIM DOWN HERE

If he wakes up in the middle of the night and cries for more than a couple minutes just get him out of the bed and comfort him and then put him back down after a while even if he cries when you put him down WAIT AT LEAST A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE GOING BACK IN

When traveling the bottles can sit out a couple of hours and be ok so you do not have to bring cooler to go to Greenville just make sure you have 1 more bottle than you think you will need.

You can give him crakers whenever he is fussy be sure to pack them when you go to Greenville along with diapers and juice cup and toys

Jackson's Big First Birthday Celebration

I am so grateful to God for giving me Jackson. He is a blessing in every way. He has brought so much joy to my life. Maybe the joy comes from grasping more how our Heavenly Father loves us. Maybe the joy comes from knowing that God entrusted a beautiful soul for me to be his mother. Or maybe it is because I know I am investing in eternity just by being his mom.

New Milestones:

1. He rarely crawls anymore, he walks everywhere

2. When he does something he is excited about he claps his hands together and gets very excited

3. He is drinking half whole milk and half formula

4. He loves you to read him books

5. He recently pointed to himself when he saw a picture of himself

6. He says dada mama bye bye and go...he tries to say whatever we get him to say

7. He loves balls and will throw them all day long. He will even go get the ball when I asks him to.

I am sorry I am late posting this. We came to Spartanburg Monday, we went back to Columbia all day Tuesday and found our perfect house that is being built right now and signed a contract (we will hopefully be in mid Oct). Kelly came all the way from Atlanta and we had a fun family Mickey Mouse themed first birthday party here in Spartanburg (he loves Mickey Mouse!). We ordered the banner from BirthdayExpress. He did not go after the cake like he did the cupcake at last weekend celebration. He loved us all singing to him all day long. Overall, it was a really fun day...he got lots of great clothes, a really fun Birthday hat from Aunt Sandi, and of course some toys.

Jackson's First Hair Cut!

Jackson got his first hair cut last Thursday. His hair was sticking up every day and he was pulling the hair around his ears all the time. It was driving me crazy so I got the girl who cuts my hair in Sumter to cut it. He did so well....Kim gave him a curler and he did not even seem to notice what she was doing. Kim did a great job and had a certificate made for him and everything.

Fun Labor Day Weekend!

Well, we have had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. We decided not to go to the game Saturday since we were making so many trips to Columbia to look at houses. Alyssa and Sammy, friends from college, came over Saturday night and we had a fun visit with Jane Mac and Asher (Asher and Jackson are 1 day apart in age). Then, last night our entire immediate family came to see the house that we love and we celebrated Jackson's Birthday early with Charlie's sister Lauren. Jackson will be 1 September 12th! Last night we also offered on the house so pray that no one else has already made a better offer. Jackson is doing great. He loves Yo Baby yogurt and bread. I have given him 2 ozs of whole milk mix in with his bottle heated up today. I am going to add 1 oz of whole milk every day now. Pray that he starts to eat more food though...we offered him a waffle this morning and he wanted no part of it. Any suggestions with how to get Jackson to eat more food, I am all ears! He also cannot figure out how to drink out of cup so we have a lot of work to do this month. I am going to be consistent with trying the cup 3 times a day for 2 weeks. He still loves his formula and would eat 32 ozs every day and no food and be happy. Enjoy the pics!