"Introducing" Silas Eugene...

Ok...Sooooooooooo very cliche, but TRUE, my fourth child is finally getting a shout out 5 months later.  Wow.  By this time I think Eli had a blog post a day documenting his every breath : )  Anywho, didn't want you to go to counseling later over that fact that I never documented your birth story like I did the others : )

About 3 week before your arrival, I just couldn't wait to find out who was growing inside of me!  So I peaked into the most exciting present I've ever opened...an envelope telling me that I was having a BOY!
From that point on I was able to envision our caboose and all of the fun that you would bring our family.   Daddy planned a fun surprise to show you brothers and sister who you were.  He took the labels off of bottles of silly string and on the count of three they sprayed the cans and when they saw blue they (including your Daddy) were able to see that another boy was on the way.  Now the hard part.  What to name you?  We had so many fun names to choose from that we just couldn't decide.




Your older brother Sam came so quickly that as we approached your due date, I became pretty anxious about getting to the hospital in time.   I had a condition where it was important to get medicine three hours before you arrived so I wanted to time it just right!!  So I went in 1 time prematurely thinking you were ready to arrive.  When my due date was only days away we and the doctors decided your time had come because we wanted to make sure you came safely with plenty of time for the medicine you needed.  You were my only baby that did not come on your own time...we had to speed it up for you.  We shall see if this plays out in other areas of your life : )
So the morning before your due date (October 29th), with Nana in town for a sleepover, we set our alarms and set out for the hospital.  It was amazing to not leave in a rush!!  After that everything was pretty uneventful (except for your entrance into the world of course).   They started giving me my medicine at 7 am and then at 10 am they started my second dose.  They asked me what I wanted my pain level to be on a scale from 0-10.  I said "0" of course (what a silly question).   So before they started contractions they gave me a special medicine called an epidural so that I didn't feel any pain (praise God!) .  Then at 11 am they broke my water and you started your entrance  into the world.  About 12 I started feeling some pain (Mommy's back is silly and curves a bit so it's hard for them to get it right) but after they fixed it I was no longer in pain (I truly wanted a "0").  While you were making your way out, we decided to get serious about names and we just really couldn't find the right one.  So we did something we hadn't done yet, we waited until we saw you to decide... and 3 hours later (3:15 pm) you were here!!

My easiest labor yet...thank you!   Much to our surprise you weighed 9 lb 11oz and were 20 1/2 inches.   Not only were you the EXACT same weight as your brother, Sam, but you looked just like him (possibly your size because you don't look like him now) that I started to say "SSSSSS(am)" and had to stop myself.

(Sam) 

(Silas) 

So it was then and there that we decided on Silas, so we had the safety of the "S" and we thought how great Sam and Silas go together in hopes that you would be 2 peas in a pod, thick as thieves : )  Speaking of, we named you after Silas from the Bible.  It has 2 meanings...three (or third) which you are our third boy! It also means "of the woods" and we hope you are mighty and strong just like the glorious forests that God created.  Silas was such an amazing person in the Bible.  In Acts 16 we learn that Paul and Silas were in jail for their faith in Jesus.  Despite their surroundings they prayed and sang hymns of joy.  Because of this joy in the midst of suffering the jailer put his faith in Jesus!  We hope that your faith in Jesus is just as real and contagious to those you come in contact with.  That isn't they only part of your name that is really important to us, but we chose Eugene as your middle name after your Great Grandpa, Eugene.  Eugene has been such a great leader for his family with a heart to give and a heart for Jesus.  We are so glad you were able to meet him so soon after your birth!

  

Immediately you were the caboose of the family, the final piece to the puzzle that makes us complete. (as far as we know ; )  )  We love you so much and can't wait to see God do great things through you!!

 

Sams 1st Year!

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Call it nesting, call it "I better get this done before they both blend together"...either way it's DONE!   

Warren School of Awesome

Many of you I've had a lot of conversations, tears, laughs and prayers over this...others of you are just now catching on that we are {gasp} homeschooling.   I first want you to know that this was not a light, easy or quick decision for us.   Not only was my mom a teacher in the public school system but it was where I started and paused my professional career for 6 years.   I also went on to pursue my masters in Educational Administration in hopes of one day becoming a school administrator.   This is not done by someone who does not believe that the public school system holds value or benefit to families or children.   We just had to make a really hard decision based on some really hard circumstances sprinkled with a lot of encouragement about this educational path for our family this year.   I know it's crazy.  I know we are about to have a baby.  I know this means I am "stuck" at home with 4 kids.all.day.long.   I am instead choosing to trust in a Lord that loves me and did not close this door for me like I asked him too, a husband who walked through this decision with me and my own personal convictions.   Does this mean we are going to do it forever?   Dare I say "I hope NOT!"  We are going to take this 1 school year at a time and continue to make the hard decision every year.  Can I just say I am so thankful that I have the freedom, resources and support to be able to make this decision?   If you want to follow along on our adventure I am posting pics via instagram using #warrenschoolofawesome .   This is not to make everyone think it is all sun and roses over here, but to share (mostly to myself) what is good and true about my life esp when I'm banging my head against a wall.  If you ever want to hear the bad or ugly I'm sure I will need an ear to vent to so feel free to ask ; )   

Here is a quote from one of my favorite bloggers (Ann Voskamp) and hits home to what I feel about our decision to "do school at home" and why it's not because I think its the "Christian" thing to do.  It truly is just a personal decision for our family and not a "prescription" for anyone else's.  

"So to say from the outset, that I do not think in any way that homeschooling makes a family virtuous — and there are a myriad of very good educational choices.

Homeschooling is not a formula for perfection, nor is homeschooling a panacea for all the sin in this world.

We’re all messy and fallen and sin-scraped. We and our children are born sinners.

Homeschooling will not fix any of that. Only Jesus and His grace can.

It’s scary to share that we homeschool.

But it’s part of who we are and I am praying for your grace, in just taking us anyways. And we’re all big, gracious folks here. Learning from each other, knowing we are all called differently, but all for the singular purpose of His Glory.

May  we all be gracious and supportive of educational choices? Mamas are all just really trying and need so much encouragement.

Three of my closest personal friends, all ardent Christ-followers, have each chosen the public school route; so this is descriptive of our lives, not prescriptive for anyone else. I humbly and fully believe that Father Himself leads each family" 

Spring 2012: Looking Back

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Took advantage of a free Shutterfly code today...I'm a bit behind but LOVED looking back at these cuties and seeing how much they've grown!!

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Sam I Am turns 1!!!!

We had so much fun planning Sam's 1st Birthday.   It was a whole family affair to make sure this cutie had a memorable first!   

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House tour...the guest room

So...month and some change later I'm on to the next room... The Guest Room (aka the room you'd be restfully staying in if you came to visit).   We have also been known to lay out chocolates and fresh local soap.   (Ok maybe that was just one time when we were on our "A" game, but still totally worth chancing if you came to stay).  This room is directly across from the living room and is to the right when you walk in the front door.   

As you can see from this next picture you get to see the beautiful Texas sunrise without getting out of bed.  (But do remember to close the blinds when you change). 

You even get your own full bath (not really its the only bath on the first floor), and if you're feeling crafty you're in luck the craft closet is also located in your room!   Glue?  Sequence? Buttons?  We have it all at Chateau Warren.    Xoxo 

House Tour...the first room

This post is mostly for my friend, Jewels, who claims she may never come for a visit but needs to see my house.   I love her for so many reasons and honesty is one of them : ).  So, Jewels, this "series" (look for tag housetour) is for you!  Lord willing I am going to take you room by room through my house each week.   I'm over trying to have it "done" for these posts and will just try to have the pics be "as is" if you were to hop on a plane right now : ). (Ok looking back I probably would've fluffed the pillows and moved the piano music stash next to the couch). Xoxo

So this first room is the living room...aka the cleanest room in my house because no one is ever in it.   So naturally I thought I'd start here (and its the first thing you see when you walk in the door).   The commentary is exactly what I'd say as if you were here too!  You know me and my disclaimers : ).  (Btw I spared you  the rundown of where I acquired each piece and how much it was. ie the green chair in the corner was free from our neighbors who were "downsizing" into the house next door).  Almost everything else is unchanged from our house in Maplewood.   

Wish me luck on feverishly tidying up the other areas!   (Want to make you feel at home!)