The Second Child....

It is so interesting when you have a second child. It is so different than the first but each is special in their own way. Here is an example:

Grayson has always been extremely cautious. He tells me to put both hands on the wheel when driving, he is apprehensive about certain things, he is a picky eater. He is very smart and has sat still since he was old enough to sit up to read or go over letters and sounds. He knew all of his letters  and sounds by 16 months (I know, I know....now I am just mommy bragging...lol!) It takes him time to warm up to people he does not know. He makes sure to slowly get in the water because he is unsure of it. He is our sweet loving big boy who we love so much!

Now to the second kiddo:

Ella is only 9 months old almost 10 but her personality has already "blossomed." She is the happiest baby and knows no strangers. She literally hangs on to the side of the bathtub and just lets go to fall backwards and thinks it's funny, while I am panicking! She eats anything in sight and will bite, grab, or jump on any moving thing. She is a little fireball! She is so wonderfully sweet and wants to be with her big brother all the time. She cheers in excitement when he is near. She keeps us running has so much energy.

Yet, with two such different children, I guess its safe to say that people are right when they say your second one is different. But I just love how neat it is to watch them. It's a blessing to have two, wonderful children who have such unique characteristics about them.

As I am writing this my husband just came in with a mohawk, it seems he decided to shave his head. He will buzz it all but thought he would humor me. What a rascal! I guess he was hot from mowing and thought he would just get rid of his hair..lol!

Well I am off to make a picnic dinner in the backyard and then to get ready for the week. Only 8 weeks left to summer break! Y'all have a great week.

Update On My Health

It has been a crazy couple of months. I have been trying to figure out what is up with my health! I had a lump begin to appear in my neck around the time I was pregnant but it was very small. Around November 2010, I noticed a big, hard lump. I went to the doc to see what it was and he said it was a swollen lymph node and to just keep an eye on it along with taking some antibiotics in case its just an infection. Two months later they started testing because they wanted to know why my lymph node was swollen STILL and why I had signs of inflammation in my blood work. Long story....short...I had a CT scan over spring break, they found that my lymph node in my neck is really swollen and the other is beginning to swell, as well. Then Tuesday, I had a biopsy and I am just waiting to hear back.....the waiting game stinks with a capital S! I am trying to prepare myself for the worst so that when it's hopefully not a big deal, I will be surprised. I appreciate everyone's prayers and I will keep you all posted! I know that God is sovereign and whatever His will is, is part of His plan!

On the home front, the Acker household has been busy! We have had so much going on and those sweet rascals are keeping Joey and I busy. We are so blessed and could not have asked for a sweeter son and daughter. Grayson has been too presh...with his big blue eyes and confident personality. He is so sure about everything he says and has also dabbled in a bit of story telling. Ella is starting to show her dramatic side. She truly shows her emotions and makes sure someone is watching. She is the sweetest baby and is always smiling. She is still a petite thing but has been cruising and getting into everything...including loving on bothering her big brother! Well I hear Grayson now (Ella is snoozin')....so I better go see what he's getting into...lol! Please keep our family in your prayers, prayer is so powerful!

Love,

Melanie

A Recent pic from our wonderful photographer!

Spring Break!!!

Okay....I am no longer making any promises to be consistent with my blog. Life happens and as a wife, mommy of two, teacher, and a servant of God sometimes I don't get a chance to get on. I truly enjoy blogging, though, because it's so neat to read past posts and see how God has changed our lives in just a small amount of time. I hope to eventually learn how to make all the cute fancy blogs soon or at least pay someone to make one for me...haha!

Things are going pretty wonderful, the Lord has really blessed our family far beyond what we deserve. Grayson and Ella are growing so fast and we still can't believe we have two...We are still really praying on whether or not to have a third but for now, we are just enjoying these two. They are so hilarious, they are only 3 and almost 9 months old and they are already driving each other crazy. In the car, Ella stares and smiles at Grayson and he says, "Daddy, Ella is looking at me!!" It makes him so upset! Or when Grayson cries, Ella laughs at him and it just takes it all up a notch!! Ella is already being a little sister...haha! I really relate to Grayson having a little sister and brother but we hope that we can raise them to be there for each other. I know that will come with time...
At least, they love being with each other when they are not driving one another crazy.

Grayson trying to carry Ella, she is getting a kick out of it...Grayson's shirt is all crazy because he had it half way off...silly boy!

We are on SPRING BREAK...YAY!! I have enjoyed pinkberry and sushi with my sister, almost sis-in-law, and friend and then a mani and pedi with my sister in law, a fun family trip to the zoo, lunch with friends, church, an evening at the Harbor with Joey's family, family pictures today, and tomorrow Chuck E Cheese and then my parents. It has been non-stop fun but seeing the kids, I think we will slow it down and relax the rest of the week.

I also have a new blog to let you know about that discusses how to be a woman of God in the world today....please add it to your blog reads:
http://trulyhisinamodernworld.blogspot.com/

So, the Acker Family is doing great and we are enjoying every day that the Lord gives us. I will leave you with some pictures of our sweet blessings and of our fun trip to the zoo. Enjoy!

We're still here!

Hey y'all! We are still here, just busy!I just wanted to let you know that I will blog with pictures from our visit to the zoo and of Ella riding her little bike and Grayson playing...precious. We have just been battling sickness for what seems like almost a month now. We have had RSV, the flu (two separate times), strep, ear infections, sinus infections, and yucky stomach viruses plus I have had some medical testing done. Safe to say, we thank the Lord for us being well now and we are excited that this coming week is Spring Break!!

Snow days and Sweet Times!

What to do? It is Day 2 of the Forney Snow/Ice in and all four of us are snug at home. I am so excited to finally be able to blog. As usual, our family has been busy and on the go and the days we weren't, Joey and I enjoyed lazy days with the kids.

This month has been filled with birthdays, outings, and a bout with the flu for Ella. Speaking of Ella, she enjoyed her first jewelry party that Megan and I threw. She is getting so big and is already eating food and pulling herself to standing on anything she can grab onto, she has mastered crawling, and her favorite hobby is intently watching her big brother. Ella is a delightful baby and is always smiling. Grayson has done a great job of being a big brother! He is getting so big and we are amazed and how fast he is growing. He is in the inquisitive stage and is always wanting to read books and be like a "grown-up." He is also in the bigger kid class at daycare and his teacher always sends notes home about how great he is doing! He is our little smarty-pants! He will be doing a mini-march for Cystic Fibrosis for Children at school. He has really been asking about helping people and kids. We thank the good Lord every day for blessing us with such sweet, healthy children. We could not even ask for anything more. Speaking of blessings, Joey and I have finally been led to a wonderful church. It is only 12 minutes away and full of kind hearted people with a very biblical foundation. Joey has also been playing the guitar in their worship band which he loves. It is a great way to worship and to have fellowship. I am praying for God to show me where I need to lend a hand.

Work has been great and we have loved all riding together. Both our cars are saving lots of miles and on gas. It sure helps that we live about 6 minutes from our school. I love teaching and am hoping to get back into counseling, though, because I am really passionate about it. Either way I will be happy as long as I am working with kids. I take my national counseling exam in March. Please keep me in your prayers! This test does not have a very high passing rate so I am a bit nervous. It is the first step to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. I am already a certified school counselor but this will allow me to do private practice work. It is a long road to get there....I need to pass the national test, pass the Texas Jurisprudence, and then I will be an LPC-I (intern) and then I have to put in 3,000 clock hours. Needless to say, it will take a couple of years but I think it will be worth it and will give me flexibility with Grayson and Ella down the road. Well I am about to order a pizza (I am lacking some ingredients for the healthy dinner planned ) and watch Letters to God with Joey and the babies! I hope I can write again soon!

Mommy and Ella heading to the jewelry party!

Ella's first jewelry party!

Nana at the party!

Priscilla, Megan, and Me!

Me and Megan doing a middle school facebook pic! lol!

We buy Grayson so many toys but he prefers the simple things, he played with this for 2 hours!! Really!

Grayson practicing his letters!

Mimi and Ella!

Big boy Grayson with gel in his hair, a belt, and his watch..lol

My fav pic ever!!!

Almost Two Months Later....

Well I must say that I am a bit embarrassed! It has been almost two month since I last blogged. Of course....I have had good reason. Since I have last blogged a lot has happened.....Grayson was in the hospital with a horrible viral infection and asthma but after the great care Children's gave him, he was released in two days. Below you will find the before and after shots...lol!

Then I was sick for literally 3 weeks!! First I had a stomach virus then a week long weird flu-like virus and then another stomach virus! (No, I am not pregnant that I know of...I know some of you may be thinking that)! Then Ella had a little bug among all the sickness in our house and today I just brought her home from her 6 month check up and she has RSV! :(  She is doing okay but I am a bit worried about her 6 month stats. Her weight gain is very little since her 3 month check up. She weighs only 14 pounds and with her being born so big, its a bit of concern! The dr. just told us to give her formula and lots of cereal and we will see how she does. Please keep her in her prayers that everything is okay and it is simply just being petite!!
Besides all the sickness going through the house, the holidays came and went as did my 28th birthday! It was a fun December!! It was full of get togethers and Christmas activities. We also have made some amazing friends, Tyler and Priscilla. They are an amazing Godly couple a little younger than us. We have loved spending time with them but unfortunately they are moving to seminary in North Carolina. We wish them lots of luck and are excited for all of the great things God is doing in their lives. We have also found a wonderful church, McLendon Chisolm Baptist Church. We are really excited and are praying that it will be our home church. We have been looking for about 8 months now.
Well back to the holidays!!! Grayson was sooo much fun this year at Christmas, he has been so excited and asked every day in December if it was Christmas yet. He has helped decorate the house and make cookies and he has done a wonderful job at being a big brother! He loves his sister and when she cries he always tell Joey and I, "Ella needs a bottle RIGHT NOW!!!" Ella is a joy and is such a happy baby, it was fun for her to have her first Christmas. She was not really interested in opening presents, she just wanted to creep/crawl around and try to eat paper. Speaking of that sweet girl, I hear her wanting her mommy! Joey and Grayson are running errands......I will leave you with some of our Christmas memories this year!!!

Simply the best.....

Growing up, I remember from as early as 4 or 5 waking up every Saturday morning to my Mom making a big breakfast, the smell of coffee, and country music playing in the background. This family event occurred almost every Saturday until the day I moved out when I got married. My parents still do this every Saturday (it's one of the things I miss so much about living at home with my parents). Well, I noticed a lot of Saturdays I usually make pancakes or waffles and we lounge around as a family in our pj's. I hope to do what my family did with us kids. They always took the time to just relax with us, we would all cuddle up and just listen to music and have our tummies filled with a good breakfast. We did that this past weekend and I sat there praying that I always have a little piece of that morning in my memory because it was simply the best. I loved seeing Grayson hold Ella and I loved just having so much time to just relax with them and my wonderful husband and not be in a hurry to do anything.....a lot of us get so busy with life and don't push the pause button. Family, 2nd to God, is the most important thing in our lives and a true gift from God. It's part of who we are and can help define someone. So I guess the point of my blog was to just share some advice and that is to slow down and enjoy the little things, they are the things that can bring us the most joy!