Hickory and HOTlanta

     Last Saturday, Mark, Marcus, and I drove to Hickory to see Olivia and the Mt. Airy Granite Bears softball team play in a tournament.  They played 2 games, then had a 2 hour break before playing their last game.  My sister is one passionate coach but when she saw Marcus, she was sweet and baby-voice talking.  He softened her right up!  My dad also drove up for the visit because he couldn't pass up the opportunity to see his one and only grandson.  At one point while we were there, a lady came over to ask if I remembered her granddaughter, who was Olivia's 1st baseman.  Ok, check your "old-meter" here...this girl is almost 16 and I was her PRESCHOOL TEACHER!  I had her when she was THREE YEARS OLD and boy did I feel OOOOOOOOLLLLLLDDDDD!  She had obviously grown into a beautiful young woman, but I recognized her through her sweet eyes.  They were the same as when she was 3.  I remembered she would come in crying, not wanting her mama to leave, but then would latch onto my leg, dry her tears, and be my sidekick for the rest of the day.  It made me start thinking about how quickly time passes and how before I know it, Marcus will be a teen.  I know, I know... it's a long ways off, but is it really?  I was dancing with him in the kitchen again the other day and just started balling thinking about dancing with him at his wedding one day.  Am I a kook or what?  He was just drowning in my tears, looking up at me like, "Mama, what the heck is wrong with you?" Is this how all parents feel, particularly mamas? With that being said, I'm still relishing and enjoying my time as Mark's wife and Marcus' mama. 
     In other news, the three of us are in HOT-lanta right now.  Mark is on a NATIONAL council for Pepperidge Farm distributors and since I'm a stay-at-home mom, I COULD COME ALONG!  It's like a little vacation, all expenses paid (which, if you know a Schuurman, that's the best part...we're frugal you know).  Anyhow, Mark has been in his meetings and seminars all day and Marcus and I have had the best time.  We had lunch with my cousin, Ashley, then went to Turner Field and breathed in some air in BRAVES COUNTRY!  We might take a stadium tour tomorrow, but unless I find a stroller, we won't be going because I don't want to lug around 18 pounds for an hour!  We'll see, but either way, I'll post more pictures Saturday.  Until then, have a great rest of the week and go love on your family!

Grandad, Marcus, and Squeaky Giraffe.

Uncle TJ even made the drive to Hickory to see his favorite nephew.

Even though he woke up early, he was quite a happy boy this morning.

"This bed isn't big enough for us both!"

There it is...Turner Field!

This is a view of the Capital Building (gold dome) and the stadium from the top floor of our hotel.  It's 73 stories tall and we stayed on the 45th!  It was almost SCARY! (almost)

Marcus thought it'd be more fun to get his foot stuck than to take a nap.

Canadian Cousins in Town

     Thursday night, we were blessed to be able to host Mark's cousins for a night.  Darren, Brianna, Jordan (their cousin from their mom's side), and Darren's girlfriend, Rosanna all showed up right before 6pm.  We briefly visited then headed for (drumroll please....) the BBQ Inn!  As always, they didn't disappoint and we had a great Southern meal including BBQ, hush puppies, slaw, baked beans, fries, and Darren and Jordan tried their first pork rind.  Don't you just love Canadians?!  I think it's obvious that I DO! 
     After supper we came home and visited for a little while then we all went to bed.  They still had another 12 hour drive on their way to Florida and Mark had to get up early for his Friday route as well.  The girls slept in the newly finished bedroom in our basement and the boys set up air mattresses on the other side.  Since they had never had biscuits, I made eggs and homemade biscuits for breakfast, then sent them on their way to sunny Florida. 
     In other news, Marcus has GOT TO BE teething.  If not, I'm loosing my marbles.  We took him to a restaurant last night and we had supper with one of our mentors from church.  He was TERRIBLE!  He fussed and squirmed the whole time and not even the paci made him happy.  The best (not really) part of the whole evening is when he grabbed my drink (which I thought was farther away than it was), turned it over onto my lap, then slung the glass onto the floor where it busted into a million loud pieces.  So there I was, wet crotch, hollaring baby, and glass all over the place....and all eyes were on us.  Even after everything was cleaned up, Marcus was still VERY fussy. 
     When we got home, he had a low-grade fever of 99.8 so we're HOPING it's because he's teething and not because he's either getting sick or just having a case of "turd-itis."  He's his normal wonderful self this morning, no fever, and the drool is falling out of his mouth at a rapid rate.  Again, I could be fooled, but good grief!  Wouldn't you think the same???
     Finally, in a few hours, we're on our way to see Aunt Liv and her softball team in Hickory.  They have a 2 hour break in between games and we are going for a quick visit.  And yes, he's in one of his many baseball jerseys for the occasion.

Brianna took this picture of her food.  Isn't it beautiful???

Left to Right: Rosanna, Brianna, Marcus, Mark, Leah, Darren, & Jordan (far right side of the picture)

How cute is Brianna?

Getting ready for bed.

We call this room, "Hotel Hoozer" for when Matt & Mary Clark come stay with us.

Now that I'm LESS Type-A, Mark's taken on those personality traits, making sure everything was measured perfectly.

Here's Mr. Smiley, practicing sitting up.

Mt. Airy Grandparents in Town

     On Saturday, Marcus' Mt. Airy grandparents came for a visit and boy did they bless us!  They arrived right after Marcus woke up from his morning nap and was eating.  The two of them ooed and ahhed at him for a few minutes, then Daddy and Papa John went to work on the basement.  They had the whole thing trimmed and painted in NO TIME!  It was awesome!
     As they were painting, Grandma and I were cooking and playing with Marcus.  He was his charming self and put on quite the cute show.  He thought Papa John was HILARIOUS and just laughed and laughed at him when we went downstairs to check on their progress.  It was adorable.  Speaking of adorable.... we tried on his tuxedo that they gave him at Christmas.  It's his Easter outfit, but we took it upon ourselves to see if it fit and he's almost the perfect size for it.  It should be exactly right by Easter. 
     When he took his afternoon nap, Grandma and I finished the mac-n-cheese (favorite food of all time) and chicken pot pie.  She also brought sausage balls and lemon pound cake, so needless to say, we ate well this weekend.  After he woke up, the three of us went to Wal-Mart and got Marcus his first walker.  I'm not sure if there's a huge difference between a walker and exersaucer other than one moves and one doesn't, but we went ahead and got him a walker.  His legs don't quite touch the ground yet, but we've put him in it a few times and he seems to like it.  He likes sitting up more and more, but hasn't mastered it yet.  He can sit up when tilted back, but once vertical, he face plants and heads for his toes.  So he's working on it...just not there yet.  And there's no hurry because I know that once that starts, everything else will happen faster, too. 
     It was a good visit and we were thankful for all they brought, did, cooked, and bought.  We look forward to seeing more family this week as Mark's cousins are coming down Thursday night and there's a possibility we may see more family afterward, too.  Until then, have a great last week in February!  Spring is JUST AROUND THE CORNER!  (By the way, there's just over a month until baseball begins!!!!!!!!!!!)

Grandma got a chance to feed Marcus and he grabbed her fingers as he ate.

I was cracking up during this whole photo shoot.  He had a ball and we did, too.

Mark and I laugh at his picture because my mom read the directions the whole time and John was always a step or two ahead of her, putting it together on his own, not listening to the directions at all.

Ignore the crazy mama in this video.  She's loco for her boys (and it shows).

5 Months Old

     Where have the past 5 months gone!?!?  Good grief it's fast, and I know I say this every time, but wow.  Time sure does fly when you're having fun.  Marcus is officially 5 months old, so here are a few things to catch you up to speed about this little man:

• He's wearing mostly 6-9 month old clothes.
• He started (just this week) rolling over with no problem.  As soon as I put him on his back, he rolls to his left, onto his belly.  He's not quite mastered the rolling back onto his back yet.
• He chews on everything he can get his hands on (including his hands) and drools like a faucet.
• He is infatuated with his feet and they are a good 10 minute entertainer.
• He loves a warm bath and splashes around with both feet and arms. (He even takes an occasional shower with Daddy and loves that, too)
• He may grow up to be vain, but he loves looking at himself in the mirror.
• He's becoming quite the attention hog, making noise until we look at him, then he smiles like, "Gotcha!"
• He's been eating rice cereal for a few weeks, but just this week we started him on green beans.
• He weighs around 17 pounds and as soon as we finish this current pack of diapers, he'll wear size 3.
• He loves being outside.  Most any time he's fussy and the weather isn't bad, I can take him outside and get immediate calmness.  We try to take a walk outside whenever possible.  Bev & and I call it, "airing the children." 
• Finally, he has his Mama and Daddy's hearts.  We are infatuated with this little boy and look forward to the blessing and challenge of raising him to know and follow Jesus.

     We appreciate your continued prayers for our sweet family and would consider it an honor to pray for you and yours.  Just e-mail me at leahistall@yahoo.com and we're on it!

He's working on sitting up, but hasn't quite mastered it yet.  He was on his way down in his picture.

Told ya he chewed on EVERYTHING.

When I took the paper away, he was less than impressed.  Isn't that pitiful?!?!

 

 

 

 

Love

     Well, as most of you know, today is Valentine's Day.  Here at the Schuurman household, Mark and I do not celebrate this holiday with chocolates, cards, or dates.  He told me way back when we were dating how stupid of a holiday he thought it was and how we wouldn't celebrate it.  And just for the record, let me say that I'm soooooooo fine with that because he really knows how to LOVE me the rest of the year.  Now, many of you may be saying, "booooo!" in your minds, but I didn't say MARCUS doesn't celebrate it. :)  Sneaky, huh?  Below, you 'll see a short video of Cupid, I mean, Marcus playing with some heart lights as well as a few still shots.  He had a great time in just his diaper, playing with the lights and extra hearts.  I never knew, when I bought them in high school, that they'd be used like this.
     As for love, there's no way to truly know how to love unless you know the One who IS love... Jesus Christ.  1 John 4:19 says, "We love because He first loved us."  Think of that...before He created this world, He LOVED me, sinner, Leah and He loves you the same!  Being a new mother, I am overflowing with love for my husband and our son, however, the love that our Heavenly Father has for us FAR outweighs what I'm feeling here on Earth.  Isn't that INCREDIBLE???
     So no, we don't celebrate Valentine's Day.  But it's a good time to reflect the Love of Jesus and how we can better show our love to Him. 

     Happy Valentine's Day, Everyone!!!

1 Samuel 1:27

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him."

*1 Samuel 1:27*

     Our sweet Marcus Paul continues to grow each day and do new, "tricks" as we call them.  His "tricks" today include spitting up more than normal, while in public, all over his mama, and then when we got home and I KNEW he was tired, he cried uncontrollably for over half an hour.  It could be teething...it could be that his belly isn't quite right since he had a little stomach bug Tuesday... or it could be that he's just HUMAN and having an "off" day.  Either way, when I look into his deep blue eyes and see that sparkle when he smiles, all my frustration melts away.  He definitely has captured the hearts of both his parents, all grandparents, aunts/uncles, and numerous church family.  I never really hear other mom's talk about the "not-so-easy" times of motherhood (or at least the mom's I hang around don't talk about it), but they are there...that's life.  But with Marcus, his sweet times far outweigh his not-so-sweet ones, so we'll take 'em all! 
     He's now making all sorts of babbling noises and spitting.  He makes the /b/ and /p/ sounds just to name a few of his new ones.  His squeals of glee increase in volume and he understands that making noise usually gets a response of those around him.  He's quite the people-person and flirt when he's around the ladies.  I think he's beginning to transition into 2 naps instead of 3.  Most babies have already made that transition by now, but I think he's just like his mama and needs extra sleep (unlike Daddy who hardly ever gets enough sleep, but keeps on truckin!).  He has a smile that lights up a room and his little cackles are the sweetest sound to Mark and I. 
     So there ya have it!  An update about the sweetest almost-five month old around.  I hope to do two extra blogs this week (Valentine's Day & his 5 month old birthday) just to share some fun pictures I hope to take.  And one more thing for good measure... if you've not been in God's Word today...DO IT!  What are you waiting for?  "For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword."  ~Hebrews 4:12.

Yes, I know it's another mirror shot, but he LOVES looking at himself.

The boppy helps him sit up but he'd rather lay down and play with his feet.

Speaking of feet...that's his foot that he has up to his mouth.  He's an official toe-chewer.

Here are his cute little fat feet all stretched out.

I know the color of this picture isn't that great, but I thought his jersey was the cutest.  It says, "Daddy's Home Run Hero."  By the way he jumps out of my arms when his daddy comes home, his daddy is his hero.