Last day with the fam :(

So today we went to JSC and Monica and John Michael got a super quick tour of MCC (JM likes the stairs...not so much into space right now :)...that will change if I have anything to say about it). Then we fed the ducks, which I think was his favorite part. We breezed in and out of Space Center Houston since hunger and lack of sleep are not a good combination for a little guy. Here are some of my favorite pics from today:

This morning, before trying his first kolache (he's now a big fan of the sausage and cheese)

Ooh, buttons to push in the Apollo mission control room


Feeding the ducks


Feeding himself


The ducks are trying to get me!


Pretending to be Aunt Sissa...

Beach Day

So a couple of random things first:

Today we went into a store and walked by some clothes and John Michael goes "Cute clothes!" and "How cute!"...I must admit this is my and Monica's fault, from our 6 hour Galleria shopping adventure the other day. This boy will need some serious Daddy time when he gets home :)

And my sister thinks I eat too healthy...I am going to take that as a compliment. She needed a junk food fix last night and had to make do with my 100 calorie pack of peanut butter cookies...hehehe...

John Michael has been a bit under the weather the last couple of days...some asthma issues, so we weren't sure if the beach was going to be a good idea. However, he woke up today feeling much better, so after I put in a couple of hours at work this morning, we headed to the beach! The weather was GORGEOUS today, even by Monica's standards :)

Sand!


I love this picture of Monica...


Playing in the sand


This was his cape...he was running around in circles and trying to watch it fly out behind him


Drying off...

Day 3- Aquarium

Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid

So the word "fishies" has now been permanently added to my vocabulary. We headed to the Moody Gardens Aquarium first thing this morning. John Michael (we call him Bubba too :) ) LOVES fishies...and sharks..and...seahorses...and turtles...and yes, he knows all the names so he was walking around calling out all sorts of marine biology names while Monica and I were struggling to remember such names as "horseshoe crab" and "nautilus" to add to his vocabulary. (By the way, hearing a little kid say "nautilus" is really funny...as is "anemone"...hehehe).

John Michael and "Sissa" (someday there'll be an "aunt" in front of that :) )



Cool fish- no idea what it is...

Fishies!!!

Other cool fish...remember, I like bright colors :)


I'm tired so I am going to lay down in the shark cage...


Yes, I am a cutie...

We then hit up The Strand, which is SO not stroller friendly and drove along the seawall (we'll be back for beach time later this week).

Day 2 with the Fam

Again, these blog entries are probably more of interest to my family members that read this blog, but thanks for sticking in there and listening to me brag about my wonderful nephew and my sister who is a great mom :).

We went to church today. Well, Monica sat in church, which was nice of her, since its not her thing and she was being gracious to come to meet all my friends, while John Michael and I took walks outside and played with rocks and got all nice and sweaty running around for a couple of hours since its very hard to sit still in church when you aren't quite two yet and not used to having to sit still :).

Then my adopted family :), the Millers, had us over for lunch. Yum! John Michael made friends fast, which left Monica some time to get to know some of my good friends.

John Michael and Mr. Miller were getting along just fine...



And yes, they spun him around after this...



Ah, Daddy'll be much happier about these shoes :)

Classic

Two posts in one day, but this picture just couldn't wait for tomorrow...I walked into my room and found this...his dad is going to flip! :)

Day One with the Fam...

So, expect a lot of blogs this week...with lotsa newphew pictures :).

After picking Monica and John Michael up at the airport at 1am (yeah...no comment, although I am the one who...uh...picked the flight :)) we headed back to my place with a VERY unhappy and exhausted kid. We all slept in until 11 this morning! (I can't remember the last time I slept that late) and then headed to Kemah.

My sister and nephew are officially "allergic to humidity", as one friend has put it. I called my nephew "Tomatohead" (his cheeks were really red)- (Monica didn't appreciate that...I'll have to come up with another endearment I guess). I think we'll be spending a lot of time indoors :)

We tried to get John Michael to play in the water fountains, but both Monica and Aunt Sissa ended up getting more wet than he did.

He loved the Aquarium restaurant we ate lunch at...and the waiter loved him...brought him ice cream out...the plate said "Happy Birthday"...but it definitely wasn't his birthday. I'm tellin' you, this kid is cute and super smart!

What I Learned Today

So, twice a week (well usually twice a week, work usually manages to eat up one of those days), Irma and I get together for Bible study. Actually, we really just do our own quiet times and then share what God has taught us...its like double the dose of Godly wisdom to start your day! Loving it and I have been so blessed by Irma's wisdom and insight.

So today I was reading in 2 Peter 1:1-11 and two specific verses jumped out at me (I'll list the "qualities" that are mentioned after the verses...just bear with me!)

" For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter: 1:8)

"Therefore, brothers be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall" (2 Peter 1:10).

So first off, this is addressed to believing Christians. The qualities are as follows: virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.

I looked each of these up in the dictionary:

Virtue: moral excellence, goodness, righteousness,- conformity in life and conduct to moral and ethical principles
Knowledge: acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles- as from study or investigation.
Self-Control: pretty self explanatory but- restraint of one's actions, feelings, emotions
Steadfastness: fixed in direction, firm- as in purpose, resolution
Godliness: conforming to the laws and wishes of God
Brotherly affection: well, I just looked up "affection"- fondness or devotion to a person or thing
Love: haha this one (of course) is way hard to define (there were like 57 definitions), so define it how you want

What's interesting to me is how this all ties together- watch:

To obtain virtue, one must be dedicated to pursuing righteousness. To do this, one must be in the Word, gaining knowledge by reading about God and studying His character. From what we learn, the Spirit begins to convict us of sin and grow us in attributes of self-control and steadfastness. This sanctification process leads to increased godliness. By becoming more like Christ, we reach out in love to our fellow Christians, and ultimately, begin viewing mankind with Christ's love.

Pretty cool huh? But, a pretty daunting list of honorable words right? Where does one go to find an example of what this looks like? Well, God of course...watch:

All of these words directly describe God's character: His virtue is unmarred, His righteousness ultimate, His knowledge is omniscient, His self-control and steadfastness are rock-solid. He is never taken by surprise because everything happens according to His plan, He is faithful and holds ALL His promises to us. He is Holy. His desire to grow us and challenge us and discipline us can be described as devotion to us, and His work on the Cross is the ultimate description of love.

Anyways, I was just blown away by His grace in teaching me this today and though I would share.