Enoch Live: walking down the hallway

This morning, Enoch got tons of practice walking using the walker.  Hugh discovered that if you sit in front of him and scoot away, Enoch will try to catch you... while sometimes laughing hysterically.  ;)  So we did a lot of walking and scooting in the hallway (because it's by far the best place for walkers in our house).

And let's just say that I am certain it was a good work out for Little Guy because his morning nap has lasted 2 hours so far... and he's still going strong snoozing away in there!!

Here's a short video:

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FFF: Keeping a Clean House

Keeping a clean house is a tough job!  It's super challenging for me, and in fact, it's probably a challenge for most people.  So I thought I'd post my #1 tip for keeping our house clean: enlist help!

Now husbands are certainly enlist-able, and in my experience they are also pretty reliable, BUT the one disadvantage to enlisting husbands to help with cleaning is that they're never free Mon-Fri 8-5... maybe because they're busy with their real jobs, bringing home the bread.  ;)

So, that's where moms have to get creative.  Here's my creative solution to cleaning house: let the little ones help!  You see, I have a certain little boy following me around everywhere all day, and it never fails that he's almost always cleaning something {unless he's busy playing with his "true" toys}.  I've had a few older, wiser moms advise me to harness that cleaning want-to by continuing to let him help.. even if "helping" isn't incredibly helpful at first.

So that's what we've been doing.  Enoch loves being with me and helping, and I hope that as he gets older he'll enjoy getting to be more involved.  For now though, there are some simple ways that I let him help me clean everyday.  I thought I'd try to capture a few on camera since some of them are pretty cute and hilarious.

Cleaning the floor

Enoch is always finding anything that is left on the floor. Big chunks, microscopic crumbs, dehydrated food, etc.  In fact, I'd say his floor cleaning skills are better than that of any dog I've seen.  

Organizing Cabinets

This is one of Little Man's specialties!  He's been honing his technique for months now, and I'll say that he is quite an accomplished organizer!

Cleaning the Refrigerator

I know, I know... most people clean the inside of their fridge, but Enoch makes sure that the outside of ours stays nice and shiny too!  

Washing the Cabinets

This is also one of his specialties.  He is sure to get the surface nice and wet before polishing it dry... just like he does the fridge.  ;)

Cleaning the Hangers

Enoch is sure to clean the hangers each and every time we fold laundry.  He is so disciplined at this that I never have to worry about dusting them off myself.  

 And, when all of the hard work of cleaning is done, Enoch always has just enough energy for some reading.  

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R2G: Our Next Book...

Well, I'm excited to announce that the next book I'm hoping to read and blog though is... {drum roll please}...  Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God  by Noel Piper!!

Here's a short blurb about the book:

These are the stories of five ordinary women-Sarah Edwards, Lilias Trotter, Gladys Aylward, Esther Ahn Kim, and Helen Roseveare-who trusted in their extraordinary God as he led them to do great things for his kingdom. Noël Piper holds up their lives and deeds as examples of what it means to be truly faithful. Learning about these women will challenge readers to make a difference for Christ in their families, in the church, and throughout the world.

I'm pumped about this book for a few different reasons.  Let me tell you about them, and I'm sure you won't be able to resist reading it with me too!  First, Noel Piper is an EXCELLENT author!  She has a great writing style and is very enjoyable to follow.  Second, the book combines 5 short biographies of women from the past who were faithful in serving God {each in different ways}.  I absolutely love biographies because I find them inspiring and challenging.  And the third reason I'm excited about this new book is because I think it will have something for every woman who picks it up since it covers the lives of five uniquely gifted women.

Best of all, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY IT!!  {sorry, I didn't mean to yell that.. I just got excited!}  Check out the links below for a free version (you can read it on your computer, electronic reading device, or just print it).  If you do want to buy it, I don't think you'll regret spending the $10 because it is the kind of book that lends toward underlining, highlighting, starring, and dog-earing.  (:


You can read it free here {pdf format via Desiring God}
You can buy it from Amazon here

I would like to start reading it soon, but I realize that some of you may want some time to buy it and have it shipped.  So I plan to start in December.  There happen to be five main chapters {who would've thought?!?!}, and there also happen to be 5 Mondays in December, so let's try to read Chapter 1 by Monday, December 3rd!    Hopefully we can use December (and any down-time that the holidays provide) to read through the book.  Who knows, it may even give each of us some fodder for New Year's Resolutions.  :D

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We voted!!

We all went today & voted as a family. Thankful for this liberty we have, and praying that our hope will rest in the Lord, and Him alone, at the end of this monumental day... no matter who leads our country.

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.  (Proverb 21:1)

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Dating or Engaged Resources

For those of you who are dating {hopefully with the intention of marriage} or are already engaged, you might want to check out these resources from Desiring God.   Both resources are free to download and easily accessible (no membership or anything special required)!!  Can't beat that!  

Preparing for Marriage (an ebook) by John Piper
About the book {from the DG website}:

     At Desiring God, one of our most accessed pages online is a set of questions John Piper put together for couples preparing for marriage (chapter 1 in this eBook). There is some of the typical stuff—like friends and entertainment and lifestyle and children—but many have found that John’s way of putting the question helps get right at some pretty deep stuff.
     And then there’s the questions about theology, worship and devotion, and the roles of husband and wife—questions that far too many couples don’t think to ask. When preparing for marriage, or even in just beginning to consider it, it is of immense help to have the perspective not only of a seasoned husband of over 40 years, but also a seasoned pastor and theologian.

This Momentary Marriage  by John Piper
About the book {from the DG website}:

The chasm between the biblical vision of marriage and the common human conception is—and has always been—gargantuan. Reflecting on over forty years of matrimony, John Piper exalts the biblical meaning of marriage over its emotion, exhorting couples to keep their covenant as a display of Christ’s covenant-keeping love for the church. He aims to lift the church’s low view of marriage to something infinitely greater, namely, a vision of Jesus’s unswerving allegiance to and affection for his bride. This Momentary Marriage unpacks the biblical vision, its unexpected contours, and its weighty implications for married, single, divorced, and remarried alike. Now available in paperback with a freshly redesigned cover, Piper’s book on marriage holds even greater appeal.

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Enoch Live: using the walker

Enoch just figured out how to really use the walker this afternoon.  He isn't convinced yet that walking is more expedient than crawling, but I'm sure he'll get there soon!

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FFF: Putting the Pack N Play to Good Use!

When we bought our pack n play (used at Rhea Lana's), I planned to use it for traveling, mainly.  And indeed, it has been a good investment for that purpose, but lately we've been using it a lot more than expected in our own house!

Right now, the pack n play lives in our guest bathroom.  Might sound like an odd spot {and yes, it does make for a tight squeeze} but it works out perfect for this season of life.  You see, it turns out that with a few toys in the pack n play, Enoch loves hanging out in it!  And, since getting a shower in is one of my biggest challenges in my morning, we've started putting Enoch in the pack n play while I shower during his first awake time.  It works out great because he has some independent play time and I'm not "wasting" his nap time by showering {I mean, nap time is pretty valuable time... right Moms??}.  :)

I also love having it in the bathroom because getting Enoch a bath is now SO much easier!  I used to struggle to get his tub in the big tub and full while holding him on my hip.. or my lap... and it was just never an easy task!  But now I just plop him in the pack n play and we both enjoy the pre-bath time prep.  

In fact, here's a video of him walking around in it {during pre-bath prep} and trying to make a few animal sounds.  Let me preface by saying that the rhinoceros "sniffs" {through his nose} and the puppy "pants" {with his tongue}.  The fish didn't quite make this one but it is basically making a fish face {puckering your lips} and smacking {like a loud kissing sound}.  I apologize about how loud my fish sound is in the video... be prepared!  ;)

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