Are they really "blessings"?

Wow... So much to write about, I feel like!

We are blessed. I write this with contradicting thoughts, and have the same feelings when I hear the words come out of my mouth, too. What exactly does it mean to be "blessed" anyway? If I consider myself "blessed" for having a healthy, growing family... Are those who don't have the same not "blessed"? And if so, why not? I mean, I know God blesses each of us in our own ways, according to His plan for us..... but, I think the word is often overused. If we have a good crop, but our friends have a bad crop, why are we the "blessed" ones? And if we had the bad crop, were we cursed? Blessings aren't really earned, are they? I've even heard people use the phrase "We bless you" in prayer. Who has the power to bless God?

Got side tracked there..... If anyone has some good insight on that, let me know. :)

So, we're adding a little girl to our family. I'm thrilled! As I've said before, I always imagined my family with 2 boys. The thought of having a girl makes me get butterflies, and the idea of this little girl being loved by Heath just delights me. The guy just knows how to love. -- We got a pretty certain guess on the sex of the baby last week, and when we found out, I expected Heath to be happy about it. He had kinda hinted here and there that he would like to have a girl, but when we left the doctor's office, he almost looked like he could throw up! I asked him what was wrong and told him I'd expected him to be more happy about it. He said, "I'm scared. I wanted a baby girl.... but not a teenage girl." Haha :) - I'm about halfway through the pregnancy now... he's got a little more time to prepare.

On the downside, I'm having kidney trouble again. My babies like to just grow that direction and take over that space, so I'm just hoping it at least stays as tolerable as it is now. It causes lots of pain... got me down to where I was hardly able to walk for a while last time. So, prayers for that are appreciated! Oh, the trouble we go through to get them here... and in the end, it's all just a few months of treachery that lead to a lifetime of joy.

Joy.... yes! Joy is what my little Luke brings to my heart. He's so silly... I love him so much. He thinks he has a baby in his belly, too. He says "Sorry" (or "sah-ee") now when he knows he's done wrong or when he gets in my way.... He loves getting up and going to work with Daddy in the mornings when I go to the gym. He eats and eats when I cook and says "yummy" ("a-mee") after every bite - which I consider a great compliment! He's been using the potty lately.. today has been his best day so far (3 times before lunch!). He sits and pees, and then he claps and dances for himself.. and looooves flushing. He likes for Heath to lay with him at night to go to sleep, and Heath usually falls asleep in there, too. Oh, and he loves watching videos of himself on my phone... he's deleted several pictures and videos by accident, so here's a few of what I've been able to save!

Keetha (Kakee) took Luke to Sesame Street Live last weekend... I went along, too. :)

His favorites right now are Elmo and Abby. :)

Kakee is one of his favorites, too!

Yesterday was a nasty day (we've had lots of those lately), but we went to the park anyway. There were roofers working on the house next door, and we were tired of listening to all that racket! Here's a clip of him... he makes me laugh. He's always been a cautious little thing.

It's actually pretty today! We're gonna get out and play... Luke's got a farmer's tan already. Maybe we can even it out a little bit. :)