1 month old

William turned 1 month old today! Can't believe how quickly the last few weeks have flown by. We are very blessed with such a good baby :) William is on a 3- 3.5 hour schedule during the day and usually goes down at 9:30pm and will sleep till 2:30 or 4am. He's still not very consistent with his nights and sometimes he does great...other times he's up and hungry! The last few days he has really starting smiling a lot and making sweet sounds. I often get told by people everywhere I go that he looks like me. What do you think?

My Brother

Nolan has really started to adjust having a baby brother around all the time! At first I think Nolan wasn't sure what was going on and didn't like the attention being shifted, but over the past 3 weeks, he has really wanted to be where the baby is and has started interacting with him a lot more. It is so sweet to watch how Nolan has gone from only child to sweet Big Brother. Here's a few pics we've snapped of the two of them:

Nolan's 2nd Birthday Party

We celebrated Nolan's birthday a week later with his friends b/c we were not sure when baby William was going to arrive! We had a fish theme party at the Ocean Springs Spray Park and celebrated Nolan's 2nd birthday with close family and friends. Nolan had a blast running back and forth from the water to the playground and barely sat still to eat cake and open presents. We had to keep chasing after him! Nolan really enjoyed the afternoon playing with his friends and it was nice for Eric and I to get out and socialize, even though William was just 2 weeks old!

Nolan's birthday invitation

Cake and tropical fish cookie favors

Singing Happy Birthday!

Attempting to blow out the candles :)

Nolan, William, and Sam

Nolan and Max

Happy 2nd Birthday Nolan!

We celebrated Nolan's 2nd Birthday today with our family and are looking forward to his birthday party with friends this Saturday. Eric and I bought Nolan his first Thomas the Train set which was a big hit! Nolan just loves trains so we thought this would make the perfect gift, and we were right! We enjoyed lunch at The Dock (Nolan's favorite restaurant here b/c he can run around and play and go look at the boats) and we got him a big chocolate chip cookie cake that he actually got to blow out the candles on this year! We had a great time visiting with family and can't believe how much our little boy has grown-up. He's still as sweet as can be and full of all that toddler energy!

William Cole Robinson

Eric and I are so blessed to announce the birth of our second son, William Cole, born on July 23, 2009 at 8:46pm. He was 19.5 inches long and weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces. It was a very quick delivery! I woke up Thursday morning with terrible back pain and knew something was different. I called my doctor and they told me to come in that morning at 10am for a check...which we found out I had dilated to 3cm since he last saw me on Monday at 2cm. They told me to go home and time my back labor and to come back at 2:00pm. When I arrived, I had already dilated to 4cm so my doctor sent us straight to the hospital. I was definitely in labor!

As soon as I got checked into our room, they started a poticin drip to help speed up my contractions. After receiving my epidural, my water was broken by 6:00pm. By 8:00pm that night, I had dilated to 6cm and then at 8:46pm, William was born!! It all happened so fast and in just a few pushes...our second son was born.

We are so thankful to God for watching over us and making this a quick labor and delivery. William is such a gift and is such a beautiful baby. We thank God for giving him to us and are so happy to be a family of four :)

Frozen Fruit

Our family loves to snack on fruit and I've recently been buying all of our fruit at Sam's because we go through it so quickly. Anyhow, now that I stock up on larger portions of fruit each week at the store, I've been keeping half in the refrigerator and freezing the other half in small Ziploc bags. My favorites are frozen green grapes (slice the large ones in half), red raspberries (very crunchy!), and sliced banana pieces (Nolan calls banana pop-pop b/c he thinks it's a popsicle!). It's a great snack in the summer and something our family really enjoys.

A prayer while we're waiting...

Child within me, the Lord has created you. He has formed your body, and you are his. When you pass through the waters He will be with you and you will not be harmed. He is the Lord, thy God, thy Saviour. You are precious in His sight. He loves you. Let us not fear, for our Redeemer is with us. He will bring you forth safely. He will protect us from harm if we take upon us His name, for he created us to glorify Him.

We will be blessed with health, strength, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. With his gentle, loving hands he will deliver you without interference from anyone. I will not be afraid of your birth, for I know that the Lord created me to be a mother. My body knows what to do to assist the Lord as He delivers you out of my womb. Together we will work to bring you into this world without pain. The water that now protects you will carry you out and I will open myself up to you. The feelings of love, joy, and peace will escort you on your journey. When you are ready to join us in the world, we will welcome you.

Your father and I have been honored with stewardship over you. He has placed you in our care that we may love you and teach you His word. Your father is eager to hold you in his arms. I am eager to kiss you and nurse you for the first time. We look forward to your arrival, yet we will not grow impatient while we're waiting for your birth-day. We do not want you to be born before you are fully ready.

Your father and I will not be fearful. God has promised us that if we do not fear and are obedient to His commands, He will pour His spirit upon you and His blessings. Our family will praise and honor Him for the blessing of your birth, and the miracle of your life, giving thanks with song.

Adapted from Isaiah 43&44
Written by: Susana Fierro-Baig

Nolan is almost 2!

I can't believe Nolan is 23 months old today! Wow! Our baby is such a little man now, getting more and more independent everyday. The biggest change we've noticed in him lately is how impatient be can be. When he's ready to leave somewhere, it's right that second or all out fuss! I'm constantly redirecting and trying to explain the meaning of wait. He also is very attentive to detail. He knows what things belong to each family member (including our parents!) and if he sees something similar somewhere else, he's very quick to say ma-ma's for example. Nolan also loves playing with his matchbox cars and lining them up like a train. Although he can be very messy...he knows how to clean-up and put toys back, throw things away, put dishes in the sink, and take off his shoes when we come inside. Now if I could only keep him out of the pantry and frig. He constantly goes and helps himself to a "snack" or "juice box" whenever he wants. That gets old fast especially when it's not time to eat.

Nolan has also really mastered walking downstairs and barely holds your hand unless the steps are really big. He's also a really good climber, jumper, and dancer!! He loves music! He's not singing the words to a song yet, but I can't wait!

The most shocking thing he does at this age is putting himself to bed at night (says night-night to us and walks to him room, closes the door, and lays down!). We never saw that coming! He does this for his naps during the day too as soon as he's finished eating lunch. Amazing, huh!

Overall, Nolan is still the sweetest, most loving child who is still such a social butterfly and quick to give you a hug and kiss. I can't wait to see him interact with William :) He's going to be the best big brother!

Almost time!

It seems like these past few months have flown by and now here we are, just 3 weeks away from by due date with William! Wow! I have been nesting up a storm trying to get things ready for the baby and then the contractions started. I had very mild Braxton Hicks with Nolan...but nothing like the ones I've been experiencing lately. Between all the running around, heat, and lifting a very heavy toddler...my body is trying to tell me to slow down (as did my doctor yesterday). I thought for sure I'd be dilating at my check-up yesterday from all the contractions...but little man is not ready just yet. I know he will be born on the perfect day in God's perfect time so I'm relaxing now! Feet propped up, drinking lots of water, and minimum lifting of Nolan!

I will do my best to keep you all updated as things progress. Please keep us in your prayers for a perfect labor & delivery. We can't wait to meet our little blessing!!

Nolan loves Eric's yard hat & running around in just a diaper before bath time!

Sweet boys all snuggled up :)

Preview of what's to come...Nolan thinks that Julie's activity gym is his new toy! He's been very excited about all of the baby items/toys we pulled out of our storage unit last week and points to everything and says "baby"!

A Father's Prayer: by Charley Gunter

Heavenly Father, thank You for my children's salvation. Thank You for choosing them to be children of mine and Yours. Thank You that You have lavished Your riches and Your inheritance on them, although they could do nothing to earn it or deserve it.

I pray for my children's legs to walk always with You, not racing ahead, not lagging behind, not wandering off, but day-by-day walking with Jesus, so that He is their constant companion. God, take them where You want them to go and keep them from the places they shouldn't go. Give them strength to continue when they feel weak. Give them courage to keep on walking with You, even when the road ahead looks uncertain and dim. Give them grace to bridge gaps, to leap walls, to span the separations between people and groups.

I pray for my children's feet, that You would place them where You want them to stand. Plant their feet on the immovable rock of Jesus. Talk to them when storms come or the world's attractions try to lure them down its path. Whisper in their ears and to their spirits, "Stand firm."

Through my children's arms, always do Your work. Strengthen them, hold them up, and direct them to do whatever You want them to do. Make their time valuable for eternity, not just the quick flash that is the span of their days on earth.

I pray for my children's hands that they will often fold them in prayer. Make them mighty in prayer. Teach them to pray after Your own heart. Enable them to live their lives so that everyone will see Your signature, "This one is the Lord's."

Give my children the patience to wait on You, Lord, so that You may renew their spirits and they may soar as on eagle's wings.

By Your enabling power, make my children's will as strong as iron for clinging to what is good and resisting evil. Cause them to be unyielding in following righteousness and rejecting anything not pure, holy, and completely from You. Make their wills toward You as pliable as spun silk when You convict them of sin or following their own ways. Give them tender hearts and teachable spirits for You, God.

I pray for my children's character, that You will make it strong and godly. Use godly men and women to mold, shape, and weave their character, beliefs, and views of You as You want to make them.

Enable by Your grace that their conscience will be clear. I pray they will keep a short list of accounts with You and quickly acknowledge sin to You and confess their wrongs. Give them the humility to seek forgiveness from the ones they offend. Enlarge their hearts to grant forgiveness freely, even before it is asked, when they are wronged.

I pray for my children's heart, that You would guard it. Keep them protected, covered, shielded, and sheltered from all harm that seeks to touch them. Make their hearts soft when they should show compassion, firm when "tough love" is required, and always holy.

By Your power, protect their bodies. Keep them well and safe, and heal them when they are sick or injured. Hold them and comfort them when they are afraid, lonely, sad, or discouraged. Give them the strength and the courage to keep on keepin' on when they feel they cannot any longer.

I pray for my children's minds, that regarding the things of Christ they will be full of knowledge and wisdom, and regarding the things of sin they will be ignorant. Give them Your wisdom and discernment to evaluate what they see.

Light my children's eyes with the light of Christ shining within them. Filter what they will see through holy filters. Protect them and keep them, for the devil masquerades as an angel of light. Give them holy understanding to see past the surface, to see the world from Your perspective, and to respond as You would.

Father, put Your Word in my children's ears and in their hearts frequently. I pray that they will not listen to unwise counsel or foolish talk and will seek Your wisdom and Your ways all their days.

I pray for my children's mouths, that words of praise and prayer will be on their lips always. Curb them from speaking rashly or without thought, so that they will bring honor and glory to You. I pray for my children's countenances, that they will reflect Your glory and the radiance of the hope that is alive within them.

Sanctify their pocketbooks, and teach them to be good stewards of what You give them. Teach them the principles of Your economy, the way to manage and use the things that You loan them. Beyond finances and possessions, make them good stewards of their talents, time, and opportunities You send. Help them to acknowledge that everything is Yours, and because of that, they need not worry or fear loss.

I pray that they will abide in righteousness and live worthy of the One who purchased their lives from destruction and eternal death. Show them that life is in Christ alone, that there is no other source of life, joy, light, peace, comfort, love, or truth that can endure forever, and no other is pure or holy but You.

Father-God, I place all these things in Your hands in the name of the One who is able to do all things, beyond anything we ask or imagine, to whom is all glory, honor, and praise, Amen.