Our little Lollipop

Our little girl is now TWO!

For her birthday I did a lollipop theme because of her love for lollipops (see blog entry on 10.7.10). I had lots of fun with with this theme and even found some ideas online. I enjoyed getting to use the rusty creative side of my brain. I kind of wish I didn't have to try to fit in her birthday during such a busy time (Christmas parties, anniversary, Christmas...) because I had plenty of ideas that I didn't get to do. Here are a few things I had fun making...

I know every parent feels this way, but I still can't believe she is already two. After her birthday, I went back and looked at old videos of her first birthday and I couldn't believe how much she had changed. Even though at one, she said a lot of words and she didn't feel like a baby...NOW she talks in phrases, tries to recount events and communicates emotions (total girl!). As my first time going through this as a parent, I find myself staring at her in disbelief. How is she growing up so fast?

Since she has turned two she has gone to sleeping in a "big girl" bed and wanting to drink from "big girl"cups. Some days I feel like she wants to do all the growing up at once. Tonight she asked to go on the potty (not successful but hey I'll take her being interested) and wanted to wear big girl undies. She reminded me to get my phone as we walked out the door and later spelled her name. My baby girl is slipping through my fingers!

No Greater Joy...

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" John 1:4

During breakfast I have been reading to Charis a Children's One Year Bible that her Uncle Steven and Aunt Cameron gave her. It is a little old for her age but she has even started to ask for me to read it if I get distracted with other things. This morning she wanted me to go back to the story of the "snake". While finger painting later today, Charis began talking to herself. I love listening to what is running through her little mind. She began to quote her memory verse "Children obey" and then paused "...Adam, snake, apple...obey". My heart jumped with joy. To the mother heart in me, this was thrilling. I desire nothing more than Charis learn to WALK in The TRUTH. Here she had made on her own the connection between two Bible lessons. She was meditating on them. Oh how I pray that this takes deep root in her heart and produces eternal fruit.

"Blessed is the man....his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he mediates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither..." Ps 1

Fleming Flamenco

My cousin, Jamie, who is a missionary in Spain sent this to Charis.

(Check out her blog on my blog list)

Charis' Fall Pictures

My little pumpkin - I love being her mommy!

Candy Land Walks

Charis has been introduced to the world of lollipops. It hasn't taken her long to figure out that these wonderful sticky treats can be found at drive thrus at banks and when we visit her Nee Nee at work. There was even some at "Daddy's" work the other day! She calls them "pops" and has learned to make the exaggerated *slurping* sound of licking a lollipop.

Another love that has grown over the past few months is going for walks. Long gone are my sweaty workouts around the neighborhood with her in a stroller. These walks can hardly be considered exercise for me, but I am sure they are great for her. She wants to be out and about. This passion for walking grew beyond control when my family was visiting this summer because there were plenty of hands to hold and coax to go with her on a walk. As we walk she likes to use her words and tell me everything she sees or wants to see.

The other day while we were on one of these walks, she excitedly pointed and tugged hard on my hand. I was confused by what she was saying "pop, pop, pop!!!" What did she mean by "pops"? I tried to keep her walking but she was winning this tug of war. Then I focused in on this "POP". It was a shinny red reflector by a mailbox. To any connoisseur of lollipops, this one must be sampled! I burst into laughter and tried explaining that it wasn't a lollipop, and it wasn't ours (a word she has learned on our walks). She was sure I was wrong on this one, but finally gave into her mothers desire keep walking. This happened several days on our walks. Finally I decided to let her give it a try. *Crunch* I heard the sound of her teeth against the hard plastic. She looked at me in disbelief. *Crunch* Maybe she hadn't bitten hard enough?... Sadly she moved on with her walk...no longer a candy land walk.

Our Son

Smiling at us =)




Joshua's mom said he looks like him

Last Wednesday we found out we are having a boy!!! It is a good thing we wanted to find out because as soon as the ultrasound was on my belly the screen revealed even to an untrained eye that we were having a son. We are excited and can't wait to meet our little boy.

Growing Gratitude

When I first started blogging (although I can be so sporadic that you can hardly call what I do blogging), I wrote about Psalm 113:9. This verse to me is like a sweet and sour dish. I know the sour and almost bitter side of it all too well - "the barren women", but God graciously answered the cry of my heart allowing me to taste the sweet side of this dish - to be a mother AND to also be able to stay at home with Charis. Deep down even while I was pregnant with Charis (which is the Greek word for "grace" - "undeserved mercy") I wondered if I would ever have this undeserved mercy again. Fifteen weeks ago today, I began to suspect it. The next day to Joshua's and my complete joy, we found out we were expecting again. I am almost 20 weeks, and it is hitting me that with the busyness of a toddler and a summer full of family, work and fund raising that it hasn't soaked in that we are going to have another child. Maybe that is why I stare at my ever growing baby bump as if it shouldn't be there. I want to treasure this pregnancy more than I have so far and soak in the little movements in my womb. As I anticipate this new precious face, I realize that God is answering every part of that verse that I prayed: "He settles the barren women in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD." Please join with me and praise the Giver of Life.

19 Weeks