I have come to my blog several times over the past few months to try and write but have left unable to put "pen to paper." I'm not sure why. I can only imagine that maybe I didn't have much to say. Today...God gave me something to say.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
I taught this verse in a kindergarten class at church last quarter (the kids learned the shortened version, "In all things God works for good") and have been convicted by just how powerful a promise it is. I am trying to make it my motto. It's easy to trust when things are great. I am praying now that I will remember it when the hardships come. Because they always do.
For now, I rest in the arms of my Savior. I find peace in knowing that He knows me. I feel His arms around me daily. He is big enough to hold the world and yet He wraps me in the tiniest little arms to remind me of just how much He cares for His children. You see, when Gracie holds me in her arms and squeezes tight...I SEE GOD.
Note to Gracie:
You are like a little bit of Heaven on earth. I see your smile and light up. I hear your laugh and laugh with you. I watch you learn and I am in awe of God's creation.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Gracie Can Moo, Can You?
I haven't been writing much these days. Mostly because I just don't know what to write about. There is so much going on in Gracie's life. Sometimes I look up and she's doing or saying something new and I think to myself, "When did she learn that?" Sometimes I feel bad that I missed it and then I realize that I didn't, that I am in fact witnessing my little girl have an "aha!" moment.
She is so smart. I know all parents say that but I think they all should. I think that our children should experience our unwavering amazement at who they are on a daily basis. I think that there is a time and place for us to teach them about the real world and that it's not fair and that we occasionally fail and all that "weighty" stuff; but for right now Gracie will know that she is in fact created by God and is therefore created for good and in that way she is perfect. Don't get me wrong...she cries and whines and doesn't eat her vegetables, but she is still perfect in my eyes and in His eyes. We, who are saved by His grace, all are.
Gracie can moo, can you? She's in a book phase right now. She picks a book and brings it to me. Then she turns around and backs into my lap in order for story time to begin. Sometimes it only lasts for a few minutes but each time is so sweet. Her favorite book right now is Richard Scarry's the Animals of Farmer Jones. It goes through all of the animals on the farm and the noises that they make as they are ready for "supper time on the farm." Just yesterday on our way to a friends house I was asking Gracie what sounds the animals make. Until then the only one she would do was "wuff, wuff" for the dog (which is only right since we have a dog in the house). But yesterday she amazed me by actually answering when I asked about the cow. She doesn't actually say the "M". She puts her lips together and just lets a little "oooo" out but it is definitely a moo. And if I wasn't certain yesterday then today it was confirmed. The first time she brought the book to me today we started through the story and as soon as I got to the cow page I read, "The cow jangles her bell." and Gracie immediately mooed. Oh the joy that abounded in my heart. My little girl can moo!
I find great happiness in seeing my daughter learn, even the little things, and I hope that feeling does not go away. I hope that I am this proud when she makes an A on her spelling test, when she does great on a book report, when she tries so hard in algebra and when she decides what career path she will take. I pray that in whatever decisions she makes in life I will see how amazing she is and will not be afraid to tell her.
To my Gracie Girl:
You are truly amazing. Your little mind is constantly working and learning new things. You are so sweet and gentle and full of smiles. You bring me so much joy I can hardly stand it.
She is so smart. I know all parents say that but I think they all should. I think that our children should experience our unwavering amazement at who they are on a daily basis. I think that there is a time and place for us to teach them about the real world and that it's not fair and that we occasionally fail and all that "weighty" stuff; but for right now Gracie will know that she is in fact created by God and is therefore created for good and in that way she is perfect. Don't get me wrong...she cries and whines and doesn't eat her vegetables, but she is still perfect in my eyes and in His eyes. We, who are saved by His grace, all are.
Gracie can moo, can you? She's in a book phase right now. She picks a book and brings it to me. Then she turns around and backs into my lap in order for story time to begin. Sometimes it only lasts for a few minutes but each time is so sweet. Her favorite book right now is Richard Scarry's the Animals of Farmer Jones. It goes through all of the animals on the farm and the noises that they make as they are ready for "supper time on the farm." Just yesterday on our way to a friends house I was asking Gracie what sounds the animals make. Until then the only one she would do was "wuff, wuff" for the dog (which is only right since we have a dog in the house). But yesterday she amazed me by actually answering when I asked about the cow. She doesn't actually say the "M". She puts her lips together and just lets a little "oooo" out but it is definitely a moo. And if I wasn't certain yesterday then today it was confirmed. The first time she brought the book to me today we started through the story and as soon as I got to the cow page I read, "The cow jangles her bell." and Gracie immediately mooed. Oh the joy that abounded in my heart. My little girl can moo!
I find great happiness in seeing my daughter learn, even the little things, and I hope that feeling does not go away. I hope that I am this proud when she makes an A on her spelling test, when she does great on a book report, when she tries so hard in algebra and when she decides what career path she will take. I pray that in whatever decisions she makes in life I will see how amazing she is and will not be afraid to tell her.
To my Gracie Girl:
You are truly amazing. Your little mind is constantly working and learning new things. You are so sweet and gentle and full of smiles. You bring me so much joy I can hardly stand it.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Big One
Gracie is one! We celebrated her birthday in style on Halloween (and it only took me a bit more than a month to post about it). It was a Baby Strawberry Shortcake themed event. It was complete with some close friends, streamers, balloons, cake, a taco bar and Nana.
This year has flown by in some ways and inched by in others. I can honestly say that it has been the most exciting year of my life. Watching a child grow right before your eyes is nothing short of a miracle and the fact that people get to do this every day still amazes me.
Gracie is turning into a regular little toddler. She is a walking pro and is getting quite fast. I can tell she grows every day because I keep having to move the breakable ornaments up a level on the Christmas Tree. She has a very sweet air about her. She is constantly feeding us and bringing me toys to play with. Her cradle roll teacher even said that she tried to calm one of the younger babies in class last Sunday while she was crying. Oh to be a fly on that wall! She is not without her moments though. She has started throwing fits by plopping to her bottom and then throwing herself back. I think it's adorable...right now. We haven't had a public outburst yet.
We, like most of you I imagine, are getting ready for Christmas. We'll be in Texas (yippeee!) in less than two weeks. Before we go we're going to do "Christmas Morning" at our house complete with the Christmas story and Santa cookies. I can't wait. I know Gracie won't understand it this year but I'm still excited. She did bring one of her wrapped presents to me this morning and got upset when I wouldn't let her open it. Maybe she understands a little bit after all. Only Gracie knows!
This year has flown by in some ways and inched by in others. I can honestly say that it has been the most exciting year of my life. Watching a child grow right before your eyes is nothing short of a miracle and the fact that people get to do this every day still amazes me.
Gracie is turning into a regular little toddler. She is a walking pro and is getting quite fast. I can tell she grows every day because I keep having to move the breakable ornaments up a level on the Christmas Tree. She has a very sweet air about her. She is constantly feeding us and bringing me toys to play with. Her cradle roll teacher even said that she tried to calm one of the younger babies in class last Sunday while she was crying. Oh to be a fly on that wall! She is not without her moments though. She has started throwing fits by plopping to her bottom and then throwing herself back. I think it's adorable...right now. We haven't had a public outburst yet.
We, like most of you I imagine, are getting ready for Christmas. We'll be in Texas (yippeee!) in less than two weeks. Before we go we're going to do "Christmas Morning" at our house complete with the Christmas story and Santa cookies. I can't wait. I know Gracie won't understand it this year but I'm still excited. She did bring one of her wrapped presents to me this morning and got upset when I wouldn't let her open it. Maybe she understands a little bit after all. Only Gracie knows!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
God is Good
God is reminding me just how good He is. He is reminding me that I cannot be a mom without Him. He is reminding me that this is what I have wanted to do for a very long time. How does he remind me? This Sunday Matt took Gracie to sit with him on the praise team for one song. While they were standing and singing she just watched him and ever so gently patted his back. She tends to do this when we carry her around. It's like her little way of thanking us for being her taxi. In that moment I remembered something that I forget too often. I remembered that Gracie is a gift. She is a blessing that we asked for and that God provided.
She is 11 months old now and she entertains me constantly. She sticks her tongue out and wiggles it which makes me smile all the time. She says "Da!" for dog. She studies her toys and puts things in and out of them. She stands but only when she doesn't know she is doing it. She explores the kitchen and pulls all of my plastic stuff out of the cabinets. She "helps" with the laundry. She cuddles now.
She is a blessing and I am trying to remember Daily to turn that into praise.
She is 11 months old now and she entertains me constantly. She sticks her tongue out and wiggles it which makes me smile all the time. She says "Da!" for dog. She studies her toys and puts things in and out of them. She stands but only when she doesn't know she is doing it. She explores the kitchen and pulls all of my plastic stuff out of the cabinets. She "helps" with the laundry. She cuddles now.
She is a blessing and I am trying to remember Daily to turn that into praise.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Adventures in Eating
I was never told how much of the first year of Gracie's life would be spent on food.
In the beginning there were challenges with nursing. I'll forego the details in order to keep my readership from getting that TMI (too much information) feeling. Then we had issues with using the bottle. Then she took to baby food like a pro, every mother's dream I think. Then she decided it was beneath her. It is really gross. I wouldn't even lick my finger after testing the temperature. I would run it under the sink or wipe it off with a napkin. She probably saw me do that one too many times and caught on. She still loves the fruit but no way will she touch the veggies. For a while there all she would eat was fruit, yogurt, mum-mums and puffs.
This week, though, she is opening her mind and her mouth to new experiences. She loves seasoned green beans. She won't eat them plain. She also likes raw tomatoes. She even ate a few bites of grilled cheese. Today we tried mac-n-cheese, one of my favorites, but it was a little too slimy. She also didn't eat her tomatoes. Oh well, I feel like I've won a little battle, y'know? Like maybe this mom thing isn't that hard after all. I just laughed so hard inside my head that I started laughing out loud. I think moms, parents really, are in the same category as super heros. I mean seriously, raising another human being??
Aside from Gracie's adventures in the high chair she is chugging along like a milestone steam engine. She started clapping and can even participate in "If You're Happy and You Know it". She has graduated to the big girl tub and even enjoys the occasional bubble bath. She climbs all over the place and often balances on top of her toys. I'm thinking she might be a little gymnast. The most exciting milestone she's reached lately is using her first sign. She says "more" with her hands a lot. I think she uses it to mean, "Yes", "next please", and "puffs". She likes to think outside the box.
Note to Gracie:
You make me smile everyday. You are starting to show your little personality in so many ways. Sometimes you scream at the top of your lungs just because you're enjoying something. You get a little frustrated when I say no sometimes and are not afraid to let me know. It will probably seem like I say no a lot. That's only because I love you and I want the best for you. You'll probably hear that a lot too. :) It's so hard to express how much Daddy and I want you to be a happy, healthy, confident little girl. I think one day you'll understand though. Always remember that Mommy loves you, Daddy loves you and Jesus loves you most of all.
In the beginning there were challenges with nursing. I'll forego the details in order to keep my readership from getting that TMI (too much information) feeling. Then we had issues with using the bottle. Then she took to baby food like a pro, every mother's dream I think. Then she decided it was beneath her. It is really gross. I wouldn't even lick my finger after testing the temperature. I would run it under the sink or wipe it off with a napkin. She probably saw me do that one too many times and caught on. She still loves the fruit but no way will she touch the veggies. For a while there all she would eat was fruit, yogurt, mum-mums and puffs.
This week, though, she is opening her mind and her mouth to new experiences. She loves seasoned green beans. She won't eat them plain. She also likes raw tomatoes. She even ate a few bites of grilled cheese. Today we tried mac-n-cheese, one of my favorites, but it was a little too slimy. She also didn't eat her tomatoes. Oh well, I feel like I've won a little battle, y'know? Like maybe this mom thing isn't that hard after all. I just laughed so hard inside my head that I started laughing out loud. I think moms, parents really, are in the same category as super heros. I mean seriously, raising another human being??
Aside from Gracie's adventures in the high chair she is chugging along like a milestone steam engine. She started clapping and can even participate in "If You're Happy and You Know it". She has graduated to the big girl tub and even enjoys the occasional bubble bath. She climbs all over the place and often balances on top of her toys. I'm thinking she might be a little gymnast. The most exciting milestone she's reached lately is using her first sign. She says "more" with her hands a lot. I think she uses it to mean, "Yes", "next please", and "puffs". She likes to think outside the box.
Note to Gracie:
You make me smile everyday. You are starting to show your little personality in so many ways. Sometimes you scream at the top of your lungs just because you're enjoying something. You get a little frustrated when I say no sometimes and are not afraid to let me know. It will probably seem like I say no a lot. That's only because I love you and I want the best for you. You'll probably hear that a lot too. :) It's so hard to express how much Daddy and I want you to be a happy, healthy, confident little girl. I think one day you'll understand though. Always remember that Mommy loves you, Daddy loves you and Jesus loves you most of all.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Nine Months
Gracie hit the nine month mark on Monday. She has officially been in this world as long as I carried her in my tummy. It's strange to think about how different those nine months were from these. I spent a lot of time during the nine months I carried her sleeping and planning. Now I spend most of my time exploring and providing. I work in a little bit of house cleaning and some errands here and there but most of my day is spent watching Gracie explore her world and providing her with all of her needs.
She has become quite the adventurer. Sometimes I put her in the living room to play and head into the kitchen to do the dishes (don't worry we have a very open floor plan) and it's so fun to listen to her make her way around the living room and eventually end up at my feet in the kitchen. I can tell she is pleased with herself as she moves around the great room because every once in a while she squeals in delight. She squeals if she catches me watching her. She squeals if Preston starts to get excited about something. She squeals at the back door. She squeals when her Daddy walks through the garage door after work. Apparently we've never been apart long enough for her to get that excited about my reappearance. :)
She really is growing up so fast. She's still a baby but now she can crawl and cruise and walk behind the laundry basket (her mower toy with the wheels is a little too fast right now). She is even starting to express herself in new ways. She can scream and pout when a cell phone, or equally coveted item, is taken away from her. She can babble in ways that sometimes sound like conversation (I'll post a video on Sunday when my Vimeo account opens up again). She laughs when we laugh. She laughs at her own little inside jokes too.
The other day I was asking Matt if he remembered when she was so tiny and her hands just flailed about. She immediately popped me in the face as if to say, "Not anymore mom!" Sometimes I miss those days. I don't miss waking up in the middle of the night but I miss when she would just lay in my arms. Now she's hard to hold on to. Even when I'm putting her down for the night she tends to want to be in her crib. Maybe she'll go through a cuddly phase eventually.
We have her nine month check up tomorrow so I'll post her stats this weekend.
Note to Gracie:
When God made you He knew exactly what He was doing. He placed you in our family because He knew Dad and I had a spot that needed to be filled. When I picture my life now there are two parts - before Gracie and After Gracie. You make the after Gracie part brighter by the minute. Thank you for making our every day brighter.
She has become quite the adventurer. Sometimes I put her in the living room to play and head into the kitchen to do the dishes (don't worry we have a very open floor plan) and it's so fun to listen to her make her way around the living room and eventually end up at my feet in the kitchen. I can tell she is pleased with herself as she moves around the great room because every once in a while she squeals in delight. She squeals if she catches me watching her. She squeals if Preston starts to get excited about something. She squeals at the back door. She squeals when her Daddy walks through the garage door after work. Apparently we've never been apart long enough for her to get that excited about my reappearance. :)
She really is growing up so fast. She's still a baby but now she can crawl and cruise and walk behind the laundry basket (her mower toy with the wheels is a little too fast right now). She is even starting to express herself in new ways. She can scream and pout when a cell phone, or equally coveted item, is taken away from her. She can babble in ways that sometimes sound like conversation (I'll post a video on Sunday when my Vimeo account opens up again). She laughs when we laugh. She laughs at her own little inside jokes too.
The other day I was asking Matt if he remembered when she was so tiny and her hands just flailed about. She immediately popped me in the face as if to say, "Not anymore mom!" Sometimes I miss those days. I don't miss waking up in the middle of the night but I miss when she would just lay in my arms. Now she's hard to hold on to. Even when I'm putting her down for the night she tends to want to be in her crib. Maybe she'll go through a cuddly phase eventually.
We have her nine month check up tomorrow so I'll post her stats this weekend.
Note to Gracie:
When God made you He knew exactly what He was doing. He placed you in our family because He knew Dad and I had a spot that needed to be filled. When I picture my life now there are two parts - before Gracie and After Gracie. You make the after Gracie part brighter by the minute. Thank you for making our every day brighter.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Update for Aunt Janice
So I've put making a post off for quite a while. I guess you could say I've run out of things to say lately. I'm not exactly sure why. Gracie has definitely not stopped providing us with new and exciting milestones weekly. Maybe my brain has just been tired. I've been keeping up with video posts and pictures though. You can always check those out here:
photos
videos
I think Gracie's brain must be tired too. She just has more energy than me so she keeps right on using it to do amazing things every day. In the last two months she has hit several milestones and experienced many firsts. Here's the condensed version:
5/21 - rode in a shopping cart without her baby carrier
5/22 - Sat in a restaurant high chair
6/3 - tried whole peas (and hated them)
6/9 - first bad reaction to food (it was a gerber Hawaiian smoothie and the clean up was no fun)
6/13 - started crawling army style
6/27 - started getting to a sitting position by herself
6/29 - pulled to her feet
6/30 - crawled on all fours
7/2 - started saying "Ba-ba-ba-ba..."
7/6 - starting using M's and N's
7/9 - starting using pincer grasp to eat her puffs
7/13 - Top right tooth coming in
We also took a trip to the zoo. She did more people watching than animal watching and fell asleep in her stroller before we left but I think it was a pleasant trip.
Last week Matt's family came to town and we had fun hauling the two babies (Gracie and my niece MacKenzie) around Indiana. We went to the Children's Museum, did a lot of shopping and a lot of playing. It's always neat to see two little one's interact. They were definitely born with little personalities.
It makes me wonder what Gracie will be like as she grows up. Right now she's quite calm and seems very contemplative. She's constantly watching people and things as if she's trying to figure everything out. She laughs and smiles but not at the drop of a hat. Strangers in the grocery store really have to work to get her to smile (this secretly pleases me). We'll find something that makes her let out one of her deep chuckles but the next time we do it it's old news and not nearly as entertaining.
Just recently she has started laughing at Preston (our dachsund) when he scurries over to eat anything she's dropped out of her high chair. One tried and true practice that gets her giggling is a game I call One-Two-Three. I put her in the middle of our king size bed sitting up and stand at the edge of the bed. I swing my arms big as I say, "One...Two....Three" and I launch myself (gently) at her on the three. She's thinks it's wonderful. I wonder how long this will amuse her. Only Gracie knows.
photos
videos
I think Gracie's brain must be tired too. She just has more energy than me so she keeps right on using it to do amazing things every day. In the last two months she has hit several milestones and experienced many firsts. Here's the condensed version:
5/21 - rode in a shopping cart without her baby carrier
5/22 - Sat in a restaurant high chair
6/3 - tried whole peas (and hated them)
6/9 - first bad reaction to food (it was a gerber Hawaiian smoothie and the clean up was no fun)
6/13 - started crawling army style
6/27 - started getting to a sitting position by herself
6/29 - pulled to her feet
6/30 - crawled on all fours
7/2 - started saying "Ba-ba-ba-ba..."
7/6 - starting using M's and N's
7/9 - starting using pincer grasp to eat her puffs
7/13 - Top right tooth coming in
We also took a trip to the zoo. She did more people watching than animal watching and fell asleep in her stroller before we left but I think it was a pleasant trip.
Last week Matt's family came to town and we had fun hauling the two babies (Gracie and my niece MacKenzie) around Indiana. We went to the Children's Museum, did a lot of shopping and a lot of playing. It's always neat to see two little one's interact. They were definitely born with little personalities.
It makes me wonder what Gracie will be like as she grows up. Right now she's quite calm and seems very contemplative. She's constantly watching people and things as if she's trying to figure everything out. She laughs and smiles but not at the drop of a hat. Strangers in the grocery store really have to work to get her to smile (this secretly pleases me). We'll find something that makes her let out one of her deep chuckles but the next time we do it it's old news and not nearly as entertaining.
Just recently she has started laughing at Preston (our dachsund) when he scurries over to eat anything she's dropped out of her high chair. One tried and true practice that gets her giggling is a game I call One-Two-Three. I put her in the middle of our king size bed sitting up and stand at the edge of the bed. I swing my arms big as I say, "One...Two....Three" and I launch myself (gently) at her on the three. She's thinks it's wonderful. I wonder how long this will amuse her. Only Gracie knows.
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