2011 in Review

I love making photo books!  Snapfish seems to have the best prices.  Here is a look back at 2011.http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/projectshareewelcome/l=13794351013/p=637261324971030457/g=102928370/cobrandOid=1000/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/otsc=SYE/otsi=SPBKlink/

Christmas Update 2011

     It is hard to believe that our little girl is almost 2 years old.  Time sure flies by when you are having fun, and we are having lots of fun.  Lily loves to sing songs, dance, and color pictures.  She is certainly a talker and is just about potty trained, but still occasionally sucks her thumb.  This fall she had her 1st hair trim, a trip to the pumpkin patch, the Tx state Fair, and lots of fun with family.  I'll attach some pictures ;)  We thank God everyday for our little bundle of joy and are amazed as she grows and changes.
     Joe & I are doing well.  Joe & his business partner were both blessed with an opportunity to work on contract with a national company.  This has been a huge blessing for our family, as it allows Joe to work regular hours and still do some independent appraisals on the side.  I am teaching 8th grade English Language Arts this year and continuing to serve as Department Chair for our campus.  I am also working on team designing a new summer program for students learning English (as a 2nd language).  Teaching is truly my ministry and I thank you for your continued prayers for my students and fellow teachers.  I am enjoying having some of the same students this year that I had as 6th graders.  It is exciting to see their growth and I treasure your prayers for them all.
  We are so blessed and thankful for our friends and families.  We love you all & would love to hear from you.  Merry Christmas & many blessing for a Happy New Year.

April 8, 2011

Lily had her 15mth check up today. No shots - so thankful!  She is a healthy happy girl and we had a special lunch after at Chic-fil-e.

Stats: 21 lbs 13.2 oz (34%)
31in (65%)

Easter pix

We took Lily to take some pictures for Easter.  I was so excited because she waved and waved at the bunny.  But of course when we got up to it she freaked out and refused to sit in its lap.  She relaxed just enough when I sat beside her. Then waved and waved and waves as we left.

Here's a link to other pictures we took that evening.

https://viewimages.jcpportraits.com/sharealbum/sharealbumlist?rndId=BgYDAQQ=&uId=AgEFCANO

Mini-vacation

We took a quick weekend trip down to Kema with the Guedrys.  It was great to hang out with the family and the weather was beautiful!  Lily did so well, and experienced her first ferry ride.

Lily and Pa

I love this pic.  I was that little girl walking to the mailbox with grandpa hundreds of times. Now it is my little girl. Just a special moment.

A heart of compassion

Every night as I put Lily to bed I pray over her.  She has a little prayer bear that and we pray along with, "now I lay me down to sleep..."

By the way, I guess thinking of possible death before sleep was considered tramatic for this generation, the ending has changed now to, "your love be with me through the night and wake me with the morning light." I actually really like the new version, but it is funny that toy-makers would change the prayer.

Anyway, after we pray with the bear I pray, "God bless Lily. Give her sweet dreams, and a heart that loves you and cares for others."  Nothing eloquent about it and, of course, in my personal prayer time I pray many things over my baby girls heart. But, this morning she was carrying around her little baby doll which was unusual.  Lately, all she wants to carry around is "dog." (she has several dogs and doesn't care which one, but she will walk around the house calling "dog, dog, dog" until she finds one.

Again, I'm babbling.  I want to tell you that I burst into tears when she set her baby down and stuck her cereal up to its mouth to feed her.  I know that developmentally she is beginning to interact more with her toys and playmates, but it was so sweet to see her caring for her baby doll- I couldn't help it. 

I can't believe how fast she is growing up. I tell her every morning that she must have grown over night - I have to be careful not to catch her feet on the railing as I lift her out of bed. So, part of my tears were, like every mother, sorrowful that my baby is growing up so fast.  But, it was more than that.  They were also tears of gratitude, that God is at work teaching her to care for others- answering my prayer.

You may think I'm very silly to put so much thought into a simple and very
normal gesture.  But, I am going to claim it as a little sign God's faithfulness to answer prayer and I will be persistent and specific with my prayers over Lily.  I hope you will be encouraged to pray with persistence, speak goodness over your loved ones, and be watchful for little signs of God's faithfulness.

Snow days

February has brought ice snow and rest. Early Tuesday morning the a beautiful white blanket settled over North Tx and closed businesses and schools for the rest of the week.
Lily and Mommy stayed in and stayed warm while Daddy braved the weather and went to work -part of the blessing of self-employment.  We are very thankful that God has kept us safe and warm. 

March 23

She just looks so grown up today. We are back to school after a week off for spring break. For the first time in a very long time Lily cried a little when I dropped her off at daycare. Broke my heart, but I'm certain she got over it quickly and had a great time with her friends.  She is using the potty several times every day now and learning to eat with a spoon.  She loves music! And I don't know where she learned it but that little girl can boogie! When the music starts she shakes her little bootie side to side and claps her hands and grins.

She says "baby, ball, mama, daddy, duck, mmmm, DOG, Bible"
When we read Good Night Moon and get to the part when the old lady says "shh" Lily screams.  She also screams when we play little piggies with her toes- just in time for the little piggy to squeal wee wee wee. In fact, the bath tub is her favorite place to scream and shout.
She loves her daddy and she has just started putting together the phrase my daddy and my momma.
She says "Nanna, Papaw, Pappaw, Lala," and calls Bobbie "Bobboo" -we can't figure out why.

She loves to be tickled and LOVES to go outside.

She gives hugs and blows kisses.

She has daddy's curls buy they are blonde, and his blue eyes.

Long but lean she is in 12mth clothes but some 6-9 still fit her well.  Yes, she is 14 1/2 mths old. We just moved up to size 4 diapers and shoes. I haven't measured her lately but she is right about 1/2 my height.

Oh, and I forgot to mention she is running and climbing! She says roar-any time she sees a lion, tiger, bear, or monster, ooaa for monkeys, and meow for cats.

I really intended for this to be an update not a brag-fest LOL
All that she is does and will be is truly and completely the grace of God.  Joe and I do not push her to do new things we just play and snuggle and tickle and enjoy every minute.

We would love for you to join the fun sometime.
God bless you.