Happy Birthday Katie

Katie is 4!

Katie, we love you SO much!  You bring us so much joy.  You have a timely sense of humor, big beautiful eyes that tell a story on their own, a willfulness that when directed positively will help you to accomplish greatness.  You are vivacious and tenderhearted.  It is difficult to get a good picture of your beautiful face while you are in your "shy" phase.  I will continue to encourage you and I know you will come out of it soon enough.

What a blessing that your sister is your best friend.  You love imaginative play with your dolls, and although you could entertain yourself for hours at a time, your enthusiasm encourages your (more analytic) sister to play with you.  I love this picture where I caught you and Abby holding hands at the aquarium.

Katie and Abby "scared" of the albino crocodile!

You are such a ham, and although you say hilarious things ALL the time, I can never remember what you said exactly to tell others.  Because, it's not so much what you say, as it is how you say it.  You have great comedic timing! And your expressions say more than your words.  

My favorite thing you do (and have done for a while now) is how you pray.  In your tiny little voice, you will pray for every member of our family-by name.  You pray for your friends AND their families-by name.  And every now and then you add "pray for the trees" or "pray for the windows", "pray for dance class & Abby's school", or any other random thing that comes through your mind as you sit their with your eyes shut tight.  More recently, you have cleverly, added..."and, I just pray for the whole world" to make sure you don't leave anything out.  You're so precious Katie!

As your daddy and I put you to bed tonight I gave you 3 big kisses and reminded you that this was your last night as a 3 year old.  You said, "it is!?...tomorrow I'll be 4...when will I be 5?"  Oh Katie, please don't grow up too fast.  Tomorrow you will be 4, and we will cherish each day as it comes, as you learn, and as you grow. 

I love you so much sweet girl!  

I love old people!

What a precious couple!  You can tell he's lost his patience with the technology and moved on to silliness.  So sweet and patient with one another!  I just love old people. 

Enjoy!

I Swear

Last week my daughter was playing with a toy that was not working properly and she exclaimed "dammit!"  My head shot up so fast and I asked "what did you just say?", to which she repeated "dammit".  I immediately brought her to me and began questioning where she heard this word.  We don't use that kind of language.  The only television she watches is Nick Jr. or an old Disney movie.  And our social circle is pretty limited to mostly church friends and family, none of whom speak that way, at least not around us.  She insisted that she made it up and didn't hear anyone or any thing use that word.  So I made sure she knew that it was not a good word, and expressed that now that she knows it is not a good word if I ever hear it again she will be in big trouble!!  


I talked to Jessie later that day about what happened.  We were trying to figure out where she might have heard that word, or how she might have made it up.  I was personally convicted of words that I often use.  I like to call them Christian curse words.  You know, "dang-it", "crap", "freakin", and a few others.  In our home even "stupid" is a bad word as my children occasionally remind me.  My thought is that if by chance she did make up this word, maybe it came from her hearing my occasional use of "dang-it".  By most standards, there isn't anything wrong with these slang words.  But I know that for me it is more of a heart issue.  When I am using these words they are generally an expression of frustration, anger, annoyance, or some other negative emotion.  The way in which I use these words makes them really no different than the true curse word they are replacing--since the "real" words are used under the same circumstances of anger and frustration.  


The Word of God says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29


I am making a personal effort to watch these words and hold myself to the same standard that I have established for my children which is based on the Word of God.

Big girls don't cry

Katie got her ears pierced!  She was so brave!  -braver than I was as a little girl.  Although, I would like to think that the technology has improved. ;) 

She sure can shed some tears when necessary, so I was certain after the first ear it would take some coaxing to get her through the second.  But I was wrong.  She can be stubborn, or determined rather.  She can be strongly determined either for or against whatever she puts her mind to (I don't know where she get's that from).  In this case, she was determined to be brave because she was too excited to wait any longer.

My baby girl is growing up.  So I will hold in my tears and be brave like my Katie.

My sweet boy

Wesley is now 4 months old.  I know at this point there is not a whole lot a baby can do..leaving very little to write about. But this blog isn't so much for you my reader as it is for my boy. 

Wesley, you fill my heart up.  I love spending time with you: tickling you making you laugh & "talk".  I have prayed over you since your daddy and I found out you were coming.  I have prayed for God's protection, health, for a gentle spirit, and many other things.  You are such a sweet baby.  You make everyone feel so special with your big smile.  I love that you smile with your whole body..you wiggle with excitement and your eyes are so full of joy. 

Your sisters absolutely adore you.  And other than the "accidental" hair pull, you love all the attention they give you.  When I look at you sometimes, I remember holding Abby and Katie when they were your size: singing to them, tickling them, bath time, tummy time and even the fussy moments and a few long nights...and I cherish it all.  I LOVE who they have become and the fun and challenging days that have brought them to where they are now.  And I look forward to growing with you and seeing you through those fun stages of childhood.

You look so much like your daddy, and I hope you're just like him when you get older.  He is a great man of God, a quiet & gentle leader, an excellent father & husband.  He knows how to look at himself and situations and make changes for the better.  You have an excellent example in your daddy!  And I am so thankful for that. 

You're such a good baby!  You have 2 teeth already, they both came in this week.  And rather than fussing and doing the normal baby stuff during this tough milestone, you practically slept through it!  You seriously slept your usual 12 hr night plus 3 solid naps.  I'm thankful and flabergasted at how great of a baby you are.  I have no doubt that at some point in your life you will jokingly rub that in your sister's faces. :)  But be nice because they will remember how much you spit up!!  Seriously, I don't know how you have those chunky legs when you seem to spit up more than you take in..it's unbelievable!

My girls have taught me so much about myself and parenting, and my boy will bring new learning experiences into the mix.  I look forward to the adventure! But take your time sweet boy...please take your time.