Emily

Emily at 31 months.

~She has added more to her vocabulary in the last 3 months than Caroline ever did in a 3 month period.  It's like she finally got the reasoning for using words (as opposed to grunts), and just ran with it.

~One of my favorite things she says on a regular basis is "I had a fun time!" How sweet is that?

~She is probably one of the funniest children I've ever met.  Between her spunk and the way she forms some of her words, she just keeps us cracking up all of the time.

~She is definitely probably the most strong-willed (so far) of my children, so that can be frustrating.  We are learning that no two children are exactly alike, and that discipline, although generally the same, sometimes needs to be tailored to the particular child.

~Emily and Caroline are growing closer and closer every day. 

~Emily and James just antagonize each other every day. Ha! They're cut from the same fabrice, those two!

~She is finally learning Bible verses and other memory work.  I go over Bible verses and catechisms with the children, and have been recently surprised by how much she has absorbed and can now repeat! Thank you, Lord! The words of Scripture in a young child's mouth are just so precious to me.

~She is hilariously clumsy, always walking into stationary objects.  Yes, even more so than me!

~Lastly, she absolutely loves Colbie Caillat! Ha.  Who'd have guessed? It's fun to hear her sing to it.

Oh, how I love this girl! Our family truly would not be complete without what she brings to it.  I continue to pray for God to save her early. It will be exciting to see how God will use her tenacity for life and her energy to further His kingdom!! I am truly blessed to be this girl's mother!

Emily and Elmo

As anyone who has read this blog for any length of time knows, my little Emi loves Elmo!  I got this tutu for her birthday several months ago, but never put her in it until now.  I hope to do a few more photo shoots with her in it in the future, but until then, here are two of my favorite pictures so far.  Enjoy!

P.S. Life has gotten crazy in the summer, so I clearly haven't posted as much!  I hope to start posting more regularly this autumn! We'll see how it goes. 

A Few Faves from April

In lieu of not writing very often in April, I'll give a brief update, and then I'll get the good stuff--the pictures. :) 

We mainly spent the month becoming well--all of us.  I am so grateful, because it has been a couple of weeks without any sickness. The kids' doctor is hoping that our current stay in Florida will help continue to dry up any fluid in all ears and chests!

About the only notable thing we did in April was to visit Adam's parents in WV.  It was a fun time with family.  The girls got to see both uncles, and aunt, and a future aunt. ;)  I am sad that we don't live closer to any of the kids' aunts and uncle, but am so grateful for the times when we do get to see them.

Here are some pictures from the month:

This, my friends is Emi: Huge smile when happy (albeit slightly mischievous), bright eyes, and some form of bruise, scab, etc. from playing (and crashing) hard!!!

Sweet Caroline

My boy!

Dandelion dust---What is it about these things? I still love to blow the seeds away myself!

I am happy to report that as of tonight, my children seem to show no signs of any sickness. I am so grateful!!!

First thing in the morning, we'll be heading over to West Virginia.  Adam's youngest brother is getting married in June, and the boys are getting fitted for tuxedos tomorrow; in lieu of that, Adam's going in, and we're going along for the ride (and the weekend!).

Due to the fact that I was still recovering from the stomach virus, we didn't make it out of the house for Easter/Resurrection Sunday services, which we were really bummed about, but I went ahead and dressed the kids up, and took a few pictures. Enjoy!

Sick . . . Again

Yep, that's right.  On Monday night, Adam called me home from grocery shopping because Emi had started vomiting.  As of today, we had, however misguidedly, decided that it must be food poisoning.  Well, tonight, Caroline came down with it. 

I'm really hoping that it stops with her.  We'll see.

I did want to share one thing that God has taught me through all of this.  It's been hard having the kids so sick for so long, and then when Adam called me about Emi, I just began to kind of complain to God.  Why me?  They finally just got over months of (off-and-on) sickness! 

So silly.  And these thoughts came only hours after I watched the video of Zac Smith's story below.

I have been so guilty of "selling short" what God is doing in my life.  The pastor at the church we've been attending encouraged the congregation about the way God works in a Christian's life by reminding us that God uses it all (sickness, traffic frustration,  death,etc.) to further mold us into the image of Christ!

I truly don't wish for trials.  Sorry.  BUT, it almost makes me want to say, "bring it on!!!"  :) How I long to reflect Christ's image way more than I know that I currently do now.  If only we could skip ahead in the sanctification process, right? :)

Anyhow, I found myself praying that God wouldn't let the illness affect anyone else (and I do still pray for that), when families like that of Zac's are dealing with way more, and doing it in an amazingly God-glorifying way!!!!  A stomach virus is such a silly thing in the grand scheme of things. I don't think it's wrong to pray to be rid of it, but I think I need to keep perspective, and look out and around at the many people who are going through trials of way greater consequence.

May God use my trials and your trials to grow us and glorify Himself.  Let is be so . . .

Here's the Zac Smith video:


The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

A Date With My Daughter

On Saturday, I was able to take each girl out by herself for some one-on-one time with me.  My first date was with Emi. 

In the car, getting ready to go--she was pretty excited! :)

We went to The Hub, which is a coffee shop in a nearby town. I really enjoyed this spunky little girl, and hope to do more of these dates in the future!

First things first--she had to have juice!  She doesn't get to drink much of that at home, so this was a special treat!

This was mommy's priority (2nd only to Emily, of course, ha!).  I had quiche, fresh fruit, salad.  I aint lyin', I didn't touch the salad.  ;)

Emi took one bite, and decided her baked granola bar was going to be too messy, so she improvised with the ole napkin-bib dealie.

Still workin' on it.  She wouldn't let me help her, so the process lasted at least 2-3 minutes!

Done . . . FINALLY! . . . Then she proceeded to take it off, throw it down, and take the next bite!!!! She cracks me up!

I love this one! Please excuse the crumbs!

Have I mentioned how much I love her?

My Little Beauties

Well, James, Emily and I are all sick.  Lovely.  I'm hoping we'll kick this thing soon, though.

Janelle, whom you might remember from my September 4th post just had her first baby, a girl, Emma Elizabeth!  I'm so excited for them, and hope to add many pink and purple crocheted items to her wardrobe!

Anyhow, I broke out the camera a little bit today, and these are a few of my favorites:

A New Outfit for Emi

Isn't this tutu outfit adorable?  I just ordered it for Emi as a late birthday present, and I can't wait to get it.  She's going to love it! I mean, come on; it's got Elmo on it!  And, it'll be so much fun to take pictures of her in it in the spring-time!

If you have a girl that you'd love to order a tutu for, I found this one (among many other adorable ones) at Sweetie Pie Tutus.  She has had over 2500 sales, with no negative feedback.  Also, most of her tutu sets come with a free matching headband!

Emi + Elmo = Elmi?

Oh, how I love her!

Daddy's Girls

Look at these gals. They sure love and adore their daddy. I am so grateful that Adam is the type of father that invests in his girls so much that they adore him like they do!

Emi's Sweet Ride

Anyone who knows Emily quickly becomes aware of the fact that she absolutely loves and adores Elmo.  Silly, perhaps, but I find it absolutely endearing!

On a warmer day earlier in January, Adam let the girls play outside on their big wheels.  I was gone a the time, and came home to find Elmo taped to Emi's bike.  How precious is that?!?

She absolutly loves it of course, and everytime she sees him, she gets very excited!

Don't you love Elmo's face on the center bottom picture of the collage?!?  That about sums up the way she treats him sometimes!

Down Whoaw

"Down Whoaw!"  -- This is Emily's version of the phrase, "Down low."  She loves to give fives, almost as much as she loves Elmo.

Almost.

A Few Favorites From Emi's Birthday

I am not finished editing Emi's birthday photos, but I thought I'd post a few that I finished.  I'm not very happy with them, but at least you'll get an idea! :)

TWO

It is amazing to me how, in two years, the life of my family has become so much richer.  Two years ago today, we welcomed our precious Emily Faith into the world!

Fifteen months, to the day, after her bigger sister was born, she came to us with the same birth measurements and all!

She weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces, and was 20 1/2 inches long.  Every bit of her was just precious and still absolutely is!!! We love this child!

She loves to play games, for example, peekaboo and any game involving being tickled or tickling other people!

She has always had the sweetest smile, but as she's matured, she's learned to turn on the charm with it when she knows she's in trouble!  It sure makes discipline hard when she has such a contagious grin and silly spirit!

She is so physically affectionate.  She loves her hugs, and liberally gives kisses, too.  If you so much as leave the room, she wants a hug before you go!

And those eyes! Oh my, those eyes!  So beautiful and so expressive!!!

She doesn't hold a grudge, and she very rarely whines.  She already has the ability to let go of hurt feelings when she's been wronged.  This is a trait I greatly admire, and pray that I develop more.

Emily, I love you, my sweet girl!  You are such a beautiful example of God's grace to me.  I do not deserve you, or the privilege of parenting you, but here you are.  And I am grateful!  How I pray for your salvation.  I can already see how God could use the qualities and gifts that you possess.

You're a beautiful and genuine little girl, and I love you more than I ever thought I could love anyone! Happy birthday, baby!