Half a Year

Well half a year is in the record books for Miss Adelyn Camille (and let's be honest, in two days, she'll be seven months)!

The Lord tears your heart open and pours Himself into you like you've never imagined the first time you get your hands on your baby.  For the first time, you get a glimpse into what true, unequivocal, unconditional love feels like.  You cannot imagine that this feeling could ever be repeated.  And then you hold another one, specifically given to you, and you find that it very much can.  And every day for the past 6 (really 7, oops) months deepens that feeling.

Addy girl, what an absolute JOY you are! 

I love that you are still a mama's girl and your best smiles and giggles go to your daddy.  You have developed an enormous amount of patience with a brother that just oh so desperately wants to play with you.  Good thing you think he's pretty funny! 

You can sit up now, but would much rather get to your stomach to try to crawl or dig your heels in to try to stand up.  But, you're still a big fan of lying on your back so you can play with your feet.  You watch so intently while I cook dinner, already my little pal.  You seem to have a more broad palette than your brother did (doesn't take much to reach that bar) at the three meal times a day.   It's a wonder any baby food gets into your mouth at all because, my dear, you are unbelievably messy at meal times.  I love that you are a good snuggler, and love even more that you are such a peaceful sleeper. 

Isser (your brother's name for you), you are such a pumpkin.  So thankful for you!

5 Months and Big Boy Changes

Adelyn turned 5 months old last week, and what a joy she has been!

Addy girl is really showing a lot of personality and interacts so much with us these days.  She loves to copy you blowing raspberries at her, will giggle for her Daddy, is becoming thoroughly entertained by her brother, and, thankfully, is still a bit of a Mama's girl :).  She is still a great sleeper, sleeping from 7:45 at night to 7/7:30 in the morning.  What can I say...she gets her sleeping habits from her mother's side!  Per dr orders, we've tried some solids, and she's getting better at it.  Adelyn is getting close to being able to sit up and is just oh so fun.

We are so thankful for this sweet little lady!

And what about the D man?

Well, we made the switch...to the big boy bed!  After a few tears the first night and lots of loving from mom and dad, we all made it.

Come today!

I saw one of my new all-time favorite movies last week.  LOVE it!  I had read the book (which is incidentally, one of my all-time favorite books), and am always a bit hesitant to see how a novel gets played out on the silver screen.  But I could not have been more impressed with how it was so wonderfully done.

As I sat in the theater, I laughed at the humor, smiled at the enduring friendships, but most often my heart ached.  I watched as these people were, in a nutshell, experiencing the heart-ache of an imperfect world.  Sure I experience it every day, but there in so much more than black and white, was it so clear.  And it made me ache, for myself, for others, but mostly for my babies who were sleeping peacefully in my bed.

My heart is already aching for the tears that will come the first time that they experience a cruel judgment, a disappointment, a hardship.  All are inevitable for each of them, both as a recipient, but sadly as also instigator.  We have all been judged and have judged.  They will be no different.  Just another symptom of a world that has been tainted.

We live in an inevitably imperfect world, but we have a perfect Savior.  I, admittedly, get a little bit of anxiety at the thought of the rapture.  I have no fear of meeting my Savior in the "traditional" way, for whatever reason, the image of the rapture would freak me out a bit.  I've read books explaining it, participated in discussions, but still, the unknown of it seemed so unnerving.  Until now, until having children. No more pain, no more suffering for those who know Jesus as Lord - YES!  The idea that those sweet little ones would not have to experience the hardships of a sin-filled world... AMEN!  Thank you Lord for using something as simple as a non-religious movie to assure me how wonderful Your second coming will be.

Once again, the Lord used my parenting role to retierate the love He has for us.  The protective, loving feeling I experience does not even match His feeling for us.  He does not want his children to suffer.  He gave us His son to redeem us, and one day He will have the final victory.  Lord Jesus, come today!

The Next Generation of Buddies

Given that these little pumpkins have parents that have been friends for decades, these kids are destined for many, many adventures together.  Good thing they like one another!

Of course it took several pictures to try to get one of them all.

Davis (2 yrs), Adelyn (3 mths), Will (4 mths), Anna (2 yrs)

Daddy and His Babies

Daddy and Addy

In the middle of bedtime stories

Such sweet times!!

3 Months

Our little lady has been with us for three months, and what a blessing it has been!

Addy Girl is such a sweetheart, a bit of a mama's girl (which anyone who knows Davis knows he's a Daddy's boy.  So I have to admit, it's kind of nice :) ), and already showing signs of her feminine nature.  She has such a girly whimper when something scares her and can be a tad dramatic if her brother loves her just a little too hard.  It has been so fun noticing the differences in boys versus girls, even in these early, early stages.

Some tid bits on our little bit:
- Rolling from her tummy to her back more often, but hasn't accomplished the opposite direction quite yet. 
- Totally a hand/finger sucker
- Smiles more and more each day and beginning to laugh.  Priceless, love when they start to show signs of a little person!
- Loves a good gab session of "cooing"
- PRAISE THE LORD!  Giving all the glory to God on this one - she's on a dependable schedule!  For those that know me well, know that the planner in me is just thrilled!
- Eats 4.5-6 oz every 3 hours during the day.  Made the switch to formula at 8 weeks and she has been a happy camper!
- Another big hallelujuah to God - She's slept through the night 7 straight nights!  Leary about saying we're there for good in fear of jinxing it.  But she goes to bed for the night at 8 and up for the day at 7/7:30 (with the last week's worth of nights without interruption, again fingers crossed and prayers a'prayin' that it continues).  She takes two short naps in the morning and a long nap in the afternoon. 
- Growing out of her clothes!  She's now in 3-6 months clothes.  Which means it's shopping time for Mommy! 
- Gotten pretty good about sitting in the Bumbo.  Loves her swing, mobile and playmat
- Losing her hair, but looks like she's keeping those blue eyes.  They keep getting lighter and brighter.
- Is told that she looks like the Green side of the family, and I totally agree

Adelyn is such a blessing and we are so thankful for this little lady!

Cuteness