BIG GIRL CAR SEAT!

Ella finally made the transition to the big girl car seat! She thinks it's so COOL that she can see out AND watch mommy and daddy in the front seat!

All By Ourselves...................

Ella's in Nashville visiting the family for a few days, and Michael and I don't know what to do with ourselves! We're having a great time, but she's rarely away from us when we don't have a jam-packed schedule of events! Life has been so busy here lately- it's been nice not to have such an agenda for once! We found ourselves at Pizza Hut last night at 5pm with the other two elderly couples in Conway. Ha! Michael said he really got worried when I suggested we go to Lowe's and walk around for awhile! ha! So, it's been nice to relax by ourselves for a few days, but we sure miss our sweet girl! We keep thinking we hear her on the baby monitor! We're so thankful to have family she can spend time with! We know she's being spoiled rotten! (at least we'll be able to blame it on someone else this week) =)

.....All..by...ourselves,......don't-wanna-live.....all...by...ourselves, ANY-MORE!!!...
(insert dramatic music here) =)

Ella's One-Year Check-Up!

"I know you did not just say shot!"

"Dear God, please don't let the shots hurt, Amen."

Ella's one-year check up went very well (besides those yucky shots)! Here are her latest stats:

Weight: 20lbs., 9oz
Height: 29 in.

Dr. Lucas pointed out immediately that Ella loves her orange veggies!! Daddy and I just thought her skin was getting darker!! =) No problem, our little girl's just rich in beta-carotene, lycopene, and has a nice tan for January! =)
She is changing so fast every day! She's not walking yet, but I know it's just right around the corner! She just won't let go! Why would a gal need to walk when she can get anywhere she wants, and very fast at that???!! She LOVES to take things in and out of drawers, cabinets, pacey's food bowl =(, etc. She loves an audience!! We are instructed to clap after every task is complete!! She loves to talk on the phone! She smiles at every person who passes us in the grocery store, whether they smile back or not! She's definitely a little social bug!!
Her favorite new foods are blueberry muffins, teddy grahams, and WW bread, but she still loves her baby veggies and of course, that good milk!
Her favorite toys right now are her new shopping cart (complete with groceries she can strow) and her shapes stacker. She loves anything that plays music- she's becoming quite the dancer!
We are anxious for the weather to warm up so we can go for more wagon rides! It's gonna be a fun spring!

Hi Mrs. Emily Mc. !!

Mrs. Emily Mc,
We found out recently that you frequently visit our blog, so we just wanted to say "hi", and tell you how much we're praying for you right now!! We hope that you find healing and comfort today and in the coming days!!
"And the God of all grace....after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you..."- I Peter 5:10

Happy First Birthday Ella!!

Check out my Slide Show!

Merry Christmas.......

.......in all of the chaos of gifts to be bought, cards to be sent, presents to buy, gifts to wrap, food to make, travels to make, we can all feel overwhelmed this time of year. I'm sitting at my kitchen table right now watching my little girl in her Christmas dress playing with the only ornament she's picked from the tree all season. It's one I pointed out to her to hold for a moment just to take her picture, finally - for Christmas cards. She is so peaceful, so innocent, so precious, so full of light. I just read the following story with tears in my eyes at how easily caught-up we can get this time of year in such trivial aspects of the season. Thank you, God, for reminding me through a friend just what really matters.

A BABY'S HUG


We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi there." He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes we crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed.

His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. "Hi there, baby; Hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster," the man said to Erik.

My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?" Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi, hi there." Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a- boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo."

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. "Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed.

As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's "pick-me-up" position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's.

Suddenly a very old, smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love relationship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.

I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby." Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that contained a stone. He pried Erik from his chest unwillingly, longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, "God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift." I said nothing more than a muttered thanks.

With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, "My God, my God, forgive me." I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes.

I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, "Are you willing to share your son for a moment?" when He shared His for all eternity. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, "To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become as little children."