A quarter of a century

I have always had an older sister, older cousins, older friends, older co-workers, older husband. I have always been the young one. But I too am growing older and just growing, as a lover of Christ, lover of my family. I wish I could go back and tell my 16 year old self to relax... The Lord has THE PERFECT man for you that will pursue you and love you like crazy. I wish I could go back and tell my 16 year old self to be kind to everyone because they are all fighting a hard battle. It's in these perfect moments now in life that will strengthen me when I need it, when things are rough. But I can't help but shed tears of joy now for all of this mercy in this life that I don't deserve.
My beautiful home and sweet son and daughter are what I always wanted. But I want most for them to see that Christ is all that matters. No matter what else happens.

Liam,
You are almost three. I want the time to just stand still with you. You are so full of joy, life, playfulness and love.
You can't stay away from Penelope. You kiss and play and talk to her all day. You call her "p baby" and you are starting to boss her around- telling her shh quiet, no, no, no p baby, etc.
You really enjoy building blocks, playing with trains, coloring. You say build tunnel and trains talk... You always want your stool to help me with any task- doing the dishes etc, you say help clean.
You think daddy and me are so funny. Tonight we were play wrestling in the kitchen and you said you hurt me!
You say momma, me Liam a treat at target :)
You talk about your upcoming 3rd birthday party at the fire station all the time- several times a day. You want to make sure momma and daddy and p baby will be there!
You love staying at grandcraig and Lindsey's. you want to leave our wing and go to their side all the time.
You love to go to church and community group.
You love play place- which includes all about kids, chick fil a and the playground.
Tonight you ate 5 meatballs and sauce and spaghetti for dinner.
You love chocolate milk.
You like to pick out your clothes- your fave is train, car, bike, truck shirts.
You run in our room every morning so happy to see us and you always come to my side, you say hi with a big smile on your face. I say hi and you say morning. I say did you have a good night with good dreams and you say good!
Me and daddy call you and each other friend so you have started mimicking that.
We couldn't be more proud of the big boy you are becoming and pray for God's grace to work in your heart that you see your sin and need for Him.
We pray you love God more than anyone or anything.

Thank you for teaching me patience and to enjoy every minute!

Love,
Your mom

2013 is going to be good

Why is keeping up with blogging so difficult sometimes? I guess like everything else once you haven't done something in a long time it's hard to pick it back up again.

This blog is largely centered around the kiddos so I will start there...

Liam is learning so much everyday. We have seen a huge jump in communication with him these last few months. He can (in his own way) express pretty much anything he wants... I'll write down a few words he can say:

hand, help, more, milk, stay, birds, bar (cereal bar), o's (cherrios), juice, chair, door, open, close, car, train, truck, go, not yet, sorry, love, momma, dada, g (for my mom), gancaig (for grand craig for my dad), church, god, cup, bowl, spoon, house, ball, snack, show, dark, scary, no, yes, potty, shirt, hair, mouth, eyes, boo-boo, ear, party, blue, green, red, yellow, one, two, five, nine, bread, it's hot, it's cold, down, too high, her turn, my turn, baby, big, too big, in there, chase, jack, up, down, snow, rain, tire, water, bubble, wipe, diaper, okay, please, pants, it's all gone, I don't know where it go, I got it, bike, yes ma'am, sorry, thank you, there you go, see it.
He has more words than this, than I can count. If I had to guess I would say 300?

We are so proud of his hard work and thankful that God is allowing his little mind to grow and expand. He is so fun and energetic. Liam is going to be really funny like his daddy, he makes everything in his whole day fun, work, play and everything in between he likes to be silly and laugh. He loves to run and play and be outside. He also really enjoys doing craft time with painting and play dough. He is doing great with potty training. He goes #1 in the potty all the time but we are still working on #2. I am just being very patient with it. Honestly I thought he wouldn't start until 3 so I am pleased with his interest and attention to want to go potty. He adds so much joy to our lives. It's so neat to see yourself and your spouses personalities combined into one little 2 year old.  

He is also learning other things that are more fine and gross motor skills, like putting his getting dressed and undressed, getting his stool when he needs it and brushing teeth more on his own, washing hands more on his own, turning lights on and off, getting things he needs for himself, he is really growing in independence. He still likes to snuggle with his blanket and a watch a show with me after nap time and before bedtime so I am loving that he still needs his momma. 

My sweet little Penelope is a little doll, she is always smiling and now always eating! She was a huge nurser and now she spends much of her day in her high chair eating big girl food, she still wants to nurse often, I do not see her weaning anytime soon. She is 8 months old and she is busy! She has been crawling for a month or more now and she can go from all positions- laying, sitting, crawling, standing. She isn't cruising yet, but I think it won't be long?!? sniff... I think I baby her more than Liam- I still think of her as a little newborn, when I see pictures of her I'm like wow my child is not that big! She has 1 tooth. She still wakes up once a night to eat around 3:00am and goes right back down. She sleeps on her side in the fetal position snuggling with her little giraffe pink lovie with a bink in her mouth. She enjoys big puzzles, stacking cups, baby dolls, Liam's cars, puffs, oranges, waving, saying dada and momma and night night. She is wearing 6-12 months clothes. She is really attached to me but also happy when others hold her. She is the happiest when I hold her and someone else talks to her. She think anything Liam does is the best thing ever even when he pounces on her. :) The other day I took a shower and left them playing- very close by ( 5 feet from the shower) and when I came out Liam had colored on her face and was feeding her play dough! They are definitely getting more mischievous. Side note: I had no idea he could open a container of play dough!

Liam's schedule keeps us busy with preschool 2 days a week and therapy 2 days a week, leaving us with one totally free day. 

We love being back in Louisville. We are still staying at my dad and Lindsey's house and they are so sweet and accommodating to us! They have given us plenty of space to use! We are looking for a house right now. Out target date is beginning of summer but our schedule is somewhat flexible. I surely hope God allows us to find the right home in 2013! 

Will is doing so great at his job and his schedule is flexible so he gets to come home for lunches most days. I still love my job too (I just work 1 day a week). 

We are obsessed with our church. I have grown more spiritually in the last few months than I have in the past few years. I learned to trust God the most when Liam was born so little and sick, but I have desired God more now than ever. Our community group is amazing- truely a group of believers to live life together, to pray for each other, to lean on each other, to have fun with one another. 

The first 5 years of our marriage have been a blast and little chaotic, so we are trying to plan the next 5 years to be a little more boring ;)

I am just soaking up the time with these babies because before we know it they will be in school and not spending their mornings with me playing blocks and coloring/
Loving this stage God has placed our family in. Praying for patience until we are in our own place.