Baby giggles, sunshine, and worship

Last week, Mike and I attended the Acts29 Pastor's Retreat in Miami, Florida.  I am so thankful for the relationships I have been able to make with other pastors wives and I feel that time away with my honey to recharge and be encouraged is vital to lifelong ministry.  This is the book from my welcome packet this year and I'm pretty sure someone has been following me around, because it is absolutely perfect for me in this stage of life! I love the author and her book Glimpses of Grace, Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home really ministered to my heart so I am eager to see what God will teach me through this book!

I also had the joy of hearing Jani Ortlund teach one morning.  Her message was about the desert and how each of us at some point in our Christian lives, will enter a desert season.  She spoke about how God meets us there and sometimes, it is only in the desert that he can draw us closer and shower us with grace.  It is often where he grows our character the most and definitely where he reveals his heart and provision for our lives.  It was such a blessing to me and as I took notes that morning one line stood out to me the most.  

"The desert is the only way out of your Egypt".

I am so thankful that when I am weary and discouraged, my God is there.  He has a plan that I can't always see and when my flesh doubts his goodness and my heart leads me to anxiety, I can be reminded that he is for me.  It is in the desert that he scorches the idols that pull my heart away and shows me that really he is ALL I have.  Grace is beautiful.

The retreat also offered childcare for children under one year old, which means little Violet made the trip too! She was such a good baby and an easy traveler. Where better to celebrate your eight month birthday than in South Beach, right? 

This sweet girl is my little adventure baby.  Here is what she is doing at eight months old. 

* crawling EVERYWHERE and getting faster
* loves to splash and play in the water
* giggles and tries to follow Abigail through the house 
* laughs when you tickle her or kiss her belly 
* trying to stand up in her crib 
* started taking her bath with Abigail at night.  This is probably the highlight of my nights.  Two sweet giggling babies playing and laughing in the tub is precious!

After two refreshing days of worship and teaching, Mike and I got a car and made our way down to Key Largo.  We stopped at a quiet little beach and let our water baby splash around.  Baby giggles and sunshine are just good for my soul, y'all! 

Of course, I married a Colombian so after a quick dip in the ocean, we were off to find a spot to watch the World Cup.  We ended up in Isla Morada at a somewhat hidden treasure known at Morada Bay.  Fabulous. We watched the World Cup with a few locals at a quiet beachside bar.  The food and views were fabulous.  We will definitely be back!

I think we are both feeling rested and excited to see what God will do through us and our church this year.  Sometimes all you need is a break from your daily grind so that you can be still with God and let him love on you. 

Violet {Seven Months}

Oh my word.  I love little baby feet!  I tried to sit Violet on her pretty quilt and take a few pictures, but she was much more interested in trying to eat the grass so I snapped a few pictures of those pretty toes!

Sweet Violet turned seven months old this week.  I'm pretty sure I may have a crawler in the next few weeks which I am not ready for.  She is spending a lot of time rocking in quadruped and has figured out how to sit up from being on her belly.  Watch out world!

This is what Violet is doing at seven months:
*She has two new teeth!
* She LOVES the water.  Bathtub, river, baby pool.  Loves it all!  She splashes and squeals as loud as she can!
* Her favorite foods seem to be sweet potatoes, squash, and pears
* She smiles and squeals at her baby doll 
* Loves to pull my hair
* Loves to pull Abigail's hair
* Sitting up by herself and almost crawling 
* Loves for you to sing to her 
* And...she still looks like Mike

We welcomed summer a few weekends ago with a trip to the pool.  The YMCA has a zero entry baby pool so I sat with Violet in the water and laughed as she splashed and squealed like a pterodactyl!  Abigail played on her belly right in front of Violet most of the day trying to make her laugh and splashing along with her.  It makes my heart smile just thinking of the memories we will make with our two little ladies. 

I'm pretty sure my next post will have a very mobile baby.  This may be the last shot with those fun little blocks.  It took a village to get one good picture! With a doll on my head, Abigail yelling "cheese", and Mike standing close by to make sure Violet didn't roll right onto the floor, team Harder managed to get this picture!  Happy seven months baby Violet!

Backsplash, gardens, and a green spoon

I saw it in her eyes the minute I sat down to feed Violet her sweet potatoes.  Abigail, wearing her favorite owl bib and holding her favorite pink spoon, looked across the table at Violet and then desperately pleaded with me. " I want that spoon Mommy!  I want the green one!"

I shook my head and smiled as I thought how silly my sweet girl was being.  She loves her pink spoon.  All she ever asks for is her pink spoon, and that's why I gave it to her.  Violet's spoon was too small for her anyway, but I could see the wheels turning in Abigail's head as she continued to ask me for it.

Sometimes, I wonder if God feels the same way about me.  He has blessed me with exactly what I need and what I am able to manage, yet my heart is quick to convince me that I need what someone else has.  Sometimes it's shiny new backsplash and sometimes it's a big yard with a massive garden on ten acres of land.  I ran through a beautiful neighborhood near our house this weekend and I caught myself looking at all the big lots and imagining Mike and I having our coffee on one of the beautiful screened in porches as our girls ran across the big open yard with manicured flower beds and shrubs.  

I realized how silly I was being as I journaled and spent time praying yesterday.  God has been so good to me and instead of praying for patience and contentment, I slowly began to thank God for his abundance of joy and grace in my life.  I am thankful that He is provider and His gifts are always exactly what I can handle and always exactly what I need.  I absolutely adore our home and the sweet little neighborhood we live in.  I love that I can sit in the quiet shade of my deck and look down on my small raised bed garden that is easy to manage.  I am thankful for quality time with my family on Saturdays and evenings as we stroll our girls to the park or take quick trips to play in the river. In those moments, I am grateful that we aren't mowing a massive lawn and weeding a huge garden.

I'm learning so much about myself and how patient God is with me as I raise our girls.  Like Abigail, I always want that green spoon.

Abigail's first year of MDO

Eight months ago, I carried my little girl in to Clearview Baptist Church for her first day of Mothers Day Out.  I cried most of the morning and as I held her as tight as possible walking to her classroom, I smiled at her teachers and blinked back my tears.  I had never left Abigail with anyone other than family and knowing how shy she is, I wondered if she would cry until I came back to get her.  

This week was her last day in the one year old classroom and looking back over the last several months, I can see how much she has grown and learned!  She loved "school" and I am so thankful for her teachers and the sweet friends she made this year.  Look how little my baby is on her first day.  She seemed more secure keeping her sunglasses on so I didn't make her take them off.   

Abigail is really shy, but I think her days at school helped her come out of her shell.  She played hard on those days and learned so much.  She came home each week with fun crafts and new songs that she was learning.  I watched her learn to follow instructions and participate in group activities.  Kids learn from each other and her developmental skills advanced just from playing with other children.  It probably also helped that her mom, the physical therapist, wasn't hovering over her on the playground visualizing each scenario for a broken bone.  

Last week was her end of the year program and I enjoyed it so much!  She was so excited to see all of her artwork on the walls and to sing songs with her friends.  But make no mistake, she is my child.  Once she got on stage and turned to see all the faces in the audience, she froze! Bless her...I absolutely adore my Abigail! 

Here is Abigail after her program skipping down the sidewalk with the kite she made.  All smiles. 

And because I love her sweet curls and feel they should be documented as well, here is a picture of how long her hair is.  I am praying now that she doesn't dream of straight hair because God made her with beautiful waves!

Her teachers gave me the sweetest book on her last day.  It included a picture from each month she was in school with her thumb print and the bible verse that her crafts were designed around.  For a sentimental mommy, this is priceless.  

Here are a few of Abigail's favorite things and what she is learning right now. 

* She loves to play outside and in the water

* She counts to 10
* She loves to sing songs and will perform all the hand motions when she isn't being shy!

* Her favorite book is Tea Party Rules

* She owns 6 pairs of sunglasses...true story

* She is sleeping in her big girl bed
* She insists on buckling herself into her carseat

* She loves trains

* If I hook a sprinkler up in the front yard, she may never come inside again!

She LOVES her big girl bed and if you come to the house, she will definitely want to show it to you! So far, she hasn't fallen out at night.  I keep her crib mattress underneath the bed and pull it out at night.  Of course, her favorite thing to do now is pretend she is falling so she can roll off onto the mattress.  

Even as I type this post, my mind thinks back to a tiny little baby laying on that crib mattress.  Everyone told me that the first few years seem to fly by.  I know this to be true now so when I can, I get out her baby pictures and smile.  Every new stage seems to be my favorite and no matter how big she gets, she will always be my sweet baby! 

Violet {Six months}

Six months ago, I looked into this sweet face for the first time.  From that day on, Violet's little smile has gotten brighter and so has mine as I have watched her playful personality blossom.  There is so much joy in her smile.  I love the way her little mouth opens wide and her eyes crinkle when she gets excited!  

Violet had a few firsts this month.  She got to swing at the park and she tried her first food! 

{First sweet potatoes!}

I am so curious to see how different Abigail and Violet will be.  I remember Abigail being pretty timid even as a baby.  Loud noises startled her and she would easily get overstimulated with a group of people.  Violet, however, seems to love a room full of loud friends! 

Here is what this little girl is doing at six months old: 

* almost sitting unsupported

* had her first food ~sweet potatoes

* loves for you to sing to her or read books

* cannot get her feet out of her mouth

* loves to stick her hands in my mouth, pinch my face, and pull my hair...yah me!

* practices her motorboat right when I get a spoon full of baby cereal to her mouth

* she is sitting in her activity seat now and playing with the toys

*  watches everything Abigail does and smiles when she kisses her

I cannot get enough of this sweet face and those little cheeks!  

This girl loves her toes.  Sometimes I have to pry them out of her mouth so I can change her diaper!  

I had so much fun taking pictures of Violet for her six month blog post!  I remembered that Abigail wore a little pink tutu for her six month post so at the last minute I decided to put it on Violet for a few shots.  How sweet is this baby y'all?!

I love her more every day and I am so thankful for her joyful smile!  Happy six months baby Violet!

{Easter 2014}

The house is quiet and all the dishes are put away.  Both girls are sleeping soundly in their beds.  After a busy week of Easter egg hunts, spring cleaning, and resurrection Sunday, I finally have a moment to reflect on all the joyful memories we made with our girls.  

Easter is such a beautiful reminder that God makes all things new and that He brings us from death to life.  Every spring, as I watch the flowers bloom and sit still enough to hear the birds sing, my heart smiles just a little bit more.  This weekend, I finally had time to get all the pine cones out of the house and replace them with fresh flowers!  We also planted our garden and a few flower pots for the deck.  It makes me so happy to sit on our deck and let the birds serenade me! 

On Thursday, Abigail had her first Easter egg hunt.  Watching the excitement on her little face as she spotted each colorful egg was so sweet.  We have since had many egg hunts in the front yard.  I was a pretty competitive egg hunter so I plan to train her up right! 

As Mike and I sat on our deck last night admiring our new garden and pretty spring flowers, I found myself having a bit of a pity party.  I realized that I would be missing his sermon because it was my turn to volunteer in the nursery at our church.  Mike thanked me for volunteering and reminded me how special it is to serve our parents and allow them time to worship together.  Then, he walked me through his entire sermon.  At one point, I saw tears in his eyes as he shared the details surrounding the resurrection.  It was the sweetest moment and it reminded me why I love him so much.  His love for Jesus is palpable.  

I am so thankful for my church, my husband, and my family for making this Easter such a special day.  A few of our closest friends surprised me by coming to our service after they finished worshiping with their church family.  And then God totally blessed me with the time I spent in the nursery today.  Another mom and I had such a good heart to heart talk and I think we both left feeling inspired and encouraged. Sometimes the best ministry happens, when you least expect it!  

We wrapped up this beautiful day with sweet family and good food.  I love a house full of people and any excuse to get my pretty dishes out so I am one happy girl tonight.  Hope you all had a wonderful Easter Sunday!

Violet {Five Months}

Miss Violet is five months old!  She is such a happy baby and I've noticed when she gets excited, I really have to hold her close because her whole body shakes when she smiles.  

I am in love with this little girl and her sweet baby giggles.  I am also in love with her fat little cheeks!  Sometimes, I can not stop kissing those cheeks y'all! 

Here is what Violet is doing at five months old. 

* splashing her feet in the bath
* she tried her first rice cereal and loves to eat!
* she found her feet!
* she sleeps with three little fingers in her mouth.  Cutest thing ever. 
* she is playing with books and toys in her lap
* she is sleeping great and napping like a rockstar!
* her hair has fallen out and looks like it is coming in lighter.  Can't tell if she is going to be blond yet.
* she loves to stick her hands in my mouth and pull my hair

Violet also experienced her first Mule Day.  I have wonderful memories from my childhood of sitting with family and watching the parade.  Dee Dee's house is along the parade route so we have the perfect spot to lounge.  This year we had corn hole and other games out on the lawn as well as a house full of food and friends.  It was a wonderful day and I hope our girls grow up enjoying Mule Day as much as we do.  

This picture makes me smile.  Violet looks a little perplexed at all the mules trotting by. And then, we have little diva Abigail with her shades on in the background!  I love my girls!