Tag Archives: God

seven years

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dear hubby,

happy seven years of marriage.  this isn’t the place to go on and on… but i couldn’t let the day pass without marking it on this little ol’ blog of ours.  i just love our life together.  God has brought us through so much.  and i know that He will continue to walk with road with us.

 thank you for being my best friend.  thank you for sticking with me.  i love doing this life with you.  the best is yet to come…

love, me

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look at those grainy black and white photos.  i snapped them from our wedding album.  isn’t it fun that we were married before this digital craze took over?  are we old-timey or what?

 

dear peanut {seven months}

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seven months, baby girl.

aren’t you one sophisticated miss?  look at you in your string of pearls.  this mama is kind of having an anne shirley and matthew moment over here.  {i hope you love your anne with an e as much as your mama does}

oh elinor, you have such a sweet temperament.  with glimmers of intensity, of course.  you play and squeal and smile and chat.  and then you grab a toy or a book with such tenacity and just stare it down…before letting out a serious guttural baby bellow.  you growl until there is no air left in your diaphragm and your face starts turning purple.  like i said, intense.  but we love it.  you are truly sugar and spice.

you are officially eating now.  and it is hilarious.  watching you grasp and gum and respond with your super expressive faces is our new favorite.  and your favorite?  butter.  straight up butter.  and fancy butter, no less.  cultured, pasture, european style butter.  the good stuff.  that’s our girl.  avocados?  sure.  you like them.  bananas?  you tolerate.  beets?  no thank you.  but give the girl some butter and it is shiny, happy times.  how very parisian of you.  next thing we know you will be sipping cappuccino and nibbling on croissant.  you are already far too chic.

but you aren’t all style and no substance, you are quite the bookworm.  while you are fascinated by your toys and all things chewable, you are really into all things readable.  it is so cute.  and papa is so proud.  you have started bypassing the playthings in favor of your books.  you like to roll onto your belly, cuddle up with your mozart monkey, grab a good book, and just settle in.  you arrange the book just so and delicately flip the pages.  i hope that you always have this love of the written word.  it will serve you well.

and speaking of words – you are starting to speak a few words!  you make these precious sounds and string them together like you are just having a conversation with us.  and little girl, we understand.  and we love it.  your choice conversational staples?  bababa.  muuuaaahhhh.  pppffff.  buuuuh.  and have i mentioned my personal favorite?  mamama.  oh that one just melts me.  i know that you don’t actually equate those mouth and tongue movements with ME, your mama, but it doesn’t even matter.  wowee.  how sweet it is.  and i know it will continue to get more amazing.  i can’t wait to have real chit-chats with you.  about books and movies and clothes and friends and JESUS.  won’t that be the best?

and p.s. that will of yours?  still totally there.  your latest exhibition is during dinnertime.  when you are done eating you let out a tight-lipped grunt while arching your back.  you scary little thing.  already so particular and strong.  i can almost envision your toddler tantrums now…

love, love, love,

your mama + your papa

{those pearls.  they were given to you by grandma and grandpa ridley in honor of your dedication day}

dear peanut {six months}

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happy six months, my sweet little peanut! 

a very merry half birthday to you.

{did i just type half birthday?  as in, half way to one year old? good gracious.}

how happy and effervescent are you?  big eyes.  expressive brows.  wispy, warm blonde hair.  button nose.  wide, gummy grin that extends all the way to your long, curled toes.  your strong and chub-a-licious legs.

and those bright pantaloons.  dressing you is getting better and better.  although, i have imposed a bit of a fancywear embargo for our everyday apparel since you are such a droolypuss.  and talk about much ado about nothing!  not a tooth to be found.  any day now, i expect one of those pearly whites to just pop through, officially signaling your passage from infanthood into toddlerness.  but, in spite of the salivafest, nothing dental to report.  {hold off, little tooth.  stay safely nestled in those precious pink gums.  let my baby girl be a baby for just a smidge longer.  pretty please.}

by the way, you are in the 2nd percentile for height and weight.  tinier than 98% of the baby population.  the doctor just giggles as she reads it.  she thinks you are the cutest, petite little bundle.  and she is sufficiently impressed by your half-year-mark abilities.  you are small.  but FIERCE.  determined and strong.  frankly, your papa and i are already shuddering at your will.  ever since you learned that rolling is a handy way to get around, you are all over the place.  and fast too.  as soon as i plop you down, you are on the move.  rolling and shifting and grunting and flapping your arms wildly, beating on your belly little a little drum.  you pull at the blanket and shimmy until everything is just so…and then, you are off again.  rolling, rolling, rolling.

it is amazing to watch as your brain processes the world around you.  making connections.  perceiving space.  comprehending relationships.  now, when you see a toy {or anything that tickles your fancy, for that matter. fabric, earrings, ponytails, dog ears, etc.} that is outside of your reach, the wheels begin turning as you concoct a plan for how to get your little fingers on it.  it usually involves some grunts of frustration, a few furrowed brow glances at papa, followed by strategic rolls and flops and toe curls and pulls…and then, voila! your little fingers arrive at your desired location.  you grasp for your toy, pull it toward yourself, clutch it lovingly, and flop over onto your back in sheer victory and delight.  and while it isn’t pleasant to hear your sounds of annoyance and see you strain, it is pure magic to see your face in that moment.  that moment when you realize what you have overcome and accomplished.  and then, your parents realize how much you have grown.  how big you are.  you are doing so much.  you have such an independent streak.  we can already tell that you are going to keep us on our toes.  that you will challenge us.  that you have soooo much more that you are eager to learn and do.  that you have a big and bold personality locked and loaded in that tiny frame. “and though she be but little, she is fierce.”  that you will be complex and contemplative and analytical.  you will surprise us and enchant us.  bright, bright, bright.

we can’t wait to watch as your personality continues to develop.  we can’t wait to see what God has in store for you.  and we pray that God equips us to parent you with grace and strength.  may we point you to Him.  may you love Him deeply and follow after Him passionately.  may your childlike wonder continue as you explore His world and His words.  may you hold His promises to your chest and treasure them in your heart.  may you savor His presence.  may you experience and rely on His tender kindness and mercies.  we look forward to watching you as you grasp for and cling to His Word with tenacity and untamed love.  we pray that you will comprehend His precepts, revel in the joy and freedom that He provides, and walk boldly and victoriously.  “let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move mountains.”  through the power of Christ’s redeeming love – in Christ alone, soli Deo gloria - may you move mountains little girl.

love, love, love,

your mama + your papa

the gallery {amy whitehouse paintings}

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this post is my braggity-braggy post about my mother-in-law’s fabulous art.  not that i am taking any bragging credit for her art…but i sure can brag about the fact that our house is home to many of her lovely pieces!  we are so honored and blessed to have such beautiful and original works of art in our home.  doesn’t nice art just make you feel all cultured and fancy?  you know that feeling that you get when you are wandering around a museum or gallery…you feel kinda posh and smarter for just being in the presence of such genius.  even if you know absolutely nothing about the complexities or history of art, you can still absorb it enjoy the beauty.

well, we get to live in a gallery of sorts.  our walls happily display some very nice pieces.  and, sometimes when we are over at the whitehouse home just having dinner, we get to go shopping for fresh pieces in amy’s studio.  so cool.  she is always creating something new and allowing herself to be inspired by her environment and the creativity of others.  i love that she responds to God’s creation in such lovely ways.

unfortunately for you, her studio isn’t open for free take-out like it is for us {smiley face} BUT amy has recently taken a few of her vibrant and signature pieces and turned them into gorgeous print reproductions!  now, amy whitehouse creations are accessible for everyone!  if you are looking for something pretty to brighten up your walls…may i suggest that you pick up one of these beauties instead of just buying something mass-produced or generic.  i was able to watch her sign and number each one of these limited editions.  and they are just waiting to be snatched up and given a new home.

sunflower

favorite sunflower

trees

palms at sunset

flowers

sunflower in vase

…

want to see more?

http://amywhitehousepaintings.blogspot.com/

want to make one of these your own?

amy.whitehouse@me.com

dear peanut {five months}

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happy five months, little miss elinor!  that is one whole hand’s worth.  just a few weeks shy of your half-birthday.  eeep!

you are five months…going on fifth grade.  personality is bubbling out all over the place.  you are effervescent.  and, at times, somewhat scary.  you will be a handful, for sure.  no shortage of attitude and energy and opinions and zest and personality here.  no ma’am.  but, we wouldn’t want it any other way.  and the battles of the will are already beginning.  for example: your new favorite is bathtime flailing.  on one hand, super cute.  you are discovering that you can lift your bottom up and then plop yourself down and all the water will rush up onto your belly.  you also like to plug the faucet with your big toe so that the water sprays every which way.  and, you like to spread out your hands and place them on the surface of the water like one of those water strider bugs and then you slowly raise your hands up before…splash!  okay, but on the other hand, potentially hazardous.  you have also discovered that you can kick the knobs and make them move.  and while i applaud your chimpanzee dexterity, it also freaks me out when you get your toes on the cold water knob because you never kick it to make the water colder…you always shut that guy off.  leaving only a stream of hot water.  {pretty sure this tops the caring for an infant no-no list}  and so, i find myself washing you with one hand while keeping the other up as a blocker.  which you have taken as a challenge, of course.  break through the barrier!  get to the hot water so i can burn my delicate baby belly skin!  with every kick attempt, i respond with a firm, “no elinor” and a grab of the foot.  and my oh my, you aren’t too keen on that.  you arch your back and furrow your brow…and wind up for another kick.  determined and defiant little thing.  and i am not trying to be the ogre who ruined bathtime but jeepers, i don’t think you will enjoy third-degree burns.  sheesh.  and so, my prayers are that i will be able to engage you firmly and with grace.  that the battles to come will result in softer spirits and molded wills.  that your papa and i can protect you while also teaching you to discern and navigate without our assistance.  most of all, we just pray that God shows us what to do next.

you are quite persnickety about your naptime, my dear.  you love your sleep.  but you want it done a certain way.  we have created a creature of habit.  i just know that you will have a super chic dayplanner like me one day and we can be all nerdy together and “check our calendars” and “pencil things in” and “check!” things off when we have successfully completed them.  but i hope that you have some enjoy-the-moment-let’s-be-spontaneous-go-with-the-flow-ness in there too.  so…sleep.  you like to go for a solid 12-hour stretch at night and i wake you up around 8:30 for some breakfast.  and i am pretty sure that if you didn’t need to eat to survive, you would keep right on snoozing until noon.  really, you just wake up so that you can enjoy your first meal of the day, roll around a bit, and sing and squeal.  then, you very quickly shift from a ball of happy energy to a sweet little sleepy thing.  the thumbsucking begins and i swoop in and whisk you away for your nap.  what a life.  and when it comes to your nap, you like things just so.  rushing water setting on your sleep sheep.  check.  swaddled up all tight and plopped onto your side.  check.  arms exposed so you have an easy thumb path should you become startled and need a bit of soothing to doze off again.  check.  a super soft blanket draped over you and tucked up by your hands so you can rub it between your fingers as you fall asleep.  check.  and, the most important element:  a solid window for naptime, no less than 1.5 hours in duration.  you don’t mess around.  your papa and i have learned that if we are busy and find ourselves with only 45 minutes for a nap, it is best to just let you play and catnap in our arms or in some kind of carrier contraption.  because “not it!” on being the one who has to wake you up from your truncated nap.  oooohh you give us such a death stare.  chilling.

currently… you love rolling yourself in your blanket like the cutest little burrito bundle.  you drool constantly.  you nibble on everything.  you are fascinated by dishes and cups. {probably because you are smart enough to understand that they are food and beverage vessels}  you like to impress us with your feats of strength, flipping from back to belly and the back again.  you are kind of a mama’s girl which is really cute but can hurt your papa’s feelings.  {i continue to reassure him that this is a phase and that pretty soon i will be old news and he will be her hero}

you have taught us so much in these past months.  and we know that we will all continue to grow and learn together as our little family.  you have taken me out of my type-A comfort zone.  and teach me patience and kindness.  and your sweet papa…oh, he just loves you and wants to wrap you all up and keep you safe.  forever.  he is learning to relax and let you explore the world…and even squawk at inopportune times.  you stretch us, sweet girl.  and we are grateful that God is using itty-bitty you to teach us and mold us.  we want to do this parenting thing well.

i must say that communication is getting better and better.  you are much more vocal these days.  and not just those newborn waaahhs.  you have a whole repertoire.  squawks and squeaks and giggles and ooohs and aaahs and weees.  a sound for every occasion.  and we are starting to understand your cues.  plus, you are adding in new facial expressions to help us along.  some of them are just copycat faces, i’m sure.  but others are indelible parts of your personality.  you have your sassy sideways glance.  you have your own smile of glee.  and you have your serious/focused face.  all you.  it will be so amazing to see how your face changes over the years but still maintains your very own expressions.  and one day, when someone says something absurd and you respond with that wilting sideways glance, i will just about burst.  remembering that very same expression that you have made since you were a wee one in diapers and a feathered headband.

love, love, love,

your mama + your papa

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live the one day well

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the thought is, that each day is, in a certain sense, a complete life by itself. it has its own duties, its own trials, its own burdens, and its own needs. it has enough to fill heart and hands for the one full day. we cannot live its life well, and use any of its strength outside of itself. the very best we can do for any day, for the perfecting of our life as a whole, is to live the one day well. we should put all our thought and energy and skill into the duty of each day, wasting no strength, either in grieving over yesterday’s failures, or in anxiety about tomorrow’s responsibilities.

i have seen this excerpt by j.r. miller pop up here and there in the past few weeks and went on the hunt for the full article.  what a meaningful reminder – and i need it daily.  and isn’t it freeing to live life this way?  one day at a time.  relying on the manna from above to sustain us.  the daily supply that is new each morning.  we don’t need to hoard or fret about tomorrow.  each day we are given just what we need to make it through.  our focus should be to live the one day well.  put all our thought and energy and skill into the duty of each day.  live it fully.  pour ourselves out.  leave nothing behind.  and soak up all the goodness.

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i have been so inspired by my little miss elinor.  she makes me consider my hours.  what am i spending my time on?  am i present?  am i giving it my all?  or am i wasting time or blowing my hours thinking about the next thing while i should be engaged and enjoying what God has given me now.  she wakes up and greets each day with a smile, ready to get going.  she savors her meals.  she plays and observes and engages until she has nothing left and then she rests to regain the strength needed to do it all again.  she doesn’t waste her days.  she is always learning or trying something new.  she doesn’t consider yesterday’s failures – she just does it again until she gets it.  she doesn’t worry about the future - potty training, learning to read, social pressure, school, performance, appearance – she just takes it moment by moment.  this, this is faith like a child.  not a license to be immature in our belief, but relying on our savior for our needs moment by moment.  accepting His daily supply and then living the one day well.  our Christian walk becomes a series of victorious days that are strung together into a pattern of progress.  perfecting the little things in life so that our life becomes characterized by those holy things. living the one day well.  day by day.

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would you look at that little blonde drooly-puss?

speaking of miss elinor…let me just gush for a bit about my baby girl and her recent actions that have just wowed and delighted her mama and papa:

  • her 4th percentile body can hold up her 66th percentile head like a champ
  • she is scooting and wiggling around like a little caterpillar
  • she responds to her reflection
  • she flips from tummy to back as often as possible, unless she is in the mood to just chill on her tummy
  • she had her first big time giggle-fest yesterday {be still my heart…cutest thing i have ever heard} guess what did it?  swaying around with her and doing a goofy mama jiggle dance {choreography} while singing “skinamarinky dinky dink”

a few words on marriage from the renowned marriage counselor, ben affleck

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sometimes, God uses the most interesting of people, places, or things to speak into our lives.  recently it was ben affleck, at the oscars, gold statuette in hand.  he spoke about his marriage during his acceptance speech and it just got me thinking about the true meaning of marriage.  and then i read this article.  good stuff.

yes, there are moments of fairytale bliss - birds chirping and swirling around, flowers in bloom, forest creatures singing, glitter and clouds, and such.  but then there are hard days.  hard weeks.  hard months.  hard years, even.  times that are trying.  seasons of sickness. poorer instead of richer.  when the “worse” part of those vows stares you in the face, knocks the wind out of you, and becomes real.  but i must say that i agree with mr. affleck, “it’s good. it is work, but it’s the best kind of work.” 

my God + my hubby + me  the three of us work at it together.  but it’s the best kind of work.

and in those moments of bliss make you understand that God is true to His promises.  and then you just let out a contented sigh as you bask in the blessings of God.  grateful that He has given you someone to walk with and talk with and cry with and laugh with in this life.  He is a good God.  He is a kind and sweet God.  and He has given me a husband who loves me deeply with the love of Christ and who really truly likes me.  we enjoy each other’s company and have so much fun together.  and as long as we keep walking with our Savior…that love grows truer, our life together is a blessing to others, and the work pays off.

dear peanut {four months}

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happy four months, miss elinor!

wow-ee.  four months old, huh?  i can hardly believe that you will be wearing your 6-12 month summer dresses soon.  you are such a big girl.  and i must say, you are an absolute delight.  so cheery and smiley and fun.  little bits of your personality are shining through and it is amazing.  you are so entertaining.  becoming more and more like a little person.

you are quite distracted these days.  your mind is always going as you process the world around you.  it is so funny to see what fascinates you.  a cup, my toes, your fingers, stripes, the wall.  you just can’t get enough of your environment.  your new favorite is your wall of prints in your room.  you will take a break from your bedtime snack to just lounge and stare.  i watch your eyes as they dart around, settle on an image, and then move on to the next.  each one is like a new adventure.  you sigh and smile and ooh and aah.  so darn cute.  and that print of the “peanut riding the unicorn” definitely holds an extra special place in your heart, you seem to have a real connection there.  but you are also mesmerized by the picture of cinderella’s castle.  oh little girl, what fun we will have at disneyland one day!

you are mostly an independent player.  we are simply observers.  you swat at your dangley bugs, you nibble on your toys, and you suck on your thumb while chatting away.  every so often, you allow us to be a part of playtime.  and that is pure delight.  but i do love how content you are to kick and squawk and entertain yourself.  and playtime has become much more exciting these days because you are so much mor active and squiggly.  you like to do an exaggerated flip from side to side to show off those baby obliques.  and you like to press the bottoms of your feet together and hold them up in the air while you hum and coo.  then, you will take in as much air as you can and extend your legs and arms simultaneously to kick off your bicycling legs action while you exhale and make rapid panting puppy dog sounds.  after all that is done, you will let out a big sigh before getting back into it.  this time, you add in a backbend/scoot which allows you to shift your body and move yourself in little circles.  major cirque du soleil moves going on.

and once you have tired yourself out, you move your head to the side and stare off into the distance while breathing slowly and deeply – and occasionally rubbing your little eyes.  this is when we get to swoop in and scoop you up for a nap.  these few moments are the best.  you sigh and nuzzle and grab onto our shirt and melt into a little ball of sweetness.  all that energy dissipates and you become a calm and sleepy thing who just wants to cuddle for a bit.  and so, we squeeze you and dance with you and you smile.  and then, in goes the thumb and you drift off into sleepyland.  being a baby is tiring, after all.  and you love your sleep.

you adore your stroller.  you love excursions.  lunches, shopping, walks, whatever.  the fresh air agrees with you and you seem to really enjoy listening to the din of the world from the comfort of your stroller {with your little mozart the monkey companion, of course}.  i want you to know that your parents SO appreciate your accommodating and contented spirit.  you go with the flow and let us take you wherever we go.  we hope that you will always enjoy traveling, meeting new people, and experiencing new things.  may you maintain that sense of adventure.  may you always be confident and bold as you explore and enjoy the world that God has created.

and the faces, oh the faces.  as your personality emerges more and more, your expressions are becoming more meaningful.  you don’t just give us involuntary facial spasms.  you do it with purpose.  you furrow your brow, you roll your eyes, you smile sweetly, you shoot us a sideways glance, you raise an eyebrow…each expression is a distinct communication. we love it.  and we hope that you always flex your expression muscles.  we like a good dramatic face around here.

love, love, love,

your mama + your papa

dear peanut {three months}

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happy three month anniversary, sweet one.

so, you are three months old now.  it is remarkable how much you process each and every day and how much you absorb and grow.  you change so quickly.  your little mind is expanding. you are moving so fast.

you are smitten with your left hand.  mostly, your little thumb.  which has become the cutest little soggy digit that you ever did see.  such joy and admiration.  you lie on your back and study each little finger while you hold your hand up just marveling at the beauty. i hope you’ll always understand that it doesn’t take nail polish and trinkets to be pretty and interesting.  you are fearfully and wonderfully made.  beautiful just as you are.  a darling little lovely from God.  may you always marvel at His works.

{and then, you stuff your thumb in your mouth and gurgle}

you like to sit up and look around.  your head bobs a bit and you tighten your tummy.  this vantage point amuses you for a spell and then you are over it and wish to return to your squirmy mat where you and kick and semi-flip and do mini-backbends and flap like a hummingbird and bat at your dangly bug friends.  you are charming.

you make faces all the time.  in fact, it is difficult to get a normal and non-swishy looking photo of you because your face is always moving around.  i end up taking about 300 rapidfire shots and almost everyone looks drastically different.  i think you get that dramatic face from your mama.  sorry.  it comes in handy for stage work but it can make the photogenic thing for everyday life a bit of a problem.  i hope that you learn to embrace this hyper-expressiveness.  it will make for some very lively pictures.

every once in a while, i have a flash of what you will look like during your sassy teen years.  you shoot me a sideways glance, curl your upper lip, lift your brows, and dramatically roll those big eyes of yours in the other direction.  and sometimes you even shift your body weight while doing so and give me “the hand”.  cheeky little thing.  but then, you roll right back my way and flash that giggly, toothless grin and all is well.

by the way, you have already discovered the manipulative power of a strategically placed cry.  every so often, you will give us a sad little look, whimper, turn on the tears, and pull out the pièce de résistance – the pouty lip.  you aren’t much of a crier but when you do, it is kind of heartbreaking.  we aren’t fans of the cry.  and we try to resist the urge to say “oooohhhh…” and hop, skip, jump into some kind of pathetic parenting action.  but as i mentioned, that pièce de résistance gets us every time.  oh little girl.

also, you talk all the time.  all. the. time.  you talk to the buddies.  you talk to your papa.  you talk to your fingers {by default since they are in your mouth all the time these days} you talk to the crawleys of downton.  you talk to the record player.  you talk to your blanket.  you talk to your books.  and you love to talk to the art in your room.  your new favorite is to take a conversational break while i am feeding you.  you pause, give me that demure smile of yours, and then we have a little chat while you stare at your art.  like a fancy little connoisseur or museum curator.  currently, you seem to have an affinity for “the peanut riding a unicorn” piece.  but i’m sure your tatses will continue to evolve.

a few weeks ago, you added another sound to your vocal repertoire – the velociraptor squawk.  but it is like a glitter-covered, big pink bow wearing, magical fairy dust version.  high-pitched squeals of delight.  your eyes dialate.  your arms begin to flap wildly.  your legs and teeny toes get into the action too.  you get the whole body working and then emit the largest giggly screech.  so cute.

you are becoming more and more interactive and delightful.  we can carry on conversations.  you sing along with music.  you giggle when you get tummy raspberries.  you look around the room when we dance.  and you wrap your little fingers around our shirt when we hold you – you cling to us.  and oh, we sure are attached to you.  we love you little girl.

love, love, love,

your mama + your papa

dear peanut {two months}

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you are two months old.

such a big girl now.  a darling little bundle of baby who is in love with her hands and loves to suck on as many fingers as possible.  a sweet little one who loves to stare at lights.  oh how you love those bright things.  a precious girl who is always fixated on vibrant colors and polka dots.  you stare at your wall, books, and your pretty quilt from grandmama ridley.  your eyes are locked and i know your mind is racing.

you are quite the winsome one, little elinor.  and you are such a happy and content baby.  you rarely cry.  and when you do, i know what you mean.  your extended whiny waaaah while we are playing is my cue that you are finished being awake and are ready for your nap.  your grunting, coughing uh-uh-uh only comes when i wake you from a nap and you are letting me know to quit messing around with all that chatting and kissing and FEED ME.  and of course, there is your fussy time at night right before bed.  but we don’t mind that so much.  it is kind of cute when you kick and punch and squawk.  and we know that you are just getting it all out before bedtime.  and the only thing that gives you some peace is holding onto your papa’s finger. {beyond precious}

oh, and can we talk about your smiles?  too cute.  you smile at us during diaper change time, you smile during playtime, you smile when we are doing baby yoga moves, you smile during picture time, you smile when we wake you up, you just smile.  and it is pretty irresistible to your parents.  it is as if you are telling us that you like us.  and boy, we sure do like you.  AND you are getting so close to giggles.  the other day, i was talking to you and i started laughing and you responded with a happy hiccup-y sound.  it was so darn cute.  i can’t wait to hear your giggles.  i know it will just melt us.  and those coo’s?  we live for those.  how we love our little conversations with you.  you coo.  we talk back. it is glorious.

you are so alert.  always wanting to be a part of the action.  you explore the world with your eyes and swat at everything just to check it out.  it is amazing to watch as your brain continues to connect the dots.  your eyes are following things more and more.  you move toward sounds.  you toss yourself from side to side.  and then, you exhaust yourself and just want to sleep.  and you are such a good sleeper.  blessing of blessings…you have been sleeping seven plus hours at night for almost the past month.  what a little delight.  just keep doing what you are doing.  and you love your morning nap.  that first sleep session after your morning feeding is a serious one.  when i wake you again, you shoot me this look like “really mama?  you are waking me up…oh wait, FOOD!”  it is amazing how quickly you move from that sassy wake-up face to a smile to that FEED ME cry.  we just love your personality and expressions.  we just love you.  happy two months, sweet girl. we sure are enjoying watching you grow.  but please don’t grow up too fast.

love, love, love,

your mama + your papa