Early Riser

Millie usually rises between 5-6:00 every morning.  We moved a tv into our room several months ago (which I've been staunchly opposed to in the past)  partly so that I can get some extra sleep on mornings when Dan has to head out early to play basketball.  On this morning, I set her up on the Ipad to watch while I made breakfast and lunches before we went to Classical Conversations. Little cutie.  :)

Camille's favorites (on Netflix) are:  Sesame Street, Good Luck Charlie, Fireman Sam's Christmas, Super Why and Strawberry Shortcake.

Favorites

This "grabber" is my constant companion as bending down with these achy hips is such pain (literally!)

I {heart} the Fernando Ortega station on Pandora with Selah and Watermark for variety.  I turn it on especially in the mornings and evenings for a peaceful tone.

This tea with lots of honey has been a staple in this pregnancy.  I have totally given up decaf coffee because it just does not taste good to me right now.  Also, hot chocolate...I love it with LOTS of marshmellows.  :)

I want to remember....

These days, I put on my peace-keeper "hat" often.  It's a delicate balance, allowing the kids room to work the conflict out and knowing when to step in to arbitrate.  Today, I witnessed some sweet moments that I want to be sure to remember.  

This afternoon we were in the backyard, I asked Graham to put Camille into the baby swing and buckle her up.  As he was hoisting her cute self up there she said.  "Graham you have super powers!"  To which he quickly responded "Camille, you have "cute-tonium"!  

While on the swingset, I said "Isn't it a beautiful day, guys?"  To which Graham replied "every day is a beautiful day, because God made it that way."  Wise words.  May we truly see God's beauty EVERY day, son.  

Camille was already tucked into bed, Hannah Reece came in a few minutes later and said "I'm sorry it took me so long to come in, but here I am!  Let's go to sleep now."  :)  

I don't think that it's coincidence that on the days I "back-off" a little, usually when I'm having a tired, achy, super pregnant day (like today) that the kids really pitch in and help each other out.  I pray that they will be dear friends for life, loving each other unconditionally.

snuggle wiff daddy

Dan was out of town for a few days at the Fellowship of Presbyterians conference in Orlando. Hannah Reece (as usual) needed to sleep with daddy's robe each night so that she could "smell" him.  Both girls slept with me in our bed.  Graham and Charly crashed together on the sofa in the living room.  The hardest time is from 4-bedtime because those are the hours that we're used to daddy livening things up around here!  I'm tired, the kids are getting tired and we're just all missing him something awful at night.  Usually I stay up super late when he's gone, but I was so beat that I crashed with the kids!  :)

When Dan got home, it was close to nap time for Camille.  She said, "I wanna snuggle wiff daddy." The two of them piled up in our bed together and took a FOUR hour nap!  All snuggled up together.  Girl LOVES her daddy.  

I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures.  Camille is wearing her favorite princess nightgown. Camille says those princesses on her gown get "scared of monsters" at night and so they tell her to get in momma and daddy's  bed to feel better.  ;)

1 Corinthians 13 for moms

1st Corinthians 13 for Moms

If my child speaks in the tongues of men or of angels, masters sign language at six months and Spanish and Mandrin Chinese by six years, but does not learn to love, she is only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If he has the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge-ABCs at a year, reading by two, writing chapter books in Kindergarten-but does not have love, he is nothing. If I volunteer for every mommy ministry-MOPS, AWANA, Sunday School, and if I give all I possess to the poor (or at least bring loads of groceries to the foodbank), but do not have love, I gain nothing. 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy other mother's lifestyle choices or possessions, it does not boast in the areas of my children’s natural strengths (while covering for their faults), it is not proud of the way my child potty trained before your child. It does not dishonor others by insisting that my method of parenting is the best, it is not self-seeking-hoping that you’ll notice how smart, talented or well rounded I am raising my child to be. It is not easily angered by perceived slights or misjudgments, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth that all of parenting is fueled and driven by God’s grace. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails-even where I have fallen painfully short of God’s best for my children. But where there are competitions to see whose body bounces back best after childbirth, they will cease; where there are verbal fights over the correct methods of discipline, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge about the best way to feed and clothe and nurture a child, it will pass away. For we know in part and we parent incompletely, but when they are fully grown, what we thought we knew about raising our children will disappear. When I was a new parent, I thought, spoke and reasoned with immaturity and without grace. As my children grew, I asked God to give me the wisdom to put these childish ways behind me. For now we see our children’s future as only a reflection as in a mirror; one day we will behold their adults selves face to face. Now I know in part; then we shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

-Katie Loveland

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This encouraged my heart in so many ways today.   I want to LOVE our children. 

Upward Basketball

Graham started playing Upward Basketball at the beginning of January.  He's learning a LOT about the game (mostly from Daddy's at-home coaching) and even gave his oral presentation at Classical Conversations last week on three important rules of the game.  

Part of Graham's cheering section:  Gma + Gpa, Nana, and Uncle Greg and Aunt Shirlee were in town and came by too!

A few things we like about Upward is that the focus is on Christian character, good sportsmanship, and learning the game.  Even the referee's take the time (for the first few games) to stop and explain calls to the players so that they can learn well.

Momma + Big Sister's Day Out

Reecie and I enjoyed a special time together on a Friday morning, just the TWO of us!  What a treat to "play" together.  :)  My friend Rebecca had gifted me a pedicure for my birthday, so it was the perfect opportunity for Hannah Reece's first pedicure.  I love the finished product but am so ticklish that it's hard for me to relax.  Reece on the other hand looked like she might fall asleep during the foot rub...she LOVED it and asked me if we could get a pedicure every week!  :)  I picked a bluish-gray color and Reece picked turquoise glitter polish.

Next, we headed to Starbucks for cold vanilla milk and a pink cake pop for Reecie, and chai tea latte and lemon loaf for me!

 I had planned to take Hannah Reece to a ceramic shop where the Smith's had given her a gift certificate for her birthday.  The night before, Aunt Choley texted to see if we had plans, so I invited she and Raeghan to come along.  The girls had fun painting together and afterward, we had lunch at Subway.

I am so grateful for my big girl Hannah Reece!  She is sweet company to keep.  :)