I know EVERYONE tells you that kids grow up way too fast, but I don't think you can ever really understand what they mean until you have your own. I find myself amazed over the "simplest" things - my baby girl can wipe her own hands and face now? When did that happen? While I am thrilled that Avie enjoys playing on her own now, I still love it when she comes to me with arms held up and that sweet, "Mommy, hold you?"

As she informed me last night, however, she is "All done Mommy!" Mommy is no longer in charge of rocking chair duty (I can't say that I'm too sad)! I have almost always been the one to put Avie to bed, but lately, she is very much a Daddy's girl. As soon as she's done nursing, she looks up and asks for Daddy. And if he doesn't come immediately (as was the case last night), she becomes a little frantic, "Daddy? Daddy?" Daddy was on the phone last night, so I tried to offer my services. "Do you want Mommy to rock you?" "No! All done Mommy!"

And then there was the scene at Grandma's house this morning. She used to cry when I left her ANYWHERE, but thankfully she's improving (slowly, but surely). I wasn't planning on leaving her at Grandma's this morning, but she certainly wasn't ready to go to the store with me! When Grandma asked her if she wanted to stay, she nodded. Just to make sure, Grandma told her to tell Mommy bye. She kissed, waved, hugged, and said "bye bye!" with not a hint of a tear.

It is impossible to describe the feeling of being so excited at your daughter's newfound independence, but so sad that her "baby" days are almost over. I can only imagine that there are many more exciting (yet sad) chapters to come in this journey through motherhood!

Since the weather outside lately has been pretty frightful (not that I'm complaining since I'm home for the FOURTH snow day of the year!), I have spent quite a bit of time painting and sewing. I am probably the LEAST artistic person I know, but I love the relaxing feeling of shutting out the world and making something new. Here are a few of the projects I have been working on this winter...

Not exactly painting or sewing, but Elizabeth, Avie, and I had fun making these little gifts. They smell yummy, and make Avie's skin super-soft after her bath!

Christmas present for "Baby Noah." (If I ever get to see him again to give it to him!!)

Scented rice pillows. Quite a learning experience. The first one I made (handcrafted for my Dad) ended up wrong side out on one side. I think I finally got the hang of it...well, sort of anyway!

Avie's apron. She loves helping me cook and has always been fascinated with my apron, so I thought she might like one of her own. I made it after she went to bed one night, so when she woke up, Daddy told her I had a surprise for her. She now thinks that "surprise" is just another word for apron! Avie putting her apron to good use in her kitchen!

Avie's room: a work in progress. We painted Avie's room blue (my dad thinks we're a bit crazy) because I wanted a background to paint on. Of course, that was in June and it's now February and the room still isn't completely painted, but that's ok, right??


This is over Avie's bed (English translation: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth).
Above her door (I love my baby!)
She loves the stars! Mommy's favorite are the elephants of course!Her too-cool magnet board Daddy made for her:
I am sure that once I have a toddler to chase after and a newborn to feed, change, and clothe this hobby will be a distant memory. So in the meantime, I love naptime and early bedtimes so I can have some Mommy's quiet time!

Since it has been FOREVER since I posted a new update, there's no way I could remember everything that's happened. Instead, I thought I would share a few of her favorite (or at least most used) words and phrases. Here's what life at our house sounds like...

- Watch Bob?
- Help Mommy laundry
- Daddy rock?
- ________ (insert favorite person of the minute: Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Gigi, Mimi, Mingo, Whatsi, Caty, Tad, Deacon, Lolli, Elliot, Aria Gail, Bro. Bryson, Chris, Uncle Bryan...) hold you?
- More strawberries?
- S'il vous please
- Merci
- Pray Jesus
- Baby Jesus!
- Jesus lotion? (long story...)
- Amen!
- More strawberries?
- Drink mulch (I promise this means milk. We do NOT feed our kid mulch!)
- Ice water
- Clip nails
- Color pen
- More strawberries?
- Mommy all done? Daddy all done?
- All done crying (usually said while still crying)
- I'wan go Grandma's house / Mingo's house
- Sit Mommy's lap
- Change diaper
- More strawberries?
- (If Mommy or Daddy is on Facebook) I'wan find ________ (again, this could be several names...usually Mingo, Whatsi, Aria, Noah, Bekah)
- (If Mommy or Daddy is on the phone) Hi Gigi? Hi Grandma? Hi Mingo?

We are blessed to have a happy, healthy family and are looking forward to the arrival of a new blessing in April!

It's 12:40 p.m. and I have another hour and a half of "work" to do. In reality, all the work is done (at least until two more classes come and take their exams tomorrow), and I am killing time and staring at an empty classroom. It almost makes me miss having students in here so that I could hear their nonstop chatter and buzzing cell phones (I said ALMOST!).

I told Jeremy last night that I feel like I have missed some important opportunities to tell these students about the Lord. It seems that every year I get so wrapped up in teaching lessons and standards that I forget about the real reason I'm here. Am I excited that all of my students passed their Gateway exams? Of course I am. But is any of that going to matter when Jesus comes back?

Some of my students have been through more in their short life than I will ever see or understand. Some of the are surrounded by drugs, gangs, violence, sex, and everything else imaginable. I'm glad I can say that I taught them something this year, but how much sweeter would it be to see them saved?

Many of these kids are going through life trying everything they can to fill the void in their hearts. Many of them have no idea that there is only ONE way to fill that void. I pray that God will help me to be more bold in sharing His love with them, and that I would always remember what is truly most important in life.

I am amazed every day at the new things Avie is learning. A few weeks ago, she started putting my phone to her ear and saying "Hiiiii." Last week, she figured out that a comb is supposed to somehow go in your hair (although she's still mastering the motor skills for that one). This week, she has learned how to say "more" in sign language. She also tried her hand at applying make-up early one morning as she was watching Mommy.


Amazing, and also humbling. I was reminded (as I watched my eleven-month-old daughter try to figure out how to wear lip gloss) that I have an awesome responsibility. This tiny person is watching every move I make and listening to every word I say. Good, bad, or ugly, my words and my actions will be imprinted in her ever-developing mind. I am reminded of the words to a song many of us learned in childhood, "Oh be careful little eyes what you see..." I am praying that God will help me to be careful what I see, say, and do, so that the little eyes watching me will have a Godly example to follow.

I can't believe our house is finally starting to look like a house! I had almost grown used to thinking of it as just a lot with some concrete blocks. We LOVE the view, and are so excited that you can see out from the kitchen and the master bedroom. We can't wait to finish up and move in!

I thought when my husband and I got engaged that I had never received so much “helpful” advice from so many different people. Little did I know what would happen when we had our first child! Once you become a parent, everyone from family and friends to strangers in Wal-Mart feel the need to share with you the wisdom they have learned along their own journey. The only problem is, very little of it actually comes in the form of useful wisdom. Most of it is passed around as gossip and ends up sounding much more like criticizing than advising.

I believe that, for the most part, parents love their children. I teach in a public school, so I am certainly aware that there are some parents out there who do not have their children’s best interests at heart. Generally speaking, however, I believe that parents want their children to grow up to be happy, successful, well-adjusted people. They go about achieving this goal in many different ways. Some parents are stricter than others, some are more affectionate than others, but each parent has his or her own style. As I begin the journey of parenting my own child, I realize that finding what works best for our family is going to be a long, but rewarding process.

Most importantly, we want our daughter to grow into a godly young woman. We know that the only way that will happen is with God’s help and His leadership. There are so many decisions to make, both large and small, and we need His help with every one. With each day, I want to strive to please HIM, rather than worry about what others around me may say. With that being said, I feel the need to share a bit of my own (very newly developed, of course) parenting philosophy…

- While my daughter is a baby, I plan to hold her as often as I possibly can (for several reasons). I know that one day soon, rather than snuggling up against my shoulder, she is going to be running out of my lap and into the world. She will be little for a very short time, and I want to soak up every moment. After all, I don’t know any parents of grown children who say, “I sure wish I hadn’t held her as much when she was a baby.”

- Babies are supposed to be attached to their parents. Again, different parents form attachments in different ways, but the bottom line is still the same. Most babies would rather be with their parents than with anyone else in the world. This is not a fact to be criticized, but a natural and beautiful part of life.

- Yes, I want my daughter to be independent. I do not, however, believe she should reach that goal anytime in the near future. I believe that it was God’s plan for babies (and children) to depend on their parents, in much the same way we must depend on Him. It is only under the watchful eye of loving parents that children can safely learn to navigate the world on their own (with the help of the Heavenly Father).

- Children can be used of God in amazing ways. Before I had my own daughter, I saw God work through children to reach people who seemed unreachable. I am still amazed at the way God can use such a tiny person to bring such joy to the lives of others. It is my prayer that God will continue to open my eyes as I watch Avie grow. I can only imagine the lessons that are in store as she begins to talk! May I always be found seeking approval from Him.