Tiny Talk Tuesday

Audrey is the talker in this house, from the time she wakes up to the time she goes down. She's 3, and has much to say.

Conversation about being at Uncle Jamie's house...
Audrey: Next time we go to Uncle Jamie's house we have to be careful. There are BIG dogs there!
Me: Yes, there are. What do they do?
Audrey: They give you big kisses.
Me: They do?
Audrey: No, no, no...not Madison, only Brooksie. He gives kisses like this.
(LICK right on my cheek, thanks for the demonstration honey)
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After finding her stuffed dolphin, Echo, on my dresser...
Audrey: I'm so happy to see you! I was so worried about you.
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Audrey: Are we going to Aunt Sue's house? The one with the TV?
(she was talking about a house with a 60" tv...guess that made a BIG impression on her)
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I love Audrey's jogger pants. They are grey with pink stripes on the side.
Me: I love your pants, Audrey.
Audrey: When I go to the store with Daddy, I'll buy you pants, so you can have them just like me.
(I loved how she knew to go with Daddy)

Check out more fun Tiny Talk at Mary's

Random Monday Thoughts

Over the last week or week and a half I have realized more people than expected check my blog. It's encouraging, yet a little frightening at the same time. It also made me aware that I need to post more pictures. Liam is changing constantly, and it's always fun to post pictures of the adventerous things Audrey is getting into. This weekend was particularly busy for us.

Liam is smiling all the time, even at 3 am when Daddy goes to get him. He fusses, then sees Daddy's face and gives a big grin...making those early mornings worthwhile.

For Audrey, she got her first...yes, FIRST haircut this weekend. We've been waiting because her hair is so curly it's forgiving of those uneven lengths, but it was getting a bit crazy so it was time. She did a GREAT job. This girl gives me a fit every morning when I do her hair, but she sat perfectly still while getting her hair cut. She loved the "special seat" she got to sit in, and was mezmorized by watching the hairstylist cut her hair in the BIG mirror. By the way, the "cat face" is thanks to Hands on House. A perfect rainy day adventure with Daddy.

I started back to work 4 weeks after Liam was born. I work from home, so it's a bit managable (not always, but we manage), therefore we headed down to Baltimore to get work done and to visit friends. Liam did a great job traveling, and meeting all the new people. While in the Baltimore area we were able to attend a special party. Do you see the fabulous food behind Audrey? It was delicious! Happy Birthday, JoAnn! Thanks Jamie and Amanda for allowing us to visit.
I love her hair cut! Just to be sure she didn't mess it up, and to avoid getting food on the floor and on her outfit, we came up with this...

Established Steps

As our Bible Study is working through Psalms together, I am often in awe of the 'Righteous Man'. I want to be a righteous [wo]man in God's sight. I want to walk in the way of the Lord. As I read through, the description of a righteous man does not describe me. It is what I want to be, it is what I am striving for, but sadly I miserably fail over and over.

This week we were looking at Psalms 37. Verses 23 and 24 really hit me, in fact I want to commit them to memory.

23The^(A) steps of a man are^(B) established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; 24^(C) though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD^(D) upholds his hand.

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way"
Thank goodness!!! I am so glad the Lord has already gone ahead and made a plan for me. My path is set.
"though he fall"
OH YES! I will fall, there's no doubt. That righteous man will fall. What a relief to read this. Although I fail in my walk with the Lord over and over, I can still strive to be that righteous [wo]man.

"he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand."
I love the imagery here. I'm not going to be thrown out if I fail or stumble along my path. I will certainly fall, but I just imagine the Lord holding my hand like a young child holds her Daddy's hand. When I (being the young child) fall, the Lord leans over and brings me back up, helping to brush off some of the grit from the fall. This doesn't mean there are no cuts, bruises, or lasting scars from the fall. It doesn't mean the path is paved and straight, most likely it's rocky and steep, but I continue on, my hand in his. As I take these established steps of my life as a wife and a mom, I am reminded not to be discouraged when I fail (daily). Rather, I need to get back up, grasp onto the hand of my savior and continue my journey.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Audrey is the talker in this house, from the time she wakes up to the time she goes down. She's 3, and has much to say.

Song: "Create in Me a Clean Heart"
words: "...cast me not away from thy presence, Oh Lord..."
As a family we were singing this song, teaching it to Audrey. After singing this phrase...
Audrey: When it snows we can give presents.
(you know, presence and presents? She's worried she'll be cast away from her presents, but no fear when Christmas comes, she'll get them back...right?)
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On Sunday while brushing teeth before church...
Audrey: Someday when I'm bigger I will go to the dentist.
Daddy: You want to go to the dentist?
Audrey: No, I want to go eat breakfast and go to church.
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Audrey: Mommy, Liam is older than me.
Me: No, he's younger than you.
Audrey: No, he's OLDER!
Me: Ok
(she was so intent, discussion had to be over)
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Role playing Do*ra the Expl*rer
Audrey: Oh no! Swiper stole the trees.
Albert: Where did he put them?
Audrey: He put them in the forest!

Head on over to Mary's to see more Tiny Talk Tuesday posts

Balancing Act

Here I am 7 weeks into my new life with two children. I love it! I really do, but I have these days like today when I feel like the balancing act is much too difficult. It's one of those days when Audrey wasn't being particularly naughty, and Liam didn't need me any more than usual. Audrey wants to help, sometimes too much. I do try to get her involved as much as possible, but today I wasn't into being creative with what she could do to help. So, she proceeded to climb on me when I was holding Liam, check his eyes and ears with her toy medical kit (as if she'd have a real one)...scary as she's trying to poke him in these sensitive areas. I kept pushing her off me, off him, and eventually out of the room because she wouldn't stop. After feeding, then changing him, I took an opportunity to hold him. I just wanted to hold my peaceful, content little baby. I feel like I often put him down to go onto my next task and he's pretty content so it seems ok, and then Audrey's ok because it's usually her I'm attending to. I just wanted to hold my baby, and I felt incredibly guilty for not paying attention to Audrey. I know all this is good, I know she'll adjust, I know Liam needs this time too. She is certainly not neglected, so why do I feel this incredible sense of guilt? I feel guilty because I made her leave the room so I could peacefully hold my baby. I didn't want to take the time to think of something for her to do for Liam. She's not a snuggler, so simply asking her to sit next to me or close while I hold him wasn't going to work. It was just easier for me to tell her to leave the room, to find something else to do. I never want her to think I don't love her, or that I'm pushing her away from me. I hope the moments that remain in her memory are the times we play, read, walk, talk, or watch movies together.

And then we have moments like this...

Old Friends and New Friends

Ok, I'm finally getting my post up about this weekend. Sorry girls, I really did mean to do it earlier. It was fantastic seeing my long time friend, Mary and meeting sweet Leigh Ann. How fun it was to chat and laugh for hours on end about everything, literally. Being fairly new to the blog world, and most importantly not being so computer savvy I was rather stunned by the stuff you could do with your blog. Who knew?!?! My husband reminds me often that I need to tinker more. I guess he's right. Since the other photos didn't include him, I wanted to show proof that my little man, Liam, joined in on some of the conversation, at the expense of cutting of Leigh Ann's shoulder (she does have two). He looks rather snuggly back there in his seat.
Hopefully after these conversations I'll be willing to tinker more with my blog and we'll see some cool changes in the future. Just maybe I might be the one to make the changes and NOT Albert!

Hope we can do it again sometime, girls.

Suffering

Today I dedicate my post to Logan Clark Stoltzfus. It is his 2nd birthday, but sadly I have never had the pleasure of knowing this little guy. The Lord took him home soon after my very dear friend, Kara, gave birth to him. I can't even begin to know what that pain is, to lose a child...all I know is the joy of loving them. Kara is a strong woman, she was before Logan's death, but she is certainly even more so now. She is not one to let this tragedy in life get her down. She has been able to talk, cry, even blog about her pain. She has stood up and wanted to do something, to help others feeling this same sense of loss. I admire her desire to get back on her feet, although I know she had many of days when she didn't want to get out of bed. I know there were days she did not see God's hand in her life. I am sure she often felt how David felt as he wrote many of the Psalms, like Pslams 13.

1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

We often can't help but wonder or question why God would allow a life taken so young, so new? We can often ask these questions about anything in our own lives. We may never know why, but we can certainly rest in knowing He is a mighty, sovereign, and Holy God. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and is omnipresent. He is with us, even through our darkest and deepest pain. He knows the deepest pain of loss, of giving His one and only son for our ugly sin. Not only did Jesus die, a death on the cross, but he experienced the pits of Hell. There is no greater punishment nor pain, and he took it upon himself even though he never deserved any of it! Oh the pain God the Father understands! He did it all for me! Unbelievable!

As we suffer through our own personal pain, I pray that I would be like David rejoicing in salvation, and trusting in God's unfailing love. Despite David's pain, he sang to the Lord "for he has been good to me". I want to do the same! Today I lift the Stoltzfus family up in prayer, and grieve with them as they face the suffering of losing their son, grandson, brother, and friend.

I Love City Life

Not always, but today I do. There are days I'd love to not have a parking lot in front of my house with cars that have speakers blaring, a neighbor that starts his parties after the bars close and happen to stand between our houses where the noise echoes, and smoke coming into our windows from our other neighbor. Yes, aspects of city life really annoy me...but then there are the reasons I love the city.

Today I got my jogging stroller and my baby bj*orn and off the three of us went, for a long walk. We walked to church. It's a 2 mile walk one way, so perfect exercise, and Audrey walks majority of the trip. The best part is that we can walk one way to church and a totally different way back, but there's not just two ways to go, we could go a plethora of ways. I love to walk along and see all the variety of houses, decorations, retail shops, restaurants, and people that I pass along my way. I love having a reason to get out and walk, other than just for exercise. Today we walked to church, other days we walk to go to the park's playground, coffee shop, restaurant, market, grocery store, or the video store. All are reasons to not use gas, get some exercise, and breath fresh air. And along the way we may meet a friend or two.

Today on my walk home I began walking along with another mom of two young children. She had this really cool stroller (donations, anyone?), so the conversation began, but being Moms we already had much in common to talk about. We talked as we walked together for several blocks. She's new to the area and recently put her child in pre-school to meet new moms and for her son to meet friends. I was thankful God put me at that place and that moment. I don't know that I'll run into this mom again, but it certainly helped make my walk home faster and I hope it brightened her day as well.

On days like today, the parking lot doesn't bother me (no one is doing laundry today, so it's quiet) my neighbor doesn't have parties on weekdays, so I'm thankful there's space between our houses giving us a bit more land than a lot of city dwellers, and I'm thankful for the large city house windows even if I do have to close them occasionally for fear of 2nd hand smoke plus he's a wonderful neighbor. It's all in perspective, right? Hopefully I'll come back to this post when I'm not as excited about living in the city. For today, I love city life.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Audrey is the talker in this house, from the time she wakes up to the time she goes down. She's 3, and has much to say.

Me: (to Albert) Do you like my new shirt?
Albert: Yes, I love it. You look sexy.
Audrey: (mimicking Daddy) Yes, I love it. You look silly.
Guess I'm thankful she doesn't know the other word, but not sure I was going for the silly look.
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The day after she stayed on her bed during nap time (a bonus for mommy) and coincidently Grammy came and took her to the book store.
Audrey: I stayed on my bed again!! Who is coming to get me today?
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For the next several days after throwing up and getting coke (a special treat) to calm her tummy down.
Audrey: Mommy, my belly hurts. I need some coke.
Me: Honey, if you throw up again you may have more coke.
Audrey: I think I'll throw up again.
is the coke really worth THAT??
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Real word: Sleeping Beauty
Audrey: Sleeping Judy

Check out more Tiny Talk Tuesday posts at Mary's

Close

This past week our little Liam smiled for the first time. This is one of those sweet moments, Liam with his Uncle Tim.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Audrey is the talker in this house, from the time she wakes up to the time she goes down. She's 3, and has much to say.

Me: Audrey, you make me tired.
Audrey: NO! You make ME tired!
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On a store run with Daddy and Mommy (Liam was with Grammy)
Audrey: Where's Liam?
Me: He's with Grammy, this is a special trip just for you, with Mommy and Daddy.
Audrey: But, I miss Liam

Check out more Tiny Talks at Mary's

Moments

Some moments I'm too tired, actually most moments I feel that way. I feel overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being a Mom, to both a newborn and a preschooler. I had a friend recently encourage me by reminding me that the Lord's mercies are new every morning. He gives us exactly what we need to make through each day. She's right. The Lord gives us these unprompted moments to let us know children are a blessing, not just to us as parents, but also to each other. I am thankful for these little glimpses of affection, especially when they are not staged for the camera. I can make it through today, and better yet...with a smile.

One Month

One month goes by too quickly! His face says it all. "Whoa, I'm ONE MONTH?!" We've enjoyed this past month. It's been an adjustment for Audrey, but she's done very well. He's a very content, sleepy baby. This has made the transition go smoothly. We love the few times when he opens his eyes. We haven't gotten the cute smile on camera yet, but believe he has smiled at us for real this week. He's losing some of his hair on top. I'm curious if it will come in lighter, maybe he'll be a blonde boy?

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Audrey is the talker in this house, from the time she wakes up to the time she goes down. She's 3, and has much to say.

Reading a card to herself...
Audrey: The card says, 'Go to the store Love, Jesus'
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Truck backing up (beep, beep)
Audrey: That beep scares me, but it's ok, God is holding me, and you, and Liam
(so true, so true...thanks for the reminder)
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Audrey: Mommy, Bandit is barking. You can spank him.
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Audrey: When I be a teacher, I'll be a Mommy just like you.
(aww, so sweet)
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My favorite...during a discussion of bugs
Grammy: Do you like spiders?
Audrey: Some
Grammy: I like spiders. I like Daddy Long leg spiders
Audrey: I like Mommy Long Leg spiders

Go on over to Mary's to see more Tiny Talk Tuesday