8th Anniversary!!

Today marks the 8th anniversary of when Jeff and I vowed to love and honor each other for life. Looking back I should have vowed to ask for forgiveness and show grace and mercy, but I was young and naive. Here is a glimpse of our wedding day (sorry about the pics but we don't have a scanner so I took pics of pics...not the best quality).


Jeff swooped me up and carried me away...ahhhh!

The House

The house we have an offer on is finally listed on the MSL. Here is the link if you want to check it out.
http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-090023923-10437_Baywood_San_Diego_CA_92126

Beach Day

Jeff and I have been a little mopey lately, so rather than sitting around the house feeding our mopiness, we headed to the bfor a sun filled day. It was Kate's first time at the beach, and Hannah's first time enjoying the beach. She was shivering asking for, "More wa-wa pease." I'm looking forward to many more beach days.

Ray of sunshine

I read once that seasonal depression can be treated by seeing sunlight within the first 15 minutes of waking up - not sure how reliable this statement is or even the source (sorry roger!), but in this June gloom early morning ray of sunshine is this:

and this:

Hannah selected Josh Groaning to sing for me today...Groban, I mean Josh Groban.

Crazy Pants Day

Hannah just received some hand me downs and for some reason loves the brightest clothes in the stack. Check out her crazy pants...

But with a smile like that she can totally pull it off.

Kate thought this was so funny, until she toppled over. OUCH!

10 Months

Poor, poor Kate. Her mother is twice as busy and just cannot keep up with her monthly updates. I had every intention of posting on her 10 month bday, but simply could not blog June 17.*

Kate at 10 mths is a joy in our lives. She is a very pensive child, and will often think about things before she moves or eats. She has a cute "lick test" for food, meaning she will grab the food, lick it and if she likes the way it tastes she will continue to eat it, but if she doesn't like it (say green bean) she spits it out. She is cautious in her actions too, which has resulted in few bumps and bangs this far, and she likes to relie on us to keep her steady as she walks around. She has taken up to 8 steps by herself, but will only walk when highly motivated. Stubborness?? I'll just say cautious at this point.

She is still fairly attached to me, but is beginning to take to other people. At some family events she was passed around without complaints, even if she saw me. I'm hoping that this is a pattern since it is always nice to have some extra hands hold Kate for a while.

At her peditrician appointment (her 9mths well appointment was a mth late - oops!) she weigned in at 18 lbs. 4 oz. She is in the 10th percentile in weight, 20th percentile in height and 30th percentile for head circumfrance!

We have stopped introducing food one at a time and are just giving her whatever we are eating. She is doing a fantastic job eating on her own, and seems much happier to eat than when we were spoon feeding her baby food. Little miss independent! When she doesn't like food she just waits for something else or won't eat. Pickiness?? I'll just say patient at this point.
Kate's silent protest to eggs and cherrios.

I am starting to try just one nap a day, hoping that she will sleep through the entire night, which she is technically doing most nights when she gets up sometime between 4-5 for a feeding and then goes back to sleep.** I find that she sleeps best in her crib, and with a sleep sack on...actually, she sleeps best when we are holding her but we only do that in dire circumstances as is noted below:

She continues to love playing with Hannah, which blesses me everytime I see them play together and laugh together. Sisters are special and I hope and pray that they will bring much happiness to each other as we grow as a family. Kate is also starting to make up games involving repetitive motions (hands behind the head/over the eyes, turning her head away and then back) with sound effects (grunts, squeals, girgles).



Dear Kate,
As you turn 10 months I realize that you will not always be a baby, needing me to hold your hand, pick you up, rock you and feed you. I love the personality that I see emerging, and I often pray and imagine how to teach you to use the unique personality traits that you are showing now to glorify God, serve others and shine as purely as your name. Your cautious actions, your pensive expression and your sweet chuckes, coos, and smiles bring me such happiness and are a blessing from God. Everyday I find myself amazed at how you are growing and changing, and I enjoy the time when we can play together and laugh together. Your ingenuity in making up games keeps me laughing all day, and I find myself smiling when you sleep just thinking about your sweetness and the time we spent together. You are truly a gift from God, and I pray that you will know the source of Pure Grace as you grow older. I look forward to seeing you grow and change throughout the years, and will treasure these days with you, my baby.

Love,
Your Mama


*Have you heard that when a paci falls for the first child the parents wash it with soap and water. When the paci falls for the second child the parents lick it off. For the thrid child the parents hand it back to the child. The fourth child the parents kicks the paci to the them, and the fifth kid doesn't have a paci because the parents never know where it is. **Technically sleeping through the night is 5-6 hours and Kate is sleeping from 8-4ish, which is 8 hours at a time. I would love to get her to sleep 8-6 though, which would be a much nicer wake up time.

Father's Day

Before Jeff and I were married my mom said that seeing the love and devotion Jeff showed to his family, and his desire to have loving, peaceful relationships, helped her know that I would be well loved. I don't think that she or I could have imagined the type of love Jeff pours on our girls.

Decorating the signs for dad...
Hanging the sign for dad and adding a few last minute stickers...

French toast breakfast with dad.

Jeff does the jobs that I find difficult (like morning duty) and he does them with joy. He does the heavy lifting in our family. He is a very involved dad, and enjoys reading, tickling, chasing, carrying, throwing, feeding, and singing to our girls. He does not like the fussing, crying, late night wake-ups, time outs and spankings, but nonetheless, he does them because that's what a loving father does. He loves.



Jeff has shown great humility by asking me for help when he isn't sure what to do or by apologizing to the girls when he misunderstands or regrets what happens. I love hearing him talk to the girls, and play with them. His pitch gets higher, his voice gets louder, and if he's serious he talks slower, and if he's playing he talks faster. I love the way he explains things to Hannah's constant "Why, doing?" question.

H: Dad, why doing?
J: Putting my shoes on.
H: Why?
J: To go to work.
H: Why?
J: To make the big bucks.
H: Why?
J: Because that's what I do.

Yes, this conversation with H can go on and on and on...and Jeff seems to enjoy it. He likes talking to Hannah and likes explaining things to her. He shows patience and love, which is why I encourage Hannah to go see what daddy is doing when I hear, "Mom, why doing?"



When you marry someone you marry them for who they are not knowing who they will be in the future...what kind of parent they might be, what kind of employee they might be, what personality traits will manifest. With Jeff's devotion to his family, his perseverance to endure hard times and laugh in the good times I would have to say that my girls and I are blessed, beyond blessed, beyond blessed to have him in our lives every day. I praise God for the abundant gifts in my life, and my husband is definitely the top of that list, right next to God's all sufficient grace.

Hair!!

Seriously...check out this knot...ugh!