9 months

9 months

• Likes crackers, puffs, sweet potato and bananas, puffs
• dislikes green beans, missing naps
• Loves his sisters, mom and dad
• giggles most when he's over-tired
• has become a belly sleeper
• no teeth
• forward movement!!!  Inch worm/roller 
• 16 lbs, 9 oz and 27 inches long, 44 cm head circumference
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Loves Jack's ears!
  
  
  
  

Sugarloaf Mountain

Hiking has taken on a whole new meaning.  It may take 45 minutes to go a mile, and we might stop at every tree, but it's a whole new, amazing world for them, and thus for me.  The weather hit 94 degrees Fahrenheit last week, and we headed for the mountain.  Sugarloaf mountain is 20 minutes away, and has a variety of easy hikes and fun picnic spots,  and old civil war structures.

Sisters and friends who go hiking wearing dresses.  

"Because you'll never know if we need to dance while we hike."  

True.

a crooked family pic, but we're in a season of life where I'd rather have the less-than-perfect picture that shows a perfectly imperfect reality.  This is our family.  These are my blessings.  Messy hair, dirty faces and all.

Francis using his son's arms to tell a story.

It was fun.  We're trying to balance our day off with a mix of adventuring and dealing with the home responsibilities.  The garden and house stuff is always there, but with the weight of ministry, sometimes it's good to get away and just enjoy God's creation.  Standing on the edge of the mountain we get perspective.  We are so small, and God is so great.  He is taking care of His people, and we are in His hands.  

Psalm 42:1,2,10

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change 

and though the mountains should slip into the heart of the sea.

Cease striving and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Medieval times

We've been trading babysitting/date nights with friends of ours.  They have 4 kids around the same ages, and we take turns watching each others kids so we can go on date nights.

We've never been good about doing date nights, but having it scheduled out makes it easier to keep, especially since our friends are very date-night oriented :)  Having free babysitting also means that we can spend a little money on the actual date.

Add a free birthday ticket to medieval times, and we had a blast!

Our seats were front row, and we were about 10 feet from the horses.  

And Levi.  Lest you think he's always smiling!

Baby

I'm frantically working to get the house ready for a baby shower tomorrow.  The theme is 'The Hungry Caterpillar" and the girls just laid out all the play food throughout the freshly immaculate living room because that's what caterpillars eat (immaculate deserves italics because it doesn't happen often, folks! or last longer than 5 minutes apparently :)  So we're celebrating babies.
And I got a new camera and lenses, so I'd much rather be playing than working, but the caterpillar cookies won't ice themselves.
  But I had to just add a picture of my not-so-baby-baby... crusty eyes and all!  I love this little guy - even when he's cantankerous and teething and feeling crummy.
Happy Friday, friends!

8 months

Levi Nathaniel

8 months old

Still somewhat serious

But has developed a love of giggling

Loves: his sisters, baths, blowing bubbles, outdoors, Jack, avocado

Abilities: giggles, rolls both ways, can wiggle, but no crawling yet

Still a drooling, gummy smile!

Light and dark

And another month passes and I haven't posted anything.  It's been a full month - full of buying a car, selling a camera, birthdays, deck building, visitors, and valentines day.  I've started working, Levi is 7 months (!!!) and we've had several conferences at church (both a women's conference and Ligonier conference).  

These are just things, however, and the real work happens on spiritual levels.  There has been sin and sorrow, broken families and lots of counseling.  This is the joy and sorrow of ministry where you weep with those who weep. Yet it's a privilege getting to be front seat in what God is doing in his church.  The joy of new converts has been tempered by families that are broken apart.  And God is at work!

It makes me so thankful to have little ones, because it makes it hard for Francis to bring the grief home. They great him at the door with such joy and overwhelming enthusiasm.  

When you hear their prayers, you see what childlike faith looks like.  

You hear their praises ring loud at the dinner table, and you can't help

but get a glimpse of their Creator.

We pray for them daily!  

Part of the month included a Valentine's day celebration.  The girls were so incredibly excited to hear that there was a day dedicated to love.  So, we decided to have a dinner, a fancy dinner.  I let the girls decide the menu.  "Anything... anything at all," I said.  "What is your favorite food?"

"Cereal." They replied.

And so, we had cereal, with spinach smoothies for dinner.  By candle light, with flowers and a tablecloth, and complete with fancy dresses (Francis' idea).

And it was amazing.

 Jessie has been loving her Levi.  And he is enjoying her as well.  She raids the pantry to feed him puffs, drags him onto her lap and reads books to him.  He giggles at her happy voice, and loves her.

 Francis hard at work with a faux beard!

Math

This is what math is looking like around here today.  Normally we work at the kitchen counter or at the table, but when one is vomiting, and they are asking to do extra pages before breakfast, they get to do the extra pages wherever they want!  Yes, these girls are loving math, and have worked two weeks ahead of schedule, even after taking a week of for friends and the flu.  Love these little gals!