My Girl

I know I've mentioned it 600 times but this girl... she is just the prettiest, sweetest thing I have ever experienced.  She was such an easy baby and now to see her little personality coming out, its just toooo sweet.  I've told Mike that I just want to freeze her at this age... 

I don't want her to be t-w-o.  He said he doesn't want he to be f-o-u-r-t-e-e-n.  

DONE!  No more growing up, Lily Bug!

This morning, I went and woke her up at 11am!  She was soaked so she got a bath all alone.  I realized that I've probably rarely taken bath pics of just her.  She was quite the ham for me!  I just love these pics b/c they totally portray the *JOY* that radiates from her!  How did we score this child?!?!

Over the weekend, we were out to eat with J&J, she's standing in the booth next to Mike and she randomly says to him in her *sweet*, *girly* voice "HI DADDY!!" as she pats him on the shoulder then just leans in, puts her head on his shoulder and *smiles*!

Can you see all her sleep wrinkles from having slept so long?!

She is doing much better with her separation anxiety.  She is still sad initially but has made it thru nursery every time for the last couple months, even at new places.  She's started telling me "bye" when I put her down for sleep... I always feel like that is a big step... they are understanding that we're saying bye but will come back.

And she'll grab my face ever so gently, a hand on each cheek and say "Hi Mommy!" in her sweet voice.

She loves to give little puckered lip kisses- too sweet!

Lily Bug P, you are such a blessing to us.  Our hearts are full of joy b/c of you!

Needing a Lift

We headed to southwest VA for our second annual fall roadtrip to visit John and Jessica.

We had such a good time.  Peter was SUPER excited to see Uncle John and play rough.  It was just fun to spend a low key weekend with them (and see the growing baby bump)!!

On Sat, they took us to a historical farm in Jefferson National Forest for a little walk.

 Not that he needed convincing, but we sold the trip to Peter by telling him he'd get to see lots of tractors (in addition to Uncle John and Aunt Jessica, the real attraction of course!).  And it didn't disappoint.  We found this fancy tractor on our walk!

 Lily finally warmed up to Uncle John when he gave her rides.  :)

This boy was also happy to get a lift!

 And could this pic be a flash forward... will it be a boy or a girl in their future?! They'll find out in early Decemeber!  YAY, we can't wait to find out.  (I forgot to get a shot of Jessica's belly but she looked adorable!)

 And JD had to snap this last pic of his baby mama!  ;)

Thanks, J&J!  We had a great time!

Bouncin' Babies

Last week I decided that we needed to do something FUN!  (Things were feeling a little too serious around here...)  So we headed to Kangaroo Jac's to "bounce off the walls"!!  Peter still loved this little tree house thingy in the corner... ???

 And I kept telling him to crawl thru this tunnel thingy to build those upper body muscles!!

 It was Lily's first time to go and get to "participate" in the fun.  She was beside herself with excitement and joy.  It was adorable to see & made me happy!

 The two of them had fun together.  Its fun to see them learning to play together and have fun together.  At least at times, it feels like the initial stress of "oh no, this person is invading my physical world" is wearing off- a sigh of relief to that!

 Water Break!

 Then onto the BIG inflatables!  Peter loved the big slides.  It is quite the good combo of a workout and lots of fun!!!  

And Lily and I were waiting at the bottom of the slides to cheer for him!  :)

Sunday Afternoon Fun

We ran out back after naps on Sunday to try for some pics in the *limited* sunlight (its killing me!)... hoping for one for a Christmas card but no such luck.  Here are a few cute ones....

 working on not putting lily in the headlock

 Then we drove down to the river (James) to see the sunset 

(turns out we were on the wrong side of the shore but it was pretty anyway)

These first days/weeks of early sunsets are always shockers for me and remind me of why I'm not fond of winter.  

 this one is just funny!

2 loves

 3 loves

(Peter fell down a few steps one afternoon after nap and got a black eye.)

pretty girl

 happy girl

 friendly girl

 Happy Birthday Holly!

 You are a gift to us!

We love you!

^{Isaiah 14:}

²⁴ The LORD Almighty has sworn,

   “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,
   and as I have purposed, so it will happen." 

^{Psalm 139:}

⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
   and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
   too lofty for me to attain.

³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be. 

²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
   test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting.

^{Psalm 40:}

¹⁷ But as for me, I am poor and needy;
   may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
   you are my God, do not delay.

I am reminding myself of these verses for Peter and that the Lord made him just as He saw fit.   It is easy to feel that things are inconvenient for me but I know that the Lord has purposes in it for me too.  So the last 2 sets of verses are for me... well, both of us.