Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Seven Months and Scooting

A week ago yesterday, Lil' Lady turned seven months old, and I've done a horrible job keeping up with this blog, but I knew it would be like that. I'll write when I can or when I feel inspired, but it may not be as often as I would like. All that being said, I cannot believe how fast this last month has gone. I feel like I haven't even gotten used to saying our sweet girl is 6 months old yet... I keep wanting to say she's 5 months old, and now I have to say that she is SEVEN months old!?! I feel like the sixth month passed in a flash.

Lil' Lady's biggest accomplishment of late is the ability to move! Gone are the days of sitting her in one place and her staying there. For several days, she was very frustrated by her inability to move. Often she would try to go forward, only to find herself continually inching backwards. Now though, she gets on her hands and knees and lunges forward or does the "army crawl", which she has pretty much mastered. She is definitely able to get where she wants to be. The wood floor still gives her trouble, and she's still not crawling on hands and knees... but it's  new world and so much fun!


The last few days have also been filled with some challenges. Our sweet girl has decided that her little world is coming to an end if I am not holding her or on the floor playing with her. This makes it very difficult to get things done. Even simple things are difficult. If I even put her down so I can go potty, she screams the entire time. I know this is the age that separation anxiety can start, and I also know her teeth are hurting her like crazy. These days can prove difficult though. I keep reminding myself that a day will come that all I will want to do is hold her, and she will be too old. I'm trying my best to treasure each moment she is in my arms, but sometimes I fail and get wrapped up in frustration.


I am totally and completely crazy about my daughter though, and I wouldn't trade the hardest days at home with her for having to leave her and go to work. I feel like I have the best "job" in the world and am beyond blessed to spend everyday raising her. I love the joy she continually brings to our lives as well. Watching her sleep is angelic. Getting to see her enjoy tasting new foods is a real treat. Seeing her play with her puppy brother, Coal, is a blast. And nothing makes my heart swell more than when I've been out for a run, and I walk into the room, her face lights up, she laughs, waves her arms, and lunges towards me. It's a truly wonderfully indescribable feeling to be her mommy!
 


Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Thankful

I've been thinking a lot this week about how very much for which to be thankful! The sermon at church on Sunday was all about thankfulness. One of our pastors taught out of Psalm 136, which is a Psalm of thanks to the Lord for a vast array of reasons, but most of all because His love endures forever (that phrase is repeated 26 times in the Psalm). The enduring love of God is something for which to be forever thankful. I don't know anyone who can more appropriately claim that than the pastor who was teaching... he and his wife have lost three babies ranging in age from 2 hours to 12 months and 2 days. They have two sons today, but I don't know how someone is able to live through that and function once, let alone three times. If they are able to give thanks to the Lord for He is good, and His love endures forever, surely I can!

Then last night, Lil' Lady A's Bible story was about the "Sermon on the Mount." Jesus points out that the birds don't have to stock pile food and lovely flowers don't have to put on pretty clothes and dresses. God takes care of them, but we are even more important to God, so how much more will he take care of us? I am immensely grateful for how God takes care of us. Even when we are a bit careless and don't make all the necessary financial cuts when going from two incomes to one, He provides. We have all our needs met... a roof over our heads, a house that stays cool in sweltering heat, all the food we need, water whenever we want it and clothes on our backs.

Even more than all that stuff though, I am blessed with a fantastic family. My amazing husband is out of town right now, which reminds me even more how very thankful I am for him. Once he gets home from work everyday, he helps with dinner, helps clean up, changes diapers, helps with bath time, plays with our daughter, reads her a bedtime Bible story, and makes sure everything is taken care of while I get Lil' Lady to sleep. He also provides me with great conversation and companionship. I miss him like crazy, and he's only gone one night. I don't know how mamas who have husbands that travel all the time or are in the military do it. I'm so thankful this is a rare occurrence, and I'm thankful for friends who come over to help and provide great company.

Not only do I have a great husband, but we have a darling daughter. I am extremely thankful for her! She is healthy and growing and developing just as she should be. Her little smile and bubbly spirit bring joy to all who meet her. She is sweet as can be and oh so much fun!

I am also thankful for my extended family and friends who provide lots of love and support, even if they live miles and miles away. These are just a few of the things for which I am so thankful, but most of all I am thankful for a God who loves us enough to allow His son to die in our place.

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1