Failure to Comply

Needless to say, KW still does not think too much of tummy time. This is pretty much what she does for five straight minutes - face to the mat, screaming. Can you see how red her face is? M.A.D.

I would like to say I do this with her every day, but that would be untrue. If I did, she would perhaps get the hang of it.

Then, we turn her over and play on her back.

Much better.

First Dance

Katie Wilkes' cousin, Addy, came over for their first play date last week. They are only eight days apart, which is very fun! While they pretty much slept through the entire "date", we were able to get a few pictures before they left.

I think we can all look forward to some rockin' choreography from these two girls in the future...

Deep Roots

"Trees with deep roots know about the things children need."

- Brian Andreas, from "Deep Roots" in Mostly True

The only way I know to grow deep roots is to spend more time with The Master Root. Then, He will daily let me know what my children need. Otherwise, I could possibly go to bed every night wondering if I did more damage than good. Instead, I can rest in the peace of knowing that His Word was my guide and his will was done. Most days, at least.

Hung Up

I wonder what he did.

Here

Reading about The Year of Here today. I feel challenged to experience my second child as much as I experienced the first. Not in the same ways, but the same amount. To enjoy the ways the days are different, and the ways they are the same. To document their lives, and mine. To reflect on how we are all growing to know Him more, and how we are merely looking at a list of ways we should be.

I am thinking about the law. How to be free from it, to live fully in grace, and to let that word seep into our marriage and our parenting and our world. Not our world, like "peace on earth", but the world we encounter every day. The neighbors, friends, and co-workers.

And in all these things, I long to experience Him, every day, every moment. Not at a prescribed time, not at a prescribed place. The life I lead this week does not allow for such structure. But, instead, to let Him seep into me, my moments, my emotions, my interactions. And, to do all this not in my own strength.

"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Gal. 2:3

I will go back to the Spirit, and to allow Him to be here, in this moment, in these days, in these thoughts.

Sitting Up

Not really, but it made you click to read! Baby Girl is two months old! Ok, so I took this picture last week, but whatever.

Ill Prepared

So, I guess you know really never see snow when your kid wears his fleece suit and it's pulling down to a v-neck. Or is it when you put gloves on his hands with plastic sandwich bags held on with rubberbands as the waterproofing layer? Thank goodness for Logan's rain boots! Outdoor winter wear is definitely on the list for next year!

Ready to hit the snow!

Katie Wilkes didn't see too much snow, and I actually bundled her up too much! When she got fussy and I took her inside, she was sweating!

Room For Two

Yes, I staged this photo. No, their room never looks like this. But I needed the pics for KW's baby book.

Fear and Trembling

For those of you who base your daily email devotion on me (there may be one out there), I have switched. To A Holy Experience. A very cool blog that I subscribed to receive in my email box each morning. Her writing is wonderful, and each day brings me to my knees in some area. Warning - it's not a Bible study. But that is not what I am looking for - I need to be driven to prayer, to dependence, to growth. To be inspired to think beyond the surface of my life filled with laundry, diapers, and trying to figure out what I will put on the table for dinner. To remember that I am more - a soul, a woman, a God follower.

I sit writing this as I listen to my littlest one "cry it out". Isn't this what every mother dreams of? For those of you who disagree with my decision, I only let her cry for a few minutes right now - she is still tiny, after all. And, I struggle immensely with the method myself - not in theory, but in practice - so if you must share your opinions, please be gentle. :)

Anyway, as I write and listen, I re-read a post and contemplate fear. I acknowledge the truth that I will never stop being afraid to offer myself wholly to anything or anyone without a fear of failure, rejection, disappointment. Raising children. Discipline (for myself or my children). Homeschooling. Leading. Pursuing anything that is dear to my heart. But God promises me that he will accomplish these things through me.

"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power." 1 Corinthians 2:2-4

And, just as I was about to go and get her, she stopped. Now, she is sleeping peacefully - like a baby, you might say.

Marriage Retreat 2011

This past weekend, Bryan and I went to my father-in-law's corporate loft in Atlantic Station for our annual "marriage retreat". Each year, we discuss and plan the yearly budget, house projects, vacation time, and how we can be better marrieds and parents, in general. It is a weekend we both look forward to, and we will do most anything to make sure we do it each January.

This year, we took KW with us, since she is nursing. Here, you see she is up and rarin' to go for the 2011 Budget session.

Apparently, she found the content to be less than engaging.

I always leave this weekend giving thanks for my marriage. During my engagement, a friend told me that I had waited for the diamond in the rough. I only had to find one, and I did.

Sweet Sibling Moments

Y'all I actually have some real things to write about that have been on my heart, but my brain is so tired. So, for now, I post pictures of my daily life with my babies.

Baby Boppy

Lee got a little boy baby doll for Christmas, complete with a ba-bish (that's a pacifier in our house). I have one of those donut pillows I use when we go on car trips to keep my head somewhat level while I snooze. When we returned home, this pillow was in the den, and Lee got a great idea.

He is helping out more and more with Katie Wilkes, and does not like to hear her cry for long. My, she does have a passionate cry! Nor surprisingly, he has mastered the skills of picking up her ba-bish - without touching the nipple - and putting it in her mouth! And he talks to her softly as he does this. It warms my heart... and frees my hands for a minute!

Cleaning Crew

Perhaps the best quote from Lee over the holidays came when he received his cleaning cart. "Oh my gosh! I'm gonna clean.the.house!" He proceeded to sweep everything in the immediate area. When we asked him to look up and smile for the camera, he replied, "I'm working."

We're looking forward to the extra help around the house. :)

His Only Request

The only thing Lee wanted for Christmas was a reindeer. Bryan had bought him a Rudolph on a business trip before he even knew this was Lee's request! Rudolph now lives in the crook of Lee's arm.

(I love the static in his hair from the car seat in this one!)