Quick, before I get Sidetrack'd

My baby girl isn’t much of a baby anymore. On Friday, she will be 19 months old; officially closer to two years old than one year old. I try not to think about that too much, though.

This is the first child that I’ve truly been able to enjoy this early toddler phase. When E and J were 19 months old I was 8 months pregnant. When S turned 19 months old I was 4 days from delivering baby M. It is so much fun to see her develop and learn and grow.

Most of her current milestones involve speech. The little booger is repeating everything and adding new words to her flourishing vocabulary by the minute it seems. At her 18 month check up (23.5 pounds, 31 inches, 25th percentile in both – for the record) I was asked if she had 4 to 10 words; oh yes, she sure did.

Mama (and now Mommy), Dada (now Daddy), ball, dee-dee (blanket), please, thank you, dee-bee (baby), i-eee (eye), ees (ears), nu (nose), be-dee (belly), schee (cheese), bi-bah (ipod), heh-o (hello), hi

And since then she’s added…all three of her siblings names, cu (cup and cut), wa-wa (water), no, my (mine), dog, kitty, ca (car), rah-rah (stuffed tiger), bu (book)

She waves, she claps, she signs please, thank you, amen. She says “I see” and “I want”. She smiles and plays and runs and loves to snuggle in your lap with dee-dee and rah-rah. She likes to look at books as long as she is in charge of turning pages. She loves her siblings and wants to do everything they do. She screams “peas” if you don’t catch on soon enough.

She is a perfectly imperfect full-blown, no going back toddler. As she is just as cute as she can be.

They were still jabbering at 9:00 last night, happy sibling voices conversing instead of sleeping. And now they are still sleeping. Oh what a love/hate relationship I have with you daylight saving time.

So I have a few extra minutes this morning. Minutes to write. To fill this space that I’ve left empty for so many months now.

This week is spring break for our local schools. Since most of our normal activities for the week are cancelled for the break, we will join in the fun. Trips to the fire museum, the children’s museum, the zoo await us.

The weather isn’t as warm as I would prefer this week, in the mid to upper fifties instead of the seventies, but I don’t want to rush the long, hot days of summer, so we will put on jackets and enjoy the things our city has to offer.

The weekend was delightful, temperatures in the low 70s. We had a beautiful spring day on Saturday and enjoyed it playing in the yard with Nonnie and Pops, having lunch out, and visiting the park. Sunday was dreary and rainy, a great day to nap and catch up on that hour of sleep we lost overnight Saturday.

The daffodils have just started to bloom here. A late start this year, but a gorgeous herald of spring. Daffodils and tulips make me smile.

Last Saturday I ran in snow, this Saturday I ran in shorts. Oh spring, you are coming, and I welcome you with open arms.

It’s been a day of moments.

Like this one…

They never would have posed like that if I’d asked them; it was just part of their play.

Or the one where S came into the room carrying a bag and said she’d just “got back from down the town to kafari (safari).”

Or the one where the four were headed outside to play safari with E in a fire fighter jacket, J in an Air Force flight suit, and S in her giraffe costume.

Or the one where J woke up asking if he could do more math today.

Or the ones where M nodded or shook her head (or whole body, rather) to answer a question.

Or the one going on right now where they are all happily playing in one room together.

December four is good.

So much for posting something every day! Believe it or not, I’ve actually had something to post each day and failed to take time to write. And I actually started this post on Friday, and here we are at Tuesday. So, here’s a catch up list.

Day 9 – I am thankful for the ability to buy food for our family and the resources to feed our family the way we believe we should.

Day 10 – I am thankful for beautiful weather in November and a fun morning with Aunt Lu and her gang

Day 11 – I am thankful for our church and the ability to worship God freely.

Day 12 – I am thankful for the men and women who have and currently are serving in our armed forces. Especially my favorite Air Force Major, my brother Jason.

Day 13 – I am thankful for Christ and the salvation, grace, and mercy he pours out on me.

Day 14 – I am thankful for the churches in our community that support BSF, homeschool activities, etc that are a continual blessing to our family.

Day 15 – I am thankful for healthy children. So many families are going through so much. We are blessed.

Day 16 – I am thankful for homeschooling. We have our fair share of rough days, but the good days are great days. It is so fun watching my kids learn.

Day 17 – I am thankful for days of rest.

Day 18 – I am thankful for our small group. God has surrounded us with a wonderful group of friends!

Day 19 – I am thankful for our justice and court systems. But I am praising God that I was not chosen to sit on the grand jury!

Today I am thankful for the grace of God. By his grace I have life, breath, and all good things. Praise God!

Today I am thankful for warmth – warm clothes, a car with working heater, a house to block the wind, and a furnace for said house, plenty of quilts and blankets.

We spent a couple of hours at the park this afternoon with a friend, and it was cold. My poor kids were shivering as they ate their lunch because I failed to realize how cold it would be and bring coats (instead of light-weight jackets).

And while it was great visiting with my friend, it was nice to get in our car and warm up and then come into our warm house.

By the way, we had to give in last night and turn on the heat in the house.

Today I am thankful that, regardless of the outcome of the election, Jesus is still and forever on the throne.

Today I am thankful for Bible Study Fellowship. There are so many things I could say about BSF and the place it has in my life and in my heart.

This year is the sixth year that I’ve studied God’s word in a BSF class and the second year that I’ve been a leader in the children’s program. A lot has changed in my life in these six years. E had just turned a year old when I started BSF, and Jack was born the Spring of that first year. But there is one thing that has not changed in the last six years – God.

BSF is an in depth Bible study that focuses on one book or group of books each year (30+ weeks during the school year). I have really learned how to dig into God’s word and have come to love reading and studying the Bible over the time I’ve been in BSF.

BSF also has a fantastic children’s program. I really can’t say enough good things about it. It has been such a blessing to have well-trained leaders come alongside Matt and I as we teach and train our children. BSF strives to provide parents with resources to help you train your children and allow the whole family to study together.

I feel so blessed to be able to participate this year as a children’s leader. I love teaching my sweet little three year olds every week and seeing them learn about Jesus and the character of God.

I also feel privileged to sit in the leaders circle with women of faith and study God’s word.

I am truly thankful for BSF.

Also known as Thanksgiving, Day 4.

Today I am thankful for these monkeys.

Well, really ladybug, kitty cat, giraffe, and spiderman, I guess.

You might get the idea that someone wasn’t happy about this whole situation.

Gotta love 2 year olds!

But, seriously, I love these four people more than I ever thought possible. They bring love, joy, and fun to my life. (Also headaches, heartache, and chaos; if we’re being honest)

So today (and every day), I am thankful for these four blessings God has given me to mother.

Today I am thankful for days of rest. By the end of the week I am exhausted, and our Friday afternoons and Saturdays with Matt around are such a blessing. Especially good are the ones when we can just hang out at home.