12 months makes 1 year

Dearest Elizabeth, you are 12 months today!

There has been so much development over the past four weeks...Yeah!

The biggest area of blessing is in the area of eating! You are now almost entirely eating table food. You do tend to have not a super varied diet yet, but that will come. We mostly rotate between chicken nuggets, peanut butter and jelly, and hotdogs (your favorite!!! Yum!) We have sides like grapes, raisins, craisins, mandarin oranges, bits of apple, crackers, goldfish, etc... You have also tried pasta (not too keen on yet) and scrambled eggs (OK but not great). Yeah for a baby who feeds herself finally!!!

You still drink several bottles a day of cow's milk (formula when out). You were not so sure about the sippy cup until I surprised you one day with very watered down juice in one. This has taught you quite well about drinking out of the sippy...albeit it is still often upside down etc...

Probably all this new food eating is only facilitated by the new tooth you got this month! On March 8, we first noticed your top right tooth mostly in!

You have worn your first pairs of shoes (some hand-me-downs as well as a pair of Mommy's baby shoes) as requested by the nursery workers at church.

Mostly I try to keep you barefoot (and now that it is warm enough, without socks too) so that you can learn to walk. Huge strides in this area over the past few weeks. Also on March 8, you stood by yourself for the first time for any extended period of time. In fact, once you realized that you were doing it (later in the day), you have since done it often and regularly. This has enabled you to also walk easily with only one hand of support vs. the previous two hands. Probably only a matter of weeks until you are walking on your own.

We cheated a bit and turned you around face-forward in your carseat at the end of Feb. (a few weeks early). You do enjoy it more, and I think, like the space to stretch out. Brother is a bit jealous of your taller seat though.

Life has not been all rosy this month as you are also developing your personality and your will. You seem to think that overdramatizing your injuries (often accidental) at the hand of your brother will gain you sympathy. In fact, the constant whining/exaggeration when you don't get your way is becoming an issue that has been under prayer and is beginning to be addressed by some spankings. (not well received, I might add).

You do love your brother immensely, despite previous mentioned injuries, and he loves you quite proudly and zealously. We are getting to the point where you can almost play together...at least for a few moments. :)

We love you little, Busy-beth!!! Happpy Birthday!

Forever ago

One year and about 30 minutes ago, I was lying down trying to fathom the fact that I was a new mom to a little girl. It all happened so suddenly I hadn't had time to think. One night I went to sleep like normal, still awaiting our little girl's arrival, and only a few hours later we were welcoming Elizabeth Holland into the world! Not so distant, I can remember the moment clearly still...and yet, it seems forever ago and always that we have had this precious second child.

Happy birthday, Bizbeth!

Meyer Park Playtime

A fun day at Meyer Park...

6 months gone by

Hard to believe I am pregnant still, let alone 6 months into it. Definitely a "baby bump" now. I have been feeling the little miss moving more but still not as much as the other two. Perhaps she will be calmer??? :) (oh, and a second ultrasound this month did indeed confirm that she is very likely a little girl). Names are still being discussed.

On another note, David is starting to understand the concept of a new baby in my tummy. He has often gone around proclaiming it to complete strangers. More embarrassing, however, was when he saw our fence guy and stated that Joe had a baby in his tummy too. (I do agree, it sure does look like it, but...)

D.R. David

Silly boy...We love you so much!

You have become obsessed with "reading" signs/words/etc... Your alphabet is still all over the place though and you are convinced that you spell your name "D.R. David." At least you are consistent in that spelling!

It is hard to believe you are already 43 months! When put like that, it sounds so old--so much older than 3 1/2.

You now often can buckle into your carseat by yourself. (you are a bit incensed that you have to sit lower than your sister--your new booster seat is just quite a bit lower).

You try to help out with sister often, sometimes helpfully and often just pushing her to tears.

You still call Mommy your sweetheart and so sweetly tell her she looks pretty and various other sincere compliments, but two of your favorite people are still Daddy and sister, Bizbeth.

The oh-so-short haircut you got this month has grown on me, and I am amazed to look at pictures of you looking so tall and grown up.

You have grown into almost all size 5-6 shirts (still size 3, maybe 4 in pants).

While you are growing up in some ways, you are regressing in others. We had done so well with potty training and then took about 12 steps back this month with several accidents at church and loads more at home. You are still in underwear except during bedtime but going poopy on the potty is a thing of the past at the moment. You have been better this last week though with almost no accidents.

I love the fact that your "Mr. Happy" shirt now fits your personality, despite being purchased for you as a baby when you were far from happy! What a joy-filled boy you are!

Reward

True a little pregnancy hormonal, true a lot tired, but God brought me to tears on Sunday with a clear view of His great blessing... No, His great REWARD... in the conception of our third child, this new little girl. The verse was one I have read many times but the wording suddenly jumped off the page and applied directly to me this time. (don't you live how living and active God's word is?)

Psalm 127:3 "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. "

I think it was the word reward that caught me. Yes, I know that all my children are great blessings. But reward? What did I do to deserve them? Wow! This new baby is not only a blessing but a reward! How much more special does that make this little surprise child?