Cheese!

A couple of weeks ago at a potluck someone had brought a huge bowl of orange slices that were delicious! Ever since then I haven't been able to get enough of these large California naval oranges. Love 'em! I guess if I'm going to crave something, better an orange than the french fries I always wanted when pregnant with Jenae.

Getting Ready for Sister

Happy Easter

Why We Love Mimommie

This picture perfectly captures one of the many reasons why we love Mimommie.  Let me explain what is happening:  the lady is down on her hands and knees, hand-stitching the old bumper pad from Jenae's crib, Jenae is riding on her back like she's a horse, and she's smiling through all of it.  Oh yes, and did I mention, she's still in her pj's.  All of this activity is before getting dressed for the day.  The woman can do it all! 

Lauren & Jeffrey's Wedding

I'm in a hurry tonight, but many have asked about pictures of the big day. Here they are! I'll come back and edit and tell the story soon.

I LOVE this Girl!

Curl Practice

Jenae was asked to be the flower girl in some our good friends' wedding. We had the dress, the shoes, and the pantyhose. What we didn't have was any clue what we were going to do with her super fine, straight hair. A couple of weeks ago I started trying a few things with the curling iron, hairbows, bobby pins, and LOTS of hairspray. Here were some of our options:




It was amazing to me how a few curls could totally change her look. She was always such a good sport, sitting still while I curled away. Something about mentioning the words "princess" and "hair" made the whole process fun for her.

Bedtime Prayers

Some of our sweetest moments with Jenae come at the end of each day when we get in her room to pray before she goes to sleep. We started by always praying over her. As she grew, we moved into the repeat-after-me prayers, which were also precious. And, now she prays by herself...most of the time.

This journey has been amazing to me. Many nights she would be fussing in her crib and we'd go in there to try to calm her down. If we just talked to her she'd keep crying and asking to get out. However, the moment we'd start to pray she would get still and quiet and just listen. It was wild. Sometimes that would be enough and she'd go on to sleep. Other times, she'd hear the "Amen" and go right back to fussing. During the prayer though she'd always quiet down. I hope as she grows she continues to have such a heart for prayer.

Tonight I just wanted to share some of the things I love about my little girls' prayers:

• She can't pray if she isn't moving. The moment she starts praying she starts to wiggle and she doesn't get still until she says, "Amen."
• If you try to guide her prayers, helping her name things, she will stop, look at you and say, "Sshhh! It my turn. Sshhh! It my turn." She always says it twice. Sometimes even if you didn't say a word.
  
• For a while, she would start her prayers, "God, our Father." We think she got this from a prayer song we sometimes sing at meals...which doesn't count as a prayer to her. Even after we sing it she makes us hold hands to say a prayer. Now, she usually begins her prayers with, "Dear God..."
  
• I love to hear what's going on in her mind. Most of our prayers are "Thank you, God, for..." The ones that always melt my heart, and usually at the front of the list, are: Momma, Daddy and Baby Sister.
• Some of the more unusual thanks include: her diaper, walls, pillows, closet, pink light, fan, door--basically anything she can see in her room. Tonight, wearing our princess night gown, she prayed for Sleeping Beauty, Arial, Belle and Cinderella, and the Mean Cat. She often thanks God for her 'friends' and her 'new friends.'
  
• We always kiss hands and give squeeze hugs after our prayers.
• Her Daddy would want you to know that the first time she, on her own, told him she loved him was with a hug after our prayers. "I love you, Daddy."

I think I'll go now and thank God for a few of my blessings, too. Good night!

Valentine's Day

A Photo Essay