Halle's new moves

Here she's doing a little 'downward dog' up on her toes crawling around.

She's also started scrunching her face up and breathing through her nose, kind of like a little piggy (according to her brother).  It doesn't make for the cutest pictures, but it is adorable!

She never stops! Everything in her path is fair game- the cleaning never ends.

Rockin' with Daddy

*Please ignore the stacks of fabric on the bed behind them*

Memory Monday

Well, I am thinking that we are going to take another week for the 1 Corinthians verses. Things are going well, but it's pretty long. I could probably type most of it from memory, but I am committed to knowing these words and not just reciting them quickly after a trip to the bathroom, so I am going to let it sink in for another week. I have decided that God must have let 'Love is patient' be the first words in that verse for a reason: patient I am not! Several times this week in tense toddler moments Remy would say 'Love never fails', and it reminded me how true that is (and how unloving I act sometimes!). Another thing I am working on is continuing to remember the verses that came in the weeks before this one. Rem has me and Trace beat at that, I think!

I found the words from a song in my Bible that I thought were pretty poignant for me and my prayer for these days:

If I have not charity,

If love does not flow from me,

I am nothing.

Jesus, reduce me to love.

Amen! Happy Monday!

Some things you should know

I was thinking today over my last few weeks of posts, and I know that to some of you it may have sounded a bit, well, frustrated. '3' has hit us like a tornado, and my sweet baby boy has just been learning to push every button. But he is an incredible little man, and I wanted to tell you a few things about my Remy.

He loves to snuggle. He comes out of his room in the morning and after nap time with a blanket and several stuffed animals to 'snuggle just a few minutes' before he's ready to fully wake up. Trace and I both love this and practically fight over who gets him!

He is pretty shy, but as soon as he walks in to music class he's like a different person. He loves to sing and dance!

He has killer dance moves! (see above) He even has a special dance that he saves just for when Halle is crying, and she loves it.

It's not unusual for him to ask me to call him Super Remy when he's 'helping' me with the laundry. I'm not sure why this happens at this time, but I like to think that he thinks only a super hero could do my job!

He loves to help me make cookies and has a system that entails 'stir a little, and then have a little taste'. I wouldn't know where he got this from...

He almost never notices physical differences in people, whether it be gender, race, body type, etc., but he can almost always tell you what their shoes looked like.

I could go on, but Halle just woke up, so I won't. Forgive me if I have sounded ungrateful- I am so thankful for these two babies!

I should have some pics and things to post later today- see you then!

In case you were wondering...

If you happened to be at the park yesterday and saw a mom with a baby in a front carrier and another limp-noodle three year old kicking and screaming and trying to make himself vomit as his mom strapped him into his seat: yes, that was us. We did make it home without killing each other, but just barely.

And we're off!

After at least of month of teasing us, this weekend Halle decided that it was time to crawl. She still prefers to roll around, because it's faster for now, but she is definitely getting the hang of being up on her knees. Isn't it crazy that you cheer them on through these milestones, wishing they would happen, and then suddenly everything has to be baby-proofed again? I have spent much of this morning putting things out of her reach and helping Remy to do the same with anything that has small parts. 

She wasn't very happy about crawling here... she just wanted to play, and I kept baiting her with toys. Mean, aren't I?

Weekend Made

Just a couple of things I made this weekend. The outfit is from this pattern. It was pretty simple and quick to make up. I don't have a model just yet because it's a bit big (and I don't get to say that often!). I think it will fit fine later in the summer, when it will be hot anyway. There's a hat to go with it in the works.

This is a Buttercup Bag from this pattern from Made by Rae. It turned out so sweet that I made another one to send to a friend. It was also my first experience with pleats, and I'm happy to say it went well. 

Happy Crafting!

Monday again?

Good morning! We are having a pretty good morning, though I have a coloring bandit around here. I am finding crayon marks all over the furniture... it's a good thing they are washable. How far does one go to excuse/encourage creative expression?

Last week's verse was Romans 5:8:

But God demonstrates his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This theme of learning to love is ongoing. Our pastor yesterday began his sermon by asking if anyone other than him sometimes has a hard time loving. I don't know why it continues to take me by surprise, but I am amazed when things seem to line up like this.

I am loving doing these verses with our family. Remy is soaking it all up like the little sponge he is. He pops into conversation with things like 'the gift of God is eternal life' and 'Jesus died for me!'. These precious moments remind me why I am staying home and how valuable it is.  I am still working on my attitude, but I do think things are getting better. Even at 5:30 when the little Halle-bird sings I see my verse next to the sink and remember that little eyes are always watching! Proverbs 23:26 says, 'My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways...'. That comes to mind a lot!

For next week I am going to be working on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. It's kind of a refresher, but I know that I don't know the whole thing, and I keep finding myself at this passage. It's pretty clear what love is (and isn't).

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.

I hope you have a wonderful week!

This day

Well, we have had a fantastic day! It started off great (see earlier post) and has just gotten better. We went with some friends to a new park, where Remy got good & dirty. I had to shake him off just so we could go inside! After lunch I laid Halle down for her nap and heard Rem on the porch with his microphone. I grabbed my camera, of course, and got this picture. He was singing 'This is the Day' at the top of his little lungs! When I told him that it was nap time for him he replied, 'God made this day, and it's not for napping'. He did go down and fell asleep in about three minutes... he was worn out!

Just a thought

Psalm 33:18-22

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

to deliver them from death

and keep them alive in famine.

We wait in hope for the Lord;

he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,

even as we put our hope in you.

I woke up this morning (at 5:30, thanks, Miss Halle...) with this Psalm in my head. I keep finding myself in Psalms about the unfailing love of God. Last week it was Psalm 52, and today the above. I do declare that he is trying to show me how to love as I navigate my way through these sweet days at home. (Wasn't that very southern-sounding of me?!) Even our verse this week, Romans 5:8, talks of how God demonstrates (present tense, I love that) his own love for us in sending Jesus.  What a great way to start my day!

These are just a few shots of my little early bird,  in the new little sweater I knit for her. It was a surprisingly quick one to knit up from this free pattern using some yarn I had on hand. 

The simplest dress

Picture 1: sock in hand
Picture 2: sock in mouth- this is what happens to any and all socks...

I whipped up this little baby for my baby in about an hour one evening last week. I used a ribbed maternity tank top that I certainly don't need anymore (!) and made a halter dress for the 'future rockstar'. Is it sad that I am wanting her to be able to stand just so she is a better model for the things I make? It looks cute with a onesie, but will look even cuter by itself when the weather gets hotter.

Knitting

Remy is really into my knitting these days... here he was making a 'ball for Caleb'. (I made a blanket a while ago for Caleb's new baby sister.) His favorite part is to run back and forth across the living room holding one end of the yarn and seeing what gets wrapped up in the process. Is that what he thinks I am doing when I knit? 

Memory Monday

Exhausted barely begins to describe how I'm feeling right now. This weekend was a bit stressful, as Halle decided that she wanted to get up in the middle of the night for about 2 straight hours for 2 nights in a row for no apparent reason. It seems that she just wanted to say hello and play a little. So this morning Trace and I were both in a haze, and he was in particularly good spirits for having to go to work on top of this fog. He's a trooper, my husband, and I am thankful.

Psalm 52:8-9

I will trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.

I will praise you forever for what you have done;

In your name I will hope, for your name is good.

I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

It's amazing what it does for one's mood to be continually reciting a verse of praise to God, isn't it? I firmly believe that part of my 'job' as keeper of this home is to set the tone for things around here, and I must admit that a lot of times I fail royally. In fact, I didn't do a very good job this weekend, looking back. Tracey and I alternate who gets up with the wee ones each morning, as they get up very early, and yesterday was my day. I was tired from lack of sleep, and I let that start off my day in a bad mood. I became unnecessarily frustrated with little things, and by the time Trace got up (which was only 7am!!) I was already in quite a state! Isn't there something quite powerful in praising God despite a bad mood? Psalm 52 was an important lesson for me... how sad that it was Sunday and I still hadn't gotten the point, right?!  But Monday brings fresh perspective. God is moving among us and deserves our praise regardless.  He loves us regardless.

The verse I have chosen for next week is one that sort of piggy-backs on the deep thankfulness I feel that I can come to God even when I screw up and His love for me is unfailing.  It also is one that we believe is simple enough for Remy to learn and ushers us quite well into this Easter season.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I have several other things I'm hoping to post today, but I think Halle is starting to wake up. Happy Monday!

Get 'em while they're hot!

If you're feeling hungry, I happen to know where you can get some fantastic rolls. They are served fresh every morning, bright and early!

Clean up

In our house everything has its place.

This week's verse

Well, I hear some little ones stirring, but I wanted to get my verse for next week out here. 

Psalm 52:8b-9

I trust in God's unfailing love

for ever and ever.

I will praise you forever for what you have done;

in your name I will hope, for your name is good.

I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

I am so thankful for what God is doing among us, and I thought that this week I should choose a verse that is one of adoration.  Gotta run- motherhood calls!

Memory Monday

Right off the top I want to say that God is doing some awesome things in our home! It's funny how some concepts that we 'know' haven't really become real to us... I know that I am free from sin, but this week I really felt empowered to live it, and that was fantastic! My choice to follow God's leading and throw out my lists was something that allowed me to get a taste of God's love for me and plan for our family.

Romans 6:22-23

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I love Joanne's post this morning about freedom in God.  Her verse for this week came from Psalm 119, which I had been looking at this week as I was thinking about the freedom that comes with being 'slaves to God'. It sounds a little contradictory without an understanding of the nature of God. I was specifically looking at verses 32-48 in Psalm 119 this week. I wrote in the margin of my Bible 'lack of discipline does not equal liberation!', and I am still marveling at the truth here. 

I have some more thoughts on this, and I still have to get my verse for next week so I will post later. For now I have two little ones sleeping (at the same time, HOORAY!), and I want to take advantage by doing some quiet study. Happy Monday!

New Pictures!

This morning we took the littles to a certain store's portrait studio to get some spring pictures. Things did not go well... We have found that getting two little people to cooperate for the same picture is more than difficult. First Remy would be smiling and Halle frowning. Then the opposite would happen. They both had a hard time sitting still, and the poor woman that worked there was out of ideas. So after looking through the few pictures that did come out we decided not to buy any. I was disappointed, but on the way home we decided that since they were already dressed we might as well try to take some of our own. Trace's boss graciously let us come over to his house, which has a creek, and take a few pictures.

Observing

We've started journaling around these parts. My mom gave Remy some small spiral notebooks, and He began calling them his journals. He takes 'notes', though he doesn't know that there is a difference between taking notes and musical notes. His notes are a combinations of random lines and circles with music notes mixed in.  

We were talking today about making observations and I decided that it would be good to observe the tree outside our balcony as the weather changes. Remy looked at it with his 'telescope' and then we drew what the tree looks like today. He drew a nice trunk with some brown on it and put just a few spots of green. Halle's observations were mostly of her silly brother, but she participated none the less.

Fun in a Box

So now that he has turned three, several people have asked me how big Remy is. Judging from this picture I would say about one cubic foot (plus a head).

As with most babies, Halle really likes the box we store her toys in more than the toys themselves. These collapsible boxes are good entertainment for the $5 investment.

Project 2

Trace was home again today so I managed to get a little more sewing done. This set was another pattern from my mom's stash. It's from my childhood like the last one, and it's still pretty cute. Halle was a reluctant model- it's cold in our house!  I used a pink and white striped seersucker and lined it with a white t-shirt. I am determined not to spend any money, and fortunately I have lots of maternity clothes around just begging to be cut up and used. It's a little big, but I figure she has some growing to do before it warms up enough for this.  And lest you think that Remy is being forgotten in all this crafting, fear not. There are some things in the works for him, too. He just doesn't grow as fast as the little one, so I have more time.

Lesson Learned

Remy, having turned 3, had his first day in a 'Big Kid' class yesterday at church. He was pretty sad to leave Halle in the nursery but marched into his new class. We had been preparing for this day for a while, so he knew it was coming. He emerged after the service with a lamb puppet. Trace said that his teacher said he did very well and had fun with another little boy after an initial shy period.  We were happy that there were no tears.

When we got to the car we began asking the usual questions. 'Did you have fun?' 'Did you learn about Jesus?' yes, yes 'What was your story about?' (Here's where things got a little crazy...) Remy proceeded to tell us something about Jesus, the lamb, a hippo, and fishing.  We could imagine that fishing and maybe a lamb or two were in there, but a hippo?

Note to self: Ask the teacher upon pick-up what the story was about!

And if any of you know which story about Jesus and a hippo we are forgetting, please let us know!

Memory Monday

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written "Be holy because I am holy".

1 Peter 1:14-16

Well, my punctuation is off just a bit, but overall I'm pretty close. Memory Monday has become a family affair, and Tracey and Remy have started joining me in learning verses. It is wonderful but makes the task of choosing verses a little trickier, as we want them to be simple for Rem too. This week I put a copy of the 1 Peter verse on our bathroom counter so that I could say it each time we pass. That proved to be a good idea, but there was more than one time when I came out of the bathroom saying the verse to myself, and Trace thought I was mumbling about his ignorance. Poor guy!

Our verse for next week is Romans 6: 22-23. It's kind of a cheat for me and Trace, as we know the second part well, but verse 23 is one that we really want to put into Remy's heart. And of course, it won't hurt us a bit!

But now you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The guy who spoke at our church yesterday mentioned giving something up for lent, and I got to thinking about this as I was reading in Romans and 1 Peter. The concept of pursuing holiness is recurring in both last week's and this week's verses, and being set free from sin is a step in that process. I was praying about the kinds of things that God wants to set me free from, and one major one kept popping up in my mind.

I am a list maker. I make lists constantly for groceries, to-dos, bills, the list is endless. But I realized this weekend that an area of sin in my life is that I keep pretty extensive lists of the ways that I have been wronged. I hold a lot of grudges, especially against people that I love. God has been continually leading me back to 1 Corinthians 13 and what it means to love. I truly want to love my family and friends better, and one way that I can do that is by throwing away the lists and walking out a path of forgiveness and healing. (By the way, I am not just giving this up for lent...)

It has been a pretty rough year for me. I have been dealing with depression and especially bitterness, and I believe that right now God is wanting to help me let go of some of the deep rooted anger that I have allowed to grow in my life. I know that it's not going to be easy, but I have to let him cut away these things in order for my life to begin growing in a healthy direction. So here's to a season of pruning and growth- I think it's a perfect time, especially with spring just around the corner! (Sorry for all of the gardening analogies...)