What happened to spring?

Well, we're still here. I am just the crazy mom who somehow ran out of batteries for her camera... so it's been a while since I had pictures to post. I know that's a terrible thing, but I don't promise that it won't happen again. I really do think most of my memory was lost in the delivery room. We've been busy doing all sorts of things. Last week Remy, Halle, and I all had a cold/cough kind of thing. Fortunately Trace didn't get it, but it led to a few long nights. It has also gotten extremely warm all of the sudden, so we've been spending time outside enjoying the sun. I am not sure why we jumped so quickly into summer (high 80's the last few days), but I am hoping it cools off a bit.  Halle is busy trying to walk and talk. She almost says uh-oh, and she loves to mimic sounds like coughing and singing. We also cut Halle's hair. I was sad to see the fro-hawk go, but it was getting a little out of hand. (And that's saying a lot coming from someone who is married to a guy that had a 7 inch mohawk himself!)

I have been sewing, though most of it would make for some pretty boring pictures. I have been recycling lots of Remy's long pajamas, turning them into short ones, and lots of long sleeved t-shirts are becoming short sleeved.

Remy is crazy as ever, as these pictures show. He refuses to just take a sweet picture and tries to come up with some wild story to go along with the poses.

Pinned- Memory Monday

1 John 2:6 from memory:

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Even though technically I chose this verse for the past week, I think it's fair to say that it chose me. As simple as it seemed to begin with I have been wrestling with this one. I have been frustrated because I am constantly questioning and examining the hard truths that Jesus lived out. There is always a part of me wanting more- to be more, do more. To some degree I pray that this kind of wrestling doesn't end... I think the constant seeking to change and be like Him is beneficial, even what God desires of me. But some weeks, like this last one, I just wish I could rest. I walk on ever-present egg shells, tiptoeing around hoping to unearth some revealed answer. To live as Jesus did is so counter to my nature! (Sorry if I'm rambling, does this even make sense?)

I didn't choose a verse for next week, but rather I am going to stick with this one and exploring more of what it means for me to walk as He did. I have been frequently reminded this week that Jesus often moved among the 'least of these'. I am so rich and my desire is that He will teach me how to live sacrificially. To give freely. To worship constantly. That he would help me to choose among a world of 'worthy' causes... to simply show me His way for me. I pray that the God of the poor would show this rich Christian how to be Jesus in this world.

So Big!

Well, the milestones keep coming faster than I can blog 'em. In the last week Halle has learned that now that she can crawl she has free reign of the apartment. It occurred to her that she can go anywhere she would like, and she is constantly on the go.  She also started clapping on Wednesday. We were at some friends' house for dinner and she broke into applause. (Amy's tacos were fantastic, so maybe that's why...) She is pulling up now onto everything, and I think standing/walking won't be too far behind.

Clapping

On the move

Watching Remy jumping on our bed

Balancing on her knees

Pulling up to her feet at the couch to chew on some toys

Yum!

Memory Monday: Colossians 2:6-7

Colossians 2:6-7 from memory:

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, and strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Well, the punctuation got me a little this week (lots of commas!), but I really liked memorizing this one. I loved seeing 'overflowing with thankfulness' on the bathroom mirror. So often I run to the bathroom during the day for a two second break, and it was a great reminder to keep going and be thankful. I have been trying to think of little things to be thankful for each time I see that verse, and truly it wasn't difficult-especially with Easter being the perfect punctuation on the end! 

I am finally completely on the other side of the post-partum funk that had me so messed up after the littles were born, and it is awesome to see God's hand in everything. There were so many dark days when I couldn't even see the end of the tunnel, much less the light there. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of crazy days around here, but without the thick haze of depression it's easier to let God work and step back to admire His hand.

For next week I will be memorizing 1 John 2:6:

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Such a simple verse but it seems so profound to me today (and not so simple to walk out.) I have a bunch more to say, but it will have to wait, as I have a sweet baby yelling for me from her crib. I'm off before she wakes her brother- Happy Monday!

Happy Easter!

This weekend was a bit of a blur with all the excitement around here. My mom came down from Indiana to join in on the festivities, and both kids were delighted. (And, truth be told, so was I!) Here's Halle in her dress.

My mom made Remy a cape, and Super Remy has been zooming around the house saving the world from destruction. He's also been causing a little, but it's a package deal with boys, I think.  He also got a 'car-monica' from us at the end of an egg scavenger hunt. The clues led him around the apartment from egg to egg until at the last there was his harmonica. He was so into the egg hunt that he tossed the instrument aside and said 'where's the egg?'.  

On Friday while shopping we found this sweet pair of soft shoes for Halle. She has terribly chunky feet, and I haven't had any shoes that fit her for a while. Well, a girl needs her shoes evidently, and she latched on to these. She made quite a noise as we took them from her momentarily to pay, and she held them and played with them for the rest of the day.

Want some tea?

There are no pictures of Remy in his Easter clothes because he decided that this face is the only one he's going to make if caught by the camera.

Remy on his 'flying carpet'.

Halle keeps getting higher... she discovered Thomas and all his friends. Remy was NOT happy about this!

Peek-a-boo!

Just a couple of pictures of Remy. In this first one he is reading a story to Spyro, his new dragon, under the train table. He knows every word of 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear'.

In this one he looks really skinny. We do feed him, I promise!

Memory Monday

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

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. Love always hopes, always trusts, always protects, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

Well, it was pretty close until verse 7, where I got protects and hopes flip-flopped.  But that's kind of like my life at this point, I think. Things aren't always in exactly the right spot, but all the pieces are there and they are moving closer to where they should be. God is strengthening our family from the roots of our faith up, and even though we aren't exactly sure what the next step is, we are getting closer.

My verse for next week is Colossians 2:6-7:

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

~In other news:

Remy came to me after his nap the other day with the biggest smile on his face. He said, 'You know what, Mommy? I was hot during my nap so I turned my pillow over, and it was cold on the other side. It felt soooo good!' Isn't it funny that we don't have to teach them these little things?

Have a great week!

The beginning of the end

Well, we knew that it snowballs after crawling. I found Halle had discovered Remy's toys, which had been out of reach. Rem noticed and said 'Whoa, Halle! Those are mine!' And so it begins... I am Mandy: mom and now referee.

We had a wonderful day outside yesterday. It was warm and sunny, unlike today. This weather has been so crazy! We were thankful to get out. Remy played some basketball at the park (and yes, I think that's a soccer ball, but it didn't matter...), and Halle explored and tried to eat the grass. 

Pretty funny stuff...

This was taken on Trace's phone, so it's kind of grainy... Remy was piling toys on Halle's lap, and for some reason she thought it was hilarious.

More mischief and a hat

Oh, the places one little girl can go! I love her expression here- she looks like she's up to no good, and she probably is!

Here's the fro-hawk in full force. It can't/won't be tamed and is becoming her signature. She's a rocker at heart, I can see it already, and her hair is just that manifesting itself.

These last pictures are of the hat I finally made to go with this outfit. I say 'finally' like it's been forever, though the hat is the only piece of the outfit that fits yet, and it's too cold for the rest of it anyway. Bring on the warm weather, we're ready!

More summer wardrobe for my girl

Well, for Halle's 8th month-iversary I don't have any more pics of her. Sorry... But I have sewn a few more things.  This little top was inspired by the smocked dress in Heather Ross' book, 'Weekend Sewing'. I am loving that entire book, and I'm sure you'll see more things from it in the near future. I had some gingham on hand, and I used some red toile for the straps. I think it will be great for the fourth of July!

This dress is from this Vogue pattern 8060. It was pretty simple to put together, though I had some bias tape issues. (They were purely my own ignorance and had nothing to do with the pattern...) I would like to make more form this pattern, but next time I will choose something a little softer. The pink overlay is a linen-blend and is a bit stiff. There are matching fuchsia panties. There's no model for these today because they are both a little big, and it's kind of coolhere so I didn't make Halle fuss with it.