Nora: Twelve Months

It happens so fast . . . she's going to be one year old on Friday. I'm pretty sure she was just this little squishy black-haired baby yesterday.

1 day old


1 month old


Nora is full of energy and loves exploring. She had so much fun at her birthday party last weekend (pictures coming soon). She dug into her cake like a pro. ;) This month Nora has been caught standing on her own for a few seconds, has learned that pictures in books can connect to objects in real life, eats as much as she can, doesn't sleep as much as Mama would like, and tries her best to keep up with her siblings. She says five words: Mama, Dada, doggie, bye-bye, and uh-oh. She does not like being buckled in to anything and keeps trying to stand up in the bath tub. She has just moved up to size 12-18 month clothes and is wearing size 3 diapers. She is still nursing 4-5 times a day and Mama hopes she will keep nursing for another six months or so; I'll let her decide when she's ready. In the meantime I appreciate being able to eat the extra calories and still keep the weigh off, ha! We love this sweet, bubbly little girl and are so thankful to God for her!

One Thousand Gifts, 926-950

926. Sunshine for outdoor play
927. A very relaxing Sunday
928. Football games where the good guys win
929. Watching Jacob and the Gent play catch
930. Telling my kids our goal this week is to laugh more!
931. Meeting other homeschool mamas
932. Nora's first birthday party!
933. Lollipop cupcakes
934. The joy Nora's big siblings found in teaching her all about birthdays
935. Our extended family gathered to celebrate our almost-one-year-old
936. Finishing a just-for-fun book
937. Beginning to plan Annie's birthday party
938. Hymns old and new
939. Nora went to the church nursery and didn't cry the whole time this week
940. God's abundant provision in all things
941. A day today to "be glad in!"
942. Daffodils and crocuses starting to pop up through the dirt
943. The librarian complimenting my well-behaved children
944. Teaching the munchkins that you don't always get what you want
945. And the ability to teach them so many other life lessons
946. That I can be home with them during the day
947. And that I get to be their primary influence right now
948. Text messaging keeping me up to date with friends
949. A cousin getting married
950. Praying for and with our church community

Ballet

Annie just loves her ballet class this year. We have switched to another studio and she is having so much fun and learning so much. She concentrates hard and wants to do everything just right. She has made some sweet friends and likes her teacher. We had parents' day a few weeks ago and Daddy and I and her siblings enjoyed seeing all that she has been learning. And she's pretty adorable with her blonde wispy hair in a bun!

Sophie Update

Sophie's turn! Here are her Christmas card out-takes.











Sophie is 2 1/2 and lately, Miss Sassy and Independent. She still loves to snuggle, though, and sing, and she loves her baby dolls. She's the little mama of the group. She is enjoying her Bible Study Fellowship preschool class and likes to play at school with the big kids. She likes watching Annie dance and has announced that she wants to take ballet next year. Sophie enjoys cooking in the play kitchen and playing with her dress-up bear puzzle that Daddy and I gave her for Christmas. She was my earliest potty-trained child and my second-easiest. She loves playing with her siblings but she knows how to hold her own! So thankful for this sweet, sassy, giggly girl!

One Thousand Gifts, 901-925

901. Books about making disciples
902. Date night to the movies with the Gent
903. Nora napping on my chest during church (only happens when she's sick)
904. Coffee made by the Gent and drunk from my favorite mug
905. Books about teaching my kids
906. How much our munchkins love having Daddy home on the weekends
907. Hearing Sophie say, "Daddy not have to go to the office today!"
908. Sorting out the baby and kiddo gear and clothes for consignment
909. Focus on the Family's Option Ultrasound program
910. Planning the munchkins' spring and summer wardrobes, even if it's 27 degrees outside
911. Keeping up with friends and their kids through Instagram
912. Belonging to a local church that loves and supports and prays for each other and the world
913. Sleeping nine hours straight
914. The ability to provide short-term foster care
915. Fresh herbs growing through the cold and gracing my dining table in pretty cream pitchers
916. That God's Word is living and active
917. Even today, God is speaking to us
918. And He wants to know us, He is not willing that any should perish apart from Him
919. New framed family pictures on the piano
920. Friendship
921. Sunday naps
922. Football games I can enjoy but aren't emotionally invested in
923. Chicken corn chowder on a cold night
924. Fellowship with our church pastors
925. Making plans for spring family adventures

Jacob Update

Enjoy these out-takes from our Christmas card photo shoot. This boy loves to laugh and make others laugh, too. He knows most of his letter sounds and is doing quite well in reading, but doesn't like being bothered with learning to write. He likes art projects when they are his idea. Jacob loves to make noise and loves music of all kinds. He is frequently found serenading us with his guitar. He loves his sisters except when he is aggravating them. ;) He likes sugar but it makes him crazy, so Mama limits his treats to an amount we can all manage to live with. Jacob likes dinosaurs, superheros, and talking about things Annie doesn't like. He enjoys being my helper. He still throws the occasional tantrum when things don't go his way. We love our one and only boy!

Mid-January Christmas Day Post

I got around to it eventually. Honey, Poppa, Nana, Mama Rita, and Papa Gene were here to celebrate with us. We enjoyed this Christmas at home very much. Annie and Jacob were surprised with bikes, Sophie got the baby doll she wanted, and Nora's first Christmas was properly feted. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!





















first taste of cinnamon bread (Jesus' birthday cake)