Nora: Eight Months

Eight months old and thinks she's so big! Nora loves to play, observe, and eat. She likes to go to baby story time at the library and is learning to tolerate the church nursery. Nora has just moved up to 9-12 month clothes (she's a long and lean baby) and is wearing size 2 diapers. This month she has learned to make several new babbling sounds (mama, nana, baba, and dada are on the rotation) and loves to squeal. Loudly. Especially in the car. Her big brother encourages her. She has been sick so she has been nursing extra and not sleeping very well. She is almost well now and I am hoping we go back to sleeping an eight hour stretch soon. :)

One Thousand Gifts, 551-575

551. A return to health for our family after we were wiped out by the stomach bug.
552. That Daddy stayed strong to take care of us all!
553. That our family and tailgating guests were gracious as we succumbed one by one...
554. My awesome hubby who finishes planting my azaleas in the dark after helping get the kids to bed.
555. A fridge filled with leftovers--no need to cook this week.
556. That we never have to worry about where our next meal is coming from. We are abundantly blessed, I know.
557. Sustaining grace to carry on while I wait for Christ's glorious return.
558. Being able to bring my cares and concerns and worries before the Lord in prayer.
559. Praying whenever and wherever--ongoing conversation with Jesus. What an amazing gift.
560. Great introduction to BSF's Revelation study.
561. Sleeping in my own bed on clean sheets after a hot shower.
562. Expanding my flower cutting garden.
563. Pulling up weeds--literally and figuratively.
564. An excellent start to school with Annie and Jacob.
565. Little girls in smocked pumpkin dresses.
566. Little boys in football jerseys.
567. A new phone.
568. A mechanic who went above and beyond when I got my oil changed last week.
569. Hints of fall becoming more abundant.
570. Loyal fur babies.
571. Our fabulous dog sitter.
572. Extra snuggles from my sick kiddos.
573. Baby story time with Nora.
574. Watching all my munchkins grow and try new things.
575. Reading chapter books as a family.

One More Recipe

My sister-in-law made this recipe for us a few weeks ago; it was so good! And this is a healthy one, so enjoy. :)

http://www.easybreezylife.com/2013/08/healthy-easy-and-delicious-roasted.html?m=1

August Pictures

A few of my favorite pictures from the "big camera" last month.

Nora Mae and Daddy


Sophie in the morning. Sassy pants.


As good as it gets.


The boy.


Snotty nose and all.


My oldest and my youngest. Heart melts.


Nora loves her big sis.


Sweet profiles.

One Thousand Gifts, 526-550

526. Rainy mornings.
527. Visiting with the neighbors.
528. Cinnamon bread.
529. Blueberry muffins.
530. Singing with the worship team.
531. Divide and conquer parenting.
532. Date nights and really good burgers.
533. A good night's sleep.
534. Getting rid of a headache.
535. First BSF class of the year!
536. Jacob's first soccer practice.
537. Consignment sale!
538. Swapping out the munchkins' summer and fall wardrobes.
539. Seeing what Annie dresses herself in.
540. Phone calls with old friends!
541. Completing our first 4K unit in school.
542. Multiple trips to the library.
543. Brushing the goats at the zoo.
544. Nora sitting up like a big girl in the stroller.
545. That Sophie likes to wear her glasses.
546. A schedule to keep us on track and make sure my to-do's get done.
547. Answering 2,439 questions asked my preschoolers each day before 9am.
548. Finding amusement in said questions.
549. New photos of the munchkins.
550. Zinnias are still blooming.

Recent Reads: for the munchkins

In no particular order:

the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder--we are currently reading By the Banks of Plum Creek. Annie and Jacob adore these books and are often discovered acting out scenes we have read

One Morning in Maine and Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey

Where's Spot, Spot's Birthday Party, and other Spot books, by Eric Hill. Sophie likes Spot. :)

the Beatrix Potter stories (Annie likes to listen to these on tape during rest time)

the Little Bear stories by Else Minarik

The Ox-Cart Man, by Donald Hall

Frederick, Swimmy, Fish is Fish, and other titles by Leo Lionni

Play with Me, Gilberto and the Wind, Just Me, and In the Forest by Marie Ets

Chicken Soup with Rice, by Maurice Sendak

Harry the Dirty Dog, by Gene Zion

Two Bad Ants, by Chris van Allsburg (favorite of Jacob)

Song and Dance Man, by Karen Ackerman

On Market Street, by Arnold Lobel

Read Aloud Bible Stories, by Ella Lindvall (there are 5 volumes and the older three kids loved these re-tellings)

Freight Train, by Donald Crews

The Parable of the Pumpkin Patch, by Liz Curtis Higgs

Island Boy and Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney (favorites of Annie)

Nic of the Woods, Lynd Ward

My Getting Ready for School Book, Harriet Ziefert (favorite of Sophie)

Aileen Fisher's poetry books

3 in 1 by Joanne Marxhaussen (great illustration of the Trinity)

Big Thoughts for Little People and others by Kenneth Taylor

Mother Goose, illustrated by Michael Hague

cloth books for chewing (favorite of Nora)

The Big Red Tractor and the Little Village, by Francis Chan (I didn't know he had written children's books--this one was adored by Jacob)

Beach Time Fun

We went to the beach a few weeks ago with Honey, Poppa, Uncle Tyler, Aunt Kayla, and Lilly. A perfect way to end the summer!

the family


Honey, Poppa, and the grandbabies


our crew


our crew again--can't get a good shot of everyone at the same time


we did a lot of this


the first two days the water was so calm!


Nora was so over pictures


cousin Lilly--such a cutie!


Annie-girl loves the beach




the only boy


sweet Sophie


the beach diva


Mama and Peanut


Annie making a sand angel


Jacob can't get enough sand


And waves


Sophie and Daddy


Sandcastles with Sophie


Concentrating!


Nora enjoyed sitting in the sand, playing with it, trying to eat a little of it










Daddy and Nora Mae, so happy together!




Poppa's annual beach appearance


Happy birthday, Honey!


Mama can build sandcastles, too!


There are more pictures of her because she doesn't move--much--yet. And she's so adorable, look at that happy grin!


Popsicles by the pool--yum!


Jacob

One Thousand Gifts, 501-525

501. A good night's sleep.
502. Our first home football game.
503. Nora's first game!
504. Sophie learning praise songs from her big brother and sister.
505. Hearing a recap of Annie and Jacob's comedy routine from their Sunday school teacher.
506. Finishing our first week of school.
507. The sweet curriculum we are using this year.
508. Watching Annie's mind grasp new concepts.
509. Observing Jacob's growth in so many ways since he came to be part of our family.
510. Field trip to the farm.
511. Baby turkeys. Who knew they were so cute?
512. Making new acquaintances as we begin our homeschool journey.
513. Fall weather.
514. Wearing jeans without getting hot.
515. Story time at the library.
516. Finally getting caught up on some of my big projects.
517. Favorite coffee mug.
518. Chatting with Mrs. Ella in the church nursery.
519. Nora going to the nursery pretty successfully now.
520. Being able to listen to the sermon uninterrupted.
521. The gift of prayer.
522. And intercession.
523. That God still speaks to us through his Word.
524. Tailgating with family and friends.
525. A manageable family schedule.

Recent Reads

Recent reads I have really enjoyed, along with a few of my favorite passages:

Heaven, by Randy Alcorn
We have such a skewed view of heaven. This book conveys glimpses of the beauty of heaven and what it may be like when all things are truly made new!








Women of the Word, by Jen Wilkin
A quick read but a great outline for how to study God's Word. I loved the reminder that the Bible is a book about God, not about us.








Kisses from Katie, by Katie Davis
Such an encouraging story about a young woman who was faithful to the work God called her to, and is now being richly blessed for her obedience.


Counter Culture, by David Platt
Thought-provoking and timely. Reminders that Christians can't pick and choose on the issues--we are called to represent God in popular topics like human trafficking, and unpopular ones like abortion.




Gilead (and Lila), by Marilynne Robinson
I really enjoyed both of these novels. Robinson's style is slow and thoughtful and the stories are well-told and grasp at the spectrum of human emotion and thoughts about a life of faith.