Picture Day

This morning we went to JcPenney's for some annual pictures.  It was TONS of fun.  (I'm not being completely honest with that last statement).  We weren't in the best mood to begin with upon arriving.  Then I realized I forgot Evelyn's hair brush (I hadn't brushed it at all yet), and her pretty red bow I was going to put in her hair.  Then Josiah and Evelyn wouldn't smile.  Usually they are pretty smiley kids, but not this morning.  I get a kick out of this-- the one time you *really* want them to smile, they don't.  And Josiah-- the little booger-- everytime we asked him to smile, he closed his eyes and often looked away from the camera.  We got a couple cute pictures, but definitely not all I was hoping for.  Oh well, I guess there is always  next year!

On another note, I did something today that I really enjoyed.  While Evelyn was napping this afternoon, Josiah and I sat on the couch and talked.  Though he is only 2 and still has limited language, I still think we did a good job communicating.  We talked about the construction workers who were digging a hole near our building, how they wore yellow vests, how the sky was blue, how there was a squirrel in the tree and how that squirrel likes to eat nuts just like Josiah does.   It is amazing the conversation you can have with a 2 year old!  I am looking forward to more!

Evelyn is extremely close to crawling.  Any day now I expect her to bolt across the room.  She is such an adorable, beautiful little girl.  However, I would appreciate anyone's prayers though who reads this blog.  She is just extremely slow in gaining weight.  She had some blood work done this past week to check for allergies/digestive issues that might be contributing to this.  As her mom, and her main food source, it has just been a *huge* burden on my shoulders.  It is hard to express in words the emotions I feel-- you just feel like a big failure to your child.  I have cried rivers of tears since her birth (over the many issues surrounding nursing)-- just ask Jason.  Poor fellow has seen and heard it all.  So, long story short, we would appreciate your prayers.  (Part of me feels silly asking this-- especially when I see so many people around me struggling with what can be considered far worse problems.  But, she is my daughter, I love her, and I am asking for prayer even in a "small" matter.)

And in closing, I have read and heard some edifying words during this stressful time as a mom.  I thought I would include them, too.  Unfortunately, I do not have the source of these quotes-- I have just been writing them down here and there as I have heard them:

"Don't try to crawl out of your problems and hard times.  Are you looking to God because you want a quick fix out of your troubles?  Stay in them-- God is wanting to *change you* in these difficult times.  He will move you out of them when it is time."

"I will never be enough-- because only my God is enough."

"My focus needs to be on Jesus-- He will keep me at peace and still through the ups and downs of life.  If you keep your eyes on the situation or on people, you will ride the waves up and down.  Keep your eyes on Jesus, and He will keep you steady."

and finally, a Scripture:  Isaiah 61:3

"To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."

A Whole Month-- Yikes!

I can't believe I have waited this long to write another post-- sometimes life just gets the best of your blog! Well, things are going pretty well on the home front. Josiah and Evelyn are as cute as can be. Evelyn is 7 1/2 months now, and weighs about 15 pounds. She is a petite little thing weight-wise, but she is so active, just like her brother. She is so curious and attentive, and really reaching at anything in her grasp. She is doing great with sitting now-- hardly ever falls over. And it looks like any day now she will be crawling. She is just about there-- then watch out mommy! It will be *very* interesting to have a teeny home with a crawling baby and energetic toddler in it! This Friday she goes for another weight check. If she is still falling in the weight percentiles, the doctor said that they would be "obligated" to do some blood tests and make sure that there are no allergies or other problems that are causing the slow weight gain. I am hoping and praying that she is doing well enough that she doesn't have to go through blood tests. Josiah went through the same round of tests, and I thing he handled it much better than I imagine she would.

Josiah is enjoying the first snow this season. Last year he was still young enough that snow wasn't all that exciting yet. But this year, I think he will have lots of fun in it. We got out of the car today after preschool and he stood in the same snowy spot for about minute, and jumped up and down in it. Then he stuck his fingers in it, and then looked at it closely and smelled it. Snow is curious stuff! I am looking forward to playing in the snow with him this winter-- and maybe even sledding!

They are such blessings-- Thank you Lord for my children!!