.....Two.

Who wouldn't want to be two? I love this stage in my angel's life and sometimes my heart is sad for the mommas that see two as that terrible age of tantrums and age-related acting out tragedies.  I love it, despite its many challenges on any given day, and often wish I could pause time and study each one of my children...savoring the very things that make them who they are at this moment in their lives...whether it be VERY two, adorably four or a wonderful inquisitive six.

Our Anabel Kristine turns two today so I thought I would take a moment to celebrate two....an age where we live for snacks, a ride in the car, or a bath; each celebrated with one word exclamations "Baahhh!" "Go!" "Eat!"  Asking simple questions like, "do you want a snack or should we go?", resulting in such excitement because the newness has not yet worn off. To which you nod and say "Nyeah" and run to get your "you's" on or into the pantry to find a "nack!"

An age where your hands could not be more precious in all their wonderful unproportionedness with slender delicate fingers and dimples where knuckles should be...and dimples are the cutest at this age...wherever they appear, including on round spots that are not so cute at an adult age :)

And the way you comb through your hair whenever your tired...and when your extra tired you use both hands.

I think you can do most anything at two and get away with it...

Like the fact that you can mispronounce words and use them incorrectly and no one thinks you are uneducated but instead adorable, even writing their favorite ones down for memory. And the way you can sing as loud as you want in any voice and not know the words and its always cute. How its okay to need a nap every day and wearing your hair crazy or having food on your face does not bring any added judgment. The way you can exclaim "PaPa!" to any older gentleman because you are always on the lookout for a papa-look-alike hoping its the genuine article :) 

Further emphasized by the fact that you can poop in public, in a corner, or in your bed for that matter and you don't have to follow it with an embarrassed glow to your cheeks or an excuse other than the fact that you are indeed two!

You are still learning to share and its normal that you cry when you don't get what you want...and yet you don't care about getting the same size piece of cake because you don't notice things like that yet, because you are still so proud that you get cake at all....what really matters is that you got the exact same thing as your older brother. :) because he is big and you want to be big too.

And the way you ask so many things with just a sound and a point and then answer with an "oh" while your mouth sits in the cutest down turned expression...a favorite.

You still run to the door for the last kiss when daddy leaves,..which we adore because your short legs means that your hustle run is a shuffle instead of a glide because those legs are just a bit too short still ;) 

and the way you hold your arms out for a hug when Asher exits the car for Kindergarten, and the way you care for your baby doll as if it were one of your own.

You still use the same word for three different things like "you" which might mean shoes, drink, or juice at any given time.  And the word "Ine" which means okay, that's acceptable to me, or all right.

You still make the same announcement multiple times a day that others may not even notice..but you make sure you get my attention..... "Mom, mom, mom, moooommmmm, mommy!...." "Yes, Anabel?" I say from the front seat. "Nu Nu" you respond as you point to your mouth...letting me know that you have your Nuk and you are enjoying it intently. :)  Which you may do three minutes later as we drive along.

 Needless to say, I love two, our precious little angel, please stay little a little while longer...oh you grow so fast.  Those blue little eyes couldn't shine any brighter against your beautiful golden curls, with bangs :), framing your sweet dimpled cheeks.  Our precious gift from God.... I'll take two! :)

faces of fall

"I wish I had pants like that"...

Anabel's new look, or mommy's admittance of bangs 11.8.11 :)

vote: Proud or Ashamed? :)

So, I was vacuuming our family room today, the kids snack/TV room and looked over at our popcorn dusted couch (from the afternoon snack) and thought I'd be a glowing example of Martha homemaker and vacuum the cushions off quickly while I had the vacuum going preparing for company...then I thought maybe I'll just pull them out a bit and....oh wow, look at all these crumbs under here, and oh wait, there is a  hidden "shelf" filled with sh*#! that I didn't know about!  Needless to say I gathered two lip glosses, an old keychain, numerous coins, and enough popcorn kernels to make another batch from beneath this hidden pouch of rubble in my couch!  And here I thought I'd spruce the place up quick, and low and behold there was a hidden world of filth that had been lurking for months maybe even I hate to say it, years! Unfortunately for me, bills and valuables do not tend to fall or be stored in pockets of children :) And I know some of you, like my sweet friend Meg, would say, I vacuum under my cushions every Friday...apparently I should not be proud at all but rather embarrassed to be posting this...
I was reminded of the human condition, or just my own heart, where we try to do something great, or confess pride, or straighten up here or there and we fall into a larger pit or flaw we were completely unaware of .... and hear God smiling down at me saying, "It was there the whole time, you just didn't see it." Scary how those stinky habits creep into our lives and they traipse around our attitudes and hearts unannounced and one day out of the blue you say something like, "Lord give me more patience" and what began as an honest confession and willingness to spruce up a bit becomes a season long project of self-realization that isn't so pretty...  Thankfully God has a sense of humor and loves us despite our hidden hearts that "look" all tidy on the outside.  There is not a day that goes by that I am "worthy" enough to profess Him, but he lets us participate anyway, knowing each one of us, on our best day, are still saved by grace alone, and Lord, for that we thank you!
All I can say is that if there is ever a mystery smell in our house that I can't figure out I'm going to the couch! :)  It's as stinky as my heart is, if I saw it from God's point of view! :)

We Give THANKS

"From the rising of the sun to its going down, the Lord's name is to be praised." Psalm 113:3

As another busy, rich, fast-paced year is coming to an end, Again, I cannot help but pause...
In this world of uncertain times that we live and in this season of thankfulness I remember: the upside downs, surprises, devastating announcements and sweet memories...but through it all: even if our year has had no right-side-ups I would have to say I am richly blessed beyond measure.  What an amazing, personal, intimately loving God we serve. With that in mind I wanted to take a few moments to reflect on that which we are grateful for...tomorrow I could make another list just as long but I will begin....possibly without an end in sight :)

...I am thankful for God's provision, more than we could ask or imagine
...I am thankful for the way others become the hands and feet of God to us, without ever knowing it
...for my husband's love and dedication: to God, his family, his beliefs, and our well-being.
...for surgeons and medical advances
...for my mother's strength
...for His mercies that are new every morning
...for moments captured instead of forgotten
...for priorities realized and spoken before it was too late
...for opportunities seized instead of lost, (like an unplanned lunch with a loved one over sushi, or a stolen week with a friend at my house :)
...for forgiveness and second chances
...for true friendships that remain...even though they have not been tended or watered for some time.
...for a family that is not across the seas, but close to my heart and a short drive away
...that God can take our broken pieces and make them whole.
...for God's healing power and comfort in times we do not understand
...that I don't have to have life figured out and tied up in a tidy bow to come before the throne room, I get to come as I am...in fact, the less I know the better and I even get to participate
...that God has a plan for our children's lives that includes us but is not solely dependent on our performance!
 ...that His grace is sufficient for thee. 2 Cor 12:9
In a week were I wore my underwear inside out two different times (scary isn't it?!) haha. I am grateful I can live on God's grace, ability and strength alone! I am absolutely hopeless without Him as a mother, wife, daughter and friend.  Thankfully He will not leave me or forsake me......and for that we thank YOU! :)