So I was blog hopping yesterday. Couldn't possibly retrace how I stumbled across this blog, but I am now enthralled with it.
It's the writings of a very strong Christian woman telling the story as she walked through it about her little girl that she was pregnant with who she was told had serious problems...several of which would result in the little girl not surviving. I went back to the beginning and am just making my way through their journey, but honestly, the way she writes and the things she says are just incredible. I have yet to read a posting where I don't stop and say "wow"...and usually am speechless from there.
God is using her in mighty ways...apparently I'm one of the last to find out about her blog...she has 2,781 followers...didn't even know that was possible for a "normal" person's blog. But in case you're not one of the many who has already found her blog, I would suggest you check it out...every post is inspiring.
http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com
In one of her postings I read, what she said hit me...she said...
"We are not praying because we believe that God will heal our Audrey. We don't know that He will.
We are praising Him because He can."
So true...and an amazing reminder.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Laughter
There's just nothing like this little girl's laugh...love it! And I love the simple things that absolutely crack her up...such as a zipper... :-)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Zoo
Addysen took her first trip to the zoo when my parents were here last weekend. It was a bit hard for her to see the animals since most were far away or camouflaged, but we had a good time and it was such beautiful weather that it was just great to be outside for a while!
Addysen has gotten into pointing at things...we'll ask her where the fan or a tree or her animals or her sign on her door is and she'll point to it. It's pretty cute, but also makes us realize how much she is learning despite not being able to talk yet!
Addysen got her first taste of Starbucks....which she, of course, loved!! I got a strawberry creme frappucino and figured I'd let her have a taste...wow...you don't have to teach them to like that!! :-) She leaned all the way to the front of the stroller and just kept having her mouth open and arms flailing asking for more as soon as she got one little taste of it!
I think this was her favorite "exhibit" at the zoo. The water fountains where there were kids running around in the water. :-) She loves watching kids as well as water so it really can't get much better than this! (There really were lots of kids at this fountain...somehow this pic ended up with none of them in it! :-) )
Addysen has gotten into pointing at things...we'll ask her where the fan or a tree or her animals or her sign on her door is and she'll point to it. It's pretty cute, but also makes us realize how much she is learning despite not being able to talk yet!
Addysen got her first taste of Starbucks....which she, of course, loved!! I got a strawberry creme frappucino and figured I'd let her have a taste...wow...you don't have to teach them to like that!! :-) She leaned all the way to the front of the stroller and just kept having her mouth open and arms flailing asking for more as soon as she got one little taste of it! 
I think this was her favorite "exhibit" at the zoo. The water fountains where there were kids running around in the water. :-) She loves watching kids as well as water so it really can't get much better than this! (There really were lots of kids at this fountain...somehow this pic ended up with none of them in it! :-) )
New toys
Addysen got this pop up toy at Christmas from her Uncle Cornel and Aunt Natalie, but we were already packed to the brim and since we were flying, we had to leave it behind. So when my parents came down last weekend, they brought it with them. It's been fun to see Addysen play with it...she definitely has had fun! She's already figured out how to get them down pretty easily...and is working on figuring out how to get them to pop up. Her favorite use of it though, is to turn it over and make it into a drum. Every toy has multiple uses. :-)
Addysen's Great Grandpa sent this kitty for Addysen with my parents. It's so cute...and her very first stuffed kitty!
Addysen's Great Grandpa sent this kitty for Addysen with my parents. It's so cute...and her very first stuffed kitty!
Papa and Yia Yia
Addysen's Papa and Yia Yia (my parents) came in town last weekend for a visit. We had such a great time together...although the time went way too fast as it always does!!
My parents favorite restaurant in town is Oreganos and we have to go there every time they're in town (such a sacrifice on our part...ha! :-) ).
They gave Addysen some pizza dough to play with while we were there...she didn't quite get it, but of course, was interested in trying to figure it out.
And I was just glad she was more interested in the feel of it and didn't try tasting it!!
My parents are from Colorado and yet my Mom was still cold outside even with the heaters on...but Oreganos lived up even more to the awesome restaurant they are and gave my Mom a blanket to keep warm with so we could still sit outside! :-)
Papa and Yia Yia came bearing gifts from them and Addysen's Great Grandparents. Addysen LOVED the paper that the gifts were wrapped in as much as the gifts I think! :-)
And of course, bath time! My Mom had gotten Addysen this hoop and balls for the bathtub...and now that Addysen's in the big tub, she got to try it out for the first time. Perfect gift for Jeff's daughter... :-)
AND...Addysen got to try out the swing for the first time while my parents were here. She looks like such a big girl!!
My Mom and Addysen had their own little language while she was here. A while back, Addysen had figure out that coughing was a pretty fun noise and would "fake cough" quite often, but then had somewhat forgotten about it...until my Mom came. :-) She did it once or twice and my Mom would cough back at her...and so it began. It was so funny to watch...Addysen I think thought they were having some great conversations...coughing back and forth. Very ladylike sounds. :-)
Thanks so much for making the trip out here, Mom and Dad!! We loved having you here! Come back again soon! Oh and Addysen says "cough, cough, cough!" :-)
My parents favorite restaurant in town is Oreganos and we have to go there every time they're in town (such a sacrifice on our part...ha! :-) ).
They gave Addysen some pizza dough to play with while we were there...she didn't quite get it, but of course, was interested in trying to figure it out.
And I was just glad she was more interested in the feel of it and didn't try tasting it!!
My parents are from Colorado and yet my Mom was still cold outside even with the heaters on...but Oreganos lived up even more to the awesome restaurant they are and gave my Mom a blanket to keep warm with so we could still sit outside! :-)
Papa and Yia Yia came bearing gifts from them and Addysen's Great Grandparents. Addysen LOVED the paper that the gifts were wrapped in as much as the gifts I think! :-)
And of course, bath time! My Mom had gotten Addysen this hoop and balls for the bathtub...and now that Addysen's in the big tub, she got to try it out for the first time. Perfect gift for Jeff's daughter... :-)
AND...Addysen got to try out the swing for the first time while my parents were here. She looks like such a big girl!!
My Mom and Addysen had their own little language while she was here. A while back, Addysen had figure out that coughing was a pretty fun noise and would "fake cough" quite often, but then had somewhat forgotten about it...until my Mom came. :-) She did it once or twice and my Mom would cough back at her...and so it began. It was so funny to watch...Addysen I think thought they were having some great conversations...coughing back and forth. Very ladylike sounds. :-)
Thanks so much for making the trip out here, Mom and Dad!! We loved having you here! Come back again soon! Oh and Addysen says "cough, cough, cough!" :-)
Transition
Transition is always hard. This is no exception. Our company had another layoff on Friday...and I was unfortunately one of those layed off. I'm still not in a real great frame of mind to write much about it...and probably won't write much just due to the public nature of a blog, but I wanted to have at least have a bit about it on the blog.
It's a strange thing after 10 years of auditing, 8 years with the same company...putting my heart and soul into all 10 years of it...to all of a sudden in the course of a few days be told that this is your last week. Tough stuff...especially given that now neither of us have a job.
We are trusting though that God knows the game plan for our lives...and that He will provide for our family. We want what He wants for our lives...and apparently, this was part of it. Doesn't take away the hurt and the emotions that go along with having something like this taken from you, but it does give comfort in the midst of it...knowing that God promises to be near to us when we're hurting and that we are to trust that He knows what's best...even when it's different from what we humanly think is best.
When telling a friend yesterday about it, I was explaining that at least temporarily, I'll be at home with Addysen full time...which is obviously the best part of this whole thing. I loved her response to that...she said, so really, you got promoted. That I did...promoted to a full-time Mom. Doesn't get better than that.
It's a strange thing after 10 years of auditing, 8 years with the same company...putting my heart and soul into all 10 years of it...to all of a sudden in the course of a few days be told that this is your last week. Tough stuff...especially given that now neither of us have a job.
We are trusting though that God knows the game plan for our lives...and that He will provide for our family. We want what He wants for our lives...and apparently, this was part of it. Doesn't take away the hurt and the emotions that go along with having something like this taken from you, but it does give comfort in the midst of it...knowing that God promises to be near to us when we're hurting and that we are to trust that He knows what's best...even when it's different from what we humanly think is best.
When telling a friend yesterday about it, I was explaining that at least temporarily, I'll be at home with Addysen full time...which is obviously the best part of this whole thing. I loved her response to that...she said, so really, you got promoted. That I did...promoted to a full-time Mom. Doesn't get better than that.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Mini Toy Vacation
I have friends who have a great idea of having their kids' toys go on "vacation." When the toys come back out a few months later, their kids are thrilled to see the toys again...it's just as good as getting new toys.
Well, for an 8 month old, I think being gone from her toys for 6 days was like a little mini toy vacation. We came back and it was so funny to see how excited she got to see some of her favorites. I was cracking up seeing her reactions to Mr. Bear the morning after we got back...she was thrilled to see him...I wish you could hear the sounds that went with these pics... :-)
Well, for an 8 month old, I think being gone from her toys for 6 days was like a little mini toy vacation. We came back and it was so funny to see how excited she got to see some of her favorites. I was cracking up seeing her reactions to Mr. Bear the morning after we got back...she was thrilled to see him...I wish you could hear the sounds that went with these pics... :-)
After the Wedding
We were in Florida for a day and a half after the wedding...which we took advantage of by spending as much time as we could with all the family that was in town.
The night of the wedding, we came back to the hotel and attempted to get the pack-n-play back up in our hotel room (we had taken it with us earlier). Pack-n-plays are supposed to make life more convenient...being easy to take down and put up and bring with you places. However...we had an ongoing battle with this pack-n-play the entire time we were there...for some reason, this one was quite a challenge!! This night, it took Jeff, Uncle Tim and Uncle Mark all to get it back up!! :-)
Addysen LOVES this game that Aunt Terri was playing with her...
Addysen with Uncle Mark
Addysen with (soon to be officially!) cousin Katie (engaged to Andy)
Addysen and cousin Andy
Addysen with cousin Shawn
Addysen with Aunt Carrie
(On a side note...Uncle Mark and Aunt Carrie had just gotten Addysen her very own cell phone which she was of course enthralled with which is why it's in all these pics! :-) )
Addysen with Great Grammy
Jeff and Grammy
Jeff and Grammy and me
Will and Jamie didn't leave on their honeymoon until Monday so they ended up spending some time with us on Sunday. It was really special to get a little more time with them before we all left!
And here's another one of Addysen's favorite games...
One of Jessica's friends has a little girl, Caroline, that is about 6 months older than Addysen that we were able to meet while we were at Jessica's on Sunday. It was fun to see them "play" together. This picture made me laugh...Addysen's always checking everything out...
Addysen with Grampa
Addysen with Gramma
This is Addysen's latest thing the last few weeks...her tongue! She loves to stick it out quite often and it this little stage was at it's height during our time in Florida. :-)
Addysen with Auntie Jessica
Grampa, Gramma, Auntie Jessica and us
The night of the wedding, we came back to the hotel and attempted to get the pack-n-play back up in our hotel room (we had taken it with us earlier). Pack-n-plays are supposed to make life more convenient...being easy to take down and put up and bring with you places. However...we had an ongoing battle with this pack-n-play the entire time we were there...for some reason, this one was quite a challenge!! This night, it took Jeff, Uncle Tim and Uncle Mark all to get it back up!! :-)
Addysen LOVES this game that Aunt Terri was playing with her...
Addysen with Uncle Mark
Addysen with (soon to be officially!) cousin Katie (engaged to Andy)
Addysen and cousin Andy
Addysen with cousin Shawn
Addysen with Aunt Carrie(On a side note...Uncle Mark and Aunt Carrie had just gotten Addysen her very own cell phone which she was of course enthralled with which is why it's in all these pics! :-) )
Addysen with Great Grammy
Jeff and Grammy
Jeff and Grammy and me
Will and Jamie didn't leave on their honeymoon until Monday so they ended up spending some time with us on Sunday. It was really special to get a little more time with them before we all left!
And here's another one of Addysen's favorite games...
One of Jessica's friends has a little girl, Caroline, that is about 6 months older than Addysen that we were able to meet while we were at Jessica's on Sunday. It was fun to see them "play" together. This picture made me laugh...Addysen's always checking everything out...
Addysen with Grampa
Addysen with Gramma
This is Addysen's latest thing the last few weeks...her tongue! She loves to stick it out quite often and it this little stage was at it's height during our time in Florida. :-)
Addysen with Auntie Jessica
Grampa, Gramma, Auntie Jessica and us
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
