EIGHTEEN MONTHS

Dustin turned 18 months old recently! My Little Man is growing into quite a Big Boy...so fast! So, what's he been up to lately?

• 33 inches -- in the 50th to 75th percentile in length;




• 24 lbs. and 15 oz., in the 25th to 50th percentile (you are long and lean);




• You are a fairly good eater...most of the time;




• You absolutely LOVE your mile (you're working now on your third 7 ounce sippy cup and it's only 10:30 am!);




• You sometimes get frustrated by your toys when you are unable to make them do precisely what you want. (We had to put a few toys away this morning to keep you happy);




• You greatly enjoy playing outside and the outside play helps to keep your frustration with inside toys minimized;

• You take one 2-3 hour nap each day, usually right after lunch;




• You still wake up some in the middle of the night for different reasons--teeth coming in, cold, stuffed up nose, very full diaper and other reasons that mommy and daddy just can't quite figure out (we're exhausted);




• You are such a daddy's boy lately! You prefer being held by your daddy;




• You are using all kinds of words. We've noticed several new ones this week, including "up" (which you use when you want held);




• You are so good at using sign language, especially the words "please" and "more";




• You wear size 5 diapers and we use nighttime diapers at night;




• You are wearing size 18-24 month clothing;




• You like your shoes and will bring them to us when we ask;




• You are a very social little boy and love playing with other boys and girls;




• You seem to be very popular with your friends at daycare--they all circle around when you arrive in the mornings!




• You are such a healthy little boy and for this, we are blessed and immensely grateful!

You are loved beyond words and we think you are the most adorable Little Man EVER!!

Heartbreaking

The news during the past two weeks has brought such sorrow. Depictions of individuals who had so little worldly possessions to begin with have lost loved ones, everything they own and their fundamental way of life.

An earth-shaking moment in time that changed everything.


I read a story this evening that was on ABC news last night. The story is related to the adoption of a Haitian child by a couple in South Carolina who are leaders of a ministry in which I used to participate -- Engage. The story of this couple going through a two year adoption process brought tears to my eyes. Fortunately, the government recently made the decision to grant humanitarian parole to those families currently in the process to adopt a child from Haiti. This couple's story can be read in more detail at http://www.afamilyforfrankie.wordpress.com/.

There are many organizations that are providing relief effort to the Haitian people in their overwhelming time of sorrow and struggles. We are partial to an organization called Worldvision, which we recommend as an organization through which we'd recommend providing funds to assist the Haitians to rebuild their communities, to obtain much needed food and supplies and medical assistance to sustain lives.

We are praying for healing for the people of Haiti and most importantly, that the world will see God's face in the healing process and recovery of Haiti.

Snow Days

We had a good bit of snow in Lexington last week, so my boys were able to enjoy a little bit of snow time!

One of Tim's presents for Christmas included a nice snow tube. He and Dustin were able to try it out at the park last weekend. Here are a few fun photos:

I don't think that Dustin knew quite what to think about the snow tubing! He did not enjoy the snow flying up into his face. Brrr....Cold!! But, he did seem to enjoy the final last very small hill that he was able to navigate all by himself (daddy was at the top and mommy caught him at the bottom).

Thanks to Little Man's friend, Adam, Dustin had a pair of snow boots to keep his little feet warm! Before the next snow, we will be finding him a pair of boots and some waterproof mittens!

Next winter, Mommy will also be able to enjoy the ride!

Fun times!

Goals for 2010

Happy New Year!

Since the New Year, I have thought much about a few "goals" that I have going into 2010.

I try not to set the tried and not so true traditional resolutions, since they seem to only last for a brief period of time and are ultimately lost to only be revamped and reconditioned for next year's list of resolutions. However, I find that when I establish a few goals, when steps to achieve those goals, my goals are typically much more attainable!

And so, my 2010 goals:

1. To grow closer to God in 2010.

Steps to achieve this first goal:

Read my bible daily
Pray
Journal
Observe God's creation in all things

One additional step that I hope for my family to take in early 2010 is to become members of and involved in a local church.

2. To spend more quality time with my wonderful husband! Tim tells me that 2009 was the "year in the kitchen"--I spent a lot of time trying out new and usually complicated recipes. So, 2010 needs to be the year of simplicity so that Tim and I can reconnect.

3. To continue to spend time with my boys and while doing so, teach them new words, numbers and introduce them to new, exciting and fun adventures!

4. To work on authentic friendships.

5. To eat healthier and exercise. (We need to include more fruits and vegetables in our diets!)

Those are my goals for 2010. Here's to hoping that I'll be able to maintain and achieve them!

An Ode to my Very Best Friend

Today is a very special day!


It was four years ago today that I walked toward my very best friend, promising before God, family and friends for him to be my husband during our life together on this earth. It seems as though I have known you for a lifetime. Not because marriage to you has been a drudging chore, but because I cannot imagine my life without you in it.


The year 2009 brought many changes in our life. Our precious son was born just 51/2 months earlier. We together walked through our first year of parenthood, encountering the joy, some sorrow and struggles along the way. There were moments when I am quite sure that we were liking one another too well, but we loved each other all the while.

As I looked for a photo of the two of us, just the two of us, to post on this entry, I found none. The absence of even one photo of the two of us is evidence that we simply have not had enough just "us" time this year. As we enter into a new year of our marriage, I hope to have many memories of the "us" time, along with photos that are lasting proof! (I suppose it is time for us to line up a few extra babysitters to chase after Wild man!)

Even so, I adore you more today than yesterday and am certain that I will love you even more tomorrow. I have hope that I will be able to love you greater as we continue to build our family and run this race called life hand in hand.

God knew exactly what He was doing when he paired me with you. You are one of the most stubborn and brilliant men I know. I would be bored to tears if it were not for your ever questioning, challenging nature.

I appreciate when you answer my questions in the middle of the night. When I wake you. After it has taken you a half hour to fall asleep. When the question is really stupid. And you are really tired.

I admire you as a Father. You give our son his baths when I'm too huge to bend down and then to pick him back out of the tub. You are patient with our little guy and he loves to wrestle and tumble on the floor with you.

I cannot imagine having faced the uncertainty of our son's critical state at Vanderbilt without your arms around me.

I love that you think I'm beautiful even though my body is stretching out in ways I never quite thought possible.

I laugh that you are conservative, yet wild at heart. You're the guy who will climb up in the tree while it is being cut down. The guy on the roof, hanging from the ceiling and being shot at in remote places on Kentucky rivers. The rough and tough tumble guy who cried as I walked down the isle to become your wife.

You are my favorite. My best friend, my husband, my sole mate, my love.

Happy Anniversary!

A Few Holiday Highlights

We had a very nice Christmas this year!!

Tim and I drove to West Virginia to visit my family and left shortly after dinner time the evening prior to Christmas Eve. These days, our travels to distances that are greater than one hour are made during Dustin's nap time or bedtime. Otherwise, I am afraid that we'd have a screaming Little Man for the entire trip!

Dustin seemed to enjoy spending time with his cousins. He played and played and played...never wanting to sleep or to be removed from the action!

In the photo below, he is traveling with a new tube of little peoples. He likes his little people!
This next photo shows him checking out Presley on Christmas morning. He sure loved Presley's play keyboard with a working toy microphone! He played with that toy for hours straight. I have tried to locate one since we returned home. Unfortunately, they are exclusively made for Babies R Us and the toy is sold out on the store and on line!

Little Man opening his presents:

Little Man playing with a cord. I'm not certain to what this cord was connected, but he loves any and all cords! (Such a boy!)

My mom's Christmas tree, in color...

and in black and white.

Tim and Dustin--playing with the remote to the PlayStation game.

A few of the baked goods that I made this year. I made several batches of sugar cookies, some cake balls, some chex mix and a delectable cheesecake for which I will soon post the recipe!

Grandma and Grandpa with the grand kids:

Tim, Dustin, me and Jackson -- Christmas 2010!

We hope that you and your family had a Very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year! We loved celebrating the birth of the Baby Jesus who gave us the greatest gift of all--LIFE!!