Sweet Sisters

The girlies sure are sweet together. Alathea is a very loving and interactive big sister. Abigail just looks and smiles. Lately Alathea has enjoyed "reading" to Abi, as you can see. What amazing gifts they are.  Also, for those of you who have commented to me about how smart Alathea must be since she's consuming so many books at such a young age...take a good look at the book she is holding...she's completely animated in telling Abigail the story (which was actually quite accurate- she knows most of them by memory now) all while the book is upside down! :)

Daily Life

Now that we are a new family of four, our daily  life looks a little different than it did when there were just three of us. "Twice the Joy and Twice the Work". That about sums it up! We have been enjoying lots of sweet times as a family. Most of the sweetest memories are made right at home, during part of every day life. Reading is a huge part of our life, as Alathea is obsessed with books! She probably reads 50+ a day! I am not a reader (shamefully!), so who knows where she gets this from. Maybe because we started reading to her when she was 2 months old? Anyways, we have lots of snuggles during our reading time.

As you can see in the past two pictures, Joe is one AMAZING dad! Both girls adore him. It has been especially sweet to see how much Alathea & him have grown even closer since Abigail was born.  Joe is a very hands on Dad. When he is home, he dives right in to help feed Alathea dinner, change diapers, change clothes, play outside, read stories, take baths and put the girls to bed! He also helps me finish dinner when I'm behind, do the dishes and clean the house before bed. Lately on his day off he's been helping me catch up on laundry! I know- I married an amazing man! I am truly blessed. 

On to sisterhood. Things are going well! Alathea & Abigail seem to love being sisters already. I have many cute pictures of them together that I'll post sometime, but this one made me laugh. I think Alathea is trying to "help" Abigail calm down. She was going "shhh. its OK ga-gail". She is quite the little mommy- for better or worse.

We've been gardening lots! Well, Joe has been gardening. He has created a gorgeous garden out back. We've spent hours a day sitting on our back patio, talking together while Alathea plays. That is Alathea's other great love after reading & babies- the great Outdoors! We spend a good part of everyday exploring outside, collecting pine cones and flowers, kicking the ball, going to the park, rolling down hills. Motherhood is so fun.

We've been spending lots of time with Grammy! She is a wonderful Grandma and makes time every week to see us. We also talk to Pop-Pop (my Dad) and Ju-Ju (Julie, my sister) on the phone every day!

Here are my two incredibly adorable nephews! They are almost the exact same age as our two girls!! How cool to have cousins the same age. Alathea LOVES playing with "ee-oo" (Andrew). And Abigail and Caleb are only 5 week apart in age. Its been such a blessing having Jon & Heather and their kiddo's to grow up with.

This picture represents the changing of seasons. Alathea decided she is done with her farm animals fridge magnets (which is why they are on the ground). She replaced them with the Alphabet ones. She became interested in the Alphabet this past month and in a lot of ways has taught herself all 26 letters.

And, of course, our sweet little Abigail. This is her sitting in her seat outside while Alathea ran around playing. What a good baby!

As for me, this has been an incredible season with the Lord. I have never felt so dependent on him, which is a wonderful place to be in! I have such a desire and need to meet with the Lord through out the day for wisdom, strength, peace and joy. I'll have to elaborate more on all God's been teaching me. Its been humbling,  but its been good!

Our not so little one...

As you can see, Abigail is growing up! She is 10 weeks old. She is also our "chunky monkey"- tipping the scales at 14lbs! She's in the 97th% for height and weight. I think the extra weight has helped her sleep well at night. On average, she sleeps from 11pm-5:30am. At the 5:30am feeding, she eats and goes immediately back to bed until about 9am. I know some people have baby's that sleep through the night by 8 weeks. After Alathea, who still woke up once a night at 12 months, I never imagined I would. It has been a blessing though! Somehow, even with the longer stretches of sleep, I am still incredibly tired. Maybe the tiredness is just part of Motherhood and is here to stay :). 

Abigail is still our easy, happy baby. She's been smiling for over a month, and just started really cooing last week. It sure is fun looking into those beautiful blue eyes and "talk" with her! She's been fighting a cold this past week too. I think it's from big sister's germs. Alathea didn't get her 1st cold until she was 11 months old- I don't think Abigail has a chance being around toddlers so often. Despite the cold, she's still quite happy. it doesn't seem to bother her too much. It does keep Joe up at night with her stuffy breathing though!

Next to the smiles, snuggles and coos that I receive, one of my favorite things is watching Abigail's face light up when Alathea is near. It is soooo sweet!!

I hope to post a more thorough life update soon!

Two Months Old

Can you believe our little Abigail is TWO months old!! Her 2 month "birthday" was April 7th. Abi has been the most wonderful baby- I have been SO blessed!! She eats & sleeps great and is happy in between. Happy and Content are the words that describes her best. She rarely cries- even when big sis' hugs are more of a smothering. And she is SO smiley! I just love her smiles. And her snuggles. She still rarely makes it to her bassinet for naps :) Fortunately when I do decide to lay her in her own bed (and not hold her) she sleeps great.

Abi also continues to amaze me with how fast she is growing. She was 13.5lbs! Both her height and weight were in the 97%!! We joke that she is our big girl and Alathea is our little girl (at only the 9%)!! 

I'm amazed that every day that goes by, life seems to flow easier. Having two has certainly been a transition, but now that I am 8 weeks into I can see how Gods grace has been sufficiant in my weakness. I still feel very weak and humbled, but that is a great place to be. And I am slowly getting back into the routine of life. "Ninety days to sanity" as Jenny Mulligan says to me often. I can see how true that is for me. But I am enjoying every snuggle, smile and coo; and big sister smothers and "ga-gail's up!" in the meantime. I'm in no hurry for this season to be over!

A Family of Four

"Many, O Lord my God,

are the wonders you have done.

The things you planned for us,

no one can recount to you;

were I to speak of them,

they would be too many to declare."

-Psalm 40:5

"The Lord has done great things for us,

 and we are filled with joy."

-Psalm 126:3

"O Lord, you are my God;

I will exalt and praise your name,

for in perfect faithfulness

you have planned marvelous things,

things planned long ago."

-Isaiah 25:1

If you flipped though my Bible you'd find dates scribbled by each of these verses. The first verse has 7/27/02 ...the day my Love & I were married. The second has 2/10/06. The day our first little girl, Alathea Joy, was born. And the third scripture had 2/7/08. The day our sweet Abigail Kathleen entered the world. 

I can hardly write those verses with out tears welling up in my eyes. They speak volumes to me. God has graciously laid specific scriptures on my heart that seem to sum up significant events in my life (also including my grandmother and my moms death- I'll have to share them some other time). 

And in addition to the scriptures, I look at this picture! Wow! The gratefulness and joy in my heart for those three people pictured with me...it is simply beyond words! God has  blessed me more than I'd asked or imagined- and far more than I ever deserved. Thank you, Lord!!

Big Sister Woe's

Doesn't this look like the face of a wild child?? That is what we humerously call our sweet Alathea. Part of Joe's daily prayer for her when she was in my womb was that she would be full of life and vigor. Those are two words that describe her best! 

Alathea is one awesome big sister. She is always hugging and kissing Abigail. She calls her my baby. She's named all of her baby dolls "ga-gail". Yesterday morning I caught her laying in bed reading stories to Abigail, who seemed to be listening. I know that they will so enjoy each other as the years go on. I'm praying they will be best friends! 

But this past week it seems the pressures of being the big sister have gotten to be too much for Alathea :) We joke that she is having "toddler PMS". She is SO emotional. She'll cry over everything and the next minute be smiling and laughing. I know that her little sinful heart is on display through all of this and we have been trying to train her to be cheerful over the past year. It seems like it's difficult to always discern when to discipline for sinful attitudes and when to have compassion and give her a big hug. I'd love any thoughts :) 

Despite the 2 year old emotional roller coaster, Alathea is SUCH a JOY!!  She makes me laugh so hard everyday. We love her so much!

*Baby Abigail*

   "Here is a sweet, fragrant mouth to kiss; here are two feet to make music with their pattering about our home...

Here is a soul to train for God, and the body in which it dwells is worth all it will cost...

...since it is the abode of a kingly tenant.

I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer than them all...

...to whom, while I minister in Christ's name, I make a willing sacrifice of what little leisure for my own recreation my other darlings have left me.

Yes, my precious baby...

...you are welcome to your mother's heart...

...welcome to her time...

...her strength...

her most tender cares..

to her lifelong prayers!

Oh, how rich I am...

how truly...

wonderously blessed!"

*Elizabeth Prentiss*

from Stepping Heavenward

(These newborn pictures were taken of little Abi at 2 weeks old by Jason Kovacs)- www.jasonkovacs.com

Sisters...

They really do love each other so much. What a gift of sisters!!!

6 weeks old

It is so crazy to think that my baby is now 6 weeks old! It has been a WONDERFUL month and a half- full of memories I will cherish a lifetime, as well as fresh challenges of learning to be a mom of two. I couldn't ask for a better baby than sweet Abigail. She is the picture of a happy, content baby. While Alathea was an easy baby too, she was way more active and opinionated, even at six weeks old! As long as Abigail is fed and snuggled, she rarely cries. What a gift!

She has grown so fast. I actually cried at her four week appointment because she was already 11lbs and 23 inches. I couldn't believe it! Over 3lbs and 3 inches in one month. She is still tiny, as she is only one month old, but those little chicken legs are long gone! She also has some pretty bad baby acne- exactly like Alathea at this age. Fortunately as bad as it is, it is starting to clear up.

This has been quite a month and a half for me! I have learned so much as a Mom. First of all, I have learned how VERY little I know. With Alathea I started to feel like I had this Mothering thing down- at least some what. I have been so humbled with two. I feel so desperate for God daily (a good thing!). I need the Lord simply to get out the door on time and to figure out what to do when Abi is hungry and Alathea needs discipline at the same time! I'd love some advice on how to tackle housework and meals while caring for a newborn and toddler- I haven't figured that one out either. Despite all that, I am LOVING being a Mom of two. Days are filled with twice the sweetness, laughter and fun. And Abigail started smiling this week! 

Rekindle 08...and other life updates...

It has been forever since I have posted! Things have been crazy around here- lots of fun and LOTS of learning what it means to be a mom of TWO! More about that later, I want to update about our 5th trip to Laguna Beach, Florida for Rekindle!

For starters, all of the wonderful pictures are taken by Reba! She was kind enough to make me a CD- and I haven't even loaded my own to the computer yet! Reba also was kind enough to drive down to Rekindle with me and the 3 little girls (including her Kathryn). We made the 11 hour drive into a 2 day trip, spending the night in Atlanta with Reba's sister. It was a fun experience with lots of funny memories I'm sure we'll enjoy for years.

Once we arrived at Laguna Beach, Alathea was ALL about the beach. She loved playing in the sand, running into the ocean (once with her clothes on!), chasing seagulls (which I find particularly funny), and simply running down the beach. She's always been a beach bum, just like her parents :). We figured we'd train Abigail young too...starting her at the beach at 3 weeks old!

Joe is a busy man at Rekindle. He leads the whole trip and once again, did an outstanding job! I'm so proud of my boy! Two college kids gave their life to the Lord and countless other lives were changed. God was so kind to us, yet again!

Isn't that sunset incredible! Its taken from our balcony (well- Reba's balcony two doors down). The gulf coast is so serene...one of my favorite places in the world! 

I had to include the Starbucks picture Reba took- we made a daily trip there :) It was so fun to have our own car. Alathea so enjoyed having "Kat-kat" to play with too! We had to share a room with both girls...we had Alathea in a pack n play in the bathroom, and Abi in a clothes hamper by our bed. Hey...it worked great!

Here is Nick being pulled by a rope. Yes, for real. This is one of the many crazy M28 Rekindle Cup games. Nick was a GREAT sport. Gotta love college ministry. It certainly is fun.

A view of our retreat center...and our room second from right on 2nd level. Amazing blue sky!

The biggest highlight of the week was....JULIE!! My beautiful sister came for the whole week! I don't know who was more excited, Alathea or me? She was a "guest", but served the whole week! She impacted many of the M28 girls lives. I'm thinking future M28 intern...

Alathea is an AMAZING big sister. She calls Abigail "MY baby". I just LOVE my girls!

I'm cherishing the time with my sweet Abi. She is 3 weeks in the picture, but is 5 weeks old now!!! Time goes so quickly...

 Abigail being introduced to the Gods gift of the Beach at 3 weeks old! We start them young! I have MUCH more to share. Its been quite the past two weeks since we've been home. But I hear both my babies awakening from their naps....so I will have to catch up later. Sorry to leave you hanging, but please pray for Joe's brother Jon who was in a motorcycle accident last week...