Toddler...

I guess it is correct to now call Emily a 'toddler'. Hard for me to grasp that she isn't really a baby anymore, but I can still call her MY baby, which I do all the time! But I guess the fact that she is walking, talking (her own language) and she is almost 14 months old now...she in fact is a toddler. I guess this momma just needs to accept it that she isn't the tiny, helpless little babe I brought home from the hospital yesterday. Oops, I mean over a year ago! Where does time go seriously.

Emily is truly a joy. She has her moments lately since she is developing her little attitude and her independent nature, for which I am trying to be consistent in my word choice and actions for discipline, but the majority of the time, she is a joy. I have been talking to her about the new baby, her sister. I don't think she gets a word that I am saying but I am hoping that repetitive telling her will somehow make it stick that she is going to be a big sister. I am thankful that in less than 5 months now I will have that tiny, helpless, babe back in my arms and in the house. It will be fun, hard, tiring, exciting, the list will go on and on...

I have also been talking to Emily about learning to use the big girl potty. I know she is only 14 months, but again, I am hoping that repetition in 'practicing' and 'sitting on the potty' will stick and she can be potty trained sometime before too terribly long. ANY words of advice from other mommas or whoever, is very welcome and will be much appreciated. Funny story about this potty training adventure. I bought her a training potty last week at Target when we went to visit my sis. I placed it in her bathroom by the big potty. Before bathtime/bedtime I have been sitting her on it and just waiting to see what happens and talking to her about what is supposed to happen. The first night we did this was last Wednesday night and I kid you not, after about 20 seconds of her sitting up on her tiny throne and me having to re-place her up there a couple times, she tinkled. I was surprised and shocked. I clapped and praised her, she laughed at me and clapped her hands too all the while probably thinking 'You're crazy mommy!' I know she didn't and doesn't understand what she did, but it was a big deal to me and I hope for more days like that to come and for an understanding on her part to figure the potty training bit out. Definitely coincidence that it happened that way though I'm pretty sure, since Thursday night we did the same thing and right after no action, I put her in the bathtub and watched her immediately tinkle! LOL. Give it time, Leah, give it time!

She is in to everything! 

She LOVES her sleep. I find her in all kinds of positions in her bed. 

Another sign that she is a BIG girl...Pig-tails! Her hair is really growing. It's out of control most of the time. She does not care for bows at all, but if I can get a rubberband in it while she is distracted with something else, she usually doesn't mess with it (right away anyway)!

   I love you Emily baby!

The Everlasting God.

How does the human mind comprehend the concept and the truth of the everlasting God. Eternity cannot be measured, yet the Everlasting God inhabits eternity, continually fulfilling His word. Halleujah, I say! From Genesis to Revelation we can read about man's encounters with the Everlasting, from kings to tax collectors, rich to poor, saints and sinners, the people were impacted for eternity. And the truth and goodness of the stories of the Bible are that they still happen today. God is present and alive and well in us to continue giving us the benefit and the joys of his Everlasting nature. There is one God, none other can claim his Deity. His property is eternity. His Kingdom is eternal.


     Isaiah 40:28 'Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the Everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.




        Psalm 90:2 'Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.  


     
May the peace of the Everlasting God and the comfort of that promise dwell among us this week. Have a wonderful week. Stay warm in our silly TX weather! Come back sunshine!!

Waiting on God.

Waiting on God means the promise of this...

'You have made known to me the path of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your rights hand.' Psalm 16:11


Have a beautiful weekend.

God's hands.

Today I have been pondering God's Hands. During my bible study time this morning, the verses from Isaiah 41 stood out to me and made me think...
    

¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you; 

   do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 

I will strengthen you and help you; 

   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 ¹¹ “All who rage against you 

   will surely be ashamed and disgraced; 

those who oppose you 

   will be as nothing and perish. 

¹² Though you search for your enemies, 

   you will not find them. 

Those who wage war against you 

   will be as nothing at all. 

¹³ For I am the LORD your God 

   who takes hold of your right hand 

and says to you, Do not fear; 

   I will help you. 

The picture of God holding my right hand stood out to me and made me begin to think about how He really does hold our hands. How His hand really does guide our steps when we seek it and how His hands form us from the very beginning. All these thoughts had me seeking more verses regarding 'hands'. I wasn't at all surprised to find several (like 30-40) references just in the back of my Bible concordance. I know that is a condensed version, so I looked in my Strong's Concordance of the Bible and there are EIGHT pages (and they are BIG pages) of references referring to the word 'hand' or 'hands'. Now, I know that all of the references listed are not referring to God's hands, but suffice it to say that there is quite a bit of talk of hands in the Good Book. Some of the verses that I looked up and that struck me today in reflecting on the way that God holds my hand were, 

Isaiah 62:3

You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 

Isaiah 49:16

Behold I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands. 

John 10:27-30

My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me and I give them eternal life so they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hands. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My hands. For I and my Father are one. (Jesus' words)

Wow, so since the Bible tells me these truths that my name was inscribed in His palms, that I am a royal diadem (a diadem is a type of crown, specifically an ornamental headband) in His hands, and that NOTHING could ever snatch me away from His hands, what am I doing with my hands to show gratitude and praise for these promises? Something to ponder...

Psalm 47:1

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.

1 Peter 5:7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

1 Timothy 2:8

Therefore, I want men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

Lord, thank you for your hands, for your mighty and powerful hands. Thank you for the visual image you have given me to see this real today. May my hands give you glory, may my hands lift you up. 

Sweetness. Best cousins.

Emily and I spent the earlier part of this week with Lindsey and Campbell. Isn't she precious! We wish we could see eachother more often but we always enjoy our days together! The girls had fun playing and me and Sis got some good shopping time in! Thankful for sweet time we can spend together.

They're best cousins. For sure!

Dreaming of landscapes...

I most definitely do NOT have a green thumb. I have been successful at times in the past with keeping some things thriving, but for the most part, NO. I wish I was better. However, we are in the process of working on ideas and thoughts of doing some spring landscaping around the house. We have a new house (as of September) and we (well me anyway) would like to make people smile when they drive up to our house! So here are a few pretty pictures that make me smile and what I envision that my yard could look like...possibly.

This is a joke...please people...Seriously. 

Although I do not have a fountain/river thingy in my yard, this is 

a pretty picture. Nice color scheme I think.

A couple ideas for how I'd like my front beds to look like, maybe with more pink and purple and yellow though, and fuller throughout-and probably minus the river.  Think I could just copy and paste??

I'll keep you updated with how our progress comes along...Hopefully this weekend we will get some stuff going!! YAY. I'd also like to plant an herb garden...anyone have any thoughts on this??

Our life lately...

     Even though I am not sure how many people even read this blog, I am ashamed and a little embarrassed that I haven't even updated anything since October! Wow, time flies. 2010 was a wonderful year all around, especially and most importantly with the newest addition to our family...Emily. She, now 13 months old, is doing great and growing everyday. Funny that she is already somewhat outgrowing her 18 month outfits and I just bought alot of 2T summer clothes. She isn't a baby anymore, but a little girl now! She is so fun.
     2011 has started off wonderfully as well. I found out in late December that Emily will be a big sister in August! This was exciting news and I look forward to watching Emily meet and interact with her little SISTER. Yes, we will be having another girl and I couldn't be happier. My girls will be 18 months apart, so fun! I am feeling good and have had an uneventful, healthy pregnancy thus far. So thankful for this. Jeffery is busy, which is a blessing, and working very hard at Diamond C. We are continually thankful for new opportunities and experiences for him at work. He is making strides, and I respect him a little more everyday.
      I want to try to do MUCH better keeping the blog updated, especially as we prepare for baby girl #2. So for now, let me share some pictures from the last several months of our lives. God is good, we are blessed and will keep on thanking Him for the good (and even the bad) in our lives.

Happy Halloween 2010. Little Ladybug Emily.

Emily's Dedication Service at church in November

Hot Chocolate Cake with Homemade Marshmallows to welcome in the Holidays!

Emily's First Christmas

Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas Day 2010

The first of MANY snow days this winter that Emily experienced!

Happy Birthday Emily! February 10, 2011

Emily's Cupcake Birthday Party

What a WONDERFUL Year!

Crabb Family Ski Trip 2011-Trying on ski boots for the first time

I will blog again...soon. Promise.