Why yes, I DO have two daughters...

I realize that a lot of my posts lately have been about Hannah. I just want to be sure everyone knows that it is not because I like her better or because I have forgotten about Lydia. Hannah is just at an age where she does & says the silliest stuff- like yesterday, when she- oh yeah, this is Lydia's post. I'll tell that story tomorrow...

Lydia is actually doing a lot of really cute stuff too. She still hasn't begun to crawl, but she is getting closer every day. It isn't stopping her from getting around, anyway. She just turns & rolls in whatever direction she wishes. She has also figured out how to scoot, but only in reverse. It is very frustrating to her (and admittedly entertaining to me) when something is in front of her & she pushes herself further & further away from it with her scooting. She is working very hard on pulling herself up to stand in her crib or at the sofa or coffee table. I'm afraid she might skip crawling altogether, which my mom says is a bad thing. Apparently there is an old wive's tale that if you skip crawling, you are destined to become a criminal...

She is also trying to say a lot of things. "Baby" "Bye bye" "DaDa" and "Doggie" all sound pretty much the same, so you've got to try to figure out the context. She also says "boo" and (I think) "book." When she wants out of the crib or the high chair, she says "up, up, up" but it is really more of an "uh, uh, uh." She says something like "duck" and makes cute little (slightly) distinct noises for ducks, dogs & kitties. And I promise she has said "momma" and "I love you." As my Aunt Leanna once pointed out with Hannah- the latter sounds somewhat like when people teach their dogs to say it. Oh well.

Lydia is addicted to Peek-a-boo and started playing with some random guy in Publix the other day. He didn't mind. She also shakes her head and waves hello or bye-bye. She loves the water and taking a bath, but she hates being wiped off after she eats. Speaking of eating, she has the strongest gag reflex I've ever seen in a baby. Give her an oversized bite, or push your luck with a yucky veggie or a lumpy stage three food, and she starts heaving. In a cute, baby kind of way. She is just starting finger foods, and I think she could eat an entire container of Gerber puffs in a day. Her favorite babyfood seems to be bananas.

So there you have it. A little update on my little one. She is going to be 10 months old on Sunday- such a fun age. Here is a 9 month picture. She really is the most beautiful baby I've ever seen, although I admit I'm biased. See what you think:

What Hannah has to say about her Mommy

What my three-year-old thinks about me...

1. What is something mom always says to you?
“Don’t bite Sophie”

2. What makes mom happy?
Not to bite Sophie

3. What makes mom sad?
(everybody now) When I bite Sophie

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
When she tumbles over like a clown

5. What was your mom like as a child?
She had brown hair and little legs

6. How old is your mom?
As old as daddy

7. How tall is your mom?
I don’t know

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Play with me & do the chores (ha!)

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Call me

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Thanking me for helping do the chores

11. What is your mom really good at?
Doing the chores with me

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Picking up lots of toys with me (ie. Cleaning up for her…)

13. What does your mom do for her job?
I don’t know

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Ice cream

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
When we both play together

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Belle

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Play together

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We have the same skin

19. How are you and your mom different?
We don’t have the same color of the hair

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because you give me hugs and kisses

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Brusters & Publix

Bad Mom Confession #1

Hannah has completely forgotten about her Halloween candy. And the candy from her Christmas stocking. And the candy from her Valentine exchange. She still gets sweets, carefully rationed, but she has no idea as to their source.

From time to time I sneak a piece (or two, or five) when she is in the other room. Sometimes it's about weeding out the kinds I know she doesn't like. Sometimes it's about craving the kind I do like.

Thanks for letting me get this off of my chest.

Song for Sunday

Grace by Silers Bald

My heart is so proud.
My eyes are so unfocused.
I see the things You've done through me
As great things I have done.
And now You gently break me.
I cry just like a baby.
You hold me as my Father,
And mold me as my Maker.

And I ask You 
How many times will You pick me up.
When I keep on letting You down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory,
How far will forgiveness aboud?
And You answer, "My child, I love you,
And as long as you're seeking My face, 
You'll walk in the power of My daily sufficient, grace."

At times I may grow weak.
And feel a bit discouraged.
Knowing that someone somewhere
Can do a better job.
For who am I to serve You?
I know, I don't deserve You.
But that's the part, that burns in my heart,
And keeps me hanging on.

(Chorus)

And You are so patient with me, Lord.

As I walk with You, I'm learning
About what Your grace really means.
How all of my transgressions
Were paid at Calvary.
So istead of trying to repay You,
I'm learning to simply obey You.
By giving up my life to You
For all that You've given to me.

"clearly" not me

Yesterday we got an ad in the mail for an Easter sale at a Christian bookstore. I like to see what cute little Veggietales or Hermie videos they have on sale for the girls, and I have occasionally found a good price on a book John had his eye on, so I sat down to look through the small catalog. When I saw this, I wasn't sure what to think:




Now I'll admit, at first glance, the girly-girl in me liked the colors. I'll also admit that we have a few "trendy looking" Bibles in our house. John got a two-toned NIV study Bible at a conference once. He also has a cute little Message Remix, and most recently he got a copy of the Green Bible, which I think is pretty in its own simple earthy way. I confess that I have a purple Women of Faith Bible, given to me when John proposed. And just the other day I was complementing a girl on her glittery little Bible as she came into children's worship. I'm saying all of this to let you know that I am not completely against the Word being aesthetically pleasing. If a cute Bible gets someone to pick it up & start reading it for the first time, terrific. But something about this Bible has gone too far.

Maybe it is the idea that it is more of an accessory than the foundational wisdom for living a Christlike life. Maybe it is the notion of offering a "choice"- as if we are telling the little girls to whom this is marketed that we can tailor the Bible to fit our own personality. Maybe it is the overuse of the letter U rather than simply spelling out the word... I don't know. I think more than anything, it is the subliminal message that this Bible is about you (or me, or whoever gets this little darling on sale at Lifeway). Is the Bible applicable to you? Of course! Does God use it to speak to your life? Sure! But I think society does enough to fool us into thinking life is all about us, without some Zondervan marketing genius plastering the same notion on the cover of the Bible. Kids have enough pressure these days from well-intentioned parents making & expecting everything to be perfect, giving them anything & everything they want, making into enemies teachers, coaches, refs, and anyone who makes life a little difficult or bursts the bubble they build around their children. Americans- Christians- We raise selfish kids.

Jesus called His followers to abandon everything- sinful desires & bad habits, sure, but also jobs, family, EVERYTHING in pursuit of Him and His way of life. Inside that very Bible are stories about the Son of God washing the feet of fishermen and being mocked & spit upon as he was sentenced to die. Jesus didn't have a house. He borrowed a donkey for the triumphal entry. I already wrestle daily with how much extra stuff we have in our house that could benefit someone else, and I know we have less than many other Christian families. There are people in the world who don't have Bibles because they can't read them, or afford them, or they are forbidden. And here we are marketing one that pretty much cheapens the Word of God into something like one of those Lisa Frank binders I had in middle school. And makes it more about impressing your friends, showing off your personality, looking cute at church, than about trying to be like Jesus.

I realize this blog is a little harsh. But you know what? It's time for Christians to get harsh on ourselves & each other when it involves complacency and selfishness. If we get our focus right, we can change the world. If we don't, we'll just keep making our own world prettier, so we don't have to see the darkness closing in on those outside of it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I just realized we have too many Bibles in our house. Anyone know of a good ministry that can share them?

Percussive wisdom

One of Hannah's favorite new activities is typing. She has always liked to play on the computer, but lately she has started to be able to sound words out phonetically and type them (with help). With Mommy or Daddy standing next to her helping her sound out the words, she can type "dog" or "Nana" or other simple words. The other night I came down from putting Lydia to bed to find a note Hannah had written. After carefully typing the names of everyone in our family (with Daddy's help, of course) Hannah wrote a note on her own, offering three-year-old wisdom. If you or I were to read it, it would say something like this:

FFFFFGTTPNEUWWWWWLLLLLPPAJHSTNSSSSSKKKKKKHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (for seven more lines...)

But when I asked Hannah what she wrote, this is what it said:

"Be kind. Don't be shy. Tambourine."

I'm not sure if Tambourine was the name of the intended recipient of this advice, or Hannah's pen name, or an actual part of the advice. If the latter is the case, I'm still pondering the implications.

Song for Sunday- Two Dogs

Hannah got a cute book & cd by John Lithgow for Christmas. It's called "I Got Two Dogs." It's about his two dogs, Fanny & Blue. Here is a sample:

I got two dogs, Fanny & Blue.
Bet you kind of wish you had two dogs too.
Fanny's all white. Blue's kinda gray.
They never ever fight, and they never run away,
They're not too smart, but they're loyal & true-oooooooo
Oh there's nothing I'd trade for my Fanny & Blue.

The other night, after we listened to the song at bedtime, Hannah decided to make up her own lyrics. They went something like this.

I got two dogs, Sophie & Al.
They always fight and Sophie runs away.
But there's nothing I'd trade for my Sophie & Al.

She forgot some of the song, but she is completely right.