EGD

A few pictures

I took these this morning...Emma is so cute!

Emma Dancing

This is one of her new favorite things:

Hair twirling

Emma has started this thing, when she eats either a bottle or food...or when she is really concentrating on something...or when she is just relaxing (but it is mostly when she eats), she puts her left arm up and plays with the hair right about her left ear. It is the most prescious thing ever. Most of the time she has a crazy hair sticking out above her left ear becuse if it. I have a habbit of twirling my hair in my fingers...so I wonder if she gets that from me?

(I posted this becuase if she ever stops doing it, I don't want to forget that she did it...crazy mom thing) :)

It is amazing how God works

I hope anybody that reads this will check out my friend, Erica's blog (it is listed on the right of this screen). I look for updates on it daily because she writes so beautifully about how she is just resting in the Lord right now. I actually e-mailed her a Bible verse yesterday becuase I thought of her when I read it. This was the verse:

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
~ Psalm 34:18, NLT

She e-mailed me back telling me this was the first verse she read "that day".

God is so beyond any of us...but, He gives us the opportunity to have a personal relationship with Him~that is amazing. I feel confident saying that the ONLY way Erica is getting through this time in her life is because of her faith in the Lord. What an amazing woman she is. Knowing her and knowing about this experience she is going through, makes me appreciate what I have so much more. I am so blessed to have my husband...to see his face...I just can't imagine.

My poor friend. May God give her the comfort she needs.

My sweet Emma

All ready for bed after a bath

I am loving this smile...check out those teeth (she has 7)!

I call her my "gal pal"

:)

The many emotions of Emma

This is a video of Emma this morning. We are working on her crawling. I tried to intice her with some cheesy poofs. Close, but no cigar. It will happen soon :)

Here is a link to the YouTube:
">

Another post about life, etc.

So I have recently reconnected with one of my friends from high school. Her name is Erica. She and her family actually moved to NC from Ohio around the same time we did. Erica dated the same guy all throughout high school and apparently through college and they married 5 years ago. Erica lost him, his name was HeeJun, in a motorcycle accident the beginning of this month (August). My heart sunk when I heard about it. They had their whole married lives ahead of them. It seemed too soon for somebody my age to loose their husband. I can't even imagine what Erica is going through right now. Ever since hearing the news, Erica has been in my prayers constantly. She has started a blog which I have posted to the right on this screen...I highly recommend reading it. Erica talks about their life together, how they both came to know the Lord while together and HeeJun's life and how he was all about glorifying the Lord every day. I pray Erica can find comfort in the fact that HeeJun is in heaven right now, with Jesus, and waiting for her to join him.

This is just another event that makes me appreciate, even more, what I have. I have my wonderful husband to come home to, to hug, to smell...to see every day. I will charish every single moment I have with him until the Lord takes one of us home (I pray it is me first!) ;)

Please check out Erica's blog. It is truly uplifting to read HeeJun's heart for the Lord.

It's about time :)

Emma rolled over. She has rolled over one other time in her life and that was when she was 6 weeks old and it was a total fluke. Tim's mom called me just a few minutes ago to tell me that Emma rolled over in her crib. Yay my Emma!! I can't wait to tell the PT...whose name happens to be Emily.

PT

So we had our appointment yesterday. It was not what I expected...(I don't really know what I expected). We got there and got in the room. It had a bunch of toys, mirrors, etc. We sat Emma on the mat and she started playing with some toys. Every so often she would turn around to make sure Tim and I were still there. The second the therapist went over to Emma, she started crying. Emma would not let the therapist touch her. So, I ended up giving her a bottle which enabled them to look at her feet and legs. The good report is they don't think she needs any sort of corrective braces or shoes :) They said her feet go into the "neutral" position very easily. They showed me how to massage her feet and I am doing that this week. They observed her playing, after her bottle, and were really pleased with how she was balancing while sitting, reaching for things and even while on her tummy, they really liked what they saw her doing with her legs. They said she is showing all the signs of progressing and making that next step...so that is a good thing too.

So, all in all it was a good evaluation. I wish Emma liked the therapist better...but we can work on that. We will be going once a week and hopefully they will give me some exercises to do with her at home. I have heard nothing but good things about PT from some of my fellow November mommies, so--I am hopeful.

9 Month Stats.

So on Friday we had Emma's 9 month appointment. She did not have to have any vaccines...but, they had to take blood. I think I can speak for her when I say...she would rather have the vaccines!

Here are her current stats:
Weight: 22 lbs. 2 oz.
Length: 28" tall
Head Circ: 44 cm

She is in the 90% for weight, 50%-75% for height and 50% for head.

I mentioned to the doctor how Emma is not crawling yet (which she is not delayed in but I thought worth mentioning). She is sitting like a pro and lunging forward from the sitting position to her belly, but not getting her knees under her. Dr. Auman examined her legs really good and mentioned how they turn out a little more than normal. I did notice when she stands, she looks like a little ballerina. Well, he decided to refer us to physical therapy for an evaluation. We actually have an appointment today. Now...some people would read this and think...poor Emma. But, I don't want anybody to think that. There is nothing wrong with her. This is just a little bump in the road (put there by God). God does not give us anything we can't handle. And if a couple appointments with the PT is all we have to deal with, I consider us blessed (which I do anyways!). I will post about the appointment tomorrow.

Actually, since seeing the doctor on Friday...Emma hit another milestone. She has been standing for a long time. But in the past two days, she has started walking while we hold her hands. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen. (I can't want to show that to the PT today ;) !)

One Life to Love

I heard this song this morning on my way in to work. It was the first time I heard it. It is by the group 33 Miles and is called One Life to Love. It is a great song with a great message.

33 Miles - One Life To Love
From the album One Life

He never thought he cared so much about the minute hand
Until he started praying for a second chance
If he could only do it all again
And trade the long nights that he spent behind his desk
For all he missed
He tells his wife I wish that this moment in this room
Was not me dying but just spending a little time with you

Chorus:You only get just one time around, you only get one shot at this
One chance to find out the one thing that you don’t wanna miss
One day when it’s all said and done I hope you see that it was enough
This one ride, one try, one life to love

She never thought she cared so much about those little hands
That held on tight the day she left till she was scared to death
Sitting all alone on a hotel bed, the end of the road
The sun has set on her big plans to feel young again
She picks up the phone, dials a number, hears that little voice
That’s haunted every single mile since she made that choice

You only get just one time around, you only get one shot at this
One chance to find out the one thing that you don’t wanna miss
One day when it’s all said and done I hope you see that it was enough
This one ride, one try, one life to love

Devotion

So today I signed up for daily e-mail devotions from Proverbs 31 Ministries. The devotion for today seemed to be written just for me as I prepare for BSF this year. God's timing is perfect. Here is the devotion:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28 (NIV)

In yesterday’s devotion, I told about God’s wonderful provision for the people of Israel and a poor seminary couple I call “Mom and Dad.” My parents’ legacy of faith is a great teacher, but today I want to tell you of a time God demonstrated today’s key verse for me personally. Bear with me. You’ll need some background on my dear husband, Chad. He is a man after God’s own heart and one of his most amazing gifts is that he’s a wonderful manager of money.Chad has countless spreadsheets that track not only our bills, spending, retirement, and tithe but also our savings. Nothing slips by Chad. He prayerfully accounts for every bill paid, every obligation we’ll have to meet, and any potential catastrophes, including my occasional shopping weaknesses. I can’t remember a time when we were ever caught off guard, except one.In early 2003, the leadership of our church asked us to commit to a “Day of Giving.” It was established as a day to bring a sacrificial offering, beyond our tithe, to present to the Lord. Chad and I began praying about our gift. One night on the way home from church Chad told me that he felt God leading us to give $5,000. (Please understand I share with you the exact amount because its magnitude shows how far beyond us this task was, and just how big our God is.) For us to give $5,000 was huge, but it didn’t really hit me how God-sized this would be until Chad uttered a sentence I had never heard him say before. “Babe, I don’t know where it will come from.”So I did what any good, moderately freaked out, submissive wife would. I worried, and then I said, “Let’s just pray about this.”It was the first of February and we had about 6 weeks to try and find $5,000. By the end of 3 weeks we had managed to save just over $1,800. Though we had more time, we couldn’t foresee any other significant money coming in. I was beginning to panic. Like Chad, I sensed that God wanted us to give $5,000. What were we going to do?Three weeks before our Day of Giving, Chad called me at work.“Are you sitting down,” he asked.“Yeah. What’s up?” “Well, last night I was working on our taxes. I had guessed that we were going to receive a slight refund, but this morning I got up and finished entering all our gifts and exemptions and, babe, we’re getting back almost exactly $3,200.”Chills ran over my entire body, and I felt I heard God say, “I will take care of you. I will receive glory for this gift. I am the benefactor; you are the beneficiary.”Trusting God seems so basic and yet this is one of the fundamental faith issues that must be resolved in the heart of every believer. Do I really trust God? Despite seeing God work marvelously, Chad and I still have moments of weakness in trusting not only that His provision is coming, but that His ways will always be better than our own. In those moments God gently reminds us that He is neither hurried nor surprised. He will meet our needs and mold our lives into testimonies of His faithfulness.

Dear Lord,
help me fight the temptation to scheme and fret rather than resting in Your sovereign provision. Help my impatient heart to trust Your unfailing love.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ba Ba

So this morning I was making Emma's bottle in the kitchen and she was sitting on the floor waiting very patiently watching me. I turn around with the bottle in my hand and Emma says "ba-ba" while looking straight at the bottle! So...of course I try to get her to say it again and all she says after that is "da-da-da-da...", BUT...I heard her say it the first time. She is so smart!

9 months today

It is hard to believe my baby is 9 months old today. It is even more hard to believe that she has been out of me longer than she was in me. She is an amazing little girl. Just the other day Tim said, "You know what I just realized?", and I asked what--and he said "Emma has turned into a little girl. She isn't a baby any more but a little girl." That makes me sad and happy at the same time. She is no longer my itsy bitsy baby...she is our little girl. How time flies. Every day is a gift from God....especially every day I get to spend with my wonderful husband and amazing baby. My life is so wonderful...God is so good!

Then and Now

I couldn't resist. Emma and Bella when EGD was maybe a week old...

And EGD and Bella when EGD was 9 months old. Pretty amazing! Bella is a little grayer and Emma is a little bigger....well, a lot bigger :)

just some pics

Emma in the pool :)

Pretty Butterfly

I found this butterfly eating one of Emma's empty baby food containers. I believe it was apricot & mixed fruit. She (the butterfly) spent a while there eating the left overs. So pretty!

Play Date

So today Emma and I met up with 4 other November 2007 mommies and babies. We met at Pullen Park and had a great time playing in the sand, eating the sand and riding on the merry-go-round. Emma has a few new friends now that we will continue to meet and play with. It is great to expose Emma to other babies her age. She really had a great time :)

Emma was kind enough to let Lyla taste her fingers.

From left ot right the babies are Tyler (the only boy!), Veronica, Peyton, Emma and Lyla....all born in November 2007.

Emma really did enjoy the merry-go-round...although her face may not look that way in the picture.

spaghetti and shredded cheese

Two more things to add to our finger food list. Emma has liked everything we have given her. She is even liking her veggies more lately. She just does not like to picke up slimy things, i.e. diced peaches, pineapple...but that is okay. She is such a big girl.

Silly Duke!

I love this picture! I wonder what Duke said to Emma that was so funny? She is cracking up!

Another year of BSF is around the corner

So I got my list of girls for my small group in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) this year a couple days ago. I was excited to get the list but sad at the same time. I have enjoyed my extra time with Tim and Emma on Monday nights and Saturday mornings this summer. It was so easy of me to think....maybe I just won't do it this year. SO...I prayed about it...and God made it clear to me that not doing it is not the way to go. To be honest, since BSF ended in the spring, I think I have cracked open my Bible just a hand full of times this summer. BSF is such a wonderful mechanism for me to be in His Word weekly and to grow. Why would I give that up? What was I even thinking? It is an honor for me to be able to participate in such a wonderful study of His Word and even more, to be a leader of a small group of women. And once Emma is old enough (school age), she will come with me and learn about the Bible too. How blessed will we be then! Oh boy... I am getting so excited just thinking about it :) God is so good. He knows just what I need when I need it. I am so blessed and can't wait to dust off my Bible and dive back into His Word this year.

She waved

Well...Emma decided she would make mommy so proud today....She waved! It was so adorable. She was sitting across the room playing and I waved at her (which I have been doing for a long time) and she waved right back at me. Harvard here we come!!! ;)
Yay Emma!!! :)