Colors :)

I'm in love.......

www.christomlin.com

Emma-words

Ever since Emma started talking, there have been a few words that sound NOTHING like the word but were consistent with the thing she was talking about.....for example:
Butterfly is "dada"
Diaper is "bapooa"
Open is "omo"

Well...this past week "bapooa" and "omo" went away and she is now saying diaper and open....I have mixed emotions about this. I am excited that she learned the correct way to say the words....but sad that is the last of those "Emma words". At least we still have "dada" for butterfly :)

xoxo

passing time before bed

She'll be 2 in a month...

I can't believe it. My baby girl will be 2 in a month! My little 5 pound 15 ounce itty bitty will be 2. How time flies....yet it seems like she has always been in my life. What was life like BE (before Emma)? Not as fun, that's for sure! I will save the sappy, sweet post for her birthday, but I did want to list a few of her favorites at the moment.

Food:
cheese
pizza
popsicles
frozen blueberries
gold fish
frozen yogurt pops

Toys:
baby dolls (she has a TON and they are all different and she loves each of them. She has a set over at Mooma's house that all have names and she will match the dolls nametag to the appropriate doll....so smart! She is going to be an awesome big sis one day)
her baby dolls stroller
puzzles

Things to do:
go in our backyard and push her baby dolls in the stroller
loving on Duke and Bella
running
dancing
singing
Bible stories
swiiiiiiinging!
going on walks with mommy, daddy and duke and bella
going down slides
"swimming" in her bath tub

She is such a good girl and brings Tim and I so much joy! Being a parent is so stressful but also so rewarding. We have our days where the terrible 2's are in full force....but then she will look at me and say "Mommmyyyyyyy" in a very silly voice and make a silly face...and the terrible 2's stress melts away. Shes got me right where she wants me and I am loving every minute of it!

I love you, my Emma Grace!

October so far...

swinging, long walks and parks....so far so good :)

Diggin' in the dirt....

So as many of you know, Emma spends three days a week with Tim's parents (Mooma and Doodad). She, Tim's mom, ever so grasciously moved here from Wilmington to watch Emma when I went back to work when EGD was three months old....did I mention this was for free....yeah, free child care--bless her!

So today Emma got to go on a field trip to a sweet potatoe field where Don's mom dug sweet potatoes until she was 99 years old. This field is owned by Don's cousin--not sure how long it has been in the family, but I would guess a long time. I am so thankful for Tim's parents. For the things they show and teach Emma every day--and today, Emma got to see what a little hard work and diggin' in the dirt got her---dinner!

Thanks, Moo and Doo, for all you do for Emma!!! We love you!

*can you spy Emma?

This little girl lives to help...she is such a helper!

Why cross a bridge that isn’t even there?

It’s funny how the Lord works and the methods He uses to get my attention. Ever since having Emma I have developed this fear/anxiety about her getting sick. I am sure every mother has that to an extent, but for me, it started to manifest itself physically. The second I think Emma is not herself or not feeling good, my heart would race, my mind would race....I would think of all these "what if’s"....it was a terrible feeling. I would worry and worry and worry (but not pray)....when there was nothing to worry about. Eventually it got to a point where I knew I needed to talk about it. I talked to a few godly people in my life who were able to talk to me about my fears/anxiety and help me develop a healthy way of dealing with these unhealthy thoughts that would creep into my head. It is amazing what a little bit of talking-it-out therapy will do for the soul. I was given some amazing scripture references about anxiety, worry and fear....funny thing is, when I went to go look them up, they were already underlined in my Bible....HELLO! I feel like God is tapping me on my shoulder saying "here I am, I’ve always been here....you just need to call on Me". He wants me to deepen my walk with Him and I believe He is using this fear/anxiety as the tool. He is teaching me to rely and lean more on Him than my own strength....He is my strength. Every time that fear/anxiety starts to creep in, I plan to run to his alive and amazing Word. His Word will meet me right where I am and is applicable to my life now and even 20 years from now. If I look at it all in perspective, Emma being sick is okay–there are babies out there who live in a hospital because if an illness, parents who devote their entire lives to children with handicaps. There are even couples who pray every day to conceive a baby that they only dream about.

To know that I have the great hope of eternity is what I will cling to. Every day here on earth is one day closer to eternity with Jesus--where there is no sickness, pain, fear. I don’t know how anybody can live their life without the saving grace of Jesus. How do un-believers do it? I am way to weak and need a savior–Jesus Christ. So I will set my mind on the things above, I will continue to pray my prayer for Emma’s salvation every night and when the fear and anxiety–devil–start to sneak their way in, I will call out to the One and Only, the Light, my refuge.