Elijah almost 7 months

Our sweet, happy, curious little baby boy Elijah will turn 7 months on February 1st, and I am not sure where the time went. I am so excited to watch him grow and hit new milestones. Like learning to crawl, giggle (he has the sweetest laugh), coo and eat solid foods. I had to capture this little boy eating because he LOVES food. He is almost too excited to eat. Take a look:

Last week was another big milestone...well probably for me. I left him in the nursery for the first time. I am sure I could have left him in there earlier, but it was always easy to be right there for him if he needed to nurse or just needed me...I think it made me just feel better. I know older moms are thinking...oh just wait until they go off to kindergarten, on their first field trip, on their first date, college, or when the get married...and I just want to say I don't know how you did it! That has got to be so hard!

Well, I guess the best way to think about it is I am daily lending both of my children over to the Lord since He is the one protecting and guiding them ultimately. Elijah was dedicated to the Lord a few months ago, and it is a good reminder that the Lord has great things in store for Grace and him. So, whether in the nursery or on the football field, God is strong and He loves him more than I can imagine.

Here are some highlights from Elijah's dedication that I never published. God has great plans for you little man. Thank you to my grandfather and husband for making this day so special.

Songs

This Christmas we had many family members we wanted to give gifts to. I usually make gifts because I really enjoy to, but I was running out of time with two little ones. I decided to make everyone a CD playlist of Cliff and I's favorite songs of 2011. These songs have truly inspired and impacted us over this last year. So, in spirit of the new year, I wanted to share with you the mix we came up with:

• Liberty - Shane and Shane
• Glorious Day - the Village Church
• Your Love is Strong - Jon Foreman
• His Glory Appears - Hillsong Live
• Awakening - Chris Tomlin
• 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) - Matt Redman
• Redeeming Love - Amy Stroup
• I will Exalt You - Hillsong Live
• Overcome - New Life Worship
• Beautiful Things - Gungor
• Never Alone - Barlow Girl
• You Hold me now - Hillsong Live

We have been listening a lot to our playlist at home. Grace has begun to know the songs fairly well. She also loves to sing along. Here is a sample...

Happy New Year

It has been a nice, long holiday break! I am trying to catch up this week from our two weeks of Christmas festivities, traveling and entertaining family. It was very busy but so much fun, and it went by way too fast. The kiddos did so great traveling and were so much fun to be around. Cliff and I have endured through some very tough car rides with Grace, and we were so proud of how well she did this time around. It was so fun watching Grace really take in all of the newness of gift opening, lights, interacting with family, traveling and new places. And 6 month Elijah was as easy as could be. We want to thank all of our family for providing a very special holiday for all of us. We love you!

Here are a few pictures from our adventures this Christmas....

Christmas in Marble Falls...

Riding Mimi and Papa Fish's golf cart

Checking out fish

Making / Eating Gingerbread Houses

Eating more gingerbread houses with Mimi, Nana and Mama

Special Dinner with Mimi, Papa Fish, Cynde, John and us

Christmas in Austin....

Christmas morning with all the second cousins

Grace LOVES her second cousin Selah. Playing with a new present.

Cliff and Elijah in the boat at Aquarena Springs

Looking at fish with Aunt Missa

 Christmas in Brenham...

At the Blue Bell Factory with Nananette and Papa Jim

Life is Different

The days are getting colder. Our Christmas decorations are up. Christmas music is playing. I am waiting until the last minute, again, to decide on what Christmas presents to buy or make this year. But there is something different about this season this year. A few things I want to mention so I won't forget in the coming years how precious, how beautiful, how challenging and how rewarding this time in my life is. Here are a few...

• Watching a baby boy discover his hands for the first time
• Witnessing a big sister laugh deep from her belly as her baby brother tries to mimic the same laugh
• Walking into Elijah's room to be greeted with the biggest, most precious smile you have ever seen as he bobbles his head up and down with delight
• Listening to Grace proudly pronounce, "tree lights" and "ornaments" over and over and over again
• Watching Elijah pull Grace's hair as he squeals with delight
• Watching Grace run through an empty soccer field.
• Cherishing the evenings when kiddos are asleep to chat and unwind with my best friend.
• Letting Grace attempt to feed Elijah with a spoon. She is so careful and concerned.
• Seeing Grace glow when she returns from a "date" with her dad. 
• Cuddling with Elijah as he nurses and rests without a care in the world.
• Waking up early to work out and study my bible when one of the two little ones decides to get up too.

Thank you Lord for every new memory this season.

Thanksgiving

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." Psalm 100:4

This Thanksgiving I attempted to cook for the first time! Cliff's dad came down to spend it with us, and I have got to say everything turned out really nice! I did take some short cuts such as buying a smoked turkey and Pepperidge Farms stuffing mix...but I was proud to say the least! I even made a pretty yummy pumpkin cheesecake. Thank you Ray for spending it with us!

              

We also took some time to share what we were thankful for and added it to our thankful tree. Grace had fun putting on and taking off the craft paper leaves. There is so much to be thankful for this season, but here are a few of the things I am thankful for...

JESUS. You are my God, my savior, my provider, my comforter, my friend, my father, my guide, my healer, my protector and my rock. Without you I could never be the wife, mother and friend I want to be. Without you I wouldn't have the beautiful life I have, the joy I have and the peace I have. I am so thankful you pursued me and saved me.

CLIFF. You have brought so much joy and purpose to my life. The dreams and the plans we have together bring so much life to me. You are a wonderful father and a faithful, fun and loving husband. You are my best friend.

GRACE. You are full of life. I love to listen to your chatter and see the world through your eyes. Your energy and curiosity make me smile. I love to watch you take care of your little brother with such a nurturing and caring spirit....even when he pulls your hair :). You are a beautiful daughter of our King.

ELIJAH. I am watching you now as you smile and giggle. I am so thankful God blessed us with you! You have so much joy. You are strong, and healthy and full of life. I love our quiet times together.

FRIENDS and FAMILY. I am so thankful for your support, friendship, prayers and love. I wouldn't be who I am without you.

There is so much more to be thankful for, and I could go on and on!! But I will stop there for now. What are you thankful for?

Elijah Dedication

In addition to Grace's party this past weekend, we headed to Austin for Elijah's baby dedication. It was such a special day, especially since my Papa, a pastor in Austin for about 60 years, dedicated me when I was a baby, married Cliff and I and dedicated Grace. So to say the least, it was a very special occasion with the whole family there. Cliff also stood up and said a few words about Elijah and what his name means to our family. It was a special message and our parents prayed over our son and us as parents. We are so blessed by our Lord and by our family that we have so many tools, prayers and encouragement to be the parents God has called us to. It is a huge responsibility, and during his dedication we were both reminded of the tremendous honor it is to raise children up to be servants of our King, Jesus Christ. Eljiah...you are an incredible gift from God, and we believe you have a very special purpose and voice as the prophet Elijah did in the scriptures. We are already so proud of you buddy...and always will be.

Grace's Birthday Party

We celebrated Grace's birthday with a puppy themed party this past Saturday...she loves dogs, so I thought it would be fun for her. It was so fun to watch her light up when she saw the balloons, cupcakes decorations and (most importantly) all of her friends and family. She ran around squealing with excitement when everyone showed up. It was such a fun day, and I was so thankful for everyone who came. Thank you, thank you everybody!

Here are a few pictures from the party...