Time flies...

My baby is 18 months old today! AAAAGGGHHHH!! Where has the time gone? I have had moments today where I was SO excited and thankful that she is growing and healthy. Then I countered those with moments of sadness that my "baby" isn't really a "baby" anymore.

Here she is one year ago today.. she was 15lbs and 27 inches long. She could sit up by herself for a very short period of time.. most of the time she needed one of us or the boppie to hold her up! Geez, she was so sweet and so cute with her crazy hair!



Here she is today.. not as willing to sit still and more able to run away from the camera! :) Today she was 23lbs and 35 inches long. As our wonderful pediatrician said, she is "tall, skinny, healthy and happy"! I'll take that!

• She is growing into such a beautiful, sweet, funny girl who loves her kitty-kitty, her parents, and her "bookie bookie" (i.e. the park), her baby, and of course, her books!
  
• I swear she learns a new word every day. Doug and I were counting and we think she has about 25 that she really says, 5-6 that aren't clear but we know what she means, and many sounds.
  
• She has a memory that amazes me. That will come back to haunt me some day, I'm sure!
  
• She loves to sing.. or at least be sung to (and she LOVES it when I sing and play the piano).
  
• She is my climber and I am sure I will find her on top of the refrigerator any day now!
  
• I love it that she knows we are praying and quietly watches us, but doesn't fold her hands or close her eyes until we say "amen", then she does it and smiles so big.
• I love her kisses and snuggles and her laugh.. they make the worst day seem like it never happened!
  

I simply cannot imaging life without her.. she completes so many parts of me.

Evelyn Joy, you truly are my sunshine, and make me SO happy when skies are blue (and gray, and purple, etc). I hope you know, sweet pea, how much me and daddy love you.. may Jesus put sunshine in your heart every day!

Most embarrassing

I told my friend Jenni that if she shared her most embarrassing moment on her blog that I would share mine. Well, she did... so here it goes. 

Before I share I need to preface the story by stating that I have WAY too many moments I could share.. this one is just one of my better foot-in-my mouth moments. 

A LITTLE BACKGROUND..
This is Rob Marciano. He currently is a meteorologist for CNN in Atlanta. In 1997, he was the new head weather guy at KATU here in Portland. I was 27 and single. When I first saw him on TV, I was quite intrigues by this handsome man. You have to admit, he is pretty easy on the eyes. Let's just say I became a very faithful KATU news fan once I saw him! HA!

Lucky for me, my friend Jen from my bible study was a producer for KATU. She arranged for us girls to come down on Memorial Day that year to watch the show and get a tour. Lucky for me, Rob was going to be there! 

THE BIG DAY!
We had so much fun at the studio, hanging out with the staff and crew.... and yes, Rob. He was even more handsome in person, if that was possible. He was so funny, and very easy to talk to. I was enjoying hanging out with him, to say the least!

After the broadcast, we went onto the set to get some pictures with the crew. Rob specifically asked me to sit in his stool. I melted! (I know, I am pathetic). So, here's my embarrassing moment. I'm sitting there, him over my shoulder, and I see the clicker thing the weather guys use to change the screens on the air. And this pops out of my mouth...

"Rob, can I touch your wand?" (TOTALLY meaning the clicker, nothing more!)

OPEN MOUTH, INSERT FOOT! I couldn't believe what had just come out of my mouth! The moment I said it, I wanted to crawl in a hole... and die a slow, painful death.

But, oh, no.. it gets better. His response?

"Only if you're gentle!", he says with a wink and a big grin.

Seriously.. I was DYING!!! My face was as red as a tomato I'm sure. My friend Lori, who was sitting next to me and heard this wonderful exchange, was trying SO hard not to bust out laughing. The evening ended with Rob inviting us girls over for a BBQ, but thankfully we had other plans. I just wanted to get out of there and pray that he would forget what I said to him. Jen says he never mentioned it, so apparently I am the one left with the painfully funny (now anyway) memory of my moment with Rob Marciano.

There ya go, Jenni!

Who needs the sun, anyway?

Can you believe that just one week ago it was over 90 degrees? Sheesh! Evelyn really doesn't understand that she really shouldn't play on her "siiiii" (that's what she calls her slide/play structure) when it's raining. I took her outside to show her. Well... SHE showed me!!


Ok, mommy, first you dry it off with the thingy that we use to wipe kitty kitty's wet paws.

Then you climb it and stare and point to the neighbors yard.

Since the siiii is dry, I can go down it. Opp.. I forgot to dry off a spot... I just sat in a puddle!

At the bottom of the slide, you smile REALLY big cuz it was so much fun!

And of course... I have to make my famous face. Mouth open and smiling, eyes closed, looking up toward the sky.
See, mommy.... you can play in the rain. It is SO MUCH FUN!!!

What will my heart choose to say?

I vividly remember being in the hospital, watching CPR being performed on my dad after his heart attack. As horrible as this may sound, I wanted them to stop (they did it for like an hour.. they tried SO hard to get him back!). I knew in my mind (the nurse in me) and in my heart he was gone. I felt God wrapping his arms around me and saying, "I love you. It's going to be okay. Trust me" over and over again. I continued to hear those words for a long time after he died.

Now, don't get me wrong. It was the most horrible experience in my life. It was painful to the core of my being. I was sad, mad, shocked, every emotion in the book.. I had it! I sobbed myself to sleep so many nights. I still cry sometimes.. I miss him so much. But my faith remains strong. Jesus became the ultimate comforter and keeper of my heart during that time and still today. He truly is a "father to the fatherless and defender of widows" (Psalm 68:5) for me and my family. I remember claiming these words of this song often:

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Blessed be your name

But now, today, news about Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter being killed came out. My pastor's father had a heart attack and died a few days ago. A friend recently lost her young niece to cystic fybrosis. Disasters in Myanmar and China have killed thousands. So heartbreaking, and causing me to ponder what I would do if those precious to me were taken from me today.

I am painfully aware that my husband and my daughter could be gone in a heartbeat. I get nauseated just thinking about it. I don't want to think about it. BUT... if something were to happen.... What would me heart choose to say?

Man, that's tough. I realize how attached I am to the loves of my life. That isn't a bad thing at all. But I am also acutely aware that I at times place them above God in my priorities. I know that many of you who are spouses and parents understand this conflict. I guess for me, today it just hit me hard. I am convicted that I need to concede control of my dear ones daily and leave them in God's hands. And by doing that, be willing to accept whatever course He has chosen for them.
As a believer in Jesus Christ, I feel like this shouldn't be hard to do. BUT WOW... IT IS FOR ME!

Wrestling with God over this stuff.... I pray that I can grow in my faith and as a wife/parent from this!!

Let the pictures do the blogging...

Well.. ok.. I might have to write something! Not too much, tho... we are going to bed as soon as I am done with this and I am VERY ready for that! It has been a while since I have had blogging time. We have been working what seems like 24/7 on our basement. We are exhausted and were thankful for a day of rest today (we always rest on Sunday.. it is important!). I won't post basement pics until it's done, but I can tell you it looks AMAZING!! What a difference!

I will, however, post some pictures of Evelyn! We went and got a little pool for her today. She hasn't ever been swimming (we start lessons next month) so I wasn't sure how she would do with the cold water. I was hoping it would cool her off a bit since it has been so hot. Well... you can decide for yourself if she liked it! So now... let the pictures do the blogging!





Man I love her! Bring on summer! Stay cool, y'all! :)

Congratulations, Hayley!!

I am so proud of my sweet cousin Hayley Michelle!! She just found out that she has been accepted to Pepperdine U... AND that almost 75% of her tuition will be paid for with scholarships!! Way to go, Hayley!!



This was Hayley with Evelyn at Christmas this past year. She calls Evelyn her "Rock Star" because Evelyn's hair was CRAZY when she was really little!

She has worked so hard in school to keep her perfect GPA. She has grown into a beautiful, kind and encouraging woman of God. I can't believe she is graduating... it seems like she was just born!

We love you, Hayley.. and will be praying for you on this exciting new adventure of you life!

WHO'S THE "ROCK STAR" NOW???

Sunday School, Sunshine, & A Ponytail

It's 7:30pm. The sun is shining and fresh air is whistling thru the open windows. My daughter is completely OUT for the night after such a fun day. My kitchen is clean. My husband is out getting me a mint oreo blizzard. AND I am blogging again. Can it get any better? :)

What a week and weekend it has been! I have SO much I could post about, I don't know where to begin. Let's start with Sunday School!

You might remember this post about my fear of leaving Evelyn in the church nursery. Needless to say she did GREAT for almost 5 months. Then, in January, things changed. Let's just say I haven't listened to a full sermon for almost 5 months. It's been horrible. We have been praying and praying for things to get better. Poor thing, she really has been struggling with separation issues, and not only at church. But.... PRAISE GOD.. she has been in the classroom the ENTIRE service for 3 weeks in a row now... and LOVED it! Teacher Tracy loves Evelyn and is SO excited to hear her laugh and have fun now. AND... I have left her with friends for short intervals and she has done fine. I am so excited. And thankful. And proud of my big girl!

Needless to say the sunshine today was heavenly. Evelyn was outside from the moment she woke up from her nap (1:30) til dinner time (barring a diaper change, etc). We went to the park and had a blast. She fussed a little bit when we left (it was getting crowded) but perked right up when we headed to the backyard when we got home. She walked to AND from the park, by the way... at least 1/2 mile total. That's a lot for her little legs, but she loves it. No wonder she was so tired tonight!

... she wanted to eat the bubble wand. Do you think she's teething? :)

Last but not least. You also might remember this post about my daughter not wanting me to TOUCH her hair... not with a comb, and don't even come near her with a clip! She has gotten better since then and likes me to comb her hair. But that's it. I have wanted to put it a ponytail for the longest time, so this week I decided to give it a go again. With a little (well... kinda bigger than little) fight, I did it. She looks so adorable! The girl in me is so happy!

TAKE IT OUT MOMMY!!!

Ok... I guess it's fine!

It wasn't the best job since she was being such a monkey... but I think she looks so cute!

So.. this is my favorite shot of the week, I think. I am not sure why, but it just captures her spunk and free spirit. Maybe you had to be there when the photo was taken....



That's all I have for now. Until next time...