My baby girl turned One recently. So hard to believe a year has gone by already. I'm sure parents of multiple children would all agree that time with each successive child goes faster b/c you have so much to keep you busy with the other ones. I only have two, but I believe this to be true.

Ali is truly a joy to have in our family. She is very different from her brother and has a much stronger personality. She is definitely stronger willed! Most of the differences are really fun and we are all enjoying watching her develop from a baby into a little girl. She's standing on her own and has taken a few steps, but doesn't seem too interested in walking. She can crawl unbelievably fast and really turns the jets on when she knows she's done something she shouldn't and we're coming to correct her. Funny how that works. She's starting to say a few words, which is really fun. I can't wait to see her look at me and say, Mama!

Being a mom to a little girl is definitely different than a boy. I would give my life for both of my children, but the connections are different. I can't really put words to it, it's just different. I love you Ali and pray we have many more years to watch you grow and most importantly to teach you about Jesus!

Not Finished with Me Yet!

I'm so thankful that God isn't finished with me yet. I'm also thankful that He hasn't given up on me! I would have given up on me a long time ago. I had one of those days today where I just felt directionless and more than a little hopeless. I have them once in a while, usually when I'm feeling lonely. This has been kind of a hard summer for me. Not hard in comparison to all of the people in the world who are truly suffering, but hard in the sense that I have felt alone a lot of the time. Interesting how you can be in a house with two children and still feel alone.

Having an infant after being out of that stage for several years has been an adjustment. Because I like to keep her on a schedule I have been home most of the summer so that she can get her naps. Most of the time I'm not willing to suffer the consequences of being out and having her skip a nap. I guess I'm a chicken. But, because of that I have been home and it's mostly been just me and the kids. This has been a summer where Joshua has developed a strong desire to be around other kids. Very understandable, especially since I have a strong desire to be around other people too. But, that has meant that he has been gone more than usual, leaving me with an infant who is a lot of fun, but can't talk to me yet. All of this to say that I have been lonely this summer for friendship.
I know that some people are good-to-go to just have their family and occasionally talk with a friend on the phone. Others, like me, crave friendships where you are not the only one making the effort. Where the friend calls you and truly wants to know how your day is going. Where you get together as much as possible and you just talk. Where if you need to get laundry done, your friend helps you fold your socks. I had a friendship like that once and I miss it dearly!
With all of that said, I also know that a large part of my loneliness is due to the fact that I have been neglecting the most important relationship I have, which is with God. I tend to be pretty consistent if I am involved in a bible study, but when that stops I generally fall off the wagon. Well, unfortunately I have been off the wagon for so long that the dust has settled and I've lost sight of the wagon. That brings me back around to being thankful that God isn't finished with me and that He hasn't given up on me yet.
Continue to draw me to You Lord! Don't let my heart grow cold!! Fill the void in my heart where You belong!! Thank you so much for loving such sinner!

One of my favorites! A little father-daughter time!

God really does know best!

I got to thinking about how good and wise God truly is after reading someone else's blog about their husband. They were talking about how when God put the two of them together it was like having the Tortoise and the Hare get married. When I thought about that I realized that my hubby and I are a lot like that. Him being the Tortoise and me being the Hare. The comparison doesn't really work for everything in our relationship, but enough of it. He likes to think things through and think them through and think them through. I like the think them through and then act. And heaven help us if once we've come to a decision something should change b/c I have found that I really don't like that! Hubby is much better at going with the flow than I am. I get all frustrated and it takes me a while to calm down. When it's time to go somewhere I want to leave. I don't like being late (a "side effect" of having the father I have). My dear hubby has a little bit of OCD and tends to check things over and over. Like, the locks on all the doors (not a bad thing to do), the knobs on the stove, unplugging the toaster or anything else that is plugged in. Doing this before we leave to go almost anywhere tends to make us run a little late, which once again, gets me frustrated, which takes me a while to calm down from. Anyway, with all that said, I can honestly say that I love my Tortoise more now that I ever have! I am so very thankful that God brought us together and has kept us together for over 12 years (almost 20 if you count our dating time). We are opposites in many ways, but God in His wisdom knew this and is working to mold us into the couple He wants us to be. I'm thankful that He is not done with us yet and looking forward to see how He is going to shape us further in the coming years!

My beautiful children! I know that I am biased, but I think they are so cute! I love looking at pictures of them. They are so fun and it's amazing to see the bond they have even with Ali being so little. I'm really enjoying having two children (especially now that I am past the first 8 weeks, yuck). Anyway, just thought I should get a picture on here for the 1 or 2 people who look at this blog.

Not that anyone actually reads my blog, but just in case someone stumbles upon it I thought I would add something new. I am 10 days away from my due date. Hard to believe! I am more than ready physically, although I am still somewhat hesitant mentally. I'm sure that anyone who has had a child can understand what I mean.
Joshua is very excited to meet his sister! We are sad that he will not be able to come to the hospital to see her after she is born because of H1N1, but are planning to get pictures to him through my parents. My Mom will be at the hospital and send pictures from her phone to my Dad's phone for Joshua to see.
I will probably not add anything before she is born, and knowing myself I will probably not add anything until long after she is born, but eventually I will get a picture posted.

I guess I need a new name for this blog!

I'm looking at this picture at 14 weeks pregnant and I still have a hard time believing that it is true. It's been a long and somewhat bumpy road, but God has been faithful the whole way. We're very excited, especially Joshua! I need some help coming up with a new blog name. Obviously, Just the Three of Us will no longer be accurate. So, if the 1 or 2 people that actually look at this will throw in any ideas I would appreciate it!