Eight Months

Elizabeth is 8 months old today!

poor baby, just can't keep those eyes open when the flash is on...big smiles though!

Elizabeth is getting so big and strong...she's eating so good still, sleeping all night, and for the past two days hasn't taken her evening cat-nap, so I think we're transitioning to just 2 naps a day.

Just precious - her expression looking across the table at Madilynn

Speaking of big and strong...she's about to crawl...she's been doing everything possible to get around, including pushing off the floor with her toes to lunge herself forward. I've noticed the past couple of days she's gotten up on her knees, but then doesn't know what to do next. Here she is this afternoon up on her knees!

figuring it out...

Nana came to see us last week while Daddy was gone to a conference. We were so glad she was able to come and the three of us ended up being sick most of the time she was here, so it was really nice to have extra help. I think I had a cold and the girls had croup - no fun! We did get in lots of time at home so the girls had plenty of cuddle time with Nana.

Here's Madilynn and Nana playing a new version of paper dolls...they're wooden with magnetic clothes, pretty cool, and kept her attention for two hours I couldn't believe it!

Nana & Elizabeth

Madilynn decided she needed to help feed Elizabeth...

Silly girl!

smiling so big, but can't keep those eyes open...

Back to today: So I got a couple of videos this afternoon of Elizabeth trying to crawl. I guess it takes just the right motivation, and in this case it's Daddy's watch...


Can you call this Crawling?!?!

Baby Animal Day again...

So this Saturday we headed out to see the baby animals and the weather was perfect. It was crazy just one week before we were wearing layers of fleece and coats, and then this Saturday it was very warm & sunny!! The festival activities weren't going on this week, so we were able to get around to all the animals without the long lines. Madilynn really enjoyed getting to pet and hug up to all the animals as you'll see in the pictures below...

pigs...

lambs...
calf...

duckling...

We saw the "big horses" go by pulling a wagon with people and Madilynn said "they have BIG legs, and LONG tails!" I thought that was so cute!

chicks...

bunnies...

Elizabeth even got to meet the bunny...

the ponies again, of course...

Then we rode the train...

Madilynn got to ride in the caboose with the other little kids!

Our view during our picnic lunch on the lawn

Enjoying our picnic lunch - Elizabeth was working hard to get Madilynn's cup!

Daddy & Madilynn enjoying a little playing after we ate

Saturday afternoon after naps we enjoyed some time out in the backyard. Elizabeth's first time in the grass and she didn't seem to mind.

Sunday afternoon we enjoyed time outside again, this time Madilynn (wrote her name) with sidewalk chalk!

Elizabeth hanging out and watching in the shade of the garage

AND...Daddy got a new toy...a Lawnmower!

First lawnmower we've bought! Hey - and it's RED imagine that!! He came home and mowed the front yard yesterday afternoon, and I bet he'd rather be mowing the backyard now instead of working in his office!

Baby Animal Days & More...

This past Saturday we met up with a couple of families from church to attend the American West Heritage Center's Baby Animal Days festival. We ended up purchasing a membership so that we can attend many other activities/events for free!

First stop the pony rides - all of the kids got to ride at the same time!

Elizabeth & Mommy waiting for Madilynn to ride the pony
This year they had baby bears from Yellowstone - here's Madilynn showing off her bear mask!
We tried putting the mask on Elizabeth and she just grabbed it (imagine that)!

There were just 3 baby bears and they were all being held and fed while we went through

Then to see the bunnies - Madilynn even got to hold one! I thought it was neat they had it set up where the kids could sit down and hold them.

Madilynn petting the bunny with her friends

We stopped for lunch and I put Elizabeth down on her blanket so she could move around a little and all she wanted to do was pull the grass! (She had her pacifier in, so none was eaten!)

We had a great time, but we were done shortly after lunch as it was nap-time. Elizabeth fell asleep and could've slept in the stroller, but Madilynn was really needing her nap, so we didn't get around to seeing all the baby animals...No worries, we are planning to go back this Saturday to see them without all of the festival stuff going on, so hopefully it won't be as busy - more pics to come!

Sunday morning before church, Elizabeth wearing Madilynn pink polo dress and I just think it's adorable. I was afraid it wouldn't fit her by the time it was warm enough to wear it, but it really started warming up on Sunday!

Quick pic before she fell (sat) down!

and just because I love all of the expressions...and those big blue eyes!

Sunday afternoon after nap we headed out to meet some new friends for play and dinner. I put these little baby legs on her for the first time, and they were super cute, especially with the dress! Perfect!

Skip to today! Well Daddy works late on Wednesday nights, so he came home for lunch today. It is a beautiful day and so sunny, it's supposed to be even warmer tomorrow high is 70 and sunny -yea!! So we went outside to enjoy for a little while...

Madilynn running around in the yard - working off some energy!

Swinging on the ropes!

I just realized I hadn't taken any pictures of her swinging on this rope in the backyard, but she likes it and is really good at holding herself up!

Heartbroken

As I sit here tonight I am at a lost for words. We have been in Utah a total of 16 weeks. We have met some amazing people and have become so close without even realizing it. At small group we discovered that a family who has a daughter a year older than Madilynn is now moving away. Madilynn has become so close to their daughter. She talks about her all the time and details all the plans she has for them to do together. I sat there blown away. There are very few people that get to me. I bawled like a big baby. My heart broke for Madilynn. Never in my life have I ever been so emotional about someone moving away. In the church we go to there are two little girls that are close to Madilynn's age and one is moving away. It's as if something has been ripped out of me. I'm sad and scared. It is really important for Madilynn to have fellowship with other children from families with the same beliefs as us. Please pray for this family who still has to sell there home here in Utah, find a new home in a southern state close to AR, and move across the country with four children the youngest being Madilynn's friend. These were the first people to introduce themselves to us, showed us around the church, and invited us into their home. I mean THE very first ones to shake our hands and welcome us. We miss all our friends we have in AR and IA. Now we will miss our friends we will have in KY.

Adventures this week...

Nana, Papa, and Ashlee came to visit for the week! They arrived last Saturday afternoon and just left this morning. They picked up Ashlee (and her car) in California (her internship was over) and are heading back to Arkansas now! Of course, Utah is between CA and AR, so they had to come by for a visit!

We thought this was funny of Elizabeth, she was playing with the baby and put the baby's pacifier in her mouth...I think she had a hard time with it, because it was really too short to suck on - ha!

the girls hanging out with Papa
Wednesday we drove out to Bear Lake and then went north into Idaho - my first time there!

When we got back into town we visited the Logan city zoo...

Papa feeding the peacock

The group- minus Daddy he was at work :(

I thought this was so cute of Elizabeth showing off her headband from Nana - look at those little chubby arms!

Nana with the girls - Madilynn is wearing a new hat from Nana - so cute!

We had lots of fun this week playing at the park, in the backyard, down by the river, and of course inside -since we got a snow storm on Tuesday morning! The snow is mostly melted now! So ready for the weekend!!

Easter Pictures

Sunday morning

the girls
Ashlee and Madilynn

Nana and Elizabeth

Sunday afternoon we dyed eggs with Madilynn...

showing Elizabeth her egg - Elizabeth's 1st Easter wearing the same dress Madilynn wore on her 1st Easter!

Madilynn posing with all of the eggs, she really enjoyed putting stickers on the eggs!

Then we did a little egg hunt out on the deck for Madilynn (still snow on the ground)

Thoughts on Easter

Happy Easter!

What does this mean? How have I lost the connection this year? It has been so wild these past 4 months. I can't remember the last time I took in God's creation. But today, WOW, Jesus rose from the dead! How awesome and beautiful that is. So much more than egg hunts. Greater than Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs. Hard to believe but yes God's plan for our salvation was completed this day. Without Christ's resurrection where would the power be to save us from death? [1st Corinthians 15] But He has risen, He has risen indeed!!

So, I got the family ready and attended an outside sunrise service in 28 degree (F) weather. While freezing and wiping the snot from everyone's nostrils I got to thinking. I haven't spent enough time to thank God. Looking back at my life I am truly amazed at the provisions given to me. I must say living in this place has really put me in a position to trust the Lord more and rely less on myself if that makes any sense. I've never been a place where Christians are the minority. When examining the culture (LDS central) there are not many people born-again. It's sad and scary. Prayer has been essential for me. When you are placed in a position where you feel helpless and alone (spiritually) it's as if you get bogged down in the muck. You focus on how bad and awful things are. Much like the Israelites were when they started their journey to God's Promised Land. How quickly we try to revert back to our old ways wishing God had left us alone thinking far better to be slaves than starve or die of thirst in this desert(UT) [Exodus 16:2-3]. But I'm reminded today that with Christ we shall not thirst or be hungry[John 4:13, John 6:35]. If I seek Him I will be overfilled and thirst no more. Death has been swallowed up. The chains are broken. Victory is ours through Christ's scarifice and resurrection. It is easy to get caught up in this rat race not remembering the True race that we are running [Hebrews 12, 1st Timothy 4: 1-8]. God is shaping me, my family, and those who are brought to Him. He is working in our lives in ways I can't express how thankful I am. Madilynn is an inspiration to me. She has a faith in Jesus and a love for the Father that I wish I had. My wife Miranda, bless her, she has the courage to follow me, no to walk beside me into a lion's den holding my hand giving me strength. She doesn't even bat an eye. Talk about a mighty, loving, and wonderful woman. I have to say I don't think about death much. I don't know if it's a young man thing, but when I do it's downright terrifying. We are about 21 hours away (by car) from any of our family. What happens when I'm gone? Yet there's a tingle as I get goose bumps that catches me as if a summer breeze is passing over me. I exhale then a whisper in my ear reminds me God has a plan and it is being fulfilled in me. I may not know what it is as I walk this earth but I like it that way. If I knew what it was, would that change anything? How much would I want to control it?

"Thank you Lord for the gift that you have given freely, we love you because you first loved us."