Daddy Look!

We were sitting in church this Sunday and Marlow tapped on my arm and whispered:

"Daddy look! I made a quesadilla!"

She was so proud and wanted me to take a bite. I couldn't resist but to play along. 

"Daddy, you have to pray first!"

Butter sandwiches

I thought I would let the children help spread the butter on our grilled cheese sandwiches today. I called Marlow over and she enjoyed learning how to spread and use a knife with my help. Then I called Drakeford over. He was curious and patiently watched as I demonstrated, then began carefully spreading the butter. He completed one slice when I heard Marlow crying in the other room. I told him to do the next slice while I went to tend to Marlow. After I helped Marlow I heard Drakeford say "I'm all done. May I wash my hands in the sink with the sprayer now?" (He likes the sprayer). I said yes then hurried over to see his progress. I half expect to see a disaster, or maybe nothing really spread at all and he quit. 

What I saw was a neatly assembled butter sandwich and the whole stick of butter was gone! What an over achiever! What a great job he did spreading too!

We have been learning diligence "keep doing it until it's done." What a prime example. It was sure done alright!

There was still a bit of butter left but there's always tomorrow :)

I love my sweet helpers!

Aowyn rolled over!

Aowyn is the third child and one I have probably given the least amount of thought to things like tummy time but she turned over two days ago! From her back to her tummy. The children all rejoiced in her success. She has done it reliably every time I put her on her play mat facing up. 

Another success is that she is waking up from her naps dry and waits for me to take her potty! Despite waking up in the night to nurse some, she manages to stay dry until morning through the longer stretch of night time. So neat!! I am still curious as to what a potty trained infant means and the transition into self initiating, but we will keep taking it one step at a time. It's almost like the unknown of when the first child potty trained, after that I knew it was possible and what it looked like so the second one was easier. This is all new somehow!

Month three has brought teething and we have started humphrys. She is taking to them very well!

Have I mentioned she is a finger sucker? It was easy to break Marlow of the habit - just take her fingers out and nurse her instead. Aowyn won't give it up as easily. She often stops nursing to suck on her fingers instead! Sometimes I think she doesn't enjoy nursing because she is fussy and wants her fingers. She doesn't eat a lot...I am watching her close, and sometimes my mommy senses don't like what they see...

In the mean time, we are just loving every minute! 

I started a schedule for her - well really it was for me! She already did her own schedule I just mapped it out to allow some predictability in our day. She sticks with it!

Summer harvest

It took a good kick in the pants from Kevin for me to get outside and harvest our winter garden. I am so glad I did! The kids and I had a blast playing in the dirt and discovering all the bugs. There was even an unexpected visitor - a mini praying mantis! How cute! (Pictured in the center of the poster below). 

Our bounty included a large bundle of carrots and a handful of green onions. I didn't have enough to buy carrots this week so I thought we would do without having forgot the gift of a garden in my back yard. God was growing some provision, He is always at work. Thank you Lord for growing these carrots to maturity. A verse I read yesterday just came to mind:

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:7-10 ESV)

Please, Mighty God, grow my little olive plants to maturity too. Put Your hedge around them and use me to be a good gardener in their hearts, pruning and pulling weeds to give the buds the best chance of beauty in blooming. Amen. 

Symphony!

Thank you Lord for preserving the amazing weather throughout the evening of this special event. Kevin was sick at home but insisted we not miss this memorable summer event of a symphony in the park with the grandparents. Good food, watermelon, fireworks, and glow sticks - what fun! He was happy to make us a poster after we got home and told daddy all about our fun adventures!

I always doubt weather I should take the bob stroller just for the walk there and back but Drakeford confirmed my decision to bring it when he said on the walk back "mommy, I like riding in this stroller". Which I translated as "I'm really glad I'm not walking at 10 pm at night. Thanks mom". One of my favorite things to hear when it's past my kids bed time and whinny voices are on the horizon is for them to stop, think, then say "mommy, I'm tired. May I go to bed?"  Because, of course, tired children are still not allowed to lose self control and disobey, tired children simply go to bed! Makes my heart swell when they realize their own state of affairs and come to the right conclusion. What a blessing to a mothers heart!

Ferebee "Funny Farm"

Thank you for a wonderful 4th of July celebration at pastor Ferebees farm! We all had a wonderful time of food and fellowship. A love feast of sorts!