Miss Priss Turns 1!

 Our beautiful baby girl...you are 1 year old! Your brother is insistent that you're 12, since 12 comes after 11 (since you were 11 months), but we're trying to teach him that 12 months equals 1 year.

You have brought such immense joy to our home. You are our curious one; our visual learner and little observer. You get into everything, think it's hysterical to be naughty, and can not get enough of your brother. You are comical and sassy.

 You are walking up a storm and love to play chase. You love it when someone says "I'm gonna get you!" You also love playing peekaboo and being tickled.

 Everything goes into your mouth. You are becoming more picky about eating. You don't want any  help eating and are weird about textures. Since you only have 6 teeth (a 7th one almost popping through), you can't eat the crunchy food you want. You still nurse 4 or 5 times a day and love snuggle with your puppy lovey when you're going to bed.

You nap every day from around 10:30 to 12 and then again from 3:30 to 5. Bed time is around 8:30 pm and you sleep until 7 the next morning. You can be flexible if need be, especially on Sundays when you catch a cat nap on the way home around 12:30 to 1 since you won't nap in the nursery.

 Here are some of your favorites:

Food: cheese and strawberries
Color: red
Activities: reading books, playing peekaboo and chase
Toys: Picnic basket toy and baby doll
Book: Zoo Flip Book and Animal Babies of the Southwest

You also enjoy erasing on the chalk board but I can't give you chalk, since you eat it.

 And, you can also be "Miss Sassy Pants" as Jude calls you. You are very opinionated. You are beginning to be demanding and not want to share. It tears you up to give up your blue cup in the bath tub and there is a serious melt down every time.

You are doing great trying to communicate. Though your only consistent sign is "More", you will, on occasion sign "all done". You can say Dada, Mama, Nene (wanting to nurse), Ju (Jude), bluh (block), ball, s (sock), buh (book), bye bye, and night night. You point to what you want and often attempt to say things.

You love playing in your shoe basket and attempting to put on your socks and shoes. You are a snuggle bug at bed time and can identify Mommy's nose.

Our Sweet Sadie Girl, 

I thank God every day for giving you to us.Your first year has come and gone so quickly. The days of you running all over and soaking up every thing has just begun. Please know, more than anything, I pray that you will come to know Jesus as your Savior. I pray you will be known for your gentle and quiet spirit, but also be bold in your stance for Him, in a loving and gracious way. May God use you in mighty ways, sweet one. May your days be filled with joy and your heart full of love.

I love your contagious smile and your wild spirit. I cherish the moments of you and me, in the dark, snuggling while you nurse: your eyes following mine and the time that is just between me and you. Remind me to slow down sweet girl. Remind me to enjoy, as you already are so full of fun and I am more serious. You are such a gift and I look forward to the many wonderful memories ahead.

Happy Birthday Sadie Caroline! I love you so very much!

Mommy and Daddy

Visit From The North Carolinians

 Y'all, we had such a wonderful visit with my sister and nephew! The week went by entirely too fast, filled with fun activities and making wonderful memories. Jude and Sadie both were pumped to have them here!

 It's hard to believe that Eli and Sadie are only 10 months apart. All 3 children played so well together. I was very proud of how well they shared and got along.

The week they were here was busy. They flew in on Wednesday afternoon. By the time we got back to our home from the airport, the kids definitely needed some running around time, so we played outside until they couldn't take it any longer and put them all down for a nap.

Thursday, we went to my Mom's Bible study at church and my sister got to meet several of my church friends.

 While we were there, the children were playing together with lots of other children. One friend of Jude's told Eli he couldn't play with them because he was a baby. Jude, very sternly I might add, said, "This is my cousin and he CAN play with us!" I was so proud of him for standing up for Eli.

Eli's vocabulary has soared since we visited in June. He is talking up a storm! He loved playing with the "moonboons" aka balloons, that were for Sadie's party.

On Friday, we took a long walk with the kiddos and went to a neighbor's house to pick apples and visit the horses. That was fun and each child was double fisting it with the apples.

 This little bruiser kept right up with the big boys. When they would play chase, she would cackle and waddle right after them.

 On Saturday, we did an early birthday party for Sadie so Jillian and Eli could be a part of the celebration. I am so thankful they were able to be here. I'm also glad we did it since last Saturday the high was 55 and today it's 31. :)

 This is my pitiful attempt at making a birthday cake. Jude has been very lucky that Uncle Zach's girlfriend Brittany usually is able to make his. :/

 Sadie was one happy girl to dig into her cake. We had to pry it away so she wouldn't eat too much.

 Sadie was showered with fun gifts from close friends (and family via the mail). My heart simply overflows with joy as I think of how God provides for us so far from home.

 On Sunday, we enjoyed going to church and a lazy afternoon of the adults talking and catching up while the kids napped.

Monday was a fun day into "town" to Ace Hardware (where they have toys!) and the thrift store. We are again, so blessed to have a nice thrift store and another consignment store so close by to find good deals. I got new boots, Justin a pair of camo pants, Sadie some tights, and Jude 2 new shirts for less than $15.00. The pants alone would have been double that brand new.

 On Tuesday,  Justin had the day off for Veteran's Day. We got a drift of snow as a cold front came through down where we live and the ski hill got about 4 inches. I had the grand idea of taking the kids sledding and it did not meet my expectations.

 Being the first snow, it was very powdery, so as we sledded, snow sprayed into our faces, making it even more cold. After about 30 minutes, all 3 kids were crying hysterically and we adults agreed we should call it a day.

Our last day was a good, simple one, just playing around the house. It was good to just be still and enjoy watching the kids enjoy one another. I'm so thankful that Jude has a cousin so close to his age, I only wish they could get more time together.

I had such a wonderful time with my sister. I do not say it lightly when I say she is my best friend. We have always been very close and though many miles separate us physically now as adults, our hearts are still so close. We are able to share honestly with each other and hold one another accountable. This truly was the best visit we've ever had. I am grateful that Jillian took the time and money to come and experience our life way out here. I can't say she had much of a vacation, as poor Eli didn't adjust to our time zone until the very last day, and she was busy helping me with my kids, but it was such a great time to just be together. I think we could get into trouble if we lived too close to each other. :)

In a few days, we will have Sadie's first birthday, which is so hard to believe. My heart is so full for the wonderful gifts from above.

October Fun

 We have enjoyed a wonderful and fast October. The kids enjoyed carving our pumpkin. Sadie loved getting the pulp out and Jude's new favorite are roasted pumpkin seeds. Justin was not super happy about the new healthy approach to my pumpkin bread that did not include sugar. He was sorely disappointed.

 It's been pretty rainy, which makes me feel like we're back on the west side of the state, but we've endured. We've had some spotty sunny days this month and they've been nice.

 Jude was pretty excited to be a raccoon for Halloween this year. He gets a subscription to Highlights Jr. and the character of Ricky Raccoon inspired his idea.

 Sadie had a hand me down owl costume from my cousin's little girl, so they made quite a cute "forest friends" pair. We enjoyed Halloween by going trick or treating with friends down Main Street in our town. We got plenty of candy and I am super proud of how independent Jude was. He even went through the scary porch to get a king size candy bar. :)

We will be celebrating Sadie's first birthday soon and are looking forward to my sister and nephew visiting in just a few days. We are so incredibly blessed and thankful to enjoy more family traditions and memories.