On the Verge...

For awhile now, I've thought that Selah wasn't getting all the liquid that she really needed from me.  She wasn't wetting her diapers as much and was eating a ton  of food the last week or so.  I think she just went through a big growth spurt (literally on her 1st birthday).  She's suddenly like a little kid now and not so much like a baby any more! On her birthday night, we were busy and distracted with small group and she didn't get to eat as much as I think she wanted to, but then it was time for bed.  So I nursed her and put her down and she LOST it.   I mean, screaming, crying, coughing, gagging, yelling for "Mama" and just not calming down. After about 45 minutes of intermittently trying to soothe her with no success, I suggested to Quinn that we get a cup of milk to see if she was hungry. She chugged it.  I think she may have been a little hot from crying as well, and the cold milk probably felt pretty good going down. She'd had milk befor...

I am sitting in the parking garage next to the hotel where our church meets with a finally sleeping baby, glad that I brought the wifi with me. I have been trying to be thankful for the years at the Austin Stone where we had four church service times to choose from. Sometimes, however, I feel upset that we only have one option now. And that one option is exactly during Selah's first and best nap. In those moments of frustration, The Lord reminds me to be grateful that we even have a church body here. We weren't expecting to and it's been a great blessing. We've made some new friends and we love the heart of Redeemer Dubai. Actually, most of the friends I have made have been other moms walking their babies around trying to get them to go to sleep during the service just like I do with Selah each week. Sometimes we can only give each other empathetic looks and smiles as our strollers pass and the babies exchange cries of frustration. Sometimes, by God's grace, we ...

Literally and figuratively. I thought I would share some videos that give a little peek into our pretty awesome little guy's personality and how his mind works.   However, it's going to require some subtitles.  We understand what he's saying, oh, 90% of the time.  When I don't know what he's saying, I often say, "What are you talking about, Abram?"  He's turned that back on me a few times at perfectly hilarious moments.  "What is Mommy talking about?!"  It's hard to convey what his little voice sounds like now when he asks a question.  He's figured out that we make our voices higher at the end of a question and he's been doing some very exaggerated and adorable question asking the last few days.   So here's a few Abramoments from the last few days. You might have read the potty training m&m s post.  He's been better, actually.  I mean, he still uses the potty sporadically.  Maybe for 50% of his #1 trip...

It's finally here, people!  This munchy face is officially one year old!  Can't believe it.  What a year it has been, too.  Selah has "lived" (meaning stayed for more than one night) in 7 different houses, been on 8 airplanes, had 3 viruses, and no major injuries, praise God!  Well, enough chatting, let's get down to business. Date: April 21st, 2013 Weight : No idea.  But she feels heavier and bigger!  My growing girl. Clothing size : 9-12 months. Feedings per day : 4 nursing, 3 meals, 1 snack.  We aren't doing baby food any more, which means a lot more mess. We are working on sippy cups with water, juice/water, and milk.  She seems to like the milk the best, actually, but doesn't do too well with it if she's recently nursed.  She's just getting the hang of the tipping and sometimes will accidentally suck from a straw, but really just wants to chew on it. Naps: By the grace of God, her naps have really taken a t...

Instead of posting an incredibly long Facebook status filled with various quotes, pictures, and links or posting so many that I take over my friends' timelines and they just tune me out, I decided to write a blog.  This post is like a big, fat stew: a bunch of random stuff all thrown into one pot that will hopefully end up being tasty :) Ingredients: -Funny kid quote -A few less than lovely iphone photos -One or two unfortunate injury stories -An easy craft idea -A small soap box rant (with optional link) -One promise for more posts 1. While walking along the Ajman beach today waiting for our take out, Quinn took Abram up to this camel.  His goal is to ride one with him one day (soon).  Abram began to almost literally shake as he begged for Quinn to take him away from the camel.  When they reached Selah and I back on the sidewalk, Abram told me "The camel is very afraid to Abey" in the most pitifully scared voice I've ever heard come from my child. Look...

In an effort to assimilate more fully in our new non-American home, Quinn purchased a football.  Not an American football.  But a football.  The vocabulary is very important, as well.  It is not a soccer ball.  It is a football.  And Abram has taken a great interest in this new addition to his toy arsenal.  It is the only ball we own, so that's probably the one of the reasons for his admiration. He had a great time playing with the new football on the beach with Daddy on Easter Sunday.We made him sit and eat for a few minutes before he was allowed to get up and start kicking it and throwing it around. And Selah proved she is ready to start holding her own at the table, as she is regularly eating whatever we eat and just taking bites instead of having to have everything cut up or torn up for her.   My little girl is growing up so fast!   Then she and I cheered for the boys from the table and finished our food. And Abra...