18 months

I am back. I know the blog laid dormant for a while. I know most of you read both of my blogs but I had a rough few weeks following a miscarriage. But I am back. And as God intends through pain, better than ever.

Today marks 18 months of life. Crazy how a year and a half can seem like a lifetime and a heartbeat at the same time. Daily, I cannot believe I have been a mother so long. And daily I remember something I did a year and a half ago and think to myself, "why was that so easy?...oh yeah, I wasn't a mother." I read an incredible post on Beth Moore's blog authored by her daughter Amanda who also is the mother of a toddler. I loved her description of the freedoms you lose when you become a mother. Not selfish freedoms (though you DO certainly lose those) but freedoms in ministry, in relationships. Freedom of time and energy and passion. Freedom to sit for long hours and listen to someone elses heart. Those were the freedoms I grieved the most too.

But I am finding such sweetness in stolen moments with friends while our children play. Motherhood truly rewrites life.

Abby Kate has been the sweetest blessing of my life. She daily reminds me of my Father's love for me. He entrusted her to us...what love.

As for an update on her life, which is what this blog is about, obviously....

can be summed up in one sentence...a daily prayer for patience, energy and creativity. If you ever want to watch someone truly take in LIFE, pull up a chair and observe a toddler. I am constantly moving. I have a child that does NOT like to play alone (I am working on this) so if I sit, she comes and grabs my hand (even if I sit on it...evil, I know) and starts to pull. When I say, "no Mama is going to sit here for a second" she will look up and sweetly say "please?" and I can hardly refuse (I mean come on, I am teaching manners here ya'll and PLEASE has to be rewarded). But really, I am working to show our little bundle of joy and the world does NOT revolve around her. She still has an extensive vocabulary and constantly walks on her tip toes, as if already practicing for her lead in The Nutcracker. She loves the water, hates green vegetables and loves to pet dogs. She loves her babies and stuffed animals, loves to read and loves my jewelry. She loves Backyardigans and Veggie Tales more than life itself. She loves cold milk and she loves to snuggle. She loves to make animal noises and learn new ones (this week was elephant...and she uses her arm as the trunk). She is the pick est eater I have ever met. She loves to play "tea" and loves to take a bath with bubbles (she shouts "WHOA, BUBLES! BUBLES! over and over). She has no fear and will try anything. She is super tough and rarely cries when she falls. She is the light of our lives.

Thanks for listening to me gush but also know, I am daily praying for wisdom. I am tough on boundaries and sometimes feel my day consists of constant battles. We are dealing with fits (frustration and anger are great, we are just learning how to express them) and her neediness have been the hardest things lately. We are also playing with other kids a lot so the age old battle of sharing has begun. I know this will be a long process.

So anyway, that is an update. Remind me to post later the Poop story. It truly would have won $10,000 on Funniest Home Videos. It was classic. Love you all....