Baptism

This post has been a long time coming. On January 22nd Alethea was baptized at our church.  We were so thankful that both side of the family were able to come share in this special day. Alethea's one aunt, was unable to make it but stopped by the weekend before to see her. We had a great weekend together! Here are some pictures to enjoy!

4 Months

My Dear Alethea

I am always late in writing a letter to you on the exact day you turn so many months old. I have just been too busy playing with you! :)

Today you are 4 months 15 days old. Everyday I look at you and am so thankful that God gave us you. You went for your 4 month doctors appointment and did great! It was a little harder for me to see you in pain with your shots, but I know it is for the best. You weigh 11lbs 13 oz. You are a tall petite little girl and we wouldn't change a thing about you!

Nana came with us to the doctors since daddy was working and you had such a fun time smiling at her and giggling. I expected you to be very cranky after you shots but you were great! You fussed a little bit whenever we touched or moved your leg but other then that you were wonderful. I never would have known that you had shots by your attitude.

Your are starting to have very strong opinions about who holds you and how you are being held. You will go to daddy fine most of the time, but have started crying when nana or anyone else will hold you if you can't see me. I love that you know who I am and want to see me all the time!

You have been coming to Bible study with me the past 3 weeks and everyone there loves you. It is so nice to see the ministry you are already doing at your young age. You sit in my lap and look around at everyone in our group, and usually voice your own opinion on the topic. (everyone LOVES hearing you talk)

You are now rolling over, from your back to stomach. The first day you did this was Thursday Feburary 23 2012. You haven't completly rolled over again, but you are always on your side and even sleep that way. Not only do you roll over, but you LOVE your exersaucer. You reach the the toys and are starting to move yourself around and jump. Your little squeal while you are jumping is so cute! The first time we heard you, daddy jumped up thinking something was wrong, only to see that you were smiling away. Everyday you are getting better at grasping toys and bringing them to your mouth.

Another favorite activity of yours is to go outside. The weather has been WONDERFUL here and we have been able to go outside at least 5 days a week for a while. You love being in your Moby wrap and looking around at everything outside. When you are fussy, one of the quickest ways to calm you down is to walk outside for a minute. I wonder if you are going to be an outside or inside girl.

I know this post is so long, but there is so much I want to remember about this time in your life. Your are doing wonderful sleeping through the night and will be starting cereal soon. We are still trying to get in a nap routine but you will usually take 3 naps a day for 45min-2hrs. You are such a big girl and growing up so fast! I can't believe by next month, you could be sitting up, eating food and moving all over the place. Your daddy and I love you so much!!! Happy 4 months our dear Alethea!!!

Valentines

Happy Valentines Day!! Around here we don't celebrate Valentines day, we never have. But this year is different. This year we have something HUGE to celebrate. Today is February 14 2012.

4 months ago we finally got to meet our little bundle of joy. Oh how time flies! Happy 4 months to our wonderful daughter!! (4 month post to come next week after her drs. appointment)

3 months(ish)

I know I'm WAY late on this post, but hey I was too busy playing with Alethea to write this. :)
This post was meant to be written as your 3 month old post, but now it is being written as 3 1/2 months since you will be 4 months in 2 weeks.

My Dear Alethea,

You are becoming such a sweet little girl. I love waking up everyday and seeing something new that you are doing. You have the most beautiful smile, with cute little dimples! Although you do smile at other people, you mostly smile at your mommy. Not only are you smiling, but you have started to giggle and talk. Your "talking" is just little sounds but you love to talk. When I come to get you out of bed you just look at me smile big and start talking. No matter how rough the night was, waking up to your smile and the joy you radiate when you see me just makes everything better. I can't wait to see what you start doing next!

One of your new found loves is to sit on the changing table without any clothes or diaper on. Sometime Mommy and Daddy will bring your changing mat to the couch and let you lay on the couch with us naked. As soon as we start walking towards the changing mat you stop crying and start smiling. It is such a joy to see your big smile and giggles when you know you are going to be "free" of your diaper. Not only do you like to be naked on the changing table, but it is your FAVORITE time to talk to mommy, daddy or nana. You will talk non-stop with anyone who will listen. Maybe this mean you will be a talker? (and an easy child to potty train)

There are so many new things that you are doing now! (so to other I apologize for the long post).  You have started to cry when people other than your mommy are holding you. Sometimes, (even when daddy is holding you) you will cry when I leave the room. It is so sweet to see that you know who I am and miss me when I am gone.  Right now I LOVE this! I love that you only want your mommy and that I am an instant comfort to you, but I have a feeling this will become harder as you get older.

Here is a quick (hopefully) list of all the things you are now doing:

1.scooting around on the play mat (I will put you under one toy and come back a minute later and you are either turned around or off the play mat)

2. starting to try to roll over (Right now you can get your legs and butt turned over but not quite the top half of your body. You are also really starting to enjoy your tummy time and are doing a great job building up your arm and neck muscles)

3. grasping for objects (not only are you JUST grasping for objects, but now you will hold them and put them towards your mouth to chew on. Teething maybe?)


4.  a sweet personality (I love seeing your personality evolve! You are such a good baby, not fussy [except in the early evening hours], very smiling. giggling and bashful. You love to "flirt" with the older women at church by smiling then turning your head into my shoulder. You are a laid back girl and tend to go with the flow of things. Hopefully this will continue to be true.)

5. Along with that personality come whining. (your cries have started changing to "big girl cries" and you have began to whine more because you don't like a certain position or want your mommy)

You are such a big girl! At your 3 months doctor appointment you weighted 11lbs!!! We are so proud of you to be that big!! The doctor says you are growing great and have improved amazingly since your last visit.  (at your 2month appointment you were 8.8) Mommy and Daddy love you so much!!!

2011 in Pictures

A day to celebrate Christ's Global Kingdom-Martin Luther King Day

The following was written by the Dean of Students at Covenant Theological Seminary Mike Higgins. It is a wonderful piece, easily read, and thoroughly digestible.

Martin Luther King Holiday: “A Day On not A Day Off”

The Lord Jesus Christ Explains Greatness, Service and Sacrifice to His Disciples

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45

The Apostle Paul Explains Selflessness and Mission to the Ephesian Elders

And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.  Acts 20:22-24

Martin Luther King’s:  “I've Been to The Mountaintop” Speech. Memphis, TN 3 Apr 1968

“Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop! And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will.” The next day he was assassinated.

To the Brothers and Sisters of the Covenant Seminary Family:

    This coming Monday, 16 January 2012, is the Martin Luther King Holiday. While I was a pastor in Atlanta, this holiday was often called “A Day On, not a Day Off.”  The purpose of this phrase was to encourage people to observe the holiday by taking some time to do things that are in accord with Dr. King’s example of sacrificial service in the Civil Rights Movement. I would suggest that you listen to a Dr. King speech and determine how you might answer its challenges. Maybe you could volunteer time at a charity or shelter; maybe there is someone in need in your neighborhood or family. It would be wonderful if you spent time in prayer concerning the poor or politically oppressed from a specific country.

    As stated in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, and Dr. Martin Luther King, we must be willing to share and possibly sacrifice our lives for the glory of God and the good of others. Our Lord Jesus sacrificed Himself to bring salvation to God’s elect; Paul sacrificed himself for the sake of preaching the Gospel to a hostile world; and Dr. King probably knew that the assassin’s bullet was not far off, but he pressed on for the sake of civil rights.

We cannot continue to pursue the gods of comfort, riches and pleasure and expect to live fulfilling and abundant lives. There has to be something bigger than us that we are willing to give ourselves to in order that God’s love and kindness might be expressed through our actions as His children. Let me ask you a question: “Does your life mean too much to you?” I am not asking you to commit suicide, but I am asking you to think about committing sacrifice. January 16^th is only one day of the 365 in this year. You have the opportunity to make a difference on every one. May the Lord bless you and your Family this coming King Holiday and in the coming Spring Semester.      Mike

Our own little family has a tradition on this day: to listen to the "I have a dream" speech made by Dr. King, then to pray for the gospel to go forth and racial hate to subside by the power of Christ and his Holy Spirit.  This is the first time our own little daughter will hear this speech and participate in this family tradition. As she grows it is our goal as her parents to raise her with the knowledge that Jesus has a love for his people, and his people are not of one color, ethnicity, or gender. The Kingdom of our risen King is much bigger than any racist sentiment could ever dream. Today is an opportunity to be reminded of Christ's global mission and take action with that in mind. Dr. King had a wonderful dream, but no amount of social action can change the heart of humanity. We naturally are sinners in need of a new heart. Praise God our King purchased you and me with a desire for peace and reconciliation in mind. Today is a wonderful day to take action with God's desire for peace and reconciliation in mind.

Our family will be taking some time to listen Dr. King, I hope yours does too.

Alethea's First Christmas

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! We had such a fun time celebrating Christmas as a family of three and starting our own traditions. These first 2 pictures were taken by my sister Kaleigh a few days before Christmas but I wanted to post them because I thought they were SOOOO cute!!

These next pictures are of our Christmas celebrations as a family of 3 and with extended family. It is so nice to  know there are so many people who love our little family.  

After Christmas Eve Service

Alethea's new toy from her mommy and daddy

She LOVES her new playmat

My Pretty Christmas Dress!

I love to stick my tongue out

My first Dolly! Thanks Aunt Pamela!

Christmas Day!

Thank you to everyone for making this a great Christmas!