4 Months with Kristen & Adelyn

All About Adelyn:

• she LOVES to laugh! She has the cutest laugh and will laugh at the most random things. Someone can say "HI Adelyn" and she will laugh. This morning, she laughed the whole time the Dr was checking her lungs with the stethoscope - it was funny to her! and so sweet to hear!
• she is a Daddy's girl! most definitely! She will watch him wherever he goes!
• she now loves bath time! (she was squeamish around water, but not anymore - just lots of splish-splashes now! Praise God!)
• she LOVES her sister! She will make eye contact, smile and talk to Kristen. She just watches her - and beams with joy when Kristen smiles and talks back. She loves to hold Kristen's hand (or hair, arm, or any part that she can grab on to!).
• she is a grabber - she will grab and hold on to anything! She mainly holds on to her hair while she eats, later revealing the hair she has pulled out and collected in her sweaty palm.
• she can grab on to toys with both hands, shake rattles and reach for objects.
• her head is getting stronger! she is sitting up in her Bumbo chair and holding her head steady. and can raise her head up while lying on her tummy.
• she is the last to go to sleep and the first to wake up! (just like her Daddy)
• at her check-up, she weighed 13lbs, 5oz and 23 inches long! a perfectly healthy and growing girl!

All About Kristen:

• she is a chatterbox! talking all the time! Most times while she eats, she will periodically stop to tell me something that's on her mind. I like to believe that she will be the one I will go eat breakfast with and talk about life. my little social eater! :)
• we have given her the nickname "Ree" (short for Marie), after a story my grandmother shared with us about how her Dad called her that as a child and for which I was given my middle name and now Kristen's middle name
• she has the cutest facial expressions and mannerisms!
• and the cutest laugh too! She will just give a look of just pure joy.
• her head is getting stronger! She is sitting up in her Bumbo chair and holding her head steady. and can raise her head up while lying on her tummy.
• she can grab on to toys with both hands, shake rattles and reach for objects.
• she is a wiggle worm in her crib! She will wake up in the morning in the funniest positions.
• at her check-up, she weighed 12lbs, 11oz and 22 1/2 inches long! a perfectly healthy and growing girl!

Adelyn & Kristen

They love their hands in their mouths!

**Working on the blog was completed in between several nap times. I just put the girls down for their afternoon nap and happened to catch a special sister moment - they do this often but I have not had my camera close by. They were holding hands, but by the time I got my camera from the other room, they let go. But you can see that they are still intently looking at each other! ohh sweet sisters!!

A Lesson to Learn

This afternoon, I gave Adelyn a stuffed dragonfly toy to play with. This toy is fun - it has bright colors, a mirror, it squeaks, it rattles.... no wonder why both girls like it. Adelyn was content and happily playing with her toy. Kristen, however, was just watching that toy and its every move. I gave Kristen a toy to play with, too. I even tried to reintroduce this toy to her along with a few other toys that normally grab her attention. but no. Kristen wanted that dragonfly.

As Adelyn continued to play with it, Kristen started to realize the dragonfly toy was coming closer to her. Kristen's hand reached out and grabbed it. Both girls had their hands on this toy. The look in Kristen's eyes was like she was saying "I really want to play with the dragonfly."

The more Kristen tugged on it, the further it got from Adelyn. Sweet Adelyn. I think in her mind she would have shared with Kristen. but I don't think that's what Kristen wanted. She wanted it all to herself.

After some tugging back and forth, the toy eventually ended up in Kristen's possession. Actually, the ring of the toy was up around Kristen's arm - as though she was saying "It's mine. You cant take it from me now." Tired and worn out, they both fell asleep on the play mat.

Adelyn, 0 : Kristen, 1

Lord, help our girls learn how to share and love one another. Amen.

Silly Daddy

Earlier today, I held Adelyn up next to my face and asked James in all seriousness "does she look like me?"

He replies "No.... she doesn't have your teeth."


There goes Daddy, making us laugh.
Nonetheless, we both agree Adelyn is beautiful!
(AND Kristen, too!)

Well-Loved and Discipled

Mama Connie recently came to visit us! We love it when she comes - our family is well-loved by her. The girls got lots of hugs and kisses. They smiled, told her happy stories, and showed her how they can stand and sit up like big girls. James and I even got a date day in Austin to shop and eat dinner. It is always refreshing to have her here.
Mama Connie is a prayer warrior! She has found it is her joy to pray. She has such a sweet and sensitive spirit - always going to our God in prayer on behalf of others. She continually bathes our family in prayer. The prayer of a righteous woman is powerful and effective. (James 5:16) Our family has seen the fruit of Mama Connie's prayers.

Thank you, Mom, for living a life in Christ and for teaching me how to pray for my family.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Mama Connie's influence is reaching a new generation now. Just two days after she left, James grabbed my attention toward the girls - "Look here. Our girls are praying." Sure enough, both girls were praying at the same exact moment. Kristen, who was lying on the floor, had her hands folded together in prayer. and Adelyn, who was lying in James' lap, had her hands folded together as well.

And all your [spiritual] children shall be disciples [taught by the Lord and obedient to His will], and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children.

Isaiah 54:13.

Amen.

On the Road Again...

...this time, to visit James' family!

On Saturday, we took the girls to their great-grandfather's house. We had a great visit with aunts, uncles and cousins, too! For some, it was the first time for the girls to meet them - so what a special day it was!

4 generations: James, Kristen, Great-Grandpa, Adelyn and Grandma Peggy

Jeff and Adelyn

Great-Grandpa and Adelyn

Carl, Ciara and Adelyn

Charlotte, Darrell and Kristen

Kerri, Kaley, Adelyn and Kristen

Adelyn Laughs Too

Adelyn laughed today! I was kissing her feet -- who would have thought that was funny!

the 4th of July

A Secret Language

Adelyn and Kristen had their first conversation on Monday. Eye contact. Smiles. and cooing that was beyond comprehension for James and me. It went on and on and on. and even after Adelyn was distracted and was done talking, Kristen continued to talk to her sister... on and on and on.



They have always been aware of the other sister. Knocking her in the face. Poking her in the eye. Grabbing her hand, or her pacifier, or whatever is in arm's reach. But this time it was special. It was a bond that is indescribable. the awe of a best friend relationship at 3 months of age. the fruit of a mother's prayer for her daughters to love and serve one another continually. special.