1-13-13

Mobile devices make everything so easy, so why don't I post more often??! Life gets crazy with two precious little ones, but that's no excuse not to record these fleeting memories!

Anna Claire is talking up a storm!! I couldn't write all her words down if I wanted to. She knows her colors now (although she will call things wrong sometimes--whether she's confused or just playing I can't tell). She's so affectionate---will rub your back and kiss you unexpectedly. We are having to discipline her more often as she is getting older, but she seems to have a moldable spirit, and I'm grateful for that. I know that her heart is where the battle is fought and even this young, I do not want to make her a little hypocrite--behaving well out of obligation not because its right. Reading Shepherding Your Child's Heart by Tripp and it's been really good so far for food for thought. I remember though, from reading The Praying Life, that only God can change the heart and so I must be continually seeking the Lord on my children's behalf--that He would change and mold them--even now that they would be drawn to Him and desirous to know and please Him as they grow. And the same for Andy and I!! Oh, the challenge I feel when I think of my girls growing up to be like me! I have so very far to go!!!!

Juliana is a blessing. Beautiful and sweet tempered. Getting easier to manage by the day. It's seems like a new baby is a killer for the first three months then you kind of settle into a routine and they mature and calm also.....I still wish she could find her thumb though. :-) she finds her hands all the time but she hasn't nailed down her thumb yet. She may never. I'm waiting for her to turn over any day now. She's strong and wants to---just needs to get motivated! Anna Claire was 4 months and 4 days when she did it....so we will see how Juliana does. :-).

I think Juliana's hair may be more reddish than Anna Claire's though---I'm so curious to see how she is going to change as she grows. Right now she looks a LOT like Andy, but so did Anna Claire when she was a small baby. But, I think Juliana favors him even more than Anna Claire did.

But oh, her smiles just light up the room!!

We had a wonderful visit in Jacksonville with family during Christmas. Anna Claire got to play with Bear, my parents dog that she loved! She had a great swing and a cube to climb on. Not to mention that she had to ride the golf cart with my dad every single chance she got!! I was amazed to see how my dad softened with Anna Claire and even cooed at Juliana. He's really tender with them, and it's sweet to watch.

Mom may end up being Nani--Anna Claire took to calling her that while we were there.

Andy is doing great--he is sad at the prospect of his friend Matt moving to Tennessee next month, but maybe he can make some new friends soon. He is precious to me as well and I'm so blessed to have a husband like him. Wish that I could rekindle some romance and dating, things feel kind of platonic these days but that's probably just the phase of life we are in...::

Better get to bed....sleep is a valuable commodity currently!!