Costumes and Pumpkins

We found the perfect combination of busy and rest today, girls. Love those days! Sometimes I plan too much, frantically bouncing from one activity to another. Those days feel like I'm a great cruise director but a terrible mom of 1 and 3 year olds. You girls need rest and downtime to just sit and read books and so do I. You two are teaching me to stop and make a choice...stay busy to avoid missing your daddy or slow down to allow myself (and you) to miss him, then turn to our Lord for comfort and purpose in the day.

We started with coffee (me), milk (you), and breakfast then we snuggled under blankets on the couch to watch Dora. Next we got dressed in our costumes and headed for the gym. You two enjoyed playing in the kids' room while I worked out with some crazy folks in costume. After that we came home for snack and costume pictures on the front porch. Then we went in to warm up and read through nearly every book on your shelves...even your "daddy books". The ones he recorded and mailed to us. It's so nice to hear his voice read us a story. After lunch and nap I made some cookies while you two played with play-doh together. This was Olivia's first try and you did wonderful! Small mess and no eating it...success! While dinner finished up in the crock pot, we went outside to carve our pumpkin. Charlotte, you helped pick out the seeds for a minute but just wanted to swing...your favorite thing in the world right now. Olivia, you wanted to stir the bowl of seeds with the spoon and then your hand. I agree, it felt good to swirl those seeds around your hand! Gma and Papa sent us a really cool LED pumpkin topper that lights up different colors. We finished the day with a yummy and very messy (Olivia) dinner and then baths. The best was holding you both in my lap and singing to you in the rocker upstairs. A couple more books and prayers with Charlotte and you two are knocked out sleeping. See what I mean, perfect balance. Thank you!

Package from Gma

You girls have learned that when we get a package from your Gma, whatever we are doing stops and we open that sucker up! Today was no exception... We were outside washing the van on this unseasonably warm afternoon when the package arrived. I opened it up in the garage and you two hit it like a pack of wolves. In the 10 minutes it took me to finish washing the van, you had emptied the box and showed me all your new goodies. You were very obedient and loaded it all back into the box when I asked you to. We hauled it in the house to play with some our new goodies. While I got your new clothes in the wash, you two got started on your projects. Olivia worked a scarecrow, while Charlotte strung together a candy necklace...both for daddy. Then we mixed up some orange Jello to go in the pumpkin molds. Next we nestled into the couch to read your new books and paint nails. Charlotte, you're always down for painting nails but this was the first time Olivia showed any interest. You crawled into my lap after I painted Charlotte's and held out one hand and grabbed at the nail polish with the other. I hooked you up with a pedicure, girl. It was just what we needed this afternoon. You see, you two had taken an early nap leaving a long afternoon ahead. I was prepared with a second cup of coffee and plans to play outside most of the time. I even had dinner prepped and ready to put in the oven so I could just play with you two. Turned out we had much more to play with than I'd planned. Grandmas are the best!

Trip to Georgia

We had a nice girls' trip to visit Chrissy and Poppie at their house in Atlanta. It was time for a brief change of scenery and time with loves ones. We did lots of art and played on lots of playgrounds. Your Gma and Papa even drove up for an afternoon to see us.

Talking Your Way Into Our Hearts

Olivia, the past couple of weeks have marked huge verbal developments for you. I love that you try saying any word we throw your way. You are also moving from just repeating words, to forming a thought and saying a word. You're also asking for things using words instead of noises and it makes this mama so happy. You climb up on the couch or hold your arms up to me and say "hole", for hold me. You ask for lotion by holding out your little paw, saying "hand"! Instead of crying at your highchair when you are hungry, you are now saying and signing "eat, peese". Tonight you pointed to a candle in our house and said, "hot". The other morning, you woke up earlier than usual so I brought you into my bedroom to snuggle and play before Charlotte woke up. I was wearing a shirt with a helicopter on it and with no prompting you tried to say helicopter. I was surprised to realize that you knew what the picture was and then hear you attempt to say such a big word. I got it on camera for your daddy. He is very proud of you and is even more smitten by you.

Olivia at 15 months

Hey little monkey, you get more amazing every day. I am disappointed your daddy isn't here to witness the daily developments in your little world. However, I am thankful for our webcam phone calls where he can see you in action.

You are saying words like: help, dada, mama, Charlotte, Saryn, (your own versions), baby, puppy, eat, water, milk, more, play, sleep, go, bye bye, please, and uh-oh. You still sign some of those words and sign without saying thank you. You also say the sounds for dog, cat, horse, and monkey.

You're also learning songs. You mimic the sounds in twinkle twinkle little star, saying BA BA BA BA, BA BA BA. You and I were listening to the wheels on the bus go round and round on the ipad and you were doing the hand motions for the song!

You're also learning how things go around here. You found a sticker and tried to put it on your back. We do this to you every Sunday at church so that the nursery workers know your name. Today you woke up before Charlotte and we were playing together. A rare occurrence that I enjoy when I can focus all my attention on just one of you. I went to the bathroom and I heard you say "Shahh-ye" (Charlotte) and when I came out, you had opened her door and woke her up. I guess you know that you two are supposed to be up and playing together.

You're also interested in using a spoon and fork by yourself. I've had to pull the bibs out again for this learning experience and Saryn has enjoyed the extra kibbles in the floor.

All Things Autumn

We have welcomed and embraced autumn with open arms this year. After another HOT summer, the awe inspiring leaves and countless farms have beckoned us out of the house and into the cool country air of Tennessee. I have found that weekends are particularly long and serve as a grueling reminder that we are only a month (ok 5-6 weeks but who's counting) into this deployment. Good thing the farmers have grown pumpkins and apples, readied their animals for petting, and opened their land for visitors because you better believe we have and will continue to visit one every weekend until they close up shop!!

We have collected pumpkins, apples, and cheesy head-in-the-hole pictures. As well as petted (I use this word very conservatively, as you girls are very cautious, aka: scaredy cats) llamas, goats, geese, chickens, horses, and farm dogs.

But most significantly, we were brave. Charlotte, you found the courage to ride a horse by yourself for the first time. It was so impactful, you have talked about it nearly every day since and told your daddy about it every time you talk to him. Now you pretend your princess dolls ride horses around the house. We also stopped for an impromptu pickin' at a roadside antique store on our way home from the apple orchard. This is quite unlike me, as I run best on a schedule. I also doubt...I doubt that it will be open, that there will be anything worth seeing, or that you girls will be flexible with me. But I stopped and is was great. We found some great treasurers tucked away in Terry's "Red Ridge Antique" store and when he didn't have what I was looking for in his shop, he said "Foller me down to the house...I got the perfect mantle for ye"...And he did! We met his sweet wife and you girls played with their seven cats. Terry asked what else I was looking for and said he would keep his eye out for me. I thanked him for going out and spending the time to find these treasures for people like me to see and enjoy. We found a new friend in an unexpected place.

I imagine the people and experiences I have missed out on because of fear and doubt. Something I still struggle with. I pray these crippling feelings away and that instead I am filled with hope, expectancy, delight, imagination, and drive. I know that I am your model and that I must be what I want to see in you. Girls, you make me better. Thank you for coming along and enjoying the simple things this fall with me.

Big Girl Stuff

Livi, girl you are growing into such a fun little girl. I can't truthfully say baby anymore when you're doing all these big girl things. You bring so much joy and excitement to our family.

With 4 almost 5 teeth now Charlotte and I thought we would teach you how to brush your teeth. At the mention of the task, you run to your bathroom, move the stool to the sink, and stand up reaching for your Eeyore toothbrush. How are you old enough to do such things?! You are very compliant and allow me to brush first knowing you will get your turn to go to town on your own when I am done.

You have also found a love for reading books. Well, choosing a book from the shelf and back up until you find a lap. I am thrilled that you already love to be read to sweet little girl.

We are also teaching you animal names and sounds. You work on it at school too! Your favorite is puppy dog and then kitty cat. Your little face makes the cutest sounds.