Five Months

Last week, this beauty turned five months old. How could that be? I swear, I was just waddling around this apartment with an over-ripe watermelon sized belly, with a snack and a quart of lemon water in my hands at all times. And now, the person who lived inside me lays next to me in bed, and my belly is small again (I still always have a snack and lemon water with me).

Here are some pictures of our 5th month with this crazy girl.

To My Addi,

This month, you have completely blown me away with your development and personality.
You have gotten so good at reaching for what you want,
and you play by yourself for a whole 30 minutes, sometimes!

You smile at me while you're waking up, and hold my hand as you fall asleep.

You are becoming more brave with your voice, and you make sure that you are heard. 

You have started sweating in your sleep, and you give the absolute sweetest, slobbery-est kisses.

Still no teeth have poked through, but you sure are working on them. 

You are always making your Daddy laugh with your
funny faces and goofy little movements and squeals.

As of this past Tuesday, you are sitting up all on your own. We are amazed and so proud of you!

It's getting a little easier to make you laugh, but it's still very hit-or-miss. 

You love when I sing to you, and when Daddy sings or plays his guitar. 

Living life with you has been a complete joy for us, little girl. We love watching you learn, and we have big prayers and dreams for your life.
We pray that, one day, you will choose to love Jesus and follow Him.
Nothing is more important,
and nothing would make us happier than to see you loving Him.

You are awesome.

I love you, my Birdie.

Happy Five Months.

A Day In Pictures

8:00 breakfast with my Beloved

9:00 a snugly girl who loves soft blankets

10:00 washing diapers... oh so glamorous

11:00 practicing the ancient art of nap-fighting

12:00 Mama wins the fight every day

1:00 nap time research

2:00 explore Mama's face

3:00 play, yell, drool. Repeat.

4:00 Daddy's home!

5:00 dinner

6:00 family walk

7:00 sleepy girl

8:00

Four Months

To my sweet Addi,

One year ago, exactly today, your Daddy and I sat on the bathroom floor together...
Laughing, crying, praising God, for we had just found out about you.

You, the girl of my dreams.

You, the one who has stolen our hearts.

...you.

...and today, you turned four months old.

We don't deserve you, sweet, beautiful, funny girl. You are our biggest and best blessing, and I'm still amazed that God had trusted us to love and raise you. He is immeasurably good to us.

Your Daddy falls more in love with you every single day.
And my love for him grows even more each time I see him look at you.

There is no higher honor, nothing more important in my heart,
than being a wife and Mama to you two.

This month, you have rolled over, started reaching and grabbing, started teething, and laughed for the first time. You are a busy girl, always wanting to stand or be bounced. You wake up twice a night to eat, and your beauty stops people at the grocery store right in their tracks. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see that you love the outdoors. You went on your first hike with Pappy, yesterday, which has always been one of my favorite things to do. I hope that you bond with him and God over these adventures just like I have.

We are all so crazy about you... all of your grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins... You are loved.

"For You created my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful,

I know that full well."

Psalm 139:13-14

I love you, Birdie. Happy four months!

Mama

Storms

"The wise man built his house upon the rock, and the rain came tumbling down...

The rain came down as the floods came up, and the wise mans house stood firm.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand, and the rain came tumbling down.

...The rain came down as the floods came up, and the foolish man's house sank down.

So build your house on The Lord, Jesus Christ. The blessings come down as the prayers go up..."

We are in the midst of a mighty storm in our life. This old childrens song has been dancing itself through my head for the past few days.

Let us continuously be building and leaning on our Rock, for He is the only One who keeps us from drowning.

Here's a story for ya!

Let's go back about two months...

It was my birthday, my 22nd of birthdays to be exact. On this day, omelets were eaten and kisses were given. Little baby toes were tickled, and we were off! Silly appointments that last

4 agonizing hours, phone calls from family, an anxiety attack (that one moment when I

realized that the next day would be Matthias' first day back to work, and my very first day home alone, being the stay at home mom all by myself, and I became very scared. For good reason, no?) oh, and a big ole' plate of food at Olive Garden.

My first birthday as a Mama.

But right smack dab in the middle of all that Birthday nonsense, was the sweet old man in

the leather cap. A leather cap just like my own sweet Grandpa wears.

Come, come. Sit. Let me tell you the story.

I was sitting in my seat at Chic-Fil-A, minding my own beeswax and devouring my fruity chicken salad and brownie sundae, when I saw him. About ten feet away, he was standing in line, and he looked over at us. He stared at my little Addi, sleeping sweetly in her car seat, and the

biggest grin spread across his tired, weathered face.

"Now, how old is that sweet lil' baby?" He asked, in the kindest of Southern accents.

"'Bout 9 days." My husband answered.

Then the man smiled even brighter and he said, "Oh, you're in for some good years."

I felt the twinge in my chest, and the tears were instant. I tried to contain myself while staring quickly from my husband's eyes, down to my salad, then back up and down again.

I have no idea why, but with that one simple statement from that one simple stranger, my whole world became focused and my heart grew wings.

Maybe it was the postpartum hormones, maybe it was my undying love for all old men everywhere, maybe it was the fact that he was so very sweet and old, or maybe it was the realization that this little girl is ours and we get to watch her grow big... Maybe it was some of everything. I wanted to run over to him, thank him for his words (and for being the cutest old man I ever did see!) and kiss him right on his wrinkly forehead.

We said thank you, wished him a good day, and continued our meals. But inside, I was singing.

My heart was crying and singing and laughing all at once.

At nine days old, I felt the overwhelming sense of pride in my daughter, for the very first time.

This one's for you, sweet old man with the leather cap at Chic-Fil-A.

God bless you and your big, full heart! You made my day.

...We're in for some good years...

Two Months

Here's a big huge picture dump of some favorites from

our second month with Miss Addison.

 This little girl eats every 2-3 hours during the day, and 5-6 hours at night. She is a morning girl, just like her Mama, smiling and 'talking' before her Daddy and I can even peel our poor eyes open.

 When she's eating or falling asleep, she grabs and grabs... opens and closes her sweet

hands until they finally find my shirt, my hair or her fuzzy blanket, or bunny.

I love this about her, and I hope she does it forever.

 She is silly and curious, stubborn and strong, soft and affectionate.

 I have a pretty good feeling that this little chunk is going to be absolutely hilarious.

Just like so many of her family members, and I cannot wait.

She already makes me laugh every single day.

She does not like Tummy Time, which makes it hard for me to enforce it as much as she needs it.

However, she sure loves cuddling and sleeping on her tummy...  

 Her giggles have been silent so far, but just yesterday morning, she let out a short, sweet little laugh while hanging out with her Daddy. Just another 'first' that makes all of this seem

so real but so dream-like at the same time.

We celebrated my very first Mother's Day with some friends who we are blessed to call family.

Addi,

I cannot believe another month has flown by with you here in our arms.

We have been excited about you for so many years, and now suddenly you

are here, sweeping us off our feet.

God is so very faithful and so very good to us. Remember that, sweet girl, no matter what.

You are your Daddy and my greatest, most precious and valuable blessing.

Thank you for letting us love you.

You are fearfully, wonderfully and beautifully made.

 Happy two months, my big, beautiful, happy girl.