Hello 2010!

Wow! A lot of time has passed since I last updated. Its hard to keep on top of things. The holiday season is over now and its a new year. Its hard to believe its 2010. Sophie has been growing and acting older and older. She seems much more like a kid and much less like a baby nowadays. In fact, in a little more than 4 months, she will be 2 years old! That's a crazy thought. I guess not a lot has changed in the past few months...just busy with the same old stuff. We still don't know where our life is headed. Ernie is still laid off and court issues still haven't been resolved with Gavin. The bright side with all of that though, is that the kids have bene getting to spend a ton of time with their daddy! We wish he was getting to work, but man, it sure has been nice to get to spend whole days watching Sophie and Ernie play together. Also with the uncertainty regarding our time with Gavin, it has been nice to get to use the time we have with him now to its fullest. We have been doing a lot of family activities. Last night, we had Ernie's parents over and had a movie night with the kids, watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Its easy to see how much older Sophie is now when even she can enjoy a whole movie with us. Before, she really couldn't care less and would just go about her business. Now she will pay attention and interact with everyone. That is a fun thing to watch for sure. Her new favorite word is "awesome" and that is a good way to describe her! So I guess not much of an update for 2010 so far. We are just trying to rely on God and trust that His plan for our lives is something wonderful...even though we can't see it at the moment. As long as we keep trusting Him and being faithful to Him, we will be okay. No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:9

Thanksgiving

We're getting nearer to the holiday season. Thanksgiving is next week! We have been very busy with life so that sort of snuck up on me. Right now we are dealing with Ernie being unemployed, and court issues with Gavin, and trying to decide what to do with the future. Its easy to feel stressed and worried and feel like there's not much to be thankful for. But there is.I am thankful that we have a God who loves us. No matter what we are going through, whether we think something is hopeless, or we don't have the answers, God loves us. He has continued, over and over, to provide for us when we saw no way. I am thankful for my husband. We have had some extra things to deal with in our marriage, with having to share Gavin with another parent, and sometimes it is easier to focus on the stressful things. But I am very thankful for him. He is a wonderful man and a wonderful dad. I am thankful for Sophie and Gavin. They are sweet kids and it is wonderful to get to be part of their lives and teach them new things and watch them grow.I am thankful for our extended family that cares for us.I am thankful we have a roof over our heads and food to eat.I am thankful that I can know that this too shall pass...whenever we think things are bad, we can at least know that things are also ever changing. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present you requests to God. ~Phil. 4:6

Having a one year old

It is a little weird to think about having a one year old. We have moved past having a baby, and I feel are officially in the 'toddler' stage, since she does now in fact toddle. I didn't cry about planning our little girl's 1st birthday party (like I know alot of people do), and really that is because it was not something I was dreading. I have been looking forward to Sophie reaching this next stage, probably since about the 3rd night of her constant screaming as a newborn. Having a baby is always wonderful but lets face it, some infants are more pleasant than others and I am quite pleased to have a happier and more independent child. I'm happy to be done with formula and look forward to one day in the hopefully not too distant future, being done with diapers. I love that Sophie seems to know what we are saying to her, and can interact with us and even tell us stuff! As I type this she is sitting nearby, "reading" a Washington Driver's Guide and being adorable and most importantly, quiet. :) She doesn't need me to hold her up in that sitting position she is in...she doesn't even need me to carry her to where she wants to go! In fact, if she was hungry, I could hand her some food and she could feed herself. How great! Not to say I want to just be a lazy mom and do the bare minimum. I just want to say that I greatly appreciate all the skills our sweet little girl has learned and I am happy about this one year milestone she reached this month. Here's to the next big steps she takes!