Play "Date" video version

Play "Date"

Yesterday, Willa's boyfriend came over to play! I CAN NOT put into words how excited Willa was to have another baby over in HER playroom! I have a video I will post next so you can see them interact. Here are a few pictures of these two in action:

Willa is trying to tell Saber about all of her cool toys.

I was trying to get them to both look at the camera so i said Saber,

and he looked so I snapped the picture...

Then I said Willa an this was the face she gave me...so funny!

Bean having so much fun!

Saber has no idea what is going one... he's just thinking that Willa is a little too excited.

Maddy Moo's 5th Birthday!

On Monday we were picked up in front of our house in a LIMO! My parents got a limo for

Maddox's 5th birthday because his dream was to ride in one. Willa was very excited and enjoyed every minute of it! The limo door opened and there was the family... my parents, my sister and Darren (her husband) and my niece Ruby and nephew Maddox. Maddox of course donned a birthday hat and was grinning from ear to ear!
We then headed to BJ's for some yummy dinner where uncle T (my brother) met us there. Here is a the whole gang:

Maddox LOVED all his gifts. We gave him a Roly Poly Playground my parents gave him baseball cards and an Aunt farm.

After this we got back in the limo andheaded over to Marble Slab for some yummy ice cream. Ruby asked for "princess ice ream" and even though there is no such thing the guys at the counter created one for her from strawberry ice cream and sprinkles!!

It was a great time had by all and I am BEYOND happy that my sister and her family moved here from Cali this year!

A letter to Willa

Happy 6 months my sweet Willa. You are growing up so fast. You are way more than I had ever expected. Me and your daddy's lives have changed so much in the last 6 months but for the better! Our little bean, your doing so many things these days. My favorite is that last week your started saying "Ma Ma" not sure if you know yet that I'm mama, but you say it all the time!! "Tummy time" is no longer spent on your tummy. You are rolling everywhere and you are even starting to bring your knees up under you b/c you want to crawl so badly. If you see your toy across the room you scream until you figure out how to get to it. Mostly your efforts scoot you backward though. I feel so bad for you but I try not to intervene because I want you to learn on your own. You can now sit up by yourself to play with your toys (although you do still tip over after a while). Your favorite toys are the exersaucer, your Janet giraffe, and baby keys. I did just buy you some new toys for your 1/2 birthday that are also growing on you. Your best time of day is the mornings when you smile and talk to me and daddy. I am not sure who you get being a morning person from because both daddy and I are NOT so chipper in the mornings. You take 3 short naps a day. The naps last anywhere from 20 mins to an hour...but NO LONGER than that. You have had some sleep issues at night but I hope to clear these up when I stop working in a few weeks. You just like to eat all night long. Maybe when you start solids you will change this habit. You are quite the social butterfly. You pretty much love everyone and LOVE when they give you attention. You are still wearing some 0-3 month clothes but are mostly wearing 3-6 months. Don't think you will be in 6-9 for a while. You are in a size 2 diaper. You can FINALLY fit into size 1 shoes! Some of them are still a little big but we make it work. I think you have your mommy's short toes...I am sorry! You are kind of a little chunk these days too (at least for you). We went to your 6 month well visit and you are 24 inches long - 5th%, 13.5 lbs - 8th%, and your head is 16.5 inches around - 35th%!! Your still our little peanut! Your new favorite activity is the pool! You swim with me and daddy then pass out on the way back home. Splashing the water is the most entertaining thing for you! It is just so cute. My heart is so warmed when you give me little love pats and a cherish the time when you are still and cuddly. Gone are the days of you sleeping in my arms. You are just so active. I am most excited because this Sunday is your baby dedication where your daddy and I get to stand in front of the church and publicly make a commitment that we will raise you in accordance to God's word and teach you that He sent His son to die for your sins (you are very much a little sinner and I can already tell you need a savior!). I also want to teach you how to serve God and others because you love Him! Sweet child... it will be hard to understand why mommy and daddy don't give you everything you want. I believe that the things that are valuable are not here on earth but are in heaven. My prayer is that you gain the kingdom not the earth and that you will love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.

We love you Willa!

- Mommy and Daddy

Willa's first boyfriend

Saber and Willa sitting in a tree...and you know how the rest goes.

I think Willa has a little boyfriend! They are so cute. She stairs at him he stairs at her. Last night they even showed up for church in coordinating outfits! Saber is in our home group (it is actually at his house) and his mommy Jayme is such a sweet friend! The babies were sitting next to each other last night and Kevin looked over to see them secretly holding hands... he asked Saber what his intension's were with his daughter, but he still can't talk so I guess that conversation has been left for another day. We did get some pictures of the two "LoveBirds"!! Here they are! Willa was really tired so she isn't her usual smiling self.

Saber, Jayme, Liz and Willa

Where do we look?

Willa still doesn't get it, bit Saber looks cute!

Love this one...

Saber is up to something here:

Yup, he did it...he messed with her bow! You don't mess with a girls bow!

It's all over now. They are adorable!

BLESSED

Being a mom has been quite the challenge for me. I knew I would be a great mom because I had so much "experience" with babies and kids. Well, that is NOT what being a MOM is. Being a MOM is a whole bag off stresses, decisions, worries, backaches, sleeplessness, and never having any more "me" time. I have had the hardest week. I have struggled ALL week with these things. My life is not my own. I know that is what being a mom is but all these feelings and emotions that go along with that knowledge is what has been so hard. Last night we had a Good Friday worship service at church. Jeff and Jordan Johnson led us in precious worship and Afshin Ziafat our, former Islam now Christian, Pastor spoke about why Christ who led a sinless life died for our sins. I hear the Gospel all the time, but sometimes it just hits you... Last night it hit me pretty hard. This is NOT my home and we are here on earth only a short amount of time. All these things I "stress" about are ridiculous! I am so blessed to live the life I do and my ONLY job as a mom is to raise Willa to know and follow the Lord. It doesn't matter how well she sleeps or how much she cries or if she is "sensitive". We are hear to bring God glory and to tell others about what His son Jesus did for us so that our sin is made clean and that we can live eternally with Him. All of this would be nothing without the most important piece of information! Jesus defeated the grave and rose from the dead! Amazing! I follow my God because he is ALIVE! HE ROSE! I am blessed!

Here is one of the songs we did last night... Love this old Hymn and Jeff and Jordan do a great version! Here is Jeff singing "Old Rugged Cross" :

First word...

Tonight after Willa's bath I had her on the changing table drying her off to put on her pj's (Kevin usually does this but he is gone tonight at the Ranger game) and she was"talking a lot". I started saying ma ma to her and I even leaned over to put my mouth up to her's to help her move her lips to make the mmmm sound. I kept saying "ma ma" over and over. I stepped away from her and she grind really big and clear as day she said..." DA DA!" . Not what I was trying for but she said her first word so I was pretty excited! I of course called Kevin and he was so bummed he wasn't there for it. Funny thing is she has been "talking" so much lately and I told Kevin just yesterday that I bet she says a word soon and she did! Can't believe she is becoming such a big girl so fast! WOW! Who knows if she will say it again, but she did say it!