Great is Thy Faithfulness: January 2019

1/9/19

Eli is 7

Photos from the lovely Sara McMillian Photography

The boy who made me a mom is now 7. I can hardly wrap my mind around this fact. He is such a joy to have as a son. When I took treats in to his class at school I could tell that he was tearing up while they were singing to him. A bit later I asked if he was embarrassed because everyone was singing to him and he said "a little, but I'm also sad because you'll be going home soon". He's a home body at his core and he loves being at home with his family. I will take that as long as he lets me! A couple days later after the school event, it was his actual birthday. I had been sick the day before and he was asking me if I thought dad would take he and Micah bowling for his birthday. I said "but won't you miss me?" to which he replied "mom, I am away from you almost every day for 7 hours, I think I'll be okay". He doesn't struggle with truthfulness often, sometimes he needs a little guidance on when to administer truth and when to keep his mouth quiet. :) I guess we all need a little help with that.

During family photos, he couldn't contain himself with a climbing opportunity.

Such a wonderful big brother.

Eli has become an avid reader this year. I always thought I would read series or books prior to my kids to make sure the content was ok for their maturity level. Quite frankly, I can't keep up! Although he would still choose screen time over reading, when he knows screen time isn't an option he is often curled up on the couch reading. He still likes to build LEGOs and this has become an activity he and Micah enjoy doing together. He also enjoys doing math facts in his head. It's a fun game we play while in the car. He really does blow me away with the way his brain is wired. As the weather has gotten colder and the evenings darker, we have been playing more games and his current favorite is Settlers of Catan but he usually has to do quite a bit of begging for mom to play (it requires 3 players and dad also loves the game). He still loves puzzles and mom has come around to putting them together with him. :)

Another climb opportunity. :)

Every time I see this one it makes me giggle. Can't you just hear the photographer saying "tilt your head, a little more, a little more". :)

We love how Eli has been growing and listening to the Holy Spirit. He has started displaying a deeper heart understanding of who Jesus is in his life. We pray this continues to grow and transform him into the Eli that God is making him into. We love watching this transformation and pray we might get to see it continue to grow and deepen. We love our boy and the way God is growing him.

Silly

Eli at birth, 1 & 1stats, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Stats
Height: 49.25" (50th percentile)
Weight: 51 lb (50th percentile)

Playing with Uncle Eric

Haddie is 3

All photos from the lovely Sara McMillian Photography

I can not believe this baby girl is 3 years old! I feel like I got to enjoy the baby stage with her for soooo loooong, because she was dependent and shy for soooo loooong, that toddler hood seems to be zooming by. Haddie is such a fun and funny girl. She loves her baby, looking at books, watching Pinkalicious or Tom & Jerry, and dancing whenever she hears music (either in her head or literal music). She loves to be in charge and often tries to boss her brothers and sister into doing what she wants. When she has to sit on the step for discipline, she lets out a disapproving "hmmmph", crosses her arms (or puts them on her hips) and stomps over to her spot. It's naughty, but it's also terribly cute (don't you dare tell her). She also has the same response when she doesn't get her way. She makes us all laugh at least once a day with her wit and charm.

Common phrases: At least once a day, Haddie tells Brent and I unsolicited "mommy/daddy, I love you". Also, "You're the best mommy in the whole wide world". "Lana is my best friend ever". "That's my daddy!"

Haddie loves all things girly- pink, purple, unicorns, rainbows, butterflies, dancing, glitter, and babies. After Haddie has fallen asleep at night, we usually find her baby, lovie, two blankets, and a pile of books in her bed. She loves looking through them as she is falling asleep- she makes up the story line and reads it to her baby or Lana. Lana and Haddie share a room and they both seem to enjoy waking up to each other. When Lana cries or fusses, Haddie says "it's okay, Lana".

Haddie still doesn't like animals- she'll tell you she DOES like butterflies though. She calls her brothers "the boyses" or "the brothers". The tv remote is the "meh-rote". When we go to ball games she loves to watch the cheerleaders or "the girlses"- I think before long I'll try to locate a Crusaders uniform. She likes to do the cheer "Crusaders, Crusaders, B-H-S!" She still doesn't care for when her brothers are wrestling dad in the living room. She likes to go lay on "dada" to protect him. She doesn't know she's little and thinks she can do anything her big brothers do and I think that's pretty great (most of the time).