Music to His ears

This evening during dinner we were listening to worship music and Sydaleigh started singing, "hallelujah, hallelujah" over and over again along with the song. Sydaleigh typically sings along to worship music because we listen to them almost daily in our house, but tonight it was just so endearing to hear her sing. I know she doesn't know what she is singing yet, but you just gotta know that God was smiling down at her sweet innocense, listening to the praise for Him coming out of her mouth. It was beautiful.

Moments like this

Today we had no plans. So I asked Sydaleigh where she would like to go and she emphatically said the park, meaning the sprinkler park, but since it was too early and too chilly, we compromised on a regular park, just down the street from our house a bit.
We arrive and there are a number of little kids already playing as their 'caregivers' sat chatting on a nearby bench. None looked like parents, as most were older so I'm assuming Grandparents, or babysitters, who knows, just not parents.
We head down the hill and as soon as I set Marvelly's car seat down a little blond girl comes running up to me. And just stands there.
Sydaleigh starts playing and while I watch her this little girl is watching me.
After a minute she she sits down by me and just starts talking, about anything and everything.
Had absolutely no desire to play anymore, just wanted to sit by me and talk.
Whenever I would move to keep my eyes on Sydaleigh, the little girl was right on my heals.
Over the course of the hour that we were there I found out many things about her, as she was very chatty, and clearly thought I was a person suitable to talk to.
But what struck me was the fact that this little girl kept telling me over and over again that her Mommy and Daddy are both at work, and they don't come home until after dinner. And she wished that her Mommy and Daddy would come to the park with her one day.
(there goes my heart)
It made me sad to hear that from a little girl I don't even know.
But in addition to that, whoever brought her to the park, as there were a few ladies and I don't know which one she came with, never looked for her, called for her, or checked on her one time.
How sad.
In one hour, no one.
It's moments like this that make me appreciate my job as a mother so much.
Appreciate the fact that I am blessed in my ability to stay home, all day, and play and love on my girls.
Today brought a very real, vivid insight into a child's heart that shows just how much they yearn for the company and companionship of their parents.
Not only do our children need us, they want us.
Parenting is a responsibility I take very seriously, every day, no exceptions.
It is my heart's desire to wake up every day and leave a legacy of love and commitment with my girls.
I never want to let my children slip through these fingers to wake up one day and find that they are grown, and gone, and I missed it all.
My heart goes out to the children that happens to.

" Soft is the heart of a child, do not harden it"
(-author unknown)

this weekend...

We did a little bit of this...

picnic with Cinderella lunch box and

and a little bit of that...

flying a kite





a little more of this...


pictures of a pretty baby


and a little bit of that...

(putting Syd the kid to work washing the car)





followed by a little birthday party with a lot of little girls


and three cool dads.
There was also a trip to the sprinkler park, a trip to Target which resulted in the purchase of a clearanced backyard canopy swing, relaxing, playing outside, meeting new neighbors, and that was all in a weekend's work!

Happy six months!

Marvelly has made it half way to her milestone of a year
Here are the things she's up to...
She is rolling over-though still not from her back to belly.
She can sit up almost 100% independently.
Scoots on her belly when she is ultra frustrated and wanting to be picked up
( I don't even think she knows she's scooting)
Loves loves loves to smile!
Is really into chewing her thumb right now.
Is ultra content (90% of the time) chilling in her swing or lounging somewhere near the action.
Can say "HI" (I am not being a delusional mom, I'm sure that's what she's saying!)
Loves loves loves to play with her REALLY long tongue (it really is crazy long)
Is obsessed with watching the TV and will contort her body however possible
to be able to see it.
Still doesn't know she has hair on the top of her head.
Loves loves loves chasing Sydaleigh around the house (with mommy's help of course) and laughs whenever we do.
Likes looking at picture books of other babies and reading with Syd on her bed.
Already has two, count that two, boyfriends, Cole and Porter. (they love her)
Gets the biggest kick out of looking at herself in the mirror.
Faithfully sleeps 13 straight hours every night.
Loves to cuddle and fall asleep on Mommy the same way every night.
Has already had one cold.
You can always count on her to have eye boogers.
She is one baby who is happy to be alive, knows her family, loves to smile at strangers, has very strong steady legs, is scared of loud noises, and still has her 'baby smell'.

(Isaak took this picture before church while I was upstairs

getting ready-he posed her and everything, all by himself!-go Isaak!!!)

You want a what?

This morning Sydaleigh came into our bedroom, climbed atop the bed, laid down to snuggle, looked at Isaak and said, "Daddy, I want a pony."
over and over and over again.
It was so cute we were busting up laughing because we had no clue where that even came from.
A pony?!
I think it's pretty much a given that every little girl is going to ask for one of those, but I thought we at least had a few more years.

Another new phase

We have entered into another new phase of the 'twos'.
It consists of Sydaleigh asking over...
and over...
and over...
and over again for the same thing.
Doesn't matter what it is, it could be completely random,
but whatever it is she sets her mind on at that moment,
she asks for it until you want to cry from exhaustion of having to listen to her.
Morph this new phase with the fact that she is already a very strong willed child and it makes for some very comical and frustrating days.
I hear this phase lasts a while.
Praying for patience has a whole new meaning these days.

Must be part of the man's manual

It's a good thing men know what to do with this stuff cause I haven't a freakin clue. I think it's just one of those crazy 'man things' that they are born with the ability to make sense out of all of this...



To me it's a big ugly, juggly complicated pile of mess, to Isaak it makes complete sense.
Mind boggling.

About that time

Marvelly finally got her first taste of non milk food yesterday, good ole rice cereal.

She liked it-though she hasn't pooped since, but I'm sure that will come later.

Big sister helping

Sydaleigh braving the rice cereal and taking a taste,

because everything Marvelly does, Sydaleigh has to do too.

Uh-oh! What we got here??

My girls got themselves some boyfriends!!

Marvi and Cole, Sydaleigh and Landen

(Isaak has a mini heart attack even when
I joke-he dreads the day.)

Sydaleigh