Happy 11 months, Lydia!

Here we are with just a few weeks to go to Lydia's first birthday. She is becoming opinionated and funny and brave. She holds her own among the kids and holds a special place in all of our hearts!

Diapers: size 5 and cloth
Clothing: 18 and 24 month, 2T (we aren't trying shoes until walking or winter!)

Likes: pulling up (and sometimes letting go for a second!), balls, asking for something different, EATING, bath time (especially having her hair washed), putting things in her mouth, the stroller

Dislikes: mom putting her down/walking away, not getting to eat anything/everything (like chalk), being put in the car seat

Schedule:
7:00am Awake for the day!   Nurse and eat
8:30/9:00-11am   Nap
11am   Nurse and eat
12:30-3pm   Nap
3pm   Nurse and eat
7pm   Nurse and down for bed

Sleep: Lydia is still getting up during the night, but usually goes right back to sleep with a paci. This gives us hope! Once we are sure she isn't hungry anymore we'll be able to make a plan for sleeping through the night again. We stopped giving her the dream feed when all other factors are equal.

Physically: She has moved from cruising the furniture to sometimes letting go and giggling when she lands on her bum. I hope she always approaches life's challenges with such boldness! I don't foresee her walking in the next month, but she is enjoying the process of learning. This month she learned to go down the steps into the living room, praise the Lord!

Food: Lydia is a carb loving girl in the tradition of her big sister. Give her cheerios, crackers, toast, bagel, etc and she is busy and satisfied. She continues to be a very good eater who loves finger food and has yet to refuse being spoon fed (sometimes the big kids will feed her!). She regularly enjoys green peas, banana, cheerios, berries, and peach along with whatever we are having for dinner.

Communication: Still not saying much, but she may be saying mama. We shall see if she means it :) She has a favorite sign that isn't "all finished" or "more, please." She holds her hands up or out and opens and closes her fingers. This usually means "different" and can be inserted into any number of situations, like wanting out of the stroller, more to eat, or something other than what we gave her to eat. Her "different" hands are how she says it all!

Random, but fun:
*We pulled out the umbrella stroller and Lydia was thrilled with her new ride.
*She gets really excited to see a family member after we've been apart (wether it is mom and dad coming in after a night out or Sarah or Josiah greeting her after a nap).
*Lydia is rocking a sweet baby mullet with little curls at her neck.
*She has been getting a bit of diaper rash, leading us to believe that she may be a little allergic to something. We're going to keep an eye on this and try to figure it out!

Next appointment: Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 9:30am

"None for me!" she exclaims.

A ride off the beach in the beach cart.

Usually at the playground she doesn't get to get out of the stroller. But when we go with friends there are enough extra hands for everyone to get out and play!

Did it rain on you today?

[setting: Cook living room on a cloudy Monday morning]

Josiah: Mom, did it rain on you while you were running outside?

Me [thinking I have the most considerate little boy in the world]: Oh sweet Josiah, it actually didn't rain on me at all. Did it rain here? I'm so glad I missed it!

[long pause]

Josiah: Then why is your face all wet?

[long funny awkward pause]

Dave: Well son, your mother sweats . . . a lot . . .

Happy 5 years, Sarah!

Just as Sarah entered into an exciting whirlwind of life at her birth, her fifth birthday came upon us at a remarkably similar time in life as we were preparing to accept a position that would have us moving back to KY, the place of Sarah's birth. When she was born five years ago we were scared. (I remember having a good cry because I didn't think we would be able to provide her with books. How I wish that Emily could see the bookshelves in our home!) We were in the process of interviewing seriously with OBC and considering a move a long way from home and even farther from family. We were dreaming about what she would look like, sound like, and be like.

It was impossible then to even begin to imagine the joy we have today in our Sarah girl. We just wouldn't have been able to handle it. But as she has grown, so has our love for her and our delight in her beyond anything we could have known!

Weight: 45lbs 8oz (81%)
Height: 44in (79%)
Clothes: 5T/6T
Shoe: size 11

Likes: coloring, teasing, singing, eating treats, mothering, pretending (being a doctor, baby, character, etc), VBS, crafting

Dislikes: a change to the plan (she comes by it honestly), flying bugs

A day in the life:

7:18am: Sarah comes downstairs (7am on her clock . . . we haven't synched it lately!)
             Breakfast- usually milk, banana, and then either cheesy eggs, cereal, or a bagel
             Gets dressed

Morning: We usually are out of the house for an activity at church, meeting friends, or running some sort of errands. If we are at home she likes to pick an activity from the art closet or play something with Josiah.

Lunch: Sarah's favorite lunch in a peanut butter and nutella sandwich. Her favorite veggie is a green pepper and she hasn't met a fruit she doesn't love. Most often we have apples, berries, or peaches.

1:00pm: She goes up for a nap. She still stays down and quiet until around 2:00 and then plays with dress up clothes, her kitchen, or books until 3:00.

Afternoon: The kids head outside to ride bikes, swing, hang out in the "house", and play with chalk.

Dinner: We are thankful to eat together most days. Sarah usually leads the conversation and is happy to eat what is provided.

Bedtime: Sometimes a bath and story, always a prayer and song. I think singing together is one of our favorite times of the day! Sarah's favorite songs are classic hymns such as the Doxology, Solid Rock, and There is a Fountain.

Random, but fun:
*Sarah doesn't talk with her hands as much as she used too, but she is still very expressive, especially with her eyes.
*She is a very emotional being, which I think with be one of her defining qualities. It leads both to broken hearts and the most contagious joy and excitement. I especially enjoy the way her sensitivity leads her to celebrate and comfort those around her.
*We had a great year with group activities. Sarah was part of AWANA over the past year and this summer participated in VBS, swim lessons, and a ballet class. She took instruction well, loved being part of the group, and grew in knowledge!

A chronological look at the past year:

A first of many pictures that she requested with her sister.

She loved dressing herself this year.

Halloween! The exciting conclusion of a month of weddings.

They loved making Christmas candy with me.

Can you spot Sarah singing with the children during advent?

We went to tea with the Everson women before Christmas. Sarah has her own kitten tea pot with lemonade.

Pretty Pretty Princess

We were very into games this year.

Snow day book time.

Sarah loves dressing up!

For international night at AWANA Sarah represented India in honor of our friends who serve there :)

Being doctors.

She also sang with the children for Palm Sunday.

Sharing a sucker :)

Lots of music this year!

It's good to have a little brother!

They remodeled the local Wendy's- it is Sarah's favorite :)

First day of summer ballet class.

Last day of VBS.

Happy 5th birthday!!!