Dedication and Birthday Party

"My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.  True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips.  He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin."  Malachi 2:5-6

It was such a joy to dedicate you to the Lord at church yesterday.  We do pray that you would stand in awe of God and that because of His peace in you, many would come to know Jesus as their Savior.  

After church we had family and close friends over for a potluck brunch to celebrate your life.  In some ways the year went by so fast and then sometimes the day of your birth feels like a long time ago.  We are thankful for the gift of one year with you.  You're a pretty cute caboose.

Birthdays!

I have not been away from Will for more than 3 hours since he was born.  Until yesterday.  My friends had coordinated with Drew to take me away for the day.  We did some local shopping in the morning and then they said we were headed to Goshen for lunch.  We ate at Venturi (pizza!) and were met there by one of the two bloggers I follow.  We had incredible food and conversation and flowerpatchfarmgirl is just as likable in person as she is online.  Stopped at a few Goodwills on the way home and then called it a day.  I felt incredibly known and loved by these friends and it was a most memorable birthday.  

Isa's birthday is today.  I find it hard to believe she is 9.  But she is.  She had a friend over for most of the day.  They played and watched a movie and had dinner and played some more.  It was a quiet, lovely day.

Her teacher told us recently that Isa is an incredible friend to everyone in her class and is always looking out for the underdog.  She said she is so kind.  And our tears rolled.  We are so proud of her and are so thankful for her heart.  

Happy last year in the single digits, Isa.

11 Months

You turned 11 months while we were at Disney World.  You spent an entire week either in a stroller or strapped to Daddy and me.  You were such a trooper.  You just rolled with it and we are so thankful.  

When I think about how to describe you, my first thoughts are you are so incredibly sweet and so exhausting.  You do not just sit on our lap.  You use us as your own personal jungle gym by climbing up our bodies and shoving against us and jumping up and down.  You love to make eye contact with strangers and smile at them.  

You have taken one or two steps towards something but only if there is a person or end table within reaching distance.  Otherwise, you stand and clap and then squat down to crawl as soon as you are tired.  

You have 6 teeth.  Three on top and three on bottom.  One of your middle bottom teeth has yet to come in so you look like a little jack-o-lantern when you smile.  

You are mostly sleeping through the night.  Occasionally you are up crying around 4 but a paci will put you back to sleep.  

You missed your first Halloween because we were driving back from Disney.  You are my last baby and I needed to put you in my favorite costume for some photos even though it was November when we returned.  

We love you, Willpower.  You are an amazing little boy.