Where does the time go?

I can't believe I haven't blogged in over three weeks - yikes!! I keep complaining that everyone tells you how fast time flies with your first baby, but nobody tells you how much faster time flies when you have your second. Anyway, on to the important stuff...
Abby is four months old!!!

Can you believe that? Our little ladybug (one of our many nicknames for our little angel) is 15 lbs. 7 oz. and 25 1/2 inches long (that puts her in the 90% percentile for both height and weight). "Smiles" (an even more common nickname around here) just started rolling over and can move herself around by laying on her back and pushing with her feet. She has lots of little tickle spots that cause adorable little giggles! We are all completely enamored with her! Oh, and she had discovered her adorable little toes...

So, I know that I have lots of catching up to do on the blog...I do intend to tell you all about our recent trip to CA...it's just a matter of finding the time and engergy simultaneously. :)

Abby's newborn photos

I am so excited to share some of Abby's amazing newborn photos from our incredibly talented friend, Emily Weaver Brown. Thanks again, Emily!

One of our amazing son...

And two of our two greatest blessings...

Learning From My Son

I just had to share this article by Rachel Hagan, MOPS Zone Event Coordinator. Not because of the narrative, but because of the lesson.

This summer my family had an opportunity to travel to my hometown for a weekend. We timed the trip to coincide with the small town’s Grand Parade. It’s always quite a celebration!There we were watching the parade go by – a whole group of us, including my three kids and two nephews. One of my nephews is the same age as my son, and he doesn’t like the noise that comes along with the flotilla of fire engines from the tri-county area. He does, however, love to get the candy the firefighters toss to the crowd.When the fire engines came along, I got to witness something special. My 6-year-old son ran out toward the noise for the first piece of candy and promptly ran it all the way back to his cousin who was attempting to get away from the noise.I just stood there, in awe of his kindness and ability to think of others first. It was then that I realized just how much I could learn from my little boy. When was the last time I took time out from teaching my children to stop and learn from them? When was the last time I gave to someone else without first thinking of myself?By the end of the parade, each of the kids had quite a stash of candy, but my son didn’t know how much he would get when he gave his first piece to his cousin.Someone later commented that we must be doing something right in raising him. I guess I could have just smiled and taken the compliment, but my response was, “It’s not really us. We’re blessed to have this boy as a part of our family. He has so much to teach us.” I should slow down to the pace of a small town parade more – and take time to notice the simple moments of grace given to me every day by my kids.

As much as I adore my amazing kids, it's always great to reminded of what incredible blessings they are!

A few more insightful words from MOPS...

"We worry about what a child will be tomorrow,

yet we forget that he is someone today."

~Stacia Tauscher

Prayer From a Mother's Heart

Dear God, slow my days and show me where I can learn from my child.