Book Review

I recently borrowed this book, Twelve Clean Pages, from a friend, and last night I finished it.

This memoir was written by a women who attends our church (never met her). It is such an incredible story. I truly wish I could buy 20 copies and give them to loved ones! Nika Maples suffered from Lupus from the age of 12, and at the age of 20 suffered a stroke that left her a quadriplegic. Despite a grim prognosis, Nika recovered her abilities to walk and talk. She became a high school English teacher and eventually won the Texas state teacher of the year award. In all her trials and successes, Nika strove to serve the Lord and bring glory to Him. I read a lot of books, but this was definitely a favorite for me. Nika most definitely has a talent for writing in a unique, beautiful way. I highly recommend it!

Faces

This is kind of mean, but I love Graham's look when he first wakes up. His checks are rosy, his hair is ruffled, and he's all confused. I just had to capture it on camera, just this once.

Last night we ate BBQ chicken. Graham really liked it! He ate almost a whole piece of chicken. He really likes any kind of sauce like that.

His hands were even worse. Needless to say, I ran a bath as soon as we were done.

Choo Choo

This past weekend Chad and I had our first weekend training in preparation to move to Uganda. We found out about it only two weeks before it started! My parents, our usual babysitters, were busy so we were really having a hard time finding someone to watch the little guy. Luckily, Chad's mom agreed to come for an emergency visit to babysit all weekend. Thank you, Paula!

I got to spend most of the day Friday with Graham and Paula. We took Graham to the park and then decided to ride the Trinity Park Train, which we've never done before. Graham was a little nervous at first but ended up loving it! It was a beautiful day and we had so much fun.

Graham's mouth was full of crackers when I took this picture. :)

A Boy and His Dog....Part 2

Yesterday I heard some noises in our bathroom so I immediately went to check it out. Here's what I saw:

You just wouldn't believe how much these two love each other!

Play Group Photos

I love our play group! This past week we had everyone over to our house to play.

Here's Wyatt, Graham, and Jaxon:

Hi Macy! Poor Macy, she's the only girl in our group!

All of Graham's cars and trucks were a big hit! Jaxon and Wyatt:

Sweet Max reading with his Mama:

Wyatt and Graham enjoying a snack:

This is a really sweet picture of Baby Reid!

And here's a really sweet one of Baby Max:

Thanks so much for coming everyone!

Cute Things Graham Does

Just some things I don't want to forget....

• One time we walked by some rosemary and I showed Graham how to bend over and smell its wonderful fragrance. When we're walking, he now often bends over and sniffs various bushes and plants.
• Last week Graham came running in the front door (I was about to water my flowers) with a bunch of flowers in his fist and a clump of dirt and roots hanging down.
• Graham calls the stuffed dog he sleeps with "Razz," which is our dog's name.
• On Monday night we went to hear my mom's choir group sing. Graham played and looked at books. At a quiet moment, Graham said, "giraffe!" loudly.
• Graham loves to spot birds. At the zoo, he was just as excited to see a normal everyday bird as he was about any other animal.
• Graham wakes up happy every morning asking for his Dada. :)

IPhone Pics - Enjoy!

Bible

Graham has a few really cute bibles. We read him a bible story every night and he loves it. He also likes to look at his bible during the day in the chair in his room. At church his teachers have taught him the song "Oh I love to pat the bible." So every night before we read he starts to pat his bible and we have to sing that song. He says "baba" for bible. We love this sweet, sweet boy.

In this pic you can see him patting the bible.

Playing Outside

Oh the joys and challenges of having an *almost* 2 year old

As Graham get older and approaches the fearful "terrible twos," it seems that every day I am rejoicing and lamenting. Yes, in many ways life if easier and funner now than it every has been! Oh, but yes, I some days feel like I am losing my mind, and fighting a losing battle. Examples:

Joys:

1. He has become very helpful around the house. He helps me clean, unload the dishwasher, etc.

2. He is becoming more verbal, and every day is more capable of telling me his wants and needs

3. He is more independent. He wants to play on his own intermittently throughout the day.

4. He is more flexible. If we have to skip his nap or stay up late on occasion, its no biggie.

5. He is (FINALLY) okay with being left in the nursery at church. I was starting to wonder if this would happen!

Challenges:

1. He is testing the waters when it comes to asserting his will in all areas of life. Lord have mercy.

Yeah, that statement pretty much says it all.

I know, I know. It's part of toddlerhood. It's temporary. I know. Sometimes it's just hard to see the forest through the trees!

PS - My camera battery is dead, and I keep forgetting to charge it. New pictures coming soon!

3 Things

I totally stole this idea from my good friend Tara. Hope you don't mind. :)

3 things you love:
1. Family time
2. Girl time
3. Playing games


3 favorite foods:
1. Braum's German chocolate ice cream
2. Seafood
3. Spaghetti...especially when made by my mom or Grama


3 places you want to visit:

(but there are oh so many more!)
1. Alaska
2. Austria
3. Ireland


3 people you talked to today:
1. my mom, Michelle
2. Graham
3. Chad


3 things you look forward to:
1. When Chad gets home every night
2. Our trip to Uganda in June
3. Tuesday bible studies


3 things on your bucket list:
Don't have one, but if I did...
1. Learn how to quilt and make a quilt
2. TRAVEL
3. I don't know!


3 things done during your day:
1. Playing with Graham, usually outside
2. Cooking and eating
3. Straightening up the house (more than once)


3 favorite restaurants:
1. Charleston's

2. Taverna
3. Fuzzy's


3 things you dislike:
1. Waiting (I know, I need to work on my patience!)
2. Being stuck inside

3. Getting up early


3 ways you like to exercise:
1. walking
2. biking
3. hiking...when I can


3 favorite kitchen gadgets:
1. kitchen aid
2. coffee maker
3. crock pot

Uganda

I've got some exciting new I'd like to share! Some of you who read our blog may not know yet that Chad and I planning to move to Mbale, Uganda within the next year. Chad will be the bursar (accountant) for Livingstone International University. LIU is a new Christian University in Uganda; the first classes began in January 2012. He will also be training Africans in the finance office and teach business classes for the University. I will be helping teach at the Mbale Missions School, a small school that meets the educational needs of the missionaries' children. We will also become a part of the Mbale Mission Team.

We are very excited about this opportunity! Those of you who know Chad and I well know that we have hoped and prayed for many years about joining God in his mission overseas. In fact, that's how we met! The first time I saw Chad was at African Missions Fellowship (Harding), he was doing a presentation about his trip to Sudan. We met a couple weeks later at a missions conference. We both did missionary internships to Africa in college. Since we've been married, we have looked at and though about several different opportunities to do the Lord's work overseas, but for one reason or another it just hasn't worked out. We have been so excited to see the Lord opening doors for us to go to Mbale.

We would appreciate your prayers. We are taking a short survey trip to Mbale in June. Please pray for the Lord's guidance, financial provision, safe travel, and for the new relationships that we'll be making with our new teammates and faculty/students at LIU. Thank you in advance for your prayers!

I had to include this picture of Chad from his internship in Mbale :-)

Toddler Bed

Sooo....Graham can climb out of his crib now. I used to be able to put him there for time outs; and one day he climbed out during a time out. I thought about converting his crib to a toddler bed then, but I put it off out of fear. Then, last Friday while he was supposed to be napping, I heard some strange noises. I don't have a video monitor so I opened the door, and sure enough he was walking around in his room! I knew then that it was time for his big boy bed, lest he brake his neck the next time he decides to climb out.

So on Saturday Chad converted his crib to a toddler bed. Basically, the front of the bed came off and we put up a low rail that has a space for him to climb out. He was immediately very proud of his new bed! I was very worried that he would not sleep well anymore now that he can get out easily whenever he wants to. Boy, did he prove me wrong! Its been 3 days now, and if anything he is sleeping better than he did before! I am so proud.

Its funny how in parenting, sometimes the things we think are going to be very challenging turn out to be easy as pie, and sometimes the things we think will be a snap make us pull our hair out. Go figure!

20 WORDS!!!

This morning Graham's speech therapist and I counted up how many words he can say. I was shocked! 20 words! I am so so very proud. Graham has really gained some confidence in the last month and is talking like crazy now, learning 3-5 new words a week.

PS - Have I mentioned yet how wonderful Graham's ECI therapist is and how much we both love her??

Biking

Graham and I have a new favorite past time - riding my bike together!! I just got this new Topeak bike seat.

I have honestly been meaning to order this thing for almost a year, but what can I say? LIFE happened! Chad and I both have mountain bikes and have always enjoyed biking together. We have biked with Graham in a bike seat before, last year on St. Simons Island:

Now we can ride here at home any time we like! When I first strapped him in and put his helmet on, he was afraid. But as soon as we started rolling down the driveway, he was blissfully happy - pointing out cars and trucks right and left like he does when we're driving. The weather here has been SO BEAUTIFUL the last couple of weeks! It is so wonderful to spend so much time outside.

I will take some pictures of us riding together soon. :)