$1 Poonkin head

I'm such a sucker for those dollar bins at Target. I needed one thing...and it wasn't the felt pumpkin toboggan I came out with. I know! "Everyone needs one of those!," you say. You should have seen all those glistening goodies staring at me as I loaded the girls up in the double cart (which, by the way, cart-maker-guys...good thinking!). Cute little buckets, Princess stickers and paraphernalia, candy corn socks, $1 boxes of M&M's...I resisted so much. But alas...

For the record, $1 for a box of M&M's is not a deal. But I do like M&M's.

I went in for shoes for Charis. I came out with a pumkin toboggan, Cinderella sheets, and yes, shoes.

Candy corn socks just weren't in the cards. I did put those in the cart, but when I got to the register there wasn't a barcode. Intervention. (And I was not getting out of line and digging through a pile of unorganized socks to find one with a barcode while 2 hungry girls get antsy. Not worth it.)

Look at all the cuteness $1 can get. Before: Cute little baby. After: Cute little baby in a cheaply made felt pumpkin hat. Totally worth the dollar. She couldn't have been happier as I squished that almost too small hat down on her head for a photo op. Charis tried so hard to get the "poonkin head" on. If only they'd had one in Charis's size too...oooh...and some candy corn socks for her, too....and they did have this $1 pumpkin t-shirt...

Delightfully squishy...

...that's how I describe my little Attie-bean.

She is one sweet little baby. Cheeks you could just eat up, staring you down until you smile at her, and toothless and chewing on everything in sight. Newest accomplishments: working her core, plank-style...skipping rolling over (she's done it a few times and she's not so interested) and trying to go straight to crawling...hands out, sleepwalking style, until she grabs something to put in her mouth...and the lovely "happy scream."

She turned 8 months old this week!

Uh-bow-sheens

When I went in to get Charis this morning after Roomtime, she was quietly "reading" her bible to Minnie Mouse. As soon as she saw me, she said, "Mommy, I doing uh-boe-sheens wif NeeNee Mouse."
Me: I'm so glad you're doing devotions with Minnie. What are you reading about?
Charis: Hosanna!! Yay! Jesus!! (Hands raised).

Then (I wish I had my camera) she bowed her head, closed her eyes, and prayed:

"Dear Jesus, thank you I reading my bible. Thank you for NeeNee. Thank you uh-bow-sheens. I happy. I love you (which sounded like "I yub yew"). A----MEN!!!"


...melt......

Happy 1st day of Fall!!

Happy Fall everyone!! Things have been a little hectic around here, so here's a brief update:

*Atalie is busy, busy, busy! Her EEG was 100% normal. No episodes at all! She is on the move...or at least attempting. Atalie loves her walker and makes it her mission to grab everything in sight. Here she is in plank position. Rolling...not so interested. But yesterday and today she's been on all fours, rocking. So I'm guessing rolling is not on the agenda...straight to crawling. She's full of surprises!

*Charis started her membershing at My Gym yesterday (thanks Keex!!) and LOVES it. It's a perfect outlet for her. She gets to meet some new kids her age and burn some energy. We're still debating about potty training. Not quite sure if she's ready (or if I'm ready...I get a very chaotic Wal-mart scenario in my head).

*We've been busy with Fall crafts and activities around the house. She's painting a Fall tree in this picture.

*Brian is busy at CBN and the FD. He's prepping for DPO school that's coming soon. Days are full of work, nights are full of studying.

*I've been busy with the girls (of course) and also working on classwork for the Child Health and Nutrition class I'm taking. Interesting, but time consuming.

*And Major? Well, he finds ways to entertain himself. Yes... there is a 112 pound doberman, fast asleep, in this picture.

A little taste of our visit to Target...

We recently went to Target and Charis decided to grace all the customers with a little song...her own little version of "Jesus Loves Me." She repeated her performance later at home, for your viewing pleasure.

Children's Learning Activities

For those of you that are interested, 2 other ladies and myself have started a new blog. It's called Children's Learning Activities. It features activities, tips, crafts, helpful websites and new ideas for fun and learning with your children. There are toddler, preschool, and elementary school age activities included.
Looking for something new to do with your kids? Having trouble teaching a specific skill? Check out the site and see if there's anything that might help.
The link is on the side of my page, or go to:
http://learningdevelopmentactivities.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

Fun, Sun, and Naked Windsurfing!

Some highlights from the rest of the trip....

Atalie did not enjoy laying in the sand.

Yes, naked windsurfing. A new favorite for Charis.

Atalie and Charis in the pool on the 3rd floor deck.

Atalie did like this water. And the wind. She squealed every time it blew hard across her face.

Perfect day!!
He doesn't look too overprotective, right? (He was kidding).

Uncle Jason joined in the fun.

Yay for blanket time (a.k.a. Mom-can-drink-her-coffee-with-minimal-noise-at o-dark-thirty-in-the-morning-time)
Atalie's first time in the walker. Love!
Awww. Aren't we so cute? Yes, I'm in the water. Mark it down. You may never get another chance to see a picture like this again.

His Healing Rain

As some of you remember, Charis went in for an MRI and EEG months ago when doctor's (and parents) were concerned about some limping and pain in her foot. It was there, then it faded. God moved and the tests were fine. Praise Him!


So once again we find ourselves in the same place. This time with Atalie. For the past few weeks I've noticed some head-bobbing and eye flutters at meals. I figured maybe gas, or even just a baby thing. They do funny things, you know? Kind of like when you hear about kids banging their head on the crib to soothe themselves to sleep. Then I noticed it in the exersaucer. And during tummy time. Not constantly, never a pattern, and never very long. I told myself I was over-reactioning 100 times. Okay, way more than that. And I fought (and mostly won) my urge to google medical conditions. (Never, never a good idea when you don't have a diagnosis). Finally I caught it on camera and called the doctor's office. The doctor took a look at the video and said, "It could be nothing. But I'm pretty sure it's a petit mal seizure. Which, if you are going to have a seizure disorder, that's the one you'd want to have." Really?!? Not exactly my choice of seizures, to be honest. I'd prefer the ones in the "none" category. So an EEG is scheduled very soon (miraculously, again...these things usually take weeks to get in for appointments). Tuesday at 8:30 AM. The doctor said we are hoping it's just the normal baby head-bobbing. Duh.



Thankfully I can do more than hope. We don't have to carry this alone, even though it's so hard to let go of. How is it that worry and pain and fear...the things we so desperately desire to get rid of...are the hardest to let Him have?



I fought against writing anything about this tonight. I didn't want people to think, "Again? Didn't she have an EEG for her other child too?" I didn't want to come across like a worrier, like a hypochondriac, or overly dramatic. But if I'm really honest and tell you how I feel, rather than give you the Sunday School answer, I am a little worried. And it's not hypochondria because the doctor validated my concerns after seeing it on video. And it is dramatic to me; this is my precious gift, my sweet baby girl.



Once again we get the chance to see Him move. I didn't expect it here. And again, if I'm brutally honest, I didn't want it this way. And though I feel nervous about the outcome, I know He will move and He will be glorified. Atalie literally means "The Lord is exalted."



He gave us her name for a reason.


Let His healing rain fall...

Rodanthe....day 1

We arrived in Rodanthe by lunchtime on Friday afternoon. Charis was more than eager to get to the beach. So right after naps, we headed off to the beach. It was incredibly humid, but the water was really great (or so they tell me. I didn't even stick my toe in.) Brian loaded Charis on his back and we rotated Atalie between the rest of us. She's no light-weight, that's for sure.

Atalie loved watching Charis run up and down the beach. She got her first taste (literally) of sand, too.

And my favorite shot of all...