Blue Bonnets 2010

We almost waited too long, but we finally gots some pics of Faith in the Texas Blue Bonnets this year. It stinks that it's best to wait until dusk, right when Faith is ready to go to bed. We are lucky to have snapped a few good ones :)

My how she has changed since last year!

Happy Easter 2010

Yes, Faith...You are the center of attention, please enjoy

Part of our mission as parents is to teach our children the real meaning behind our marketed frivolous modern holidays. We are to find a way to make sure our kids recognize that Christ's birthday is the real celebration at Christmas, and that Christ's resurrection is the celebration of Easter.

At this point in our 15 month-old's life, she is the center of attention. No question. She proved her desire to be on the stage in several overt ways this weekend.

First of all, I took her to see her first Baylor softball game of the season. Last season, Faith was quite a doll, literally, a 3 month old sweet thing that we easily took care of while watching the game. This year, I knew things would be different. I didn't think I would get to watch the game at all! Boy was I wrong.

She loved the game! She loved watching the people, and she screamed and squealed every time a play was made. You could tell she was watching the ball, because her head would follow the ball on a pop up or other obvious play.

Maybe this has something to do with her parents agging her on at home, but she thought she had really done something amazing, when our junior slugger, JV, hit the game winning RBI in extra innings and the crowd went wild. She was reveling in her victory.

After the game, there was an Easter egg "hunt" in the outfield. I say hunt, but it was really more of a free for all. I placed Faith in a strategic spot with 3 eggs close together to give her a fighting chance vs. the big kids. I let her go, and she ran right at the eggs. In fact, she ran right past them, to the infield. She stood in the pitcher's circle and twirled around with a big smile on her face.

I think she knew that this place was where all eyes are fixed during the game. I wonder if she knew that her momma was a pitcher? Hmm, she has a future in the spotlight, not sure where it will be though, because the next day....

After the service was over at church, during which she earned high honors for good behavior from those sitting around us, she was let down and immediately ran for the pulpit area! She climbed up on the stage and gained that huge smile again. Again, she knew that this was where every one's eyes are fixed in the service.

I think it's fine for her to enjoy the time in her life when the world revolves around her. After all, my parents had me thinking I was one of a kind on this world. I truly believed that God made me special. Not just "special" but extra "special" as if I possess qualities none on this earth could simulate. lol....not that my parents intended this, but I just thought I was something else. Maybe it gave me to confidence to believe I was different and to make more sound decisions in my life.

One day, like my parents did with me, as we continue to point Faith to the Father, she too will realize that she is special in that she is a child of God. She will one day look past herself to others and more importantly, look to Him.

We love you, Faith! You superstar!

Faith's First Dance with Daddy

After a friend's wedding, Daddy and Faith got this great opportunity to dance while waiting on the arrival of the bridal party. During this time, she also had several twirls and foot stomping fits that weren't captured on video. She has the cutest little pink cowgirl boots that she wore to this Western-style wedding.

Daddy and Faith had a great time on the floor that afternoon, and both of us had our hands full following Faith around the venue.

Cousin Hannah

A year ago Faith's oldest cousin, Hannah Joy, entered Heaven. Hannah has left such a lasting legacy for her family, her friends, and even strangers, bringing all of us closer to Him and teaching us to look to Him when we fail ourselves.

Faith will hear about Hannah all of her life and be held to a high standard. Hannah, the oldest cousin and "leader of the pack" led an exemplary life for Christ. As her mom would quickly add, she wasn't perfect, none of us are, but she took on her life storm with nothing but grace.
Below is a pic of the first time Hannah met Faith. This was near the end of January of last year. I won't say it's the first and last time they will meet, because we know there will be a joyful reunion at Home one day. This is probably the only pic of all 7 granddaughters together.

When we found out we were pregnant, Hannah was the first cousin I called. I remember her screaming "You're pregnant!!!?!!! Mom, Aunt Sarah is pregnant!" She was super excited as was the rest of the crew. Faith and Katie Joy (born just after Hannah went to Heaven) won't remember the physical Hannah, but her story will penetrate their lives and inspire them to live their life in such a way that points others to the Lord. Read more about Hannah's story here.

Hannah Joy, WE MISS YOU!

What to do with Sydney Kitty Cat

With these ear infections Faith has been having, we have been trying to decide what is keeping her stopped up. One plausible cause would be our 15 pound 1st child of the feline type. Oh yeah, with long shaggy hair that is annoying to clean up all the time.

I suggested this idea to our doctor who said that he couldn't do allergy tests on Faith until she is 4. He recommended getting the cat out of the house for several weeks to see if Faith improved with the cat gone.

Would any of ya'll believe that there are not a tons of our friends out there dying to keep our cat for a couple of weeks? Poor Sydney, your family member status is in jeopardy....you'd better start doing laundry or something. Faith loves you, but you allude her. This combined with your dander, just can't be tolerated much longer. What are we going to do?

Can I just stay under this table, Mom?

Yesterday, We all loaded up to go get Faith's 12 month vaccinations. They had been postponed because of her ear infection issues, so she got them at more like 14 months, which is fine with us!

The room at Dr. Loden's office is brightly colored and painted with a lot of fish and undersea creatures. Faith prided herself in running from wall to wall and slamming her hands on the wall. After a long time of doing this, I think she started to get nervous. She loved the paper on the examine table and tried pulling it off...

She also tried escaping through the door, but she could quite work the handle...

When she gave up on escape, she conceded to hiding under the desk...do I have to come out?? Shots (4 of them) hurt but were OK....bottles make lots of things Ok.