July 3, 2008 by daddy.

Thought we would share our latest family photo with everyone.  This was taken at Jim & Suzie’s wedding this last weekend.  Emily is three and Norah is 7 months… we don’t need to comment on daddy and mommies ages.

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July 2, 2008 by mommy.

We have discovered lately that Norah LOVES being in the water. Whether it is a bath or the swimming pool, she practically jumps out of your arms with glee into the water. I wonder what she will think of Emily’s favorite summer hangout, the splash park?!

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July 2, 2008 by mommy.

Emily has been quite excited lately to be playing with the Matchbox cars that Dan played with as a child. One night as we were playing with them she was showing me one that she correctly identified as a monster truck (I later learned she had picked that up from playing with Olivia). We were driving cars and she was driving a race car. Then she grabbed another one and asked, “Is this one a race car?” I looked at it and saw that it was a delivery truck for Kellogg’s Rice Krispies, so I told her excitedly “Emily, this is a Rice Krispies truck for taking Rice Krispies to people!” She then picked up another one and said, “Yes, and this is a monster truck for taking monsters to people!” I didn’t want to laugh for fear of making her self-conscious of what she said, but I had a hearty belly laugh over it later and still can’t tell the story to anyone without laughing. What a sweetheart.

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July 2, 2008 by mommy.

“Norah’s on Emily’s on Mommy’s on Daddy…and none of the family is in the kitchen!” - comment made by Emily as we all cuddled together in the living room earlier this evening

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May 30, 2008 by daddy.

The other day I caught this photo… I was staring down at the couch trying to figure out which one was daddy’s and which was Emily’s. It is very fun listening to the “conversations” that she has on her phone. Something similar to the following:

Hello there Uncle Marc, how are you?

Good? Good.

Good Bye

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May 29, 2008 by daddy.

Can you believe it?  It has been half a year that Norah has been with us on this side of birth.  Happy Six Month Birthday Norah.

So what is happening right now:

• trying out some new sound, we can’t tell if it is “B” or something like “nuba”
• sitting up all the time now
• dislike any tummy time
• re-learning to put yourself to sleep
• sitting up in the high chair for meals, great to have you at the family dinner table
• …
• amazing blessed little daughter of God

We love you Norah.

God Bless,
Daddy

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May 23, 2008 by mommy.

For those who may not have heard, there is some very sad news in the world of Christian music. Steven Curtis Chapman lost his youngest daughter in a tragic accident at their home. In addition to the incredible music he has contributed to this world, Steven and his wife are active advocates in the world of international adoption. Maria was one of three daughters the Chapman family adopted from China. Dan and I have always had a heart for China and are big fans of SCC’s music, so I was literally crying as I read the news yesterday. My heart goes out to the Chapman family and I pray for peace for their aching hearts. You can read more about the family at www.stevencurtischapman.com and there is now also a link to a new blog set up in Maria’s memory with some very precious videos of this beautiful 5 year old girl. Please pray for this family.

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May 23, 2008 by mommy.

Norah has a new view of the world these days because she has learned to sit up on her own! She still tips over sometimes but is getting a lot more stable. She still is not a big fan of tummy time even though she knows how to roll off her tummy on to her back. She tends to not practice that skill much. She prefers to be on her back or her side, even when sleeping. By contrast, Emily had already started sleeping on her tummy (much to Mommy and Daddy’s dismay) by this age. Norah, we are constantly reminded that you are not your sister. You have your own personality, your own preferences, and your own timelines for doing things. In other words, you are keeping us on our toes!

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May 23, 2008 by mommy.

Those who are on our snail mail list will be receiving Emily’s 3 year and Norah’s 5 month pictures sometime next week. Emily looks so grown up. If you look closely, you will see a pink flower in some of her pictures. I didn’t realize it until I got the pictures back from the studio, but it is the same flower that she held in her very first studio pictures when she was 1 month old. How fun to come full circle like that. The girls continue to look alike, but each have their different looks as well. There are still times when I look at Norah and feel like I am looking at Emily as a baby.

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May 23, 2008 by mommy.

So Norah is sick - again. The poor thing has a runny nose, weepy eye, and yucky cough. Today she seems to be a bit better, at least her eye has improved. She does not like it when I try to wipe her nose so I hope she gets better soon. The other problem that has developed is that she does not want to fall asleep on her own lately - she wants to be cuddled. I really do not want to have to resort to “crying it out” but Norah has been putting herself to sleep since 3 months of age and now she has suddenly changed her mind…if this situation continues, we may have to take “extreme” measures. Not much fun but beneficial in the long run. I remember when Emily was this age she would test us every month or two by crying at bedtime and when she realized that wasn’t getting her anywhere, she would go right back to talking and cooing herself to sleep. Come to think of it, she still does this to this day…

Anyway, on to the story that gives this post its title. Norah was coughing as I put her into her carseat the other morning and Emily said, “Mom, tonight we should pray for Norah’s cough to go away at bedtime.” I told her that was very nice, but that we can pray anytime we want to, we don’t have to wait until bedtime, and would she like to pray right now? She said she would and then folded her hands and said, “Dear Jesus, thank you for taking away Norah’s cough, Amen.” It made me smile at the way she prays (everything is always “thank you for…”) but her prayer reminded me of two valuable lessons. First of all, she prayed with confidence that Jesus indeed was going to take away her sister’s cough. And second, she began with praise. How often do we jump right into our selfish prayers of what we think God needs to do for us, without taking the time to praise the Almighty Creator of the universe? Thanks, Emily, for helping me grow in my Christian walk. Mommy loves you, and your little sister too.

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