Monkey See Monkey Do

A couple weeks ago we had our friends come to visit.  They have a 2 year old boy named Jack that is 2 weeks younger than Ainsley.  It was adorable to see them together.  Ryan wanted to play Simon Says with them and here are the results.  Too cute...

Smile

How Big are You?

 Rub your belly

Touch Your Nose

Touch Your Toes

Wiggle Your Ears



Hug Each Other

Too Late Now

I just realized that the word "butt" is in my blog address

That is all.

Seasons Change

The seasons are changing.  The heat of the summer is past and the crisp fall air has arrived. 

This summer my goal was to store the fresh life of summer in all the ways that I could so that we could enjoy it into the fall and winter.  I've canned tomatoes.  I've made pickles.  I've frozen pesto.  And today I took the remnants of the garden and made 6 quarts of vegetable broth to freeze. 

And now it's time to rest and reset before the harshness of winter comes in.  Even our chickens are taking a break.  They are in molting, a process where they shed their feathers, stop laying eggs, and start a new. 

Most of my friends and family spend the early parts of fall decorating their homes with the oranges and yellows that make up the colors of fall.  I don't do this.  Part of the reason is I just don't like orange.  But there is a bigger reason.  I need some time to breath.

And this fall it seems especially appropriate.  I have a lot going on in my head right now.  There is anxiety and fear.  I've been distracted from things that are really important. 

So I'm excited to just relax and enjoy the next few months.  To take in the colors that God gives us.  To take in the nourishment of the seasons past.  To enjoy the blessings of today.

Definitely Not a Baby Anymore

I knew she was growing up.  I just didn't think it would be this fast.

First kiss at 26 months.  Yikes.  I'm in for it when this cutie gets older.

Big Girl Room - Update

I scoured the area looking for Ainsley's full initials.  For some reason, everywhere was out of K.  I decided to go with her fun name instead.  Here's a picture. 

Big Girl Room

I have been recently working on Ainsley's "Big Girl Room".  I have no plans to move her in there just yet but I wanted her to be able to get used to seeing it before we actually move her in there. 

My vision started with a color.  Purple.  Then I thought about adding butterflies to it.  So I googled Purple Butterfly bedding.  I found this amazingly cute set.

The room that went from blue with an earth tone bedspread with furniture that was unfinished (I should have taken before pictures but it was really almost too embarrassing) has turned into this...

I am going to put her initials on the wall above the bed but need to order them.  Everywhere I went they were out of at least one letter that I need.

The furniture, which was unfinished, was mine when I was a kid.  And before that it was in my grandparents house.  It's really old and I've been trying to get the motivation to refinish it.  Guess I found it.  It's now a pretty white.

The bookshelf is actually a glass case with the glass removed.  Right now it has knickknacks on it but it will hold books and stuffed animals once she moves in.

This desk is actually a vanity.  It has a mirror but it needs new glass and it needs to be painted.  I'll be working on that in a bit.  One of my favorite things about this room is that wicker stool.  And that lamp needs a new shade.  I'm working on it!

Her favorite part of this room is this pink hook rug that I got at Target.  I envision her playing on it for years to come. 

And now comes the hard part of forcing her to be a baby for as long as I can.  This mama isn't ready to let go.

To Prove or Improve

It seems everywhere I turn lately there have been discussions on conflict.  Like most people, conflict is something that I don't enjoy and have been hurt by in the past. 

Last night in my small group it was my turn to give my testimony.  Much of my testimony revolved around my relationship with a family member when I was younger.  We would fight.  We would scream.  We would cry.  It was really a hurtful time for both of us. 

Yesterday the sermon at church was about Moral Courage in respect to conflict.  Our pastor was talking about how much courage it takes to have Biblical conflict.  There is a cost and yet there can be great reward as well. 

When I got to work today I was reading my daily email from Proverbs 31 ministries.  It spoke of using conflict as an opportunity to grow.

In combination with yesterday's sermon, it hit me like a ton of bricks.  Every conflict that I had with my family member was about being right.  It was about winning an argument.  It was my competitive spirit (which is a topic for another day) that I used as an excuse to push the arguments further.  And frankly, it was the same trait in my family member as well.

And over the years we have both grown.  And we have forgiven.  And we have learned to love in order to improve and not just to prove.  Amen and Amen!