Laughing Out Loud

I found some photos.  I know, you all are shocked.  :)  There I was, planning to post something all crafty, because for once in my life I remembered to take photos of a project, when I found these fantastical photos.  And I laughed.  Out loud.  No, really, not just like IM speak "lol" - I really laughed out loud.

The first:

This is so hilarious because what you don't see is my daughter's face when she realizes there was something in the bucket that she put on her head.  "What was inside?"  You ask.  Water.  That she put there.  Two seconds before this photo was snapped.  :)  See - you're starting to think about laughing aren't you????

Then there is this photo - which needs no explanation save my husband has waited his entire life to have children for a moment like this:

I'm sorry, can we just zoom in on that face a bit:

Ah, parenthood.  :)  Happy weekend!

On Missions.

I have a heart for missions.  No, like a heart that wants to move to Kodiak, AK someday to help with missions on the Emerald Isle - kind of heart - for missions.  I feel very called to serve in that particular place for my Lord.  But, the time is not yet.  Regardless of my love for the people of Kodiak I know that the Lord has me here, in this time, and in this place for a purpose.  He's been teaching me about contentment.  He's been teaching about my role and job as a missionary to my neighbors.  He's opened doors and shut them.  He's moving and creating opportunities to share the Good News that is Jesus Christ.  (Can I get and Amen?!)  

That said, Husband and I have talked several times about instilling a love for missions in our children.  What does that look like?  How do we do it?  How do you show them to perceive the needs of others - both spiritual and physical?  When is too soon?  When is too late?

As with most things parenting, we determined you can never start too early.  :)  

Our Middle School kids are doing their yearly mission trip this week.  There is no grand trip across, or out of, the country.  Our kids are preparing the grounds of an area where Missionaries come to rest between travels. They are working in a local food bank.  They are doing work which they will see the results of in their own community.  Awesome. :) 

Husband is with them.  We decided since I am 2 weeks away from birthing Little Squirt that maybe I shouldn't be shoveling dirt, digging ditches and hauling metal fencing, so I'm visiting them and taking photos.  :)  Although, all that manual labor could through me into a welcome labor.  But them husband would miss the rest of the trip.  And that would be sad.  I digress...

Sesame and I visited yesterday morning.  On the way over, I explained that we were visiting the kids and we would be helping.  "I wanna diiiiiiiiiiig!"  She shouted from the backseat.  I sighed to myself thinking, she totally doesn't understand in her little 2/5 year old mind what's going on.  She is totally going to be unhelp.

No.  She jumped right in.  New shoes dirty and grimy.  Her little Elmo shovel in hand, placing tiny bits of dirt into wheelbarrows.  Little Sesame grunts echoed around the open field as she tried so desperately to move the wheelbarrow.  It rocked.  :)  Afterward, on the way to Pappy and Yia Yia's, I asked her what she thought.  She replied, "I like ta help the people."  "I know, aren't the kids cool!" thinking she meant the middle school kids. "No, Momma!  You tell me dah fish-uhn-rees (missionaries) we helped." I paused.  "Yes, Sesame, we helped the missionaries so they can go tell people about Jesus."  "I like Jesus," she said, "An i cream (ice cream) We have i cream?"  

While she doesn't totally understand, something got through.  :)  At least Jesus came before the ice cream.

We brought our own Elmo tools to help with.

 
She jumped right in without hesitation - but what kid doesn't want to dig in the dirt and help with wheelbarrows!  Come on!  :)

 
Takin' a break after an entire hour of work!  Whoa baby!  :)  She even got to drink kool-aid out of a big girl cup!  Look out world!  :)

Remember when trophies were cool...

Well, I do.  I also remember not having many of them because, I don't have an athletic bone in my body.  I did, however, receive a trophy in late high school for a Speech Team, dynamic duo performance.  5th place baby.  Oh yeah.

So.  Trophies.  Didn't have many as a kid - but today - or rather a few days ago - I was gifted the equivalent of a blogging trophy!  YAY! [cue much rejoicing]  Allie, from Guten Strudel, which is a most fantabulous and  hilarious blog you should all be reading, tagged me for the Stylish Blogger Award.  I feel so loved.  :)  As a thank you, I am going to play along with the rules.

The Rules:

Uno. Link back and thank the person [Thank you Allison!!!]  who gave you the award. [check-done]

B. Share 7 things about yourself.

3.14 Award 5 recently discovered blogs.

Lastly. Contact them and tell them about their award.

On to "B" then, shall we.  :)

1.  I am a piler.  Like, the tv show Hoarders kind of piler.  No, really.  I have trouble parting with items that might some day, at some point, come in handy.  I have two boxes of empty, glass baby food jars in boxes, in the attic.  Why?  Because some day I might have a cool project that will necessitate them.  When husband says, "Hey where's the water bill?" I generally respond with, "It's in the second pile to the left of the dresser, halfway down, under the yellow folder."  Now, it may seem unorganized, but, darn it all, the water bill is right where I tell him.  If I organize the piles, everything falls apart and I can't find anything.  Thus, I will continue to hoard and pile.  :)  Sorry family.  :)

2.  I enjoy changing my hair style frequently--much to the chagrin of my husband.  :)  Here, let's look at the past 4 years:

Aw... Wedding... Skinny... Looooooong hair = husband's fav.

This is how I surprised husband when picking him up from work after 2 months of marriage.  SURPRISE!  I cut all my hair off.

He was surprised.
He was not elated.

I, however, think this is one of my all time favorite hair cuts.  :)

If I could rotate this for you, I would, but I'm lazy, so I'm leaving it.  :)

This is the "in-between" stage.

Here we are back to looong locks again.  [sigh] Ah.  I do like very long hairs.

 

Then, this cut came to us this year.  ADORE.  I'm sporting a longer version now, because I'm growing it out again!  Shock.  Dismay.  :)  There were a couple other styles between Sesame age of 0 and 18 months - but photos of myself stopped occurring during those years.  I was like a ninja.  Never seen, but always there.  :)

3.  I am a C.  I am a C-H.  I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N.  :)  I love the Lord.  Like, hard core, Praise Jesus, love the Lord.  Husband and I are trying to live a life that glorifies Him daily.  It ain't easy, but we do our best.  We were both blessed to be raised in strong Christian homes that taught us what it means to be a follower and what Ephesians 2:8, 9 really mean.  I am beyond grateful that our parents laid a foundation in us that is unmoving--and hope we can instill that same love of Christ in Sesame and Squirt. [Stops, wipes tear] Moving on...

4.  I cannot stand: slow drivers in the left lane, ants in or out of my house (now I'm itchy) or people who talk/text on their cell phone in line at any store.  I mean, really, what is so important that you can't put down your phone for 5 minutes to check out.  Honestly.

5.  I randomly start singing and dancing at various points during the day.  Like, no-one's-watching-sing-at-the-top-of-my-lungs kind of singing.  Generally oldies or Broadway.  What is the most awesome part of this???  My daughter has decided it's cool and now joins in.  :)  I heart her.

6. I am a ginormously huge pregnant woman.  I increased to a rather large size whilst pregnant with Sesame:

Approximately 29 weeks with Sesame.

And that trend seems to have only been magnified during my pregnancy with Squirt:

Yeah...this is only 27 weeks with Squirt.

It's all good though.  I'm a fan of birthing large, robust children that I don't feel I can break.  At our 24 week ultrasound, Squirt was weighing in at an estimated 2 pounds.  I might give birth to a whale.

7. I heart:  sewing, ironing (it's true...I would iron my pillow cases if I still had the time), pedicures, a large glass of ice water with lime, cinnamon toast, blogging (had one since like 2004...on xanga...it still exists...even though I don't write on it...and no, I'm not linking to it.) digging in freshly tilled dirt, spinning til I'm dizzy, Thanksgiving and Sci Fi.  (That last one is thanks to Husband dearest!)  :)

Okay...now to pass on the love.  If you aren't reading these, you so should be.  :)

1. Naptime in Naptown or Heart Gone Walking - both are a fantastically hilarious read by my real life friend, and former college roomie, Katie.
2.  In Sock Monkey Slippers - the food.  Oh.  The food.  Every recipe I have made from her blog has been scrumptious.  Especially the butternut Squash Mac and Cheese.  Oh baby.
3.  Joy's Hope - Julie is so stinkin' funny and real.  I love her blog.  She is awesome at all things crafty and has some wonderous tales of how Christ has worked in her life - through thick and thin.
4. Lots of Scotts - A grand Momma who loves the Lord and recounts how everyday occurrences are teachable moments.
5.  Vintage Dutch Girl - Amanda is just funny.  :)  She has some mad sewing skills and isn't afraid to be down to earth and honest!  Did I mention she's hilarious???

YAY!  I think I'm done!  It only took me like week to actually finish this post!  :)

Confession.

1. There has been a serious lack of photos on this blog lately.  What is that about?!

2. For the past two days I have become increasingly unbalanced.  I went to the doctor today only to find out I have been storing the Nile in my ear canal.  Perhaps that's why Egypt has been in such unrest lately...

3. I have moments like my husband.  Remember the marker incident.  Oh, and the egg incident?  Well, yesterday husband came home from work, to a giddy toddling girl and a wife still in her pj's.  He hugged his ladies and chased his dog.  [sigh] All was right in his world.  Then he went to the bathroom.  "Honey," heard his barefoot, pregnant, pajama-ed wife in the kitchen.  "HON-NEY," he yelled at the top of his lungs do his deaf wife.  "Yes," she said back.  "I think Sesame learned to open the toilet lid."  That's right ladies and gents wife, aka moi, had a catastrophe on her watch.  Apparently while deaf, disoriented Momma made dinner in the kitchen, little Sesame discovered the inner workings of the toilet.  She then pulled almost an entire roll of toilet paper off the roll, placed it in the toilet, re-closed the lid, climbed on top of the toilet to the sink where she then attempted to wash her hands.  How did husband discern all this you ask?  Because there was Twisted Peppermint hand soap all over the vanity, complete with resplendent, sparkling bubbles in the sink.  Who was supposed to be watching this child when all of this happened?!  Me.  Emily.  The Momma.  Parenting FAIL.  At least she was trying to use the potty and at least she knew to wash her hands.  Right???

4.  I fully intend to bribe my child to use the potty with Skittles.  It has been decided and purchased.  I'll keep you posted on the pee and poop in the potty progression.

5.  This is one of my favorite photos of my husband and me.  Not just because he has a crayon up his nose.  Not just because of my expression.  Not just because I'm wearing an IU shirt and he is wearing a Purdue shirt.  But because it completely captures our personalities.  :)  I heart you husband.  :)

6.  Sesame's first Valentine's Day in 2009:

Sesame's second Valentine's Day, 2010:

Sesame's third Valentine's Day, 2011:

Oh, wait...there aren't any photos.  Momma fail, again.  :)  Ya'll just have to settle for some from later today!  :)  It's close enough, right!  :)

Sesame Overload.

I typed that title and then thought to myself, "I'm not in Sesame overload...it's quite the opposite..."  I just meant that this post will be a Sesame story overload.  It's been a big week here at our house.  The last week of being one has brought about some fun times.  Such as this:

Oh yes.  That is blue all over her mouth.  Momma and I were have a fabulous little conversation when Sesame went on an excursion in Mommy and Daddy's room.  I hopped up to reign her in.  As I grabbed her arm and turned her around, I discovered a lovely little blue moustache and goatee.  "Sesame!" I gasped "What have you been playing with."  Being the diligent little rule follower she is, she marched me right over to her coloring table and did this:

That's right, she fully admitted to rubbing blue crayon all over her face and even reenacted the monumental occasion for Yia Yia and Me.  She promptly proclaimed, "Sesame no, no" to the aqua crayon and handed it over.

Gotta love this kid.  :)

Another rite of passage was achieved in our home this week as well.  Sesame and Husband dismantled the crib and assembled the "big girl bed."

She was a fabulous little helper and has made the transition beautifully.  I, on the other hand, bawled like a newborn when I arrived home to find her crib in the garage.  I, perhaps, most of these moments are harder on Momma than child.  : )

She's showing us how to sleep in a big girl bed.  Homer is almost as excited as Sesame.  I'm fairly certain the two will never part again.  He's slept in her bed with her for at least two naps that I'm away of.  It's really quite adorable!  : )

Her accompanying sound effect sounded something like a snorting/dying pig followed by a quick giggle = Sesame version of a snore.  She even instructed, "Ike dis, Momma!"

Happy Face Picture!

Sad Face Picture!

While I miss the close, snuggly rocking Sesame to sleep, this new season is bringing such joy.  Laying in bed, reading books and singing reminds me of some of my first memories.  I love how methodical Sesame is about bed time.  We must have Amos and his lovey as well as blankie and Num Num.  We simply must read a book (right now she's stuck on Clifford's Christmas Presents).  We never close our eyes without being "cuh-vah-d up."  But most of all, I'm loving that she won't even consider sleeping unless we've said our prayers.  Her sweet, dulcet voice makes small requests at prayer time for people, inanimate objects, even some stranger we saw at the grocery store.  Her little personality is blooming into a person who knows Jesus is important.  As a stay-at-home Momma, that is the single biggest pay check I could ever as for.  I am, by no means, rushing this little life along, but I can not wait to see what the Lord does with my little Sesame.  : )

What You've Missed...

1.  The Infamous CVS Mooning of 2010.  That's right.  My mother and I were mooned last week whilst waiting in line at the CVS Pharmacy.  It was completely unintentional, but; we were still mooned.  Fully.  There we sat, stowed away in the heated confines of Max (Momma's car), waiting for Sesame's Amoxicyllin to be filled, when we spotted two large human beings climbing a giant snow pile in the parking lot.  "Is that a guy?" Momma said.  "I thought it was a girl," I replied.  "I just don't know, Emily.  (she squints a little) It's hard to tell." "I know, maybe it's a guy with a pink Colts hat."  Then, it happened.  Large, androgynous human being number one, leapt atop the pile, promptly bent in half in an effort to not fall down, which lead to the "Infamous Mooning of 2010."  I'm not just talking a peeping crack here people, we're talking the whole Grand Canyon.  This, of course, sent my mother and I into fits of laughter (because what else can you do?!), which is the exact moment the Pharmacist chose to open the tiny glass doors and deliver our medication.  I'm fairly certain that she thought we were insane.  As we began to drive by my Momma whispers to me, "See if you can tell if they're guys or girls!" "Okay" I whispered back.  To this day I do not know why, A) We were both whispering or B) the gender of our mooners.  There are something in life you are just not meant to know.

2.  An exhausted, almost 2-year-old

That's right, opening presents, singing and eating has drained her so much, she has been falling asleep with books open right on her lap, in prime reading position.  Love this kid.

3.  A rendition of Frosty the Snowman by Sesame at least four times a day.  Her sassy version includes lyrics such as, but not limited to: "jolly soups" "pipe nose" and "down dare hat."  While I can justify the first two phrases, I have no idea where "down dare hat" came from in the real lyrics.

4.  Crazy Haired Husband dancing with Sesame.  This both warms my heart tremendously and scares me at the same time.  You see, when they play and dance around all crazy both of their hairs seem to grow at a rate that Chia pets would envy.  Seriously.  I feel as though at any point, their hair might outgrow the living room, sprout legs, and run around yapping like an overgrown Shitzu or Gremlin. Eek.  But, on the flip side, they love each other tremendously and are hopelessly adorable when they play together.

Baby Jesus

First off, it must be noted that my daughter and I may or may not be decimating a bag of Chili's tortilla chips and salsa for dinner.  Obviously, I am a great mother who always feeds her child a nutritious dinner.  (Please tell me you noted the sarcasm in that statement.)

Today my awesome-tacular Momma kept Sesame so I could have my hairs trimmed up.  My mop was beginning to look a lot like this:

While John Lennon can carry this crazy hairdo well, I do not think it becomes my feminine side.  Anywho, My Momma was keeping Sesame.  : )  We sat in her living room, consuming leftover chocolate cake with chocolate icing while Sesame played with the Willow Tree Nativity set on my parents coffee table.  "Now Sesame, do you know who that is?" I asked.  "Bay-be Jeee-sus."  "Yes," I said, "That's right!"  She carried on, talking to herself and mumbling.  Then she came across a Bible.  "Bye-boooowl."  she exclaimed to no one in particular.  THen our conversation went something like this:

"Yes, Sesame, that's God's true Word."
"Two Word." She mimicked.
 "Sesame, God's true Word says that Jesus came to the earth as a baby..."
 "Bay-Be Je-sus." "and then died on a cross..."  "Cross...criiiiiiii - ing."
"That's right, it was very sad, but not for long because Jesus took all our sins, died and rose again on Easter!"
  "YAY!  Happy!"
"That's right, happy.  And if you chose to ask Jesus into your heart someday, you will live forever with Him in Paradise, because He will forgive all your sins!"
She paused and said "Please?"

This is the point at which I began to shed a few tears.  My baby, my almost two-year-old Sesame, is already willing to ask Jesus into her heart.  Now, I know she's only two, and this is just her trained response to a question, but I can't help but rejoice in the thought that she didn't say, "No."  : )  I'm overwhelmed with joy at the thought of her inspecting the Bible, even though she can't read it.  I am ecstatic at the thought of her telling her 2 year old playmates about the "True Word" (thank you BSF) and Jesus.  How beautiful. That little snippet of time in my Momma's living room today is a glimpse into the joy that will beholden unto me when my daughter actually accepts the Lord (as I pray everyday!) someday.  My heart was overflowing today, what will the Lord do on that day when she chooses to recognize she is a child of His.  I cannot wait.  : )

'Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness." Psalm 115:1

A Video, A Photo and A Verse.

So... this video is a month old now.  Sorry for the noisy locust sounds - under the trees, by the sand box there is no escaping their cacophny.

That's my girl.  I heart her.  : )  She's working on verbs these days to go with all the nouns she's learned.  Too fun.

Also, let it be known that Sesame rocks the braided pigtails.  It's true.

And, yes , that is my messy garage that is full of stuff to be moved to the attic, put in a garage sale or really (let's be honest) just needs to be tossed.  Seriously, three rusted silver spoons, who wants those???  Maybe the American Pickers, but even they might run from my garage screaming "Hoarder, Hoarder!" (Yes, that's right, I both watch and referenced American Pickers.  I am not ashamed.)

Moving on...  I just really feel like the Lord is teaching me to remember His bigness these days.  We have several friends facing insurmountable odds - things like divorce, cancer, leukemia, miscarriage - things that just seem too big.  But Jesus is bigger than anything.  He isn't surprised by anything.  After Hannah gives birth to Samuel and takes him to the temple she prays the most beautiful prayer of praise.  The second verse says: "No one is Holy like the Lord!  There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God." (1 Sam. 2:2)  I just keep thinking of this verse.  I woke up last night with this passage on my heart.  God is solid, immovable, consistent.  He is mightier than anything we will ever face.  There is such comfort in that knowledge.  I mean, think about it, Jesus overcame death and sin.  Hello - what could be more difficult than that!?  Today I am resting in the promise that God is in control, He is BIG and He is holy.