Feb 17, 2010 | Baby Photos
It’s been a while since I’ve given an update on how the Bear’s doing and shared a few shots. Most of you probably don’t mind, but he has four grandparents who do! Â So here’s the latest.
The Bear
…is almost 18 months old, and is still not has just started walking! (Yes, while I was putting together this post the walking began!) He was walking behind his little car holding the handle, traversing along furniture, and going the distance as long as he had someone’s finger to hold. Finally on Saturday he stood up like a tiny sumo wrestler, steady and cautious! One small step for the Bear…one giant leap for bearkind. Well it was actually two steps. Anyway.
At one day away from 18 months the Bear…
…can stand up holding onto his big bag of puzzle pieces, and then pick the whole bag up like a heavyweight champ! Clean and jerk, Bear!!
…now gives high fives, baby fives, and pounds. He also LOVES clinging his juice cup against our glasses to say cheers before meals.
…has never met a grape he didn’t like.
…is taking one big nap in the middle of the day (10:30 am to as late as 1:30 pm — can you say AWESOME?!?) and hits the crib for nighty nights at 7:30 pm, sleeping till 6:30 or 7 the next morning.
…has mastered the art of saying the following important words: car, star, light, nana (banana) and neanh (for no). It’s hard to figure out how to spell that, but it sounds like that goat on that commercial a while back. Ahem.
…is artfully signing thirsty, please, thank you, more, juice, milk, what??? and “round and round.” Grandma Collie taught him that one for a fan, and it has become the universal symbol for anything and everything that ought to start moving…now!
…still hasn’t had his first hair cut. You can blame the parents who love the goldilocks.
…now has seven pearly whites which he puts to good use! And his blue eyes look more hazely green these days.
…still loves riding his little car in the neighbourhood, and has recently increased his pace to create some invigorating exercise for Mommy.
…and has especially adorable goldilocks when he has just woken up from a warm nap!
All in all, we can definitely say he’s a good wee Bear. We’re so thankful for him!
Happy almost-Birthday Bear!
Feb 15, 2010 | Baby Photos, Hometastic Goodness
I hope you read the story last week about how I was blessed with those pictures at a fraction of the cost at Pick N’ Pay (that’s the name of the grocery store across the street from us, in case you were thinking it had to do with shoe shopping!) I promised to share the pictures of the pictures now that they’ve replaced the others.
Without further ado, I’m very pleased to share the before and after, which I hope will make you smile and rejoice with me!
Before: (frumpy frumpy)
It was kind of boring and the pictures weren’t very good ones for frames that hang on a very bare wall. But with some blessing and some resourcefulness we’ve arrived at:
After: (happy, happy!)
It has made the wall seem so much less bare and more happy to have these warm colourful photos and the ribbon that makes them look like a ‘gift’ with the Scripture (Psalm 127:3) that says children are a gift. Can you believe that ribbon has been reused and reused and initially came off a box of chocolates Mark gave me I think when we were dating?
Have you gotten creative with budget decorating lately? I’d love to hear about it.
Jan 30, 2010 | Baby Photos
When life causes you to take a tumble…
It’s a darn good thing if you’re brave enough to get right back up again.
It sure does make your parents proud, and I think it probably makes the Lord smile too. 🙂
Jan 29, 2010 | Baby Photos
Start by simply stuffing toys in the washing machine.
If necessary, get up and push to fit the whole load in.
Take a look around to make sure no one is saying “Nooooooo.”
Carefully read the instructions to make sure you’re selecting the right cycle. Teddy is most certainly a delicate.
Push buttons and push buttons and push buttons while your Mom thanks the Lord you haven’t thought of closing the door.
Look for approval for a job well done. It’s good to be pleased with your work.
The cycle must take a few minutes at least. Settle down to read a book while you wait for your laundry to be done.
My thoughts: If he’s entertained, and he hasn’t figured out how to close the door properly so that the machine actually starts, I’m happy. At least I know where to find just about everything that’s gone missing around the flat.
Jan 21, 2010 | Baby Photos, Stories, The Good Word
In some ways I’ve been experiencing a sort of spiritual renaissance lately. I think there is something really significant about going through trials, learning to trust God and count it all joy. Plus, I’ve just been challenged, as I may have shared with you, that if I want to be real about anything, I want to be real about seeking and loving God.
One little tidbit of delight that has been bringing me joy lately has sprung out of my continued realisation that the Lord really loves me. As I shared with you at New Year’s, I’ve been allowing myself to soak that in, and really believe it all over again. And as a result I am reminded of so many beautiful truths. The Lord loved me long before I loved Him. The Lord loved me before I even knew what love was. He knit me together in my mother’s womb, and He gave me a great mother, so He really must’ve loved me even then! 😉
In response to this love, instead of saying “I love you, Lord†in prayers and quiet moments here and there, I’ve often been saying “I love You, too.†This simple sentence is such a beautiful reminder to my soul that I love the Lord because He first loved me. And that I’m only able to love Him because He already loves me, and has put His love in me.
I can't wait to hear an "I love you, too" from this little guy. I wonder if that's how the Lord feels about us.
It just feels different to say “I love you, too†no matter whom you’re saying it to. The first statement, “I love you†feels like you’re taking the action and onus on yourself — to profess love, to point out something you are doing or feeling or being, and you might often say it without really knowing whether the other person will also say it in response. It can be a bit risky, hey? But “I love you, too†says “I know you love me. I am glad you love me. I am happy to be in your love, and I am responding to your love with love.â€
At the moment it occasionally feels like a tiny revolution in my heart, to constantly remind myself that I am loved by God, as I tell Him I love Him (too). And although it may not feel that way forever, as we are created beings which tend to tire of doing something a certain way (shouldn’t we be thankful for seasons and time and all the changes the Lord has given us, since we are the way we are!?) I thought I would nevertheless share this potential tiny revolution with you, in case it would stir your heart to be reminded of the goodness of God toward you. He already loves you. Very much. I hope it causes you to worship, to be so very glad, and to love Him, too.
Jan 19, 2010 | Baby Photos, South Africa, Travel..ling Tuesdays
Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is going great, dear ones! We went for a walk on the beach Saturday morning. The sun was high and shiny, the water cool and inviting, and the Bear more than willing to be a superstar photo subject. The pictures were too cute not to share. My apologies if you feel like you’ve seen too much Bear so far this week. We’ll move on tomorrow! 🙂
Enter said beach, stage left. And the Bear, desperately hoping a beach walk is on the agenda. Somebody preez open dis gate!! he seemed to say.
Here’s a good shot of a bit of the area where we live. A lot of the houses nearby are amazing, huge beach houses that people only live in one month out of the year. It’s kinda sad!
See the rounded windows with balconies in the background? Our apartment is in the complex through the entrance underneath. We would love to take care of one of those houses while the people are away, though! 🙂
The Bear decided that even if it’s chilly, walking in the water ain’t so bad! Yes, I can see his hair is scruffy and a cut is in order! Leave me alone about it, I’m not ready!
See the “GB” with an anchor spelled out of white rocks in the background of this next shot? (It’s rather faint). It’s in honour of General Louis Botha, a steady fighter of the Brits in the Second Boer War. (You might remember me telling you before that the Boer Wars were similar to the American War for Independence aka the American Revolution, except the British won. There’s a little more SA history for you in some other posts here and here if you’re interested.) Anyway, years later, Botha visited London seeking assistance for the rebuilding of South Africa after the wars and Winston Churchill remembered him as the man who captured him in a Boer ambush of a British armoured train! He eventually became the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, the forerunner to the modern state we know as the Republic of South Africa. He was seen as the leader of the Boers for many years after the wars, so it was a good thing he had a mind to make peace. The Naval Station in Gordon’s Bay was originally named for General Botha, thus the letters on the hillside. How’s that for a history lesson from a blurry mountainside in the back of a photo?
And this is the excitement of seeing an airplane go by!!
Hope you’re having a great Travelling Tuesday, and the road rises to meet you wherever your journey takes you next!
I create resources to help people find deeper, more meaningful relationships with God through pursuing, pondering, and prayer. The "Shop" link above will take you to the home of many of the lovely resources I’ve created to help you keep walking one day deeper with Jesus.