6 years...

It's been 6 years since our wedding. So weird to think about what life was like then, vs. now! I enjoyed the time we had when it was just "Michael and Kim", but I LOVE the new little family we are growing (or should I say "that God is blessing us with").

(Then & Now... yikes!)

Our bean is 4 1/2 months & talking more & more - she loves to make noise. I'll have to post some of her recent "speeches". This weekend, she's going to be reunited with Parker & Emma for some play time. We can't wait! Ready for a laugh? Aislynn's passport came back (lol) Canada, here we come!

Mommy let Aislynn sleep in bed a little after breakfast one morning (so sweet) (sorry camera phone quality)

Funny thing happened... On my way home from work on Friday, I called Michael - this was our conversation:

K: "Hey, I'm on my way home"

M: "okay, uh, I think I ruined Aislynn's bottles"

K: "whyyyyy?"

M: "well, I wanted to sterilize them, so I boiled them... I also threw in her teethers... (K: "gasp") and they totally melted all over everything"

K: "You're not supposed to boil those or put them in the freezer!"

M: "Uh, yeah, I realize that now - but they melted on her bottles, so I'm not sure if they are ruined"

K: "I'll check when I get home (sigh)"

Here is what I found when I got home (oh, and the bottles were fine!)

God bless him for trying :) I can't wait to see where we'll be in 6 more years.

Aislynn is 4 months and dedicated :)

August is off to a great start. Our bean turned 4 months on 8/8. At her 4mo check up, she weighed 12 lbs, 5 oz, she was 24.25 inches long, and her head was 16.25 inches. Our lil' bean is getting so big! On Sunday, 8/9, we dedicated Aislynn at church. We loved what Pastor Chuck had to say about her. He quoted Eph 2:10 and talked about having "eyes to see, and a heart to obey". We hope that everyone who meets her will be reminded that God has a plan for their life... they just have to have eyes to see and a heart to obey :) Aislynn wore the dress I wore when I was dedicated. I also made her a big pink bow for her little bald head. I thought she looked adorable & she did really well (and took a nice big nap after the service).

so tired!

We had a yummy brunch afterwards and got to spend time w/ friends & family. Aislynn also got some very special jewlery for her dedication (a gold ring, gold cross necklace & pretty gold bracelet), and some other great things. (below w/ auntie tonto & auntie cheryl)

We are visiting family in Canada soon. We just realized that Aislynn needs a passport. On Monday, we scrambled to get her birth certificate (finally). Then, on the way to the passport appointment, Michael stopped to get Aislynn's passport pic. The poor thing - Michael held her while she sat on a stool - then she had to look straight at the camera (I know that is a feat in itself!) Finally they snapped the pic. When Michael met me at the post office, I was anxious to see her pic. Oh my gosh!!! Poor baby looks like she has a mug-shot... she had no idea her picture was being taken for a passport she will have to use till she is 5 years old! Poor little baldy. Below was the end result :) Mommy got a good laugh.

Bean 4 months ago - & Bean today! (over twice her size) My sweet baby girl...

This month she: Props herself up really high on elbows when on her tummy, more sturdy, reaches real far and grabs things really well, constantly pulls feet into her mouth, rolls right over when you put her on her back, experimenting more with her sounds (more yell/high pitch sounds), trying to blow bubbles, starting to chuckle & laugh more, still sucking first 2 fingers.

Aislynn singing...

I forgot to post this little video of Aislynn singing a few weeks ago. :) it cracks me up. I love this little girl.

Goodbye July

I can't believe July is over! It's true that our lives are just a vapor... We're so looking forward to the weekend. Michael got a last minute invite to a "kinship" meeting this morning (don't ask...). So him and Aislynn met a couple of his old work buddies at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. One of them snapped this funny shot. The waitresses kept asking "where's the mommy?" Not typical to see 3 guys and a baby meeting for breakfast :)

August is one of my favorite months. We've got my father-in-laws birthday, My sis-in-law's birthday, my good friend Kelly's birthday, my step-sister's birthday, my brother & sis-in-laws anniversary, and our anniversary! AAANNNDDD - Aislynn turns 4 months and will be getting dedicated on Aug 9th. A very special month all around.


Nana Betty & Papa got Aislynn this fancy hat w/ flowers... she could've fit her whole body in the hat, but now it fits! I snapped a pic of Aislynn trying it on last night before bed. Maybe she'll wear it to church on Sunday? (pic doesn't do the hat justice) :)

Can't wait till the work-day is over, lots of cleaning/organizing to do!

Interesting weekend...

Sunday was quite the day... It started by me rushing out the door for church - and hitting a squirrel. In a split second - I knew it was going to happen. He darted out so quick, did the whole "which way do I go?" thing - I couldn't brake fast enough... I felt the thump, then saw his little body spinning on the ground in my rear-view mirror. I commited involuntary squirrel-slaughter. Of course I prayed & cried "dear God, I'm sorry I killed one of your creations, I pray he died quickly & didn't suffer any pain" :( I was so bummed.

Church was GREAT though. Pastor preached on "expecting" from the book of Daniel. He really nailed the message and how we need to EXPECT God to show up, and do amazing things (that doesn't even do the message justice).

BBQ'd with family afterwards - came home, had Aislynn sitting on my lap (facing me) and she made thunder in her diaper. I praised her, then realized the yellowness was oozing from the sides of her bloomers, onto my jeans. It was a 2-parent ordeal. We had blankets & burpclothes, trying to contain the yellowness. Finally, Michael suggested "lets just stick her in the bath". And that we did - Aislynn enjoyed her late-afternoon surprise bath!

Then there's ol' Zeus (Ziggity as we sometimes call him). I promised I would take him to the park - so I did. We walked the trail that leads to a stream and he jumped right in & splashed around. I like how he walks and bites the splashes at the same time! We came home, and I realized - I needed to give him a bath too. So he got his 'monthly' bath. Why is it when dogs get a bath, they zip around the house like they won the lotto? Maybe they just like feeling clean.

I then contemplated clipping some coupons, making my grocery list, and going shopping... but that didn't happen till yesterday. With the whole coupon thing - you really need hours to plan & get organized. I did save $40.00 (and only spent $65) - so that was nice :)

Back at work now - wishing it was Friday at 4:59 pm. OH and we're getting Aislynn dedicated on Sunday, August 9th. I'm sooo looking forward to it - but I know I'm gonna be an emotional mess - she's getting so big - and you can never go back to when they're little. I love my sweet baby girl!

Jewoooo errroh weeeehah gurw..

That's Ais talk for "I find everything so interesting mom, now let me slobber on that burp cloth" It amazes me to see the things that Aislynn figures out... you can see her little brain working. Last night, she started dragging out her 'coos' so long - I started singing a song w/ her and she just started singing a long w/ me! I'll have to post a video later. I wonder if she's gonna be a talker like her mommy? I can't wait till she starts laughing, right now she just does a one "ha" cackle. I like to watch her study things and then slowly reach for them... My prayer for her is that she brings glory to God with her life, and is a bright shining light for Jesus. Just a quick note - now back to work :(

God is Great

My sis-in-law recently told me about friends of theirs who experienced a miracle... the Graves family. After 19 years of marriage & unable to have children - God blessed them with a precious tiny baby girl - her whole life has been a miracle as she wasn't supposed to survive in utero - wasn't supposed to survive birth (and so on). She lived 7 days and today went to heaven and is enjoying her new perfect body RIGHT NOW with Jesus and all the angels. Her story has touched me, and in her short life - she's touched many people she never met! I've been moved to pray for this family... if you want to be reminded how awesome God is - and how even just a 7 day old baby can make a difference & bring love into the world... check them out: http://babygravesdownunder.blogspot.com/