Audrey's First Snow Experience

It was quite a hit! Audrey loves playing in the snow, especially building snow men with daddy.

Casper the Snow Kid and his side kick, Snow Baby.

Update on the Little Monkey

Audrey is such a little stinker these days. Anyone who has seen her lately knows that she is the biggest ham around. She's been getting into everything lately, including Daddy's shoes:


We've been watching Christmas programs together.. you know the really old ones with awesome "clay-mation" type animation from 50 years ago. Here she is snuggling on the couch:

And exhausted from a long day of being cute and hilarious:

We had a doctor's check up recently, during which we got some new stats which I thought I'd share, since it was her last big doctor's check up for awhile. Our doctor said she looks wonderful and is right on the developmental track in every way. Praise the Lord for a beautifully healthy child!

Height: 33.5 inches (80th percentile)
Weight: 24 lbs. 15 oz. (45th percentile)
Head circumference: 17.75 inches (10th percentile). We joke that her head never grows, because it really hasn't grown much at all for a long time! She is perfectly proportionate though, so no harm done.

Let's see, what else... We'll be getting a potty training toilet for her soon. She is NOT ready to start potty training and I refuse to force her to start before she is ready. However, it wouldn't hurt to get her used to sitting on the little toilet so that when she IS ready, she knows what it is and doesn't freak out about having to sit naked on this weird plastic thing.

Audrey has quite a vocabulary these days. She says a lot of new words such as Cookie, Sweet (which sounds like wheat! That is a new one as of this morning), Juice (Joo), Cheese (Chee), Kitty (which sounds a lot like cookie), Bubble (pronounced perfectly), Baloon (boon), Cracker (cwackew), and more. Hilarious. She has me laughing all day long.

She has also taken to throwing tantrums. I'm talking, arching her back, screaming hysterically, kicking, thrashing around. This kid has a strong will underneath that sweet, mellow exterior. I believe we are well on our way to entering the famous Terrible Two stage, albeit a bit early. She freaks out if she doesn't get what she wants, which is normal for her age but frustrating all the same. Eric and I are disciplining her in small ways and discussing when we should start spanking. Yes, we will spank our children. Call us child abusers, but our kids will be disciplined in that way when needed, not out of anger but out of love and care and only when really necessary. Pray for us as we seek the Lord and grow as parents, stumbling along this road called Family Life!

A Virtuous Wife

^{Proverbs 31:10-31}

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
²⁰ She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
²² She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
²⁷ She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

I read this often, praying that the Lord will shape me into this amazing, selfless woman. What a great example and reminder for all wives!

New Banner

In honor of the winter season and upcoming snow, I had to make a new banner. So fun! It's so chilly here today - in the mid 30's, getting into the low 20's tonight. Brrr!