A year and a half!

My sweets, you turned a year and a half old on the 23rd. Can it be?! Wowie!! I am so thankful for the moments we've shared and am anxious for the newness to come!!

Karis Reagan, you are my sugar! Your sweetness reaches the deepest corners of my heart! You love sitting in laps and there's no one more amazing to you than your Daddy! Although of a cautious nature, you like people and will usually go to just about anyone who will swoon and adore you. You know your colors and enjoy reading, singing and watching movies. You have quite the eye for detail and play "i spy" very well. You have developed a liking for "helping" me around the house. When you get hurt, everyone around must know that your world is falling apart and you require a lot of love. You enjoy rearranging things and do very well with a schedule. You are a dainty eater and usually leave a little bit of everything on your plate...fruit is not your thing. You do not like sticky things on your hands, nor do you like being dirty. Right now, you enjoy walking by yourself and will promptly say "walk" if you do not want to be held. You are very independent and stubborn when you choose to be. If your sister has something you want, you squeal and take it. Your favorite word right now is "help". You say this word over and over until I respond to you with "show me", and you lead me to what you're asking for. In order to sleep, you need your snuggli and your left thumb. You go to bed between 7-7:30pm and sleep til 8:30am. You are quick to give hugs and kisses in abundance! Kare Bear, I adore your sweet, loving spirit! You are a precious girl!

Kelsie Jordyn, you are my spice! Your expressions are priceless and you make me laugh often! You remind me of your Daddy with your even keeled, "It's all good" personality. Life to you, is a dance! You're always movin'!! You have a fairly short attention span, because you're so excited to go experience something new. You love to sing, climb, dance, watch movies, run, and get into things. You are a fantastic eater and usually gobble up everything on your plate...you love fruit! You do not say as much as Karis, but you will communicate if there's something worth saying. With you, it's more sound affects than words. When you get hurt, you run to me, have me kiss your hand(even if the injury occurred elsewhere), and once you receive your kiss, you're better and off playing again. I know it's a very bad thing when you actually take the time to cry about something. You typically allow your sister to have her way and take things from you without quarrel. You like books, but you prefer toys that play music or light up. You are not a people person and are pretty skeptical of strangers. Whereas, Kare will go to anyone, you're a Mommy's girl. Although not a snuggler, you like your Mommy time and then once you've had your fill, you're off on a new adventure. To sleep, you need your snuggli and your right thumb. You share the same sleep hours with your sister, for which I am truly grateful! All in all, you brighten my life and constantly remind me to be joyful! You're my happy little "action shot"!!

I thank the Lord for the time that I have been given with you, Darlings, and I am SO thankful to be your Mommy!! You have grown my heart to twice it's size and I couldn't imagine loving you more than I do! You truly are blessings from above! 

Captured Cuteness!

I just had to post some recent pictures because I am in awe at how quickly my sweet peas are becoming little ladies. Here are a few pictures of my beautiful year and a half year olds! They have developed such precious personalities and are so perfectly unique. Karis is still content to fill a lap, while Kelsie is constantly on the move! They love giving kisses, waving bye-bye, saying "Howdy", being outside, swinging, going down the slide, rearranging things, reading books, playing "hand off", wearing hats, brushing their teeth, climbing into & on top of things, Elmo, the Backyardigans, stickers, bubbles and much, much more! I'm soaking it all up and giving thanks!

Swinging!

Kelsie's perplexed look

Karis's furrowed brow

Identically precious

Climbing "Nana's Park"

Sharing a juice box in our skinny jeans

riding the see-saw

Eating Cake

Mmmmm...and ice cream

Playing with toys & friends

"Hello, Brown Eyes!"

Being tossed & caught by Daddy

Thank you for the blessings you bestow, Lord!! You are good!

On the job!

I have always wanted to be a Mom. My Mother will testify to that being what I've wanted since I was 8 years old. It is what I love and up until this past month, I was resolved to reply with a resounding "No" to anyone that would approach me with a job offer.

I was contacted by my old employer (C.C.Creations) about 3 months ago with a job offer. Though very grateful to be considered, I declined, due to the fact that I'm not willing to give up valuable time of being with & raising my girls. I was contacted by them again about a month ago with another job offer for a different position. Naturally, I felt very flattered to be thought of, but declined that offer as well. To my surprise, I heard back a third time, and this time Ian and I thought it more than just coincidence that this would come up time & time again. So after prayerful consideration and watching the Lord orchestrate every detail, we decided to accept a part time offer.

This week was my first time back at CCCreations! I am their Tuesday/Thursday receptionist. I work from 11am-5:30pm (13 hours a week) only for October & November. Ian and I have discussed putting the girls into the Kingdom Kids program at Grace, but the soonest that could possibly happen is Sept.2012, and only then would I consider going back to work again part time. I am very thankful to the Lord for this opportunity, however brief! It is a nice change of pace being in the work environment again. I am also SO grateful for my loving husband and amazing family & friends who are willing to watch the girls while I am away!! Without them, this wouldn't have been possible. 

This is what Tuesdays & Thursdays look like: I wake up with the girls at 8:30, feed them breakfast, get them ready for the day, and am with them until 10:30. Ian then wakes up, feeds them lunch, lays them down for nap, and is with them until he needs to go to work at 3pm. The girls are then in the care of Nana or another loved one until I get home at 5:45. Throw a little vehicle swapping in the mix and it's worked out pretty well! This is a challenging adjustment, but Ian and I really believe this is what the Lord was asking us to do temporarily, so we're making it work. We know that God will use this opportunity to challenge us in areas where we need growth. 

Pray for me, if you will. This is the longest period of time that I've been away from my girls on a weekly basis, and it's a constant struggle for me to rely on others to look after and care for them, when I feel like it's always been solely my job. But then again, I see the harm in that thinking as well. True that I am the best one to be caretaker, but I should not be the only one that is able to do so. I am not a very trusting person and it is difficult for me to leave them with anyone, knowing that my eyes aren't upon them. I'm constantly afraid that I will miss something that should've been around to see. That's why this is a good adjustment. I need to learn to leave them in the Lord's care and trust that all will be well. 

Thank you for your continued prayers!
They are always needed & much appreciated!

Growing up!

I can't believe my girls are almost a year and a half old! I feel so blessed to be in the company of the Lord's precious little angels! 

Our Fort!

Karis & Kels have hit the "discovery" stage. They are constantly searching through cupboards and getting into drawers. Everything has become a toy! In order to limit their activity in the kitchen, I have assigned them a cupboard and call it their "Fort". This way, I can still get some work & cooking done in the kitchen during the day while they're preoccupied! They love to collect things & put them in their fort. If ever I can't find something, it's the first place I look and usually it's in there. All odds & ends, from flip flops to measuring cups...it's a delightful mess!! I'm just so thankful that it provides them some enjoyment!