Oh Snap!

Laura Beth recently learned how to snap her fingers. It was like a magical moment when her finger met her palm and NOISE was heard. She was so excited. Now, I catch her snapping all the time. She wants to be "bigger" (older really). Every day she wants me to "weigh" her (she really means MEASURE) to see if she has grown. She frequently tells me that she is so much bigger and she should just go to first grade (like her cousin Hannah Claire, I presume). She has even told me several times that she thought she was big enough for 6th grade (and naturally I am thinking, "Who told you about 6th grade?"). 

It's obvious, Laura Beth is getting bigger. She is even asking some hard (for us to explain) questions about God and Jesus (we haven't quite gotten to Holy Spirit yet). Here are a list of her current questions. She asks them at very random times in the day almost every other day. I think she asks every day because the answers we give her are HARD for our humans minds to sometimes understand and except. It's hard for us to believe what we can't SEE:

1. How old is Jesus?
2. Where is heaven?
3. How does God take me to heaven? Do we walk?
4. Where is Jesus, I can't see him?

Her questions have made me feel very convicted about "Truth" and how I can help Laura Beth understand this truth at 4 years old. Every time I answer the above questions for Laura Beth, many more questions begin to form (which is a good thing). All together, I don't want God to be like a fictional character to her. I want her to understand who He is, His power, and His sovereignty. 

18 months = illness

Well, it does in our house. 18 Months = the beginning of illness for sure. When Laura Beth was 18 months old, she was sick every week (or every other week) for 6 months. NOT EXAGGERATING! She contracted Swine flu, Stomach Virus, Ear infections, Strep, Hand Foot and Mouth disease, teething (fever= no school) for several of those weeks, several colds, Croup, and a "fever virus" (Fever for 7 straight days, no letting up). I am sure I am forgetting something she had, but it seemed like we caught everything that was out there, except RSV. So far, Julie Ann has been fairly healthy. She has had a couple of colds and RSV one time. However, NOW she has turned 18 months (last Thursday) and Yes, on her 18 month mark, she contracted a stomach virus. It was not good. We all ended up having it over the last weekend. We thank God for healing, modern medicine, a home for comfort, and His eternal promise: He takes care of His people today and one day there will be no more sickness. Even in sickness I am reminded that God holds all things together for our good and His glory...even if the next 6 months with Julie Ann are same as Laura Beth's 18-24 months.

Up Up and Away.

Her first time at a fair. Here first "fast and high" ride. She loved it.

Lounging with Laura Beth

Laura Beth had a weird throwing up incident this morning. She seems fine and hasn't gotten sick since that one time this morning. She is eating, drinking, and lounging around. Since Steve needed to work a little today, I came home after lunch to keep her the rest of the day. We are just lounging together watching t.v. Then, I realized my blog has been being neglected since I began work. So I am posting some updated pictures and activities that we have been doing in our "spare" time.

We went to the fair last weekend. Laura Beth looked like a celebrity wearing my sunglasses. ha!

 She loved all the animals. She especially like this baby goat.

I am just realizing that I never posted a "first day of pre-k" photo on the blog. Laura Beth loves school. She has done so well. 

A few weeks ago we to the circus. Laura Beth was super excited to have her face painted (and it has sparkles!).

Julie Ann thinks she is 4 years old. She does EVERYTHING that Laura Beth does. Here she is brushing her teeth. She would brush them 10 times a day if I would let her. :) 

All of my "Julie Ann pictures" are on my phone. I wish I had more pictures of her to post. At 18 months, She is singing songs, "reading" books, and just loving life. She is very tall for her age and heavier than all her friends. She wears 24 month and 2t clothes. She wears a size 6 shoe. She is combining all kinds of words into phrases. Here are the ones I can remember:

"my turn"

 "look mama"

"uh oh da da "

"mama snack"

"mama all done"

"uh oh look"

"bubbles open"

"again da da"

"mama help"

"itsy bitsy spider"

"night night sissy"

"shoe on"

"more milk"

"help me"

All together, these girls are growing fast. They surprise us all the time at what they are learning in church, school, and at home. 

Growing Girls

Julie Ann is just so much fun! Here are the stats on Julie Ann:

29 pounds of love

10 teeth (and 2 more coming in)

Her hair is long enough for a rubber band and bow

 She talks so much. Her favorite words are:

"No!"

"Stop"

"my turn"

"ba ba"

"fruit snack"

"outside"

"Lee Lee"

"All done"

"eat"

"more"

"mermaid"

"on"

"Off"

"open"

"hurts"

"up" 

"down"

"love you"

"book"

"yuck"

"eyes"

"nose" 

"mouth"

"Cracker"

"apple"

"Hot"

"chicken"

"yogurt"

"banana"

"Hot dog"

"cookie"

"milk"

"please"

"thank you"

"baby"

"doll"

"ball"

"bubbles"

 She NEVER Stops moving. UNLESS barney is on. She will sit and watch Barney for a few minutes.

 She loves her sister, but has learned to get a reaction from her. Therefore, Julie Ann has learned about Time out....YES, before 2 years old. She sometimes put herself in timeout.

 And THIS beautiful lady below is such a wonderful big sister. I am so proud of her transition to Pre-k. She learns a new song everyday, it seems. She is writing better and faster than even 3 weeks ago. Today, I dictated how to spell words, and she wrote them without me even helping her know how to make the letters. I am impressed with this handwriting skill because she has always been averted to writing and has just recently started to like it. I am so thankful to God for his provision of a wonderful teacher for Laura Beth. I am thankful for God's provision of Laura Beth being at the school where I work. Her ambition in life at this point is to ride the bus. She'll have to wait on that for a while. :) Especially since I hear the bus pass my house at 6:45 in the morning. (CRAZY!!!!).

Zoo fun!

Our last outing as a family before school started was to the local Zoo in Alexandria, LA. Here are a few pictures of that day. :)

 Steve is always willing to play with our girls. Even if it isn't real MANLY activities. :)

 Laura Beth is a wonderful big sister!

 She is so big. She loves to push strollers.

 I love the trees in Louisianna!!! Look at those peacocks way up there.

 Always wanting to ride on the caboose.

We love Zoos. We love the trains at Zoos too. ha! 

Laundry Room Update

Before.

After.

Steve built  me a shelf. Thanks babe. I love it. The idea came from Pinterest (of course, who thinks of things on their own anymore?). The round box is for coins and other "pocket treasures). The shelf helps the room look nicer, and socks and stuff don't fall behind the washer /dryer :). It also reminds me who I am doing the Laundry for and why...my family of course, from whom God has given me. So ultimately, He is the reason I do Laundry. ha.