I find it amazing that for over a year I have been waiting for my little girl to start talking, and now I sometimes wish that she would stop already. Ellie's vocabulary has been increasing so quickly that I cannot keep up with all her new words. This morning, I listened to her call to me from her crib. This is what I heard.
"MA! Done! MA! Uppie! MA! Uh-oh! MA! Ta-da! MA!"
Lia has been having her share of deep moments lately. A few days ago, she asked me where my grandma (my dad's mom) is. I told her that she is in heaven with Jesus. She paused for a second and said, "Heaven is in my house." I asked her why she thought so and she looked at me very matter of fact and said, "Because God is in my house." How does my 4 year old get the concept of heaven better than most adults? Amazing. Yesterday we were out for a run in the neighborhood. Lia told me that she had water in her mouth. I asked if she had taken a drink from Ellie's cup of water. She said no, but that there was still water in her mouth. I told her that water in your mouth is called spit. Lia said, "This is water in my mouth that God gave to me." I guess that would be the longer and harder to remember way of saying spit.
And for a funny bonus moment from today...
I was putting on a forced concert for Lia and Ellie (guess who forces me???) Lia pulls a chair up, makes me sing, and then claps and woo-hoos and what not. Lia was at a point in the forced concert that she stood up from her chair to applaud. Ellie thought that was an opportune time to move Lia's chair so that she could try to sit in it. I saw what was about to happen, but had no time to react as Lia hit the floor. I tried so hard not to laugh as I was comforting her, but I just couldn't contain myself. Lesson learned for Lia...always make sure your chair is still behind you.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
My brave little girl
I had a stomach dropping moment this past week. You know, one of those "you'll never forget how you felt" times. I was in New Orleans with 17 youth for the National Youth Gathering. We were just finishing our nightly "family group meeting" and we found out that there were storm warnings in Chicago. So, I called my mom...knowing that she was going to have to get two sleeping girls into our very messy basement. After getting Ellie safely down, Lia wouldn't budge. So Grandma Lyn had to carry her. And on the way down, my mom fell and seriously hurt her ankle. Now my mom couldn't get up the basement stairs. I call our wonderful friends, the Budil's, and Brian came over to help.
Here's the catch. The front door is locked. The only way for Brian to get into the house is for Lia to go upstairs and unlock the door for him. By herself. In the dark. During a storm.
So, my mom hands Lia her cell phone and a flashlight. I tell Lia that I will be with her on the phone the whole time. At first, Lia flat out refuses. And cries. But, I explain to her that Mr. Brian needs to help Grandma Lyn. And that Lia needs to let Mr. Brian into the house.
Lia bravely went up the stairs. She let Brian in the house. And I was so proud of her!
Later on that night, Brian locked himself out of the house again. Lia went up the stairs again and let him in. When did my baby become such an amazing little girl?
As an aside, Ellie was happily playing with her toys in the basement, totally oblivious to the storm or to Grandma's injury.
The good news is that my mom's ankle is healing. She is resting, icing, compressing, and elevating!
I thank God for my mom's not-so-bad diagnosis, for amazing friends (Thanks Brian and Mark!), and for one very brave little girl!
Here's the catch. The front door is locked. The only way for Brian to get into the house is for Lia to go upstairs and unlock the door for him. By herself. In the dark. During a storm.
So, my mom hands Lia her cell phone and a flashlight. I tell Lia that I will be with her on the phone the whole time. At first, Lia flat out refuses. And cries. But, I explain to her that Mr. Brian needs to help Grandma Lyn. And that Lia needs to let Mr. Brian into the house.
Lia bravely went up the stairs. She let Brian in the house. And I was so proud of her!
Later on that night, Brian locked himself out of the house again. Lia went up the stairs again and let him in. When did my baby become such an amazing little girl?
As an aside, Ellie was happily playing with her toys in the basement, totally oblivious to the storm or to Grandma's injury.
The good news is that my mom's ankle is healing. She is resting, icing, compressing, and elevating!
I thank God for my mom's not-so-bad diagnosis, for amazing friends (Thanks Brian and Mark!), and for one very brave little girl!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Sometimes I'm not sure how to argue...
The other night Tim was helping Lia get ready for bed. They were cleaning up Lia's room and I overheard Tim say to Lia, "Bring this to Mommy. Show her what you did." Uh-oh. This could be amazingly good or horribly bad. Tim's tone gave no hints as to whether I would be yelling at my little girl or hugging her. So, Lia comes walking in with her Bible. It is a big girl Bible and one of her most treasured possessions. Oh, and it's hot pink. She hands me the Bible and on the cover she has clearly written LIA and drawn a cross. Oh my. This is the conversation that followed:
Me: Lia, why did you write on your Bible?
Lia: Because it is mine and God says it is very important.
Me: We should never write in books.
Lia: But, I love my Bible and it is mine and God says that I can write in my Bible.
There is nothing better than hearing your 4 year old say that she loves her Bible. It was a hugging kind of day.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Six flags...More flags, more flags!
Yesterday we spent a very fun and exhausting day at Six Flags Great America. I love that Lia calls it "Six flags. More flags, more flags." Because we live so close to Great America, we drive past it to go many places (the library, the mall, Target, Dairy Queen, etc.) And every time we see any glimpse of Six Flags, Lia gets excited.
As much as Lia likes Six Flags, I think that she really just puts up with all the rides. She LOVES Wiggle World. (During the Wiggle show, I told Tim that in ten years or so I see myself driving Lia to work at Six Flags as a performer. At 4, she is dancing and singing in the aisles.) Lia is not an adventure kind of girl. She is a safe, cautious girl. Roller coasters make her nervous.
Ellie, on the other hand, had a blast on the rides yesterday. This was her first time on any kind of amusement park ride. On the Wiggle airplane ride, if I had not been holding her very tight, I honestly think she would have tried to jump out. And the higher we were, the happier Ellie was. Ellie loves adventure, being high, climbing, etc.
A few other moments...
*Lia chose to sit with Corinne on the Little Dipper roller coaster. I feel like this is was the first of many choosing friends over mom moments. Sigh.
*Every hour, on the hour Six Flags plays that "I like to move it" song. Ellie danced every hour...for the whole song.
I have to say that going to Great America brings back a lifetime of memories for me. I remember going as a kid, as a teenager with my youth group, when Tim and I were just married. Just the sound and smells alone take me back. Nothing is better than a hot summer day at Six Flags!
As much as Lia likes Six Flags, I think that she really just puts up with all the rides. She LOVES Wiggle World. (During the Wiggle show, I told Tim that in ten years or so I see myself driving Lia to work at Six Flags as a performer. At 4, she is dancing and singing in the aisles.) Lia is not an adventure kind of girl. She is a safe, cautious girl. Roller coasters make her nervous.
Ellie, on the other hand, had a blast on the rides yesterday. This was her first time on any kind of amusement park ride. On the Wiggle airplane ride, if I had not been holding her very tight, I honestly think she would have tried to jump out. And the higher we were, the happier Ellie was. Ellie loves adventure, being high, climbing, etc.
A few other moments...
*Lia chose to sit with Corinne on the Little Dipper roller coaster. I feel like this is was the first of many choosing friends over mom moments. Sigh.
*Every hour, on the hour Six Flags plays that "I like to move it" song. Ellie danced every hour...for the whole song.
I have to say that going to Great America brings back a lifetime of memories for me. I remember going as a kid, as a teenager with my youth group, when Tim and I were just married. Just the sound and smells alone take me back. Nothing is better than a hot summer day at Six Flags!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Oh, the differences between my girls
I know that everyone says that each child you have will be unique. I just never expected it to be quite this dramatic. Lately I have been shocked at how different Lia and Ellie are. Here are my most recent observations about this:
*I never, not even once had to buckle Lia into her highchair. In fact, I could have gone for a run around the block and left her tray off and no buckle, and she would have been patiently waiting for me when I got back. Ellie wriggled around her belt, pulled her legs up, jumped over her tray, and leapt out of her high chair when she was seven months old. (As an aside, she landed like a cat...on all fours, and simply crawled away.)
*Although this will be hard for some of you to believe, Lia plays shy when she doesn't know someone well. She will bury her head in my leg, and cling to my arm. Today in church, Ellie escaped from the nursery (gotta really watch her...she's quick) and was pushing past complete strangers. As she was pushing her way through, she was saying "Hi!" and waving. Lia actually tattles on her when we are in stores. "Mom, Ellie is saying hi to that woman."
*Getting professional pictures this month was interesting. Lia spends time at home perfecting her poses and readying herself for the photo shoot. Ellie sees the portrait studio from the car window and starts screaming.
*Last night at the fireworks as I was taking in the awesome moment, (nothing is better than sitting with your family on the 4th of July with your entire town!) I looked at Lia. She was huddled into Tim's lap. Her hands were on her ears, her penguins were covering her ears, and Tim's hands were on her ears. I could barely see her eyes and kept asking if she was even watching the fireworks. Meanwhile, Ellie sat happily on my lap, ahhing and pointing at the fireworks. (and don't forget clapping. Yay!)
Before Ellie was born, I was honestly concerned how I could love another little girl as much as I love Lia. And it is amazing how God works it so that it is SO easy to love them both equally. Each of their unique little personalities (Lia in her high heels singing broadway show tunes and Ellie playing with blocks and signing "dog") make me such a happy mom. God is good.
*I never, not even once had to buckle Lia into her highchair. In fact, I could have gone for a run around the block and left her tray off and no buckle, and she would have been patiently waiting for me when I got back. Ellie wriggled around her belt, pulled her legs up, jumped over her tray, and leapt out of her high chair when she was seven months old. (As an aside, she landed like a cat...on all fours, and simply crawled away.)
*Although this will be hard for some of you to believe, Lia plays shy when she doesn't know someone well. She will bury her head in my leg, and cling to my arm. Today in church, Ellie escaped from the nursery (gotta really watch her...she's quick) and was pushing past complete strangers. As she was pushing her way through, she was saying "Hi!" and waving. Lia actually tattles on her when we are in stores. "Mom, Ellie is saying hi to that woman."
*Getting professional pictures this month was interesting. Lia spends time at home perfecting her poses and readying herself for the photo shoot. Ellie sees the portrait studio from the car window and starts screaming.
*Last night at the fireworks as I was taking in the awesome moment, (nothing is better than sitting with your family on the 4th of July with your entire town!) I looked at Lia. She was huddled into Tim's lap. Her hands were on her ears, her penguins were covering her ears, and Tim's hands were on her ears. I could barely see her eyes and kept asking if she was even watching the fireworks. Meanwhile, Ellie sat happily on my lap, ahhing and pointing at the fireworks. (and don't forget clapping. Yay!)
Before Ellie was born, I was honestly concerned how I could love another little girl as much as I love Lia. And it is amazing how God works it so that it is SO easy to love them both equally. Each of their unique little personalities (Lia in her high heels singing broadway show tunes and Ellie playing with blocks and signing "dog") make me such a happy mom. God is good.
Friday, July 2, 2010
About time I started this...
So, I guess it is about time that I started a blog. I mostly want to have a record of the crazy life that we lead, but especially all the little moments with the girls that I'm afraid I'll forget. Probably not going to post too many "we went here..." or "we did this..." I will mostly be writing the amazing everyday things that our girls say and do. Here are some to get me started:
*I found two empty/used juice boxes back in the cabinet yesterday. Apparently, Ellie thinks that when you are done drinking them you should put them back in the cabinet to refill them.
*Lia asks to hear my "thump-thump" at least once a day. She will then put her ear to my heart and listen patiently. She is actually listening to Tim's "thump-thump" right now.
*Nothing scares Lia more right now than Captain Hook. She has never seen Peter Pan, and I have no idea where she has even heard of Captain Hook. But, she is scared to death of him. And I mean screaming, horror filled eyes, clinging to my neck scared.
*I love how Ellie calls any step, slide, downward motion "whee."
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