Scarlett has something to say...

Did you hear something special in there? That's right, litte missy is saying "DA-DA" all the time. HA!! She does not necessarily associate it with Mitch yet but it is certainly a step in the right direction.

Reality

Okay. I did not create this blog to "vent" about my life... or my daughter who won't sleep more than 4-5 hours at night right now... or my husband that , bless his heart, is working 12-14 hour days or anything else that you can somehow love with all your heart yet slightly despise all at the same time. I love my life, but it is in no WAY perfect. I have often wondered if it appears that I only post things that are wonderful and happy as if to always have a "rose-colored" screen on my computer or anyone else's who is reading. There is a blog that I love to read some of you may read as well:

http://www.kellyskornerblog.com

Well, Kelly's post from Tuesday, October 12th ('Honesty') really hit a cord with me. It is as if I dictated to her how I am feeling. Oh my. It just feels so good to hear someone else say they feel the same way... you know, commiserate a little bit? Thankfully what I may see as "the end!" right now are truly just minor bumps in the road... I know that. Just living in reality here on the Owen Range!

This is one of my most favorite chapters... thought it was very fitting for my desire to "ordain" my own days... So thankful I am NOT in control. Amen?

O LORD, you have searched me

and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

you know it completely, O LORD.

You hem me in—behind and before;

you have laid your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,"

even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand.

When I awake,

I am still with you.

If only you would slay the wicked, O God!

Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

They speak of you with evil intent;

your adversaries misuse your name.

Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,

and abhor those who rise up against you?

I have nothing but hatred for them;

I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139

I hope you are having a great week!

SJ's Favorite Toy

Scarlett LOVES this toy. You may not be able to see well in these pictures, but it has lights and a mirror and all kinds of musical instruments to play... it is so cute. Our sweet friend Annie suggested it and it has given us endless moments of laughter.

Happy Monday!

Losing count...

Warning... The pictures below are not suited for those with a weak stomach.

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AHHH!!!! Seriously, we have now lost count of the amount of blow-outs litte missy here has had just this weekend alone.

This one occurred right before church today. All you Mommas out there know what a "production" it is to get everyone (including yourself) out the door to church on time, so when this little explosion hit I was not ready. Plus, she was laying in our bed!

But, we just laughed.

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Our little pumpkin

It is so fun to celebrate firsts. Today, we took Scarlett on her first trip to the pumpkin patch. It was a beautiful (HOT!), sunny day so we packed up the car and headed to the country....

Sorry Scarlett, you may not like it that Momma is documenting this... but, seriously everywhere we have gone lately you have arrived with a horrible blow-out diaper!!! So, before we could do anything we had to do a total wardrobe change in the trunk!

And we are off!

There were all kinds of activities going on... Momma and Daddy enjoyed the "people watching" and you were just taking it all in.

Daddy was so excited to take you to the pumpkin patch.

We enjoyed walking through the lovely orchards and looking at the different apple trees. The only thing was that there were not many apples left.

And here you are... our little pumpkin with her first pumpkin! We thought it was just your size.

The patch was big but the pickins' were already kind of slim. We found just what we were looking for though.

There were all kinds of neat things harvested that we could look at.

The cutest pumpkin on the farm!

This is a day we will always remember.

6 months

This is an expression we know very well... little wrinkled nose!

Scarlett,

You are 6 months old today and are the joy of your Daddy and I's life!!!!! You have been up to so much and are growing so quickly... what are we going to do? Oh, these are the days we want to remember! I wish I could take a snapshot of today and go back to it anytime I want to. But, time keeps pressing on. You are so smart, funny, lovely, charming, darling, attentive, sweet, beautiful and everything a young lady should aspire to be! Your personality is so pleasant and we love watching you develop each day. Here is some info about you...our 6 month old baby girl:

- You are above 95 percentile from head to toe! You are a little chunk and we love it!!!!

- You are wearing mostly 12 month clothes and some 9 month.

- You wear size 3 diapers.

- You are still nursing really well which we are so thankful for. You have started eating rice cereal after your morning meal... you are not crazy about it, but you try very hard. We have also introduced you to sweet potatoes, you seem to like them and there are so many more flavors to come!

- You have lost almost all of your "baby" hair. It makes us sad but it looks like you will still be our little red-head (or strawberry blond) even with your new hair.

- You are so content. It is very seldom that you get flustered enough to cry, so if the tears start flowing we REALLY know something is wrong.

- You love to skype with Nonni. You get so tickled and just laugh and laugh at her. It is like you wish she could jump through the screen and hold you right that second!

- You are very good at playing alone. You play well in your Exersaucer or on a quilt.

- You LOVE Callie. Every time she comes in the room you squeal with delight. You want to get your little hands on her all the time. It is so sweet. The only problem is that Callie would lick your little face over and over if we let her, but we DON'T! Ha! You two will be the best of friends, we just know it.

- You get really excited when Daddy comes home. You look at him with your mouth wide open as if you are saying, "oh my goodness, you are HERE!" We love it.

- You always want things that momma has... my cell phone, watch, whatever I am holding. It is so cute!

- You often get really silly right before bath time. It is like you are trying to get all of your wiggles out before bed. We get such a kick out of you.

- You are a social girl but sometimes you just want momma (which I secretly love!)

- You have now outgrown your infant car seat (...I wipe my tears!)

- You smile all the time.

- You love playing your your toys in the bath. You kick and kick and water goes everywhere but your Daddy is always so sweet and cleans it up.

- You like to try to sing when we sing to you.

- You are very good at concentrating on one thing or task. You are so smart.

- You have mastered sitting up.

- You are getting very active.... things that are out of your reach have become very interesting to you so we are thinking you might try to become mobile soon!

We love you so much. Our prayer for you is that you will come to know Jesus personally at a young age and genuinely follow Him all the days of your life.

xoxo,

Daddy and Momma

Scarlett's First Taste... rice cereal

So... rice cereal is apparently quite bland. But, you have to start somewhere!

Scarlett tried her first vegetable today -- sweet potatoes. They were a hit!

Hope you are having a great week,