Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
15 Month Stats
Ansley had her 15 month checkup today. Here are the stats...
Weight: 22 lbs. 8 oz. (50%)
Height: 33 inches (97%)
Head: 18 cm. (35%)
We are so thankful for a healthy little girl. She showed off all her tricks to Dr. Barron, stood by the door and kept saying "bye bye" while he and I were talking, kept calling all of his medical instruments "balls", squealed with delight at herself in the full length mirror and of course hated every minute of having to be cooped up in the exam room! Ha! "Well baby" checkups are often taken for granted and we are so blessed that all is well!
Weight: 22 lbs. 8 oz. (50%)
Height: 33 inches (97%)
Head: 18 cm. (35%)
We are so thankful for a healthy little girl. She showed off all her tricks to Dr. Barron, stood by the door and kept saying "bye bye" while he and I were talking, kept calling all of his medical instruments "balls", squealed with delight at herself in the full length mirror and of course hated every minute of having to be cooped up in the exam room! Ha! "Well baby" checkups are often taken for granted and we are so blessed that all is well!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Excerpts from Ch. 3-Nuggets of Wisdom
*Please read my former posts beginning with, Insights from a novice, before reading this post. All quotes are taken from the book, Launching Your Kids For Life, by Reccord.*
I loved so many things from this chapter...now if I can only make sure our family applies them!
The "nuggets" are in summary:
1.Find a mentor.
2.Be a parent, not your child's friend.
3.Develop a structured method of praying for your child.
4.Model good behavior for your children.
5.Plug into a strong community of faith.
I was challenged by these "nuggets". I feel like I do some well and some I frankly don't do well at all.
First, I have really felt a tug at my heart this year to find a mentor. I feel like I am being led to someone who has already gone through parenthood who can share with me her richest wisdom. I would love to find a couple whose dual mentoring in parenting would be something that Jon and I could both benefit from!
Second, I love what Allan Taylor says, "God doesn't need you to be your child's best friend. Today on earth there are 6.4 billion people who can be your child's friend. But only one person can be their mama, and only one person can be their daddy. Above everything else, you need to be the adult God wants you to be for that child. Because ultimately, God didn't give children to schools or even to churches. He gave them to parents."
Third, Jon and I have seen God move mightly in our lives and family through prayer. We want our home to be a place of prayer. I want our children to know that we pray for them. We join Ansley together every night to pray with her even if it has to be one of us on the phone if we are away for some reason. Now, at 15 months, she will say "amen" when we finish praying with her. I love it. I pray with her but I want to do a better job praying for her in my time alone. I want to order the book, "The Power of a Praying Parent" and take an action step in that direction.
Fourth, I know I could always model better behavior. I think since actions resonate more with children than words this will be very important as our children witness our lives through their little eyes. I am an old fashioned girl in many ways and I want our kids to value manners when our society doesn't and appreciate the simplicity of life.
Finally, Allan Taylor says it best when it comes to plugging into a strong community of faith. "Make sure your children are in God's house. Make sure your kids see you with a Bible in your hand. Make sure they see you on your knees before God. Make sure they see you put your offering in the plate. Make sure they see you singing praises and hymns. It's one thing for us to take our kids to church; it's another thing for them to see us worship at church. And, most of all, make sure you get the Word of God into the hearts of your children. Just as we tenderize a steak, His Word tenderizes the hearts of our children."
Is anyone else challenged?
I loved so many things from this chapter...now if I can only make sure our family applies them!
The "nuggets" are in summary:
1.Find a mentor.
2.Be a parent, not your child's friend.
3.Develop a structured method of praying for your child.
4.Model good behavior for your children.
5.Plug into a strong community of faith.
I was challenged by these "nuggets". I feel like I do some well and some I frankly don't do well at all.
First, I have really felt a tug at my heart this year to find a mentor. I feel like I am being led to someone who has already gone through parenthood who can share with me her richest wisdom. I would love to find a couple whose dual mentoring in parenting would be something that Jon and I could both benefit from!
Second, I love what Allan Taylor says, "God doesn't need you to be your child's best friend. Today on earth there are 6.4 billion people who can be your child's friend. But only one person can be their mama, and only one person can be their daddy. Above everything else, you need to be the adult God wants you to be for that child. Because ultimately, God didn't give children to schools or even to churches. He gave them to parents."
Third, Jon and I have seen God move mightly in our lives and family through prayer. We want our home to be a place of prayer. I want our children to know that we pray for them. We join Ansley together every night to pray with her even if it has to be one of us on the phone if we are away for some reason. Now, at 15 months, she will say "amen" when we finish praying with her. I love it. I pray with her but I want to do a better job praying for her in my time alone. I want to order the book, "The Power of a Praying Parent" and take an action step in that direction.
Fourth, I know I could always model better behavior. I think since actions resonate more with children than words this will be very important as our children witness our lives through their little eyes. I am an old fashioned girl in many ways and I want our kids to value manners when our society doesn't and appreciate the simplicity of life.
Finally, Allan Taylor says it best when it comes to plugging into a strong community of faith. "Make sure your children are in God's house. Make sure your kids see you with a Bible in your hand. Make sure they see you on your knees before God. Make sure they see you put your offering in the plate. Make sure they see you singing praises and hymns. It's one thing for us to take our kids to church; it's another thing for them to see us worship at church. And, most of all, make sure you get the Word of God into the hearts of your children. Just as we tenderize a steak, His Word tenderizes the hearts of our children."
Is anyone else challenged?
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Stepping Into 15 Months...
Happy 15 Months, Ansley! This month has been filled with lots of fun in the sun and new adventures. We have definitely been on the go this month, and like your Mommy, you've enjoyed every minute of it! You enjoyed your first trip to the beach June 26-July 2. You loved the sand, ocean, pool, water park and lazy river ride. We caught you chillin' by the pool just long enough to snap a quick picture...
We were so blessed to get to spend an entire week together at the beach with our family. You love hanging out with Papa, Mimi, Uncle D, Aunt Ri and Jack. They spoil you rotten!
While we were at the beach, Mimi taught you to push your nose while saying "beep beep". You continue to learn new words everyday. This month you learned 15 new words: shoe, two, boo-boo, hot, cheese, up, down, puffs, pee pee, eat, box, nose, belly button, and beep-beep! You can now point to your nose, ears, hair, and belly button when we ask you to. Mimi has the best success helping you learn new words. She is a good teacher! Here you are with our family at the beach...
This month, Aunt Ri and Jack came to visit and keep you while Mommy and Daddy had to work one week. Aunt Ri introduced you to your very own kiddie pool for the first time. She taught you to clean up your toys by putting them in the basket all by yourself. Aunt Ri also taught you to throw your arms up in the air when we say "Whoo whoo"...it's hilarious! I think you are Aunt Ri's favorite girl in the whole world. Now, if you could just learn to say her name!
This month, you moved up in the world...you got a big girl convertible car seat! We still have you facing backwards but you love the extra space, arm rests and cup holder! We enjoyed several "field trips" together this month as we ventured to the children's museum, the pet store, Unicoi Springs, the splash pad and the local fireworks celebration. This was your second time seeing fireworks and you sat in my lap and folded your arms behind your head and watched in amazement!
This month you fell in love with BBQ and pizza!
Ans, you play so hard during the day and sleep so well at night. This month, due to travel and less structure. you haven't taken your naps very well but you sure make up for it at night sometimes sleeping from around 8 p.m. until 9 a.m. Mommy really likes sleeping in with you during the summer!
Ansley, you have turned from a little baby into a precious girl. You have learned to obey and listen to Mommy and Daddy better this month. You love to play outside and dislike it when we stay home all day. You just stand at the door and jingle the door knob with your chubby little hand. Mommy loves to see you...fold your arms across your chest, sleep, read your books, and wave to people and blow them kisses everywhere we go. Daddy loves it when you give him hugs and kisses and when you find pictures of him around the house and say "Daddy". We think it's so funny when we ask you how old you are going to be and you hold up one finger and say "two". We also think it's cute when you sit on the potty and go pee pee in the potty and say "pee pee" before your bath. You are a ham and we love you oh so much!
Excerpts from Ch. 2-Triumph and Tragedy
*Please read my former posts beginning with, Insights from a novice, before reading this post. All quotes are taken from the book, Launching Your Kids For Life, by Reccord.*
"When our children leave us and "fly" on their own, we want them to experience triumph not tragedy. We've come up with a list of eight principals to apply to your parenting. We believe that if you teach these to your children in those first eighteen years they are at home in your care, they will have a foundation on which to follow their lives' mission.
Our principals...
1. God prepared a unique plan and calling for your life even before you were born.
2. God calls you to a life-changing relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
3. God calls you to partner with Him in a mission that is bigger than you are.
4. God calls you to be on mission with Him right where you are-starting now.
5. God reveals His mission through His Word, His Spirit, wise counsel, and His work in circumstances around you.
6. God will repeatedly bring you to crossroads of choice as He forges you for His mission.
7. God guides you and provides for your mission one step at a time.
8. When you answer God's call, you will experience His pleasure and change your world."
"When our children leave us and "fly" on their own, we want them to experience triumph not tragedy. We've come up with a list of eight principals to apply to your parenting. We believe that if you teach these to your children in those first eighteen years they are at home in your care, they will have a foundation on which to follow their lives' mission.
Our principals...
1. God prepared a unique plan and calling for your life even before you were born.
2. God calls you to a life-changing relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
3. God calls you to partner with Him in a mission that is bigger than you are.
4. God calls you to be on mission with Him right where you are-starting now.
5. God reveals His mission through His Word, His Spirit, wise counsel, and His work in circumstances around you.
6. God will repeatedly bring you to crossroads of choice as He forges you for His mission.
7. God guides you and provides for your mission one step at a time.
8. When you answer God's call, you will experience His pleasure and change your world."
Monday, July 5, 2010
Excerpts from Ch. 1-Imagine
*Please read my former posts beginning with, Insights from a novice, before reading this post. All quotes are taken from the book, Launching Your Kids For Life, by Reccord.*
Imagine you aren't someone who has read this book (this may not be hard to do because you likely haven't if you are reading these excerpts!) but someone who has been affected by this book. If you peaked into their life and saw how they are seeking to instill the value of living an "on mission" lifestyle with their children here are some things you might take note of...
-The family talks about God out loud...no matter who is in their home.
-When the family have guests in their home, they talk about God as if He's a party guest...as if He's someone they know.
-The kids talk about God and about talking to God...like talking to you!
-The family has "intentionally and deliberately taught their kids to put God first and to demonstrate to others that this is how they live."
-The family finds ways to weave living "on mission" into their day-to-day lives.
-Whenever they have guests in their home, they think about what they can use to tell the gospel that fits in with a party atmosphere and what people they need to make sure are invited so they can hear it!
Personally, I want to raise our children to be so comfortable with their faith that they can articulate it to family members, to our co-workers whom we hang out with, to kids at school or to our next door neighbors.
What does it take?
1. A special effort
2. A plan put into action
3. Specific ideas (that are in the book, LYKFL)
Next post, excerpts from Ch.2, "Triumph and Tragedy" by Reccord
Introduction
*Please read my post, Insights from a novice, before reading this post.*
"The fact is our job as parents is literally to work ourselves out of a job. You see it really is inevitable. Our children actually do grow up and leave our nests. So the question is not Will they leave home? but How prepared will they be when they leave home?
"Most parenting books focus on how to give our children roots but this book will focus on giving them the blessing of wings!"
-Reccord
Next post, excerpts from Ch. 1 "Ways To Prepare For A Successful Launch: Imagine" by Reccord
Insights from a novice...
Proverbs 18:15 says, "Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights."I have been reading (and rereading), Launching Your Kids For Life by Bob and Cheryl Reccord.
I have come to discover that although we as parents long to be wise men and women who are always learning, listening, and discovering fresh insights, as stated in the verse above, realistically after consulting the Word and the Lord in prayer, gaining wisdom from mentors and actually parenting there is realistically little time leftover to read everything out there! In thinking this over, I know I love to hear quotes, ideas and tips from books my fellow mommy friends have read so therefore I thought I would return the favor. After reading this book, my highlighter is empty and my heart and mind are full. I long to raise our children to be on mission for God and I am sure you do as well. Instead of compete, like it seems so many parents try to do these days, why not compliment? In an effort to do that, I will share several short posts or sometimes maybe even one quote that is a rich parenting nugget. Remember, I am a novice at parenting but the parents in this book have been through the troubles and triumphs of parenting and have come out on the other side with children who are succeeding in their mission and loving their parents in return for setting them free. Learn along with me...
I have come to discover that although we as parents long to be wise men and women who are always learning, listening, and discovering fresh insights, as stated in the verse above, realistically after consulting the Word and the Lord in prayer, gaining wisdom from mentors and actually parenting there is realistically little time leftover to read everything out there! In thinking this over, I know I love to hear quotes, ideas and tips from books my fellow mommy friends have read so therefore I thought I would return the favor. After reading this book, my highlighter is empty and my heart and mind are full. I long to raise our children to be on mission for God and I am sure you do as well. Instead of compete, like it seems so many parents try to do these days, why not compliment? In an effort to do that, I will share several short posts or sometimes maybe even one quote that is a rich parenting nugget. Remember, I am a novice at parenting but the parents in this book have been through the troubles and triumphs of parenting and have come out on the other side with children who are succeeding in their mission and loving their parents in return for setting them free. Learn along with me...
Saturday, July 3, 2010
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