one month of Anna

She is amazing. Ten soft fingers with nails that tend to peel as soon as they start to get long. Ten little toes on these rather long feet. Three chins, that take a little while to clean every morning and a short stubby body, unlike her older brother who was always rather long and lanky. Her inner thighs have smallish rolls around the diaper and she likes to sleep with her eyes open. A grunter and a snorter and likes the all-you can-eat-buffet of mommy's milk. I haven't painted her as lady-like but she really is quite beautiful. I don't know for sure but she has this beautiful auburn hair and these navy-grey eyes that are getting a warm hazel ring around the pupil... and seems to have a warm skin tone like her momma. Sometimes I feel like I'm looking into a mirror. Our baby pictures are so alike, except...she has hair. Thank goodness.

Walk instead of crawl

Exhausted and ready to call it a night, I left the kitchen a mess and came to see what all the commotion was about in the living room.

My cousin Adam had come over for dinner while he was in town and had just stepped out to make a call.

Crouching low on the ground the hubs was cheering and clapping so loudly I can hardly make out what he was saying. "Go Will!! Yay Buddy! Twwwoooo, thhhrreeeee, C'MON bud! Fouuurr, FIVE! AHH!"

He did it. Finally, conquered his fears, stood to his feet and took a few steps of faith. Faith in what?

His Father.

Of course the fact that Tyler was dangling the pacifier in front to lure him to himself had nothing to do with it I'm sure but never-the-less, He DID it!!!

I stood there, tears in my eyes. Every comment from all of the well-meaning friends, "You need to walk, Mister!" or "When's that boy gonna start walking?" they all went out the window. He can do it. He just did. I knew he could. When he was ready.

We've tried a few times since then and he's done 2-3 steps here and there, but only when he's in a good mood and feeling pretty adventuresome. Is he running yet. no. Barely stepping.

And that's ok.

Why do some kids walk at 6 months and others at 16 months? Because we're all different. Our minds and bodies work differently on our own time. It's absolutely amazing. What really amazes me though is the fact that Will had the ability to do this probably for a few days, maybe weeks, but didn't. He didn't act on his ability until he felt safe. Not until he knew he had someone there to catch him, just in case he didn't quite make it. 


His Father.

His father knew he was ready. His father believed the ability was there. He believed that with a little encouragement, Will would stand up on his two little feet and take steps toward him.

Just like Will, I have a Father. I have a Father who watches me stand tall sometimes and other times fall down. He knows me better than I know myself (Ps 139:1-6).

He never asks me to do something that He knows I'm not capable of. Only what He has equipped me to do. 

He is standing there with His arms open wide waiting for me to step out in faith. He's mighty to save (Zeph 3:17), ready to catch me when I stumble.

Will I trust Him?

Might there be something that God is calling me to do today that only He can do through me? Is there some step of faith that my Father wants me to take that will draw me closer to Himself? If so, Lord, show me what it is. And give me the faith to walk instead of crawl.

Silly little egg

He's cracking me up and breaking my heart at the same time.  

 (Please ignore the fact that he is in his diaper)

He's everywhere in no time. This morning I sat him down on his little playmat and went to check my mail, when I came back, he was standing on the opposite side of the coffee table trying to touch the couch on the other side.

His little tongue is doing funny things too.

And my favorite? He says "more, more, more" when he's eating now. No, he won't say "Dadda" on a consistent basis, but he'll say "more, more, more". Silly little egg.

I love this kid. He really is a hoot. But he's growing up so quick. I cannot stop thinking about him as a newborn lately, it must be the change of seasons. It's getting closer and closer. His birthday. At this time last year I was getting "large and in charge" but still working at the daycare. When I got home in the evening I just dropped, I was so tired.

It will be Thanksgiving before we know it, and then the memories of a long night/morning in our bathroom and hospital will haunt my thoughts. Christmas will come and I'll try to remember what last year was like. Such a blur...no sleep and a needy newborn crowded out my brain's ability to function during the holidays.

This year will be different. We'll make our own memories and hopefully, create some brand new Tyler, Tori and Will traditions.

This photo taken in front of my tree last year by my amazing, photographer friend, Elisabeth Carol. Will was a tiny, three weeks old.

Embarking

How many times have I endeavored to begin something and have never done anything at all? I'm not able to recall at the moment. Though, I'm sure that my almost all of my immediate family, close friends and certainly my husband (who is both) could count the times using their hands their toes and their friends hands and toes.

But today...Today is different. I am doing something. Right now, it may not seem like much, but years from now, it will mean the world to me and those who want to know who I was, what my life was about, and how I lived it.

Welcome to my world, Tori Gillit and her Heavenly Calling.