five months ...

After taking a while to get the four month post out, here's month number five ... on time!

Having five months under my belt, I'm pretty much independent ... at least I like to think so.  I sit and play by myself, talk stories to my blankets (I love blankets!), grab the spoon of food Mama is feeding me (if she'd just let go, I'm sure I wouldn't get it all over my face!).  When I need to get to a new position, I just "go" (though, Mama calls it "lunging").  So, yea, I guess I still need their help in the transportation department but, I'm quite certain I'd be able to feed myself.  I've tried some more fruits & veggies since last month ... why don't they start you right off the bat with this stuff?

There's this new trick I discovered ... it involves rotating my wrists.  I do it a good portion of the day, that is, when I'm not napping or trying to suck on my hands.  I've heard them call it "conducting", whatever that means!  In other news, I was in the bath the other day and Mama called for Daddy to come and watch me as I put my face in the water and blew bubbles.  I do it all the time now ... it's fun to make them laugh and clap for me.  After this month, I've decided that being sick and teething is not fun ... it's too hard for me to giggle in the worst of those moments.  Glad I'm back feeling better again.

I'm growing into more 'big boy' clothes, as Mama puts it (9-12 months sizes).  I even got a pair of snow pants the other day.  I wore them to the Remembrance Day service on Sunday since it was super cold.  Besides our regular day-to-day stuff, we've done some visiting with friends, hung out with family, and have had some of our own family time.  I'm just loving taking all of this in ... 

Even though Judah's forehead is a bit overexposed in this shot, his expression was too cute to not post!

our day in pictures

1. snowy morning.
2. sweater kind of day.
3. a pattern I love.
4. telling stories.
5. making pear sauce.
6. tortilla soup & crossword.
7. music before bed.

pace

Listening to Matt serenade me with some Paul Simon, Neil Young, Mumford & Sons (just to name a few!), I'm enjoying our unedited life as it's happening.  There are laundry baskets full of clean clothes in each room, our bellies full with a delicious dinner, music filling our little pad, an organized mess of paper piles, the odd laugh, one sweet boy fast asleep...

It's been a quiet week since that cold bug infiltrated our systems.  Though being sick really bites, I've enjoyed just slowing down.  For, with quiet comes simplicity.  With simplicity, appreciation for God and His grace towards us.  With gratitude, in turn, can bring peace.

I'm a real geek when it comes to words, their meanings, and how they sound (yup, I'm a pun lover!).  I also love words in other languages...go figure(!).  Lately, when I've been thinking of the word "peace", I've immediately thought of it's italian counterpart "pace".

[pace/peace (italian): freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, etc.]

[pace (english): a rate of movement...]  

With entirely different roots to both of the words (peace - pax; pace - passus), it's more of an "interest" thing that these words overlap across two languages.  But the irony of their spelt connection is what draws me to ask this spellbinding* question tonight ...

Is my living pace bringing me peace?  Is yours?


pic pix: iPhone pic (taken with vscocam) of the park down the hill, 07.Nov.2012, Calgary, AB


*a silly pun for you :)

thoughts. things.

Since mid-last week, we've been fighting colds over here.  I haven't picked up my camera much, but here are a few shots of what some of this last week of life has looked like ...

Trick or Treat

We didn't go trick or treating, but after spending a whole afternoon sleeping, I knew we had to get out.  It being halloween and given our short time to be creative, we went for simple.  This little man sat still enough only for a few moments to let me draw a moustache on for his "costume".  Before I completed it, he had a few moments in front of the mirror admiring it so.

Lazy Days

One morning for brekky, because we were all feeling so under-the-weather, we made some homemade chicken noodle soup.  One word: yum!  My 'get-well' bouquet is peeking into the one picture ... I have the best husband ever :)

The guys caught up on some reading while I made some banana bread (another one of our family comfort foods).

And after being inside most of the day, we decided we should take in some fresh air.  Turns out, we weren't the only ones going for a family walk ...

Cutie

After he realized that he was making us laugh by keeping the apple in, he didn't want to take it out!  He may not be totally in the clear yet, but he sure is a happy fellow.  Oh do I ever love this little munchkin to bits.

four months ...

Took these shots around his actual 4 month "birthday"... finally getting to the posting part(!).

Though teething has become my new norm, I still manage to bring a happy light wherever I go with my still-toothless smile.  And that jolly jumper?!  I'm pretty sure they named that for me :)  All smiles on when I get my jump on!  I'm no longer the baby boy that likes to lay under my mobile ... I like to sit and play with my toys now.  Preferably the ones that squeak or make a lot of noise (much to Daddy's chagrin!).  I haven't gotten the hang of crawling yet, but find myself face down swimming in the carpet because I think I can.  Mama loves my giggles, so she tickles me a lot.  Bath time, mirror time, Mama time, ... they're all my favorite pastimes but there's something special about when Daddy gets home to play with me.  To add to my party tricks, I now hold a grown-up cup (with something in it!) and drink from it - it seems to get me even more attention!  I try to grab others things, but I don't get the same reaction ... I wonder why?!  Mama has let me try some new tastes, and I've loved every new exciting flavor.  I got to celebrate my first thanksgiving dinner(s), took a road trip to see my Gigi (great-Gramma), meet my second cousins...there's no end to all these new things!           

the bragging boots

Ever found yourself an amazing deal on something, and can't keep it in with how well you scored on it's price??  Maybe you're not that kind of person - that feels the need to share exciting news with others ... but I sure am (like after we got engaged, I shared my news with random strangers in the elevator, on the bus, in the street...!!).  Was I ever in the advertising mood after finding these cute lil winter boots for Juju.  While thrifting the other morning, I picked up these bad boys (plus a pair of brand new socks) for a steal at $2.99!  I must say ... I was pret-ty happy with my incredible find.  Until ...

I lost one of them.

Yup.  My finder's pride was halted when I went to go show them off to my sister-in-law and the one tiny boot was gone.  I drove back to the store we were at and retraced all of our steps with no avail.  The perfect fit/style (and price) of boot, no more.  As was my bragging ... no more.  Until last night ...

M'love was down in our complex's parkade, and what was sitting in the wash-bay?  That itty-bitty boot!  I'm back to bragging again!

As I was thinking about how excited/proud I could be over a little deal like that, I started thinking of an ever bigger thing to be over the moon about.  Something that I didn't even have to pay for, but it was given to me, and is a lot longer lasting than any deal thrifted or bought new.

God's forgiveness in my life.

Here I am, living my little life "on cloud nine" over my short-lived find and bragging about it, when there is something GREATER and more POWERFUL that actually constantly fuels my existence. my joy. my peace. my strength...

My freedom to not be enslaved to sin!

God has set me free and I need to gloat about that.  He has covered my sins with His never-ending love.  He has set my feet on solid ground.  He has vowed to never leave me nor forsake me.  He has created me so that He may love me.  He promises us eternal life in heaven with Him.  And ALL this for three easy payments of ... free!  Nada, zilch, nothing.

Now that's a DEAL I should be (and am going to be) bragging about.

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be BOLD for Christ, 

as I have been in the past.  And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.  

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

Philippians 1:20-21

pic pix: the bragging boots, 29.Oct.2012, Calgary, AB

{a smidget of} our day in pictures

1. friendly kisses with a special amiga.

2. words.

3. seems i can't properly dress myself these days ... wrong buttons done up.

4. bringing mid-day coffees to papa.

5. creating new ways to 'play' guitar.