Chloe Time

post mega poop clean up (these times come frequently)

pretending to enjoy solids

playtime with Kaelyn

failed attempt to capture first tooth!

my sleeping beauty

February

I'm so glad this month is at it's end. March makes me feel that spring is around the corner, and I've been waiting for daylight savings since October. This month was a rough one as I was sick most of the time. Danny and my mom did an amazing job caring for me. My mom made the best chicken soup in the world. I could've lived off of it for the rest of my life. It was hard trying to tell Noah that mommy couldn't play or snuggle up in bed with him. One thing I appreciated was the get well cards Danny and Noah drew for me. Noah burst through our bedroom doors after one of my naps, saying "ayplay (airplane), mommy, see ayplay!" while pointing to his picture. Danny also taught Noah how to pray for me while I was sick. I put him down last night with Danny, and we asked him who he wanted to pray for, and he responded, "a-kowee, a-mommy, a-daddy." We've begun a little scripture memory and are working on Ephesians 6:1. He really likes it too. He'll see the Bible and say, "the Lord?," so I'll say the verse and have him repeat me one word at a time.

And little Chloe is growing so quickly. She is 5 months, and is really making me love having a little girl. Noah would go to anyone at anytime, but Chloe loves being with me. She makes me feel special :) But now we're trying to get her to like Teta because mommy and daddy need to go out. She squeals and chats a lot, and it doesn't take much to make her happy. She loves watching Noah ALL the time, especially if he's dancing. He can really make her laugh. She loves tummy time and has already rolled from her tummy to her back. I remember that was such a huge deal with Noah because it took him forever since he was so chunky :) She is an absolute joy and I can't get enough of her.

I cannot end this post without giving thanks to my best friend.
Danny, I am so grateful for how you compassionately cared for me this month. Thank you for being so sacrificial. You cancelled all your plans and even put your work aside to serve your family. I was sorry you had to use your sick time, but I know you weren't. Thank you for not just being here but working endlessly to care for me and the kids. You weren't feeling good either, but the Lord strengthened you and gave you the grace you needed for each day. Thank you for praying with me and for pointing me to scripture when I was weary. Even when you were traveling, you made yourself available and you cheered me up with a fun and yummy scavenger hunt on V-DAY while you were away. Thanks for not only playing with Noah, but training him and planting seeds in his life, teaching him about the Bible and how to pray. You redeemed the time you had with him well. He loves you so much. And as for Chloe, thanks for cleaning all the blow outs and helping out with the morning feedings. You were a great stay-at-home mom :) Thank you for really living out Ephesians 5:25 and giving up your life for me and for loving me as Christ loved the church. I am so undeserved. It was hard to cancel all the fun things on our agenda, but looking back, God had bigger and better plans for us and for our marriage. This month has opened my eyes even more to see God's mercy and kindness. What an awesome God we serve. I love you so much!

Noah's prayer

Danny's done a great job consistently training Noah to pray. Sometimes I forget to hold his hands before bed, but he won't start until I do, saying, "mommy, hands?." I love hearing this and seeing how excited Noah gets at the end.

People I love

(Playoff Sunday:)

A Merry 2011 Christmas

This Christmas we were able to host both our families at our home. We didn't do a good job of taking pictures, but we got a couple families shots and then I was off to the kitchen! Noah got real gifts this year, and it was fun watching him open his airplane and remote control car from his grandparents. We celebrated Noah's birthday on Christmas day since the family was all together. Chloe enjoyed looking at the Christmas lights on our tree and just being her cute baby self. She's laughing and wiggling so much these days :)

It was a busy season for us with parties and get togethers, and we enjoyed every minute. We were so mindful of God's grace and goodness to us this year, and what a great way to end the year off with a holiday that explains it all. We are so grateful that Christmas for us is more than a season but a joyful reality that has transformed our lives forever. Our God has given us an eternal gift in sending our Savior, Jesus Christ, a gift we could never earn or ever deserve. Our Lord is worthy of our praise and adoration every day of the year.

A small crisis

Today Noah was playing with his birthday balloon, and managed to somehow detach the string from the balloon. "Mommy uh- oh, up, up!" I told him there was no way I could reach it, and he looked at me helpless. But then he thought he had great idea, and ran to the bathroom. He came back with his 8 inch stool...


Surprisingly he was unsuccessful, but mommy rescued the balloon with a broom and some duck tape :)

Noah, you keep us laughing. Today you also touched my heart once again. I gathered all the legos in front of me so we could play, but you moved all the legos away from me, sat in my lap and then drew the legos back to us. We had a good time building towers and knocking them over. I just love you!

Two

Noah,

Right now I'm watching you play independently. You are staying busy these days. You love playing with my measuring cups, my blender, and my hat. You love playing basketball and ping pong with daddy. You love to play with all your cars, trucks and airplanes. We look at your plane book almost hourly, and you love to point out every "ay-play." You love to look at "a-boat's" too. "Row your boat" has become your favorite song. You're learning how to say many things like "oh man," "he ya go," and "mommy, your the bus (best)." Daddy is teaching you to pray before all you meals and you're learning quite well. Your favorite books are Plane's, Diggers, Noah's ark (you love the "a-boat," and Good Night Moon since it has an "oh-fiy (fire)" on almost every page. You've learned how to do all your puzzles, and your often found on the couch looking through one of your books. Right now we are watching you play as you chat away. We smile and enjoy every moment. You love "Cho-wee" (Chloe)! We know this because you give her random hugs and kisses all the time.You make sure to return her burp cloth and blanket if you find it somewhere on the ground too. I know she appreciates that. You've become such a good helper and love to be involved in everything we do. The other day you were measuring the frames with the tape measurer before we hung them up. You like to grocery shop at Giant because they have a cart your size, and you like to push it as we drop the groceries in. You get lots of attention when we take you there. You are so adorable! You are very good at obeying us when we ask you to do things. You are learning how to share and you play kindly with those around you. You love for Mommy and Daddy to chase you around the house, and we love how you come up from behind us to give us hugs. We are such proud parents, you have brought a ridiculous amount of joy into our lives. We love you so much! What a precious gift from the Lord you are! Happy Birthday Buddy!

November

Sooner or later this blog might turn into our online photo album. I can't keep up with everything that is going on! Our days have been full as we're adapting to having two kids. The Lord has been kind, and really has doubled the amount of grace! As I look back at my days, there is no other explanation. My dad has been sick and has had a couple surgeries, so Teta wasn't here as much as we expected. Praise the Lord, he is slowly recovering and is doing better. Now Teta and Gido make it out here about once a week and spend the night when they come. They can't get enough of the kids. My mom takes them when they wake up so we get to sleep in :) We are blessed. Chloe has also been sleeping through the night which allows me to function more effectively :) I am really enjoying my time at home. Chloe is smiling and laughing a lot. Noah really loves his sister. He love's to play with her on the play mat and read her books on planes and diggers book. Danny has been working hard. This quarter was slow at work, but he has not slowed down at home. He is so patient with the kids, and loves teaching Noah how to do small tasks, and of course play ping pong. He is currently doing an exercise video with Noah, and I really should be video taping. Some highlighted photos...

Spiderman trick or treating with his best buddy, Makenna

Chloe learning to be loved

Smoothie time

Noah sometimes sleeps in Mommy's hat. I think it's officially yours buddy.

This picture was taken after I took the yogurt out, set it on the counter and went to the bathroom. Noah LOVES yogurt. I came back and found it on the floor with his spoon, and him saying, "uh-oh mommy, uh oh!"

The Sutton grandkids on our annual Christmas cookie making/decorating day

The melting of my heart

Picture update

Life's been busy, but we're having fun in this new season...

lots of naps (for Chloe)
quick check up
Gravely Point with the Devries
play dates
Chloe meets her cousins-Sophia, Rachael, & Tyler
photo shoot with Tali (more to come)
1st new family pic at Abby's bday pty

learning time with gido
Noah and his cousins at Butler's Orchard

Noah in mommy's apron

The Devries

Over a year ago, we have had the PRIVELEGE of having the Devries move into our home. From renters to family, we can't imagine life without them. We joke about locking them into a 10 year lease, but at heart we are serious :) Danny and Dave have formed a fast friendship around competitive games including acquire, blokus, ping pong, and car racing to church. I would say Danny has seen what it means to work heartily for the Lord by watching Dave. Whether at home, work, or the LINK table, he's giving it 110%. They also both have short term memory loss which grieves their wives from time to time, yet they find it amusing. For me, I've learned much from Hannah. Armed with much grace, she is a constant reminder of where our source for strength comes from. I admire how she serves her family joyfully in all circumstances without complaining. By the way, you will never be able to tell by her appearance or attitude if she hasn't slept. The effects of a sleepless night is found on our level :) And speaking for Noah, he loves playing and laughing with Makenna. She's taught him the joys of friendship and being social, how to climb the coffee table, and how to fall and get up again. The two of them together help thier mommies get through the day regardless of how messy the house can get. Chloe and Kaelynn... they just eat and sleep for now, but we plan on them being buddies too. I could say more, but we love them and are so grateful for them sums it all up.

She's here!

"Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him, bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
His steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations."
Psalm 100:3-5

Chloe arrived 2 weeks early on September 28, 2011. She was 7 lbs and 19 1/4 inches. We believe she was actually a little longer since she measured 20 inches at the dr's 3 days later :) The plan was to induce me on October 3rd, and although I was having many contractions, I didn't think I was going to go into labor on my own. I woke up at around 4:15 am with strong contaractions and she arrived at the hospital (thankfully) at 7:52 am. I think with the next kid I might just hang out at Shady Grove hospital once I hit 8 months. After delivering a 9 1/2 lb baby naturally, my biggest fear was not having an epidural. We got the hospital and I was 8cm dilated. The anesthesiologist was in the middle of a C-section, and my doctor was still driving in. I was so fearful as the nurse was telling me to prepare for a natural delivery. Danny and I prayed. I was trying to remind myself of God's faithfulness through Noah's delivery. His grace was so sufficient then and would not fail me this time. As I was trying to relax through contractions, my heart was at peace. Shortly after that, both the doctor and the anesthesiologist were in my room, and in no time was that epidural in. (Thank the Lord for modern day medicine! What a relief!) The rest of the delivery and recovery went so smooth with zero complications and we were able to go home the next day. We are so grateful to God for his kindness. He has been so near to us through it all. I was so aware of my dependence on the Lord after everything I went through with Noah, and I am so aware that I need him today just as much as I did then. Aside from sleepless nights, we are so in love with our baby girl. Noah gives her so many kisses and loves to help care for her.
Chloe, we are so happy you're part of our family! We talked about having a little Chloe when we were engaged, and I can't believe you're here. Our hearts are filled with love for you and we are delighted to be your parents. We look forward to you waking up for more than 10 minutes and watching you grow over the coming months and years. We love you!