Orphan & Widow

We recently had some pictures taken by Lauren Webber, of Orphan & Widow. She has started a ministry to use her wonderful gift of photography, and other's gifts and talents, to raise awareness and support for the poverished. She had a fundraiser day at Botanical Gardens where we did our photoshoot and all funds she collected went to support a missionary headed to West Africa with a medical team to serve an unreached tribe. It's a really neat ministry she's started and an incredible way to share her God-given talent!
Thank you, Lauren! All of the pictures are beautiful!
These are just a few of my many favorites (along with our new title pictures):

I love the combination of bruised shins & skinned knees, and soft, chubby legrolls!

This is Larry's favorite of Lincoln- he says Lincoln has his hands up in a boxing pose, ready to fight someone to get out of the basket!

This is my favorite of Georiga (I think!)- it just captures her easygoing happiness with that little smile, her foot pulled up on the chair and her arms crossed...

Picnic at the Park

We took advantage of the beautiful weather to get out and have a picnic at Helena's Ampitheater park. It's beautiful down there- nice shade trees, right on the creek with the sound of the waterfall in the background, handy picnic tables, and you get to wave at the train as it goes by. I was also hoping getting out in the sunshine would help clear our runny noses- which continue to drag on! I've never been more ready to leave winter behind!
Hope you're having a fun, easy day too!
Georgia helping Lincoln with his sun protection.

Oh- how I LOVE this sweet, happy baby boy!






And this beautiful, independant, adventurous little girl!

Soon, we were all ready for naps!

Happy Easter

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter, and shared with our joy in knowing we have a Savior in Jesus, who died on the cross yet rose again three days later, all so my sins would be covered by His blood, the sacrifice of His life would pay for any and all of my wrongdoings, and that I can have a relationship with the God of the Universe. WOW!! God is SO good to us!!

We enjoyed an amazing Easter service at our church- the music lifted my heart and my hands, and included a version of Ol' Rugged Cross that gave me chills (good chills!). Our paster did an original dramatic monologue from the perspective of Barrabas- he was the convicted murderer that the Jews choose to free, and instead crucify Jesus. It was such a unique perspective since we are all like Barrabas- Jesus died in our place, although He was innocent and we are not. It was too good to not share- hear it here (at posting time the sermon was not yet online, but should be probably on Mon).

At home we enjoyed some Easter fun- the bunny left some goodies in our basket, which Georgia enjoyed. (ok- we've ALL been enjoying some of the sweeter goodies!) And Lincoln helped me with some adorable Easter pictures. (yes- I stuffed my baby boy in a basket that was probably a bit too small- or maybe my baby boy is a bit too big- either way it's still cute!). And Saturday we all enjoyed Georgia & Lincoln's first Egg hunt with our Sunday school class. Georgia did great once she figured out she was there to collect eggs, not play on the swings, and she liked it even more when she figured out there was candy in the eggs- she came to me drooling colors from shoving a starburst in her mouth!

Hope you had a fun and meaningful Easter weekend too!

Easter Egg Suncatchers

Well, mommy has hurt her back {again} (if anyone has suggestions on how to strengthen your back, please share! 2 pregnancies have done me in!)- so we were hanging around at home today. So I was looking for entertainment and found this seemingly easy craft that I thought Georgia and I could do- Easter Egg Suncatchers. Basically all it takes is gluing tissue paper to paper and cutting it into egg-shapes. They even suggest using contact paper, which would eeliminate the mess of glue. But who keeps contact paper laying around? Glue, I have.

So Georgia tore the tissue paper, then painted the glue onto card stock and wax paper, and we put the tissue scraps down. It was looking very pretty! See...

So, I know you're waiting for the "But, then"... well, what you can't see in my pictures is Lincoln learning to 'self-sooth' in the next room. And by that I mean screaming his head off. I debated adding a picture of his cherry-red, tear-streaked little face to this, but resisted. And Georgia's attention span lasted about long enough to take these pictures and get glue in her hair. So after she'd had a nice post-craft bath and they were both safely in bed napping, I cut out the eggs and hung them. See, so pretty...


All in all, a fun, manageable craft (if your baby isn't screaming the whole time) and you could cut out any pretty shapes. The ones we did on wax paper are fun because the sun shines thru them- the "Suncatcher" part! Happy crafting to you!

Lincoln: 4 Months

Dear Lincoln,

With all the ongoing festivities surrounding your sister's 2-year birthday last week, I am a bit late with your 4-month letter. But you enjoyed the partying as well, so I don't think you mind! Here's what's going on with you at the ripe ol' age of 4 months:
~I'm not sure of your actual weight, but on our home scale you weigh in at about 14.5 pounds. You're definitely getting bigger- my arms can't hold you as long as my heart wishes anymore!

~Mommy finished pumping at about 3.5 months and we finished our last bag of frozen breastmilk at the end of the month, so you're all-formula now. And you haven't missed a beat- or, rather, a gulp! You eat 6 ounces, 5 times a day, with the last around 9:30pm.

Before I upset any Grammies- this is a picture of you in full-blown laughter!

~Which leads us to sleeping- you go to bed around 9:30-10pm, and get up 7:30-8am. Yea!! You also take about 3 regular naps per day- morning, lunchtime, & afternoon, and sometimes a quick 30 min dinner-siesta if it's been a long day. You like to have your beauty sleep!

Roll, roll, rolling Lincoln!

~On to the fun stuff: You have mastered rolling from back to belly, but forgot that you already know how to roll from belly to back. So I lay you on the floor, you roll to your belly, then, after a few mins, get mad that you're on your belly! But all this belly time is really making your arms strong and you like to push up and watch us. You are also somehow scooting, b/c I often find you several feet from where I originally laid you!

~You're definitely a thumb-sucker, but also have found a new treat- toes! Oooo, the cutest baby trick of them all!! There's something about watching a little baby grab those toes with unpredictable fingers, pull them to your sweet little mouth, giving full view of chubby leg-rolls and tushy, and watching you happily suck that tiny big toe that melts hearts!!

Video: Yummy Toes!!

~I love that you have an easy smile and are more than willing to share it most anytime. Those easy smiles earn you so many kisses! You also have a great little laugh, which we hear most when daddy is tickling you. Although, mommy is learning those tickle spots too so I can hear your laughs all day!

~You continue to learn and make new noises, all steps towards future communication. Your latest sound is like "blah", which is cute b/c you stick your tongue out when doing it. You also like to "bpppt" with your lips, and blow bubbles.

~You have two new playspots: the Bumpo seat and the "Jazzerciser". You do a great job sitting in the Bumpo, but get bored in it quickly. We just got the "Jazzerciser" out last weekend, and you seem to like it. You're a bit young to fully grasp all it offers, but like looking at and trying to grab all the toys. You like to stand and use your strong legs, so this is a great place to practice that! (If you don't speak "hipp", the "jazzerciser" is what larry nicknamed the excersaucer)

I love the concentration on your face as you figure out how to spin that toy!

~I keep telling daddy you are going to be our noisy child- let's just say you've got a good set of lungs! When you get mad or upset, you YELL! Not just fuss or cry, but yell as loud as you can! Even when you're just "talking" and making noises, the noises get louder and louder. It's funny when it's not, well, noisy!!

I just love this baby stage where you're so soft, squishy & cuddly, and are learning to laugh & play. Where something as simple as toes can be an exciting treat, and mommy gets smiles for changing your diaper or giggles from changing your clothes. You love watching us, especially your big sister, who is full-speed entertainment, and Bernie- I think his black and white coat catches your eye! As we prepare to celebrate your first Easter, we promise to teach you about the saving grace of our risen Savior and pray you will know His love for yourself on day! WE love you, sweet baby boy!

love, Mommy