Let me start by saying that Chloe is in love with animals. IN LOVE. She loves our dogs. She grabs whatever part of them she can whenever they are in her reach, and she smiles from ear to ear each time they enter the room. In the cabin that we shacked up at in Beaver’s Bend, there was a GIANT elk head hanging on the wall (translation: creepy), and she loved it. She waved to it every time we passed it (apx 50 times a day), and she crooned her head to find it as often as possible. There was also a small bear-shaped table that was disturbingly life-like and about the size of a dog in our cabin. When she first saw it, Chloe giggled and clapped with delight. She was very disappointed to find out that it was not as responsive as our two puppies at home.
Since our baby has so much love for animals, we decided to take her to the OKC zoo! It is around 100 million degrees here in Oklahoma right now, so we just took an abbreviated tour to the petting zoo and the aquarium. They just redid the childrens’ zoo, and it combines two of Chloe’s favorite things: small, furry animals and water. It was a massive success.
We started off the morning by chasing around some goats, petting a rabbit, and laughing at the donkey.
Then we played in the splash park until we were sufficiently soaked.
After that, we visited the Lorikeets. If you get a chance to go, DO–it is very entertaining. The birds land right on you, so we had a chance to feed them, and Chloe had a chance to get bit by one (don’t worry–she wasn’t hurt, and it took about 3 bites from the bird for her to finally figure out that she should stop sticking her little fingers in its beak).
We finished up our zoo adventure with a tour of the aquarium. At this point, the small one was pretty tuckered out and was angry that she couldn’t pet the fish like the goats and rabbit…consequently, we have no pictures. But, all in all, it was a wonderful time!
Some of our closest friends in the world, David and Kristina Russell, live in Nicaragua. It is very far away. We love them, and we miss them. Twice a year, however, they come home! There is much rejoicing on our part when they are here in the states with us! Yay!
This past week, we rented a cabin in Beaver’s Bend, Oklahoma and spent a few days with just the Russells and us. We played games, cooked smores, giggled (the girls anyway), and just enjoyed each others’ company. It was divine!
I did not take any pictures of the four of us (oops), but I did manage to capture their precious 14-month-old little boy and Chloe together. This is another one of Choe’s candidates for future husband, and I think they hit it off! She didn’t get to plant a kiss on Beckett (unlike with Levi), but she enjoy watching him run around and do silly things!
Chloe and Beckett…Beckett isn’t so sure about this girl beside him.
*Notice that Chloe is WAY smiling here, she has just learned to smile for the camera and loves doing it.*
Beckett is okay with Chloe and starts to smile…Chloe is now unsure.
Beckett leaning in for a close up with Chloe…Chloe thinking, “What is this guy doing?”
Chloe:: “I’ll teach you to check me out! I’ll yank out your hair. Come here you!”
Chloe emerges victorious and Beckett is confused about what just happened.
We love our friends and their sweet, mischievous baby boy!
Chloe is 9 months old! Wow–every month seems to go by more and more quickly! (too quickly for mom for sure!) Our “little” baby is now two and a half feet tall and in the 98% for height! She weighs 18 pounds 6 ounces (38%); so she is long and thin! Shopping for her this fall will be a challenge because she is already almost out of 12-18 month clothes height wise, but is so stinking skinny that she can still wear 6-9 month clothes! High-water pants will be her trademark. =D
Chloe is into so much right now. She loves dancing and getting low (taught to her by her father, not her ghetto mother), and she loves to “walk” while holding our hands. She loves to look at the world upside down and will often thrust herself backward to do just that (we have had quite a few falls and bumps due to this obsession). Chloe is also into standing and banging things together–our coffee table has the bumps to prove it. She loves to clap and sing as well. She is such a joy!
Chloe is officially (we think) over her aversion to bald men and facial hair, and she is really learning to ham things up when in a crowd. She is at the age where she is always looking for a response to her actions and loves to make others smile. When people don’t respond how she believes they should, Chloe gets really sad…it is too cute. She just recently mastered the art of flirting, and loves to smile and lean for people (especially men). However, if her object of affection tries to touch her…let’s just say it is very similar to the Black-Eyed Peas song ‘Humps’, “You can look but you can’t touch. If you touch I’m gonna…start some DRAMA, you don’t want no drama. No no drama, no no no no drama.” At least she isn’t an easy catch. =D
Speaking of flirting, we went to Dallas for the 4th and had a wonderful time with many friends! Chloe met a candidate for her future husband, and fireworks ensued! (sadly, these were the only fireworks we experienced this year) She and Levi Wozny had a great time oohing and aahing over each other, and Chloe may or may not have tried to sneak in a kiss. (Levi may or may not have tried to kiss her too…or he may have just been trying to eat her bow.)
Chloe turned 8 months on June 1st! She is growing and learning, and it is such fun to be part of her little life.
Here is the low down on lil’ C right now: She babbles all the time; her favorite phrases are “mamamama” and “dadadada.” I don’t really think she has any idea what she is saying yet, but it is always fun to hear “mamama” coming out of her mouth! She loves to make tooting noises, and when she does, everything within a ten inch radius is sprayed with spit! It is messy but fun to watch her giggle with sheer delight at herself afterwards! She is very adept at shaking her head “no.” Again, I am not sure if she has associated a meaning with this, but she often uses it very correctly.
Chloe is reaching for everything, and as I mentioned before, she believes everything that she has laid hands on belongs to her. She loves playing with pots and pans in the kitchen and thinks that throwing things on the floor is a-mazing! Chloe loves to give kisses (especially to her toy fish). She has 3 smiles now: her half-grin when she is unsure about what she thinks of someone or something, her full out smile (that shows off her two little teeth) that she gives when something really makes her happy, and a new smile that is just plain silly that she doles out when she is being impish. Her hair is beginning to get wavy in the back on one side! She has very strong opinions about everything she encounters. She does not like facial hair on men (she is her mama’s girl =). Chloe is a water baby, and she loves being outside. She loves dirt, grass, tree bark, and flowers; she grabs them by the handful and studies them intensely. She is also into peering right now. She loves to “peer” over, sideways, and around objects to get a closer look. It is pretty stinking cute…sometimes she does it just to be funny as well! And my favorite thing that she does right now is patting. I often pat her when I am holding her or putting her to sleep, and Chloe has decided that she should do the same for me whenever her little hands can reach. Such a silly little girl!
Peering through the rocking chair handle!
So much fun!
We still feel blessed each and every day by the gift God has given us in her!
So this post has little to do with Chloe (alright, nothing to do with Chloe), but I am so proud and have to share! Back in March, I tilled the ground, worked in some compost, and then planted some tiny little seeds in our backyard. And now…
My garden is growing! And producing! And it is so fun!
This is a tiny little bean! Can you see it?
True story: when my seedlings first started growing, I forgot what I planted where and did not know what was a seedling and what was a weed. So, my garden got overgrown with weeds! Boo! Since the garden is all organic though (with homemade compost), I couldn’t use weed killer. But, we mulched with grass clippings, and it took care of those pesky weeds! Hooray! I do have some white butterflies that keep nibbling on my broccoli and cauliflower, but there is enough for all of us! As I picked fresh vegetables and herbs, I felt a little like an early pilgrim (in my head at least). And all I could think was, “Thank you Lord for this bountiful harvest.” Kind of silly, but I am really amazed at the life that was created from packages of tiny little seeds. Yay for new life!
As of the past 2 weeks, Chloe has developed some major entitlement issues, and it is quite a sight to behold! Everything exists for her exploration and her amusement…absolutely EVERYTHING! The clementine I am eating–it’s Chloe’s. The telephone I am trying to talk to daddy on–Chloe’s. The toilet bowl–also Chloe’s. Ryleigh’s fur–you guessed it, Chloe’s! Her curiosity is endearing, but the fits that follow if you do not hand over her object of desire are incredible. These said fits range from a small squeal of anger (imagine an angry pig) to an all out throwing herself on the ground, stomping her feet and screaming (imagine an angry banshee).
While laughing and watching Chloe throw her ridiculous tantrums, I have once again been struck by the realization that she and I are all too similar. I feel as if I am entitled to much–a comfortable life, peace of mind, my own time, feeling love towards and from all my fellow Christians…the list goes on and on. And, like Chloe, I do not behave attractively if my self-proclaimed rights are not met. I do throw tantrums (ask my husband), but most often I express my unhappiness in a more civilized manner: by harboring bitterness, anxiety, jealousy or insecurity (all beautiful qualities, of course).
Yet when I look to God’s word, there is no mention of my “rights.” There are promises of fruits of the Spirit, peace and comfort from God, but these gifts are not given in the way that I feel I deserve them–at my demand and without restraint. And because of this, I have found that I fear to lay my life in the hands of an untamed God and allow Him to do as He pleases. He does not promise me an easy life, and that thought is uncomfortable to me. He does promises Christ, and honestly, this thought is often uncomfortable to me as well. My heart and mind fear trading in my rights for Christ. Unlike the writers of the Bible, I have yet to fully embrace Him as life and life more abundantly. Yet, in Christ, there is LIFE, not to mention peace, joy, love, comfort, companionship…but it comes by resting in Him and rejoicing in Him–not as a pay out of something I have merited.
So, instead of growing embittered by what I feel I deserve, I am going to be thankful for the daily blessings that I don’t: like another day with Jeremy and Chloe, a roof over my head, clothes to wear in my closet, clean water, a good night’s sleep, a family who loves me… I am going to sing of the love of Christ that has given me this and more. And when I come to bumps in the road, I am going to praise Him all the more, knowing that these momentary sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed.
Lord, help me to surrender my rights and to embrace You.
Nothing says summer to me like a dip in the pool! I love it!!
This weekend, we went to Dallas to see Jeremy off to Moscow, Russia! (he is going on a two week mission trip with CRU–prayers much appreciated!) It was our first time in a hotel with Chloe, and she did wonderfully! During the day, Jeremy was in meetings with the team, so Chloe and I scoured the hotel for things to keep her amused. We found the hotel staff (she would wave, smile, and flirt every time we saw them), college kids (also loved to smile at them), the elevator, and her favorite–the pool! The first trip to the pool was a wild success, and she soaked everything that she had on through and through! Trip two, I stripped her down to her diaper (forgot to pack swimsuits), and she really went at it! (Ignore me in this…I am awkward for some reason…)
Ummm…so naked babies might be the cutest thing in the world! Seeing their little dimpled skin and chubby little rolls is too much fun! Recently, Chloe has learned two new tricks in the tub: how to splash (which she does so daintily and lady-like) and giving fish-style kisses to her toy fish and her mom (also adorable)! Here is a quick little glimpse of the fun!
