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!
Chloe talks all of the time now. I keep trying to record her, but every time she sees the video camera she clams up and just stares at me. I feel like I am in that Looney Tunes cartoon where the man finds the singing frog. Every time they are alone the frog busts out with a top hat and a show tune, but as soon as someone else enters the room, the frog sits and just says, “Ribbit.” Eventually, people start calling the man crazy. I am not crazy. One day I will catch her and share the adorableness of her jabbering with the world! It is so sweet to listen to. She will sit in my lap and gesture and talk like we are having a great conversation; most of it sounds like ,”Mamamamama and bababababa,” with random clicking noises throughout. Yesterday she tried to talk to Gracey (our lab) who in turn just stared at Chloe like she was crazy. Lots of craziness in our house!
Chloe also has a tooth. Well the beginnings of a tooth…it is really just a little nub right now. She has worked very hard at cutting it in–thus the tantrums. *random confession: I have had this post in my head for about a week now (since Chloe started teething and jabbering non-stop), but I could not think of another “t” item to go in the title, so I postponed writing it. Yesterday mid-tantrum, I got so excited because I finally had another t! Ridiculous, I know…but it is the kindergarten teacher in me!* Overall, teething really hasn’t been too bad. The hardest part was that she went on a hunger strike in the midst of it all. (apparently this is a normal reaction to teeth, but since this is our first baby, “normal” is unknown to us). I DID go a little crazy over that. But, by the grace of God, she has gained tons of weight over the past week, so I am off the crazy train!
Chloe on the floor post tantrum...
And the tantrums are slightly funny. She mainly has them when one of 3 things happen: 1) You interrupt her playing/take something away from her, 2) Her teeth hurt, 3) She is sleepy. For the most party, you can simply kiss her, distract her or snuggle her and the tears quickly fade away.
Chloe is terrific (another t!!) and we love her so much!
On April 27th, my grandmother, Chloe’s Great-Grandmother (thus the GG), turned 80! To help her ring in her eighth decade, Chloe, my mother and I all traveled down to Texas. The last time my grandma and grandpa saw Chloe she was less than 2 months old, and all she did was cry! This time, however, was much better! Chloe loved her GG and great-grandpa, but she really LOVED their dog Bruiser! (he is a mini schnauzer–not so scary as his name!) It was a whirlwind trip, but we got a few cute pictures that I had to share!
Hanging out with the birthday girl!
Laughing at great-grandpa!
4 generations of Snell women! (yes I am by FAR the tallest woman on my mom’s side of the family)
Chloe is six months old! (well six at the time I wrote this, seven tomorrow!)! It is crazy how quickly it has gone by! In some ways, it seems like we have had her forever–like there was never a pre-Chloe era…but in other ways, it seems like we just got home from the hospital! I now understand why all parents say it goes by too fast!
Well, at seven months, our little miss thinks she is quite the stuff. Earlier this month at family pictures (samples to come soon!) she wanted nothing to do with a little boy who was trying to flirt with her. He was grabbing her feet and giggling, and she kept completely aloof (and made her daddy proud)! Her heart is only for her daddy right now, and boy does she love him! Chloe also loves sitting up like a big girl (although it takes quite a lot of concentration on her part still), and twirling her feet and wrists in circles–it’s like she just discovered them this past month and is so excited to use them all the time! She loves to blow raspberries and to have them blown back to her, and she makes the m, l, and b sounds! Her beginning babble is so fun, and I can’t wait until she is using words! She just learned to splash in the tub (video coming soon) and loves to make water go everywhere! She is also into smacking everything (a neat trick taught by her dad) and grabs absolutely anything that is within arm’s reach. Chloe still has no interest in crawling, but instead loves to sit and chill with mom and dad. She just wants to be in the middle of everything and loves to hang out. It is super fun! Chloe loves to cuddle with mom and dad, and enjoys reading her goodnight books every night before bed. She love love loves our dogs. She pets them, pulls their hair, rides them, and giggles at them while they play! She can seriously sit outside and just watch them for half an hour and be absolutely content! At 6 months, Chloe was in the 91th percentile for height (she is 27 and 1/4 inches tall) and the 36th percentile for weight (15 lbs 8 oz)!! She is getting so big!
No silly! We are not having another baby! But, we have been married for FOUR years today! Hooray! On this day, four years ago, I was so blessed to see Jeremy standing at the end of the aisle waiting for me. It was a long road to get there, but it was well worth the wait! I love my husband so much, and it has been such a privilege to grow with him! He is daily becoming a man of character and worth. He is a loving husband who seeks ways to serve me, challenges me in my often stubborn ways, and humbles me with his love. He is a doting father in whom our daughter will be blessed to find shelter in. He is an excellent provider. He is a lover of Jesus and is always looking for ways to lead us toward Him. He is my one true love, and for that, I praise the Lord! I am so lucky that I get to be molded and shaped with him for the rest of our lives! I love you Jeremy Alan Horton!!!!!
April 8, 2006! “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. His banner over me is love.”
This morning, Chloe discovered that she could LICK the dribbled apples and rice cereal off of her bib. In the process she got apples in her eye–but she loved every bit of it! Obviously, feeding her just got a little bit more challenging! Silly girl!
