Costco

We went to Costco last night as a family. We met Mark out at the one that's closest to his work and had a great time. We like walking around looking at the incredibly big boxes of everything and anything.........did you know that you can buy a casket at Costco? I just saw that for the first time last night. Sort of odd if you ask me, but I'm sure it's a great deal. Last night we had 5 things on our list and we left with only 3 of the 5......that's pretty good for Costco (the other two things were not there.) Usually it's the other way around. I would have 5 things on my list and I would end up leaving with 10 things. We are really trying hard to stick to a budget and use what the Lord has blessed us with. It has been a challenge but we really feel that God is working on us to live simply and humbly. I love looking at my pantry and seeing how I can make dinner with the things we already have. It makes it fun and knowing that we are doing what God has asked us to do makes a so-so dinner seem like a gourmet meal.
"He has given food to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever." Psalm 111:5

Happy Birthday Papa!!

My mom and her dad a month (May 2006) before he passed away. We all wish you were still around to see Lulu and Levi join our family. I got pregnant with Lulu a month after Papa passed away. I have so many memories of him. I will never forget the New Years Eve that my brother and I spent with my grandparents. Grandma had gone to bed and Papa let us stay up to count down to midnight. I was about 8 years old so this was a big deal for me. At exactly midnight we all ran up the stairs from their basement (where the T.V. was) and went out to the front yard and banged pots and pans to make as much noise as we could. I will never forget that. We miss you!

Toilet Paper

Lulu has always loved playing with toilet paper. The first two pictures were taken when she was 14 months old playing with the toilet paper that she took off the roll when I wasn't looking. Ever since then she has enjoyed tearing it into little pieces and making piles with it. I will find little pieces of toilet paper all over the place for a few days after she has done this. The last picture is Lulu just the other day playing with some toilet paper that she asked for. I know how much she loves it so I let her take a bit now and then to play with. She calls it her "stuffs." She'll say "mommy, where's my stuffs?" "mommy, can I have some toilet paper to make stuffs?" Who would have thought a little toilet paper could make a 2 1/2 year old so happy. Hopefully this will make potty training that much easier!!

Tummy Time!

Levi is getting so big, about 12lbs now. He is 6 1/2 weeks old and he loves "tummy time." He can hold his head up really well and push up with his arms. He does get a bit tired and then ends up laying flat on his tummy and really likes that position. He's very content where ever he is and it takes a lot to upset him. He is cooing a lot and has been tracking for a while now. Levi is a great sleeper!! We usually put him down around 8pm and he is up at 7am. He will usually wake once at night to nurse and even then he doesn't really wake up. It's been such a blessing to get this much rest. I can't wait to see how God is going to use Levi as he gets older.....and also Lulu. They are so different and I could see that even when Levi was still in my belly. The way he acted inside of me is just how he is now, calm and content. It's amazing how God creates life and gives a baby 9 months of a warm place to live before coming out but they still take on their personality from very early on in the womb. I remember how Lulu used to flutter in my tummy non stop and those flutters became kicks that were non stop and to this day she is always moving and dancing. Levi would flutter and take long periods of rest then he would flutter some more, then he started kicking but not very hard and would have long periods or rest......just like he does now. I just know God has something very special planned for both of them just like he does for every single little baby waiting to be born.
"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to you You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. Psalm 139: 13-16