pumpkin patch

At the beginning of October, we took Micah to a pumpkin patch, and it was so much fun.  It was located at a small church near downtown Dallas and was fairly small, but it was absolutely perfect for our little munchkin.

She LOVED the pumpkins and was completely happy to just look around at all of them, crawling to different ones, pulling up on them, and touching them.  Chris and I loved just watching her take it all in.

I am sure we will have many more pumpkin patch visits in our future!

weekend getaway

The first weekend in October I got to spend time with some of my favorite people on the planet.  Twelve of my best friends from ACU and I spent the weekend at a lakehouse (thanks, Becca, for hosting us!!!) in east Texas and enjoyed catching up, shopping in Jefferson, eating, taking a boat ride, and laughing together.

I am so blessed that I got to know these amazing women at ACU.  I seriously could not have asked for better friends during my time in college, and God has used each of them to encourage me in different phases of my life.

It was so fun to hear about what everyone is doing now and to catch up with some girls I hadn't seen in quite a while.  It was also a treat to have Alison with us!  We know that the Thompsons miss, and are greatly missed in, Peru, but we enjoyed every minute we got with you!

That weekend was the perfect getaway to refresh my spirit.  Thank you, ladies, for such a wonderful time.  I miss you all dearly and am so thankful for the ways you bless me!  Can't wait until next year already!!!

coming up for air

It has been a crazy last couple of weeks.  I have not officially announced this on the blog, but we are moving back {yes, BACK} to College Station.  Because Chris can work from anywhere with Mercy Project, we decided to move back close to family so that when Chris takes his trips to Ghana, I will have more support from grandparents and aunts/uncles.  So, we put our house on the market at the end of August.  We found a house in College Station that we love and think is the perfect fit for our family, so even though our house in Rowlett hasn't sold yet, we are moving to CS on Sunday.  Yes, that is in 6 days!!!  So, we've been busy packing up our house with a 10 month old which makes things a little more interesting.

In the midst of all the packing, we have had probably 10 or 11 showings on our house {3 second showings but still no offers :( } which means picking up the mess and making the house look spotless sometimes multiple times a day.  All 3 of us came down with colds.  Chris went on his first official Mercy Project trip to Ghana and was gone for 10 days.  Micah and I stayed in Rowlett for a few days then went to visit family in College Station.  When we got to College Station, Micah ended up with her first ever ear infection and ended up at the doctor.  The next day I went to the doctor where I got a shot and antibiotic for bronchitis and strep.  Like I said, it's been crazy!

I have lots of updates that will be posted hopefully in the next few days, in between the packing and resting.  So, be checking back for posts about my trip to the lake with my college girlfriends, Micah's first visit to the pumpkin patch, and Chris's trip to Ghana/our trip to CS.  There may be more, but I can promise you that they will all include pictures of a sweet little almost one year old :)

Be blessed today.  And, stay well!

gig 'em

My two Aggies dressed and ready to watch the game...

They were both pretty excited!

We're watching the game and hoping that the Aggies can pull out a win.  Gig 'Em!!!

ten months

Micah,

You are ten months old.  That seriously seems impossible!  I remember so vividly this time last year and thinking that we only had to change months 2 more times before you would be here, and I couldn't wait to meet you.  Believe me, sweet girl, when I tell you that you have far surpassed my greatest hopes as to what being your momma would be like.  Each month brings so much excitement, and I honestly just love every new moment and experience with you.  You have constantly made your daddy and me smile and laugh this month.  We are so in love with you!

The first few months of your precious life was definitely characterized by your strong, fiery personality.  While I absolutely cannot imagine you being any other way, this month you have begun to be so sweet.  You are always smiling and waving at people in the grocery stores, restaurants, church, basically anywhere!  I LOVE that about you, and I love watching you bring joy to others.

You can still be super serious at times and just take everything in.  You will just study people for a while and then finally flash that precious grin of yours.  One of your favorite things to watch is other kids!  I think you would be perfectly content to watch other kids play for quite a long time without ever moving. You also love to watch puppies, and they almost always make you laugh.

I think your laugh and sweet little voice are the sweetest sounds that your daddy and I have ever heard.  You are finally becoming pretty ticklish under your little arms, and we love to tickle you and hear your giggle over and over.  It seriously never gets old baby girl.  Daddy is the best at getting you to laugh, and sometimes when he laughs, you like to mimic him and try to make yourself laugh too.  It's pretty darn cute.  You have finally learned how to say "dada" this month, but you usually say it with just a little bit of your tongue sticking out.  Precious, just precious.  You are still babbling, but you are a little more quiet than other babies, like your momma :) 

Your sweet hair is really starting to fill in, and it makes me so anxious to start putting it in sweet little ponytails and pigtails!  I think your daddy is excited about those days too.  Your hair is about the same color as mine is right now, so you didn't turn blonde on us.  You love to play with my hair when I am putting you to sleep, and you have a hard time finding your daddy's hair when he rocks you ;) Every once in a while, you will even play with your own hair.  I am still putting bows on your head, and you are still pulling them off when you discover them :)  Silly girl.  

You are a pro at giving high fives, and we have to credit daddy for that one.  He worked hard with you on that skill, and you love giving high fives.  I think you are proud of yourself, and we are pretty proud too.  You are clapping a whole lot and sometimes will clap on command. You are still giving kisses, although you have become a little more protective of handing those out.  You have really figured out how to make the "motorboat" sound, so you do it almost all the time.  You have also discovered the kitchen cabinets and love to open and close them, repeatedly. Your daddy and I love watching you learn how to do new things, even if it means keeping a closer eye on you.

Sweet Micah, you are ALL OVER the place!  You are crawling on all fours everywhere, and you are cruising like a pro.  I definitely feel like I can't keep up with you somedays because if I turn around, you are already gone to another room.  It makes you happy to be able to get to anything you want, so that makes your daddy and me very happy too.  You want anything that we have, cell phones, remote controls, computers, food, drinks. You name it, and you want it!  You will crawl over and look at us so sweetly, and it's hard to resist your precious little face.  Everything goes straight into your mouth, so we have to watch it!  You still love to eat and are eating more table foods these days.  That is nice for daddy and me because we don't have to stock up on baby food as much anymore, and you love all the new flavors!

You spent your first night and day with just daddy when momma was away with some friends.  You were great, of course, and I think that daddy was a little bit sad that I had to come back so soon.  He absolutely loved his one on one time with you and has already asked when he gets to do it again.  You definitely have your daddy wrapped around your little finger, and he adores you.  I love watching the sweet bond you are developing with your daddy as you get a little bit older.  You always get the biggest grin on your face when you see him, and you love when he plays with you and parades you around.  Seeing you two together melts me and brings me unspeakable joy.

I haven't even included everything from your tenth month in this letter, but these are just the highlights.  God continues to be so gracious to me as I learn how to be your momma because we both know that I am far from great at it.  But, God has given me a deeper love than I knew was possible for you, and I am so thankful for that.  Your daddy and I pray for you every night.  We pray that you will continue to grow strong and healthy, but we also pray for your heart.  We want you to have a heart for the Lord and for his people.  We want you to know him in crazy intimate ways and live in a way to glorify him.  We want you to be a person of deep love, great justice, indescribable mercy, and incredible compassion.  I believe that the Lord is already fashioning you into that kind of person.  You are amazing, my sweet girl.  I am blessed beyond measure.  Happy 10 months, Micah Elisabeth.

I love you, to the moon and back!

Your Momma

let's celebrate

We spent from Wednesday of last week until Tuesday of this week in College Station.  While we were there, we got the chance to celebrate both of  my parents' 50th birthdays!  My mom turned 50 on September 2, and my dad turned 50 on September 20.  My sister and I couldn't resist the urge to throw them a party, so we set the date of the big bash for September 25 and put it on the calendar back in July!

We headed down to Hockley for the celebration, and because of the beauty that is our cousins' home and land, not much decorating was necessary.  We just added a {very} few things to what she had already set up around their pool and were excited to get the party started. 

We had an absolute blast honoring Mimi and Pappy, and even though the rain kept some of us from enjoying the view from the pool during dinner, I think everyone had a great time.  We ate some yummy BBQ, delicious cake, and visited with friends and family we hadn't seen in a while.  Thanks to everyone who drove in for the party...we really appreciate it!

My parents are such an enormous blessing to me!  I am so thankful for the ways they raised me and my sister in the Lord and taught me the importance of being a Christ follower.  I am so grateful that God created them to be my parents, and it is such a joy to watch them be grandparents to my daughter.  I was honored to celebrate them last Saturday.  Happy 50th Birthday, Mimi and Pappy!  We love you!