8 Month Letter

Dear Niya,

You just turned 8 months old. Today you had your doctors appointment. You are at 50th percentile for weight and 70th for height. How is that even possible? Well, how is it even possible you are suddenly 8 months old? Lots of things have happened in the last month. Now, you sleep through the night. It has made me so happy. You have a nightly routine and then you sleep very quietly and do not wake until morning. And then in the morning as soon as you wake up, you stand up on your crib and start making happy noises. Your beautiful face every morning is the perfect beginning to a day.

The other milestone is, you stand holding onto things. It is early for that, but you are on the go. I kind of don't  like that you are growing so fast. You are also crawling on your knees, but when the going gets tough, you fall back to army crawling. That, you have down pat. Your personality is so bubbly and happy and loving. In your hierarchy of people you love, I am first (or maybe second after Neil). The doctor told me today to enjoy that as it will change very soon. I am enjoying kissing you and holding you meanwhile. I cannot cuddle you too much as you like to wiggle a lot.

You did a bunch of traveling this month. We went to my sister's house in Maryland. You were a really good baby during the travel. You had such a good time with my sister and family. You got very attached to my sister and she totally fell in love with you. Not that it would be a hard thing to do. ha. You celebrated your first Christmas with a lot of family.

You still love bath time and you laugh so much. Nice, big, belly laughs. I cannot get enough of that. I am still scared of how Neil rough houses with you, but you take it all in stride. He can do nothing wrong in your eyes. The naughtier he is, the louder you laugh.

My precious, sweet baby girl, I love you so much. I cannot get enough of your smiles, and laughs and your lovely personality. You bring SO MUCH JOY in to our lives. I was telling your Dada the other day that we should have named you Joy. I hope you grow up in to a lovely woman of God. I can't wait.

Stats:

Weight: 17 lb 6 oz
Height: 27 3/8"
Diaper: Size 3
Clothes: 12-18 months

Love,
Mama

Word for the year

We are learning the book of Genesis for our BSF study this year. There is a lot of talk about dwellings there. Abraham left the land of his forefathers and listened to God's call for a land promised to his descendants. He knew that his permanent dwelling was not there either. The Bible says that he longed for his eternal home.

We moved to our new home last December. Although we moved a few days before 2012 began, I always though of the move as something that happened in 2012. Although it was not too far from where we used to live (an hour away), I remember feeling very displaced the first couple of months here. Dealing with a toddler, husband's prolonged absences for work, 6 months pregnant, and trying to figure out and fit in.

Now, my baby is nearly 8 months old, and I feel like I have lived here always. I know where everything is, the short cuts, the back roads and all the community events. I run into the same faces at story time. I have painted all the rooms in the house and personalized it. I have a little corner in the bedroom that I call my own.    After we came back from a vacation this Christmas and drove up to the house after a nearly two week absence, I realized just how much changed in 1 year. And I kept thinking about the word "dwell."

Our house, it is temporary, but it is where we are for now. It is our dwelling place. It is a place of respite, a shelter. We have plans for a big move in the near future. And in my heart I fight that at times. I am comfortable here. But I also know that when God is dwelling in my heart, I don't need to fear where I make my home.

I am taking up the word dwell for this year. How am I keeping my dwelling? Am I being a good steward of what the Lord has provided? How am I keeping the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit? Is it in bad shape? Am I strengthening it day to day by\pondering and lingering on God's word? I am choosing to reflect on these questions this year.

Happy New Year!