Katie at 2.9

Katie at 2 years and 9 months.
WOW! We love this big girl!
she is--
creative, energetic, tries very hard to be obedient, fun loving, great at answering and asking questions, is super in to pretending, loves her brother and baby dolls, will cook with me and do a few chores. Has more words than I can count and uses them every minute of every day. She sleeps from about 7:30-6:30 with one 1.5 hour nap a day. Her favorite places to go are the museums followed by her friends houses, (Laney, Catie Beth, Olivia, McKenzie boys..) she is either repeating everything she sees or everything we say. We now have to help her pick out her outfits as she is slowly wanting to dress herself. She gets her hair blown dry to keep it not look "crazy". She loves to eat about anything and is thankfully not picky. Her favorites are Granola Butter (bars)-both of these are car snacks and special treats-cheddar bunnies, yogurt, juicyies, salami and cheese, salad, cinnamon/honey/butter bread, eggs, molasses milk, grapefruit, dark chocolate, kombucha, and I am sure more. She is not that interested in staying put to long. Even for reading which she enjoys it doesn't hold her attention like her baby dolls and taking care of them. She still grits her teeth when she is concentrating hard or is frustrated. And she is always saying "I love you"-which is our favorite part of the day. She isn't much of a snuggler or cuddler, but she gives the best hugs and knuckles. She loves to sing, Come thou Fount and In Christ Alone, plus many VeggieTale silly songs. And though she enjoys (a lot) a video either on the computer or TV, she knows they are special treats and does a great job at playing and being creative on her own. She is FULL of passion~!
She is growing up quickly and she says, "God is growing me up!"
We love you KGH
your momma, daddy and Owen

 

 

 

 

What if there is a God?

Then it CHANGES EVERYTHING.

And it DOES.

The mirror, my friend.

 

 

 

 

Owen at his best. I think he has just found himself and he likes it!
4.5 months old

The Jayhawks are Number 1, The Hawks are Number 1.

Dear Granpa Hime,
Thank you for the sweet Hawks sleeper! I am rooting for KU and hope they stay at number one! Rock-Chalk-Jayhawk. Daddy says they are pretty good. Granpa, hopefully you can see that I am a healthy growing boy with my double chin and my round figure. And I can't wait to see you soon. :)
Love, Owen Bradley
PS I know that my mom and dad graduated from KSU and that they are doing well too for basketball, but Aunt Pie, Uncle Dustin, Uncle Tommy, Ms. Julie, and all of mommy and daddy's friends... It's hard at my age to support a team without an article of clothing. So instead, here is my cheer...Go CATS!!!






Katie helped me say, we root for the cats too!
I was going through some clothes of Katie's and putting away the stuff that was to small. Katie was SURE that this still fit...and as you can tell it is a bit on the small side. :) It is 24 months size (she currently wears mostly 4T), but she did manage to put herself into it and dance around saying, "it fits, it fits, it fits, yay, yay, yay".
And I can tell, as she grows up we will definitely have a talk about wearing things that show off her belly! :) But I love her desire to be positive!

journaling-tired? tired.

I tell Katie sometime throughout most days that being tired might be a reason that she might be having a hard time obeying or having a happy heart, but it is not an excuse to disobey or complain or grumble...

I need to speak these truths to myself.

I am still in the very tired "newborn" stage with Owen-even though he is already 4 months old. Both my kids have not been solid sleepers for more then 3-4 hours during the day or night. (Katie didn't sleep throughout the night until 8-9 months) So I am still in a stage when I get up every night two or three times to feed Owen...then am up by 6:30 or so in the morning. (but bless Justin, when he is home he gets up with the kiddos and I get to sleep in a bit, or get a longer nap...thank you love!)

This makes me so sleepy in the morning. Don't get me wrong I am glad for morning, it gets me out of my slump and makes me start my day. But every morning I have to pray for a happy heart. For a heart that enjoys playing at 7 am and enjoys relating to my smiley baby who wants to play and not eat. I have to drink my coffee and allow this to jump start my day. I have to work at my attitude in the morning!

So being tired is not an excuse for being harsh or impatient with Katie, or Justin or Owen. It isn't an opportunity to sin-it is simply a way for me to NEED the Lord more and his provision. An opportunity to lean upon my savior. A time for me to quote to myself, "The Joy of the Lord WILL BE MY STRENGTH". To turn on some worship music and sing to lift my tired body into a working mode for the day. And to get in at all costs, a few minutes or more of time in the scriptures. I am continually amazed how truly the Word is life to my weary body. It is the well I need to be drinking from and it satisfies. It puts into my wrong thinking...some right thinking.

My kids and family deserve me at my very best. This means I need to work extra hard at balancing my time. I need to play, then get a few things done, have a quiet time, take a nap (which I have learned is sometimes the most spiritual thing I could do) so I don't snap, and then play some more.

And sometime soon, I will make it up before my kids do. I desperately want this. I want to be ready for my day and great my kiddos and hubby with a smile and kiss, not a struggling good morning and a dragging of my feet. I will one day get my time alone with Jesus before I start my day. Right now it works during Katie's room time or at naps for me to meet with Jesus. My friend Kristin has blogged about this and it was a healthy reminder that it will come. It will come.

Thank you Lord for your help in my weakness. For allowing me to be refined in this area of depending upon you and not upon my own strength-it's a life lesson. Thank you for not leaving me by myself to learn this -because I wouldn't, I would be a mess without sleep. But with your help, I can function and do function. I want to show my family that my attitude is a choice. And I choose to be content in this time of no sleep. I choose to be joyful and thankful for the Lord's help in all things, in all areas of my life.

dear husbands and wives...

Taken from www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2010/02/13/husband-and-wife/

“Let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:33

God made Adam first and put him in the Garden with a job to do, a mission to fulfill. In the heart of every fallen man is the self-doubt that wonders, “Am I man enough to climb this mountain God has called me to? Can I fulfill my destiny?” A wise wife will understand that question at the center of her husband’s heart. And she will spend her life answering it, communicating to him in various ways, “Honey, I believe in your call. I know you can do this, by God’s power. Go for it.” In this way, she will breathe life into her man.

God made Eve from Adam, for Adam, to help him follow the call. In the heart of every fallen woman is the self-doubt that wonders, “Do I please you? Am I what you wanted?” A wise husband will understand that question at the center of his wife’s heart. And he will spend his life answering it, communicating to her in various ways, “Darling, you are the one I need. I cherish you. Let me hold you close.” In this way, he will breathe life into his wife.

Owen is trying to Laugh!

So...Owen, I think, is trying to laugh. He was also trying to head butt me. It tickled me all the way down to my toes!
What a cutie!

Where is Katie?

 

Katie was playing Hide and Seek and Daddy was looking for her...can you tell where she is?

The balloon went with her everywhere making is easy :) to find her!

Katie will be the only kid who

will probably argue with other kids, in school, that it is Saint Nicholas and his Caribou who come at Christmas time.
It is so sweet, but she doesn't refer to them as Santa and his reindeer. I don't know where she picked this up, but she will remind us who they are. Especially when we drove around at Christmas time she would say, "Look there is Saint Nicholas and his Caribou!"

My Favorites!

 

 

Katie is 2 1/2 years old.
Owen is 4 months old.
Momma is.... :) 31 years old!

Happy 4 months Owen

 

 

 

 

We can't believe it, but Owen is now 4 months old! He is in the 90% for height-26 inches, 70& for weight 15lbs 14 oz and 80% for head size. He is trying to roll over, can grab my hair with a death hold-ouch!, loves watching Katie and us, sleeps well at night and eats every three hours during the day and at night. He is battling the 45 minute monster too...boo! Over all O is a great baby! Talking a lot, singing back to us, telling us loudly when things aren't going his way, and content to lay on the floor and look around.

We love you Owen Bradly!

Why I LOVE my Bosch!

 

My Bosch mixer can make all this at once. It is an amazing kitchen appliance!

Two loaves of bread
One pan of rolls
Pizza
Cinnamon Rolls or two mini loaves of cinnamon bread

If you enjoy cooking or desire to make your own grain products, then the bosch is worth saving for and buying! I had a kitchen aid at one time and it didn't compare to this. The reason the Bosch is so good is that the power is WAY above the KA.

Pleasant hill grain sells them (with great customer service!)-Check it out here.

precious cuddle time

We have started trying to have some cuddle/snuggle time with Katie. Either when she wakes up in the morning or after nap time. We certainly want her to know she is loved by each of us; this also gives us some special one on one time. But...if truth be told it is just as much for her parents who wonder where has the time gone-their baby girl is growing up so quickly!

Then the other morning, totally on her own, Katie reached over while she and Justin were having lunch and put her arm around his shoulders, hugging him to herself. She then said, "Let's have some cuddle time Daddy."

One of those unforgettable moments with our little girl.

We love you Katie Grace Hime!

I have a big sister

 

Can you tell? Owen and "Magnolia" the baby doll are hanging out reading books. Katie said they are friends!
(Don't worry I was VERY close by..)
Oh and Katie took this photo. SHE LOVES THE CAMERA... I asked her what we needed a photo for, "For the blog, Mamma!"
Too cute. :)

Looks interesting

My friend Robin's nephew is in this film. I would love to see it if it comes to Raleigh!
Check it out.
trailer for: Beware of Christians

Inside fun!

Katie and I have been trying to do projects that pertain to creativity and some school subject. This one is for Drama class. During our homeboundness (okay so this isn't a word:) due to the snow, we had extra time and therefore made some finger puppets. We have Hoppity the frog, Blue Pickle the elephant, a Princes and a Prince. We've had lots of adventures and I am sure many more to come.

Thanks, Katie girl, for the great shows we've had lately! I love you!

 

 

quotes

"If God does not rule your mundane, He doesn't rule you."
Your children see life lived within the family, everyday, all the time. How do I live during the mundane..?

"Your children are actively putting together their world as they interrupt and see life around them"
This makes my desire to live well before Katie and Owen (and their friends) even stronger. Yes I will fail, but I want her/his world to be put together rightly...with God at the front. And with a community that loves them surrounding them, pushing her/him towards Jesus, having fun, being full of joy, being in awe of the creator and His creation...

Paul Tripp in The Case for Kids

This song...

has great lyrics! He is worth it all; He is good.
I couldn't find the artist singing it, but this gal does a great job.

Aslan by Kendall Payne

We got a bunch of white flakes!

Snow, January 2010, a winter treat!

Justin and Katie had a good time outside. They only played for about 30 minutes because the wind was making it really cold. But they did manage to scoop out a tunnel for a bouncy ball to roll through. Make a tiny snowman with Melissa. Fall into the snow because she couldn't walk in her boots, but it's a great pic! Pose for a daddy daughter photo and slid down into a pile of snow!

A note to mommies from my friend Hollie. Press n Seal works WONDERFULLY for keeping kiddos dry! (first photo shows it all over Katie's legs) I bought a roll of it from Walmart and plastered it all over Katie before she went out. She was dry everywhere that I stuck it to. It is an amazing snow necessity in the South were we only get snow once or so a year and therefore don't invest in many snow clothes (we have boots, hat, mittens and coat...no snow pants!).
Mommies, keep some on hand just in case you need to make do during the next winter storm!

 

 

 

 

Snow Cream!

 

We had never had this, but Melissa said it was a worthwhile snow treat! So I googled it and came up with an incredibly easy snow ice cream recipe. Yum!

4 C.-Snow
to taste-Maple Syrup or sugar
1 tsp.-vanilla
to taste-Cocoa
1/2 C. milk or 1/2 and 1/2

Mix everything, but snow together, pour over snow, stir or blend it for a smoother taste.
Viola, snow cream!

Does this look like fun?

Yes, it snowed. It looked beautiful! We enjoyed the white peace that blanketed our state this weekend. We drank freshly roasted coffee and Katie had her own vanilla, maple syrup steamer. We played inside a lot. We tried to help Katie get over her cold and keep Owen away so as for him to NOT get it.

But do these photos show us having fun? You tell me. Owen can't even open his eyes it is so bright and he is stuffed into his snow outfit. Katie was not 100% and a therefore bit sour. Justin loves (sarcastically) the ear warmer he is wearing. And if you could see under my hat you would see my wild "mom" hair. Got to love this family photo! :)

I did manage to capture a smile with Justin and Katie and she sure did love to swing even in the snow; it's her favorite outdoor activity.