Mom's Pictures

I'm working on scanning some of my mom's old pictures. The album I have right now is from 1984. Its been fascinating to me because, for the first time, I identify more with my parents in the pictures than myself. I enjoy peeking into what their lives were like when they had two little girls. It seems so familiar- birthday parties, going to the park, in pjs, in the bathtub, cutting the grass....just with a little different hair styles and 80s style clothing.

Dad aka Chief

I wish I could have known my parents when they were my age (Technically I was born when my mom was 27 but I don't exactly remember that time period). I wish I knew what they were thinking as they learned to discipline their spirited firstborn or seen the joy with which they welcomed their second (also spirited). Were they like me? Am I like them? Did I learn this or is it just in my blood? Did they have it all figured out or was it kind of a learn-as-you-go process? When did they start feeling like real parents and not like this is all pretend? I love taking the time to really look at these pictures and glean a little bit of them when they were like me.

Links to Other Blogs

I deleted all my links to other blogs! On purpose! They were way outdated so I decided to just chuck it and start over. So.....if you have a blog and you want me to link to your blog just let me know and I'll put you on my blogroll!

Sunday Tidbits

1. I bought candy corn as my sweet treat this week. I love the yellow, orange and white ones and I love the pumpkins but I'm not a big fan of the ones with chocolate on the top. I mean I'll eat them but they aren't my favorite. Can you buy candy corn all year or only at Halloween?

2. I am obsessed with Sonic's cherry limeades. They are one of the few treats that don't have dairy although even when I can eat dairy again I'll still be craving these. Yum.

3. I put Sienna down for a quick nap at 6:30pm last night (she's been going to bed between 8-9) and she didn't wake up again till 12:30am (she had last eaten at 4pm). She ate and went back to sleep till 6am. She ate and went back to sleep till 8am. She slept 13.5 hours last night.

4. Its really truly fall now. I love the leaves, the briskness in the air, wearing long sleeves, the bright blue skies, my harvest candle.

5. Kiran woke up from her nap after 1 hour today. She almost always sleeps 1.5 hours. I went in to her room and she looked kinda sleepy. I laid down in her bed with her and we just looked at each other. I would rub her hair or stroke her face but we mostly just laid there and looked at each other for nearly 10 minutes. It was one of my most precious mommy moments for me because Kiran is rarely still. Or quiet. What is the secret to hiding away these times so I can treasure them the rest of my life?

Sienna's dedication

A few weeks ago, we dedicated Sienna at the church we now call home, Hope Point Comm Church. I love this picture of us with our pastor b/c it captures Richard perfectly. He preaches with his eyes closed half the time. He has an amazing gift of putting words together in a unique and challenging way.

These are the questions Richard asked us:

1. Do you recognize that these children are precious lives who belong to God and have been entrusted into your care that you might teach them to delight in the Lord and reveal His grace by serving others?
2. Do you promise to make your home a place where the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of your children can be met as God gives you the necessary resources to fulfill your role as parents?
3. Do you promise to continually lead your children to Jesus Christ so that as they mature, they will have the opportunity to personally invite Him to become the Savior of their lives?
4. Do you promise to raise your children according to the teaching and instruction of the Bible so that God's character may be formed in them and His purpose accomplished through them?

Afterwards all the family went out to eat at McAlister's Deli. We love living so close to our family. We were honored that Papa, Mimi, Jordan, Beth, William, Jay, Chief, Grandma, Brooks, Erin, Brody, Addy, Sadie, Will, Lauren, Uncle Steve and Aunt Debbie came to celebrate us. There is comfort in knowing that we have such a support system around us to help us raise our girls.

Chief and Jay dressed alike!

Caskey family

DeeDeena

My new favorite photo of her...3 months old

A Few Questions For My People

1. Mommies of girls- bangs or no bangs? And if you chose to grow those bangs out, how did you survive?

2. Did anyone have a bumbo seat? Did you like it? Does anyone have one sitting around that they aren't using that we could try?

3. Potty training??? Oh my. I'm so not ready but I think I need to start thinking about it. Or something. Anything that worked for you???

4. Anyone have an infant Halloween costume? I'm having a hard time spending money on something Sienna will wear for like an hour and have no memory of. Its really just for the pictures.

Edisto 08