Ten Months Old

Abigail is ten months old!

It would seem like only a partial truth not to show this one too.

Nine Months Old

Abigail is! She is starting to go from sitting to hands and knees, then down to the floor. Usually, she is frustrated when she gets down, so probably soon she will figure out how to get back up. Just the other day she rolled from back to front for the first time. She's not very ambitious! But we love her very much. ;o)

When I went to link to the other kids at nine months, I discovered that I hadn't posted Philip's picture, and then, that I had not taken one. So here are the two big kids at nine months. Samuel,

and Elizabeth

Awww.

Steven mentioned this morning that I haven't posted for two weeks.  I thought to myself that I needed to look and see what pictures I could put up.  Hmmm.  I'm afraid this blog has become just a bulletin board for cute pictures of my children.  Maybe my friends would like to know what's going on with us!  Let's see. . .

Samuel.  He came running up to the back door this afternoon with blood dripping from his hand.  He had cut himself with his knife while trimming a branch.  It doesn't need stitches, but it's ugly.  It's a reminder to stay away from what Daddy says to stay away from.  He decided on his own to put the knife away.  A little later he and Elizabeth came sprinting to the back door--the neighbor dog had come through the fence.  Again.  Samuel suggested some sort of skewer below the place of escape.  He got the idea from history.  (Steven did not implement this idea.)  Samuel and his teacher have been very pleased with his math prowess lately.  High fives were given for his perfect paper this morning!

Elizabeth.  We have been working on a Christmas project that involves painting the cousins' initials.  She has had fun adding glitter and sequins to the girls' initials.  She does love sparkly things.

A few weeks ago we had a tea party.  If you remember, The Birthday Party had zero young female guests.  So Elizabeth has been asking to have some of her friends over.  She invited two of her teachers from church, two of her friends and their mothers, our neighbor and her grandmothers.  Everyone brought goodies and a tea cup.  We had a purse scavenger hunt, ate too many sweets and drank tea.  Such girlie fun.  Here she is with Gracie and the food.

My mom came!  I would have lost my marbles getting ready without her.  I love you, Mom!

Three generations

Philip.  The other evening I was making banana chip muffins and he was trying to get attention, so I pulled a chair up and gave him some things to play with:

a few tablespoons of flour in a dish, a pastry brush, tongs and a spatula.  Later I gave him what was left of the yogurt used in the recipe and a spoon.  He was very happy.  Here he is sipping the yogurt, but he spent much of the time eating the flour with the pastry brush.  Yum, I guess.  He keeps busy.  Things like putting the dish cloth in the trash, or toy cars in the diaper pail.  Today when he was quiet, we found him emptying my wallet.  The kids laughed, but I reminded them that "it's all fun and games until someone loses a drivers license."

Abigail.  She is sitting up well, has two adorable tiny teeth, eats cereal, fruits and vegetables, and is seven months old.  She is still not to be bothered with rolling over.

Abigail has attended her first ladies retreat.  She did very well, and was much admired, as you can imagine.  It was also a blessing for me.  The messages were so apt, and the fellowship with the ladies of our church was refreshing, well into the night. . .

Steven.  He has begun looking in earnest for a church to pastor.  He is teaching the Wednesday night adult class at church, going through Not By Chance by Layton Talbert.  I'm enjoying it.  Between drill weekends he has been growing his beard, so it was a little shocking when he came out yesterday clean shaven.  We all agree that he looks younger with a bare chin.  :o)  His studies are keeping him very busy.  Greek and Hebrew!

Me.  Between homeschooling, nursing Abigail and putting Orajel on her gums, getting Philip out of trouble, proofreading theological papers, laundry, cooking. . .  sometimes I'm not sure if I'm coming or going.  But when I look into the faces of my family I remember that these are my favorite people on Earth, and this is where I would be if I could choose.  I have been spending some time preparing to talk to the JWs that blanket our neighborhood.  The other day I spent some time talking with one of them, and later a pair came back, but left since I had just gotten in the car to run an errand.  These dear souls are so blinded.  What a joy if the Lord would use me to free one of them from the error of their organization.  I have found this website very helpful.

Well, all is quiet now.  I'd best get to bed.  Goodnight, friends!

Beginning to be Fall

I think it is getting to be Fall around here! There is some color in the leaves, our heat has kicked on, and fleece sleepers are the fashion.

Philip is two! He surprised us all when he blew out the candles.

Abigail is six months. At her well baby check up she weighed thirteen and a half pounds. Leetle! Dr. M says to start solids--she needs more calories. So she's eating oatmeal like a trooper. Some days more than others. She is about to be sitting up on her own and has really started to be smiley and sociable. She really is a Mama's girl, though. (The other kids at six months here)

Elizabeth caught me at the piano (a rare event unless I'm picking out the tune for a new Psalm we're learning). Philip plays the descant.

The other day I made Crispy and Creamy donuts. They were good, but not as good as the originals. Also, a lot of work.

It's a little hard to believe we're in our fifth week of school. It's going well. Samuel started a blog today. I'm sure it will keep him busy for a while. Well, I'm beginning to blather, or at least to think about doing so. Better git.

Baby Girl

Abigail is five months old. In fact, she's five and a half months old. But who's counting? Anyway. . .

She has found her thumb.

I think Grandpa likes her. This was several weeks ago.

Samuel likes her too!

Me too!!

4 Months Old

Abigail is, of course.

and here are the other three.

Short Years

The girls were reading on the couch and Philip wanted to be in on the fun.



Abigail at thirteen weeks (This counts for her three month pictures, okay?)



Hey, Baby! Look at me!



Abigail is a rather fussy baby. But I caught her being happy! Philip will often say, "Ah-dyew, waaah. Ah-dyew, waah." (Abigail, waah) Yes, she does. I have been keeping her home from church because it is so stressful to listen to her cry on the way to church (she doesn't seem to like her car seat), hold her crying or screaming at church, and then listen to her cry on the way home. At least at home she can go to sleep in her bed, or cry there if need be. For now I'll have to be content to listen to my favorite preachers online. I'll just admit to you that there have been some hard days, especially since the stress is compounded by Philip's continual mischief.

Any mother of an infant knows it can be hard to find a quiet moment to meet with the Lord. I am feeling the effect of that lack. Abigail is on a more predictable schedule these days (and even sleeps all night sometimes!), so I am asking the Lord to help me in this area. The big kids and I are participating in Bible Bee this summer, so that helps, as there is a daily Bible study along with the memory work.

The longer I walk this motherhood road, the more respect I have for mothers who are holding things together. Especially mothers with babies close together! It's hard! Children are a blessing from the Lord and I need God's grace to recognize that some days. May the Lord help us all to keep our eyes on him, and be nourished by his Spirit to bear his fruit. These babies will soon be big, and before I know it flown from the nest. The time is short! As my friend Mrs. B with many children says,

"The days are long, but the years are short."

Two Months Old

My babies at two months. Abigail:

Philip:

Elizabeth:

Samuel:

One Month Old!

Click here to see Philip and Elizabeth at one month. In the bottom picture Philip looks huge! compared to tiny Abigail.

Eleven Months Old

Philip is eleven months old! How can it be?!

I'm cute!

Museums and the First Day of School

Monday we got ready for school, and went to two museums at Pioneer Park. Both were fairly small, which was good since Philip isn't much interested in history. ;o)

First, we went to the Pioneer Air Museum. The kids really enjoyed this one, especially getting into some aircraft.

Their favorite was the gyrocopter. Yikes.



We also went to the Pioneer Museum, which had dioramas of mining operations, as well as lots of old stuff. Very neat. The favorite artifacts were these old phones. I remember having one like Samuel is using.

We did start school yesterday.

Oh, and Philip was ten months old a few weeks ago. . .

Eight Months Old

Yes, he's eight months old already! You don't remember my posting seven month pictures? La la la. . . It slipped by me. Philip:

Samuel:

Elizabeth:

Six Months Old?!

Philip is six months old! Here he is: Samuel at six months: Elizabeth (the overachiever, sitting up):

I'm Ba-a-a-ck!

This month off has been very instructive. . . :o) I missed you! When Philip got his first tooth (and then another one), I wanted to tell you about it. When we got ten inches of snow, I was itching to post pictures. When we took a trip to Glennallen. . .

So, having had several weeks to think about it, here's my conclusion: I want to keep my blog, but I release myself from any pressure to post at all regularly. This will be for family and friends who want to keep up with us. I will also be putting nifty links in the sidebar occasionally. Check there now--the pictures of the lava lake are magnificent!

So here's what's been piling up for a month! Philip is five months old. He has started rolling over, and puts everything in his mouth. He makes the cutest warbling sounds, squeals, and went through a raspberry/spitting stage.

He has had his first haircut. I just cut the long "original" hairs.


We took a trip to see friends that recently moved to Glennallen. It took about six hours to drive there, and I think there were five towns/villages between here and there. That counts the ones that are shut down between September and May. So much solitude!


Windy!

Frozen river, the wind keeps the ice snow-free and shiny.





We got snow! I know, it's Alaska, but we don't usually get so much at once.

You can see who does the work in this family.


Pioneer woman! (Yeah, right. This was totally posed. I scooped about four shovels-full and went inside. The kids and I did have fun with some spoke tag in the back yard, though.
Well, that's all for now. Ta ta, and it's good to have you back.

:o)