All About the Cuteness
Friday, August 1, 2008
what do you call a bear that in smaller than all the other stuffed bears?
Hope calls her tiny stuffed bear her, puppy bear.Its' too cute!
posted by Melanie at 11:15 AM
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Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wonderful Two's
It is official, our baby girl is TWO! We had a birthday breakfast. We met at the park near our house and the kids got to play and we got to enjoy the breeze in the pavilion. It sprinkled a little that morning and it ended up being a great day. Not too hot. Our families all got together. I think we had 55 people show up, mostly all family. I think her daddy and I were smiling from ear to ear because we were touched by every ones presence. It is such a HUGE blessing to be near our family. Family we enjoy being around also. We may do it again next year. We had coffee, juice, bacon, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, I called it a crust less quiche but it was like a hash brown casserole, Aunt Cole made a fruit pizza that was in the shape of a 4' little girl, made of cookies and fruit...so cute. Nana made gravy that everyone raved over. Good food and fun for the kids. Everywhere we go people are so quick in telling us to "be prepared for the terrible two's" and we have decided to call the "Wonderful Two's". The first year of her life it seemed like every moment there were huge milestones and changes. Now after completing the second year of her life, it feels like this year was full of new and exciting things. What is she doing?... She loves to read these two books that I picked up at the dollar store, "Eyes, Nose, Fingers and Toes" by Sesame street and the other is called, "Bubbles, Bubbles" by Sesame Street. I am not a promoter of Sesame Street. However these two books are very well written. Basic and good. So since she was a year old she would anticipate the next words for the body parts book. Now she will read both books to us. She is very animated of course and it is so fun to see her respond and react to her ability to "read" these books. She ends all well done deeds by saying, "High five". She has completely memorized John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." She will say it and has even made her own song for the verse. She has Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Hope's version is "In the beginning God created the men or the heaven and men." It's so cute! She knows her ABC's and 123's although she still likes to count, 1-2-5-8-7-8-9-10. I don't know why but she loves to say it. When counting items and picking them up one at a time she usually counts correctly. She is becoming more and more familiar with her colors. She is like her Nana, she still loves the color purple. It's good to see the influences of others in her life. She sees Asians and bows and says, "on-yong-ha-say-yo" which is "hi, how are you?" She thinks it is silly to say it to her daddy. How do they know the difference? They just do. When I can't make out what she is saying, she will try and say it in Korean in case it comes out clearer. I'm amazed at her abilities. When we go to the grocery store she will ask for, "Grapes, poe-doe." Did I tell you she talks? All the time and her daddy loves to hear her say, "I love Che-wees." Translation, cherries. Yes her "r" sounds like a "w" and her "l" sounds like "y". She can say it correctly but when she speaks quickly this is the way it comes out. She has been potty trained for at least 2 months. She loves to sing. She loves to try on shoes. She loves putting hats on. At night I will ask her what her name is and she will say, "Hope Jaquess" just as clear as can be. Other times she will pat her chest and say she is Papa and laughs. She loves to color and take a rag and clean. She loves to sing. She helped me make our garden and now she loves to go outside and pick the vegetable. Her Harmony and I will pick them and leave the veggies to the side and she will take a bucket and fill it up with all the veggies. She is so proud of herself and will tell me, "I do self mommy. I got all of them." She spent the night with her girl cousins the other night and went to bed without me and survived. Her Aunt Julia said she did great! I can go on and on... God is Great always! Every moment we are so overwhelmed at His hand in our life. See you soon.
posted by Melanie at 3:48 PM
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Monday, April 28, 2008
Saying Good Bye...
We have been to several visitations and funerals this year.It's hard to get myself to go sometimes especially when I didn't know the person who passed away. I think that my presence does not matter and that I would rather do something productive at home. Then I go and I kick myself for being so self fish in my thoughts. It's not the easiest or the most convenient thing to do but I think we lose a huge blessing by not going. I remember when my dad passed away and that was the first funeral for me and my siblings. We didn't know what we were suppose to do and it was so hard to just sit there thinking this would be the last time we would see my dads body here on earth.
I remember an elderly lady from my church who ran into the building, she couldn't stay long because her husband was in the car waiting for her. I didn't really know her very well at the time but she came in and found me and gave me a hug and she was a little emotional herself, she hugged me and said she couldn't stay but she was thinking of me and my family and walked back to her car and they drove off. I knew where she lived and it was a good 40 minute drive from her house to the funeral home. She didn't have to come but she did it anyway and this was 12 years ago. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I remember how it made me feel and for that moment I wasn't sad in the midst of all the sorrow. She never met my dad or any of my family members prior to this day. She gave her time and stopped by for 10 seconds but those 10 seconds have left an impression on my heart and mind all these years.
We have visitations tomorrow and the funeral is Tuesday. I don't remember every meeting the lady that has passed away but she is a Grandmother to a lady in our church. Everyone's loss is different. I believe this lady has received Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and is in Heaven with the Lord and so they will meet again one day. Knowing this makes saying good bye on this earth a little easier but I'm sure she will be missed.
So maybe while we see the family tomorrow, for a moment in the midst of their sorrow, by being there we can be an encouragement even if it is for just a second.
It's been difficult for me to write about loss this year. I haven't been able to put it into words and I'm still having difficulty. We said good bye to a friend of ours 17 year old son who was killed in a car accident. We said good bye to our brother in laws mom who passed away within 3 weeks of finding out she had leukemia. These two lives specifically were taken away very quickly with no good bye's. We are given just a short time here on earth with no promises of tomorrow. It makes me want to hug a little tighter, laugh a little louder and smile a little bigger.
After death we can live in eternity with the Lord but if we reject him, our destination is hell. This may sound cold to some and so I must say it now...we are all given a choice in whom we will serve. I will leave you with something my brother in law read to his mom:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
posted by Melanie at 2:18 AM
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Saturday, April 19, 2008
A sign our baby is no longer a baby...
We were at the store the other day and a grandma was giving samples of chocolate. She turned to me and in a whisper asked if Hope could have a piece of chocolate. I thought it was sweet that she asked but in the same breath, I was sad because this was the moment in which I new my baby was no longer a baby.Our baby girl, I will probably refer to this for ever and she will one day ask me not to so for now I will say "baby girl".
We took her 21 month photos to the other day and we tried a new place. She walked in and was most miserable. She cried and did not want to part from my arms. After trying to sooth her for half an hour I decided to reschedule and come back the next day. So we met a friend for lunch and ran errands. On our way home I asked Hope if she wanted her pictures taken or go home and said she would like to have her pictures taken. I asked what she is suppose to do when getting pictures and she responded by saying, "cheese!" and had a huge smile on her face. So I made a U turn and headed to the studio. We entered and she was posing away for the photographer! So to our friends and family...your photos are on it's way! Inside I have enclosed our new business cards and I have to say I think they look pretty sharp!
God has been so good to us in so many ways! I am thankful for the wonderful people that are in our lives. We have such a wonderful family and friends! I was thinking about our friends and I know we all have such busy lives and that we don't all get together as much as we would like or chat on the phone very frequently. I believe that if ever we needed you, you will be here for us in a heartbeat and we hope you believe that we are here for you.
See you soon!
posted by Melanie at 1:44 AM
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Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Happy New Year!
I know it's almost February, have we really been that busy? I don't know if busy is the right word. We've definitely had a full month. We are ready for good weather and for the yuckies that have been going around to come to an end!I made a cheese cake today. The kind that took 12 hours from start to finish! It turned out really good and moist. I made one I think 8 years ago for Christopher's birthday and litterally cooked it for 5 hours waiting for it to get hard, the center to come out clean. What a goof I am! Cheesecake, hint the word "cheese" and not just "cake". Anyone should know that when cheese is warm or hot that it will be soft and goowey, right? So this time after all the prep of the crust and all, I used my new "America's test kitchen cookbook" and followed the instructions! They recommend you heat your oven to 500 degrees, place it in the middle wrack and cook for 10 minutes. DO NOT open the oven and reduce the temp to 200 degrees and bake for an hour and half or until center reaches 150 degrees. It took my oven almost 40 minutes to reach 200 degrees and I felt like it over browned the outside a bit. It is still good and very pretty!
So Hope asked for a bite of "chez cake" and I got a reaction from her that I was definitely not expecting. This reaction is one that I have never seen her do before. Well except once when she was not feeling well. The minute it touched her mouth she started gagging and almost threw up. It wasn't a cute throw up like she does when she is ill, it was a "big man, heaving" reaction. Yes, when she is sick and throws up she makes little to no noise and is so polite about it. She then asks for "napcan". So cute!! Anyway, I just laughed because it was the oddest thing! I know it was probably the texture.
Updates, she wants to use the potty all the time. I'm not ready to give up the diapers. Does this sound strange? It's not that I want her to be a baby for ever. I am so not liking the idea of her using public restrooms. It's one thing when I take her and hold her above the seat but I know not everyone can or will do this and what do you say when someone volunteers to take her..."Um, please lift her hiny and make sure it does not touch anything but it's okay if she tinkles on you." I know a little odd. It's okay, another growth I must endure! Each day is so much fun especially now. When she asks for her binky and you ask her, do you want you binky? She use to just say, "bink-e", and now she will say either "have it" or "bink-e, have it."
Email me sometime and let me know how you and yours are doing!
Till later!
posted by Melanie at 12:07 AM
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Tuesday, October 23, 2007
All About the Cuteness
I don't know why but I love cute things! I have an uncontrollable urge to purchase things just because they are so cute. I will try and take pictures of them next time and maybe it will help me from buying unnecessary items!Speaking of cute things. My mom is the cutest Mom/Grandma ever! She is my Mom but in so many ways she is like a Grandma to me. She is almost 40 years older than me! I miss her. She is overseas visiting relatives and she won't be back until December! I've been thinking of my Dad a lot these days and missing him. Hope will do the cutest things and I think of how much fun he would have had with her. She is my baby and so I like to ooh and ahh over her! Christopher and I have the best time calling the other one into the room to check out what she is doing. Tonight she decided to crawl under the wing back to get Styrofoam cup she had dropped. She wiggles backwards and tucks her head down making sure she doesn't bump it. She stands up and tries to get water from the refrigerator door. We have an ice machine and water spigot on the frig door. Where she got that idea, I do not know but it is amazing to see her brain work!
It's been chilly so we started our pellet stove today http://www.spaplaceinc.com/ and Hope saw the fire and goes, "Hhottz, ha ha hot z, no touch." Looks at me and tells me not to touch it! Did I mention she just turned 15 months! She felt the heat from the stove and backed away from it. I could go on and on with stories of her as you can tell.
The holidays are around the corner and we hope to see each of you soon!
posted by Melanie at 9:08 PM
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Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Another Beautiful Day in the Ozarks!
This is our favorite saying these days! We live in a wonderful country!
posted by Melanie at 11:43 PM
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Psalms 37:4
"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."