Monday, March 9, 2009

Thankful Monday

Lily looking at the big kid's slide

As I was thinking about one of the exercises in Lily's swim class, I can't help but feel how it sums up some Mondays: Jump in and reach for the side. Today I have been hearing a lot of Daddy's name from Lily: Waking up this morning, when she fell off a toy at Focus on the Family and at various other points. I can't fault her for it, she is a Daddy's girl and if anyone can fix anything it's Daddy. I am grateful for the relationship Greg and Lily have, how inseparable they are on the weekends and evenings. I am grateful for being able to take Lily to Whit's End at Focus on the Family, where she just ran and longed to be old enough to go down the giant slide that frightens a lot of kids bigger than her (she loves speed). Even when she was throwing a tantrum because she was getting tired and frustrated that she couldn't play on some of the toys/rides like she wanted because they were just out of reach of her size, I just thought of how far she has come in walking and how much further she will grow. Monday's like these make me grateful that I have a God that I can reach for, who is already there, ready to teach me and grow me this week. Monday's like these make me grateful that I don't have to reach for what I already have.Lily with Cousin Logan getting ready to go to Focus on the Family

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Lily's First Swim Lesson



Today Greg and I took Lily to her first swim lesson at the YMCA. At first she was clinging to both of us in the water for the first ten minutes of the lesson, but soon she was smiling and enjoying just bobbing up and down. We learned a lot of things that we can practice in her bath, but for now I think she was content to watch the other kids do the exercises and just get used to being in such a huge amount of water.
Her favorite thing to do was sit on the edge of the pool while we counted "1,2,3. . ." and on the word "bubbles" we lifted her into the pool. She also liked "Humpty Dumpty", where we sang "Humpty Dumpty" and on the word fall she would fall into the water and then we would say "Reach!" and have her grab for the side of the pool. She took to that exercise very well which is a relief to Greg and I. The teacher said that when her daughter was 23 months old she fell into the pool and reached for the side like she was taught until she was found 45 minutes later!
We all had such a wonderful time, I just could not stop smiling. I think it helped Lily to have both Greg and I there with her. We even stayed a few minutes after class to practice certain things and just get used to the water when she started to smile. I can't wait for next week!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Thankful Monday

Some good friends of mine have started a tradition of blogging what they are thankful for every Thursday. Having been touched and inspired by them, I have decided to choose Monday as my day to express what I have been thankful for over the past week (I would do Thursday girls, but I never seem to get to my computer in time :)).

I am thankful . . .
  • that Greg, Lily and myself are feeling better after a bout with some gastrointestinal ickiness.
  • for the women's brunch at church on Saturday that was full of loveliness and God's hand. I love being surrounded by extraoridinary women.
  • for the amazing man my husband is: Taking care of Lily yesterday while I was sick, leaving me a love note this morning, how he intentionally tells me what he appreciates about me before we go to sleep, his dedication and devotion to our daughter every day and night. Thank you Greg, for being my wonderful partner in this life.
  • that Lent started on Wednesday. While I did not attend service, nor have I been altogether faithful in what I have chosen to do for the season, I appreciate a time that makes me look at the simplicity in my tasks and life and look heavenward. I especially enjoy the communal atmosphere during this season as people try to "give up" something, or just become more disciplined in the name and help of Christ leading up to Easter.
  • that after finishing some books on the Middle East, I have the freedom to type what I am thankful for on this blog without retribution, as a woman. These books have made me so grateful to be a woman where I am.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Two Months of Catching Up

OK, so I am way behind with our blog, hopefully this will catch you up a bit.

VALENTINE'S DAY
FEBRUARY 14, 2009


Daddy took Lily to pick out her own balloon, which she would not let go of until she went down for her nap. The crown you see was decorated in stickers by Lily after receiving it in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa.


Greg and I went out for a sushi dinner and then listened to jazz downtown at Poor Richard's Bookstore while sharing a dessert and a glass of wine. So lovely!



JANUARY



Lily finished her Physical Therapy. Here are some pictures from her last session with Miss Hilary. We were all a bit sad to see this time end because it was so much fun!

January was a bit bittersweet this year. It was wonderful to find out that Greg and I were expecting Baby Bob (that's what we nicknamed him), but so hard when we miscarried. Greg and Lily and I are so grateful to our church community for providing meals, childcare and even helping with the laundry while Greg and I mourned the loss of our little one and tried to get my body to heal and rest.

DECEMBER 2008
A PARTY AND CHRISTMAS WITH MAMO AND POPPA!




An early Christmas with Aunt Kristy, Cousin Logan and Uncle Erik!


CHRISTMAS IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA






While visiting we were also able to visit The Meux Home and take a holiday tour. I was also given the opportunity to play the song I had written for Lily's Dedication for services at my parent's church.


Visiting Greg's Aunt Marilyn, Uncle Time and Cousin Jodie in Simi Valley, CA. We had a great time catching up with family.




My Cousin Sara, Aunt Terry and Uncle Richard came down to visit. I had not seen them in more than ten years! It was a fun visit.



It was so much fun to catch up with old friends. Julie Calahan, which I have known since Elementary School, Noelle Cahill who I have known since Junior High and our good friend Carmen.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Santa, I don't think so


This last Wednesday I dressed Lily up in red with her black patent leather shoes and took her to see Santa at the office she has her Physical Therapy (they offer so many wonderful things). All I can say is "Santa, I don't think so." The moment we stepped into the colorful room filled with presents and cookies, Lily became a wildcat. Santa even gave her a stuffed animal she could keep to try and appease her and talked so nicely to her, but to no avail (hats off to the big guy, he was the best Santa I have ever encountered). I think the picture says it all. The funny thing is, I was the same way as a child, with Santa. My family just laughed when I told them. Poor Lily bean.

The Broncos!


Go Broncos! For Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa gave Greg and I tickets to see the Denver Broncos play the Kansas City Chiefs at Mile High Stadium in Denver, CO on December 10, 2008. Greg and I had soooo much fun. We couldn't have picked a more gorgeous day. We arrived extra early to see the teams warming up and look at all the incredible views from the stadium and eat our delicious lunches that Grandma had packed for us. Luckily we won the game, although it didn't look that way from the first half.

I have to give a shout out to some of our seat-mates who made the experience so complete for me: The Know-It-All man that shouted to all the team mates, on both sides, as if he were on a first name basis with them; The Whiner-Woman who believed every call by the referees was a conspiracy against the Broncos; The Drinking Buddies next to us who always made sure that one of them was getting a beer for the other; The Spitter who sat behind me and tended to spew when greatly angered by what was happening on the field; The Texters who sat next to Greg and must have been forced, as High Schoolers, to go to the game. To these and so many others, I say thank you. Go Broncos!


Twas' the Night Before Thanksgiving . . .

The fam in front of Grandma's Tree


Oh what fun!


This year, for Thanksgiving, we spent "Christmas" with Greg's family, since we will be in California celebrating the day with mine. Everyone had a wonderful time. Here is Lily in her Christmas dress, which she picked out. There was a lot of laughter with the addition of Greg's cousin Jodie visiting from LA. Thanksgiving night, Jodie, Melia, Caroline, Greg and I went to a Denver Nuggets game. It was so much fun!

"I love my ball from Aunt Melia."


Grandpa, Lily and cousin Allie




Great Reuben and Great Grandma Dieterle. Great Reuben always tells the Christmas story before presents are opened.




"I'm walking!"




Lily with Great Grandma Dieterle



The gang at the Nuggets game. I had forgotten how much I enjoy watching live basketball.