Standing Tall

Is it just me or does this not look like my little baby girl who was just born over 9 months ago?

She just started crawling before Thanksgiving and already prefers to be upright and can side step around the table.

This is her favorite place to stand.  I could probably snap a picture of her in this exact same position every day.

Slow down my love...

9 Months

Dear Lucy,

You are 9 months old. You’ve been in this world as long as you were in my tummy. That’s kind of crazy to think about.

A lot has happened this month. You are ALL over the place. You crawl like a race car driver. You love leaving me in the dust but stopping just long enough to turn and smile at me with such pride and joy in your face at your new found mobility. And you pull up on everything. You still prefer standing on your tip toes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything cuter than your dainty but chubby toes holding up your chunky, rolling legs. You are such a curious little cherub.

You are also, dare I say, a little dramatic at times. When you cough it’s like watching a full on theatrical performance, complete with a little smirk at the end waiting for applause. Or when you’re really tired or hungry, you start your crawl towards me but stop half way and collapse flat on the floor and fold your face into your arms whimpering because you are now too weak and just…can’t…make it.

You were also sick for the first time. And though looking back it really was very, very minimal, it was still the worst week of your nine months. Not because of you, but because of the helplessness I felt. I wanted to absorb every ounce of pain and discomfort from you, but I couldn’t. It was a glimpse of what I know there will be more of. But it was also a reminder to be thankful every day for your health. You are such a healthy, happy baby and I will never take that for granted.

There is something else special about this month. It’s Christmas!! You have already been a part of some pretty amazing festivities, and there are more to come. And as excited as I am about this, your first Christmas, I realized something. You are my Christmas all year long. Yes, you are my most favorite gift. But that’s not what I’m talking about. Christmas is a time when ordinary, regular, every day things, become extraordinary and magical. A tree is no longer a tree, but it twinkles and sparkles. Houses light up and look straight out of story books. Even a sweet, simple carol becomes more than a song; they are recognized and sung by people all over the world. Even more remarkable? A baby was born in a barn, and changed the world forever.

So you see, you are my extraordinary. YOU make my ordinary day extraordinary. I love more deeply and I celebrate with more joy. My special girl, you are full of magic and light.

You are Christmas every day.

Merry Christmas Lucy Pearl.

Love, Mama

Thankful

I've never been more thankful for anything in my life. 

I love you Lucy Pearl. 

When you love somebody...

Tis the month of Thanksgiving.  Although my heart wakes up full of thanks every morning.  To me there are really two different kinds of thankfulness.  There's the obvious.  Our loved ones, our health, our things.  And then there's what I consider a thankful heart.  It's more of an attitude.  It's there all the time, but yet can surge at surprising moments.  A sunrise, a smile, a cup of coffee. The best part about this kind of thankfulness is that it can be taught, improved, trained.  I was raised around this kind of attitude and I pray I radiate the same spirit around my child and my husband, a spirit of gratefulness.

But since we are leading up to Thanksgiving Day, I want to talk about one of my most favorite blessings to count.  Loved ones.  My family, near and far.  Which if you know me then you know how intricately they are a part of me.  My friends.  Friends I see weekly and friends I see sporadically.  Good friends in my new town and dear friends in my hometown.  Loved ones across the country and loved ones on the other side of the world right now.  I thank God for these people every day.  I pray for their safety and protection and happiness.  Because of them I'm surrounded by love and support and prayer.  I have people who lift me up and people who are patient and forgive.  They are people who are happy when I am happy and who remind me to be happy when I forget that I am.  I am so thankful for the people God selects to put in my life.

Last month my family all got together for a long weekend.  It was one of those times where I wish I could just bottle it up.  I'd love to take my family, my friends, and a cabin in the woods by a river and just roll it up and squeeze them in my arms forever.

So in the words of my favorite toast, here's to family I consider friends and friends I consider family...

8 Months

Little Bit, you are 8 months today. Amazing. You are amazing. You continue to amaze me every day. Absolutely amazing. Just last night your dad felt your third tooth. We thought your other bottom teeth were coming in next. We never saw or felt anything up top and then BAM. It was your top left tooth that just broke through.  Luckily your three teeth have not harmed our nursing relationship :) You make us laugh constantly and it's clear that you have so much that you want to say. You still don't crawl forward, but you're already starting to pull up on things. Maybe you think crawling on your hands and knees is for the dogs? You are curious about everything and some how are able to reach things that are 3 arm lengths away without even moving. You do NOT like winter squash. It's repulsive and you are shocked we would even attempt to feed it to you. You would rather stick to carrots and bananas.  That, and Mama's milk of course.  And girl do you love your daddy. You take it very personal when he leaves the room or walks away from you. But I don't think he minds. You are most at peace during our weekly hikes. You never get tired of being outside. I found a digested leaf in your diaper the other day. Fiber. I'm about to jump out of my skin I'm so excited about introducing you to the holidays. You are my heart.

Love,
Mama

We'll be in the woods...

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this season? I find myself walking around with the hymn "For the Beauty of the Earth" stuck in my head. Thank you Lord.

My time...

I haven't been posting here much, because I've been posting here...

www.lindseymcdowellphotography.wordpress.com

And that's a good thing.  :)

Birthdays

Something makes me think yesterday might have been his best birthday yet...

...and it wasn't because of my attempt at cooking a fancy dinner.

7 Months

Dear Lucy,

Hey Pumpkin!  There are officially more months behind you then there are till your first birthday.  Quite frankly, I don't like that one bit.  There is so much to look forward to, I know.  But there is also so much perfection going on right now, I don't want anything to change.

You are so full of curiosity and life and smiles and snuggles.

You haven't quite figured out crawling (so close!), but you are definitely on the move.

You're getting the whole food swallowing down.  Carrots are your favorite.

You say 'Mama'.  So far only when you're distraught and tired.  But it still melts my heart and I feel like the luckiest person in the entire universe.  I'm your mama.

Your expressions have more power then words ever will.

You're strong.  You're smart.  You're funny. 

You are so loved baby girl.

Love,
Mama

Cabin Fever...sort of

Sometimes I get major cabin fever. Not necessarily from four walls or from my lack of adult interaction, but from everything. By everything, I mean roads, buildings, cars, stuff...routine.

And if I don't see mountains, trees, and a trail (trail optional) soon, I may just burst.

Not the mountains and trees you can see from your back porch or on a nice drive, but the ones that swallow you up whole.

Never is the urge as strong as it is during the fall. The air, the smells, the colors. I imagine it's what an addiction feels like. I have to have it.

Lucy has been happy and content outside from day one. Even in midday 100 degree summer. So it has been my pleasure to introduce her to Fall and all it's glory. She's a fan.

We are lucky to have some great places to hike locally. That's what I love about hiking. There's a trail for every calling, the last minute afternoon trips, the longer weekend trips, and the big picture trips when we'll pack up and head out west. But of course there's the granddaddy of all trips, the one I dreamed of taking my kids on before kids were even a reality. Alaska. Backpacking in Alaska was so powerful and life changing, I knew it was a gift I wanted to share with my children. Not many places are left in the US that are considered pristine wilderness, untouched by man. I want my family to experience that.

Until then...we'll be playing outside.

Enjoy your weekend!!

An impromptu afternoon under a tree...

Are there any such better days as these?