Stop Praying

My faithful readers know that I love using EchoPrayer. I get text messages reminding me to pray about a specific request different times during the day. I love it.

I recently started reading 'Crazy Love' by Francis Chan. I'm taking it slow, letting the words and the message sink in. Watch this video...

In the first chapter of this book Francis challenges us to stop praying. Here is a quote...'What if I said, "Stop praying"? What if I told you to stop talking at God for a while, but instead to take a long, hard look at Him before you speak another word? Solomon warned us not to rush into God's presence with words. That's what fools do. And often, that's what we do.'

R.C. Sproul- Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God.

I too often forget to remember the majesty of God everyday. He is awesome.

Heather

Sophie?!?

Today Adley and I participated in the Great Cloth Diapering Challenge.

Internationally cloth diapering fanatics were trying to set a Guinness World Record for most cloth diapers changed, ever.
The numbers haven't been tallied yet, and with over 400 locations, that is a lot of tallying to do. We had fun seeing some old Bradley friends and now Adley will be able to say that she participated in making a Guinness World Record.

I got entered in a drawing for a goody bag (which I won) and a prize pack too!
Here are a pics of the goodies (for Adley really) that I won.

 Wipes Case, 2 pairs of Babylegs, two hair bows, a super cute snack bag, and a woolie car air freshener!

 Goodie bag with a water bottle, free samples of soap and more fun stuff!

And...

Someone had pity on poor Adley.

Let me clarify, my little rant about Sophie was truth, but in jest. At the event today a friend of Adley's, Corbin shared/gave his Sophie to Adley. His mommy explained that their Sophie had laryngitis so Adley and their sick Sophie would be a perfect match. How sweet! How can a selfish mother turn down a sweet gift like that? We graciously accepted his sweet gift and since then Adley has been gnawing on her Sophie and she loves it. Did I fail as a mother, no, does she have the best friends, yes.

Crazy Love posts to come!

Poor Sophie

I am the worst mother ever...
Okay, that is an exaggeration, I know, but let's just say I am selfish.

Adley has at least three friends that have a Sophie the Giraffe

(see, cute little thing)

And she LOVES it. It doesn't matter if there are a pile of toys sitting on the floor, she will always go for Sophie.
So cute!
In fact, I think she takes after a dear friend of mine who LOVES giraffe's. Because Adley has 'Ribbons' (her plush giraffe) and backup 'Ribbons' (in case former Ribbons dies, of course) that she loves, but she seems to like Sophie more.
So, what's the catch??? Well first off, Sophie is a $15.00 toy and I'm not normally akin to buying ONE toy for $15.00. But, you say, you can find them online for cheaper. Yes, yes you can...the price isn't my biggest issue.

Sophie is made of rubber. If there is one thing I hate (yes, actually hate) in life it is wet, squeaky rubber. Call it a pet peeve of mine. Squeaky rain boots, bad windshield wipers, doormats, and even Sophie make me want to grind my teeth. And trust me, I try not to. I don't enjoy the feelings I get when I hear my sweet daughter chewing on that lovable toy.
I love Adley and Sophie is a great teething toy, but I can hear Adley gnawing away on Sophie's adorable little ears from across the room...
NO CAN DO...yuck. Selfish, yes, but with my SANITY intact I will call this mothering acceptable. I love Adley and instead of her giving all her attention to a cute, little, adorable, RUBBER giraffe, she can crawl all over and love on her mommy instead.

Side Note: I've been doing these Dear Daughter notes on Facebook as Adley does something adorable or something little that I want to remember. I'm think I'd like to put these in a book or scrapbook so she can have them when she is older, I may even try to write her longer letters on her birthday or something. Any ideas or thoughts on this?

(Adley LOVES the swings and her Daddy is the BEST at getting her to smile...too cute!)

P.S. My husband bought me 'Crazy Love' today by Francis Chan...so be prepared for my rants on how moving this book will be!

Excited,

Heather

6 Month Pictures

Okay...who can really write something serious when their photographer just brought them their pictures?

Lisa Curry at Senior Fine Arts Major at Oklahoma Christian University did our family photos/Adley's 6 month photos. (Let me tell you folks...she is very reasonable!)

Here are some peeks below!

Love, love, love. Enjoy!

Fearless...

If you haven't seen the facebook picture yet, you simply must.

Today my daughter tried walking behind her little walk/sit toy. She has been sitting in front of it for weeks and loving it. I thought she might push it once or not at all and be done. Nope. All she wanted to do today is walk behind it. She is fearless.

And yes, we have experienced this before. When Adley is on our bed she believes that the ground is at the same level. Or she believes that she can fly. I'm not sure which, maybe the flying part?

I'm trying to figure out a balance between letting her learn from falling and teaching her to be careful. I want her to fear things like oh...falling off the bed, but still learn how to walk so I'm not carrying her around when she's 20.
And, once she's mastered walking we will move on to something else...say disagreeing with her mother??? Now that my friends, is something she better learn fear, and in fast.

And yes, as you can imagine I can draw a spiritual application for just about any moment in my life. But, honestly I love that I'm learning more about my Savior and our relationship through raising my little girl. So many things remind me of my failures, of His love, of beauty God created, and His desire for my worship and my desire for a closer relationship. Little things she does have given me so much insight on the work I have in my own life. I will spare you my crazy links and applications, this time. But, if you have a kiddo or when you have one, look for things God may be teaching you through them. I have a list...and I don't have to look hard.

Thank you to God for bringing me my daughter and teaching me so much in the past 6 months. I cannot wait for the next 20 years. (But, I can...I mean I will take them as they come. No need to have her asking for my keys yet, let's give this walking thing a try first, for say, the next 15 years and 6 months, at least.)

There is a Light at the End of the Tunnel

I thought I would update you on my MSPI diet/status with Adley.

Are you excited yet?

You really should be. My life is most interesting. Just kidding. But, seriously. :)

I tried adding back in eggs and they were a no go. They didn't seem to bother her if I ate them in things, but with I ate just eggs for like breakfast she reacted so eggs are back out.

She seems really sensitive to soy, but I was able to add back in butter. Since butter is the fat it is way less likely to have the milk protein.

At this point we are stuck on this diet. I found some wonderful replacements that are making my life so much more fun. I tried chocolate Almond milk and it actually tastes very similar to cow's chocolate milk. I also found a cake recipe that doesn't take eggs or an egg replacer. (It is is the oven now so I'm excited!) I've also started making homemade bread which doesn't have anything bad for miss Adley either.
This diet has been really good for me. I've learned to sacrifice and that sacrifice has paid off for my sweet baby and me. Learning to have self control in my eating and sacrificing for my baby have been lessons I'm thankful for.

My goal right now is to for sure breastfeed Adley until she is atleast one so I will be keeping this diet up until September...maybe longer. For now I'm going to have my MSPI cake and eat it too!