A Thankful Heart

One of the things I've been processing lately is what it means to have a thankful heart....because I want one.  I don't want to let a single day go by without giving Him the credit, without recognizing how good and how faithful He is.  Gosh, I'm so thankful that I have a shepherd, a GOOD shepherd that leads me...the thing is, I don't want to be thankful when I get to the destination and finally realize that the shepherd knew where He was leading me all along, that he knew what he was doing, that he had it all under control, that he knew the best way to get me there in the best timing to produce the best results...I want to be thankful TODAY, in the midst of the journey when I don't see the end but I know, I TRUST that it's coming...and it's gonna be great.

I'm in the midst of two journeys.  Well, more than two, but there are two particular ones on my heart today.  One is Jake's job.  I don't know what is going to happen.  I don't know where he will work, what his hours will be, how much income he will make, will he get to do the "ideal" thing he wants to do...I don't know those things...but one thing I do know, we are on a journey and the destination is going to be far better than we can imagine.  So I am thankful today.  I'm thankful for the upcoming interviews.  I'm thankful for every step along the way that leads to His perfect plan.  When I can't see the end, I will be thankful because I know that whatever comes, it's gonna be GREAT!  The other journey I mentioned is the complete healing of a precious little one.  He has spoken it- she will be healed.  I used to come before Him every day like the persistent widow asking for her healing...until one day when I felt it in my heart- the day is coming!  The celebration is upon us!  So now I still come everyday and ask for healing...but I also thank Him.  I thank Him for what he's going to do, because I KNOW it's going to be great, it's going to be miraculous, it's going to be so perfect.  Oh Lord, hasten the day!

5 months!

Anniston is 5 months old today.

What is my 5 month old doing?

She's learning new tricks...

She's sitting in her Bumbo....



She's playing in her bouncer...



She's sitting up in her stroller, watching the world go by...



She has definitely discovered her voice, which seems especially loud in restaurants...this is her admiring her Dad while out to eat.



Again, out to eat, this time she has fallen asleep in her Daddy's arms...

 About to go on a walk...



Playing in our bed while we get ready for the day...



Just looking beautiful....





Speaking of beautiful, our dog, 6 years old, went to the groomer for the first time.  The poor thing was scraggly, matted, dirty, and in desperate need of some grooming...so we took her to get shaved for the summer...Anniston has just discovered Lita and she is fascinated by her.  I think they will be good pals in a few years.



Life is good.  I am grateful today.

Our first little girl

So you may be thinking, isn't Anniston your first little girl? Well, there's another little one that you must know about...the first little girl that captured our hearts. Before we got engaged, when we talked about having kids, we always said we would have 0 kids or 2 kids. The day after we got engaged, Jake says "I want 4- I want to have two, and adopt two from Africa"...yes, he waits until the day after I agree to marry him to tell me this. I, needless to say, was not on the same page. I couldn't imagine loving a child that wasn't my own with the same love that I had for my own little ones. So we did what we usually do when Jake throws out big dreams that I'm not ready to embrace, we stopped talking about it and waited to see what the Lord would do in one of our hearts. So fast forward three years...Jake and I board a plane with 9 other friends to Mozambique, Africa for two weeks. What happened? I fell in love with her....

Meet Quiteria. This little girl, two years old at the time, completely stole my heart. She is indescribably beautiful. When we went to Mozambique, we knew we would be staying in a baby house, a place where Pieter and Rika Boersma and their 3 boys took in orphaned children as their own. They became a family. I hadn't had much experience with babies, but I had a few expectations- I didn't think I would become attached...I thought if I did become attached, it would be to a little boy...I thought if I got attached to a little boy, it would be the sweetest of the bunch...so what happens? I fall head over heels in love with Quiteria- a beautiful little girl that's as sassy as they come. So much attitude. I had not expected this. I loved everything about her. Her shirt in this picture says "Can't do it Won't do it"...yep. This girl was independent, stubborn, sassy....and I loved it. I remember coming home and a month going by, and one night I was sitting in the parking lot after watching a movie sobbing. When Jake asked why I was crying, I confessed that I just missed Quiteria so very much and I didn't understand why she couldn't come live with us. In my mind, she belonged with us. She was one of us now. So do I still wonder if I could love an adopted child in the same way I loved my own? Nope. Quiteria proved me wrong. Oh how I love her.

Quiteria the year we met her:

Quiteria growing up:

Quiteria really grown up:

Quiteria, we love you more than you will ever know. You have forever changed us. We pray that you will grow up knowing how beautiful, valued, and extravagantly loved you are.

With abundant love, your family in Oklahoma, Jake, Kristin, and Anniston

Easter Weekend

We had a great Easter weekend! We got to spend the weekend with my family at the lake, which is one of my favorite things to do- getting our family, my parents, and my brother's family all together at the lake is so fun to me. I am so thankful for such an amazing family. We wish that we lived closer to them, but I'm pretty sure there is no convincing the McCollough's to move to Norman or the Bauer's to move to Fayetteville...so the parents living halfway in between and doing our best to make it there every few months will have to do for now!

My first boat trip of the season was so much fun. My brother drove us around and we all enjoyed the beautiful scenery and great conversation. Well, I guess I should say my niece drove us around. :)

She had fun driving the boat. She also enjoyed getting bundled up in Daddy's jacket and watching the scenery.

The boat ride finished and we headed off to the park. Easton and Pops led the way, hand in hand.

Anniston didn't get to experience the boat this time. Maybe this summer, the verdict's still out. Something about a baby in a life jacket in her car seat in the heat of the summer doesn't sound like it would be fun, but we may have to do it just for the experience. We'll see...in the meantime, she can have fun with Nana, playing at the house! She gets some pretty great treatment at Nana and Pops house. Playing with Nana, getting rocked to sleep by Pops, not too shabby for Anniston.

Nana Great came over from Fort Smith which was super fun! Her great-granddaughters sure do love her!

Easton had fun playing Pops guitar.

It was so fun seeing the cousins together. I can just imagine them as little girls running around playing together...or getting on the tube together, laughing hysterically while Pops takes them on a wild ride...many fun days ahead with these two (and maybe a couple more little ones as well!!!)

Sunday night we headed off to church for Easter, to celebrate that HE IS RISEN! Happy Easter Everyone!

Another week with the Bauer's

Spring is here. Our rose bush is in full bloom.

Last week Anniston went to the doctor for her 4 month well check. Her stats:

Weight- 14 pounds 10 ounces, 75%

Height- 24 1/2 inches, 50%

Head Circumference- 15 1/2 inches, 10%

Most moms get real sad when their babies get their shots. What do I do?

Take a picture. That's what I do...I know I know, it seems cruel, but I just think it's so cute when she sticks out that bottom lip and starts to cry. Don't worry, I did plenty of holding and hugging and loving on her as well.

So I completed my first "mom project" the other day. I have zero artistic ability. Zero. I don't like thinking about the day my kid needs some costume for school and I have to attempt to make it. Anyway, the only way I'm going to learn is to try some things...so I decided that I should try to make her a bow for her hair. Baby steps. I believe I decided this around the time that I had her in a white onesie and blue pants and someone asked if she was a boy or a girl and Jake said to me "she needs a bow!"....so I sent Jake to the store to get me materials. He comes back with maroon, navy blue, hunter green (are we in the 90's?) and gray....I'm a little confused. What outfits does he think I'm going to match those up with? Anyway, trying to be grateful, I grabbed the gray material and started at it...this is what I came up with.

It's not great, but hey, it's not terrible so I count it as a success! I'm now ready to move on to the pinks and whites...

One thing that is so fun about kids is that they love babies...this is especially true for Ella Rose. She loves Anniston and always wants to hold her and love on her, which is so fun. The pic is a bit blurry but I still love it! Love you Ella Rose! Thanks for loving on my little one!

Last week was a milestone for Anniston- she rolled over from her back to her stomach. I was at work. I knew she was going to roll over that day and before I left I told her "Now don't you go rolling over today Anniston"...sure enough, Jake calls in the afternoon to declare she has rolled over. He says "if it makes you feel any better, I was in the other room getting her bottle ready, so I missed it too"...yep, it does make me feel better. Thanks. So it's the first step towards having a mobile child. My days of laying her on her playmat and going in the other room to fix lunch are numbered...not much longer. But that's ok! I know I will love each new stage.

We had a fun filled weekend. Friday night was dinner with just the three of us. Anniston has definitely "found her voice" and loves to squeal very loudly....so everyone at Pepe's got the privilege of listening to our little one "talk"...the next morning I headed to a shower to celebrate my friend Liz and her daughter Naifeh, coming in May! I am so so excited to meet this beautiful girl that we have prayed for and waited expectantly for. I just know her and Anniston are going to be great friends! Then I got to hang out with little Finley for an hour or so, which was so fun! Finley is so sweet. I just love having friends living down the street. I hope this summer we get lots of time to play!

Then I got to spend some time with my dear friend Cathleen and her son Elijah. I love watching my friends be moms and learning from them. I feel like I ask them a million questions- the question I feel like I have asked a lot is "what has been the most challenging stage in parenting?" I have found that the answer is different depending on if you are raising boys or girls...interesting. Anyway, squeezed in a little quality time with the husband before I headed off to celebrate Katelin at her bachelorette party. Anniston stayed and hung out with Dad and the dudes. The next morning, Anniston and I headed to Tulsa to have lunch with my family. Delicious meal, great company, all around good time.

Nana and Anniston

Nana Great and Anniston

My cousin Madison and Anniston. She is coming to OU this year and I'm so excited!!!

The day and the car ride wore her out. We got home and she went off to bed. Then Jake and I had our usual Sunday night tradition- Domino's pizza in bed, watch a little Friends. Great way to relax before the week starts. Great weekend!!

Some more pictures:

The other day Anniston and I just laid on the ground and talked and laughed. Love her.

I have a ridiculous amount of pictures of her in her sleep sack...it's just that when she wakes up and I walk in there and she looks up at me and gets that huge smile on her face...there is nothing better...no picture could do that face justice or possibly capture how it makes me feel.

Setting off for an adventure!

Asleep in her swing...doesn't look too comfortable!

When I hold her, she has started wrapping her hands up in my shirt...I think it's really sweet.

Sweet girl.