TWO!!

It really is difficult for me to fathom that TWO years ago, we met you

Madison Hope Baylor!

 Here you are on the first day of your little life: December 22, 2008

Our hearts  were smitten by you immediately darling. 

We couldn't snuggle you and stare at you enough!

Here you are at 1 year old: December 22, 2009

You continued to thrill our hearts with your fun and active personality. 

You were the life of the party for sure!

And at 2 - such a big girl! -December 22, 2010

We literally could not love you more sweetheart! You are a big sister now and such a loving one!

You are the light of our lives! There is a wonderful sense of life and determination in all you do. 

You sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" so beautifully!

Whatever emotions you are feeling, you let us know all about them! 

We love you so much ;)

Madison, your Daddy and I love you so very much and thank the Lord that you came into our lives 2 years ago! May the Lord continue to bless you and care for you each year that you grow older!

Love, 

Mommy and Daddy

We did a My Little Pony birthday party for her this year with a few of her little friends. She hasn't watched any of the movies or shows but she sure does love her ponies and pony castle that she has!

  The kiddos played "Pin the Rainbow on the pony". They more or less just walked up there and put their sticker on. For the bigger kids, we spun them around before they put their sticker on ;)

All the kiddos together!

It was so fun watching her run around the house with all of her little friends! I just can't believe how quickly the time is flying by with these two girls of ours. What a good reminder to treasure the small moments with them while they are little ;)

Happy 30th Birthday Tim!!!

Oh my word Tim-30! Really?! Haha- I can tease about him being SO OLD because I turn 30 in just a few weeks :) 

Seriously though, I am just crazy thankful for my dear husband. We've had some really great times together (and continue to ;) -He is my best friend and I just love his companionship! He is seriously the best Dad to our girls that I could have ever asked for and he works so hard at his job so that I can have the wonderful opportunity of staying home with our sweet girls while they are young. 

I could never repay him for that! 

We have been together since we were 16, so that's nearly half of our lives now! I love the history and life we have together. Don't get me wrong - it's certainly not perfect. 

No marriage ever is. 

It's hard work sometimes, but it is certainly worth it in the end! 

Here is a quick snapshot of our last 14 years together:

Age 16 - Best friends already, started dating by going on a double date 

with my twin and our friend Zach

Age 17 - Still dating (Although broke up nearly every summer :)

Age 18 - seniors in high school now, graduated,  headed off to freshman year of college together in WI (oh and we broke up for our whole freshman year too ;)

Age 19 - sophomore year - got back together - continued our studies and made some really great friends

Age 20 - Juniors - got engaged during Spring Break in NYC -very romantic!

Age 21 -Seniors! Wedding planning!

Age 22 - got married 2 weeks after college graduation! Moved to VA to begin seminary.  Tim started the business "Finishing Touches Painting and Pressure Washing" with Jordan Heijermans. I started my first year of teaching at GCA teaching 2nd grade.

Age 23 - Tim continued seminary and started teaching high school theology and Greek. I began coaching high school soccer, and moved to teaching 4th grade.

Age 24 - I continued to teach 4th grade,  Tim continued seminary and continued teaching high school theology and Greek. 

Age 25 - Tim took a year off seminary, but continued to teach. I continued to teach 4th grade and we both coached high school soccer girls together. We really enjoyed that break from seminary and got to spend lots of time together and with friends as we prepared to move to Chicago.

Age 26 - Moved to Chicago to finish Seminary at TEDS. Tim worked as a barista at Starbucks and I taught 3rd grade at HFLS in the city and began my Master's degree in teaching.

Age 27 - Tim continued at TEDS and started to work for the church part-time as well as a barista at Starbucks part-time.  I finished my last year of teaching and continued to work on my degree

 (do you think we love school or what?!) Then Madison arrived!

Age 28 - Tim graduated from TEDS with his MDiv - began working for the church full-time.  I stayed home with Madison and continued to work on my degree. 

Age 29 - Tim continued to work full-time at the church in a new role. I continued to stay home with Madison and continued to work on my degree while pregnant with Rose. Rose arrived on the scene!

Age 30 -Happy Birthday Babe! I'm enjoying the ride with you :)

Counterfeit Gods

Before I had kids, I used to post quite frequently about books I was reading. But to be honest, I am just not reading as much these days as I used to 2 years ago!  But today Tim had a day off and while the girls were napping and snow was falling outside, we decided to brew some coffee, turn on some Christmas music and read. I have to say, it was one of our most enjoyable "Home dates" ever!  I am reading  Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope That Matters by Timothy Keller. So far it has been spiritually and intellectually stimulating.  I am only about 30 pages into it, but I am encouraged and convicted by Keller's view on contentment and idols.

He defines an idol like this:
" It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give. A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that ,should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. An idol has such controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy , your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought. ...An idol is whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, 'If I have that, then I'll feel my life has meaning, then I'll know I have value, then I'll feel significant and secure'". 

He talks about how good and natural desires of our hearts can so quickly become idols that become our identity and purpose. 


A way of determining your idols Keller says is often by looking at your nightmares, "What do we fear the most? What if we lost it, would make life not worth living? We make 'sacrifices' to appease  and please our gods, who we believe will protect us. We look to our idols to provide us with a sense of confidence and safety."

Personal identity has been something I have struggled with since I was a young girl. I have found my identity in my good works, in my husband, my children, a clean home, beauty, and even my "spirituality". Throughout my life these idols have shifted and yet the root has remained the same -I am not finding my true identity in Jesus Christ.

Keller says it this way, "We need to find a way to keep from clutching them [idols] too tightly, of being enslaved by them. We will never do so by mouthing abstractions about how great God is. We have to know, to be assured, that God so loves, cherishes, and delights in us that we can rest our hearts in him for our significance and security and handle anything that happens in life."

This is the desire of my heart, that I would rest in Christ each day for my joy, contentment and purpose and that my girls could see that and follow me as I follow Christ.

He continued to speak to the fact that many times we end up losing the thing that we cling to most vigorously and through that experience our faith is built up as we lean on Christ for strength.

He says it this way, "You don't realize Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have"

The Girls are Officially "Bunkmates" Now :)

I moved Rose into Madison's room last night. I was so nervous about how it would go, but it went as well as could have been expected! Tim and I spent much of the evening chatting with Madison about how Rose would be sleeping in her room, and that she needed to be a big girl and be quiet and stay in her bed no matter what ;) 

I forgot to get pics of them in their room together, but I will post some soon. I really would like to get their new name plates up and organize a few things first. so here are a few I took of them the other night after we decorated for Christmas!

I put them both down at the same time (around 7:30pm) and there was some noise from both of them for a little while (maybe 15 min) until they both fell asleep! Then I snuck into the room at 10:00pm to get Rose for another feeding. Maddy woke up and was confused - but Tim just comforted her and explained that Rose needed to eat. 
Then Tim snuck back in around 11pm to put Rose back down. Maddy woke up again, but I just told her Rose was going back to sleep and tucked her back in. Rose and addy cried for less than a minute and they both fell asleep again and slept until 7:30am!!! I am not sure who woke up first, but I heard Maddy talking first, so I went in to get her and she was still in her bed and Rose was awake happily kicking in her crib ;) I am sure there will be some tough nights ahead - but not a bad start. 
Praise the Lord!

Big Girl Bed

We made the transition to a Big girl bed this past week.  Madison had learned how to climb out of her crib, so we decided it was time. Plus this frees up the crib for Rose. I think I will try to move Rose into Madison's room this week sometime. I have been dragging my feet on this as they both have been sleeping so well during the night and I am afraid to stir things up, ya know? But I suppose, I will just have to go for it and things might get worse before they get better.

This is how she finally fell asleep

She has done great in her big girl bed. We got her a new pillow pet (she chose the panda bear) to help make the transition easier. She has only fallen out once(fortunately it is very low to the ground) and has had a few nap times where I have had to discipline her for getting out of bed. But she pretty much stays in now. It's cute because she will call my name when she wakes up and when I go in she is standing on the edge of the bed like there is a force field around it or something - I love it!

I just can't believe what a BIG GIRL  she is becoming. She has grown up so quickly. It's so bittersweet. I miss those little baby days with her, but yet I am just enjoying the new fun things she does each day. She keeps me guessing and laughing. Love you Maddy!

Rose is 3 months!

I honestly can't believe that baby Rose is 3 months already! The time has truly flown by. She has been a joy to spend time with. She has been so easy going and happy.

I just took her for her 3 month appointment and she is 10 lbs, 24 inches - my little peanut girls -I love em!

Funs:

• very smiley
• kicking up a storm – close to rolling over I think
• squeaking and cooing
• sleeping through the night
• loves to see her sister-doesn’t even seem to be bothered by the clunks on the head or when Madison lays on top of her -oh dear!
• cranes her neck to see the tv-her sister definitely did that ;)

Not-so-Funs:

•  blow out diapers - how long does this last? Yuck!
•  spit up - she seems to spit up more than Maddy did or maybe my memory is just bad
•  bald spot - she is a back sleeper and she has started to get that old bald spot. Maddy was a tummy sleeper, so we didn't have to worry about that. 

We are just so thankful for the Lord's wisdom in giving us sweet Rose!

She lights up and coos when Tim and I talk to her and hold her. She seems to soak up all of the attention when Madison is in bed at night and she is still up. 

We are just loving our time with her.  Love you Rosebud ;)

Thanksgiving with good food and great friends!

Crazy Days

Things have been pretty busy in the Baylor household over the past few weeks. Tim's parents were here for a week, which was wonderful because the girls got to spend time with them and they were a HUGE help! It was so nice spending time with them in Chicago. Here are a few pics.

Mom Baylor with Rose

 Tim and his dad watching football and checking facebook ;)

 Maddy at the petting zoo. Mom Baylor and I took the girls.

 It was hilarious watching Madison let the goat lick her hand - she loved it!

 Tim's Dad reading to Maddy - she loved the extra attention!

 Mom and Dad Baylor with the girls at the play area at the mall ;) 

Then all of last week Tim, the girls and I got hit with pretty bad colds. Tim and I are almost feeling better, but the girl's colds have been hanging on. I think they are on the way out though - so I am happy for that! I feel like we have been cooped up in the house forever - I am ready to get out!

Since we were inside, I pulled out a old recipe for bath paints I had gotten off a blog a while back (sorry I don't remember whose it was or I would give you props!) But basically, it is 2 Tbs bath soap and a few drops of food coloring. I made three colors and Maddy loved it! Clean up was a breeze too - no stains! I just had to rinse it away with water- what fun!

 I can't believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. We are celebrating here in Chicago with some friends. We'll be feasting all day, playing games, chilling, and watching football. Well, truthfully,, I'm sure the gals will spend a lot of time in the kitchen -but it's so much more fun on Thanksgiving - and with friends! I'm so looking forward to the whole experience! Then we'll be heading home to PA for Christmas - also right around the corner!

22 and 2

Madison is 22 months old and Rose is 2 months old. I am thoroughly enjoying these days with the girls. I want to remember them, so I am going to do a little write up on each girl. I hope to print and bind my blog someday to have as a scrapbook and I like to keep family on the East Coast updated

 - so indulge me ;)

MADISON 22 months (about 23 lbs)

FUNNY things:

* When she wants Tim or me to tickle her or throw her around, she says "Get Me!" and then giggles and runs away - it's so fun to hear!

* She has been proclaiming what she hears and sees now. For example, she will point to her eye and say, "See: plane, bus, big truck, cloud etc" Then she usually says, "hold?" And I explain that it's too far to reach and then she stretches her arm and says, "reach?!" Its cute!   One time at dinner she tooted and squealed, "Hear! Poop!" Tim and I just died laughing.

* We live in a condo unit on the second floor and we have to pass several doors to get to  ours. Maddy had a habit of stopping at the other doors and jiggling the handle (one time someone came to the door and I had to apologize!) I had to fix this one quick! So now when she walks down the hallway, she stops at the other doors, wags her finger and says " No door, no no!" and then keeps walking. When she gets to our door, she exclaims, "Yeah! Door!!"

* We have gotten in the habit of telling her, "good girl!" or "big girl!" when she does things we ask, or something new. Well now she likes to tell us that she is a good girl when she does something she is trying to. Like one morning she ate all of her toast, so she lifted her empty plate in the air and shouted, "Good Girl Toast!"

* Last Sunday on our way to church, Maddy was saying, "One doll-Share!" as she was pointing her one finger in the air. She kept saying it over and over after I would say we are on our way to church. I finally realized that last week, she must have been hogging the baby dolls  and they had to tell her to only hold one doll and to share! Oh dear!

NEW things: 
* Thank you seemed to take FOREVER to learn! She kept saying "Welcome" for a long time. She has finally gotten it and even says it unprompted from time to time. I LOVE it! She enunciates each sound of the phrase one by one - I love these early talking days. Everything sounds so cute the first time they say it ;)

* She seems to be jabbering away these days. She can say her ABC's (after I say each one) she can repeat counting to ten (following my lead). Communication has gotten so much easier. I feel like we can have a little conversation now.

* She is down to one nap. She just gave her morning one up less than a month ago ( I was lucky!) But she is sleeping a good couple of hours midday now.

* She has been pretending more, which I love! She and I pretend to eat food at the playground table and she dances her ponies around on the coffee table, and pretends to feed and change her baby doll - such fun!

* She has started calling Tim and I Mommy and Daddy instead of Mama and Dada -it was a little sad at first (not so baby-like) - but still so cute to hear it!

* I bought her first bottle of bubbles (not sure why it took me so long!) She is obsessed with them and asks me to make more bubbles all the time!

*She calls her baby doll (baby rose) and takes good care of her -for the mot part

ROSE- 2 months (about 9 lbs)

Happy things:

* She coo's, squeals, and Squeaks after she has eaten and is feeling pretty good. Those sounds just warm my heart! 

* She has gotten on a pretty good feed-wake-sleep schedule during the day and has finally gotten to where she can fall asleep on her own at nap time and bed time. She has been sleeping anywhere from 6-10 hours at night (usually around 8). We have started a bit of sleep training at that seems to have helped.

* She is so warm and cuddly! I love that she will still fall asleep in my arms :)

* She is kicking her legs like crazy and flapping those arms when she lays on her back - it's so cute!

* She smiles when she sees, Mom, Dad, Maddy, or a fan - haha!

* She copies us when we stick out our tongues -which Maddy loves!

* She LOVES taking a bath

Not-so-Happy things:

* Blow out diapers - how did I forget about this?!

* Major spit up mishaps - this child can spit up! Yuck!!!

* Fussy evenings

I look forward to the girls interacting more as they get older. Even now, I love the way that Maddy asks for Rose first thing when she wakes up and Rose coos and smiles at the sound and sight of her sister.  I am continually thankful to the Lord for our healthy, happy girls and for the 

priceless opportunity to stay home with them.