Celebrating 1 Year of our Sweet Rose Lillian's Life!

Rose turned ONE just a few short days ago and I am so glad to finally have the chance to sit down and reflect on her YEAR with us in the Baylor family.

Rose - you have such a sweet and yet "Rosie" personality :) We are so thankful to the Lord for this year we have had with you. We pray that we will have many more! Here's a quick stroll down memory lane.

She was 7lbs 3 oz and 20.5 inches long. She arrived on August 30th at 5:47 pm.  I had fun reading her birth story again here. Crazy how it just seems like yesterday in some ways!

2 weeks old - our sweet little bundle

One month old - becoming more alert!

1 1/2 months old getting snuggles from her big sister

2 months old and smiley

3 months old - our little pumpkin for Thanksgiving

4 months old and ready for her 1st  Christmas!

5 months and having fun on her belly

6 months and as happy as ever

7 months and in her high chair ready to eat

8 months celebrating her first Easter

9 months and happy that the weather is getting nice again!

10  months - climbed up in Maddy's chair by herself

11 months and cruising like crazy

12 months and lovin' life!
 I wanted to jot down a few of my memories of her at this stage in her life so that I don't forget :)

*At Rose's 1 year doctor appointment, she was 29 inches tall and 15 lbs 12 ounces.  She's a tall drink of water. 

* She is walking well with holding our fingers and can stand on her own for about 5 seconds. She is getting very close to taking her first steps!

*She likes most fruits, but  loves grapes. I think she would eat them for every meal if I would let her. 

* She does not like broccoli! She has already started tossing food off her tray if she doesn't like it!

* She adores her sister as always and giggles and crawls to her and away from her!

* She is nuts about cats, dogs, and zu-zu pets! She Squeals, giggles and waves her arms like a wild woman when she sees any of hem :)

* She's a mama's girl! It's happened mainly because I am home all the time with her, but I don't mind at all! If she is tired or doesn't feel good or even just nervous, she clings to me for her life!

* Daddy can always make her laugh and giggle! She loves when her flips her on the bed and tickles her!

*She has her bottom two middle teeth in already and her back right tooth as well as her top two front teeth are presently coming in - which as made for a pretty cranky baby :(
*When she is excited and happy she will bury her face into your shoulder and squeal. It's so sweet!

*When she is feeling well, she is just a peach! She loves her family, her toys and her life. She is just pretty much a        content baby!

Dearest Rose Lillian, 

Your Dad, Sister and I are so very thankful that you came to join our family a year ago! The Lord knew that you would be the perfect puzzle piece that would fit into our family. You have brought so much love and joy into each of our lives. We couldn't do without you. You are a gift from God! We can't wait to see how the Lord will use your precious life for His glory! 

Quick Update

Friday, August 26th - Tim's mom and sister came to pick up the girls in Chicago and bring them to PA so we could finish packing and cleaning. The girls hardly seemed to miss us and did great (praise the Lord!). BIG shout out to Tim's parents and sister and her family for caring for our girls for 6 days and driving in the care with them for 12 hours!!!!

Monday, August 29th - some sweet friends from church threw a little good bye party for us. I of course cried (but I had been crying probably 3x a day for the past month, so that was nothing new :)

Tuesday, August 30th - dear friends came to help us pack up our moving truck and clean our condo before our walk through at 9pm. Yes, CLEAN! Aren't my friends the absolute best?! Yes, the answer is yes! 

Wednesday, August 31st - We met Ryan and Kelly at 7am for breakfast before heading off to PA with all of our worldly possessions in a 16 ft. Uhaul truck. We had such a nice time with them - but yes, more tears! The ride was so weird (but nice) with no kiddos :) We almost didn't know what to do with ourselves! We arrived into Bellefonte around 8:30pm PA time and had a few minutes of a joyous union with Maddy before we started unloading the truck. Poor girl just kept asking for us to hold her! I gave in after a while and just sat down and snuggled her - so sweet! We got the truck half unloaded that night (thanks to my dad, tim's dad, my brother, tim's sister, mom and brother in law),

Thursday, September 1st - We finished unpacking the truck , returned it and got on the road for MA by 1pm. We arrived at my sister Jen's house at 8:30pm I think. We chatted for a bit and all went to bed. 

Friday, Sept 2nd - Sunday, Sept 4th - we spent with Tim and Katie Barker as well as Dawn, Nate, Noah and Sophie Mihelis. It was such a great time catching up with dear friends and seeing the church plant that they are starting there in Somerville. God is really doing a great work in and through each of them and we are so excited to see it unfold and to know how to better pray for them now that we were there!

Sunday, Sept 4th - Wednesday Sept. 7th - We are chilling with my sister, her husband and their three girls. Just wanted to hug them all one more time before we head overseas. They are a pretty cool family. 

Wednesday Sept. 7th - We drive back to PA to spend time with our parents and siblings before we FLY OUT of Philly on Sept 21st. We have a night flight starting at 6:15pm.

So thankful for our many dear friends and family members we have been able to spend time with and trusting the Lord for each next day, each next step. 

It's a renter's market...

 Still looking for housing and we are about one month away from being in Aberdeen, Scotland. I just read this little blurb on the "Aberdeen Women's Fellowship's" website.

"The renter’s market in Aberdeen is very competitive. Properties are often listed and taken within days, sometimes hours, making it difficult,although not impossible, to secure housing while still abroad. Many landlords require a personal viewing of the property before they will agree to rent it to you. If no one in your family is able to come early to look and secure a place, then you may need to wait until you arrive in Aberdeen before you find permanent housing. It is a good idea, if you are able, to start looking at what the market has to offer no more than 1-2 months before you arrive although you can start looking earlier to get an idea of what the market is like. Some properties will be “available for immediate entry” while others may list another entry date. Many flats and homes come fully furnished, which is particularly helpful for those moving from overseas."

Pray for me to have patience and faith in my mighty God! 

It's Just Stuff

This weekend we had our last yard sale in an effort to get rid of all the things we can't ship to Scotland with us or that we don't feel are worth storing. Most of the girls' toys fall into that category. There are a select few little ones (pinky pie pony, panda pillow, and her special tea pot set...) that are dear friends of Madison's and are small enough to take with us. But for the most part, all we are taking is clothes, a few toiletries, our computers and U.S. measuring cups :) So it doesn't really make sense for me to store all of the girls' toys for three years when they won't be interested in them when they come back to the states in three years and they are 4 and almost 6 (ok - that's just crazy when I actually write it. Surely my girls will never be THAT old?)

So I spent Friday packing up most of their toys and many other things that I realized I just don't NEED. I had worship music playing while I was working and there were several times that I started to tear up as I would place something in the yard sale pile. I packed up Maddy's princess castle and enjoyed reminiscing about how she learned how to play make believe with that castle.
I remembered a sweet little stuffed animal that a dear friend had given her at my baby shower. She has grown up with these toys and there are so many fond memories that go along with them. I hadn't anticipated that the emotional element of giving our things away.

Funny though - she wasn't the one attached - I was. She hasn't even noticed her things are gone. She's just having fun playing in the empty moving boxes. I was the one that found myself attached to these "things". But as each new item went into the "For Sale" pile, my heart found deeper refuge in my Savior. I cried out to him in my sadness and asked for strength and hope. He is faithful. I was soon comforted by the wonderful truth that this is just "stuff". The toys, the cars (we just sold last week), the extra dishes, and clothes. It's not WHY I'm here on this earth. I was reminded that Where my treasure is, there will my heart be also.  I was created to bring honor and glory to my Father Jesus. This move is helping me to see things a little more clearly-without all of the "stuff"of this world clouding my view.

Phil. 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

Summertime Gaze?

I don't know about you, but I often struggle to keep my gaze cast towards Christ during one of the most beautiful time of the year. Maybe it's just the late nights and business of activities, but this short article by John Piper was a much needed encouragement and challenge for me tonight. 

I love Piper's encouragement, "Don’t let summer make your soul shrivel. God made summer as a foretaste of heaven, not a substitute. If the mailman brings you a love letter from your fiancé, don’t fall in love with the mailman. That’s what summer is: God’s messenger with a sun-soaked, tree-green, flower-blooming, lake-glistening letter of love to show us what he is planning for us in the age to come—“things which eye has notseen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered into the heart of man, God has prepared for those who love him"- I Corinthians 2:9. "


The solution?   "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth."  Colossians 3:1-2

It was just the reminder that I needed that no matter how busy I am this summer (and oh boy is this a busy one) to take every chance I get to turn my heart and mind to the things of Christ. For me 

personally that means a few things:

1. Getting up a tad earlier to get in The Word. I truly want my mind filled with scripture so that I am not tempted to doubt the goodness of my Heavenly Father.

2. Savoring each beautiful moment as a gift from God that points to His own majesty and should cause me to give glory to Him!

1 month shy of a YEAR!?

Seriously, how is it possible that my little baby is almost 1 year old?! I have just loved my days with Rose. She is such a sweet and mellow baby. But it as been fun to see her little personality start to peak out lately as she interacts with Maddy and us.

Ready to go to the park! She LOVES her Daddy :)

What's NEW:
* Two little bottom teeth (but she can still mash about any table food!)
* Says: dada, mama, ah duh (all done, and also does the sign), shakes her head for no
* Favorite foods: bananas, peaches, cheerios, chicken, cheese, and (gasp) peanut butter and jelly ;)
* Crawling around super fast these days (this is definitely her preferred method of transportation)

* Cruises around the furniture to get where she wants to go and walks holding onto our hands. But she doesn't seem to interested in walking alone quite yet, which I am totally fine with :)
* Sleep: she is a wonderful sleeper. She and Maddy share a room and are awake around 7am each morning. I think if Rose slept in her own room, she would probably sleep til 8. But it all evens out because she will usually take a nice 2 hour morning nap for me from 9-11. Then she takes another 2 hour nap from 1-3 (right when Maddy naps!). Then she goes back to bed for the night at 6pm. She doesn't even fuss when I lay her down any more- just plays until she falls asleep!

*Giggles and Smiles: she has become much more giggly, which I love! Things that make her giggle: playing peek-a-boo, when we take her pacifier and hide it behind our backs or pretend to put it in our mouth, when anyone else laughs or giggles, when she sees Maddy after nap time.
*Frustration: SHe has just started to show her frustration with Madison when she takes a toy from or is "too close for comfort". She'll squawk and flap her arms to get Maddy away. It's kind of funny.

* A Partner in crime - Rose as become Maddy's partner in crime. The other day I found them both quietly sitting on the floor of their room sucking sugar from the sugar bowl with straws!!

oh dear - what am I going to do with these girls? Oh -ok, I guess I'll keep them :) LOVE them so much!

Rose love to be EVERYWHERE that Maddy is :)

Rose we are so glad that you are a part of our family. You are so special to us! We love to see you grow bigger every day!

They Call It This in Scotland

Life has been pretty crazy lately preparing for our move. But one of my favorite things to do in my *ahem* "free time" has been to read up on "Life in Scotland". There is a great website I have been frequenting called, Aberdeen Women's Fellowship. It's set up primarily to help families coming from many parts of the world to the University of Aberdeen with their transition. It's been so helpful! I found this list, "They Call It This" and had to laugh. Enjoy :)

They Call It This
aubergine (eggplant)
bap (roll)
banger (sausage)
candy floss (cotton candy)
courgette (zucchini)
mange tout (snap peas)
jelly (jello)
tatties (potatoes)
neeps (turnips)
swede (rutabaga)
polenta (corn meal)
crisps (potato chips)
chips (french fries)
corn starch (corn flour)
porridge (oatmeal)
tea (dinner/supper)
stovies (stew-like leftovers)
coriander (cilantro)
non-brewed condiment (white vinegar)
streaky bacon (regular bacon like in the U.S. full of fat!)
icing sugar (powdered sugar)
mince (ground meat)
bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
rocket (arugula)
sweetie (candy)
biscuit (cookie)
white sponge (white cake)
custard (pudding)
pudding (dessert)
spring onion (scallion)
jacket potato (baked potato) 

The Baylors are Moving to Scotland!

It's hard to believe that I just wrote the title of that blog.  This news has been coming about for a few months now, but we weren't able to share it publicly. The Lord in His is gracious kindness has led us very clearly in this decision. I think Tim and I would both say that there are few other decisions in our life, that we both have felt so sure about. God has confirmed His leading in this move time and time again.  Tim has the full detailed explanation here on his blog. I figured there was no point in my re-typing the whole thing :) But I thought I would post a few more details and my response to the move.

We plan to move from chicago to PA at the end of the summer. We wil store our things in PA with family. We will then spend 3 weeks there with family and friends before taking the 7+ hour flight to Aberdeen, Scotland. Yes, you can start praying for that flight now :)

It has been a whirlwind of events and emotions. Sometimes I feel a little sad to leave our family and community of friends here in Chicago. We have been so blessed to have family that loves us and cares for us! But in reality with living so far from family now, we only see them in person about 2x a year. So I'm hoping the distance won't feel as bad since we are somewhat adjusted to it. And we hope to make it home to the states once a year if possible to spend a good chunk of time home with family and friends.

And it's hard to believe that 4 years ago we moved to Chicago only knowing one other couple, and thought we would never find a close, loving community of friends like we had in VA Beach. And here we are, struggling to say good bye again to this new wonderful group of friends from church, work, and school. These years in Chicago have been such a wonderful blessing, just as the 4 years in VA Beach were!

Looking back on God's faithfulness to provide for us in each move we made, strengthens my faith that He will pave the way for us yet again in Scotland. He is so very good! Even more than the days of uncertainly and sadness,  I have more days filled with excitement in taking this leap of faith and trusting that the Lord has an exciting adventure in store for our family. Fortunately, it's only for 3 years, so we feel like with modern technology, we will be able to stay in close contact with those we love most!

Please pray for us as we try to tie up all of the loose ends here in Chicago, raise support, finalize our visas, and try to find housing etc. overseas. Thank you so much!

"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your path straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

A Woman Who Fears the Lord Will be Praised

 One of my all time favorite verses is: Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”  

I found the following points about proverbs 31 on "Redeemer Blog" and I thought it was worth sharing! It was a wonderful reminder to me tonight. 

From a John Piper Sermon (May 10, 1981)
What does a woman who fears the Lord look like?
She is not anxious about the future.
• Proverbs 31:25 “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come”
• Proverbs 14:26 “In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have refuge”
She has practical wisdom.
• Proverbs 31:26 “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of her kindness is on her tongue.”
She is strong.
• Proverbs 31:17 “She girds her loins with strength and makes her arms strong.
• Moral strength. Proverbs 23:17 “Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.”
She will live not for herself alone but for others—especially her husband if she is married.
• Proverbs 31:11-12 “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not harm all the days of her life.
• Proverbs 12:4 “A good wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is the rottenness of his bones.”
• Proverbs 31:20 “She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.”

Entrusted with a Child's Heart

I took this amazing 24  week class at my church this past year called, "Entrusted with a Child's Heart". It was such a blessing and encouragement to me! I got so many great biblical tips on being a Godly Mother. 

It was a video series we watched every Wednesday for an hour and then talked about the concepts with other moms at our table (while our children played in the nursery for FREE for 2 hours!). I have been wanting to buy the series for everyone, but don't have the money ;0)

Well, I'm so EXCITED, because I realized they have a website and blog with great tips! I am planning on putting them into my Google Reader and I hope you will too :)

Check it out here: Entrusted With a Child's Heart

Stop Talking.

I read this little blurb in my "Real Simple" magazine a few months back and just had to quote it. I have totally been a culprit of this one!

"A lot of folks have a habit of imparting endless information during a first encounter. I call it male-pattern lecturing, though it's by no means exclusive to men. The listener smiles, nods politely, and asks questions, and so the male-pattern lecturer keeps...on...talking. The lecturer comes away from the experience thinking that it went really well. He felt so confident and interesting! But for the listener, it was a bust. She didn't feel affirmed or appreciated. It's natural, especially when you're nervous to focus on whether the conversation is going well for you. But make sure you're also thinking of ways to make the other person feel good. Honestly, that can be as simple as asking about her day."
- Ann Demarais, PH.D., is an executive coach and a coauthor of First Impressions

Hahaha - I could seriously take a cue from this quote :)

Life

You know life is just BUSY when you got to finally post on your blog and it's been over a month!!!

 Let me just give you the cliff notes of what's been happening this past month:

* End of May - early June we spent a week in PA with family. It was such a wonderful time with siblings, parents, grandparents, and cousins! Here are a few highlights.

More pictures here. 

* Then the day we came back I started my College Algebra class. It's Monday and Wednesday nights (6:30-9) during June and July. So I feel like I am studying all the time, going to class, and then getting behind in all of the other normal things that I do... oh dear! I just have to pass it. It's been 12 years since I have even touched the stuff and let's just say that Math is not my forte. Anyways, it's just one of the requirements for my Master's in order to gain state certification. I'm half way through...so gotta just keep on keeping on!


***ROSE  turned 9 and then 10 months :0) - Yikes - so behind!

Here are a few of her stats from the last two months:
* started officially crawling at the end of May(9 months) - she's really moving now and comes to fine Maddy, Tim and I wherever we are :)
* Pulled up on coffee table at 9.5 months
* Cut her first tooth (bottom middle one) at end of May, now has two little teeth coming in the bottom middle of her grin -it's pretty sweet, I have to say :)
* Saying : baba(bottle), dada, mama, often at the right time
* loves eating small pices of table food - favorites are bluberries, pasta, and peas
* Calm personality. She does a lot of watching and just takes things in
* She is happy, but not hyper (unlike her sister)
* sleeping patterns: bed at 6pm, wakes at 7pm, 1st nap 9-11, 2nd nap 1-3.
* Waved for the first time at  9.5 months
* 9.5 month stats - Weight - 14lbs 9 oz. (5%), Height -  28in (70%)
* Tattle tale - if Maddy is even getting too close (and about to strike if you know what I mean) Rose sounds the alarm and starts squawking and looking over at me - like what are you going to to Mom?
* She LOVES to play in the bath and swim
* She did wonderfully on the trip to PA!
She is such a laid back little girl with a sweet curiosity about her!

*** MADDY turned 2 and half!

* Height - 35.5in.
* Weight 24 lbs, 5 ounces
* She is talking up a storm lately. It's been so much fun! She even is starting to get humor, such a blast!
* Loves to swim with her new swim vest
* Loves reading books, following ants, playing at the park, painting, coloring, singing(she will put about anything to song :), dancing, running, jumping, finding and throwing rocks and sticks, snuggling.
* Loves to watch Strawberry Short cake(especially loves the song, "back together again"), Elmo, Blues Clues, Veggie Tales, Praise Baby, The Wiggles.
* Loves to say "no" - hmmm --still working on that one.
She is such a joy to us! So full of life and energy that comes through in everything she does!

I'm thankful to the Lord for these days home with my gals :)

If you give a Mom a Muffin!

I read this on my friend Jessica's blog. I got a good laugh out of it and thought you would too ;)

If you give a Mom a Muffin!

If you give a mom a muffin, she'll want a cup of coffee to go with it. She'll pour herself some. Her three-year-old will spill the coffee. She'll wipe it up. Wiping the floor, she will find dirty socks. She'll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry in the washer, she'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer. Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper. She will get out a pound of hamburger. She'll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With A Pound Of Hamburger.) The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old. She'll smell something funny. She'll change the two-year-old. While she is changing the two-year-old the phone will ring. Her five-year-old will answer and hang up. She'll remember that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee. Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup. She will pour herself some. And chances are, if she has a cup of coffee, her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

by Kathy Fictorie

Our Rose is 8 months!

Our sweetie pie is 8 months old. We are just loving every moment with her! She is happy and carefree!

Went for her Wellness checkup last week and here are her stats:
Height: 23 3/4 in
Weight: 13. 9 oz
Head: 42 1/2 cm
I asked the doctor if I should be worried that she is so small ( I swear, she eats  a lot of food!).
He said, don't worry at all. You just have small babies! haha- and that really is so true.

*Her favorite thing is to sit on the living room floor and pull toys out of a her toy basket and look each one over carefully, put it in her mouth, shake it and throw it to the side. Such a simple life - love it!

*She is cooing and screaming up a storm lately. The coos are sweet of course. there are lots of bababas and dadadas! Now the screams are not quite so sweet. Although it's kind of hilarious because Maddy, Tim and I will all be running around doing different things and she will let off a high pitched scream and we will all stop and look at her. She inevitably grins and goes back to playing. She knows what she's doing ;)

*No teeth yet - but I'm pretty sure she's working on them. 

* She LOVES to swing. She just giggles and giggles. It makes my heart sing!

* Not crawling yet, but definitely scooting and moving to get where she wants (within a 3 foot radius)

MOST of all though,  I am loving how she and Maddy are interacting more. SO MUCH FUN to watch!

* We dedicated her to the Lord on Mother's day.

Before our church, we committed to be a Godly example for her as well as to teach her about God's Word, Goodness, and Grace! We have been entrusted with her heart and are so blessed and honored to be her parents. Rose you are a gift from the Lord!

You Know You’re a Mom When…

You Know You’re a Mom When…
You have signed a check with a crayon
You wish your baby monitor had a snooze button
You can feed a small family with all of the french fries, goldfish, and various other crumbs found in the back of your mini-van You find yourself constantly talking in 3rd person, “Mommy said NO!” You child has taken two baths today but you haven’t had a shower in two days! 
You can think of 1000 different ways to use a baby wipe that don’t involve changing a diaper.
Instead of singing in the shower you say things like:
Don’t open the door
Go watch dora
No, you can’t get in
Is anyone hurt?
An uninterrupted shower feels like a day at the spa.
You know all the words to every theme song on Nick Jr. but you can’t remember where your keys or cell phone are .
When on that rare chance that you go to the grocery store alone, you walk the isles slowly as if in a museum.
 By Holly Furtick

One of my dear friends sent me this and it made me laugh. Hope it made you smile ;)
Have a Blessed Mother's Day! 

An Excellent Response to "The Adjustment Bureau"

My pastor wrote an excellent review of the movie, "The Adjustment Bureau" on his blog.

You can read it here.  His article does a great job of dealing with the issues of "Free Will" and "God's Sovereignty" according to the Word of God. Very insightful! It's a short article. Whether you have watched the movie or not yet, I highly recommend the read! Don't worry - it won't give anything away ;)

Master's of Arts in Teaching

So in January of 2008 (almost a year before Madison was born!) I started my Master's degree at Trinity International University because I could get half off my credits while Tim was going to school and I really wanted to get certified to teach in IL as well as continue my understanding of teaching. Well, here I am 3 years and 2 sweet girls later and I am just now trying to finish up all of the last requirements for state certification and graduation. 

AllI have left is: 
1. College Algebra class (an undergrad class that I never took and need for certification)
2. Health class with a lab (also and undergraduate class that I never took and need for certification)

Once I have those two done - I can send in all of my paper work in to be certified to teach in the public schools in IL.

And then to actually graduate and receive my Master's degree, I have to also write my THESIS! So I am taking it one step at a time. I just registered for a College Algebra (yuck!) course at Harper College. The class will be on Monday and Wednesday nights through June and July. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.