Growing Up

Sam did a few grown up things today that were pretty funny. First, because of a baby sitting change for the day, Sam went to work with Mommy. He wasn't just going with mommy to work, he was going to work at Mommy's work. As you can see from the photos, he was prepared with his computer and work bag in tow (which was full of puzzles):




The second grown up thing for Sam today was a guitar. He has shown quite a bit of interest in music lately, and this week he has been asking to have a guitar at Sam's house. So, in a moment of weakness, I bought him one. Here are some pictures of him playing the guitar:



His favorite tunes to sing are: Twinkle, Twinkle , ABC's, the Goodbye Song (na, na, na, Hey, Hey, Hey), and Jesus Loves me.

The past month or so have found us getting into a little bit of a rhythm as a family, only to remember that things with 4 month old babies change in no time flat. Where a month ago we had a 2 year old that slept until almost 8, and a 4 month old that slept until at least 7, they both are now waking up at 7 or before. Oh well, there were a few good weeks. Here are some pictures of our most recent adventures together:


Sam and Maya still love each other. Maya is more able to show her love for Sam, and her desire to get Sam back for all the times he has given her "hugs" that were a little too strong. She now lunges after him and tries to "get him."


Sam has become quite the puzzler, much to his parents enjoyment. We found a great store called Richard's Variety Store that sells all kinds of great things. We found him these puzzles, and let's just say it has been the best $10 we spent on him yet. You can see how proud he is!


And focused!


Maya has now been to the YMCA swimming pool a few times. She wasn't so sure the first time in the water, but the second time she seemed to be happier.


Maya is now sitting up a little bit. She is still pretty wobbly, especially if big brother is around to tackle her, but it has been fun to see her figure out how to do it.


Most days in our house you will see our children doing one of these activities:

Maya in her excersaucer


Sam, the ever inventive "Where's Sam" player:


Check out more pics on our shutterfly page in next post.

June 09 SLideshow

Maya and Sam enjoying one another

The past week or so, it seems like Maya has changed a lot. She is really aware of her surroundings, loves to watch people, is really social, and LOVES watching Sam. She follows him wherever he goes, tries to grab him now, and tonight, for the first time, they had a conversation. Maya would do her talking, and Sam would repeat it. It was so amazingly cute. Katie and I were in the middle of the conversation, and we stopped to listen into what they were doing. We didn't catch it on tape, but we did catch some good stuff. Enjoy.

My Sweet Kiddos

Just wanted to share two of my favorite pictures from the week.

Maya smiles all the time, and I can't get enough of her sweet grins.


After his nap this afternoon, Sam and I both got a spoon and finished off a pint of Blue Bell. Sam wanted to make sure he got every last drop of the ice cream goodness - he's a boy after my own
heart!

Community Garden

5:55 am. The alarm goes off. I haven’t set the alarm this early for work since my produce days at the supermarket! Ah, but this morning was a special morning. The Kimpson Park Community Garden in South Atlanta was finally getting off the ground, or maybe going in the ground is a better way of stating it! It was my job to go out and stake off the plots for our first volunteer group to come and help dig them out.
I am a morning person, so the idea of getting out and working the land while the sun comes up and the birds are singing is special to me. This time is a good time for me to connect with God. It is just a little different when you are doing that in middle of the city!! Who says you can’t farm in an urban neighborhood? It just helps to have the sun get your back (if you get the pun! I waited until about 6:20 to go out because it was still dark!).
A group of people in our community have gotten together to start a community garden in order to accomplish a few things: 1) provide fresh produce for our families and neighbors and 2) to help build relationships with neighbors . Both are equally important, and equally exciting. I have already met several people on the block that I did not know just by being out in the garden for less than 1 hour.
This has been a project that has been really exciting for me, and reminded me of the importance of passion! You have to be pretty passionate about something to get up before 6 am with a 3 month old and 2 year old, a time when sleep is seen as a most precious commodity. I have lived in my neighborhood for 8 years now, and feel really plugged in to stuff and really connected to the people and things that are happening in the neighborhood. However, I have never really found my thing, my niche. I think I have found that now. When I moved to the city, I knew I loved the outdoors. As I have lived here, I have grown to appreciate gardening. Now, I get the opportunity to share those passions with those that live closest to me, and that is extremely exciting.
Continuously I am amazed about how God uses our passions if we are open to His direction. When I moved to South Atlanta, I never would have imagined I would be starting a community garden, and yet, that is exactly what God has placed in front of me. And the beauty of it is that it has merged all of the things that I love about my neighborhood/life in South Atlanta: outdoors, gardening, community, walkability, and relationships.

I am really excited about the garden and it is getting started. However, we have found ourselves in need of some more funds due to the high cost of getting water hooked up at the park. Would you think about donating to the garden? If you would like follow the instructions below:

As part of the garden, we are going to have a "community plot" which anyone from the community can feel free to come and take vegetables from (we have members who pay, but we
have heard that this is a way of staving off vandalism). For any gift over $25, we will purchase a plant in your honor to put into the community plot for anyone to come and help themselves to.

Make Checks Payable to:

FCS Urban Ministries
Account #0113 in memo line

Mail to:
PO Box 17628
Atlanta, GA 30316

Or go to:
http://fcsministries.org/involved.htm
Click on Donate Now.
Give to FCS General
In the comment section, place Community Garden or Account #0113

Weekend Photos

Click here to view these pictures larger

Here are pictures from the weekend. Katie and I have both been amazed and thankful by how sweet and wonderful our children are. I know that as parents you are supposed to love your children and think they are the best kids ever, but this past week, I can't help but to be just blown away by the love that I feel for Sam and Maya. This may be helped by the fact that Maya has slept throught he night for the past 5 nights (knock on wood). But is mostly because they are both great kids.

Sam has been so wonderful with Maya. He includes her in everything that he does. Last night Sam was playing with magnets on the fridge, and he took some over to Maya who was laying on her mat in the living room, just so she could have some too. Every morning, he needs to give Maya a hug and kiss when she wakes up. He loves it when "Maya gets Sam" or when "Sam gets Maya" - his version of tickling. I am continuously amazed at how Sam looks out for Maya and cares for her, even at such a young age. I can only hope that it continues!

Maya has been so sweet since she has been born. She is now staring at everyone and everything in the room. On Sunday, she didn't take her eyes off of Leroy during the entire sermon. I had her with me at a meeting today, and she stared at the other person the entire time. It is pretty funny. She is so close to rolling over, just one little push away from making it to her stomach. Unfortunately, she has picked up the habit of sucking her thumb, but Mom and Dad are on to her and trying to stop the habit from forming.

Life has just been really good with our family for the past few weeks. I am so thankful for it because both Katie and I were nervous about her going back to work. But since she has been back at work, things have been great, and we are just so thankful for the Lord taking care of us so well in this time of transition.

Okay, so that is all for my first proud parent blog post, I just wanted to share how thankful I am for God giving us such wonderful chidlren and how much they have enriched our lives and our family.