Noelle loves water.  Our midwife says that all “Water babies” (ie all babies born in water) love water as they get older.  No idea how true that is but it has been accurate for Noelle!  

Bathtime, showertime, pretty much anything that involves water and her getting to be naked and wet are highlights in her life.  Even in her current Miss-Crankypants-super-clingy stage bathtime is still a wonderful thing.

Notice the water droplets on the lens.  She was kicking her feet like a little motor boat.

“What? I have to choose which toy to play with?”

“Hmm..I think I’ll take THIS one…”

“Tigger!”

“I love my bathtoys.”

Getting her out and dried off used to be a chore because she hated leaving the water.  We have worked on making that process fun as well and it is starting to pay off.

“Where is Noelle??”

“Were you hiding?”

“Here I am! Here I am!”

Our little Doodlebugs is over six months old now.  My how time flies!

She is sitting up on her own now and trying to crawl.  Crawling is frustrating since she still mostly goes backwards.  It is like “One crawl forward and four crawls back…”

Now that she is able to get around a little bit she is starting to get into everything.  Here she is in a little sleeper I picked up on clearance at Old Navy.  So cute! I couldn’t resist.  Besides, she crawls better and pulls herself around better with the rubber grippers on the feet.  Most of her sleepers don’t have those so she ends up slipping and sliding all over our hardwood and tile floors adding to the frustrating learning curve of crawling.

“Hi Mom!”

“Hmm.  Uncle John is making faces at me again.  Wonder what that face means??”

“I love my toys.”

“What was that you said Uncle John?  I’m cute? Gosh, I know I’m cute!”

“Hi again Mom.”

She has gotten SO CLINGY!!!! It is driving me absolutely bonkers.  Somebody please tell me this is a stage that shall soon pass before my sanity is gone for good.  It is a really good thing she is so cute.  Helps mitigate my frustration over not being able to get anything done without her clinging to me like superglue.  She had gotten a whole lot better about it the past couple of months but this seems like a total regression.  She is just so emotionally needy even though she has more physical independence than ever before.  This too shall pass.  I need to constantly remind myself that the dishes, laundry and housework will always be there but these precious-chubby-cheeked-baby days are here for just a very brief time. 

She is so wonderful.  We love her dearly. 

Stephanie and Paul

Amanda!

Steph and Mandy

Steph and Mandy getting something to drink, Grandma Tallent and Noelle laughing about something.

Noelle going for a ride with her Daddy

Noelle laughing at, I mean, uhm, WITH her Uncle Bill

Steve and I

Our little family

Noelle loves talking these days.  For a baby that can only say two words she sure has a whole lot to say.

Kisses for Noelle!!

Laptop battery is about to run out.  Had better stop and save what is here!

We had a lovely Thanksgiving here in TN with Steve’s family.  Paul, Steph and their baby girl Amanda drove down and Steve’s cousin Bill flew in from Phx. AZ.  Was a rather small, enjoyable crowd.

I finally got the living room somewhat the way I want it.  It flows much better now.  Here are a couple of pictures.  Didn’t do much decorating this year for Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving but I did manage to do something with the mantle and piano.  Not having many (i.e. ANY) fallish decorations on hand I used what I could find.  $2.50 worth of fresh gourds/squash, handmade pottery from my cabinets, fist fulls of fall leaves from our yard, and a strand of leaves borrowed from Steve’s Mom helped make the whole room feel more like Thanksgiving.

On Wednesday night after everyone made it into town we all went bowling. 

Noelle wasn’t particularly impressed with the balls smashing pins down.  She found her fingers more interesting.

Making faces with Bill.  Dubbed “Uncle” Bill since we all got tired of calling him “Second Cousin Bill” real fast.

Flying high….

And swinging low…Noelle loves playing with her Dad!

Mom just isn’t as much fun but she loves me anyway.

This was only the second time I can ever remember going bowling in my entire life so I got a pathetic score.  Yeah, really quite embarrassing actually.   At least I lost with flying colors.

After we finished bowling we headed back home for some delicious Enchilada Casserole compliments of Mom Tallent.  Noelle watched her Dad trying out Uncle Bills uber geeky high tech sound blocking something or other ear phones for traveling and asked in very clear baby sign language to try them on…Notice the one sock on and one sock off if you will.  I canNOT keep socks on that baby.  At least she leaves them on longer than she does shoes.  The average wear time for a pair of shoes is MAYBE five minutes on a good day.  Socks might last thirty minutes.  I feel like half my life is chasing down where she shed one or both of her socks, putting them back on, digging out another pair, or trying to match up new pairs and puzzling over where the dozen un matched socks mates could be.

Finally Dad let her try the headsets for herself. 
“Wow.  That is REALLY intense Dad.”

I have more to post but must go to sleep.  Bill is heading to the airport in the morning and I probably should drag my lazy self out of bed early enough to be a halfway decent enough hostess to tell our houseguests goodbye.  Shall try to come back and post more tomorrow!

Noelle and I drove back last night after the Visitation at the Funeral Home.  Arrived early AM.

Kristin’s Funeral is today at 2PM at Mars Hill Baptist Church in Watkinsville GA.

Her Obituary is below

Please bath the Webber and Prescott family in prayer today.  Today may perhaps be the hardest yet as they deal with the finality of the burial.

We made the trip safe and sound.  

Please continue to surround the Webber family in prayer.  Words do not suffice to communicate the grief and shock they are dealing with.  

My heart literally ached as I walked into her parents living room and saw a painting above the fireplace with several members of her family and Kristin on her horse.  I was immediately convicted of how selfish that emotion was.  My grief was not for Kristin, but for myself.  For her family and friends that will miss her. 

I am running on about two hours of sleep right now.  Hope to get some sleep tonight.  The fatigue hasn’t hit yet…Coffee is a wonderful thing!  Doodles is napping all curled up in an armchair right now.  She is so precious.  She has been a comfort and joy to all even in the midst of the mourning. 

Thank you for the prayers and kind thoughts.  

I just found out a couple of hours ago that my dear friend Jessica Webber’s sister Kristin was in a bad equestrian accident.  When I called to let her know I was praying for her she told me that Kristin died this morning.    I don’t have the details of exactly what happened.

Kristin was going to be married in a few weeks.  Her family is in absolute shock.  PLEASE lift this family up in prayer!!  I cannot even fathom what they are feeling right now.  Please pray that God gives them peace that passeth all understanding as they make plans and try to deal with the coming days.   My heart and mind are stunned right now just trying to realize that this beautiful, vivacious girl is gone.  Please pray also for her husband to be.   

  Noelle and I are getting ready to head down to GA right now.   Please pray for safety as we drive through the night.  Please also pray that God would give me wisdom in knowing just how to be a help and support to the family, and particularly to Jessica.

Thank you for your prayers!!!!

Dean Kershner arrived last night.  It was so wonderful to hear him give us updates on the Malawi Project!  I am so excited I just have to share with you some of what has happened. 

The
Malawi Project is the brainchild of and operating under Gospel Link, a
ministry devoted to supporting/training local pastors/ministers in
foreign countries.  The cost comparison of what it takes to support a
native missionary vs. sending out an American missionary is
incredible.  It is tremendously more cost effective to provide
financial support to local Pastors.  Steve and I have been involved in
supporting the Malawi project since we first heard about it two years
ago. 

As Dean describes in the informational video about the
Project there is no reason for the people of Malawi, or most African
countries for that matter, to be starving to death.  They live in a
modern day “Garden of Eden” with the perfect climate and incredibly
rich soil for growing things.  Unfortunately generations of political unrest have
left the current population of Malawi ignorant in how to use and
support themselves with the valuable resources they have.  In the words
of one Malawi pastor Christianity is viewed by many if not most in
Africa as “The lazy white man’s religion.  If you convert to
Christianity you will get free handouts and support from rich
Americans.”  The Malawi Project is actually a large tract of land
bordering Lake Malawi.  For the past two years, slowly and even
painstakingly efforts have been made to turn this tract of land into a
Banana Farm.  Not only would it be a source of honest work at a (for them) generous wage to the local people but the profits would directly support
the churches and ministries of Malawi and even perhaps surrounding
African countries.  They would be able to feed their own instead of
relying on inconsistent handouts from the UN and other charitable
organizations.  A bonus is that the people would be educated HOW to
cultivate, irrigate and rotate crops so that they can replicate it on
their own land for their own families. 

At this time all of the workers that come onto the farm are given the
opportunity to participate in twice a day Bible studies.  They are
LOVING it.  There is a shortage of Bibles there and many do not know
how to read so their only contact with the word of God is through
studies like those or preaching. 

Watching the footage Dean took his last trip there brought tears to my
eyes.  The Malawian pastors have put themselves on the line in so
many ways to make this project a success are so humble, sinsere, and
passionate.  Their passion for Christ and spreading the Gospel is
unlike anything I have seen here in the states in quite some time. 
This is matched only by their fervor and delight in doing good unto
others.

Steve and I are absolutely thrilled when Dean presented us the
opportunity to go visit the Malawi Project for two weeks in March!  
We are praying about it and starting to find out what would be involved
in taking a 10 month old baby with us to Africa.  Please join us in
prayer.  I am so very excited at this opportunity and hope that all the
multiple pieces fall into place allowing us to go. 

One of the several things I would like to do if we are allowed to go is
bring seeds with me to start an Herb garden there along with books
teaching them how to use the herbs medicinally.  It is such a remote
location that most of their medical needs will need to be treated on
site since it is such a long ways to get any “Professional” care.  They
have First Aid kits there but for the everyday sicknesses and ailments
that can come up it would be a fantastic resource if they had their own
little patch of plant medicines on hand.  The American guy that is the
head of the project there right now tells the story of how the local village
brought an extremely sick woman to the Farm asking for transportation
to take her to the nearest city for Medical Aid.  They have the only
working vehicle for miles.  He looked at his truck that had just been
unloaded off the container that transported it there and it’s bare
minimum of gas.  Just enough to assure that it would crank when
started. Knowing that it was a two hour drive to the hospital or more
gas.  Praying as he loaded them up he decided he would take them as far
as he could.  They made it all the way there!

If any of you have traveled over seas with an infant please let me know
any resources/links that would be helpful!  I am starting the process
of researching everything out that I can and any information will be
greatly appreciated.  Thank you in advance!

I haven’t had a chance to update this thing since Steve got back.  So, belatedly…

HE’S BACK!!!!!!!

Life is ever so much better with hubby home.  Noelle and I just don’t know what to do without him.  She is now sleeping most of most nights in her bed.  “Most” is a definite improvement over “Some” which was a definite improvement over “Not much at all.” 

Several have asked if we dressed Noelle up this year for the infamous Halloween.  The answer is no.  I didn’t have time to think up a cute costume for her.  My original idea was to have her be the one officially handing out the Treats to all the costumed tykes that would be beating a path to our door.  It never once crossed my mind that our very off the beaten path neighborhood with mostly middle aged occupants wouldn’t be interested in candy harvesting.   Ends up that it was a good thing that we didn’t have a single Spiderman or Ghost show up because I forgot to pick up any candy.  John started a bonfire down in our woods and we all went out there for a token marshmallow roasting so that we would have an excuse to eat the precious chocolate encased in S’mores.  I have rediscovered that Chocolate is indeed my very good friend and I have decided that I should never go too long without enjoying it’s company ever again.

Noelle is growing and changing before our very eyes.  She remains the sweet, high strung and sensitive little creature she has always been.  Now we are starting to see little glimpses of her definitely all girl and maybe even drama queen side come out.  I used to think/believe that babies were born with basic personality tendencies but that most habits would be learned by imitating the actions/habits etc of those around them.  Noelle seems bound and determined to make that afore held truth a myth.  If she disapproves of something (The list is longer than one might think…She seems exceptionally opinionated for a 6 month old ) She crinkles up her pug little nose and snuffles loudly through it.  Inhaling and exhaling as fast as she can to get the best effect.  This is often times followed up by disapproving stern growls issued from a cherubic cheeked face fixed in a serious expression.  We have NO idea where she learned that from.  It seems to be something that has originated straight out of her own creative little brain.   Regardless of it’s origins it is so dang cute and hilarious it often sends her parents into fits of laughter.

She now gets up on all fours and rocks back and forth.  Still vehemently loathing her mandatory “Tummy” times she protests loudly.  These days though she’ll be right in the middle of a good wail when she realizes that “Oh, yeah!  I can scoot forward now.  That is cool…Wow, look at that. I can reach my toys….Oh right, I was just in the middle of a fit.  Must.Resume.wailing…” The rest of the time is spent in half hearted at best protests with frequent interruptions as she rediscovers one toy or another.  That whole drama queen thing I mentioned? Yup.

Her new favorite game is “Sympathy” coughing.  If she hears anyone clear their throat or cough she scrunches her chubby little face up in concentration and lets loose with the most pathetic sounding fake cough ever.  It’s hilarious because you can have a fake coughing match with her back and forth for thirty minutes or so.  If you cough twice, she has to cough twice. 

We are having Dean Kershner of Gospel Link to our home to speak this coming Friday night about the Malawi Project in Africa.  Dean was in Russia with Steve way back in the day and has continued his work in missions since.  Anybody and everybody is more than welcome to come!  I plan on having tea and some homemade treats.   Should be a laid back time of fellowship.  For those of you that are not familiar with Dean…He is one of the most personable speakers and best story tellers of all time.  I am really looking forward to it!

It’s extremely late now.  That is what I get for taking a nap this afternoon.  Off to bed with me!

Since Steve and Paul are not able to see their baby girls I decided to post some pictures of them from today! 

Both the girls (and their Moms for that matter!) have been missing their Daddy’s very, very much today.

This afternoon we bundled the girls up and went for a walk.
Noelle promptly fell asleep but Amanda stayed awake and alert enjoying the scenery.

Amanda and her Mommy.  Beautiful Steph!

Amanda was so cute in her pink little winter clothes we had to take a lot of pictures.  Her blue eyes are so amazing.

I love how she’s peeking over her blanket here.

In the middle of the Amanda photo shoot Noelle dreamily opened her eyes for a moment before deciding it wasn’t worth it and went back to sleep.

Amanda found the leaf fascinating. I found her fascinating.  So together we were quite entertained.

After we got back from the walk it was Nap Time.  The girls woke up at the same time and were HUNGRY!
We got Mandy some cheerios and she was a happy girl.

Noelle and Mandy both looking at me expectantly.  “There is more food, right?”

Noelle laughing at me.  Kids these days…She already thinks I am hilarious!

When Mandy finished with her Cheerios I moved both girls over so that I could feed them their respective foods.
They are so cute!  Would have given anything to have a video camera…They were “Talking” to each other.

I gave Mandy a choice of which fruit cup she wanted.  She solemnly reached and out grabbed her selection. 

While I had was feeding Amanda her bite Noelle took full advantage of the fact that  Mom’s back was turned.

I looked over and saw this…

‘They were gross green beans anyway Mom.  THIS is way more fun. Soooo slimy…”

She philosophically watched me clean up the most fun she has had in days, finding solace in gumming on her butterfly.  Sometimes when she looks at me like this she reminds me so MUCH of her Dad! It’s that “I really think you might be overreacting here but if that is what you need to do go right a head.  I’ll be here when you get done” look.

Mandy asked for her Dad almost constantly this afternoon.  “Dada?  Dada?  Dada?” with the cutest little questioning look on her face as if to say “Where is he?  Why isn’t he here?”  Noelle has been a little emotional basket case which is very unusual for our normally stoic little girl.  They can’t wait for their Daddy’s to get home!

WE LOVE YOU DADS!!!!!!!!!!