Reading with Daddy

Lauren, as I walked into the living room one evening, I found both you and your daddy "reading".  I think this is the sweetest picture.  We both love daddy so much.

Fall Fun

Jumping on the "pumpkin jump", playing in the sand, eating home made ice cream, and going on a hay ride were just a few of the fun things that we enjoyed on our recent visit to Gross Farms. 

The "pumpkin jump" was a giant trampoline!!!  We all jumped on it (and laughed ) as we jumped.  One of your favorite things to do was playing in the sand, and walking barefooted through the sand.

Climbing on the big boat with daddy and driving the choo choo train!!!  Lauren - you were singing All aboard the choo choo train, all aboard the choo choo train!!!Our admission was good for all day, so we even went back later on that evening for a night time hay ride.  There was so much to see and do and we all had such a great time.  This will probably become an annual event for our home!

ABC's and 123's

Ok.  It has been a little while since I've sit down to write a letter to my little one.  So I'm picking up from a little time away.  We have been having lots of fun.  It's always interesting around our home.  Lots of loving, learning, listening, laughing!!!
Aunt Sherri sent you refrigerator ABC's that we keep on the frig.  Lauren -you love to sit and play with these and to "spell" words.  Sometimes you sing the ABC song as you are playing with the letters.  You have also learned your colors and tell them to me with great excitement!

Lauren, you have also learned to say your full name. It's adorable when someone asks you your name- you reply with your name stated in full!!!
Lauren we love you and we love that you are always learning.  I was just looking at your name and the letters within your name can be rearranged to spell  "LEARN"!!!

My Little Ballerina

A few gifts from your Granny made a wonderful afternoon of fun.  One pink ballerina tutu + pink dangly bracelet + pink beaded necklace = one little happy girl.  Lauren, you took this skirt on and off playing dress up so many times that I lost count.  This is a rare photo of you "posing" for the camera.  My little ballerina!!!

Lauren You Are...

An answer to prayer,
A dream come true,
A special little girl,
WE LOVE YOU!

Written by mommy- Just for you.

Play-Doh Fun

Lauren, some of our recent activities that we do on daily basis are coloring and playing with Play-Doh.  I have always loved arts and crafts and this also seems to be one of your favorites.  Mommy finds it very relaxing- almost therapeutic to color and create different "works of art" with our Play-Doh.  Both activities are not only fun, but they stimulate your imagination, help you to learn your colors, and encourage creativity!

This is a "rhinoceros" that you hand crafted.  You were so proud of this!  Very creative!!

My Little Squirrel!!!

I'm a squirrel!
And I'm looking for some nuts!

Story Time

Lauren, at your request we put all of your babies into your crib every night.  And that is where the 20 of you sleep soundly (ok, it's not quite that many!!!). And then every morning we put them into the recliner in your room, and that is where they spend the day.  On this particular morning, after I had carefully placed all of your babies into the recliner, you got your bible and began to "read" them the story of David and Goliath.  This was such a sweet moment.  I love you so!

Favorite Books

Lauren, since you love to "read" and look at books I'm including a few pictures of some of your favorite books!  We have read Goodnight Moon and Big Red Barn until the spines have worn off!!!

My First Read and Learn Bible is also a favorite that we read everyday.

Lauren's Little Happy Book is a new favorite- a very special book that I will write about in another post!

Family fun at the playground!!!

Lauren, there are two toddler playgrounds nearby that we frequent.  On this particular evening daddy joined in on the fun and mommy held her usual place behind the camera.  I love taking pictures of you and our family. 

Our Family!

Our little Lauren.  We love you sweet baby girl!

Praising God

"Shout Unto God" was the song playing in daddy's truck as we were on our way to eat lunch today.  Shane motioned for me to turn around and look at you in your car seat.  As I turned around, I heard a little voice singing, and I saw two little hands raised up in the air.  My eyes filled with tears and my heart with joy to see you praising God.  There are many different ways to praise and worship God.   Sometimes people lift their hands as they praise God, others may close their eyes.  Some people may cry and others may just stand quietly.  The Bible says that we are to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24), and I believe that is what you did today!  Your "act of worship" also echoed into my heart that "from the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger". (Psalm 8:2)

Feeding the Flock

This week on our way to the grocery store, we saw an unusually large number of geese gathered at the pond by the mall.  Of course we stopped, and a lady and her grandson invited us to come join them feed the "flock".  We all admired the geese as we threw pieces of bread to them.  We had such a good time that mommy went back home and got more bread and the camera!  (Thankfully we live only a couple of miles away).  With my camera in hand, I started snapping pictures of you and the geese!  I was a little hesitant of these big birds.  At one point, I looked around and we were surrounded by about thirty hungry geese!  However, they never bothered us and we created a wonderful memory.   We have driven by the mall again several times, and every time you say, "that's where the geese are!"

The Solid Rock

Lauren, let me take time to tell you two sweet stories from our day today.  This afternoon as I was putting you into your crib for a nap, you said, "I need my Book of Prayers".  We had just read from this book, so I handed it to you, and you opened it up and started "reading" before you went to sleep. 

Then, as you were getting out of the bathtub this evening, you sang, "On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand".  This is a great hymn that I learned growing up in church and have been singing to you for the last several weeks.   Tonight you sang a verse for me for the first time! 

My Little Picasso

At your little table this morning, Lauren, you were drawing.  I went in to take a look at your artwork and noticed that you had drawn a straight line on one side of your paper.  "What is it?", you asked me.  Guessing, I replied-"a snake".  You said, "No, an elephant!".  I love your big imagination.  Picasso probably saw things in his artwork that others couldn't see either!

A Visit to the Library

Lauren, today was our first visit to the local library.  This seemed like the perfect place to visit because you love to read and look at books.  As we arrived, it didn't take you long to find a little friend.  You were very interested in the other children at the library.  In fact, this little girl was sitting in one of the soft chairs in the children's area, and you went right up to her and "reclined" beside of her and started talking as if you known her for years!

You loved the rug in the children's area- Clifford the Big Red Dog!

We listened to story time.       Two very enthusiastic ladies read to a room full of attentive children. We sang songs and danced.  And we also saw a puppet show about " I am the best at being me ".  You loved the puppets and wanted to meet them after the show was over.  We were able to let you "visit" with Mr. Frog and Mrs. Fish a short time before we went on to another activity.

Next, we went back to the children's area for a treasure hunt at the "beach".  You were excited to find three shells to put into your bag. 

Two Little Ladies!

Lauren, your love of the outdoors brings along with it an interest in bugs!  Tonight out at the garden, we found a "spottie, dottie, lady"-  a ladybug.  She was enjoying an evening walk on our blueberry plants.  Of course, you wanted to hold her right away.  Daddy placed this red and black spotted lady in your hand.  She sat as long as she could, and then she opened up her wings and prepared to take flight, as she had other plans for the evening.  And then she was gone.  She flew away into the big open world!