Blogs are becoming less frequent partly because we haven't had reliable internet, but mostly because I've been chasing a very mobile 8 month old around day in and day out. So I'll give a quick update on what's new in our household.

At 8 months, Stella:

- speed-crawl
- pull up to stand on practically anything (including my pant leg)
- can say mama, dada, baba, and gaga googoo
- can actually pet the cat instead of just pulling her fur
- follows me around everywhere (which makes it easy to keep an eye on her)
- delights in finding everything and anything she probably shouldn't have found
- can chew foods very well, most recent being Cheerios and different meats
- is extremely happy most of the time
- has two teeth and no signs of any others yet
- sings to herself while playing with toys
- can ALMOST clap
- can drink water from a sippy cup
- is not too interested in TV
- loves walks, going to the park and going down the slide and swinging
- loves her rubber ducky
- loves to wrestle through her diaper changes
- is growing out of her size 3 diapers
- can crawl up and down one stair
- likes to swim
- hates her baths
- thinks fish and birds are hilarious
- eats very enthusiastically, especially with yogurt
- and squeels when Daddy comes home

In other news, my sister is moving back to the area and I'm beyond excited. It's been nearly eight months since I've seen her. With my brother having moved back a few months ago, and we ourselves having recently moved from up north, family is pretty close together again.

Other than that we're enjoying our summer and having a hard time believing how quickly it's flying by.

Dancing!

from new heights

my stella is seeing the world.

times

I know I need You
I need to love You
I love to see You,
but it's been so long

I long to feel You
I feel this need for You
And I need to hear You,
is that so wrong?

Now You pull me near You
When we're close, I fear You
Still I'm afraid to tell You,
all that I've done

Are You done forgiving
Oh can You look past my pretending
Lord, I'm so tired of defending,
what I've become
What have I become

I hear You say,
"My love is over. It's underneath.
It's inside. It's in between.
The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel.
The times that you question, 'Is this for real?
The times you're broken.
The times that you mend.
The times that you hate Me,
and the times that you bend.

Well, My love is over, it's underneath.
It's inside, it's in between.
These times you're healing,
and when your heart breaks.
The times that you feel like you're falling from grace.
The times you're hurting.
The times that you heal.
The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal.
The times of confusion, in chaos and pain.
I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.
I'm there through your heartache.
I'm there in the storm.
My love I will keep you, by My power alone.
I don't care where you fall, where you have been.
I'll never forsake you, My love never ends.
It never ends."

tenth avenue north