our big girl

the 4th of July cupcake :)

Last night we went to a cookout/ party with some of our closest friends here.

Since I have in some ways become known for making cupcakes they were also requested to attend this event.  Thursday afternoon BabyGirl and I got to work baking... wish is more fun than work for us anyway...

As the cupcakes were on a cooling rack on the counter my sweet -not-so-little-anymore- toddler reached up and grabbed one of the cupcakes, tearing off a small hunk in the process.  She was very proud of herself and immediately ate it.  Then became rather upset with me for not giving her more... I promised her at the party she could have a cupcake.  This promise didn't help much at the time but you can see it all worked out in the end!

The real reason for the party was not for BabyGirl's cupcake eating needs... but definitely for our friend's 17th wedding anniversary!

After all... what is a party on the 4th of July without 

some fireworks?  

Especially since our friends are also Americans :)

I won't even tell how scary the fireworks were or any of that... just know...

we won't be celebrating with South Asian fireworks again!

day trip to the local pool :)

our sweet Big Girl relaxing poolside

Daddy swimming alone for a quick minute!

(he is under the hat)

Music with a new dance move

My sweet baby girl is growing up so fast... way too fast!  Everyday she is growing into a toddler more than a baby... soon i hope to start sharing more of what she says a does.  Here is a starter for you...

Our friend Monica introduced us to some new music.  After downloading a couple of new songs I had them playing throughout the house one day.  As my Little Girl came into the room where the music was playing from she threw her arms up into the air above her head and started swaying back and fourth with joy all over her face!

Now, we sing and dance a lot in our home but this was a new move for her.  I assumed that her Aunt Monica had taught it to her, but alas she had not.  This is not a move she does all the time, only with this new song.  It really touched my heart.

She, in all of her sweetness and innocence, heard the music and instantly threw her arms up to dance, but in my heart it was if she was already praising the Lord!

"Praise the Lord oh my soul..."

Cuteness I can't resist

BG enjoying pasta & sauce at Nana's house last month

Happy Easter!

From our Big Girl's 1st Birthday party!

months past...

knowing that my baby girl's first birthday is less than two weeks away maybe I should show you some of her monthly birthday pics...

with no more delay I present to you...
BG's 9 month photo
November 10, 2013

From Exotic Thailand...
10 months!
December 10, 2013

Happy New Years from
11 Month old Baby Girl!
January 10, 2014

Busy Busy

Our busy little crawler...

My sweet little dentist :)

checking out my teeth while trying to get a good picture in our Christmas outfit!

Thank you Great-Grandma Florence for our cute outfit!!!

8 months of blessings!

October 10th, 2013

I wish I was more timely at these postings...

First time in a pool!

I should tell ya' the AC at the resort was amazing...

on that note Baby Girl was already getting in the water by the time I realized that the camera was fogged up... oh well.  So above it is actually first time in a pool... the rest of the pics are from the following days :)

Doesn't your resort come with rubber duckies?

A pic of all of us enjoying the nice warm water!

Baby Girl really did enjoy her times in the pool, we had a great time...

until we started getting sick :(  

Now we have learned... take your vacation days before the meeting.

So when all the kiddos share their bugs & germs from across South Asia you can be sick at home!

Baby Girl's Dedication to the Lord

While we were at our meeting/ retreat our friends from Orlando had a time to spend together lifting our children up to the Lord.

It really was a sweet time

Baby Girl like to see everybody... and she was not disappointed during her baby dedication!

She was so happy! 

Talking, singing, laughing & dancing... in front of our entire cluster!

Brad read from Deuteronomy 6 as a prayer for us & our family 

as we work to raise our Baby Girl up in a way that she should go.

Our sweet friends praying over us & BG.

We are so very thankful for them & community we have around us to encourage us

pour into us as we raise up our sweet Baby Girl.

Deuteronomy 6:5-9

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Baby Girl's 7th Month Photo Shoot

September 10th, 2013

Better late than never right?

First time in child care!

BG's sweet Babies- One Teachers

Babies on Parade!

BG's first stroller ride & she was a fan!

They really were so sweet with our little ones :)

Even though they did have to get creative to keep BG happy some times...

(These pictures have all been borrowed from Nana Hazel from FL)

First time to the Beach!

Our recent trip is going to take several posts to cover... 

so lets start at the beach!

Sadly, this day was towards the end of our trip & 

at the beginning of BabyGirl's cold/ fever/ Hand Foot & Mouth.  

We think she still enjoyed things though.

She was rather unsure about this but did not get upset :)

Ahhh... safe back in Daddy's arms.

It really was a beautiful place!  This evening there was no rain, it rained off & on the entire trip... 

but it is the monsoon season so we expected some of that :)

Naturally there were beach cows... which is why we did not get anything more than our toes wet!

But hey... if I were a cow I would hang out at the beach too!

Love them!

She has grown so much & is truly very helpful :)

This was our first time touching the sand... also rather unsure about this.

But after a few minutes things got better

& BG naturally wanted to put it in her mouth!

We are very blessed that we got to spend time here...

very blessed indeed!