Lost Sheep

Today I am grateful that He seeks out and rescues lost sheep.

Pictures of One Terrific Toddler

It is amazing how Evelyn surprises us each day with something new she has learned to do or say. Her current vocabulary includes: mama, dada, cracker, georgia (her stuffed animal giraffe), stella (the cat), kitty, Jesus (she makes two 's' sounds and points to his picture). Her favorite word is dada. She says it all the time. She recognizes and responds to tons of other words: book, food, milk, hold on, go, stop, sleep, different parts of the face, etc. In the last two weeks, she finally learned to pull herself up, crawl, and get up from a sitting position. She folds her arms when it's time to pray. Her favorite books right now are But Not the Hippopotamus and The Very Hairy Bear. Her favorite foods are teddy grahams, choco-banana-pb shakes and grilled cheese sandwiches. She has quite a hefty appetite and has 6 teeth to chomp with. She falls at least 3 times a day. She likes watching The Sound of Music (I'm hoping this has the same effect as it did on her Uncle Russell...that she'll have an incredible singing voice). Any time music is playing, she either dances or waves her hand like a conductor. She loves to put on necklaces and bracelets and she loves, loves, loves being outside on our porch. Being a mom is the best.

At a park with some friends

Drinking a choco-banana-peanut butter shake with dad

Game Day Face

Mornings at the park with mom

My Friend Laura

Me, Caitlin, Laura, and Jen

So I have this friend named Laura. And today is her birthday so she has been on my mind. Since she lives in Utah and I live in Texas, I haven't seen her in far too long. So I just wanted to say a few words to her through cyberspace. I suppose I should just call, but I am not very good at talking on the phone (as she will attest).

Laura is the kind of person who is always one step ahead of you, but you don't resent them for it. You admire them and are grateful for it. She is the one who met and befriended everyone in the apartment complex by the end of week one -- and then suddenly I had friends too, because she included me in the festivities. She is intelligent, funny, and spontaneous. She is always picking up a new skill or honing an old skill -- biking, rock climbing, singing, violining, baking, writing -- seriously one of the most well-rounded people I know.

Did I mention how much I laugh when I'm around her? It is just enjoyable hearing her recount the events of her day because she always finds something funny about an conversation she's had or heard or something crazy she's seen.

We liked to play the piano and sing together sometimes, and she has this unbelievable voice. I don't even think she's had any formal training. It just comes out of her like that. I try not to be too jealous when I sound like Hilary Duff next to her Adele-ish voice, but....I am a little. We decided that one day we are going to do gigs at wedding receptions. I'll play the piano and she'll sing jazzy love songs in a black dress.

For awhile, every week we would get together and watch a random movie together.

Like this treasure:

Laura likes to quote that line to me sometimes..."Never had a good experience with an Ellen..." Bah! That's what I say to that Kirsten Dunst...

But seriously, Laura, I don't know what I would have done without you during my college days. You were my rock. So full of life and so fun to be around. Always spiritually grounded and ready to do whatever God wanted you to do, even when it didn't make sense at first. I've been around you and watched you for years and you constantly amaze me. Thank you for always caring. I hope this next year is the best so far. You deserve it. Happy Birthday! Here's a little number from Gavin Creel to ring in your new year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F7Wa0um3WY

Hace Calor!

So it is officially autumn. But it doesn't feel or look it here in Tejas. I'm speaking a little Spanish because while I was out with Evelyn on one or our daily outings to the mailbox, I started singing a little song from the my old Sesame Street watching days. It goes something like this:

Hace calor. Mucho calor! Could fry an egg on the cement it's so caliente.

Well I googled it today and found this YouTube video of it and, well--it just made me so happy. I hope it makes you happy too. They don't make 'em like this anymore...

This is what Evie and I sing as we walk in the staggeringly hot Texas weather and we hope that October will bring some Hace Frio!

Best Year of Our Life

A few months back, Forrest and I were at some friends' house for a birthday party and the couples there began to discuss what the best year of their life was up to the present. One of the individuals said something like, "It would definitely be before we had kids." 

And that was kind of sad to me. I understand the sentiment, of course. Having children limits or puts a strain on a lot: your free time, your budget, your time alone with your spouse, your ability to travel, and a million other things. But if that is the case, then all of my best years are behind me. That may be true for some people, I suppose. Forrest's response was that ideally each year should just get better than the previous one. And I like that. 

When I say, however, that this last year has been the best year of our lives, it is true and not just wishful thinking. For a plethora of reasons, this year has been full of wonder and fulfilled dreams and prayers. And a big part of that has been Evelyn. Because she is with us, we smile more, laugh more, sing more, read more, pray more, and try harder to be better than we are.

And now, for the pictures. 99% of people who look at Evelyn say immediately that she looks like her dad. Which is fine. Her dad is a handsome guy. But I kind of want her to have at least a little bit of Jenson in her. Then, the other day, I came across some pictures of me from when I was one and two years old. Looking at them reminded me that I look nothing like my baby pictures. And then seeing those pictures next to pictures of Evie proved that there is some Jenson in her yet!

Okay our eyes look completely different but that nose and
 half smile are unmistakable, right?

See! I can't see myself in this picture at all. But I can see a little bit of Evelyn in that face!

But there is no doubt she mostly favors her dad in the looks department. They are a good-looking pair.

 I love my baby and her dad.

Happy Father's Day!

We've been taking Evelyn swimming a couple of times a week--to beat the heat and prepare for our upcoming Roberts' Family Vacation in Florida. Woot! Woot! I just had to post this picture because both daddy and daughter look adorable. So happy to have them both.

For Memorial Day

Yes, we listened to "Proud to Be an American" and sang along today. And I just wanted to share these two videos because they left me reflective and thankful for so, so many things.