I think Grandma Carswell was right!!

So, on the way home from church Temperance will often fall asleep in her carseat.  We then have to quietly and carefully lug her and that heavy carseat upstairs and try not to wake her up.  There is no transferring her from the carseat to her bed.  If she falls asleep there, that is where she will take her nap.  I've been known to read a book in the car as she finishes her nap.  Well, this morning, we'd made it into our neighborhood without Temperance falling asleep.  So I decided to try to keep her up so she'd sleep in her crib.  (I just think that must be a better nap for her.)  Don't you know, I tell Bert what I'm going to do, I turn around and start playing with her, and she plays for half a second, then turns her head to the side and pretends to be asleep!!!!  I was messing with her face poking her, all the things that would normally rile her up.  And don't you know she just stays still as stone in her sleeping position.  I KNOW she's not asleep!  Then after a minute, she pokes one eye open and smirks!!!!!!!!  Bert saw it in the rearview mirror and we both just died!!!!  We are going to have a time with this one!!  She then 'woke up' and played with me.  Can you believe it!!  She is something else.  She's going to keep us on our toes that's for sure!  What a girl!!

Afternoon lunch rollercoaster

Parenting can be such a rollercoaster of emotions!!!  Today's lunch would serve as example #1.  I had the hardest time getting her to eat her cereal.  She kept whacking the spoon and telling me she was done.  Mind you, this is the first things she's eaten for lunch, she's not full!  We've been having such struggles at meal times.  Sometimes she wants baby food, sometimes she wants grown up food.  Sometimes she's just being plain stubborn and doesn't want to eat at all.  So, I was very frustrated by the time we got most of the cereal in her.  Bert and I were eating a pizza for lunch.  We like the California Kitchen Margarita pizza.  We will often give her the tomatoes and chunks of cheese off the pizza.  She really likes it.  She's very partial to tomatoes and to pesto flavored things.  She was gobbling it up this time!!  I was very happy she was finally eating something willingly.  Then I wanted to see if she could handle the crust of the pizza as well.  So I let her chew on it a little.  She did great.  So eventually I just gave her the last bit of my pizza.  She ate it up with ease!  She even waited till she had swallowed one bite before taking another.  (Major accomplishment!)  I was elated and so proud!!  She's my little girl!  I love her so.  Here's a video of her eating some pizza.  I think it leaves you hanging at the end, but no need to worry, she handled that big bite just fine!  And soon after, she dropped the pizza and it was no more!!  Copper the winner this time!

Saturday mornings in August

The past two Saturday mornings, Bert, Temperance and I have been going to the local farmer's market.  We've been buying local produce and just enjoying the atmosphere and entertainment.  As we are leaving I always think how much I love Lexington.  As most all of you know, I am a Georgia girl through and through!!  When my daughter gets old enough I'm going to teach her that she lives in KY but she is from GEORGIA!  With that said though, I have fallen in love with Lexington.  It is a big city, with lots to do, but manages to keep a small town feel to it.  If we were to ever leave, there are so very many things I would miss about this town.  The excellent farmer's market and focus on local businesses/produce would be one of them.  Actually most everything I would miss about Lexington are the local things, my favorite bookstore, Joseph-Beth, the many great local restaurants, etc.
Well, this morning, after going to the farmer's market we went to the library.  It was only a block away and I needed to return some things.  We all went and Tempie and I both got some books.  I got some Andrew Greeley novels, and she got some Sandra Boynton books (our favorite children's author).  It was such a wonderful family affair!  I hope we do this every Saturday. Here's a pic of Temperance enjoying the farmer's market as well.
Hope you all have a wonderful Saturday.  Enjoy some local produce and read a good book!

Tempie's favorite pastimes...

My little Temperance LOVES to swing!  Here is a picture of her swinging back in April.  There is a small park area across the street from my work where this was taken.  Masha takes her swinging usually twice a week.  I try to take her after work at least once a week.  She knows the path there and is always excited anticipating the fun of the swing.  She almost always will cry too when we take her out of the swing.  She just loves it.  

Here's another highlight of her day...waiting for daddy to get home!!  (Or just watching all the cars go by.)  

She loves to watch the world outside.  She'll sit there and squeal at who knows what and just enjoy herself to no end.  It is very helpful when we are cooking dinner!  

These are just a few of Tempie's favorite pastimes.

Let the races begin!

Temperance's favorite activity for a long time has been walking circles around our house while holding our hands. She has now taken her first steps unassisted. Here's a video of her practicing her new skills. I'm so proud of her!! I'm not sure what this means for our evenings now. Will she walk circles around our house with out us? Can we sit on the couch once again? Who am I kidding? Now we will be chasing after her keeping her out of where she doesn't belong I'm sure. Oh well.

Long awaited update

Temperance has been so busy since I last updated. She is ten months old tomorrow. I am in total amazement. She is clapping, waving, babbling, crawling, cruising and even trying to walk! She took three unassisted steps this past Monday. She was going from me to Bert. I was so happy! I was always so petrified that one of us would miss that moment. But we didn't! We didn't even see it coming. Well, we knew it would be soon. All she ever wants to do is walk around the house holding our hands, but she's very nervous about letting go of us. So we were both surprised when she did it. I don't really think she even realized what she did. She hasn't done it since. But I'm sure her days of upright mobility are just around the corner.

She was in her first wedding last weekend. Her uncle Josh married a wonderful girl named Brittany. All three of us were in the wedding. It was beautiful, and Temperance loves her new Aunt Brittany.

We will of course be videoing her all the time now looking for more independent steps. As soon as we get something I'll post it. Love you all!

Masha

At the first of the year, I was becoming overwhelmed by taking care of Temperance and working at the same time. I was in serious need of help. One Monday night I was praying with two girls and they asked how they can pray for me and I mentioned that I am seeking a nanny, but very very nervous about the whole thing. We prayed and after we were done praying, one of the girls told me that she is looking for work, that she loves babies and that she would love to take care of Temperance. Her name is Masha. She is from Russia and has been in Kentucky for two years. Her husband is a graduate student at UK.
I was very nervous about the idea of a nanny at the beginning, and Temperance was not doing well going to other people. I felt like God had sent Masha to us, but I wanted to be sure. I invited Masha to come spend some time with Temperance one afternoon. I wanted to see how Tempie would react. I knew that if she went straight to her, then it was most certainly God. She did! Not only that, but one of my students came in to the office and asked to hold her while Masha was holding her. Masha handed her over, and she immediately started crying! Masha took her back and calmed her down. Up to that point, almost no one but Bert or I could do that! I knew it was from God. She has been keeping Temperance at my office two days a week since that time. And it has been truly wonderful. She has been such a huge blessing to ME these past few months. I could never have asked for someone with a more genuine sweet spirit. I prayed when looking for a nanny for someone who would pray over Temperance and love her as a spiritual being as well. Masha certainly does this. Often while Tempie is playing, Masha will be reading the Bible to her (in Russian). Temperance LOVES her Masha!!!
It is such a blessing to trust God. He alone can give more than we can ask or imagine!
We love you Masha!!