Happy Valentines Day!

I hope everyone had a nice Valentines Day!! We didn't do anything special that day, but the next day we had family fun day! We started by going jogging together (one of my favorite things to do!) Then, we went out to lunch at Red Robin's. Then, we went to the mall! WooHoo! Daniel got much needed new jeans, and I got sunglasses!! I have a nasty habit of loosing my sunglasses. I promise, I really try to keep track of them, but I just don't know what happens to them. It's like they go into the same black hole as baby socks and tupperware lids.

Anyway, I was really excited about my new purchase, but since it's been bad weather all week, I haven't gotten to use them yet!

Then, we ended the day by going to the Missions Dessert Night. We put Reece in the nursery, and I went to check on her at about 8:00 to see how she was doing since she had been going to bed around 7:00 all week. She was more upset than I've ever seen her!! She was doing that cry where you do that sucking in breathing thing in in between wails. So sad! Her eyes were all red and puffy. Lesson learned: no more late nights at church!

New developments in Reece's World this week:
1. Learned how to say "no" and "yucky"
2. Is in love with this dog where you can push his body parts and he sings and says different words...quiet annoying :)
3. More teething! She's had fever almost every night this week! Boo!
4. Is feeding herself yogurt, applesauce and cottage cheese with a spoon, a little messy, though
5. Wore size 4 diapers today! They are really big, though :)

Fun at the Park

Does it get any cutier than this?? Because if it does, my heart might explode!!

Reece can climb up the steps to the slide all by herself!

WHEEEEEEE!!

We saw an airplane! Maybe it was Daddy!

Precious girl!

I love how she's holding onto the swing in this picture. She looks like such a big girl!I was trying to get her to blow, but I think it just ended up in her mouth!

I'm in love with this face!!

Ups and Downs

It is only mid February, and we have already had some ups and downs this year. One up was that we finally sent off our application to MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) which is the organization Daniel and I would like to go with to be able to be a missionary pilot family. We have wanted to do this for so long, but it always seemed like there were obstacles. Finances have always been our roadblock, but we have had a good budget and plan to pay off some debt, so we decided to go for it. Just a few days after we sent it, we got a really good response from the recruiter at MAF. It was looking like we would be able to do the first phase of the process, the "TE" (technical evaluation- where they fly with Daniel for a week and see if they want to accept us) in early summer. Then we would have the rest of the year to get our finances in order and be ready for the few-month long training in Janurary.

We were so excited and encouraged by these possibilities! We would finally be on track to the mission field! But, just today we have had some set-backs to our plans. These set backs caused us much frustration and caused us to become very discouraged. After a few hours of freaking out, worrying, and trying to figure out how we were going to fix the problems on our OWN, we realized what was going on. God has big plans for us to use our talents and resources to change lives for Him, but there is one who wants to do whatever he can to prevent us and discourage us from going. We are already feeling the attacks of the devil, and we just sent our application in one week ago!!

If you are reading this, would you please pray for us? Our biggest struggle right now is entirely financial, and we know in our hearts that God is bigger than money!! Please pray for protection from the devil's schemes in our hearts and lives. And please pray for wisdom for us in the changes we need to make in our lives. Also, please pray that we would look to Jesus only for our strength and guidance.

"Therefore, holy bretheren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus..." Hebrews 3:1

PS When I started typing this post, I didn't expect it to be this long! Thanks for sticking it out to the end!

Reece watching the Wiggles after her afternoon nap. This is her favorite chair that Grandmama gave her for her early Valentines Day gift. Too cute!!

Amanda's Baby Shower and Other Fun Times

So, I just haven't felt like blogging in a long time. I normally don't go that long without blogging. We have all been doing fine. Our Christmas and New Year was uneventful, but fine. We have had a few fun times this month so I thought I would share some pictures.

We went on a date!! We went to Macaroni Grill (SOOO good!!) and to the movies. We were supposed to see I Am Legend, but when we finally got to the end of a really long line, the ticket lady told us it was sold out, so we had to pick out another movie on the spot. We pick "The Orphanage" which we had no idea what it was about. Turns out, it was all in Spanish, and it was a scary movie!! But, it was actually a pretty good movie in the end. Thanks Perez's for the gift cards for Christmas and for babysitting!! :)

Reece hangin' out on the pillows.

Reece trying to feed herself cottage cheese! Very messy!

Gotta have the purse! She loves to put the lipstick from her purse on Mommy, Daddy, Culby the dog, and all her dolls. She also likes to take the "credit cards" in and out of the wallet.

"Ohh, you're HOT!!" Emily, Becky, Jennifer, Jade, Marianne, Michelle and Anne at Amanda's baby shower.
Amanda, Reece and Becky at the shower.
Reece, Becky, Becky's mom Linda and Amanda (with baby Abigail!) We had so much fun at the shower. Joan's house looked beautiful, and there were so many people to celebrate the coming of Abigail. Amanda and Adam got lots of stuff for Abigail including FOUR bouncers!!
Reece loves to be outside! She waits by the door if I say, "Do you want to go outside and play?" and then when it's time to go in, she cries! She also loved the balloons. "Balloons" and "Bubbles" sound the same when she says it. Notice our newest hairstyle...pigtails!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving! We had a good one. We went camping with my family (a Wortley tradition) at Lake Sommerville. Daniel only stayed one night due to his work schedule, but Reece and I stayed from Wednesday to Saturday. We ate a lot of yummy food, hung out with the family and went on walks. Reece practiced her walking in the dirt and leaves. It was SO cold outside, so we got to wear all our warm clothes (which we don't have a lot of!)

The sleeping situation was quite a challenge. Reece and I slept in the same bed together. I never knew how much she tossed and turned!! It was fun to cuddle all night for a couple of days, but I'm very glad she is back in her crib tonight! Here are some fun pictures!

Reece practicing her walking.

Uncle Michael reading me my favorite book.

As soon as we decided to take this picture, Reece started crying. It would have been a great picture if Reece wasn't crying! Although, it shows the other side of the campout...Reece's sleep deprivation!!

Listening to Grandad's music! Fun! Notice the socks on the hands. We didn't bring any mittens!

The Kid's table
Hanging out around the fire in a Reece-sized chair.
Now Rowan's turn

Eating fruit snacks together in the RV! Reece is wearing two hats because it was SO cold outside!

Happy First Birthday, Reece!!

Reece's first birthday was on November 12. She had a great party 2 days before her real birthday. We had a lot of friends and family there to celebrate with her. Thanks so much for coming!! Reece was a little overwhelmed at first, but she warmed up to everyone. She liked eating her chocolate cake and playing with all her new, fun toys. On her real birthday, we got our family pictures taken and opened a few more presents from Mom and Dad. Her favorite presents were her "touch and feel" books and her doll that she likes to kiss. She started walking really well in the evening of her real birthday!

Happy Birthday Reece! We love you SOOOO much!!

Help!

To those of you who check this blog, I need your help!! (and I know there are at least a few of you, so speak up!)

We recently got our family pictures done (actually on Reece's first birthday) and I'm having trouble picking out the last two pictures that come in the package we're getting.

So, go to this website:
http://www.photobiz.com/portfolio/portfolio.cfm?photographerID=1911
email: beckypez@sbcglobal.net
password: becky
What do you like better for a 5x7? 6, 36, or 27
What do you like better for a 11x14? 5 or 21
If you like something better, you can tell me, but I may already be getting it in a different size.
Thanks SO much!!

By the way, I really like the lady who did these pictures. Her website is http://www.thegibsonstudio.com/ She's a Christian and works a lot with children. The park we went to was beautiful!! She's all the way in Leauge City, and a little pricey, but great if you want to splurge (or get it for you Christmas present like me :)

Reece's first birthday pictures to come!!