Rainy Day Rambling **With Added Content**

Ok, so I've added content twice to this post since originally posting it. And that's only because I don't want to post another official post until it is the first clue to the Baby Name Guessing Game (BNGG). Which, the rule will be: You can only guess one name once a day so that everyone who wants to play can have a chance to check my blog and guess each day before someone gets the right one. I will post a clue either every day or every other day depending on how many responses each post gets. You must guess both first and middle name to win the Starbucks card. If you already know the names we have chosen or have discussed names with us, obvioulsy you may not comment anything that would give extra clues. If you do, you owe US a Starbucks card!

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So, not having cable means we haven't been able to get local news/weather. Kinda weird to not know what the weather is supposed to be, but it was nice to wake up to rain this morning. Haven't had it in a while. But it puts me in a talkative, posty mood. So watch out! ;-)

Brenda sent some Christmas pictures from their camera. Talk about fun to walk through memory lane! They snapped some good ones, too! It's hard to believe we first started introducing table foods to Judah in Eville -- it seems like forever ago! He also learned how to crawl up stairs. Autumn and Andy stopped through on their move to LR. The good food, the reconnecting with extended family, the time to rest. Judah's real first crack at opening gifts. The QUILT we received from Helen (which is currently on our bed to bring in spring!...can't wait to get a sheet/pillowcases set that will go with it...we're thinking purple). Those are the highlights I remember at the moment! Enjoy the pics...










My growin'-up, beautiful sister-in-law!



This morning, I was doing my regular kitchen routine and noticed Judah was being VERY quiet. This hasn't been too much of a problem as of late because he is usually playing with a toy. But the Instinct told me to go peek in on him. Tell me, how on earth did he do this? No blankets were disturbed on the changing table, and I always thought his head was too big to fit in between the furniture. But there he was crouched playing with his thermometer. That thing fascinates him!



The other day, I made a card for Alicia's birthday (tomorrow!) and let Judah color with some pencils for the first time. He got the hang of it...but then threw a temper when I tried to stop him from chewing on the pencils. This is new -- the temper thing. Woah. As the brain intelligence increases by leaps and bounds right now, so does the ability to express the sinful will. It's SHOCKING to see your sweet "innocent" baby purposefully look at you angrily and yell at you because you told him no or took something away. And yet how many times do we do that to our Father? But, all in all, it's fun to have a "first drawing" picture...and a lessened temper due to mostly consistent discipline and patience!



Last night, I found out that Bible study is going to continue through the summer! Woo hoo!!! This excites me 1) Because it is good accountability to spend time with the Lord on a more consistent basis, 2) It allows me one night out a week to spend with other women. We're going to decide what book to do next at next week's study (which would have been our last week). I jokingly said Romans...then Norma said that's what she and Nancy had discussed. :-P I'm gonna go with another lady and suggest 1 & 2 Peter. We started studying that with the Chews when they still lived in Salinas, and it was wonderful!

That leads me to ask for prayer for Kristen. She is a lady that attends the study and is a couple weeks behind me in pregnancy. She found out a few weeks ago that their baby has some birth defects and is not expected to live past birth. Being in tune with pregnancy myself and all the emotions, fears, and joys that come with it, I have felt a burden to pray for and think of Kristen often -- especially putting myself in her place to try and understand all she must be going through. Matt told me last night maybe I shouldn't do that, but I really think it helps me pray for her better and more deeply. I got her prayer card (again) last night and this is what she asks for: "Pray for strength, wisdom, and mercy as we prepare for Samuel's arrival in a few months. Pray that God would use this for His glory." Please pray with me for this and also for God to work a healing miracle if He sees fit.

The lily in the Easter bouquet from the E-side of the family exploded. It's seriously the biggest one I've ever seen!



And last but CERTAINLY not least! Today is exciting because Kohls opens in Salinas -- and apparently it's one of the newly designed ones. I'll let you know how classy it really is after we visit tonight! But that's not what is most exciting...

Friday morning is less than 48 hours away! Pray Baby cooperates! And we MIGHT actually have a boy's name (just not a middle name yet). Get your blog-checking and name-guessing gears ready if you want that Sbux card!

~~~ADDED CONTENT SINCE FIRST POSTING~~~

So we went to Kohls grand opening here in Salinas to return a place setting we were trying out and look around for a new one. They really don't get new designs as often as they should. I mentioned in this post that we have been thinking about starting to look for purple sheets. We've been thinking about a dark purple set to match both our quilt (that his grandmother made...AWESOME) and comforter. The quilt is all different colored squares, very playful and vibrant. The comforter is a romantic Morrocan design...polar opposites. But dark purple goes with both. So, Matt saw a dark purple king sheet set including pillowcases for $100. But since it's Grand Opening, they were on sale for $50. But we had a gift card for living in the area. But we had a coupon for 15% off. But since it's Grand Opening, you can scratch a card to receive an additional percentage off (if you have a Kohls card). So we got a KING SIZED sheet set with pillowcases, 400 thread count, for TWENTY-SEVEN BUCKS! Talk about a blessing that God chose to give when we hadn't even asked it of Him! Wow!!!!

We had a fun family photo shoot tonight. The first pic is an example of Judah's odd habit of laying all over me if I'm on the floor. Usually, though, he is sucking his thumb and his favorite spot is my belly. He doesn't do it to Matt, just me. And we're not sure why!