Eighteen Months!

Natalie is eighteen months old. I'm not sure how this happened. Six months blew me away, and then we celebrated her first birthday, and now a year and a half? I am just amazed, everyday, at this beautiful creation God has made and entrusted to us.

She loves running with her Daddy. They have races back and forth through the living room and kitchen which, of course, always ends up in fits of laughter as her Daddy catches her and sweeps her up - I love it!

She loves organizing, yes you heard me right, organizing. I'm fairly sure she doesn't get this trait from me. The majority of her concentrated playtime is spent moving small objects from one place to another. It is great fun watching the determination on her face. She definitely has a plan for what she is doing.

She is my little helper. She loves emptying the dishwasher, taking clothes out of the dryer, throwing away trash, getting toys and snacks for Amirah, putting things away, setting the table, and her new found joy - helping me cook.

I love this girl. Who knew a little girl could be so irresistible :)

Becoming Like a Child

It is amazing to me how much being a mom makes me so aware of my frailty. I think this is a good thing, but it can feel so desperate at times. I felt like I had this direct view of my relationship with God through one such desperate "conversation" with my 18 month old this afternoon. She is standing in front of me falling apart over one thing or another (it was just one of those days). I say, "Natalie, come here. I can help you, but you have to let me." And all of a sudden, it's not a conversation between Natalie and I anymore. I know that God has been whispering the same thing to me as I fall apart over one thing or another (it was just one of those days...weeks... ok, maybe months). "Angela, come here. I can help you, but you have to let me." All of a sudden it's as if I'm the eighteen month old; and as I pull my daughter into a big embrace, I feel the embrace of my Father. We're ok. She's safe in my arms because we are both safe in the arms of our Daddy.