Teeth are coming!

Yesterday after Lucy's morning nap I noticed a small cut on her lower gums. When I felt with my finger, it was sharp. That, accompanied with lots of drooling, chewing on everything, fussiness, and a slight fever, tells me that she is teething. Also, the night before she woke up what seemed like twenty times between 3 and 6 AM.

Lucy is 5 months old today and we are still at Pete's parents house in Chesterfield continuing to build our team of financial ministry partners. Grandma and Grandpa are enjoying having their first grandchild around. So are Aunt Margaret and Uncle Tim... and Copper, the dog. He likes to lick Lucy.

We are planning to stay here three more weeks, go home for a week, then head to Georgia to (prayerfully and hopefully) finish up our support raising!

Lucy has a cold...

... which brings new anxieties as I'm sure every mom and dad experience. There have been several times in the past couple of months that I've just been so anxious. I used to say that I'm not prone to worrying; that it's always been easy for me to trust the Lord. Ha! Just as the onset of marriage brought more of my sin to light, parenthood brings even more to the surface.

What if something bad happens? What if she can't breath? What if the worst happens?

Whenever these thoughts bounce around in my head, it's as if the Lord asks "Are you really trusting me? Are you really believing that I am sovereign? That I am taking care of Lucy? That whatever happens, it is my will and ultimately for your good?"

I feel as though in this new stage of Mommyhood, I am constantly reminded of of my sinful heart; how I am prone to worry, prone to anger, prone to laziness. Praise the Lord for His grace and His Spirit that allows me to conquer sin and start afresh a million times a day. I so need Him. I need Him to be the wife and mom that I want to be.

All sorts of new things

Lucy is learning new things every day and developing in to quite a little bubbly personality. She loves to smile, laugh, and yell. Also, chewing on everything and grabbing everything are among her favorite things to do. Her favorite toy right now is a light purple butterfly from her gym that has crinkly paper inside. She is on the verge of rolling over (she sometimes scoots a little) and seems as though she will get teeth very soon.

Our baby is absolutely spoiled because she has so many people who are ready and willing to play with her whenever she wants. She has loved being at Grandma and Grandpa's house (Pete's parents) with her aunts and uncles.

Practicing standing with Aunt Margaret:

Sitting with Uncle James:

(Check out the drool all over her shirt!)

Playing with Uncle Tim:

Lifting her head up:

(She's in the 90% percentile in head circumference!)

Laughing Lucy

Lucy got up early this morning to eat (circa 6:00), and after a nice early breakfast, she decided she didn't want to go back to sleep, despite my and Michaela's wishes. We tried to get to sleep for fifteen minutes or so by just ignoring what sounded like her best impression at an owl call, but it proved fruitless, so I got up and came downstairs to play with her.

Sometimes she acts really ticklish and laughs, and other times she just seems irritated with it. I was glad to see this morning was one of the former, and got a fun clip of her laughing it up.

Time has flown!

Well, actually, time has gone by at the same rate it always has, but it seems like its going faster than normal as our little one grows bigger everyday. Lucy is 16 weeks old and almost 4 months! She loves to sit (and stand) with support, grab things, play, talk/coo, laugh, put things in her mouth, and roll from side to side. Its amazing how many new things she can do everyday. She has thoroughly delighted everyone we've seen while staying here in Marietta.On that note, we are very much looking forward to seeing the family in St. Louis in about 2 weeks. Lucy misses her Grandpa, Grandma, Aunts and Uncles- she was only 3 weeks old when she saw them last!

Here are some of the many pictures we've taken this month:

Sitting in the Bumbo seat.

Lucy loves the Beatles.

So sweet.

Lucy's 4th of July outifit complete with cowgirl boots.

Lucy loves playing in the exersaucer... until she gets tired after a few minutes.