more camera practice

I played around with my camera some more today. I also ordered the 50 mm (ahem) 1.8 lens, and it came on Saturday. I took these photos with it. I really have no idea what I'm doing, and I'm having some issues in Aperture mode figuring out what is best for what light. There was a lot of deleting that happened today. Anyway, there were some white balance issues and even some focusing issues, but I'm still learning. I thought they turned out okay. Sorry if you're getting tired of looking at photos of my kid. There's not much more around here worth taking photos of. I know I'm making lots of mistakes (so stop rolling your eyes, photo pros), but I'm excited to learn!

Matt opened the ironing board. It squeaked. Jonah started for real scared crying. No, I'm not kidding.

Kockwan (Kathryn) came over today for a visit. :)

things are about to get radical

On January 31st, my Thirsty Ladies bible study group will start a new study. I LOVED "Satisfy My Thirsty Soul," and actually plan to read it again. It is that good and it's A LOT to take in. Apparently my brain and heart can only take so much conviction at a time. I'm pretty sure there's a lot more in that book that will slap me in the face the second go round. Back to the point. The hubbies are going to join us in our study this time, meeting every other Monday night, opposite of us. We did it this way so that we never have to worry about childcare. I hope to use those "off" Monday nights, after I get Jonah down, to do some personal study of my own or blog my thoughts and what God is showing me through our study. I'll have to wait and see how it goes. Anyway, the book we will be doing is called "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream." I'm excited to read it but actually pretty of afraid of it, to tell you the truth.


Here's the trailer if you're interested (beware: CHALLENGING stuff):



God is doing some serious work in me. I am thinking and praying A LOT about how to be Jesus to those around me. It's hard, I think, knowing that I can't go to these poverty and hunger ravaged countries and jump in. The truth is, if my life were different, I would go in a heartbeat, taking Matt and Jonah with me, of course. But Jonah needs very time-involved care, a safe, clean place to live, and access to good medical care. And I know that there is plenty to be done here in the States. In many ways, I think Americans could use a lot more missionizing than the rest of the world. BUT, because I'm pretty limited on my out-of-the-house time and don't have qualified childcare help with Jonah, I can't go somewhere and volunteer during the week, I'm asking God to show me how to do what I can from where I am, right now. I don't mind donating money. But I don't want to JUST donate money. I want to sacrifice my time. My self. I have a couple things in mind, but I'm not going to share them quite yet.


I would love to hear any ideas of things you are trying to do or have done in the past to reach out to others, even when your availability or other resources might have been short. I know that I can't and won't excuse myself any longer. I'm ready to get radical, or you know, as radical as I can right now. :)

videos...

... demonstrating some of the things I mentioned in the below post.


He screams when he gets excited. What can I say?



My favorite. (And also, my accent seems way more southern when I'm using my baby voice. I swear it.)



Walking like a champ. Take That, all you other Walkers! (You may be better but you ain't cuter.)

slices of life, vol. 1

Continuing in the (AWESOMELY hysterical) tradition of Matt's Aunt Katherine, I'm starting a Slices of Life series for Jonah. (See Katherine's HERE, seriously, you will laugh until you cry.) This first one may be boring to most of you, but I wanted to record some of Jonah's funnies and all the words he's saying right now so I won't forget. And seeing as how I'm failing miserably in both the scrapbooking and baby booking departments, the blog's the only record I currently have. 


At 22 1/2 months, Jonah:
- can finally walk, taking anywhere from five to fifteen steps between furniture or two people that are not too far apart.
- puts his head and arms on the sofa and his feet and legs on the ottoman, and "hangs" in the air.
- rides his train all around the house, and walks behind two different push toys.
- blows kisses every time anyone says "I love you."
- claps when anyone new comes into the house or car.
- says "hi" or "hey" and waves to everyone we pass in the store.
- is still very anxious about new things; right now his car/wagon we could pull him in on walks and his little Power Wheels four-wheeler.
- hates getting his diaper changed.
- loves trains, trucks, cars, and tractors.
- likes to put things on his head that are not meant to be hats and yells, "haT!" (emphasis on the 't') proudly.
- loves to wrestle and "jump" on Mommy and Daddy's bed.
- likes wearing socks and shoes.
- pets blankets, peoples' shirts, socks, and Deac and says "soft" or "saaah," as it were.
- LOVES to be outside, and screams in delight most of the time we're out.
- really likes bubbles and can identify them in real life, on TV, or on my computer as my screen saver.
- has started to dance, shaking his booty.
- likes Yo Gabba Gabba, Jack's Big Music Show, Diego, and Micky Mouse Clubhouse.
- can recognize and say "Dora," "Diego," and "Jack."
- still won't drink from a sippy cup.
- still won't eat anything except certain purees (and even then, it's only sometimes).
- loves books and being read to.
- puts himself to sleep, most of the time, without crying.
- sleeps through the night, usually 11 hours.
- says "okay, okay" and cries when he wants you to stop doing something (say, lance blisters), but has recently learned to say and sign "all done."
- can do the short version of patty cake himself, mumbling through the words, and then says "twow dem in a pan" at the end while throwing his hands up.
- usually wakes up happy in the mornings, stands up, and as soon as you open the blinds, looks out the window joyfully saying "twuck!", looking for a truck outside.
- makes the elephant noise and lifts his arm (trunk) anytime you ask him what the elephant says or he sees one in a book or on TV.
- will exclaim "DADDY" happily when Matt comes home from work or gets him out of bed on the weekends.
- does the Erykah Badu dance from Yo Gabba Gabba most every time he "dances" to any song. (can't find it online (sad))
- says "bump up" when he wants to listen to music, because "Jump Up" is the first song on his favorite CD (Dan Zanes).
- starts crawling/cruising away and laughing hysterically when you go after him when he's going somewhere he's not supposed to or is climbing the stairs
- calls for the kitty when we first come out of his room in the morning. "keeeey, keeeey, keeeey." she usually comes.
- will repeat most anything, but may not know what it means.
- will say "no suh" when you tell him "no sir" and will give you the cutest grin ever, making it impossible to stay mad or even not laugh.
- will yell "twain!" excitedly any time he sees a train, and then says "tucka tucka tucka choo choo".


He can say, consistently and fully knowing the meaning:
Mummy (Mommy)
Daddy
Eeek (Deac)
Keeey (Kitty)
twain (train)
cah (car)
twuck (truck)
Nana (always loud and with enthusiasm)
good job 
twucka (tractor)
bubbles
down
up
out
on
eat
dwink (drink)
pway (play)
ride
baby
hey
hi
bye
night night
Pop
Gnee (Granny)
Kockwan (Kathryn)
one, two, twee, (mumbling) NINE, ten
all done
okay
ready, shet (set), GO!
wa (water)
ligh (light)
shooooe
hat
sah (soft)
yay
walk 
cow
duck
peeese (please)
um-me (excuse me)
ank-u (thank you)
sock
ha (help)
rock rock
buh (bus)
book
uh-oh
ta-aa (ta-da!)
cwock (clock)


He can do the sounds, consistently, for:
tractor, car or truck, train, Santa, elephant, duck, dog, cat, horse, cow, monkey, lion, sheep/goat


**I'm sure I'll have to come back and add as I remember things, but at least it's a start.**

fun with my new camera

Cute little boy drinking chewing on his sippy cup.

My Nikon has been messed up for a long time, so I asked for gift cards for Christmas and bought a Canon Rebel XS, for those of you who wanted to know. 


Oh, and I ordered our stockings last year from JC Penny. I don't think they're available anymore. 

sigh

What do we do now?

resolved

The Spirit is moving in me a lot lately. I have so many "resolutions" for this year, and the rest of my life for that matter, but none of them have to do with exercising more, eating better, working harder, or being more organized. Those are good goals, but really,what do they matter in the long run? (Let's face it, folks, when I'm lying on my death bed, it's unlikely I'll be thinking, "I really wish I had lost that ten pounds," and much more likely that I'll be saying something like, "I should have eaten more bacon.")

I want to be so many things that I'm not. True, I'm not organized enough or in shape of enough or frugal enough with my money. I'm okay with it. What I'm NOT okay with is that I live my comfortable little life in my comfortable little house in my comfortable little zone, doing very little to actively love like Jesus. My "resolutions": love like He does, serve like He did, complain less, talk positively about others, reserve judgment, see people for their potential, reach out to the hurting, love like crazy, live for others. 

My Abba, help me to love others like I love my Jonah. Help me to love like you love me.

Help me not to take a minute for granted, help me to LIVE and LOVE like you do.

Give me the passion, strength, and courage to be drastic, serve others, to really make a difference.

I want to be different, Abba. I want to be the opposite of what so many have come to hate about "Christians." I don't want to be judgmental, negative, hopeless, hypocritical, or stingy.

Give me ideas, inspiration, and the ability to be who you are calling me to be... to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a hurting world.

I want to be water to a dry, thirsty land. A light in the darkness. I want to share hope with the hopeless.

I want to show my little boy what it means to be a true follower of Christ, a disciple. I don't want to be a hatemonger, a fearmonger, or a hypocrite. I want to love unconditionally, serve without expectation, give generously. I want to live like my money is not mine, my things are not mine, my life is not mine. 

Please help me to be the wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, and person you call me to be. No more excuses. No more waiting. Your love is overwhelming. The hope you offer is priceless. The Good News is too awesome not to share. I want to love like Jesus. Give me His eyes and heart. Here I am, Lord. Send me.

***********************

I bought "Calm My Anxious Heart" (Linda Dillow), "Crazy Love" (Francis Chan), "Forgotten God" (Francis Chan), and "Radical: Taking Back your Faith from the American Dream" (David Platt) today. I know, I know. I got a little carried away. I don't know yet in what order I'll read them, but I'll try to post as I go along. I'm serious y'all. It's time for a change. Who's with me? (And also, I would encourage you to stop by Waiting for Happy too. I think the Spirit's doing some moving over there too. Thanks for being so bold, Kristy.)

christmas, part three

On Saturday, we celebrated Christmas with my dad at our house and then with my mom at her house. Here are a few photos (taken with my new Canon, but don't judge, because I don't know what I'm doing yet, and was mostly shooting in Auto... but I'm currently in the process of reading the entire manual. Call me a dork. I can take it.)

My brother, Peyton, his wife, Amy, and my niece, Ainsley.

My two sisters and Matt, being awkward.

My nephew, Asher.

Ainsley, sporting her new purse...

... and checking out her new art set. (Daddy was excited too!)

Asher "shooting" me with his new cap gun.

I don't ever really know.

Pop and Asher getting ready to shoot his cap gun. Jonah was napping, so they had to go outside.

Jonah, "eating" and opening gifts.

Very excited about his new "truck-a" (tractor).

He looks so old here. :(

TRUCKS!

"WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG???"

All is right with the world again.

Jonah's car from my dad. He likes it only from afar. He'll warm up to it. In the meantime, Asher was showing him how it's done.

 This is a fake smile, but she's still the cutest little girl on the face of the planet... in my opinion.

At my mom's. Mom made such a delicious meal. I didn't take photos of the food because I was too busy stuffing my face, but let's just say there was some bacon wrapped chicken, lima beans, lots of other goodness, topped off by two desserts. Two very good desserts. I ate until I was physically hurting. It was awesome.Even more gifts :)

Cool toy. We both liked it. :) Thanks, Nana!

Money and a note for Aunt Shaina.

This was one of my most favorite books when I was little. So excited to read it to Jonah.

My sisters playing "Jump over Jonah" in the hall. He found it hilarious. 

All of our Christmases were wonderful, and I'm sad it's over. Yesterday was a little sad, too, because it's the last time I'll see Sarah before she moves to Wilmington on Friday. She has finished her Associate's Degree and will be starting at UNCW as a junior. I'm so happy and excited for her, but selfishly sad for us. We'll miss her so much. It was so nice to spend some special time with her this last week. And today, my mom kept Jonah so Shaina and I could go shopping. We were long overdue for some one on one quality time. I thank God all the time that my siblings and I have such a close relationship. It's a huge blessing that I don't ever take for granted.