Lindsey is 4 1/2 months old now. She is a very happy baby unless she is hungry or tired. She is much more predictable in her schedule so it is easy to keep her happy! She loves to face out when you hold her, hold and suck on her toys, play in her excersaucer, smile and babble, and her new favorite thing is eating rice cereal! She loves to smile at her sisters and suck her thumb! We are so thankful for our baby girl.
Our little Lindsey is three months old. She loves to smile and look at her toys, has started sucking her thumb (our only baby to do this so far!), has her first cold, and regularly sleeps all night. She is such a sweet girl.
Natalie turned six years on old on Friday, January 16. It is hard to believe that six years has gone by. It seems like just yesterday! She ended up not having school on her birthday because it was so cold. I thought she might be disappointed to not celebrate at school, but instead she loved being home with her sisters! We had a family party that night and then on Saturday she had her friend party. She really really wanted a roller skating party..so that is what we did. It was absolute chaos at the rink, but she had a great time and so did all her friends. Enjoy a few shots of our birthday girl.
Don’t these 2 look a lot alike??!!
Three girls definitely seems a little overwhelming sometimes…all the coming weddings, drama, and emotions. But we are so thankful God has blessed us with them. They are so much fun…and love to do so many different things. Play Barbies, dress-up, play legoes, wrestle with Daddy.
Also…what a gift to have sisters. Amy and Natalie are best buddies and love to play and spend time together. We look forward to how Lindsey relates to them as she gets older. Right now she is pretty good about tolerating the smothering from Amy!
Nate and I have prayed many things for our three daughters. At the top of the list is that they would love the Lord and trust Him as their Savior. It has been neat to hear them retell Bible stories from church or ask us questions about Jesus, Heaven, etc.
Yesterday Natalie and I were working on her memory verse for Awana. It was “Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.’” Natalie was interested in what this verse meant so we talked about how the only way we can get to heaven and be with God is if we truly believe that he died on the cross for our sins and we are forgiven.
Amy overheard us and said, “I want to go to heaven, I don’t want to go to that fire place.” Nate explained that Mommy and Daddy were going to go to heaven one day. Natalie wanted to know how we were sure. So we explained that we believe that Jesus is our Savior and that he died for our sins. She says, “I believe that!” Nate asked her if she had ever told God that she believed that about him. She said she didn’t and wanted to know how to tell him so Nate explained that when we pray we are talking with God.
Natalie bowed her sweet head and prayed (from my memory!), “God, thank you for sending Jesus as a baby. I believe that he died on the cross for my sins and I am forgiven. I love you. In Jesus name, Amen.”
What a blessing to hear our firstborn daughter profess her love for Jesus. We will continue to pray for her heart and that she would desire to know and love him more.
Nate and I rang in the new year last night playing Mario Kart and Mario Galaxy on our new Wii we got for Christmas (thanks Dana and Walter!). Natalie and Amy were at a sleepover at Grammy and Papa’s and Lindsey was thankfully asleep in her bed. It was very nostalgic for us since we used to stay up late playing video games on our Nintendo 64 before we had children.
This morning I caught up on some TV shows while Nate continued playing Wii. Nate commented that it was so strange to have all this “free” time and that it was nice to have that before having children. I agreed. I DO miss those lazy Saturdays (I know today isn’t Saturday, but it felt like it) where we would sleep in, stay in our jammies all day, play video games, and watch movies. Sometimes, I’ll admit, I REALLY miss those days.
But as we went to my parents to spend the day with them and reconnect with Natalie and Amy, I realized how boring my life would be in comparison to what I have today. My children our such an incredible gift from the Lord. Even though there are many days where I am tired and emotionally maxed out, I wouldn’t trade them for just one Saturday to myself. Before children, our lives were all about us. Now our life is about our family. And one day our children won’t be home and we will have those lazy Saturdays…and miss the laughter and presence of our children.
In 2008, some dear friends of mine lost their 4 year old daughter and another dear friend of mine lost her 33 year old husband. I hope I can embrace the wonderful gifts God has given me…because we never know when God will call anyone of us home. And I hope to enjoy my chaotic Saturdays!
Lindsey May arrived at 6:35 pm at 8 lbs 14 oz and 20.5 inches long. Everyone seems well, they are checking blood to make sure both Kara and Lindsey are healthy. What a long day, after 11 hours of being here, 10 in labor, all of a sudden Lindsey dropped and Kara pushed for 10 minutes. We are quietly resting after family and several friends were here to celebrate with us. More to come tomorrow we are sure.
We had a very full weekend! It started Halloween with lots of trick-or-treating. Amy dressed up as Ariel and Natalie dressed up as Sleeping Beauty. They had a great time and we had perfect weather. I can’t remember the last Halloween where I didnt’ have to wear a coat! I enjoyed this night as a family…but not the many contractions I had from all the walking.
On Saturday, Nate had his Ordination/Installation service at our church. It was an amazing ceremony…very emotional. Two former pastors from our church, who are good friends with Nate, flew out to be a part of the service. I am so proud of Nate and all his hard work. I know God has called him to this position for a reason and we are looking forward to how God is going to use our family. He is offcially an Associate Pastor and our church and you can call him Reverend Conrad!
On Sunday, we celebrate our sweet Amy’s FOURTH birthday! She was so excited that it was her special day. She went up to as many people as she could at church to tell them that she was FOUR now. This afternoon we are having her friend birthday party. I’ll post pictures and share more about our 4 year old later…
We got back last night from our last week at Lake Nebagamon for the year. We were able to spend two weeks up there this summer…one with friends and one with family. It was another great week. The girls love to be in the water and on the water. Amy could ride the jetski all day long! Natalie enjoys all the water sports, but especially loves jumping off the dock, swimming, and fishing with Papa. Next summer we’ll have another baby girl here to fall in love with the lake.
We are so thankful to have this place of refuge to come “home” to each summer. This lakehouse was owned by my grandparents. My dad celebrated his 1st birthday on Lake Nebagamon. Dana and I grew up coming there, and now my kids get to grow up there each summer. Nate and I talked about the first time he came to the lake…back in 1996 when we were dating. My dad has been coming to the lake for 64 years. I’ve been coming for 33 years, and Nate has been coming for 12 years. What a blessing to have a home which is it’s own legacy of family and faith. I pray my kids can bring their own kids to Lake Nebagamon some day.
Thanks Mom and Dad for a great week.
We got back last night from another great week at Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin. The past few years Nate and I have taken a few families with us. We had 11 kids this year! We had a great week in the water and out of the water…the weather was perfect…warm during the day and cool at night. Plus we only had one day of rain! Nate and I are continuely reminded and thankful for the community of friends we have at NPC.
The girls are very sad to be home from the lake…but we leave again in 6 days to go back with Grammy and Papa!
