First of friends...

Meet Amelia's first BFF Elijah. He is one month old and lives just four houses down from us. We have enjoyed sharing our long days shut up in the house out of the cold with him and his mother Melanie. So how just knowing someone else is going just as insane as you are makes you feel normal for a moment in time:) We look forward to playing outside in the summer and fall and taking camping trips together in the years to come.

Set the captives free!

So I have officially outsourced my motherhood :) we have recently acquired an electric swing for Amelia...that is, within the past 48 hours and it has been simply revolutionary! She loves it whether she is awake or asleep she is content as a bug to be there and not in my arms. This morning Chris said, "it's amazing, I can actually eat breakfast!" I am basking in this new found freedom but have had to remind myself that she still needs physical touch throughout the day:) that's what nursing is for, right? just kidding. I don't have a picture of her in the new cocoon but will get one soon. Off to take a shower and file some paperwork...oh what bliss!

Prayer & Song for Amelia

These are the lyrics to the song that Amelia was born to from our ipod playlist.The basis of the song is scripture from Hosea 2- speaking of the redeeming, restoring love of God and His pursuit of His creation to be in relationship with Him. It has been a song that has gripped my heart since moving to Boston and has given me strength to carry on when the days have seemed hopeless and the valleys long and deep. I pray it over her often, that she will come to know Jesus one day. That against all odds she would follow hard after Him...knowing that being a Christ follower isn't always safe but worth it!


ACRES OF HOPE
by Shane Barnard and Robbie Seay

He will allure her
He will pursue her
And call her out
To wilderness with flowers in His hand
She is responding
Beat up and hurting
Deserving death
But offerings of life are found instead

She will sing
She will sing
Oh, to You
She will sing as in the days of youth
As You lead her away
To valleys low
To acres of hope
Acres of hope

Here in the valley
Walk close beside me
Don’t look back
For love is growing vineyards up ahead
You have called me master
And though you’re in the dark here
Call me friend
And call me lover and marry me for good

She will sing
She will sing
Oh, to You
She will sing as in the days of youth
As You lead her away
To valleys low
To acres of hope
Acres of hope

How the story ends is
Love and tenderness in Him
Not safe, but worth it
So the valley’s up ahead
Or the ones we live
We’ll sing together
We’ll sing together

We will sing
We will sing
Oh, to You
We will sing as in the days of youth
As You lead us away
To valleys low
To acres of hope
Acres of hope

“Lord, sustain me in the valley. Give me ears to hear Your sweet tender voice and lead me in to acres of hope in this dry and weary land.”
"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. ‘In that day,’ declares the LORD,’you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master. (Hosea 2:14-16)

this is what you call spring?

amelia says to wake her up when summer arrives:) we're still covering our hands, feet and toes when we venture outside. today we received another 3" of snow and i think this hat might fit her by next winter! on this outing last week we found out she is weighing a big 9.88 lbs!

a new milestone

a few days ago, amelia was finally compliant in being placed in the bouncy chair...she ended up liking it so much she fell asleep but still hasn't taken the plunge to sit it in as often as we would like.All in time I suppose but for now i will learn to savor the moments of being able to hold her (hope she grows out of that one-she's such a cuddler)

computer wizard

i am not sure who was enjoying praise baby dvd's more... stacey or amelia. looks like she is going to take after her daddy when it comes to her computer skills. thank goodness

love at first sight

silas is starting to embrace the presence of her little sister. one day they will be best of friends but for now there is still confusion as to who is queen of the house...it's mom, right?