Mommy and Baby time!

Charley went 4-wheeling this weekend with some buddies, so Eden and I got some great girl time in! She and I went shopping, hung out with our friends, went to church, and just had an all around great weekend.

One of my favorite things about being a mommy to a happy baby is going in to get her from her naps. Here's what I get to see everytime I go get her out of her crib...

We just got a super Walmart, so Eden and I went with our friends Chanel and her baby (Eden's friend, Bella), to check it out. Here's what we found!

It's a bumbo. and she loves it. It's made out of rubber.

In other news, it's officially winter in Alaska. It was 14 degrees on the way to church yesterday. Just in case you don't know... that's COLD. But it's been absolutely beautiful outside.

Here's a picture of Charley's new 4-wheeler... and if you look hard enough, you can see all the frost on the ground outside. It's freezing out there. Literally.


nice, eh? Well, I need to get my house cleaned. I hope you all have a wonderful week! :)

Happy Baby! :)

A Post by Eden Grace!

Hey Guys! Check out my new highchair! I'm a big girl now! :)


This week has flown by. Mommy and I have a lot more on our 'to-do' list, but we're making progress!

like getting pictures with mama...

...and smiling for her in the waiting room
while the nice man changes the oil in our car

...And watching mama make blankets for my friend's mommy's baby showers!


...and looking at great, big moose outside (check out the progress daddy is making on our shed!)

...and hanging out with friends


...and heading to church


...and playing with Daddy and uncle Toby


...and getting bigger every day!!

(that's the blanket mommy made for me BEFORE the one above that she made for a friend's baby shower. yep, same fabrics)

So as you can see we've been busy around the Preston house! Every day brings new adventures and fun things to do, explore and create! bye bye!

Gratitude

I can't believe that Eden is already 3 months old this week. We are so incredibly blessed. I used to think the saying, 'i love them so much it hurts' was retarded, but I totally get it now. There are times that I look at my daughter and feel like my heart is going to explode. This week she's started to 'talk'. I love that she raises her eyebrows when she wants to 'tell me something' as if it's so important that I listen and not miss any of it.



She is so expressive. I'm pretty sure she's going to be a little chatter box like I was as a kid... which, can present its own challenges. "NO Eden, you don't say that in public". "Don't tell people their breath stinks, Eden. It's rude". "Eden, I thought we talked about this... You do NOT need to inform me when I have a big pimple on my chin. Trust me, I already know". It will be fun to watch her little personality and character traits as she develops into a little girl. Will she be shy and reserved...more of a follower and server? Or will she be more exuberant and forward - a leader and trend setter? It's such a privilege (and enormous responsibility) that Charley and I will largely dictate, through our training, guidance, and example, what kind of woman she becomes - wise and lovely with good character and godly attributes, someone who people can trust and love, OR a person with an entitlement attitude, selfish, rude and somewhat avoided. I pray that we have the wisdom and ability to raise the former. Knowing that we are human, and will make plenty of mistakes, I have so much peace and relief in knowing that ultimately, she's in God's hands and while we do our best as parents because we have initially given her to Him, we can rest in knowing that regardless of what the world throws at her, or the ways we screw up, God can still make her to be a beautiful person who is a blessing and joy to her family, others, and the Lord.

There are nights that I lay her down for bed and can feel fear creep over me (you moms out there know what I'm talking about): "what if she overheats while she sleeps?" "What if she gets a terminal illness?" "what if someone tries to take her from me?", "What if, what if, what if...". I'm thankful that I can just stop amidst it all, and cry out to God, "Lord, *I* can't protect this little one from all the hurts and pain of this world. I can't always keep her safe. I can't watch over her all night as she sleeps to be sure nothing happens...but You can. Thank you for protecting her and keeping her safe". It's amazing the way that once I place her in His hands, those feelings of doubt, fear or paranoia completely vanish. I don't mean to be preachy, but I'm just so thankful that we as a family can put our trust in something even more sure and constant, more secure than our own futile efforts and this world for safety, peace of mind, and security. And even if something horrible DOES happen, we can still know that it's already been worked out in His plan, He already has a purpose for it, and promises that we don't have to walk through the fire alone. When I lost my mom as a little girl, He was so near to me. Even as a child, I could feel His presence and comfort. I'm so thankful that I didn't turn my back on Him from anger that He would take my mother away... I can see now why He chose to do that, and the way He in turn poured out His blessings on me because of my decision to trust & love Him anyways - as hard as it was. He has been so faithful and I absolutely don't know how my life would have turned out had He not been there with me through it all. It's amazing to serve a God who is so real and faithful, so evident in my life, and so good. Ok, I'll step down from the pulpit now. I just feel so overwhelmed today with gratitude for all I have and how MUCH God has blessed me. :)

Eden is napping now, so I better take this opportunity to put the laundry away and get a shower. It's been really drippy outside. Fall is definitely here and it won't be long before the snow flies. Poor Charley is desperate to get his shed done. I hope that he can make some good progress on it this weekend. He's such a sweet heart. I can't believe how often he puts the needs and desires of our family before his own. Anyways, I hope you all have a great week... Here are a few more pictures of our little sweetie!

Giggling Babies and Construction Projects

Charley's been working hard to build a shed before the snow flies (that sounds like a really gross insect... 'snow fly'). At any rate, he's been busy trying to get it done because as of now, we don't have any place to store our junk that has previously made it's home in either the "shop" (garage), or Eden's room, before it was "Eden's room". Now with a baby, it's going to be a little more challenging to get out and about because it gets so cold, so Charley wanted to get rid of the stuff in the garage, so I can park in there. It will be so nice to have a warm vehicle to get in to when I need/want to go anywhere! I have such a precious, wonderful, thoughtful husband. Check out the progress he's making:

Why there's a three-wheeler in the middle of it, I do not know.

And here's Charley, after a good day's work, playing some nintendo (thanks to Mikal and Sandor for helping him today!!)

And here's Eden, during what felt like the only 10 minutes today she wasn't crying her pretty little head off (not sure why she was more fussy today than normal... thankfully, it's almost bedtime!)

Nice hair, there, kid. She has daddy to thank for that.

Eden started giggling this week! She did it for the first time two nights ago, and then today while her daddy was holding her, I starting "booping" her little lip (her favorite game), and she started giggling again - and this time, long enough for us to catch it on camera! I felt bad though cause without thinking about it, I rudely brushed Charley's hand away to show you all (since I'm the one, he claims, with "the touch"). Anyways, he forgave me. ;) Love you, Babe.

Here she is, giggling away!