little sister

Happy 21!

You're not so little anymore.

On days like today I tend to be a bit nostalgic. I find myself thinking back on our days of living and doing life together.

The new house. The old house. Snow days. Summer days, popsicles in hand. Summer nights. Matching Easter outfits and hairspray. The fort. Driving around with nothing to do, but blare music and sing at the top of our lungs. The countless sporting events. Crunching through leaves in the fall. Thanksgivings. Christmases. Birthdays. Vacations. Proms. Graduations. Pets. Photo sessions: 1, 2, 3-make the ugliest face you can make! Christmas Eves spent telling me to get my feet off you! Dancing. Power outages playing Yahtzee by candlelight. Good times and hard times, you were always by my side little one.
My biggest fan.

I'm so glad you were born. Life growing up without you would have been so boring and life now would have been incomplete.

Thank God for my sister.

"Don't know if it happens to everyone...Don't know if we're special, or lucky or what...All I know is that somehow-some way-two little girls who grew up as sisters also grew into best friends. And I'm so glad we did."

Happy Birthday.

Hope you have the best day :)

High Five for Friday

Hello Friday.

Nice to see you again.

Here are some favs from this past week:

1. My little man's chubby cheeks. Perfect for squeezing.

2. This spot. I love it. It's pretty obvious that he does too-so close to home for him.

3. This pic I got while at baby boy's 4 month check-up.

4. Visiting Mr. Baker during his lunch break and going to the Arts Festival downtown.

5. My techie boys ;).

Can't wait to enjoy the weekend with my little family!

(minus the huge grocery shopping extravaganza in our future)

High Five for Friday!

(find me on Instagram @hbaker1215)

Worrrrrry...Worry.Worry.Worry

It has always been my middle name.

I never thought that my worry would increase, but along came you, baby boy, one of the sweetest gifts I've ever been given.

Some of these worries are not your typical worries. Some are the debilitating growth stunting type. I'm trying not to dwell on them or let them get me down. I'm trying to live with open hands Lord, but his little life is so precious most of the time I only feel him tighten in my grip.

I think about all that I want for him, hopes and dreams and plans, but I can't help but recognize that my plans may not be Your plans.

I worry about him getting teased in school, getting his heart broken, losing the state championship, getting hurt or losing loved ones. I wonder who he'll turn out to be, will he be the God-fearing respectable man that I'm praying for him to be? Will he live his life completely sold out for You? Will You be his refuge, his solid ground?

 I'm praying that You will be his greatest treasure.

It is difficult for me to let go and give You total control, although I know You have it anyway as we are in Your hands.

Help me conquer my worry and my fear. Crush them with Your truths, Lord. Replace them with mighty unshakable trust and faith in You.
You, Lord, are loving and good.
Any momentary trial we face is fleeting.

Nothing surpasses knowing You and spending eternity in Your presence.

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than, food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?...your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

"Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"

I know that it will be a constant battle to fight these worries about the life of my little one, but my hope is that You will shine.

"And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

I pray that even through my worries my son will see Your Son.

I read this post last night and it was good for me to hear.

Texas Time

While we were down South, we got to enjoy a little game of t-ball starring our nephew.

Mr. Baker and I can't wait to see our baby boy in his high socks and cleats, pants covered with dirt and ball and glove in hand.

Who doesn't love family & baseball?

Thank you Texas.

:)

Cow Tippin' in Texas

OK not really, but we did spend some time visiting Ellie the pet cow at the Baker "compound". 

Ry got to meet his first cow and have his first tractor "ride"...or sit.

This part of our trip was spent visiting the hub's dad's side of the family. 

Why my brother-in-law jokingly refers to it as the Baker "compound": Mr. Baker's dad has 8 brothers and sisters. That's right folks. EIGHT.

Their mom and dad had a home that was always the center for all of them. Every holiday the whole family is brought back together.

With the passing of Mom and Pop Baker one of the siblings took on the Baker gathering place. Several of the other siblings (including Mr. Baker's dad) live right down the road a.k.a Baker Lane.

Holidays are fun and interesting around this place.

The house is always packed tight and filled with lots of voices trying to talk over one another.

Quite different from my side of the family's gatherings which are rather small and laid back. 

I always have a good time on our visits and am glad to finally know everyone's name.

Mostly.

;)

4 months baby

You are such a little boy!

With all the spitty-bubbly-fart-like sounds you've learned to make with your mouth-it's really a sight to see!

Lately, you are much more active. You seem to get annoyed when we aren't playing or doing something. You can hardly sit still with your little wiggly body and kicky legs! Just 12 days before your 4 month birthday you rolled over and we were so proud. 

You like to play with your toys more and love to put everything in your mouth, especially your toes! You are also very grabby. We may or may not be in the process of training you to be a pickpocket with those snatch-y hands. ;)

I'm trying to get used to this new thing called drool, being the germaphobe that I am, it is not my forte.
Still no teethies in sight though.

At your 4 month check-up today you were in the 23% in height and 3% in weight. My little munchkin! Doc says you are growing good though. We are so excited to start trying foods with you now! Look out sweet potatoes! You also had your 4 month shots today which went pretty well. For both of us.

Happy 4 months sweet pea

Meeting Sydney

Part of our trip to Texas was spent in Austin at Mr. Baker's sister's house meeting our new niece, Sydney Grace.

Funny story about how she got her name:

Our nephew, Wes (Sydney's older brother pictured above), had just found out that he was going to be getting a little sister. He gets all upset and starts saying she is just going to step on all his toys while mom reassures him otherwise. Then he says, "Fine. I'm just going to call her Sydney."

And Sydney it is.

our tiny farmer

We are still recovering from our trip to Austin. I promise I will catch up soon!

Lots of baby & road trip pics ahead!

.embrace the camera.

3 months old: he's too cute for his shirt