honesty

Whether it's confessing to pulling her friend's hair, or claiming the stinky gas that eeked out, Isabel certainly is in a "brutally honest" stage. Today, as we were walking on the Ma and Pa Trail, we were talking about how quickly we'd get to the playground.

Me: "Since we're both running, we'll be there soon."
Isabel: "Mommy, I'm running. You're just walking."

Nothing gets past her.

oh the things

she says...yesterday, while driving in the car, Isabel politely interrupts a conversation to let me know

"When brother comes, and he bites your boobies, I will laugh!"

Um, I think she means when he's breastfeeding, she'll find it humorous?!

lost and found

Apparently, it's been 8 months since I've last blogged...perhaps it's the fact that we moved back to Maryland. Or found out we're expecting a baby boy in February. Or Isabel is a crazy, active toddler. Or all of the above. Let's go with that excuse.

To get back into the swing, I'm posting a simple recipe that Danielle Jones recommended.



Easy, creamy tomato soup

4 cups canned crushed tomatoes
12 fresh basil leaves
1 cup heavy cream (or half and half)
1 stick (1/4 lb) of unsalted butter
Salt to taste
¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper

Simmer tomatoes in saucepan for 30 minutes. Puree, with the basil leaves, in small batches, in blender or food processor, or use immersion blender. I swear by mine. Another great Christmas gift given to me by Miguel If you don't have one, go buy one. Now.

Return to saucepan and add cream, butter, salt and pepper while stirring over low heat. Garnish with basil leaves and serve with your favorite bread.

funny?

Isabel has quite the temper. She's strong-willed. She's opinionated. She's stubborn. She's me...the other night she was having a tantrum over something silly. I was sitting on the floor next to her as she was screaming. She looked me right in the eyes and said, "Mommy I do NOT like you."

I had to laugh. Ok, I was a little hurt, but really, does she even know what that means?!

Yesterday, we went to my grandfather's for the first time since Miguel painted our bedrooms. I took Isabel into her PURPLE room. She got a huge smile and started giggling. Without skipping a beat she said, "But where's my PINK room?"

I knew it. I knew it. She'd never fall for the purple room. We're bribing her with pink accents. Because, honestly, who can handle an all-bubblegum-pink room?!

and another...

Yesterday, we had a bunch of errands to run. In one of the stores, I was trying on a dress. Isabel was in the fitting room with me. As I am getting ready to put the dress on, she screams, "Mommy why are you NAKIE?!"

excellent. Yes, lady in the stall next to me. I am nakie, indeed.

quiet

Haven't had much time (or many thoughts for that matter) to post here. But, thought a few Isabel funnies might tide me over until I have some time.

Isabel loves to take her shoes off in the car. I don't care. Go ahead. Not fighting that battle. Today, she says to me, "Mom, I'm taking my shoes off....my toes are freezin' hot!" Right concept, wrong adjective.

candy

My daughter makes me laugh. It's a good thing. or one of us would run away from home. We're in the throws of potty training, for real this time. This was her one-sided conversation with me this morning.

Isabel: "I need more candy."
(then immediately sits on the potty and goes pee-pee.)

pink

Like I've said before, my life has been invaded by pink. I'm more of a blue kinda gal, myself. oh well.

Today in children's church, we were singing, "Jesus loves the little children." Because we're delinquent parents, Isabel does not know this song. yet. So she was attempting to fake it. You know, sing the line a second behind everyone else, so it sounds like you know your stuff. We're going along as planned, singing...."all the children of the world. Red and yellow black and white..."

Isabel yells out, "AND PINK!"

Yes, Isabel. Jesus loves those little pink kids, too. Way to show the class that you really have NO clue.

our Savior, our Brother

Remember this, Christian, and let it comfort thee. However difficult and painful thy road, it is marked by the footsteps of thy Saviour; and even when thou reachest the dark valley of the shadow of death, and the deep waters of the swelling Jordan, thou wilt find his footprints there. In all places whithersoever we go, he has been our forerunner; each burden we have to carry, has once been laid on the shoulders of Immanuel.

“His way was much rougher and darker than mine Did Christ, my Lord, suffer, and shall I repine?”

Take courage! Royal feet have left a blood-red track upon the road, and consecrated the thorny path forever.

--From Morning and Evening, C.H. Spurgeon

peace

Morning by morning I wake up to find
the power and comfort of God's hand in mine.
Season by season I watch him amazed, in
awe of the mystery of his perfect ways

All I have need of his hand will provide.
He's always been faithful to me

I can't remember a trial or a pain he did
not recycle to bring me gain. I can't
remember one single regret in serving
God only and trusting his hand

This is my anthem, this is my song, the
theme of the stories I've heard for so long.
God has been faithful, he will be again.
His loving compassion, it knows no end.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.