Hope is getting so big. If she gets raunchy all you have to do is put her down on the floor and hold her hands and she will walk. She loves to squeal when she is happy and it's amazing she can do a little walk with how small she is. she is going to be like Hannah and walking at 9 months! She is learning how to sit up, crawl and walk all at the same time. She has learned to pull herself up in her crib! She doesn't sleep which makes it hard for me. The other two kids are homeschooling and are memorizing their states and capitals, and are reading about Lincoln and Harriett Tubman to do a biography and puppet with it. I will have to post pictures when we make the puppets. Faith is enjoying preschool and is hilarious. She told Kelli to come play with her in Sean's room and Kelli said she couldn't because she was scared. Faith replied "Oh relax, I will turn the light on." Or today when I dropped her off at preschool she said "DARN IT, I forgot my backpack" She says the funniest things and I need to remember to write them down. Hope is in physical therapy for her neck but is doing good!

Austin's baptism

Today Austin was baptized . It turned out great and I love seeing his smiling face. While he was being baptized I thought of how many times he teaches me. For  instance he shared all of his candy with his siblings and friends and didn't get one for his birthday. When I asked why, he said it was better to give than to get, it reminded me of what a smart little teacher he is in my life. My thoughts passed and I was taken back to how Mary must have felt when she gave birth to the ultimate teacher. How must she felt when her neighbors, friends, church goers in her community hated her family and most would hate her son to death. I'm sure she knew these people, and while our daily lives and customs are different than back then, I like to personalize it. How frustrating it must have been that her son was killed  by these people that theyprobably once were called friends, or authority figures. What was Christ like as a boy? I'm sure he had a season for everything including play, and laughter. So when Mary was grief stricken and not able to rescue her son( which there isn't a mention of -Joseph-) and Christ looked to his brother to take care of her so she may have already known loss of loved ones. When I think of life back then I think of a similar view of Afghanistan .....anyways my points there was nothing SHE could do. Her baby that she once cradled in her arms after giving birth, kissing his little chubby fingers, singing him to sleep while she rubbed his face and calmed him down, her son that she taught customs, religion, sacrifice, patience, and love, her son who taught her, her son who grew up to die for MY Son. For all son and daughters of man. For an instant when MY Son was smiling and giggling out of the font in his wet clothes, I realized the simplicity of the gospel is to us because of the beautiful sacrifice made by the Son,to love one another and that families are united for Eternity ,and  that because of Him, he has bridged  the gap to our Father in Heaven and shown us the way.

Wow it' s been a while! The things Hope enjoys are:

She loves books! She reads her Winnie the Pooh books. I will take her finger and follower her hand along the words as I read. Now she tries to do the same with my finger.

Her favorite movie is "Beauty and the Beast" she will sit in her walker and eat cherrios and watch the movie. She also loves to dance along to "Jo Jo's Circus" 
She has two bottom teeth right now.

She can wave bye. Its funny because she will wave bye whenever someone says "bye bye" I'm not sure how she figured out bye bye = wave because she was waving like sign language "milk" at first. Today she said "Bye" when I said "say bye bye" and she waved

She loves to call for Hannah's name when I call. I will say "HANNAH" and she screams Hannah's name and is anxious to see her come get her.

She loves to play with toys and is a good eater. She loves my lasagna. One day I was feeding her and left to get some more, when I came back her tray was gone. I thought sophie got it but it was all Hope.

she loves Sophie. sOphie loves her!

SHe is on a fat diet right now, since she only weighed 14.5 at ten months. I think she has gained another pound thanks to instant breakfast and formula. My milk ran out and she gets frustrated going from side to side and so do I!! She shakes and screams bloody murder if she wakes up in her crib and not next to me.. Arghh she is spoiled. And I am a sucker.

She has no hair still.
She loves Austin making her laugh, and her and Faith were argueing in their gibberish today over the remote control/

Hannah gets her to sleep for me and Austin is good to play with her and watch her. When the kids start school this year (Faith included) Hope and I will be lonely.

SHe is in 6-9 months clothes

SHe loves to be pushed in the park swing.
She moves her little body and head when she hears music that she likes.

She doesnt' take naps good at all, unless Im next to her!