~Lydia is 1~

Every time I spend some time uploading photos and updating this blog, I realize how truly easy it is and I wonder why I don't do it more often.  Life has been a blur the last few months, and while that is hard for me to admit, it just happened.  I've had to readjust some of my thinking in the last few days, and realize, I MUST record some of these moments, because they will be lost to me forever if I don't.  I'm not a very good rememberer, and my Lydia's birthday yesterday gave me pause.  These baby days go soooooo fast.  

These two girls just love to play the piano, and it is not only harmless but educational.  You music teachers out there will appreciate that Elisabeth can already tell you "A is the top line."  :-)  She's only heard me say it to my music students 3,000 times!

Don't you love this toothy (or toothless) grin?

 One of my nieces found these kiddos lined up in a row.  Out of the four tries, couldn't get one picture where they all looked decent.

 Yes, my Lydia is 1!  We didn't have a fancy birthday party, just a bit of cake and some presents.  We needed to go get some furniture, so the girls and I met their daddy in at Pizza Hut in Mt. Carmel for lunch.  That was fun, and way more food for the price than we could have paid at McDonalds.

 Ah!  Finally a smile for the camera.  She has 7 teeth (4 on top), and enough hair to get a barrette in (and out, of course).  She started taking some steps independently about 2 weeks ago, but it's been slow going.  We're not in any hurry for her to walk.  I'm having a strangely difficult time letting go of these baby days.  I guess when you know that there might not be very many more babies, it's harder to let go of these days. Lydia is such a dear giggly baby.  And she and Elisabeth are dearest of friends.  I'm so grateful for my precious little ones.

Summer bounty!

The girls had fun playing with the empty bags from seed beans.  That was, until we got rained out.

Aunt Carol was helping Lydia try on a new sun hat. 

We were so grateful for the splendid number of green beans we were blessed with.  After getting almost none last year, we just praised the Lord for every one we picked this summer.

Lydia sure had fun munching on raw corn-on-the-cob.

My niece Candace as here for a few weeks and helped me with some sewing.  Loving all the matching clothes!

And these dresses were sewn by my niece Annette in Vermont.  Hand smocked!  So proud of my nieces learning such a useful skill as sewing. 

Here are my girls playing with the Case IH wagon.  One loves to pull and the other loves to ride.  

Couldn't ask for a more win-win situation!

Here's a couple shots of our little ones.  Hope to put more up in the very near future.  I'm amazed at what a bad photographer I am, but I suppose it comes with little practice.

Our babies just love each other.  Today Elisabeth came home from Grandma's and just hugged and hugged Lydia saying, "I missed you Lydia!"

This was the first time I found E. reading to L.   

 Dear Great-grandpa Jackman!  We treasure every moment he spends with our little ones.  

We had our friend Adileah Damon capture a few shots when Lydia

was 7 weeks old.  It's a good thing, as I've discovered we've taken very 

few close-up pictures of her.

Unfortunately, the whole process made L. very sleepy.   So we still

 have very few awake shots.  :-)  

Love this one.  Such a typical face.  Her father likes to encourage 

her to make faces at times.  I think he will live to regret it. :-)

I'm trying to get acquainted with this whole blogging thing again.  These pictures are not great---I'm no photographer, but we'll keep trying.

Of course, I did not try to go to church Christmas Sunday, but Chris and Elisabeth did in the evening.  Here they are, ready for church, snuggling with Lydia before they leave.

This quickly became routine first thing in the morning, when E. would get up.

Here is E. on the left with her cousin Laura.  We think they will be best friends forever!

Elisabeth LOVES to help me "make bread".  We don't bake a lot at this point in our lives (none of us needs the goodies), but every couple weeks or so we make a batch of bread.   E. already knows the routines.

Welcome to Lydia Ruth Jackman!  

12-21-12

8 lb. 9 oz., 20 inches