Bath Fun

Here's a little video Erik recorded of Sophie in the bath. She has been making up a lot of songs lately. Some are more complex, but this is a simple, pop version of her smash hit "Raindrops."

And...back to Christmas

Okay, well it's mid-February, so I really need to get on the ball and throw these Christmas pictures up here. I realized I don't have many from the Strode/Stark Christmas in Arkansas, and have none from the Sandberg trip to Gatlinburg. But that does not mean you all aren't loved. Just that I was keeping up w/ a 2-year-old and trying not to throw up from the pregnancy and kind of forgot to take pictures. But here's what we've got:

Okay, well this isn't actually a Christmas picture, but Sophie is loving blueberries lately and this is after one run-in w/ the berry bowl. They're so messy, how can they NOT be delicious?

We had a little Christmas dinner with some good friends and their daughters, Ava & Cate. The girls wore their Christmas dresses for about 5 minutes in honor of the occasion.

Fondue!


Okay, the next several pictures might as well just be called "The Bubby Show." Since Cosmo couldn't make it to Arkansas for Christmas, Sophie apparently decided that Uncle Aaron (Bubby) would fill that void:
Wrestling

Getting tied up (note that these are all things I endured as a small child and also loved...at first)

Sophie retaliates by attempting to shove a babydoll's pacifier in Bubby's mouth.

Sharing some love with Aunt La-La

And one picture without Bubby - Sophie with her sweet Grandma


Saying goodbye

And I really love this picture - Aaron and Laura, thanks for playing so much with Sophie - she thinks you guys are almost as great as Cosmo.

Post-Surgery Update

Thank you all so much for your concern and prayers for my mom. I received word from my dad tonight that the surgery went well - he hadn't seen Mom yet when they talked, but the Dr. had spoken with him and given him a report. She removed the thyroid, several lymph nodes, and a glad from her para-thyroid that had been causing some problems. They're hoping she can go home tomorrow, depending on the bleeding and pain. Thank you so much, and I ask for your continued prayers as she recovers and eventually undergoes a bit a radiation.

Prayer Request

For those who don't know, my (Catherine) mom, Linda, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer a couple of weeks ago and she's undergoing surgery tomorrow to have her thyroid and some lymph nodes removed. I just wanted to take the opportunity to ask you to pray for her and her doctor during the long surgery process. My mom has been an inspiration as she's been given her diagnosis and in turn given that to the Lord and sought His plan for how He wants to use it in her life.

Here's a little segment of an email she sent me tonight - hopefully it will encourage you as it has me:

'I believe God has really prepared your dad and me for this time in our lives, as well as you, Aaron, Erik, Laura and even my grandchildren in His own sovereign plan. It's a blessing to know His joy and peace in such a way that we really can rejoice in the expectation of what He desires to do in our lives in order for us to share His gospel and to see Him glorified. We do not want to focus on us but to focus on Him, as we have heard it said, "to make much of Him."'

I pray for her, and for us - that we would know that joy and peace and would be able to rejoice in trials.

Thank you all!

We interrupt the Christmas posts...

...to bring you this special video. Lately I have been trying to do more arts and crafts things with Sophie. She's loving paint, glue, markers, play dough, etc. So while we were painting w/ her new watercolors from Kyle and Liesl, I took a little video. Obviously doing crafts w/ a 2 year old can be very nerve-wracking. I can't tell you how many close calls we had with the cup of water, but it's worth it to see our daughter using her creativity.

Speaking of creativity, she was eating a "Papa snack" tonight for dinner (my dad's preferred snack of Saltines with peanut butter) and decided to rub peanut butter all over her chin and cheeks and informed Erik, "Look, Daddy, it's my razor." It constantly amazes us how observant kids are - she picks up on things that we have no idea she's getting, even if she's a little confused about her terminology.

One thing that I think she's a little confused about is the strange things happening to mommy lately. She sees me walking around the house gagging and asks, "Mommy, does your tummy hurt?" She knows I'm sleeping a lot (and she's getting to watch a little extra TV), and for some reason we keep telling her she's going to be a big sister and there's a baby in my tummy :).

So that's the biggest news as of late - we're just about 11 weeks along and I'm feeling pretty good - just tired. I'm due in mid-August and am seeing a cardiologist in conjunction with my OB for regular check-ups to make sure that my heart is doing okay. I had an echo yesterday and things looked good, so we're all pretty optimistic, but we would really appreciate your prayers throughout the pregnancy.

Okay, here's the video:

An Alabama Christmas

Christmas #1 was celebrated in Prattville, AL at Erik's parents' house. We went down in mid-December, in conjunction w/ Erik's birthday, and had a long weekend with the fam.

Uncle Pete and his gorgeous locks - I'm seriously jealous of this man's hair.

With my see-uh-sters - Jenny and Liesl (or Weasel, as Sophie calls her).

The newlyweds

The ridiculous

Roger, the mountain man

Aunt Jenny

Erik's birthday - 28 going on 5

Sophie in her awesome new tree fort tent - Roger and Carol insisted they thought it was going to be small. Unfortunately it takes up our entire downstairs - just kidding guys - sort of.

Sophie's new monkey slippers

Gigi and Sophie watching "Harold and the Purple Crayon"

Um...

Sophie doing the "Snoopy" - after lessons from her father.

Eating some peanuts - I learned from a friend that it doesn't really matter how expensive a gift you give your child - you can get away with giving them a can of peanuts if that's what they love. And she does...a lot.

Christmas - Part 1

Well now that it's practically Valentine's Day, here is the first of several Christmas posts. These are just some misc. pics of Christmas events - our annual trip to the Opryland Hotel, Sunday morning w/ Sophie before church in her precious hand-me-down coat and hat from Alyse, and a cookie decorating party I had w/ some of the girls from church.