Because it's been far too long...

and they're far too cute. Here's Barrett dressed up as daddy
Love this look
And here's Caroline walking with her walker! She's getting so big, it's crazy. Make sure to watch until the end to see what life is like at home with Barrett (:o).

Milestones

Barrett's big milestone this month was relinquishing the paci once and for all! He has only been using it for sleeping since he was 2, but he is now completely paci-free. After a couple rounds of trying in months past, this time Barrett successfully handed it over and has been sleeping like a big boy for almost 2 weeks. Very exciting.

Also, he has become quite the artist. He's a perfectionist so he always wants to get the details right - he'll always correct you if you try to draw a face without eyebrows. Here's the Hulk. Those are his fists. He's smashing.
And Caroline had a big one this month - on Friday she pulled herself to stand for the first time, and then did it several more times just for good measure. I had been working with her a ton because I knew she was close, then Matt got home from work and I ran upstairs for maybe 3 minutes when I hear cheering downstairs. I missed it. I was grateful that at least she continued to show off her new skill so that I could see it the second and third times. She's growing up so fast. I haven't gotten the video of her standing on the computer yet, so I'll just share some adorable pictures. There's no shortage of those around here.

Halloween

Our kids are awesome. This pose was Barrett's idea. Love.

In keeping with the super hero theme, Caroline was Wonder Woman this year. Double love. Matt had a trick or treat at his office the Friday before Halloween (big fun), but Caroline's costume wasn't ready in time. I threw this together and it worked fine, but Matt was right when he said she looked like Wonder Woman if Wonder Woman was starring in a workout video from the 80's.

This was her completed costume. For the record, it fit perfectly and looked awesome. I somehow forgot, though, that infant costumes are kind of supposed to be comfortable.

So at T-minus 30 minutes, I figured out a way to make it more comfortable. Given the rush, I was pleased enough with how it turned out. Impossible not to make her cute, though, really.

Trick or Treating!

New Jersey!

We had a super fun and much needed family trip last weekend to visit Grandma and Grandpa Wood in New Jersey. Caroline did great on her first plane trip, and both kids had so much fun all weekend (and so did Mom and Dad!). Thanks so much, Grandma and Grandpa, for showing us such a great time and for creating the most inviting home - we love being there and already can't wait to come back! Here are some shots of the kiddos with their grandparents...

Swinging with Grandma

Walking through the woods with Dad and Grandpa
We went back to the beautiful farm where we visited during our last trip. Barrett was loving it.

Hay ride!

Cute Kids

No real reason to post. Just showin' off the kiddos and their growing friendship.

Motherhood

I read this yesterday on John Piper's desiringgod.org and found it to be one of the most encouraging words on motherhood I've read. And I felt it was good enough to share - here's an abridged version:

Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.

Christian mothers carry their children in hostile territory...You stand with the defenseless and in front of the needy. You represent...laying down your life for another - and laying down your life for another represents the gospel.

So lay down your hopes. Lay down your future. Lay down your petty annoyances. Lay down your desire to be recognized. Lay down your fussiness at your children. Lay down your perfectly clean house. Lay down your grievances about the life you are living. Lay down the imaginary life you could have had by yourself. Let it go.

...Live the gospel in the things no one sees. Sacrifice for your children in places that only they will know about. Put their value ahead of yours. Grow them up in the clean air of gospel living. Your testimony to the gospel in the little details of your life is more valuable to them than you can imagine. If you tell them the gospel, but live to yourself, they will never believe it. Give your life for theirs every day, joyfully. Lay down pettiness. Lay down fussiness. Lay down resentment about the dishes, about the laundry, about how no one knows how hard you work.

Stop clinging to yourself and cling to the cross. There is more joy and more life and more laughter on the other side of death than you can possibly carry alone.

Do's and Don't's

I am often surprised and amused by the things I hear myself saying to Barrett. You'd think that some things would go without saying, but here's a partial list of some of the things I have actually had to tell Barrett not to do in the past week:

"Barrett, please don't....

-lick the counter (while checking out at The Gap)
-throw your Captain America shield at your baby sister
-give your baby sister a wet willy
-talk about your private parts at church
-tell a woman you just met that she is disgusting
-tell your mommy and daddy that you will "poop on us" if we say something you don't like