8 Months of Joy.

Hello 8 Months of pure joy and delight.

I am always, every single month, sitting down to upload photos and thinking about the fun of the last month, and starting to type this: 

"Can't I make time slow down?" 

Every month. The same request. I look at how fast this beauty is growing and I seem to want to plead with God to make each minute longer, and each month double. 

Well this morning was no different, but what was different was that while I was uploading photos I pulled out One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp {yes, I am back to this book again. It is rocking my world.}

This is exactly what I read:

"Time is a relentless river. It rages on, a respecter of no one. And this, this is the only way to slow down time: When I fully enter time's swift current, enter into the current moment with the weight of my attention, I slow the torrent with the weight of me all here. I can slow time by being all here. I only live the full life when I live fully in the moment. When I'm always looking for the next glimpse of glory. Time slows. Weigh down this moment in time with attention full." 

God give me full attention. 

I can't stop those precious feet from growing bigger or those hands from becoming larger, or those sweet knees from crawling all over in curiosity, and I don't want to really. Really I don't. But I do want to remember every moment. Every single moment. 

Even the middle of the night moments. And the screaming diaper changing moments. 

But, especially the waking up from nap smiling moments. The ordinary everyday moments that are easily over looked.

These are the moments that have made up 8 months of Joy.

I am thankful for these moments, and I want to weigh down each smile with all of my focus and attention. Its the only way. 

"Its ridiculous how much JOY a moment can hold."

-Ann Voskamp

 Caroline-

Mommy and Daddy have loved the joy that you have brought our lives over the past 8 months. You are growing into a sweet girl who smiles often, giggles beautifully, and studies the world around you.

In this past month you have started crawling up on your hands and knees like a champ. You can cover some serious ground girlfriend! I love to see you sit down, look around, and then crawl, sit down, look around, and crawl. You are very inquisitive, and purposeful.

You are liking more and more foods, and we have entered into the world of Puffs! You love them, and Mama loves them because they are an easy quick snack. Daddy is always worried you will choke, and breaks every puff into about 14 bites. I love how he adores you. You are a big fan of his too. You smile every time you see him. Daddies are special Caroline, and yours is wonderful.

You are taking baths in the big tub now and love it! Still lots of toys. You really love books and crawl straight for your book basket in your room. Music is still your favorite, and Bella of course. She is getting more and more interested in you now that you are up and moving. I keep telling her to rest up because you will really be chasing her before too long.

We are looking forward to Christmas with you, love bug! You have already had your hands on some wrapping paper and giggled with delight, so Christmas morning is going to be the best!

Thanks for another month of memories. Mom is enjoying the moments and making the most of them. This is my prayer for the coming month:

"May God give us the eyes to see what matters the most in this life."

-John Piper

We adore you precious girl!