Hide and Seek

My Two Girls

Oh, how time flies! My little Natalie is not so little anymore. She is already over 3 months old. She is smiling and trying to sit up (although, I know this will take some time). We love her so much and cannot imagine our lives without this little girl in it.

As I say, and Lizzie often repeats, "My two girls!"

Lizzie and the Children's Museum

Lizzie absolutely loved the children's museum. We took her for the first time on her birthday. (Yes, these pictures are a bit old, but I've been busy :)) If it weren't for flu and cold season I think that I would probably take her every other week b/c it is a wonderful place for children to explore and grow their imaginations!

TRICK OR TREAT

Do I really have to wear this?


Natalie - Our Tigger


Lizzie - Our Zebra



The Whole Gang (minus Gavin, we missed you) at Grandma and Grandpa Griffen's House

Trick or Treating at the Neighbor's House

Pumpkin Carving

Happy "2nd" Birthday Lizzie

These pictures are a little late, but that is because we've been waiting for all of her birthday parties before posting. I can't believe my baby girl is already 2!

Birthday morning at home. She was soooo excited.

Birthday with the Griffen Family

Birthday with the Wolthuis Family

Itsy Bitsy Spider Soprano Style

Lizzie sings a lot of Nursery Rhymes, but she has a bit of stage fright. This is her best performance on camera.

Random Pictures of Late

Lizzie loving Natalie

Griffen Family grandkids - the best pic I could get.

Lizzie & Daddy having a picnic while watching football (my girls will become sports nuts by default).

Our Sweet Peas

I can't believe it, we have two girls. They are both adorable to us and so much fun!

Natalie went in for her two week appointment last week and she is already outpacing her sister. She weighed an ounce more than Lizzie did at her 3 week appointment and her height and head circumference was the same as Lizzie's at her 3 week appointment.

Natalie Faith Wolthuis

Natalie Faith Wolthuis was born via c-section on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 7:58 a.m.

She was 7lbs. 13 oz. and 20 inches long.

Finally an Update

Dylan & Lizzie are getting along really well these days.

4th of July at McLaren Lake

Lizzie loves to paint!

Well, life has been crazy. As of last week Wednesday I was able to get off from bedrest after an unsucessful attempt at turning the baby. We are now scheduled to have a c-section next week Tuesday, July 21st at 7:30 in the morning. I like surprises, so having a scheduled c-section is a little bit of a bummer. Oh, well.

There has a lot that has gone on since my last post....way too much to write on this blog...so lucky for you all I am just going to post a few recent pictures of Lizzie. Lizzie is exploring her artistic abilities and as you will see, it takes a lot for me to let her do this as the end result is a lot of work for me.

Couch Potato

You have to start being a couch potato. What? That is what my OB told me yesterday when I went in for my 32nd week doctor appointment. She informed me that although I am not dialated, I am 40% effaced. So, now I have to start going to the doctor weekly to make sure that I don't dialate. If I dialate they plan on giving me steriods to help develop the baby's lungs because they anticipate that it will be coming early. Ryan has a bunch of work obligations (i.e. a week long trip to Philly) and personal time (golf trip) coming up very shortly. The doctor told me that Ryan didn't plan things very well (I just laughed)...not much that he can do about it. Additionally, she mandated that I stay with somone while he is gone (b/c of my preterm labor with Lizzie, this was already in the plans). With this said, I have to shout out a huge "THANKS" to my parents and sister as they are already helping me out a lot by allowing me to crash at their homes while Ryan is gone. Also, for the days Ryan is around, a big thanks to him too as this will surely mean more for him to add to his already crazy schedule. I feel guilty about all of this but I am reminding myself that I am not in control.

The Dr. asked me if I understood what it meant to be a couch potato...I said, "I guess it means I can't do much?" She said, well, it means that you get to lay on the couch and sleep and read during the day - although you can pick up Lizzie and cuddle with her (not sure how that works). She said that my fingers will get the workout but not my legs. She didn't say that it meant I could eat any more than normal...so I'm guessing that is not part of the recommendation! Additionally, she said no housework - "Do you know what my house will look like after 4+ weeks of no cleaning?" Ahhh. I guess I am going to have to mentally reevalute the value of a clean home and tell myself not to worry. The health of my baby is very important to me, so if you stop by and my house and it looks like a pig sty....now you know why.

I promise less ranting about my pregnancy situation and more pictures of Lizzie real soon!

Lizzie's New Used Bike

Lizzie enjoyed spending time outside on her new used bike. Garage sale deals are great! Especially for toddler toys that will soon be outgrown. At any rate, she was having a lot of fun. As you can tell from the pictures, she even shared her "funny" face with the camera.

Strawberry Shortcake Anyone?

Does anyone remember the Strawberry Shortcake Dolls from the '80s? Well, my mom pulled out all of my old dolls and gave Lizzie my Strawberry Shortcake Doll (along with what seems like a million others) to take home. If you had this doll, you won't forget the "yummy" smelling strawberry scent that would come out of the dolls mouth when you squeezed her tummy. Much to my amazement, the scent still smells like strawberry.

I've included a picture of Lizzie wearing Strawberry Shortcake's bonnet (the doll is on the floor next to her). It made me laugh when she thought that the bonnet was for her instead of the baby.

Drawers, Birdies, and Horsies

The other night I was making dinner and I turned around to find Lizzie in our Tupperware drawer. She typically plays in this drawer, but she has never climbed into it like this. I love how she can always find something to do that makes me laugh.

Lizzie loves looking out our front window for "birdies" and kids playing basketball. She had to take her doggie to show him the birdies in the grass and the kids. When she sees sees birdies she often says, "birdies int he grass - chirp, chirp" and when she sees the kids playing basketball (or even just a hoop in someone's yard) she'll say, "shoot it".

Daddy and Lizzie going for a ride on the "horsie" at the mall.

Mema & Papa W. - I Love You!

Mema (Lizzie's name for Grandma Wolthuis) and Papa (her name for both Grandpa's) are on vacation. Oh how we wish we were on vacation again too! At any rate, we attempted to let them know that Lizzie Loves them through the attached photos. They brought their laptop with them so that they could stay connected with Lizzie - so this is our attempt to keep them in touch.

Enjoy the warm weather Mema and Papa. We hope you bring some back with you so that we can enjoy it together. Love, Lizzie.

Praying for Your Husband

Many of you who read my blog are wives, so I thought that I would share the following information that I found online with you. Ryan has been going through a lot lately, so I've made it a major priority to spend time praying for him on a real regular basis throughout my days. I have to confess that I typically do this while I'm going to the bathroom (sorry for the details) because as you other moms know that is ususally our "free time". Lately I found myself in a prayer rut - so I thought that this might help me and others too. Let's lift our husbands up in prayer; they deserve it. Hopefully they're doing the same for us!

I love you Ryan and May God Use You and Bless You!

Day 1Pray that your husband will grow spiritually and consider his accountability before the Lord. Pray that he will guard his heart by developing spiritual disciplines—Bible reading and study, prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, etc. (2 Peter 3:18; Prov. 4:23)
Day 2Pray that your husband’s relationship with God and His Word will bear fruit in his life. Pray that he will be a man of wisdom and understanding, fearing the Lord. (Prov. 3:7, 9:10; Ps. 112:1)
Day 3Pray that your husband will be humble and quick to agree with God about his sin. Pray that his heart will be tender toward the voice of the Lord. (Ps. 51:2-4; Micah 6:8 )
Day 4Pray that your husband will grow in leadership skills in your relationship—protecting and providing for you. Pray that he will lead you wisely and love you sacrificially, so that God will be glorified in your marriage. (Eph. 5:25-29; Col. 3:19)
Day 5Pray that your husband will be faithful to his wedding vows. Pray that he will have a desire to cultivate your relationship as a sign of his loyalty and commitment to you, and as a picture of Christ’s love for the Church. (Prov. 20:6; Gen. 2:24)
Day 6Pray that your husband will love righteousness and hate wickedness, especially the evils of the culture. Pray that he will recognize and avoid wickedness in his own life, and if necessary, take a clear, strong stand against evil. (Prov. 27:12; John 17:15; 1 Cor. 10:12-13)
Day 7Pray that your husband will safeguard his heart against inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex. Pray that his heart will be pure and undivided in his commitment to you. (Prov. 6:23-24, 26; Rom. 13:14)
Day 8Pray that your husband will work hard to provide for your family, to the best of his ability. Pray that the character qualities necessary for a successful career and ministry will be a growing part of his character—persistence, decisiveness, strength, an analytical mind, organizational skills, positive relationships with people, determination, etc. (Rom. 12:11; 1 Cor. 15:58 )
Day 9Pray that your husband handle finances wisely, will have discernment concerning budgeting and investments, and will be a good steward of his money in regard to giving to the Lord’s work. Pray that money will not become a source of discord in your family. (Prov. 23:4-5; Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:5)
Day 10Pray that your husband will cultivate strong integrity, and not compromise his convictions. Pray that his testimony will be genuine, that he will be honest in his business dealings, and will never do anything that he needs to hide from others. (Prov. 20:7; 1 Tim. 1:5, 3:7; Eph. 6:10-12)
Day 11Pray that your husband will have a humble, teachable spirit and a servant’s heart before the Lord. Pray that he will listen to God and desire to do His will. (Prov. 15:33; Eph. 6:6)
Day 12Pray that your husband will yield his sexual drive to the Lord and practice self control. Pray that your sexual intimacy together will be fresh, positive, and a reflection of selfless love. (Prov. 5:15, 18; 1 Cor. 7:3; Song of Solomon 7:10)
Day 13Pray that your husband use practical skills to build your family and make wise decisions for your welfare. Pray that he will serve unselfishly. (Gal. 5:13; Phil. 2:3-4)
Day 14Pray that your husband will speak words that build you and your family, and reflect a heart of love. Pray that he will not use filthy language. (Prov. 18:21; Eph. 4:29)
Day 15Pray that your husband will choose his friends wisely. Pray that God will bring him men who will encourage his accountability before God, and will not lead him into sin. (Prov. 13:20; Prov. 27:17)
Day 16Pray that your husband will choose healthy, God-honoring activities. Pray that he will not live in bondage to any questionable habits or hobbies, but that he will experience freedom in holiness as he yields to the Spirit’s control. (1 Cor. 6:12, 10:31; 2 Tim. 2:4)
Day 17Pray that your husband will enjoy his manliness as he patterns his life after Christ and strong men in the faith. Pray for his physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual strength. (Eph. 3:16; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Cor. 10:11)
Day 18Pray that your husband will have an eternal perspective—living in light of eternity. Pray that he will reject materialism and temporal values and put God first in his life. (Matt. 6:33; Deut. 6:5; Eph. 5:16; Ps. 90:12)
Day 19Pray that your husband will be patient and a man of peace. Pray that he will not give in to anger, but will allow the Holy Spirit to control his responses. (Rom. 14:19; Ps. 34:14)
Day 20Pray that your husband will yield his mind and thoughts to the Lord. Pray that he will not entertain immoral or impure thoughts, and that he will resist the temptation to indulge in pornography. (Prov. 27:12; 2 Cor. 10:5)
Day 21Pray that your husband will learn how to relax in the Lord and, in his greatest times of stress, find joy and peace in his relationship with God. Pray that he will submit his schedule to the Lord. (Neh. 8:10; Prov. 17:22; Ps. 16:11)
Day 22Pray that your husband will practice forgiveness in your relationship and with others. Pray that he will recognize any roots of bitterness, and yield any resentment and unforgiving attitudes to the Lord. (Eph. 4:32; Heb. 12:15)
Day 23Pray that your husband will be a good father—disciplining his children wisely and loving them unconditionally. If he is not a father, pray that he will find a young man to mentor in the things of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; 2 Tim. 2:1-2)
Day 24Pray that your husband will have a balanced life—that he will balance work and play. Pray that he will fear God, but also gain favor with people he knows at work and church. (Luke 2:52; Prov. 13:15)
Day 25Pray that your husband will be courageous in his stand against evil and injustice, and that he will stand for the truth. Pray that he will protect you and your family from Satan’s attacks. (Ps. 31:24; Eph. 6:13; Ps. 27:14)
Day 26Pray that your husband will discover and live his God-given purpose. Pray that he will offer all his dreams to the Lord, and pursue only those goals that will bring God glory and count for eternity. (Jer. 29:11; 1 Cor. 10:31)
Day 27Pray that your husband will understand the importance of taking care of his body—the temple of the Holy Spirit—for the glory of God. Pray that he will practice self-control by making wise food choices, and get sufficient exercise to stay healthy. (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:19-20, 9:27)
Day 28Pray that your husband will be a man of prayer. Pray that he will seek and pursue God in purposeful quiet times. (1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 22:46; James 5:16)
Day 29Pray that your husband will surrender his time and talents to the Lord. Pray that his spiritual gifts will be manifest in his career, at church, and in your home. (Eph. 5:15-16; 1 Cor. 12:4, 7)
Day 30Pray that your husband will serve God and others with pure motives. Pray that he will obey the Lord from his heart, and glorify Him in everything. (1 Cor. 10:13; John 7:17-18; Col. 3:23-24)
Day 31Pray that your husband will recognize the lies of the Enemy in his life. Pray that his attitudes and actions will be guided by the truth as he brings his thoughts into captivity to the Word of God. (John 8:44; 2 Cor. 10:4-5)

Rosy Cheeks and Crazy Hair

I love this picture - so I had to share it with everyone.

Grandpa W. caputured Lizzie's rosy cheeks and crazy hair while she was taking a bath at their house a few weeks ago.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Mommy Lizzie

For all of you who know Lizzie, she loves her baby dolls (but only those with hair). As you can see from the pictures, she carries her baby by their hair. The baby that you see in the picture with Lizzie was a Christmas gift (so just over a month old). Poor baby, she looks like Lizzie has had her all her life. The baby's hair is a ratted mess. When Lizzie got the baby its hair was nice and straight; but after many days spent with Mommy Lizzie her hair is no longer straight. It actually looks like it has dread locks. Lizzie is a great "Mommy"; she loves to carry her baby wherever she goes. Lizzie sleeps and eats with her baby (she feeds her baby food and gives them bottles). She also puts it in its stroller, carseat, wraps her up and puts her to "nigh night". When baby #2 comes along in July I'm sure that she'll be a big help. We just hope she doesn't try and carry it by its hair!

My New Nephew

Gavin John Griffen entered this world on Saturday, January 3, 2009. He was born at 3:21 p.m. and he weighed 8 lbs. 13 oz. and is 21 inches long. Baby, mom, and dad are doing well. We praise God for the new addition to our family. We cannot wait to meet him in person!