18 Months!

On May 25th Taylor reached the official nursery age! Amazing how time flies! It seems like yesterday I was getting 4 hours of interrupted sleep at night and letting her cry it out while I made dinner. Now she's as happy as can be. She's great at entertaining herself and sleeps a good 12-13 hours at night without waking up! She's quickly learning that it's funny to make mommy run after her and that switches make lights go on and off and handles open doors to the magical bowl of water, aka the toilet. She loves "reading" books and riding her trike. She is getting better at saying "Mommy" and "Daddy", "Papa" and "Mama", "Puppy" and "Mow" (meow for cat), she's still getting the hang of Brooklyn. It sounds like Boo-n more than anything. She knows sign language for more, please, tree, flower, all done, down, hello/goodbye, and points to the door and says "Go!" She loves taking walks and playing in the dirt. She still loves her "tag" blanket from Aunt Holly and sleeps with it everyday. It's tricky when I have to wash it without her knowing. She's my angel with goofy faces and giggles all around. I'm so glad she's a part of our family! Happy 18 month birthday Taylor!

"Distant Land" by John Rutter

I heard this on Music and the Spoken Word this morning and loved it. Just thought I'd share.

I see a distant land: it shines so clear.

Sometimes it seems so far, sometimes so near.

Come, join together, take the dusty road;

Help one another: share the heavy load.

The journey may be long: no end in sight;

There may be hills to climb, or giants to fight:

But if you’ll take my hand,

we’ll walk together t’ward the land of freedom.

I hear the distant son: it fills the air.

I hear it, deep and strong, rise up in prayer:

O Lord, we are many; help us to be one.

Heal our divisions: Let thy will be done.

I know the time will come when war must cease:

A time of truth and love, a time of peace.

The people cry, ‘How long

till all the world can join the song of freedom.’

I touch a distant hand and feel its glow,

the hand I hoped was there: at last I know.

Swords into ploughshares: can it all come true?

Friends out of strangers: start with me and you.

I see another time, another place

where we can all be one, one human race.

The walls will melt away,

we’ll come together on the day of freedom.

A few of my favorite things

People keep asking me if I've taken pictures of the new house. Well I finally did and here they are to who ever is interested. These are a few of my favorite things about the house.

I love the entry way.

It's the perfect spot for our Jesus picture!

I got my dream fridge! Thank you Sears Outlet!

Before going up the stairs you get a beautiful view of my piano cubby.

I love our banister! Not many houses come like this anymore.

Mike let me do what I wanted to our bedroom so we have a chocolate brown accent wall with a light blue on the others. I had some fun prepping the walls with tape outlining trees. This is just one of two on the same wall. If I don't end up liking it, I can always just finish painting the room. It was fun and I felt art-sy. And FINALLY, we have a ceiling fan in our bedroom! It's been a while.

Who knows when our back yard will be finished. Mike both ended his ASU classes this week and started at the Art Institute. Brooklyn only has 2 weeks left before summer vacation. The heat is already upon us. Oh well. It will happen when it happens. We're just happy to be home! Thanks to everyone who helped us move!