I realized tonight...Grace is a chick magnet...and a dude magnet. People love to be around her...people are drawn to her. That has been my prayer for her. I pray that God would bless her with a sweet spirit and one that draws people to her...not because of anything she does, but because of Who lives in her.

We are blessed. Thank you, God. Thank you that Your plan is better than ours. Thank you that Grace was not our plan, but Yours. I was somewhat dreading this fall with the start of the school year. I kept trying to figure out how we were going to do college ministry with a baby. What about her bed time? What about her crying? Would she be a distraction? YES! She is a distraction! But, the best distraction ever!! Grace is making ministry easy. Because people are drawn to her, it gives Matt and I an opportunity to talk to the people that want to play with her. Plus, it gives us an instant connection with people...everyone LOVES babies!

I can't imagine our life without her...I don't want to. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me...to us. She is so fun to be around and when she smiles, it makes my heart skip a beat. I can't believe she wasn't in our plan. Why couldn't we have thought of something so great?! I'm glad we didn't...it's better this way. God has big plans for her and I can't wait to see what it is! I can't even stop to think about what our lives would be without her...I wouldn't want it any other way!

Thank you, Jesus, for blessing us with the most beautiful baby! Thank you for blessing us with a baby who is doing ministry with us. Thank you, Jesus, that You know best and You have given us a wonderful ministry opportunity. Thank you, Jesus, for showing me that my doubt and unbelief are rubbish. Thank you for giving me a real life picture of what it means for you to be my Dad and me to be Your daughter. If you feel half the amount of love for me that I feel for Grace, You must be bursting at the seems! Thank you that because of Grace, I love Matt more. Thank you for Your Grace...both of them!!

Our baby is growing up...

Hanging out...watching the Cards
Originally uploaded by Matt and Carrie.

Grace is almost 6 months old and I (Carrie) am already feeling the anxiety of my baby growing up too fast. She's sitting up, rolling over, trying to crawl, and not being swaddled! OK...I know, most babies don't want to be swaddled after a few weeks. But, being swaddled was my baby's trademark. She LOVED it! She would smile when we layed her on the blanket. Matt would wrap her so tightly it appeared that her head would pop...but she was happy. Well, she's getting so big that her feet would stick out the bottom of the blanket. Then, starting September 11th, she started rolling over while being swaddled. Instead of her getting stuck on her belly with no arms, we unswaddled her. What a tragedy! I know that most babies don't want to be swaddled for as long as she did...we ran on borrowed time. But, because she is no longer swaddled, I feel like my baby is growing up! As I'm writing this, she's scooting herself across the floor. Well, my sweet little dependent baby is no longer dependent. She's now a strong-willed independent little girl...on the move and making her own decisions about how she sleeps. I'm excited for her. This is the beginning of a life of exploring. I'm thankful that God has blessed me with getting to see which way she goes...

Grace - 5 Months

Grace - 5 Months
Originally uploaded by Matt and Carrie.

Yep...that's right...the 5 month birthday has come and gone already. We can't believe it! Our little baby is growing up so quickly before our eyes. She's at such a fun age right now, though. She LOVES to play pick-a-boo and her favorite thing is to sit on our deck and watch the cars drive down Old Highway 63. What a joy to watch her grow, learn, and discover new things.

Being a parent is the best...although, I can tell it's going to get harder. Matt and I are already dreading the day when we have to discipline her. But, how can a girl so sweet need disciplined?! Ha! The first time we had to tell her "no, Grace" about killed us. She does this thing when she's done eating her cereal or vegetables...she starts blowing raspberries in them...what a mess! So, we said, "No, Gracie." (not that she understands) After saying it one time, Matt looked down at the floor, slumped his shoulders, and said, "I'm dreading disciplining her!" I agree. That discipline will define her character and ours as well...that's good.

In the meantime...we're enjoying our sweet baby girl...in all her sweetness!