More than any Toy

At Paradigm last week Nate was praying about how God wants/accepts us just as we are and how we don’t need to do anything ‘first’ before we can run into His arms. There is nothing we can do to ‘prepare’ or make ourselves more acceptable for Him; He is always there waiting. This brought a really cool analogy to my mind that I thought I would share.

Tatum knows the sound of the garage door opening and she knows that sound means that Daddy is home. And this little princess loooves her Daddy- she gets so excited when he gets home from work. (Side note, on really windy days a big gust can occasionally blow against the door just right to make it sound like its opening, and Tatum gets really excited about seeing Daddy. And I have to be the bad guy and tell her he isn’t home yet. Breaks my heart each time.) SO, back to the point. We are usually playing together in the living room when Brian gets home in the afternoons, and no matter what we are doing Tatum stops immediately to prepare for seeing daddy. This involves running to her toys and digging through them to pick out just the right one that will make Daddy happy. Sometimes it takes her a minute to find the right toy (different each time) so Brian is already inside the door and waiting for her when she digs it out and runs to him. Of course, Daddy always acts really happy about the toy and thanks her. But, honestly, Brian is not interested in the toy…he is excited to see his baby girl and to love on her. Nothing she could possibly bring him could make him any more excited about picking her up and kissing on her. But in Tatum’s sweet mind, she wants to bring Daddy a gift to make him happy. And often, her preparations delay her getting into his arms since he is standing there waiting as she excitedly digs for a toy.

What a simple picture of how our Heavenly Father loves us and longs to hold us. He is patient as we attempt to do things that we think will please Him. But, more than anything, He wants us to run into his arms. Nothing we can do could make us worthy of His love; but how much time to we waste trying? Instead of just running into his arms.

So, what things in your life are you waiting to accomplish or obtain before you can truly reach out to your Father?

Super Bowl 2011 and a Cuddly Morning

We didnt do anything crazy for the super-bowl this year (not that we normally do..). We just stayed home and watched it as a family.

Getting everything set up for the game. I promise I am not normally on my phone like that. In fact, this picture irritates me because I'm messing around on my phone instead of paying attention to life. Nonetheless, Brian had just brought Tatum's chair out of her room for her and she felt pretty special about it.

See?

Sitting in her chair like a big girl! This did NOT last the whole game....or much more than a few minutes actually.

She liked this seat better :)

One of the super cold mornings we had this year... (seems like we had a lot of those). Me and Tatybear were hanging out at the house in our jammies and I decided to bust out the camera.

Hey Mama, I emptied my toy box, what do you want me to do now?

Still a little sleepy

These next two pictures are of her giving me air kisses. She is so sweet.

Mommy attempting to take a picture of us both. She was so cute though, wanting to put her face right next to mine :)

Love Love LOVE this!!

BRRRRR!!

So, as many of you may recall, there was quite a cold spell complete with snow back in early February. And many of you even blogged about said winter activity…back in February. Well, consider this a blast from the past (as all my blogs are beginning to be). Drumroll please… bumbumbumbum… Tatum’s Snow Extravaganza!!

This first set of pictures is from the day that it was a record cold in Lubbock. Tatum and I spent probably about 20 minutes bundling up in several layers. And then about 5 minutes outside! It was dang cold! Well worth it though, in my book. I was really excited to get Tatum out in the snow since this was the first snow since she had been walking and “really able to play in it” (aka squat down and touch it/ walk around in it) :). I am super grateful that Daddy happened to come home right before we ventured out so that he could document the adventure!

Suiting up! I love her expression!

She totally looks like Ralphy's little brother in Christmas Story!

Talking about the snow

I let Daddy in on the fun too!

These next pictures were taken the next day…when it was like 30 degrees warmer and way more fun to play in the snow. Princess really enjoyed walking around in the snow and stopping to squat down and scoop up handfuls. She did not like it as much when Mommy decided that it was time to go in and warm up :)

I was trying to take a picture with her... next to me that is.

The last pictures are unrelated to the snow but adorable and happened to be taken the same day. This is the head to her little drum... smushed on her face. These pictures still make me laugh!

Building Suspense

Its been nearly a month since part two…but here is part three! Our house was sickville for a few weeks and it has taken some catching up to get back in our routine around here, but I think I’m finally here. As soon as we got back from Ruidoso at the end of February I had the worse case of strep throat I have ever had. My entire tonsil was white. Yuck. Then I caught a pretty yucky cold which turned into a sinus infection and seemed to hang around forever. Then my poor husband came down with strep. Then poor little girl ended up with both my cold and strep. Then Brian caught the cold. Haha. Yeah, like I said, a rough few weeks in the Maines house! But we are all healed now and very grateful for health!

On LA day 4 we went to Ventura, CA to visit Sharon’s Uncle Gary and Aunt Pat and her cousins Wendy and Dana. Uncle Gary is Sharon’s dad’s brother and apparently his look-a-like also! It was a lot of fun meeting the family, whom I had never met prior. We had a fun day of hanging out and a delicious lunch also! They also borrowed lots of toys to have there for Tatum to play with- such sweet people!

Sharon and Uncle Gary

The fam damily

From mischievous....

....to sweet in 1 second flat! Thats my girl!

After the Ventura visit we drove to Santa Barbra to visit the pier and have dinner. It was pretty stinking cold that evening so we bundled the princess up and I carried her in the ergo (which, btw, she does not mind at all because she still likes to be carried…especially by Mommy J)

I will just sum this picture up by saying that Sharon and I are the coolest people you will ever meet. And a gorgeous background. And a rainbow.

Trying on hats in a gift shop. They look a lot alike here. Not just because of the hair either..

Cheesin' at dinner.

Ignore Tatum's finger... she didnt mean it

My pickle lover. She ate the entire spear. She calls them 'ickles'

On day 5 (I think I have my days right) we went to visit cousin Natalie. Tatum was asleep when we got there and woke up in Natalies arms (who she had never met before) and was totally unconcerned with this. She loved the dogs and Beckett’s toys and was perfectly comfortable in a strange place and in a stranger’s arms. I guess she knows family J.

Taytay still has her sleeping/just-woke-up face. Sweet girl.

After Natalie’s house we went to the roof of a hotel that Kiki represents to watch the sunset. B-e-a-utiful! Unfortunately, Kiki had to work and wasnt with us. Considering that Tatum had only had a very short nap in the car and Natalie’s arms, she was in pretty good spirits. As long as she was allowed to walk around and explore she was okay.

Not the best picture of us, but shows the amazing view.

Late night shenanigans.

Sweet girl did great on the flights home! Mommy did okay…on our first flight the man behind us threw up. AHHH! I didn’t have a panic attack though; but I did panic a bit. Thankfully Tatum was sleeping in Daddy’s arms so I could just focus on not having a panic attack. I didn’t put my feet down for the rest of the flight though…just in case.

Big girl! Ready to go.

Watching Dora on the Ipad with Daddy.

And a special treat during landing to keep her ears clear!

We had such a wonderful time in LA! Huge Thanks to Muncle and Kiki for hosting us and showing us so much fun!