Martha

This is what I found when I went to get the girls after their morning nap today. She looks a little distressed because I left to get my camera and she thought I was leaving her in there. I can't believe how quickly they are going from barely moving, to crawling to standing. I have a feeling it really won't be long until they are running!

Martha & Jaina 11 m update

Martha and Jaina are now 11 months old! It doesn't seem like it has been almost a year. Although these measurements are from two weeks ago (yes, I'm a little slack about posting on here), they are still pretty close to the same. In the above picture, Jaina is sleeping and Martha is poking her in the eyes and nose! It didn't bother Jaina-she slept right through it all!

Martha is 14 lbs. 7 oz and 26 3/4" long. Jaina is 16 lbs. 6 oz and 28" long. They both grew quite a bit in length, but not in weight. Martha is still not on the growth charts and Jaina is barely on. I still find this hard to believe since they eat more than other babies their age, but I am leaving it in God's hands.

Both of them are starting to move. Martha has actually crawled across the room with a half crawl, half army crawl. Jaina is starting to spend more time on her belly. I think it is because she sees Martha on the move and she wants to join her! For now, she moves by scooting on her butt.

Ministry Blog

If you are a woman, please feel free to check out my ministry blog at

www.graciousdaughteroftheKing.blogspot.com

I don't have much on it yet, but hopefully will add to it quite regularly. Please share this with your friends as I pray it becomes a place to support, educate, and uplift women.

Ministry Blog Name

I was going to start a new ministry blog yesterday, but when I went to go start it, every name I had thought about using was already being used or had one very close to the same so I didn't want to use it. I had originally wanted to do something with Titus 2, but everything I thought of was already taken. I also really liked "Woman to Woman", but that is taken. Someone else suggested "Bread of Life", but that is taken as well. "High and Noble Calling" is available, but there is an "A High and Noble Calling" and that is just too close. So, now I need some help in coming up with a name.

The ministry will be geared toward women. I want to support and uplift women in their journey as daughters of the King, wives, mothers, friends, etc. I will be moving my bible study "Home Cooking for Body and Soul" to the blog and posting the lessons and recipes there instead of meeting at the church due to people moving, weather impeding people from coming, etc. I will post my "thoughts" about life as a woman/wife/mother on there as well. I am hoping to be able to reach women and encourage them in their daily lives.

Some names I am considering and have checked their availability are:

A Holy and Noble Calling
Passionate Living for God
Gracious Living for God
Gracious Daughter of the King

I had originally wanted to do something with Titus 2, but everything I thought of was already taken. I also really liked "Woman to Woman", but that is taken. Someone else suggested "Bread of Life", but that is taken as well.

Please leave a comment on a name that you like. I really wanted to get it up and running yesterday, but didn't expect to have this much trouble with a name. It would be nice to get it going as soon as possible. I will post a link to the new blog once it is up and running as well in case anyone wants to check it out.

Thanks for your help!

Darcy

Christmas with the Smiths

We celebrated Christmas with my family on the day after Christmas. They came up here since it is easier for them to travel. Chad worked in the morning, but arrived home shortly after they all got here. We enjoyed some time together, then opened presents, and then ate a great meal of crockpot venison & biscuits, mashed potatoes, scalloped corn, deviled eggs, and broccoli. Amy also brought blueberry and apple pies for dessert. It was all very good!


Jaina and Martha look absolutely cute in these dresses they got from cousins Don & Sue! They wanted to look pretty for celebrating Christmas.


Martha had her first tooth pop through this day. Her second followed behind two days later. She now has as many teeth as Jaina.


Jaina is working on her top teeth now.

Madalynn had fun opening our gift for her. She got two new outfits and two new shirts.


Eva got a new helmet from Papa & Nana Smith. She is excited because now she and Dara can ride at the same time.


Uncle Jim picked out this bracelet for Dara because he is always telling the girls to never forget that Uncle Jim loves them. The bracelet says "neice" and "love".


Eva was excited to get two new books and new tights for Christmas.


Cora LOVES Bob! She couldn't wait to watch this video.


Eva got her very own purse and new tights from Uncle Jim, Aunt Amy, & Madalynn. Now she can take her purse to the store just like Dara does!


Allyn told Aunt Amy she wanted a pink dress. She had a hard time finding one, but she new she couldn't go wrong with Disney princesses so she got this shirt and skirt for her instead.


Sabra got a Polly Pocket from Nana & Papa Smith. She was so excited because she finally has her own!


Nana & Papa Smith gave Cora a sleeping bag in a backpack. The older four girls got them last year and now Cora has her own!


Uncle Jim, Aunt Amy, and Madalynn gave Martha this pretty new blanket. They made one for Jaina as well, but her's is pink on the one side instead of purple. For some reason I didn't get a picture of Jaina with her blanket.

Christmas Morning

This year we had the girls draw names so they could give "better" gifts instead of a bunch of little gifts. They also all gave handmade gifts. Of course Mommy had to do some of them herself since they can't all do things, but eventually, all the girls will be making the gifts for whoever they draw.

Allyn made Jaina her very own pillow with a little help from Mommy.

Dara made Martha her very own pillow.


Martha gave Allyn a pretty purple dress Mommy made for her.


Jaina gave Eva a skirt Mommy made for her using material she picked out this summer.


Cora gave Dara a skirt Mommy made for her using material she picked out this summer.


Eva made Sabra a fleece purse.


The girls on Christmas morning.


Jaina & Martha in their "Baby's 1st Christmas" pajamas.

Christmas Eve

Chad's parents came over on Christmas Eve to celebrate Christmas. Here are a few pictures from the day.

Enjoying turkey, sweet potato casserole, fresh greens salad, cranberry relish and rolls.


Dara got new gloves! She got some other things as well from Nana & Papa Carmichael and the Inglerights.


Jaina got this beautiful dress from Nana & Papa Carmichael and the Inglerights along with some other things. Can you tell she was a little tired?!


Here is Martha with the things she got from Nana and Papa Carmichael and the Inglerights. She's so cute!


Cora got a dress just like Martha's and Jaina's and another shirt just like the one she is wearing in the picture.


Sabra got a new coat, gloves and dress from Nana & Papa Carmichael and the Inglerights.


Allyn got two dresses and a new shirt from Nana and Papa Carmichael and the Inglerights.


Eva got new gloves, sweater, and some other things from Nana & Papa Carmichael and the Inglerights.


Martha enjoying time with Nana.


Cora in her cute hat.


Chad's Cousin Don & Sue sent some presents for the girls. They got dresses and these cute handmade stockings and slippers. They thought it was the neatest thing to have stockings just like Mary and Laura wear in Little House on the Prairie!


Jaina


Martha in a cute hat that we got from Don & Sue. Jaina wouldn't leave it on, but Martha loves it!