It's Monday again

It happens every week yet it's refreshing every single time.  A new week has so many possibilities.
Our baby girl is on the verge of crawling and she's so determined.  I'm so proud of her.  She's managed to propel herself forward a couple of times but mostly she spins around and scoots backwards.  She's also pushed herself up to sitting a few times but she can't coordinate her arms to push herself all the way vertical yet.  She gets so frustrated when she gets stuck somewhere and she makes the cutest little roaring sound.  She sounds like a little tiger cub.  I love it.
Joey's getting more independent.  She's started lying about almost anything it seems.  Danny and I have been trying to teach her what it means to tell the truth and why it's so important.  We have our ups and downs with it.  Sometimes it gets really difficult but she's such a sweet girl.  She was sick the other day and for her bedtime prayers she prayed that none of her friends at school get sick.  And even though Danny and I have been teaching her about God and the Bible, it amazes me how much she gets it.  Faith like a child is really so clear when you see it in actuality everyday.  I struggle with trusting in God but she has no doubts.
Joey, Norah and I have been having regular family dance parties in the living room lately.  It's super fun.  Joey's bopping all over and Norah sings along (sings ahhhhhhh ahh ahh) and sometimes Joey lets me dance with her but mostly she tells me that she needs to do her own moves but then I dance with Norah and she just giggles through it all.  I love my girls.

Here's my meal plan of dinners for the week:
Monday: Barbequed ribs & green beans
Tuesday: Mac & Cheese w/ vegetable soup
Wednesday: Crock pot baked beans w/ biscuits & coleslaw
Thursday: Curry Chicken w/ stir-fry veg & rice
Friday: Chickpeas & Couscous w/dried cranberries & herb goat cheese
Saturday: Our 5th Anniversary & Date Night
Sunday: Breakfast for dinner (Eggs & Cinnamon Rolls)

I'll also be making egg salad today for lunches throughout the week and Veggie sticks for quick snacks.  Norah's been blazing through her baby food and she's tried just about all the basic food that I use on a regular basis and once I'm done clearing all the foods I can, I'll be making my own baby food from our regular meals with a simple baby food grinder.  I've already been making my own with some of the meals that have no questionable ingredients.  I've got a few more food to get through: broccoli, tomatoes, beef, pork, and dairy.  She no longer breaks out when I have processed dairy (cheese, yogurt, etc.) but when I have straight milk, it still seems to bother her little tummy.  :-( So, I'm still on soy milk for now but I'm going to see how she does with some baby yogurt herself this week.  If that goes well, I'll be making my own whole milk yogurt in large batches again.
Well, I'm off...Today is Norah's 6 month well visit and I'm excited to see how much she's grown.  And I need to talk to the doctor about sleep training possibilities.  She's still so petite that I just want to make sure there's no medical reason for her to be up every three hours all night long.  This momma needs some sleep

The rain

Usually the rain makes me feel like curling up in a ball and reading a good book.  But today, it feels cleansing and refreshing.  Joey woke up early this morning, it seems she has a little cold.  But she came into bed with Danny and I and fell back asleep and then slept late.  I actually had to wake her up after a bit to ensure a nap later.  I'm feeling uber-productive.  I've already done dishes, made breakfast, started making yogurt, did Joey's hair and did her school for the day.  Today we worked on tracing lines and the Alphabet and matching, we also have some Sesame Street You Tubes that we watch at least a few times a week to teach her things like counting and rhythm and things that we did.  I've got way more on my agenda for the day but I can do it.
Last night at Care Group(what our church calls Bible Study) I got some really good prayer and it just pushed every last bit of that depression out of me and I left feeling really encouraged and ready do keep doing what I feel like God has been calling me to do to prepare to move out to Colorado.
So, the rest of my list for the day is as follows:
*Finish the yogurt
*Make Irish Soda bread
*Do two loads of laundry
*Take out the trash (I cleaned out a closet a few days ago and have yet to take the trash from that closet down our three flights)
*Try and search for my maternity pants from two+ years ago
*Make a plan for turning Joey's favorite bed-time story into a children's book
*Try to remember to do my daily Lenten devotional during nap-time

I can do it.  I know I can.