13 Special Dates in My Life

1. January 15, 1980--My birth date.
   
2. April 17, 1980--Barbara Robinson gave birth to her second son, Jason Scott.
   
3. August 5, 1982--My sister, lifelong friend, and occassional partner in crime, Amanda McCall was born into the Gilmore family.
4. January 24, 1985---Amanda and I were estatic to have a new "little" brother to play with and pick on...little did we know, Jonathan would be taller than both of us in about 20 years.
5. August 6, 1993--I was baptized by Doug Berny in the Medina River. (It was also my dad's 33rd birthday.)
   
6. October 4, 1997--I took my SATs, my senior portraits, and went on my first date with Jason Robinson. We watched "The Man From Snowy River" on his mom's couch. (He couldn't go "out" because he was laid up with a football injury.
   
7. December 24, 1997--My first kiss (ever)... and yes, it was Jason, and yes, he's still the only man I've ever kissed (Dad excluded, of course).
   
8. May 16, 1998--Jason told me he loved me for the first (of many) time(s).
9. April 17, 1999--Jason celebrated his 19th birthday...and he proposed!
   
10. June 10, 2000--We were married at Central Church of Christ, the same church we grew up in.
11. September 1, 2001--I finally got the older brother and older sister I'd always wanted. (Jason's older brother, Grant, married one of my best friends, Paige Davidson)
12. January 19, 2006--Jason and I welcomed our firstborn, Norah Ashley Robinson, on the birthday of my Grandad Shelby. (He was more than willing to share)
    
13. June 10, 2050--Jason and I will celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary.
    

Baby Buggy

I'm telling you, that girl can make anything look fun! You'd think she was riding the Texas Giant from the look on her face! (She's even got both hands firmly gripping the handle, just like Mommy does) Norah took her first-ever (carseat-less) spin in a shopping cart tonight. Jason and I made a leisurely trip to Academy and decided to see how Norah would handle riding in a buggy. I have one of those nifty shopping cart covers to keep the germs off/make it more comfy, but this was an unplanned, spur of the moment trip, so I didn't pack accordingly. As you can see from the photo, she loved it! We wheeled all over Academy, and she grinned the whole time. It was funny watching her adjust to this new mode of transportation. She didn't particularly care for having her back to the direction in which we were headed. (She spent a great deal of our excursion craning her neck to see behind her--she wanted to know where we were going)

Where's Daddy? Where's Mommy?

Norah and Daddy had a good time playing together last night. They even invented a new off-shoot game of "Where's Norah?", called, "Where's Daddy?". Jason would put his head down, then Norah would tap him on his head, and he would pop up and grin at her. I lost count of how many times they played (it was a lot), but Norah definately caught on that this was a cause and effect game, and that Daddy would not rouse from his false-slumber until she tapped his head. (She even tried to fake him out a couple of times by pausing and watching carefully to see if he would forget and pop up untapped, but to no avail.) She also spent a good part of the evening chasing around a little, blue plastic ball (she's really into balls this week) and rolling it back and forth with Mommy. (Although sometimes our aim wasn't the greatest)

Jason and I are amazed at how strong she is. She is definately trying to pull-up. She has done so successfully on people a couple of times, but so far, she hasn't quite accomplished the feat on anything that is non-living. Last night she spied the lever on the easy-chair and made a bee line for it. Jason and I watched as she grabbed hold of the lever (which was about level with her eyes when she was lying on her stomach), and she managed to pull herself almost completly into standing position (all she lacked was to walk her legs forward, but because of the height of the lever, she wouldn't have had anything to hold onto if she stood straight up, so she was basically in a fully-extended push-up position on the lever) I know the photo makes it look like she is trying to eat the lever, but actually, that's just phase one of the pull-up process.

After all our playtime antics, (which, in case you were wondering, were done in only a diaper because they occurred post-dinner, pre-bath) I had my first "Girls' Night Out", sans Norah. I bathed her, fed her, and put her to bed (without protest) at 8pm, then headed to the new movie theater (which is right by our house!) with a bunch of girls from church, to see "Step Up". It marked the first time post-baby that I've carried a purse (not a diaper bag). I had a blast, and I loved the movie! It had a little bit of language, and the dancers' outfits were a little revealing (but I think that's pretty much the way it is), other than that, it was a pretty clean movie. I loved the music and the dancing was great!

I had to laugh because the theater had a total of 10 people in it, 8 girls in our group, and then one couple...poor guy. And at one point, his girlfriend got up and left to go to the restroom, leaving him sitting alone, by himself in the back row of the biggest chick-flick I've seen in a while. I got home around 11:30pm and was completely wired and wanted to dance...but then after that brief moment of deliria, I snapped back to reality and remembered that I'll always be a very white, C of C girl with no rhythm, whatsoever. So I decided to go to bed, instead where I could at least dream of being a good dancer.

Working Girls

Norah and I have had the pleasure of reliving my "Glory Days" at my old workplace for the past 3 weeks. We've been filling in for the front desk receptionist for 4 hours, daily, while she recovers from surgery. Today will (hopefully) be our last day.

Norah has been a great sport for most of our time at work. She spends some of the morning playing on a palette beside the front desk, some watching Baby Einstein on our laptop from home, some playing in the exersaucer I have occassionally borrowed from the church nursery (see photo), a little time eating lunch, and then she usually naps for at least an hour or so before we head home.

Everyone in the church office has been so nice and accomodating. (Becky always schedules her trip to the far-away outside mailbox when Norah starts to get a little fussy--not so she can get away from Norah, but so she can take her with her. (A good stroll in the Texas heat of August always cheers my little girl up...and to think, most of the rest of us are complaining about it...go figure!) And the little "side job" came at a good time...our summer utility bill is outrageous! Oh...and for those of you who are as excited as I am...there are exactly four months til Christmas!!!

13 "Together" Things

This week's 13 is a list of things that Jason and I have enjoyed together. Some of my favorite memories have stemmed from these times of "Recreational Companionship", that remind me how thankful I am to have married my best friend.

1. Softball---the first few years we were married we played co-ed softball both on city teams and a church team (my favorite--Man! I miss that--I think our team was dead last, but we had more fun) When we ran out of co-ed teams to play with, Jason joined an all-guys team, and I go along and keep the book--not quite as much fun as playing, but still pretty fun.
2. Worship--I love that Jason and I are able to worship together every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night at church. It is such a blessing to be able to hold hands when we pray, and to hear his voice when we sing. I love that Norah will have the memory of us going to church as a family.
3. Snorkling--We experienced this for the first time on our honeymoon in Cancun. It was far and away the coolest outting we had. We saw baracudas close-up, along with lots of coral and exotic fish. It was so beautiful...we've both said we'd love the chance to do it again.
4. Harry Potter--These were the first books Jason and I ever read together. It started when we were newlyweds and didn't have much money for entertainment. Jason has read all 6 exisiting HP books to me, and we've really enjoyed them together. We're anxiously anticipating the release of the 7th and final book, but it will be bittersweet for it to end.
5. The Legend of Zelda--I know, we're big dorks. This was, yet another of our newlywed low budget pass-times. Jason would do the actual playing of the game (its a video game on Nintendo 64, in case you're too cool to know that), but I watched every minute of it, and served as his "spotter". I still maintain that "The Legend of Zelda" is the greatest game ever made.
6. Disc Golf--We got sucked into this "way funner than it sounds" passtime a couple of years ago, when we were introduced to it by our good friends, Scott & Sara Nickson. Some of my happiest recreational companionship memories involve Jason and I rushing home from work to get a quick round of DG in before Wednesday night church. (We used to have the world's best park 2 blocks from our house, but some crotchity people in the neighborhood had it taken it without even asking everyone how they felt about it)
7. Kite Flying--We haven't been on a kite flying date in ages, but they were so much fun! We bought our first kites while we were dating, in college. They were the plastic, $2 jobs from Wal-mart, and we flew the way out of them! (I remember we skipped Chemistry one blustery day...ahhhh, memories) We don't have our original kites anymore (his Buzz Lightyear took out my Winnie the Pooh in a nasty kite fight that he and his brother indulged in, unbeknownst to me at the time), but we did buy a fancy "real" kite (no plastic) on our first anniversary at South Padre Island.
8. The Inheritance Trilogy--Another book series that Jason & and are in the middle of reading together. We've read the first two and are waiting for the release of the third. (We both agreed the other day that next series we read needs to be a finished one...but then again, the anticipation is half the fun!) Its been especially fun reading these because they're fantasy, and they're adolescent books--so the "kid" in Jason really comes out. (Though, he'll be the first to tell you, that the kid in him is never fully supressed, anyhow)
   
9. Going to the Movies...at Home--We are definately the pass on the theater, rent it when it comes out on DVD type of movie-goers (except for the occassional blockbuster release that you just have to see on the big screen). We have a pretty extensive dvd collection (both old and new), and we like watching new movies as they come out. One of my favorite "dates" is cuddling on the couch in front of a good movie.
   
10. Cooking--Most nights I try to have dinner at least close to ready when Jason gets home...but on the occassion that we're entertaining, we usually tag-team it. My favorite meal that we cook together is fajitas. It has LOTS of sides and it is so helpful to have an extra pair of hands in the kitchen. I think the reason I enjoy cooking with Jason so much now, is that we've come so far at it. When we were first married, I couldn't hardly stand to share the kitchen (granted, we're in a little bigger kitchen than we were in our first apartment), but now, we're learned how to work
    
11. Snowboarding and Skiing--Jason and I have been every year since 1999. His brother and sister-in-law used to live in Salida, CO, so we would take a trip up to see them, and enjoy the slopes at Monarch Pass. We both learned (Jason to snowboard, me to ski) the same year, so we're on pretty much the same skill level, and we have loved every memory we have made--from riding the lift together, to taking our first "jump", to the biggest "yard sale" you've ever seen! Now that Grant and Paige have moved back to Texas, we'll have to come up with another excuse to go to Colorado so we can play.
12. Teaching Bible Hour--Jason and I taught the kindergarten Children's Bible Hour together at the A&M Church for three consecutive years. We loved getting to know our classes and working with them to help them learn the 15 Judges, the 12 sons of Jacob, and the 10 Commandments. (We used the same songs to teach them that Jason and I grew up learning at the Central Church of Christ, in Bryan) We were always so amazed at how quickly the kids could learn, and how much they could retain. Those three years were truly a blessing to us, and I hope that some day we will be able to teach together again.
13. Norah-Watching--probably our most favorite passtime of late. We never tire of looking at our beautiful baby. She is a source of constant delight for both of us.

First Bath in the "Big Tub"

Up until Monday night, all of Norah's baths have taken place in the kitchen sink. It's been fun standing there and washing her at stomach level, but not always the most convenient location in our house...especially when bath-time typically follows dinner, and Mommy has a tendancy to use a lot of pans and dishes in the process (of dinner preparation, not bath rituals).

1 Sink full of dishes + 1 carrot clad, 7-month-old baby = Norah's first bath in the "big tub"!

Naturally, we had to document the occassion. Norah absolutely loved it. (Is it just me, or does she look totally proud of herself?) Of course, we had to bring ducky along so she would understand that this was still bathtime, even though she has a new chair (courtesy of Jenny) and a much bigger place to splash around in (which I guess doesn't really matter much since she's pretty much confined to the chair, which provides good censorship for bath pics, and can swivel around 360 degrees in case Norah wants a change of scenery ). She seemed to enjoy herself, but then, she has never turned down a bath! She didn't even mind when Mommy styled her hair, which I might add, is much easier to manage when it is wet and full of soapy bubbles!

Another noteable benchmark this week is a very noticable increase in babbling, accompanied by several new "phrases". Her current favorite is "Blah-Blah-Blah". It doesn't matter how many times I hear it, it still cracks me up. (And to think, this girl's never even seen The Peanuts let-alone heard Charlie Brown's teacher talk!) She gets pretty excited if any one talks back to her--especially if we use her words. I guess when she hears us say "blah-blah-blah?" maybe she feels like we understand. Sometimes I answer her jabber with, "What's that? You're hungry?" (A phrase I think she really does understand ) And then I promptly feed her, in hopes that someday she'll be able to (sweetly) tell me in real words what she needs. I can't wait to hear what her voice will be like when she learns to talk...but for now, I'll cherish her endearing baby-talk.

"Welcome to My Crib"

Today was a great day! After church, we had Mom R, Grandmother, Paige, and Jonathan over for Sunday dinner (potroast, salad, and Neiman Marcus bars). Norah and I decided to take a nap after our guests went home (some of them, probably to do the same). I got restless after about 30 minutes and didn't feel right about leaving Norah alone in my big bed (its a pretty long fall if she decided to go for a roll), so I put her in her crib...and there she stayed, without a peep for 2 hours. When she had uncharacteristically slept 30 minutes past her feeding, I snuck in her room to see if she was at least starting to stir.

It sounded like she was playing quietly, so I got down on all fours to sneak up to her crib and surprise her (this almost always is met with uncontrollable giggles). Well, turns out, Norah's no dummy...she must've heard my old bones a-creakin', cause she pulled down her bumper pads and surprised me with a little shriek. I got so tickled, I called Jason in so he could see her peering out between the slats in her crib. Priceless! We played a few rounds of our new version of "Where's Norah" and marveled over how smart she was for figuring out that she could hijack our game of hide-and-seek by pulling down the bumper pads (a first).

Since she was so content when I found her, I got to wondering how long she'd been awake, and if she'd ever really been napping at all (or if she had just played opposum so Mommy would leave her to her fun and games). So just for kicks, I decided to spy on her for a few minutes to see what she was doing to entertain herself, and let me tell you, she was busy! Here are just a few photos I snapped in about a 5 minute span.

I especially like the one of her playing with her mobile with her feet so she could free up her arm for chewing (guess that accounts for her being late for her afternoon feeding...which, by the way, she did receive as soon as Mommy finished her documentary).

Daddy's Home!

It just dawned on me that its been 2 whole posts since I had any new "Norah" pics...so this one goes out to all of those (not to name any names, Grandpa Gilmore) who only check the RCP for a new glimpse of the wee one. And no, I'm not really holding a grudge against anyone who choses to forego reading my rants and look at pictures of Norah...after all, I do have a tendancy to ramble, and time is precious.



Yesterday while I was trying to get dinner ready, Norah was going through a major "I Need My Mommy" crisis, so I loaded her into the trusty sling so I could finish dinner preparations (which, by the way, were not done in Norah's bath tub, despite what the photo may indicate) in time for Jason to come home. He was thrilled when he walked into the kitchen after a long day at work and was greeted by a smiling, craned neck. In fact, he loved it so much, he went and got the camera so he could keep it as a happy memory, forever. I didn't see what the big deal was until he showed me the photos. Too precious, and even more so when you know that the look of adoration was directed at you!

Tag...You're It!

I know I just wrote a book-related blog last week, but in all fairness, I did warn you that it probably wouldn't be the last! Besides, I was just tagged by my new friend in the Philippines, Kiel, to answer this book survey, so it would be rude of me not to play!

Book That Changed My Life
Loving God With All Your Mind (by Elizabeth George)

Book That I've Read More Than Once
So many! (I like to get my money's worth, and go back and re-read through looking for symblolism...guess that's just the surpressed inner-English nerd coming out) I've probably read Jane Eyre most (by Charlotte Bronte)

Book I Would Bring On a Deserted Island
The Bible---I'd definately need it for encouragement until I was rescued, and I know I'd be better about reading daily if it were the only book I had.

Book That Made Me Cry
Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)

Book(s) I Wish Had Never Been Written
The Abram's Daughters series (Beverly Lewis)...they started out SO good, got me hooked so I read all five books (and they were long), waiting for the happy ending...and it didn't deliver!

Book I've Been Meaning To Read
Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis)

Book I'm Currently Reading
The Magician's Nephew (C.S. Lewis...another re-read of "The Chronicles of Narnia"...I told you, I love looking for symbolism, and this is a great one!)

Book I Wish Had Been Written
Harry Potter Book 7 (J.K. Rowling), but I am patiently waiting!

Thanks for including me in the fun, Kiel! And now it's my turn to tag five fellow bloggers...I hope they don't mind! (And if you do mind, I'm sorry, and I wont be offended if you don't play along...I know not everyone enjoys reading as much as I do!)

Lisa N

Karen S

Sheri D

Paula H

Kathy C

13 Random Songs On My Ipod

I know you're probably thinking, "Man! I had no idea she was cool enough to own an Ipod." And the truth is, I'm not (and the peek into my music collection that I'm about to offer you will confirm that, I'm sure). I was, however, given one as a gift from the church office when I retired last January, to stay at home with Norah... and I love it! Finally a place to keep all of my random music, without having to dig through all my mix CDs to find the one I'm looking for! So far I'm up to 747 songs (of the 10,000 it can hold), so for your Thursday amusement, here is a random sampling of a few of my favorites:

1. Mrs. Robinson--The Lemonheads (Jason and I dig this "upbeat" cover version over the Simon & Garfunkel original...yeah, yeah, I know its from the less than wholesome "The Graduate", but you'd like it too if it was called "Here's To You, Mrs. Whatever-your-name-is")
2. Great Light of the World--Bebo Norman
3. The Longest Time--Billy Joel (The first non-Christian a capella song I ever remember hearing on the radio...I still love it every time I hear it)
4. Creed--Third Day (Best concert I've ever been to, hands down, bar none)
5. A Week in the Country Jail--Tom T. Hall (Who can help but love a song that can mangage to intelligably work in the lyrics "she brought that hot bologna every day"?)
6. Desperado-The Eagles
7. Your Love is Better Than Life--Acapella
   
8. Canned Heat--Jamiroquai (What's sad is, Jason's the one who helped me find this random song after I heard it on the "Center Stage" soundtrack. Who the heck else knows who Jamiroquai is? Ok, maybe everyone but me, but I still maintain that my husband is a fountain of trivial information).
9. Voice of Truth--Casting Crowns
   
10. Get Out the Map--The Indigo Girls
    
11. Mockingbird--Carly Simon & James Taylor (Mock... yeah... Ing.... yeah... Bird... yeah.. Yeah? Yeah)
12. The Lord is Blessin' Me (Right Now)--Soul Union (Awesome group of guys from our church)
13. Oh, Holy Night---N-Sync (Oh, come on! You KNOW I have a slew of Christmas music on my Ipod so I can listen to it in October if I want to! And this is one of my most favorites...and I know, N-Sync's not exactly the coolest group I could choose to associate myself with, but they do the BEST version of Oh, Holy Night... unless you count Mariah Carey's version, which features that powerhouse high note done like only Mariah Carey can do it, and even then, I can only take hearing it about 2 times per year)

Do You Know the Michelin Man?

Norah seems to be growing by leaps and bounds (developmentally, at least). Over the weekend, she started rocking on all fours, a tell-tale sign, we're told, of a rapidly approaching "all-out crawl". She's also figured out how to pull herself up from a seated position to standing. She still has to hold onto something to keep her balance, but she can get up without being pulled. Now that she knows she can "stand up", it is becoming increasingly difficult to put her into a sitting postion (she "stiff-leg's" it every time!).

As if this weren't enough, I'm pretty sure I felt what might be her very first tooth pushing its way through her lower gums. (Thankfully, I made this discovery with my finger, and not by some other, less comfortable means) My precious baby girl is growing up! So far, her tooth doesn't seem to be bothering her. She hasn't been fussy, but she has been taking really good naps--guess all this growing is really taking it out of her!
While shopping for a birthday gift for another one of Norah's "little buddies", I came across this Fisher Price classic--the stacking rings! I decided I had to have it for Norah, since it is for children 6 months and up...well, and because it was only $4.88! What a deal! And in case you're curious (read: nosey...just kidding!), Norah's "little buddy" scored a Mrs. Potato Head and the bonus expansion "Glamour" accessory package. (Was I the only kid out there who thought Mr. Potato Head was the coolest toy on the planet?)

The caption I've assigned to the first picture is, "Hmmm...what else can I do with these pretty rings?" And the second picture I've titled, "Do you know the Michelin Man?" And no, she didn't really deck herself out, Daddy was playing with her and decided she needed a little bling, so he lovingly outfitted her and called Mommy to take the picture. I feel like I ought to confess...we're having way too much fun with the whole parenting thing. Every day is a new adventure, filled with blessings beyond our wildest imagination.

Knit Blankets in August?

As promised, (so long ago now that I doubt anyone remembers, but I don't really care, I'm excited, so I'm gonna drag you through my grow-up version of show-and-tell), here are some photos of the baby blankets I've been working on this summer for our Threads of Love knitting group (Oh yeah, and a sweet baby girl who loves to play peek-a-boo).

If you would have told me 3 months ago that I would knit 2 teddy bears, 3 washcloths, 2 blankets, and be halfway through with a scarf by the end of the summer, I probably would have told you: A--"I don't knit", B--"I'm not coordinated enough to learn how to knit", and C--I don't have time to do all that!" But here it is, August, and I've proven myself wrong...and I like it! (And no, my hair hasn't turned grey, and I'm not wearing it in a bun everyday, but thanks for asking)


The Threads of Love group at our church was just started this spring, and has begun knitting for orphans in Romania, as well as for the Hope Pregnancy Center, here in B-CS. In addition to learning a new skill (that helps make car trips go by much faster, and doesn't make me nausious like reading does), I have met women of all ages who I might not have had the courage to approach, otherwise. One of the coolest things about this ministry, is that while we knit, we pray for the recipients of our projects. I think those prayers will bless the recipients lives much more than my very imperfect blankets will, and I've definately been blessed to be a part of this new ministry.

Next week is the collection date for all of the blankets, so I'll try to remember to take a photo of them for the blog. I think it will be fun to see all the different colored blankets together. Mom and I have committed to "adopt" a Romanian child to knit for, and I'm really looking forward to making that connection. (That's who the half-finished scarf is intended for)

Norah is precious while I'm knitting (well, and pretty much all the rest of the time too). She loves to sit in my lap and help me hold the yarn. Who knows, maybe in a few more years she'll be knitting for another little Romanian girl. (There are several kids under 10 who are involved in Threads of Love, and they're kicking tail! Good thing this project was started before they all went back to school)

Well, thanks for indulging me in my little brag-fest. That's all for now, hope you have a great day!

13 Books I've Reacted To

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a bonified bookworm (read: book nerd), so it was only a matter of time until my T13 was dedicated to some of my favorite literary works. Fair warning...this probably wont be the last book post you see!

1. The first book that made me cry:
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

2. A book that I saw (and liked) the movie version of:
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

3. A book that made me laugh:
At Home in Mitford (the whole Mitford series, really) by Jan Karon

4. A book that I hated so much I sold it the day I finished it:
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

5. A book I loved in elementary school:
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

6. A book I loved in middle school:
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

7. A book I loved in high school:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

8. A book I loved in college:
Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

9. A book that strengthened my faith:
An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers

10. A series that I love:
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (Also The Inheritance Trilogy by Christopher Paolini, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, and The Mark of the Lion Trilogy by Francine Rivers)

11. My favorite children's book:
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

12. My favorite book with pictures:
Animalia by Graeme Base (who also wrote my favorite "mystery", The Eleventh Hour)

13. My favorite book not on this list:
The Bible

Little Buddies

We spent some time with our good friends, the Averys last week, and in the process, snapped a few sweet photos of their boys, Garrett (4 yrs.) and Nathan (2 yrs.), playing with Norah (6 mo). Its funny to think that someday they'll all be grown up and look back at these photos, and (hopefully) think, "Wow! We've been friends since we were babies!" I have a few precious photos like that from my own childhood, and something about seeing them always warms my heart. Maybe I'm just a sucker for nostalgic sentimentality, but whatever the reason they're special photos to me. I hope these will be just some of the first in a long line of "lifetime friends" that Norah can call her own. I am so thankful that God has blessed us with such an abundance of Godly friends with kids close to Norah's age.

Jason and I love Garrett and Nathan like they're our own family. And we feel the same way about so many of our other friend's kids. It's amazing to think that the relationships we have with these little children today are laying the foundation and framework for our mentoring relationships to them in the future. Today we're boucing them on our knee singing, "Ride a little horsey" and in the blink of an eye, we'll watch them go from thinking the opposite sex has cooties to blushing at the mere mention of their crush's name.

It drew to my mind the tremendous blessing, and responsibility we have, not only as parents, but as Christian examples to our children's friends. I pray that we will be able to maintain good relationships with Norah's peers as they grow up, and that we will be good examples to them, as we strive to do the same for our own daughter. Besides the confidence I have that Norah will have strong, Christian friendships, there is something incredibly comforting in knowing that Jason and I will have lots of support (and company) going through the joys and trials of raising a Godly daughter in a thorny world. I hope that in the years to come, our friends and we will be able to maintain a unified front and the "we're all in this together" spirit that we feel today. I hope that our friends will be as eager for us to "call out" their kids' dress code violations, poor music choice, or negative attitudes (if applicable) during their teenage years as they are for us to spank their 3 year old when we catch them doing a "No-no", today. (And I sincerly hope they'll be willing and comfortable to do the same for Norah, should she need it.)

For now though, I think I'll just enjoy our sweet kids the way that they are today. Innocent. Loving. And faithful without questioning. The photos below were of Nathan. He watched Norah drop her pacifier, and without even being prompted to do so, he gladly picked it up for her, and gently put it back in her mouth. I thought it was pretty precious that he's already taking good care of his "sister". (Even if 10 years from now he isn't too keen on the photos of him kissing her!)

A Big Day For "A.A."

Today was a momentous day for my little sister. In addition to celebrating her 24th birthday, Amanda made what may have been her final drive to Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, to walk the stage.

We decked Norah out in her "Bearcat" t-shirt (compliments of AA--aka "Aunt Amanda") and matching orange bow. Our cheering section was comprised of Amanda's boyfriend, Trae, our brother, Jonathan, Amanda's good friend, Lisa, our folks, Norah and me. After the ceremony, we got a surprise when we ran into our cousin, Frances (aka Frankie), who had come along with her best friend, Christy, to watch Christy's sister graduate, so we took the opportunity for a photo op. (One of many... probably too many from Amanda's vantage point...but I think she'll be glad for the pictures one of these days)

It was a proud morning, watching my sister receive her diploma after a few years of hard work, dedication, and a lot dashboard time between B-CS and Huntsville. (And FYI, she did not eat it when she went up to receive her diploma) Norah wasn't too keen on sitting still and being quiet for the duration, but between the fact that Sam isn't too huge and it was a summer graduation, we got off pretty easy, time-wise.

Next stop for Amanda: Austin for grad school. I can't believe after 24 years together, we'll be living with over 100 miles between us! (Thankfully, her time at Sam Houston has proven that she's more than capable and willing to drive a few miles)

New Pictures

My best buddy, Jenny (aka--Our Family Photographer) took some great photos to commemorate Norah's 6-month mark. I thought I'd share one of my favorites. I love that she has baby slobber on her chin! I'm sorry if you find it offensive, but the way I see it, she'll only be this little once, and this photo truly captures what Norah looks like. I love it. Jenny, you're the greatest!

13 Movies That Take Me Back

Thanks to a recent post by Sheri D. for inspiring this week's 13--"Favorite Movies That I Grew Up With". Feel free to post your favorites! I'm feeling all nostalgic now and you might remind me of a few I missed.

1. The Neverending Story (Whoa-whoa, whoa-whoa, whoa-whoa)
2. Toby Tyler (What kid didn't want to run away and join the circus at some point?)
3. The Sound of Music (I could watch this about a gazillion times!)
4. Summer Magic (Did anyone else grow up with this little-known classic?)
5. The Little Princess (Shirley Temple)
6. Oklahoma! (So many great songs...and yes, I am a BIG-TIME musical geek and I'm not ashamed to admit it)
7. The Princess Bride (Favorite lines: "Stop that rhyming and I mean it!" "Anybody want a peanut?)
8. My Fair Lady (I loved the part where she swallows the marble, and of course the scene where she regally walks down the staircase in her beautiful, white dress and tiara and drops Henry Higgins' jaw)
9. The Indiana Jones Trilogy (ok, so I wasn't wild about the "Temple of Doom" heart-removal scene...but other than that, it was a great series!)
10.The Swiss Family Robinson (the coolest tree house ever!)
11. Old Yeller (Favorite line: "I don't wanna play in 'at ole backyard!")
12.The Man From Snowy River (Still one of my all-time favorite soundtracks!)
13.The Original Star Wars Trilogy (like I could be married to Jason Robinson and leave those off the list!)