Kason is 1!

How in the world does time go by so quickly?  Kason...my baby boy...you are already 1!

Kason,
     You are a deep well of joy and life to our family!  You make everything more fun.  You are the apple of all of our eyes...truly, we all look at you with so much love and delight!  We enjoy everything about you.  Your hair is super fun and your eyes sparkle happily.  You are a tiny little guy.  You are weighing in at 18 lbs and you still wear 6-9 month clothes.  You are a super fast crawler, you walk with a walking toy and stand on your own often.

     You LOVE bananas, blueberries and your very favorite things are balls.  You say "ball" all day-every day.  I will walk into the closet (your room) to get you out of bed in the morning and you will take your paci out of your mouth and say "ball!"  So we go look for one.  :)  You are fearless and independent and I often find myself asking "where's Kason" because you are so content to play on your own.  You love to dance and think Judson is really funny.  You don't mind him wrestling with you roughly.  You squeel a lot and giggle at yourself.  When you want to eat or drink what I have, you will say 'yum' and then expect that drink or food in your mouth quickly.  You point at people (that you know and strangers), smile, then slowly drop your pointed finger as you look at them and say something like "ohhhhhhh.'
      If there is mud or dirt, you will find it and play in it and eat it.  And then laugh.  You are all boy!  You have just discovered trucks and cars.  You will crawl around the house pushing it for a long time.
    You really do have my heart and have been steady 'kisses' from heaven to me.  The Lord has such joy and favor resting on you.  I sense it and know it clearly.  As you walk, doors will just open before you and people will enjoy getting to be a part of your story.
     Your daddy wants to cut your curls now that you're one...I am hoping he reconsiders :)
    I love you, son.  I pray that this next year is just as wonderful as your first.  I want to treasure each little moment with you as you grow and trust that Jesus will draw your heart close to him and give you a tender heart towards us and especially towards Him.  You are greatly delighted in, little man.

Kiva is 5 (and a 1/2)

I have had this little blog post written in my phone notes for a long time now...it's just taken me a little while to get it to the blog.

    Kiva...you surprise me all of the time.  You are brilliant.  Truly.  Often I start to 'teach' you something only to find out you already know it.  You are a compassionate young lady who cares for people in the details.  You think deeply and I can see it anytime I talk about the Lord or just things about life.  Anytime I Sing-a-Song you ask questions about it.   You want to know what each little thing means. And then you sing along with me only when you're ready.  I like that.

    You're a leader among your peers and among those older than you. It's not unusual for me to walk into a room with you and other children playing and you are in front of them telling them what to do :-) and they happily follow you. You look up to Jada and you enjoy her approval but you are definitely your own thinker and you do things with conviction and energy.  When you choose to do something, it's a done deal...but you are not easily swayed.
     Your precious heart has been changed and softened by the Lord as you've been 5 and although sometimes it takes some discipline to help you understand some of your actions, you respond with a tender heart loving to be drawn close and quickly saying I'm sorry. 
      You are incredible with babies. They love you and they laugh deeply as  they enjoy you... especially Kason. You were the most natural little helper with him even more natural than Jada was. You would hold him with one hand while talking with expression using your other hand. 
     You laugh heartily and you play with gusto. You and Judson are quite the pair. You love making each other laugh and you wrestle together quite hysterically.  You often say you are a 'daddy's girl' but you enjoy sitting close with me and you will still often choose me over daddy :)...all of that said, you are VERY loved by both of us!  You started piano this year and Hannah says that you are a quick learner.  
     My prayer for you is that your heart would continue to be tender to Jesus and to us.  That as you grow this year, you would be confident in truth and lead others with grace and joy.  That you would happily submit your will to God's and come more alive doing it.  I pray that God would give me wisdom on what to direct you into with your physical strength and leadership. You are beautiful in every way.  You are my precious baby girl and I love you deeply in ways that words cannot express.  I look at you and want to be a better woman.  I respect you and cannot wait to see all that God does this year in your life!