One more month...

I cannot believe that my littlest is almost one year old!!!! I missed her 11 month old birthday (it was yesterday). I am a little sidetracked with all of the moving and stuff!!! But when I thought about it today I knew that I needed to make it a point to get on here and give a little update!

This picture was taken in front of our new house and I absolutely love it b/c it is truly a genuine smile from my kids. It was taken about a week ago when we went to "visit" our house. So Anastacia was not quite 11 months, but close enough.

So, let's see, what is she up to now? Well, she still is not walking but she sure is trying to! She is climbing though!!! She made it up one step at church this past Sunday and anytime we leave our step ladder sitting out she makes it up the first step and tries really hard to get onto the second. I'm a little nervous about the whole climbing thing - Mahala was a climber and she got into all kinds of stuff! Anastacia is also talking a whole lot...she attempts to repeat everything we say. She can say Hey(and waves), Bubba, Sissy(sounds more like shishy), Mama(finally!!!), Dada, Daddy, home(this one is actually my favorite), ball, ear, eyes, hair, bye(and waves), Papa, fish(sounds like psshh), book and bear. I am sure there are others that she has said, but these are the ones she says the most. She got a little photo album for Easter with grandparents and Aunt Tara, Uncle Stan and Bethany pictures in it and she is trying very hard to say some of those names. She says "Bet" for Bethany right now.

Her personality has really changed over the past few weeks. Where she used to be quiet and sorta solemn faced she is now starting to get a little loud and she is opening up to people. She still pulls away from strangers and gives them the eye, but once she has seen someone a few times, she will relax a little. She's getting a sense of humor and she likes to tease and laugh a lot! She loves to play patty-cake and to jump up and down to "Ride the pony." And she loves to dance. She head bangs a little and jumps up and down and claps her hands. Sometimes she falls over she gets so excited!

Her favorite food is strawberries. She is very certain about what she likes and doesn't like (who'da thunK???). If she really likes it she will try to cram the whole thing in her mouth, but if she doesn't she pushes it away and turns her head. There are very few foods that she doesn't like. The best part about her eating is the sounds she makes - she says mmmmmm the ENTIRE time she is eating!!! It cracks everyone up. (Mahala used to eat like that, so she gets to see it in Anastacia cause I've always told her how much she loved food when she was a baby.) So I have to put a video of Anastacia eating a strawberry b/c it is so cute!

I don't know if the sound is gonna come through or not - I previewed it and it didn't sound right. Even if it doesn't, it is still adorable b/c she is chowing down on that strawberry!

So besides eating and talking, Anastacia is so-o-o smart! She has learned where our ears and nose and eyes are. She also knows the mouth, but she won't touch it for some reason - she just stares at it with her eyes, as though she doesn't want to get germs on her fingers or something, LOL!!! We ask her where each of these parts is and she will point them out. She also knows where her own ears are, but I don't think she realizes she has a nose or eyes yet, LOL...

The dump truck has officially backed up!!!

If any of you have read Brandy's post about Damon's prophecy concerning the month of March - you know what I mean. And it has happened...God poured out the blessings in the month of March. On the last day of March my husband got a new job!! Finally!!!!!!!!!!!! You have no idea how long he has been looking and looking for some change in his career (well, some of you do). He is still a "truck driver," but now he is a tow truck driver. And I am not just talking about towing little cars and trucks, I mean the BIG ones! He will be driving a huge semi tow truck that will pull other big rigs! Sounds a little scary to me, but my man is not scared!! He had his first day of training yesterday and God is already showing him so much favor with the other drivers and with his boss. I am so proud of him and so excited about what God is doing in his life!

Also, the last week of March, God showed us the house we would be living in. If I could sit down and tell you the story about that one you would be floored. Let's just say it's a God thing!! The house is 3BR 2 BA with a 1/2 acre yard. It has tons of roses and other flowers and a back yard full of fruit trees. We are so excited about all of the roses and fruit trees b/c we will be able to bless others with our abundance. We signed the lease agreement yesterday but won't be moving until the first of May b/c we had to give notice to our apartment manager. Oh, and did I mention that it is just around the corner from our favorite park in Fresno?? So the kids and I can literally walk around the corner to the park and feed the ducks or have a picnic or whatever. Like having a huge playground in our backyard, except we don't have to keep it up! How cool is that? Anyway we are very excited about having a larger home and having a yard for the kids to play in, trees to climb, grass to mow, etc. Plus we can have pets if we like, which is first on the list for our kids. Now we just have to decide whether we want a dog or a cat.

Soooooo, we have a lot to do over the next few weeks! If you don't hear from me, that's why. But I will be back!!! Love you all :@)

Colten turns 9

I cannot believe that 9 years ago today, I held my son in my arms for the first time. Time has passed much too quickly for me, but I am savoring every moment. With each passing day, my son matures and grows as a mighty warrior for Christ. I am amazed at the maturity he exhibits and the boldness he demonstrates concerning the Kingdom of God. I am so proud of who he has become and so excited to see what God ultimately has for him. I know that, whatever it is, Colten will do it with excellence, enthusiasm and a joy that comes only from Jesus Christ! He has a sense of righteousness and purity that is rare in today's world and I am so thankful for that. I pray that God will always protect his purity and guide every single steps that he takes.

Colten you are a mighty man of God and I am so proud of you. I love you with all of my heart!!!

Mahala turns 5

Today we celebrated Mahala Grace's fifth birthday!!! Wow, I cannot believe it has been five years since I held that precious little girl for the first time. She was such a tiny little thing to me, only 6 pounds and 10 ounces. She was like a fragile little porcelain doll. Little did I know that she would not be fragile at all, this girl is one tough little cookie. But then, her name does mean "powerful woman," so I guess I should have had an inkling. Mahala is and always will be my baby girl. She has such a caring, compassionate heart and she longs to please those around her, but most of all she wants to please her Heavenly Father. Although physically she is tough as nails, her heart is as delicate as a flower. She is quick to repent when she does wrong and quick to correct when she sees another doing wrong. She has much to learn and oh so much to teach me and her daddy. She is full of passion and mercy and an eagerness to learn. She is daily growing into a beautiful, mighty young lady and I am so proud to call her my daughter! I look forward to many more years as I come to know the wonderful person that God created her to be. I love you Mahala Grace Gibbs.