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One Year Old?

That's right. I really can't believe it! We had a fun family birthday party Saturday and Karis was so precious! She had so much fun with her cousins. She got a walking toy that she loves and has really been practicing! She actually took a couple steps on her own a couple nights ago. I was at the store and I told Dee he should have pushed her down. She can't do that away from me!! I'll post some pictures later, but just wanted to give a quick update!

She is learning new things every day & it has been so fun. Her babbling seems more like words, her fine motor skills are developing, and she understands my words more and more. I remember a friend from church telling me that when her child went for her 12 month checkup, the doctor said they understand about 90% of what we say. That's a little scary and also a good reminder that little ears are always listening.

She has been using her signs for more and please so well lately and it helps us both communicate better! Typically, when she signs "more", she sort of claps instead of putting her fingers together. Last weekend, I was asking her if she wanted more as I signed it to her. She stared at my fingers for a while, then studied her own hands and slowly put her fingers together like mine and did it correctly. It was amazing to watch her have that epiphany of, "Oh, that's how you do it!!"

Today at the doctor, she was really intrigued with the stethoscope as the doctor listened to her breathing. She sat really still and watched very closely. When the doctor finished, she walked away and Karis signed "more, more". It was so funny. I guess she liked it!

I love my little girl!!

Giving Up Noah for Adoption

Most of you know we recently gave our dog Noah to our friends, Jason & Shawnda. We knew we would have to do something before we move and when they started looking for a dog, we decided it was worth it to go ahead and do it early. He really is happy there & he gets to be inside! He loves that and he loves all the kids and he loves all the attention! Buster is still with us and he got to come inside too! He has very limited roaming space, but Dee convinced me he's too old to be in the cold with his arthritis. So, we lost one and gained one...sort of!

"I'll miss you, Buster!"





The last bath...he hates it!





Karis loves to stand and look at the dogs out the window





Buster still doesn't know what he thinks about being inside with Karis. She loves him & gets so excited! But, as you can see, he usually just walks away. I think the shrieking overwhelms him. It's pretty funny watching them sometimes!

Even More Cousins!

Yes, it has been a childcare extravaganza around here! Dana and I have been taking turns keeping all the cousins lately. So they have been around each other a lot and Dana and I are seeing what it's like to have 4 kids very close in age! The kids are Kayden: 2 1/2, Isaiah: 15 mo., Karis: 11 mo., and Kayla: 5 1/2 mo.. So it is a busy day when they are all together, but it's fun! Dana and I have definitely gained a greater appreciation for my mom who does this all the time! It's so wonderful to have a mom close by that serves all of us in SO many ways. I know I won't always have that and it's one of the hardest things about moving. But the kids have a lot of fun together. Mealtimes are definitely the most challenging! And since I am starting to slowly wean Karis off her bottle, she does NOT like it when Kayla gets hers and she doesn't get one! But we're all learning to share and be patient....the moms, I mean!

Kayden's usual state all day long...no pants & eating a snack!





He does NOT like it when any of the babies cry. Here, he is telling Karis in the monitor it's going to be ok.





Kayden loves to "hold" Karis.






I had a little photo shoot with Kayla. It's so much easier when they can't move that much!





Typical moment: Kayden telling me what he wants to do next, Isaiah & Karis whining & Kayla was sleeping, I think

Karis loves to laugh!

Dee says she only laughs like this with me, but I think you just have to know her tickle spots!

More cousins

We love being Uncle Dee & Aunt Stacey to our dear friends' kids! We have had the privilege of spending a lot of time with them lately while our friends were away for the weekend. So the Lanier house expanded to 4 children for a few days & we had a blast. Karis loved it! Being the first child, I definitely think she gets bored of looking at me! I have always loved being around and taking care of lots of kids like this. In high school, there were 2 different families of 4 that I kept regularly. It has fueled my desire for a family. And I love seeing my husband with other children. He is so good with them, playing, dancing, doing hair, and keeping them in line! It was definitely a lot of work and I see our need to grow as parents, but that will come! Our friends are such an example to us in their heart for adoption and their willingness to be a part of meeting a need for an orphan even when it's hard. The Lord has used them to increase our passion for adoption and she is a great example to me in parenting. I learn a lot from her. Here are a few snapshots of our extended family!



Big brother helping read the bedtime story




BATH TIME!




Helping Aunt Stacey around the house




Uncle Dee loves some cuddle time





Sisters




Karis loved having a playmate!

UPDATE!

I know it's been so long since I've updated anything! We are still alive! I'll try to post lots to give some of the details of the life of the Laniers and not all at once. Karis has had lots of friends and cousins over lately. She really has loved it! She loves playing with other kids and it has definitely kept me busy. I am so blessed to have so many friends and family so close to spend time with and keep each others' kids. It really is a privilege and a joy to be a part of their families too!

I am very thankful for Karis to be able to spend so much time with her cousins lately. She and Isaiah are like twins in a lot of ways. She chases him all over the place....he's still faster and now that he can walk, she has to work hard to keep up! But they really do have a lot of fun together! We love you Isaiah!

Like I said, they seem like brother and sister sometimes. Here they are sharing?? a toy.





They really can't stay away from each other. Whenever one is eating, the other one stays right there to eat the crumbs that fall!! :)





This is one of their favorite toys. It's funny to watch Karis smack his hand or for Isaiah to move her hand from what he wants to play with.




The stairs is one their favorite places to sneak off to, so now we use a gate all the time!





Here's Isaiah playing a game. He likes to throw things (ie my flip flops) to the other side of the gate & then try to get them back. Here he got his arm stuck!




Karis follows Isaiah in a lot of things. Watch this! He is really enjoying showing her how to drum! (Karis really was ok in the end...she didn't get hurt!)

Amazing Aquabatic baby!

From Dee:
I am definitely the type to delete forwards as soon as they hit my inbox. It's a shame, but I have reported family members for spam alert on my email server. Well, every now and then I open one of these things up, and what I saw amazed me. I'm sure many of you are already aware of infant swimming lessons, and Stacey may even be well aware of the importance of it. But after watching this video I was blown away.

Google Apps is Cool

Let me start by saying that my wife already calls me a "walking commercial." Seeing that this is true, I might as well live up to my name and start advertising. I have been big on Google Apps for a little while, and now I have to share the joy. This past week I started using Google Apps almost exclusively, since I tend to have files and preferences spread amongst 4 different computers that I use daily (and 3 different platforms at that)! After really giving it a test drive, I have to say that I am sold-- wait, it's free! Could you imagine how churches, and missionaries, and schools could use this? Truly amazing.


Click here if you're a business or organization and want to see a more detailed look.

Go Karis...Get Loose Now!

And away we go...

Alright,
It's official-- the Lord has seen fit to move our hearts to Philly! OK, the tough part will be moving our actual selves, but that'll come. No set timeline yet, but we're praying and planning (soon enough) to start moving in that direction. To sum it up, we loved Epiphany, and the many families that we got to spend time with. And overall we loved the city. We felt the burden of the distressed in the target area, and we breathed in the rich history of the city as a whole. On top of that we got to see some really nice chill areas to get away to commune with the Lord and with each other, just to regroup and hit it back hard in the community. Details to come, but we just wanted y'all to know!

Much love,
Dee (Phil 3:13-14)

In Philly-- Sunday

We're here for the week, spending time with Pastor Duce and his wonderful wife, Missy, and the kids. We had a great time at Epiphany this morning, as well as time of fellowship afterwards. We are here four more full days. Pray that we seek the Lord's face and continue to evaluate objectively.

Much love,
Dee

Up and Down

That's basically where our emotions are these days...up and down. It has been an eventful few days which started Thursday afternoon. After leaving work and picking up Karis, I took a quick pregnancy test since I was a few days late. Two tests quickly came out positive. Dee and I spent the next few days in shock, talking about this huge unexpected change in our family! Yet we were excited though amazed at the reality of this. We were trying to get time with my parents to deliver the news on Sunday. That afternoon, I started what I believed was the beginning of a miscarriage. Yesterday at the doctor, they agreed with me and said it was probably what they call a "chemical pregnancy". It's basically where fertilization happens but implantation does not and your body expels it just like a normal cycle.
So I've basically had a normal monthly experience, just heavier and a little more painful. We're doing ok and have had lots of love and prayers from the few who knew. I don't know if we've really processed all this. I've been keeping myself busy. The Lord is faithful. I do know that.

UNBELIEVABLE

This is my reaction that I OFTEN have when I drive by church marquees. Per my husband's suggestion, I will start a new series on this. I have a MAJOR pet peeve about church signs because they very seldom have real meaning or value nor do I believe they make a lot of difference in people's lives. I'm not saying there are no exceptions. I know of a story where a billboard with a Christian message was used to bring a man to faith. I have seen a couple that have been impactful, but mostly, I see phrases and quotes that are cheesy or meant to produce guilt. I hate when the church represents guilt and condemnation. That is NOT the message of Jesus! Others are just really cheesy which is another element I don't like the church taking on.
So, I will start with the one that I saw a few years back that created my pet peeve for this and invoked so much anger.

"Get Filled or Get Grilled"

I did a triple take in disbelief that a church would actually display this for passersby to see, thinking that it may have some impact on the world???? or bring some to Christ??!!??!?

So, that was the beginning...
Dee saw another today that was just plain cheesy.

"To Save Face, Shut the Lower Part"

Ok, that's not even creative or catchy. Just funny to me. I'm sure there's a book out there of 101 Church Sign Messages. AAAAHH! So, sorry if I'm on a rant, but these things really bother me because I want the body of Christ to represent so much more! I would rather the church sign be merely informational. That's more attractive to me. At least it helps me get in the door. I know when to show up!

Ok, off my soap box for now... I'm sure I will see another soon that I will share.

Please Read

Please read Dee's blog for some big prayer requests concerning not only Dee, but our whole family.

Oh yeah, super praise reports concerning Karis:
1) She's 21lbs, 2oz today (she's about to turn 6 months old)
2) She's picking herself up to stand if she holds your fingers. "Scoots" backwards, and rolls over on both sides with ease.
3) Is getting fussy for no apparent reason at times. Can you say, "teething"?

She's a joy, and growing too fast!

Cuuuuuuuutttee!!!

Thanks Jason, these are wonderful shots of our baby girl. You have a gift of photography!

Kayla Jane Hartness

Kayla was born 1 week ago at 9:32 am. 6 lb, 12 oz, 18 1/2 inches long. She has a proud family, with Mommy, Daddy (my brother Chris), Big Brother Kayden, 2 cousins (on our side), and aunts, uncles, Grammie and Pops!! She's so tiny that my baby looks so big now! I know, I know, she IS big. But she REALLY looks big now!!
We love you Kayla!

Old Pics--Karis' first wedding

I have meaning to post these and haven't gotten around to doing it until now. This was a couple months ago, but I really wanted to share these sweet pics of our little girl all dressed up. My good friend, Kali, who lived with us for about 6 or 7 months, got married. I was in the wedding (15th Bridesmaid appearance for me!!!!). Karis was a real trooper for such a long day and it was fun to dance with Daddy and Karis.

Tagged

I was tagged by Kelly and I am going to break the rules. I'll fulfill my tag and not tag anyone else. So, if you read this and you haven't been tagged, go ahead and do it!

Ok, it's 8 things most people don't know about me...

1-My childhood nickname was Lucy Goosey. (My parents still call me Lucy or Goose every once in a while. I don't where it came from.)

2-My top 2 favorite music genres are Country & 80's music. (My husband and I have an ongoing battle where he argues that 80's music has no real instrumental talent because it's all electric. I like it anyway.)

3-I have never been on a foreign mission trip, but I have been to Norway twice to visit my friend. (ok, a lot of you probably knew that one.)

4-I played the piano for 6 years.

5-I played middle school basketball. (Seventh grade-we lost no games, Eighth grade-I don't remember winning one. Oh yeah, in the seventh grade, our whole county was under a measles quarantine so we didn't PLAY any games!)

6-I met 3 friends in the same major on my hall my Freshman year of college who became my roommates for the next 2 years. We still get together 5-6 times a year for every birthday, Christmas, and summer trips with our families.

7-I really love putting puzzles together. I could sit and do that for hours.

8-Born on the first day of Spring in 1976 and my parents coming from the Hippie era, my first name choice was not Stacey, but my name was ALMOST....Spring Hartness!!!
(I have often wondered if that would have changed my personality entirely!)