I'm back!

Sorry I haven't posted anything this past week. Our place has been a sick house! We've had the stomach bug and a bad cold that we've been sharing with each other. Thankfully Ava didn't catch anything, just the rest of us have been sick. I've been busy wiping noses, fixing chicken rice soup, and doing lots of laundry.
Ava had her two month check up on Thursday, and she is doing well! She weighs 11 pounds, 5 ounces. At this age Abigail weighed 3 ounces more, so they're pretty close in size. Ava is in the 75th percentile for her height. She may be taller than me one day! I've noticed lately how much less I am concerned that Ava reach all the milestones on time than I was with Abigail. From rolling over, to sleeping through the night (which she just about is), to holding her head up, I just haven't thought so much about those things. We left her in the nursery for the first time at church this morning-over a month sooner than we did with Abigail. I think I'm just enjoying the place she is in at the moment more without thinking of what's ahead. She started playing a game with me this weekend. She sticks out her tongue and waits for me to do the same. When I do, she gives me a huge smile! Then she wants to do it again, and again. So cute!
Abigail is becoming more and more a little girl everyday. She tells me at least once a day that she likes pink (as if I didn't know!), and she loves to be a little mommy. She pretended to change one of her babies diapers today. She had the baby on the changing pad and was wiping his bottom with a wipe, saying "Oooh, you're stinky! Let's get you cleaned up!" It sounded strangely like the way I talk to Ava...
She is really going through a tough stage though. It seems like she has whined constantly this weekend over anything and everything. This afternoon we had about a 30 minute cryfest, all over her taking one bite of her peanut butter sandwich. It involved many spankings and time outs, but nothing seemed to work. Even after I spanked her, she still wouldn't take one bite. She finally gave in, and was fine about 5 minutes later. I, however, was about ready to cry myself! I need so much help in this. I told the Lord this afternoon that I just don't know what to do sometimes! I need His wisdom so much in raising this girl.

I want to share something I read in J.C. Ryle's little book, The Duties of Parents. Thanks, Keri!

"Precious no doubt, are these little ones in your eyes; but if you love them, think often of their souls. No interest should weigh with you so much as their eternal interests. No part of them should be so dear to you as the part which will never die...This is the thought that should be uppermost on your mind in all you do for your children. "