Multitude Mondays - the beginning

I've been reading a book that has begun to change my perspective. (A Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp) 

So I've started a daily discipline of jotting down throughout each day things that I'm thankful for, in order to create a heart of gratitude that will remain long after my 1000 gifts are recorded. And in order to hold myself accountable to doing this each day, I will be posting my list every Monday. My first list is a bit longer because I started mid-week and continued through the next week.

I'm thankful for:

April 13, 2011

1. Hope

2. very specific prayers answered

3. a crushed spirit that leads me closer to my Savior

4. my little boy mesmerized by the beautiful fountain in Hyde Park

5. women gathered together growing in gratitude

April 14, 2011

6. the beginning of a discipline for a changed heart

7. unexpected energy after a very early morning

8. a quiet home

9. Carolina taking the time to write an encouraging letter to someone she's never met

April 15, 2011

10. remembering why I'm writing this list

11. Anlon Vipul Shah

12. time with Robyn and Norah Grace

13. my husband's heart

April 16, 2011

14. smooth time at the airport

15. the sun reflecting over Vipul and Anlon as they watch the planes

16. the most glorious Alabama day I've ever seen

17. fresh fish for dinner caught by Vipul and Uncle David

18. a conversation with Kristine that touched my heart

April 17, 2011

19. a place that feels like going home

20. good southern food

21. sound parenting advice

April 18, 2011

22. Anlon saying "dada" to Vipul

23. our little man so happy on the plane, despite exhaustion

April 19, 2011

24. my joy renewed this morning after a difficult evening

25. Ada's encouraging phone call

26. encouragement and truth spoken by the women in my Bible Study Fellowship group

April 20, 2011

27. God's word spoken

28. the butterfly who greeted me in my hurry to the car

29. sweet phone call from my mother-in-law and her love for Anlon

April 21, 2011

30. A new friend Betsy and her little boy Austin

31. Amber watching Anlon this afternoon

April 22, 2011

32. 10 hours of Anlon not waking last night - a record!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

33. early evening walk with the two most important people in my life

34. a holy and perfect God made a way for imperfect me to have an intimate relationship with Him

April 23, 2011

35. visit with Heather, Blake, Jenna and just born little Nathan Tyler

36. the YMCA

April 24, 2011

37. friends that are family

38. Anlon and Jenna enjoying one another

39. Jesus Christ is living and active in our home

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Anlon is 8 months old!!!!

Anlon turned 8 months old on March 26th! I'm a bit behind but I didn't want this month to pass without doing an 8 month post. He's so much fun and his smile is the most wonderful thing I've ever seen. He loves people, animals, books, music, and ceiling fans! Yep, his fascination with ceiling fans has not diminished and he continues to stare in awe whenever a fan is on. He really loves books and has a growing collection (I can't seem to resist when I see one I think he will like). And he can still entertain himself for quite some time watching his hands. He always watches his hands when he nurses and is determined to figure out a way to suck his fingers and eat at the same time (much to my frustration :). We're trying to teach him to hit our hand with his and to clap his hands, although so far he's content to just watch us in amazement.

He began sitting independently for long periods of time about 4 weeks ago and it has opened up many new options for play. He enjoys sitting while removing the plastic, colored rings from his Rock-a-Stack toy, picking up wooden blocks and tasting each one before tossing them off to the side and playing with his new sound puzzle (well, he loves picking up the pieces and tasting each one). He's not crawling yet, but he can cover quite a bit of ground by rotating himself in all directions and rolling. Speaking of rolling, diaper and clothes changing has become challenging at times because he now tries very hard to roll over to his belly - and sometimes succeeds. I've put a onesie on him from behind more than once!

He loves looking at himself in the mirror, and Vipul has developed a routine of stopping to look at the mirror in our hallway on their way upstairs. He gets so excited when they stop and Vipul says "Who's that baby in the mirror?". And oh, does he love his daddy. His face lights up every time he sees Vipul, especially when he first sees him in the morning and when he comes home from work. He loves for Vipul to toss him up in the air and laughs SO hard, which is the most wonderful sound in the world! And he loves to snuggle on Vipul's chest as he rocks him and sings to him at bedtime. One of his favorite times with him is just sitting on his lap while kicking his legs and "talking". His favorite word is "guh-guh-guh". And he makes a lot of funny sounds. One thing we love is hearing him sing himself to sleep. He doesn't always do this, but he often will get in his favorite sleeping position (on his belly with his knees tucked up and bottom in the air - he's been loving this position for a long time) and will make "uhhhhhhhh" sounds until he falls asleep.

Recently he didn't want Vipul to leave on a business trip :)

This picture shows off his new camera smile well. For a long time we had to work so hard to get him to smile for the camera, but recently he's embraced our photo sessions!

Although Anlon continues to breastfeed well, but he hasn't decide if eating solid food is worth all of the effort. On a good day he will eat the equivalent of a jar and a half of food; on a bad day a bite or two. I recently discovered that he often eats better when we're out of the house, so we've been taking trips to the park and our favorite French bakery Amelie's (they have a great play area for little ones). We also sometimes sit on our front door step and look at the courtyard plants while eating. His favorite vegetable is sweet potato and his favorite fruit is prunes. He also loves oatmeal and I've recently started a mixed cereal of whole grain oats, barley and wheat which he likes. I introduced cooked egg yolk about a week ago and he didn't love it, but did enjoy playing with the pieces on his tray. I'm going to keep trying since this is so good for him. I also offered him small pieces of mushed banana the other day - he didn't seem to like the texture and spit it out, but was very focused as he attempted to pick up the pieces with his fingers (which was my point of offering it anyway).

We've had some more difficult weeks when teething has been extra rough, but we're very happy to report that Bitey 2 made his grand entrance last week, joining his partner Bitey 1. Thank goodness for infant ibuprofen. I really hope we have a little break before his top front teeth come in. But even during his fussiest moments, Anlon is a gift from God that we certainly don't deserve. The Lord continues to show me more about Himself and His unfathomable love for His children as I mature as a mother and I thank Him every day for the precious gift we've been entrusted with.