11 Months

Sweet baby girl is 11 months old! Ahhhhhh! Oh how we love her.

She is crawling as fast as greased lightning, getting into everything especially the pantry and bookshelves, eating almost everything we eat, giving high fives, mooing like a cow, cheering for herself, saying "All done" and "Uh oh," calling the Indians (patting her hand over her mouth), and pulling up on the bottom step and toy basket. Go, E!!! 

This little guy

I mean just look at him. Hahaha! He's stolen my heart all over again over the past few weeks. I mean who am I kidding, he had me at hello, but the past couple of weeks, he has been especially heart stopping. 

The middle child...that's him. Carter does everything first, and Emerson is the cute baby girl. BUT let me tell you that doesn't stop this little stinker. He's his own person, and he isn't competing with ANYONE!

See what I mean? 

He's constantly keeping us laughing. 

He can throw one fantastic fit, and let me tell you that he gave me a run for my money during the twos, but I noticed something really great about his character two weeks ago, and I wanted to make note. He is really happy for others when they accomplish something. He was genuinely happy for Carter when he got his yellow belt and felt no need to compete or keep up or accomplish something to make himself stand out. And it's like that with everything. He thinks it's great when Carter and Emerson get a present from someone or when we cheer for Emerson's new trick or one of Carter's accomplishments. I pray my other kiddos will follow suit when it comes to their siblings. What an example he is! I am convinced that God uses our children to refine us way more than He uses us to refine our children. 

Are we genuinely happy for others when they get/receive/accomplish something great? Do we try to keep up and compete? Are we jealous? I think we can all take a lesson from Coop. 

Just adore him and the fact that this was his school picture proof. Bahahaha!!!

Tid Bit Tuesday (on Monday)

Chris and Cassandra Kuykendall

I don't know this couple, BUT I do know that Chris makes awesome posters, and they love Jesus so much that they are following the call to plant a church in Amsterdam. SO go to his Etsy sight and buy a $10 poster and help the Chris and Cassandra take the gospel to Amsterdam. 

Read more about them here and here.

Buy a poster here.

Ultimately, my family and I feel called to love and serve the city of Amsterdam. We quit our jobs, sold our house, and have put everything on the line for this cause. I don’t say that to impress you, rather I hope you see that we’re convinced that Jesus is worth everything we have. This print initiative is our way of generating the funds it takes to live in Amsterdam. It is also our hope, that someone would see one of our print pieces on your wall, or in their mailbox, and put more thought into what the Bible actually reveals about God, Jesus, Christians, and the Church. Simply put, your purchase directly helps our family do what we feel God has led us to do. We can’t express the gratitude we feel toward our customers. - Christ Kuykendall

Halloween and Belt testing

Halloween came and went in a flash! Where did October go? We must have been having too much fun to really soak it in! We had multiple Halloween/fall parties last week. Lots of pumpkin painting, candy eating, trick or treating fun. Time for the sugar high to end and start getting ready for turkey!!!

I read yesterday on the Tullian Tchividjian's Gospel Coalition blog that the trick or treating part of Halloween is a great picture of the gospel...everyone gets candy! Just knock and the door is opened and get candy. It doesn't matter how good your costume is or how well you said the words or anything....no conditions. It's free and its for all who come! Never thought of that!

Dropping Wolverine off for his school party.

Getting Emerson ready for the Reformation Party.

Batman! Carter has had a Batman obsession lately. He draws ten Batman pictures a day, plays with his Batcave, watches his Batman Lego movie, and plays nothing but Batman games on the playground with his buddies. Batman is a MAJOR part of the Bell household right now. So of course his costume this year was a no brainer.

Cutest crew in town.

She scored a Dum Dum out of her brother's loot.

Carter Belt tested Saturday for his yellow strip belt. BIG DEAL! He passed! And at the end, his teacher Master Ra said he wanted to give one medal out to the most improved student in the class....drum rollllllll.....Carter Bell!!!!! What a special day it was for my little guy! He's been beaming ever since and hasn't put down that medal yet. Oh and something else cool...he broke his first board! I was so shocked he could do it. Great job, Buddy! We are proud of you!