...buy me some peanuts and CrackerJacks

One very sleepy fan by the end of the game!

I didn't realize that when I married Josh Mathews I would marry into being a Cubs fan. It is kind of fun actually since the Cubs have not won a series in over 100 years the fans are pretty loyal. They understand the agony of defeat and yet continue to hope. Growing up in an all girl family this whole sports thing has been kind of foreign to me. But I am learning a lot about the "love of the game". It is becoming a fun tradition to go to our yearly Cubs vs Giants game since we can't really fly to Wrigley. And this year we inititated in our dear little Hallel in person (she was in the womb last year as Jr is this year) to two games. We are still working on the fan part of things since she likes taking off her hat more than wearing it. She did awesome!!! And the fun part was that half way through the night game a man came up and gave Josh his behind home plate tickets as he was leaving. We had more room and it was an exciting game with the Cubbies winning in the 9th inning! We went back on Saturday for a day game and the Cubs did it again just for us. It was a special time as a family and hopefully our tradition continues as our family grows!


Hallel making Daddy proud!

kids

Today Hallel turns 9 months. She has one and a half teeth on the bottom. She is constantly pulling herself up and down on things and roaming the room from one piece of furniture to the next. She is starting to understand the word "no" and sometimes stops what she is doing when she hears it. Dad works with her all of the time to stand without holding on to anything. She is trying to master formula in a sippy cup (we have a ways to go) and is starting to eat thicker baby food with chunkies in it. She is simply a delight and a happy girl, most all of the time!

Hallel's brother or sister will soon be found out, October 5th!!! And we will be sure to spill the news. Today marks the 17th week (or about that) of this little tiger's life. According to Baby Center.com "Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop. " We are again in awe at the miracle taking place inside of my body as a life is being formed. It is fun to see our Dr. (whom we really appreciate) not ask us about possible termination and tests and just get excited with us. We hope our children are always a witness of God's infinite wisdom and love!

A family portrait

Well how many times in your life do you have a friend who is a professional photographer who wants to take pictures of your family just because? I have to put a picture of my beautiful friend and her cutie pie on too.

Some of my favorite pictures capture Hallel's personality. Her scrunchy nose face is one of her favorite faces when she laughs. And I love the embarrased kissing picture. And of course Hallel and her daddy tops the charts. It was a beautiful day in Sausalito, a small fishing town, nearby.
Thanks Shannon!!!!!

PS if you ever need pictures done go to shancunninghamphotography.com

Friends

Josh and Hallel and I were able to catch up with some friends last week. Josh went to Wheaton with both Dave and Julia. I met them for the first time at their wedding about a month before Josh and I got engaged. They are certainly those type of contagious people that when you spend time with them you feel encouraged in the Lord and just super special!

Dave has been slaving away on his PHD in Scotland, Germany, and England for which we are a bit envious while Julia has been teaching in each of these areas. They are brave souls and a testimony of God's grace as Dave just completed his PHD!!!! Congrats again!!!!

It is great to see a couple a few steps ahead of us and we await this blissful day too!

We are thankful for their friendship and it was great to see them!

Hallel has so many dear little friends around here that we are so thankful for too. We feel privileged to live a few doors down from some of her best little buddies. Hallel and I love going on walks with her friends Carsyn, Salem, and Tucker. The other day she spent some time with Grace, a beautiful little Korean girl that I used to work with her mom, Rebekah, at the preschool. Hallel and Grace shared cheerios, grabbed toys and Hallel wanted to pull Grace's beautiful black hair. I am glad that it is innocent fun right now. Hopefully we will skip the biting stage.

We are so thankful for our dear friends!!!

And how could I resist a picture of the two people who make me laugh all the time!

Shoe Fettish

Yes, our little one already LOVES shoes! Right now I think they mostly just taste good!

new news!

Well, Hallel is crawling. I haven't had time to post since she first started and since she constantly practices she is already much faster. Of course as soon as she learns one thing than it is on to the next. So, she is constanly holding on to things and trying to pull herself up on them. Today I came into the living room and she was standing up next to her excer saucer. I didn't see it happen but then when she was supposed to be taking a nap she was standing in her crib. Yikes! She is also learning how to clap and wave. I think that I even saw the start of a tooth tonight on her gums, wow. How can one kid learn and grow so much at one time!

Well, I guess Hallel is going to have to keep up at this rate because she will be setting the standard as "big sister"! Yup, that is right there is another bun in the oven. Unfortunately the oven is suffering from some morning sickness:( The baby is due March 5th,2010 so our kids will be close in age and Lord willing close in bond. We are super excited as we see the Lord growing our family and blessing us in this stage of life.

And by the way Josh spent 5 hours today writing 14 pages for his first of 3 days of comps so you can keep praying for him this week!!!!

Pictures, scooting, and swimming pools

I love my life!

A special visit from Auntie Cynthia

Of course I would love to try peas!

They look like green what?

Hangin out with my peeps at the kids museum near the Golden Gate Bridge.

We had a hot day on Sunday and pulled out the baby pool for the first time. Hallel loved it especially splashing.

Well the Mathews pad is on its way to being baby proofed because our little scooter is about to become a crawler. Who knows the day? But the question is, will we be ready? Of course not! How can you be ready for a little 20lb body that can fit into the smallest awkward of spaces with tiny little fingers that can grab just about anything? I don't think you can be ready. But with covers on our outlets and locks on our cabinets, we will try.

Right now Hallel is really good at going backwards and just mastered the bootie to knees and back to bootie trick so it is just a matter of time. Sometimes she gets up on her feet and scoots forward but just can't get those knees into the action yet. She also loves to just stand and hold on to her exer-saucer. She can stand for a good 5 min or more without falling. Can you tell we are proud?

I had a Nostalgic moment this week while making some pillows to liven up our bed and couches. I was hand sewing them and was reminded of my Great Grandma Kyker who used to make huge quilts by hand. I can't believe the time it must have taken her to make one. Ah the good ole days.

Josh is getting back into school mode as next week starts Seminar week and comprehensive exams the next week for him. Then he will start teaching Hebrew and researching his Dissertation topic. Please keep praying for him.