I first met Miss Holland way back when her mama did a nursing session with me last summer.
This is the third time she's gotten in front of my camera, and I swear, it takes a lot of self control not to eat her ;]
Sigh...baby toes.
This girl seriously loves her daddy. It kills me every. time.
Sisters are the best
Happy Birthday, Sweet Holland!
Do you see this beautiful, well adjusted, not a care in the world little toddler?
About 5 hours after this picture was taken, she was replaced with a small, terrifying, deafening creature of which the likes of M. Knight Shyamalan could not even imagine.
Daylight Savings Time is such a piece of crap. We've NEVER had issues with the time change before, NEVER! But now I know why toddler moms across America get drunk prepare themselves for this most unholy night of the year. The terror it brings is unmatched.
I'd much rather be creeped out by that one stuffed animal in your kid's bed that looks JUST like another person than deal with the Grimlin my Mogwai turned into.
Until, that is, God gave me a very precious gift.
After about an hour of sitting, ahem, screaming bloody murder, in the hallway over not being able to finish her Bible story because I took a toy away and she threw a fit (Yes, this story actually starts with me punishing Lily by not reading her the bible. Awesome parenting, anyone?) Lily gave in. I heard her apologize to daddy in between her shaky breaths, and heard her chubby baby feet stomping down the hall towards me.
I tried to be all "Ya, you are a bad kid, what the hell have you been doing for an hour, you better not wake up your sister when we get in your room" but God quickly, lovingly, slapped me outta that.
"Hu, hu, Mama?"
"Yes, Lily" (In my stern, but beautiful stepmother voice)
"I-I sthowwy for cwyin mama"
She lets all of her weight fall into my arms and I feel God there with me. Right there.
I have a flash back to minutes before when she was thrashing around in the hallway like an adorable, deadly, miniature killer whale, and I'm asking myself "WHY is she doing this? She's screaming about wanting to go to bed, but refuses, she's doing this to herself!"
But as soon as her chubby cheeks covered and boogers and tears rub up against my chest, and the weight of her little frame becomes heavy in my arms, and I can feel the conviction of her repentance, I feel- and momentarily understand- God's love for us. I can see all the times I've fought Him, though His plans for me are just and for my betterment, thrashing around in a fit of inobedient rage, only to be worn down by His patience (this is where I fall short, naturally) and want nothing more than His embrace.
He is so good.
Daylight Savings Time, is not.
Mark 9:36-37