Mommy's Superhero

I don't have much to write tonight about these pictures...but I had to post them. Hunter LOVES dressing up and playing pretend. With these pajamas, it's not hard to transform into Superman. What a cutie he is!

Millie at 18 months

Millie on Friday (11/7/08) at the Lake Hart Fall Festival

Well, this post is a little late, but I wanted to write a few thoughts about my little girl as she turned 18 months (back on Oct. 20):

Dear Millie,

How precious you are to me. You are full of energy, into everything...but growing little by little to listen and obey to Mommy and Daddy's voice. We pray one day that will lead you to listen to and obey God's voice. It's hard to chase after you sometimes. I feel like I say "No, Millie" or "Millie, No" a lot...but you are a gem. I look forward to seeing you grow into the vibrant little girl that I see in you even at this young age. You give life to so many...filling our moments with laughter and smiles. Even at this age, friends are happy to see you in the church nursery. You are already a social butterfly.

We have never cut your hair. 18 months, and your baby hair is still there. Unlike your brother, you never lost your baby hair, so I just can't bear to cut it. Everyone comments on how long your hair is. I know I will cry when the day comes to give you a trim. We use (and lose) lots of barrettes (which you call "bets") and rubber bands trying to keep your hair out of your face, and you have even figured out how to push your hair behind your ears...but it never stays.

You are so verbal. Let's see...what words are present in your 18th month:
monkey (because you like Curious George so much), Huner (you are finally getting "Hunter"), cheese (cracked me up at Albertson's tonight pointing out the cheese), Nigh Nigh (saying good-night...and even pretending in the middle of the day. I love those first signs of imagination), Die-Do (Diego), Do-Da (Dora), He-Yo (Hello), Hi (you say "hi" and "bye" to just about anyone), Bye Bye, Doggy, Moo (for both cows and horses), you can put together two word phrases such as mo pease (more please). I'm sure there are many more.

You and Mommy just got back from 2 hours of bargain hunting at Wal-Mart, CVS, and Albertsons...getting nothing less than the very best deals of the week. Even though Mommy can be a little obsessive at times, I hope you will learn from me how to manage a home and family in a way that honors the Lord. I struggle to even write that, because the task of doing that and modeling it to you feels weighty...but I look forward to everyday helping you become the woman God will make you to be.

Millie, there is so much more I could write, but a day of church, resting, coupon clipping, and bargain hunting with you have left me tired...but full of encouragement and love. Love for you, my sweet girl. Happy 18 months (a few weeks late).

Love, Mommy

Photos taken on 10/20/08 (Millie's 18 month old day)

While obviously a cutie, notice the aforementioned hair
we are constantly trying to keep out of her face.

Posing in Hunter's Peter Pan/Robin Hood Hat

This is a fairly common look. Not sure what it means.
Most of the time it's frustration or just trying to show a little attitude.

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

To get to OVIEDO!

Although we have lived in Orlando for over a year, we moved this summer to a small town in the northeast corner of Orlando called Oviedo. Oviedo is fun. We are a few miles away from all the conveniences of modern civilization, BUT...we are also minutes away from a very quaint downtown area that is full of charm...and chickens!!! Yes, I said chickens. Downtown Oviedo is known for their chickens. There is a town square where I go to BSF (Bible Study Fellowship), and you can very often roll your windows down and hear the "cocka-doodle-doo" of a rooster or literally see a chicken crossing the road. It's hilarious.

If you look up Oviedo on Wikipedia, part of the entry includes this:

Oviedo is known for a population of chickens that roam the downtown area, ironically near the restaurant Popeyes. There are so many of them roaming the area that often traffic stops as they cross the roads. The chickens have been featured on Oviedo t-shirts and coffee mugs and a poster commemorating one of Oviedo's annual civic festivals, "A Taste of Oviedo". There are specific laws and statutes regarding the chickens, both for their protection.

Chicken behind Popeyes

Anyway, the kids and I always enjoy driving through downtown and seeing the chickens ("bock bocks" as Millie likes to call them). We went to the library on Thursday (which is a good mile from the downtown square where the chickens mostly reside), and, lo and behold, there were two chickens in the front lawn of the library. The hilarious thing is that they both flew up into a tree. Did you know chickens could take flight? I know they have wings (I like them with Buffalo and ranch sauce), but I had no idea they could actually fly.

Of course, I had to take a picture...I took a few that I was not satisfied with. I went closer, got my pic, and then the chicken started growling. For real...it was growling. I quickly took a few steps back, got the kids, and we left the chickens high on their perch above the library to stake their territory.

Hunter is sometimes afraid they will peck us. Parking for BSF is limited, so we park near the consignment store where they live and walk to Bible Study. Whenever we get out of the car, a chicken will follow us down the sidewalk. I somehow feel like they are shooing us away from their territory.

So...why did the chicken cross the road? To get to Oviedo. It's home to quite a few. The truly do rule the roost in our little downtown. Come down for a visit. Walk away with the bumper sticker: "I brake for Oviedo chickens."

The chicken in front of the Oviedo Library...right before it began growling at me.