tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58881123275492503402024-03-13T21:33:18.225-07:00The Bertolinisabertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-61414734400113608772018-12-11T13:57:00.000-08:002018-12-11T14:06:29.857-08:00Christmas 2018<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7cvTYsalu9w/XBAx8KKgYlI/AAAAAAAABno/eWYfze2AY0kmD-qqs4Oh23MRELyDpeiywCLcBGAs/s1600/34318284_10214259048461924_8342883679382536192_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7cvTYsalu9w/XBAx8KKgYlI/AAAAAAAABno/eWYfze2AY0kmD-qqs4Oh23MRELyDpeiywCLcBGAs/s320/34318284_10214259048461924_8342883679382536192_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFVoVFEZCCM/XBAx8vocGqI/AAAAAAAABns/e3wtN1BmAn4ID9WcCZgybInba6MX7XTggCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFVoVFEZCCM/XBAx8vocGqI/AAAAAAAABns/e3wtN1BmAn4ID9WcCZgybInba6MX7XTggCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_4164.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As you probably noticed from the pictures, we have 2 big
girls now! Each day I am struck by how they’ve grown up this past year! Both of
them are talkers, so we never have to wonder too long what they might be
thinking! They also love to make up songs about anything and everything, making
Dave and my refrain, “please just obey; we don’t need a song about it.”
However, we love hearing them sing “Jesus songs,” and our daily prayers are
that they grow to love and trust Jesus more each day and their worship (and
ours), encompasses each part of their lives. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, you may recall, 2017 was the year of our house move
and Callie’s health struggle. We are still loving our “new” house. Amy did some
interior painting, and we continued to work on the landscaping and our little
garden. We discovered cherry tomatoes grow VERY well here! Over the summer,
Dave’s truck spent nearly a month in the shop, so after some tears from Maggie
(who grows rather attached to things) and lots of research, we made the
decision to replace “Chucky” with the upgraded “Sir Charles”-a silver Kia Soul.
Yay for better gas mileage and a reliable (and cute <span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>) vehicle!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Callie’s health has definitely improved this year, working with
a nutritionist. She is still on a rather strict diet (which is tough) but is mostly
feeling and looking healthy, so we praise God for that! Callie does all things
passionately-whether it be playing hard or crashing afterwards! She played her
first year of real softball in the spring, and her team enjoyed an undefeated
season! She had a blast with Daddy as the assistant coach, a special sweatshirt
with her name on the back and a big 1<sup>st</sup> place tournament trophy to
top it off! Callie started gymnastics in August and is loving that, as well. She
also continues to enjoy school (3<sup>rd</sup> grade this year) and just
finished playing a singing/dancing/baby doll-loving orphan in Bethlehem, in our
church Christmas play. Both Callie and Maggie are on Faith School’s Bible Quiz
Team. They are learning all about the book of Acts and doing such a great job
in their monthly quiz meets. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This was a big year for Maggie! She turned 5 in February, so
following the tradition we started with Callie’s 5<sup>th</sup> birthday, we spent
a night at Great Wolf Lodge. It was lots of fun since both girls were tall enough
to do the family inner tube rides. In May, Maggie finished preschool and
decided she needed to do all the big girl things! She lost some baby teeth and
learned to ride her bike without training wheels over the summer. In July, we
had quite the adventure when she tripped in a small hole and ended up breaking
her femur! In the emergency room, we learned that the femur break was caused by
a bone cyst, so we had a late night ambulance ride to Doernbecher, where she
had surgery the next day. Maggie was quite the trooper, and while it was
obviously a difficult time, we were so aware of God’s protection and provision
in all the details! Also, the amazing prayer support from friends, cards,
gifts, and meals were such a blessing to our family! Maggie completed physical
therapy in late November and excitedly announced she is now “a normal
5-year-old!” After months of limited mobility, she delights in galloping,
running or jumping wherever she goes! She loves kindergarten and is thrilled to
be learning to read. Always pushing to be like Sissy, she looks forward to the
day when she can read chapter books! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Dave began his 5<sup>th</sup> year as Lead Pastor at Grace
Church in August! He had the privilege of leading another study team to Israel
in February, in partnership with his parents and a pastor from Salem. He
completed his second summer of doctorate classes and is doing some voracious
reading to prepare for his January class! This year is full of changes, as we
are exploring a church building program, and Dave’s family is building a duplex
here in Dallas and will be moving in early 2019. The girls are excited to have
cousins close; we have a new niece joining our family in February. Amy is
beginning her 10<sup>th</sup> year as a real estate assistant and continues to
enjoy working outside the home a few hours a week. With Maggie in school every
morning, she’s been able to participate in Bible Study Fellowship this fall and
is also working with the high school senior girls midweek and on Sunday
mornings. We are grateful to have Amy’s mom nearby and are hopeful this coming
year will bring more time with her dad. Amy’s sister’s family moved to Spokane
Valley, WA over the summer, so we anticipate a road trip north sometime during
2019! Dave and Amy celebrate 14 years of marriage this month. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In
this time of reflection, we are so aware of two things: life is full (of both
good and bad), and God is faithful! He has been, and continues to be, our Strength
and constant Presence, especially during hard times. Our hope for 2019, is that
you come to a deeper awareness of His love for you and seek His plan for your
life. <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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With love,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #006600; font-family: "viner hand itc";">Dave,
Amy, Callie and Maggie Bertolini<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-26836967379137741002016-12-20T14:57:00.002-08:002016-12-20T14:58:13.877-08:00Digital Christmas Card 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zs3MKyYsp08/WFm3PteJY5I/AAAAAAAABXc/J9nkJH06OKEkJ8YXj2AZ-BgeB_S4O68FACLcB/s1600/PhotoPass_Visiting_Disney_California_Adventure_Park_394724684017.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zs3MKyYsp08/WFm3PteJY5I/AAAAAAAABXc/J9nkJH06OKEkJ8YXj2AZ-BgeB_S4O68FACLcB/s320/PhotoPass_Visiting_Disney_California_Adventure_Park_394724684017.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #9bbb59; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Christmas 2016<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dear Family and Friends,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I’m not really
sure how this year has flown by, but once again, it’s Christmas! 2016 has been
a full year for our family! We are so grateful for the Lord’s blessings and
enjoy seeing your pictures and hearing updates on your families! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Callie finished
out her kindergarten year and her first year of Sparks (AWANA) and second year
of tee ball. We are so proud of her for working so hard to memorize all her
Bible verses and learning to read! Toward the end of the school year, I had to
make sure I held the book where she couldn’t see it when I quizzed her on the
verses, as she told me one day, “Mom, it’s so much easier to say the verses now
that I can read them!” </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">J</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She
began attending 1<sup>st</sup> grade at Faith Christian School in the fall and
is loving it! She is our perfectionist and wants to get everything right the
first time! Both girls took outdoor swim lessons with my cousins’ children this
summer, which was a lot of fun. Callie really made huge strides in her
technique and her confidence! It’s been so exciting to see her grow emotionally
this year and learn to process through life’s ups and downs in a healthy
way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Maggie was
thrilled to FINALLY (said in an extremely dramatic voice with hand motions-as
most of Maggie’s words are ;-)) start school this fall. She’s pretty confident
she can do most everything Callie can, if only we would give her the chance!
She continues to be our loud little tomboy, who loves to make messes and play
in the dirt, often while wearing a frilly tutu! She regularly asks us deep
questions out of the blue and has a sweet love for Jesus coupled with a
stubborn streak a mile wide. She is also a bit (okay, perhaps more than a bit)
boy crazy-crushing on her summer Sunday school teacher Mr. Button and our
junior high pastor, David. She was rather disheartened when David got engaged,
but both girls are excited to be the flower girls in the upcoming wedding!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Dave and Amy
just celebrated 12 years of marriage this week! As we look back, we are
grateful for the many blessings God’s given us, but we are also thankful for
the hard times that have forced us to rely more on Jesus and taught us how to
work as a team. Parenting two strong-willed children is exhausting. They have
fighting down to a tee! But we are so thankful God entrusted them to us and
pray for wisdom to be parents that point them to our Savior! We enjoyed
surprising them with an early Christmas present vacation to Disneyland this
month. We LOVED seeing their faces as they met the characters-especially the
princesses, and we discovered both our girls enjoy thrill rides! Other
highlights of 2016 included Dave’s trip to Israel in February with members of
our church, more time with grandparents and cousins, and Amy teaching a class
at Corban University during the fall semester. Church is going well; thank you
for those of you who pray for Dave and the rest of the church leadership and
for the pastors’ families! We know how important those prayers are and
appreciate you! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With lots of love and excitement for what God has planned
in 2017, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dave, Amy, Callie (6 ½) & Maggie (3 ¾) Bertolini<o:p></o:p></span></div>
abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-36223317183959252872014-12-11T14:16:00.000-08:002014-12-11T14:16:47.080-08:00Christmas 2014-Our Digital Christmas Card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uSCmAELxLqo/VIoXWrHGvRI/AAAAAAAABKQ/KsQ-mlG--hw/s1600/Christmas%2Bphoto%2B2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uSCmAELxLqo/VIoXWrHGvRI/AAAAAAAABKQ/KsQ-mlG--hw/s1600/Christmas%2Bphoto%2B2014.jpg" height="400" width="276" /></a></div>
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December 2014</div>
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Dear Loved Ones,</div>
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</div>
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I recently read
through some of our past Christmas cards and determined two things: </div>
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1.) We are very blessed. Seriously, we’ve had our trials,
but God sustains and gives us strength, and the good He’s given us (family, friends,
church, etc.) far outweighs the hardships! </div>
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2.) Life is a whole new ballgame after a second child! Wow,
I apologize for all the peachy keen, glowing reports with our easy firstborn.
We have since learned that Callie’s behavior during the first few years was a
gift; it was not due to our exceptional parenting! Laughing in the face of
everything we thought we had nailed, Maggie or both girls give us daily
reminders that take us back to Sergeant Schultz’ famous line, “I know nothing!”
However, I am so very thankful for our precious girls-for their sweet smiles,
their contagious laughter and their heartwarming hugs but also, (in my good
moments—when they’re in bed or playing nicely <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>) for those sleepless
nights, the crazy disobedience and the constant cries of, “MAMA!!!!!” that
drive me to prayer. And for those of you who pray for us—for our parenting and
for our girls to grow to love the Lord with all their hearts, THANK YOU! It
means the world to us! </div>
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2014 was a very busy year! Maggie turned one
in February. We celebrated with a family trip to <st1:place w:st="on">Disneyland</st1:place>.
This was a win-win-win in my book. We had a great family vacation with friends
and visited our CA family; Maggie will think we are awesome when she looks back
on pictures years from now (hopefully <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>); and I didn’t have to
throw a one-year-old birthday party (totally sneaky). Maggie is the little
firecracker that lights up our family. She has an amazing cheeseball smile that
comes out as soon as she sees a camera phone! She loves to climb and thinks “childproofing”
is a joke. She adores her sister; she loves snuggling, playing chase and
stealing her sister’s stuff! She just figured out how to open Callie’s bedroom
door-insert dramatic meltdown from 4-year-old! While her comprehension and
athleticism has been excellent for quite some time, her verbal skills are just
beginning to come out. Callie has proven to be an adept translator when Daddy
and Mommy are clueless! </div>
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Speaking of Callie, our little performer is
happiest when she is on the go! She is once again loving preschool and has some
sweet friends. She also began ballet this fall. I’m not sure there’s anything
cuter than little girls in ballet! We are all excited to watch her in the Nutcracker
next week! Callie also enjoyed her first official year of VBS this
summer-including the stage performance at the end, and she will be in the
children’s church Christmas play as a baby dancing cactus! She loves to put on
concerts for us at home and goes by the stage name of “Lisa Margaret”! Our
little Sweetheart is constantly playing imaginary games and challenges us on a
daily basis, as the lectures we give her are so often ones we need to hear
ourselves! “Talk less; listen more. Don’t throw a fit; just ask for help. It
doesn’t matter what “she” did; you are responsible for how you react.” I find
myself having to apologize for my reactions to my children far too often! Thank
goodness for the forgiveness they freely give, just like our heavenly Father! </div>
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<br /></div>
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Dave has spent the year continuing to figure
out the role/schedule of lead pastor. We have all discovered that unwinding
from the job is even more difficult in this position. However, he is doing a
great job, and God is blessing our church. As a church, we are doing the Read
the Bible for Life program-a chronological read through the Bible in a year.
Dave’s sermons come from a passage we read each week. Earlier this fall, Dave
and the other pastors got to go to the Catalyst conference in <st1:city w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:city>. It was a great time of learning and
bonding as friends and a ministry team. Another highlight of the fall was the
Men’s Chili Cook-off, where Dave took first place with his “Smokin’ Porker”
chili. He has also been further perfecting our favorite salsa recipe and
continues to enjoy barbecuing whenever the weather allows. Another fun thing
for Daddy is that both girls enjoy playing with his remote control helicopter
and are now getting into Wii games. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Dave and I
celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary next week! I think most who are married
would say that similar to parenting, marriage has its perfectly blissful
moments and its perfectly infuriating moments, all part of growing us closer in
our relationship with the Lord. This year, Dave has had the opportunity to
perform several weddings, and therefore, we have done some premarital
counseling sessions. It’s been so valuable for us to get back to the basics
some days and continue to work on our own marriage, as well! In addition to counseling, I am, once again,
co-directing the children’s Christmas play, which is a lot of fun and
volunteering on the women’s ministry team at church. But of course, I spend
most of my time trying to keep the girls from driving each other crazy-or
worse, ganging up on their parents! I love taking zillions of pictures of them
and on especially brave days attempting art or baking projects together. (They
look adorable in their little matching aprons Grammy made them). I continue to
enjoy working a few hours at the real estate office each week. My mom has been
able to visit a couple weeks this fall. It’s great to have the time with her,
and we are so grateful that her health continues to improve. The girls and I
are also thankful to be able to see Dad a couple times a month. </div>
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</div>
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We hope this
Christmas brings you special family time and a new awareness of Christ’s love
for you. </div>
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<span class="textphil-2-6"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana;">“Though he was God,</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textphil-2-6"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana;">he did not think of equality with God</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textphil-2-6"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana;">as something to cling to.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span><span class="textphil-2-7"><b><sup><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></sup></b></span><span class="textphil-2-7"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana;">Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textphil-2-7"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana;">he took the humble position of a slave</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textphil-2-7"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana;">and was born as a human being.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textphil-2-7"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana;">Philippians 2:6-7</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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With love,</div>
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</div>
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Dave, Amy, Callie (4 ½) and Maggie (22 months) </div>
<br />abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-53527706864054678452012-12-19T14:52:00.003-08:002012-12-19T14:54:04.685-08:00Christmas 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's obviously been a really long time since I updated our blog-mostly because I really didn't know what to say over the past few months. We've certainly been going through a stretching trial in our lives, but we've also just been extremely busy with the stage of life. So, below is our "Christmas card," with highlights! </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fsfe5BIrqjI/UNJET1jdUxI/AAAAAAAABAs/heq9R3T1FhQ/s1600/Christmas%2B2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fsfe5BIrqjI/UNJET1jdUxI/AAAAAAAABAs/heq9R3T1FhQ/s320/Christmas%2B2012.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As many of you know, 2012 has been a difficult year in our family. However, our God is faithful, and we’d like to focus on His blessings this year & look forward to His continued work in 2013! We so </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">appreciate your prayers for our family!</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="direction: ltr; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In January, we enjoyed a wonderful family vacation (with friends) to Disneyland and got to visit Dave’s grandparents.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="direction: ltr; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Callie turned 2, moved into a big girl bed and is now potty-trained! She also continues to amaze us with her vocabulary, and we love listening to her sing songs and Bible verses! </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="direction: ltr; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A new niece, Nora Anne, joined our family in May. </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="direction: ltr; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We found out Baby Girl Bertolini #2 is on the way (Feb. 2013)!</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="direction: ltr; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dave began his </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single;">FINAL</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> year of his Master’s at Western Seminary (set to graduate April 2013!) and will, Lord-willing, assume the role of Senior Pastor at our church in September of 2013. </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="direction: ltr; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 13.5pt;"> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Finally, despite the very painful circumstances, the Lord has used Dad to touch so many lives for Him and there is more than 1 new Believer for </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: italic; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN;">each</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> month we have been apart! We choose to praise. </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-weight: bold; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">With love, Dave, Amy, Callie and Baby B</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-weight: bold; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-weight: bold; language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-61181823522258214532012-04-25T09:56:00.001-07:002012-04-25T09:56:44.821-07:00Callie's 2-year-old Book!<object width="425" height="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"/><param name="flashvars" value="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=0AbMmTdq1aNGnO4A&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="quality" value="best"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=0AbMmTdq1aNGnO4A&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true" src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"></embed></object><p style="width:425px;margin-top:0;text-align:center;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AbMmTdq1aNGjwI&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=118">Click here to view this photo book larger</a><div style="margin-top: 10px; width: 425px; text-align: center;">Start your own Shutterfly <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books" style="color: #6666cc;">Photo Book</a> today.</div></p>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-49232276090091354362012-04-11T16:08:00.004-07:002012-04-11T16:35:02.206-07:00This one's for you Great Gpa & Gma!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5YVPx9vsGNI/T4YUmjA0TeI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/R3371IylNTw/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5YVPx9vsGNI/T4YUmjA0TeI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/R3371IylNTw/s320/IMG_0299.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730290228341788130" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTUAGmHoHmE/T4YUl0dZzrI/AAAAAAAAA_I/TZlOBIkdYBs/s1600/P1130168.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTUAGmHoHmE/T4YUl0dZzrI/AAAAAAAAA_I/TZlOBIkdYBs/s320/P1130168.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730290215845220018" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GjZAJ4L73MM/T4YUlWyESrI/AAAAAAAAA-8/4hRCJjxeB90/s1600/P1130173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GjZAJ4L73MM/T4YUlWyESrI/AAAAAAAAA-8/4hRCJjxeB90/s320/P1130173.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730290207878826674" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0bUX9ohGAHo/T4YSwGY-7hI/AAAAAAAAA-w/mQKlhrS3FjI/s1600/P1110110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0bUX9ohGAHo/T4YSwGY-7hI/AAAAAAAAA-w/mQKlhrS3FjI/s320/P1110110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730288193433955858" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XM6d91N_lxA/T4YSvJf_DzI/AAAAAAAAA-k/aOm1FwPCdKM/s1600/P1120142.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XM6d91N_lxA/T4YSvJf_DzI/AAAAAAAAA-k/aOm1FwPCdKM/s320/P1120142.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730288177088761650" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RxymMqDzeQo/T4YSuDhMZsI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/400hDEjp7KM/s1600/P1120138.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RxymMqDzeQo/T4YSuDhMZsI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/400hDEjp7KM/s320/P1120138.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730288158303348418" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cgu5eUw5nbk/T4YStskfYiI/AAAAAAAAA-M/vTXEtAwzEsM/s1600/IMG_0228.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cgu5eUw5nbk/T4YStskfYiI/AAAAAAAAA-M/vTXEtAwzEsM/s320/IMG_0228.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730288152143159842" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rC96-ufx-8I/T4YQLONOrYI/AAAAAAAAA-A/uWLW4YdC9oE/s1600/P1100053.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rC96-ufx-8I/T4YQLONOrYI/AAAAAAAAA-A/uWLW4YdC9oE/s320/P1100053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730285360853724546" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZ8YzwiXaPU/T4YQKfRJ-XI/AAAAAAAAA90/0N2bfjOJhp0/s1600/P1100036.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZ8YzwiXaPU/T4YQKfRJ-XI/AAAAAAAAA90/0N2bfjOJhp0/s320/P1100036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730285348253727090" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qrxjx55ndzg/T4YQJiCtTrI/AAAAAAAAA9o/v_GO8ZZRTUg/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qrxjx55ndzg/T4YQJiCtTrI/AAAAAAAAA9o/v_GO8ZZRTUg/s320/IMG_0219.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730285331818565298" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YdILDCBt6W0/T4YQIyGBNUI/AAAAAAAAA9c/rb8l9tjc1U0/s1600/IMG_0278.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YdILDCBt6W0/T4YQIyGBNUI/AAAAAAAAA9c/rb8l9tjc1U0/s320/IMG_0278.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730285318947550530" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><u><br /></u></span></div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-20300987458170679362012-03-12T13:03:00.001-07:002012-03-12T13:04:07.162-07:00REALLY LATE DISNEYLAND TRIPSo, we took Callie to Disneyland in January, and I haven't posted about it...I'm taking the easy way out, so here is a video highlighting the trip!<br /><iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OPGACFuw89A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-90808578854720105062012-03-12T12:25:00.005-07:002012-03-12T13:02:16.603-07:00Almost 2!<div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">A very brief </span>synopsis<span style="font-size: 100%;">-mostly in pictures, of what we've been up to these last couple months! We decided to potty train. Cold turkey method-threw out all the diapers for both day and night and into the big girl panties. They are so cute in this size! Callie, for the most part, has done great! I get her up in the night to go when I have to, or when she cries out. We moved her to a big girl bed! Found one on Craig's list for a great deal that matched the rest of her furniture! She LOVES it-however, it takes her much longer to go to sleep because she likes to play in there. The posts have 4 removable "microphones" that she uses to sing. (especially perfect for ABC's and Jesus Loves Me). She sings ALL THE TIME! </span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MYpVZvRaees" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">First night in Big Girl Bed!</span></span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9oopRC8_fn0/T15RW2V9_2I/AAAAAAAAA9E/bF_wEpXiK7w/s1600/P2170018.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9oopRC8_fn0/T15RW2V9_2I/AAAAAAAAA9E/bF_wEpXiK7w/s320/P2170018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719098029793738594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Still enjoys baths</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fAzJRUDeWw0/T15RWTdiW5I/AAAAAAAAA84/Sk-8WJ1xJ4E/s1600/P2290030.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fAzJRUDeWw0/T15RWTdiW5I/AAAAAAAAA84/Sk-8WJ1xJ4E/s320/P2290030.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719098020430240658" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Looking so much older!</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b2jtnO02e7k/T15QGhMQZFI/AAAAAAAAA8s/5l5Ivw2Y-fU/s1600/P2260029.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b2jtnO02e7k/T15QGhMQZFI/AAAAAAAAA8s/5l5Ivw2Y-fU/s320/P2260029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719096649726321746" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Wrestling cousin A.J.</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zhzR6WuheIc/T15QF65oHII/AAAAAAAAA8g/VDxHWmaBgYk/s1600/P3030086.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zhzR6WuheIc/T15QF65oHII/AAAAAAAAA8g/VDxHWmaBgYk/s320/P3030086.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719096639447637122" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ready for church with stickers from going potty in the toilet!</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a7Mt5mOiRDw/T15QFeSpPaI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/G9wpq1CPKNQ/s1600/P3040096.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a7Mt5mOiRDw/T15QFeSpPaI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/G9wpq1CPKNQ/s320/P3040096.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719096631767940514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">A rare sunny day!</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DsD8a_jqgxw/T15QFAjkBxI/AAAAAAAAA8I/qTYkuChrh-s/s1600/P3080097.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DsD8a_jqgxw/T15QFAjkBxI/AAAAAAAAA8I/qTYkuChrh-s/s320/P3080097.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719096623785838354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The microphone :-)</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vglL0F6t5Ic/T15O5vCQXgI/AAAAAAAAA78/KdBXnVhCmbU/s1600/P3080104.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vglL0F6t5Ic/T15O5vCQXgI/AAAAAAAAA78/KdBXnVhCmbU/s320/P3080104.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719095330592546306" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We went outside and Callie said "Oh, sunshine!" I said, "Yes, God gave us sunshine today." She responded with a resounding, "THANK YOU, GOD!!"</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Gjq6fU4Hks/T15O5JACd5I/AAAAAAAAA7w/LIc9P6YLJK0/s1600/P3080109.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Gjq6fU4Hks/T15O5JACd5I/AAAAAAAAA7w/LIc9P6YLJK0/s320/P3080109.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719095320382699410" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My Cutie Pie!</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CAO0KHYZ4PI/T15O4YKxx5I/AAAAAAAAA7k/v9KwRISOJ2E/s1600/P3080119.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CAO0KHYZ4PI/T15O4YKxx5I/AAAAAAAAA7k/v9KwRISOJ2E/s320/P3080119.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719095307274405778" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Pretty in purple (side note, this dress was a hand-me-down from a church friend, but it happens to be the same dress the flower girls wore in our wedding :-) How fun is that?!)</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hyzkdLOLdCg/T15O3xECVKI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/I5gwyojxQTk/s1600/P3110123.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hyzkdLOLdCg/T15O3xECVKI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/I5gwyojxQTk/s320/P3110123.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719095296777147554" /></a>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-88735407776059859982012-03-10T13:32:00.009-08:002012-03-10T18:31:32.913-08:00Success-what's your definition?This summer is my high school reunion. While my classmates are talking about how old we are, I'm the young one in most of my current friendships, so that's not what I've been thinking about. What's been on my mind as I think about seeing people from high school (many for the first time since we graduated) is what our perception of each other will be upon meeting again and learning the life directions of our peers. When we graduate from high school and go off "into the world" as they say, we all aim to be successful. For many small-town graduates, I think "success" conjures images of lucrative careers, travel, perhaps an attractive spouse and a fashionable home and car. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div> My senior year of high school, I was voted the "Female Most Likely to Succeed" for the yearbook. I think students had the understanding that this was just the politically correct way of saying "the one with the best grades." I have always enjoyed learning new things and God blessed me with "school brains" so most subjects came pretty naturally. I also worked hard. Combine those things with my type "A" perfectionist personality and for better or worse, I was labeled the smart kid, teacher's pet, nerd. With those titles, I didn't have a lot of bosom friends, though I was respected by my peers, thus the yearbook title. However, I would wager to say that the majority of the students who voted for me would not look at my life now and say I am the most successful. My teachers, who had expectations of me being a doctor, scientist, writer, or engineer would probably be disappointed and see a waste of talent. Would they be right? Sometimes, after a particularly rough day of potty training, arguing with my toddler over meals or bedtimes or the 5th load of laundry, I question what life would have been like had I chosen to pursue a different degree/career path (or professionally used the one I have). However, it doesn't take long before God reminds me that His definition of success is so much different than that of the world. Had I followed others' plans for my life, I would not have been faithful to the job God had in mind for me or my own desires. I didn't go into college aspiring to be a career woman or make a lot of money. My goal at the time was the same as it is now. I simply desired to be where God wanted me to be, growing in my relationship with Him and doing what He wanted me to do. If I am fulfilling those three things, than I believe I am being successful. There's a chance that someday I will go on to get my Master's degree or work more outside the home, but for right now, I am proud to be Pastor Dave's wife, Callie's almost full-time stay-at-home-mom, and most importantly lover of God available for His use. </div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-19204228781884668402012-02-16T11:17:00.000-08:002012-02-16T13:50:49.506-08:00Curly IS the New Straight!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xOBVNez6FaY/Tz12k21FYEI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/sjijam-ypkY/s1600/32.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xOBVNez6FaY/Tz12k21FYEI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/sjijam-ypkY/s320/32.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709850278141190210" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Check out those bangs! </div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zd1HbNT-Y-I/Tz12Sr1Q7sI/AAAAAAAAA6E/KMg92qqTun8/s1600/37.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zd1HbNT-Y-I/Tz12Sr1Q7sI/AAAAAAAAA6E/KMg92qqTun8/s320/37.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709849965951512258" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>It's not very often when I write about anything other than my adorable daughter, but I've been thinking a lot about seasons of life lately, and it all started with hair!</div><div><br /></div><div>Twice in the past couple of weeks, I've been struck by a new style "wave." I was at the hairdresser (long overdue-like 9 months!). While waiting for my turn, I watched my hairdresser style a cut she had just finished. Not surprisingly, she got out her straightener but then used it to curl the customer's hair. A couple days later, I found this technique on Pinterest (speaking of new trends!) What did stay-at-home moms do for dinner and decorating before Pinterest?! And is it bad that my fullest pinboard is for extremely fattening recipes? Anyway, as I was wondering why we would use a straightener for this look instead of dusting off our curling iron, I realized that there's probably a whole generation out there that doesn't own a curling iron! I partook in a moment of silence for them as I reminisced on all the fabulous "dos" they had missed! Having attended elementary school in the late 80's/early 90's, I had the privilege of sporting mountainous teased bangs. (see above pics). I was proud of those sausage curls, sprayed liberally with hair spray and then brushed up to an impressive height. Adding to the look, of course, were homemade "scrunchies," and barrettes with enormous bows, or my favorite, balloons (yes, I'm serious) attached! I would be shocked if that full look ever became popular again, but I am thankful that wavy/curly hair is finally edging out the polished straight look that was oh so much work for some of us! While straight hair was "the thing" for the past several years, anyone over the age of 16 knew styles would eventually change. </div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">The summer after we got married, Dave was scheduled to speak at a youth camp in California, and I was along for the ride. Shortly before we left, the program director contacted me and asked if I would speak to the high school girls one of the days on purity, modesty, dating relationships, etc., while Dave spoke to the boys on similar topics. I remember talking to these beautiful, sun-tanned, mostly blond-haired girls who had their hair straightened to perfection-the height of style. Off to the side, I noticed a group of more "natural" looking girls (they almost could have passed for Oregonians!) Unfortunately for them, it appeared they had inherently curly hair that refused to be straightened, despite what society dictated in <i>Teen Magazine</i>. <div><br /></div><div>In my effort to explain to the girls the importance of valuing the things of God instead of prioritizing outward appearance, I pointed out that styles change. I looked at the girls off to the side and assured them that someday in the not-too-distant future, straight hair would be a thing of the past, and we would all be envying their natural curls as we try to create the same effect with product and a hot iron. Laughter from the "in-crowd" accompanied my statement...and I can see, from their perspective, how it would have been difficult to imagine straight hair ever being out of style. After all, I<i> was</i> speaking to the generation that had probably never owned a curling iron!</div><div><br /></div><div>But lo and behold, here we are, nearly 7 years later (so it took a little longer than I thought), and curly is the new straight! Ecclesiastes 3 tells us there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the sun. Beyond fashion, friendships change (how many of us are still close with the people who were in our wedding party, let alone our BFFs from grade school?), statuses change, careers change, health changes, ideals and dreams change. Only God remains the same, and He promises never to leave us. Aren't you so thankful that we have God to see us through each of these changes! If you're going through a difficult time in your life, I hope you'll remember that it will pass and pour yourself into the One who will be there for you through it and through eternity. Those babies eventually sleep through the night, toddlers get the hang of potty-training, high schoolers won't always be sassy and rebellious (and hopefully, someday they'll thank you for your work and prayers for them), finances will get straightened out, a job will come about, in a few months it WILL stop raining (or you can vacation somewhere with sun!)...</div><div><br /></div><div>So, now you know what my mind ponders in between cleaning up Legos and running a certain toddler to the bathroom to avoid accidents! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-80422910256701351892012-02-15T20:50:00.001-08:002012-02-15T21:08:00.718-08:00Jesus and...Mater?<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M4Be3bXR4lk/TzyPCUj5h-I/AAAAAAAAA5s/Em-k-L532B4/s1600/P2140029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M4Be3bXR4lk/TzyPCUj5h-I/AAAAAAAAA5s/Em-k-L532B4/s320/P2140029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709595697640736738" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tPVs0ogsz8I/TzyPCLpomSI/AAAAAAAAA5g/m-izchB7W00/s1600/P2140026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tPVs0ogsz8I/TzyPCLpomSI/AAAAAAAAA5g/m-izchB7W00/s320/P2140026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709595695248873762" /></a><br />My baby girl is in love with Jesus...and Mater (as in Tow-mater from the Cars' movies)! Oh, and somewhere in there Baby Beluga gets a nod, also! Many times throughout the day I hear, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus" in the sweetest little sing-song voice. This week, the song went something like this, "Baby Beluga this I know, for the Bible tells me so...Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Mater, Jesus! He is strong, yes, Jesus loves me!" <div><br /></div><div>I love hearing her sing about Jesus and talk about Him throughout the day and randomly stop running around the house and announce "wanna pray" and then fold her hands and say "thank you Jesus for friends, Mommy, Daddy, Callie, and Mater, AMEN!" and resume running. I love how her prayers consist of "thank you Jesus for..." Dave and I pray that her love for Jesus continues to grow and deepen, and we thank Jesus for our little Baby Beluga, Mater, Jesus-lover! </div><div><br /></div><div>These pictures are from yesterday. Callie and Mommy did a little Valentine's Day photo session while we waited for Daddy to get home :-). </div><div><br /></div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-9643647421707368022012-01-22T13:35:00.000-08:002012-01-22T14:04:20.825-08:00Little update on our almost 22-month-old!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oW3xC2_kq-0/TxyHxF4kIdI/AAAAAAAAA5U/zGxvlcOu_2A/s1600/P1110098.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oW3xC2_kq-0/TxyHxF4kIdI/AAAAAAAAA5U/zGxvlcOu_2A/s320/P1110098.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700580505806971346" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Wow, time flies! I realize I haven't done a Callie update post in a few months, and boy has she grown and changed! She is talking up a storm now and singing almost as much! I have sung to her each night since she was born while I put her to bed. The songs are whatever praise song comes to mind, most what I remember my mom singing to me when I was growing up. A couple nights ago, Callie started singing with me while I was rocking her. It was such a sweet moment as I realized these "Jesus" songs were sticking in her head, and hopefully, making their way to her heart. She talks about Jesus now and sometimes sings, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus" when she's working on something. When you ask her "who's Jesus?", she may respond with "Light of the World," "God's Son," or from her favorite Newsboys song "the King." The song says "Make a way for the King; the King is coming!" Callie belts out "Make a way for" then, "King Jesus!" <div><br /></div><div>She loves to get in your face and tell you stories. You know it's a story because you'll catch words here and there while she rattles off paragraphs of other "words" and then looks at you with hopeful expectation for the appropriate response (which by the way, is always praise for such a great story!) She can pretty much repeat anything-the bigger or more interesting the word is, the more likely she'll try! Her favorite word right now is "camouflage." And she can tell you that God makes the animals camouflaged so they don't get hurt. (Now, you have to know she's saying that to get it, but once you do, you can definitely tell!) She loves movies and books about animals, though since our Disney trip, we've been a little stuck on 2 famous mice! </div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li>Other quick updates: She's eating better now! Yay! She usually has dollar pancakes or small waffles, sometimes hash browns for breakfast. An almond butter and jam sandwich (1/2) for lunch, and meat with green beans, corn, or rice for dinner. She likes apples, dried cranberries, Rice Chex, or applesauce for snacks. She also very much enjoys cookies :-). She's eating dairy free & gluten free to avoid painful rashes, so her diet is not as varied as we'd like, but I'm just happy she's finally eating! </li><li>She is wearing 2T clothing-pants are still big on her skinny waste but shirts/jackets/jammies fit great! She's 26 lbs. Size 4 diapers for the last few months. Size 5 shoes. We can get her hair into a pony tail or pig tails now-both make her look older and pretty adorable :-). </li><li>She loves books, puzzles, cars (very enthralled with the Pixar Cars movie characters), Wild Animal Baby Movies (which she calls "Dancing Babies"-they are very educational and the source of her knowledge about camouflage!), Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Tinkerbell, and her babies (which include: monkey, bunny, Pooh Bear, puppy and her 2 dolls "Abby" and "Becky") She still sleeps with monkey, bunny and Pooh. Abby, Becky and Puppy sleep in the doll crib across her room. </li><li>She wants to walk and run everywhere on her own. She really doesn't care for the stroller that much, as she'd rather be walking. </li><li>She's close to being able to sing her ABC's! She loves working on it and also sings many parts of "Baby Beluga," & "Jesus Loves Me." </li><li>She can count to 14 but consistently leaves out 7. </li><li>We are potty-training! She's doing great when I watch the clock and take her every 1/2 hr or so. She is very M&M motivated :-). I'm hoping she'll start telling me on her own soon. We'll see!</li></ul>It's hard to believe our baby is getting close to 2! She keeps us hopping, and we are so thankful for her! </div><div><br /></div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-10513335054144108212012-01-02T13:35:00.001-08:002012-01-02T19:57:21.519-08:00The never-ending picture recap of Christmas!<div style="text-align: center;"><span><b>Christmas Preparations!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Making cookies with Mommy</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eKHoS9NGjSk/TwJ4y5UotCI/AAAAAAAAA5M/cMDK4x01GwE/s1600/PC170041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eKHoS9NGjSk/TwJ4y5UotCI/AAAAAAAAA5M/cMDK4x01GwE/s320/PC170041.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693245694725895202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Having a great time!</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EFRRLYMEOeg/TwJ4yI5OjmI/AAAAAAAAA48/b8_v3FJQjjA/s1600/PC170043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EFRRLYMEOeg/TwJ4yI5OjmI/AAAAAAAAA48/b8_v3FJQjjA/s320/PC170043.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693245681726033506" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Gingerbread house decorating</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n02U-fKGmac/TwJ4xaU9u8I/AAAAAAAAA4w/nHb6pf6YTS4/s1600/PC220049.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n02U-fKGmac/TwJ4xaU9u8I/AAAAAAAAA4w/nHb6pf6YTS4/s320/PC220049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693245669225905090" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Pretty proud of her masterpiece!</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f08yc1YecX4/TwJ4xOF289I/AAAAAAAAA4k/dyrgn6yRjZI/s1600/PC220052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f08yc1YecX4/TwJ4xOF289I/AAAAAAAAA4k/dyrgn6yRjZI/s320/PC220052.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693245665941320658" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Our "dreaming of a white Christmas" version</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pauKXsx7ViY/TwJrBePchuI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/1n7rZuibGOo/s1600/PC220054.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pauKXsx7ViY/TwJrBePchuI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/1n7rZuibGOo/s320/PC220054.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693230551991617250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><b>1st "Christmas" with Uncle Dandy</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Callie got a "My Little Pony"</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TYV0YqvA2Tk/TwJrAcxT-HI/AAAAAAAAA4M/z4T2HxO5gq0/s1600/PC220072.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TYV0YqvA2Tk/TwJrAcxT-HI/AAAAAAAAA4M/z4T2HxO5gq0/s320/PC220072.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693230534416922738" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Pretty exciting!</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i4O9SPGn2iw/TwJq_zlGPMI/AAAAAAAAA4A/PMLaFB_A4pY/s1600/PC220073.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i4O9SPGn2iw/TwJq_zlGPMI/AAAAAAAAA4A/PMLaFB_A4pY/s320/PC220073.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693230523359837378" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Love you, Uncle Dandy!</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BWA2KCjpUYA/TwJq_kaa4BI/AAAAAAAAA30/aNSG-vn72K0/s1600/PC220077.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BWA2KCjpUYA/TwJq_kaa4BI/AAAAAAAAA30/aNSG-vn72K0/s320/PC220077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693230519288520722" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">He also gave her a stuffed animal barn with animals and a cool puzzle!</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q76lzU3ZzwQ/TwJkHWrD94I/AAAAAAAAA3o/UA3sxsuPZuY/s1600/PC220091.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q76lzU3ZzwQ/TwJkHWrD94I/AAAAAAAAA3o/UA3sxsuPZuY/s320/PC220091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693222956457785218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The barn doubles as a purse!</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p6re9qv1nVs/TwJkG5ZyMsI/AAAAAAAAA3c/129BTEw9E_Y/s1600/PC220095.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p6re9qv1nVs/TwJkG5ZyMsI/AAAAAAAAA3c/129BTEw9E_Y/s320/PC220095.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693222948600689346" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Hugs before jammies</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o31OvvNlWr8/TwJkGFFBWzI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/yegMwEQXwE4/s1600/PC220100.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o31OvvNlWr8/TwJkGFFBWzI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/yegMwEQXwE4/s320/PC220100.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693222934554958642" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b>Christmas #2-Christmas Eve Morning with Daddy and Mommy</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Coming down the stairs!</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rwMwHKFQrK0/TwJkF40FmUI/AAAAAAAAA3E/cGhZepKckrs/s1600/PC240116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rwMwHKFQrK0/TwJkF40FmUI/AAAAAAAAA3E/cGhZepKckrs/s320/PC240116.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693222931262708034" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Checking out her present pile</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lzhp9GyGqs4/TwJaSOkpoqI/AAAAAAAAA24/ZfRO4nWQ7tI/s1600/PC240123.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lzhp9GyGqs4/TwJaSOkpoqI/AAAAAAAAA24/ZfRO4nWQ7tI/s320/PC240123.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693212148145693346" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">New b-ball hoop!</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Es6Zehq2kgM/TwJaRpVejhI/AAAAAAAAA2s/wsw2-antNOM/s1600/PC240128.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Es6Zehq2kgM/TwJaRpVejhI/AAAAAAAAA2s/wsw2-antNOM/s320/PC240128.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693212138149940754" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Sheep book! </div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AtFyfvfgjr0/TwJaQ5gtwUI/AAAAAAAAA2g/EKAWtDnPv8g/s1600/PC240140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AtFyfvfgjr0/TwJaQ5gtwUI/AAAAAAAAA2g/EKAWtDnPv8g/s320/PC240140.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693212125312172354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Broom so she can finally sweep at the same time as Mommy!</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gU8lqe6QTo/TwJaQWDL4tI/AAAAAAAAA2U/QyXK_NEbJlk/s1600/PC240153.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gU8lqe6QTo/TwJaQWDL4tI/AAAAAAAAA2U/QyXK_NEbJlk/s320/PC240153.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693212115793076946" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">And the big gift...a Tinkerbell outfit! </div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWoz9-VjHPs/TwJT06VZPJI/AAAAAAAAA2I/7y6LCkchciM/s1600/PC240162.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWoz9-VjHPs/TwJT06VZPJI/AAAAAAAAA2I/7y6LCkchciM/s320/PC240162.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693205047427021970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Pretty adorable!</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zY8zJw7Dy28/TwJT0qm7MvI/AAAAAAAAA18/h0e31V1LSVI/s1600/PC240163.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zY8zJw7Dy28/TwJT0qm7MvI/AAAAAAAAA18/h0e31V1LSVI/s320/PC240163.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693205043205583602" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The full look!</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VORrac8z3ig/TwJTzb3-4vI/AAAAAAAAA1w/z_TrhTJZ_iM/s1600/PC240174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VORrac8z3ig/TwJTzb3-4vI/AAAAAAAAA1w/z_TrhTJZ_iM/s320/PC240174.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693205022070727410" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">She loves it :-)</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YeAYIXKwxZc/TwJTzG0Lo1I/AAAAAAAAA1k/2Mf3zdhoJmU/s1600/PC240175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YeAYIXKwxZc/TwJTzG0Lo1I/AAAAAAAAA1k/2Mf3zdhoJmU/s320/PC240175.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693205016417641298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">With Mommy</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMQFGBBbCiY/TwJMu4GYsNI/AAAAAAAAA1U/SrXGw5ej2cE/s1600/PC240176.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMQFGBBbCiY/TwJMu4GYsNI/AAAAAAAAA1U/SrXGw5ej2cE/s320/PC240176.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693197247166591186" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b>Christmas Eve Service at church</b></span></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l12FiIxdgF4/TwJMuki6SBI/AAAAAAAAA1I/4xG3fi5RJ0I/s1600/PC240178.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l12FiIxdgF4/TwJMuki6SBI/AAAAAAAAA1I/4xG3fi5RJ0I/s320/PC240178.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693197241917523986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Playing with Daddy since we didn't make it through the service in the sanctuary :-)</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--BwXOFsm_No/TwJMtbVqVII/AAAAAAAAA08/2t_WQHDa820/s1600/PC240179.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--BwXOFsm_No/TwJMtbVqVII/AAAAAAAAA08/2t_WQHDa820/s320/PC240179.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693197222266164354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Family picture</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p3dR34L8v2I/TwJMtL_yu-I/AAAAAAAAA0w/DujFUN5ndxE/s1600/PC240182.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p3dR34L8v2I/TwJMtL_yu-I/AAAAAAAAA0w/DujFUN5ndxE/s320/PC240182.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693197218147908578" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b>Christmas Morning</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>Mommy and Callie ready for church</span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0M2YWJrOzNM/TwJFzhuVFaI/AAAAAAAAA0k/GYJ5lntTBFg/s1600/PC250196.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0M2YWJrOzNM/TwJFzhuVFaI/AAAAAAAAA0k/GYJ5lntTBFg/s320/PC250196.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693189630478063010" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">opened some presents when we got home</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tjh3TyL1bsw/TwJFyl6i5xI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/qECZGlqPm1w/s1600/PC250204.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tjh3TyL1bsw/TwJFyl6i5xI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/qECZGlqPm1w/s320/PC250204.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693189614423172882" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">almost ready for Grandpa and Grandma "Woof Woof's" (Bertolinis)</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N0mI4uzvyGk/TwJFyO2UEWI/AAAAAAAAA0M/e0fpBoOQBf8/s1600/PC250205.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N0mI4uzvyGk/TwJFyO2UEWI/AAAAAAAAA0M/e0fpBoOQBf8/s320/PC250205.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693189608231407970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Her new dog from Great Grandma Bertolini</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tk0x7yqBffw/TwJFx9GsB-I/AAAAAAAAA0A/lIMezdf65qs/s1600/PC250213.JPG" style="text-align: left; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tk0x7yqBffw/TwJFx9GsB-I/AAAAAAAAA0A/lIMezdf65qs/s320/PC250213.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693189603468249058" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Puzzle from Great Grandpa and Grandma Stewart</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbDVcX_hL4I/TwI-mqu-BiI/AAAAAAAAAz0/BxQ2xRcYt0Q/s1600/PC250215.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbDVcX_hL4I/TwI-mqu-BiI/AAAAAAAAAz0/BxQ2xRcYt0Q/s320/PC250215.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693181712976971298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b>Christmas #3 with the Bertolinis</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Grandma showed Callie the Christmas story through these little boxes</div><div><div style="text-align: center; ">(each had a different part of the story inside such as Mary, Jesus, angel)</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qNggpKKFXk4/TwI-mMFKK-I/AAAAAAAAAzo/_sFQY2CyOGg/s1600/PC250218.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qNggpKKFXk4/TwI-mMFKK-I/AAAAAAAAAzo/_sFQY2CyOGg/s320/PC250218.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693181704748542946" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Callie played with the boxes for quite a while</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uY3gfMiJVKU/TwI-loQivHI/AAAAAAAAAzc/1dH9xhGbFS0/s1600/PC250227.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uY3gfMiJVKU/TwI-loQivHI/AAAAAAAAAzc/1dH9xhGbFS0/s320/PC250227.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693181695132613746" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Callie was Santa for a little while</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jex8QkjQtU8/TwI-lIuChuI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/exXIg-FU1YA/s1600/PC250230.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jex8QkjQtU8/TwI-lIuChuI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/exXIg-FU1YA/s320/PC250230.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693181686666397410" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Aunt Ashley gave Callie a Tinkerbell toothbrush. </div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ov3txq5NrIc/TwI3vvsrjGI/AAAAAAAAAzE/EwbEzlMv8sk/s1600/PC250238.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ov3txq5NrIc/TwI3vvsrjGI/AAAAAAAAAzE/EwbEzlMv8sk/s320/PC250238.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693174172346977378" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Couldn't wait to brush her teeth!</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MHqosG7en74/TwI3ujlNY-I/AAAAAAAAAy4/BBkkk1ll3S8/s1600/PC250240.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MHqosG7en74/TwI3ujlNY-I/AAAAAAAAAy4/BBkkk1ll3S8/s320/PC250240.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693174151914546146" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The Bertolinis</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bit1TkgRmF4/TwI3uXTpl1I/AAAAAAAAAys/5pErZl_HX-A/s1600/DSCN5310.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bit1TkgRmF4/TwI3uXTpl1I/AAAAAAAAAys/5pErZl_HX-A/s320/DSCN5310.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693174148619671378" /></a><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b>AND on to the Davis side! Christmas #4</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">These 3 cousins adore each other :-).</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b-a5WokP-iY/TwIyg_V2nzI/AAAAAAAAAyg/T5NvK1hF34U/s1600/PC260246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b-a5WokP-iY/TwIyg_V2nzI/AAAAAAAAAyg/T5NvK1hF34U/s320/PC260246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693168421290024754" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Opening presents-we attempted to keep them on the couch the whole time-they did okay!</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MffT9Ohv2HY/TwIygvBDf8I/AAAAAAAAAyU/lJkP3RrtuJ8/s1600/PC260251.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MffT9Ohv2HY/TwIygvBDf8I/AAAAAAAAAyU/lJkP3RrtuJ8/s320/PC260251.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693168416907820994" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Sophie and A.J. sharing Callie's excitement as she opened </div><div style="text-align: center;">her Bitty Baby from Grammy and Poppy. </div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUtoRzgJZcE/TwIunv0W9_I/AAAAAAAAAyI/whPF1YBsZ_I/s1600/PC260256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUtoRzgJZcE/TwIunv0W9_I/AAAAAAAAAyI/whPF1YBsZ_I/s320/PC260256.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693164139335579634" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Callie gave baby "Abby" a hug right away!</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QWllWqJtXfg/TwIumlnDWuI/AAAAAAAAAyA/qJuK3Lc8cF4/s1600/PC260260.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QWllWqJtXfg/TwIumlnDWuI/AAAAAAAAAyA/qJuK3Lc8cF4/s320/PC260260.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693164119415544546" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">and carried her around in her "backpack"</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R3ErE8KrKAM/TwIumVD6GsI/AAAAAAAAAxw/-lnSMbTftnY/s1600/PC260288.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R3ErE8KrKAM/TwIumVD6GsI/AAAAAAAAAxw/-lnSMbTftnY/s320/PC260288.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693164114973170370" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span>Disclaimer: The next few pictures are small because I thought</span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span> they would upload faster-not the case!</span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;">Uncle Josh and Aunt Anna gave Callie a "Boom Truck!" So exciting!</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RhZkM4ajB0M/TwIp1_6WTII/AAAAAAAAAxk/44JkmPc1f00/s1600/PC260270.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RhZkM4ajB0M/TwIp1_6WTII/AAAAAAAAAxk/44JkmPc1f00/s200/PC260270.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693158886615698562" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Fun and rare picture of just the two of us after 7 years of marriage!</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W9D2OamNOgU/TwIp1iUP13I/AAAAAAAAAxY/-HXLQ7bOcjM/s1600/PC260293.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W9D2OamNOgU/TwIp1iUP13I/AAAAAAAAAxY/-HXLQ7bOcjM/s200/PC260293.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693158878671263602" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The "Davis" girls!</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DY8bJNyIquA/TwIlr-lzlII/AAAAAAAAAxM/G1TEtFgVM04/s1600/PC260306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DY8bJNyIquA/TwIlr-lzlII/AAAAAAAAAxM/G1TEtFgVM04/s200/PC260306.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693154316415898754" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Poppy and his granddaughters!</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3epC-aFKRew/TwIlrus7HaI/AAAAAAAAAxA/dvn-BJV47IM/s1600/PC260315.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3epC-aFKRew/TwIlrus7HaI/AAAAAAAAAxA/dvn-BJV47IM/s200/PC260315.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693154312150785442" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The cousins taking a rest! </div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9dVuWG75SMo/TwIlDjyah-I/AAAAAAAAAw0/68mKalD_QG8/s1600/PC260317.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9dVuWG75SMo/TwIlDjyah-I/AAAAAAAAAw0/68mKalD_QG8/s320/PC260317.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693153622026258402" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The whole family :-) Only our 2nd take and all smiling-pretty impressive, right?!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFA6_QB8SV4/TwIlDTaPtQI/AAAAAAAAAwo/fUKbDrUXuyk/s1600/PC260322.JPG" style="text-align: left; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFA6_QB8SV4/TwIlDTaPtQI/AAAAAAAAAwo/fUKbDrUXuyk/s320/PC260322.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693153617629918466" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">What a fun Christmas week we had! While there were lots of presents and Callie loved the Christmas tree and lights, she's also getting really good at the Christmas songs about Jesus-</div><div style="text-align: center;">her favorite being "O Come All Ye Faithful." </div><div style="text-align: center;">We look forward to watching her grow and learn more about Jesus in 2012!</div></div></div></div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-36964194851597835002011-11-27T21:43:00.000-08:002011-12-03T21:20:49.273-08:00Christmas Card 2011!<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" /></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AbMmTdq1aNGnA/0AbMmTdq1aNGnOaA/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1322458992000/0/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; box-shadow: none; " /></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Stationery card</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="text-align: left;font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><br /><br /></div></div></div></div>Dear Family and Friends,<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Once again, I'm surprised it's Christmas time again! It's funny to think that at the beginning of the year, we were amazed that our daughter was standing, and getting her to drink a bottle was an accomplishment that literally made my day! We now try to get her to stand still for just a second and alas, we have yet to get her off the bottle! Callie Sue is such a delight to us-her endless chatter and constant movement can be exhausting, but they bring such joy to our hearts, and we praise God for our healthy, happy little girl. We are enjoying seeing Christmas through her eyes. She is in love with Christmas lights-she yells "CWISMAS YITES!" every time she sees them! She is super excited about Dave's Lego train around our tree and says "Hi and bye-bye Choo Choo" as it goes around each time. Our little music-lover is enjoying the Christmas music, as well. Each year, we buy a new Christmas c.d. This year, it was Matthew West's album. There's a song on it where he sings about Jesus being the "Light of the World." A couple days ago, I had it in my head and sang the first line; all of a sudden Callie burst out saying "Yight of da Woold!" It was so cute, so all day we worked on "Light of the World is Jesus." She never quite said it, but when I put her to bed that night I said, "Jesus loves you, and He's always with you." Around her binki, she nodded her head and said, "Yight of da Woold." So, I guess she did make the connection!<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>While my days mostly consist of playing with Callie and doing a passable job of keeping the laundry and dishes at bay, I am still enjoying working at the real estate office a couple mornings a week. I feel blessed that I do have so much time with our daughter and get to take part in each accomplishment and milestone as it comes!<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Dave just began his 6th year working at Grace Community Church. He once again had the opportunity to preach several times this year and has done a great job coordinating and choosing topics for adult Sunday School and Life Groups. He is also still working on his Master's of Divinity and continues to watch Callie when I'm at work. They are so much fun to watch together. Dave manages to get Callie's belly laugh out faster than anyone, and it is so sweet to hear "I wuv you, Daddy." Callie and I joined Dave at one of the youth camps he spoke at this summer. The youth pastor Dave interned under in college was the camp dean, so it was fun to re-connect with his family! Callie LOVED camp, especially the pool! We enrolled her in parent/tot swim lessons this fall to encourage her love of the water. She had a great time and is quite the fearless little jumper! She now jumps all over the house while saying "pool, jump!"<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Callie adores both sets of grandparents, as well as uncles, aunts, and her cousins! She regularly points to their pictures throughout our house and tells us who they are and what she imagines they might be doing throughout the day! She spent two nights at my parent's house this last month while we went to a Family Life conference and did great! Even though Josh, Anna, and the kids live several hours away, we Skype often enough that the cousins are close friends despite the distance. (Although, Callie regularly tries to blame A.J. for anything she does wrong! It is a common occurrence to hear "A.J. did __________" whenever we tell her no!) <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>That sin nature starts early! And because of that, I am once again so thankful for the reason we celebrate this time of year. Jesus, God's Son, came as a baby to live the perfect life, to pay the price for our sins in a gruesome death, to be the "Yight of da Woold," offering us the choice of salvation! We pray each and every one of you accepts that Christmas gift and chooses to make Jesus Lord of your life. When we choose to believe in and live for Him, Jesus tells his followers that <i>we </i>are to be the lights of the world! Matthew 5:16 says, "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." With that being our goal, perhaps all the Christmas lights this month can remind us to be lights in this world, pointing others through the darkness to the Way of Life! <div><br /></div><div>Lots of love from our family to yours!</div><div>Dave, Amy, & Callie</div></div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-1942386162216874572011-11-26T18:46:00.001-08:002011-11-26T19:59:49.167-08:00Thanksgiving in Pictures<div style="text-align: center;">Big hug for Daddy before our Thanksgiving praise service on Wed. night.</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cZ8sYwh_wyQ/TtGn_DV9RUI/AAAAAAAAAwc/bcFR0bofH3k/s1600/PB230021.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cZ8sYwh_wyQ/TtGn_DV9RUI/AAAAAAAAAwc/bcFR0bofH3k/s320/PB230021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679505306761905474" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Making waffles with Daddy for breakfast!</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lz6AjiZtVBs/TtGn-o3BioI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/m9XW8c4LBcU/s1600/PB240023.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lz6AjiZtVBs/TtGn-o3BioI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/m9XW8c4LBcU/s320/PB240023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679505299652840066" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving morning-ready with her "guys" to go to Gpa and Gma's house. </div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pwp3W2o93HU/TtGn-YKYGxI/AAAAAAAAAwE/Jd56pv4jfwM/s1600/PB240026.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pwp3W2o93HU/TtGn-YKYGxI/AAAAAAAAAwE/Jd56pv4jfwM/s320/PB240026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679505295170607890" /></a><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We decorated for Christmas after Thanksgiving dinner. Callie LOVED the train!</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BY7wIhge3PU/TtGnBY6gh7I/AAAAAAAAAv4/UNShV4rOptE/s1600/PB240031.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BY7wIhge3PU/TtGnBY6gh7I/AAAAAAAAAv4/UNShV4rOptE/s320/PB240031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679504247400466354" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Callie and Grandpa watching the train. </div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ofPUmOr_ubg/TtGnA6SrWuI/AAAAAAAAAvs/2cNwYW5pUMQ/s1600/PB240038.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ofPUmOr_ubg/TtGnA6SrWuI/AAAAAAAAAvs/2cNwYW5pUMQ/s320/PB240038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679504239180339938" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Aunt Ashley and Callie reading together. </div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D1TQb24x7tU/TtGnAo_sJhI/AAAAAAAAAvg/xVcpoUXM4ck/s1600/PB240050.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D1TQb24x7tU/TtGnAo_sJhI/AAAAAAAAAvg/xVcpoUXM4ck/s320/PB240050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679504234537297426" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Gma, Gpa, and Callie!</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSsJCzcqcYc/TtGmQKlp93I/AAAAAAAAAvU/X18SwaKWgcM/s1600/PB240044.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSsJCzcqcYc/TtGmQKlp93I/AAAAAAAAAvU/X18SwaKWgcM/s320/PB240044.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679503401741318002" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Mommy, Daddy, and Callie-Happy Thanksgiving!</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBjQ7pOq4VM/TtGmPzViaLI/AAAAAAAAAvI/uYDRMBClNa8/s1600/PB240040.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBjQ7pOq4VM/TtGmPzViaLI/AAAAAAAAAvI/uYDRMBClNa8/s320/PB240040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679503395499698354" /></a>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-16313719665063020312011-10-19T11:04:00.000-07:002011-10-19T21:31:45.820-07:0018 months-where's my baby?<div>Oh my sweet Callie Sue, you are now 18 months and a full-blown toddler with almost no sign of the baby who was just here, so it seems. This month you decided you are quite independent. When Daddy and I try to do things for you we hear, "NO, Calyie!" You want to do everything by yourself if possible! You are saying so many words now I won't bother to list them all! You can repeat almost anything, including long words like "babysitter." You also put small sentences together like, "what's that?" & "I say no!" (which is emphasized by you wagging your finger at your cousin :-)). This month, I was changing your diaper and said "nasty." You then repeated "natty, natty." Your daddy was quick to say it couldn't be you making that smell-it must be some beast. You then chimed in with "natty beast!" And now each day we hear when you have a "natty beast." Someday soon, we hope you'll be potty training more consistently! You have gone several individual times on the toilet now and regularly cheer for mommy and daddy when we go to the bathroom! Daddy says he's never felt so encouraged :-). You have so much energy and love to run, jump and dance! You also enjoy snuggling, reading books, and giving kisses to loved ones, your "guys", the mirror, books, toys that catch your fancy (such as Legos), etc. Daddy is doing his best to drill into you that we don't kiss boys beyond him and your grandpas! You make us laugh, smile, wring our hands and want to pull out our hair on a daily basis, but most of all our hearts are filled with so much love for you and gratitude to God for blessing us as your parents! </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's some facts and pictures:</div><div><ul><li>At the 18month check-up: 32.5" long (70%) and 22lb, 9.9oz (22%), 31.71% head circumference.</li><li>We are at a transition for sleep schedule-you are down to one nap most days 11am-near 1pm. About once a week you take 2 to catch up on missed sleep. You are sleeping from 8:30pm-7am most nights. We would like you to get more sleep but know things are just changing and will get sorted out soon!</li><li>You gave up baby food completely this last month and now your diet consists of spelt bread, almond butter, beef and chicken, apples, apple-cinnamon oatmeal, veggies, and beans and chips! </li><li>Your favorite words are "NO WAY!" </li><li>You love Legos and anything with wheels but also adore your stuffed animals and baby doll. </li><li>Your favorite color is blue! You want to drink from the blue bottle, have the blue cup, car, book, etc. You also like to say purple and pink. </li><li>You like to "read" books on your own and to Mommy and Daddy. </li><li>You have been working very hard on talking nicely and saying please when you need help instead of screaming. </li><li>You love swimming and really enjoyed this last month of swimming lessons-especially going down the slide on the last day!</li><li>You would like to wear your swimsuit everyday and do "up/downs" (Mommy and Daddy's workout video) with us. </li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HtCO2wgzGM8/Tp-ebmw1RvI/AAAAAAAAAuk/Gd8ZGRP-Ueg/s1600/PA190011.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HtCO2wgzGM8/Tp-ebmw1RvI/AAAAAAAAAuk/Gd8ZGRP-Ueg/s320/PA190011.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665421053354395378" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Callie in her "boat" with her guys!</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0LHtWStXVIw/Tp-ebTZwIgI/AAAAAAAAAuY/M0YWnugGfCY/s1600/PA170010.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0LHtWStXVIw/Tp-ebTZwIgI/AAAAAAAAAuY/M0YWnugGfCY/s320/PA170010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665421048157315586" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Loves her Daddy!</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMyXqwP9JiU/Tp-dUeBqJgI/AAAAAAAAAuM/Pt-WFjLfYO4/s1600/PA160006.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMyXqwP9JiU/Tp-dUeBqJgI/AAAAAAAAAuM/Pt-WFjLfYO4/s320/PA160006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665419831238338050" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Isn't this just the cutest outfit!? We bought the bunny slippers, but we seriously have the most wonderful hand-me-downs from friends! </div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jRvYg5QHtf0/Tp-bAq_ovbI/AAAAAAAAAuA/JoDw5Z7HzXQ/s1600/PA060015.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jRvYg5QHtf0/Tp-bAq_ovbI/AAAAAAAAAuA/JoDw5Z7HzXQ/s320/PA060015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665417292098878898" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ready for a walk (she's showing off her teeth and her "new" winter jacket)</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KU-cXrhOheU/Tp-bACevsEI/AAAAAAAAAt0/bvw9icWuOEY/s1600/PA050010.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KU-cXrhOheU/Tp-bACevsEI/AAAAAAAAAt0/bvw9icWuOEY/s320/PA050010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665417281223503938" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Jillian video in her "up/down" outfit with her weights. </div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8NnKdcVoikg/Tp-a_ghentI/AAAAAAAAAto/QI20PG_cG1o/s1600/PA050008.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8NnKdcVoikg/Tp-a_ghentI/AAAAAAAAAto/QI20PG_cG1o/s320/PA050008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665417272108162770" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Stylin' in Mama's shoes!</div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-65269837958869335422011-09-10T11:52:00.001-07:002011-09-10T13:00:52.546-07:0017 months!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jGn_8gIOn28/TmvAJawv9VI/AAAAAAAAAtg/-v72wlI3Fcg/s1600/P8070144.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jGn_8gIOn28/TmvAJawv9VI/AAAAAAAAAtg/-v72wlI3Fcg/s320/P8070144.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650821425501566290" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hvq-6bnJwuk/TmvAJJrMuXI/AAAAAAAAAtY/TeUKKF-Qz5E/s1600/P8070137.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hvq-6bnJwuk/TmvAJJrMuXI/AAAAAAAAAtY/TeUKKF-Qz5E/s320/P8070137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650821420914882930" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qGDJo98xiK8/TmvAIzJK6eI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/bA5GisgMdGQ/s1600/P8060133.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qGDJo98xiK8/TmvAIzJK6eI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/bA5GisgMdGQ/s320/P8060133.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650821414866577890" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KjKGE-DcpLI/Tmu6iz8DcKI/AAAAAAAAAtI/v1OD6NI3Pdo/s1600/P8060135.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KjKGE-DcpLI/Tmu6iz8DcKI/AAAAAAAAAtI/v1OD6NI3Pdo/s320/P8060135.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650815264686829730" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sEkVCZ-OnJo/Tmu6igRn3NI/AAAAAAAAAtA/Eim7xdZ7TI0/s1600/P8060102.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sEkVCZ-OnJo/Tmu6igRn3NI/AAAAAAAAAtA/Eim7xdZ7TI0/s320/P8060102.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650815259408587986" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CoAJ63zyp4/Tmu6iQmKDJI/AAAAAAAAAs4/DFL65iPg7gk/s1600/P8310005.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CoAJ63zyp4/Tmu6iQmKDJI/AAAAAAAAAs4/DFL65iPg7gk/s320/P8310005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650815255199747218" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-luX-AnuCCAg/Tmu6iLJ6SZI/AAAAAAAAAsw/bwBe0SHyDH8/s1600/P9020043%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-luX-AnuCCAg/Tmu6iLJ6SZI/AAAAAAAAAsw/bwBe0SHyDH8/s320/P9020043%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650815253739096466" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yR4re5a918U/Tmu6h3HBlFI/AAAAAAAAAso/4VRaR6r-fTg/s1600/P9020060.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yR4re5a918U/Tmu6h3HBlFI/AAAAAAAAAso/4VRaR6r-fTg/s320/P9020060.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650815248358282322" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>17 months has been the month of the "Boom Truck"! Known to most people as a common garbage truck, these trash-disposing vehicles have become the highlight of Callie's week. We spend at least part of every day running to the window, looking for the Boom Truck whose "distinctive" diesel sound can easily be confused with the common diesel engine-thus resulting in heartrending disappointment 6 out of 7 days a week! Dave built her a garbage truck out of Legos to pacify her on non-garbage pick-up days :-). The "Boom Truck" was dubbed when Callie began describing to us, with sound effects and hand gestures how it picks the garbage can up in the air and then goes "boom" when it drops the garbage inside. She is pretty impressed with big trucks of any kind and "truck" is a regularly used word in her vocabulary. After several days of Callie being very excited about trucks, Dave asked her, "Callie, did you know Daddy has a truck?" She looked at him very confused and then said "no" while shaking her head. Dave was then convinced that he needed a bigger truck, as his daughter doesn't even recognize his little white truck as a truck! I quickly crushed his growing dream of a shiny, new Toyota Tacoma by reminding him that Callie wasn't likely to consider that a truck either, as she would really like her daddy to drive a garbage truck :-). So, if he has a drastic career change in the future, you will know the reason! <div><br /></div><div>Our girl is not all tomboy, though. Yesterday, she rediscovered the baby doll my sister had given her for Christmas. It was time for her nap and I told her I was getting her bottle. She quickly ran around and gathered up her "guys"-her bunny and monkey stuffed animals that she sleeps with. Then she spotted baby and emphatically announced "AND Baby!" She has been insistent on sleeping with baby ever since. She is also quite good with her little kitchen, especially enjoying cooking apples in her microwave. </div><div><br /></div><div>My parents bought the grand kids the "Baby Can Read" videos last year. Callie has watched one of them nearly every day since. Last week when the words "cat" and "teeth" came up on the screen, before the video said the word or showed the picture, Callie read the words out loud! It's fun to see her recognition. She also learned to count to 3 this month while we ran through the sprinklers. She will raise her arms up and bring them down with each number, enunciating as best as she can. It's pretty adorable. It's been very helpful for meal time, as I can say eat 3 more bites and then you can go play. (1/2 of our bites are airplanes now and 1/2 are "boom trucks" that go "boom" in her mouth!) Now we are trying to get her to understand that there are numbers after 3! </div><div><br /></div><div>We visited my sister's family last weekend. Callie adores her cousins! It's so fun to watch them play together and see Sophie and A.J. teach Callie how to do new things. We are looking forward to a family vacation in Eagle Crest at the end of this month. </div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't weighed Callie lately, but we will have her 18 month checkup next month. I'm interested to see where she is on the growth charts now. While she's looking a lot older and seems to have grown taller, she's definitely still petite. She is solidly in size 4 shoes and 18 month clothes (the bigger of the 18 month sizes now.) She's gotten better about eating more solids. She loves barbecued steak and has successfully eaten some homemade meals in a puree form. I would love to get her completely off the baby food soon, as it's a huge expense, but it's still the easiest thing to get down her when she's having a blood sugar meltdown and refusing to eat. She's still taking 2 naps most days 10:15-noonish and 3:30-4ish-5:15ish. Sometimes the second one is just a rest time. She goes to bed at 8:30 and wakes up around 7, but we get her up at 7:30 so she has time to wake up without being cranky (and we do, too!). </div><div><br /></div><div>She is still quite the little daredevil-loves to climb, jump, stomp, dance and run everywhere! Her favorite thing is to bounce-pronounced "bous" on Mommy and Daddy's bed (when we are each on one side blocking any fall routes) because our dresser mirror is positioned at the perfect height for her to see herself while she does! She loves going to the park and is especially enthralled with swings right now! We had quite the scare on the church playground this past week when she was headed up to go on the slide. She's already done it 5 or 6 times so Mommy and Daddy were on the ground near one of the openings. She slipped as she was going up the stairs and fell out of an opening we weren't blocking! It was completely terrifying as she landed on her head and was screaming for several minutes. We credit God with a miracle as she only had surface scratches on her face and a swollen lip! We have all relived it several times and are so thankful for our Lord's protection! Sometimes, she seems like such a big girl, we forget she's still just 1. I think it was a good reminder for all of us. </div><div><br /></div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-70350360798337398772011-08-26T09:03:00.000-07:002011-08-26T09:06:53.040-07:00Busy Baker<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxbZGT4iQm7vAm__LB-gw0eg5biQShiVOw01Xl45smrHh2XBGOAF8LW1qgKQdf0Euw60_lMZFMc9_ox5W6SYQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">We found this kitchen on Craig's List a few months back but just moved it into our toy room. Callie loves it and spends quite a bit of time microwaving meals--hmm, please don't take this as an insight into my cooking techniques! She's also quite good at washing the dishes...putting them away is another matter altogether, as they lay strewn across the entire downstairs!</div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-2424310940198975822011-08-25T16:39:00.001-07:002011-08-25T16:46:29.504-07:00P.J. & Callie-Blackmail pics for the future?<div style="text-align: center;">Well, we finally got some hot weather, so we enjoyed some pool time with our friend Parker! You'll notice Callie doesn't get too close when P.J.'s in the pool-he's a wild swimmer :-)!</div><div>
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<br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V4-qwW_m8-k/TlbeRk2qbMI/AAAAAAAAAsg/_Ghr-SJc7HE/s1600/P8180119.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V4-qwW_m8-k/TlbeRk2qbMI/AAAAAAAAAsg/_Ghr-SJc7HE/s320/P8180119.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644943576487587010" /></a>
<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uj5-2mSRbJM/TlbeRYE1jbI/AAAAAAAAAsY/yN1kcPfdpbM/s1600/P8180117.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uj5-2mSRbJM/TlbeRYE1jbI/AAAAAAAAAsY/yN1kcPfdpbM/s320/P8180117.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644943573057375666" /></a>
<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KGT0ai4NzWM/TlbeRKdvOEI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/TKdRm_eHpnw/s1600/P8180114.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KGT0ai4NzWM/TlbeRKdvOEI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/TKdRm_eHpnw/s320/P8180114.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644943569403721794" /></a>
<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bV8GturZ5y0/TlbeQxPHRHI/AAAAAAAAAsI/TIUvhJUWKkA/s1600/P8180110.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bV8GturZ5y0/TlbeQxPHRHI/AAAAAAAAAsI/TIUvhJUWKkA/s320/P8180110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644943562631496818" /></a>
<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VC-OmxGiRew/TlbeQlVBC9I/AAAAAAAAAsA/9NU34yw-tlI/s1600/P8180108.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VC-OmxGiRew/TlbeQlVBC9I/AAAAAAAAAsA/9NU34yw-tlI/s320/P8180108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644943559435029458" /></a>
<br />abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-30365442283284844892011-08-25T16:22:00.001-07:002011-08-25T16:35:41.865-07:00Her Easel!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-51rLhnh0cCU/TlbZ3mqsXXI/AAAAAAAAAr4/6wsqAsm2xE0/s1600/P8250137.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-51rLhnh0cCU/TlbZ3mqsXXI/AAAAAAAAAr4/6wsqAsm2xE0/s320/P8250137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644938732251143538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My Aunt Neva bought Callie an easel! We just set it up today, </div><div style="text-align: center;">as she has recently begun to LOVE coloring!</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zdkoCh3BBoQ/TlbZ3e42sLI/AAAAAAAAArw/A8xFVgdTOU4/s1600/P8250139_edited.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zdkoCh3BBoQ/TlbZ3e42sLI/AAAAAAAAArw/A8xFVgdTOU4/s320/P8250139_edited.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644938730163056818" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">So happy! </div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wztXkEHFC5w/TlbZ3HQHLLI/AAAAAAAAAro/CSDnJovft5I/s1600/P8250138.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wztXkEHFC5w/TlbZ3HQHLLI/AAAAAAAAAro/CSDnJovft5I/s320/P8250138.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644938723818155186" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Cheese-ball grin!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwN1LO4Ba5uB3fYZkMJ4UVaVPYD5pcylf_KObN34cPnS5USaAiImae7EzWlrAkTkzGCEUhpLA-6OnZOAZiq6A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank You, Aunt Neva & Uncle Phil! We will get LOTS of use out of this present!</div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-19244624140528419022011-08-17T10:32:00.000-07:002011-08-17T16:13:23.667-07:00"Daddy, Church!"<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m6JWptYCxxA/TkxKcUDka3I/AAAAAAAAArg/Y1YzcNLEUac/s1600/P8160103.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m6JWptYCxxA/TkxKcUDka3I/AAAAAAAAArg/Y1YzcNLEUac/s320/P8160103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641966283468860274" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Telling Mommy that we're going to see Daddy!</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RtrEBc0c9zo/TkxKcF0oS_I/AAAAAAAAArY/GnIvy3VIDlI/s1600/P8160105.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RtrEBc0c9zo/TkxKcF0oS_I/AAAAAAAAArY/GnIvy3VIDlI/s320/P8160105.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641966279648103410" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I said, "are you going to see Daddy?" This was her in the middle of saying "OH YES!"</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hQKy32p4yKM/TkxKb37xf4I/AAAAAAAAArQ/NyRsacfNKWg/s1600/P8160104.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hQKy32p4yKM/TkxKb37xf4I/AAAAAAAAArQ/NyRsacfNKWg/s320/P8160104.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641966275919970178" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">And here's her adorable hair :-)</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Callie adores her Daddy-this is nothing new, but lately she's been way more verbal about it! Yesterday after waking up from her nap, she kept saying "Daddy" "Daddy" "Daddy!" Finally, I told her if she finished her lunch we could go see Daddy at church. She was SO excited-she quickly ate the last 3 bites in between yells of "Daddy, Church!" We then got her dressed in a cute outfit and she sat still while I "fixed her hair pretty for Daddy." Both Daddy and Callie were excited to see each other when we got to the church. We played on the play structure for a little while and then went home. As soon as we got home Callie started to rip out her barrettes from her hair. I asked her if she was done with them and she pointed to them and explained to me that those were for "Daddy, church" so<i> clearly</i> she didn't need them anymore!</div><div>
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<br /></div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-61489423632916191652011-07-26T16:33:00.000-07:002011-07-26T16:45:11.248-07:00Callie's first time in a REAL pool!<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dywcxbuT3faLC4tu-iXo7he1gKBaGGh4ABdGXlcJhEBWiticnEi1xAok8VtKWrWq6hyz5azx0s2lAwhmZApaQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyCAM09VXLlh8pF_S8K4nkB9cvzinyplk-CAnXnsTlQYC4F-_Srn9JIPoSMp-ggrpRC8rw5o7MpdfLURjyZ6g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyUunWpDMEYIOmip6MU-JnkjLwnYn-cUCb9lUtFFsNvP7wuIGxXe-6RkMZSsdEU2PDKy8f8RmTRTjtr0-a3_A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-34983489677783428592011-07-26T15:24:00.001-07:002011-07-27T15:06:06.180-07:00Picture (AND word) overload!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wWA4p7GdLzA/Ti9Jgo5TpPI/AAAAAAAAArI/HQ-k40RpsOw/s1600/P7230229.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wWA4p7GdLzA/Ti9Jgo5TpPI/AAAAAAAAArI/HQ-k40RpsOw/s320/P7230229.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633802483946202354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Callie's "seat" on the plane :-)</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GQ128saBKa8/Ti9JgdyhifI/AAAAAAAAArA/eg-hyJMlYfQ/s1600/P7230226.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GQ128saBKa8/Ti9JgdyhifI/AAAAAAAAArA/eg-hyJMlYfQ/s320/P7230226.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633802480964962802" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">First flying experience</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8aD4ckOWvDE/Ti9JgJgffnI/AAAAAAAAAq4/VXa_7_uuKPU/s1600/P7220220.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8aD4ckOWvDE/Ti9JgJgffnI/AAAAAAAAAq4/VXa_7_uuKPU/s320/P7220220.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633802475520622194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Dave speaking at Mt. Gilead Camp</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EevAwhw2Pf4/Ti9I07mNThI/AAAAAAAAAqw/yr-vxbnZznU/s1600/P7200200.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EevAwhw2Pf4/Ti9I07mNThI/AAAAAAAAAqw/yr-vxbnZznU/s320/P7200200.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633801733052124690" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Callie and Sadie</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ali7PD5x4tQ/Ti9I0fw4ISI/AAAAAAAAAqo/J8cTLKoQWV4/s1600/P7200189.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ali7PD5x4tQ/Ti9I0fw4ISI/AAAAAAAAAqo/J8cTLKoQWV4/s320/P7200189.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633801725580681506" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">First time in a pool!</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yo0fq7qaVus/Ti9I0GFOThI/AAAAAAAAAqg/DvNIJjVjNdg/s1600/P7190183.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yo0fq7qaVus/Ti9I0GFOThI/AAAAAAAAAqg/DvNIJjVjNdg/s320/P7190183.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633801718686699026" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ov4Or49iOQA/Ti9IzwFbe5I/AAAAAAAAAqY/2ZJVI5UsXw4/s1600/P7190176.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ov4Or49iOQA/Ti9IzwFbe5I/AAAAAAAAAqY/2ZJVI5UsXw4/s320/P7190176.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633801712781982610" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7mEhvIW4-s/Ti9IzkqxVPI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/brvcl05-MLg/s1600/P7190170.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7mEhvIW4-s/Ti9IzkqxVPI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/brvcl05-MLg/s320/P7190170.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633801709717378290" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">"helping" Daddy arrange his notes</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kf_cTHsdfA8/Ti9H2VMQrMI/AAAAAAAAAqI/F3dduHuaTZI/s1600/P7190157.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kf_cTHsdfA8/Ti9H2VMQrMI/AAAAAAAAAqI/F3dduHuaTZI/s320/P7190157.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633800657590856898" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">A little snack at camp</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80ZDp6D4cOQ/Ti9H2JHajpI/AAAAAAAAAqA/3KvZ9DRtW0g/s1600/P7190150.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80ZDp6D4cOQ/Ti9H2JHajpI/AAAAAAAAAqA/3KvZ9DRtW0g/s320/P7190150.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633800654349307538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Too Cool!</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gNlBNA0HrxE/Ti9H1wvypzI/AAAAAAAAAp4/FbD8gx_-5sU/s1600/P7100147.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gNlBNA0HrxE/Ti9H1wvypzI/AAAAAAAAAp4/FbD8gx_-5sU/s320/P7100147.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633800647807772466" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Cousins</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3KH0ipycgyo/Ti9H1ql86VI/AAAAAAAAApw/_ndLf8Sq_Bg/s1600/P7060140.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3KH0ipycgyo/Ti9H1ql86VI/AAAAAAAAApw/_ndLf8Sq_Bg/s320/P7060140.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633800646155888978" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">15 months old!</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7WREVvONIAs/Ti9H1eWqqVI/AAAAAAAAApo/RIKjoi9He38/s1600/P6190103.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7WREVvONIAs/Ti9H1eWqqVI/AAAAAAAAApo/RIKjoi9He38/s320/P6190103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633800642870552914" /></a>*late edition to this post-don't know how I missed this the first time, but 2 of Callie's favorite and most said words are "eyes" while usually poking someones! and "ICE!!!" always said very excitedly, especially when we're using the crushed ice button on the refrigerator! And one of her favorite real foods is corn. <div><br />I am woefully behind on blogging, so here is a quick recap of the last couple months! Callie has changed, seemingly overnight, from looking like our baby to looking like a full-blown toddler! She is also talking up a storm and can repeat, or come very close, to several words. On her own accord, she says: Mama, Dadda (and sometimes Daddy, which is Very cute), Poppy (my dad), puppies (which I believe refer to all dogs, but especially those of my in-laws and may refer to my in-laws themselves, as well-since they always bring the puppies), yes, yeah, mowr (more), peas (please), tree, bruge (bridge), rock, ba-ba (bottle), bu-ba (bellybutton-not incredibly different from ba-ba, but definitely distinct in her mind!), muma (her favorite monkey stuffed animal), ball (she doesn't quite emphasize the ll's very well), pool, and ba-ball (basketball-her favorite so far, though Mommy has not pushed this at all :-)). She has been very impressed with the results when she says "mowr peas" and will now say that for anything she wants, such as going outside! She does the sign language sign for more while saying it, thanks to one lesson from our friend, Amber! She loves the idea of counting and can do a pretty good job repeating what sounds like the numbers through five (or at least getting the inflections right). <div><br /></div><div>She's our little dancer and would love to have music on constantly if we let her! Her almost 4-year-old cousin, Sophie told my sister that she was going to ask Callie for dance lessons 'cause she's got such great moves! She loves any music with a good beat (especially an electric beat). Christian Rock is preferable to anything else (I think this is due to her constant exposure in the womb to youth group music), and don't tell her dad, but she fussed when I had it on Country music one day! </div><div><br /></div><div>She is still mostly on baby food, but she is also a junk food addict. Oh, that is another word she can say on her own-"pie"! She also enjoys cookies, anything with cinnamon, and just this month discovered ice cream (though she preferred the waffle cone to the actual ice cream). She will also eat bread, apples, cereal, sometimes hamburger, chicken, or beef, cucumbers, carrots, apples (one of her favorites!) and waffles or pancakes. Mostly, it just depends on her mood, and if she doesn't want it, it often gets thrown across the room along with a tantrum. (we are working/praying through this!) I will be extremely glad when she will just eat on her own and when she understands "two more bites and then you can be done!" (At this point, I'm sure all she hears is "wah, wah, wah, DONE!" because she always says, "Yes, peas!") I know that soon we will be at the "NO" stage, but right now, we are enjoying Callie's "yes" response to most everything. Yesterday in the car, she was hitting herself in the head. After repeated attempts at, "NO Callie, No hitting" I said, "Callie, do you want me to stop the car and give you a spanking?" She smiled sweetly and said "yes, peas!" (I realize I often talk to her like she's 5, but she understands a lot of it!) She also knows how to work a situation, so I'm never sure how much she doesn't understand and how much she's just playing me! Her Sunday school teacher this week greeted me with "Your daughter is a little player! After she finished her snack she asked for more and I said no. She then stuck out her bottom lip and sweetly/pathetically said 'more peas.' Who could resist that!?"</div><div><br /></div><div>She continues to follow in her Auntie Anna's footsteps and runs nearly everywhere, not caring to walk much at all! Not surprisingly, this has resulted in several bruises on her forehead, much to my chagrin, as her little legs cannot keep up with her momentum! She loves playing with big kids and gets rather frustrated when her little body limits her. She's stayed at 22 lbs. even for about a month, but we're pretty sure she's grown taller. </div><div><br /></div><div>This past month we had several adventures-the first of which I'm kicking myself over because I didn't take any pictures! </div><div><br /></div><div>1. My mom stayed with me and Callie for a week while Dave spoke at a high school camp in Michigan. We had a wonderful time with her spoiling us, and the week went by so quickly! Callie loved having her here and was soon calling her Mama, also with a slightly different inflection :-). She would look to Grammy or me, depending on the situation, as a "first-base ump" if the other had already told her "no"! </div><div><br /></div><div>2. My cousins, Micah and Heather, and their 2-year-old son, Ezra visited us for a day! Callie loved playing on the slide and in the tent and tunnel with Ezra, and we had such a good day catching up with them!</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Callie experienced her first plane ride when we flew to Santa Rosa for Dave to speak at a junior high camp last week! She did fantastic, not complaining about her ears at all, and very much enjoying looking out the window, climbing all over me and Dave and flirting it up with other passengers. We were thankful the flight was not any longer, as she did get bored the last few minutes. (On the return flight, we were thankful it was not longer because there was no changing table in the very small commuter plane bathroom, and it became VERY necessary!)</div><div><br /></div><div>4. Callie LOVED camp and enjoyed being outside for most of the day AND swimming in a pool for the first time! </div><div><br /></div><div>5. Callie and I visited my good college friend, Jessica and her daughter Sadie (who is 6 months older than Callie) in San Ramon. The girls had a tea party, fed ducks at the outdoor mall, ran through the water fountain at the park and discovered each others' belly buttons! They were pretty adorable. </div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, that's about it! Hopefully, that explains the pictures :-).</div></div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-69641976226352026102011-06-19T12:18:00.000-07:002011-06-19T12:23:20.799-07:00Pool Party!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ynZKoMxJZo/Tf5MZRgPLtI/AAAAAAAAApg/HdpImUD27UE/s1600/P6170120.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ynZKoMxJZo/Tf5MZRgPLtI/AAAAAAAAApg/HdpImUD27UE/s320/P6170120.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620013382084013778" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vz0abnku45I/Tf5MZJl4SFI/AAAAAAAAApY/-OBvs9VLenA/s1600/P6170112.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vz0abnku45I/Tf5MZJl4SFI/AAAAAAAAApY/-OBvs9VLenA/s320/P6170112.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620013379960195154" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w69E6zzUckE/Tf5MYxYCegI/AAAAAAAAApQ/fbW9uhttI3c/s1600/P6170108.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w69E6zzUckE/Tf5MYxYCegI/AAAAAAAAApQ/fbW9uhttI3c/s320/P6170108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620013373459692034" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ti9SsDflYMI/Tf5MYQuovxI/AAAAAAAAApI/1RLmxr61isE/s1600/P6170107.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ti9SsDflYMI/Tf5MYQuovxI/AAAAAAAAApI/1RLmxr61isE/s320/P6170107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620013364696104722" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUYmM9Vt8_I/Tf5MYNh6B5I/AAAAAAAAApA/bSdvusHWYQY/s1600/P6170105.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUYmM9Vt8_I/Tf5MYNh6B5I/AAAAAAAAApA/bSdvusHWYQY/s320/P6170105.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620013363837405074" /></a>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888112327549250340.post-44426384522665740832011-06-07T20:27:00.000-07:002011-06-08T15:57:45.008-07:0014 months<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDW2VUO3CNc/Te_995TWeLI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/-rjSVd2FwyA/s1600/P5240043.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDW2VUO3CNc/Te_995TWeLI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/-rjSVd2FwyA/s320/P5240043.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615986500150130866" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Lincoln City outside Moes</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UpDOEvXI3cM/Te_99balazI/AAAAAAAAAoI/wvVZpppVZy4/s1600/P5230036.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UpDOEvXI3cM/Te_99balazI/AAAAAAAAAoI/wvVZpppVZy4/s320/P5230036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615986492127406898" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Relaxing with Daddy</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0dw51bFi68k/Te_99FVI88I/AAAAAAAAAoA/SDBOxfiz9w8/s1600/P5150017.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0dw51bFi68k/Te_99FVI88I/AAAAAAAAAoA/SDBOxfiz9w8/s320/P5150017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615986486198989762" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Playing with buddy, Parker</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IAxhCibKuo8/Te_98jLY5vI/AAAAAAAAAn4/Vd87eHt-opA/s1600/P6010034.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IAxhCibKuo8/Te_98jLY5vI/AAAAAAAAAn4/Vd87eHt-opA/s320/P6010034.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615986477031286514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Cracking herself up (a very regular occurrence)</div><div><br /></div>This month has been a month of very busy discovery (I'm blaming this as the reason I'm late again for the monthly post!)-new toys, new skills, new words, etc. Callie doesn't usually just say words by herself, (with the exception of balloon) but she is starting to try words when we say "say_______" or "can you say___________?). She has successfully said: tree, cat, hat, ball, boon (balloon), woof woof (dog), Poppy, & corn (a new favorite food)! One day, Callie found our church directory and started looking at all the pictures. She came to a woman wearing a hat and pointed and said "hat" in a surprised voice, like "hey, I know what that is!"<div><br /></div><div>She's also gotten really good at her hand eye coordination and dexterity. She's getting the hang of the shape sorter toy, though we will continue working on that for a while! Her throwing skills are getting more practiced and improved. She loves books-wants to read them over and over again. She knows (and will point to) eyes, ears, mouth, nose, head, hair, toe, foot. She will also, point, wave, blow kisses, kick her foot or a ball, and put toys or objects back where they belong-when she feels like it! She has started giving real kisses when she's feeling very loving. They are seriously the sweetest thing!</div><div><br /></div><div>She is now eating a lot more! Going through at least 3 things of baby food a day, 16 oz of milk and various snacks (cereal bars, graham crackers, fruit). She lets me know when she's hungry by running to the snack cupboard, squatting and saying "mm, mm" over and over and then pointing to the cupboard. Apples are a favorite snack. She loves to just hold the whole thing herself and take little bites (she sat on the counter with an apple for 15 minutes while Mommy cut vegetables for dinner). If I want her to actually swallow what she's eating I have to give her peeled, small pieces.</div><div><br /></div><div>She still loves being outside, but walks have become more difficult as she wants to participate actively instead of just riding in her stroller. I always laughed when I saw a baby on a leash, but I finally realized the necessity of them (and the genius behind them) this month. She wants so badly to walk herself but won't hold hands, so it's really the only way to keep her safe. She now has a very cute puppy backpack "harness" (it sounds so much better than a leash :-)). </div><div><br /></div><div>We've gone a couple days with only one nap. However, on these days she still sleeps for the same amount of time (1 1/2 hours) as one of her 2 normal naps, so we are all a little cranky by the end of the day. I've decided we will stick with the 2 naps as long as possible. I get more done and enjoy my more cheerful daughter the rest of the day. It does make it a little difficult to go anywhere, but that will come soon enough. At this point, I'd rather stay home with a happy baby than be gone with a cranky baby any day! She's still sleeping from 8-7:30 at night...though now with the help of makeshift blackout shades. </div><div><br /></div>abertolinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02236633110023282882noreply@blogger.com0