Taryn today.

Taryn is such a sweet little child! About a week ago I heard her and Miss Mandi (Taryn's babysitter) reading a book and when Miss Mandi asked "what does the dog say?" my baby said "wuf!" Ah! It made me so happy, and feel a little embarrassed that I had not tried to ask those types of things yet! We read books, but I just had not though of it. So since that day I have really been trying see what other things she can pick up. And here is the report of AMAZING things she did today: She covered her mouth when sneezing and coughing (very cool), She read the words "arms up" and put her arms up then read "arms down" and put her arms down (also very impressive), She tells me when I ask what a cat says "mow" like meow but without the "e" sound (I am really proud of this one because I don't have to remind her she just knows and says it), Also she will tell that a sheep says "baaa" and dog says "wuf" but needs to be reminded of those sometimes. Oh! and I almost forgot! She knows our dog's name and calls him! She gets excited to see him. So, this morning I heard her awake and went to get her out of bed and Petey (our dog) followed me into her room. She saw him and screeched "Peeee" and did not even want me to hold her any longer. She was reaching down, I put her down and she hugged him! Does that just melt your heart! And the funniest thing I can report for today is about dinner this evening. I really try to give her the same things we are eating, or if it is to spicy I will give her something very close because, you know, she knows if she is not getting the same things. Tonight we were having burgers and green beans. I gave her her own plate with green beans on it and her burger I had broken into small pieces so she could feed herself without taking to huge of bites. But when Daddy sat down to eat his food she was very unhappy and was asking me for "more, more" I couldn't figure it out. she had the same thing. Finally we decided that she was missing a bun. So I took her plate from her, got out a bun, put on a small amount of ketchup so the tiny pieces of beef would stick, put her broken up burger in the bun and Daddy gave it back to her. She knew it was very special now because it looked exactly like Daddy's. Then she proceded to eat her hamburger on its bun just like a regular big kid. I have photos of all this and I will try to put them up. It is really something you need to see so you can laugh with me.

I always have heard that it is so special to be a mother, but God is truly creative. He didn't have to make it fun to be a mom, but He did. He didn't have to make laughter or joy, but He did. Even though it is a job with the occasional difficult duties I am taking it all in and really enjoying this creative gift of motherhood.