Verity turns two

Verity turns two! She is affectionate, silly, talkative, cuddly, endearing, and so loved. We plead with her not to grow up, but praise God for growing her especially in the last six months. She’s walking with fervor, speaking in short phrases, and unabashedly loyal to her loves, particularly her stuffed best friend, Fantine, who became her birthday theme. What a joy to be your mama. We love you so much, Bippy! May you grow to love the Lord above all else.

Verity's fan club

Just a few photos of the kids before Verity's 2nd birthday adventure. We sure love our littlest babe so!

Verity turns one

We herald in each of the kids' birthdays with a cake smash in the morning. This tradition has been going strong since Serene turned one. We were gifted a cake the day before Verity's birthday, which was perfect for her breakfast cake smash. Verity loved being sung "Happy Birthday" to, which her siblings executed time and time again to see her eyes light up and a gummy grin spread across her face. She was fascinated by the attention and cake in front of her, reaching to touch it a few times. When it came to tasting it, she wasn't a fan, preferring Os oat cereal instead. It was the funniest, most endearing sight. The big kids had been making cards and books for Verity all month in anticipation of her birthday, which is the sweetest. Verity gravitates towards books all the time, so Serene and Valor were on a mission to make as many of them as possible for their littlest sister. While looking through photos of the other kids at their first birthday cake smash, I was struck by how little Verity is compared to them. The middle of Verity's ears are at the tallest part of the high chair, whereas Reverie's neck is at the tallest part of the high chair, Valor's shoulders are at the tallest part of the high chair, and Serene's shoulders are also at the tallest part of the high chair. So thankful for our baby Heart. I can't believe our littlest babe is one!

P.S. the other kids' first birthday cake smashes: Reverie, Valor, Serene.

A heart-filled first birthday

We celebrated God's loving faithfulness in our littlest one's life over the weekend with a heart-themed party as a tribute to her name, Verity Heart. We held the small gathering at a local indoor playground, where the kids roamed freely to play to their heart's content. We catered fresh croissant, pastrami, and Italian sandwiches, assorted fruit, tasty pastries, and other brunch items from a local bakery.

For the focal decor, I envisioned a white heart superimposed on a white backdrop framed with seasonal, fresh flowers in whites and neutral pinks, the colors that pop into my head when I ponder upon truth and love. I cut out a heart out of a white foam board from the dollar store, attached a decal with Verity's name onto it, and hung it with fishing wire. A dear friend created lavish floral pieces for the party, which accentuated the minimal, modern environment well. Hearts were incorporated in various places, from the heart-bedecked cake pops, to the kid place settings (be still my heart with the blinking heart plates!), to the heart-centered favors, to the heart-shaped snacks for little ones. My friend's talented daughters baked an amazing lavender vanilla cake to go along with the cake pops and rock candy. I incorporated a pair of white candlesticks and floral centerpieces in pedestal vases to evoke a sweet, feminine vibe. A white and clear balloon garland ran down the kid's table as a centerpiece. It was so fun to have a long, communal table at which all the kids sat together.

It was a simple, small, love-filled celebration that many hands made happen. We're so thankful Verity made it to one year. It has been one year of God's overwhelming kindness. Alex read Psalm 103 before praying in thanksgiving to the Lord during the party. Verity had no idea what was going on the whole time, though she enjoyed being held and fed many a treat. Reverie gladly stepped into her little sister's role and blew out the birthday candle exuberantly. The big kids adore their baby sister so and celebrated with much enthusiasm. What a joy to celebrate Verity's first year of life together with dearly loved family and friends.

P.S. Serene's, Valor's, and Reverie's first birthday parties:
A birthday reverie
Valorous knights
Serene's woodsy one-derland

Letters to Verity: 12 months

My dear Verity Heart,

You're one! This has been the fastest, sweetest year. We are so grateful the Lord has sustained and grown you. What a gift to watch you grow. Your current favorites are: your mama ("mama"), bananas ("nana"), food in general, being held and cuddled, your daddy and siblings, being pushed in the toy shopping cart by your siblings, chewing on books, smiling at people from the sling while leaning into me, rummaging through Lego duplos, uttering repetitions of "ah duh," and kicking your legs in glee, and throwing your head back in anger or distress.

Sometimes it's hard to believe you're already a year old. You're still army crawling, not preferring to stand when supported, and not preferring to sit. When I put you in sitting position, you lean forward into splits right away until you land onto the comfort of your tummy so you can scoot about. You're wearing 3-6 month and some 6-12 month clothing, size 1 shoes, and size 2 diapers. You weigh 14 lbs and measure 26.5" long. You look more like a 6-9 month old, and others comment how little you are. You're the littlest of our kids at this age.

We're thankful you'll stay a baby longer. We love your wide grin, how you cling onto us tightly with curled toes, how you still take sink baths in the Puj tub, how you scarf down all your food (veggies, fruit, eggs, chicken), how you kick happily when you see your family, how you hug and rub your face into your stuffie Fantine before going to sleep, how you put your pacifier into your mouth, how you scoot about like a little slug, how you don't mind all the silly nicknames your siblings give you (i.e. Bippity, Vivity, Jippity), how you sit in the Bumbo to eat Os oat cereal while watching your siblings do school, how you rest on your left side with your right leg atop your left, how you rummage through baskets of items, how you stare wide-eyed at the world around you from the safety of our arms, and how you just want to be close to us.

Oh my dear baby, we love you so much. You're a testament to God's overflowing, undeserved kindness to us. He has been merciful to you and us. Praying your daddy and I would be arrows that point you to our loving Lord and Savior, the one who made you, sustains you, and loves you. May He grant us many more years of knowing you as you grow.

Love you so,
Mama

P.S. Verity at 0 , 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 months. Plus, her birth story.

Tree decorating musings

Tree decorating typically unfolds as follows: the day after Thanksgiving, Alex unpacks the tree from the garage, checking to see there aren't any spiders, and brings it inside to assemble in the living room. I string lights all around it. In the evening, the kids decorate the tree with ornaments. It was such fun observing how the kids have grown because the tree looks better every year. Verity was rather fascinated by her first tree decorating experience. I couldn't help but snap a ton of photos of her observing the flurry of her siblings' work. Feeling particularly grateful this Thanksgiving season for the truth of the Word that reveals to us God's character and His will. Now anticipating Advent with a wondrous heart.

Letters to Verity: 11 months

My dear Verity Heart,

There's no looking (back). You're one month away from one year. I'm astounded by how quickly time has flown. You're giggly, clingy, and vocal this month. You utter repetitions of "wah!" and "ah!" which often prove a lovely distraction in normally quiet settings (like during Sunday services). You're social, grinning at others as long as you're snug and safe in my sling. You explore everywhere, scooting and army crawling. You're still not preferring to sit, but will lean forward in sitting position if propped up to do so. Once you're sitting, you lean forward in no time to land on your tummy, your favorite position in order to scoot and crawl.

You're nursing about 4 times a day, and eating mostly 2 but sometimes 3 meals a day. You love everything you've tried so far, especially bananas, avocado, chicken, Os, carrots, squash, etc. You dislike water. You are self-feeding more often this month. You're doing so well grabbing items with your thumb and forefinger. In terms of size, you're wearing 3-6 and 6-12 month clothing, size 1 shoes, and size 2 diapers.

You love your family so. You respond to any of the nicknames your siblings and daddy have given you: Vetty, Vetaly, Skippity, Bippity, Mermony, Natalie, and baby Heart. Your big brother is convinced you don't sin. You pretty much light up our lives. We can't wait to celebrate the grace in your life soon.

Love you so,
Mama

P.S. Verity at 0 , 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 months. Plus, her birth story.

Letters to Verity: 10 months

My dear Verity Heart,

Happy 10 months! I can't keep up with how quickly you're growing. You're hyper-aware and cognizant. You're able to sit on your own now, though you don't initiate doing so. If we place you sitting down, you'll tolerate it for a few seconds before inching sideways onto your tummy, your preferred mode of exploration. You scoot and army crawl with finesse, making your way across the room in seconds.

You enjoy solids, usually banana, avocado, squash, sweet potato, or carrots. This month, you began feeding yourself Os as you sat in the high chair for the first time. Other foods you've tried include watermelon, melon, tomato, tofu, and baby teethers. You only allow your daddy or mama to feed you. You love to nurse still, about 4-5 times a day.

You love your siblings and kick your legs in happiness and grin with glee whenever they pay attention to you. They adore you and smother you with kisses all the day long. You love sharing a room with your big sister Reverie, peeking through the crib at her and babbling happily. So thankful for your growing sisterhood.

You're partial toward books, scooting to grab them out of anything else within reach, though you grab at anything within sight. You love when you're thrown into the air, breaking into smiles and splits. Your mama makes you happiest when you're in my arms, but I also make you the most discontent when I leave the room. When you're discontent, you express it by throwing your head back, shaking your head, screeching, or screaming.

You wear some 3 month, mostly 3-6 months, and some 9 month clothing. You wear size 1 shoes and size 2 diapers. Your daddy and I have been quite sentimental this month, feeling particularly grateful God preserved your life and that we've gotten to watch you grow. You are such a gift. We love you so very much.

Love you so,
Mama

P.S. Verity at 0 , 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 months. Plus, her birth story.

Letters to Verity: 9 months

My dear Verity Heart,

You are growing! You just hit 14 lbs and measure 25" at nine months. You wear size 3-6 month clothing, size 2 diapers, and size 1 shoes. This past month started out a bit rocky for you. You had congestion and a fever for about 4 days before breaking out into a rash, all symptoms of roseola. You were such a trooper though, enduring the week with lots of cuddles amid the full activitiy of summer's end.

You're active and busy. In addition to rolling everywhere, you began scooting the last days of August, making your way across the living room floor to grab objects to stuff into your mouth. Your favorite teethers are books, to our chagrin. You also enjoy pulling cords and licking furniture legs. You're clicking your tongue, babbling, giggling, and just indulging in silliness. You can sit for a couple of seconds before falling over. Perhaps you'll sit up on your own fully this coming month.

You're nursing less since you eat two meals a day of veggies or fruit. New foods you've tried this month include banana, avocado, and a bit of chicken. You began eating mashed foods a week ago instead of merely purees. You sit in the Bumbo a bit straighter now and you also hold your own bottle of water. Such grace in these milestones!

You grin, kick, and giggle whenever you catch sight of anyone in your family, but your mama is your favorite person. You love resting your head on my chest and hugging my arms as I hold you. It is the sweetest to envelope you and be enveloped back. You developed some separation anxiety this month. I am your favorite soother, although you're also partial to the pacifier. You stick the pacifier in your own mouth. You also love your kitten stuffie, Fantine. You love having her by your face in order to fall asleep. You nap in the pack n play or on a blanket on the living room floor. We put you back in your shared room with Reverie about a week ago at night, which prompted you to sleep through the night again, which you haven't done since you were about 3 months. We are so thankful for how God is growing you. We rejoice at each evidence of grace in your life. We love you, we love you, we love you so, littlest.


Love you so,
Mama

P.S. Verity at 0 , 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 months. Plus, her birth story.

Letters to Verity: 8 months

My dear Verity Heart,

Happy 8 months, littlest! People have commented how smiley and social you are this month. It seems you are in full baby mode rather than newborn haze, which you seemed to be in for about 6 months of your life. Now you grab at anything within reach, roll everywhere, and scream to make yourself heard. What a joy to behold your growing up little by little.

You stopped using the lounger mid-July, transitioned into the crib in your shared room with your big sister Reverie the last week of July, but have found your way back to the pack 'n play in our room a couple of weeks later because you kept getting your limbs stuck in between the bars of your crib. Perhaps that's just an excuse but we don't mind having you in our room still. You've been teething, biting your fingers, blankets, and teethers with ferocity.

You started solids this past month while sitting in the Bumbo. You weren't a fan at first, but have warmed up to the veggies we offered: zucchini, butternut squash, carrots, sweet potato, along with samples of tofu, banana, avocado, pear, apple, kiwi, spinach, peas, and cucumber. The samples were due to quick forays into jarred baby food during our family trip up north two weeks ago.

You smile, giggle, babble, grab, jump up and down in excitement, and snuggle into our chest with heart-melting sweetness. Developmentally, you're about 5-6 months old. You wear 3-6 month clothing, size 0-1 shoes, and size 2 diapers. You enjoy hugging your stuffie to sleep, preferring to sleep on your side or tummy, usually with the pacifier. So far, you've enjoyed the pacifier the longest out of your siblings. You're happiest in your parents' presence, though you adore the sight of your siblings as well. We love fawning over you. Your siblings fight to hold you and be near you. You are so dearly loved, littlest. Every day I hold you just a wee bit tighter as I ponder how I love you so.


Love you so,
Mama

P.S. Verity at 0 , 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 months. Plus, her birth story.

Verity's first food

Verity sampled her first zucchini solids two weeks ago. She was quite surprised by the non-milk substance. She wasn't a fan. Love how her feet stick out of the Bumbo; it was actually her first time in it. We borrowed it from a friend as Verity does not sit up well enough in the high chair, with which her older siblings had no problem by the time they each started solids. While her siblings all were keenly interested in food, Verity wasn't. Thankfully that has changed in the last two weeks.