Little

Little is growing up.


She is still as full of life as ever. She gets extremely excited over things like puddles of water, seeing dogs and butterflies, and...well...rocks.

She talks all the time, putting 2 words together into simple phrases ("Mommy bye", "Doggy water", "Daddy truck"). She also retells stories in a very animated manner. It's one of my favorite things, listening to and watching her tell a story. "Claire, can you tell Daddy about the thunder?" Little's hands go flying up in the air, her face brightens and her eyes widen, and she talks with her voice and her hands and her face all at once..."OW!!! (her version of "loud")...followed by excited gibberish and pointing..."Claire, was the thunder loud?" "OW!!!" "Where did we hear the thunder?" "Doh!!! (door)...OW...doh...Daddy OW!!! Mommy OW!!!"



Little is still as busy and active as ever. She runs and dances all the time. She has some serious dance moves. Really, I'm not sure that dancing is her spiritual gift. But she tries, and it is very amusing to watch. She hasn't gotten the "jump" down yet, but she sure is cute when she tries.


Little loves to laugh. She loves to make other people laugh as well. If I ever laugh at something that she says or does, she is delighted and I can be sure that the scene will be repeated at least 10 times before it's all said and done.


Our prayers are becoming longer these days, largely due to Little calling out everyone's name that she knows during the prayer...and trust me, she won't allow the prayer to finish before each person is thoroughly prayed for. No general "bless everyone in our family and all of our friends" prayers for Little.

She calls everyone under the age of four "baby." She still loves the rain. She talks to inanimate objects such as, well, the rain, and all the plants in our vegetable garden. The only way to get her to give me her sippy cup at night before she goes to bed is to say, "Tell your milk night-night." She will wave at her cup and say, "Nigh-nigh meh," and then relinquish it.


She loves to have a task. She helps Daddy change the oil in the car and helps Mommy cook. She wants to be so big.



A friend told me that she could see this picture next to one of Claire walking down the aisle in 20-something years. That would be sweet, if Claire was ever actually going to grow up and get married. But she's not. Because she is going to stay little. Right???


Slow down, Little! You're growing up too fast! Come back!
Every day is a gift with the Little. She is a priceless gift that God in His grace has entrusted the Coach and myself with, to love and enjoy and to nurture and discipline and to teach and disciple. And despite my emotions screaming, "Stay Little!!!", every day my prayer for her is the same..."But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen" (1 Peter 3:18)