Praying for Their Footsteps

Like my friend, Jamie, I will be moving "Praying for Their Footsteps" to Tuesday. Yes, I know that today is not Tuesday, but last night I did not have an opportunity to use the computer.

God, thank you for Levi. Father, open Levi's heart, mind, and eyes at an early age to the grace you have shown Him through the gift of Your Son. Perfect the good work that You have begun in him, so that he will be filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes through Jesus Christ. Give him courage to speak the word of God without fear.
Philippians 1:3, 6, 11, 14

Fourteen Months

Today, Levi is fourteen months old. He loves to play outside, throw balls, catch balls, swing the baseball bat, and swing the club. Levi loves any type of remote control, camera, or cell phone. Levi is still fascinated with light switches; his fascination with fans is slowly waning. He loves to "talk"; although his actual words are few. He is consistent with, "Mama", though, and - of course - "pow!" I'm not really sure that "pow!" would be considered a word. Oh well. He loves his paci, but we're trying to only let him have it during naps or at night. So far, that transition is going well. I'm not sure how we'll ever get him not to want the paci when he's sleeping, though.

Levi experiences separation anxiety when he is first left somewhere - particularly church or MDO. He was not sure what to think this morning at church, though, because Kevin and I are teaching his class. At first, he would cry whenever someone would come to the room - thinking that I was surely going to leave him there. He eventually got over that fear though and had fun with us in his room.

Yesterday, Levi had a very rough day. I actually debated whether or not to even take any pictures today - let alone post them. However, rough days are going to be par for the course now that we have an official toddler. So, before I show the pictures, here's the story. I had both french doors shut between the sunroom and the breakfast area. Levi lost his balance and fell into one of the doors, with his forehead connecting with one of the wood panes of the door. He cried big time, and he ended up with a pretty mean looking knot on his head. I felt horrible. Of course, that can't be all... We were outside playing with a soccer ball. It ended up on the sidewalk and before I could get there, he'd already leaned for it - and toppled over the soccer ball. He landed on - you guessed it - the EXACT same place he had hurt before. So instead of just a mean looking knot / bruise, he has two skinned places. Here's my little bruiser...

Pow!

Levi loves golf. Kevin has the new Tiger Woods game for the Wii, and he taught Levi to "swing" the Wii remote and say, "Pow!", about a month ago. Levi now loves to say "Pow!" about almost any type of ball that is thrown or hit or "club" that is swung. His grandma and granddaddy Hughes found a nerf golf club and ball, and when he's there, they are lucky when they can pry it out of his hands. They found a golf club just for Levi, because they had let Levi hold one of his granddaddy's real golf clubs, and Levi would not let go of it. He literally had his diaper changed at least one time while holding on to it. (Can anyone say, "spoiled"?!?! But, that's just what a grandparent is supposed to do, right?)

Tonight, Levi remembered that he had something that resembled a golf club, his Playskool baseball bat. This clip is longer than my usual clips (it's about 27 seconds), but I thought it was the cutest.

Praying for Their Footsteps

Lord, I pray that Levi would know You, who called us by Your own glory and excellence, and that he would truly know Jesus as Savior. Please multiply Your grace and peace to Levi. Father grant to Levi everything pertaining to life and godliness. Make him a partaker of the divine nature. Strengthen him to escape the corruption that is in the world. Set him apart for You.
2 Peter 1:2-4; Psalm 4:3

Toddler

I know most kids usually stand up by themselves first, develop balance by learning to stand in one place, and then take those first steps. For some reason, Levi likes to be different. He's been "walking" for a little over a week and never mastered the standing up by himself. He was trying last night, and I had a feeling that he was going to do it today. Kevin picked up Levi from his mom's house, and she said that he finally learned how to stand up from the sitting position and just kept making laps around her house today - falling on his bottom and standing right back up. Kevin and I believe that this feat means that Levi is really a "toddler".

We also made a sheet tent for Levi tonight. He loved it. He would leave the tent, and I would ask him, "Levi, where is daddy?" He'd go right over to the tent and fall in his daddy's arms. Kevin even tried to make it more difficult by moving pillows and boxes in front of him. Even that wouldn't deter Levi from findng his daddy!

Labor Day Weekend

My parents and youngest sister made the trip to see Levi on Saturday and stayed until Monday morning. I was very negligent in my picture taking. Between watching Levi, a little bit of shopping, and watching our Auburn Tigers, I didn't have much time for taking pictures. To make up for it, we tried to take a few shots before they left on Monday. We weren't super successful. Levi is just all about moving.

This picture was like Levi was saying, "Later, taters!"

Barber Shop

We visited Ms. Debbie this afternoon at the Georgia Avenue Barber Shop.

She cuts Kevin's hair and Levi's granddaddy's hair. She also now cuts Levi's hair. I admit, I went a little camera-happy with this first of Levi's, but he was just so cute!

She started by using a bright green comb.

Levi decided he wanted to hold the comb, so she found another one.

And with one quick snip...

we had our first "curl" to save.

Overall, Levi did a great job. He moved his head around, but he was still enough for her to give him a good haircut. He did not cry at all. He was actually quite fascinated by the whole thing.

He even let her use the electric razor - and thought it was ticklish!

Yes, I now officially have a toddler. There is just something about that first haircut that really does make him look grown up.

Breakthrough

I think Levi has been working on his top "lateral incisors" (the teeth on either side of his two front teeth) for months. Tonight, I finally felt the one on his left.

Praying for Their Footsteps

Father, may Your lovingkindness comfort Levi.
Psalm 119:76

Lord, you have seen Levi's ways. You will lead him and restore comfort to him.
Isaiah 57:18

You have loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace. Please comfort and strengthen Levi's heart in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

MDO

Today was Levi's first day of Mother's Day Out - or for this family - Grandmother's Day Out. Levi was not a happy camper to see his grandmother leave him at that strange place, but he apparently settled down. I'm hoping and praying that he will not cry about being left for a few hours; that he will realize that he is not being left forever.