Kai you are here!

Dear little boy you are so sweet.  I love to just stare at you when you peacefully sleep.  You are now six weeks old.  Your poor mama has to go back to work and misses you so much.  There is not enough time in the day to love you.  We had some pics taken of you at the hospital when you were 24 hours old.

Helen you are so fun!

Helen we had so much fun spending every moment with you during spring break.  Your little personality is blossoming and I just love to hear you talk, and say, "wats dat?" about everything you see.  I can't believe you are 15 months old.

 Here you are at 14 months.  You love baby girl Eva and Percy.  You want to be with them all the time.  You adore animals of any kind.

  We went to the zoo over spring break with our friends Jenn, Eden and Micah.  You had so much fun, and got to even walk around a lot.  You thought the Giraffes were funny and said "wow" a lot.:)

Here you are ready for church sitting in a big person chair.  you are growing up so fast.  You even stayed in the nursery by yourself and momma got to attend the service.  This was the first time in a very long time.  She is so proud of you!

Here you are in your pajamas from aunt jeremie, and Uncle Kevin.  Anytime we say, "Oh my goodness!" you put your hands on your head and shake it like you think momma and dada must be crazy!  We love you sweet girl, and can't believe you are growing up so quickly.  You are no longer baby Helen.  You are getting to be a big girl who is going to be a big sister any day now.  Momma and dada love you so much!  You amaze us every day and make us smile even after a night of teething when none of us got any sleep.....molars are your thing right now.  I know even you will be glad when all those teeth finally arrive. never forget how special you are to us and how beautiful you are in every way.

showers, Kai and celebrations!

So Kai, I figure you will be here any day now.  I can't wait to see you face to face.  I love you already, and hope maybe we can go to the hospital today!  Nana wants us to wait until Friday because she wants to share a birthday with you, but you do want you want.  You are your own man.:)  Lots of our friends and family are excited about you coming too!  They have been "showering" us with lots of wonderful things.
First we had a celebration with the mothers of your future friends.  I knew them in college, and/or play music with them.  It was a celebration for Miss Laura too who is having  baby Claire who will be just the same age as you.  Here are the moms!

Helen was there too!  She got a little brother Kai doll from Julia (just behind her) as well as a big sister t-shirt that she will wear at the hospital.  She had so much fun, and is going to be so excited to see you soon too!

 Our best friends, and friends from church also wanted to show you how excited they were that you are coming!  Here is a picture from Jenn that we are going to put on your and Helen's wall.  The Elephant represents Helen, and the monkey with the bronco's bow tie is for you!  She had it designed especially for both of you!  We love it so much!


We are so blessed to be surrounded with such great friends and family.  I can't wait for you to meet them all!   momma and dada love you so much!  Can't wait until I can place your little chest next to mine, and hug you with my arms.  See you soon!

Your father thinks I see the world through rose colored glasses.  He may be right, but I hope that you both see the beauty that exists in this world despite the pain.  I came across this TED talk today. I think is really inspiring.  You have to listen to it to the end. 

Love you Helen and Kai.  Forever and always.

Are we obsessed or what?--

Thanks to Holly Austin Photography for our awesome pics!

Super Bowl

Your dada was so excited that his Broncos were in the super bowl.  However, the game didn't quite go the way we hoped.  On the other hand, dada thought it was really special that Helen and mama wanted to share this special moment with him, and he got a chance to be with his brothers and nieces.  It was a good family day regardless of the outcome.

Your great Nanny--

This year your great Nanny passed away.  Helen got to visit her almost everyday for the first 7 months of her life.  Nanny adored Helen.  She called her Dolly from the start because she said you were just like a doll.  Helen you gave her a reason to wake up every morning. She would nearly run from her room when you arrived so that she wouldn't miss a moment with you. Your uncle Chris took this picture of the both of you, and entitled it "a year in an image".  You spent your first year on this earth as she spent her last.  I remembering one of the first things I thought of when I found out I was going to have you was that my Nanny was going to live long enough to meet you.  It made me cry, and very few things make me cry.
 
Even as a baby she decided that Helen was going to be a strong independent woman.  She could tell that you had a mind of your own, and she thought you were so smart.  She was sure you would be walking by 8 months old. :)  You are incredibly smart, but you waited until 12 months to walk.:)  She passed away when you were 7 1/2 months old.

When I was a teenager I think I wanted to be Nanny a little bit.  I would pore over the pictures of her and her sisters and husbands when she was young in the 1930's and 40's.  You probably know that your mama is a little obsessed with old movies from this time--anything with Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, or Claudette Colbert is probably one of your mother's favorites.  Your Nanny seemed to be straight out of these movies.  She had impeccable taste, and looked so full of spirit and life.  I hope one day I can tell you more about her, and share all those wonderful pictures with both of you.

Kai, she never got meet you.  We found out we were going to have you just a couple of weeks after she was gone.  I always thought she would believe that I was crazy even to have you Helen because I was so much older than many mothers, and she comes from a time when you had children early, but she didn't.  She even  told me that I might have many more children just a couple of weeks before she died.  We were probably already pregnant with you Kai.  Maybe she had special knowledge.

How do I even describe to you how special she was.  You had wonderful great-grandparents, but because she lived to 97 I got to know her better than some of the others.  She was still doing the Charleston, and bear walking (down on all fours) well into her 90's.  She would tell you stories about her childhood, and even stories told to her that come from your great great great grandparents.  She has passed on so much knowledge about our family that we would never know without her....I am sure you will know about Dale, and Belcher Road, and Asher, Oklahoma way before you ever are interested in this blog, but I hope you will remember to listen to the stories we tell you because one day you will wished you had paid more attention, and will want to know and there will be no one left who remembers.

You must remember.

Your father I am sure will tease you--I know this because he already does--that something you do must come from the Littles--my side of the family-- because Kluges never do that.  When he does, tell him yes dada, you are right!  and be proud.  Being a Little (or Belcher, Asher, etc)  is something wonderful.  It is a  spiritual legacy that we still feel the blessings of even now.  Today's verse below is a little longer than usual, but it is what I think about when I think on those in our family who have gone before us.

Deuteronomy 6: 1-9 
These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

 I hope great Nanny, and great Paw-Paw and the rest can look down and see how their fear and love of the Lord continues through the generations of our family.  We are part of God's story--our family history is part of God's story, and it is beautiful to see how the prayers and obedience of our family will bless you, and lead you to his love.  I hope that this may be true for you, as it has been for me.
Remember, no matter what you believe or how you are the same or different from us--your mama and dada will love you forever and always.

Helen is one!

Helen, I was so pleased with your first birthday party.  We had so much fun, and so many people who love you helped to make it happen.  I can't believe it has been over a year since you joined our family.  You are so beautiful and smart, and we think you are pretty tops.

Whitney made your banner for you!  It was just perfect!!! And your Uncle Chris and Jenn took all of the pictures.  

Nana got the cakes and helped to set everything up! And Jenn helped with the decorations!

Aunt Linda made all sorts of wonderful sweets for your birthday!  We had two tables full of different candies!

You loved the icing on your cake!

You loved all your presents too!  

We are so proud of you and love you so much!  Kai, you were there too, but I doubt you could tell what was going on!

Love you both forever and always

The one you need

Helen at 3 months

Helen, your daddy played this song a lot when you were just a baby.  It is exactly how he felt about you.  It's called The One You Need by Shane and Shane.

Here are the lyrics:

Hey hey sweet daughter
I am so proud to be your father
Each day is like a gift from God

Hey hey sweet daughter
There’s no music like your laughter
And your smile is like a rising sun

You know I loved you from the start
So come in close
Take my hand for
Daddy shares his heart

I wish that I could be your everything
Be the one to give you all the things you need
Sometimes I’m gonna let you down
But there’s Someone if you just believe
Be your hero like He’s always been for me
Darling, Jesus is the one you need

No matter what you walk through
He will always love you
Just the way you are
For there’s nothing in this world
That I’d walk for my baby girl
That she’ll be happy ever after

The story of your life is still untold
I pray the King of all the Universe
Would make your heart His own

I wish that I could be your everything
Be the one to give you all the things you need
Sometimes I’m gonna let you down
But there’s Someone if you just believe
Be your hero like He’s always been for me
Darling, Jesus is the one

Who will never leave
He’s been there all along
All ready You can find to love

I wish that I could be your everything
Be the one to give you all the things you need
Sometimes I’m gonna let you down
But there’s Someone if you just believe
Be your hero like He’s always been for me
Darling, Jesus is the one you need

Verses

My greatest prayer for you both is that you will know the love of our savior Jesus Christ.  As I rock Helen to sleep each night I pray for you both.  I sing sometimes that old chorus (now it's old...your mom is getting very old.:) ...In my life Lord Be Glorified.  Sometimes I change it to say In my babies lives Lord, Be Glorified.  Our whole purpose here on earth is to reveal God's glory.  I pray each night that God will be a part of our home, and that he will reveal himself to you.   I also pray that your dad and I  might have the privilege to be one avenue through which God reveals himself.

Helen, I often felt like Hannah before I found out that we were going to be blessed by you.  I thought that God had decided we would not have children, and when we found out that you were going to be a part of our lives we felt so much joy.  Even though this verse is overused for those who are having children, I would think frequently on the verse that Hannah said about Samuel while we waited for you to arrive.

   Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD. 27"For this child I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him. 28"So I have also dedicated him the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD." 

Kai, as we wait for you now I worry about you constantly.  I pray for you to be healthy, and strong.  I pray that we will be the parents that you need. Another overused verse, but one that I think in regards to you is: 

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations."

I have no doubt that you will both be different, unique and special in your own ways.  I look forward to seeing the special gifts that God bestows on you.  However, I also look forward to the way that you will build a relationship with him, and how he will use you to bring about his glory, and help to usher forth the kingdom of God.

The lion lays down with the lamb....it may happen in your lifetime.  There will definitely be moments when you can see it if you look closely and be aware.  What a glorious world where God allows us to help build the beautiful vision he has for his people.

Remember, your mama  and dada love you both forever and always.


 On a different note, Sunday Helen and her dada got ready to watch the playoffs.  Your dad is hoping for a super bowl win this year!  He is so excited to share this with you, Helen,  and hopes that 2014 will not only be the birth of his first son, but also a super bowl win for his Broncos.

Our little blessings!

So, I am finally starting a blog about our journey through parenthood.  I am horrible about scrap books, and since I have been married I have not even been good about keeping up with a blog, but I am going to try again.  I want to have a record of this beautiful time in our life, and be able to tell Helen and Kai things about their first years, and if I don't write it I won't remember it.  So...I have decided to write this as a story to them.  Things about themselves, things that I think as I watch them grow, and things that I hope they will know and learn in our household.  They can learn about me as they learn about themselves.  I love you sweet babies, and hope that one day you will read this and know that your mommy and daddy loved you and wanted you so much.

Helen, this is your friend Tess!  Trying to say Tess' name was one of your first words!!!

Kai, you were so cute every time we saw you before you were born!  You loved to move a lot!