7 months

I guess one month is all it takes for a lamb-devouring carnivore to become a full blown termite. :)

six month list

Hello Baby Girl,
It has been five days since Daddo went out of town. He's on his way back as I type (woohoo!). In honor of your last day as a six-month old (how can that be?) I've compiled a list of things I'd like to remember about you. Give me a couple of months and they'll have disappeared in the abyss of my terrible memory.

At six months old...

*You go to bed at 9:00pm and wake up around 7:00am. You have to have your CD playing at night or you won't sleep. You also take three naps a day.
*You've never cried (no, not once!) when I've dropped you off at school or the nursery.
*You still love your swing. We turn it to the highest level. It's slowing down as you get bigger.
*You wear clothes that are 9-12 months in size.
*You have no teeth.
*You love to sit up while you play. You just started rolling over consistently. You desperately want to crawl.
*You eat oatmeal, sweet potatoes and carrots. You'll eat anything that I put in your mouth, and you are not partial to temperature. We'll be adding more food soon.
*You yank off immediately anything that's on your feet. You leave your hair accessories alone.
*You sleep in a sleep sack. One night I accidentally left a tube of ointment zipped up in there. I found it the next morning.
*You love everyone. You smile easily and if someone tickles your legs, you burst into a fit of giggles.
*You prefer to be out and about. All day at home makes for a cranky girl.
*You just figured out how to leap in your jumper seat we hang from the doorway. You point your feet mid-air and it makes me dream of the day you might take up dancing.
*Music of any sort captures your attention and brings a smile to your face.
*You like to play with mail, straws and all the hair you can grab.
*You love riding in your stroller.
*You talk all the time. Sometimes you sing softly to yourself. When you're playing you like to test the strength of your vocal chords. Your happy banter sounds like a cross between a raptor dinosaur and a screech owl. It makes me crack up every time. You've said "Dada" and "Mama". We're still waiting for you to say it on purpose. :)
*People stop us out in public to tell us how beautiful you are. (Like we need any reminder!)

So there you have it Baby Girl. Tomorrow, I'll get out the lamb, write seven months on a piece of paper and take your picture. You won't be six months old anymore. But you'll still be one of the best things that ever happened to us. Who knew my fallen little heart could love like this? I know God doesn't make mistakes. I can't think of any other reason why He gave you to us, except of course, for His grace. He's just that great.

high school retreat

We did back to back retreats this year. Last weekend was the middle school, this time around it was our high school kids. We loaded up the bus and took them to southern Missouri.

Here's the beast of a vehicle Daniel drove for six hours each way. He got his bus license soon after the church purchased it. Is there anything he can't do?


The high ropes course is a highlight of the trip every year. Here are some of the kids getting ready to climb.


Last year, I couldn't climb due to my condition. Something about growing a baby and flying down a zip line don't mix well. This year, I was good to go!


The best part of the trip came on the last day. We drove through Columbia on the way back to eat lunch at Chipotle and play football on the astro turf. Look who was there to greet us.

He is one handsome little man. So tiny! Holding him gave my arms a break from hauling around Baby Girl.

Apparently, she was just fine with that. There was a big cousin to keep her entertained.

And entertain they did. Of all the toys that were there, it was Manda's sunglasses they loved best. That's women for you.

The photo contest is still going on. If you'd like to vote for Reester, click here. Thanks bloggers!

chicken little competes

*Update* If you voted, please vote again. They started the votes back at zero because two pictures were left out. Thanks!

Hello bloggers. Reese is in her first competition. I entered her in a fall photo contest over at the Siesta Blog. As it stands, we're getting whooped by Natalie in NC. And Jeannie from WA is hot on our tail.

And while I'm sure campaigning for your picture on your own blog is bad form, I ain't too proud to beg.

As soon as school gets out, we're sounding the alarm to the youth, "Rally for the Rooster!" (Youth ministry has its perks at times.)

Poor Dan doesn't know what to do with me. He asked me this morning what the prize was.

Pride.

Seriously, I don't think the winner gets anything. Except the satisfaction and reiteration that Chicken Little is the cutest baby to peck the planet.

If you want to help her clench the victory click here. Scroll through all the pictures, and vote for your favorite *cough Chicken Little cough*. That's it!

Voting closes on Saturday.

By then I'm sure I'll be on the road, U-Haul in tow, traveling around the country living vicariously through baby beauty pageant after baby beauty pageant. And in 15 years, Reese will appear on a WE reality show explaining how her mother's meltdown all began with a fall photo contest.

car post

I'm writing this post from my cellular device in the car. Thus two things are implied. One, if this post even makes it to the blog, nothing short of a miracle has occurred. Two, due to the tiny key board and the lack of spell check, the spelling mistakes are imminent. Emenint? M&Ment? (See.) Originally the title was "car poat." Heaven help me. Bless my heart. In a few hours we'll return home from the high school fall retreat. Someone in the back seat is this close to getting a tooth. We had to stop at the nearest Infant Tylenol distribution center before hitting up our third McDonald's of the weekend. Which by the way were all the nicest McDonald's I've ever seen complete with flat screen TV's, couches and video games in the Play Place. I'll leave you on that note. If I type any more I'll be that much more miffed when it fails to upload from my phone. I'll be back later with stories from the retreat. And oh yes, there will be pictures. TTYL, brb, lol.


*PS* No bloggy miracle happened. My phone let me save the post but not publish the post. We strive never to mislead you here at the Hinton Home Blog.

jammie day

Today was PJ day at Reese's school. Is there anything better than wearing your jammies all day long?


Ah, yes. Time with Daddy.


She loves her some Daddy.

middle schoolers

This past weekend we took about 40 people on our middle school fall retreat. We drove a couple of hours away and spent the weekend playing in the woods. There was worship, Bible study, sports, crafts and a high ropes course that kept us occupied.

For the record, I love middle school kids. My first job was entirely junior high ministry. I was smitten.

Since then, I just can't get enough of them. They are up for anything. They're old enough to process complex concepts yet young enough to be impressionable. They carry baggage of adult variety but generally, they're not yet hardened...a typical symptom of those who have been in the world a little longer. And they are hysterical.

For whatever reason, I think middle school students are fabulous. They're a highlight of our ministry.

When trekking through the wilderness it's important to be hydrated and accessorized with favorite toys. Not only do they look good, they make excellent companions.


Our fearless leader. Rugged. Handsome. And fiercely loyal to his tigers.


Hello cute girls. I heart you.


Pay attention to the instructions now. Lest you fall from the rock wall and plummet to earth.


Chalk this one up as yet another reason is should be fall all year long.


Go Gandolf go! Have I explained that a prerequisite for entering youth group is a having a nick name of some sort? If you don't have one upon arrival, you will when you leave. Most kids have about 10 names that continue to evolve into others.


Middle school girls, I heart you with all my love. That's me on the far right. If you have time, click on this picture. It should come up bigger so you can truly appreciate the expression on each girl's face. They'll make you smile. Works for me every time.

some random thoughts

It's a scary world in this here head of mine. Enter at your own risk...

1. I'm so thankful for Don and Sandy coming to visit. They took Reese all day.
2. Spoiling detox stinks, but it's worth getting to see family.
3. I heart taco night. So easy, yet so delicious.
4. Do you like Reese's new picture up there at the top of the page? Sarah, D'Toe's fiance took it this weekend on the middle school fall retreat.
5. I heart you fall retreats. I look forward to you two all year long.
6. If any one's keeping track, I've had a change of heart regarding Daylight Savings. Turns out babies don't really get the gist of it.
7. I wish spam emails were true and I really did win the Russian, German and British lotteries.
8. I can't wait to see my niece and her baby brother in 6 days. I might stick him in my purse and bring him back with us.
9. Reese just said "Mama." I'm not sure of its significance though because she said it to her plastic keys.

a mush feast

The past couple of weeks we have begun food introduction with Reese. Up to this point she has been a milk baby. The transition has been tougher for us than it has been for her. Solids increase the mess going in and well...the mess coming out. I'll spare you the dirty details.

Last week my dad flew down to visit for a couple of days. He served Reese her usual meal of oatmeal and sweet potatoes. Affectionately known in our house as mush and orange mush.



Judging from this face, she likes her mush.

the election

Hi bloggers. Are you still there? I hope upon reading this post's title you didn't go running in the opposite direction. I promise I won't delve into political discussion. Because really, anything that could be said has been said. Or typed. Or published. Or yelled about between two arguing heads on 24 hour news networks. It feels like this election "season" has been more like an election century. It's gone on and on and on.

To be truthful, I can't bear to watch most of what's on the news. It's as if the polls and accusations and outlooks suck me in, chew me up and spit me back out. I'm left a confused and fearful wad of burdened mush.

Sunday at church, the guest speaker taught from the most timely, appropriate passage. It was one of those moments when it's so obvious God is talking straight to you, that trying to squirm out of it is just pointless. "You'd best be paying attention, 'cause I'm talking to you, Rachel."

Psalm 46:6-10
"Nations are in an uproar, (Hello, current state of our country!) kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
*The commentary and emphasis are mine.

Oh, that this would be the prayer of my heart.

Tomorrow, I'll go cast my vote and I encourage you to do the same. Too many people have fought and died so that we may have the privilege of choosing our leaders. It matters.

But tonight, I'm on my knees. Praying that my hope will not be in our president. Or a political candidate. I'm praying the very words he gave us so long ago. His promise that as our world is rocked, His voice remains as powerful as ever (vs.6). He is with us (vs.7).

I pray that whatever it takes to bring this country to its knees, whether desolation (vs.8) or cessation (vs.9), let it be so. In my life, in my family, Lord be exalted. Oh how I find peace not just in the fact that He is God, but that He will be exalted(vs.10). And it's that promise, not a political agenda, that calms this restless soul.

chicken little's grand adventure

She had herself some fun at the church party.

She and her daddy had front row seats to the puppet show.


She played in the ball pit.


She even went fishing, and held the pole herself!


Come on big one.

She can barely keep her tired eyes open. I think it was all a ruse to trick those fish into thinking she wasn't paying attention. Her Great-Grandpa Hank and Great-Grandad would have been so proud of her mad fishing skills.

Don't forget to fall back bloggers. I don't know about you, but it's right up there with Christmas for me...I look forward to this night all year long. I'm going to go spend my extra hour with my husband who just returned from Dallas. I'll yee-haw to that!