It's tough being the center of attention...

Not me; Addison.  Not to brag, but I often think that my kid is the coolest thing ever.  (Although at this moment she's fake-crying in her bed because she doesn't want to take a nap.  This part is not cool.)  Apparently other people agree.  It seems like everywhere we go people are so considerate and nice and loving towards Addison... even on an airplane where she bugged the woman next to us and fussed for the entire 40 minute flight, our neighbors were very accommodating.  Folks in restaurants comment or smile at us; while walking through a grocery store, people stop to wave back at Addie - she can be very persistent. 

Last weekend Brad, Addison, and I flew to Charleston to meet my family and celebrate my brother's graduation from college.  Between the commissioning ceremony (Drew is now a 2nd Lt. in the US Army - that's crazy!), a parade during a rain storm, a long fancy dinner, graduation, and lots of time in the car, Addie sat threw a lot of not-fun stuff for her!  She was so good.  She was not actually the center of attention - after all the weekend was about Andrew.  She did get a lot of love and attention.  Well, I guess everyone did. 

With the exception of a very stuffy waiter Saturday evening - who obviously was not used to kiddos and looked nervous the second we asked for a high chair - people everywhere were accommodating.  I really expected to get dirty looks and to be one of a few babies around all this college graduation stuff, but there were a lot of babies.  Addie was pretty great.  She didn't sleep a lot, and it caught up with us on the way home on Sunday.  Happy Mother's Day to me.  :)  It was a yuck way to end a fun, short weekend.  Too short to enjoy my parents and grandparents, and to watch my goofy brother-in-law torture my pregnant sister, and to ship my brother off to his life in the Army.  Sigh. 

We worked on Addison's immune system for a few hours Sunday, as she crawled and walked all around the Atlanta airport.  Speaking of the airport: I had a hard time finding a TV that was showing the news.  I thought that was weird; they usually have tons of TVs with CNN or something on throughout the terminal.  When I got home and realized that there had been 3 planes diverted due to suspected terror alerts, I was first thankful that it wasn't one of the planes I had been on, then amused that the ATL folks apparently were nervous about what we passengers would do if we heard about terror threats.  I guess they thought we'd revolt or something.  Funny, but in an ironic way. 

Happy Easter!

I love Easter. I love the colors, and the bunnies, and the baskets, and the eggs.  Apparently Addison does too.

this was right before leaving for our first egg "hunt" yesterday - we just gave Addie the eggs

"look what the Easter bunny left me!"

what is she trying to convey here?  what a funny face!

You always hear that "there's nothing like being a Mom."  I used to think "duh stupid."  Like, I knew that it would be like nothing else, and that I couldn't imagine what it would be like before I had a kid myself, but it just seemed like such an obvious statement.  Now I actually think that obvious statement!  I don't say it to my friends, but I think it to myself, and am overcome with what a blessing it is just to experience the role of motherhood.  I love every new face (like the sneaky one above) and noise she makes.  I can't wait until she can tell me what she's saying.
Today is Easter.  I was explaining what we celebrate to Addison this morning - that we celebrate a risen Lord - and she seemed very interested. 

this is the cross that's put up in front of our church every year on Palm Sunday.  Throughout Holy Week it bears a black cloth, and on Easter morning there's a purple robe draped around it, and people bring flowers to put all around it. 

Addison may not be able to hunt eggs yet, but she likes to hold the little empty plastic kind and bang them together.  Today she was trying to crawl and walk all around in her long, fancy Easter dress and kept getting tangled up - the above picture was right after a frustrating moment.

What a daddy's girl, huh?  Well, looks can be deceiving.  Lately she wants to go from one of us to the other and back.  I don't know if she's finally really getting to that clingy stage that most babies get, or if she is cutting another tooth, or what.  I kept the nursery today during one of our services and she was only happy if I was holding her!  Addison sees me hold and play with other babies all the time, but today she wasn't having any of that.  Brad, and later his dad, stopped in our class today, and she cried when both tried to pick her up.  What's up with that???
I hope that you had a chance to hear the Gospel today.  I hope that it convicted you and reminded you of the purpose behind the death and resurrection of our sweet Lord.  I've always believed that hearing the Gospel will draw people to Jesus.  I heard David Platt, author of Radical and pastor at The Church of Brook Hills in Birmingham, during a Secret Church simulcast on Friday.  He specifically argued against that idea - he said that the Gospel should make us run scared because of the life that being a Believer and Follower calls us to.  (I'm paraphrasing.)  While I understand that intellectually, emotionally I still like that metaphor that we're all created with a God-shaped hole that can only be filled with Christ.
By the way, if you want a challenging, difficult, possibly life-changing read, check out Platt's book.  I'm reading and it's putting a whole new spin - based entirely on Scripture - on things.

Happy Easter.

Clicker Hogs

That's right: I live with two clicker hogs.  Brad has been one for years.  He denies it, of course, but he is.  He can't let up!  If I put the TV on a channel he wants to watch, Brad still comes looking for the remote control, or "clicker."  Addison is quickly turning into her daddy's girl...

Can you see the clicker on the chair?  I turned around for a minute and she had it.  I am still kind of shocked that she's tall enough to reach over the arm of the chair like that; I feel like she's grown several inches in the last few days!  A few minutes after I snapped this picture (after I snuck the clicker away from her), she was using her walker-toy and pinched her sweet finger in it.  It was the saddest cry I've ever heard!  I got her little fingers un-snuck, and loved on her for a few minutes, kissing her sweet, purple fingers and trying to get her smiling again.  What finally worked was handing her the clicker.  Am I a sucker or what?

Sleeping on the job...
Addie hates to nap at school.  It's not like she just loves to nap at home... she just hates to miss even a second of the "action."  Even if every other kiddo in her class is asleep, the lights are off, and nothing's happening, chances are good that she's going to fight sleep.  Monday, however, was a new one: she fell asleep, but not during "naptime."  Instead she fussed and fritzed around until lunch time, then passed out in the high chair, mid-juju, and slept for almost 30 minutes.  How ridiculous!  How cute!  Her teacher came running to get me, and we snapped this quick pic:

By the way: "jujus" are the word we use for puffs/cheerios.  (Not Addison, but us grown-ups.)  Brad brought the nickname with us from Dothan, where our sweet friend Mary Selwyn - now three years old - used to call every kind of snack a "juju."  Brad actually thought the real name for puffs was "juju."  The name stuck, and probably will for a while.  We're hoping for a visit from Mary Selwyn and her sweet sister and mama next month.  I'm sure those "big girls" will teach Addie a few more things that'll stick with the Gowings.  :) 

A Pot and a Spoon...

It's amazing how much energy it takes to entertain a 9 month old.... It's also amazing how little it takes to entertain a 9 month old. 

This is Addison this morning.  Today has been a great day - no fussing, good napping, good eating.  Last week was slightly rough.  We had some separation anxiety (on her part, which of course causes it on Mommy's part), and two days of no napping, and I was working on cutting out one of our nursing times.  And that second tooth was still giving us fits. 
One afternoon she was inconsolable - not crying but really whiny.  After every toy had been played with and I had made every silly noise and face I could think of, I got out this little pot and a big spoon.  Addie was as happy as can be and totally emersed in making music long enough for me to go to the bathroom and cook dinner.  Phew!  After days of listening to the 5 o'clock whine, how did I not think of this sooner???  Since then, I've kept it hidden and pulled it out only when I needed a quick distraction for her.
Some other things she loves: the pantry.  The dishwasher.

The front yard.  Check out the drool.

A good stroller ride.  (She does not, by the way, like the sunglasses.  She's only still wearing them in this picture because I distracted her with her "purse."  That thing is a lifesaver.  And a nuisance.)

Rosco.  ("Mom, why can't he come inside???)

Toast.  That's right: our gal is eating toast.  This one 1/3 slice took her 30 minutes to eat this morning, but she loved it.  By the way: how much does she look like her Daddy in this picture?

The park.  Our friends Henry and Clayton.

On a slightly different note, I am constantly thankful to have good friends around with kids Addison's age.  The boys above are one month and one day older than her.  We have another set of twin-friends two weeks younger than her.  Several friends have kids about 6 months older.  It's been so fun to see them all grow and do new things together!  Also, my friends who are quick to listen to a whine from me, or give advice when I need it - and withhold advice with I can't handle any more info.  The families in our youth group who love Brad like he's one of their kids, and let him/us love on their kids in the same way.  We've been blessed beyond measure here in Pensacola. 

Oh, and I have plenty of pots to go around.  :)

Comings and Goings

Good grief! You'd think finding 15 minutes in a week (or two... or three) to update this thing would still be simple!  Alas, it is not.  Addison is crawling like crazy, getting into everything, and trying to walk.  WHAT?!?  Is she old enough for this?  Am I?  Needlesstosay, time at home gets busier and busier every day!  We've had a lot of other things going on, too, though...

Britton and boys
Brad's sister brought her 4 boys (yes four, yes all boys - always a blast) up for their spring break and Addison and I got to spend some time with them.  They were crazy - all over the place!  Will is six and read to us the first chapter of Genesis.  Matt is four and talked my ear off in the car once we got rid of all the other boys.  Ben is almost three and still calls me "My-yee," and loves on Addie so sweetly.  Jake is five months old and as big as Addison.  She was crawling only backwards before they came, and now suddenly moves forwards like she's a professional.  We had so much fun I didn't even take time to take pictures!

"In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina"
Addison and I flew to see my parents last week.  My sister Malia is 6 months pregnant and doing great; she joined us.  My baby brother Drew came up to surprise us, too.  It was lots of fun.  Addie was not spoiled at all (haha), and she saw all sorts of new things.  She's a great traveler.

Back at the home front
We've lost any hint of a schedule: naps are crazy, she's hungry at weird times, and she hasn't slept through the night in a week!  I think she's cutting her second tooth, which makes her a bit crabby.  She's still exploring all sorts of things though:

Yesterday we tried out the beach for the first time.  The other kiddos we were with seemed to like it but apparently Addison did not feel good: she had a scowl on her face the whole time!  Check out our sweet budda-belly though:

We're home today from church with a cough and runny nose.  Gal has still managed to get into a few things, though:

As I've stated before, she loves bags.  I hope you have a week of cleaner floors, drool-free windows, and a kid who's not a pick pocket (notice above that the only thing she pulled out was my wallet?)... I will have none of those, haha. 

Confessions of a Grown-up Cheerleader...

Literal and figurative.  It's been awhile, so here goes...
Literal Grown-up Cheerleader
I cheered in high school.  I was a high-ponytail and ribbon-wearing, overly cheerful, hard working cheerleader.  Shocked?  Maybe if you're familiar with the grown-up me (the sarcasm-laced realist) that's surprising, but probably not.  Since college, I've been coaching.  In just five years, I feel like I experienced all the different kinds of cheerleaders a coach can: super talented, athletic but not cheery, school-spirit crazed, and the parents-ohh the parents! Yikes!  Today I spent a little while helping with tryouts at EHS, where I used to teach and coach.  Watching some of the girls I knew made me miss it.  I loved the music and the dancing, and I loved seeing those girls who make the hard stuff look so simple.  So when my friend asked if I'm interested in helping next year, I paused to think about it....  then thought about little Addison and said nope.

Figurative Cheerleader
Addison is starting to crawl.  She's been getting up on all fours and rocking for several weeks now.  She scoots backwards very fast.  Tonight, though, she took her first few feet forward, trying to get her doll.  I sat across from her and clapped and yelled and clapped some more, acting like a fool for the better part of 30 minutes, until she faced planted for a third time and got upset.

Literal Confessions
Have you ever noticed how God uses themes?  He's been using one on me lately that's pretty scary.  I've been doing Beth Moore's Bible study on Esther, and have been reading about how often we are brought to a place "for such a time as this."  Wednesday night most of the study was on fear-living in it and becoming Believers free from it.  Last weekend was our women's retreat for church, and I served on the committee.  In preparation for a different, challenging, retreat, I read our speaker's book, Passport Through Darkness, Kimberly L. Smith.  READ IT.  READ IT NOW.  GET YOUR CHURCH TO PUT IT IN THEIR LIBRARY.  (Ours has it.)  Good grief what a read!  It was heart-wrenching and beautiful.  Kimberly chronicles her spiritual journey through co-founding Make Way Partners ministry, working with victims of sex-trafficking in Spain and the Sudan, and the path her marriage took along the way.  By telling her story, she challenges readers to consider that our vocation and jobs may be different, and our calling may be much larger than we've ever imagined, and to question if we willing and open to hear it from God.  My answer: I thought so.  I thought I'd answered "send me God" several years ago, when I was afraid to support Brad in his ministry at first, and later told him and God that I would go wherever.  After reading and hearing from Kimberly, I found myself adding an ending to my sentence: "send me God, but please no place scary."  Considering the admonition from Esther/Beth Moore to be free from fear, I now need a new prayer: not just send me, but mold me, into a servant who is honestly willing to go wherever and do whatever.  I'm not there yet.  In fact, whenever I think about it and get excited at the prospect of getting there, I get nervous again at where the "there" will be. 
(Is that the most confusing confession you've ever read or what?)

So... I'm going to continue in my sarcastic-realist-optimism and cheer Addison on, and do better at cheering Brad on.  I'm not wearing ribbons and cheerleading skirts any more, but I occasionally sport a high pony and put ribbons in my child's hair.  I'm learning more and more daily about how everything is a heart-matter; whatever I'm doing, and wherever I'm going, should be sincerely heart-led.  Is my heart big enough?  Nope, but my Heavenly Father's is, and His spirit enables me.

from several weeks ago, when she started trying to pull up;
she's been unsuccessful at this on her own so far.  Wouldn't you want to cheer her on?

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

I almost typed "Happy V-Day," but I have an issue with that - a rather dorky issue - every time I hear the shortened "V-Day," I think for a second that it's talking about V-E or V-J Days.  As in the end(s) of World War II, Victory in Europe, May 1945, and Victory in Japan in August.  Random, huh?  Yes, I'm a nerd.  Sometimes I miss teaching history - being immersed in it.  Sigh... That's a blog for another day.

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!  I love Valentine's Day, even if Brad doesn't.  (Yes, Brad dislikes Valentine's day.  That means I rarely get a gift - sometimes not even a card - from Brad.  Oh well.  He did empty the dishwasher and call that a "gift."  HAH!  He's such a scrooge wanna be.) 
I love any day where there's a reason to dress up!  Now, I didn't really dress up (I wore pink), but Addison did. 

When we were kids, Malia and I would come downstairs and our dad would have roses for my mom, and a rose and a card for each of us, asking us to be his "other" valentines.  This happened year after year.  How sweet is that?  I wonder if Brad will get over his anti-v-day sentiment to do something sweet like this for Addison?

To make the week even better, the weather could not be any more fabulous!  Today was absolutely beautiful.  Addison and I spent some time outside, walking around, playing in the dirt, sitting with Rosco.  I am so hopeful that this beautiful weather is here to stay for a while!

We've had an exciting couple of weeks, I guess:

freezing after the race

Brad participated in the Double Bridge Run; Addie and I went out to support him in the cold.



too many kids, not enough time



Addison went to her first Super Bowl party.  She had tons of fun.  She wore a sweet smocked sports dress a friend gave us: it has a football, a baseball, and a basketball on it! 

 Addie is getting up on all fours on her own, and tries to move!  She goes backwards, mostly, and pretty fast, haha!  She rocks back and forth, and if she actually tries to move forward, she face-plants.  She's so proud of herself.

Our gal is also pulling up.  Usually it's whenever she can grab ahold of our fingers or hands or arms.  After naps I've been letting her pull herself up, and then showing her how to hold on to the edge of the crib.  One day I might regret that, but right now it's too precious to care!  She get's so excited!  She's also waving, but not really "Hi" or "Bye"... it's more for the reaction.  For example, she waved at me the entire time I tried to feed her dinner tonight.  I think she just didn't want to eat!

 Of course, she still loves to roll places, like under my bed...

and she still loves that silly Cath Kidston bag...

 see?  Such committment!