Random Funness at the Gill's

We've had a few weeks, er, months of craziness here. We just were not able to get organized before Jon started his spring semester and we have been playing catch-up in every area of life, including blogging/picture uploading. Here is a sample of the funness that's been happening at the Gill house :)

Abi and I cuddle while I show her some of her baby pictures.

Jon blows belly bubbles, much to the delight of the "big sister."

Future Gustie???

What do you want mom? I'm busy brushing my teeth!

Those blue eyes...

One day, I walked into the living room to find that Abigail had dragged her tub out of the linen closet and was sitting in it like a boat.

We just love the snuggles.

Here we are getting ready for the pro-life rally at the University of Minnesota! Here's Abi's sign.

Sharing a snack on the floor

Abi as the Virgin Mary? Or maybe she's a shepherd?

At the Super Bowl party, Abi got a little friendly with some of the boys.

Abi, I should warn you...

More snuggles

She likes to wear every single article of clothing she can find.

Ok, I swear I didn't force her to do this. But as I was licking the envelopes for the New Year's letters, she started walking around licking things. So I let her help! Your letter may have been licked by Abigail!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Mamma is very sick. She stays on the couch all day. So I will give her some blankets to stay warm!

She's suddenly into chewing on the pacifiers she finds in the baby basket.

Let's color, Abi!!

Working hard...

Mamma, I didn't empty out my baggie of hair clips and bows, I promise!

Daddy/Daughter Moments...

Story #1:
Abigail brought the book "Mommy and Me" to Jon one morning. Jon tried to hand the book off to me, saying, "This is a book about mommies and their babies. I can't read this to her." However, I was busy with something and thus tried to assure him, "Sure you can! Just change all the 'mommy' words to 'daddy' and the hers to his." Jon decided to give it a shot. He put Abigail in his lap and opened the book saying, "Daddy and Me."
"...Daddy duck and...his babies go for a swim."
I chuckled imagining the picture of a mama duck swimming with her ducklings. But Jon continued.
"Daddy giraffe snuggles with baby."
Jon then snuggled close to Abi. Aw!
"Daddy Cat feeds...his kittens. That's it! I can't read this anymore!" And he tossed the book at me. I looked at the picture that caused him to reject the 'renamed' book of Daddy and Me. Ah yes, a picture of a mama cat nursing her kittens isn't really reversible!

Story #2:
We've started closing and locking the bathroom door since Abi has figured out that doorknobs are the key to opening doors. She sometimes has luck in wiggling it open. This morning Jon had locked the door as he used the bathroom. Sure enough Abi toddled over to try to see what he was doing in there. She knocked and giggled. Jon sang, "hellooooo!" from the other side of the door. She giggled again and wiggled her fingers under the door. Jon laughed. Then Abi reached for the doorknob and gave it a wiggle. "Oh Abi, Daddy locked the door. I'm sorry!" Jon called from inside the bathroom. There was silence for a while as it seemed Abigail had given up. Suddenly Jon heard a metallic scraping sound on the doorknob. When he emerged from the bathroom he saw Abi standing there with a set of keys trying to unlock the bathroom door!

Now Announcing...!!!

If you haven't heard from our families, our own lips, our churches, or Facebook (which is like telling the world) then it's time you heard that the Gills are expecting baby #2 at the end of August! As of today I am almost 9 weeks pregnant. Here's what our little baby looks like already! The baby is only an inch long but look how remarkable! I actually think this picture might be a few weeks further along than my baby right now. I think at 9 weeks babies still have "hand paddles" although the fingers are becoming more defined. But I'm still so amazed at the miracle that's happening that I can't control - it's not like I know how to make a baby! Truly, truly Psalm 139:13 has never meant more than now! "For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb."

Be knit little one! Be knit!

Abikins the Toddler!

Abigail is growing up so fast. It's been a while since I gave an Abi update, so here goes! She's about 16 1/2 months old and is growing like crazy. At her last appointment, she was still in the lower percentiles for weight, but tall for her age. Maybe she got some of those Miller genes. So I'm just going to start making a list of new things our big girl is doing these days:

* Suddenly she talks! She's started signing consistently for all done, more, please, and thank you. She even signs please and thank you without being prompted! This little one is going to be polite :) But she also speaks. As she signs for "all done" she says "da-daaaaaaa." Other words: baby, the goat (de-doh), moo (mmmm), woof (ffff), ROAR! (strange spitting sound), dada, mama, and more (moe).

* See this face in this picture? She makes this face when we point the camera at her. She gets all squinty-eyed :) We haven't decided if she does it because she's anticipating the flash, or if she's trying to smile like her mama (with our chubby cheeks!)

* She follows simple directions. I can tell her to put her socks in her drawer, feed her doll her bottle, bring mama a different book to read cuz we've read Good Dog Carl 6 times in a row, go get billy goat, put your milk on your high chair, or go get your shoes and she'll understand and usually do it with pleasure!

* She could be in the grumpiest mood, but if I even whisper the word, "bath" she lights up and runs for the bathroom with squeals of delight!

* Yet another funny face. This is the "I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!" face.

* She adores clothes, shoes, jewelry, hats, bows, and pretty things. Sometimes she'll wear 3 or 4 different pairs of shoes per day.

* She also loves music. She points at her boombox and signs "please." We turn on the radio or a cd and we dance, sing, and play with her instruments. She also sits through Uncle Brian's band concerts and claps along with the songs!

* She doesn't like dirty things. If the floor has some dirt on it or there is a spot on the couch, she points at it and whimpers. One time she even went and got a rag to clean it up with.

* For some strange reason, she thinks it's hilarious to get sprayed in the face with water. Seriously, take a spray bottle and squirt her in the face and she'll be back for more!

* She's very motherly. Anything cuddly, soft, or fluffy she will hug, kiss, carry around, and love. When she eats her meals, she puts billy goat on the chair next to the high chair to watch.

* Sometimes when naptime or bedtime is getting close she'll pick up her billy goat, put her thumb in her mouth, waddle down the hall, and point at her crib. She pretty much puts herself to sleep. Um, God, I'd like another baby like THIS one, please!

Where Does My Help Come From?

It was early in the morning. The sun had risen, but hadn't yet crested over the mountain ledge keeping all the world or at least Uzbekistan in a dark shadow while the sky lit up with color. I had eaten a ko'k samsa for breakfast, a pastry stuffed with mint for Navruz, a Muslim holiday. I had also drunk a piola of black tea, the leaf pieces swirling about the bottom of the cup. I didn't care for tea. Mostly I drank it because it kept my hands warm in the unheated sitting room. With very few words to anyone in my host family, I dressed, ate, drank, and left for my volunteer post as an English teacher. I didn't feel very dressed up for my first day of class; wearing four or five layers of clothes makes one feel frumpy. Not to mention the 10 pounds I had gained in 3 months making me bulge out of my sweater. It had also been a little over two weeks since I last showered. My hair was swept up in a traditional scarf to hide the oil and dirt.

I stepped out onto the road. I could see a black dog wandering the street; I prayed he would cross and not disturb me. I started walking toward Maktab 2, the school where I would be teaching. It was 8 blocks away. Clutching my bag full of books and pamphlets from the Peace Corps, I began shaking my head.

What am I doing? I'm not a teacher! I'm scared to death! Oh Jesus, I just want to go home where I can be loved by my fiance and my family. Where I can be comfortable. Jesus what am I doing here? I am so...lonely. So far away from everyone I love. From everything that I know. Even you God, even you seem different, like a God I don't even know. I'm too far away. Did you come with me? Are you the same God in Uzbekistan that you are in Minnesota?

In an instant I knew. The same God that had thoughtfully carved out the lakes in Minnesota had also lovingly created the mountains I was now gazing upon. These very mountains were touched by the Creator. God, I've never seen these mountains, yet you created them. Have I seen a part of you many have never seen? God's heart for Central Asia. His love for these people. This land. You are with me. But I am afraid...and lonely. I am doing a job I don't know how to do. I am surrounded by people I don't know, who don't know me, and worse, who don't know you. I don't even have familiar food, language, or even bathrooms to make me comfortable. Help me, Lord.

Then a song rose in my heart...

I lift my eyes up to the mountains
Where does my help come from
My help comes from You
Maker of heaven, creator of the earth

Oh how I need You Lord
You are my only hope
You’re my only prayer
So I will wait for You
To come and rescue me
Come and give me life

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Every morning as I stepped out of my family's gate in Gazalkent I sang this song to myself. And the Lord was faithful to strengthen my heart each day. Two months later we were all sent home with many stories to tell and thoughts to process. Many things have I kept fondly in my heart. One of these is how this song and the scripture it is taken from drew me into the bosom of the Lord. Now when I sing it, I see the mountains tinged with pink and purple majesty. I remember how weak I felt. And I recall the faithfulness of the Lord. And I am filled anew with life.

One of Those Precious Mommy Moments

Sometimes I don't know where she gets it. Abigail has such a sweet spirit, and yesterday she gave an example of a servant's heart.

We've been trying to teach her to "put away" her toys at the end of the day or before naptime to some success. But I've never had her truly clean up after herself. Babies make messes. Alas, she has the motor skills of C-3PO. I certainly don't expect her to be neat and tidy. Well yesterday she exhibited that she is maybe ready for some more challenging helping chores.

Yesterday she brought me her sippy cup of milk and set it down on the footstool. It tipped over and a few drops of milk spilled out onto the footstool. She pointed to the droplets with concern. I nodded gravely, "Yes, you made a mess. But it's ok." It's ok - the footstool is full of milk and peanut butter spots anyway. Abi waddled over to her highchair, climbed onto a nearby chair and reached, reached, reached onto the highchair tray. She grabbed something and climbed down. She started to toddle back to the footstool with a wash cloth in her hand! She placed the wash cloth on the footstool where the spots had been (by this time they'd already soaked in) and gave the stool a few good scrubs. Then she handed me the wash cloth, picked up her sippy cup, and zoomed off to go play! Needless to say she received lots of hugs and kisses for her effort!

That's my girl!!

Someday I, Too, Will Be the Mother of a Pre-Teen Girl

Hey girls, do you remember what it was like to be a pre-teen? I do. I thought it was God's will for me to marry Jonathan Taylor Thomas (or JTT to us teeny-boppers). You remember him? The kid from Home Improvement? Anyway. Everything that went wrong when I was a pre-teen was the END of the WORLD. HOW could LIFE go ON?! Even when I was in the 10th grade, I locked myself in the closet and cried for a half hour after the infamous '98 Vikings lost by a missed field goal to the Falcons in the NFC Championship. Cried for a half hour. In the closet. HOW could LIFE go ON?!?!

Remember last spring when David Cook won American Idol over David Archuleta, the teen heart throb? Maybe you don't; it isn't what I'd call the most thrilling moment of my life...or even the most thrilling moment of that day. But to some pre-teen girls out there, it was the worst day of their young lives. I found a video on YouTube of a group of girls and their reaction to the news that their puppy love had lost American Idol. Watch and laugh, I mean, uh...mourn with them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70f0chZVudA

I definitely laughed and laughed. And then I realized that someday my little Abi might be throwing a similar fit over something just as trivial. Oh yes. It's inevitable: someday, I, too will be the mother of a pre-teen girl.