Lieren at 19 Months

Sometimes I look at her and I think how beautiful she is.

She has this porcelain fair skin and blue eyes.  Her features are amazingly delicate.  When I put bows in her hair I can't get over the unique light strawberry hair she has.  What color will it become?  And people often ask if I curl her hair in back.  Thankfully, no.  It just curls perfectly on its own.

While she is Simeon's big sister by 6 minutes, she is the little sister physically.  She weighs barely over 21 pounds and remains petitely in the 10th percentile.

I often wonder who taught her to be so feminine.  Did she learn to tilt her head to the side when she needs to pout or did she just know from the beginning that she should?  In a house full of trucks and balls, what makes her gravitate to the dolls and animals?  Loving them, feeding them, and holding them just the right way come natural to her.  She is a girl's girl.  

These days I have stopped counting how many words Lieren says.  I can't keep up.  She is expressive and dramatic.  And she loves people, especially her family.  One of her favorite things to do is to point out who all is with us when we gather (at the table, in the car, anywhere):  Daddy, Mommy, Si-si, Simmy, Lieren, Lulu, Auggie...if someone is missing she will say their name in question until I reassure her about where they are.  I love to hear her say her name, almost like Ye-yen.  Our sweet girl is a singer.  One favorite right now is Ba Ba Black Sheep.  And she will surprise me with something new all the time.  Just the other day she began singing Oh How I Love Jesus.  Her version right now is Oh, how I Jesus, oh, how I Jesus, oh, how I Jesus, something something something ME.

When our doctor asked how I would describe Lieren I said, "Laid back."  And she is for the most part.  She sleeps wonderfully, is sweet even when she doesn't feel good, will let just about anyone hold her, shares fairly well for her age, and loves to help.  I would also add, "Talkative, observant, tender, loving, and interactive."

Sweet Lieren-girl, you will never be lost among your brothers.  How we love that you will have all of them around to protect you.  And they will have you to bring a touch of calm to their boyish chaos.  They need you, darling girl.  The Lord knew we all did.  Your gentle spirit is a gift.  May the Lord use it for His glory.

Your beauty...should be that of your inner self,

the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, 

which is of great worth in God's sight.

1 Peter 3:3,4