A little rant....

 But first, I must show you my gorgeous little Zanna.....almost 3 months old and well over 14 lbs now. I treasure her. :)

 Ok, now I want to rant....Promise, Toby and I were playing "Hi-One" (a game where dolls talk to each other) yesterday and I noticed a pattern with her new toys....you might have read rants about "Barbie" and her body being totally disproportionate...her 'chest' being insanely large in comparison with her teensy waist and massive hips....not to mention her astronomically long legs with the tiniest of dainty lady feet....well, ladies and gentlemen, our toy manufacturers have found another way to trick our kids into seeing the world a little more warped....and I mean SEE....

Case and point...the above picture....WHAT IS WITH THE MASSIVE HEADS AND THE BIGGIE-SIZED EYES on eensy weensy bodies??? Biggest offender? The "Littlest Pet Shop"....they seem to be lacking 'little' in the head department....and they BOBBLE! Probably because their necks can't bear the weight of their heads!

 I don't think we are teaching our children the laws of physics with these toys....it's a wonder they are able to stand on their own...oh, wait...most of them can't!

Take "Strawberry Shortcake" on the far left....we have tried and tried to stand her up, but between her enormous head and wild, never-ending hair, it's just impossible....and why do we consider these poorly clothed, gangly-legged dolls to be enriching our child's imagination? They resemble severely malnourished children...it's not particularly the "healthy" message I want to send my daughter...

I still prefer Fisher Price's "Little People"...in comparison to the above, they are far more proportionate....a little portly, perhaps, but strangely endearing and dressed appropriately....and they play "Hi-One" just as well.

So, that's my rant...Hats off to the "Little People" and just say, "NO!" to the "Littlest Pet Shop". I know, it's silly, but I really do find these toys ridiculous!
Thanks for letting me share....
Be blessed!

The Zanna Joy

 Did you ever hear the story of how Hosanna Joy was named? Well, let me tell you!

About two weeks before I knew I was pregnant with Toby, I had a dream while sleeping in my Filipino bed. While I do not remember what the dream was exactly, I do remember waking to the sound of a voice saying, "Her name is Hosanna Joy" and falling back to sleep.
Not knowing who Hosanna was and hoping we would be able to have another precious baby, I just assumed that Hosanna was coming when I became pregnant with Toby. I was surprised to find out that Hosanna was a TOBY! Grateful for my wonderful boy, I figured the dream was just a fluke and that the named belonged to someone else...perhaps I would meet someone of significance by that name...?

Then, after returning to Canada in 2010, our baby-having years were over. Tim looked into getting the "snip-snip" and we figured that two miracles, given all that we had been through, was plenty. However, deep in my gut, I knew we had one more coming to us...I didn't know when, but there was something incomplete in our family. Two and a half years later, I met Hosanna...not face to face, but rather as little kicks and squirms in my belly. The prophetic name given. I knew it was her the moment the pregnancy test came back positive.

My my my...she's grown so much. Only 10 weeks and already into the 3-month clothes and teething! She coos and sings...smiles for free whenever she sees me....our little reminder of God's faithfulness and redemption is daily a blessing.

 Too big for her little plastic bath tub (Promise's rubbermaid bin)...we had to upgrade to the kitchen sink.

 She even endures the constant nuzzles and knocks from her siblings with a smile.

 And when she eats, she's joined by her 'breastfeeding' brother and sister who conscientiously feed their own....

 And at nap time, she waits patiently for mommy while she reads stories to the others until it's her turn...

 Yes, Zanna brings us a whole lot of joy...

 Except when mommy has to do laundry and she's wanting to be held...so mommy has to transport her up and down the stairs in the basket....but she is not a fan.

But then, just a little cuddle and a bum change and Zanna is back to her content and peaceful self again. Sigh. I love my Zanna.

Though mommy is struggling immensely these days, Zanna continues to remind her that 'salvation comes'.

Christmas-New Year Catch-up!

 Promise and daddy helping me buy a winter coat for my birthday.....

 decorating our Christmas tree that daddy cut down....

 Getting Toby dressed for our day when the snow fell.....

 Toby taking ornaments off the tree with intent to destroy......

 a visit from Great-Grandma Phoebe with all the Stewart side grandkids.....

 Promise enjoying her Christmas spoils....wings and all.....

 Zanna heading for her first bath at Grandma Con and Papa Jim's house in Oregon.....

 Christmas party dress-up....

 Church Christmas program....Promise is just behind speaker.....

 Merry Christmas greetings.......

 Promise's preschool Christmas show...she's fourth one in from right.....

 Toby and mommy enjoying iPhone time.....

Hosanna tries on another embarrassing gift.....

And she is loving her two new friends!

So i type this all as i bounce a two-month old on my leg and attempt to keep her quiet so that the two-year old and four-year old stay in quiet time.....never a dull or quiet moment with three on the go, but God has blessed us and we're thankful for His Provision and Grace! More to come when this mom gets a free-er moment! Be blessed!