Hi ladies! I just got an email from a siesta asking if we are okay since it had been so long since the last post. I’m so sorry! Yes, we are okay! I took a weekend road trip to my parents’ house in Houston with one of my best friends and her little girl. Needless to say, my mom is recuperating from that and so are we! We had an incredible time together at the Great Toddler Invasion of 2008. I spent three hours yesterday sorting through the pictures and preparing to make a full report. There were over 200 pictures! Janelle took most of them because my camera battery kicked the bucket upon arrival.
In case anyone is new and hasn’t heard me talk about Janelle and Ella, you should know that Janelle and I went through our entire pregnancies together and then ended up having our babies two days apart. We were right down the hall from each other in the hospital. We, along with our sweet friend Sunni and her daughter Ava, have had the craziest, most wonderful two years with our babies. They are a huge blessing in my life.
The babies, recently renamed “The Tods” by my sister, played so hard the whole weekend. I noticed that Jackson was particularly well-behaved and I think it’s because he never had one moment of boredom. He was thrilled to have a friend at his Bibby’s house. By the way, he learned to say “my” and “mine” this weekend. I can’t imagine why!
It’s been a while since I shared any pictures of Jackson and I’m going to more than make up for that here. Here you go! Hurricane Tod!
Hit the road, Jack.
We had to make a stop on the way to Houston. Can you guess where?
Amen.
When Jackson had had enough of the car ride, he took off his shoes and socks and picked fuzz out from between his toes.
At The Houston Zoo
Janelle and her Tod.
Me and my Tod.
The Goat Whisperer.
Ella enjoyed brushing the goats’ hair.
That is one intriguing animal.
The Tods looking under the fence to get the best view.
Our favorite picture of The Tods.
Amanda, Jackson, and Bibby looking at something.
Mom and Tod looking at another Mom and Tod. 
Big mom, big tod.
The Tods racing up the jungle gym stairs at the zoo.
Jackson was much happier going down the slide than brushing the goats.
Jackson jumping on the bridge, catching air under his feet. Mommy holding her breath.
In the car
Guess who wanted to ride in the back every time we got in the car?
Guess who’s faking it in this picture?
Guess who’s not faking it here? 
Ella’s hat hair.
A cookie liquefied in Ella’s mouth.
At the house
One Tod’s favorite thing is to put water on his hair and the other Tod’s most hated thing is to have water on her hair. This was an interesting time.
We like to do draw-rings.
Mexican food. What else?
The Tods dancing.
The Tods in a moment of sharing.
Ella and Bibby doing their floor exercises.
Ella imitating Bibby’s stretching moves.
The Tods trying to spy The Dogs in the backyard.
Ella being adorable.
Me and both Tods. I was the luckiest person in the room.
At the mall
Janelle and Ella at the Memorial City Mall playland. 
Jackson relaxin’.
Ella at the playland.
Ella climbing some cute stairs.
The Tods on a carousel.
Playdate
The Tods at their friend Keegan’s house.
The Tods in a tent.
The Tods thank Bibby and Pappaw for a great weekend!
Tags: Jackson
What a great time with friends and family. I love all of the pictures. Jackson and Ella look like they had a wonderful time. Thank you for sharing your weekend with us.
Loved the dancing pics! No doubt, the tods were praise dancing. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Patti
Thanks for the recap. Looks like it was a blast! Thanks for sharing your lives with all of us! You are all the best!!
~Kristin
The Journey Continues~
I AM BLESSED BY SUCH TOUCHING PHOTOS OF MOMMIES LOVING THEIR LITTLE TODS.
THANK YOU SWEET AMANDA!
For sharing the “Jackson Journey” with his adorable friends & Bibby and pappaw too.
With “Heaven Bound” blessings,
Kim Safina ~ Central coast Calif.
What great pics!! Thanks for sharing! Enjoy your time with Jackson at this age- you’ll blink and it will be time to plan college! Trust me I remember looking at my little man and thinking I will have him forever- now I look UP at my little man and think he’ll be gone in a couple of years. Bathe them in prayers sisters! No matter how old they are- cover them with the Lords words!
Thanks again for letting us come on your trip with ya!
Smooches,
Sandi
The Journey Continues ~
She speaks wise words and teaches others to be kind. She watches over her family and never wastes her time. Her children speak well of her. (mine) Her husband also praises her, saying, “there are many fine women but you are better than all of them.” Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but a woman who respects the LORD should be praised. Give her the reward she has earned; she should be praised in public for what she has done. YOU GO GIRL!
With “Heaven Bound” blessings,
Kim Safina ~ Cayucos,CA.
so darlin! : )
Hey Beth….welcome to siestaville as a REAL siesta!!!!! I think the name should have been Bibby though. 🙂
Absolutely Adorable…what precious Moms loving every minute of what they have been called to do—Deut 6:6—passing on LIFE to kids in footed pajamas while they walk, crawl, sleep, play…
I led Week One of Stepping Up yesterday and when you got to Psalm 32:7,8 HE IS MY HIDING PLACE my tears fell freely for I spent my childhood hiding under my house from adults who would harm me, spent way too much of adulthood hiding in my heart for fear of being exposed. But, so grateful to my beautiful God for authors like you Whom He has used to make me alive in HIM, my Author. No more hiding. Loved stepping up—God is stepping up His Courage in me. So grateful!
Loved the photo journey with you.
I laughed out loud at the “Guess who’s not faking it here” picture. Too funny. The Houston Zoo is awesome! I love family trips like that. And I love this blog and am so glad to be a part of it!
Christie
Wow! Thanks for sharing your life and family with all of us. Even though I may never in my lifetime meet you, I feel like I already know you. Enjoy every precious moment with your “Tod” they go oh so quick. Memories are one of the hearts greatest treasures.
It looks like everyone had a great time. Tods are really fun. I just kept a few at church last night. It was non-stop action. Keeping the nursery reminds me of a few years ago when I had to do all that running around after someone. It’s amazing when you get a few years away from it how you forget how hard it is. Thanks for the pictures. They are cute kids.
I am going to be starting Psalms of Ascent study in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to it.
Love to you all, Melissa
How cute!! That is such a blessing!!
I am currently engaged!! I just pray for the ability to such a great mom in the Lord and above all a great faith!!
My fiancee and I are being attacked big time by the devil and just in the buisness of LA don’t have time to sit down together and pray it out!!
But God is faithful and He will get us through!!
What precious memories!
Blessings in Christ–
Amanda,
The pictures are adorable. I must say that the picture of you holding both toddlers is captioned “The luckiest person in the room” I must disagree. I think the luckiest person in that room was your precious mother because no only did she have those two precious babies in her home, she also had her baby in her home.
We love the pictures of the babies, keep them coming.
God Bless you as you raise your children.
Susan
Hey Amanda,
Thanks for sharing the great pictures-I have a “grandma” feeling that Bibby would have you all invade again real soon! It looks like a fun, fun weekend!
Have a great weekend!
Precious Todd’s! I have one almost 4, my boy, and another Todd to be since she is only 9 1/2 months now. She’s still in the “babes” catagory. 🙂 Thanks for sharing pieces of your life with us. It’s fun!
Thank you so much for sharing your pictures with us! You look like you had a blast! I’m wondering. . .do you get recognized quite a bit in public places? I feel like I know you and would have a hard time restraining if I saw you in public, so of course it made me wonder how often you are approached by complete strangers?
You are so encouraging!
Love,
Michelle F.
Amanda,
Thanks for sharing the pictures. The are great! Bibby, did you ever think life with grands could be so much fun?!! This Nana is loving it. Thank ya’ll for always making us smile!
Love your Siesta in AL
Deanna
What fun! What fun!
Thanks for sharing all the pics…we love’em!
Such a fun weekend! I love that you call them ‘tods’–too funny! They are adorable!
Love,
Jen
I look forward to being a Bibby too! I have tods right now, but I have fantasies of when they are grown up, having their own, and I AM IN THE GRANDMAW seat! What joy those thoughts bring my heart!
Right now I have the pleasure of lovin’ on my tods (5 1/2, 4, and 2). I do also long for family to live closer! I get the joy of spending time with a network of moms and their lovlies and that is how God gets me through the cute chaotic-ness of this season!
Thank you for all the beautiful pix!
I am SOO blessed to be a siesta!
His abundant GRACE pouring out to you!
Con
Amanda,
Thank you for sharing this special time in your life. Warmed my heart – my son Tod (who turns 20 in March!) has had two lifelong friend girl Tods (born 2 months and then 5 days apart) — went throught toddlerhood, grade school, high school, and now all in different colleges). They are the best of friends still – get together for outings every time they are home at the same time. I pray this special blessing of friendship for Jackson, Ella and Ava.
I just discovered your blog and LOVE IT! I am leading a Fruit of the Spirit study (on week 9) and we are starting Stepping Up in February. Have done your mom’s studies for years. Love to you both!
Debbie Wahlbrink
Amanda,
Thank you for sharing this special time in your life. Warmed my heart – my son Tod (who turns 20 in March!) has had two lifelong friend girl Tods (born 2 months and then 5 days apart) — went throught toddlerhood, grade school, high school, and now all in different colleges). They are the best of friends still – get together for outings every time they are home at the same time. I pray this special blessing of friendship for Jackson, Ella and Ava.
I just discovered your blog and LOVE IT! I am leading a Fruit of the Spirit study (on week 9) and we are starting Stepping Up in February. Have done your mom’s studies for years. Love to you both!
Debbie W.
Fun times!
I love that Ella (a true girl) wanted to brush hair, while Jackson (a true boy) just wanted to run and play!
Have a great weekend! Thanks for letting us into your lives! 🙂
The pictures of the toddlers are so cute. They look like my two youngest grandkids, Quinn and Ella! She just about looks like your friend’s Ella, too. And they’re both about the same age, just two months apart! Quinn was born Feb. 25th and Ella on April 26th.
Keep showin’ us those pictures. Tods are so fun, aren’t they?!
Love,
Patti in Arizona
What an amazing fun time it looks like was had by all, especially Bibby in the back seat of the car. Some well-deserved rest, I imagine. I, too, have a tod at my house who never stops – moving or talking or eating (she just asked for a snack)- and I, too, sleep well at night (and on occasion when I can squeeze in a nap).
Absolutely precious and priceless! Those Two Tods may just marry one day 🙂
Amanda and Beth,
I saw this a couple of years ago when my oldest son was a tod himself. I thought it was spot on! Hope you enjoy it!
A Toddler’s Creed
If it is on, I must turn it off.
If it is off, I must turn it on.
If it is folded, I must unfold it.
If it is a liquid, it must be shaken, then spilled.
If it is a solid, it must be crumbled, chewed or smeared.
If it is high, it must be reached.
If it is shelved, it must be unshelved.
If it is pointed, it must be run with at top speed.
If it has leaves, they must be picked.
If it is plugged, it must be unplugged.
If it is not trash, it must be thrown away.
If it is in the trash, it must be removed, inspected and thrown on the floor.
If it is close, it must be opened.
If it does not open, it must be screamed at.
If it has drawers, they must be rifled.
If it is a pencil, it must write on the refrigerator, monitor, or table.
If it is full, it will be more interesting emptied.
If it is empty, it will be more interesting full.
If it is a pile of dirt, it must be laid upon.
If it is a stroller, it must under no circumstances be ridden in without protest.
It must be pushed by me instead.
If it has a flat surface, it must be banged upon.
If Mommy’s hands are full, I must be carried.
If Mommy is in a hurry and wants to carry me, I must walk alone,
If it is paper, it must be torn.
If it has buttons, they must be pressed.
If the volume is low, is must go high.
If it is toilet paper, it must be unrolled on the floor.
If it is a drawer, it must be pulled upon.
If it is a toothbrush, it must be inserted into my mouth.
If it has a faucet, it must be turned on at full force.
If it is a phone, I must talk to it.
If it is a bug, it must be swallowed.
If it doesn’t stay on my spoon, it must be dropped on the floor.
If it is not food, it must be tasted.
If it IS food, it must not be tasted.
If it is dry, it must be made wet with drool, milk or toilet water.
If it is a carseat, it must be protested with arched back.
If it is Mommy, it must be hugged.
I am toddler!
–author unkown
On the third day, He rose again (in my heart! Hallelujah!)
Whoa! Allow me to share a little background. On Friday evening, I posted an anonymous comment on the biggest area of bondage blog. My comment had to do with the battle for sustaining and developing godly, meaningful relationships with others. But something WOW has just happened in another area of my life. This morning (Sunday), I woke up at 5:30 a.m. REPENTING.
As I lay in bed in the dark, the still, small voice in the quietness of my mind was saying:
“I repent of the god of sugar in my life. I repent of the god of food in my life. I repent of the god of image (the image I have built on the outside of myself). I repent of trusting in these things, these gods, more than You God, and for trusting in them in any areas of my life instead of You.”
Suddenly I could clearly, and with certainty, see that my issues with food & sugar & weight/body image were really idolatry (worship mixed with belief) of our culture and what our culture (falsely) says is “godly.” The miracle is not necessarily that I repented (although that is also amazing too); but that I could see so clearly, it was an idol to me personally. Not in generalities, but for me. I can finally see it as it really is and it’s bad, I don’t want any part of it anymore.
Lord, thank You for letting me loose and now that I am, I am never going back again. Bring me out of this bondage in every way. I pray I never pick it up again, even though the temptation is everywhere. It is false, it is a lie I never want to believe again. Forgive me for putting enmity between us. Thank You for helping me to see food for what it actually has become to me. I choose You instead. Take me out of this area of bondage completely and fully, I choose to be free! Amen and amen.
(I apologize, Amanda, for putting this in the Tod blog. Please only share this if you think that it will help and not condemn anyone else who is struggling to “see”, but I feel compelled to tell it! I’m too amazed at what has just transpired between my God and I!! Please pray, pray like crazy. Pray more of us siestas are “seeing” and for me that I truly never go back to idolatry in this area and that I’ll immerse myself in the truth now to really cement my repentance!)
We also live in the Dallas area, wish we could get together for a play date