I love the way you run down hills with your arms spread wide and say, "Weeeee!"
I love the way you skip every few steps while walking.
I love the way you jump off every curb.
I love the way you giggle with your hand up by your mouth.
I love that you jump from high places and know we'll catch you (whether or not we're ready).
I love that you pick flowers for me.
I love that you want me to play with you.
I love your eagerness to be helpful.
I love that you like to eat at Pa-chote-le and go to dematchstics class.
I love how proud you are of your dada "helping sick people at the hopistal."
I love that you will randomly nuzzle noses with me.
I love how sometimes in restaurants, you wave at every person.
I love that you couldn't fall back asleep at nap time because you were "having a picnic with Ariel."
I love how excited you are about every little thing you notice.
I love your eagerness to learn and that you truly think I have the answers to all of your questions.
Yours is one of the sweetest spirits I've ever known. I'm not sure if there's an age that's any cuter than almost-3.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Sunday, April 19, 2015
How God's Worked In My Little Ol' Life
I've started the intro to this post a few times, and everything has just seemed awkward. So please, just forgive the lack of transition from my last super-casual "Hey life is awesome!" post to this pretty serious one.
Below is a letter I wrote to the women who are in charge of a Thursday morning bible study I attend. The letter was sent to them at the end of the bible study semester to let them know what a difference the study made in my life. The whole bible study setup is somewhat of a production, taking place every Thursday, hosting a couple hundred women, and includes an hour of breakfast (usually accompanied by a guest speaker) and then an hour and a half of small-group study/discussion time. The ladies who run it put in an incredible amount of time and energy to keep it running, so they always desire personal testimonies at the end of each semester, to validate that their efforts were worth it. I edited it just a bit for you, blog readers, so it would make more sense.
This is an extremely personal thing to share, and even now- as I'm about to post it- I kind of feel like I'm about to air some dirty laundry and I'm a little nervous. Those who received this letter asked if they could read it aloud to the other women during breakfast. Although they didn't say who wrote it, those who knew me (& those I told) knew that I had written it, and many of them said they really needed and appreciated hearing such an honest testimony of the way God can work in a stay-at-home-mom's life. One lady even wanted a copy of it to keep (say whaaaaat?). Crazy, but ok.
Below is a letter I wrote to the women who are in charge of a Thursday morning bible study I attend. The letter was sent to them at the end of the bible study semester to let them know what a difference the study made in my life. The whole bible study setup is somewhat of a production, taking place every Thursday, hosting a couple hundred women, and includes an hour of breakfast (usually accompanied by a guest speaker) and then an hour and a half of small-group study/discussion time. The ladies who run it put in an incredible amount of time and energy to keep it running, so they always desire personal testimonies at the end of each semester, to validate that their efforts were worth it. I edited it just a bit for you, blog readers, so it would make more sense.
This is an extremely personal thing to share, and even now- as I'm about to post it- I kind of feel like I'm about to air some dirty laundry and I'm a little nervous. Those who received this letter asked if they could read it aloud to the other women during breakfast. Although they didn't say who wrote it, those who knew me (& those I told) knew that I had written it, and many of them said they really needed and appreciated hearing such an honest testimony of the way God can work in a stay-at-home-mom's life. One lady even wanted a copy of it to keep (say whaaaaat?). Crazy, but ok.
So this is for you, stay-at-home-mom friends. And for anybody else who can relate.
(Be warned: long letter ahead.)
***
I'm fairly new to this stay-at-home-mom thing, having only done it for a little over 2 years now. Starting when my daughter was almost a year, every few months I'd find myself crying to my husband about...??... sometimes I didn't even know what it was about. All that I really
knew was that there was a feeling inside that I just couldn't shake. It felt like discontent-- but I knew to my core that I didn't want to be
doing something other than staying at home with our kids. It felt like
jealousy-- over my husband's day full of adult-interaction, and ability
to eat meals without holding a baby. And I felt
unappreciated for all that I did throughout the day, despite my husbands efforts. And I felt a number of other things that I just couldn't place.
I would come to my husband crying and "emotionally vomit" on him (as he has called it), and bless him, he tried to help me find solutions. Each time I came to him, he promised to
tell me he appreciated me more; he'd try to take the kids more when he
was home so I could go out with friends for "me" time; he'd do more around the house.
I know he did his best... but he's only human. ...and he always fell short of what I needed. He did as he said he would, but there I was again -a few months later- same tune, different song. As you could imagine, all of
these things started to take a toll on our marriage. (Combine that with another baby, me getting sick, then a cross-country move, and things weren't so great.) We argued more
than ever before-- each of us feeling like what we did should be "enough." We both seemed unfulfilled. Here we were,
in this beautiful house, two great kids, wonderful extended
families, decent income, no "real" issues... but there we were: arguing, me always crying
and throwing a pity party that left me feeling selfish. After
my pity parties, I always vowed to look at the bright side: to see what I
DO have, rather than what I don't. Yet, a month or two later, there I
was again. Same conversation, different day, ending with the same
frustrated husband, me with the same selfish feelings. It was getting exhausting for all of us. There had to be a solution.
This bible study has been a new experience for me. It's been a welcome break from my kids, and a wonderful time to sit and hold the adult conversation I so craved. (& eat a hot breakfast in peace!) Even
though I joined after most studies were full, the one I happened to join was written by a woman in my exact stage of life.
Having a 2 yr old and a baby, let me tell you... she got it. She knew
what I was feeling. And her advice was just what I needed to hear
on more than one occasion. During my last pity party, I started thinking about my study and wondering if
there was more to this feeling, wondering if maybe it had something to
do with my relationship with God. But I just couldn't put my finger on
what exactly it was that I needed to change. I've been a Christian for
many years now; I'm an avid pray-er, and do my best to teach and show my
kiddos Godly things. So what was I doing wrong?
One bible study morning, the speaker during the breakfast was a wonderful, pleasant older woman. She spoke about days when she was younger, when she stayed at home with her small children. She spoke of feeling overwhelmed with the
amount of things to do during that stage and how her marriage was being
affected. She talked about listening to a Christian radio station as she did her chores, and
how she started doing her housework to serve the Lord.
It sounds so cliche.
"Do it for the Lord." I'd heard it time and time again, but I can't say I really understood what it meant. (Maybe I was having a blonde moment lifetime.) Coincidentally (or not?), that very same Thursday, our small group study addressed the same sort
of things. [I believe God was determined to help me understand what this meant.] Through our small group discussion, the
light bulb came on.
When I care for the kids cheerfully, wipe noses and butts with a servant's heart, cook dinner and clean high chairs gladly, I'm witnessing to my kids. When I clean the house, do my family's laundry, have things ready to go for my husband cheerfully, with a servant's heart,
I'm witnessing to my husband, too.
Here's the part that got me: I'm the only mama these kids have. I'm the only wife my
husband has. I am one of the-- if not THE-- greatest influence(s) on
their lives. Wouldn't it make such a huge difference to them if
THEY were my #1 witness priority? [And in turn, how would pouring all of my heart into them affect those feelings I'd been having??] If instead of feeling the need to give to the homeless, wanting to work at
soup kitchens and love on the community [all ministry areas that have my heart]... what if I first focused on
pouring my Christian attitude and love into my own family? ...How had I not been understanding this?!?... Because it boiled
down to this: my husband is just one man. He's a wonderful hands-on
dad; incredibly loving and extremely helpful to me around the house and with the kids ...but he's
human. So all of those things I was wanting him to provide for me (some of which I struggled to put words on)? He
couldn't.
The fact of the matter was, I needed to change who I was
working for. I needed to change who I was looking to, to fill my "void" (for lack of better word). Instead of crying to my husband about the things I wanted to be different, I could have been praying to God to help me see things differently. I shouldn't be just doing the dishes for my family... I
should be doing them for God, thinking of it as a ministry, knowing my husband and children will see me doing the dishes gladly, with a servant's heart! The irony is that every night, when I pray
with my kids, I always include in their prayers, "Please help me show
love to everyone, especially my friends and family, so they can see you." but I hadn't been doing
that for them.
The day that light bulb came on, I left feeling genuinely excited
to put my new mindset into practice. Excited to finally understand why there had been any problem to begin with, and almost a willingness for the devil to try to shake me of my contentedness. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of a study that has so impacted my life.
***
Since that realization, I can honestly say that things have been a LOT better. It's admittedly hard to have a new mindset just like *that* when I'd been thinking one way for so long. I'm slightly embarrassed to admit just how selfish I had been in the past, but the important thing is to recognize it and move past it. :) And please don't think we were *ever* on the verge of the BIG-D, because that was never, ever up for discussion. We were in a bad place, but now we're in a much, much better place, but never once did either of us think of leaving (& isn't that how marriage works is supposed to work?).
I'm incredibly thankful to have a husband who puts up with me, even through that kind of crap, and who loves me and builds me and encourages me all the same. I can tell you, though, he was very relieved when that "light bulb" finally came on for me. :D
There have been times during this stage of life, when I've wondered, 'What ministry should I be serving in? How can I make a better contribution to His goals?' After that bible study, it dawned on me: THIS. Living each day as a mommy, as a wife. THIS is my ministry; He put me right in the middle of it! It's nice when the lights come on. :)
There have been times during this stage of life, when I've wondered, 'What ministry should I be serving in? How can I make a better contribution to His goals?' After that bible study, it dawned on me: THIS. Living each day as a mommy, as a wife. THIS is my ministry; He put me right in the middle of it! It's nice when the lights come on. :)
Monday, December 8, 2014
One Whole Year
This has, quite honestly, been one of the busiest, craziest years of my life. I've thought about this blog a few times, but haven't had a ton of time to write. Of all the things going on, this just wasn't a priority. To be honest, it still isn't all that high on the list. But at least a few family members have told me how much they enjoy reading, and there are some mama friends out there that follow too, so I'm going to try not to let it completely die. ;)
So much has happened since I last posted. I wish I had the time to go into great detail about everything, and maybe I will one day. But for now, I'd like to just list all of the major things we've had going on. I especially wish I could have shared some of the smaller, more joyful moments of that year with you (moreso to have them documented). Regarding the big ones I'm about to share, if at any time you want to ask about any of these, please feel free!
1. WE HAD ANOTHER BABY!
Asher Clark Williams was born December 7, 2013. 8 lb, 12 oz of beautiful baby boy! Which means he turned 1 yesterday! Can you believe that? Born and turned 1 before I made my way back here. Sheesh. He is a beautiful, laid-back, smiling little man that laughs a lot just like his dada. He is also the apple of his daddy's eye... they look so much alike! Audra loves him and says they're best friends and we are all adjusting well to having another adorable member in our family.
2. MASTITIS
Asher was born with both a tongue-tie and upper lip tie, and was therefore inefficient at moving milk. This caused extreme (I mean EXTREME) engorgement and resulted in mastitis. It hit me about a week and a half after he was born. ("Hit me" is the truth: from the time I felt pain, I was throwing up and had a 103 fever within an hour, landing me in the ER.) We didn't know Asher had the tongue and lip ties, and I thought the engorgement was natural and would level out after a few weeks. Looooooong story short, the mastitis was treated improperly, and spiraled out of control. Over a month later, I got "rid" of it. In order to get "rid" of it, we had to correct his tongue tie and lip ties. (Did you know tongue ties are the #1 most missed thing during newborn screens?) But because it was treated improperly, it was actually still present but temporarily dormant, and decided to show its ugly face again TWO more times. The combination of birth, mastitis, and caring for two under two had my body run to the ground. I got pink eye. And had some serious stomach issues from all the antibiotics they had me on. And perhaps also some mild depression, as a result of the time I had to take to focus on healing instead of focusing on my newborn baby. I am SO EXTREMELY thankful for the sweet friends that really helped us out during that time. So many of you came to our aid, made us dinner, watched our kids, helped us out. Our sweet friends/neighbors, the Bueche's, literally MADE our Christmas. They invited us over for Christmas dinner so we'd have something special. Because guys... we were just barely surviving, one day at a time. Frozen meals. Disposables. Had to call in help with cleaning and laundry. It was bad. Very very bad. I wouldn't have admitted at the time just how bad it was. But looking back... it was really, really bad.
3. POTTY TRAINING
In between bouts of mastitis, I managed to find time to potty train Audra. I had no idea how to potty train, but I wanted to get it done b/c I wanted Asher to be able to use her cloth diapers. (I did manage to use the cloth a *little* bit during the mastitis craziness.) I had seen a book mentioned in more than one blog, and decided to give it a try. "Oh Crap, Potty Training" was the most wonderful thing I could have read. Hilarious, and written by a professional potty trainer (did you know that even existed?), she lays it all out. Jamie tells you exactly what to do (and what NOT to do), how to do it, and has a whole trouble shooting section should you need it. From start to finish, Audra was day potty trained in a month. This all happened during her 20th month. She still had the occasional accident when she would rather play than use the potty, but that's pretty typical. She's 2.5 now, and is day/night/nap trained & usually only wets herself about once a week (again, b/c she'd rather play than use the potty), and it's not an entire accident. It's usually, "Oh! Mommy I need to potty!!!" and she runs straight there and finishes in the toilet, while having a few tbsp in her panties. So proud of our sweet girl! If you'd like any advice on traveling with a newly potty trained kid (b/c we had to do plenty of that), I've got info on that too! Just ask.
4. MOVE TO ARIZONA
Nic got accepted into the Air Force Critical Care Fellowship at Scottsdale Healthcare. It's a 1-yr fellowship, started in August and will finish Summer 2015. I left with the kids July 1 & took 6 weeks en route. It was great to see some family and friends. We spent 3 weeks in Missouri, a little over 3 weeks in Texas and road tripped out here with Nic's mom. While it was so wonderful to see everyone for longer than normal, we were also very ready to see what our new house looks like and get settled into our new life in Arizona. (I also think it was too long for the kids to be out of schedule. Audra's potty training and behavior were all out of whack.) We've been here now for almost 4 months, and we're happily settled! Found a new church, joined a small group, got involved in a weekly morning women's bible study, joined a Stroller Strides group, got Audra in gymnastics, have already made some really great friends... so ya! Arizona has been very kind to us. :D
Since the move, we've celebrated 5 wonderful years of marriage, had a fun Halloween with Mario Bros. costumes, a family-filled Thanksgiving and are looking forward to going to MO to spend Christmas with family as well.
I hope all of you who read have had a great past year! I'll try to write again before Asher turns 2! ;)
So much has happened since I last posted. I wish I had the time to go into great detail about everything, and maybe I will one day. But for now, I'd like to just list all of the major things we've had going on. I especially wish I could have shared some of the smaller, more joyful moments of that year with you (moreso to have them documented). Regarding the big ones I'm about to share, if at any time you want to ask about any of these, please feel free!
1. WE HAD ANOTHER BABY!
Asher Clark Williams was born December 7, 2013. 8 lb, 12 oz of beautiful baby boy! Which means he turned 1 yesterday! Can you believe that? Born and turned 1 before I made my way back here. Sheesh. He is a beautiful, laid-back, smiling little man that laughs a lot just like his dada. He is also the apple of his daddy's eye... they look so much alike! Audra loves him and says they're best friends and we are all adjusting well to having another adorable member in our family.
2. MASTITIS
Asher was born with both a tongue-tie and upper lip tie, and was therefore inefficient at moving milk. This caused extreme (I mean EXTREME) engorgement and resulted in mastitis. It hit me about a week and a half after he was born. ("Hit me" is the truth: from the time I felt pain, I was throwing up and had a 103 fever within an hour, landing me in the ER.) We didn't know Asher had the tongue and lip ties, and I thought the engorgement was natural and would level out after a few weeks. Looooooong story short, the mastitis was treated improperly, and spiraled out of control. Over a month later, I got "rid" of it. In order to get "rid" of it, we had to correct his tongue tie and lip ties. (Did you know tongue ties are the #1 most missed thing during newborn screens?) But because it was treated improperly, it was actually still present but temporarily dormant, and decided to show its ugly face again TWO more times. The combination of birth, mastitis, and caring for two under two had my body run to the ground. I got pink eye. And had some serious stomach issues from all the antibiotics they had me on. And perhaps also some mild depression, as a result of the time I had to take to focus on healing instead of focusing on my newborn baby. I am SO EXTREMELY thankful for the sweet friends that really helped us out during that time. So many of you came to our aid, made us dinner, watched our kids, helped us out. Our sweet friends/neighbors, the Bueche's, literally MADE our Christmas. They invited us over for Christmas dinner so we'd have something special. Because guys... we were just barely surviving, one day at a time. Frozen meals. Disposables. Had to call in help with cleaning and laundry. It was bad. Very very bad. I wouldn't have admitted at the time just how bad it was. But looking back... it was really, really bad.
3. POTTY TRAINING
In between bouts of mastitis, I managed to find time to potty train Audra. I had no idea how to potty train, but I wanted to get it done b/c I wanted Asher to be able to use her cloth diapers. (I did manage to use the cloth a *little* bit during the mastitis craziness.) I had seen a book mentioned in more than one blog, and decided to give it a try. "Oh Crap, Potty Training" was the most wonderful thing I could have read. Hilarious, and written by a professional potty trainer (did you know that even existed?), she lays it all out. Jamie tells you exactly what to do (and what NOT to do), how to do it, and has a whole trouble shooting section should you need it. From start to finish, Audra was day potty trained in a month. This all happened during her 20th month. She still had the occasional accident when she would rather play than use the potty, but that's pretty typical. She's 2.5 now, and is day/night/nap trained & usually only wets herself about once a week (again, b/c she'd rather play than use the potty), and it's not an entire accident. It's usually, "Oh! Mommy I need to potty!!!" and she runs straight there and finishes in the toilet, while having a few tbsp in her panties. So proud of our sweet girl! If you'd like any advice on traveling with a newly potty trained kid (b/c we had to do plenty of that), I've got info on that too! Just ask.
4. MOVE TO ARIZONA
Nic got accepted into the Air Force Critical Care Fellowship at Scottsdale Healthcare. It's a 1-yr fellowship, started in August and will finish Summer 2015. I left with the kids July 1 & took 6 weeks en route. It was great to see some family and friends. We spent 3 weeks in Missouri, a little over 3 weeks in Texas and road tripped out here with Nic's mom. While it was so wonderful to see everyone for longer than normal, we were also very ready to see what our new house looks like and get settled into our new life in Arizona. (I also think it was too long for the kids to be out of schedule. Audra's potty training and behavior were all out of whack.) We've been here now for almost 4 months, and we're happily settled! Found a new church, joined a small group, got involved in a weekly morning women's bible study, joined a Stroller Strides group, got Audra in gymnastics, have already made some really great friends... so ya! Arizona has been very kind to us. :D
Since the move, we've celebrated 5 wonderful years of marriage, had a fun Halloween with Mario Bros. costumes, a family-filled Thanksgiving and are looking forward to going to MO to spend Christmas with family as well.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Labor & Delivery Bible Verses
The big day is quickly drawing near and I'm starting to feel the pressure (literally). Yesterday started week 37, and I have a feeling we won't be making it to 40. Being the typical procrastinator that I am, I have a rather lengthy list of things I'd like to get done that could have very easily gotten done earlier. I will say, though, that all things baby-related are done, for the most part. I just have to pack his and my bags and we'll be ready to roll. However, I have this huge desire to have anything and everything perfect before he arrives. Like, ALL laundry done and put away, microwave and toaster oven cleaned out, car detailed, car oil changed & wind shield wipers replaced, thank you notes written, garage swept again, everything completely deep cleaned and sparkling. Does it sound unattainable? It kind of does to me too. Anyway, I'm trying. ...in between taking care of a toddler, being huge & exhausted, I'm trying.
I'd like to share one of my major tasks that got completed today: bible verses to motivate me throughout labor and delivery. I know I've got a lot of pregnant friends out there, and maybe, just maybe these can be helpful to others as well. I've got them printed out & I'm going to cut them out so I can tape them around the delivery room so I see them while I'm laboring. The nurses might think I'm a little weird, but I know I'll like having these reminders all around me to help me through the pain so I can think of something other than how bad it hurts. :D So, you out there reading, do you have any other motivational quotes or sayings or verses that helped you through labor and delivery? If so, please share! I didn't do a TON of research to gather these, just enough to get a list I felt would satisfy me. I've got to say, I'm thankful for all of these promises He gives, and am even more thankful for the baby I'm about to meet. So here they are, in no particular order:
I'd like to share one of my major tasks that got completed today: bible verses to motivate me throughout labor and delivery. I know I've got a lot of pregnant friends out there, and maybe, just maybe these can be helpful to others as well. I've got them printed out & I'm going to cut them out so I can tape them around the delivery room so I see them while I'm laboring. The nurses might think I'm a little weird, but I know I'll like having these reminders all around me to help me through the pain so I can think of something other than how bad it hurts. :D So, you out there reading, do you have any other motivational quotes or sayings or verses that helped you through labor and delivery? If so, please share! I didn't do a TON of research to gather these, just enough to get a list I felt would satisfy me. I've got to say, I'm thankful for all of these promises He gives, and am even more thankful for the baby I'm about to meet. So here they are, in no particular order:
“Do not
throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it
brings you! [A baby!] Patient endurance
is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you
will receive all that He has promised.
Hebrews 10:35-36
Hebrews 10:35-36
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need,
and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace,
which exceeds anything we can understand.
Philippians 4:6-7
Philippians 4:6-7
My grace is
enough; it is all you need. My strength
comes into its own in your weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9
2 Corinthians 12:9
Listen to me...you whom I have upheld since you were conceived and have
carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hair, I am He who
will sustain you! I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you
and I will rescue you.
Isaiah 46:3-4
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born I set
you apart.
Do not be
afraid...for I am with you...declares the
Lord!
Jeremiah 1:5, 8
So do NOT fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with
my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might
so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks
to the father.
Colossians 1:11
He gives strength to
the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow weary and tired, and young
men stumble and fall. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their
strength. They will soar on wings like Eagles; they will run and not grow
weary. They will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31
I can do EVERYTHING through Him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13
Come to Me, all you who labor
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to
you;
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it
be afraid.
John 14:27
My child, I’ve got this. –God
Your body was designed to do THIS!
:D
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Audra's Nursery
It feels funny for me to call Audra's room a "nursery" now that she's over a year old. But I guess technically, it's a space for a "baby" and has all the things a nursery usually has. My goal here is to show you what it looks like (b/c a lot of you relatives reading haven't seen it & may like to) but also, to explain why some things are the way they are so any of you reading mommies-to-be can get ideas for your future nurseries. :) You should know that we live in military housing, and won't be here for very long. We technically are allowed to paint the walls, but we'd have to repaint them white before we leave. Not really wanting to go through all of that, I had a tough job of bringing color into her room without paint. While I still think that paint would have added a LOT, I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. So here it is! :)
THE CRIB:
The fleece around the rails is so that she won't chew on the wood. I made these in an afternoon quite easily. And I'm not even that crafty! (I read this tutorial, but actually ended up not following the directions as I made it since it was so easy to figure out on the fly.)
The crib skirt is made up of 3 separate panels (two for the sides, one
for the front). Each panel has ribbon at the top that ties onto the
bed. I can tie it in different places depending on how high or low I
have her mattress. This way we can use it whether her bed is on the
highest or lowest setting.
Besides adding a splash of brightness, the yellow blanket (in the picture below) serves a purpose: it prevents her from feeling the coolness of the sheet when I lay her in bed after rocking her. It took a while for me to figure out this little tip, but it really works. However, I feel like it makes her really warm when she sleeps (she would wake up drenched in sweat), so every now and then I start thinking we don't need it anymore and I take it off. We go weeks of doing fine without it, then at some point I feel like I need to put it back on again. It's just one of those back and forth things.
Audra tends to sleep near the "head" of her crib and rarely gets close to the foot. We found this a perfect place to stash a toy or two for her to play with when she wakes up. It started with just a book or two, then we started adding other toys that she loves. Right now you see: 1) a book her Lolli & Pop recorded for her, 2) a Buckley Boo monkey [she LOVES trying to do the buckles!], 3) a puppy (she is majorly obsessed with puppies these days), 4) a doll that was my mom's & then mine 5) another teeny little puppy (it's a finger puppet), and 6) in front of the book, a mini Taggie bear blanket. These things have kept her busy for over an hour on multiple occasions. And over an hour more of sleep in the mornings = happy mama! :D She will wake up, fuss for just over a minute, then spot her toys and get to playing.
Another thing that keeps her busy, that we actually didn't even anticipate: the light switch.
After arranging & re-arranging her room, this was really the only way that fit everything and felt right. Her crib happens to be right under the light switch. She likes to flip it on and off. Which I usually don't mind... unless it's in the middle of the night and I'm trying to get her to stay laying down and go to sleep. For the most part, though, it's fun for her to play with.
THE CORNER:
THE BOOKSHELF:
THE ROCKING CHAIR:
I recently read an article that said a rocking chair was one of the least-used items that parents think they need before a baby arrives. I couldn't DISAGREE more! This is BY FAR the most used seat in our house. We use it at night, before naps, to read books, to cuddle, and when I nursed I used it then as well. We were lucky enough to have parents to buy us a nice, big, comfy chair and if you get that chance I say go for it! Ours is big enough for me to curl my legs up and still sit comfortably. (Well, before being pregnant I was comfortable, these days... not so much.)
And of course, these essentials live next to the chair: a Boppy (not used much anymore) and slippers (for those nights when you rock so long your feet get cold).
THE DRESSER:
This dresser was mine from middle school (yes, you read that right), so it's definitely seen better days. Honestly, though, when we were trying to decide on what to buy Audra, it just made sense to give her my old dresser and get ourselves something new. After all, we knew she would give this dresser a run for its money and we would be taking care of our new one. But it works. It has just enough room for her changing pad, a basket of changing necessities and also some little containers for her headbands.
And above the dresser:
The back wall has her closet, which (obviously) houses her clothing, shoes, laundry & some bigger stuffed animals. The clock is the same one I used in my classroom when I taught.
Here's a pano view of the whole thing:
And a few more of my cuties:
This is what this area most often looks like:
Just to keep you up to date, we actually moved the crib into baby boy's room and set up a toddler bed for Audra. I did a lot of research and found one that had both front rails included. We didn't actually need her to move to a toddler bed, since she was doing just great in her crib. But we wanted her to get used to her new bed well before baby boy arrived so it wouldn't be so much "new" at one time. We really like that it feels pretty much the same as her crib to her. We used her same mattress, her bumper still fit in, and she still has rails all the way around (which are necessary because she likes to sleep with her body right against the edge). I was really happy to still be able to make her crib skirt work, too! We really love the way it turned out! Here's the link, if you're interested in getting something similar. :)
We started really getting down to business in baby boy's room today, and I can't WAIT to show you how it turns out. It's going to be perfectly, boyishly colorful. :D As always, if you have any questions/comments/concerns, feel free to comment or email or message me. Hope you all are well!
THE CRIB:
The fleece around the rails is so that she won't chew on the wood. I made these in an afternoon quite easily. And I'm not even that crafty! (I read this tutorial, but actually ended up not following the directions as I made it since it was so easy to figure out on the fly.)
Audra tends to sleep near the "head" of her crib and rarely gets close to the foot. We found this a perfect place to stash a toy or two for her to play with when she wakes up. It started with just a book or two, then we started adding other toys that she loves. Right now you see: 1) a book her Lolli & Pop recorded for her, 2) a Buckley Boo monkey [she LOVES trying to do the buckles!], 3) a puppy (she is majorly obsessed with puppies these days), 4) a doll that was my mom's & then mine 5) another teeny little puppy (it's a finger puppet), and 6) in front of the book, a mini Taggie bear blanket. These things have kept her busy for over an hour on multiple occasions. And over an hour more of sleep in the mornings = happy mama! :D She will wake up, fuss for just over a minute, then spot her toys and get to playing.
THE CORNER:
- We used to have her swing in this corner, but we no longer use it.
- That little bouncy chair is part of her swing, and we left it out because she likes to crawl in it & do the buckles.
- The little piano is part of her tummy time mat. This will be going out in the living room again before too long for baby brother!
- We use the lamp a lot at night. She's only tried to pull it down a few times, but the piano and the crib have both stopped it. I have plans to attach some fishing line toward the top & anchor it to the wall somehow, but it hasn't happened yet.
THE BOOKSHELF:
- I originally arranged the solid fabric cubes 1 in each corner, with the heart one in the middle. Then I realized I didn't want her pulling down some of the non-board books, so I put those up higher. That strategy worked for quite a while. She's bigger now & can reach all the books, but she's not quite as destructive as she could be.
- The iPod up top is just an iPod touch, an older one we had laying around. It has all of her music and also her white noise that we play during naps and at night. We love the iPod setup; we just put it on continual repeat and the white noise plays all night.
- The trash can used to live on the floor, until she started playing in it. Now it lives next to the iPod. I don't believe getting a taller trash can would help any since she tries to play in her diaper pail that lives downstairs. I have one of those Febreeze stick and refresh pods in the lid. The Febreeze scent actually ran out & I stuck one of the Bath & Body scent pods in there. I love this combo!
THE ROCKING CHAIR:
I recently read an article that said a rocking chair was one of the least-used items that parents think they need before a baby arrives. I couldn't DISAGREE more! This is BY FAR the most used seat in our house. We use it at night, before naps, to read books, to cuddle, and when I nursed I used it then as well. We were lucky enough to have parents to buy us a nice, big, comfy chair and if you get that chance I say go for it! Ours is big enough for me to curl my legs up and still sit comfortably. (Well, before being pregnant I was comfortable, these days... not so much.)
THE DRESSER:
This dresser was mine from middle school (yes, you read that right), so it's definitely seen better days. Honestly, though, when we were trying to decide on what to buy Audra, it just made sense to give her my old dresser and get ourselves something new. After all, we knew she would give this dresser a run for its money and we would be taking care of our new one. But it works. It has just enough room for her changing pad, a basket of changing necessities and also some little containers for her headbands.
Here's a pano view of the whole thing:
And a few more of my cuties:
Just to keep you up to date, we actually moved the crib into baby boy's room and set up a toddler bed for Audra. I did a lot of research and found one that had both front rails included. We didn't actually need her to move to a toddler bed, since she was doing just great in her crib. But we wanted her to get used to her new bed well before baby boy arrived so it wouldn't be so much "new" at one time. We really like that it feels pretty much the same as her crib to her. We used her same mattress, her bumper still fit in, and she still has rails all the way around (which are necessary because she likes to sleep with her body right against the edge). I was really happy to still be able to make her crib skirt work, too! We really love the way it turned out! Here's the link, if you're interested in getting something similar. :)
We started really getting down to business in baby boy's room today, and I can't WAIT to show you how it turns out. It's going to be perfectly, boyishly colorful. :D As always, if you have any questions/comments/concerns, feel free to comment or email or message me. Hope you all are well!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Amazed.
Audra has been 100% amazing me lately. Seriously. I've just been in awe of the things she does and puts together. She's so verbal for a baby her age (just shy of 15 months and speaking 22 words & signing 6 words) and is getting better and better about putting 1 word with the next to form a thought. (Example: more please [she signs while saying both of those] or signs eat then points to high chair.) I love that she is starting to communicate with us. It's making life so much easier!
I am in constant awe of this personality I'm seeing develop before my very eyes. She is quite seriously one of the bravest, toughest and most adventurous babies I've met. Our neighborhood park has a slide that's about 5 1/2 ft high. It has pretty wide steps that she's able to climb up on her own. This week, she got brave enough to go down it by herself. Usually Nic would go with her, but this particular time it was just her and me at the park & I wasn't going to attempt it with this big belly. I held her hands once she got to the top the first few times, then I backed further & further away & she just pushed off like it wasn't an issue! I caught her at the bottom of course. She always wants to climb, play, and explore. And in doing so, she often falls down and gets roughed up (it's what babies do). But she rarely ever cries! Even if she gets a scape, even if it BLEEDS, she usually never even makes a peep. Nic and I usually discover these things when changing her or holding her a bit later, and then feel bad that we aren't exactly sure when the injury happened. She's much more likely to cry because she's startled by something (like a hard fall on the kitchen floor) but she's over it within a minute. Amazing. I know some adults who aren't even this tough.
To contrast that tough, brave, adventurous spirit, she is also the most kind, loving, sweet & cuddly girl you could imagine. She truly loves to share and spend time with people. She will often get a book and then hand it to one of us and climb into our lap. She is known to give many spontaneous [STRONG!] hugs and kisses and to sign more and then point to one of us (as in "more mama" or "more dada"...isn't that the cutest thing ever??).
Earlier today, she woke up from her nap and was still chillin' in her crib, so Nic and I decided to go up and spy on her. We peeked through her open doorway and just laughed at what we saw. She was playing at first, then literally laid down and attempted to hug all of her toys that were in her crib at once! (She has 3 books, a doll (that used to be my mom's then mine), a monkey Buckly Boo and a puppy all that stay at the foot of her bed until she wakes up & plays with them.) Then she looked at one of the books (a Bedtime Prayers and Promises book that Nic's parents recorded for her) then after doing that for a minute, she stood up, held onto the crib rail and started dancing! Heehee! For like 10 seconds, she had a dance party (who needs music anyway?!), then she sat and looked at the book some more. This is our girl. Loving, inquisitive, FUN.
What did we do to deserve to be blessed with a daughter so amazing?
More about the vacation in a bit! ...and also Audra's room... So many things I want to write about! :D
I am in constant awe of this personality I'm seeing develop before my very eyes. She is quite seriously one of the bravest, toughest and most adventurous babies I've met. Our neighborhood park has a slide that's about 5 1/2 ft high. It has pretty wide steps that she's able to climb up on her own. This week, she got brave enough to go down it by herself. Usually Nic would go with her, but this particular time it was just her and me at the park & I wasn't going to attempt it with this big belly. I held her hands once she got to the top the first few times, then I backed further & further away & she just pushed off like it wasn't an issue! I caught her at the bottom of course. She always wants to climb, play, and explore. And in doing so, she often falls down and gets roughed up (it's what babies do). But she rarely ever cries! Even if she gets a scape, even if it BLEEDS, she usually never even makes a peep. Nic and I usually discover these things when changing her or holding her a bit later, and then feel bad that we aren't exactly sure when the injury happened. She's much more likely to cry because she's startled by something (like a hard fall on the kitchen floor) but she's over it within a minute. Amazing. I know some adults who aren't even this tough.
To contrast that tough, brave, adventurous spirit, she is also the most kind, loving, sweet & cuddly girl you could imagine. She truly loves to share and spend time with people. She will often get a book and then hand it to one of us and climb into our lap. She is known to give many spontaneous [STRONG!] hugs and kisses and to sign more and then point to one of us (as in "more mama" or "more dada"...isn't that the cutest thing ever??).
Earlier today, she woke up from her nap and was still chillin' in her crib, so Nic and I decided to go up and spy on her. We peeked through her open doorway and just laughed at what we saw. She was playing at first, then literally laid down and attempted to hug all of her toys that were in her crib at once! (She has 3 books, a doll (that used to be my mom's then mine), a monkey Buckly Boo and a puppy all that stay at the foot of her bed until she wakes up & plays with them.) Then she looked at one of the books (a Bedtime Prayers and Promises book that Nic's parents recorded for her) then after doing that for a minute, she stood up, held onto the crib rail and started dancing! Heehee! For like 10 seconds, she had a dance party (who needs music anyway?!), then she sat and looked at the book some more. This is our girl. Loving, inquisitive, FUN.
What did we do to deserve to be blessed with a daughter so amazing?
She got in this cart all on her own... seriously, nobody helped her one single bit.
Hugs for dad at bedtime.
Bedtime stories.
More about the vacation in a bit! ...and also Audra's room... So many things I want to write about! :D
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Baby- Round 2
I've always heard that a woman's pregnancy can be very different from one to the next. I have friends who have had drastically different pregnancies-- I mean, the first being easy breezy, and the second they're tossing their cookies multiple times a day and are flat out miserable. I was afraid of that happening to me with #2 since Audra was such a piece of cake. I never got sick with her (though there were days of feeling very nauseous), I wasn't even all *too* uncomfortable, even in the end. It probably had something to do with the fact that she was born under 7 lbs, but still, I wasn't aching with misery by any means.
With #2, it's true that some things have been different. For starters, I had food aversions instead of cravings. With Audra, I craved pineapple and tater tots (not at the same time). With this one, the thought of meat and also the smell of the greek yogurt we feed Audra both made me sick to my stomach. Luckily, those went away in the 2nd trimester. The other major thing that's been different this time has been how quickly my belly popped out. Literally, as soon as I found out I was pregnant, it made sense as to why my clothes were fitting more snug despite CrossFit and *attempting* a healthy diet (we really need to get better at that). By 3 months, I was showing like I did at 5 months with Audra. Now I'm almost to my 7th month and I'm showing like I did at 8.5/9 mos before. It seems like everything is about a month/month and a half ahead of where it was before... both in my belly size, and also fetal movement. I felt baby boy move about a month and a half earlier than I felt Audra move. Not sure if it's because I'd felt it before with Audra & therefore knew what I was looking for, or if it really did just happen sooner. Nic felt him move in my belly about a month earlier than before as well, and likewise with visibly seeing my stomach move when he moves. His movements feel a lot more powerful at this stage in the game than Audra's did. I'm not sure if that means he's just a bigger baby, or just stronger. Maybe both? People tell me boys are supposedly bigger (in general) than girls. Audra was even on the small side, despite being born 6 days past due. We'll just have to wait and see how little man stacks up when it comes to size.
This time around has been more difficult, as far as energy and motivation go. I said above that my belly is already quite large, and I feel like I feelt at 8.5/9 months before. It's hard to walk great distances unless I go really slow, bending over is quite difficult, and staying on my feet to chase Audra around and do housework gets exhausting really quickly. Sleep is poor, despite our TempurPedic (that I LOVE!). I had almost forgotten until it happened again, that my hips tend to fall asleep when I'm in bed. Whichever hip is down will fall asleep, then I'll roll to the other side only for the next hip to fall asleep too. Then I'll roll back over to the 1st side, but sometimes that 1st hip is still asleep & numb despite me being off of it for a while. ...sigh... I pretty much toss & turn all night long. :-(
But you know, I've got to count my blessings. I haven't gotten sick. I've got a healthy baby in there. And I've got an uber-supportive husband who is great about letting me get off my feet and helping around the house when he's able.
I've been keeping busy getting things ready for this little guy's arrival. It's been interesting to see how much of getting things ready for him has meant changing things for Audra. For example, we'll be transitioning her into a toddler bed any day now, to move the crib into his room. We'll also be getting her in a convertible car seat (this has been a long time coming, we just haven't gotten around to it), so he can use the infant seat. You'd think that because we already have one baby, we'd have pretty much all that we need for #2, but that really hasn't been the case. Well, I suppose technically we could re-use a lot of the stuff-- but a lot of it is all GIRL! So we're replacing many (not all) of those things. And I also just want him to have his own cute little room; a BOY room with his own things in it. I'll post pictures when I get the nursery done. I've got a lot of the things bought, just not in their right places quite yet. Before I post pictures of his room, I'll have to post pictures of Audra's room before it changes since I don't think I ever did that. So ya, another blessing this time is that WE'RE STAYING IN ONE PLACE! With Audra, I delivered her in San Antonio, came home to Lubbock about a week later, and then about a week and a half after that, moved to Virginia. There was no nursery prep, and that made me really sad at the time. So this time, we're not going anywhere and things can get decently ready. :)
Since we're so new to the area, it's been hard to find an OB that I trust and who has the same visions as I do for this birth. I have a few friends who have given birth since I've been here, but they both had home births... which I'm completely supportive of, but willing to do myself. I DO, however, want as close to a home birth as I can get while still in the hospital. There's a great birthing center in Norfolk, but it's across the water, which means having to cross the bridge tunnel. And God forbid I would go into labor during rush hour and have to sit in that traffic for an hour... no thanks. So I did some research online and found one doctor who had really great reviews. I began to see him, only to discover from one of my L&D nurse friends who's seen this OB in action, that he really isn't what I'm looking for. (He turned out to be one of those who delivers on his timeline instead of the mom/baby's. Plus I never quite felt at ease with him, anyway.) My L&D friend (who's new to the area too) was super helpful in talking with her coworkers and figuring out what practice would be a good fit for me. I took her recommendation and switched at around 20 weeks to the practice I'm currently using. They have a completely different feel from the first. There's a midwife and two OB's, all who deliver with the same philosophies. They've assured me that they will try their hardest for me to have a completely different birth than the one I had with Audra. (Hers was pretty stressful, as I chronicled here.) They all seemed rather appalled when I told them Audra's birth story. It didn't seem that bad to me, at the time, but now thinking about how much smoother it could (and SHOULD!) have gone, I guess it's right for them to think that. Hopefully this guy's birth can be the peaceful, calm, medication-free birth I so longed for the first time... I know the dr's will help me get there, so a lot of it will be up to me to just remember what I've learned.
I've been constantly amazed at how much a woman's body can change, all as a result of pregnancy. Last time around, I really didn't notice many changes, except near the end I started to get some chloasma dark patches on my cheek bones. They were never really enough for anyone to notice, and were easily covered up by makeup, but I could see them and knew they weren't normally there. Those spots and then the stretch marks, which I didn't get until about 9.5 months (BOOOO!) were really the only ways my body changed. This time, I've gotten the chloasma spots again (I noticed them right away), I've gotten a lot of little skin tags, and my vision has changed. A lot of people don't realize that your vision can change during pregnancy, but it's true! I had to increase the font on my phone and I notice myself holding other reading material insanely close to my face. Hopefully it'll change back, so I'm not going to see the optometrist quite yet. So it's been pretty interesting, all these new little things that have come about as a result of our little man.
It's just been so fun to think about him and wonder what he'll be like. Will he have blue eyes too? Or will he get my green? Will have have curly hair or straight hair? Will he get the tall gene from Pop? Will he be outgoing, adventurous and tough, like Audra, or will he be more calm, cautious, and take things in to himself? So many questions, all to be answered in due time. I just can't wait to meet this little guy!
Hopefully next post I can put up some pictures of Audra's cute little room. Sorry these have been so few and far between... I know that a lot of you family members who are far away enjoy reading these updates, so I'm sorry it takes so long! We've been pretty busy over here!
Love you all, hope you've had a great summer! :)
With #2, it's true that some things have been different. For starters, I had food aversions instead of cravings. With Audra, I craved pineapple and tater tots (not at the same time). With this one, the thought of meat and also the smell of the greek yogurt we feed Audra both made me sick to my stomach. Luckily, those went away in the 2nd trimester. The other major thing that's been different this time has been how quickly my belly popped out. Literally, as soon as I found out I was pregnant, it made sense as to why my clothes were fitting more snug despite CrossFit and *attempting* a healthy diet (we really need to get better at that). By 3 months, I was showing like I did at 5 months with Audra. Now I'm almost to my 7th month and I'm showing like I did at 8.5/9 mos before. It seems like everything is about a month/month and a half ahead of where it was before... both in my belly size, and also fetal movement. I felt baby boy move about a month and a half earlier than I felt Audra move. Not sure if it's because I'd felt it before with Audra & therefore knew what I was looking for, or if it really did just happen sooner. Nic felt him move in my belly about a month earlier than before as well, and likewise with visibly seeing my stomach move when he moves. His movements feel a lot more powerful at this stage in the game than Audra's did. I'm not sure if that means he's just a bigger baby, or just stronger. Maybe both? People tell me boys are supposedly bigger (in general) than girls. Audra was even on the small side, despite being born 6 days past due. We'll just have to wait and see how little man stacks up when it comes to size.
This time around has been more difficult, as far as energy and motivation go. I said above that my belly is already quite large, and I feel like I feelt at 8.5/9 months before. It's hard to walk great distances unless I go really slow, bending over is quite difficult, and staying on my feet to chase Audra around and do housework gets exhausting really quickly. Sleep is poor, despite our TempurPedic (that I LOVE!). I had almost forgotten until it happened again, that my hips tend to fall asleep when I'm in bed. Whichever hip is down will fall asleep, then I'll roll to the other side only for the next hip to fall asleep too. Then I'll roll back over to the 1st side, but sometimes that 1st hip is still asleep & numb despite me being off of it for a while. ...sigh... I pretty much toss & turn all night long. :-(
But you know, I've got to count my blessings. I haven't gotten sick. I've got a healthy baby in there. And I've got an uber-supportive husband who is great about letting me get off my feet and helping around the house when he's able.
I've been keeping busy getting things ready for this little guy's arrival. It's been interesting to see how much of getting things ready for him has meant changing things for Audra. For example, we'll be transitioning her into a toddler bed any day now, to move the crib into his room. We'll also be getting her in a convertible car seat (this has been a long time coming, we just haven't gotten around to it), so he can use the infant seat. You'd think that because we already have one baby, we'd have pretty much all that we need for #2, but that really hasn't been the case. Well, I suppose technically we could re-use a lot of the stuff-- but a lot of it is all GIRL! So we're replacing many (not all) of those things. And I also just want him to have his own cute little room; a BOY room with his own things in it. I'll post pictures when I get the nursery done. I've got a lot of the things bought, just not in their right places quite yet. Before I post pictures of his room, I'll have to post pictures of Audra's room before it changes since I don't think I ever did that. So ya, another blessing this time is that WE'RE STAYING IN ONE PLACE! With Audra, I delivered her in San Antonio, came home to Lubbock about a week later, and then about a week and a half after that, moved to Virginia. There was no nursery prep, and that made me really sad at the time. So this time, we're not going anywhere and things can get decently ready. :)
Since we're so new to the area, it's been hard to find an OB that I trust and who has the same visions as I do for this birth. I have a few friends who have given birth since I've been here, but they both had home births... which I'm completely supportive of, but willing to do myself. I DO, however, want as close to a home birth as I can get while still in the hospital. There's a great birthing center in Norfolk, but it's across the water, which means having to cross the bridge tunnel. And God forbid I would go into labor during rush hour and have to sit in that traffic for an hour... no thanks. So I did some research online and found one doctor who had really great reviews. I began to see him, only to discover from one of my L&D nurse friends who's seen this OB in action, that he really isn't what I'm looking for. (He turned out to be one of those who delivers on his timeline instead of the mom/baby's. Plus I never quite felt at ease with him, anyway.) My L&D friend (who's new to the area too) was super helpful in talking with her coworkers and figuring out what practice would be a good fit for me. I took her recommendation and switched at around 20 weeks to the practice I'm currently using. They have a completely different feel from the first. There's a midwife and two OB's, all who deliver with the same philosophies. They've assured me that they will try their hardest for me to have a completely different birth than the one I had with Audra. (Hers was pretty stressful, as I chronicled here.) They all seemed rather appalled when I told them Audra's birth story. It didn't seem that bad to me, at the time, but now thinking about how much smoother it could (and SHOULD!) have gone, I guess it's right for them to think that. Hopefully this guy's birth can be the peaceful, calm, medication-free birth I so longed for the first time... I know the dr's will help me get there, so a lot of it will be up to me to just remember what I've learned.
I've been constantly amazed at how much a woman's body can change, all as a result of pregnancy. Last time around, I really didn't notice many changes, except near the end I started to get some chloasma dark patches on my cheek bones. They were never really enough for anyone to notice, and were easily covered up by makeup, but I could see them and knew they weren't normally there. Those spots and then the stretch marks, which I didn't get until about 9.5 months (BOOOO!) were really the only ways my body changed. This time, I've gotten the chloasma spots again (I noticed them right away), I've gotten a lot of little skin tags, and my vision has changed. A lot of people don't realize that your vision can change during pregnancy, but it's true! I had to increase the font on my phone and I notice myself holding other reading material insanely close to my face. Hopefully it'll change back, so I'm not going to see the optometrist quite yet. So it's been pretty interesting, all these new little things that have come about as a result of our little man.
It's just been so fun to think about him and wonder what he'll be like. Will he have blue eyes too? Or will he get my green? Will have have curly hair or straight hair? Will he get the tall gene from Pop? Will he be outgoing, adventurous and tough, like Audra, or will he be more calm, cautious, and take things in to himself? So many questions, all to be answered in due time. I just can't wait to meet this little guy!
Hopefully next post I can put up some pictures of Audra's cute little room. Sorry these have been so few and far between... I know that a lot of you family members who are far away enjoy reading these updates, so I'm sorry it takes so long! We've been pretty busy over here!
Love you all, hope you've had a great summer! :)
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