Two little princesses

This weekend we headed into the city to see our little Neice dedicated to the lord:) We had a great weekend with friends and family, and we love watching these two little princesses grow up together!!! Aren't they just precious??

She Did it!!

She slept through the night!!! Now if I can just learn to do the same:)

For Jessi

Two Months!

On Saturday miss Addy turned two months!! So hard to believe! She loves to kick like crazy now and her favorite place to do so is on her exercise mat...but from the picture below you can see she tires herself on it too:) She is 12lbs 8 onces!! and is in the top 90%tile for weight and height!! It looks like I am going to be the short mama in the house:) Her neck is getting stronger, and she likes to let us know that! She loves to look around, fall asleep in her carseat still, and now in her sling:) She loves to smile and loves to chat! He hair is getting more auburn all the time! She loves to watch praise baby and baby einstein:) She still loves her bath time!

Her gas is getting better all the time..barf is still my new accessory though:)

We love her more and more every day, and I love motherhood more and more all the time!! This truely is the best job ever:)! Even with all the poop!

Story of two Monks..

"I need oil:, said an ancient monk, so he planted an olive sapling, "lord", he prayed, "it needs arin that its tender roots may drink and swell. Send gentle showers." and the lord sent gentle showers, "Lord" prayed the monk, "my tree needs sun. Send sun I pray thee." And the sun shone, gilding the dripping clouds. "Now frost, my lord. to brace its tissues," cried the monk. ANd behold, the little tree stood sparkling with frost, but at evening it died. Then the monk sought the cell of a brother monk, and told his starnge experience. "I, too, planted a tree," he said, "and see! It thrives well. But I entrust my tree to its God. He who made it knows better waht it needs than a man like me. I laid no condition. I fixed not ways or means. "Lord, send what it needs," I prayed, "a storm or sunshine, wind, rain or frost. Thou hast made it and thou dost know."

When a Woman meets Jesus-Emptiness

Emptiness is something well all face in different areas of our lives. Not being able to have a child has got to be the extreme and one of the hardest things for a woman to face. The bible tells a story of Anna a prophetess. or what we would call today a pastors wife. At around the age of 20, she became a widow, after 7 years of marriage and no babies. Her hearts desire was to be a mom. Instead of sitting in her sorrow..and stealing others joy with her pain, she made the chose to share in others joy, and serve at the temple. She kept her arms open and waiting for God to fill them. Her one request and prayer was that she would meet the messaih before she died, and at the age of 100 God fullfilled his promise to her and she held baby Jesus in her arms. How amazing! Anna's story speaks so strong of not focusing on the area's we feel empty in our life but to trust God and find Joy in the things we do have!

I love this qoute by the author Ben Patterson..

"God is for you not against you; He feels your aches, he hears your groaning. And note: if he is silent now..it is the silence of his higher thoughts. He is up to something so big and so unimaginably good that your mind cannot contain it..what we see God doing is never as good as what we don't see!" Isnt that so amazing and so encouraging:)

So have your arms open in anticipation for God to fill them with the things you desire!

When a Woman meets Jesus

I had a coupon to House of James and figured I would put it to good use. I always like having two books on the go, one fluffy read, or fiction I should say, and one with a little more depth, insight, teaching or self help. So the book I decided to pick up is call the When a Woman Meets Jesus. Its about understanding as a woman how to experience the love of Christ..the man who will love us more than any other man. So far I am quite happy with my book and thought I would share some of the insight. It breaks the chapters down into different topics of different woman in the bible and relates them to us today. The first chapter is about the flawed woman. The pressure for perfection is sometimes so overwhelming, I know in my life it is. We compare ourselves to other moms, woman, their talents and think why can't I be as good as them? I remember in school to, getting decent grades in most subjects but I would always focus on the one subject i did not as well in. Or how at a job, if you get ten praises, and one critique, we focus on that one critique..why is it that we strive for perfection so bad?? Where does this come from, and why do we do it?? This chapter gives us a perfect example of how God can use a flawed woman..as he did with Mary. Instead of choosing a well educated, wealthy, high societed woman in the bible, he chose to use a simple young girl who had nothing to offer but herself. Mary's mentality is all I can give is my best..and for God that was and is enough.
This really challenged my heart as I struggle in this area so much. I want to be good at so much, and battle feeling like a failure so often. But what really hit me when reading this chapter was how selfish striving for perfection is. If we are so busy focusing on ourselves and what we need to do to conqure the world and make everything around us perfect where does that leave room for God to do what he wants to do? And also who wants to be around someone who's perfect..that is just intimidating and annoying:)

So I challenge myself with this and you today..walk away from perfection, get a little messy, make some mistakes, be real and honest and let room for God to start working in your life..beause that when I know the fruit will come!!

Stay tuned for chapter two!

Addy's first trip to the states

Today Dave had the day off of work, so the three of us headed down to bellingham for Addy's first trip to the states! We had a great afternoon shopping for her, as she the one with the $$ now;)*grin*

I will post some pictures later on of her in some of the cute things we purchased! All in all a great family day!!

FYI-there are some wierd people down there...we had some kid come up and stick his face in addy's stroller and asked us if we were married..meanwhile Dave had some kid pulling on his jeans from behind..oh my!

The cutiest Visitor Ever!

Yesterday, my coworker who just started her mat leave stopped by for a visit to meet our Addy:) With her, she brought there new first baby..an itty bitty puppy that is only a month old, and whos mom got killed by a car. So this little 1.5lb is one of the cuties things i have ever seen! and my dear friend, new puppy, and baby on the way..yup, she is going to have her hands full!!

Oh Breastfeeding..

How fast my world has become centered around the world of boobs! I remember hearing that breastfeeding was tricky, but who knew that after almost two months of motherhood I would say that the hardest part for me has been everything centered around feeding this peanut!

So, for my record and for a heads up to future mamas, and a reminsent to those who are done this faze permanently or temporarily, here are my love hates of this process!

So lets start with the negatives first and than end with some positives;)!

-well, the first would be the first couple of weeks of breastfeeding. At first my Addy was tongue tied. She had a great latch, but sucking properly was a little trickier. so for the first week, she didn't eat as frequently but it felt like it took forever. I remember the first couple of weeks dreading the middle of the nights because i knew I could be up sometimes for a couple of hours for one feed..it was exhausting. And frustrating because you are so worried that your baby isn't getting enough food. And Addy wasn't as she lost a lot of weight the first week. but slowly she got better, and at 9 days we took her to the doctors and got her tongue tied snipped..and after that, watch out batman..nothing could stop this one from eating...all the time!!
-So yes, the first month or so, I literally felt like all i did was feed. This one wanted to eat every hour sometimes..she was like a permanent cluster feeder! I called the nurse cause I was like what the heck..is she not getting enough? Well part of it I know had to do with the fact that my let down came like a fire house..and I could have fed a nursery of babies..so she was getting too much front milk and not the calorie rich back stuff, so I did block feed her and still do..meaning I feed her a couple of times on one side to make sure she gets it all! And obviously it is working, because from the pictures you can see that my little monkey is becoming a little chunker..and i love it!!! She know eats every couple of hours in the day and at night still cluster feeds for nightime!! Which I am good with because she sleeps pretty good at night..not through the night yet..but hopefully soon:!)
-Oh spit up..I hate you..yes I have a barfer..its my new accesory:)! but, as I have been told, this too shal pass!
-Gas!!!! I know i have mentioned this before but it is my enemy and addys! I hate it:) I hate when it makes her cry so hard as she is trying to work it out..and can't wait till its passed..but again I am told, this too shal pass..so I am happy about that!!!

Now, the positive!!

-I love the bonding of breast feeding, its so special, and the one thing that only her and I can share!! I love that!!
-I love how she holds on to my bra or shirt in the middle for dear life, like don't take it away from me mom!!
-I love when she is so hungry all i have to do is move her into the eating position and she hyper ventilates with excitement as she knows its coming!!
-I love when she is getting to the end and is just sort of playing, she sometimes will pause and look up at me with the biggest smile on her face!!
-I love the drunk milk satisfied look they get when they are done..its the best!!
-Best diet I have ever been on!!!


I had one friend ask me how long i plan on doing this..I said, hopefully a year is my plan. She asked if I thought I would last that long(she has a baby addy's age), and the funny thing as hard as it can be sometimes, the thought of giving it up or her one day just weening herself makes me so sad..so I know I cherish this time, and I am going to enjoy it as long as it lasts!!!

Date night

So about once a week, Dave and I like to get out to have some alone time together. Not long, just a couple of hours, just to reconnect and feel like a couple:) its amazing with a kid how you can be in the same room every night, but once you are alone, it feels like you haven't talked all week!
Sometimes too, nothing is said at all, but just the silence, being together, holding hands, is more than enough! Since being on this new baby budget as I call it, Dave and i have to get creative with our dates. Now, even going out for dinner and movie has to be a once and awhile treat as it can add up! Some of our usual date nights include, starbucks and a walk, a trip to the mall, a movie and drink at home..so tonight we are going to head to abby and go to house of james, brows the book, brows the cds, have a nice drink in their new eating area.,,i can't wait. And I love how these things feel so special..where i think before we tended to take them for granted. Another one of my reasons to my theory that for us, Addy has brought us closer together not further apart. So anyone have any good suggestions for some cheap dates nights, please share!!!

A Visit with Eden

Today, Addy's auntie and cousin and I headed into the city to go for a visit with her other Cousin Eden who is two days young than miss Addy..but yet 3 pounds lighter! That's right my little one is getting to be quite the chunky monkey and I love it!!! Her cheeks are eatible I tell ya!

So off we went and had a lovely day visiting with the fam! Wish we could have stayed longer, but with the trip and traffic it takes up so much of the day! I tried hard to get a pic of the two girls together looking and smiling away but miss addy was done for and just wanted to sleep or give her mommy a look of.."come on mom, more pictures??" anyways, its so fun watching these girls together and I can't wait to see them grow up together!!

Peace

Today I am praying for peace..and lots of it..time for rejuvination...rest..and peace. You might be thinking that this is because i have a 7 week old and am sleep deprivide or something..but no, she is fabulous, gas/colic whatever you want to call it, even with that, I love being her mommy..its lots of other junk surrounding that needs to just wash away...and peace needs to come apon this dark cloud..so God today I ask for peace..

Saturday at the Lake

So yes, living by so many lakes, we try to spend as many days there as possible! Saturday was a our little family day at Hicks Lake. Its a hidden gem that is getting busier and busier, but its our favorite lake just outside of Harrison. So we packed up our multiple bags and headed out. The princess loved the fresh air so much she slept most of the time, which was lovely as it gave Daddy D and I some much needed alone time;) Missy woke up just for a few minutes to put her feet in the warm water and as you can see from the first photo spit up a bit in it too!! Hope you all are enjoying the long weekend!!!

hope you are all staying cool!