A Long Overdue Update…

 

It’s been entirely too long since we’ve updated our blog. I’d like to say I’m going to try and do better about updating, and I am saying that, but just don’t hold your breath. Kapeesh?

It’s been quite a whirlwind in our little life lately. We moved! We are so thrilled to be in our new home and are ready to enjoy the holidays with family and friends. Chad took a different engineering position with the same company in our hometown. Because we had only lived in our previous home for less than 4 years, we decided to FSBO our house. And low and behold the Lord sold it in ONE day, that’s right. One. Uno. I tried to remain as professional as possible when I was pretending to be a realtor when the offer was made, but my jaw couldn’t help it, hit the stinkin’ floor.  Modern day miracle folks, it’s the only explanation. Houses don’t sell in one day this market other than God himself doing that work. I’m just sayin’…

So fast forward a bit, the moving company packed us up and moved our whole house into a storage building. No, we didn’t live there. My gracious mother in law opened up her home to us and took full advantage of making Maddox as rotten as possible before we moved out. She was wonderful to have around, and I told Chad we should really consider getting a nanny. ha! Maddox wasn’t the only person that got spoiled at Meme’s if I’m honest. I miss the built in babysitting, the housecleaner coming, clean sheets every week (just being honest, that doesn’t quite happen around here)

The search for our new home seemed like forever, but I think that had something to do with not having a home. We started out the process by saying we really aren’t that picky. Chad’s “only request” was that the house have a sprinkler system. He said he just wanted to be where his girls are. Don’t ooo and awe too quickly now, because we all know he’s super sweet, but he did become a little more particular once it was go time. We both did. It’s such a big decision where to put your family. And for me, working within the home, seemed to make the decision even more difficult. Too much pressure. I have commitment issues apparently when it comes to buying a house. One house would not be good enough, the next would be too good. And I’m sure that’s just the way it goes, but this being our third home finding the “right one” was harder than ever. Like trying to put a puzzle together without a picture kind of hard. I still wonder would we have had to pull over and have a good cry if our realtor wasn’t my sister in law. I’m so glad she was, and not just because she’s awesome, but because buying a home is such a big decision.

We have always had fixer uppers, and in this one we painted one room, moved our stuff in, and a house turned quickly into a home. Ahh-mazing!

So, here we are in our new home almost 90 percent settled in. And it’s bliss. Pure bliss. We couldn’t be happier with the home the Lord has blessed us with. His gifts are good. Sometimes bigger and better than we could imagine, and times better than what we would give ourselves. (Disclaimer:) I’m not a prosperity gospel believer,  but sometimes I have to be reminded that my Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps. 50). So my whirlpool tub, my open kitchen, my family that fills this home with joy and laughter, they aren’t mine. They are grace granted upon me from the Giver of Life. We have already been able to have people over and open it up, and feel truly blessed that in the busiest season of our lives we can just live, at home.

Miss Independent

Since there are no fireworks this year I thought I’d share a picture of our little firecracker with you.

One year ago…

2011…

Can you believe the difference a year makes? I was looking back at pictures and videos last night and am I just amazed at the change and growth! I’m sure you won’t sob like a baby, find comfort in chocolate, and go to bed like I did, but it is nevertheless, pretty amazing.

I love the 4th for so many reasons. One, I am a summer girl through and through. Two, it is one of the few holidays where we aren’t spread thin. We usually have the opportunity to actually enjoy ourselves with family and friends. We can soak up those sweet moments and make memories. Love it.

It is such an honor to live in a country where we have the freedom to speak, worship, and live our lives as we see fit. Thanks to all who serve our country. Happy Birthday America!

What Love Really Means…

Happy Father’s Day Papadaddy. Thank you for being such a wonderful provider, protector, and encourager. You are such a great daddy. Thank you for all that do.

From the first moments of my life you have been there looking over me and taking care of me in so many special ways.

Thank you for teaching me about Jesus, and not just by saying but by doing.Thank you for praying over me and turning to the Lord when things get hard. Thank you for being a man after God’s own heart. I hope one day I can know Him and serve Him like you. Thank you for raising me in home of grace, because I might will need some of that sweet grace throughout my life. You are a great example of who God really is, a protector, a provider, grace-giver, and a disciplinarian only in love. Thank you papadaddy.

Thanks for honoring my momma the way that you do. Someday, I will look for a husband, and my standards will be high because of you. Thank you for not allowing my needs or my mom’s needs go unmet. Thank you for being intentional to date, honor and cherish her, and showing me what love really means. Thank you papadaddy.

Thank you for knowing when to hold my hand, and when to let go. Someday I will say, “See ya later dad!” And on that day, you can be confident that you have done a great job, and even though you may cry, I will be ready for that big scary world, because of you. Thank you papadaddy.

I love you with all of my heart.

-Maddox

Baby Girl’s Birthday Bash!

A few weeks back we celebrated Maddox’s first birthday! I get teary eyed almost everyday and stand amazed at God’s creation of her little life. She has brought an indescribable blessing and abundant joy into our family. I never knew having children would teach me so much about love.

I had a blast planning her party!!

Yes, that is an old fence in my house, and you don’t have to tell me I am crazy. My husband took care of that already.

We had a house full of our sweet family and friends. Thanks everyone for cramming in to celebrate! It was such a special day.

She dug right into her presents, and her cake! And, being the generous girl that she is, she really wanted to feed her cake to everyone. Fortunately, her papadaddy was the only sucker taker!

Happy Birthday to our sweet baby girl. You are so full of life, energy, and joy. You are a very passionate and determined little girl that lights up any room! I cannot wait to see what the years will bring and the plans the Lord has for your life. We are blessed to be your parents and pray that you will use all of that passion within your heart for God’s kingdom and His glory. Praise be to Him for giving you life and breath.

I have to say, having the first year under our belt really feels good. I don’t think I did it gracefully enough, but we made it! I am love, love, loving the toddler phase.  I cannot wait for our trips to the zoo and the waterpark, and all of the learning that is right around the corner.

Parenting Truths…Exposed

 

I absolutely cannot believe that our little critter is just two weeks away from being a whole year old. She has taught Chad and I so much and it is truly a joy to be her mother. If it is even possible to sum up a year in a blog post, I’m not so sure. Because there were days I thought we would never make it this far, and now, looking back, it went too fast. I wish I could have bottled up some of those moments and bring them right back to me. But, time keeps on ticking and I have learned to enjoy each moment because before you know it, another moment is happening and memories can only be made here and now.

Some things I have learned in no particular order:

1. There should be support groups for babies with reflux and colic. Seriously.

2. Babies are individuals from the moment they make their appearance. Who knew? I think I gave myself way too much credit as a parent before I became one, ha! I quickly realized that I can only guide and direct, and the good Lord did the creating.

3. Breastfeeding is hard, and takes extreme dedication.  I may never run a marathon, but making it this far is like running through the big yellow ribbon at the end with arms raised (insert several fist pumps).

4. Good parenting is hard. Persistence is key.  There is no easy button or shortcuts if you want to avoid visiting them in prison.

5. Above persistence seems easy theoretically, but sometimes you just want to                  . Fill in the blank (sleep, have peace and quiet, get on with life, go to the restroom, be yourself, runaway, jump off a cliff, take a shower, etc.)

6. It is really, really hard not to laugh when your child is being disobedient. I don’t know that I will ever figure this one out, but I am pretty sure once that sweet innocence wears off it will become much easier, at which point I will be writing “It is really hard not to throw children through the wall when they are disobedient.”

7. It takes approximately five days before child’s father recognizes that child’s mother is looking and now smelling rather peculiar and may or may not need a shower.

8. Being a stay at home mom is not at all what it looks like in the movies. I got lots more kudos in the workplace, less messy, and  a paycheck. But, the benefits here are pretty much priceless and this gig has been such a growing experience for our family.

9. The sound of a baby saying “momma” is hands down better than any of Beethoven's masterpieces. Now when she is sixteen and using a sarcastic tone, probably sounds like nails on a chalkboard. But, for now it’s bliss and I can’t get enough of it.

10. Things I do now determine if my children will be living in my basement/asking for money in 25 years, and not challenging children to be independent equals a not so happy retirement for me. The pressure is on, and just to clarify, (for now) my standards remain higher than not having kids living in my basement when they are old enough to buy a case of beer. And, we don’t have a basement. Just to clarify.

11. “They grow up too fast” never made sense until now. I remember putting those little tiny plastic dinosaurs in the bathtub before bed and waking up to a life sized reptile in the morning. Babies are pretty much the same as those toys from the 80’s. I just looked up one day and my little girl is walking and talking politics. (She’s conservative in case you were wondering.)

12. Grandparents, disposable diapers, and car rides are all gifts from God.

13. I should have slept more pre-baby.

14. I would never, ever, ever, hack it as a single mom. Ever.

15. My baby’s belly laugh can make the world around me disappear. Such a blessing. 

16. There is no such thing as “having it all together”. If someone appears to have this quality, they are just better actors. At least that is what I tell myself.

17. Sleep training is effective, and probably harder on parents than children. Call me mean, but for us, it worked wonders and I love our five minute bedtime routine. It has probably been my biggest saving grace that Maddox goes down for naps and bedtime without a fight. The extra adult time with the hubs really does make us both better parents, and taught me how to put our marriage first. Easier said than done, but totally worth it.

18. This list is getting really long and if you made it this far you are probably really bored. Maybe you should get a hobby.

19. Sick babies=everything stops, and then it only takes up one line in the baby book. At the time it seems like the world and to think someday it will be just a distant memory

20. God’s infinite grace, wisdom, sense of humor, and love has been shown to me is this little package.

What are your parenting truths?

His Heart’s Song…

This is such a sweet song that struck a tender chord in my heart this morning. I had a cheesy post for my husband scheduled, but this seems more pressing than cracking jokes about how I love my husband’s need for power-strips, and curb jumping.

One of my favorite verses is Zephaniah 3:17. It says that the Lord will quiet you with His love, and that he rejoices over you with singing. I know these moments of quieting a little one with love, and I’ve seen my  precious baby crash into my arms and be completely vulnerable to being held in my arms. In the same way our Father desires a relationship where we are allowing him to quiet us with his sweet love. He wants to hold us when nights are long, when times are tough, when we’ve had too much, and can’t get enough.

 

And much like the lyrics of this song He’s saying:

I will catch every one of your tears. (Psalm 56:8)

He’s saying Find rest in me my little one. (Matt. 11:28-30)

There is nothing to cry about tonight.  (Matt 6:25-34)

Let me tell you how perfect you are to me. (Psalm 139:14)

 

Unexpected Grace…

Last night I was tossing and turning trying to go to sleep. My body does not agree with the sub zero temps and I have a hard time getting comfortable lately. It could be that my husband is sawing logs and has even started blowing raspberries in his symphony of snoring, or that my body just assumes I don’t need sleep because in the last ten months, well, there hasn’t been a whole lot of sleeping going on. Or, maybe because my mind is filled with fear, doubt, stress, and maybe my daily vice that comes in a styrofoam cup served over ice, sweet, yet fizzy doesn’t suit me well too late in the evening in my old(er) age.

So as I’m laying there fighting sleep, I start to drift off, and our sweetcheeks lets out a scream. For those of you who know Maddox, she just isn’t a baby that whimpers. If she is awake, she is WIDE awake, and it seemed to be a scream that might not allow me to get any sleep. Again. So I prayed to the Lord that He would grant me the patience to serve my baby girl in whatever way she needed, the wisdom to know what caused her to awaken, and the strength to get up. Again.

I took a great big sigh of “ok, you can do this.” And, then, it happened. No patience to serve, no wisdom to know, and no strength to do it again. But, at that moment it was grace that He granted sweet, unexpected grace, and peace, and quiet.  As I lay there in the still I wondered, just how often do I pray as if I know what I need? How often are my requests not apart of His plan? And, more importantly, when do I not receive that sweet grace that He gives. Knowing that I serve a God who loves me despite my lack of showers, my frazzled momma moments, being too quick to anger, never too slow to speak, and most of the time just big ball of mess, knowing that He loves me and decides to show me grace, even when I think I know what I need. Well, I’m in love. With sweet, unexpected grace.

All in a Day’s Work..

 

In the dog crate…

Cheesin’ it up….

Ta Dah…

Luckily, this hair is a side effect of the bath, not the light socket. Yet.

Captured Sweetness…

Maddox loves reading this book that her Gamma, Gampa, and uncle Blayne got her for Christmas. I just love how her little mind is soaking up the world around her.

Nine Months New…

Maddox is nine months old! She’s weighing in at 18 pounds and she’s 28 inches long. But don’t let size fool you folks, because big things come in small packages! She has four teeth, and it looks like two more will make their debut this month too. She isn’t much (ok at all) for sitting still.I think she would go days without eating or drinking if I would just let her explore the world around her.

Her determination is amazing. She is starting to have so much personality, and we are having tons of fun every day! She loves to be chased, play with our dogs, and get into everything that isn’t hers. She is the most independent little fireball I’ve ever seen. Maddox is by no stretch of the means a cuddler, and this makes my heart a little sad, but she just doesn’t have time for that nonsense. I mean, there are things to do and learn!

She is a social butterfly much to my embarrassment at a times. She understands that she has the ability to get the attention of others, even strangers, and is not afraid to make lots of noise in efforts to do so! She makes friends very easily and will talk and play with anyone who will give her the time of day, which usually is not a problem!

Little bit is learning sign language and has picked up on it like a champ. She does the sign for dad (which she uses for the both of us), milk, and dog!

Our lives will never be the same, and for that I am grateful. I truly can’t imagine doing anything other than being her momma each day.

I pray that God would help us to shape her into the little girl He desires her to be, that she will come to know and serve the Lord with all of that determination in that sweet little heart of hers.

Can’t say Goodbye…

If you are anything like me, the hardest thing to put away at Christmas time is the smiling faces of friends and loved ones. I love checking the mail box each December day to see who has joined our home for a visit. But, this year, I just couldn’t say goodbye! For some reason each card looked straight out of a magazine, no bias here…

So, if you are having a hard time saying goodbye, might I make a suggestion? Cut out the pictures, both big and small and display them somewhere in your home. I had this memo board that wasn’t being used stashed in my closet just waiting for such a day.

Some Enchanted Evening…

 

The Mr. and I recently celebrated five years of marriage. It was such a fun evening and will forever hold a special place in my heart. We don’t normally “do things up big” but for this one, Chad went all out.

We had dinner at a fancy smancy, and toured the town looking at Christmas lights. Then Chad pulled this quaint little B&B out from his sleeve. The place was absolutely perfect. It had me written all over it!

The owner and I spent some time talking about all of her adventures in restoring every piece of furniture in the house. She bought the home in shambles and restored to its original features. She was an amazing hostess and her cooking = phenomenal. I could go on and on about the raspberry jalapeño jam for days!

It was a fabulous evening spent with a fine gentleman! I love you Mr. Brown and I am blessed to be your wife. Thank you for being a husband who honors and cherishes his wife. Thank you for being such a strong leader, my prayer partner, my best friend, an amazing papadaddy, provider, challenger, and for putting up with all my shenanigans.