Thursday, June 21, 2012

Baby Boom

Although I was ecstatic last August when I saw the word "pregnant" on the test strip, I couldn't help feeling sad because we had just moved to Colorado - far away from all of our friends and family.

But in the Lord's insurmountable generosity, he sent not just one but multiple girlfriends my way.  Added to that, many of these girls ended up becoming pregnant at or around the very same time.  And for most of us, it was our first time ever having a child.  Ironically, too, we all ended up in the same church small group that met weekly on Wednesday nights. 

I can't even express how much this has been a blessing to me during pregnancy and now as we get to share our children together, share joys and struggles, and encourage each other during this very new stage in all our lives.  Isn't it a blessing that, no matter where you are and where your life takes you, He is there?  What can separate us from the love of Christ?

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 8:38-39

My new mommy friends got to come over this week.  We had a great time just talking, letting babies play (well, drool and coo mostly), nursing, changing diapers, sharing stories, eating some Subway (each at her own leisure based on her baby's needs) and just being together to encourage one another as the Lord so obviously granted us all each other to do so.  I didn't want them to ever leave, and I will miss these girls and their babies so much.

Waking up for a fun day with friends.  He does this big stretch every time I take him out of the swaddle.

I *used to cook ;p...  Subway it is!

William and Brooke's little girl Karis Marie.  Here is Will holding his bible and torch in his famous "Statue of Liberty" pose.


Gabriella (4 mos), William (7 wks), Karis (4 mos) and Liliana (7 wks)

We loved watching their poses.  Gabby loved picking up her feet and putting them back down.  Karis rocked a spread eagle  and Will worked his statue of liberty again.

Gabby and Will

Gabby got hungry...

William starts to realize something is going on...

Tugs his hand away... Gabby caresses...

And Gabby wins...  Snacktime!

Joy's pretty little girl, Gabriella Jean, tugging at her toes

Still clueless about the ladies

Joy and her precious two, Gabby and Dean

Kelly feeding Liliana

Joy and Brooke and Dean trying to escape getting his picture taken

Sweet Liliana, who was born just one day after William

Karis Marie making cute faces at me

Emily came and brought the newest one, Kaylee (3 wks)

So glad Emily could make it after her weekend out of town with her 3-week-old!

Dean liked his chocolate pudding



Kaylee is already so tan as apparently she's got some Cherokee in her.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Fathers Day Week

There was MUCH to celebrate this past Father's Day week as William turned 6 weeks old.  This age definitely marked a transition in his life.  He started following me with his eyes and even had his first WHOLE face smile on June 15.  (I bawled).

He took his first bottle.  Well... 1 oz of it.  He's not too sure about that yet.  We're still workin on it!

He stopped napping downstairs in his rock n play sleeper as he was too interested in the pattern of light peeking through window blinds, among other very exciting things, keeping him from sleep.

He had been sleeping 5 hour stretches at night since 4 weeks (apparently that's what happens when you give birth to a toddler), but at 6 wks he started with a six hour followed by a four hour stretch.  Rather than feeding him after this six hour stretch, I started putting his pacifier back in to see what he would do.  He slept!  We are now going on three consecutive nights in which this child has gone down around 8, gets topped off with a last feeding around 9, and has woken up from 6:45-7am.  It actually makes me a little sad that he is growing so fast.  But don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the extra sleep.  Feels like coming out of a fog or a very dark cave...

With this 6 week benchmark also came its challenges as William went through a growth spurt that seemed like it would never end.  Add in with that much daytime fussiness, the 45-minute intruder and overall baby irritability.  I guess I would be irritated, too, if I was growing as fast as he is!  I have held onto Romans 12:11-13 during the difficult times:

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

In the midst of this week's challenges, I was somehow able to bake a couple of things.  I've cut out dairy so I wasn't able to eat (much) of Matthew's Father's Day cake.  So I have been experimenting with candied things like pecans and pretzels.  Gotta satisfy that sweet tooth somehow!

Among other changes during this time, Matthew and I bought our first house!  The Army is stationing us at Ft. Campbell in Clarksville, TN.  We should move around July 13.


Matthew loves root beer and really loves when I make dessert, so it made sense to combine the two and make a root beer float cake for father's day

I <3 rainbow sprinkles.



Got recipe from this cookbook

William listening to his jams while mommy makes up some more goodies in the kitchen

Smiling at me

His pensive face

Getting sleepy...

"Put me to bed mama!"  We saw a lot of this adorable-but-trying face during this week's transition!

I just love this little guy

He LOVES his paci.  It really helps him drift off to sleep!

Love those baby feet!


Mommy's candied pretzel sticks that sort of overflowed into the oven and made a mess....


Best job.  Ever.

Portion of the overflow caught on a catch-all pan

Daddy giving William his first bottle after his nap

Hanging out in the swing before church

Wearing daddy's old baby romper and shoes to church for Father's Day


Our first house! We've got a few projects in mind and are excited to get started.

We love Colorado but really miss the South's big, beautiful trees!

Back deck and neighbor


Sunroom = pottery/art space and play area for William

Big windows in all the bedrooms.  We love all the natural light.

Front yard