here and there

I always love when other bloggers post random lists of things on their mind, but for some reason feel silly when I sit down to do it.  Here's to getting over it and posting a random list.

1. I'm not sure what's up with Oklahoma weather this winter, but it hasn't really been COLD.  We've had cold days here and there, but overall it's been a fairly warm winter.  I'm not complaining- it's a lot easier to get out and about with a baby when it's not FREEZING.
2. Speaking of the cold, baby girl has totally messed up my temperature.  I am hot all. the. time.  I've pretty much lived in t-shirts and cardigans this winter, even on the coldest of days.  Which makes me wonder how in the world I survived the heat of summer after I had JM.
3. I started watching my niece and nephew a couple of weeks ago.  I only have them twice a week, and I absolutely love them to pieces, but man I am exhausted at the end of those days.  You moms of lots of littles who are close in age, I commend you!  You rock!
4. I'm pretty much obsessed with the website SkinnyTaste.  It's got the best, simple recipes, and they're all healthy.  In my effort to a- lose baby weight and b- be healthier, I've been using at least two of her recipes in my meal plan each week.  So far they've all been awesome!
5. I joined a gym close to my house last weekend.  It's tiny and doesn't have a ton of the extra stuff, but it's cheap, had treadmills and a few weights.  That's really all I need.  I went for the first time last week and attempted to run.  I've got a long way to go, but it felt so good to get moving again!
6. JM is home from school today.  He woke up last night with a fever and nasty cough.  I gave him  medicine and put him back to bed in our room.  Of course, he woke up this morning feeling fine and fever free, but I kept him home and am giving him benadryl to try and dry up his snotty nose!
7. Something about nursing makes me hungry all the time.  I think the last time I went to the grocery store I bought equal parts meal food and snacks.  The snacks are all gone.
8. A long time ago I started a post about words I hope JM never says right.  I need to finish that, because those words are quickly becoming right, and it makes me sad.  I want him to stay little forever.
9. I have started watching Gilmore Girls again.  I love everything about that show and have always wanted to live in Stars Hollow.
10. I started going to a mom's bible study at my church a couple of weeks ago.  We're going through the book "What's It Like to be Married to Me?"  It's such a great group of moms and I always leave feeling so encouraged.  Plus it's nice to have real conversation during the day!

Baby Club

Last March, Jamie and I met up with our friend Natalie in Dallas for a girls weekend.  While we were there, Natalie told us that she was pregnant.  It's been so fun going through this pregnancy with her.  A few short months later, Jamie told us that she was pregnant too, due in May!

Natalie's little boy, Crosby, was born at the end of September and this week they flew into town so our babies could officially meet.  We spent our days feeding babies, talking, changing diapers, eating and laughing.  Nothing glamorous, but so much fun being together.

On Tuesday, we went to lunch with Jamie's sister-in-law, Robin, who had a baby only a couple of weeks before Crosby was born.  It was so funny to see all of us with our babies, juggling car seats, diaper bags, spit up!  I'm sure the people at the restaurant wondered what was up with all these babies!

Thursday we got around early and spent the morning drinking coffee, tea and frozen hot chocolate at Cuppies.  Lucy and Crosby did a great job just hanging out and looking around at everything.  We mommies enjoyed the quiet (it wasn't very quiet any time the two big kids were around!) and spent our time talking with each other. 

We had such a fun week together.  All our fingers are crossed that she and her husband will end up back in Oklahoma when he finishes his residency/fellowship next year!

Lucy Kate- month 2

Dear Lucy-

Today I was thinking about your name.  Everyone always comments on it and wonders where it came from.  It started a few years ago, long before we ever knew you would be here!  Your daddy has always loved The Chronicles of Narnia, and I've always liked the name Lucy.  It was perfect.  Anyway, your name means "light."  Little did we know just how much we would need a little light at the end of a very dark year.

You light up my heart everyday.  You've started to smile big when I come into the room and start talking to you.  Nothing melts this mommy's heart more than that.  You're also finding your sweet little voice and I love it when you "talk" to me.  Precious.

You are sleeping really good at nights- sometimes 6 hour stretches- but you are not a fan of naps!  You only like to sleep if I'm holding you... which I love to do!  You eat every 2.5-3 hours, and your spitting up seems to be doing better.  You wear 3 month clothes, and size 1 diapers.

This month you got to do several firsts.  You stayed in the nursery at church on Sunday and did great.  The ladies loved you and said you are the sweetest thing!  This also means that you finally decided to start drinking out of a bottle.  I started watching Ethan and Elliana a couple of days a week, so that makes those days much more exciting!  You also got to meet Crosby- a whole post about that is coming soon!

2 month stats:
-Weight: 12 pounds, 6 ounces- 90%
-Length: 23.25 inches- 90%

I love you so much, my little goose!  I thank God for bringing this beautiful light to us everyday.

Love, Mommy

just another morning

Today was one of those mornings that if you don't laugh, you'll cry.  It all started with all of us oversleeping.  Micah was going into work late, so he was home and at 8:15 he finally got me to wake up.  John Mark was cranky, got in trouble  because he refused to brush his teeth, so I was already not in the best mood.  Here is a timeline of what happened next (all times are estimates...):

8:30- Make it out the door and into the van.  Think to myself, 'I don't have keys to the house... I really should move those to my new key chain... oh, but that's ok we'll just go back in through the garage.'

8:31- Spend the entire trip to school trying to convince JM that there is NOT enough snow on the ground to make a snowman.

8:37- Drop JM off at school.  Remind him of the things he needs to give to his teacher.  Lucy starts screaming because it's time for her to eat.

8:42- Open the garage, get Lucy out of the car and run in.  Grab the door and remember- I didn't leave through the garage, so that door is still locked.  Start freaking out.  Run around to the front door hoping maybe Micah didn't lock the door... no luck.  Realize I'm going to have to just drive to his office.

8:44- CRAP!  I left my cell phone inside too... this means I'm going to have to actually go INTO his office. 

Here is where I point out that because of how late we woke up, I haven't done ANYTHING- brushed my teeth... looked at my hair... heck, I haven't even gone to the bathroom.  Oh, and Lucy is still screaming because she's starving.

8:45- Back in the van.  Start praying that maybe Micah got held up and will miraculously just be in the parking lot when I get there and save me from some embarrassment.

8:52- At a stop light, frantically try to make my hair look less like I just rolled out of bed (because, HELLO, I just rolled out of bed!) and search the van for gum or a mint... curse myself for making a vow to keep the van super clean and take everything inside.  Decide I'll just have to keep my mouth closed the whole time.

9:00- Roll into Micah's office looking super classy.  Try to sneak around to his office without anyone seeing me... fortunately, Lucy has decided she likes her pacifier, so the screaming has stopped.  Get keys from Micah; talk a bit to the ladies he works with (from a safe distance, obviously).

9:08- Run back to the van through the bitter cold.  Lucy has spit out the pacifier and is screaming her head off again.

9:12- Realize that there are a million police cars and fire trucks blocking off the road I need to turn on.  Turn the van around right there in the middle of the street, not even waiting for the police to reroute us.  Think to myself, 'I hope I don't get pulled over for that, since I also don't have my wallet with me.'

9:20- Arrive home.  Get screaming baby back out of the van, and go inside.  Leave her in the carseat crying while I run to the bathroom and grab two packages of valentine heart cakes to eat for breakfast.

And that is the story of the time it took me an hour to get home from taking JM to school.  Anyone else have a crazy morning?

spare moments

"Fill up the spare moments of your life with praise and thanksgiving."
-Sarah Young, Jesus Calling

I've been going through Jesus Calling for my quiet times and came across this line that stopped me in my tracks.  *sidenote: I highly recommend this devotion book, especially for busy mommas!  It's the perfect blend of quick but deep, with extra scripture to read when you have more time.  Love it.* What would my life be like if I filled up my spare moments with thanksgiving and praise?

When I'm frustrated with John Mark because he's jumped off the couch for the 18th time- what if I took a moment to thank God I have a healthy boy who can jump... if I was thankful for the energy he brings to our home?  How would that change my response?

When I'm picking up shoes and clothes and toys at the end of the day- what if I praised the Lord for those material possessions and a home to keep them in?  Would I stay annoyed that others didn't put their things away?

When I'm driving around town or rocking my baby... when I'm in the carpool line or washing the dishes... when I'm talking to friends or eating my lunch...Life is made up of spare moments- moments that can be filled with grumbling and complaining or praise and thanksgiving.  I'm asking the Lord to change my heart, to make me aware of how much I've been given.  I want my days to be filled up with His grace and peace.

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:18

a beautiful day

Yesterday was one of those days that make me want to freeze time.  The weather was beautiful.  John Mark was in a great mood.  Lucy was happy and content.  I got sleep the night before...
There was nothing spectacular about the day.  We didn't do anything amazing or spend a lot of money.  We did ordinary things, together, and it was lovely.

John Mark and I spent a lot of time outside before lunch.  He is always asking me to come outside with me, but it's always difficult to make that happen.  Lucy was sleeping, and Micah was inside with her.  We threw a ball at each other.  We kicked that same ball.  He spun around... he ran and jumped... he drove around in his gator...  most of all, he just enjoyed my attention.  Beautiful.

Tiffany, Russell & Tanzi met us at the house and we went to lunch at Cow Calf-Hay.  It was so enjoyable to sit with family that I love and be together.  Tanzi threw her crayons on the ground.  John Mark played with Darth Bear.  We talked and laughed.  Beautiful.

After lunch we made the short drive to Crescent to visit Micah's grandparents.  They hadn't met Lucy yet, so we spent the afternoon talking with them.  They admired Lucy, laughed at John Mark and told us stories from their lifetime.  Beautiful.

Life isn't always easy- there are days when we don't get out of our pajamas... the baby cries... John Mark is crazy and I'm cranky. Yesterday was a beautiful reminder that life isn't always about the big things.  Great joy is waiting to be found in the little things, if only we will look for it.

"It's a beautiful day
Don't let it slip away..."
-U2

making friends

God has blessed me richly with many friends from different stages of my life.  I have friends who are younger than me and friends who are older than me...  I have friends in high school, college, married, single...  friends who have seen me at my best and at my worst.  Like I said, I'm blessed.  These relationships mean the world to me.

When we moved churches in the middle of last year, the thing that scared  me the most was the prospect of making new friends.  See, for all those relationships in my life, I'm not very good at actually making friends.  My list of reasons for this is a million miles long-  I'm not super outgoing.  I've never been one of those people who is comfortable talking to anyone.  I've been called "snobby" and "scary" more than a few times.  Small talk and getting-to-know you conversations can feel so forced and awkward.  Throw a kindergartner and new baby in the mix and you've got yourself a recipe to never make new friends again.

It would be so easy to take all these excuses and stay exactly where I am.  I mean, didn't I just mention all the wonderful people in my life?  But I don't want to be a person who just goes to church and never builds relationships.  The early church was filled with people who loved each other deeply; believers gathered together and cared for each other.  They helped to meet the needs of those around them.  None of that would have happened if those people had stayed in closed circles.

One of the things I want in this new year is to build relationships with these new friends God has placed in my life.  I want to pour my life into younger believers; I want to drink from the wisdom and knowledge of those who have walked a different path.  I don't want to let my fear of people's opinions to keep me from obeying God's command to "love one another."

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer... All the believers were together and had everything in common." Acts 2:42, 44

she smiled, i got a new camera...

Lucy finally smiled for the camera.  That plus my new camera and the lens a friend let me borrow resulted in lots of photos this morning... I apologize in advance.