Goin’ to the Beach

Friday night we will be going to the beach. I am really excited! I would say “a much needed vacation” but with an infant and a husband, it wont really be like a vacation if you know what I mean… more like an everyday week… just in a better location. HeHe

This week I am busy getting things packed and ready to go… obviously we have to take a whooooole lot more with with us because of the baby. I am also busy getting ready for our new carpet to come in, and cleaning out the room for Mary… our new roomie. So exciting all of these big events. Yay.

This is Lucy last year at the beach:

 I think she is going to have more fun this year!!

I can’t wait to update you with pictures… but you will obviously have to wait until the 31st ish.

And, for those of you who may be interested, Mr. Dave, my Father-in-Law, is in Haiti right now with our church on a Missions Trip. They are updating their blog daily with what they are doing and what is going on. Here is the link : http://gcchaiti.blogspot.com/. Please keep them in your prayers!

Catch y’all in a week or two. YEA!

Random in the Brain

I’ve been coaching Cheerleading at an FCA Camp this week. It has actually been quite challenging for me because all of the girls, ages 8-12, have pretty much never cheered before. I was expecting that, but I forget how much the don’t know, and need to know. They are doing really well and are picking things up pretty quickly. It is so cute. Tomorrow is Parents Day and they will be putting on a little performance, they are so excited.

It has also been challenging because I have been having to bring Lucy and leave her in the nursery. I feel bad. I am usually with her 24/7 so it is weird not knowing what she is doing or how she is behaving. The nursery is in the same building that I am coaching, so I do get to check on her and play with her in between practice times, but it is still hard. She has been such a good girl though, I am so proud of her. I probably wouldn’t take on responsibility like this again with an infant, but I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work at this camp.

Man, it has been Hot-Hot-Hot.

Ryan thinks he can get Lucy to start walking at 7 Months old. We have a bet going. I sure hope he can’t. It would be exciting, but I am not really ready for her to be mobile yet.

We are going on vacation in three weeks. Yay! It’s going to be very different being on vacation with an infant… I just hope it is somewhat relaxing.

Mary moves in on July 31st, and hopefully we are getting new carpet before that… so there is a lot going on.

Oh yeah, Ryan’s Dad (Mr.Dave) will be going to Haiti next week to help rebuild, keep him and the rest of the Mission Team in your prayers.

Do you remember how I had mentioned in a previous post (I can’t find it so I can’t link it) that I finally thought of an idea that may generate revenue… some sort of crafty thing I was going to attempt? Well, there is a Flea Market in September near our Home and I have decided to make that my official deadline. Hopefully and Lord willing I will complete enough items to try and sell a few. I will post pictures when I have finished my first one. Are we in suspense?

 I love and hate food. Why does it have to be so good?! Gr.

Byeee.

Seven Months in Heaven

Not to be confused with the naughty game we played in middle school (“Seven Minutes in Heaven”), that we didn’t actually play but told people we did.

Lucy, today you are a whopping 7 Months old! It sounds so much older than 6 Months for some reason. Phwew.

What a big girl you are becoming. You are doing lots of really cute things and are learning lots of new things. It is so exciting watching you learn and experience all that you have to learn. I know each month I say the same thing but each month gets better and better. Currently you are eating baby food, you are drinking from a sippy cup, you can put Cheerios in your mouth and eat them, you are sitting up by yourself and your Daddy is working with you trying to get you to stand on your feet, you are teething… nothing yet. You are getting over your very first ear infection and virus, I hope this is the last, but it probably will not be. You are sleeping much better now… almost through the night and taking very good naps… thank you! You really like to look at yourself in the mirror. You like your little pool and you love taking baths.  You like getting naked and don’t like getting dressed. You love sitting up in the shopping cart and smiling at all of the old people in Wal-Mart, aren’t they so sweet? You aren’t really into Cartoons yet, I guess that is a good thing, except, it would help me out when I am trying to do laundry and you just want me to hold you. Maybe next month. Oh, and you like to grab everything… everything that you can’t have. I guess that is the rebel in you forming. 😉 

You are wonderful and I love you. You are a blessing to my life. Your smile makes my whole day brighter.

And, here is what we have been doing the pst month:

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Dear Daddy,

Dear Daddy,

Happy Father’s Day! I love you soooo much! These past 6 1/2 months have been amazing. I am so glad that God chose you to be my Daddy. I think we are perfect for one another. I really enjoy playing with you on the bed and I love it when you throw me around in the air. I think it is really fun when you put me on your shoulders, you are so tall! And, your hair tastes really good. What kind of shampoo do you use? I know this sounds weird, but you are THE BEST at changing my diaper, you should do it more often. hehe.

I can’t wait to experience the rest of my life with you. We have so many memories to make together. I know you are going to teach me lots of great things, like how to play sports and how to pray. Things like climbing trees and eating fast food even when Mommy says that I can’t (I promise I wont tell her). I am so excited!!

Thank you Daddy for being so wonderful and loving. You mean the world to me and I love you so very much.

Happy First Father’s Day!

Your Little Monkey,

Lucy

Giving of Oneself

You know, being single is not as bad as you may think or feel. You can come and go as you please, spend your own money on this and that, do what you want when you want, you are pretty much only responsible for yourself unless you have a pet. Obviously it has its ups and downs, especially if you start to feel lonely, but then you can go out and hang out with your other lonely friends.

Once you get married, it is no longer “me, I, myself, mine”… if it is, you may want to re-evaluate some things. When you get married, you start giving yourself. I can’t say that I really struggle with this too much. I find great joy in “serving” and “living for” my husband on a daily basis. Sure, we are equal in God’s eyes but as a wife, I play a totally different role than my husband and it is challenging at times, but such a joy for me to follow through with.

I LOVE cleaning most of the time. I want Ryan to come home from work to a nice clean house so he can feel relaxed and welcomed. I know he doesn’t like taking the time to make his lunch so I do it for him. I enjoy finding new dinner recipes and trying them out on him and I like to do whatever I can to make his life easier and happier. I find joy in making him happy. Ryan works very hard to provide for our family, he works hard  so that I can stay home and take care of our home and our child, cooking and cleaning are is the least I can do to thank him for being such a wonderful provider and leader of our family.

It is a little exhausting at times, always giving yourself for the needs of someone else, I can’t say that there have not been times where I have selfishly lashed out because he doesn’t do this or that… I am no longer free to do my own things and sometimes, I get a little stir crazy. When you are in a marriage relationship, your focus is (or should be) first, God (because he created all things, as well as marriage) then it should be focussing on serving one another in love. If I am always in “want mode” and he in “want mode” we are never going to get along in our relationship.

It is tempting to start to envy the single life again where all I really cared about was myself and my needs and coming home and not having to cook dinner if I didn’t feel like it. I mean, yes, Ryan can cook for himself, and he does occasionally, but I am home all day while he is out working his tail off, so I don’t really see it fair that I sit on my rump and make him cook his own dinner just because “I don’t feel like it”.

Then comes baby. Talk about giving of yourself. Ryan, if I weren’t around could function and survive on his own. Lucy, she would have been gone a long time ago. She needs me for EVERYTHING!! I am finding that this particular season (6 1/2 months), this has been the most challenging. I am learning a lot of lessons and also feeling soooo completely like I am not my own anymore (never have been but really realizing this on a worldly level). Does that make sense? If Ryan is hungry, I make him a meal and go on my way. If Lucy is hungry, I’m nursing, so I am actually what is for dinner. haha… gross. If she is crying, I have to help her, if she needs to get somewhere I have to take her, if she wants this toy and not that toy, I have to switch them, she wants to sleep, I have to put her in bed. Oh my am I exhausted.. and I only have one.

So, as I lost my independence when I got married, I lost myself when I had a baby. She runs my life. I shower when she lets me, I eat when she lets me, I go out when she is ready… I lost my cute little pre-baby body for a nice plump jiggly one, I chopped off my hair so she can’t eat it or throw up in it. I can’t eat too much broccoli because it gives her gas, I sleep through the night when she feels like sleeping through the night, and, I get quality time with my husband when she sleeps, if she feels like it, or if we get a baby sitter, and that only counts if she decides not to scream her head off for them.

ugh…

As you can see, I am going through a little funk right now.

It would be awesome to wake up and do nothing but what I want to do. But… that ain’t happnin’.

Lol. So.  I love my husband. I love my daughter. I thank the Lord for blessing me with both of them. I need a message, a Cleaning Lady and just one big smile from little Lu to make me feel all better.

what a beautiful mess i’m in

Gosh, lots to update y’all on.

1. I knew one day it would come, and it has. Lucy is no longer a “content” baby. Nope. She is going through, what I hope is just a “funk”. Anger. Oh, how angry. Mostly it is at night, during bedtime. She goes down, wakes up an hour later and screams, angry scream, for no reason… just to scream. So, we have to let her scream. It is so hard and she DOES NOT stop. Two nights ago, she screamed from 1am-5am. Last night, they were in 30 minute intervals and then she would fall asleep. Oh goodness. I thought (so I thought) that babies would be sleeping better around 6 months?!!  Any suggestions on how to stop or handle this?

2. I bought a Swiffer vacuum. It is AMAZING! I highly recommend it. I no longer hate having wood floors. Ah, the simple pleasures of a housewife.

3. I chopped my hair off. That’s right, I got the “Mommy Cut”. Ha-Ha. I wouldn’t call it a Mommy Cut but apparently it is. Ryan thinks I look older (bonus!) and I think it is soooo much easier to manage. My hair was pretty long. I always try to grow it out and then cut if off and wonder why I can’t grow it out. Well, I remember now, why I always cut it off. My hair is naturally realllly curly so with the heat and humidity it will not stay straight and it just looks bad and stringy all of the time. And, Lucy can’t throw up in it or chew on it anymore. I like it so far.

4. Lucy is now 6 months old.  I still think she is the cutest baby in the world. She is still average weight (16.5 lbs) and height and her head, is still a little large (sorry Luc- that is your Dad’s fault). The doctor said that her mouth muscles are pretty advanced for her age and she is very strong, as she is sitting up alll by herself!!!  

5. Pleeeaaase someone come over and take care of my gardens!!

6. You can be praying for Ryan’s Mom, she had a minor surgery on Friday that turned into emergency surgery and she is in a lot of pain and very overwhelmed by what has happened. Pray for quick healing and peace for her.

7. We may be getting a room-mate! Our dear and good friend may possibly be renting one of our rooms sometime in the near future. Yay! I know it is going to be a bit of a change, adding another person to the mix, but, hey, who needs privacy?! hehe.. We are excited to open our home to a good friend who is faithfully obeying God’s call on her life. Woop Woop.

8. getting new carpet? I hope so.

9. I should be feeding Lucy two meals a day now and I kind of don’t want to. So, I have been procrastinating. Is she really getting this big?

10. My Brother and Sister in-law have finally found and purchased a home and they get to move out of the in-laws house. I am so happy for them!!! I know that they are probably even happier about it than I am. And, for the first time since they have been married… they have closets! Oh, how simple pleasures are so… simply exciting.

11. When I have our laptop up and working again, I have a few good picture updates to share. Obviously, they are pretty much all of our beautiful,  strong-willed daughter.

12. Do you like Wine? I prefer beer myself however I do enjoy white wine on occasion. Boordy has a really good red wine that I actually like, more of a dessert wine really. Wassail. You should try it, great on ice in the summer.

13. Why do I feel the need to number my thoughts? Why can’t I just bullet them? Or, write them in paragraph form? Interesting.

..:: this is the day the Lord has made,                                                                                     let us rejoice and be glad in it.(psalm 118: 24)::..

4th week of missed updates… last one!

5/21- So, Ryan just told me he saw someone die last night. Creepy. Thank God that Ryan is safe!!!! He was able to call me this morning, the other guy was not that lucky. =0(

5/21- SOoOo Full!!! Ugh. I hate this feeling.

5/22- Happy Birthday M&M! Not the candy, my Cousins.    Prophecy Seminar= very encouraging.   Missin’ Ryan lots!!   Lucy Lu, I will give you a dollar if you sleep well tonight.

5/24- So, I Finally got caught up on all of my cleaning and finished writing all of the envelopes my old Boss hired me to address- I think I have a blister. Tara is coming over for dinner tonight and I am going to make Fajitas.

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR….

Ha-Ha.

My Computer is sick and is totally out of commission. We are working on getting it fixed. So, I haven’t been able to update or do anything of the sorts. Sorry it has been so boring around here… not on this end though. Hopefully one day we will be up and running again so that I might be able to fill you in. Right now, I am at the in-laws, Lucy is sleeping so I snuck on here to check some things out. I am starving though so I am going to get something to eat. TTFN.

Here is a quick brief…

Lucy turned 6th months! Ryan came home and didn’t have to go back (yet). Glee was so good this week. Of course my computer crashed the week I am allowed back on Facebook.

That is all I can think of on the quick…

Ok, TTFN for real.