One month

To my darling daughter,

You are one month old today (yesterday).  I am holding it together better than I thought I would, but have had to swallow a few lumps in my throat and dry a few tears.  Time has never gone by more swiftly, Mabel Grace, and you have completely stolen my heart (and certainly, your daddy's).  To say I am thankful, blessed, or overwhelmed (with love) would be an enormous understatement.  You have brought so much joy to us in the last thirty one days.  We love you tremendously and want you to know that there is nothing you could do that would fade our love for you.  Nothing.

We've enjoyed learning about you this last month and look forward to getting to know you better as the days, months, and years go by.  You are just a little doll and have a sugar-sweet disposition.  From day one, you've shown that you will probably be a determined little soul.  I had you up on my shoulder at the hospital the day after you were born and you were lifting up your head and looking around like a little champ.

When you are waking up, working your way into a deep sleep, trying to wiggle in your car seat, or when you are stretching, you grunt and it sounds like a little goose or goat.  We laugh every time, and I've learned that you are not necessarily awake if I hear those sounds at night.  With the exception of only a few nights, you've understood daytime and nighttime from day one.  We are sooo thankful.

There are some things I want to remember about you:

- You LOVE to stretch.  As soon as we unswaddle you, and take your legs out of your sleeper to change your diaper, you're legs shoot straight out and your arms, straight up.  Your quads that are already pretty defined - I assume from when you were stretching out your legs in the womb.
- The grin that crosses your face when you are just about to fall asleep might be one of the sweetest things.
- You enjoy being sung to, and read to.  You're eyes go back and forth, back and forth, from one page to the next when I have the book in front of you.
- I've never prayed more in my life than I have this last month.  I love to pray over you, and with you, for the concerns/praises of others.
- At night when you are feeding, I love to rub your precious little fuzzy head.  You have this wispy hair that is longest on top and in the back by your neck

I look forward to watching you grow, Mabel, and love being your mama.  Your daddy has told you many, many times how excited he is to take your camping.  Although I look forward to the day when you are old enough for that to happen, I am soaking in these days when you are little and I can cuddle you all day and you have nothing on your agenda other than to eat, sleep, and look around.

We love you so much, sweetheart.  Happy one month birthday!

Ps.  You spent your day growing and therefore were extremely sleepy.  Your daddy wanted to spend time with you when he got home so he took you out to his truck because he needed to clean it out.  I spy a little babe in the backseat!

Bloglovin

Apparently Google Reader is going out of style and won't work anymore?  That's how I like to keep track of the blogs I follow, but now I'll be switching to Bloglovin, you can follow me there (if I ever write regularly again!)

Overheard in an Orchard

Said the Robin to the Sparrow;

"I should really like to know

Why these anxious human beings

Rush about and worry so?"

Said the Sparrow to the Robin;

"Friend, I think that it must be

That they have no Heavenly Father

Such as cares for you and me."

-Elizabeth Cheyney

Oh, but we do!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Philippeans 4:6

I've posted this song before, but I think it is time for a re-visit :)

Nothing I Hold On To

I lean not on my own understanding

My life is in the hands of the Maker of Heaven

I lean not on my own understanding

My life is in the hands of the Maker of Heaven



Happy Birthday to this stud muffin!

Today is my hardworking, humble, kind, gentle, strong, courageous, baby-loving, hunky husband's birthday.  I love you to the moon and back, my love.  Thank you for loving, providing, and caring for our family.  You make my heart swell with more love than I can handle.

Happy Birthday!

One Year

Sweetest baby boy,

I've tried to go to sleep tonight, but I just can't stop thinking about how in less than two hours, it will have been a year since I got to meet you, and then another hour until we said goodbye.  My arms feel especially empty tonight.

Man, little buddy, I never knew love could hurt so much.  I've tried to wrap my head around what this day would hold, as I've been anticipating it for weeks.  It brings me so much joy, and so, so much heartache, to remember this night one year ago.

I remember my first contractions when I was on a walk around French Park while your daddy was painting at nana and papi's.  I didn't really think you were coming, but it was a new kind of pain that made me wonder what was going on.  That night, I tossed and turned with contractions and thought MAYBE this was it, but you weren't ready yet.

Daddy and I walked, and walked, and walked that Sunday trying to speed up my labor so we could finally hold you.  You still didn't come, but kept mama up all night again with more contractions and that's when I knew it would be soon.  Monday, we both took the day off of work, only to find out later that a vast army of prayer warriors met at school to pray for us.  We are so blessed, Matthew.

We walked more on Monday, around Lake Harriet, and then to the Galleria where I tried really hard not to let on to the other shoppers that I was well in to labor.  We found out just an hour later that I was already dilated to 6 cm but decided to wait to go to the hospital.

You came a handful of hours after we arrived at the hospital, and I was so surprised you were a BOY!  Of course you were a boy, though.  My little warrior.  You are such a fighter, son.  I will never, ever forget the incredible amount of joy we experienced when we got to hold you in our arms.  Your skin was so sweet and soft and your cutest little squished nose melted my heart.  You had blonde hair and were just the most handsome little man.  I couldn't stop smiling, and daddy wept (I did my fair share of that later).

You had a whole waiting room full of visitors anxiously waiting to meet you.  I sang to you while the nurse went to get them and then everyone cuddled you.  We're not exactly sure when you let go and entered Heaven's gates, but you can be sure you were covered with love in that moment.

We miss you terribly, son.  Your first birthday will probably be the most painful.  I wish it weren't already a year since I got to cuddle with you, but I suppose it is a year closer to the day we see you again.

Your new little brother or sister is about 6 months along now, and you can be sure that we will tell them all about your life and the way God used it to draw others to Him.  We're so proud of you, little buddy.

Happy birthday, Matthew!  I love you with all my heart.

Be at rest once more, O my soul, for The Lord has been good to you.

Psalm 116:7

My cup....

Overflows.

Ryan and I are extremely full of joy, tears, thankfulness, and wonder as we announce that we are expecting a tiny addition to our family.

Due to arrive August 3rd, 2013.

We had an ultrasound today and saw it's little arms and legs move, both sides of its brain, its spine, umbilical cord, tiny profile, and beating heart (167 bmp).

What a miracle.

We are humbled that God has chosen us to love and care for this little soul.  Thank you to the multitudes of you that have prayed for our family.  We are so thankful for the love you've showered on us.

Under Bethlehem's Sky

Oh, what a glorious night it must have been....thank you, Jesus.

Dry your eyes the King has come 

Death has lost and victory won

You were born to change it all

A warrior though frail and small

Just a baby

sleeping in a manger 

All the world was waiting for You to come 

Holy, Holy, Silent night

Peace has come to all mankind

All of this with me in mind

Under Bethlehem skies

Oh the role you came to play

Born to give your life away

Soon you'll set the captives free

But tonight's about your welcoming 

Oh listen 

Hear the angels singing 

Glory in the highest, the Lord has come