Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Celebrate
My mother can make anything beautiful. A regular party becomes magical, an ordinary day becomes a celebration. With our growing and moving family, we can't always worry about the actual date of any holiday or birthday or special occasion. When we are together...we celebrate. And although we only need each other, thanks to my Mama's love of detail and beauty, we celebrate in style.
A party for Lucy...
I'm thankful that Lucy will grow up around family that will teach her every day is a celebration.
A party for Lucy...
I'm thankful that Lucy will grow up around family that will teach her every day is a celebration.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Lucy's Room
We woke up this morning and Lucy was all, "Mama, I want to show people my room."
Lucy wants to thank her Nana, Papa, Great Aunt Sonya, Aunt Amanda, and Uncle Tyler for all the painting and sewing and moving that made her room perfect!
Lucy wants to thank her Nana, Papa, Great Aunt Sonya, Aunt Amanda, and Uncle Tyler for all the painting and sewing and moving that made her room perfect!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Lucy is already 2...months!
Dear Lucy,
You’re 2 months old and it’s been a great second month. With no fault of your own, that first month was a little rough. As stated before, I cried every day and didn’t bathe much, and you almost chewed my nipples off – seriously, our lactation consultant said they were the worst she’s seen. But we’re good now…YAY! (And yes, I mentioned the nipples just in case one day you wanted to thank me for the breast milk you get to continue to enjoy.) But the end of the fourth week came and it was like a fog lifted and I was all, “You are the coolest baby ever!” Lucy, I’m in love with being your mama. When you sleep I still can’t help but stare at you, which by the way, at night we’re talking 7 to 8 hours straight. Now if only I could sleep 7 or 8 hours straight. I’m usually up waiting for you so I can watch your world continue to expand. It’s pretty awesome. Just yesterday your dad was drying you off from a bath and you saw yourself in the mirror, really saw yourself, for the first time. You were so funny. It was clear you found that baby in the mirror very charming and engaging. I would have to agree :) Oh, and I’m addicted to your smiles. So is your dad, and boy can he collect them from you. There is so much sweetness in them; from your closed mouth smirk, to your all out gummy smile. You are so ready to just bust out a big ole’ belly laugh! And I’m enjoying your ever widening vocal range as well. You give the birds a run for their money. I think you’re going to be a singer. You also have an inquisitive mood that is hilarious. Your eyes get so wide and you hold your little head up as high and straight as you can and soak it all in, very serious like. You love our walks, or even just sitting outside. You’re still obsessed with ceiling fans. You don’t mind meeting new people at all, although it does wipe you out (just like your mama.) You’ve attended parties, luncheons, a wedding, even a formal gala with me and had perfect manners. I stopped worrying about how to do things with a baby and I just do them but with a new fabulous accessory…you. Even something like making a hair appointment, can you take new babies with you to a highlight and cut? I finally just made the appointment. You sat in my lap staring at this girl doing all this crazy stuff to your Mama’s hair, laid on my belly during the hair wash, and fell asleep in my arms as soon as the hair dryer came on. I have so many plans for us kid.
Every day gets better. Each week blows my mind. And now realizing how quickly months will start going by, I just hold you even more often. I can take a million pictures, which I probably will. But what I want seared into my brain is your sweet smell, and how when you start falling asleep you aimlessly rub your fat little hand on my chest and neck and face. How when you nuzzle in my neck and I lean my face down on top of your head, it feels like smooth velvet. And your snorts and grunts when you’re trying to wake up but can’t quite open your eyes. You are amazing Lucy Pearl.
Love,
Mama
Monday, May 9, 2011
A lot can happen in 2 years...
It's fitting that my anniversary follows Mother's Day this year because the joke in my family is that I married my mother. A type A extrovert who's organized, driven, and has a heart of gold.
Two years married to the man of my dreams.
Steven holds himself to the highest standard in every area of his life. In how he runs a business, how he runs a home, how he treats others, how he serves others, his role as husband, and now his role as a father. Because of that, I now have higher standards for myself. I know "he makes me a better person" is soooo cliche, but it's just down right true! He keeps me on my toes and he motivates me to go after what I want. I see how much he has helped me grow as a person in just our two years of marriage and I'm even more excited about spending the rest of my life with him.
I will never forget this second year. We went from just being husband and wife to becoming parents. But I'm not sure I realized how much closer pregnancy and labor would make us. I've already mentioned before what solid strength and support he was for me, but I won't ever be able to truly express what it was like. I wasn't anxious or worried about natural labor and I won't be in the future. Faith in my God and a strong, loving husband make a pretty powerful combination :)
It just makes me smile remembering when I first started falling in love with Steven and how part of that process was looking at him and knowing that I wanted him to be the father of my children. Well seeing him as a father now just gives me a whole new part of him to fall in love with.
I wonder how many women can say that their husbands are teaching them to become better mothers? Because I can.
There's a chapter in the Bible that I've started looking at every day. It's my prayer. It's what I want most in this world. I know that living at even my own highest standard is not what Steven and Lucy deserve. But I can surrender and simply live by God's standards and give them the greatest blessing I can as a wife and a mom. In Proverbs it says:
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life... She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Two years married to the man of my dreams.
Steven holds himself to the highest standard in every area of his life. In how he runs a business, how he runs a home, how he treats others, how he serves others, his role as husband, and now his role as a father. Because of that, I now have higher standards for myself. I know "he makes me a better person" is soooo cliche, but it's just down right true! He keeps me on my toes and he motivates me to go after what I want. I see how much he has helped me grow as a person in just our two years of marriage and I'm even more excited about spending the rest of my life with him.
I will never forget this second year. We went from just being husband and wife to becoming parents. But I'm not sure I realized how much closer pregnancy and labor would make us. I've already mentioned before what solid strength and support he was for me, but I won't ever be able to truly express what it was like. I wasn't anxious or worried about natural labor and I won't be in the future. Faith in my God and a strong, loving husband make a pretty powerful combination :)
It just makes me smile remembering when I first started falling in love with Steven and how part of that process was looking at him and knowing that I wanted him to be the father of my children. Well seeing him as a father now just gives me a whole new part of him to fall in love with.
I wonder how many women can say that their husbands are teaching them to become better mothers? Because I can.
There's a chapter in the Bible that I've started looking at every day. It's my prayer. It's what I want most in this world. I know that living at even my own highest standard is not what Steven and Lucy deserve. But I can surrender and simply live by God's standards and give them the greatest blessing I can as a wife and a mom. In Proverbs it says:
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life... She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mother's Day
I realize it’s almost the end of Mother’s Day, but I’ve spent the whole day holding my baby. That made it a little difficult to type. To be honest, I really don’t feel like a mother yet. I just feel really, really lucky to have this adorable, cute, beautiful doll that I get to make smile and coo, and I hold her while she sleeps, and I clip her little nails, and soak in the tub with her, and pick out her clothes, and feed her when she’s hungry, and go on walks during the day, and sing to her all my favorite songs. But a mother…I don’t quite feel like one yet.
See, I have a mom that sets the bar pretty high. I can’t think about my childhood without smiling. It was amazing, and largely due to the fact that I had a mother fully involved in every aspect of my life. Of course it is also full of memories and tales of my dramatics, middle child woes, and a little teen angst:) But there wasn’t anything I attempted, sometimes failing, or accomplished where she wasn’t there with support, encouragement, advise, and love. And that didn’t stop when I left for college. Adventure after adventure, trip after trip, she stayed excited for me. Even though I know she was worried and sometimes scared to death for my safety. But she knew I was following my heart and growing as a person and what I needed was support and prayers.
And then after college I met a boy and only a few months later was moving 2 hours from home to be with him. Now she had to worry about the safety of my heart. But there was that support. She embraced the man I love from the first time meeting him, the man she had been praying for since I was born. She helped me plan the wedding of my dreams and joyfully, with my father, gave me away to my husband. Joyfully, because I was over the moon happy…and that is what made her happy.
And then last summer I got to tell her I was pregnant. Even with my whole pregnancy still in front of me, she was already in love with my child. Eight weeks ago, Lucy Pearl arrived. I became a mother. But I needed my mother more than I ever had before. Not just because she helped make sure my needs were met, or that she cleaned my house like it had never been cleaned before, or that we were fed for weeks, or even that I could rest because I knew Lucy was as ferociously protected in her arms as in my own. I just needed her. And now I realize that maybe it’s because when I was just a chunky, bald baby she was the person who made me smile and coo, and held me when I slept, and clipped my nails, and soaked in the tub with me, and picked out my clothes, and fed me when I was hungry, and took me on walks and sang to me.
See, I have a mom that sets the bar pretty high. I can’t think about my childhood without smiling. It was amazing, and largely due to the fact that I had a mother fully involved in every aspect of my life. Of course it is also full of memories and tales of my dramatics, middle child woes, and a little teen angst:) But there wasn’t anything I attempted, sometimes failing, or accomplished where she wasn’t there with support, encouragement, advise, and love. And that didn’t stop when I left for college. Adventure after adventure, trip after trip, she stayed excited for me. Even though I know she was worried and sometimes scared to death for my safety. But she knew I was following my heart and growing as a person and what I needed was support and prayers.
And then after college I met a boy and only a few months later was moving 2 hours from home to be with him. Now she had to worry about the safety of my heart. But there was that support. She embraced the man I love from the first time meeting him, the man she had been praying for since I was born. She helped me plan the wedding of my dreams and joyfully, with my father, gave me away to my husband. Joyfully, because I was over the moon happy…and that is what made her happy.
And then last summer I got to tell her I was pregnant. Even with my whole pregnancy still in front of me, she was already in love with my child. Eight weeks ago, Lucy Pearl arrived. I became a mother. But I needed my mother more than I ever had before. Not just because she helped make sure my needs were met, or that she cleaned my house like it had never been cleaned before, or that we were fed for weeks, or even that I could rest because I knew Lucy was as ferociously protected in her arms as in my own. I just needed her. And now I realize that maybe it’s because when I was just a chunky, bald baby she was the person who made me smile and coo, and held me when I slept, and clipped my nails, and soaked in the tub with me, and picked out my clothes, and fed me when I was hungry, and took me on walks and sang to me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)