Giving Things Up

Breastfeeding is the best thing ever, although getting started is difficult and painful (no really it is). Now I love that special time with Kate! The hardest part really is what I can and can't eat!

I already can't have wheat/gluten/sugar. I have sadly had to add to the list dairy, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and anything spicy. All this makes her super gassy and have terribly stinky yucky baby poo. Now on the up side it is really helping the weight melt off. On the other hand, especially during a growth spurt when I am soooo hungry, it is much harder to find a snack to eat.

I am amazed at the reading I do that says eat what you want, it doesn't affect your baby. What I eat, Kate eats and she has a growing and developing tummy and digestive system that absolutely is sensitive to things. I just have to remember to follow my instincts sometimes and know that I spend the most time with my baby and I know what she needs (well...most of the time).

I wouldn't trade that time together for the world and it is amazing what you are willing to give up when you are responsible for the well being of another.

I had 9 months to begin giving things up for a season and getting ready to have my life taken over by a child. Getting ready for a little person who would need my love, nurturing, silly faces, giggles, songs and full attention. For Steve and every new daddy, it is a bigger shock when a child enter the world. They were able to go along with business as normal while we women carry the little bambino in our tummies. It is not until that baby enters the world that they have to change things and make sacrifices. As a new mom, I of course, thought this would be no problem and Steve would be happy to do it. But I had to realize that as he is willing to help with anything, but it is also a big shock to his life that he now has to get used to.

He must die to himself and the freedom he had. I struggled with this thinking he just didn't want to, but I now know that this is something that every dad deals with. They did not have the 9 months to prepare as we did. They don't have that motherly "instinct". Now they must think about how do I provide? How do I eat well? How do I sleep? How do I spend time with my wife? How do I give focus at home and at work? How do I find time for friends? How do I have time for myself? Time with God? Fun? When I think about it he will actually have to adjust quicker than I did.

She is the best baby and no matter how much we must lay down for this season, it is completely worth the short amount of time we have with her, while she is cuddly and tiny. Soon she will be crawling all over!

Soon You Can Call Me Mommy!

In less than 3 weeks I get to be a mommy! That is the most amazing and unbelievable thing I have ever heard :) God has protected me through this pregnancy, given me peace, joy and health. I have been so blessed not to have morning sickness or major aches and pains. Now I ask him to grant favor to have this child naturally with no medical intervention and without being induced. The number of women who have to be induced is amazing to me. Rarely do I meet a woman who went into labor on her own. It makes me wonder what causes that?

The nursery is almost done, we have almost everything put together (now we just need 35 thousand batteries for all the different swinging, rocking, vibrating and musical gadgets that are ALL over the house). When parents told us to buy stock in batteries they weren't kidding :)

We have wonderful friends who have offered so much help and meals after Kate arrives and I am very grateful for that. The hardest part about this entire pregnancy is not having any family around us to share in it or to help. I hate that I am missing time with my first nephew Jackson, and he will not be around to grow up with his cousin Kate, especially when they are so close in age. I don't love technology because I think it is mistreated and takes away from person to person interaction, but I am so thankful for Facetime to talk with my family and say hi to Jackson and watch him grow.

Not only is he growing, but it has been amazing to watch my sister grow. She has become more nurturing and patient, loving and has more of an ease about her. Amazing what a child can do to soften us and bring a new understanding of love and patience into our lives.

I am now just waiting for this child to show up, a walk in the morning before the heat, doctors appointments, cleaning the house top to bottom, ordering the last of the needed baby items, and waiting. At 37 1/2 weeks there is not much else to do, mobility is limited :) Most days I am just ready to meet her not worrying about the process in which she will enter the world, then there are other days when I get a tiny knot in my stomach as I think about what I will endure to meet her. I keep reminding myself that God has blessed this pregnancy, it was in his timing and women do this every day. The end result is a baby, a daughter to raise and love.

I can't wait to watch Steve with her, changing her diaper, feeding her, rocking her, and taking her on dates teaching her how a man should treat her. To raise up a fully devoted follower of Christ. To be challenged in who I am because now I am accountable to a little impressionable girl who will look at her parents and everything we do and say. Have I mentioned my WHOLE life will change in less than 3 weeks??? (Well....if she shows up on time).

Time for my walk, and as much productivity as I can before I need a nap :)

friendly reminders

Such a great weekend in Nashville, too short if you ask me. It is always so wonderful to see my family, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc... We spent a lot of time getting lost, but enjoying the journey :) In the picture here is Arnold's, it will be featured on Diners Drive Ins and Dives tonight at 10! It was good ol' southern cookin' with a whole lot of pepper, burned going down and cleared out the sinuses :) It was an adventure to say the least.

My cousin Joy got married and it is always such a wonderful reminder of what marriage is all about. My uncle Larry preformed the ceremony to marry off his last daughter, which I know was hard for him. He has such love for his daughters (and son in laws) and it is an inspiration to me. One thing he said that was a great reminder to me was to always remember that your spouse has your best interest at heart. The moment we forget that our spouse has our best interest at heart, we begin to grow apart. If we cannot share our full hearts and every thought with our spouse, we will end up in a sad ended marriage that is all to common today.

I am reminded of the great husband I have and how he fights for our marriage each day and has my best interest at heart.

It was so great to catch up with family, see the new beautiful babies and pray for patience until we can have kids. I can't wait! The saddest part about getting older is the changes in family dynamics, but it is also a joy to watch my family grow and do great things :)