It's a Wonderful Life!

Really. It is. :) And as of Sunday, I'm officially in the Christmas spirit. My husband has even been more cheerful about Christmas this year (not always the most exciting time for him - super busy at work).

(You can stop reading now if you don't want to read me ramble on. No offense taken.)
Prior to Sunday, I was feeling a bit "bah-hum-bug" ish. Not sure why, but every time I turned on the "Holiday Lite" I quickly changed the dial. I didn't even want to do any Christmas shopping but knew I better before I was rushing out with the crowd. But after a successful Borders trip and a little openness to Christmas music, I'm all a joy about the holiday. I even made a count down to Christmas! And bought some wooden ornaments to decorate with our friends, the Counts children. I'm also looking forward to sugar cookie cut-outs and heading home for time with family and my grandmother's wassail.

Lest I forget though, what a perfect time to be reminded of the true gift that came this time of year, Jesus. And what life he has brought AND the hope of life after death. Sweet reminders. At our church, we just began to go through the book of Matthew, and it's so apropo to this season (and yet, to our whole life).

Last year at this time, I was imagining what this year with our little one (who still didn't have a name at 7.5 months) would be like and if he would fit into the 9mo Christmas outfit that our friends Ang and Stac had bought for him. While it was SO cute, I'm really glad I returned it since most of Timbo's clothes are 12-18mo. One friend nicknamed him 'the truck'. I can't believe he's crawling like nobody's business and pulling up on everything! And we might just have the two front teeth for Christmas (he's got two, just a little of centered though with one being a "lateral incisor"; yes, I did just look up the name of that online!).

Well, as usual, he's up from a nap, and I'm cut short. I think tonight we're putting up the Christmas Tree, so the pictures are to come! Oh yeah, WE GOT SNOW TODAY!

Thanksgiving

Is Dec. 1st really Wednesday? Wow, this year has FLOWN by!

But I am so thankful for the blessings and joys and lessons this year has brought. We were showered with hospitality at the Hufford's (that is, my in-laws) the past couple days. There was an abundance of food to go around and such good company. And I have to give props to my sister-in-law for her killer Pumpkin Pie with homemade whipped cream. Yum!! I think I ate more than my "portion" of the pie.

Even after all their hardwork to make Thanksgiving come together, my in-laws watched Mr. T while we went out for ice-cream, a movie, and late night Dunkin (decaf of course). :) What sweet, sweet times as husband and wife! And lots of laughter and heart-to-heart conversation. What a treasure.

Speaking of that treasure, I'm going to spend some time with him. :)

A good reminder...

...to be thankful. Slowly, but surely, my outlook on life is looking up. And my attitude, as you've seen in previous posts, is improving. However, lesson learned - address issues at the onset, not when you are deep in the pit of them. (Hopefully this isn't a lesson I keep coming back to, but life seems to continually be a time of refining.) :)

As I sit and listen to Kira Willey with my little boy, I think on how much I have to be thankful for. I'd love to hear about what you are thankful for in the comments (or facebook or email or phone). :)

*Surprising my mother for a "decade changing" birthday: She had wonderful friends who made it possible for Mr. T and I to knock her socks off when surprising her. What a sweet time when T willingly went to her as she sat in her "chair of honor." And honored is what she was. :) What a wonderful weekend of crepes, window shopping, and BOGO starbucks beverages!
*Family meeting T for the first time: My Aunt Lulu was in from NC with two of her girls and my Grandma O who I haven't seen in, I think, almost three years. Wow. Family is a treasure, and I'm thankful I'm in theirs.
*Sweet, restful moments with my husband
*Laughter and joys of my little one
*Holiday baking: I made some sugar cookies in the shape of turkeys and leaves for a mom's group of friends.
*Moms: I have had the privilege of meeting so many moms in the last year. (Year of babies?) Whether from church or my baby n' me group, I'm blessed by their friendship, wisdom, and listening ear.

So much to be thankful for...but I probably should go get things ready for Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Progress

So, my attitude is getting better; definitely still in need of some work, but I'm thankful for how the Lord is meeting me and giving me strength. And my husband is encouraging me and gently helping correct bad habits.

I'm so thankful for friends who are so thoughtful. Thankful for Mr. T's joyful spirit that makes Eric and I laugh A LOT! Thankful for family near and far away. So much to be thankful for...

Here are a few more recent shots of Mr. T:

Lessons I'm Learning

Seems almost continually learning. To the point: Contentness (Yes, my spell check is saying that is not a real word.)

Wow, I've allowed myself live with a spirit of discontent. I could definitely go on about what...but that would defeat the purpose of what I would like to overcome. :) As I was enjoying the week of a "stay-cation" with my husband, we had quite a defining moment of, "We've got to change today our attitudes, or we are just going to continue living like this." And honestly, living like this just sucks the life out of us.

So...we're working on it. Trying to see the beauty and joys of today. Trying to be invested sojourners. (see here:http://www.ebfchurch.org/media.php?pageID=5)

And oh, how the joys abound! I guess that November is just a reminder of all that we have to be thankful for. Hopefully, it's not just November but a radical life change.

Ask me how it's going in a week. We can't do this alone.

*Upcoming: Pictures! (Fall and Halloween!)

In the Spirit of the Season

I have been on a baking kick! And I'm loving it. I'm soaking in all the season has to offer. While I don't have pictures to intrigue you, I do have a delicious list of this week's treats. :)

*Apple, Cinnamon Cupcakes with a Caramel Glaze
*Pumpkin Muffins
*Chocolate Chip Cookies
*Taco Pizza
(as I type this...I'm realizing these aren't all seasonal) :)
*Eric's Recipe for Homemade Rolls (taking them to Book Club today)
*Cinnamon Rolls for this morning!! (and completely homemade up to the frosting)

And this upcoming week brings the joy of making baby food with my sister-in-law! Super excited!

So much to be thankful for! And so many blessings!

(Can you feel my excitement?!)

Great Reminder

Just read a blog that I thought was particularly apropo to my daily life as a stay-at-home mom. Hope you enjoy this:
http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2010/10/07/10-in-10-guest-post-needing-a-little-help-by-jess-m/

And here's a quick link to her personal blog:
http://themcclenahans.blogspot.com/

I'm blessed, and it's still early in the day. :)

Fall

My favorite season of the year. Sure, each season has joys of its own; however, the onset of fall is magical to me. It's almost as if the change in weather brings a new smell life. Fall smells like campfires and spice. People begin to bundle up in their "fashionable" sweaters. I don't mind the falling of the leaves as the 'crunch' sound turns me into the little kid who runs through all the leaves and jumps into heaping piles. Pumpkins show up at the grocery store (if you live in the city) and pumpkin patches beckon me. Kitchens delight the taste buds with apple and pecan and pumpkin pies. Halloween and Thanksgiving are on the horizon, which means our 4th annual fall party is just around the corner! And speaking of traditions, looks like we'll have to forgo our yearly camping trip, since I'm not sure our little one could withstand the coolness that Fall brings. I'm a sucker for Cinnamon Dulce Lattes and Pumpkin Spice Lattes, and there's even a new Toffee one that's calling my name. (Thanks CorCor for the gift card! I'm trying to pace myself.) I love Grandma B's wassail that only comes this time of year! And who can forget FOOTBALL! I was missing Sunday football with my Dad today. There's nothing like watching a game with him. (The Titans were rockin' it out!)

New fall adventures: Mr. T and I are soaking up (doesn't it seem like I should break into Sheryl Crows, 'Soak Up the Sun') the crisp air while learning how to stay warm. Hopefully we'll get to join our sweet friends and neighbors to their yearly apple orchard extravaganzas. There might even be a visit from CorCor and a trip up to Nana's.

I've got so much to be thankful for!

What a surprise!

Needless to say, I had quite a 25th birthday! For now, here's a peak at a beautiful, perfect surprise from Tal!

take a moment to decompress...or multitask

i've just grabbed a cup of decaf and have allotted myself 20 minutes to write. :) no grammar today! and i'm in need of a shower (don't judge me). laundry is running, and pictures are downloading.

start time: 4:07p. -> Go!

...while at the mall today (i had a old navy gift card! thanks grandparents!), i thought i would opt out of getting a milkshake (it was tempting me) and just use the quarter i discovered in my bag for some m&ms from the quarter machine. well, i guess it's been a while since i've done this, cause the quarter machine was no a TWO quarter machine. sadness. however, i spotted another candy center just down the way with a ONE quarter machine. :) i joyfully put in my quarter, turned the knob, and received...5 m&ms. 5. sigh...at least i had a quarter, right?


...i must confess that i am struggling. struggling with the comparisons of baby to baby. i remind myself that mr. T is going to be who he's going to be, and i love him for who God has made him to be. i'm blessed to experience so much of his life. struggle with saying no because i don't want to, or can't, spend extra money. i don't mind living a simpler life, but i know there are times when the only way it seems possible to hang out with friends is by spending money. can we just hang out at each other's houses? struggling to feel like i can do it all. and i don't even work out of the home.


...i'm finding much joy from being mr. T's mother. the littlest things make him laugh. (although, the same things don't always work a second time.) :) this week he's like a popping sound i make with my mouth and stacking toys that fall and hit the floor. and oh yes, when daddy scares him.

...from my "finding joy" jar: when my husband plays guitar for our baby while i hang the clothes. :)

...and yes, i still need to update about my trip to st. louis with my family, but for now, here are some pictures:



end time: 4:29p (okay, i had to upload pictures and a friend texted me!)

A sweet success and an utter failure...

Making baby food. :)

Staying at home has allowed me the extra time to "invest" into cloth diapering and making homemade baby food. Not everyone can or want to do it, and that's okay with me. I'm willing to try it, and if it doesn't work, do something else. :)

*A plug here: You can check out http://peasandthanku.blogspot.com/ if you want homemade baby food but don't have time to make it yourself. These two moms make it and send it to you.

With that being said, I ventured out to make sweet potatoes and carrots (two foods Mr. T had already tried from jars). I thought, "Since I'm baking the SP, I might as well bake the carrots." The sweet potato turned out beautifully. The carrots...what was I thinking?

Here's my experience through pictures:

And so it begins...and the waiting while it bakes.


Stupid carrots! They never became soft but just shriveled up.


Cooked SP! Yum! I almost just wanted to eat it myself. :)


Thanks to our neighbor, we had this handy hand-held grinder.


Not as much as I would expect from one sweet potato, but it will bring many meals for Mr. T.


What a struggle to get them out of the ice cube trays!


Labeled and Ready to be Eaten!


Looking forward to trying more!

...and such

Some beach, somewhere...

Yes. That would be nice. Any time I hear that song (sorry if you don't like country music; it's grown on my since leaving the south), I think of my mother. And today I have been thinking and talking about her a lot today. While being one of my very best friends, she is a hero of mine. She took unfavorable circumstances of a teen pregnancy and rose above all expectations for her. She didn't sacrifice my well-being for her selfish gain; yet, in turn, she gave so much of her time, energy, money, youth...so that I could be offered a remarkable life. If she can be a mother when the world is against her, I can surely be a mother today! (And I have her to walk this road with me - what a treasure!) And our distance won't be so far when we gather our family together this weekend. I didn't realize how much I've been looking forward to this time with my family until I said, "Wow, only five days till I get to see them again!" I am blessed.

~

Mr. T is now eating carrots and peas! He does like to bang on the highchair table. I'm unsure of whether it's frustration because he can't hold the spoon or if it's pure excitement or if he'd rather be playing. But I've been introducing baby signing to him (like 'more,' 'please,' and 'all done'), and he seems to calm as I gently say, "No. Would you like more, please?" As I model for him and help him with the signs, he tends to calm down and open his mouth for more food. What a sweet moment that is.
*Bananas to be added this week! And then, we get to show Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt H all our new tricks.

Date Night

We've been blessed to have many friends and family offer to watch Mr. T. And we do love that. But it is nice to sometimes have an "At Home" date night. Here's just a peak into our latest "Movie Date."



What's in the box? We'll movie candy! Of course!



Movie Tickets: $10-$11
Popcorn: $5
Candy: $9 (I had three boxes in there.)
Babysitter: $30-$40

At home: $3!!
*Only had to buy the candy.

Loving Motherhood

This little boy has captured my heart. It's true that I never could have imagined that I could love him as much as I do. And it's true the even more now do I understand what a sacrifice that God made to give his ONLY son.

I am blessed beyond words by his life. And am blessed by the opportunity to stay home with him. (Thank you again, my dear husband, for all your hard work.)

How can I begin with all the smiles he brings to my face? He has this almost uncontrolled laughter. He'll be sitting (all by himself I might add) and look up and start laughing. He'll see a smiling face and laugh. I'll read him a book, and he'll laugh. Mr. T likes to laugh at the sounds "Snort" and "Oink." Or when we say "buca baby." (Where that comes from, I have no idea.) And he's ticklish. I have to stop myself from continuing to tickle him, cause he's got the best laugh! And when I say ticklish...I mean everywhere - under his chin, sides of belly, thighs, occasionally feet, and the newest is his armpits.

Mr. T has never been one to rest his head on my chest. However just over the last couple days when I rock him briefly before laying him down, he'll gently rest his head on my chest. How sweet. I want to just keep holding him, but it's like he realizes what he's doing and arches his head up. :)

And our little, big boy is eating solids! As of right now, it's just rice cereal and sweet potatoes; and he loves them!!

Hope in God

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."

Amidst the sadness of life's circumstances, there is great assurance that I can hope in the Lord. Our God is faithful, comforts, brings peace, and has immense love. While the passage above is in the context of enemies, I can be reminded to hope in the Lord.

I said to Eric yesterday that my heart is so sad today. Devastated over a friend's loss. Shocked by the way a friend has been treated. Heartbroken by a friend who is told having a child is unlikely.

And yet, hope is rising up. (I stop and ask myself, 'How?' Oh yes, by God's hand.) Comfort for the loss. Shelter for the mistreated. Light for the childless.

God, help my heart trust in you.

Follow-up

Book club leading went great! Good discussions, lots of laughter and delicious food! If you are ever in Evanston, IL and are looking for great southern-style food, check out Dixie Kitchen. http://www.dixiekitchenchicago.com/ They have real sweet-tea!

Favorite book quote: "I don't like azaleas and I sure didn't like [Gone With the Wind], the way they made slavery look like a big happy tea party. If I'd played Mammy, I'd of told Scarlet to stick those green draperies up her white little pooper. Make her own dam man-catching dress." :)

"The Help" Discussion Questions

I finished up a list of discussion questions like I said I would yesterday. :) Leave free to leave comments on what you think about them. Two questions* are taken from the questions posted on http://www.kathrynstockett.com/stockett-reading-groups.htm; however, I've modified both of them.

1. Can you tell this is Kathryn's first novel? And there's a critique that she is not "qualified" to write from the perspective of a black woman of this time? How do you think she accomplished this task?

2. *What do you think motivated Hilly? On the one token, she is extremely rude to those she dislikes. On the other hand, she a loving mother? How can she live this "double life?"

3. What is the point of children in the book? Is there a difference between whites and blacks and how they view their children?

4. What was the most shocking moment in the book for you? (Without giving away the story, I will say the bathroom incident with Minny and Celia.)

5. *Do you think Mae would have grown up racist like her mother, Elizabeth, had Aibileen stayed to work for them? Is racism inherent or taught through a child's environment?

6. Aibileen said, "She [Celia] just don't see them. The lines. Not between her and me, not between her and Hilly." (pg. 311) What lines did you see throughout the book? Do we have lines in our culture today?

7. What is your take on the title? (Reasoning for the title from character's perspectives on pg. 356.)

8. Was the ending rushed? Possibly left open for personal interpretation?

My obsessions

So...I must admit: I'm really great at checking other people's blogs and really bad about updating ours. Maybe I like the idea that I can just click in my "blogs I like" folder in bookmarks, and I don't have to think about what to write. I just read. I love reading. :) Side note: 1st obsession would be "The Help." It's a must read, and I'm leading the book club I'm apart of tomorrow night (it's my first time and I'm super nervous). I'll post discussion questions when I finish them tonight or tomorrow. :) Talk about waiting till the last minute. While I'm on this "side note," I've convinced my grandmother to read "A Wrinkle in Time," another all time favorite of mine. I read this with my 6th grade students the past two years. I'm a little sad that I will not be journeying through it again with another group of students this fall. I may just have to read it at home. :)

I began writing tonight, because I've fallen in love...with a blog. Not just any blog. This is a mom, with many sons and a little girl. She's extremely artistic. Takes stunning photos of every day life. And is real. She shares real life. Things she likes, doesn't like. How crazy life can be. And she has all these cute names on her blog for her kids. I'd like to be her real life friend. However, I just pretend she's my friend as I read her blog. Enough, enough. You can find her blog here: http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/

Updates:
I had a cold. Timothy has a rash. A rash the doctors haven't been able to figure out. We're trying out some meds for eczema, so we'll see if that works. It sucks being sick, and then it's even worse seeing your little baby sick. It's such a helpless feeling.
I realized that I need to keep up with friends better. I've said "good-bye" to four wonderful friends in just six weeks or so. Wow, I didn't realize how sad I was about that until I just typed that. Four friends have moved away...and I'm not sure when or if I'm going to see them again. That's depressing. Thank goodness for facebook and e-mail and phones. :) Maybe Skype and I should become better friends so that I can see those friends.
I love each of you.
To Talissyn: My soulful, urban loving friend who loves people by seeing through the exterior and getting down to the heart.
To Michelle: My passionate, extremely skilled teaching friend who is graciously honest and understands when a meeting has gone on too long.
To Ellie: My sweet, gentle friend who I just didn't get enough time with. Could you come back and live just another year? 1yr. is just isn't enough.
To Kristy: My joyful, joy bringing friend who always knows when I need a good laugh and is unabashedly herself.

And here's to my little, big boy:

Timothy and Daddy

For the Love of Cousins

Sweet baby Esther and our sweetpea Timothy.

*At 2 months





*At 4 months

Catching up on this Monday

Needless to say, yesterday's stress about "So much to do before Wednesday!" has for the most part subsided. And Wednesday brings much joys as I travel to visit with my family for four days.

A couple of highlights from Timothy:
*He is laughing A LOT these days.
*He's discovering he has a voice and not just any voice, a screaming voice.
-This is funny right now...but I hope I keep thinking it's funny.
*We had him dedicated to the Lord on Sunday.
-What a blessing to dedicate him to the Lord and to have the support from our church family as well.

A Book Highlight:
Our book club has been reading "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society." I loved it! It's a lighthearted read, written in the form of letters. Give it the first twenty-thirty pages to get the characters settled, and I think you, too, will enjoy it!
This was a refreshing read after the last couple depressing ones.

My Landlord's Dogs - Caesar and Augustus (aka Gus)
While sitting on the porch last week, I witness two stories I just can't keep to myself.
1.) Caesar and Gus were checking out the back cement area. Caesar found the perfect place to relieve himself. Gus was following right behind C. Gus sniffed the same area and then peed right over where C had. Weird.
2.) Caesar and Gus play this game where they put their bottoms up to each other, and then they "due"l to see which one can turn around first and bite the other one on the leg. They did this for probably five minutes. What a hoot.

Okay, that's a wrap for this Monday.

(Pictures from two visitors last week)
1. Barry F.
2. Mary N.

Just Cause

Well, it has been quite a while since I last wrote and feel like it's "that time" again. :)

I'm having a little trouble remembering what has happened over the last month or so, so I'm grabbing my calendar for a look. (Walking to pick up the calendar)

I can start with the past couple days:
*Monday and Tuesday I spent the day with the Quibells. As I helped them pack for their move to Portland, I tried not to think about the fact that I do not know when I will see them again. I have high hopes that we can take a trip out to visit...I just don't know when. :( I, also, tried to think about the goodness of the time I was having with them and not what I was ultimately going to have to say "goodbye" to. :( Okay...enough about that; I'm getting teary-eyed.
*Today, Timothy and I have been at home! Yay! We need some down time after being out the last couple days. I did get a chance to make some banana bread for our enjoyment and (hopefully) the enjoyment of our friends who having willingly offered to watch baby Timothy tonight. Eric and I will be heading to one of our favorite bakeries in the area - Cafe Selmarie. http://www.cafeselmarie.com/ (It looks so fancy on their website. We usually just sit by the window, look out at the plaza area, and pleasantly talk about life or reminisce. This is where Eric and I went on our first date and where he proposed.)

So far this month, we have celebrated three birthdays, two weddings, and two graduations. For one of the weddings, Eric's parents came to watch Timothy, and we went out on our first date since he was born. What a wonderful evening! And he was great for his grandparents!

Upcoming: Our trip to TN for Hannah's 12th birthday! I'm super excited about time to spend with family and friends but a little nervous about flying alone with Timothy.

A couple things I just found out if you are flying with an infant:
*They will need some form of identification, either a copy of their birth certificate or shot record.
*They get no extra check-in baggage, but you can check-in their stroller at the gate. (This is only for a "lap child."
*You can call the day of to see if their are extra seats on your flight. If there are, you can bring your infant car seat on the flight with you, and your baby can have a seat.
*If you want to buy a seat for them, southwest (and possibly other airlines) have infant fares. By the time I checked into this, his "infant fare" was more than I paid for my fare. :)

So, I'm sure there will be more to come about our flying experience and our TN trip!

The Lights at Night

So...in the evenings, I try to brush my teeth and get into bed before Eric. We go to bed at the same time. But I want to be the first in bed. Why? Cause that means that I don't have to turn off the lights around the house. :) I can just hop into bed knowing that Eric will grab them before he finishes his evening routine.

However, I made a mistake the other night. I told him that I like getting into bed before him and why. As I said this, I slowly walked backward in the direction of the bedroom. All of the sudden we were in a mad dash to see which of us could get in bed first. I WON! Yet, he got under the covers, so he claimed he won. We laughed and whispered as our little boy was sleeping. Then, I sweetly looked over at him and said, "You haven't brushed your teeth yet." (He's adamant about brushing his teeth.)

Hehe...reluctantly he got out of bed. :)

I snuggled under the covers while he turned of the lights at night! :)

The joy of laughter

Timothy laughed today!

He had just woken up from a nap. I picked him up out of his pack-and-play, and we laid on my bed for a few minutes. After enduring through tummy-time, he sat on my tummy. I lifted him up like an airplane and pretended to laugh. All of the sudden, a little baby laugh came out of him. I was thrilled and laughed for real. This made him laugh more! He would laugh, and I would laugh.

What a joy! I look forward to laughing with my little boy more in the future. :)

Today, I am reminded that children truly are a blessing from the Lord!

Hanging

Typically I remain optimistic when blogging. I don't necessarily feel that blogging is where I should pour out my heart.

Yet, today I felt this was the therapeutic medicine for me. And honestly, I know that those who read this are close friends and will not judge me but (maybe) have moments where you say, "Yeah, I've been there, too." or "I'm there with you now."

Where should I begin...

I titled this as "hanging." I don't feel like I'm hanging by a thread, just hanging on. Maybe this analogy will help: Imagine rock climbing. You've been doing well so far. You've found many places to place your feet and grab on with your hands. Your body is not struggling, but you're not flying with ease. Then, you come to a place where you are stuck. You aren't sure how much further you have to go, but you are stuck. There doesn't seem to be a place move to: you're feet are stationary, you're hands immobile. Where are you supposed to go? And how are you going to push forward with seemingly no possible direction? You are just hanging there.

I'm just hanging there. I prayed and asked friends to pray last week that I would give myself a break. I expect to be able to do everything and do it well. I expect that I can care for Timothy, clean the house, make meals, invest into friendships, maintain my walk with the Lord...and yet, I feel like I'm falling to pieces.

I spoke with my husband on the phone; I shared my heart with him, and then, I did the worst thing...I cried on the phone. Sounds innocent, right? No...it's not bad to cry, but I know that he feel absolutely helpless. He has to work, and he does a wonderful job giving us a great life. But he can't reach through the phone and hug me. He can just sit there with open ears and tell me I'm going to be okay.

And yet, I tell him, "I'm not okay. I can't do everything but feel like I must."

He insisted that I take time for myself - "Rest," he says. "Don't worry about everything else; it doesn't matter. Promise me you will rest."

"I can't. Timothy is crying, and he needs me. I can't just stop being his mom."

"Get him. Comfort him. And then, get some rest. Promise?"

"Yes." (Yet, in my heart I think, I can't do this.)

We hang up. I pick up my crying Timothy from his bed, and I cry with him. I tell him, and more so myself, "It's going to be okay. We're going to be okay." He quickly fell asleep in my arms as I continue to cry. I gently laid him down in his crib and think...what can I do to keep my promise to rest?

I grab my sweater, put on some socks, and open the back door in our kitchen. While it's too cold to sit outside, at least I can see the sun pouring in. The sun pours in to heal my spirit. (And I think now, 'God, thanks for making it sunny today. I know that it's not for me, but you are healing my spirit through the beauty of your creation.') I make a latte and sit at the table with my computer, blogging.

Here you find me. Oh yes, I also made a little chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting to go with my latte. It's all simple. The sun, a beverage and snack, my computer, silence (except for the boy who is waking now :))...

And I take a deep breath and think, 'I will be okay, but if I'm not at this very moment, that IS okay."

Timbo's Cuteness

This morning I struggled to get out of bed this morning. Ironically, when I was up at 4a. feeding Timothy, I felt wide awake. :)

I am loving all the little things that Timothy does and thought I would share. I guess that's the beauty of blogging. :)
*His stretches when he wakes
*His discovery of his hands (which he can't seem to get to his mouth yet)
*His big smiles!!
*When he notices me from across the room
*His noises
*That little pouty (is that right?) lip
*His love for the three black picture frames on the wall and our fans
*The way he kicks his legs

April

Confession: Eric and I officially have too many shows we enjoy watching. :)

Presently, we are only "committed" to two: 24 and Lost (which someone recently pointed out were two intense shows).

One we watch occasionally - Parenthood (quite hysterical and true to real life)

And starting soon...Glee and Lie to Me

(This doesn't include House which we have dropped.)

Conclusion: We cannot do it all. (And thank goodness we don't have cable.)

*Thankfully, we desire to spend quality time together, and that overrules TV. If we can't watch even our two "committed" shows, we don't despair. I appreciate how we don't sacrifice our family or friend relationships for a show. And this gives us something to watch when they're showing re-runs over the summer. :)

:)

On a more serious note, I have started a devotional which focuses on living a life of simplicity. I have been challenged to repent over the desire for "stuff" or desire for what other have (coveting) and to ask the Lord for help to remember the abundant blessings and provisions that he has made for us. As I look even just around our home, I think, "How can I not see the Lord's hand over our family?" Each day is a reminder of the Lord's goodness to us.

And at Small Group, I'm reminded of the hope we have through Christ's resurrection. Wow, do I have so much to be thankful for!
-Salvation
-Loving Family
-Warm Home
-Sweet Baby
-Genuine Friends

My prayer: "Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." Pro 30:8-9

*Check on facebook for recent pictures (it's easier to upload there). :)

March

Timothy and I have been soaking up the Spring like weather in Chicago this week! We've taken many walks, and yesterday was our first trek to the library. He is super chill as we walk and many times falls asleep.

Highlights:

*Peekaboo - Just today I played peekaboo with Timothy. He just kept staring at me. :) Maybe in the future he'll give me smile or coo in response. For now, I love that he interacts with me through his beautiful eyes.

*Laughing - Yesterday I overheard Timothy give what sounded like a laugh while he was sleeping. I wonder what he was thinking about. :) (Maybe it was just passing gas, but I like to think otherwise.)

*Squeak Sound - As Eric and I drove home from Costco (we're kinda obsessed with that place), Timothy let out a squeak sound. Imagine a squeaky toy being squeezed and that's what we heard. We couldn't help but laugh. Eric asked me to check and make sure he was breathing. :) He was. :)

*Tummy Time - While he dislikes it a majority of the time, today he laid on my chest and did such a great job lifting up his head. He's a strong boy!

*Weight - Get ready for this! At his four week appt, he weighed...10lbs. 14oz! That's more than 3 pounds from his birth weight! Our little big boy! :)

As for me, I mentioned before that I hoped for a happy ending to "Shanghai Girls." Well...the main character (Pearl) continued to experience heartbreak. And there wasn't a "happy ending" rather an opening for a sequel to the book. As I wait for the second book to come out, I picked up another Lisa See book, "Peony in Love." Hopefully, this one won't be as tragic. :)

Eric is busy with Share on Moody Radio Chicago today. He's had the opportunity to engineer and produce - a nice change to the day-to-day events.

We're looking forward to our Easter trip down to Tennessee. And we'll see how we do on our first road trip with our little one. :) My guess is that we'll having the car packed to the max!

Almost four weeks...

I find myself longing to be more poetic or elegant in my posts. I read other blogs and find that their speech is sophisticated while mine is simplistic.

However, I remember that I am not here to show my artistic writing skills. My intent was to allow friends and family a glimpse into our everyday life. So, welcome to our life. :)

Part of me says, "I can't believe four weeks has gone by." Another part says, "It's only been four weeks?" The former because I can't believe that our little boy is growing so quickly. The latter because I feel like he's been with us for such a long time. He fits right in with our family. :)

Recently a friend asked, "What do you do all day? Do you get bored?" The honest truth is yes, but it's not bad to be bored. It has allowed me to rest and recover.
Throughout our days together, Timothy does the typical baby things like eating and sleeping.
When he's awake, he likes to look at the fans and picture frames. He enjoys his car mobile and reading an animal pop-up book. His favorite pop-up animal is the lion. :) I know this cause it's the only animal he keeps his eyes on. He's just started warming up to the swing.

What am I doing? During the morning feeding, I get my fix of the Today Show. I really enjoyed when the Olympics were on, and I was able to catch up on the previous day's happenings and winnings. Even this morning, I was able to catch up on the Oscars (which I wasn't able to finish due to the need for sleep!). I may have time during the day to get cleaning done and even take a shower. :) Who ever knew that making time to take a shower would have to be such a conscious effort? One of my favorite past times is reading. Since being out of school and apart of a book club, I'm finally reading "adult" books verses children's literature. Currently, I am reading "Shanghai Girls."
*"[Lisa See's] emotional themes are powerful...the bonds of sisterhood [and] the psychological journey of becoming an American." - The Washington Post
It's quite a tragic story, but I'm hoping for happier ending.

Eric does a great job supporting us at work and here on the home-front. In addition to his work at Moody Radio, he's just finished a project with Josh Dugue. He's, also, working with another friend on multiple compositions. It's been a joy to see him work on music! It's where his heart beats.
I cannot say enjoy how much I appreciate his encouragement and care in this new phase of life. He's a continually loving husband and now a loving father. It's a beautiful thing to watch the man you love love your child!

We look forward to today and the days to come. :)

This is our life...

Only a few short weeks ago, I was wondering when our little boy would come into the world. I was anxious about the delivery and if I would be able to be a good mom to this little person. Eric continued to be a listening ear and encouraging voice, reminding me that the Lord was in control.

Boy, I couldn't have imagined the depth of how the Lord would show that he was sovereign over our lives. After a visit to see our new niece on Feb. 8th, we joked about how it would be funny if we ended up back at the hospital to deliver while Carrie and George were there. At 6a.m. Feb. 9th, we headed into triage at Northwestern's Prentice Women's Hospital. And the doctor assured us that we would be meeting our little boy that day!

At 2:28p.m. (only 22 hours after our niece, Esther, was born), Timothy David Hufford made his way into the world. I won't share all the labor details (you can call me if you really want to know), but let's just say that 30 minutes of pushing is not bad! Dr. Kelsey said that I had a second delivery labor. :)

We've been home now for two weeks today. Eric has been back at work for about a week and a half. Some days seem longer than others, and I find so much joy when Eric comes home! We've been blessed by meals from church friends and family, and Eric has been on a baking kick - homemade bread and pizza and burritos. And we enjoyed an at home date last night with Sweet Mandy B's cupcakes. :)

We are amazed at how beautiful God has made this whole process and how he formed Timothy to be especially who he is.

Here are a couple highlights:

*2/9: Lips quivered when I held Timothy for the first time

*2/12: Smiles after he has a full belly

*2/16: 1st time to read "Go, Dog! Go!"

*2/18: 1st walk with Timothy to Stella (coffee shop)

*2/20: Timothy almost "fired" poo at Eric while was changing him

*2/24: At his two week appt, he weighed 8lbs 15oz!!

*He only likes to be swaddled when he is too tired to notice. :)

*He likes to pee out of his diaper. We are constantly changing his clothes. I'm not sure how the washing is going to go once we start using cloth diapers. Yikes!

*More pictures to come!

Timothy David Hufford

Timothy David Hufford

Birthday: Feb. 9th, 2010

Born at 2:28p.m.

Weight: 7lbs. 12oz.

Length: 20.5 inches

We are loving this new phase in life as Timothy's parents. Until I can post more, here are some links to pictures of us:

*http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2033336&id=163801297

*http://buckfamily.smugmug.com/Births/Birth-of-Baby-Timothy-David/11229067_UywhV#787474773_daNLw

Our Second Christmas!

How wonderful to have another Christmas with Eric. This year brought many joys, some traditions, and some first time extravaganzas.

*Eric's Deep Dish Pizza. He makes this treat for us occasionally, and he continues to get better and better at making these. Maybe he should open his own Chicago Pizza Restaurant. :)

*Christmas morning: Eric opening his stocking. Santa brought him vanilla syrup for his coffee. He must have been a good boy this year!

*Christmas morning: Kristine's new kitchen towels!

This was a special year for Eric and I. We spent the morning at our home, sleeping in, eating cinnamon strudel bread, and drinking coffee. What unique time, just the two of us. We were realizing that next year will be quite different with a 10 month old. We will remember this year!

*Our table at Christmas

*Our Christmas Tree: We discovered last year that our tree was pre-lit. :) We were able to use the color lights we originally bought for the tree around our windows.

*This is my second year to join Carrie (my sister-in-law) and Aunt Susan for decorating gingerbread cookies.

1. Make the dough at home.

2. Roll out and cut out cookies of choice. (I chose a moose and two different reindeer.)

3. Bake the cut outs.

4. Decorate the cookies!

(I made a few other random cookies: presents, ornaments, and small people.)

*Santa's reindeer!

*Carrie and I at the annual Hufford/Lori and Dale dinner/Christmas Tree decorating. Our little babies are continuing to grow. Only a few more weeks to go!