Bedtime Routines

Can I just say that bedtime routines can often been the sweetest time of the day. The snuggling as she guzzles her last bottle of the day, then cuddles right up to me as we rock back and forth... She is really good about listening as we pray... (Before meals, prayer time is almost TORTURE and she has started to dislike taking that time to thank Jesus for her food knowing that it is prolonging the act of stuffing her face. Hopefully this will soon change. I'm sure Jesus will appreciate when it does :)...) I cherish holding that tiny little hand that seems to be growing bigger by the day.

Sometimes the nighttime routine seems like an exhausting part of the day when she is WAY past tired and kicking and screaming (literally) while we wrestle to put her pjs on and nestle her into her bed. Or the times where Justin and I feel just to tired to put the effort into getting up, changing the diaper, the clothes, warming the bottle, and doing the routine.

However, many times the bedtime routine is smooth-sailing, and it makes me want to relish every bit of that snuggle time with my sweet pea. The sweet way her eyes seem just too heavy to keep open and the way she loves being cuddled - even though she is looking pretty big in my arms these days - I can't imagine anything else! ...Her silly little giggles as I gobble up her soft, chunky cheeks. Lately, she has started grabbing my face and pulling it close to hers so that I will do that over and over again. How can I resist the chubby cheeks? The giggle is just music to my ears and makes my heart happy. She opens her mouth wide for a big, amazing, baby sloppy wet kiss. I. Am. Blessed.

I am feeling refreshed after spending the day listening to a Live simulcast of Beth Moore and her message on insecurities. It was soo great to get in The Word and God's promises while worshiping with lots of other women. Justin had some great daddy/daughter time which just melts my heart :)

Here are some recent pics... some are from our Florida Vacation.

Back to Reality...

Wow- Time is flying and I am realizing I am not nearly as committed to this blogging thing as I planned to be! So.. bear with me and my sporadic, few-and-far-between posts. However, we were out of town for a week so I was officially M.I.A from Facebook, email, and blogging for an almost entire week. I am not going to lie- IT FELT GOOD!! But now, I feel like I am making up for lost time trying to catch up on all that went on while I was gone ;)

I will post pictures, but I have been busy playing "catch-up" and haven't downloaded them all yet. The mounds of laundry, full sink, and toy-strewn floors seem to be grabbing my much needed attention.

Regardless, we had an AWESOME, sun-filled week in Jacksonville, Florida. This was Sienna's second trip to Jacksonville as we took our 9-week old on a crazy cross-country road trip during Spring Break last year :) This year, however, the car ride seemed even more daunting because our Sugarpie is much less content than that 9-week old who was always snoozing, eating, or pooping. We traveled the majority of our time at night since our little sleeper does better that way. The bad news was that Justin had to pull some all-nighters ;) He drove it like a champ.

On the way down, our attitudes were uplifted, hopeful, and excited about the week that lay ahead. We spent the car ride catching up on the busyness of the previous week, talking about different Bible stories, and other thought-provoking theological questions (wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall for that one?! haha) I'm not going to lie, I dozed often and probably looked like a drunkard trying to appear awake with the ever-annoying bob of the head that befalls the one who tries to refuse sleep. This was much different than the ride home where I was complaining and swearing that I would never drive to Florida AGAIN. Ever. (But...I can assure you that next year, when I see the cost of a flight, I will swallow my pride and hop back in the car for another crazy 24 hours of madness.)

Our time in Florida was incredibly relaxing! We were regulars at my aunt and uncle's neighborhood pool-- often twice a day! Even though my skin may not show any remnants of a tan, I promise... I was in the Sunshine State.

This past week we have been SURROUNDED by generous family members. That may be an understatement. When I reflect back on the week and how we got there, what we did there I am AMAZED at how generous others were. Whether it was my parents and neighbors tag-teaming to letting our dog out 4 times a day (I know she is high maintenance with a capital "H"), my inlaws letting us drive their sweet car the hundreds of miles there, my sweet little teen cousin letting us crash in her room while she took the couch or someone else's bed. Or my aunt and uncle housing us, feeding us, and insisting on paying for a night out to dinner and dessert while they watch our daughter. It was also meeting up with Justin's cousins in Georgia who let us rest there before completing the rest of our long-trek home, who also treated us to a tasty meal at an adorable outside restaurant.

We. Are. Blessed.

I guess I should have remembered that when this customer in front of me at Meijer purposefully backed her large-behind and knocked into me to make some sort of point?!? I should have blessed her. Forgive me, Lord...

Anyways... YAY for Meijer's 10 for $10 sale that helped me save a ton on groceries. Gotta love it. ...Maybe that's what she was mad about?! Anyways.. I need to finish playing catch-up!!

Loving Productive Naptimes :)

Our little girl is growing up, thus means she has transitioned to 1 long nap (on most occasions) rather than 2 shorter ones. I am really beginning to like this!! Now that the weather is shaping up, we can get out and do something fun or run in the yard (yes, she's running now!), go for walks, play with friends, etc.



Or, on the gloomy days, stay inside and feed our faces, twiddle our thumbs, and pick our noses...


Then I can do something fun in the afternoon as the house is quite and the birds sing their songs outside :) I have enjoyed using her long naps by working on different little projects. Here are a few...




I have others in the works, just haven't completed them yet :) You can check out my etsy site here...

My husband is so sweet to ignore craft-explosion that seems to have taken over little nooks and crannies of our house. The corners of our living room and kitchen harbor the unfinished projects that will have to wait for another quite nap time :)

...In one short week, I will start tutoring 5 kindergartners (GuLp...) and my time for my hobbies will be limited- but I will soak it in while in lasts :)

Blackmail Post

Since my sister, Ashley, found it appropriate to post a blackmail picture of my sweet, little honeybun... (her post)

I guess I can break out the big guns, too... (Cody close your eyes...)

Loooves pushing the pink stroller with the baby that blows raspberries who is M.I.A in this pic. (p.s Ask my mom what "blowing raspberries" means :).


And the tutu and headband was ALL his idea!!!! I have a better picture of him with close to 16 hairclips in those blonde, beautiful locks- but luckily I can't find it on my computer :)

Just kidding, this boy is ALL boy! He is so fun and he is Sienna are best friends and play so well. It's adorable. One of my favorites is when Sienna falls, Cole rushes to her rescue pulling on her head, grunting saying "Uhh, Nenna too heaby..." He cares for her :) I love my nephew.

I just got done talking to both of my sisters today. I'm a lucky girl to have such amazing sisters that are my best friends!! Praise the Lord for Free mobile to mobile with AT&T :) ... and of course my mom who is THE greatest and just like another sister! I am blessed.

Picture Post

I don't have a whole lot to say today :) Is that surprising to anyone?!? haha.. this post is a break from my long-windedness...

So here is a picture post, of course, featuring my favorite cutie pie :)

These pics are from Monday... as soon as she woke up from her nap I was so anxious to take her outside to enjoy the weather!! She wasn't sure what to think about the grass right away... She sat just touching it....

I guess the grass isn't quite green yet is it?! :) I think it has more of a brownish hue to it.. that's okay... I will be patient.



Last weekend we used up a Hacienda gift card by taking a "family date"! We didn't leave without a mudslide... mmmmm. Sienna didn't leave without a balloon either! She loved it! (contrary to her expression in the following photos :))

The past few days I was helping administer the ISTEP test at The Crossing. It was great to be at work with my husband...getting an idea of what he does day in and day out. It was neat working with some of the kids. I am not going to lie, I did feel a twinge of guilt dropping her off early in her pjs with my sister and my mom. Each day I was anxious to pick her up wondering what I missed :) Sadly, I don't think she missed me! She had a blast playing with Cole in the sandbox and riding in the bike trailer to get coffee with Ashley and her favorite cousin(Sienna ordered Decaf.. jk :), shopping with Mimi, and stopping at Chik-Fil-A. I am so grateful for awesome babysitters who I don't think twice about leaving my sweetpea with!

Sunny Days

Can I just tell you that this new pattern of "sunny day" has made me like a giddy little girl!!!!! Last night and this morning I started doing my running outside... and I just LOOOVED it! The crisp air excites me, knowing that soon enough, every ounce of snow will be melted from the ground and the sun will warm the air. As I was running and the sun was peering above the horizon, I felt an extra spring in my strides and my lips curl to a smile. I LOVE SPRING!!! I am reminded of our family walks, grilling out, morning runs, pool days with Sienna, yard work, and freshly mowed grass (by my hard-working husband who is a fanatic about a good looking lawn!). It reminds me of the new mercies of our Sweet Savior as the days seem brighter and happier. However, His mercies are still as new and as great during the snowy days of winter, but spring reminds me of new life!

Today Sienna and I went to meet Justin at work. He is so good at what he does and I am blessed by his hard work and faith. He never complains about going to work everyday and I am grateful he works so I can be at home with our sweetiepie. Sienna loves her daddy and gets so excited to see him, so our lunch trip was fun. We try to do that about once a month or so, but during the winter months, our trips were much less frequent because of the snowy roads and the hassle of bundling up a baby...

This weekend we watching Cole so his mommy and daddy could go on a date :) Cole loves Sienna and she just adores him. They have fun playing together and mimicking each other. It's all fun and games now, but I am sure they are going to have many feuds to come. Hitting, fighting, arguing, tattling... those may come, but for now- we will just enjoy the friendship between them. Here are some pics from the weekend.

..As soon as Cole found one of Sienna's bath toys he said, "My need bubble bath."
Gotta love Sienna's deer-in-the-headlights look!

All lathered up and snuggled in their pjs... Comb over thanks to Uncle J.

We also got to hang out with a few of my favorite little girls ever! They were actually our little flower girls! It was great to see them and catch up with them. They are both so "old" and mature now! Sienna loves watching them and having them read to her!

"I will be found by you..."

"I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord."

Jeremiah 29: 10b-14a

Over the last several Sundays, our sermons has been focused on the verse above which is a letter from Jeremiah for the exiles who were taken out of Jerusalem and into Babylon. Babylon was a place they didn't want to be, but God had called them there. I am sure they were asking the same questions that many of us ask when we go through trials and hardships...."Why am I here?" Mind you--- this was the same very question I asked in this post.

"How can I glorify God here?"
"How can I be used by Him where I am at?"

Well, isn't God awesome?! He spoke right to me and answered these questions. God has an absolute purpose and plan for our lives. Sometimes it seems that it is not "perfect" because, of course, we feel like we would have "the perfect plan".

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."
-Proverbs 19:21

God wants to prosper ('shalom') us. This prosperity doesn't always play out the way that WE think is should. Prospering doesn't mean lots of money (darnit...), lots of things (drats), or an easy life (doggonit!)... BUT it means feeling completely and wholly fulfilled.

Getting to this place isn't easy (dag'nabbit) and it's very often marked with pain, disappointment, and hardships........HOWEVER-- the benefits of reaping what these hardships have brought forth will be a closer, deeper, stronger relationship with God. A dependency, admiration, and love for Him and everything that He has given us who are so undeserving of His blessings and a forever life with Him!

So, can I just say that the sermon on Sunday directly spoke to me bittersweet words from the Lord. They are bitter, because no one looks forward or enjoys times of disappointments, discomfort, and pain- BUT His sweet, gracious promise is that he will give us hope and a future and be found by us when we seek him wholeheartedly! He tells us to "seek the peace and prosperity of the place where he has brought us".. Jer. 29:7 and asks us to grow where we are at.

All that to say-- I am incredibly grateful that the Lord has brought me to this place. He is teaching me to joyfully learn to live with less as we are making ends meet on one salary. I am a work in progress, but he promised to complete what He has started. (Philippians 1:6). I can't imagine anything truly better than spending my days with this little cutiepie.... Seriously... my heart swells with joy when I get to kiss this chubby cheeks every day and hear her giggles! These little sweet cheeks have now learned to say, "Hey baby!" and give the best kisses in the world... Look out boys!!!

ps. Have I mentioned I have THE BEST husband EVER~~ ... sorry to break it to ya ladies ;) He watched Sienna on Saturday night so that I could have a Girls Night out. It was so great and I feel like a new Momma!! I am refreshed and ready to take on the week:) He is watching her tonight while I go to a Bachelor Finale party. Yep, I said it :) This is just too much fun for one week!