This is the story of a transformation that defies all logic and understanding. An answer to prayer, if ever there were one.
The back story is that this pregnancy has been a little rough for me. I have felt sicker more often (I actually lost rather than gained weight in the first trimester, though I am now back to pre-pregnancy weight), and the fatigue has just been killer. Some of this is due to the fact that I'm now starting my days at 7:00 a.m. whether I feel ready to or not...although thinking back, I was working full time through my first trimester with Mikayla so I was certainly getting up early then as well. So maybe this pregnancy really is worse.
ANYWAY.
All this to say I have been slacking horribly on things like laundry, dishes, menu planning, paperwork at work. Anything that has not been mandatory for paycheck or basic survival has gone out the window for at least the past month. Our frequent travels have not helped me stay up to speed on any of this, either.
Fast forward (or rewind or whatever) to this past Tuesday when for some reason, I looked around and realized...HOLY BANANAS, there is so much to do and so little time to do it! I was anticipating flying to New Hampshire for a wedding weekend, not to mention working the equivalent of several full days this week, and wondering how in the world the clothes are going to get clean and the notes are going to get written and the groceries are going to get boughten. The icing on the cake was Mikayla choosing to just, you know, be NEEDY all day. Not cranky, per se, but she certainly didn't want momma doing anything that didn't involve kisses and giggles and food (ok, mainly food).
No wait, the ACTUAL icing on the cake was that I'm freaking pregnant and, as I told Joel recently, I am tired IN MY LIFE. It all came together in a perfect storm of hormones and overwhelmedness and holy bananas I might need to cancel work today and just find a cave to cry in. (Mikayla is into bananas right now.)
My solution? Make a list! And create a calendar! I spent my last half hour before work (I couldn't come up with a satisfactory way to say to clients, "I can't see you today because I am freaking out".) on Google calendars actually scheduling all my household chores (daily, weekly, and bi-weekly with repeating occurrences, but no alarms because seriously. That's just ridiculous.)(Unlike putting your chores on the calendar, that is normal.) I then calendared the projects that I need to finish in the near future. These included catching up outpatient notes, catching up inpatient notes, organizing baby clothes, moving the guest bed into the attic, and cleaning out our hallway to make room for a bassinet.
And by "near future" I mean "the next six months" but it all FELT urgent, I promise. And I now have plans to have all this accomplished in the next ten days. Mostly in the next four days, but I decided to relax the guest bed thing because I'll probably need Joel's help and I don't want him to think I'm crazy. Like the time when I was pregnant and made him help me rearrange the nursery AGAIN because I thought it would work better. This is very, very similar to that, actually.
So, here I sit on Thursday with my outpatient notes all caught up, inpatient notes in a very good place, laundry almost finished, litter tidied (yes that's a bi-weekly chore now; Joel is the scooper but I am the tidier), office filing from the last month finished, and all phone calls returned. And tomorrow I am scheduled to dust, vacuumm, sweep, mop, and grocery shop. And I am excited about it.
I told Joel that I don't even recognize myself today. And then I realized...you know what today is?
SECOND. BLESSED. TRIMESTER.
Yesterday I officially hit 13 weeks. It's like a switch flipped and I AM BACK, BABY. Or at least I have really good intentions; I will let you know how tomorrow goes!
So first trimester went out with a bang (much as it entered, which I will detail for you in that post I promised about Mikayla's Very Interrupted Nap), but second trimester has arrived in all its glory. Thank you, dear heavenly Father, for this great mercy. Please could I stay in the second trimester all the way until delivery?
SDG!
Mikayla's Many Favorites (8 Month Update)
Wow kids, I haven't blogged in forever. Want to know why? The current reason for not blogging began on July 11 when we found out that I'm knocked up again. Hello, baby #2! Since we decided to sit on the news for awhile before announcing, I basically forsook the blog because what else was there to write about?
Well, yeah, I mean Mikayla is still cool. But. Another pregnancy? Was definitely going to slip out somehow. But now that it's Facebook official, I am back baby! (babies?)
And this post is not actually about 2P, as we are calling him, until we find out via ultrasound whether it is maybe what we have been calling her. My gut is saying boy but I think it is because my sister just had a boy, and I have been following in her footsteps for oh about two years now in all things baby.
Nothing like waiting until the fourth paragraph to introduce the actual thesis statement of the post, eh? Since it is not about 2P, it is quite safe to assume that this is an update on Mikayla. I found myself composing a Facebook status update a few minutes ago that made me think, hmm, this is one of those stati that a) about three people will be excited to read, and b) is going to annoy the remaining 273 friends who will see it because it is so long. So. To the blog!
Mikayla is just in a fantastically cool stage right now. I know, we have said that about every stage so far, but seriously I really mean it this time guys. She is eight months old and SO active and inquisitive! For the past week or two she has been pulling herself up to stand - you read that right, she is cruising around her crib and standing to play with her toys. I had to Craigslist a few things because all of her toys so far have been small, handheld jobs and this girl is needing something to hold her interest (and her weight as she learns to balance!). She is the proud new owner of an activity cube and mail car walker as of about a week ago. My favorite is the delight she finds in turning the wooden gears on the side of the cube - with her foot. She started to use her hand once, but decided it was WAY neater to use her little toes.
In addition to standing and taking steps with help, Mikayla acts like a big girl by eating more than her dadda does. A typical breakfast is an entire pear or banana, a generous 1/2 cup (plus) of yogurt, and as much oatmeal as she wants til she's full. Usually at least a 1/2 cup. Dinner tonight was half a sweet potato, a cup of oatmeal, and probably 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt. A strange combination, perhaps, but we really need to get groceries again, apparently...We work on baby signs, in the spirit of cousin Khloe, but so far Mikayla asks for her sippy cup by yelling and banging her hands, and indicates that she would like "more, please" by panting and opening her mouth wide enough for a bus. She has made momma's life a freer place by eating three meals a day plus nursing at bedtime. Sometimes she is up for a snack in between meals, but most days she eats enough at her big-girl meals to get through. So nice!
Diaper changes have become less fun because they are BORING, even when Mikayla gets to hold onto a chosen toy while she lies there. But folks, bath time has moved on up to a favorite activity! Since she has become more stable in sitting, I've scrapped the baby tub and just been bathing her in a few inches of water in the regular bathtub. Not to mention RUBBER DUCKIES. Oh my goodness. We have this nifty mama duck that was a gift from my friend Michele (and the frontrunner to be Mikayla's husband, Jacob). She has three baby ducks that sit on her back as she floats around in the water. Mikayla has enjoyed them SO much that she adopted one of the baby duckies as her very own, to be toted everywhere she goes. It becomes more and more realistic throughout the day as it gathers feathers (well, cat hair...creativity is key when you have kids).
My favorite bath moment occurred yesterday, as Mikayla was playing with said duckies. She was just so taken with the idea that there are THREE baby duckies that she can play with all at once!!! She picked up the first ducky with one hand, picked up the second with her other hand, and looked at the third ducky intently. I could practically see the light bulb above her head as she popped ducky #2 into her mouth (head first, rest assured) so that she could reach for the third ducky. Unfortunately, holding duckies in her hand and mouth simultaneously seems to take a fair amount of concentration, so the third ducky kept bobbing just beyond Mikayla's clumsy grasp as she tried not to lose the first two. She adjusted the ducky in her mouth several times, holding it by its wing, then by its tail, but never quite found the perfect tooth hold that would allow her to hold all THREE duckies. It broke my heart, but I was so proud of her perseverance. Maybe next time, little girl. Maybe next time.
And yes, most nouns in our home end with "y" or "ies" at this juncture. Why do you ask?
Another current favorite occurrence is going to pick Mikayla up after her naps, and anticipating what position she will be in. My favorite so far had her lying on her back, sucking her thumb, sprawled out in a devil-may-care sort of way. Her legs were flung through the crib rails, basically using the bumper as a footrest for one foot and dangling her other leg casually toward the floor. The look on her face said, "Hey momma, what's up?" LOVE this girl! Sometimes I will find her draped over the bumper head first, as though she's been using it as a pillow or peering over it at the floor (like today, when she realized she had lost her ducky at some point during her nap and gazed longingly down til momma rescued it).
Mikayla is a huge fan of our black cat, Niko. When she sees Niko lying on the floor, or nearby on the bed, or crossing the room in the distance, Mikayla lets out a gigantic shriek of happiness. Niko is generally pretty patient with her, and even walks up to Mikayla fairly often to allow a few quick strokes (read: fistfuls of fur). I think this is why Mikayla thinks they are such great friends. However, Mikayla's shriek of happiness tends to be emitted at the same volume regardless of how near or far Niko happens to be. And is repeated frequently as long as Niko is in sight. A fact which, unfortunately, does not cause Niko to stick around for very long. But Niko is hungry enough for adult attention that she comes around even when Mikayla is present, and like I said, she has surprised me several times by nuzzling up to Mikayla for a few moments. Niko, thank you for making a baby's dreams come true.
I am realizing that there are so many "favorites" with Mikayla: moments, activities, sounds, faces. It would take a sweet forever to chronicle them all, and I seriously doubt that you had slated enough of your day to read through a much longer post than this (in fact, are you still here?). So I will stop here and let you know that you should simply hang out with my daughter sometime soon. K?
Up next: In Which Momma Learns of 2P's Existence (Or: Mikayla's Very Interrupted Nap).
The Heat Has Melted My Coherence (or, Too Many Pop Culture References)
It has been forever since I wrote a "just because" post. But tonight I find myself with a rare several hours to myself while baby sleeps and hubby wraps things up at the chicken shack (his term, not mine). After ending a really dumb movie about twenty minutes before it ended (it was supposed to be scary, but in actuality was quite predictable and I thought I'd save myself some minutes of boredom/suspense), I stuck my foot in a banana peel that was lying on the bed and decided to blog. None of these events is quite related, but I got a kick out of the random juxtaposition. Did you?
So here we are, fair reader, with a few minutes all to ourselves before I turn in for the night. Laundry is folded, the ironing board tucked away, the dishes all safely in their cupboards. You'd think it was a Saturday (and, also, not a heat index of 19,000 degrees) from the productivity I've displayed this evening. Speaking of the heat, you want to know what it made me do today?
This:
(Forgive the shampoo bottle in the background; it's easier to see my hair with the shower curtain open, but it means you get to see some of the little sundries of life.)
This strange new lack of hair? I like it. I am even now leaning back against a pillow with nary a worry, not even a thought that I might be smushing a curl. Poor Mikayla doesn't know what to do with herself now that she can't tangle her fist in momma's flowing tresses while she nurses, but I? I am ok with that because: CONVENIENCE. It takes five minutes from my head in the bathtub to walking (running frazzledly) out the door. Or grabbing a screaming baby/changing a diaper/juggling flaming knives. Moms of the world, I understand you.
Not that this is a mom haircut. This is the sassy of Shannyn Sossamon meets the pixie-chic of Emma Watson. Meets, you know, a whole new level of bedhead in the morning. Which is why it's so fantastic that Joel's first glimpse of the new 'do will be tomorrow morning as we awaken to a fresh new day of Mikayla wondering where breakfast is because seriously child, have I not fed you every morning for your entire life and yet you persist in acting like this might be the day we leave you in the crib forever?
I LOVE my daughter. She is actually full of sparkle and laughter first thing in the morning. But while she is amazing at sleeping alllll the way through the night, the downside of ten hours between feedings is that breakfast tends have a certain...urgency to it. Hey, I don't have a problem with it. It is so sweet watching her rub the sleep out of her eyes until she realizes DADDA!! MOMMA!! You are here this morning, too!! Then there is a split-second change while her tummy connects with her brain and STARVATION. But it is really not too shabby to start each day feeling utterly (udderly? I'm hilarious.) needed, and then as soon as she's done eating we get to snuggle and exchange smooches and giggles until one of us decides oh right, diaper change.
Hmm. Wow. Stream of consciousness much? Chicken shack --> banana peel --> hair --> BABY. It's like playing Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, only better because everything is better when Chick Fil A and babies are involved.
Well, it is hot and past my bedtime, and I don't see this post suddenly becoming a whole lot more organized or interesting, so I hope you enjoyed my haircut and...
Go Pirates!
sdg
So here we are, fair reader, with a few minutes all to ourselves before I turn in for the night. Laundry is folded, the ironing board tucked away, the dishes all safely in their cupboards. You'd think it was a Saturday (and, also, not a heat index of 19,000 degrees) from the productivity I've displayed this evening. Speaking of the heat, you want to know what it made me do today?
This:
(Forgive the shampoo bottle in the background; it's easier to see my hair with the shower curtain open, but it means you get to see some of the little sundries of life.)
This strange new lack of hair? I like it. I am even now leaning back against a pillow with nary a worry, not even a thought that I might be smushing a curl. Poor Mikayla doesn't know what to do with herself now that she can't tangle her fist in momma's flowing tresses while she nurses, but I? I am ok with that because: CONVENIENCE. It takes five minutes from my head in the bathtub to walking (running frazzledly) out the door. Or grabbing a screaming baby/changing a diaper/juggling flaming knives. Moms of the world, I understand you.
Not that this is a mom haircut. This is the sassy of Shannyn Sossamon meets the pixie-chic of Emma Watson. Meets, you know, a whole new level of bedhead in the morning. Which is why it's so fantastic that Joel's first glimpse of the new 'do will be tomorrow morning as we awaken to a fresh new day of Mikayla wondering where breakfast is because seriously child, have I not fed you every morning for your entire life and yet you persist in acting like this might be the day we leave you in the crib forever?
I LOVE my daughter. She is actually full of sparkle and laughter first thing in the morning. But while she is amazing at sleeping alllll the way through the night, the downside of ten hours between feedings is that breakfast tends have a certain...urgency to it. Hey, I don't have a problem with it. It is so sweet watching her rub the sleep out of her eyes until she realizes DADDA!! MOMMA!! You are here this morning, too!! Then there is a split-second change while her tummy connects with her brain and STARVATION. But it is really not too shabby to start each day feeling utterly (udderly? I'm hilarious.) needed, and then as soon as she's done eating we get to snuggle and exchange smooches and giggles until one of us decides oh right, diaper change.
Hmm. Wow. Stream of consciousness much? Chicken shack --> banana peel --> hair --> BABY. It's like playing Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, only better because everything is better when Chick Fil A and babies are involved.
Well, it is hot and past my bedtime, and I don't see this post suddenly becoming a whole lot more organized or interesting, so I hope you enjoyed my haircut and...
Go Pirates!
sdg
You Can't Teach Height (Six Month Update)
Imagine my surprise when I found out this morning that Mikayla is SUCH a big girl that she doesn't need another check-up until October! My first thought was...but there is so much time between now and October for me to screw something up. Somehow I have earned "their" trust, whoever "they" might be.
So just how big is Mikayla? She weighed in at 15 lb 10 oz (48.9%ile), 26.75 inches (67.3%ile), and head circumference 42.3cm (50.4%ile). She has taken a little dip in weight percentile, though still right where she should be for her age, and remains tall. Unsurprising for our little Pearcelet, who also inherits some serious length genes from her Maclay/Steele forebears. No match for her cousin Jillian, however, who sounds like she will be able to take Mikayla with one arm tied behind her back, at least in basketball.
Mikayla got two shots today and was a very brave little girl. She cried for a few seconds but quickly pulled herself together, forgiving the needle-wielding nurse and smiling up a storm on her way out the door. She makes a momma proud. Her curiosity made the check-up quite interesting, as she grabbed and attempted to chew the nurse practitioner's bracelet, and any stethoscope that came within reach. The doctor and staff just marveled at Mikayla's development: her speed, agility, dexterity, and visual acuity were apparently stunning. At least, their comments of "Everything looks just fine!" sounded to me like she is off the charts in both achievement and aptitude, wouldn't you agree? .......
She continues to gobble not only medical paraphernalia, but anything on a spoon or in a sippy cup. Her current menu includes oatmeal, avocados, sweet potatoes, and pears. The doctor recommended again today to start red meats soon. While I questioned this at our last visit, this apparently is a new recommendation from the American Pediatrics Whatever because parents were waiting so long to give meat, that babies apparently were not getting enough iron? They said that giving her meat will help proper brain development, and that was all I needed to hear. Far be it from me to hold back my little rocket scientist. So if I can get to the store today, our New Food Friday might just involve BEEF. Crazy, huh?
What are her favorite activities? Let's just say that watching her play makes me think of the Beach Boys: "I Get Around" describes her quite aptly these days. She will be such a happy camper when she can crawl, but for now she employs her rolling skills to get wherever she needs to go. If I take my eyes off her for a few minutes, I can be assured that I'll find her across the room from where she started. And momma can no longer doze while baby plays on the floor; the other day I opened my eyes to her reaching for the potted plant in our living room while banging on the TV stand door. Hm. While she isn't strong enough to pull anything over on herself just yet, I am not a fan of taking chances. Next stop, Baby-Proofing 101. Or possibly just, you know, staying awake.
She also LOVES hanging out in the Exersaucer, jumping around and going to town with the full range of toys available for her amusement. And if we happen to look over and catch her a) playing or b) watching us, she completely freaks out with smiles and giggles because OHMYGOODNESSYOUNOTICEDME!!! She gets a big kick out of playing with momma in front of the mirrors in our house (I'm not sure she quite grasps that she's looking at herself, but holy cow, TWO MOMMAS!). Her favorite is when momma sings "La Cucaracha" (I basically know the words "la cucaracha" and then hum the rest) or hums "Can-Can". She apparently is a big fan of watching others humiliate themselves. Add this to the list of "things you will never find on a YouTube or Facebook video".
Mikayla continues to sleep a good 12 hours at night, which continues to strain credulity with medical personnel everywhere (the purple room AND the yellow room at Grace Pediatrics, for example). They seem to breathe a little easier knowing that she now gets a nice big dinner every evening before her bedtime nursing. She is just a champ at falling asleep on her own for naps and at night; I attribute this partly to her temperament and the sweet blessings of the Lord, and partly to the hardish work we did early on with letting her cry and get used to being alone in her crib. It felt SO sadistic, but now it is hilarious to watch her hanging out in her crib before and after sleepytime. She kicks her foot back and forth like she is impatient, rolls down to the monitor cam to tell us stories and sing us songs, and occasionally turns the camera to give us a REALLY informative view of her crib bumper. All this, and she is so content to just be in there until we're able (or willing, as the case may be) to go in and get her. This is a particularly helpful skill set for her at 5:30 a.m. when it is just NOT time to get up yet. But when one of us peeks in the door, YOU'REHEREAGAINTODAY!!!! Sometimes the happiness overwhelms her so that she doesn't know how to express it, resulting in some rather disjointed flailings at times. Love!
If I had to describe Mikayla's personality today (which clearly I don't HAVE to, but do you seriously think I am going to hold back on MY blog?), I would say that she is primarily happy and delightful with generous sprinkles of curious, active, and determined. She is, so far, securely attached to both Joel and me, which allows her to confidently go rolling/exploring, greet new people with great pleasure, and whimper when we go away which actually is kind of a blessing to this momma's heart because hello, MINE. She is also remarkably resilient when she misses sleep or gets a short nap; she'll make up for it later, without TOO much cranktankerousness (new word). That's a good word for her actually - not cranktankerous, but resilient. Easygoing. (Mostly) unflappable. Thank you, dadda. If I could have MTO'd a first baby for us, my first move on the touch-screen would have been Joel's steady-eddy personality (and then his blue eyes, which she also has!).
We praise the Lord and give thanks constantly for the miracle of Mikayla Grace. She is certainly a precious gift to be regarded with much joy as well as humility, for we are not worthy of such a trust from the Lord. We pray that He makes us worthy and helps us to work out this whole parenting thing day by day, and we rely wholly on His grace to mend the places where we fall short. Thankfully, we know for certain that God is faithful to save and guide His children despite imperfect parenting (the fact that there are any who love Him is testimony to this).
Soli deo gloria!
p.s. Photos of Mikayla
(These don't include up-to-the-moment 6-month photos, but we thought you'd enjoy having access to this album anway.)
So just how big is Mikayla? She weighed in at 15 lb 10 oz (48.9%ile), 26.75 inches (67.3%ile), and head circumference 42.3cm (50.4%ile). She has taken a little dip in weight percentile, though still right where she should be for her age, and remains tall. Unsurprising for our little Pearcelet, who also inherits some serious length genes from her Maclay/Steele forebears. No match for her cousin Jillian, however, who sounds like she will be able to take Mikayla with one arm tied behind her back, at least in basketball.
Mikayla got two shots today and was a very brave little girl. She cried for a few seconds but quickly pulled herself together, forgiving the needle-wielding nurse and smiling up a storm on her way out the door. She makes a momma proud. Her curiosity made the check-up quite interesting, as she grabbed and attempted to chew the nurse practitioner's bracelet, and any stethoscope that came within reach. The doctor and staff just marveled at Mikayla's development: her speed, agility, dexterity, and visual acuity were apparently stunning. At least, their comments of "Everything looks just fine!" sounded to me like she is off the charts in both achievement and aptitude, wouldn't you agree? .......
She continues to gobble not only medical paraphernalia, but anything on a spoon or in a sippy cup. Her current menu includes oatmeal, avocados, sweet potatoes, and pears. The doctor recommended again today to start red meats soon. While I questioned this at our last visit, this apparently is a new recommendation from the American Pediatrics Whatever because parents were waiting so long to give meat, that babies apparently were not getting enough iron? They said that giving her meat will help proper brain development, and that was all I needed to hear. Far be it from me to hold back my little rocket scientist. So if I can get to the store today, our New Food Friday might just involve BEEF. Crazy, huh?
What are her favorite activities? Let's just say that watching her play makes me think of the Beach Boys: "I Get Around" describes her quite aptly these days. She will be such a happy camper when she can crawl, but for now she employs her rolling skills to get wherever she needs to go. If I take my eyes off her for a few minutes, I can be assured that I'll find her across the room from where she started. And momma can no longer doze while baby plays on the floor; the other day I opened my eyes to her reaching for the potted plant in our living room while banging on the TV stand door. Hm. While she isn't strong enough to pull anything over on herself just yet, I am not a fan of taking chances. Next stop, Baby-Proofing 101. Or possibly just, you know, staying awake.
She also LOVES hanging out in the Exersaucer, jumping around and going to town with the full range of toys available for her amusement. And if we happen to look over and catch her a) playing or b) watching us, she completely freaks out with smiles and giggles because OHMYGOODNESSYOUNOTICEDME!!! She gets a big kick out of playing with momma in front of the mirrors in our house (I'm not sure she quite grasps that she's looking at herself, but holy cow, TWO MOMMAS!). Her favorite is when momma sings "La Cucaracha" (I basically know the words "la cucaracha" and then hum the rest) or hums "Can-Can". She apparently is a big fan of watching others humiliate themselves. Add this to the list of "things you will never find on a YouTube or Facebook video".
Mikayla continues to sleep a good 12 hours at night, which continues to strain credulity with medical personnel everywhere (the purple room AND the yellow room at Grace Pediatrics, for example). They seem to breathe a little easier knowing that she now gets a nice big dinner every evening before her bedtime nursing. She is just a champ at falling asleep on her own for naps and at night; I attribute this partly to her temperament and the sweet blessings of the Lord, and partly to the hardish work we did early on with letting her cry and get used to being alone in her crib. It felt SO sadistic, but now it is hilarious to watch her hanging out in her crib before and after sleepytime. She kicks her foot back and forth like she is impatient, rolls down to the monitor cam to tell us stories and sing us songs, and occasionally turns the camera to give us a REALLY informative view of her crib bumper. All this, and she is so content to just be in there until we're able (or willing, as the case may be) to go in and get her. This is a particularly helpful skill set for her at 5:30 a.m. when it is just NOT time to get up yet. But when one of us peeks in the door, YOU'REHEREAGAINTODAY!!!! Sometimes the happiness overwhelms her so that she doesn't know how to express it, resulting in some rather disjointed flailings at times. Love!
If I had to describe Mikayla's personality today (which clearly I don't HAVE to, but do you seriously think I am going to hold back on MY blog?), I would say that she is primarily happy and delightful with generous sprinkles of curious, active, and determined. She is, so far, securely attached to both Joel and me, which allows her to confidently go rolling/exploring, greet new people with great pleasure, and whimper when we go away which actually is kind of a blessing to this momma's heart because hello, MINE. She is also remarkably resilient when she misses sleep or gets a short nap; she'll make up for it later, without TOO much cranktankerousness (new word). That's a good word for her actually - not cranktankerous, but resilient. Easygoing. (Mostly) unflappable. Thank you, dadda. If I could have MTO'd a first baby for us, my first move on the touch-screen would have been Joel's steady-eddy personality (and then his blue eyes, which she also has!).
We praise the Lord and give thanks constantly for the miracle of Mikayla Grace. She is certainly a precious gift to be regarded with much joy as well as humility, for we are not worthy of such a trust from the Lord. We pray that He makes us worthy and helps us to work out this whole parenting thing day by day, and we rely wholly on His grace to mend the places where we fall short. Thankfully, we know for certain that God is faithful to save and guide His children despite imperfect parenting (the fact that there are any who love Him is testimony to this).
Soli deo gloria!
p.s. Photos of Mikayla
(These don't include up-to-the-moment 6-month photos, but we thought you'd enjoy having access to this album anway.)
A Little Gratitude To Get the Dust Out
I am not usually one to post simply because I haven't in awhile, but I really feel the need to sweep a few cobwebs out of here before the big 6 month update (coming soon!). We are blessed to have been SUPER BUSY lately, not only with our sweet Mikayla in all her solid-food-eating glory (and the corresponding...diaper changes, if you will), but also enjoying tons of good food and fellowship during this beautiful Lancaster summer.
We were sad to say goodbye to my sister, her husband, and their two little ones (well...one is still inside Brittany's tummy for ease of transport, but he counts!) as they moved away about a week ago. They have been on a whirlwind adventure with Kory's Chick Fil A manager training program, which involved a three-week class in Atlanta followed by a graduation-day assignment. Meaning, yes, they found out on a Friday just when and where he would begin a new job. So that you catch the full impact of this, Brittany is entering her third trimester of pregnancy and they had the possibility of being placed anywhere. in. the. country. Mercy. So...it turns out, they had all of four days to get their hineys not to the west coast, but to our old stomping ground of western PA! That's right, they were assigned to a store in the Monroeville mall, so that my parents are easily able to help with Khloe and all the new baby hoo-ha come September. The Lord just continues to provide, provide, provide. As I said to Brittany, isn't it funny how He is always faithful, just like He promises, and somehow we always seem to feel amazed and relieved when He does? How just like a wee, little human being I am.
The upshot to saying goodbye is that I was blessed to spend some extra time with Brittany and Khloe (while Kory was at his class) helping them to pack up. We shared some meals together (with Kory, too) in the last days since I personally boxed her entire kitchen and just didn't think it would be right to sentence her to nothing but Chinese takeout in her condition. (Although thinking about this now...Chinese food while pregnant is basically like heaven. So, sorry Britt!) And Brittany and Kory decided to bless us like CRAZY by unloading their dining room table and widescreen TV on us, since they are moving to a furnished place. Honestly, I am more excited about the table because it has allowed us to extend hospitality that was previously impossible for us, especially in our Church of Large Families. Well that and we have to give the TV back eventually...
What else am I thankful for?
Our sweet friend Deborah who babysat (and washed our dishes. Seriously people.) and allowed Joel and me to go concerting and fireworking at Long's Park on Sunday night.
Joel's parents who came to visit on the fourth, and the Troxells who helped us eat some delicious brats (and hot dogs for their girls, who are not brats, for the record).
A flexible job that allowed me to stay home today to get over a little stomach bug. And a sweet daughter who didn't mind lying on momma's bed and playing with the same four toys ALL day til dadda got home from work to mix things up a little. Best company I've ever had on a sick day!
The young ladies of our church who are turning out to be rather insightful and SO much fun to hang out with at our Bible studies and other events this summer. And their moms, who could not be more supportive and helpful of the girls' ministry endeavors as we seek to cultivate Proverbs 31 womanhood. I am really looking forward to baking pies this Friday with whoever can come!
I feel like I could go on and on, but right now I am singularly thankful for the sound of the back door and keys hitting the counter, that let me know Joel is home and ready to hang out (and maybe let me beat him at a game, since I was sick today.) Glory to God for His goodness to us, even when it takes the form of stomach bugs and bittersweet goodbyes...
We were sad to say goodbye to my sister, her husband, and their two little ones (well...one is still inside Brittany's tummy for ease of transport, but he counts!) as they moved away about a week ago. They have been on a whirlwind adventure with Kory's Chick Fil A manager training program, which involved a three-week class in Atlanta followed by a graduation-day assignment. Meaning, yes, they found out on a Friday just when and where he would begin a new job. So that you catch the full impact of this, Brittany is entering her third trimester of pregnancy and they had the possibility of being placed anywhere. in. the. country. Mercy. So...it turns out, they had all of four days to get their hineys not to the west coast, but to our old stomping ground of western PA! That's right, they were assigned to a store in the Monroeville mall, so that my parents are easily able to help with Khloe and all the new baby hoo-ha come September. The Lord just continues to provide, provide, provide. As I said to Brittany, isn't it funny how He is always faithful, just like He promises, and somehow we always seem to feel amazed and relieved when He does? How just like a wee, little human being I am.
The upshot to saying goodbye is that I was blessed to spend some extra time with Brittany and Khloe (while Kory was at his class) helping them to pack up. We shared some meals together (with Kory, too) in the last days since I personally boxed her entire kitchen and just didn't think it would be right to sentence her to nothing but Chinese takeout in her condition. (Although thinking about this now...Chinese food while pregnant is basically like heaven. So, sorry Britt!) And Brittany and Kory decided to bless us like CRAZY by unloading their dining room table and widescreen TV on us, since they are moving to a furnished place. Honestly, I am more excited about the table because it has allowed us to extend hospitality that was previously impossible for us, especially in our Church of Large Families. Well that and we have to give the TV back eventually...
What else am I thankful for?
Our sweet friend Deborah who babysat (and washed our dishes. Seriously people.) and allowed Joel and me to go concerting and fireworking at Long's Park on Sunday night.
Joel's parents who came to visit on the fourth, and the Troxells who helped us eat some delicious brats (and hot dogs for their girls, who are not brats, for the record).
A flexible job that allowed me to stay home today to get over a little stomach bug. And a sweet daughter who didn't mind lying on momma's bed and playing with the same four toys ALL day til dadda got home from work to mix things up a little. Best company I've ever had on a sick day!
The young ladies of our church who are turning out to be rather insightful and SO much fun to hang out with at our Bible studies and other events this summer. And their moms, who could not be more supportive and helpful of the girls' ministry endeavors as we seek to cultivate Proverbs 31 womanhood. I am really looking forward to baking pies this Friday with whoever can come!
I feel like I could go on and on, but right now I am singularly thankful for the sound of the back door and keys hitting the counter, that let me know Joel is home and ready to hang out (and maybe let me beat him at a game, since I was sick today.) Glory to God for His goodness to us, even when it takes the form of stomach bugs and bittersweet goodbyes...
Four Generations of Faithfulness
Last weekend, Mikayla spent some quality time with both of her great-grandmothers - one near, one far. My Grandma and Grandpa (Steele) stopped by via Skype, and were just in awe of how fantastically adorable, alert, and amazing Mikayla is. It was so precious to me, to watch the looks on their faces as they beheld their great-granddaughter. They couldn't take their eyes off her! I look forward to telling Mikayla that she visited them in Florida while she was still inside momma's belly. And I look forward to their first meeting with each other, which I hope is sometime soon!
And as if that weren't enough, Mikayla got to meet my Mama (Maclay) - live and in person! From the first moment, Mikayla kept turning her head toward Mama, smiling at her voice. She seemed to know from whence she came! Watching them together, as Mama held Mikayla in her lap and showed her the little bird she had brought for her...honestly, it brought tears to my eyes. What a sweet moment. I had to just sit quietly and take it in. You can see for yourself:
And the highlight of my weekend was having the Boucher/Maclay/Steele/Pearce mothers and daughters together for a photo.
Have you ever seen a more good-looking bunch? (Try to ignore the fact that Mikayla is muffin-topping her too-tight 3-6 month jeans, and that my bra strap decided to make a photo-bombing appearance.) Mama's beauty genes have really stood the test of time, and have swum determinedly through the strainer of natural selection. That, and we all have really good taste in husbands.
What it really makes me reflect on, though (far more than how gorgeous we all are), is the Lord's faithfulness through so many years. He has been so kind to us, starting even before Mama and continuing right down through Mikayla's first four months. I have no doubt that there were moments in the lives of our mothers and grandmothers, just as there have been in my own life, of weakness. Moments of doubting His goodness, of wondering when His kindness will end or believing that my sin might stand in the way of His grace. We have worked hard. We have suffered and endured hardships. But look at how He has continued to move His hand and to bring forth good things. What a reminder this photo is of His unchanging, eternal love for His elect. He has our ultimate good in mind, in all that He sends us. Thank God there is nothing I can do to thwart His purposes!
Soli Deo Gloria :)
And as if that weren't enough, Mikayla got to meet my Mama (Maclay) - live and in person! From the first moment, Mikayla kept turning her head toward Mama, smiling at her voice. She seemed to know from whence she came! Watching them together, as Mama held Mikayla in her lap and showed her the little bird she had brought for her...honestly, it brought tears to my eyes. What a sweet moment. I had to just sit quietly and take it in. You can see for yourself:
And the highlight of my weekend was having the Boucher/Maclay/Steele/Pearce mothers and daughters together for a photo.
Have you ever seen a more good-looking bunch? (Try to ignore the fact that Mikayla is muffin-topping her too-tight 3-6 month jeans, and that my bra strap decided to make a photo-bombing appearance.) Mama's beauty genes have really stood the test of time, and have swum determinedly through the strainer of natural selection. That, and we all have really good taste in husbands.
What it really makes me reflect on, though (far more than how gorgeous we all are), is the Lord's faithfulness through so many years. He has been so kind to us, starting even before Mama and continuing right down through Mikayla's first four months. I have no doubt that there were moments in the lives of our mothers and grandmothers, just as there have been in my own life, of weakness. Moments of doubting His goodness, of wondering when His kindness will end or believing that my sin might stand in the way of His grace. We have worked hard. We have suffered and endured hardships. But look at how He has continued to move His hand and to bring forth good things. What a reminder this photo is of His unchanging, eternal love for His elect. He has our ultimate good in mind, in all that He sends us. Thank God there is nothing I can do to thwart His purposes!
Soli Deo Gloria :)
This Four-Month Update is Late Because We've Been Busy Applying to Colleges
If my state of mind from the past week is any indication, this post will probably include a little of this, a little of that, and have no discernible organization. But at least you'll be updated!
First, Mikayla Grace had her four-month birthday last week (on May 12, for those keeping score at home). Our new pediatrician doesn't do weigh-ins at the immunization visits, so near as I can figure she is at least 15 pounds according to our super-precise bathroom scale, whose numbers and hash marks I can barely see from my towering height of completely average. I have to wonder how my vertically gifted husband comes up with any sort of reliable data when he uses the thing.
I digress. But you were fairly warned.
Due to a growth spurt in the last few weeks, Mikayla is now into the next size of diaper prefolds, which will fit her until she hits 30 lbs. She is on the fence with regard to diaper covers; I feel sort of bad for the smalls as we streeeeetch them around her tush, but the mediums are still a little overkill. This is why I think she is a little more than 15 pounds - the mediums are supposed to start at 18 pounds, and are only the slightest bit big. In clothing, just today I started to put away her 3-6 month things. Some of them still fit (dresses, onesies that run big), but she is definitely into her 6-9 month pajamas. Somehow I only have one pair of 6 month jammies, so I pulled out the 6-9 as well and...they are not nearly as ridiculous on her as they should be. She is so long! Her thighs are just starting to chunk out, but for the most part she is an athletic, agile little peanut.
At four months, Mikayla rolls easily from front to back. She pulls her feet in, sticking her bottom in the air, and then topples over. Sometimes she stops halfway and hangs out on her side. The best part is that she only rolls when she should be falling asleep. We have caved at times to the pressure of her pitiful wails when she is in her crib like a turtle on its back. When, oh when, will she learn to flip back over? And she refuses to roll on command, so we may not have photographic evidence until she starts kindergarten. Mikayla also expresses her kinesthetic genius by holding - yes HOLDING - her toys. I can say with the humility of a first-time momma that your child has never grasped a rattle nor shaken a linky toy with the sheer brilliance that Mikayla demonstrates. You can just see in her eyes that she is thinking very deeply about her every move. (Hmm...I just realized this could also be interpreted as a sign of slowness...nah. Denial, it's not just a river in Egypt. [That one's way funnier out loud. Oh shoot, where was my train of thought?]) Oh right - Mikayla is just constantly learning about her little, rapidly-growing world!
I am also pleased to report that we have *drumroll* a SCHEDULE!! Well, if you don't count the past few weeks when Mikayla had that growth spurt and that nasty head cold. And if you sort of disregard the crying fits at bedtime. I guess this is like saying that except for the exceptions, we have a rule. But still - she gets up like clockwork around 7 a.m. (praise the Lord she has bumped it back a little from 6:30!), naps at 8:45 for at least an hour, often two. Afternoon naps are briefer and move around a little, but it's normal for those to develop a little later than the morning nap according to my hero, Dr. Weissbluth. (Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child = the sleep & schedule Bible of first-time parents.) We also discovered the beauty of leaving her in bed for a good ten minutes when she appears to be stirring...she has turned 45-minute naps into 2.5-hour naps by falling back asleep.
Mikayla's little personality is absolutely delightful. Joel has made a habit of peeking into her room each morning before he goes for his shower. This is usually a little before 7 a.m., and he tells me that she is usually flipped onto her back and awake at that point. And when she sees dadda peeking into her crib, she goes absolutely BANANAS with smiles and wiggles. It is their special moment before he heads off to work and before I get her up for the day. Then we spend our mornings together playing, cuddling, nursing, and napping before I get ready for work myself. It is so precious to me that Joel can be with her while I'm gone, and makes it so much easier for me to be back at work part-time.
I have been saving the most momentous update for last. Are you ready for this? Mikayla has been drooling for at least the past month, chewing on her hands and having mystifying crying spells at bedtime. We suspected teething, but saw nary an incisor on which to place the blame. Then, just last night, I arrived home to Joel changing her into her jammies and he pointed out what we've all been waiting for. Mikayla Grace, my sweet little baby who was only just born, has not one, but TWO bottom teeth poking through her gums!! I scooped her up and hugged her tight, and wondered who would be showing up on our doorstep next week asking for her hand in marriage. Joel thought that was a bit much, but doesn't it feel like they grow up right before our eyes?
Oh, and if you think I have photographic evidence of the teeth, you have obviously never attempted to photograph the inside of a baby's mouth. If you don't have a baby handy, try nailing jello to the wall with one hand and snapping a clear shot with the other. Email me the result and we will all have a good laugh at your expense.
Aaaaand you're up to date with Mikayla Grace! Thanks for stopping by!
SDG!
First, Mikayla Grace had her four-month birthday last week (on May 12, for those keeping score at home). Our new pediatrician doesn't do weigh-ins at the immunization visits, so near as I can figure she is at least 15 pounds according to our super-precise bathroom scale, whose numbers and hash marks I can barely see from my towering height of completely average. I have to wonder how my vertically gifted husband comes up with any sort of reliable data when he uses the thing.
I digress. But you were fairly warned.
Due to a growth spurt in the last few weeks, Mikayla is now into the next size of diaper prefolds, which will fit her until she hits 30 lbs. She is on the fence with regard to diaper covers; I feel sort of bad for the smalls as we streeeeetch them around her tush, but the mediums are still a little overkill. This is why I think she is a little more than 15 pounds - the mediums are supposed to start at 18 pounds, and are only the slightest bit big. In clothing, just today I started to put away her 3-6 month things. Some of them still fit (dresses, onesies that run big), but she is definitely into her 6-9 month pajamas. Somehow I only have one pair of 6 month jammies, so I pulled out the 6-9 as well and...they are not nearly as ridiculous on her as they should be. She is so long! Her thighs are just starting to chunk out, but for the most part she is an athletic, agile little peanut.
Mikayla at 3 months:
Mikayla at 4 months:
At four months, Mikayla rolls easily from front to back. She pulls her feet in, sticking her bottom in the air, and then topples over. Sometimes she stops halfway and hangs out on her side. The best part is that she only rolls when she should be falling asleep. We have caved at times to the pressure of her pitiful wails when she is in her crib like a turtle on its back. When, oh when, will she learn to flip back over? And she refuses to roll on command, so we may not have photographic evidence until she starts kindergarten. Mikayla also expresses her kinesthetic genius by holding - yes HOLDING - her toys. I can say with the humility of a first-time momma that your child has never grasped a rattle nor shaken a linky toy with the sheer brilliance that Mikayla demonstrates. You can just see in her eyes that she is thinking very deeply about her every move. (Hmm...I just realized this could also be interpreted as a sign of slowness...nah. Denial, it's not just a river in Egypt. [That one's way funnier out loud. Oh shoot, where was my train of thought?]) Oh right - Mikayla is just constantly learning about her little, rapidly-growing world!
I am also pleased to report that we have *drumroll* a SCHEDULE!! Well, if you don't count the past few weeks when Mikayla had that growth spurt and that nasty head cold. And if you sort of disregard the crying fits at bedtime. I guess this is like saying that except for the exceptions, we have a rule. But still - she gets up like clockwork around 7 a.m. (praise the Lord she has bumped it back a little from 6:30!), naps at 8:45 for at least an hour, often two. Afternoon naps are briefer and move around a little, but it's normal for those to develop a little later than the morning nap according to my hero, Dr. Weissbluth. (Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child = the sleep & schedule Bible of first-time parents.) We also discovered the beauty of leaving her in bed for a good ten minutes when she appears to be stirring...she has turned 45-minute naps into 2.5-hour naps by falling back asleep.
Mikayla's little personality is absolutely delightful. Joel has made a habit of peeking into her room each morning before he goes for his shower. This is usually a little before 7 a.m., and he tells me that she is usually flipped onto her back and awake at that point. And when she sees dadda peeking into her crib, she goes absolutely BANANAS with smiles and wiggles. It is their special moment before he heads off to work and before I get her up for the day. Then we spend our mornings together playing, cuddling, nursing, and napping before I get ready for work myself. It is so precious to me that Joel can be with her while I'm gone, and makes it so much easier for me to be back at work part-time.
I have been saving the most momentous update for last. Are you ready for this? Mikayla has been drooling for at least the past month, chewing on her hands and having mystifying crying spells at bedtime. We suspected teething, but saw nary an incisor on which to place the blame. Then, just last night, I arrived home to Joel changing her into her jammies and he pointed out what we've all been waiting for. Mikayla Grace, my sweet little baby who was only just born, has not one, but TWO bottom teeth poking through her gums!! I scooped her up and hugged her tight, and wondered who would be showing up on our doorstep next week asking for her hand in marriage. Joel thought that was a bit much, but doesn't it feel like they grow up right before our eyes?
Oh, and if you think I have photographic evidence of the teeth, you have obviously never attempted to photograph the inside of a baby's mouth. If you don't have a baby handy, try nailing jello to the wall with one hand and snapping a clear shot with the other. Email me the result and we will all have a good laugh at your expense.
Aaaaand you're up to date with Mikayla Grace! Thanks for stopping by!
SDG!
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