11-30-10

Tonight I had dinner with Julie Hodge, who just found out she is pregnant.  She's probably the closest thing I have to a "real" friend.....wish she lived closer.  :(  Had a great time though!

In the middle of dinner, I got a wonderful call from my husband....bragging away because our sweet Anna Claire had LAUGHED out loud for him.....for ten straight seconds!!  Just cackled away at him as he sang "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" (he's been singing it constantly because he's supposed to sing it at our church Christmas Eve service).  Anyway, he sang it at her in the voice of the 90 year old  black lady who used to sing it at Bethel.....Evidently she thought it was funny, because he said it was like a cute baby laugh in the movies....gutteral sounding.  :D  What a joy!  He said it made his week, and I'm certain that it did!  I'm just pouting that I missed it!

11-29-10

Well, Thanksgiving is over (whew!) and now we are on to Christmas! :)  Thankfully (no pun intended), we are not traveling for Christmas, so we can enjoy it more and relax a little.  Next year holidays will be much more involved, but this year we just want to chill.  We aren't big gift buyers anyway (being broke when we were newly married helped us get off that train!), so we know Christmas can be fun without having a lot of "stuff."

Thanksgiving went as well as could possibly be expected with our families.

I absolutely LOVE my new phone - it's great!  I can take nice pictures with the 5 mp camera, which is nice with a new baby around! Plus, I love having my to-do list, the weather, etc. so easily accessed!  The best app I've found so far is Baby ESP - which tracks her sleep, eating, diapers, etc.  Very helpful considering my brain seems to be shot - I can't remember anything!  It's really nice to be able to say, "she ate 2 hours and 12 minutes ago, so she's probably hungry..."  Very helpful.  Pair that with the Babywise book and I've gained a tremendous amount of confidence - thanks to the Lord.

Speaking of Him, I have not been doing well with my quiet time....ESPECIALLY for the last week with us preparing to travel and then traveling.  I must keep in mind the John 15 - vine and the branches principle - that I can do NOTHING apart from him......including being a good mom and a good wife.  Considering there is nothing more important to me than doing those two things well, then I must re-prioritize my time.....God, please help me to love you enough to make time with you a priority.  Help me to remember that without being connected to you that I can do nothing.  Please do not let me fail my family by trying to live in my own strength.

Having dinner with Julie tomorrow night - oh, yeah - forgot that I haven't mentioned yet that she's pregnant! I worry for her because I know things have been tough for her and Chris the past year or so since they've moved to Troy.  I know they love each other though, but his job is just wearing on her.  Knowing how much my life has changed as a result of having Anna Claire (no doubt for the better, but changed no less), then I hope that they can go ahead and work things out so that the baby doesn't further stress their marriage.  I know in my heart that if they could work out the spiritual side of things - find a church, Chris begin to lead their family, that things would fall into place.  I really miss Julie being around - I had high hopes of her becoming a "best friend" of sorts - as silly as that sounds.  Somebody that I could really be close to and confide in.  I wish she could move back to Dothan. :(  But anyway, tomorrow will be fun and I hope to have time to get her a small congratulations gift.  I'd like to get her a Belly Book scrapbook like I had, along with a copy of Babywise.  Of course, I'd like to do more for her, but our resources are limited unfortunately.

Reading (ahem...listening to) John Grisham's new book, The Confession.  Andy is a little farther than I am, and he says that it is really making him reconsider his opinion on the death penalty.  I'm curious what I will think about that particular issue when I'm done.

Well, that's that for tonight, I suppose.  I love my husband and I love my baby girl.  God is so good and I am so thankful that He chooses to bless us as He has.  I want to serve Him more faithfully.

11-26-10

Day after Thanksgiving we spent a good bit of time at my parent's house.  Thankfully, this was the smoothest visit we've had to date.  Of course it helps that my dad has cool man-toys.  Andy decided to take the four wheeler out in the woods.  I chose to opt out.  :)  I think I made a good decision (see pics below for obvious explanation why!)


FILTHY!!

11-23-10 - Anna Claire is weighed - 13 lbs 4 oz.

My girl is getting so big! She weighs 13 lbs 4 oz as of today! She's also dealing with the getting weighed thing a little better too! ;)

11-21-10

My silly girl is so funny!  She has laughed out loud VERY few times - but she has started to giggle in her sleep!  That laugh is absolutely the most precious thing.....it just makes the day for me and Andy. 

Something else that she is doing is starting to poop in the tub!  I don't know what I'm doing wrong - bad timing I guess - but she has done it several times in a row!  She gets so serious and stops kicking - then next thing I know I see brown (or green) smoke issuing from her behind! YUCK!  Doesn't bother her though! :)  She always wants to kick and play afterwards!

11-20-10

My darling girl has been so sweet today, which is a nice change from yesterday! Wish the green poop was gone but oh well!  Funny stuff though - Andy fed her tonight and let me take a nice long bath, and she had a messy diaper and we thought she was done.....nope.....waited until she was in the bath and then she decided to finish!.....and finish!......and finish!  Before she was done, the water was green!  YUCK!  :) 

She's so precious though - I love how she is beginning to just really know us.  Tuesday night when Kim kept her, when I walked in to pick her up, she was laying on Kim away from me and when I started talking she spun her eyes around to find me.  Nothing could possibly warm my heart more.  Oh, how I love her!

On a different note, I am really liking my new phone - there's really an app for almost anything....including posting on this blog.  It's a little bulky to try to type anything long on it, but it will service for quick notes and things I want to remember....and that's the important thing!  But I've spent literally, most of the day piddlefarting with it, and I think I finally have everything ready to go.  I think it's going to be so unbelievably helpful - between the improved to-do lists, banking, Calvin & Hobbes app, better camera, improved social networking, ability to blog on the telephone, weather, etc.  I just really, really like it.  God has blessed us over and above again and again.  This is just another blessing - a brand new phone for free!

11-19-10

We are getting our new AT&T phones today!  Yay!!  I'm so excited to try out my new HTC Aria - it has a 5.0 mp camera on it, which should be great for taking quick pics and texting them to family!

Anna Claire woke up in the middle of the night to eat and then again around 6, so that's not too bad.  I think she's in the middle of a growth spurt, so it will pass.  Plus, I did put her to bed awfully early last night....

But she wakes up soooooo sweet.  She nurses in the bed with me, just cuddled right up next to me, and then will fall back asleep.  It's one of my most precious times with her and a treasured memory. 

11-18-10

Today was a great day too! Kim got a new acct so she took us to Longhorn to celebrate-yum! Anna Claire took her first long nap in her crib-two hours! Yay! She's doing so well on her schedule, I just hate that we are going to mess her up so badly next week when we travel. Maybe it won't be too bad. Just not sure how she will do sleeping in her pack-n-play.

As far as going to bed at night though, she's really been marvelous with that...maybe she's just one of those babies that need a routine, but ever since we started feeding her, bathing her, read her a story and off to bed, she's went straight to sleep and slept all night. Last night she slept from 9 until 7! Well see about tonight...I put her to bed at 8:10 so I'm not sure how she will react. Whatever her reaction, it will be fine. She's the best baby in the world!

I'm constantly amazed at how much you can love your child...it almost hurts-in a good way!!

Super excited about our date to see Harry Potter 7 and dinner tomorrow! We are halfway watching 6 tonight to get in the swing of things but I'm writing this and he's on his computer playing Kingdoms of Camelot so neither of us are paying total attention. That's okay though, I can quote it almost! Love, love, love Harry Potter!

11-16-10

Today was a fun day...Andy got his braces off (yay!) and then we had to run to sams for an errand. Afterwards when I took him back to the church, little miss Anna Claire wa in a wonderful mood! Bro Ricky came out and started talking to her and moving his fingers at her and she just thought that was the greatest...and laughed out loud...twice! This was the first out loud laugh...and it wasn't even at her mommy or daddy!! Haha. Kim says that anybody would laugh when they see bro Ricky! Haha


Andy looks great without his braces though - Anna Claire gave him a big grin when she saw him.  I'm sure she doesn't realize there's a difference, but it was cute, nonetheless!  (Most everything she does is cute - minus the cranky crying!)  :D  Now, he has to learn how to play his trumpet all over again - that will be a challenge, I'm sure!

Nap in the crib....

(I don't know when I originally wrote this, but I failed to put the proper date. :( sad. ) 

Anna Claire is asleep in her crib for the very first nap! I took the sound machine and put it in there.....that thing is a lifesaver! The new one doesn't make the same sound and she paid it no mind. Put the old one in, and BAM - asleep! :) (Probably not good that she is so accustomed to it, but hey....) I may run to Target and exchange the new one for a second one of the old one - one that can be for the other room OR as a backup if necessary!! hahaha!!!

11-11-10

I saw a book that I am interested in reading called, Building the Christian Family You Never Had. I feel guilty even saying that I'd like to read it, knowing that my parents did the best that they could to raise me to know Christ. I just want our spiritual lives to play out more for Anna Claire to see - for us to be vulnerable in front of her about our walk with Christ. I think that may help it become real to her. Father, may it be so! We need grace even to WANT to know You more and to walk more closely with You!

Andy and I are both working on scripture memory verses in our own way. He's made himself fancy cards and a CD of a person speaking the verses. I've downloaded seventeen verses set to music by Mark Altrogge and I'm going to have Andy make corresponding cards. I love my CD - it's been so helpful. Only thing is that I'm having trouble remembering the references without the music....

Andy did a great job last night speaking in the youth service. Or rather, God showed up. About halfway through, you could almost sense a visible change in Andy's demeanor as he spoke, and it was powerful. He was talking about spiritual warfare and using Ephesians 6 as the text. It was all good, but the idea that I want to carry away - the item that God really emphasized to me - was that I pray all the time for my physical needs regarding a body that decays and a temporary physical life, but how often do I pray about my (and others) spiritual needs? He showed at the end of chapter 6, that although Paul was in chains, he didn't pray for freedom, for healing for the marks that no doubt covered his body from his imprisonment, etc.....he requested prayer from the believers for the words to speak and boldness to proclaim the message. Wow. I mean, I pray for my dad pretty frequently, albeit without the passion that should mark prayers for his salvation. (I guess it is just a common prayer now, but it is still the cry of my heart!) But other than praying for Dad, and praying for Anna Claire to know Christ and that me and Andy would be godly parents, I don't spend a lot of time asking for God to meet my spiritual needs. I need to rectify this.

Last night we had the most fun in the tub! Anna Claire was just a "talking" to her Daddy! She's becoming so responsive! It sounded just like she was imitating his "hello's!" I've been trying to start a habit of giving her a bath before bed - she likes to splash so much that she seems to wear herself out and be good and ready for bed afterwards! We've also been reading from a sweet little children's bible story book. I like it a lot - it tells the bible stories, but then shows how Jesus is in the theme of them all. Very sweet. I know she can't understand yet, but I want her to grow up familiar with the name of Jesus and knowing of God's love even before she can understand the words.



All kidding aside, however, I think that a black and white striped HAIRY spider on the outside on my drivers side window is a good way to get me KILLED while driving......can we say hyperventilate!!! Thanks be to the little Indian man who runs the gas station for killing him, otherwise I would still be sitting at the gas station OUTSIDE of the vehicle where I could keep my eyes on the nasty critter.

11-10-2010

Went grocery shopping today - obviously Anna Claire agrees that shopping at Publix is "a pleasure!" She is such a good baby. Then we had a nice lunch with Daddy - he held her at Rodeo's and she just was so content. Thankfully the waitresses contented themselves with just talking to her and not touching her hands today! :) Too bad I forgot her new Spanish bib though! Oh, well - next time!

Having trouble with the motorcycle......again. I know - shocker huh? Dad mentioned that he would consider buying a Nomad and giving us his Vulcan and using our Goldwing as a trade-in.....I really, really, really hope it works out! If not though, I am reminding myself that we are incredibly blessed! God continues to meet our needs time and time and time again!

On a side note - I can't believe how much better my phone pics are since I cleaned the lens with alcohol! (See above as an example!)

Well, I hear AC waking up in her crib.....she really doesn't sleep well there for whatever reason. Oh well, she'll get accustomed to it at some point!

11-9-2010

Today was a good day - Anna Claire is such a joy! We are still working hard on establishing the Babywise schedule, but overall, she's doing great. Her naps aren't as long as I would prefer, but hey....

Also, I am trying to help her get accustomed to her crib....she seems to wake up scared. At least at night. She did okay yesterday in there for a nap in themorning, but woke up early, so I moved her to the bassinet to finish her nap b/c she was getting super upset. Last night we laid her down around 7:30 or so and she made it about an hour, but she woke up unglued. Had to feed her to calm her down - just hysterical nearly. Same thing at 9:30 - did okay at first, but woke up extremely upset.....wayyyyy more so than just a cranky wake-up. Funny thing is that the minute we took her from crib crying, and laid her in the bassinet, she calmed right down and went straight to sleep. I think it's just going to take some time and persistence taking short naps in the crib to get her used to it. Oh well, there's really no huge hurry.....she's just outgrowing her bassinet, but that doesn't seem to bother her! :) haha

Every day though Anna Claire seems to be more responsive, more interactive - what a joy she is!

I talked with another Minister's wife tonight - it was disturbing to me.....the verse about young widows should marry so that they do not become idle gossips and busybodies kept ringing in my ears. Although I know her heart was to protect her husband, I was reminded anew that GOD has to protect my husband. Made me think that there is no way that I would want her as a staff wife where we serve.....and that's not something I'd ever want something to think about me. God may it never be true of me.....

11-7-10

Well, it would work out that on the night when I should be getting an EXTRA hour of sleep, Anna Claire has decided to want to have playtime at 2:45 a.m. :) haha. Especially ironic considering that she has slept all night all the past three nights. Something is working against me. :)

11-4-10

I am very tired, but so thankful that Anna Claire's hip ultrasound came back normal. (Frank breech babies are at a greater risk of hip problems.)  I never cease to be amazed at how God continually takes care of us!

11-3-10

I enjoyed visiting with my old co-workers this morning. (Can't say that I miss the place though....)  Getting the dogs groomed today! (YAY!) Still have a few errands to run this afternoon. Almost finished with Babywise, now if I can just successfully implement it. That's the fun part! :)

Alas, long time no see....

As usual, I have taken another hiatus from journaling/blogging. Now that we have welcomed our beautiful baby girl I need to make it a priority to record my thoughts and what she is doing, what she means to us and so on.

Today she is sick - not bad, but just puny. This is a first and I'm not enjoying it at all. She's congested, sleeping a lot but not eating much. Still sweet though, and has wanted to cuddle a lot today. I hope so much that she feels better tomorrow!

I talked with the Pediatrician's office today though and they assured me that if she wants to eat 4 ounces from a bottle that it is okay - even though Keitha had made it clear that she should eat only 1 ounce per month, which would only put her at 2.5 ounces currently.