Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Disconnected... :)
Laura and I are feeling better, praise God! That was a LONG three weeks of illness! It was every bit as difficult as I imagined it would be... long nights, stuffy noses, sleeping beside the crib on the floor, coughs and sneezes, confounding blue suction bulbs, vicks plug-ins.... But, God has been faithful and we are both feeling much better. (However, I woke up last night with a sore throat. No!!!!!!! Please pray that God spares me from another illness, at least until after Christmas.)
Drayton had his first band concert last week and it was lots of fun. He did a great job! They played Hot Cross Buns and Jingle Bells. He has come along way in the past five weeks of learning to play the trombone. Makenzie's Chorus concert is tonight and we're really looking forward to that as well. We spent some time last weekend practicing the kids' songs for church and I was able to accompany (although not very well :) on the piano. Nevertheless, we had lots of laughs and fun!
That's all for now... busy day ahead, but hopefully, lots of pictures to come when our internet connection is re-established on the laptop. Please pray that God repairs it soon!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
We're still here...
Laura's five month birthday is tomorrow. I can hardly believe it! She is growing up so quickly!!!! She is officially rolling over now (which makes naptime really interesting!). She rolls from her tummy to her back and thinks it's super funny until she realizes she can't roll the other way -then she gets mad. :) We've also tried some solids with her again and... she loves it! So far, we've just continued with brown rice and squash, but I offered her some bananas this morning. Not sure if she's fond of bananas just yet. She made plenty of funny faces and raspberries. Naptime is getting better. Thank you for praying!!!! I really believe that your prayers are working!!! Laura is napping more consistently overall, although we still have bad days and our schedule still isn't predictable. Now, we're working on night-time wakenings. She is still waking two times each night (yawn.....). I typically nurse her for her first wakening and try to soothe her back to sleep for the second. Please keep praying as we help her to get on a schedule that serves us all and keeps her well rested.
Drayton has been busy playing the trombone. He's doing great! He's learned five notes already and seems to be enjoying it. It's quite comical in the evenings now with a trombone player in the living room, an infant napping upstairs, a Mommy trying to cook supper, and Makenzie doing homework. Sheesh! Speaking of Makenzie... no more braces! Yippee!! She looks super-cute and much older without her braces. I'll have to post some pictures of that as well. Makenzie really enjoys playing with Laura and is always a big help. She loves to hold her any chance she can.
That's all for today! Thanks for checking in! I'll try to post some pictures in the near future...
Monday, November 2, 2009
Argh.....
So, we're trying a few different things these days... later bedtime, earlier waketime, stretching out feedings... just to name a few. Saturday was perhaps the most frustrating, although comical, day in the last few weeks. Laura only sleeps 45 minute stretches for me, so I was curious to see how she would do when she was home alone with David on Saturday while I worked. SHE TOOK TWO 2 HOUR NAPS!!!!! No kidding!!! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. :) So, whenever we are both at home, I've asked him to observe her and make the call when she eats/naps, just to gain his perspective. She took another two hour nap when I left to go grocery shopping last night and David was home with her again. Sheesh! I'm sure glad I have a wonderful husband who has really profound parenting instincts and loves his little girl.
That's all for now! Better get to work! Oh, one more thing... I will be starting Laura on brown rice cereal (Thanks, Traci!!!!) soon (if she's interested) and would welcome your suggestions on baby feeding. Thanks!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Four months!!!!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Whew!!!!
We had a delightful time in Pennsylvania visiting family and friends. I was incredibly nervous about the drive up, because Laura is not a good napper and she rarely sleeps in the car. It took us about 11 hours to get to PA and Laura, true to form, slept only TWO HOURS!!! However, she was cheerful most of the day - at least as long as her Oma was entertaining her. I'm so grateful that my mom was able to join us. I couldn't have made the trip without her. Laura sure does love her Oma and Oma really enjoyed spending some quality time with her grandbaby.
We visited my Nana (my Mom's mom) the day after we arrived. Nana is 86 years old and doesn't get to leave her home very much these days, so I think our visit was a bright spot in her day. I hadn't seen her in over a year, so I was grateful for the opportunity to visit with her.
My dear friends, Cathy and Craig Horlacher, hosted us for the entire duration of the trip. They excel at hospitality! Despite the recent birth of their little girl, Allanah (7 weeks old), they graciously opened their home to us. It was so nice to have a home base during our stay.
On Sunday, we visited on of my favorite places on earth, Living Hope Church. Home sweet home!! It was so wonderful to see dear friends and to introduce them to Laura. We enjoyed a lovely lunch with Ken and Beth Mellinger and had a surprise visit from Ryan and Marcia McCarty. (Aside - I had prayed for God to cross my path with Marcia once again a few weeks ago. Marcia and I got to know each other during my Residency in York, PA. That same week, Marcia and her husband were praying to reconnect with me. They searched the internet and found my blog and contacted me through a blog comment. Wow!!!! God is amazing!! Ryan and Marcia came to Living Hope to visit and to see us. It was a treat to see these dear friends again!)
My Aunt Sue and Amanda came to visit for TWO WHOLE DAYS!!! It is always a joy to see these dear sisters in Christ. We had so much fun visiting and just enjoying each other's company. I love them!
Ann Smith and her little boy, Aaron, came to visit us Monday morning. Have I posted about our story? If not, I'll have to do that some day soon. Ann, Cathy, and I have been friends for only five years, but it seems like a lifelong friendship. God has been so faithful to us, all married in the same year, all have had babies within months of each other. These sweet ladies have been such a blessing to me over the years. Their friendship helped to make my single years rich in fellowship.
My mom and I made the long journey home again and she did a great job of caring for Laura. We had lots of laughs along the way!
Perhaps my favorite part of the trip was coming home to my dear husband. He wasn't feeling well all weekend, but wanted to bless me by doing projects around the house. He re-did the landscaping in our front yard, did the laundry, vacuumed, cared for Drayton and Makenzie, put flowers around the house, bought some little gifts for me, and had the house nice and tidy for my return. Wow! I sure do love him!
Whew! That's a brief update of our adventure. I posted a few pictures from our time in PA and from Drayton's birthday party below.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
On the road again...
Laura, my mom and I are headed to Pennsylvania tomorrow morning. I'm really looking forward to catching up with friends and family. I'm curious to see how the trip will go. The trip is 7-8 hours with two quick stops. I anticipate that it will be closer to 10 with stops for feeding and stretch breaks for Laura. Please pray for us as we head north.
Please pray also that we stay healthy. Swine flu is all around us and we certainly don't want to catch it or share it with our dear friends. We'll be staying with Cathy, Craig and Alannah (6 wks old), so we need to be healthy.
We plan to visit mostly family and friends from Living Hope Church in the few short days we have in PA. I would like to pack in many more visits with friends during our time there, but I think it's wise to keep it simple for this trip until I learn the nuances of traveling with an infant. Of course, by the time I figure it out, she'll be a toddler and we'll have new tricks to learn!
On the work front... it's been fun!!! I have worked three shifts so far and I am really enjoying it. I haven't worked more than 5 hours at a time (usually 3 hours) and my parents have been watching Laura. God has been so kind to provide this unique way to work for short periods of time and have Laura stay with family. The only unfortunate thing is that, in urgent care, we primarily see patients who are ill - namely with H1N1. So, I wear a mask and use plenty of hand sanitizer and cover it all in prayer. I'm pretty sure Dray and Kenzie have already had it and David, Laura, and I have managed to stay clear of it. Thank you, Lord! We pray that God spares our little one from H1N1 and seasonal flu. My heart is regularly tempted to fear for her health, but David has been kind to remind me that God is sovereign over our health and, if she does become ill, there is healing in the name of Jesus. Amen!
David preached again on Sunday. He did a fantastic job! We have been going through a series on what it means to love Charlotte. David was asked to finish the series with a sermon entitled "What will happen when we love Charlotte?" God will be glorified, of course, but David fleshed out what that will look like for us and for those we are called to love. He said that people have three responses: either they will openly and lovingly accept our love and sharing of the Gospel, they will be indifferent, or they will be hostile. We need to be prepared to love especially those who are hostile to the Gospel. He read several accounts of missionaries around the world who are doing just that and often losing their lives for the sake of the Gospel. It was a sobering, yet encouraging message. Too often, we settle for a warm and fuzzy Gospel in an effort to please people in hopes that they will lovingly accept the truth. Are we willing to share the truth of the Gospel (in love, of course) when the recipient becomes hostile toward us? It really gave me a lot to think about. You can listen to the sermon (and other sermons by Euan as well) on http://www.catalystchurchcharlotte.com/.
That's all for now... better get packing, laundering, cleaning, cooking.... Lord, help me to finish the tasks of the day. Thanks again for praying for us! Enjoy the photos!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work I go!
So, I'll continue moonlighting until God provides a very clear open door for permanent part-time employment. It would still be nice to have stable employment, especially these days. However, it is always a good thing to walk in faith, knowing that everything we have comes from the hand of the Lord. Again, David has done a wonderful job walking us through this, reminding me of God's faithfulness every step of the way. Have I mentioned how much I love my husband? He is a gift, indeed.
Laura turned three months this week. I can hardly believe it. This week, her hands have "found" each other. She often clasps them in front of her and it's incredibly cute. Her feet have also "found" each other. She loves to blow raspberries and make funny grunting noises. She sounds like a little old man many days. Where have all the cute coos gone? :) She also likes to kick and flail her arms (violently!) and then she stops abruptly, smiles, and looks at me for praise. It's precious! Modesty is no issue for her these days. She has learned to grab her dresses with both hands and pull them up to her mouth to chew on. Hello, belly button!
That's all for now - my eyelids are heavy and it's time for sleep... at least for a few hours. Laura has been waking up two times a night lately. I don't mind... I treasure this short season of late-night cuddles. Funny though, David said the other night that it seemed I was out of the bedroom everytime he woke up. I only fed Laura twice that night (I usually go to the living room to nurse her, so as not to wake him).... I must have fallen asleep for at least an hour during one of our nursing sessions. Who knew? (By the way, I sit up when I nurse her on the couch, so we both must have been quite a sight!) Oh, it's so much fun being a mommy. :)
This is one of her arm flailing episodes caught on film. :) Note the look of sheer determination.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Gratitude
We're not really sure if she liked it. She didn't cry, so we're assuming she didn't hate it. :)
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Recipes
Roasted Garlic Zucchini and Tomatoes
2 zucchini cut in half lengthwise, then into 1/2 inch half moons
2 cups quartered ripe tomatoes
1/2 onion, minced (I didn't actually use this)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 c. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1 tbsp fresh basil
Heat oven to 450. Lightly grease 9x13 pan. Combine zucchini, tomatoes, onion, garlic, red pepper in baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Mix well. Roast until veggies are tender and slightly golden, about 18 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with parmesan and basil.
I actually put salmon fillets right in the dish with the veggies and roasted it all. I served the salmon over cous cous and it was a really nice meal.
Chicken Italian in Foil
2 large potatoes
1/4 tsp salt
2 green peppers, sliced
2 tomatoes cut in wedges
4 boneless chicken breasts
salad oil
4 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp oregano
2 tbsp butter, melted
Cut potatoes lengthwise into 1/8" slices and place on 8x12" double layer of foil. sprinkle with salt. Add peppers and tomatoes. Lay the chicken on top of veggies and brush with oil. Mix ketchup, butter, oregano and pour over chicken. Wrap securely. Bake or grill until tender (1 hour bake at 400, 30 minutes grill).
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Odds and Ends...and two month stats
Adam and Lori were married at The Lakes in Kannapolis. It was a delightful day for a wedding! David gave an excellent message based on Philippians 2 - love one another as you love yourself. I'm so proud of him! I know the message was an encouragement to Adam and Lori and we hope to continue to build a friendship with them as they grow together in marriage.
I love this photo because it's not often that Laura is content to sleep in our arms. She actually sleeps much better when she is in her bassinet. Oh, I love to hold her, though! She's so snuggly!
I couldn't possibly love her more! Thanks, Aunt Crystal, for the sweet outfit... gaucho pants just like Mommy's!
Two month stats:
Laura had her two month well child check today (although she is actually 10 weeks old...we had to reschedule her original appointment)
Weight: 12lb 4 oz (95th percentile) Atta girl!!!!!
Length: 22 1/2 inches (50th percentile)
She had her first series of immunizations and, so far, is doing quite well. She's been cheerful today and doesn't seem to be bothered by it.
I saw this beautiful dragon fly at the wedding. I marvel at God's creativity. There is such beauty in His creation!!
NC Doty vs. Fluffy Dog
Defendant: Winston C. Kerlin
Defendant was specifically instructed not to play with the plaintiff's toys, specifically the green King Frog. The King Frog was placed on the countertop when the Plaintiff left to run errands with Mommy.
>
Exhibit A
Upon returning home, King Frog was found lying in the middle of the foyer floor. Defendant blatantly denies any involvement in the case.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Hello again!
I can't believe how big she's getting!
1. Baby's don't just "fall" asleep. In fact, this baby would stay awake for 6 hours straight if we allowed her to! She's so curious! I've learned to read her sleepy cues and we now know that her awake time after a feeding is really only about 45-60 minutes.
2. Pacifiers are really o.k. :) Initially, I was opposed to pacifiers. HOWEVER, I have learned that they really help her to fall asleep for her afternoon naps. That has been a real blessing. I couldn't find anything else to help her sleep in the afternoons and that made our evenings quite miserable for a while. Now, she usually takes two short naps in the afternoon, which is a big improvement.
3. Those little "ruffles" on the diapers that I thought looked really silly really DO need to be on the outside. No more leaky diapers in the morning! Thank you, husband and Beth Mellinger for teaching me that!
4. It is o.k. to schedule - at least a flexible schedule. Thank you, Meghann Hasty, for loaning me Baby Wise. It has been a real help to us! We are now on a pretty predictable eat, wake, sleep cycle, although the times still vary from day to day.
5. I love night-time feedings! Well, I actually love ONE night-time feeding. :) I enjoy those times when Laura is really relaxed and snuggly. Ahhh, I love being a Mommy!
On the job front... I am currently negotiating a job with a family practice near my parents' home. If it works out, I'll be working a few evenings each week and every other weekend as the Urgent Care physician for the practice. Please pray that God works out all the details. I am scheduled to return to work in mid-September.
Lastly, Laura is growing by leaps and bounds! Her two month check-up is on Monday and I really think she'll weigh well over 12 pounds. Atta girl! These days, Laura loves to stare at ceiling fans and kick on her changing table. She can roll over from her belly to her back and she loves to coo and babble to us. We simply can't get enough of her. What a gift from the Lord!
What great smiles!