Our Little Lady is 2 Months Young!

This month has flown by (again)! We can't believe our little lady is already 2 months old.  This month was full of smiles :)!  There is something so rewarding and sweet about a baby's smile, it makes all those hard moments so worth it. They smile at you and it is as if they are saying, "I love you"! And as of the last week or so we have had some talking start too which is just so precious, she tries so hard to tell us just what she is thinking!  Soon enough she will be cooing away...we can't wait to hear that little voice talk more and more!!

She still loves being held, and rocked, but who wouldn't?! She requires a lot of sleep (like her mommy) and most of the time, once she is asleep she sleeps well, getting there can sometimes be a challenge for this sweet girl, she is just very aware just like her big brother.  She isn't sleeping through the night (although she slept for 5 hours straight once and that was glorious for mommy and daddy haha) so we will be working on that soon, but all in time.

Watching her brother play, admiring the fan, looking at and talking to mommy and daddy, looking at her zebra, reading books, hearing mommy sing, music, and being outside are just a few of her favorite things. We have started reading books to her this month and sure hope she loves to read just as much as her brother does.

She went to church for the first time earlier this month and did great, slept the whole time :).

She has rolled over from tummy to back three times, I'm not sure she knows what she is doing, but she isn't a huge fan of tummy time so she's found a way to get out of it those few times ;).

She is so fun to dress up, she is like a living doll :). I can't get enough of her cuteness.

We love this little girl so very much, she is such a blessing to our family.  We are so grateful for the 2 months we have had with her and are excited for many more, and continuing to watch her grow.  We continue to pray and hope that she would most importantly grow to love our precious Lord.

Happy 2 Months Doll!

Miss Brooklyn Grace-One Month

I can't believe our little girl has been with us for a month now...time really does fly.  It is amazing to watch your little ones grow and change, especially in the first few months, because it happens so quickly.  I look at little Brooklyn today and she looks  quite different then she did just one short month ago.

People always say with your second "you forget"...meaning you don't have the time to record every memory and milestone because you are so crazy busy with two now, and although I am crazy busy (CRAZY), I really want to make it a point to record as often and as much as I can so I don't forget all the precious moments in this sweet girl's life.

So what is she up to at one month old?? Well, she went from sleeping more than I could have ever thought a baby could sleep (the first week and half or so), to finding out that being awake is a lot more fun then sleeping ;).  She still seems to require more sleep than Brayden, but she is just as alert when she is awake and it is so fun to watch her examine everything around her...I wonder what she is thinking?!

She is a GOOD eater, like her brother, and eats quite often.  I am curious to see how much she has gained at her appointment next week.  I wonder if she will be in the 90%tiles like her brother was.

She smiles quite often in her sleep and even sometimes when she is awake, and mommy got one real smile, we have yet to see some more! We cannot wait for that :)!!!!

And she is ALL girl.  How do I know this?! Ha, well she is high maintenance and well, aren't all girls, at least the girly ones?!

She recognizes mommy's voice, and loves when we sing to her, hold her, and rock her.  She loves her special time with daddy every night...I can't wait to see that bond grow, there is something so special about daddys and daughters.

Her big brother adores her, he often asks to hold her, kiss her or hold her hand...too sweet.  I can't wait to see how their friendship blossoms as they get older, being 17 months apart will give them a sweet bond!

This month has been the biggest transition for all of us and we are so grateful for the Lord's constant provision of grace and strength as mommy and daddy have two littles now instead of just one.  We are so excited to see how the Lord grows little miss Brooklyn and pray that she would be great in His kingdom.

Being Faithful

A lot of people decide on a "word" each year that they believe He will use for His glory and their good. From faith to kindness, I have seen the Lord work in many of my friends lives in great ways as they have pursued Him with their whole hearts and as the Spirit has continued to transform them into the likeness of Jesus.  

Although I don't chose a word for each year, I do believe that there is constantly something that the Lord is teaching us and growing us in.  For me, that is faithfulness.  I have found myself called to fulfill many roles: a daughter of the living God, a wife, a mother, a friend. And quite honestly, sometimes it is hard to be faithful to all of those roles without letting some of them get "second best".  Last year, as a new mom, it was really easy to give both the Lord and my husband my leftovers as I felt like I had given my best, and all I had to being my son's mother.  As the year went on, I found myself convicted by the fact that I had prioritized my roles incorrectly at times.  Instead of mother, wife, and believer, it should have been believer, wife and then mother.

The Lord never calls us to anything that He won't equip us to fulfill/do, and if He has called me to be all of these things, and to be faithful to all of these roles, He will surely enable me to do them.  The problem seems to arise, when I depend on my own strength to fulfill these roles faithfully rather than on Him.  If I am obedient to seeking Him first, and growing in my love for Him, then I can be certain that He will provide me with the grace, strength, ability, time, and motivation to do the rest. 

I recently read a blog that a man wrote about his grandfather, and the legacy he left behind.  The man was faithful, not because he did BIG things in the eyes of the world, or even the church, but because He was faithful to the roles he had been given for all 80 some years of his life.  He had been faithful to put Christ first, and then to love and serve others.  And as he left this earth and entered into the courts of the King, I am sure he heard "well done, my good and faithful servant".  What beautiful words- ones we all should long to hear from our Master.

As I prepare to go from a mommy to one, to two just 17 months apart, I know that I will be faced with the challenge to be faithful yet again, faithful to all that the Lord has called me to be and do.  But what I am learning is that as I seek Him, He seeks to equip me.  He is the one watching, and it is only his eyes that see it all, and matter.  And He will never call me where He won't provide, lead, and carry. 

One Year Young!

I can't believe the time has already come to celebrate our little man's first year of life! This past year has been nothing short of incredible. We have seen creation first hand and the Lord's grace, faithfulness, and goodness through this little life.  It has been the best year of our lives thus far, and we are so grateful for the gift of this little boy.

We celebrated Brayden this weekend and it was so much fun! I can't wait to get the pictures back and post them!

So what is this little man up to at 12 months, 1 year?!  A lot!

Earlier this month he mastered standing, getting up and down on his own, and he is SO proud of himself for it.  We started cheering for him (clapping and saying yay) to try and encourage him to stay up because he is so cautious and to take steps, and so now he cheers for himself when he stands (which is all the time).  He also took some steps this month which was so exciting, walking I'm sure is just around the corner!  He is just very cautious at the moment about the whole idea, haha.

He talks SO much.  He can say 20+ words, and he surprises us almost daily with new words when we ask him to say something.  It is SO cute to hear him talk.  He has started saying "what's that" and pointing to most everything--SO SO adorable!

He loves to dance to music, so funny to watch, and of course so cute.  He loves being outside doing anything, playing in the water, playing ball, exploring, playing in the sand, going to the park, going for a walk...he could be outside 24/7.  And he loves balls, bubbles, balloons, and blocks (something about the letter "b"?!).  

He loves other kids, especially kids who are a few years older than him, watching them is just so exciting.  

He is still a mama's boy which I absolutely adore.  Hearing him call for me, never gets old. And he has gotten more and more cuddly lately which is the best!

His top molars popped through right before his first birthday, so he officially has 10 teeth, with 2 more on the way (I think).  And is still in both the 90% for weight and height.  He eats great and sleeps well (most of the time :)). 

He is just so much fun right now, we are loving every second.  And we are so excited to see what the Lord does in his life this second year!!  Happy first birthday sweetness, you stole our hearts, and do everyday! 

Mommy Lessons After 12 Months

This upcoming Monday marks one year since we met Brayden face to face, one year that we've officially been parents.  People always tell you that time goes by so fast, that they grow up in a blink, and it really is true.  As much as I love every stage that Brayden has come across so far, there have been countless times I have wished for a pause button. The last year has been, for me, the most sanctifying year of my life, but with that, the most richly blessed.  I have experienced the sustaining grace of God in real and tangible ways every single day, and have been blessed with seeing His love and His faithfulness continually.  

As sit and reflect on the last year, looking through photos of my sweet baby "growing up", and remembering the hard times and the ones filled with pure joy, I am humbled by the goodness of our great God.  He truly gives His children far more than we deserve.  The fact that He allows us to parent, that He would entrust to us these little lives, is a pure gift.  Psalm 127:3 says, "Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward."  

In the last 12 months I've learned a lot, about the Lord, about myself, about my marriage, about being a wife and a mother...here are just a few

Wholly Dependent
We are, whether we realize it or not, wholly dependent upon the Lord for ALL things. Psalm 37:5 says, "Depend on the Lord; trust him, and he will take care of you." Sleep deprivation, the unknowns of parenting, working through solutions with your husband, and trusting Him through a new pregnancy again...these 12 months have given me a new realization, daily, of my total dependence on Him for ALL things.

Be ALL There
I am a planner, a think-aheader (yes, I know that isn't a word).  And because of this, I tend to fail to "stop and smell the roses".  Having a child has taught me to slow down, way down, to realize that it is okay if the laundry doesn't get done that very moment, if I don't get ready when I want to get ready, or if eating lunch takes an extra ten minutes because someone wants to learn to feed themselves.  Ephesians 5 reminds us to "make the best use of our time"...sometimes this is to just enjoy your children, and the moment. 

You Learn Something New Everyday
Children aren't robots (my husband graciously reminds me of this often), and because of that, schedules aren't always going to work, days aren't going to be the same, and sometimes you might not be able to figure out just what is causing that upset little pout.  The Lord desires teachable hearts, and this is an area I am growing in.  Pride easily steps in to make me believe that I know it all, or I can fix every solution, but the reality is, I am learning, and going to be learning until the day I go home and am made like Christ.  I will never master the ability to be the "perfect" Christian, wife, mother, daughter, and friend...and that shouldn't even be my goal.  Instead I should be striving to learn more of Him each day through every moment, and seek to be used to glorify Him, which often means, being at a loss for what to do in a moment and having to get on my knees and pray, and trust that He is in control.

God, Husband, Children
This is a tough one.  Finding time to have with the Lord, especially in those first few months, is tough.  But the truth is, if I don't keep my priorities aligned, everything else gets messed up.  I can't be a good mother, if I am not a good wife, and most importantly a faithful lover of Jesus.  I am learning how to balance it all, and His grace has carried me through.  I am finding myself reminded that there is no formula, or list that you have to check-off each day in order to get a star for "Excellent Believer", "Great Wife", or "Good Mommy", but rather a willing happy heart, diligent effort, and grace upon grace. 

Don't Compare
Every kid is different, every mom is different, every marriage is different...don't compare.  It was so hard for me in the early months of this year not to wonder what I was doing wrong when Brayden didn't do what so and so's kid did at such and such an age.  But the Lord used this to teach me a vital lesson in Truth, your child was made to sanctify YOU, and through that to bring Him glory.  Therefore, start trusting Him, and stop comparing.  I may not be the pinterest or diy queen, make gourmet meals every night, or have time to clean like I would like every day, but my heart must be focused on the eternal, what will matter in the end?  What precious God moments might I miss when I focus on what is fleeting?  I am called to be Vanessa, the woman God made me to be, to bring Him the most glory in what He has called me to do...that is all, stop comparing.

The last 12 months have been amazing, I am so thankful, and I know the next 12 will be filled with more sanctification, joy and grace.  I am excited to continue to watch the Lord work, and pray He would continue to grow me into the woman that pleases Him!

Last Month as a "Baby"

In one month this little guy is turning one, where has the time gone?! It is amazing how much they change their first year.  We have been so blessed by this little guy's life, and are beyond thankful for the 11 months we've had with him. He brings us so much joy, and really is a constant reminder to us of the goodness of our Great God!

So what's new this month with this kiddo?! A...LOT!

He is "walking" everywhere, with our help, or with the help of his push toys or furniture. I am sure soon enough he will brave up and take a step on his own. But until then he finds ways to walk around on his own, or crawl as fast as he can to get where he wants/needs to go. He can also stand unassisted if he is distracted. He can totally do it, but gets nervous when he realizes that we aren't supporting him anymore and sits down..little stinker!

He has mastered climbing the stairs, with close supervision of course :). He is so proud of himself every time he does it. And climbing the jungle gym at the park is a favorite of his as well. He's tried climbing the slide too, as all kiddos do, but it'll be a few years before you can do that kiddo ;).

He has become even more of a chatterbox, he LOVES to talk. He has full on convos with himself, mommy and daddy, and others in his baby talk...if only we knew what he wanted to say.  He points to things and then just starts talking, it is SO adorable. He says mama or mom mom, dada, baba (bottle), ba (ball), bath, brush, bye, car, and YES (his favorite). 

Brayden has always been affectionate but even more so lately, especially towards mommy, and boy do I love it! He will just come over, for no reason, and bury his head in my shoulder or chest and give me a "hug".  I adore those precious moments.

His favorites at the moment are balls, being outside, musical instruments (SO CUTE to watch him play his drums, keyboard, and other little instruments), lights, and playing chase with daddy.

He is still an awesome eater, loving pretty much anything and everything now that he is eating most solid food! And it shows in his 90% height and weight...STILL!

11 months have come and gone SO fast. We are so thankful for each day the Lord gives us with this precious heart and are excited for what the Lord has planned for his little life!

Pregnancy, A Lesson in Faith, All Over Again

I thought being pregnant for the second time would be SO very different. Although there are differences, such as the way I feel, or how fast it is going, I still find myself struggling with similar things this time around. 

When I was pregnant with Brayden, he was constantly on my mind. Every twinge, ache, or "weird" feeling I experienced was new, and with many of those experiences came questions, fear of the unknown, and worry. I tried to follow most of the "rules" of pregnancy, like staying away from caffeine, and hot tubs, and sushi. I read all the books. I wondered if what I was feeling was "normal", I wondered if the baby was okay (especially before I could feel him during that first trimester), and I found myself searching google for "is __________ typical during pregnancy" countless times during my pregnancy. Through it all, I learned many lessons in faith and found myself humbled by the sustaining grace of the Lord and the reality of Psalm 139:13 "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb." 

When I held my precious little bundle of joy that January afternoon I was in awe of our Creator and how amazing He truly is. For He had created this little life, grew it and sustained it inside of my womb-it was an absolute miracle. And at that very moment I was reminded of the fact that I had no control over this little life, it was simply a gift of His grace.  For Psalm 139 taught me that it was He who formed the life in my womb, and it is also He who has written each person's days. 

Being pregnant that first time was stretching and good-it grew me in my faith and my dependence upon our good and faithful God. And for that I was thankful. 

I assumed, wrongly, that after being pregnant, and learning those "lessons", that when baby #2 came around, I would be much more faithful.  But the opposite is true. I find myself exhibiting faithlessness often, faced with different and similar struggles. Because each pregnancy is different, so is the sanctification you receive from the Lord. He is quick to remind me through pregnancy of my ZERO control over all things and of my desperate need for His grace and growing faith. 

No matter how many times I look on google to see if what I am experiencing is normal, how many rules I follow, or how careful I am to ensure that this little one is growing properly, changes the reality that HE is the One forming this life and in control of its days, not me. I have to trust Him, for He IS good ALL the time. I have to believe that His care and love and concern for this little life inside of me, far outweighs my love for it. I have to trust my Lord.

I am thankful for pregnancy, the hard days and the blissful ones because in and through it all, I am reminded of His love, and care, and goodness for His beloved as He sanctifies me continually each step of the way.