8 Months

Can she really be 8 months?
Yes...she really can, because she is.

Of course you can say all the cliche things like:
Where did this year go?
I want to freeze time.
Just yesterday she was a newborn, tomorrow we'll be walking her down the isle.

All of which are true and I say them, a lot.
But seriously...where has this year gone!?

I may not know, but I do know what she's been up to lately:

• She's realized that rolling places is a mode of transportation. She even rolls naked onto cold wood floors...now thats determination!
• She can pivot and turn around while sitting up. She even puts her weight out on her arms and starts to look like she might crawl.
• She said "Momma" on purpose at 7 1/2 months, while being held by MiMi and looking at Momma. Made my heart ache!
• Started to say her "D" sounds and the beginnings of the word "DaDa"...funny how "Momma" was first for her!
  
• Can wave "Bye, Bye" and "Hi".
• Is learning how to put her hands up and do "SO BIG".
  
• She freaks out with excitement when her Baby Einstein video turns on and the cactus puppets appear on the screen.
• When she gets really excited she takes several quick breaths in a row...like she's trying to catch her breath then squeals...its so cute.
• She pats everything. Including her sides when shes excited. My favorite is patting her leg while she nurses.
  
• She went swimming for the first time and LOVED it. Like one big giant bathtub!
• She is becoming very social. Smiling and laughing at random people. She is very interested in what is going on around her. She loves to be out and about (me too, I love this about her).
  
• Still napping twice a day. Morning for about 1 hr to and hour and a half. And an afternoon nap that is usually 2 to 3 and a half hours.
  
• She is eating like a champ.

So far she has eaten both Rice and Oatmeal cereals mixed with breast milk.
Her veggies: Squash, Peas, Sweet Potatoes and Carrots.
Her fruits: Pears, Prunes, Apple Sauce and Bananas.
Solid Adventures: Some small pieces of bread and lots of Puffs.
She can feed herself and actually prefers to. Now when I try to spoon feed her baby food she grabs for the spoon like: "Let me do it!"
Sneaks of Food: ICE CREAM! Yes, she had a small taste and definitely wanted more.
Sadly, with the increase of food the decrease of nursing continues...

She nurses every 4 hours during the day. Usually only 4 feedings a day, five if I'm lucky. Most of those feedings are now me pumping and then giving her a bottle. I think she prefers this. I still enjoy our 4 am., bedtime and morning feedings...these are the ones she seems to still eat the best. Although...she has begun to give up the 4 am. feeding. She now sleeps from 7:30/8pm. to 8 am. She also is sleeping just fine in her big girl crib....I finally gave in and put her in her own room. I miss her being so close, but it was time. Big step for Mom, no biggy for Mady! Ha.

The Biggest Update:
Mady is wearing glasses.
(More to come on this subject in a later blog)
Here's the main highlights about her new accessory:

• We started to notice one eye turning in. It progressively got worse over the past month.
• Her doctor recommended a Pediatric Ophthalmologist. We went.
• He dilated her eyes and tested them with a series of lenses and light shining into her eyes.
• Turns out she is very farsighted....even more than normal (all babies are farsighted).
  
• As she grows her prescription may lessen...and it may not.
  
• Either way........she looks tooooooooo cute for words in her new frames!
• See for yourself....
  

Thankful Thursday

Leaving a Legacy

When I became a Christian I yearned so deeply that my mother would become a believer. I wanted so badly for the one person on this earth, that knew me the best to share in the amazing splendor of Salvation and new life in Christ. I wanted someone to pray with, share stories, convictions, confess sin to, glean advice from, cry with and journey in sanctification together. I knew no other Christian adults that were close to me, at the time. The only Christians I had were my friends from UK, which made for lonely breaks away from school. I missed the sweet fellowship and love from my real family; The Body of Christ. I desperately wanted to include my earthly family in this new body.

I am still praying for the conversion of my mom.

Now that I am a mom. I am also praying for my daughter's conversion. I pray earnestly that the Lord would reveal, through the holy spirit her sinful state and allow her to seek grace and redemption in Christ. I know this will be a process and take much time and prayer; especially as we add more children to the mix! One way I have begun to do this is read scripture aloud to her. I also have gotten into the habit of praying scripture and psalms in her presence. But one way I am especially thankful for is: leaving her a Legacy of Truth.

Madelyn's Truth Legacy is found in the pages and margins of this Holy Book; which is Truth. Bryan purchased this Bible for me when Mady was about a week old. I was finding it difficult to hold and read my Bible with one hand, while nursing and rocking Mady as a newborn. So he bought me this smaller cute, pink bible. Something about a new bible that just makes me want to read it!! Like I am reading the words anew!

One day I had an idea. I would dedicate this bible to Mady. Only giving it to her after she trusted Christ as Lord of her life. (If He calls her to a saving knowledge of Him, which we are praying He does). Once she becomes a believer and I see fruit in her life, she will receive this bible. It will be full of notes and reflections from me. I plan to use it up until the day she makes that decision. I want her to see this Word as Life. Words to live by and receive sustenance for our souls. I want her to read my margin notes as further understanding and reflection from her mother, who has cared for her since day one; but see a larger connection. I may have cared for her, but Christ is the ultimate care taker. I have loved her, but the only way I knew how to love her is because I know Christ, who is Love. He taught me through His Word.



I am thankful to sit in Church, in the present with Mady upon my lap as she chews on the edges of this cute, pink bible and laugh at how currently, in the book of Daniel (which is what our church's sermon series is on) the pages are extra crinkly, because of her wet 'baby kisses'. I cannot help but wonder about the day she reads the book of Daniel and her hands hold the crinkled edges of each page in a quiet understanding that she was there once before.

This legacy will be hers. Her's to learn from, read stories, pray with, glean advice from, confess sin, cry over, and ultimately journey in sanctification with. One day I will be gone and unable to join in these joys with her, but The Word of God has stood the test of time and will continue to be the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. She will be left with a Legacy of Truth far better than anything I could have written for her and for which, I am thankful!

D.I.Y.

My question is this:
Why do it yourself when you can HIRE someone
MORE QUALIFIED SKILLED HANDY
to do it for you.

OR

you could still do it yourself.

Which is what this is:

Now before you get really proud of me.....
I DID NOT MAKE THE CURTAINS. I am NOT that domesticated. They are Pottery Barn for Kids, pink gingham blackout panels. I am talking about hanging the dang curtain rods.

I'm pretty sure you need a degree in engineering to do it perfectly.
I must admit. Bryan and I are NOT the handiest of people. I used to think I was, but the curtains have won the battle....I hand over my drill and hammer....they have won!
I will add that Bryan has become increasingly more handy as the years of marriage continue to make new notches in his proverbial tool belt. He really has no choice, he's a dad now. And...from where I sit, a man in a tool belt is SEXY!

Anyway....

I love to cook, design, organize, clean, plant flowers and yes even laundry....but I draw the line at hanging curtains. You can call me a bad domesticated diva...but I am not perfect and it was something I wish not to do again.
We have HUGE gapping holes in walls of our previous houses/apartments that prove that WE hate hanging curtain rods! Seriously...it's not that hard, but we find a way to make it hard.

All kidding aside....I do love the end result. I need to iron them, but they are cute!



and its all for this sweet face...

our next project....a fabric upholstered head board!

Thankful Thursday

Bryan and I have been quite reflective lately. We've been thankful for so much, as God has continually reminded us that we have so much to be thankful for.

We are thankful for every milestone and "mountain" that marriage throws our way. We both would agree the second year of marriage (we're currently in the beginning of year five) we learned a lot. Mostly we learned what it felt like to be stuck in a place we thought was going to look a lot different than it did.

Don't you hate promises and plans that never turn out the way they are supposed to? Well, that pretty much sums up a lot of that year. 2007-2008...a year to grow. And we did.

This is not Bryan's opinion, I speak only for myself on this blog. So if I say something raw, that's probably because I usually say things that are honest and not always filtered. That year was hard for me on so many different levels. So many, that this blog doesn't have enough time or space to fill with the details.

To name a few biggies:

1. We were involved in a church plant that didn't go as planned. Some might say failed, I say never took off... The mixed bag of personalities in this group made for a rather interesting year. It taught us that the Body of Christ doesn't look like a college student. It can be old, young, black, white, newly-weds, middle aged, divorced, single and so on. We learned that this mixed bag is necessary, but not always harmonious. (is that a word?) You get the point.
2. We lived in a house that DRAINED our wallets. A silly decision on our parts, but we wanted space and to live near friends. In the end we missed our one bedroom, first year apartment. Our slumlords gladly took us for a ride!
3. I took a new job that involved much traveling and much stress. Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians. I had my weekends free, but I needed the two days to unwind the ball of nerves created from the week.
4. Hurdles and struggles crept into our marriage and threatened to steal our joy. It did on some days...Everything from sin, to both of us facing medical problems that led to surgeries...it was a whirlwind!

I say all of this to point out that...had it not been for that difficult year we would not be in the place we are today.

1. Involved in a growing, thriving, amazing, Christ centered church.
2. Working two jobs that provide for our well being.
3. Being able to conceive and have a wonderfully, healthy and happy baby girl.
4. Bryan ripping his way through seminary and LOVING every minute of it.
5. Living in a home that is a blessing of provision from the Body of Christ.
6. Conquering and defeating sin that threatened to steal, kill and destroy our marriage.

We are thankful for that year because we wouldn't know any of those top mentioned blessings had it not been for hurdles we had to jump to get to this place now.

This week I had to do a lot of confessing of past sin. A lot of this sin was from bitterness that had festered in my heart from that year. Ohhh how wonderful it feels to let God "cleanse you from all unrighteousness", when we are faithful to confess He is faithful and just to forgive. Bitterness combined with pride held a weight so heavy on my soul it threatened my current joy. Once I let it go I felt like I could see more clearly. See things that weren't even related to my past sin. But much like a weed, sin chokes every area of new growth. And that's what it did to me.

So I refuse to let sin linger because of my pride. I want to confess immediately to lavish in the blamelessness Christ calls me to be in. I will be a better wife, mother and friend because of it...and for this I am thankful!

and just for fun....
pictures of Boodels:

Someones in the Kitchen with....

DINA...or....DANI....
Ha.
Here are a few of the tastey things that I eat. You may be wondering why I am posting this...but so many people have asked me what I eat because of Mady's food sensitivities.

And just for an update. Mady is doing great! I eat just about everything now. As a reminder, at one time I was avoiding: Dairy, Soy, Nuts, Wheat, Gluten and Eggs. During this crazy diet Mady's reflux completely went away and she became a different baby. We also found out that she is allergic to nuts. (Which is not uncommon for someone her age....most likely she will grow out of this eventually). I still am avoiding dairy: milk, creams, yogurt, cheeses etc. I know she is not allergic to dairy, but she is definitely sensitive to it (at least she was at 3 months) and Bryan was as a baby....so I've decided I will continue to avoid dairy until she is done nursing.

It honestly has not been bad. There are substitutes for everything! I am considering keeping this change and also trying to avoid gluten too. Its amazing how different you feel when you avoid all the unnecessary crap! Anyway....I digress. Here are some of the fun meals and / or sides I've made.

Recipes to come!!

Thankful Thursday

Here is the first of many (we hope I can stay that consistent) Thankful Thursdays. Where we stop our busy lives, for a moment to ponder and praise all the areas the Lord has provided in abundance.


I am thankful for:

• My sweet husband who desires to wash me in the Word and loves me too much to let me stay the way that I am....no matter how much of a fight I put up.
• My healthy, thriving baby girl; who is a gift from the Lord that I must remember to continually surrender. Her development and health are outstanding. I confess I worry too much when she teethes or seems more irritable than normal, when I should be looking at the great picture. Shes healthy, happy and thriving....all credit due to our God.
• Our home. I confess I often complain about it being old or having little living space. So soon I forget the amazing blessing of Bryan's parents providing this place for us to dwell safely in this season of our lives. It is more than enough to meet our needs.
• Our jobs and the financial provision it allows. I confess, again (lately there has been more confessing) that I have been given to complaining about the lack of finances when I should be thankful that we DO have money. It may not be enough at a given time, but it is enough to support our immediate needs.
• Our church. The incredible teaching, fellowship, worship, accountability and community it fosters. The challenge it gives in encouraging its members to take the Gospel not only to our streets and homes, but to the nations. I am thankful for this challenge, as it certainly is one for me; and with that I confess.

• I am thankful for conviction like this:

"Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--you, then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." Romans 2:17-24

• I am thankful for Romans 3 that clearly states that "NO ONE IS RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE!" Romans 3:10a. SO apart from Christ....of course I would find ultimate condemnation in the above verses (Rom. 2:17-24). I am not bound to the law, but to grace. Which I need every day to make sure I am not given to bragging, boosting, adultery, lying, dishonoring God, worshiping idols, stealing and the list goes on and on.

• I am also thankful for the circumstances that I curse the most. That I HATE the most. The circumstances that I wish were over. The circumstances that call me to suffer because: "For it his been granted to you on behalf of CHRIST not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him." Philippians 1:29

• We are happy about this because: "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the SURPASSING GREATNESS of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him." Philippians 3:7-9a.

So you see....I am thankful. Thankful because had it been based on my performance I deserve none of these things I am thankful for, but because of the love of Christ and His effective grace to the believer (and common grace to the unsaved) we are able to enjoy such blessings. Thank you Lord.

This is what 7 months looks like

Mady at 7 Months

I sit up all by myself and occasionally face plant, but thats ok!

Not crawling yet, and thats ok by my mommy.

I have learned to really grasp and hold my toys. Turn them around and hold them, drop them and bite them. I push buttons and smile when the music turns on.

I still love water bottles! I have added a couple of new household favorites: paper, coupons, and baby bottles. I especially love going grocery shopping and mom lets me hold the rolls of paper towels. I pat them to show mom I'm a big girl helper at the grocery store.

I am eating rice cereal, oatmeal, squash and pears...yum.

I like pears the best

I am slowly but surely weening off breastfeeding...Me and mom are both ready to move on. It's been a great 7 months, but I am so interested in my surroundings it's made concentrating on eating hard. What can i say, i'm a social girl! Mommy's about done singing Jesus Loves Me during each feeding to keep me focused and on task.

I drink water out of my Nuby sippy cup. I also use a Playtex sippy cup. I'm good at getting water out of each. The Nuby brand is soft on my gums and I like to chew on it.

Still teething and no teeth!

I like to sit and explore the world from the view of my new jogging stroller!

My mommy and I go almost everyday, but my favorite is going with mommy, daddy and big brother Calvin. Our favorite route is Cherokee Park, Scenic Loop. Those hills are rough!

I 'm learning how to give kisses. I like to lean in with an open mouth! I especially am snuggly right after waking up from my naps. I give a hug and nestle in mommy's neck.

I am also learning how to wave Bye-Bye and Hi.

I like to dance to music. When it comes on I bounce up and down and flap my arms!

I am down to only two-ish naps a day. Usually an hour and a half in the morning. A two to three hour in the afternoon...and sometimes if my afternoon nap wasn't long a quick power nap in the evening.

Bedtime is usually between 8 and 9....I wake up around 8 in the mornings....I still wake Mommy to eat around 4 am. She doesn't mind because its the only feeding that I actually eat really well.

I am learning where my nose, ears, eyes, mouth, head and hands are. I can almost show you my hand on command.

I am in love with my daddy. No one makes me laugh harder than him! He's the best.

Favorite Songs:

Jesus Loves Me

5 Little Monkeys

I love you so much

The Itsy-Bitsy Spider

Head and Shoulders Knees and Toes

Big Girls don't Cry

We love you so much Mady. You are a joy in our lives. With each day your true personality comes out more and more. Your Daddy and I are so excited to raise you and love you all the days we have on this earth.

We pray for your future; that you would come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. We pray that you would be spent for the Gospel in both WORD and DEED. Living your life for your neighbor and striving to bring the gospel to the nations.

We pray that you will marry a Godly man and raise your own children to know and fear our Lord.

and for now...

we pray that we would Glorify the Lord in asking for grace to help us lead you well in each and every moment that each day brings. We give you up to the Lord daily, as you are a gift entrusted to us from Him. We are being sanctified as God is being Glorified by having you in our lives.

"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thes. 5:16-18