She's left her mark...

So, I promised myself I would blog more this year. And I have not done such a great job. But, I'm going to try harder. I think my amazing sister has more blog posts than I do and she just started hers a few weeks ago...alas. I will try harder, I promise!

For now, here are some snap shots of my life in the country with our sweet Norah Jane. I realized today how this little one has left her mark on every facet of our lives. The visual of this is displayed in every room of our home (and even our yard!) ...and here's the proof. What a joy, blessing and light she is in our lives.

I'm a cloth diapering mama! Love. It.

Her new high chair in our old kitchen.

Daddy's latest project. Trying to fix the light up star. It's beyond repair. Sad. Day.

Living Room = where Norah spends most of her days.

Remnants of a prune juice bottle and a stick on thermometer. Constipation and immunizations in the same week are not a happy combination!

 Her bear. Her bib. Our bed.

Her favorite seat in the house. 

Vanilla and Oatmeal baby wash. Not my fav, but still makes me want to eat her face. 

No. Words. So precious.

Told you it was her favorite seat!

And now the latest from our smiley girl... 

Can't resist those sweet little feet. 

Valentines Day...with baby

We celebrated our first Valentines Day as parents last night.

It was a beautiful day. We spent the morning with our Christ Church Community (love. those. people.). We had lunch with some wonderful friends, then retired to our outdoor swing to enjoy the beautiful weather.

This is what is left of our Valentine's Dinner...

We decided to have steaks, baked potatoes, chocolate covered strawberries and some red wine for dinner. The ninja slept soundly throughout the entire afternoon, trip to the grocery, and even the cooking and dinner preparation.

I lit candles to set the romantic valentine's mood we have grown accustomed to over our last 7 years together and set the table...just as Dave swished through the door with perfectly pink meat. And just as we finished garnishing our potatoes with baco's and butter...we were reminded that we were no longer alone.

It all started with a sweet and simple: "Oh she just needs to eat..." One may think this detracted from our romanticism, but oh no...we Forman's are opportunists. So, while I bottle-fed our little one, Dave fed me!

Unfortunately, we new parents are still learning our wee one's cries. This resulted in us overfeeding our sweet girl. This, in turn, resulted in a 2 hour scream fest until she finally had one giant spit up - covering the right leg of my jeans, part of our couch and one of our couch cushions. Somehow, she managed to miss herself entirely. Now that's talent.

They say not to cry over spilled milk. What about crying over spilled breastmilk? Can I cry over that?! Thankfully, we were both able to take deep breaths. Dave sopped up the spilled "gold" and I lulled our little one to sleep. It only took another half hour, 3 "cross your fingers I think she's finally settled...", and her first "taking" of the pacifier..but she finally closed her sweet eyes and big mouth (got that from mama), and drifted off.

I will now sing the praises of the following:
1. A helpful husband
2. Pacifiers
3. Red Wine

I could be super spiritual and mention how much we prayed for peace and wisdom through this ordeal, but that would be way to serious for this posting. Perhaps tomorrow?

So...how was your Valentine's Day?

Truth Infused

IV Therapy. It's what people are given when consuming a medication or fluids orally just isn't fast enough. When the concerns are dire and situation immediate.

Today, I feel my "eating" of the Word just isn't fast enough. I need an infusion of His truth today. An immediate dose of truth to the in most parts of this hormonally permeated spirit. Wisdom, truth, life that outranks and crushes the swirl of uncertainty that can so quickly blind, if allowed.

I reason with myself. I speak worldly realities. I remind myself. But it is only when I speak the truth, His Truth, over my restless spirit that peace exudes. Only then, that the heart is captured and overwhelmed by this great God who knows, who loves, who see, and who answers.

He has already answered, in fact. Infuse my spirit, Lord, that I may rest in perfect peace.

"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3

A Chicken Little Morning

So, past, present and future mommies-to-be...ever had a "chicken little"morning? Oh you know what I'm preaching...but just in case, let me paint the scene. 


POINT ONE: Dave works 3-11pm right now. I work 8a-5pm. We. do. not. see. each. other. awake. (Save my many middle of the night jaunts to the facilities, every. two. hours. but that's a completely different story...) 


POINT TWO: On Monday, the belly officially "popped," so I am looking quite dapper in my maternity clothes. Though, I'm CONVINCED at any moment my belly button will explode out my front and the baby, as well all my innards, will come flying out in one beautiful blaze of glory. Thankfully, my present mommy friends tell me that indeed, I will just stretch. Ever tried to read Hebrew or Greek? yeah, see that whole stretching concept ranks right up there in the "huh?!" category. 


I digress... 


POINT THREE: I stepped on the scale, as I am habit to do every morning while the shower is pulling hot water from the center of the earth (that's how long it feels like it's taking anyway, am I right?!), and for the first time in this new season called pregnancy, that blessed little black number was seriously on the rise. 


So, where do I immediately find myself -- you guessed it, friends! -- right back in the bed with that man who loves me in all my invisible (point one), uncertain (point two) and growing (point three) insanity.  And like the amazing man he is, he wrapped his arms around me, told me how beautiful I was, kissed my big ol pregnant belly and let me cry until I was all done. 


And then...he made me pancakes... 


So, while the day started off feeling a bit like the sky is falling, my knight arrived in his armor again to rescue me from the silliest (and often deadliest) of foes...myself.  


Here's to all the great men out there. You help us wives take our eyes off the falling sky and put them on the things we love.

We're a THREE

Well ... we are almost a three. For now, we are a two and an alien ameoba peanut that makes me an emotional mess. Yesterday, I literally sat on the floor in the bathroom at work and cried. Just cried my eyes out. For. No. Reason.... Well, there was a tiny reason. Regardless, its not something that would have brought me to the brink of near hyperventilation before. Yet, there I was. Baby baby cry face.

Excitement is the buzz around out home. Excitement about this new bundle of joy that will be entering our home in under 7 months. It's insane to me how short 9 months can feel while watching other women be pregnant. And how mind-tinglingly short it can feel when I think about what I have to do, should do, should care about doing, should eat, should exercise, should pray, should think, should tell people, should not tell people. IT'S A TAD OVERWHELMING.

And yet there is this amazingly beautiful peace.

A peace that I don't know I've ever felt before. Peace that God Himself, the one who created the universe is holding me. Holding my baby. Holding my womb and making it a comfy and safe environment for this little life. Peace that the money will be there to buy a crib..and a dresser...and a changing table...and ... and.. and...do I need to go on? Peace that He is the Giver of Life. And I am thankful for this life growing in my belly. I am thankful for the peace that He has allowed to reign over my body. While most women in this stage of pregnancy are throwing up, nauseated, and exhausted. I am feeling wonderful. Tired, but wonderful. I am thankful for my man. Words can not express the passion, love, adoration and appreciation I feel toward him. He is the prophet, priest and king of my home and I am safe under his protection.

So, there we are. Becoming a Three. And I am blessed.