Sick... and sharing

It's hump day, y'all.  Whoop whoop!  (Who else loves that Geico commercial?)

It's been a little crazy around here.  Grace is projectile vomiting and having... other tummy issues.  So we went to the doctor yesterday (even though I knew it might be viral... I just wanted to be sure it wasn't something that needed treatment), and didn't get a whole lot of clarity.  She might have a virus or she might still be having tummy troubles related to the amoxicillin she was on for her ear infection.  The doctor did think she might be having some reflux, so we're trying some Zantac for that.  Fingers crossed it helps (although she's still just as happy as could be!).  Do any of you experienced mamas have any advice - how long should I wait to see if it gets better before I bug the doctor again?  

Other than that, we had a fabulous weekend with friends and family and enjoyed some lazy time at home on Saturday.  

And Grace has been sleeping so well the last few weeks.  She usually takes a bottle between 6:30 and 7:30, followed by a bath and snuggles.  

(sometimes Daddy and Gracie fall asleep during snuggles... and then I die of cute.)

She goes to bed around 7:30 or 8:00, and then we do a dreamfeed (where I feed her while she's still sleeping) around 9:30 or 10:00.  She can usually go until 6:00 or 6:30 the next morning until her next bottle.  Hallelujah!

And I may have already mentioned it here before, but my sister-in-law gave me the Babywise book when I found out that I was pregnant, and we have definitely found it so, so useful in developing good and consistent feeding and sleeping habits.  If you're a momma (or soon-to-be momma) and are hoping to establish at least some kind of a schedule, I can't recommend it enough.  And I know that some perceive the book as advocating a rigid schedule or promoting ignoring a baby's cry or needs, but that couldn't be farther from the truth.  It simply gave me an idea for promoting some structure, and I really needed that.

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On a completely unrelated note... I never intended to become a full-blown mommy blogger.  Not only because I feel wholly unqualified to put myself out there as knowing what the heck I'm doing (because I don't), but also because this space has never just been an online scrapbook/diary to me.  It's a creative outlet and a way for me to meet some really amazing women.  So I really am trying to remember to really share here, rather than simply document.  Thanks for sticking with me while I figure it all out. :)

Pigtails and Project Nursery...

Happy Friday, friends!

I don't have too long to chat (in truth, I'm posting at work, but it's a ghost town around here today, so I feel like I'm completely justified in wasting a little time), but I wanted to drop in and say hello.

We have had a great week.  Miss Grace has been doing fabulously at daycare.  She came home the other day with pigtails, and I just about died.

I mean, kill me.

We did have a spit-up mishap on Wednesday right as I was dropping her off, so I walked around all morning with a wet spot on my boob.  #mommyprobs

Other than that, it has been pretty uneventful around these parts this week.  We have plans to spend some quality time with friends and family this weekend, and I'm looking forward to a nap or two.

Oh!  I also wanted to tell you that you can check out Grace's nursery (to the extent you didn't see the original reveal) on Project Nursery!  I'm sure it's just an automatically generated feed, but right now we're on the front page!

I promise I didn't give myself five stars.  (I thought about it but managed to resist the urge.)  Mom, was that you? :)

Alright, loves.  I think I'm actually just going to sneak out of here right this second and go get Miss Pigtails.  Her little face is tugging at my heartstrings.

Who could blame me? :)

My story...

I wrote this last year but wanted to share it again.  

This is the story of my Christ's redeeming love.

I am nine years old. 

I spend some time with my grandmother, and she tells me about the cross and about a love big enough to redeem even the worst of sinners. During the car ride home, I rest my head against the back of the driver's seat of my mom's car, eyes closed, and invite Him in. And because I'm not sure if once is enough, I pray three more times when I get home. I am baptized and receive a book about what it means to be a Christian. And then I go on about my life, just as before. Business as usual. I am good and sweet-natured, but then I always have been. I do what I am told (with occasional sass and a flair for the dramatic), but I remain the same girl I had been since the day I was born.

I am in seventh grade, and my parents flip my world upside down.

They tell me that we're leaving the town I have always known. My friends, my school, everything I had come to love. In an effort to ease the transition, they start driving me to church in my new town that year, even before we move, so I can get to know everyone there. Eventually, I meet Micah and rekindle a semi-friendship with Lauren, who would come to be my very best friend.

And, for the first time, I really meet Jesus.

At a youth conference I walk with Him on His journey to the cross, and the enormity of His love and sacrifice wash over me. I am a broken mess because I wonder if I have ever really accepted Him as the Lord of my life. I feel confident in the Savior part -- accepting grace, redeeming love and all that -- but when I look back I just can't be sure that I have given Him my heart in return. So once again, I invite Him in.

Except this time, I give Him all of me.

After that I am sold out for Him.

Throughout middle school and high school, and even college, I am bold in my faith. I never touch cigarettes or drugs or alcohol. I lead my school's FCA group and speak often at youth group and Disciple Now, and I lead bible study on multiple mission trips. I fall madly in love with Micah, and we vow to wait. I stay plugged into the Word and have an active prayer life.

At some point, the fire and spark fade. My parents divorce. I move to Houston for law school. I get wrapped up in how hard it all is. I lose sight of where He's leading me and start walking alone. But He still speaks. Forgives. Loves.

I am a third-year law student, and I have no job.

I am broken, defeated, humiliated. I miss home. He wraps his arms around me and reminds me that He has a plan. So I start walking again, but this time I'm following Him. I accept that He may not bring us home quite yet. But then He does, despite all of my clumsy attempts to do it myself.

Today, I am His.

I still fall short every single day, but His grace is sufficient. He is molding me into something better.

I will inevitably lose my way again. But the best part is that He never will.

Moms know: big purchases...

I know I already shared a few of my newborn must-haves with you guys here, but I'm linking up today with Leslie for her Moms Know series to share some of our bigger baby purchases.

It can be so difficult to decide what you're going to need, particularly if you are like me and had virtually zero baby experience before you got pregnant.  I remember being so thankful when I'd find a compilation of recommendations from veteran moms, so this is a great link-up for anyone who is expecting a little pumpkin anytime soon.



1.  Fisher Price My Little Snugabunny Deluxe Bouncer.  We've definitely gotten our money's worth out of this thing.  Particularly in the first few weeks, anytime I needed to put Grace down for a little while, I'd plop her down in this bouncer, and she'd stay happy and content.  Since we have a clear glass shower, I could even use it to squeeze in a shower when we were home alone.  It vibrates and plays music, and she's just now started to notice the cute little bird mobile, as well.

2.  Chicco Keyfit 30 Carseat and Liteway Plus Stroller (in Surge).  I love this carseat and stroller, y'all.  My sister-in-law had recommended the carseat, and we've really loved it.  From the very first time we put her in it, I felt like she was safe and secure, and it's super easy to use.  I ended up going with the Liteway Plus stroller because it seemed more streamlined and less bulky than the other Chicco strollers.  Plus, this one can be used as a travel system with the car seat AND as a standalone stroller for when she's older.  Love.

3.  Fisher Price Deluxe Vibrating Rock N' Play Sleeper.  I've written about this product before, but I'll say again here:  this thing is so convenient.  We used it instead of a bassinet, and Grace loved it.  It kept her snuggled up those first few weeks, and we could move it easily from room to room so she could nap in different places.  It also folds up really well and is super portable.

4.  Summer Infant Baby Touch Boost Color Video Monitor.  This monitor was recommended to me by a friend (hi, Audrey!), and we have been so pleased with it.  It's pricey, but the quality is amazing.  The volume is adjustable (because you won't want to hear every tiny noise after those first few nights of obsessively checking to make sure they're still breathing), and you can even move the camera via the handheld device if your baby moves in the middle of the night.

5.  Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump.  I obviously wasn't able to utilize this after the first month (go here to read my very topsy turvy breastfeeding experience), but I think a good breast pump would be absolutely necessary for anyone planning on working and even for most stay at home moms (if only to give yourself a break now and then).  This one has been described as the Cadillac of breast pumps, and it definitely seemed to work really well (although I won't lie... I was slightly mortified the first time I used it.  I've never felt more like a milk cow than I did in that moment, watching my nipples expand to an ungodly size.)

6.  myBaby SoundSpa by Homedics.  Everyone told me not to create sleep props, and I really did try to follow that advice as much as possible.  So we tried to lay Grace down while she was drowsy but still awake, even when we first brought her home from hospital.  And I only occasionally rocked her to sleep so as not to make her dependent on that motion to fall asleep (although I couldn't resist at times... such sweet moments).  But as soon as she started sleeping in her crib, we started using this sound machine to help drown out background noise.  She seems to nap much better with it, and I think she'll really enjoy the ceiling projection feature as time goes on.  I definitely don't regret using it, and we'll probably continue to use it at night for at least the foreseeable future.

Go link up with Leslie to share your baby gear recommendations!

A full-blown list...

I'm not sure what's causing this insane bout of writer's block I've been experiencing lately.  I've typed and erased at least four paragraphs this morning, displeased with everything that comes to mind.  So let me just resort to a bullet point-style post, because I really do love sharing with you guys, and that's about all the creativity I can muster this morning.

One.  I haven't actually styled my hair in at least a week.  I have every intention of curling or straightening it every morning (after going to bed after a shower with wet hair the night before), but the alarm goes off at 5:30 and I recognize, yet again, that I'd much rather have an extra 20 minutes of sleep than pretty hair.  So air-dryed, wavy hair is becoming my signature look, and I think I'm okay with it.  At least I can usually manage to get Gracie looking somewhat presentable.

Two.  Speaking of Gracie, she's had her first full week at daycare this week, and she's doing fabulously.  She seems to be feeling a little better (although feedings are still sub-optimal... any mommas out there have advice on enticing her to take a full bottle again?), and she slept through the night last night (praise the Lord!).  Girlfriend knew momma needed that...

Three.  I think this picture may be one of my very favorites so far.  Her sweet little face.  And that little ponytail.  Kill me.

After I snagged this picture, I wanted to try and get a video of her sweet little smiles.  So I turned on the squeaky, make-you-want-to-vomit baby talk.  Just watch with the volume down, okay? :)

Four.  I swear to God, y'all... if I get one more Candy Crush invite on Facebook, I think I'm going to stab someone with a pencil.

via

You've all been officially warned, capiche?

Five.  Is it sad that I'm already contemplating Halloween costumes for Grace?  (Truth be told, I'm actually already contemplating first birthday party themes and the possible names for Baby #2 [who isn't even a gleam in Micah's eye yet, I promise!], but I felt like I probably shouldn't lead with the super-cray.)  I've never been much of a planner, so this newfangled obsession with the future is very out of character for me.  I think the transition to Mommy may be officially complete.

Well, looky there.  I've got myself a full-blown list.  I'm going to remove the bullet points, slap on some numbers, and call this a High Five for Friday Five Confessionals post.  Go make your own list and link up with Lauren, Joy, and Leslie.

Happy Friday, friends!