What Up Mom-Slice?

Today Evelyn was napping and I was in the bedroom on the laptop. I heard some rustling on the monitor, and I waited a few minutes and then heard some more...so I went in to check and this is how I found her...

"What Up Mom-Slice?" She said to me as she smiled for the camera...

She had turned herself sideways and was on her stomach playing! She is getting so big!

Watch Out Gerber...Here I Come!

I made my own baby food today! I had some bananas that were about to go bad, so I had a thought. Evelyn is not eating baby food yet, but she will be soon, so I made some! I mashed the bananas, and then added some fruit juice, bagged it and froze it. Super easy and cost effecive. I can't wait to get a food processor and make more...I will post more later about my baby food making career...

Nightmare on Gum Street.....TEETHING!

So, my beloved daughter is teething...need I say more? Teething is a part of motherhood that everyone talks about, but you can never really understand. Is she teething or not? Is she going to get a tooth this week or in three months? It seems she has been teething forever. Poor thing...she is just miserable.

I am by nature a fixer...For instance, I cannot stay mad at my husband. Sometimes I wish I could, but I like to talk it out for hours until it is fixed...which Ben hates! Unfortaunately teething is something I cannot fix. Not only can I not fix it....I can't even sweep it under the rug, which, lets be honest- is what we do when we can't fix something!

Evelyn is such a good-natured baby...but we all know how it feels when we don't feel good. And at least we have the capability to know what is wrong with us! She has no idea why she is in pain, and I feel like she is constantly looking at me and thinking..."Hey! You are my provider and protector...why won't you make me feel better?" Trust me baby- I wish I could. As always...this too shall pass, I just wish I had a timeline!

So, for now, I have a baby with swollen gums, questioning eyes and an occasional smile that makes it all worth it.

Birthday Weekend!

What a crazy weekend we just had! I was in Zanesville Friday & Saturday for my grandpa's 75th birthday. It was fun, and we got to see a lot of family that we never see. Yesterday was Abbie's first birthday! Crazy!!! It makes me realize how soon Evelyn is going to be celebrating a birthday.

Speaking of which, Saturday Evelyn was 5 months old! Can you believe it? She is the most fun, silly, smart, beautiful, loving baby. She enjoys laughing, rolling, eating, smiling, pinching, biting, drooling, kicking & tooting. Here she is!

My life is truly blessed right now. I have an interview tomorrow night for a nanny job, and then another one Wednesday. We also just found out that Ben might be able to be the Manager of the community we live in, so our rent will probably be free! God is providing in ways I could not have imagained. He is faithful to complete the work He started in me. What a mighty God we serve.

On another note, my sister had an accident at worked today, and she cut her head. She has a concussion and she had to get 7 staples. So, be praying for her...

Well, I think that is all for now. Peace <3

You and I Romance...

My Romance...

photography by challen brown


Look at the way the flowers bloom for You
They want to show You their beauty Lord
Running waters dance, You and I romance


Unto You be all the glory
Unto You be all the glory


The angels dance around You
The earth it sings about You
Open up the heavens Lord
Let Your Kingdom come to earth
My praises all surround you
My soul can't dance without you
Open up the heavens Lord
Let Your kingdom come to earth

song by rick pino

multiple choice kind of life...

My husband and I have been trying to make some decisions about our future. Ben is currently an associate pastor, but his ultimate desire is to Senior Pastor. We started the process of getting a Senior Pastorate, and not long after some amazing things began happening at our church. Now, we feel like we don't want to leave, but also know that we need to do what is best for our family. Ultimately, it is about what God's will for our lives is...but how do you really know that for sure?

My dad, is a big fan of putting out a fleece to God, just as Gideon did. Well, I have put out my share of fleece's, sometimes God blows me away with his faithfulness to answer, other times I am left confused. Why do our lives have to be multiple choice? I'd much rather just have a yes or no life. I guess they wouldn't be as colorful, but sometimes the waiting is just so frustrating... So, for now, we are in the waiting...

"I am in the waiting,
That moment of my life
Where my faith and hope collide.
While my hearts anticipating,
How and when you'll move
Lord, that's when you prove
You're in the waiting too..."

Thank you Lord for being faithful through the wait, through the storm, through it all!

Prayerfully Waiting,
Emily

She did it!

Last night she slept from 11:00p.m.-8:00a.m. in her crib. She did wake up one time at 4:00 a.m. but went right back to sleep! WooHoo! Yay for Evelyn!

Crib Madness

So, this is officially my first blog post! I gave birth to my daughter, Evelyn, in March and have been a stay-at-home mom since. I love it, but I need an outlet, a place to share my thoughts.

So, to get right to it, we are trying to get Evelyn to sleep in her crib. She will be 5 months old on the 23rd and she has been sleeping in a bassinet next to our bed since she was born. I admit that I wasn't sure if I was ready for this step, but my husband was! He was excited about the idea of getting some "mommy & daddy" time at night. So, being the Godly, submissive wife(lol) that I am, I decided to give it a try. Friday night was the big night, we put her to bed in her crib. She slept about 5 hours and then woke to nurse. She usually only wakes once during the night to nurse. So after I nursedher, I just kept her in bed with us...I know, not the best idea, but I couldn't resist.

Night 2: She slept 7 1/2 hours in her crib without waking! It was working!

Night 3: She woke every 2 hours...she was teething and running a fever...so she ended up back in the room with us.

Night 4 & 5: she continued to wake every 2 hours or so...I am at a loss!

Last night I even tried the whole "bedtime routine" thing. We fed her some cereal, played for a little bit, gave her a bath, gave her a massage, looked at some books, nursed her, rocked her and put her to bed. She woke up and hour after I layed her down! She has been a great sleeper since she was born...is this my punishment for 4 months of great sleep? I feel like saying..."I promise I won't take it for granted ever again!"

We are hopeful that it will get better, or it may be back to the bassinet until she's twenty...who knows! Isn't parenting such a guessing game? I feel like if I mess it up once, it's over...thank goodness that is not the truth! She won't remember this someday. Thank goodness our heavenly Father is a much better parent than me! I am so glad He knows exactly what to do. And when I can't sleep in my crib all night, he doesn't get frustrated or give up. Lord knows, I have given Him much reason to give up on me, yet He is faithful to renew me and start fresh each day.

“The Lord’s mercies…are new every morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23

*here is evelyn....not sleeping 8^)