I've heard that imitation is the best form of flattery & it is something that I do take from others. Thus, I will flatter a blogger that I enjoy reading (www.martawrites.com) - she is a new momma with her second boy - just as I will be soon & she embraces life as it comes. She is a graphic design person and I've found that I love looking at other people's works of art - although my work of art is in working with people and in conversations & perceptions. I've snipped portions of her latest post b/c it totally applies to me as well & she ironically just turned 32 as well!)
birthdays are my favorite time to resolve to be a new, shiny person.
am planning toenjoy the best things in life.
figure out how to get this baby weight off.
(any good workout tunes suggestions?)
care more about what i put into my body.
it'll be the last one for a long time.
am hoping to write in my blog or my notebook a lot more often.
more lunches with mark.
more long chats with "sisters" on the phone.
less time in front of the tv (we do this pretty well already).
more eating good healthy breakfasts.
finding opportune times to exercise.
will try not to avoid hard tasks.
i hope to be the type of person i hope my kids will be.
discipline with a lot of love.
go on more date nights! (try new restaurants!)
eat excellent desserts.
bathe in bubble baths.
feel less guilty about what i haven't gotten to yet.
participate in some kind of athletic event with friends on their bucket lists. (totally all mine)
support mark in all of his!
learn a new skill: renegade sewing perhaps? (again totally mine)
find ways to make someone smile.
build family traditions.
celebrate holidays!
be optimistic!
remember to read scriptures and apply them to my life.
start handmade christmas gifts early (like now).
try hard to remember others and serve them.
pray and communicate with God.
be kinder and ready to listen.
make others feel important.
live without regret.
be genuine.
be more obedient in God's calling for my life and mission. (always a tough one)
make good decisions. (be more decisive!!) & intentional
make time to write sincere thank you notes.
enjoy this new season of life without fear or regreat & embrace this time. (me again)
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
to my Little Man (Ian) & to my Little Babe (?)
dearest Ian,
you've grown so much over this last year, it's hard to recognize you sometimes. you've become quite the awesome little man and so much like your daddy. you love to play with your cars and to make sure that most things can fly. you are protective of your kitties and trying to be nice to them rather than yelling at them and chasing them off. you realize that there is something happening in mommy and that your baby brother will be coming soon. you are quite excited. you seem to think that each meal we have will have dessert and although we try to steer you otherwise...it's not quite working out so well. we hope you will understand during this upcoming year as your baby brother is growing that you are very, very important to us and that even though we might need to give him attention - you will remain our little man. we love you so much and pray for you. we pray for you to grow up to know and love Jesus and that you will be confident in yourself and in what God will do in your life - trusting that He is in control. we cannot express how proud we are of you and how much you make us laugh. :) i have grown to love hearing you say mommy and mom and can't wait to hear this each morning and evening of each day. your hugs and kisses are so precious and priceless to us.
love momma
dearest little babe,
although we have not seen you yet, nor have we named you...we are so excited to meet you and mommy is very protective and aware of you. we are so proud of you before we have even met you. we want you to know that you are so special to us and that we are attempting to prepare for you and to hope that we can be our best with you and for you. God has His own plan for you and you will have your own personality we are sure, but we hope that we can adjust and love you to the best of our ability. we aren't sure if your hair will be brown or blond...eyes blue, green or both or if you will have your daddy's ears or your mommy's nose. you will be distinct in and of yourself. we pray you will follow God and know and love Jesus just as we pray for Ian. we hope you will enjoy your big brother and can become great friends in the years to come.
all our love little babe,
mommy
you've grown so much over this last year, it's hard to recognize you sometimes. you've become quite the awesome little man and so much like your daddy. you love to play with your cars and to make sure that most things can fly. you are protective of your kitties and trying to be nice to them rather than yelling at them and chasing them off. you realize that there is something happening in mommy and that your baby brother will be coming soon. you are quite excited. you seem to think that each meal we have will have dessert and although we try to steer you otherwise...it's not quite working out so well. we hope you will understand during this upcoming year as your baby brother is growing that you are very, very important to us and that even though we might need to give him attention - you will remain our little man. we love you so much and pray for you. we pray for you to grow up to know and love Jesus and that you will be confident in yourself and in what God will do in your life - trusting that He is in control. we cannot express how proud we are of you and how much you make us laugh. :) i have grown to love hearing you say mommy and mom and can't wait to hear this each morning and evening of each day. your hugs and kisses are so precious and priceless to us.
love momma
dearest little babe,
although we have not seen you yet, nor have we named you...we are so excited to meet you and mommy is very protective and aware of you. we are so proud of you before we have even met you. we want you to know that you are so special to us and that we are attempting to prepare for you and to hope that we can be our best with you and for you. God has His own plan for you and you will have your own personality we are sure, but we hope that we can adjust and love you to the best of our ability. we aren't sure if your hair will be brown or blond...eyes blue, green or both or if you will have your daddy's ears or your mommy's nose. you will be distinct in and of yourself. we pray you will follow God and know and love Jesus just as we pray for Ian. we hope you will enjoy your big brother and can become great friends in the years to come.
all our love little babe,
mommy
what I've learned....from martawrites.com
when your bundle arrives,
hold out your arms and whisper, here we go.
welcome to one of life's great adventures.
i have learned that your baby will love you and need you like nothing you've ever known. i have learned that you don't need to hear a thank you from your tiny one; their contented face is enough. i have learned there is nothing more peaceful than a baby sleeping, and you will run and leap like a leopard to answer your blaring phone in fear the baby will wake up. i have learned to trust my instincts. i have learned to let my husband help out, a lot. even from the first moments, and i'm so glad i did. i have learned to nap when the baby naps. am still doing it, every chance i get. i have learned that babies will figure out their days and nights and eventually they sleep through the nights too. consistency is everything. still, babies go through phases. i have learned to be flexible.
i have learned that you do not need every cool gadget on the market. we borrowed a lot and postponed buying things too. i have learned to be more patient, with feedings and diaper changes and outfit changes and attempting to have a life on the side... embrace the changes. every time benji and i got up at three in the morning, i would tell myself, this situation won't last forever, this is our special time together to get to know each other.i have learned that boxing up all of my cute regular-sized-clothes and not bringing them back out until benji was seven months old was a very very good thing. stretchy pants to the rescue. let me just say, those first days are not pretty. you will have no time to look in the mirror. still, you glow, even though you don't realize it. and thankfully, everyone is looking at your baby, not you.everything will work out with time. your body will eventually stop aching and you will recognize it again someday.
the main thing i've learned is how much a baby changes you. you will grow and bloom and become more than you thought you could be. suddenly you will be up for the challenge, no matter how difficult the challenge may be. all because you have given birth to a new purpose in life. you will now understand why your mother was always so worried about you. you will understand why your dad spent all that extra time with you. you will know what love feels like. you will check on your baby sleeping in the nursery, just to see him again. you won't be able to get enough of him. they call 'em bundles of love because really truly they are bundled up with surprises. it will surprise you how much you laugh. it will surprise you how much you smile. it will surprise you to see their personality unfold. it will surprise you how much they will teach you about life.
hold out your arms and whisper, here we go.
welcome to one of life's great adventures.
i have learned that your baby will love you and need you like nothing you've ever known. i have learned that you don't need to hear a thank you from your tiny one; their contented face is enough. i have learned there is nothing more peaceful than a baby sleeping, and you will run and leap like a leopard to answer your blaring phone in fear the baby will wake up. i have learned to trust my instincts. i have learned to let my husband help out, a lot. even from the first moments, and i'm so glad i did. i have learned to nap when the baby naps. am still doing it, every chance i get. i have learned that babies will figure out their days and nights and eventually they sleep through the nights too. consistency is everything. still, babies go through phases. i have learned to be flexible.
i have learned that you do not need every cool gadget on the market. we borrowed a lot and postponed buying things too. i have learned to be more patient, with feedings and diaper changes and outfit changes and attempting to have a life on the side... embrace the changes. every time benji and i got up at three in the morning, i would tell myself, this situation won't last forever, this is our special time together to get to know each other.i have learned that boxing up all of my cute regular-sized-clothes and not bringing them back out until benji was seven months old was a very very good thing. stretchy pants to the rescue. let me just say, those first days are not pretty. you will have no time to look in the mirror. still, you glow, even though you don't realize it. and thankfully, everyone is looking at your baby, not you.everything will work out with time. your body will eventually stop aching and you will recognize it again someday.
the main thing i've learned is how much a baby changes you. you will grow and bloom and become more than you thought you could be. suddenly you will be up for the challenge, no matter how difficult the challenge may be. all because you have given birth to a new purpose in life. you will now understand why your mother was always so worried about you. you will understand why your dad spent all that extra time with you. you will know what love feels like. you will check on your baby sleeping in the nursery, just to see him again. you won't be able to get enough of him. they call 'em bundles of love because really truly they are bundled up with surprises. it will surprise you how much you laugh. it will surprise you how much you smile. it will surprise you to see their personality unfold. it will surprise you how much they will teach you about life.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
31 Things Learned at 31
1) 30's really are better than 20's emotionally
2) yep your body really does change after 30
3) intense grief can create intense growth
4) loss in this life becomes gain in the next
5) just because "I know" & think "it's not about me" my own tendency is to bring it back around to me
6) pride & humility are my continual battle ground
7) obedience - especially in a move, makes a huge difference & brings significance
8) my word "Mission" - is to love people, although this year I have been the one whose felt loved
9) moving forward & looking forward really does help the present --> I just can't forget to "be" present
10) "career" is a word that doesn't make much sense to me - I'm a personality, have & seek a purpose, work for God
11) I still have many questions - but I know eventually I'll live into the answers
12) God does "give much" & takes away too - for our benefit
13) true friends are ok with distance & your known faults...and love & pursue you anyway
14) THIS IS A SEASON
15) I really don't need to subscribe to magazines - only buy the ones I really want at the time I'll actually read them
16) couponing is slightly, well stressful! but does feel like Black Friday deals with each Ad
17) I like my hair short
18) a child does need discipline, boundaries & hilariously fun moments & rituals
19) pushing through my anxiety really does pay off
20) training for a race is really more about consistency than speed or outcome - it's the journey
21) pregnancy mellows you & forces you to recognize you are not in control nor were you really ever, you give yourself more grace & allow yourself to rest (& so do others)
22) with a spouse & a child you can really never just think about yourself
23) doing something on your bucket list may inspire others
24) my favorite words: abandon, surrender, allow, opportunity, grace, WOW!
25) selling a house (preparing it, is so totally stressful & freeing at the same time)
26) buying a house creates excitement & total uncertainty
27) Mark & are at our best when we serve one another without expectation
28) NOT being the preferred parent is hard but I am to love him anyway like God loves me
29) you can only go so long out of Bible study before your attitude gets sour
30) God does surprise me - I thought for sure part-time & He gave me full-time and I've loved it
31) I am so blessed to have both my parents living & time with my grandma is very important
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Right Now...
> a bit scared about delivering baby early (just not quite ready although I guess as ready as I might be anyway
: wanting to be able to just be at the hospital already and not have to travel in there...30-35 min drive
: hoping my water doesn't break in public or in my own bed...would rather just be working in hospital already again
: wishing I could eat consistently enough and healthy enough to just let go the fear of puking during labor
: I'm about done with the having to the bathroom every 15 minutes
> too tired to care at times about what is happening around me
> wanting to soak up and remember all that Ian is doing
: his favorite colors - blue & green
: his favorite words - rhyming anything...blue, glue, baby, laby, silly goose, silly moose
: his favorite fruit - blueberries
: some favorite toys - anything CARS, legos
: favorite activity - running around & biking
: his loves dessert way too much for my taste and always wants to ask for it
> cleaning occupies a large portion of my brain (I like to feel clean and uncluttered)
> house hunting - we are eyeing one particular house but there are still things to consider & people to speak with
> reading God's Word - eating up my curiousity about certain verses, topics and names (their meanings)
Wanting to begin a Christmas list....
* This December Daily Kit $89
* this shampoo & conditioner that I was able to experience at Kingsgate Marriott Hotel over our Anniversay (Bath & Body Works - Citrus Ginger) -- want big bottles $10
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