Welcome to 2024 :: Cultivating Aliveness

 Welcome to 2024 ::  Cultivating Aliveness

2023 brought A LOT of growth for our family and various challenges (again a normal year for us): 

• Mark began his podcast "Mental Health and Ministry" and has interviewed several people. It has been life-giving for him and frankly he's really, really good at it. He discusses depression in ministry and how to support someone who is struggling. 

• Kara completed one year with Cincinnati Children's in June with pioneering the Moving Beyond Depression program working with postpartum mothers and mothers of 0-3 year olds with maternal depression. It has been exciting and exhausting and she did put herself to the side along the way. Her self-care has had good rhythms and not so good rhythms. In the end, she is ready for a recalibration of serious magnitude and to pursue vitality.

• Ian began 9th grade and began playing soccer last spring FOR THE FIRST TIME, ran Cross Country again and in his free time enjoys playing computer games, at one point playing chess, rapping songs and working out. He did start a McDonald's job in the summer and did really well, but he learned that working in fast-food is not where he wants to be, but it really helped him grow as a person. "People are mean mom!" "Yes, yes they can be," I agreed.

• Elijah began 5th grade, remains fascinated by dinosaurs, played soccer again and specifically Goalie position this past Fall, and enjoys playing Roblox, Fortnite and Nitro Typing in his free time.

• Katie is 8 years old now, still loves to cuddle in your face, bait Ivy into take her raw-hides so she can grab them back and continues to love car rides.

• Ivy is 3 and a half years old and plays like a puppy with zoomy fits and then long naps. She still sits like a princess and growls like a bear. She is remains submissive but her growl scares things away.

• We are very grateful for God’s continued faithfulness, peace and His humor. We have seen so much growth in both of our boys and in ourselves. We look forward to see how His hand works this year. Much Love to you! 

• The Messmores

Elijah RIGHT NOW: 9

Your favorite movie lately: The Lego Ninjago Movie

Your favorite food: you stated "Watermelon!"

Your favorite song: rap songs by Andy Mineo

Your favorite phrase: TBD

You enjoy: 

• playing outside with neighborhood friends and/or your brother
• playing Roblox and commentating with your brother
• watching cooking shows with me (Great British/Canadian Baking Shows, Nailed It, any!)
• going places like Defy (trampoline park), dog parks, Festivals (where dogs are or goats)
• vacation and time off with family
• cuddling with your puppies
• playing with SmartLinks in your room
• pretending to wrestle occasionally
• baking with mom or dad

Elijah's ONE photo book

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Right Now: Elijah turns ONE!

It was a fair weather Thursday when I really began to feel you wanting to come out! I was at work and began having those feelings on Wednesday but promptly laid down after work and the contractions stopped. I got up Thursday morning and had an enjoyable morning with Mark and Ian and headed off to work. All day long I tracked the contractions:

       I worked all day and it wasn't until around 5:00 pm that I decided "I wonder if I should call my OB? See a couple days before I didn't feel you much and it scared me so I went to my doctor and they checked to make sure you were ok and you were once I stopped and sat down. So again I worked all day and did various tasks but apparently (per my coworkers) I was pretty big since I was so pregnant. Well at 5, I thought maybe I should call; however, I didn't want to have to stay in "observation" or just get sent home for nothing so I went home with contractions at 6 minutes apart. You were "due" on October 1st so I figured I could lay down and they would stop. Well, they didn't and daddy had to make a hospital call so mommy and Ian went to Drew and Emily Dodd's house to just hang out. Well, my contractions went to 4:00 minutes apart so I texted you to come back quick and you did. We drove to the hospital and registered and went up to the room. We arrived about 8:40pm. You were born at 12:52 am on a Friday morning. And it was beautiful day. I was so in love with you as they laid you on my chest. I couldn't stop starring at you. 

 

 

 

 Ian was so excited to meet you!! He knew your name very well and just kept smiling at you.

 

You slept for awhile but course the one day where the photographer comes in - you were circumcised that morning and weren't too happy about the whole ordeal.

    

So a year has gone by now and you have grown so much!

9/28/12-9/28/13



Right now you are:
* walking, walking...almost running -- you picked up walking pretty quick beginning September 6th and within one week you were starting to try to move very fast and steadily
* you are attempting to mimic more words and grunt when you want something
* you clap readily and occasionally wave when it to your liking
* you are on 2% milk now!!
* you are finally catching on to sipping cups though would favor the bottle any day
* your routine is pretty flexible for the most part because it has to be (1 or 2 naps in the day)
* you are wearing size 5 shoes and 18 month clothes!!
* your favorite fruit appears to be PEARS right now
* you still really like your stage 3 foods
* your first full meal with us of solid foods was: corn casserole, sweet potato fries, turkey burgers
* your first official dessert was ice cream on your birthday
* you just now had your first cupcake ---- cake will be at your party this Saturday with family!
* your personality is one of observance and then you get quite vocal when comfortable
* you definitely have your attachment issues coming out --- won't let go of daddy & mommy when in the mist of others
* your first ouchie included a black eye due to Ian throwing a remote at you - his motive remains unknown besides being scientific (? inertia maybe?)
* it is still a wrestling match with you when changing your diaper unless you are tired ("s-t-r-e-t-c-h" seems to work often)
* you perk up when seeing the kitties

 

 

 

First taste of desserts...

We love you, you're my little "nugget!!"

ONE Invite for immediate family

Stationery Card

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Elijah walked! - took 2-3 steps towards mommy & daddy - September 6th

Right Now: Eli 11 months

Within this month you:
* got your hair cut by a swift use of the scissors by mommy
* you are cruising with the best of them! around furniture and through the kitchen with chairs and everywhere!
* you are taking more and more solid foods here and there
* you're not much for the sippy cup but entertain us here and there
* you are now beginning to wave hi....but still mostly bye bye
* you're very contemplative and watch Ian a lot
* you are talking with the best of them with your jabber
* I can't get over my cuddle time with you and how you search for me in crowds or if you hear my voice - LOVE IT!

 

   

  

 

sneak peek: the photo session

Being photographed by a professional photographer who has years of experience and actual photography education was something else. Mark Hand of Photo Creations here in Ohio was so great with our boys and with us. He was able to capture some very candid, laughable moments that we will treasure and some very precious peaceful moments. Here are just a few of the laughable moments and a precious one: