August already

 via

Sam turned 6 months yesterday! We haven't celebrated just yet but we get to go to his appointment tomorrow. 

After nearly a month of full time mommy, I went back to work for a few days to help out a coworker. Just those few days left me so thankful for the time I get to spend at home. It's still busy, and we're working on figuring out routines and habits and life, but it's been good. I can't believe how quickly the days have been flying by! We just had a good Bible study that went over laziness and how whatever we are doing, we are to be doing it heartily for the Lord. Today I've spent some time really thinking about what that will look like now that my role has changed. I don't want to judge my days based on how many things I fit in, the state of my house, how many naps were successful, but I want to challenge myself find time for prayer and quiet time, to share God's love with Sam, to share my time and resources with others, be a good wife and mom, get some inspiration from Proverbs 31 in that I share my talents with my family... well that's a start :)

2013 Books - Halfway Mark

via

via

Burned by Sara Shepard (Pretty little liars book)

Baby 411 by Denise Fields and Dr. Ari Brown (so much info!)

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury (a sweet story around Christmas time about second chances)

Hope: a Holy Promise by Oswald Chambers

Babywise by Gary Ezzo

The Host by Stephenie Meyer (I would recommend)

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (refresher before watching the movie)

Pandemium by Lauren Oliver (Book 2 of 3, before the third is released. Very good)

Once Upon a Time Illustrated by Kevin Tong (kinda weird version of common fairy tales)

Sever  by Lauren DeStefano (Last book of a trilogy)

A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans (definitely learned some things. It was interesting to discover what is in the Bible and what is just tradition)

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (focused on being grateful, inspiring)

The Game of Thrones by George RR Martin

Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith (Fun and with some spiritual truths. Kinda what I would like to write someday)

Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel (Enjoyed)

Nursing Mother, Working Mother by Gale Pryor and Kathleen Huggins (a good book about combining those two worlds)

On Becoming Babywise: Book Two by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam

True by Hilary Duff (last of a trilogy)

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos (a re-read)

Clash of Kings by George RR Martin 

So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell (only ok)

Organizing Your Day by Sandra Felton and Marsha Sims

The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman (pretty good read, the start is slow, but otherwise good)

Six Years by Harlan Coben (good mystery, good summer read)

Year count: 24 so far! I don't read nearly as much since Sam has arrived, but I'm okay with that :)

Happy Father's Day weekend

 via

“The attitude you have as a parent is what your kids will learn from more than what you tell them. They don’t remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are.”

     Jim Henson 

 

J- thank you so so much for being the father you are to our little boy. I am so excited for him to grow up with you as a role model, a leader, and when the time is right, a friend. 

Grow

via

 

via

I find that being a mom has changed me. In some ways, better, and in some ways not as much. I find myself with an even shorter attention span, and trying to balance everything in my head can get me tired before I even do anything. I cry more at random commercials and stories. I'm more defensive over some topics, and more protective over my time. While my heart has certainly grown for this little boy, it's not as open as I had expected it to be. For some reason, I expected becoming "mom" meant planning and loving would become easier, because it had to be. Turns out, it's still something to work at, to pray about, to turn over to God. I'm not more capable just because I added another (albeit important) role. 

So, I'm acknowledging I need help, that I want this challenge. J is amazingly supportive, and I get to be a stay at home mom for now! For a little while, I was concerned that if I stopped working for a while, I'd be a little more boring. Then I realized that I don't actually talk about work that much anyhow. I have 8 more days of normal work days.

My life is fuller in another way, and I want to keep changing for the better, and help raise Sam to be a little better than J and me.  

Fast

via

So I have my work schedule figured out for the month, and Sam is going to be loving some time with his daddy.  Lately, Sam has been enjoying having a finger or two in his mouth, feeling his gums, and has pooped in his last two baths. He keeps growing, loves trying to stand, and we are curious how his next appt will this week. Life is moving so fast!

Happy Memorial weekend

via

via

Happy long weekend :) J is playing Ultimate and I get plenty of time with Sam! He has started babbling a little bit, and makes it even more fun to play with him.

This weekend my younger brother turns 25 and it also marks the year anniversary of his engagement to his now bride. What a sweet day!

This weekend also marks the year anniversary of when J and I bought a crib on a whim, I broke out with shingles, but thought it was poison ivy, and then we found out we were actually pregnant with Sam!

Niche

 

 via

via

This week I started back a few half days at work. It was good to see my manager and other co-workers and catch up a bit. I left Sam with J both days, and I knew he was with someone who loves him and that I wouldn't be gone too long. While it felt good to be productive and know I was giving back to a company that given me to me, I know I definitely love being home, taking care of Sam, and seeing J on the random off days that he's not working. We'll see what happens :) Regardless I'm thankful for the support I have from my husband and coworkers and am just praying for clarity. I expect to feel some sort of guilt regardless of what we choose, but I know I want to be where God wants me, what's best for our family, and hope to feel peace.