Passing on a tradition.

My parents did this little diddy to my siblings and me often when we were young. So much so that my sister thought her forehead was a 'forebender' for...let's just say...far too long. :)

Mommy Beeper

It's not often you can get a 'buzz' in a Baptist church on a Sunday morning...

Little GK was apparently having trouble sleeping in her Sunday School class, so with about 15 min left in the service, I got paged to the nursery. I should have told them earlier that she does better sleeping in a crib or a swing than in one's arms. Poor little thing was crying so hard and the mom-volunteer commented that she is 'quite a fighter'! Atta girl! Haha. Hopefully, we can use that passion in a competitive way in the future. :)

But, I was sad she wasn't able to rest. She stopped crying when I held her and soon fell asleep in my arms as we waited for the service to end and join Daddy in the lobby.

Now, 2.5 hours into her nap, hopefully, she'll wake up feeling better. :)

Take a look...

It's in a book...
Reading Rainbow! (reading rainbow, reading rainbow)


Question: What is an avid reader with time on her hands, but on a tight budget to do?!?
Answer: Join a public library

So, yesterday I headed to the closest of 40 public libraries in Jefferson County and got myself a library card!  I was very impressed with the facilities and selection!  They even have a super easy electronic checkout where I use my library card (which fits on my key ring) and just place my books on a pad where it reads the barcode and checks it out in my name for 3 weeks.  I love technology!

Here are my first picks:

A modern etiquette book (just to brush up on my p's and q's-- I am in the South now!), a book by Chuck Colson (been meaning to read his stuff for a while now), a Christian fiction novel (who can resist Janette Oke!?), and a presidential profiles book (it has a one page synopsis on each president and I think this is a great way to learn more about each one without being bogged down with too much info.)

Rather eclectic mix, but I wanted to keep it interesting.  I'm halfway through The Centurion's Wife and am really enjoying it.

But... I need your help!

Please email me or feel free to comment your suggestions for my next visit!  I love Christian fiction, spy/military thrillers, classics, period pieces (such as Pride and Prejudice), and Christian 'inspiration'-type books.

Any suggestions are appreciated!!!

Rockin' GK!

Please excuse my silly exclamations, but I was just so excited!!!

Humbled

Sometimes, when I feel a bit lost and don't know what to do, I just have to get on my knees and cry "Hosanna!"

Tonight, that's what I did. 

My favorite part is the bridge:

"Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You
Have loved me.

Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from Earth into Eternity..."

But, the words I will sing for the rest of my earthly days and for all of eternity will be...
Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the Highest!

New Bedding is Here!!!

Yay!  It is lilac and green, modern and soft, feminine and perfect!

Little baby legs about to nap on her new bedding!

It's all washed and clean, but I need to iron the bed skirt.

I can't wait to finally get the nursery in order! :)

26 years and counting...

Age is an issue of mind over matter.  If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.  ~Mark Twain

I had the privilege of celebrating my birthday this week!  It was filled with some of my favorite things:

~Hot shower
~Make up
~Scrambled eggs/egg whites with sausage and a little cheese
~Jelly Beans
~Moist yellow box cake with milk chocolate icing
~Orzo
~Long Nap
~GK {duh!}
~My honey {doi!}
~Phone calls from friends and loved ones

Whew!  Awesome day-- despite having a Dr.'s appt. in the morning.  James had Wed and Thurs off, though F/S/Sun he is on call working 7pm-7am.  James made me feel special all day!  Starting the night before, he helped me get a little more sleep than normal by getting up to feed Georgia for her 3am night feed.  This was the first time he's fed her at night--ever-- partly because she wouldn't take a bottle for a while and partly because I'm an awesome wifey like that:)  I still woke up and checked on how it was going when he was feeding her (old habits die hard), but it was still really nice of him and is a relief to know in the future if I'm sick or something that he could help out in that way.  Then, he made me breakfast and coffee (did you know we are now coffee drinkers?!  Keurig has changed our lives!:))


He said I could go anywhere for lunch and after driving around a bit, I decided Whole Foods would be perfect!  It may sound like an odd choice, but my great PwC work buddy-- Kelly C. -- introduced me to the wonderful salad bar and cafe area.  I was craving something light (still working on dropping the last few prego pounds) and thought it would be a fun 'outing' and we wouldn't have to worry about dirty looks from fellow patrons carrying our sweet Georgia into a nice restaurant!


We had a great time walking around, eating free samples, and looking at all the beautiful food we can't afford.  Then, we grabbed some grub and a booth and had a lovely, relaxed lunch with GK in tow.  

Can't beat a good salad!  Loved the orzo, too.  CA roll and some Izze-- best.lunch.ever.

GK smiling for Daddy.

Nice view out the window:)

Sweet hubs in his beautiful polo!  It's my fav:)

The rest of the day was spent napping, playing with GK, and blowing out my candles.  A wonderful, relaxing day feeling loved-- who could ask for more?!

OH and my bday present from James is 2 tickets (4th row) to see The Civil Wars live at the Alabama Theater.  To say I am excited would be an UNDERSTATEMENT!!!  I haven't been this excited about something in a while!  There is a bit of delayed gratification involved-- the concert is in October, but I can't wait!!!   Now, we just need to find a babysitter...

Leslie and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!

Yesterday I woke up feeling like a Mack truck had run over my head and then backed up for good measure.  Not sure if the headache was {lack of} sleep-related, allergy related, or related to this darn cold I can't seem to shake.  Either way about it, it was one of those days that I just wanted to lay in bed, in my jammies, and sleep  sleep sleep til I can't sleep no mo'.

But...I had a little angel in the next room (do angels scream and cry?!) and so I pulled myself out of bed and went about the day WITH the jammies on!  (score a point for me!)

Around 3:30pm, Georgia was down for a nap and I was scrounging around trying to find something to eat.  Our cupboard is pretty bare and I've been trying to hold off on going to the grocery store, but we had no milk, bread, meat, fruit...dry pasta and rice were just about it!  I found myself STARVING for something to eat so I decided to shower and change out of my pjs then head to the store as soon as Georgia woke up.

I kept checking on her and finally she popped her eyes open and I plopped her in the carseat, grabbed my purse and headed out the door.

Pulling out of our apt complex I checked the clock and see it says 5pm.  Shoot, I thought.  We're going to hit rush hour.  We live a few streets away from a major highway that we have to use to get anywhere and it's a slow go even for just a few lights at this hour.  Oh well, I'm charging ahead!  Hunger is a powerful motivator!

I decide to keep GK in her carseat and put her in the snap n go stroller.  I was just planning to get a small, handheld basket for a few  items.  Once I got inside and started shopping around, though, I decided to get more items so I upgraded to a cart and got to be 'that mom' trying to push two carts around and not run over anyone's toes.

Finally, I got what we needed... and maybe a couple 'wants' (B&J's Half Baked ice cream just looked too good to pass up!) and headed to the checkout.  I don't normally recommend shopping while hungry-- it can be dangerous--  but I had no choice.  I was envisioning myself eating half my cart while walking around!

In line, I was keeping GK entertained (and probably those around us) and she was being happy and kicking her legs with glee-- that's when I smelled it.  Oh no!  Poopy Diaper alert!  Let's just hope it doesn't leak onto the car seat!

The lady rang me up and as I reached into my {embarrassingly messy} purse--- NO WALLET!  Ugh!  This is the stuff nightmares are made of...I look up at the cashier with a look of ' I promise you I did not plan this.  Please forgive me.' I mumbled that I had no wallet and must have left it at home.  I was so mortified!  She offered to hold my bags for me, but all I could think of was that I could never step foot in this store again.  A tad dramatic?  Yes, but it was a dramatic moment.  I managed an 'I'm sorry', shoved my sunglasses on my face to hide the tears threatening to burst out of my eyes and pushed my little stroller to the nearest exit with a vengeance.

Deep breaths got me to the car where I broke down soon after the door shut.  What a waste of time and I'm STILL starving! 

Over the parking lot and through bad traffic back to my house I go!  I carried GK quickly up the stairs asking God to please not cap off this day with excrement all over my baby and her car seat.  I laid her on the changing table and ripped off her diaper only to find-- nothing!  That baby must have the stinkiest gas EVER!

Anyway, disaster averted there.  Time to find my wallet.  I'll spare you the details, but I searched high and low.  As a last resort, I looked in a drawer in our bedroom where James likes to put things he feels like are cluttering up the dresser (ie. my sunglasses, jewelry and such).  Guess what?!  There it was-- approximately 2 feet from where my purse sits...

My eyes saw red as my quick temper flared.  Deep breaths, deep breaths.

I quickly loaded Georgia back up and headed to get some food.  I was trying to avoid fast food (it's been 3 weeks since I've had any), but I didn't feel like doing anything else.  I grabbed a #2 from McDonalds and 2, yes, TWO small rolo mcflurry's... I felt sick the rest of the night.

Just keepin' it real, people.

James and I talked it over once he got home at 11:30pm that night and resolved it.  I know he didn't do it on purpose and he knows that he shouldn't have put it there.  We kissed and made up.  He's actually at Target now getting everything I tried to get yesterday.  :)

I couldn't find a notepad this morning and he said "Oh, I put it in the drawer." I looked up at him and his silly, grinning face.  "Too soon" was all I said.  "Too soon."

Firsts.

Someone woke up from their nap with their FIRST case of "bed head". Yay for hair growth!

Exciting Developments...

As part of my experience reading Radical (discussed in this previous post), I really had a heart change on several aspects of our lives.  James and I decided it was time to let go of excuses we've been using the past couple of years to feel content riding the sidelines in the game of Life (James is in med school so we don't have time to do that, we are only here for a short while so why get involved, we have no money to do missions, we have a baby to consider now etc. etc.)  We let go and just asked God to use us and provide the resources (time, money, energy etc.) as he deems fit.

For my part, I also decided that I would 'let go' and let James lead.  I have a nasty habit of wanting to be in control and on top of things, all the while frustrated that James doesn't do more...all the while, James is frustrated that I have taken over, yet again, and not allowed him the opportunity to lead.  I felt convicted of this and made a vow to God to pray for my husband (something I don't do often enough); for his leadership of this family, for him to plot out an intentional direction for our lives and service for God's kingdom, and for him to seek God wholeheartedly.  And, I vowed not to nag regarding the status of the previously mentioned items...

About a week and a half after making the vow, I received a text message from James.  It said, "Maybe going on a medical mission trip/church planting trip to Kenya in January".  My response: "wha???"  I was so thrilled and couldn't wait to hear more!  In the weeks that have passed, I've seen my often tired and weary husband reading Radical by lamplight at night and reading the Word in our study's reading chair by day.  We are both holding each other accountable to spend time in prayer and study of the Bible to stay on track.  We are FAR from perfect, but it's felt good to draw closer to the Lord.

So, back to the mission trip ahead!   James heard about it during his orientation sessions in late June.  A neurologist at Princeton Baptist Hospital is on the board of a small, non denominational church planting organization and takes a group of doctors and residents each year to Kenya  for 10 days to provide medical assistance, as well as, plant churches.  James was immediately interested (hence the text) and felt this may be an answer to our prayers, but we waited a couple weeks to think it over and pray.  Initially, James thought we could both go and leave Georgia with her grandparents, but the thought of leaving my then 11 mo old baby for 10 days was TOO much.  I don't feel comfortable doing that at this point, so just he will go.

Oh, also did I mention the trip is FREE???  Yes, it is for the doctors going!  What a blessing!  So, James will be heading out in January of 2012.  We ask that you pray, as I will, for safe travels, a hedge of protection while in a volatile and potentially infectious area of the world, and for God to use their hands to help and heal.

As James goes thousands of miles away, I am looking for ways to volunteer in our community.  We are still praying for direction and more opportunities.  I am so thankful Jesus came to give us life-- abundant life!


Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  1 Peter 4:10 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10

"Grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to thee,
   that all else is trifling.
Thy presence alone can make me holy, devout, strong and happy.
Abide in me, gracious God."
 - The Valley of Vision (excerpt from "Resting on God")

Anatomy of a Roll.

1. Set baby on back.

2. Place alluring toy to the side of aforementioned baby.

3. Watch baby throw opposite side leg and arm over body in direction of desired toy.

4. Due to exerted effort, weight distribution begins to shift.

5. Baby has now completed full 180 degree rotation.

6. Success!

7. Happy Baby!

Thanks and Gig 'Em!

Straight Gangsta

Rockin' a hoodie is serious business.

The Many Faces of Miss Georgia Kate

The first furrowed brow fresh out of the womb!

She used to get a little cross-eyed ;)

 

So sassy!  If she gives me this look at 15, I'll slap it off her face!!!  :)

We got this face a lot for a while there...

She could (and still can) let it rip!

She still makes this face when she gets excited. :)

For any parent, this is often the best face!

Mother, if you take one more picture of me, I'm going to reach into that lens and poke you in the eye! 

no words.

Pouty lip.  I have a feeling we'll see this face a lot in her toddler years...

 

 

 

Deer (or Dear) in the Headlights.

Mommy, come look at this pretty fabric!  I can't believe it!

hmm...that camera looks mighty tasty...

Turn. And pose.

Her body language really adds to the facial expression!

Evil Mastermind?!  (nahhh)

The next few are all about her eyebrows...what they lack in hair count, they make up for in expression. :)

Oh, silly girl, I love you so!