In the middle of the night...

I go blogging.

Another 3am wake-up for me...I wonder what it is like for 'normal' people who can sleep for an entire 6-8 hours on their own. I think to myself, 'self, is that really something people do, sleep an entire night without waking up? Weird!' The only time I could say this was true was when I was pregnant, goodness I could sleep 12 hours. In fact, that reminds me when CC and I carpooled that year, I would pick him up from work and fall asleep in the car then come home and go right to bed. Pregnancy was one of the most interesting experiences of my life.

Now that I have my body back (not my size, my hormones...we are officially finished with breast feeding) I have all my irregular functionalities, I.e. sleep deficiencies, zits (which is new since baby, thanks for that new awesome treat), and anxiety. My brain never stops working. Now that I am not preoccupied with producing milk all my crazy worrys are back. It doesn't help that it is finals at school and I really have no idea what to do when I am finished. Do I work in this new field, do I stay at my state job with 21 days of vacation and 16 holidays? Do I take a break and discover myself, college grad, mom, wife, employee, sister, friend, daughter or do I go and become the person I just spent the last three years creating? oh, not to mention...am I even going to graduate? Ahhhhh....

Loves and hugs-welcome to 1% of my craziness.
Erin

Where to begin....

Two days before my girl's first birthday she started day care. I think CC had a hard time with it since this was the first time his routine has changed. His stay at home dad days are over. Now, comes the stress of coordinating drop off and pick up. I still have 3 weeks of school and approximately 30 hours to finish 'volunteering', plus, my work schedule varies on a day-to-day basis. I might work early in the morning or I might have to work in the evening. STRESS! Baby G does great at day care. She loves the KIDS! Miss Social Butterfly hardly fusses when I drop her off she is excited to see the kids.

Not only is she social she is extremely independant. On the weekends we like to lounge around the house and watch tv in the bedrroom. In the past, we could get her to drink her milk with us. Now she just wants down to play. I guess my cuddles are over.

A few updates on the sweet girl.
-28.5 inches long
-16.3 lbs (yes -5%)
-She is cutting her top two teeth
-Eats  everything in site except sweets
-Still sleeps through the night
-Wears 3-6 or 6-9 month clothes depending on the brand

The doctor isn't worried about her size yet because she still curving on the bell chart...just because she is 'off the chart' doesn't really matter too him because she is curving. If you have ever met CC he is a skinny guy and eats garbage all day long....please pray she has his metabolism...not mine.

Loves and hugs--stay tuned for an update on the 1st birthday party.
Erin

Blessed

When I think about the stress it took to have a baby it is hard to believe that was real. This baby is such a gift! She makes me smile and every day. She has one of the cutest personalities that I have every met. I know I say that all of the time but it is true.

Loves and hugs---I hope you all get to meet her someday...she is a special person.
Erin

Awake

It is 4:41 AM and I have been awake since 3:30 AM...why? I have no idea, I think it is because I do not do well with the time change. Never have, never will.  

I have been reading some new blogs...friends of friends blogs...and crying. We all have diffcult situations and mine seem almost superficial compared to some of these stories. I know God is in control and we are given different challenges to face and for that I am grateful. Looking back one year our world was in a huge tailspin. CC's work situation was extremely upsetting and I was due any day. And now that situation was probably our greatest blessing. He was able to stay home with Brek for the 1st year of her life! How lucky for him to have this time with her. 

At church yesterday we were speaking with a Pastor about doing a mission trip in March or September. I am getting really excited about this possibility and hope we can swing it. It would require us to leave B for 11-14 days....I am not sure about that but maybe it is just what we need ...God will show us what He has in store for us!

Brek updates....

• She crawls on all fours...one day she just decided to do it 
• She crawls up the stairs, fast
• Still a very good eater
• She loves the nursery at church because she gets to play with the kids. Good thing because next week we are going to daycare for our first time.
• She is still skinny but looks healthy to me
• She LOVES her dad
• I love her more than I can express. In fact, right now it is taking all I have to not wake her up to hold her and play with her.
• At the end of the night when she is asleep I talk about her all night and how fun she is
• She offically has stopped nursing... On Halloween she nursed for 1 minute and decided she was done with it. She hasn't tried since and I am ok with it. I wanted to nurse her through the winter but she was done and so am I.
• She still has no interest in walking. She will stand up leaning on things but has no balance. In time she will figure it out. I am in no rush and I really am not worried about it either.

Loves and hugs---Time to try to catch a few zzzz's I have to work soon.

Erin

Getting closer

Last Sunday my daughter turned 11 months! Can you believe it? Where has the time gone? She is one of the funniest people I know. She is in LOVE with Chica and Miss Chica still wants nothing to do with her, unless it is dinner time. We had our pictures done by Cat Palmer, a local photographer a couple of weeks ago and this is the closest we could get the two of them.

She is getting bigger every day, we are already in 3-6 month clothes! I am not sure where she puts all of her food--that girl is an eater! Cory started feeding her more protein to keep her full but she still eats a ton. She likes eggs, chicken, beef, turkey burger, turkey, fruit, cheese, crackers, milk, milk, milk.

Speaking of milk, I have milk envy. Many of my friends nurse their kids and they can pump 40 oz a day...are you kidding? I only ever pumped 20 on a good day. I cannot believe I lasted as a nursing mom as long as I did. I stopped pumping about 2 months ago but I still nurse at Breakfast and Dinner. I cannot tell you how much better my life is not tied to that stupid pump. I am glad I did it but looking back...oh man! Honestly, if I ever did it again (have a baby) I would nurse, for sure! But I am going to lie it was hard...I know everyone has different circumstances but I am here to tell you if you only do half the things I did this year with a newborn, you can do it!

Loves and hugs--Just wanted you to see my cute girls.
Erin

Just a thought...

“Just an observation: it is impossible to be both grateful and depressed. Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.”   ― Steve Maraboli

Loves and hugs--Finding inspiration during my day, ROCKS!
Erin

Love

Since B has joined our family church has been, well let's say, irregular at best. I am half-way through my last semester (EVER, I hope) and my stress level is spinning out of control. At times like this I always feel I need to be closer to God. So, we go to church. Even with a cranky baby. Even when the nursery isn't open. We go.

This week I was only able to be part of worship and it got me thinking about God. God loves us. Adores us. No. Matter. What. Phew, that was close. Now that I am a mom, looking at the love that God has for us has changed. Not His love for us but my view. I have a baby girl that I LOVE, unconditionally. There are days that I want to burst because I adore her so much. Jesus, he feels that way about each one of us! Can you believe it? We are that lucky to have someone love us just like that?


Loves and hugs-Someday, we are going to be in His presenence and feel that love--live and in person! I cannot wait.

Erin