See what the Lord has done

I have truly missed being able to regularly blog. I enjoy sharing new crafty ideas with you, offering home remodeling tips, recipes for you to try, and just sharing a bit of my weird life.

I know things will get back to a new normal and I will be creating, cooking and remodeling with fervor. But for now, my most memorable times are spent staring at this.

all photos courtesy of Greiman Photography
I’ve realized a few things about parenting that I’d heard from other parents but dismissed as farcical. However, what all those crazy parents have told me is true.

Parenting is the most rewarding thing that I’ve ever done. I never thought I would say that. It seemed a necessary task in order to one day have that intelligent conversation with your 25 year old that finally admits you were right about everything. The in between stuff-the spit-up, dirty diapers, messy house, potty training, loads upon loads of laundry-was something that I thought I would have to get through. Instead, I find myself embracing each moment with our daughter, praying over her constantly, smiling while she’s screaming-because she’s finally here and she has a voice.

 

Parenting has made me fall more and more in love with my husband every day. I knew Biceps was ridiculously awesome–that’s why I said “yes” after only four months of dating. What I didn’t know about my sweet man was that he was a natural at nurturing. I’ve watched Biceps hold our baby girl as she spits up onto his arm, and he doesn’t flinch. He’ll scoop the drool from her mouth and wipe it onto his own clean shirt. He joyfully changes her diapers and makes up songs to entertain her while doing so. He rushes home from the fire station so he can hold his baby girl. This man who couldn’t get any better–did.

Parenting has caused me to better understand the gravity of Christ’s sacrifice for me. I would do anything to protect my Birdie. Anything. I would lay down my life if it meant she would live. I don’t think I every fully grasped why Christ did what he did for me until I became a parent. I thought Christ was perhaps a little extreme and slightly crazy to sacrifice himself for someone as flawed as me. Now, I know why. He took on my sin, knowing I would continue to sin and disappoint him. He did that because of his incredible love for me. Have you recognized and understand what the Lord has done for you? What have you learned as a parent?

“Just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2

Efficient Baby Rearing

For all of those Mom’s out there that are tired, without makeup, half-starved…I have a pretty easy to follow and “Efficient Baby Rearing” technique.

All of the books that I read before pregnancy were right on. You DON’T have to give up your life because a little one has been added to the fold. You and your mate were there before baby was there. There is no need to make adjustments-the baby will just need to fall in line.

So, here are the techniques laid out for you.

1. Working out.

-The pressure to regain your post-baby  body is warranted. How do you expect to keep your mate if you give yourself recovery time? Continue working out immediately after the baby has been born-prepare for bikini season. If you took care of yourself and you are in good shape, there is no reason that you can’t be back doing double-unders in Crossfit immediately and looking like this….

2. Wear the clothes you love and not the ones that you can easily nurse in/cover up spit-up/are stretchy.

-Why change your wardrobe to suit the needs of your child? They should understand if you have to completely disrobe in a public setting, (i.e. a friend’s birthday party) in order to nurse.

3. Continue “running into” stores.

-The baby should understand that you have 5 errands to run and two hours to do them in. If the baby poops its drawers or is hungry-they will just have to wait. You  are teaching them patience and responsibility.

4. Ensure the baby sleeps only in its crib.

-It’s a bed. They should sleep in it. And unless you’re like me (frugal), you spent several hundred dollars for this bed. There is no reason they should prefer the car seat, the swing, your chest, your bed or anywhere else to their crib. It’s just not logical. Their crib or the highway.

5. Sometimes, babies just cry. Let them.

-Only a namby-pamby woos picks up their kid after they’ve cried for several minutes. Let them cry. They’ll (and you) will be fine.

6. Continue to eat a well-balanced diet–and not some weird, cobbled together reheated-but-now-cold meal.

-What’s stopping you from cooking that well-balanced meal? The baby sleeps around 18 hours a day, according to the books I’ve read. That means you can prepare at least two gourmet meals. What else do you have to do?

7. Nursing is so natural and so easy.

-You don’t really need to know what you’re doing-you were made for this. Embrace all instruction, because it could be right. Don’t worry about the ramifications.

8. As soon as possible, allow the baby to “entertain itself”.

-Babies practically raise themselves. The less you coddle them, the more they’ll learn to be independent. They’re really not that cute. You can walk away.

That’s about it. If you follow these techniques, you’ll do great as a parent. If not…well, you’ve screwed up another entire generation. No pressure.

10 Reasons I’ve become a bad friend…blogger…Crossfitter…

It’s amazing how life can change on a dime. Who knew that having a baby would make every single one of my priorities change? This fact is no surprise to those of you who already have children-but to me, it’s earth shattering.

Things that were once super important to me-having my hair done (or at least combed), makeup on, clean underwear…are of little consequence at this point. While some new mothers blissfully nurse, keep a clean house and ultimately win at being awesome…I’m struggling to get Birdie to sleep in her own bed.

And once something like this is in your arms, little else matters. I pretended to understand this when I was childless. However, there is no way I could have grasped the fulfillment I would receive from changing a stinky diaper.

The ginormous amounts of diapers that have flowed through my hands is one explanation to the reason that I’ve become a bad friend, blogger, Crosfitter, daughter, etc…

Here are a few more:

1. Typically, if you call me, I am in the middle of feeling like this. Not the woman with makeup on in the pretty dress. Look a little more to your left. There. The animal with the tail and fur-that’s me.

Moo.

2. This is reason #2 that I’m a bad friend. High-pitched screaming and phone calls do not mix.

3. While I had my hands in this, (literally-it was IN this), you may have called, texted or stopped by. Sanitation must occur before touching anything. I apologize for being unavailable.

4. My house may look like this, sans Whataburger cups. For a self-admitted “neat freak”, letting you see my house in this disarray would have challenged all that I know to be sacred.

5. I’d love to go on a walk, get a cup of coffee, or hang out. However, this is also how I may have appeared. No one should have to deal with this.

6. Crossfit was my oasis before Birdie. It challenged me, pushed me to my limits and physically altered my body. Now, getting a good burp out of Birdie is my victory for the day. A good toot out of her is another.

7. If I have a moment to respond to an email or text, or if I want to blog-I’m doing it all with one hand. The other is occupied holding Birdie, (a job much envied by all grandparents).

8. My brain is half-functioning, sleep is weirdly sporadic, food is scarce and my interpersonal skills are suffering. I apologize for stinking it up in the listening department, dear friend.

9. If I have some downtime, I’d like to do this. It rarely happens, but the thought of it-although it is perhaps unattainable-seems magnificent.

10. However, if I have any downtime at all, you may find me instead staring at this. Can you blame me?

Introducing “Baby G.”-our sweet little Birdie Rose

As you may have surmised, I have been a little MIA for the last few weeks. The preparation for Baby G., my parent’s and in-law’s arrival, and just generally being pregnant left me with little energy at the end of each day. I desperately wanted to keep all of you informed, but hoped you’d bear with me as we adjusted and prepared for our new life.

All the work, planning, waiting, plotting and prayer was worth the wait. On April 27th, at 12:02am, our lives forever changed.

Introducing-Birdie Rose:

She has made me realize so many wonderful things about God’s promises already. During the entire labor and delivery, the scripture, “He will never leave us, nor forsake us (1 Kings 8:57)” played on repeat in my mind.

The birth of Birdie Rose created a time where Biceps and I had to passionately lean on the Lord.

After walking several miles in the morning, my contractions began mid-afternoon on Friday, April 25th. We wanted to remain at home until they were appropriately 3 minutes apart. Biceps tried everything to distract me from the pain-jokes, food, and weird 1am television were all part of his repertoire.

Mostly, I laid on the floor and moaned like a beached sea whale, freaking out the cats in the process.

Finally, Biceps and I loaded up, left the kitties a little worse for wear, and ran off to the hospital on Saturday morning around 3am. For the next day, I labored-literally-in vain.

Biceps and Mom were at the helm the entire time–rubbing my back, applying moist heat, encouraging me, praying over me and force-feeding me honey sticks.

By Saturday night (33 hours later), we knew something was amiss. My contractions were increasing in frequency, length and severity of pain–and I was getting tuckered out.

Little Baby G. did not want to come out-at least not the way we had planned. But, God had His hand on the entire situation.

We had a rockstar nurse-Bekah-who did everything short of taking the pain on herself. She sat up with us throughout the night and prayed with us. Because of Bekah, we discovered after all these hours of natural labor, our little determined girl was breeched. Birdie had flipped at the last minute, after being in the correct position for the entire 9 months.

A few hours later, we were confronted by our doctor with the necessity of an emergency C-Section. This was not how I had planned it and I lost it right there in the delivery room. We were supposed to have her, drink our OJ and be on our merry way. But, Birdie Rose wanted more of a show.

And again, God was there. Our rockstar nurse followed us to the operating room and stayed with me throughout the entire procedure. My doctor prayed with me and calmed me down. And, 30 minutes later–Birdie was “born”.

I have no idea why the birth happened the way that it did. But, because of the unusual circumstances met by supernatural answers–I knew my God was watching over me. There were many details-when my water broke, when the doctor was available, how much I had eaten–that seemed to miraculously be taken care of.

The birth of Birdie Rose deepened my love for the Lord, for my husband and for my family. I already cannot imagine my life without her.

She is our blessing–one we waited 13 years for. And it was totally worth it.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:2-5