A Day In Pictures

8:00 breakfast with my Beloved

9:00 a snugly girl who loves soft blankets

10:00 washing diapers... oh so glamorous

11:00 practicing the ancient art of nap-fighting

12:00 Mama wins the fight every day

1:00 nap time research

2:00 explore Mama's face

3:00 play, yell, drool. Repeat.

4:00 Daddy's home!

5:00 dinner

6:00 family walk

7:00 sleepy girl

8:00

Four Months

To my sweet Addi,

One year ago, exactly today, your Daddy and I sat on the bathroom floor together...
Laughing, crying, praising God, for we had just found out about you.

You, the girl of my dreams.

You, the one who has stolen our hearts.

...you.

...and today, you turned four months old.

We don't deserve you, sweet, beautiful, funny girl. You are our biggest and best blessing, and I'm still amazed that God had trusted us to love and raise you. He is immeasurably good to us.

Your Daddy falls more in love with you every single day.
And my love for him grows even more each time I see him look at you.

There is no higher honor, nothing more important in my heart,
than being a wife and Mama to you two.

This month, you have rolled over, started reaching and grabbing, started teething, and laughed for the first time. You are a busy girl, always wanting to stand or be bounced. You wake up twice a night to eat, and your beauty stops people at the grocery store right in their tracks. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see that you love the outdoors. You went on your first hike with Pappy, yesterday, which has always been one of my favorite things to do. I hope that you bond with him and God over these adventures just like I have.

We are all so crazy about you... all of your grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins... You are loved.

"For You created my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful,

I know that full well."

Psalm 139:13-14

I love you, Birdie. Happy four months!

Mama

Storms

"The wise man built his house upon the rock, and the rain came tumbling down...

The rain came down as the floods came up, and the wise mans house stood firm.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand, and the rain came tumbling down.

...The rain came down as the floods came up, and the foolish man's house sank down.

So build your house on The Lord, Jesus Christ. The blessings come down as the prayers go up..."

We are in the midst of a mighty storm in our life. This old childrens song has been dancing itself through my head for the past few days.

Let us continuously be building and leaning on our Rock, for He is the only One who keeps us from drowning.

Here's a story for ya!

Let's go back about two months...

It was my birthday, my 22nd of birthdays to be exact. On this day, omelets were eaten and kisses were given. Little baby toes were tickled, and we were off! Silly appointments that last

4 agonizing hours, phone calls from family, an anxiety attack (that one moment when I

realized that the next day would be Matthias' first day back to work, and my very first day home alone, being the stay at home mom all by myself, and I became very scared. For good reason, no?) oh, and a big ole' plate of food at Olive Garden.

My first birthday as a Mama.

But right smack dab in the middle of all that Birthday nonsense, was the sweet old man in

the leather cap. A leather cap just like my own sweet Grandpa wears.

Come, come. Sit. Let me tell you the story.

I was sitting in my seat at Chic-Fil-A, minding my own beeswax and devouring my fruity chicken salad and brownie sundae, when I saw him. About ten feet away, he was standing in line, and he looked over at us. He stared at my little Addi, sleeping sweetly in her car seat, and the

biggest grin spread across his tired, weathered face.

"Now, how old is that sweet lil' baby?" He asked, in the kindest of Southern accents.

"'Bout 9 days." My husband answered.

Then the man smiled even brighter and he said, "Oh, you're in for some good years."

I felt the twinge in my chest, and the tears were instant. I tried to contain myself while staring quickly from my husband's eyes, down to my salad, then back up and down again.

I have no idea why, but with that one simple statement from that one simple stranger, my whole world became focused and my heart grew wings.

Maybe it was the postpartum hormones, maybe it was my undying love for all old men everywhere, maybe it was the fact that he was so very sweet and old, or maybe it was the realization that this little girl is ours and we get to watch her grow big... Maybe it was some of everything. I wanted to run over to him, thank him for his words (and for being the cutest old man I ever did see!) and kiss him right on his wrinkly forehead.

We said thank you, wished him a good day, and continued our meals. But inside, I was singing.

My heart was crying and singing and laughing all at once.

At nine days old, I felt the overwhelming sense of pride in my daughter, for the very first time.

This one's for you, sweet old man with the leather cap at Chic-Fil-A.

God bless you and your big, full heart! You made my day.

...We're in for some good years...

Two Months

Here's a big huge picture dump of some favorites from

our second month with Miss Addison.

 This little girl eats every 2-3 hours during the day, and 5-6 hours at night. She is a morning girl, just like her Mama, smiling and 'talking' before her Daddy and I can even peel our poor eyes open.

 When she's eating or falling asleep, she grabs and grabs... opens and closes her sweet

hands until they finally find my shirt, my hair or her fuzzy blanket, or bunny.

I love this about her, and I hope she does it forever.

 She is silly and curious, stubborn and strong, soft and affectionate.

 I have a pretty good feeling that this little chunk is going to be absolutely hilarious.

Just like so many of her family members, and I cannot wait.

She already makes me laugh every single day.

She does not like Tummy Time, which makes it hard for me to enforce it as much as she needs it.

However, she sure loves cuddling and sleeping on her tummy...  

 Her giggles have been silent so far, but just yesterday morning, she let out a short, sweet little laugh while hanging out with her Daddy. Just another 'first' that makes all of this seem

so real but so dream-like at the same time.

We celebrated my very first Mother's Day with some friends who we are blessed to call family.

Addi,

I cannot believe another month has flown by with you here in our arms.

We have been excited about you for so many years, and now suddenly you

are here, sweeping us off our feet.

God is so very faithful and so very good to us. Remember that, sweet girl, no matter what.

You are your Daddy and my greatest, most precious and valuable blessing.

Thank you for letting us love you.

You are fearfully, wonderfully and beautifully made.

 Happy two months, my big, beautiful, happy girl.

Morning hours

It's 6:30 in the morning and I just got our happy, smiley girl back to sleep. She slept for 7 hours straight last night without waking to be fed. She woke up at 4:40, we snuggled, she ate, she dozed off, only to wake up thirty minutes later.

Happy. Curious. Ready to smile.

Her Daddy and I talked and laughed and kissed her until she was hungry again.

And now she lays next to me.

Sleeping sweet.

I wonder how long she will prefer to sleep like this, on our sides with her face buried deep in my chest? How long will she need to grasp my shirt or hair while she is eating and falling asleep? I wonder how long I'll get to be all that she needs. When will her breath loose its milky sweet smell?

Being a mama... her mama... Has been the sweetest and happiest moments of my life. I want to remember all of it.

The way she calms down the second she hears the bath water running.

The cute little voice my husband uses when he walks in the front door, scoops her up and says, "Hi, baby! Oh, I missed you all the day!"

The absolutely ridiculous face she makes as she poops. And how it makes me laugh every single time.

Family Prayer. The way my husband lays his hands on both of his girls each night, thanks God for us, and prays for our safety.

The middle-of-the-night-feedings... When I can barely step out of bed and lift her from her cradle. The ever present, deep feeling of exhaustion. Knowing that there will never be another night where I sleep all night... Never again a morning to sleep-in... And learning to be grateful for these interrupted nights and long days.

The way her smile overtakes her entire body. Watching the grin grow until it forces her body to curl over toward her toes, or launch her over to the side... Eyes squinted, toothless gums visible, joy in our hearts.

The inhale squeal that tells me she is laughing.

The way she looks up at me while she's eating. Eyes wide open, curious and filled with love.

The lonely feeling. Being sad every morning when Matthias leaves for work. But knowing that he goes because he loves us, and he works to provide for us.

The way our dog protects her. When she naps, he goes into the bedroom and lays down next to the bed. He follows us when we walk to other rooms. He sniffs her when she plays on the floor.

The second of disbelief when I think, "This is my daughter. This is our little family." Then the happiness when I realize that these two loves of mine will always, always be in my life.

And I'll always, always love them.

One Month

As I sit here typing, there is a sweet soul sleeping on my chest.
This little soul is oh so precious.
This little girl became one month old, yesterday.

Sweet Addi Bird,

You have made us happier than we ever knew we could be, and this past month has flown by quicker than I wanted. I guess you'll continue to grow until you are too big to pick up, despite the fact that I've asked you to slow down already.

We learn more about you with each day. You like to be held closely, rocked and kissed to sleep, and smiled at. You'd rather sleep on your stomach or side than your back. You wake up in the night to eat and to sleep next to me. You are mesmerized by everything about your Daddy... his voice, his face, the way he holds you and sings to you.

One day, you'll reach out to me... you'll speak your first words...
you'll grow up and you'll have babies of your own.

But for now, for these sweet seconds, I kiss you until you fall asleep, pray over your tiny body, and smell each of your warm, sweet breaths.

Forgive me for all of the times I mess up, sweet baby.
I strive to be so very good to you, and God is teaching me each day
to love and serve you in the way He has called me to.

I love you, sweet girl. You have my heart. Happy One Month.
Mama