Play time

Attitude vs. exhaustion

This week has been crazy. I have been so busy and backed up with work. I worked four days of 8-10 hours and that is not including the feedings in the backseat of my car. Our house is pretty much in shambles. I have managed to do a couple loads of laundry, but that's about it. I've also had a couple of sort of dizzy spells which is not normal for me. Maybe hormones are still balancing out? It's all been a bit overwhelming, especially when I really just want to take a nap.

I know that I can't do it all, but I'm struggling with the fact that the things I'd rather say no to are not optional. :) I'm a little concerned that this isn't even the busy season for my job and I'm already struggling to keep up.

In our small group this week, we talked a bit about attitude and making choices in your day. It was something I needed to be reminded of. Things come up, and my schedule is not always predictable, but that doesn't mean I have to have a bad day. I can decide whether to be stressed and frustrated or roll with it.

All that to say, I'm trying. I would love to be able to stay at home with Sophi and sometimes it's easy to think of how much "better" life would be if that were an option. But I have been incredibly blessed with a job that offers me some flexibility and the ability to take my daughter to work with me every week. Not to mention a daughter that goes along with it! - just sleeping or looking around while we're out. I spend too much time looking at what I don't have.

This is just a season. Things may change sooner that I think, but in the meantime I'm trying to focus on being thankful for what I have been given.

Bad blogger and a little link love

I'm a bad blogger, it's true. I really do want to post fun things, cute photos, witty stories, but I didn't realize that having a newborn + working 25ish hours a week turns your brain to mush. (It's not very good for the state of my kitchen sink either.)

I have been keeping up with reading blogs, however. :) I really enjoyed this post from my friend Charity. It was a good reminder for me today. I tend to be pretty task oriented sometimes and just want to get the job done so I can cross it off my list. But it can make a difference just to take the time to see people. I need to do that more often.

By the way, Charity is spending this year traveling to 11 different countries and doing service projects and mission work, so check out her adventures here.

Oh, and I actually do have an abundance of cute photos, so here's one for you. ;)

Being a mom ...

People ask how I like being a mom. (Somewhat like the question "how's married life?" after the wedding- the answer is a little obvious.) It's amazing! The only thing that would make it better would be not having to do everything else that takes my attention away from our sweetie - you know like all the loads of laundry that she creates. Okay well that and maybe a couple more hours of sleep. :)

Sophia is 5 weeks old today. The last month has gone by soooo quickly. We've already seen lots of changes and lots of firsts. We're getting into the groove of things just in time for me to go back to work (a week from Tuesday) and change the groove. lol You can say a little prayer for that one.

We had our first photo shoot yesterday. The pictures turned out so good - look for them on my facebook page this sometime this week. Here's a little preview.


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Josh started his new job last week - just in time for the new year. Ever since we have been married, Josh has worked very hard at 2 or more (at a time) part time jobs. It was a necessity at first because of his involvement in ministry at Diverse City. After DC closed, he has been keeping an ear out for something else with full time, regular hours, benefits, etc. The short version of the story is the God is amazing and worked everything out to provide for us at a perfect time. Josh even got a two week break between jobs to spend with our new baby girl.

So far, he is doing orientation and training at the new company and it seems to be going really well. He will mostly be dealing with customer service in an office that provides medical supplies. It's not the job he plans to retire from, in fact he is still hoping to start his master's degree in the nearish future. :) But we hope this will give us the funds needed for that and be his last job before moving on to counseling.

She's Here!!!

Sophia Grace was born on Sunday, December 6th (before the due date!). She weighed 6.65 lbs and was 19 1/2 inches long.

We are doing amazing! Settling in and getting used to a new schedule. Josh and I are totally in love of course, and we think she may be the cutest kid ever. :) It has been overwhelming at times, but I am sooo thankful for our sweet little girl! We have had a lot of help from family. Next week may be a different story since we'll be "on our own". lol But Sophi is such a good baby. Our biggest challenge has been getting her to stay awake long enough to eat.

Baby news and a final belly pic (also known as irony)

I wrote this post on Saturday - I'm not really sure why it didn't get added, but I'm adding it now for the pure irony that after I typed this I went to bed and my water broke in the early morning. Plus, I like looking at the huge belly that is not there any longer!



39 weeks. If you compare to my last picture (about 6 weeks ago) I am a little proud that I am not even more huge. You know, because I have so much control over all of this. lol

This week has been interesting. My sinuses decided to go crazy on Monday and I have pretty much had a cold all week. (One more reason I am soooo grateful to be off work right now.) So now I am torn between wanting to go into labor as soon as possible and wanting to be able to breathe when I'm there.

Things are not exactly quiet. We have been staying busy - finishing Christmas shopping, buying last minute things we need for the baby, the laundry that never ends, a variety of doctor appointments.

I had my latest check-up yesterday and the doctor said I am between 2 & 3 centimeters and 75% effaced! I can finally tell that the baby has dropped as well. I am really surprised because I expected to be so much more uncomfortable than I am, I didn't think things were moving along. I'm starting to get my hopes up that she will be here before (or on) her due date! But just in case not, they went ahead and scheduled me for an induction on December 16th. It's so nice to have an definite end in mind.

Maternity Photo Session

So, Emily took these amazing photos about 4 weeks ago. I've taken a while to put them on here, but check out my Facebook page for the entire group. I've never had so much fun being in pictures before. :)