{ Cutie Pie }

Oliver,
Sometimes when I look at you, you look so big, more like a little boy than a baby. I want to remember each and every one of your milestones. I assume that I will, and then I am realistic and realize I can't possibly. That is why I want to capture the moments I can by spending time with you looking into your big, blue eyes and soaking up your smile.

You are 3 months old now. At 14 lb. 12 oz. you are quickly growing out of so many of your cute, tiny baby outfits. It's a little sentimental to lay them aside, but when I see other little boys, older than you, I try and imagine you at their age and can't wait. Just don't get there too soon, okay?




It is such a joy to be your mommy. Even on the days when it takes all the strength I have, I wouldn't trade it for a moment. When you're so glad to see me after I've gone out for a bit, or you follow me with your eyes as I work around the house, you melt my heart every time.

And goodness, when you talk to your daddy and laugh like he's the best thing ever (and, of course he is), well there's just nothing sweeter.

So Sweet Boy grow big, grow strong, and just try to guess how much I love you, though you'll never find the end of it.

{Motherhood }

This is one of those posts that every mother will cry a box of empathy tissues with me, and those who are not yet mothers may want to skip in blissful ignorance!

Yep, it's been one of those mornings... weeks.

My precious little baby boy has been sick this week. It's just a cold, but the sniffles when he can't blow his nose and doesn't understand what is happening has been tough. I'm not sure who has cried more, him or me. During the nights when I've walked the floor, rocked him, nursed him, and prayed, prayed, prayed for him, I cling to Jesus so much tighter.

Today I just want a day off, a good cry, and a well baby.

But, I will keep going. I know Jesus gives me strength.

I will make myself a cup of tea, and raise it to all of you mothers out there. I understand now the sacrifice and the rich joy of motherhood.

{ Pause for Praise }

As I make my morning rounds of clean-up, I am thinking about how thankful I am for the blessing of dirty diapers and coffee cups. Because of them I reap the unending blessing of the two guys I love more than anything. It gives me a little lump in my throat.

{ This and That }

It's been a long while. I am happy to report that I have completely healed up since my last post of pain. I have had a few threatening situations, but I've caught them soon enough. Oh, yes, and I'm drinking lots of water and less coffee. There's nothing wrong with tea, at least that's what I tell myself, and I'm enjoying a steaming mug of it in the mornings. Oh, and I have discovered "Irish Breakfast Tea"... don't waste your time or money. Just saying.

Spur of the moment, Tim and I decided to take advantage of warm rain, clear roads, and a long weekend to head down south to visit his parents. They were so excited to meet Oliver for the first time. We had a good visit. We also visited Tim's grandma who is 96 years old and such a dear lady.

I was so excited to get this 4 generation picture.

The past couple of days I have been happily occupied with the planning of a dear friend's bridal shower. This evening I was able to sneak away by myself to Michaels where I shopped to my heart's content and came away with a bag of happiness.

Yesterday I walked downtown to the library. Oliver slept happily in his front pack and I enjoyed the sunshine, exercise, and snuggling with my happy baby. I discovered a classic, Wilkie Collins The Woman in White. I just love good literature. It is the first detective novel ever written, I learned, printed in 1860. Collins was a close friend of Charles Dickens. So far I'm am really enjoying it.

{ Pain }

Today has been hard. Really hard. It's a bit personal, but very common to mothers. It began last night as I was getting ready for bed, when I discovered an intense hardness in my breast. A plugged duct. I was really surprised, and a little scared, because I had no idea until then that I had gotten to this point. Up until now I have had no problems with breastfeeding, and I have been so thankful. So instead of going to bed I went and took a shower to try and bring relief. Unfortunately, that wasn't successful. I had a fitful, painful night, waking up this morning with serious discomfort.

I realized today just how much I have to be thankful for since I haven't dealt with this until now. I have thought a lot about pain today and all of the people who deal with it day in and day out, with no end in sight. I wonder how they do it? Today has been really hard, really painful, and concerning, but I know it will end. I just hope that if I am faced with a really threatening situation someday, that I will be an optimistic person.

Now it is evening again, and I am a little better. I am resolving to stay optimistic. This is a common problem. It too shall pass. Until it does, I am counting my blessings. I am thankful for a healthy baby who makes this pain worthwhile, and my wonderful husband who has helped me so much today.

Maybe tomorrow I will be all better.

{ January Picnic }

It has been a year since these pictures were taken. Back when I had Facebook, I posted them, but I thought about them again the other day and remembered what a unique and fun experience we had. I wanted to have them here on my blog.

It was a sunny Sunday morning, and even though it was cold, it seemed like the perfect kind of day to be outside. As I was getting ready for church, the idea came to me to pack a surprise picnic lunch. I scurried around while Tim got ready, smuggling our picnic basket and camera out to the car.

After church, I surprised him with the idea. He loved it! Away we went, heading into the mountains in search of a suitable picnic spot.

After some time, we came upon a sign to an historical site, "Bethany Memorial Church." We turned off the main road onto a dirt road that led to this quaint little church.



I don't think I had ever had a picnic in a graveyard, but it was positively old-fashioned. We roamed over the property, imagining the stories of the congregation that had worshiped there so many years ago.





The church was built in the very early 1900s. The first wedding was held there in 1906.





We sat on a wooden bench and enjoyed our lunch, hearing only the sound of the breeze.





We've remembered that day fondly this past year. I am not a naturally spontaneous person. Tim has helped me with that. Remembering this day makes me want to continue to get better at it. Spontaneity is more difficult now... when getting stuck without spare diapers and changes of clothes would be catastrophic, but it can be so fun. Who knows what other places we can discover. It's amazing what you can find right out your back door!