30 "Leaps"

Hello 2014 (albeit a little late ) and hello to anyone who might read this!

I thought I had fallen off the face of the earth in the blog world, but I've decided to make a come back and to try my hand(s) again at this whole blog thing. ;)

Something I've realized about myself over the last year or so is that I really do have a whole lot I want to do with my life ( inward) and in my life (outward). I have a lot of desires, goals, and unfulfilled dreams. And with 30 lurking around the corner, I'm not getting any younger so I'd better get on them now! Ha! (so dramatic, I know. ;) ) But basically, I just don't want to hit 5 years from now and say "I really wish I had done (fill in the blank) or gone to (fill in the blank) or learned about (fill in the blank), etc. and here it is 5 years later and I haven't really done much in the last 5 years." I want to be more than I am. Not because I'm not perfectly content with where I am (sometimes I'm a little too comfortable) but because I know that God wants me to be more. Not in a "He expects more out of me and if I don't do something about it He's going to be disappointed in me" sort of way..but in a "I think God might want me to trust Him more, and take some leaps of faith". A lot of times I can allow fears or laziness to hold me back, and I don't want those two to define me. I'm hoping that my life will be defined by my faith in God and His love for me extended to others. That is my desire anyway!

Sooo....

Back to blogging. ;) I thought it would make sense to start blogging again and write a list (of sorts) of areas I want to improve in and things I'd like to do/be/shoot for. I'm hopeful that maybe writing it down publicly will force encourage me to "leap". I guess we'll see!

Okay, enough talking/writing....here it goes!

30 "Leaps":

(in no particular order)

1. Refinish a piece of furniture ( I have about 5 projects waiting for me as I write!)

2. Joyfully serve in an area of ministry in our church.

3. Help contribute to our family's income from home by using my own personal talents/gifts ( ie: a small business?).

4. Make quiet times, prayer and meditation a more regular part of my day....because I want to!

5. Be intentional with initiating with my friends (you know who you are). :)

6. Be intentional with initiating with my family (again...you know who you are).

7. Visit our missionary friends and serve with them short term in Ukraine, Indonesia, etc. (this may be a longer than 5 year goal...but maybe not!)

8. Finish writing and publish (ahhh!) a short children's book.
9. Buy our first home (that we loove!)
10. Get rid of everything in our house that we do not #1- love and #2- use. Basically, be rid of excess.
11. (Continue to) decorate our house in a way that really reflects my personality and slowly get rid of everything/switch out things I don't really like. (that'll be fun to blog about!) :)
12. Be the best involved, hands-on Mom I can be and pray for my boys daily.
13. Be the best wife ( respectful, gracious, & serving) I can be and pray for my husband daily.
14. Share my testimony with a small group. Yay- check check. :)
15. Lead a Bible study.
16. Go on a 10-year anniversary vacation with the hubby to an exotic location (without the kids...3 1/2 years to go!) ;)
17. Get "up and at 'em" earlier/become more of a morning person.
18. Familiarize myself better with technology---esp. computers and cameras. It stinks to say this--but technology is really overwhelming and intimidating for me. Hello- that's why I married a computer guy! :) But still...
19. Exercise. Plain and simple. In other words...if I'm not pregnant, I just haven't been exercising and that's not good. :(
20. Go completely green/organic (or at least as much as possible) with eating, hygiene and household products and explore more recipes to make so the transition is more manageable/budget friendly. We're about 75% there so far...
21. Have people over more. Host get-togethers, dinners, casual after-church lunches, etc. Just be more hospitable!!
22. Have another baby...or two. ;) 
23. Forgive someone I haven't...
24. Resolve a conflict with someone I haven't...
25. Take a chance with my personal appearance (but still be me)...cut my hair? Dye it? Be a little more bold with my dress? I've always pretty much played it safe there...
26. Start playing the piano again....(which would require... ;) )
27. Start putting our pictures into photo books/albums :) 
28. Get a dog for the boys! (in a few years or so) :)
29. Do something that scares me...go on a cruise? Ride in a hot air balloon? Parallel park? (haha, jk ;) )
30. Surrender my life continually to Christ! 

Well anyway..that's a start! Here's to the next 5 + years and blogging about the journey!

xo,

Gail

P.S. Do you have any future or immediate goals? What is one thing you are chomping at the bit to do but just haven't taken the "leap" yet? Do share...I'd love to know!!

Cole Walking & 1 Year Old

Today is Cole's 1st Birthday (*sniff sniff*). We started the day with several rounds of the "Happy Birthday" song, ate special applesauce birthday pancakes for breakfast (where he attempted to blow out his first candle), and watched him open a couple of gifts. So far it's been a great day! I don't think he really knows what's going on, but for us, it's a time to reflect on this past year with our sweet boy..and celebrate the most precious gift that God has blessed us with...

Cole Bryan. :)

It's hard to believe it's already been one year. It seems like just yesterday we were at the birthing center, anticipating his birth , then bringing him home where the realization finally started to settle in: we were parents. This was permanent. No going back. He was ours. 


It's been such a wonderful year, and though it's been hard at times figuring out this parenting stuff and how to balance our marriage, outside commitments and our sweet baby, it's been a whole lotta fun along the way. He brings more joy to our days than we ever thought possible...and looking back, it's hard to believe there was ever a time when he wasn't in our lives.


We love you sweet Cole! Happy Birthday Darling!


xoxo,
Momma




P.S. In other news, Cole is now starting to walk! Here's a little video I shot the other day for your viewing pleasure!

Summer's Heat

This Summer's heat has been very wearing on me. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. It's just been SOOOO hot in Texas this Summer! I usually look forward to Summer, too. There's lots to look forward to in Summer...


Like...


*Swimming
*Wearing shorts, skirts, sandals & tank tops
*Taking the baby for a stroller ride outside where it's pretty
*Watching your plants grow
*Watching other people's plants grow
*Feeling the warmth of the sun's rays on your face
*Ice cream cones
*Spending time with family & friends
*Vacation
*Pedicures
*Eating a ripe piece of fruit in season- like strawberries, peaches & cherries
*Suntans & freckles
*But mostly... just being OUTSIDE!!!


Unfortunately, being outside isn't something we've done a whole lot of around here...and I'm starting to get major cabin fever! I want to take Cole for a stroll around the neighborhood...but it's waaay too hot. My plants are practically burnt up (even though I water them) and everyone else's grass is pretty much brown and dead. I haven't swam once....not even ONCE!....therefore no tan (which honestly isn't a top priority, but would be nice to be a darker shade of pale) and most of the other things I would love to do during the Summer somehow have just not been gotten to....or can't be done. The thing that gets to me the most though is not being able to be outside. There's only so much indoors I can take! Even Cole seems to be getting cabin fever and he doesn't even know what he's missing out on...haha! I remember Summers when my siblings and I were growing up where we'd play outside all day long, run through the sprinklers, eat ice cream on the back porch, play kick-the-can late into the evening hours with the neighborhood kids and just. have. fun. Either I've gotten really old and crotchety or I was really oblivious back then and too carefree to see what was going on around me. I'm guessing it was the latter...I hope? Hmmm...


So that's my rant for the day. Thanks for listening....


Today I said a little prayer to God that if He should lead Matthew and I to a place where there were 4 seasons a year, where there weren't 111 degree temperatures during the Summer, and where it was pretty all year long and you could actually grow plants in the Summer and your grass didn't burn up....


.....then it's be alright with me. :)

Have a happy & *hot* Tuesday,

Gail

*Now I need to go say another little prayer that God would put in me a content heart and open my eyes to the blessings He already has before me! Dear Lord....HELP!

Today I faced my fear...

....of car washes!!! 


That's right...I've been a bit of a wimp when it comes to going through those big car washes where you put your car in neutral, take your hands off the wheel and brakes, and just let yourself glide through those weeping willow-looking, something-out-of-Sesame-Street, monster sponges & brushes. But I did it. Phew! And I didn't die! I'm not exactly sure why I was afraid to go through it (alone that is, cause I've done it with Matthew and I'm fine)...but I guess you could say I'm a little claustrophobic at times. I also have a wild imagination and imagine myself going through the washing tunnel...then one of my windows breaking and one of the large Woolly Mammoth brushes attacking me! A likely scenario...I know.


Well anyway...now that I've conquered this fear I will probably be frequenting the car wash much more often and our car won't look so dirty all the time! And paying the 6 bucks for a car wash is definitely worth it in comparison to the hour it would take washing it out in the 109 degree weather with all the sponges, towels, water and soap I'd have to drag out and then later wash. They even buffed & dried my car off so there wouldn't be water spots on it later. :) So, I'd definitely say it was a successful day all around!!


What's an irrational fear that you have? Do tell! :) (it'll make me feel better about mine....)

Cole Eating Rice Cereal

We've been hearing for months not to expect much out of the first "real" feeding experience, cause most babies don't take to it that well and will only eat a tablespoon or so. Sooo....we were happily surprised that he not only took to it right away, but that he was coming back for more! He ate the entire bowl and was as happy as a clam! ;)

If this video doesn't show that we are new and adoring parents, I don't know what will....

He looks so small and cute in his feeding chair. ;)

Messy face!

More more!

Not too happy...

A few tears, but he's alright. :)

Happy Weekend!!!

Gail

A Happy Mother's Day & Our {Almost} 6 Month Old

I hope every mother out there had a most blessed Mother's Day this past weekend. I know I did! :) And while I'll always consider last year to be my first Mother's Day, it sure was special this year getting to spend it with our sweet son, Cole.

Here are some photos of our weekend:

Matthew surprised me on Saturday with pedi's and

shopping with girlfriends while he cared for Cole.

So fun! When I got home I was surprised again

with a lovely dinner he had prepared. :)

He set the table with 4 place settings, each one

honoring each member of our family. He even set

one for "June", our Angel Baby. Oh my...did

the tears flow! I have the best husband. ;)

{Sorry for the dark picture}

Dinner was scrumptious: pan-seared fillet mignon,

wilted savory spinach, seasoned roasted potatoes,

shrimp kabobs wrapped in bacon & cheese...

and the best part----this creme brulee he made

himself! I was absolutely blown away. I'm married

to a chef...I had no idea! Now that the secret's out

I'll have to enlist him to cook more often! Ha!

~Mother's Day~

We spent Mother's Day at the beautiful

Dallas Arboretum gardens. A picnic

and a tour of the gardens made this momma

very happy! Here's my little guy sporting

the gift "he" made for me. :)

Delicious personal cherry & peach pies

made by yours truly. ;)

Me, Cole, and my wonderful Momma.

I love you, Mom!!! Soooo much!!!

4 Generations.

My beastly hubby, Cole, and my sweet

Mother-in-law, Ruthanne. ;)

Sisters & Mom in front of one of the

"flower houses". So pretty!

And now for some baby pics....

Happy Tuesday to all!!

Gail

A Birth Story

I was being sentimental today, so I made a little video of Cole's birth that I thought I would share with you. Each stage that brought him closer to us is precious to me; memories that will be forever etched into my mind. I think as a new mother the story, our story, of how our Cole was born is so intensely personal, yet at the same time too beautiful and natural not to share. I hope you enjoy this video.

Love & life to you,

Gail

Our 5-Month Old

Cole reached 5 months old on Saturday. My, how time flies!!! He's changed so much. It seems like just yesterday he and I were taking naps on the couch together, a sweet little bundle of a baby tucked under my arm. Now he's all squirmy, rolls over constantly, laughs and giggles and makes the most adorable baby noises (some pretty loud too...you'd think a bobcat was outside the window!)

Here are Cole's stats to date:

Weighs over 15 lbs. (50%)

Measured 26 1/2 inches long at 4 mo. (95%)

Rolls over (both ways--tummy to back/back to tummy)

Grabs at toys/puts in mouth

Coos/laughs/giggles/smiles

Starting to sit up better (not quite there)

Hold head up and can raise up on arms when on tummy

Looks up when Mommy or Daddy enter room and smiles

"swims" when on tummy

Stands upright (when supported)

ETC!

Here's a little photo shoot I did with him last week:

He's always looking outside

Drooly little smile :)

"Please, Mom. Not a diaper change now!"

I love this sweet face!

Grins and giggles

You talkin' to me?!?

"Hmm....I wonder what's outside.."

How YOU doin'?

You caught me!

Sittin' tall

I've got a secret!

My Sweet Son!

Have a Happy Monday!

*Gail*

Surprised by Kindness

When our sweet Cole entered our lives, with him came a lot of stuff. It seems like our house is being taken over by baby stuff! Our living room especially....it's now home to a baby swing, toys, books, and baby bouncy jumper, to name a few. I remember thinking before we had a baby, "I am NOT going to be one of those people"....you know...the people whose homes look more like a large toy box when you walk in the front door rather than an actual home. Well....guess what?

I've succumbed.

I won't ever totally give in cause I want our home to be beautiful and appealing to me too, but I'm not going to worry about a few toys or baby things here and there....it just goes to witness that a baby does live here and we don't keep him locked up in his room all the time. Haha!

Another huge change I've had to get used to is the enormous amount of stuff I have to take with me whenever Cole and I venture out of the Toy Box. Let's see.....Baby, carseat (which by the way weighs a million lbs), pacifier (an essential), blankie, diaper bag, stroller, my purse and me! That's a lot to cart around people! I am quite a sight strolling around places or taking him in his carseat to and from a store.

With all the extra things weighing me down, it's made me really aware of how some people can be so oblivious....so unkind. Now, I know that people who are out running errands are in a hurry and aren't always aware of their surroundings (ie: a weighed down baby mama like me) and they certainly aren't out in the world just to help me out, so really...I'm not complaining, it's just an observation I've made. Serious. It's just interesting to me that some people going into a store will move right past a person with a stroller and not offer to open the double doors for them....or even wait while they open the door and juggle keeping the door open while simultaneously pulling the stroller through the door...?? (reminds me of a certain parable...). What gets me most are the young guys. Chivalrous men are a dying breed....and it's sad. Am I the only one that feels this way? I hope not. I find myself more and more surprised when I encounter kindness from others rather than surprised by disrespect. It shouldn't be that way.....

Yesterday was different though. I was on the hunt to find some jeans to fit my newly trimmed down post-pregnancy body (boo hiss...not my favorite kind of shopping trip) and had to go in and out of many stores to find "the ones". As usual, getting around took a little extra time (I now have to think like a handicapped person when I use the stroller), but I was getting along fine. At one time when I was approaching a door and fully prepared to do the juggling act, I heard someone running (yes running) behind me to help me by opening the door so I could pass through with the stroller. Fully expecting it to be an older man or woman, I was surprised to see that it was a young guy who appeared to be in his late teenage or early college years. It totally caught me off guard because it was so obvious that he was making the effort to help me. I mean c'mon....he was running! It really warmed my heart, too. So maybe chivalry isn't dead?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Lord,

Give me the strength to be an example of someone who is living in Your Spirit by showing kindness to others too...a fruit that can only truly come from living in You. I too often am too busy or distracted as well to see that others are in need. Encourage me to give grace to others who may not be able to extend this fruit because they do not have You living in them. And Lord, prepare me and Matthew that we might be able to raise our son(s) to first know and love You, that they might be an example of extending the fruits of Your spirit to others, too. We love you.

Amen.

I can't BELIEVE my baby.....

....sister is all grown up!

This past weekend I had the privilege of doing my sister Greta's updo for her school prom. She'll be a Senior next year and it's all starting to hit me....

She's so grown up! And such a lovely, young lady too.

She's 10 years younger than me, so to see her all grown up makes me feel...well...old. But oh well....it is what it is! (or rather, I am what I am...and I'm going to try and embrace it!).

{The updo in process....excuse my very disheveled hair..haha}

{All ready!}

There's so much I love about this girl. She has the kindest and most generous heart in the world....and she's always doing something sweet for someone else.

She's also a true friend to those who know her. She cares about people, even if it means telling them what they need to hear rather than just what they want to hear. I love that about her.

{Where's my date?

{Beautiful smile ;) }

She loves the Lord with all her heart...and I can tell she's growing in Him each day as she looks to Him to guide her. That's a rare trait in a girl her age....so cool.

I love that she's so creative, too. She's such an artsy person and extremely talented beyond her years. I love that we can share creative ideas and concepts and know exactly what the other person is talking about.

We're visionaries. ;)

{Greta and her date, Cole}

Greta also is such a carefree spirit and loves to have fun....loves to dance....loves to be with her friends and family....loves to be outside....to be active...and just loves to be. She's a lovely soul...and her enthusiasm and spirit is infectious. It's just so much fun being around her....and it's easy to be around her because at once you feel comfortable and at ease. You don't have to pretend.

Greta gets me. I have a very corny, silly type of humor that not everybody sees...but I don't care when I'm around Greta. She laughs right along with me....(even if it's after a slight roll of the eyes). She's just cool like that.

The year before my Mom got pregnant with Greta, I remember really wanting my mom to have another baby sister for me. I might have had 4 sisters at the time, but none of them were babies anymore. I was 9.

I remember I would lay the baby blankets out in the nursery crib, situate the stuffed animals and little pillows and then ask my mom, "when are you going to have another baby? How about now?"

{Boutonniere made by yours truly}

By the end of that year, I had my baby sister and I remember thinking "this one's gonna be mine". My older sister, Grace was the favorite older sister at the time....so I think I must have had a little jealousy thing going on...haha..(of course, looking back, it might have had to do with the fact that she had a gumball machine in her room....Grace? Any thoughts on that one? ;))

But really....as much as I truly love all my sisters and brother alike, Greta will always be my baby sister and will hold a special place in my heart.

And Greta...if you're reading this....

I love you, Treb.

XOXO,

Gail

Pumping with Purpose

When our sweet Cole started sleeping through the night at only 1 1/2 months, I knew I was going to have to do something about my abundant supply of mommy's morning milk. To give it all to Cole was just too much for him...and he'd end up spitting half of it up anyways. Feeding him one breast in the morning was more than enough for his little tummy. :)

So I started pumping. And pumping. And pumping. Every morning.

I was accumulating quite a freezer full of Lansinoh milk bags, and because I rarely feed him a bottle, the freezer was just getting fuller and fuller. I knew something had to be done, so I contacted our birthing instructor Linda (who is also a lactation consultant) to see if there was anything I could do to regulate my milk supply to my baby's new schedule. The answer?

No. I was doing everything right apparently...bummer. So, I guess I'd keep pumping.

What she did ask though, was had I ever thought about donating my milk? What? Who does that? What does that even mean? I started to research more about it and visited the Mother's Milk Bank of North Texas website that she had recommended. Wow. I'm so glad I did. What I found was that healthy mothers like me who were lactating well could donate their extra milk to the milk bank to help critically ill and premature infants in the NICU in area hospitals. Formula is too harsh of a substance to give them because of their fragile state, so human milk is the best for them. Sooo cool. Isn't God awesome? For one reason or another, their own mothers are unable to supply them with their milk (their milk hasn't come in yet, etc) , so donations become invaluable.

Jump ahead about a month (after applying to be a donor mother and having the routine blood tests required before donating) and I am officially a donor mother. I know the concept sounds weird for some people, but for me, it's so rewarding to know that I'm helping other mothers out there nurture their own sweet babies with the blessing of abundant milk that God has given me. My own dear baby is well fed and doing remarkable...and if what I have helps other babies get there too....then that's nothing short of awesome. Only God could have thought of something as cool as this....and in the end, it's His milk anyway. ;)

So yesterday, I packed Cole and my cooler full of 100+ oz. of breastmilk bags in the car and headed to one of the donation drop off sites. On my way out of the donation center, I had a huge smile on my heart. I could have hugged someone walking by! I don't get paid to do this monetarily...but the rewards are great. God has given me life so that I could supply life to someone else. Ahhh.....sigh....(huge smile). :)

And now for some pictures of our own sweet baby....

Love & Blessings,

Gail