she does the cutest things

Anna♥Kate has started this new thing. When I am putting her down for a nap or for the night I give her her pacifier and I rock her until she's mostly asleep. Well she started making this noise as she's sucking on her pacifier. She makes a different noise when she's been crying or upset than she does when she's just tired and fighting her sleep. I can't explain it but it's so funny. She also just discovered my face .Well, I'm sure she's "known" my face for a while now but she just learned how to actually touch it. Everytime I'm holding her or rocking her she grabs my lips, nose, cheeks, hair, whatever she can get. Well, lastnight as I was rocking her she started making her noise and instead of harassing my face like she usually does she just reached up and put her hand on my cheek and left it there until she fell asleep. It was the absolute sweetest thing. I am so blessed to get to share in these precious little moments with my daughter. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world to get to stay home with her and invest so much time in her life. I know in my heart that this little baby is so incredibly happy and secure because she gets to be with momma all day. My goodness, I have such a great husband. Sometimes I really want and need to be alone for a little bit but I wouldn't trade my days home with my baby for any amount of solitude. I love my life! I mean, when this is what I get to wake up to, why would I want anything else?

the wife, mom & maid.

Do people ever make you feel like your "job" is as meaningless as washing your car on a rainy day? Well, I've been faced with this a couple of times this week. It's the most irritating thing. Sometimes...well, most of the time they aren't direct blows just little comments that make you want to go nuts. So, my daughter isn't crawling, walking or talking yet but that doesn't mean I have nothing to do all day. There is plenty-dishes, laundry, put the laundry away (this one gets me every time), errands (if I have any), bathroom, those stinkin' wood floors that have to be swept atleast twice a day, bathe my daughter...and myself if I get a chance. Then there's changing her clothes a couple of times and more than a couple of diapers, quality time with the babe, teaching her to sit up-roll over-self soothe-laugh-no fussy-etc., feeding her with a SPOON (which takes forever sometimes), putting her down for naps (which is no small task either). THEN there is the dreaded question I have to ask myself, "What are we having for dinner?". Whoops, I didn't take anything out to thaw....now I have to scram to think of something more simple. Sandwiches. Okay. Good. THEN, the second dreaded question...which doesn't come from me but the husband, "Are you going to the gym tonight?" Which makes me feel guilty because I haven't gone all week and money is basically going out the window. Great. Now I have to pull up my boot straps...well, more like tie my tennis shoes and go to the gym...only to come home to a messy kitchen (the one I cleaned earlier that morning)...and a baby who still needs to be put to bed. Wonderful. That will take atleast another hour.
So, as I contemplate my "job" as a wife, mother and maid I see no where in the whole shabang the words easy, simple, menial or even boring. And please don't think I am complaining because that's not the case at all, I'm just trying to prove a point. I don't sit on my butt all day...although I do have a little more time to do that than others, I don't sleep all morning, I don't frolick through the sunflowers with my hair blowing in the wind. AND I wouldn't rather be doing those things (okay, maybe sometimes I'd like a break) because I LOVE MY JOB! I LOVE MY HUSBAND! I LOVE MY BABY! I LOVE MY HOUSE and for it to be clean! I LOVE IT ALL! But again, it isn't just doing nothing! So here's to all the stay-at-home moms out there. I feel ya.
Haha.

She's 4 months old!

Well, my baby girl turned 4 months old the day after Christmas. She's getting so big. She had her check-up yesterday and we found out that she weighs 15 lbs!!! And is only 23 5/8 inches long. The 76th percentile in her weight and 26th in her height. Shorties run in the family...and she no doubt, is going to be a short one. The doctor also said that she is a month or two advanced in her motor skills which was really exciting. I have a genius on my hands folks. My baby girl is just perfect....still. ;-)

The last week of this month my husband is flying me to OK to stay with a friend for a few nights. I'm quite excited about that. She just moved there not too long ago and I haven't really had a chance to hang out with her since I had Anna-Kate....but maybe once. So it's going to be super fun. Whoot.

Today is my last day of babysitting for a friend. I've been doing it for a week and a half. It's been a challenge because I can't leave the house all day...and I'm used to being able to take a little nap when I'm feeling tired and I haven't been able to do that. I've been so used to nice, peaceful days with just my daughter and me that having other youngsters in the house kind of makes that a little hard. But it was good and now it's over. I'll probably go through withdrawls.

another new life

So, my sister-in-law delivered my fourth niece on December 2nd. Makyla "Kylee" Lane was born at 10:14 a.m. weighing 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. There she is right with Anna-Kate in their matching onesies. So precious!!! Hopefully they will grow to be good friends. Christmas is going to be some great fun with three little girls all under 4 months of age. Yippee! We'll all be celebrating "baby's first Christmas" together. Whoop.

my babe

It's hard to believe that my little Anna♥Kate is three months old today. How crazy! Her present milestones include: looking at her hands, LAUGHING, rolling from back to side, kicking her feet wildly, throwing fits, and knowing exactly who her momma and daddy are. And oh man, those giggles, they melt my heart. I have such a love for this little gal, a love that I never knew was possible. I often think about how I could ever love another child so much, but I know without a doubt that my heart has enough love for all, I just wonder how it's possible. My heart already wants to explode sometimes from all the lovin' feelings. Haha! No, but really, in this little child I capture the goodness of God. I can't even imagine the kind of love He has for his children or what His heart feels like ALL the time-a BIG EXPLOSION of love. I'm thankful that I get to take part in just a tiny bit of the whole thing.

When I look at Anna-Kate I'm amazed by her perfect little detailed face. I mean, what an AMAZING GOD! Seriously! I can't believe how perfect He made us all. It's not common for me, or most people (I think), to sit and stare at another adult and think about how great God is for creating such an amazing reflection of himself, but when you sit and stare at a sleeping child for hours it envokes such a love for the God who created it all. I am overwhelmed by all the sweet revelations that have come from simply being a mom...not that being a mom is simple at all.

Anyways, faster than I know, I'll be celebrating her first year with us. I want to cherish every moment... and sometimes stop time. But I know with every passing day that God gives me the grace and heart that I need to do this job called parenting-aka-the best job in the world!