Dream On

Things I want to be:

A Loving, Patient, Fun Mama to Gage
A Loving, Submissive, Awesome Wife to Ryan
A Steadfast, Devoted Prayer Warrior & Bible Reader
An Organzied, Tidy Housekeeper
A Super Modern, DIY-er Decorator
A Healthy, Fit Worker-Outer/Runner
A Fresh Stylish Fashionista
An Outgoing, Caring, Gracious Friend
A Knowledgable, Trustworthy Nurse/Mental Health Provider
A Stay At Home Mom Millionaire

Ok, so the last one I just had to throw in there. Ha.

All of the others are something I'd really like to achieve in life.... and I'm sure there are some, or a lot, that I left out. But these are the ones that seem to be on my mind a lot. I keep having these random ideas pop into my head lately.
I've been thinking about what I want to do and who I want to be.

Some of my latest ideas include buying a sewing machine, adding some personal touches and splashes of color to my house, getting dressed and putting on makeup everyday even if I'm staying in, sending out some sweet cards or goodies to friends just because, cleaning out my closet/making new outfits out of older clothes. Ya know, things that will just make me like me a little better!

Being 6 months post baby, I'm really feeling like it's time to stop feeling and looking like a flabby bum revamp myself!

So today I'm journaling each of these and listing ways I can achieve them.
Even just framing some pictures and organizing the house a little can make me feel like such an accomplished house wife. And seriously, just a little bronzer and mascara can make me go from moping around hating myself to feeling pretty energetic and actually liking what I see in the mirror! Who knows what I'd feel like if I actually got dressed and put on my makeup everyday? Whooaaa! Watch out world!!

What are some goals you have for yourself? What ideas have you been dreaming up!
I'd love to hear what's on your heart!

Taming The Tongue

Am I the only one who struggles with this?

It's my number one battle.

Taming my tongue.

Ouch. It's not fun to admit it; to just put it out there. But it's the truth.

I can have a vicious tongue and when I get mad or upset I can let it out lash out at the people I love the most.

A lovely trait that my good ole Dad passed down to me.

 A temper and a tongue.

And in the moment it almost feels good to say something that you cuts deep to the person you are so mad at. That's messed up, I know. But that's flesh for ya. That's the part of me that is not cute or fun loving, the part of me that I'm not so proud of... that's the part of me that I oh so desperately need to work on-- the part of me that I need to allow the Lord to change.

The first step is admitting, right?

There is a lot in scripture about this; words that I can hide in my heart to battle against my flesh when the desire to lash out rises up. Because that's the only way I can overcome- by allowing God to take over where flesh has ruled for so long.

 

James 1:19-20 

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

 

Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

 

Proverbs 15:4 

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

 

Matthew 12:33-37 

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

 

 

Wow. Those hit home.

I want my conversation, in public and most importantly in the private of my home, to

GIVE GRACE.

I want to be known by my fruit- and I don't want it to be rotten stinky fruit, that's for sure.

 

Those are great, but I think the most convicting and in-your-face verses regarding this subject are found in James 1 & 3.

Check it out.

 

James Chapter 1:

²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 

James Chapter 3:

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

 

 

I hope you took the time to read those verses. I know when there is a lot of scripture it's easy to skim, but it's well worth it to take the time to soak up each word of these. James wasn't joking around. To say if we don't control our tongue then our religion is worthless. Worthless!

Ouch.....

It also says that no human can tame the tongue...

Well, thank goodness for Jesus!

 

My prayer today is that he would transform what comes out of my mouth- and start by changing my heart. If I fill my heart with his word, delight in Him instead of focusing on worldy disappointments, etc. the overflow will naturally be GRACE instead of FILTH.

 

Where do you struggle?

In snapping at your spouse, gossiping with friends, being critical instead of encouraging?

If the words that come out of our mouths aren't bringing grace, then we must examine our hearts.

 

I'm definitely examining mine today. I pray that we all allow the Lord to transform our hearts so that the overflow of it begins to GIVE GRACE to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29).

Hey Ya'll

The blog got a makeover!!!

(what do ya think? ya dig?)

 

And there are exciting things on the way...

I've been dreaming big for this little blog.

 

Definitely more consistent posting.

Maybe some guest blogger apppearances?

And a weekly recipe segment from my Momma Dearest?

 

Stay Tuned!!!

Friday Mornin'

Good morning ya'll!

 

For being up until 12:30 this morning, I'd say I've got a lot accomplished so far today. I'm trying to overlook the whole

I'm-exhausted-and-look-like-I've-been-ran-over-by-a-truck.

 

I've tidied up the house, got Gage down for a nap, and there is a yummy chocolate peanut butter bundt cake in the oven!!  I feel like a little homemaker today, with this delicious smell filling my house. I will note that it's not the time to be dieting when you make such tempting treats. I did have to sample a few of the Reese's chips that went in the cake and of course I tasted the icing until I got it just right.

 

Speaking of diets, who knew it would be SO HARD to get these last 10 lbs off!? I swear though, my appetite is worst now that I'm breastfeeding than it ever was when I was pregnant! Not cool.

 

Yesterday was quite eventful as well. I looked out my window to see a cow struggling to have a calf! So I called my hubby and his Papa and they came to the rescue! My hubby, being the thoughtful guy he is, brought his Granny along to babysit so I could go out with them and help. We had to round the cow up and then pull the calf. The calf was SO BIG that she wasn't able to have it on her own. Ryan and his Papa worked and worked until finally the head was out. I was standing back watching and literally praying out loud. Oh Lordy, I didn't know I would feel for that little cow like I did, but I was feeling her pain! Before I knew it I felt big tears running down my cheeks... AND the guys were yelling for me to help. Whattaya know, a few tugs with my help and the calf was out!

 

Being a cowgirl was fun- all bundled up in coveralls with my hubby's boots on. All I can say is

THANK THE LORD ABOVE

that he brought his Granny over to babysit. I was in one funky bad mood being stuck in the house alllll day because of the snow and ice. Just breathing some fresh air did my heart some good! (And seeing my hott hubby being a cowboy had its perks too)

 

Sooooooooooo as Gage is sleeping I've been contemplating something I've been wanting to do for so long now..... get a sewing machine and learn to SEW. I did a lot of it when I was younger with my best friend Sarah, but I would love to pick it back up. Maybe I've having this urge since seeing the MOST TO DIE FOR chevron material at the Rag Barn a few days ago?? (Is anyone else as obsessed with chevron as I am?)

 

Well, enough randomness for today. Man, it felt good to sit down and write this morning!

Have a wonderful weekend friends!

napping baby

my cake is done! yummmmmm

Now for it to cool so I can top it with this peanut butter icing!

 



Taste test! (I wasn't lying when I said I looked like death today!)

Growing Into Who I Am

I am so not the same girl that started this blog a few years ago.

I'm a mom now.

I didn't know how much taking on this role would change me, but it has. I've been at it for almost half a year now, and I must say, I think I've grown into it now. It fits me.

At first I was totally clueless and googled everything (I'm not joking, people). Now we're nursing like pros, getting a very loose routine down, making our own baby food, having baby play dates with friends, and living life again-- just with a little boy by our sides.

I never want to go back to the way things were before. They may have been a little more carefree and I may have got a lot more sleep, but there is so much more meaning to life now. When Gage smiles at me, every bit of hard work is worth it.

It feels good to be coming into this new role. I now take delight in a few quite moments, a clean house, a giggling baby, and our sweet nighttime routine. I also take delight in more simple things- like a trip to WalMart alone, a nice long shower, a walk down the road. Everything seems to have more meaning.... and I sound like an old lady! I guess that's the point, I'm not that crazy teenager anymore.

I think I have to write about this because it makes it more real.. sometimes I look at Gage and think "I grew him in my belly. Craziness!"

He makes being a mom the most fun, most challenging, most life changing experience.

My life has changed. It's done a 180. BUT, I think I'm out of the "I have no idea what I'm doing" stage and into the "This is me. I'm a mom." stage. I have embraced this new role and I am in love with it.

So, if ya ever want to have a Mommy talk, count me in. I love all things baby and I've probably googled it once or twice since having Gage. (worry wart, much?)

5 Months (I'm late!)

Gage Beck (as I like to call you),

Oh my has this month been fun! I have never seen so much change in you before!

First of all you have GROWN! My tiny baby is not so tiny anymore! On February 1st (4 days before you turned 5 months), you weighed in at 14 lbs 9 ounces and 26 inches long. You are in the 90th percentile for length and the 50th for weight. I couldn't believe it on length since you were SO SHORT when you were born! I knew you weren't gonnna be a shorty like your Daddy (j/k Ryan lol).

You are absolutely perfect. I've always thought you were cute, but this month you've just about killed me with cuteness. I have had so many people comment on your big eyes, and boy do you use them! You notice EVERYTHING. You love to look outside, you love to follow Jack around the house watching his every  move, and you LOVE watching other little kids play. When you get together with other babies your eyes are glued on them & you will just laugh!

Speaking of laughter, you have laughed so much this month. You laugh when we play peek-a-boo, when we jump towards you, when you see kiddos playing or laughing, when Papa Keith gets down and crawls and flips on the floor (Momma and Daddy laugh at that too), when we make the "vroom vroom" noise, and when we make poot noises with our mouths! You're eyes light up and you just giggle!

You have became quite the eater. Besides still wanting to nurse every 2 hours (sometimes an hour and a half!), you are now enjoying:

• avocado
• peas
• sweet potatoes
• butternut squash (you're absolute favorite)
• oatmeal cereal
• bananas (you just tried them once and didn't care for them! we will try again though!)

We plan to introduce some new veggies and possibly some fruits soon. I just wanted you to learn to love your veggies first! We laugh because you look like a baby bird, especially when you're eating squash, you open that mouth so wide and cannot wait for the next bite! You get mad if I don't feed you fast enough! Right now you eat veggies usually once a day, but I think you are about ready to move to twice a day.

This month you gave us your first scare. On the last night of January you went to bed just like usual, and we heard you fussing in your crib. I went and picked you up and as I lifted you, you projectile vomitted! You did it twice and it freaked us out! We thought maybe you had really over ate, but within 30 minutes you had tried to puke 5 times and you were looking really pale and acting so sick. Let me tell you, I was so scared. I grabbed all your things, got dressed, and got ready to go to the ER, crying the whole time. It was so sad, I looked over and your Daddy was rocking you, gently rubbing your sweet little face, and telling you how he didn't want you to be sick and how much he loved you-- with big tears in his eyes. That was the first time I wished I could take your place and take that sickness all on myself. Gager, it broke our hearts to see you feel bad and scared us to death! We took you to the ER where you had to have a finger prick, xray, & a big ol shot in the leg.You had your first ear infection- it had caused the vomitting. We got home at 2:30 am, but we were just thanking God you were ok!I will never take your good health for granted & thank God for that everyday.

You are getting more predictable and we have a very loose schedule, as we are on the go alot!
Usually, you want your first nap about an hour to an hour and a half after waking in the morning. You then usually want an afternoon nap, and sometimes an evening cat nap as well. You sleep anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours! It just depends on the day :) You still wake up in THE BEST mood, all smiles! I love walking in, seeing you open your eyes and when they meet mine they light up! You are such a joy!

Nighttime on the otherhand, is a much different story! I won't go into all the details, but let's just say you are waking up from 1-8  times throughout the night, depending on the night. I must say, over the past weeks it has got better though! We still love our nighttime routine of bathtime, then reading books with mom & dad, then on to rocking, nursing, singing, and being soothed by the white noise machine. Your crib is still in our room and you still like to swaddled from the waist down. Some mornings (and rough nights) you join us in our bed and you LOVE to be snuggled up to momma and daddy!

I'll end with things you love this month:

• playing in your jumparoo (you have almost started jumping in it)
• having playdates with Gracynn Mae
• flying with Daddy
• practicing sitting up
• pracitcing rolling over (you stubborn stubborn child haha- you've done it over 10 times but only when you want to!)
• grabbing & chewing on things (you are so good with your hands now & EVERYTHING goes to your mouth now)
• listening to us make all kinds of weird noise & giggling
• eating and nursing
• watching Jack
• taking walks in your stroller
• visiting your grandparents
• date nights to Chilis and Target

We love to see you grow and change. You are the biggest blessing in our lives. I can't even remember what we did before you. Thanks for being our little munchkin that brings us smiles, laughs, and fun everyday. We love you Bubby.