Friday, June 30, 2006

Summer Spectacular

This has been a crazy summer, but I think we've finally started to settle down a bit. Looking back I probably jumped back into things a little too quickly. Summer Spectacular was so awesome, but I'd forgotten how much work it is. My poor body was screaming "Enough!!" about two days before it actually started. Thank goodness for painkillers!! It has taught me quite a bit about being a mommy. Like how important it is to stop and take time for myself, and most importantly to stop and take time to focus on my precious baby. Saying no or enough is so hard for me, especially when it's for a good cause or for something I love, but now I'm beginning to see that sometimes saying no to one thing is really saying yes to something else. I feel like I didn't really take the time to figure out Life with Maelie before I jumped back into my old life, so I've felt pretty overwhelmed at times. Luckily she's a pretty laid back gal and as long as she's got a nap under her belt and a full tummy, she's usually cool. That makes life much easier and less-guilt ridden for her Mommy. Oh, and if all else fails, you can always depend on her friend Stevie the TV to help calm her down. By the way, that is an extreme pet peve of mine. While at the doctor's office recently they were talking about how awful it is for kids to watch TV, how it's just a cop out for parents, how children under two should NEVER watch the evil t.v., etc. Luckily I live in the real world and can realize that my baby gets LOTS of love and undivided attention throughout the day. She's played with, read to, loved, cuddled, kissed, sang to, whatever and 25 fun-filled minutes of Praise Baby while Mommy collects her thoughts, downs some Blue Bell and thinks about what she really should be doing is laundry is not going to send her in a downward spiral toward an IQ of two. However, I know that there are lots of super stressed-out new mommies out there who would see that and toss their tvs to the curb. I hope whatever numbnuts with no kids (obviously) who made that video at the doctor's office has three kids in two years and they all have extreme colic. Sorry about the rant, but seriously!!




This is Maels with Rahab, aka her Fairy Godmother, aka one of the most precious people in my life, Lauren Becera. Don't let the hobag get up throw you, she's really a stand up gal. Seriously, if she turns out to be one of Maelie's role-models, that would just make my life. She is the perfect balance of outrageous fun and good-hearted, godliness. No one so precious should be that gorgeous, but she pulls it off beautifully!


This is the first picture I took right after Maelie rolled over for the first time - yes, she's a genius! I was definitely amazed and astounded, and from the look on her face, she was, too.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Tomorrow I am going to a birthday party for 144 kids! I am so excited. Royal Family Kids Camp is a camp for abused and neglected children that our church supports and each year we give each kiddo there a birthday party. It is so much fun! It is also very humbling to know that this is only a portion of the children in our area who could be attending. These kids are so precious and it breaks my heart to think that there are so many kids out there with such sad stories. Thank the Lord that we serve a God who can give each of us a lineage in Him, a Father who loves us and an awesome hope for the future. I just hope that seeds are planted in each of those little hearts and that even if it's only for one week they will see the love of Christ that will last them throughout the year and throughout their lives. Please pray for the kids and the counselors there (as you can imagine, it's a very emotional week all around) and for the foster families and other family members who are getting the chance to rest for the week.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Grandma Dane



One of my favorite things to see is my sweet Grandma, who wants her great-grandkids to call her Grandma Dane, holding my sweet Maelie. Grandma can always make her smile. She is becoming so much more expressive! She loves to smile, coo, and even sing a little. It just makes my day.