Go To Sleep Little Baby... (Continued)

Well, honestly, I have been a little stressed about the sleeping situation with baby boy, but wasn't I pleasantly surprised when I woke up at a quarter after eight (!) this morning after having last fed him at 12:30. I don't know why I was stressing. He's always been a night owl.

I think where Theona would sleep her longer stretch first, then wake to eat every four hours, he settles in for his longer stretch later in the night. He did sleep in his crib last night, which I think helped him sleep really well. Yay.

So, problem solved. Why was I stressing?! I should know they're all different; I can't expect him to be just like Sis.

Thank you Lord for clearing things up for me.

Go To Sleep Little Baby...

I am so disappointed in myself. I have totally messed up my baby boy's sleep habits. And I knew better. Our vacations, move, then trip back to OR certainly didn't help, but what can I do now? I kept him out of his own bed for over a month, though I tried to keep a similar routine, I was very generous with night time feedings that probably weren't as necessary for nourishment as they were for comfort (uh, I was probably too concerned about the comfort of my parents and sister as I was staying in their homes and I didn't want to disturb them with midnight fussing.) He's gone from sleeping an eight hour stretch at night to waking and wanting to nurse every four hours.

I just feel so guilty. This is totally my fault. My mistake. And I don't see a way out of it. I know that's not realistic. It will take work at this point, but I am willing to work. I know it will be in the best interest of my babe to help him get back into a better sleep pattern.

I've been praying for wisdom. How can I help him adjust to sleeping through the night? I know he can. I just don't want this to be torture or traumatizing (for any involved).

The plan now is:
* He is sleeping in his crib! He was still sleeping in my room, his own space, but my room (bad habits, I think, for both of us).
* I am going to encourage a six hour stretch of sleep by putting him back to sleep if he wakes before time to eat. I think this should work well for him because I know he can go that stretch without nursing.
* I am going to PRAY that God will give me wisdom and help him sleep well!

After we establish this we'll make a next step. Pray for me!

And if anyone has any encouragement or suggestions I'd welcome it.

Tiny Sugary Christmas Trees

I was just looking around at some of the most creative ideas for decorating and such. Guess what I found...

This brilliant momma who used tiny sugary Christmas trees to top cupcakes!

What a great idea! But more important than stealing this fabulous idea, I should remember to pray and ask God to give me a great idea when I need it.

Psst...

I miss my friends.

"Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes."
~Henry David Thoreau

I almost put this video up, but it was too sad.

a Hundred

We've reached 100. I've written one hundred blog posts. I'm hoping (maybe you are too) that it just gets better from here, and may I serve the Lord in all things bloggy!

So, I guess I've officially started blogging!

Graham Flour

I've been using graham flour in my bread. I like it. I wasn't sure what was different about it when I bought it, I just saw it was whole wheat, but I discovered that it has a great texture.

I used this recipe for french bread, a favorite, and substituted 1 cup of my new graham flour. I know there are heartier (I guess...more stuff and nutrients = heartier??) breads out there, but this is a great french bread and since it doesn't have milk or fat or sugar, it really lasts.

It seems to last longer anyway...when we don't scarf it all down 'cause it's just so delicious!

Yeah, I don't really know what I'm talking about. I'm still just learning the bread making thing, but this recipe sure is a keeper.

Mmm....

My New Christmas Jello a.k.a. 1-2-3 Jell-O

At many homes, I think, some sort of a Jello salad is custom for holiday dinners. Ours is no different.

Growing up, my mom would always make a very interesting one with lemon jello, grated carrots, crushed pineapple, and mini marshmallows. I really can't quite take this one, but it just isn't Thanksgiving at my moms house without it, and pretty often it appears again for Christmas dinner. Good thing the Girlie loves it.

Now I'm not anti-Jello. I do love a sweet treat in my holiday dinners. There is a blueberry salad I just love that we make sometimes, but this year I discovered the recipe to my all time favorite Jello. 1-2-3 Jello! (It may actually be called Jell-O 1-2-3)

I remember it from when I was younger. I think there was a commercial for it, but I haven't seen anyone make it now in years. I guess some other people really miss it, too. While looking for the recipe, I found a petition to "Bring back Jello 1-2-3". Turns out it's pretty easy to make yourself. Here is a recipe I found.

You need:
3/4 cup boiling water
1 package Jello, any flavor (4 serving size)
1/2 cup cold water
Ice cubes
1/2 cup thawed Cool Whip (I think Dream Whip is what was called for in the original, but I used whip topping)

Directions:
*Pour boiling water into blender. Add Jello. Cover and blend at low speed until Jello is completely dissolved, about 30 seconds.
*Combine cold water and ice cubes to make 1 1/4 cups. Add to Jello and stir until ice is partially melted.
*Then add whipped topping; blend at high speed for 30 seconds to a minute.
*Pour into dessert glasses. Chill about 30 minutes. Dessert layers as it chills.

I've had more success with the 3 layers when I blend it a little longer. The first time I made it I ended up with 2-3 Jello. I really like the THREE layers better, and I think you will too. So, blend a little longer.

Maybe we can figure out some Father, Son, Holy Spirit analogy for it... Hmm. Trinity Jello. It could work.

"'Twas the Night Before..."

Now, I know Jesus wasn't born on December 25th, but I was just thinking about the night before our Savior's birth.

Having two young kids, I remember the bit of excited nervousness the day before a baby is born. How I began to sense things were changing. The body starts really getting ready for birth, and signaling momma to prepare.

I imagine the feelings of urgency in finding a safe place to relax. Could Mary have been content with a stable for her birth? I wonder how much she knew about what to expect and if she was scared, being young and this being a first experience, (not to mention the obvious). I wonder, how was her labor?

When my son was born, my husband and I took the opportunity to worship the Lord. We sang and spoke praise to him during labor. It was incredible. Did she exalt the Father while making it through the difficult parts?

All this just makes me think about the wonder of having a baby, how we all (I think) have that "Oh, wow, IT'S A BABY!" experience. I bet she was amazed to see that little baby, and what wonder she must have had at Who her baby was.

I imagine her seeing her little baby and knowing he was just the most beautiful baby EVER. The word tells us in prophecy "he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him." Isaiah 53:2. In that sense he was just a newborn, red and wrinkly, but you know how a momma sees her baby.


Lord, will you teach me to approach you with awe and wonder this season, and even this year? Reveal Yourself to me. Amaze me with how beautiful You are. Renew a sense of evangelism. Teach me to burst with desire to share your Good News. Thank you, Lord for being our reason to celebrate!

Winter fun

Go here to make a virtual snowflake.

It's a lot of fun, but take this little note of caution: Don't waste too much time!

Have fun!

Too True Haiku

Shannon over at Rocks in My Dryer was hosting a Haiku contest. I found a favorite, and I wish I would have seen it sooner and given my imput:

By Jane:

Icy temps make me
wish the baby's cold hands were
reaching for bottles.

This has been the Haiku OF MY LIFE lately.
Brrr...

Good Friends

Theona misses her buddy Hunter. We miss him, too. And we miss his family... Ahh, good friends.

Do I expect Him?

I was just thinking, do I really expect my Lord to return at any time? I should be saying, "Yes, my Lord must be coming this year, and if not, definitely next year." Instead, I was already thinking the chance was past.

I realized the other day I would be prone to say, "Well, I guess he's not coming this year..." Why oh why? This year is not over yet. God's hope toward me is long suffering, yet my hope toward the soon return of Jesus for His bride wavers?! It shouldn't.

I am adjusting my view to expect my Lord's soon return. EVEN THIS YEAR. Even five short days before Christmas. And may He find me faithful when He comes.

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2

CCOKC

That's Calvary Chapel Oklahoma City. Went there tonight. I loved it. I really liked the way the pastor taught. And may I just say, I have never enjoyed such anointed worship leading from a CD and lady singing?! It was great.

I don't have too much to say about it other than that. We had cookies and hot chocolate and birthday cake for the pastor's wife afterwards. It was a good time to fellowship.

Oh, and the girlie had a great time! Yay.

I'm baa-aaack

It is so good to be home! Really, it is really great to be home.

I was just thinking about the whole silly expression, "A family makes a house a home." Well, in our case, A family makes an apartment a home... I guess.

It was so funny to get back to this little place that we're barely settled into and I really don't like that much and just be so glad to be back. I was immediately annoyed at how awkwardly large our couches are for our living room, and there are some accents in this place that really don't suit it well.

Anyway, despite those things I am home. I am so happy to be here with my family. It was so sweet to see the girlie so ecstatic to greet her Papa, and so happy to sleep in her own bed.

On the subject of blogging, Yay! I'm back. It was hard to access this site while away, and just really inconvenient to have time and space to blog.

Things went well on our trip, and my mom is doing pretty well since starting chemo on the last Thursday I was there. She hasn't been sick at all, just a little tired and achy. I'm thankful for that.

Ah, off to sleep in my own bed.

Two Kids, Good Trip, Minimal Crying

Well, I made it. I'm quite impressed with my girlie. She traveled so well! She sat in her seat and buckled up. She resisted a little on the second trip, but it really went so well, and she was happy to see baby Finlee and Aunt Kimbers...and Grandma and Grandpa. It makes me a little sad that we live so far away, but I'm glad we've been able to visit so much this year.

I'm really glad my mom is doing so well. She's recovering so quickly from the surgery. I know so many people have been praying for her and she's been getting good rest. Hopefully I'll be able to help these next two weeks.

The Wallpaper

U-G-L-Y !!

I did not like the wall paper that was in my new apartment's bathroom when moved in. I pretty much hated it, which I realize is quite a strong feeling to have towards wallpaper. I think it was just a case of the straw that broke the camel's back. I had so much going on: moving with two little ones, missing friends, just getting back from vacation, and just surviving daily life in a new place (with two little ones!), not to mention my mom being diagnosed with breast cancer and figuring how and when I was going back to OR. I was feeling a little overwhelmed and ugly wall paper was something I just could not handle.

So, I'd post a picture if I had one, but I'm glad I don't since thinking wallpaper is ugly is pretty subjective and I wouldn't want to offend anyone. Anyway, we had the nicest maintenance man come take the wallpaper down and re-texture the walls. I learned something, too. He said he usually puts a pie tin of vinegar in the room to help with the paint fume-y smell. Well, I had heard putting a half an onion in the room would absorb to fumes and paint smell. I did that. It turned out pretty funny, actually; our bathroom smelled soooo strongly of onion, but not paint, so I guess it was a success...

It seems like all I've been able to do lately is update, update, update. I couldn't read. I couldn't write. I was really feeling a little frazzled. I'm sure you can understand... I guess I was really a little scared that if I didn't document I'd forget. Maybe I will. Not a big deal. I don't need to remember every detail, thought and feeling. If the Lord brings this around to where I can minister to someone because of my experience, I'm sure he'll bring to mind the details I need.

I had an extremely productive day today. That's always refreshing. After breakfast I worked on packing for Monday (By the way, I'm leaving for Oregon on Monday. The kids and I will stay for two weeks!) I worked on my room, which is ALMOST unpacked. (We've been in a state of almost unpacked for a week, and I'm afraid it's about to drive the husband nuts.) I made a yummy lunch of mashed potatoes and leftover turkey soup. It was sooo yummy. The soup had homemade noodles in it. I think that's gonna have to become a regular menu item. I remember my mom making those noodles with beef when I was little... I'm gonna have to try that. I did FOUR loads of laundry, and three are folded and put away (wow).

It feels good to be productive. I think we're gonna take the evening easy. Papa is at work, the kids and I will just play and hang out. Maybe I'll through in some pizza dough real quick. There's a new recipe I've been wanting to try.