Monday Meanderings - 05/09/2011

Bible Study... Proverbs 31

Memory Verse... Proverbs 31:22
"She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple."

Husband Encouragement...
♥ Let him know I appreciate his help with Nathan
♥ Smile. Laugh. Soak up life.
♥ Keep all snacks and goodies out of sight

Train Them Up...
* Read to him, talk to him
* Work on ways to get him back to sleep after the midnight feeding
* Write in baby book

Personal Goals...
* Sleep. Rest. Relax. Make myself do these things after a hard night.
* Study more this week

New Habit of the Month...
* Try to rid out clutter

MUST Do...
* Mail more "Thank You" cards
* My first doctor's appointment - Wednesday
* Schedule Nathan's one month check-up
* Hair cut  - Today (hooray!)

Zone...  the living room (I'm keeping this another day)

Menu

M - Salad and grilled chicken?
T - Deer steak, cajun fries, green beans
W - TBD
Th - Salmon and carrots
F - TBD
S - TBD
Su - TBD

FUN THINGS!
* Going to Wal-Mart today (that qualifies as "fun" right?)
* Planning for camp next month
* Nathan's baby portraits this week!

3 things I'm thankful for today...
1. Pillows
2. Books
3. Sunshine and warm weather!

My First Mother's Day

Mother's Day was never a big deal in my mind growing up. Like most young children, I didn't truly get it. But I made my Momma a card and told her I loved her. However, in the past couple of years, as I have learned to appreciate my Mom more and more, I have been able to understand this special day much more. And it is a wonderful day!

But now? My goodness! I get it. Fully.

It is a day to honor those whose womb God has touched and blessed. It is a day to take a moment and tell your Mother how much you love her and appreciate her carrying you in her body, giving birth to you, and for loving and nurturing you.

As a new Mommy, I consider Mother's Day to be full of newfound sweetness...and it makes me appreciate my Mom all the more.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!
(and to me too! wow....)

Making a Household Notebook

Yesterday, I did some work on my household notebook. It needed some revamping. With pregnancy and now a newborn, I have kind of slacked off. But yesterday I found some sweet time to clean the office and reorganize my notebook. Though I am a planner and like to be organized, I am not the type to have every hour of every day planned out and written down. No, no, no. I like a little bit of spontaneity in my life. However, I love routines and think that everyone needs some type of routine to be mentally sane healthy.

So what do I have in my notebook? I have a list of important phone numbers. I have a list of birthdays and anniversaries that I need to remember. I have a pocket for coupons. I have a daily/weekly/monthly schedule that I try to stick to, somewhat. I have "To Do" lists and a menu planner. Then I have a section of natural remedies for various ailments and a section of natural cleaning products. I am actually wanting to build that section up more than the rest. In short, I love the idea of having one place to go to for just about anything. Every wife/mother needs a household notebook, in my opinion, and there are some GREAT resources you can work with. Anyway....thought I would share!

Websites to help with your household notebook:
Tips From a Mom of 3
Household Management 101
Organized Home
FlyLady
A Virtuous Woman

You Might Be a MOM If....

In honor of Mother's Day, I would like to post a few humorous captions that highlight the wonderful and marvelous life of a Mom. Even though I cannot yet relate to ALL of them, I know my Mom surely can!

You might be a MOM if....

* You have ever turned your head when a child yelled, "Hey Mom!" and then realized it's not your child.

* You have ever pulled a 60, 70, or 80+ hour workweek...and never left your home.

* Your 8-year-old knows more about surfing the web than you do.

* You've ever felt like you had an associate degree in nursing because of all the band-aids, medical care and love that you've applied over the years.

* You ever get stuck on the same page in a book because of the interruptions from your kids.

* You've ever used your thumb and your saliva to clean your child's face.

* You begin to hang out more and more with your kids and their friends as they get older.

* You use Facebook to check on your kids and their friends.

* You know exactly how to get your child's attention by calling them by their entire birth name.

* You've ever said to one of your friends, "If you ever need to talk, call me. There'll be screaming in the background, and one distraction after another, but it'll be great, I promise."

* You look forward to scanning the movie section in the newspaper for any new animated movies coming out.

* You have an entire shelf overflowing with assorted sippy cups.

* You are the first person your kids come to when they are crying.

* You've ever had a garage sale just to get rid of your collection of Happy Meal toys.

* Your ears have adjusted to high pitch sounds.

* You look back and laugh at how you thought your life was crazy before you had kids.

* You can change a diaper with one hand while talking on the phone with the other.

* You have ever quarantined your son or daughter's room.

* You've ever struggled to get to the end of a long week with your kids...and realized later that you still wouldn't trade it for anything.

* You tend to brace yourself when things get too quiet around the house.

* You can reach into your purse at any given time and pull out a crayon, a toy car, goldfish crackers and at least one dirty sock.

* You have discovered multiple uses for baby wipes.

* You could easily write a manual on "How to Trick Your Child into Eating Their Veggies."

* You've ever answered the phone in your baby voice.

* You lock yourself in the bathroom with a piece of chocolate pie, telling your kids "Mommy will be right out!"

* You've discovered over 50 different ways to make spaghetti.

* You think nothing of having puke on the front of your t-shirt.

* You ever look into the eyes of your child...and just smile.

* You've often wondered how your own Mom did it...and now you know.

Three Weeks into Motherhood

Here I am....three weeks into motherhood. And may I just say that MY KID IS THE CUTEST EVER! I know you parents reading will say, "Now, Kristen, he IS cute, but my children are the most adorable." You have that prerogative as their parent, but I have to stick to my belief that my little boy takes first place....at least he is #1 in my mind....and that's all that matters, right? *smile*

So....some updates!

• Nathan weighs, as of Friday, 7 lbs, 3 ounces. For those of you scratching their heads, I will clear the air and say, "YES, he weighed 7 lbs when he was born." The problem is that he lost a lot of weight the first four days of his life. Too much, to be honest. But now, he is perfect, healthy, surpassing his birth weight, growing like crazy, and eating like a little pig.
• I am visiting sleep more often now. Nathan usually sleeps 2 1/2 to 3 hours at a time each night, which is far better than the 1 1/2 to 2 hours he started with. Sometimes, he surprises me and sleeps 3 1/2 hours before waking to eat. Regardless, his sleeping hours are getting better, including his nap times, which is what we are currently working on.
• We have established a bedtime routine, which I am pleased with. Playtime. Bath time. Feeding. Then bed. Bathtime is interesting. His screaming is declining, which is great! But he still doesn't like being unclothed. I'm taking that as a very good thing!
• He is three weeks old and has been smiling for a week! Imagine that. I would have argued that newborns didn't smile until at least a month old before I caught a cute little grin from my two week old last week. And for the record, his smiles are THE cutest thing ever.
• Nathan loves to cuddle. He takes after his momma.
• It must be some sort of security blanket, but he MUST have his hands at his face. Even in his 4D ultrasound pictures, we had a rough time actually seeing his face because of his hands in the way. He hates being swaddled because he wants access to his hands and fingers. Cute.

I can't believe next week, he will be a month old. People always comment on how time flies and how quickly their children grow. Though I have never doubted that was true, I have been amazed at just HOW true that is. Best to take advantage of and cherish each and every moment. :)

Thy Will Be Mine

And shall I pray Thee change Thy will, my Father

Until it be according unto mine?

Ah! No, Lord, No, that never shall be! Rather

I pray Thee blend my human will with Thine.

I pray Thee hush the hurried, eager longings;

I pray Thee sooth the pangs of keen desire.

See, in my quiet places, wishes thronging,

Forbid them, Lord, purge, though it be with fire.

And work in me to will, and do Thy pleasure

'Til all within me, peaceful, reconciled,

Tarry content, my Well-Beloved's leisure;

At last, at last, even as a weaned child.

~ Amy Carmichael

Such profound words. Would that we all had that passionate desire to make our will melt with our King's Will. I often stand in awe wondering why God loves me so. Why would He want me?? Have you ever thought of that concept? Our Heavenly Father, the Creator of the Universe who threw the stars in space and spoke the planets into existence, the Only God and Holy One wants me! He doesn't need me, nor does He need anyone or anything, for our God is so high and pure and magnificent that He has no need of anything other than His Righteous Self. Yet...He wants me!! Why? I simply do not know for my faults are immense! I willingly refuse to yield and often find myself rebelling against His Will. I am impure and deserve the punishment Jesus Christ endured. And in spite of all I am, God wants me. My prayer today (and every day) is for Christ's consuming and purging fire to come and cleanse me and for Him to do a work in my life, blending all my desires and human nature into His.

Something to meditate on...

Ephesians 1:6 -
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

Beatitudes for the Home

BLESSED are the husband and wife who continue to be affectionate and considerate, loving after the wedding bells have ceased ringing.

BLESSED are the husband and wife who are as polite and courteous to one another as they are to their friends.

BLESSED are they who have a sense of humor, for this attribute will be a handy shock absorber.

BLESSED are they who love their mates more than any other person in the world and who joyfully fulfill their marriage vows of lifetime of fidelity and mutual helpfulness to one another.

BLESSED are they who attain parenthood, for children are a heritage of the Lord.

BLESSED are they who remember to thank God for their food before they partake of it, and who set apart some time each day for the reading of the Bible and for prayer.

BLESSED are those mates who never speak loudly to one another and who make their home a place "where seldom is heard a discouraging word".

BLESSED are the husband and wife who faithfully attend the worship service of the church and who work together in the church for the advancement of Christ's Kingdom.

BLESSED are the husband and wife who can work out problems of adjustments without interference from relatives.

BLESSED is the couple who has a complete understanding about financial matters and who has worked out a perfect partnership with all money under the control of both.

BLESSED are the husband and wife who humbly dedicate their lives and their home to Christ and who practice the teachings of Christ in the home by being unselfish, loyal, and loving.