"You'll be lucky to get a shower!"

This is what I had heard while I was pregnant- and it really scared me! Let me explain: I LOVE SHOWERS! I am a morning person, I can wake up at 5am and as long as I get my hot shower I am good for the day. The shower is a special place for me- to wake up, and relax under the hot steam!

So many moms told me that I would be lucky to get a shower when the baby came. I was preparing for this loss, until having a few more conversations with other moms. "I just put him in his bouncy chair, put him by the bathroom door where I can see, and take a shower while he naps." Amazing! That is- if your baby will nap!

I must admit- I was spoiled the first two weeks after birth- Jeremy was home for a while and could watch Joshua while I showered and family was around for another week, giving me opportunities to take nice long morning showers! But, I had to venture out on my own when my help was gone- and try showers with Joshua a few feet away, passed out in the bouncy chair. To my great joy it works! It still does! Joshua takes his first morning nap while I shower and wake up for the day. Am I spoiled? I think so! I think I have only gone 2 days since delivery day without a shower. . . must be a world record! Like I said before- I LOVE SHOWERS! So, be encouraged! If you have a napping baby and a bouncy chair- it can happen for you too!

Family Photo

A few weeks ago, a friend from church took some family shots of Jeremy, Joshua, and I at the Lion's Bridge near our apartment. This was also where Jeremy proposed to me, so it was great to be back there with him and our son. We had a lot of fun, and the pictures turned out fantastic.

I've spent a lot of time thinking lately about us as a family, how quickly Joshua is growing up, and how much we are changing as a family. God has been doing some amazing things in both of us as parents and I really need to find time to slow down, reflect on what God is doing, and thank Him.

We really do have so much to be thankful for, and it is all because of what God has given us. All the glory to Him for what He is doing and will do in our family.

Sick Baby

I didn't know how upset I would be when Joshua got sick for the first time. I had no idea I would cry more than he did- seriously! Many of you know he got sick last week and I was so upset about it- really struggling with thinking that I was a terrible mom (even though I knew this was a lie). How could I let me son get sick so early on? - As if I had control over it!

Joshua had a fever for about a week, and had to have several tests done to make sure nothing was seriously wrong with him. The great news is that everything came back great- and he is over his fever- and as cute as ever. The unexpected news is that I realized how helpless I felt while he was sick. He can't tell me anything yet- what is hurting, why he is crying, what he needs. He is completely depending on Jeremy and I for his needs (and what he wants when he gets older).

This reminds me of my relationship with God- I am completely dependent on God for my needs.The difference is that He knows exactly what I need and when I need it. Even better, God knows Joshua's every need and will provide for both of us. I am looking forward to all the new ways God will reveal himself to me in parenthood.

Death of a Cell Phone

I'm not quite sure why I tried to tuck my cell phone into the shoulder strap of my shirt while leaning over to clean the tub. The water was already on, filling up quickly. The sponge was in one hand and I needed my other hand to grip the tub while I scrubbed. My only problem was that free hand was not free at all, it was clutching my cell phone (You know, in case someone called I would have it right with me- I know, crazy). So, thinking it was a great idea, (I have done this often these days to carry my phone while transporting Joshua from room to room) I tucked it under my shirt strap and leaned over to start scrubbing. Plop! Death of a Cell Phone.

It didn't happen fast. No, it happened slow, teasing me. At first it was still working, so I wiped it off and set it aside to dry. I finished cleaning the tub. When I picked it up- the screen was black! But, the buttons still lit up. When Jeremy got home that night, he even got it to call his phone- I could live without a phone screen for a while. As tragic as it was, this morning, the cell phone was no more. No more screen. No more buttons lighting up. No more calls going out or coming in.

How attached am I to my cell phone? So much so that I almost had a panic attack when realizing it was gone. Not really, but I am realizing how attached to technology I am. Maybe I need a vacation?

GREAT resource for new mommies

So, after the advice of a nurse and several other "moms", Jeremy and I ordered "Happiest Baby on the Block". This is a DVD that gives parents tips on calming crying babies and helping new babies sleep longer through the night. I must say as we were watching we kept looking at each other saying "no way!- lets wake Joshua up and try this now!". We were very impressed.

Of course, we did not wake Joshua up. However, when he did wake up fussy, we used the techniques from the video and were amazed to know they worked!

I must recommend this video for ALL new moms- so if you are one, or know one, please get this video! It helped us tremendously with getting Joshua to sleep longer at night- even just putting him down in the beginning. I cannot stress enough how it helped us and Joshua . . . so please get it and watch it soon!

There is also "Happiest Toddler on the Block" that we plan to purchase when Joshua gets older!

For the Love of Sleep!

As you can imagine, sleep is something you don't get very much of as a new mom- or dad! I was running on adrenaline for the first few weeks home with Joshua. Every moment I was watching him, excited about him, thanking God for him. However, this is not good if you forget to REST- sleep while the baby sleeps- recover from delivery- relax your body and mind. All of these I forgot to do much of the first two weeks home.

So, after a good talk with Jeremy (several of them), some good talks with great friends, and lots of crying- I learned that sleep deprivation is my enemy. For the first time in a month, this week I slept at least 6 hours at night and Jeremy took care of Joshua.

The not so fun part of this for me is pumping breast milk for Jeremy to give Joshua at night. Forgive me for getting so personal, but it is almost humorous to find yourself in a position similar to a cow. I know I'll get used to it . . . but for now and for the love of sleep- I'll do it!

Labor and Delivery

On August 27th I experienced first hand the journey of labor and delivery. I gave birth to my first son, Joshua. Nothing could have prepared me for this amazing time. Yes, it was painful, and yes, I would do it again. With no epidural and no pain medicine, I called out "the Lord is my strength" during contractions and the Lord really was my strength to make it through. Seeing my son for the first time after carrying him for nine months made me speechless. Jeremy and I are both in awe of the life that was created in me.

One of my favorite passages in scripture is Psalm 139. It is a psalm of David and it speaks to Gods personal knowledge of us and how He created us. Verse 13 says "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." This took on a whole new meaning during my pregnancy and it encourages me to know that God created Joshua and what a gift he is to Jeremy and I. We are both excited about what God is going to be showing us and doing through our growing family!