Chronicles of Life

2012-01-12T14:21:00.001-06:00

Yuppies.1.:///1.176554

Happy 1/2 Birthday!!

2011-11-11T11:30:00.001-06:00

Happy 1/2 Birthday to our princess, Eve Amelie, who fills our world with radiant joy!

Lately

2011-10-24T00:22:00.003-05:00

Greenway and McKay

2011-10-09T12:14:00.001-05:00

Blogger App

2011-10-08T11:14:00.001-05:00

Experimenting with a new method of blogging... the Chronicle's only hope. Praying this works!

Eve Week 3

2011-07-31T17:38:00.004-05:00

And one of Jonz. ;)

Thank you, Alissa Saylor, for these gorgeous pictures!!

Aunt Lisa's

2011-07-30T17:36:00.000-05:00

Green Cleaning

2011-07-29T17:35:00.000-05:00

After a long day of green cleaning . . .

Angel Baby

2011-07-28T18:08:00.002-05:00

McDougal Land

2011-07-27T21:34:00.003-05:00

One of our favorite places to be!

Eve

2011-07-27T17:48:00.000-05:00

Bowels-Willis Playdate

2011-07-26T23:17:00.003-05:00

Kiyah is 7 weeks older than Eve! Hard to tell these days! :)

Adeline's

2011-07-25T17:47:00.000-05:00

Big Band

2011-07-24T22:33:00.003-05:00

Big Band @ Centennial Park last night sounded a lot more romantic than it was, failed to factor in 110 degree heat. Eve's face perfectly expresses how we all felt!! :)

Isn't She Lovely :)

2011-07-21T10:25:00.000-05:00

Eve 9 Weeks

2011-07-20T13:39:00.000-05:00

Doula

2011-07-18T13:36:00.000-05:00

My first experience as a doula- Noah Ryan, born to Brooke and Kevin on July 18 @ 12:08am, weighing 6lbs 5oz . . . The labor life could get VERY addicting! One of the most incredible 12hrs of my life! Honestly. . .

Jonz

2011-07-14T13:35:00.000-05:00

Eve and Dad

2011-07-10T13:34:00.000-05:00

Eve 8 weeks

2011-07-08T13:31:00.000-05:00

kids

2011-07-07T13:26:00.000-05:00

Serious Boys

2011-07-06T13:25:00.000-05:00

July 4th

2011-07-04T13:22:00.000-05:00

Crawford Visit

2011-07-03T13:21:00.000-05:00

My 29th Birthday!

2011-06-30T13:19:00.000-05:00

Big Girl!

2011-06-29T13:07:00.000-05:00

Eve 6 weeks

2011-06-28T13:06:00.000-05:00

Mimi and Popi's and Haircuts

2011-06-24T13:04:00.001-05:00

Father's Day

2011-06-19T12:52:00.000-05:00

Eve 5 weeks

2011-06-18T12:51:00.000-05:00

My Kids :)

2011-05-28T16:50:00.005-05:00

Blogging is no simple feat when you're trying to keep a toddler and a newborn alive and happy! ;) But I'm purposing to learn how, because I know deep down our undocumented days will be forgotten. Ugh! I don't even like to think about it. . .

Anyway, a bit about my kids. . .

Eve carries such a sweet spirit of peace (unless there are gas bubbles in her tummy). I genuinely enjoy sharing time and space with her. She's lovely in every way. I have fallen madly in love with her in such a short time . . . She's big and healthy. 9lbs 4oz at her 2 week appointment (90th percentile for height, weight, and head). I attribute her growth not to my milk but to all the love she's been showered with- there's no shortage of it around here! :)

Jonah baffles me every day with new expressions and gestures and knowledge. :) He's absolutely adorable in every way! So charming . . . He's tender with Eve and has grown to love having her around. He prides himself in being a "Big Boy" (a pride we've attempted to feed the belly of to prevent regression). :) Seems to be working well this week. :) He fills our life with laughter! We can't fathom existing apart from him!

Thank God for these precious babies!! Our lives would be so boring without them! :)

Eve's Birth Story

2011-05-21T21:54:00.001-05:00

Eve Amelie, born to us on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 6:21pm, weighing 8lbs 8oz and measuring 21 ¾ inches long.

Eve’s birth story would be hollow if I failed to explain the events that unfolded in the months preceding her arrival, so at the risk of boring you to death I’m including lots of details- details I believe are riddled with the fingerprints of God.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been passionate about childbirth and deeply convicted that it is a natural and extremely empowering event in the life of a woman that holds great significance in God. I’ve desperately desired to open to the fullness of the process, allowing it to pull me into deep realms of revelation and awaken me to the Divine intent buried within it.

I attempted a natural delivery with my son, Jonah, but due to gestational hypertension and failure to progress it ultimately became extremely eventful and complicated- requiring Pitocin, an epidural, and 3 hours of pushing. He miraculously emerged during the final push they gave me before wheeling me away for an emergency c-section (38 hours elapsed between my water breaking and delivery). To top it all off, Jonah wasn’t breathing at birth and required a stay in the NICU. Then several months after my less than ideal delivery I had a miscarriage. Needless to say, I began to question whether or not my body had the capacity to healthily progress through the various stages of pregnancy and the labor process.

The first two trimesters of my pregnancy with Eve were marred with doubt and fear. I couldn’t even speak of her delivery during that time. There was an ache and darkness attached in those days to the manner in which she would ultimately emerge from my womb. Every tinge of hope that surfaced in my heart for an entirely natural unfolding was quickly suffocated by remembrance of how my body had failed in the past.

About 2 months prior to Eve’s due date, I began to sense the activity of the Divine all around. It seemed there was an urgency in God to rebuild a foundation of faith within me and restore all the enemy had stolen. He came to me with a fury of love and affection. He sang over me songs of redemption and healing and I spilled my fear and longing at his feet. He began to overwhelm me with the peace of his presence and reveal himself to me through people and circumstance.

One afternoon I stopped by to visit my friend, Rebecca, after the arrival of her daughter, Kiyah, and she shared her birth video with me. The surrender and peace of God I saw in Rebecca’s face even during the most taxing phase of the delivery process brought me to tears. I left her house that day weeping with desire to experience the same.

That night while researching childbirth I stumbled across Ina May Gaskin, the guru of midwives and a natural birth advocate. I immediately ordered and began reading her book Guide to Childbirth. I felt confidence and excitement being resurrected within me as I progressed through the pages. Reading story after story of healthy and fulfilling deliveries where women were surrounded by the encouragement and affirmation not only of their spouse but also other women began to stir in me a desire to be accompanied by a doula during my labor with Eve.

One Saturday morning, I woke early with a weightiness of heart that felt much like conviction and thoughts of a doula swirling in my mind. I Googled “doula Nashville” and immediately discovered Gaylea McDougal, a doula/monitrice who appeared to not only have incredible skill and experience in the realm of women’s health, pregnancy and childbirth but also shared my passion for God and belief that the process of bearing and delivering new life is deeply spiritual. She co-developed a Christian childbirth class called Alpha Childbirth, which is centered upon the divine nature of pregnancy and delivery and focuses on how to rely on God’s Word and surrender to his will and way in the process. I wept as I read through her website. My spirit was filled with peace merely at the thought of laboring with her by my side. I felt overwhelmed in God, like he had divinely led me to her and had high purpose in crossing our paths. I immediately wrote her and her response moved me deeply. She spoke to my fear and breathed life into me with her words. She agreed to be my doula, and I enrolled in her childbirth class.

The subsequent weeks I bathed in the word of God and worship and felt fear and doubt gradually dissipating. I listened to a CD created by Gaylea over and over, which is full of scriptural affirmation. I would weep as she spoke hope and truth over me and my spirit would burn as if it had been ignited with the refining fire of God. Gaylea challenged me to pray very specific prayers, so I did. I asked God to align the systems of my body, to keep my blood pressure low, to perfectly position Eve for delivery, to divinely initiate and carry out the labor process, and to prevent me from tearing. I asked him for a specific team of people to surround me and my husband during labor and delivery- for Gaylea, my friend, Lindsey, and midwife, Lauren, who attended Jonah’s birth- all of whom are extraordinary women of faith. I even ventured to ask for Room 9 at Vanderbilt, the only room with a birthing tub.

During the last three weeks of my pregnancy, I saw several spikes in my blood pressure. The highest of which was 156/109. Each time the numbers reached over 140/90 it would take my breath. It felt much like defeat, yet my spirit refused to relent. I felt convicted that Eve’s story would not parallel Jonah’s in this way, that God could and would sustain my body until the end, so I fought on my knees and asked others to do the same.

The weekend prior to my due date I felt overwhelmed with a darkness I didn’t understand. I attempted to analyze it and settled on the assumption that it was a combination of shifting hormones, fear that each day was leading me to a more and more compromised physical state, fear also that my body would be unable to initiate the birth process on its own, and frustration with not knowing the day or time God was going to call Eve from the womb. I decided it must just be the unpredictability of the season that was wearing on me, and to an extent it was all of those things, yet something deeper was happening that reached my conscience while rocking Jonah that Sunday night.

Jonah had been extra desirous of my attention for several days. He had requested to be held and rocked and laid still in my arms for hours. I wondered quietly if he sensed the changes to come. This particular night he struggled to fall asleep. I heard him crying for me from his bed. I went in and his sob was deep. I got a bottle, laid him across my lap and rocked him. I felt the warmth of his face against my bear arm and his hand on my chest. I sensed that he was absorbing my affection and I was doing to the same with him. I was flooded in those moments with images of nursing him . . . Where did the time go? How did he so quickly go from my belly to this state of independence? I rocked him until he fell asleep, then laid him down in his bed and I broke. I ran downstairs so I wouldn’t wake anyone and I sobbed harder than I have in a long time. My heart was grieving as if I were losing him. The only way I can describe it is that it felt like together we were approaching a death of some sort. Death of all we’d ever known.

I felt desperate to hold on to what we shared and I couldn’t help but grieve the change that was inevitably coming. The tears were seemingly endless. I was aware that Eve would ultimately enhance our lives, and I did desire her. She was just as much my baby as Jonah, but in those final days alone with him, she felt like a threat. As much as I ached to have her in my arms, when I was really honest, I was perfectly content with her where she was as well. The familiarity and sanctity of all I had known was protected as long as she was in me. I didn’t have to ration my attention and affection. I could mindlessly meet all her needs and fulfill Jonah’s as well.

I spilled this raw emotion at the feet of Jesus that night. I wept and wept and wept until all my strength was gone. I released fear and relinquished control. I opened entirely to God and his spirit of peace poured over me.

After that I stopped counting the days and watching for signs of Eve’s impending arrival in my body. I came to terms with the fact my pregnancy could drag on another 2 weeks, and I genuinely became ok with it. I was free of fear, free of restlessness, free of desire to control and manipulate the timing of God.

Tuesday, May 10^th, I had an appointment with my midwife, Lauren. I assumed she would offer to strip my membranes (a natural induction method) as it’s rather routine for a 40-week check. I consulted Gaylea the night before to see what her thoughts were on the matter. She urged me to wait, reiterating our common desire to allow God to entirely initiate the labor process. And so I did. I shared with Lauren at that appointment how desperately I desired to entirely relinquish control and allow God to be God in the initiation of Eve’s birth. We laughed about the long list of natural induction methods that consume a mothers mind and are often suggested by practioners in the final weeks of pregnancy. Lauren was extremely supportive of my desire not to interfere and simply wait. She gently checked me (so gently in fact I had absolutely no cramping or spotting afterward). I was a loose 2cm and 75% effaced.

That night my brother in law and his girlfriend came over for dinner. Toward the end of our time together I began to feel my contraction gradually intensifying. I didn’t take them seriously as I had been contracting for weeks and just assumed I was still days (maybe even weeks) away from actual labor.

Around midnight my contractions became rhythmic, every 10 minutes like clockwork, and they were strong enough to capture my attention. It felt to me like waves of the energy and power of God building and crashing over and over in my abdomen. A cramping sensation would begin in my back and wrap around the lower half of my belly as a burning sensation would build in the top of my abdomen and work its way down until pressure filled my pelvis. I laid in bed riding these waves of energy alone with God in the darkness. After each one I whispered thanks and praise to him. I felt his delight and pleasure and could almost see him dancing over me as I surrendered to his power in my body.

By 2:30am my contractions had steadily reached 5 minutes apart and were intense enough that I needed to roll over to my hands and knees and moan to relax through them. I woke Allen and he was wonderful. He applied counter pressure to my lower back during contractions and we laughed and thanked God together when they released. There was such a spirit of joy in our bedroom that night. No fear at all. Just gratitude to God and excitement that he was Lording over the birth of Eve.

By 4:30 or 5am, we decided to text Gaylea to let her know we were in labor. She seemed excited and said she would meet us at our place soon. I was thrilled that she wasn’t tied up with another client as there were 3 of us due within the same window of time and one of her clients had been experiencing symptoms of labor the previous day! I text Lindsey as well and she was thrilled! She had plans to leave for vacation on Friday and we were both worried she would miss Eve’s birth. If you’re counting, that’s 3 perfectly answered prayers: God initiates labor (check), Gaylea attends birth (check), Lindsey attends birth (check). . . At this point I’m so ridiculously in awe of God I can’t stop smiling and laughing. His faithfulness couldn’t have been more evident.

We called Allen’s parents to come pick up Jonah and I called my mom to tell her we were in labor. Within the hour our house was full of people. Our parents, Gaylea, Lindsey, Jonah . . . There was such a spirit of peace and joy. I worked through contractions every 4-5 minutes and we talked and laughed between them.

By 10am or so it became evident that it was time for the house to clear out with the exception of my laboring team. My mom left her purse on the stairwell, so I grabbed it and ran outside to give it to her. A contraction began to build, so I dropped her purse on the driveway, ran back in, closed the door and squatted into its power. At the peak my water broke and began to spill from me. What a moment that was!

Lindsey photographed, videoed and offered comic relief, while Allen and Gaylea helped me relax and surrender to each contraction. Gaylea offered lots of tools to relieve pain and ease discomfort. She introduced various positions, used a TENS unit on my lower back, massaged lavender/peppermint oil into my scalp and combed it through my hair with her fingers (absolutely heavenly!), she saturated a towel with the oils and water and I buried my face in it during contractions. The scent powerfully relieved the tension in my body. She massaged me and applied counter pressure when needed, but the thing that stands out in my mind the most about Gaylea that day was the spirit of peace she carried. It radiated through her eyes and touch and words. She was patient, tender, and full of love. She had absolute trust and faith in the birth process and total confidence that God was lording over the birth of Eve.

Between each contraction we laughed and talked and laughed some more. Allen, Gaylea, and Lindsey didn’t simply sit and watch with somber faces as if they were waiting for me to take my final breath nor did they grimace when they saw me in pain, and I was glad. I wanted peace and joy to rule and reign in the process of Eve’s delivery, and it absolutely did. I felt as if our spirits were consistently rejoicing together in the beauty and power and faithfulness of our God as he revealed himself in and through my body.

Gaylea monitored my blood pressure and Eve’s vitals. Both were perfectly healthy! (prayer #4 answered)

By about 2:30pm my contractions intensified to the point that I felt their power curling the upper half of my body around my abdomen. The force and pressure that accompanied them was unbelievable! We moved upstairs to prevent my animalistic moaning from being heard on the street. Every 3-4 minutes they would surge through me and I felt their effectiveness in my pelvis. The pressure intensified with each one.

After about an hour later Gaylea decided to check me to see how far I had progressed. I was 6 almost 7cm, and we decided it was probably time to transfer to the hospital. We weren’t in a state of panic at all. Allen and Lindsey calmly loaded our vehicles while Gaylea taught me to blow through contractions and resist the urge to push or even succumb to the totality of their power. She said to say “C-C-C” and blow like you’re blowing out candles.

The car ride to the hospital was interesting. I didn’t feel panicked. I was in perfect peace, but the intensity of my contractions continued to build to the point that I wondered how much longer I could “C-C” and blow them away. They were overpowering me it seemed, but I continued to focus on maintaining control.

We pulled into valet at the hospital. I got out of the car, held tightly to Allen’s neck and squatted into a contraction. I’m pretty sure everyone watching thought I was about to have my baby on the sidewalk! Allen put me in a wheelchair and pushed me as fast as he could to labor and delivery. I had another contraction in the elevator. The people riding with us looked panicked. We pulled up to the L&D window, told the nurse my name, and she said wheel her to Room 9! (I prayed for Room 9, remember?!). Allen pushed me into the room and guess who was standing there? Lauren! The midwife I had prayed for!! She just happened to be on-call that day. . . Do you see the activity of God?! I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing. I hugged her and thanked God, then squatted by the bed into another contraction.

I crawled on the bed and she checked me. I was 9 ½ cm. Only a cervical lip remained. I couldn’t believe it! I was so close to meeting my baby! I hugged the back of the bed through several contractions and we all laughed and talked between them. I felt absolutely high on God! The joy and excitement I felt was incomparable to anything I’d ever felt prior.

Lauren offered to fill the birthing tub, and though it sounded quite romantic and had been a dream of mine for a long time, my contractions felt too intense at that point to get in to the water. I decided instead to move to the toilet (not quite as glamorous, I know). Allen put toilet paper under my feet for leverage. It was hysterical! Eventually, Lauren decided it would be easier to deliver Eve on a birthing stool than on the toilet, so I moved to a stool in the room. Gaylea sat behind me and played with my hair. Allen was beside me caressing me with his hands and Lauren was at my feet coaching me along.

Evidentially, my water bag had an upper tear because it was bulging at the bottom just a couple inches inside me; it felt much like a water balloon. Lauren offered to break it, and I was fine with that, but she looked me in the eyes after a bit of discussion and said, “Let’s just wait, Jes.” I felt her saying with the intensity of her gaze, “Let’s let God do it ALL!” And he did! A couple of contractions later, my water sprayed all over her! It filled her shoes, saturated her socks and pants. Allen said it was a bit traumatic even for him and he didn’t get doused in it. That was such a moment of victory! I felt again the pleasure of God all around me. He was delivering Eve from the womb with absolutely no assistance!

Several contractions later, it became apparent that my cervical lip wasn’t going away in the position I was in, so we decided it would be best for me to stand. The power of my contractions at that point made my legs tremble. It was difficult to support the weight of my body, even with the help of Lauren, Allen, and Gaylea, so I moved to the bed. I pushed on my hands and knees, then on my right side and finally my left. It had been about an hour and a half and that crazy lip still hadn’t dissolved. I began to get a bit discouraged, wondering how much longer it would take. My body had been pushing for so long (since we were at the house, really). Lauren reassured me that though I had been pushing against the lip, there was no swelling. She encouraged me with her words and eyes and touch as did Allen and Gaylea.

Eventually, the lip dissolved with a bit of help from Lauren and Eve was free to move down. I’ll never forget the feeling of fullness in my pelvis as Eve’s body descended. She felt extraordinarily large in comparison to my anatomy. My bones were stretching to accommodate her, and I momentarily wondered if they had the capacity to contain her without breaking. The excitement in everyone’s voice empowered me to press on. I’ll never forget the way Lauren, Gaylea, and Allen’s touch soothed me between contractions during that final phase of delivery. I felt their hands caressing my thighs and arms and hair and it made me feel so safe- like I wasn’t alone.

I’m not sure how many contractions came and went before Eve finally crowned, but when she did, Lauren made eye contact with me and with a serious tone said, “Do NOT push. Hold her there, Jes.” (or something to that effect) And I remember thinking, “Ok! I’ll do anything you say! My life (and perineum) are in your hands.” I literally felt like Eve’s body was about to split me in half. About 4 or 5 minutes elapsed between that contraction and the next, which felt like an extraordinarily long time but it gave my skin ample time to stretch to accommodate Eve.

With the next contraction Lauren told me to push gently, I did and Eve’s head was delivered. Lauren removed the cord from around her neck and one push later, her shoulders and body slithered out! I’ll never forget that feeling. The relief, the overwhelming sense of accomplishment, the wonder and awe that swept over me! Lauren said, “Reach down and receive your baby, Jes.” Then Allen and Lauren laid Eve on my bare belly. The warmth of her overwhelmed my senses. I was finally skin to skin with the life that had been evolving in me for so long, with the girl who had captured my heart so many months ago.

Allen looked at me with tears in his eyes. We were so overwhelmed with the faithfulness of God to us. I couldn’t have felt closer to him in that moment. I was flooded with remembrance of every tear and prayer, every loss and trial that led us to that moment of shared victory.

Lauren checked me, and miraculously I didn’t need one stitch! Allen cut the cord once it stopped pulsating. I held Eve and couldn’t stop thanking God for her life and for sustaining us through the process. He answered every detail of every prayer I whispered. He revealed himself to me. He restored all the enemy had stolen in seasons prior. He delivered me as he delivered Eve.

Praise be to God for overwhelming us with evidence that he sees and hears and reigns over every intricate detail of the processes of life!

Kids

2011-05-14T11:02:00.000-05:00

Going Home

2011-05-13T10:56:00.000-05:00

Eve's 1st Day

2011-05-12T10:54:00.000-05:00

Lauren, my midwife, who delivered Eve and attended Jonah's birth! :)

In Labor

2011-05-11T10:52:00.000-05:00

Grieving the Loss of a Season

2011-05-09T09:45:00.001-05:00

I’ve felt teary for the past 5 days or so, almost like a mild depression. I haven’t been able to articulate why to anyone who asks. I’ve tried really hard to hold back the tears and press on- somewhat frustrated that this perfectly joyful season of new life feels tainted by a darkness I just don’t understand. I’ve attempted to analyze it and settled on the assumption this weekend that it was a combination of shifting hormones, fear of my body’s inability to healthily sustain Eve and I until the end, fear also that my body would be unable to initiate the birth process on its own, and frustration with not knowing the day or time God is going to call her from the womb. I decided it must just be the unpredictability of the season that was wearing on me . . .

That was until last night . . .

Jonah has been extra desirous of my attention the past few days. He has requested to be held and rocked and laid still in my arms for hours. I’ve wondered if he senses the changes to come. I think he does. Last night he struggled to fall asleep. I heard him crying for me from his bed. I went in and his sob was deep. I got a bottle, laid him across my lap and rocked him. I felt the warmth of his face against my bear arm and his hand on my chest. I sensed that he was absorbing me and my affection and I was doing to the same with him. I was flooded in those moments with images of nursing him . . . Where did the time go? How did he so quickly go from my belly to this state of independence? I rocked him until he fell asleep, then laid him down in his bed and I broke. I ran downstairs so I wouldn’t wake anyone and I sobbed harder than I have in a long time. My heart was grieving as if I were losing him. The only way I can describe it is that it felt like together we were approaching a death of some sort. Death of all we’ve ever known . . .

I feel desperate to hold on to what we share and I can’t help but grieve the change that’s coming. The tears are endless it seems. I’m aware that Eve will ultimately enhance our lives, and I do desire her. She’s mine too. She’s just as much my baby as Jonah, but in these final days alone with him, she feels like a threat, and I’m not sure how to change that. As much as I ache to have her in my arms, when I’m really honest, I’m perfectly content with her where she is as well. The familiarity and sanctity of what I know is protected as long as she is in me . . . I don’t have to ration my attention and affection. I can mindlessly meet all her needs and fulfill Jonah’s as well. . .

Our Boy

2011-05-02T11:18:00.004-05:00

I've been SO neglectful with the blog lately. Something I'm not proud of in the least. Jonah has been a blast the past couple of months. . . He surprises us everyday with new words and phrases. He practically speaks in sentences, and he's developed quite an imagination. We often catch him imitating scenes from movies or behavior he's observed in others. We laugh harder and love deeper now than we ever have! This boy really is the light of our lives! I wish I had more time to sort through pictures. These are just a few I quickly exported. I'll try to upload more later, preferably before Eve makes her debut. . . :)

Significance of a Name

2011-04-28T22:16:00.005-05:00

Eve,

Your name became quite significant to us in the months preceding your conception. So much so that it deterred us from every other name we had considered in seasons prior. I began to see your name everywhere. Those three beautiful letters surfaced in more words than I could count and evoked a unique depth of emotion every time I saw them. On some occasions they gave me chills . . . the hair on my arms would literally stand up and at other times they would bring tears to my eyes. I was unsure in those days of the depth of meaning attached to your name and all it would come to represent in my journey with God, but I was sure that there was Divine intent buried within it . . . a message of sorts that would soon unfold.

And it did . . .

The Holy Spirit steadily brought revelation; first, through the literal meaning of Eve, which is “LIFE”. I received it as a weighty promise in light of the loss we experienced between you and Jonah. Fear held me captive in the weeks subsequent to receiving confirmation that you were with us. I had tasted the bitter sting of death and the pain of a prematurely empty womb, and I could not bare the thought of you passing in the same manner. As fear would rise within me, your name would begin to echo in my heart (even prior to the confirmation of your gender), and my spirit would receive strength from the promise attached . . . LIFE. God was tenderly speaking “EVE” over my womb (“LIFE” in the aftershock of death) and it became a sword with which I combated the enemy’s attempts to evoke fear and remembrance of the fragility of our existence and ultimately a resting place for my soul.

Once the promise of life was firmly established within me, the name Eve began to take on a new dimension of importance; this time in all that it connotes and represents in its biblical form. Eve has often been perceived as an afterthought of God and most closely associated with the downfall of humanity, yet her essence exposes the Divine in uniquely rich ways.

The creation story builds in complexity and beauty, each day bringing grander expressions of the essence of God’s heart and mind until ultimately he creates man (Adam) in his image. Yet, the vast world in all its beauty from sky to sea and all the life in between was incomplete. God needed a zenith, a final touch, so he crowned his creation with Eve (woman). She became the jewel at the apex of his creativity, the most dazzling and intricate creature on earth. Her essence was infiltrated with the captivating beauty of God- his capacity and yearning for intimacy, his tenderness and longing to be desired. Through Eve God expresses himself in feminine form: relational, tender, merciful, fierce and fiercely devoted, inviting, alluring, and passionate. She is endowed with the ability to intimately participate in the processes of creation, to be the vessel through which the image of God is multiplied into the world. Yes, Eve was the personification of a beautiful, inviting and alluring God- a life-offering, life-saving lover, full of tender hope and mercy.

The unfolding of the significance of your name didn’t stop there. Once the revelation of God’s dynamic expression of himself to creation through the essence of femininity overwhelmed me, the Holy Spirit carried me deeper . . . to a prophetic message of the cross revealed through Eve.

While sitting in an ornate pew at Christ Church Cathedral on the Good Friday preceding your birth, meditating upon the sacrifice of Jesus (remembering the pain he bore in his body to bring redemption to humanity) images of childbirth began to flood over me and I suddenly saw their correlation to all Christ endured to bring life to his people. My mind carried me back to the garden after Eve ate of the forbidden fruit; to the moment it was declared that she would endure a multiplication of pain in childbirth and to Paul ultimately declaring it would provide salvation for her soul. Those passages could be interpreted a hundred different ways, but I received them fresh and new that day . . .

I saw them as the first prophetic picture released upon humanity of the coming Messiah and the road of suffering he would walk in order to deliver and redeem humanity. I suddenly viewed the agony preceding the emersion of new life from the womb as a picture of Christ’s suffering on the cross and the excruciating pain he endured prior. Though he asked God to rescue him (to take this cup) if there be any other way to bring redemption to the earth, he ultimately walked the road of suffering. He was faithful unto death . . . And it was that death that restored fallen man and reunited humanity with God.

As I move closer and closer to the day of your emersion from the womb there are moments when I (like Jesus) ask “if there be any other way . . . take this cup from me” and yet I ache to ultimately surrender to the process God has set forth and receive the revelation of life it brings. Just as Jesus faithfully endured agony and pain to bring life to me (and you and all of humanity), so, too, I ache to faithfully endure the pain of your birth, keeping my eyes on the promise of new life that will come through it. I want more than anything for my spirit to be tender and receptive to the whisper of God during your birth . . . not to resist and fight it, but to open entirely to the prophetic picture he intends to deliver as I walk this road.

Though some may see the pain of childbirth as a curse that fell on Eve in the garden (as perhaps I did at one time), I am beginning to view it as one of the greatest gifts God has given women . . . an opportunity not only to intimately participate in the creation process, but also to taste of the agony of his sacrifice and the triumphant victory of new life it affords!

So you see, Eve, my beautiful girl . . . your name is rich with revelation and a monument to the activity of God over me. You have had a ministry of grace and healing even from the womb, and I anticipate its continuation. Your dad and I are anxious to welcome you into our world and watch as the plans and intent of God unfold over you. Our hearts are forever bound to yours with the most ardent devotion under heaven.

We love you, Eve!

Mom

Eve Belly 37 Weeks

2011-04-23T20:04:00.003-05:00

As you can see, my fetal girth is out of control! :) Technically, this child could be in my body for another 5 weeks without intervention. Can you even fathom how big I'd be at that point? The funny thing is I carry my kids like this, but in the end they aren't typically that large . . . Well, so far I only have one to compare to. . . he was just 7lbs. Who knows, Eve could exceed his weight, but for some reason I doubt it. Wonder if the gypsy saw me today if he'd predict Eve's birth weight to be 5lbs 10oz. :)

And here's a glimpse of our girl in action! Jonah NEVER moved like this . . . If her movement in the womb is any indication of her personality, I'd say she's going to be a LOT like me. :)

Childbirth and The Road of the Cross

2011-04-23T11:01:00.003-05:00

I am confident this Lenten season and Easter were perfectly ordained to precede Eve’s arrival. I’ve been amazed the past 40 days at the spiritual parallels between preparation for childbirth and the overarching theme of this time in the life and history of our church. The significance of Lent lies in its representation of the 40 days Jesus spent being tested and tried in the wilderness prior to his crucifixion. It was a time truth was twisted and hurled like darts at Jesus’ faith, but he did not waiver. He boldly proclaimed the promises of his Father and the victory he'd been inherently given in the face of attack.

I have been learning to speak to the lies of the enemy this Lenten season in much the same way, most predominantly in the realm of childbirth. I have had ample opportunity to exercise authority over the enemy’s attempts to impart fear and ultimately suffocate the revelation of God and rob me of intimate dependence upon him in this sacred season. The battle has been raging in and around me, but I have found a steadfast hope in God and I will not be moved.

Yesterday (Good Friday), while sitting in an ornate pew at Christ Church Cathedral meditating upon the sacrifice of Jesus, remembering the pain he bore in his body to bring redemption to humanity, I was again moved by images of childbirth and their correlation to all Christ endured to bring life to his people. My mind carried me back to the garden after Eve ate of the forbidden fruit; to the moment it was declared that she would endure a multiplication of pain in childbirth and to Paul ultimately declaring it would provide salvation for her soul. Those passages could be interpreted a hundred different ways, but I received them fresh and new yesterday . . .

I saw them as the first prophetic picture released upon humanity of the coming Messiah and the road of suffering he would walk in order to deliver and redeem humanity. I suddenly viewed the agony preceding the emersion of new life from the womb as a picture of Christ’s suffering on the cross and the excruciating pain he endured prior. Though he asked God to rescue him (to take this cup) if there be any other way to bring redemption to the earth, he ultimately walked the road of suffering. He was faithful unto death . . . And it was that death that ultimately restored fallen man and reunited humanity with God.

As I move closer and closer to the day of Eve’s emersion from the womb there are moments when I (like Jesus) ask “if there be any other way . . . take this cup from me” and yet I ache to ultimately surrender to the process God has set forth and receive the revelation of life it brings. Just as Jesus faithfully endured agony and pain to bring life to me (and you and all of humanity), so, too, I ache to faithfully endure the pain of childbirth, keeping my eyes on the promise of new life that will come through it. I want more than anything for my spirit to be tender and receptive to the whisper of God in this process . . . not to resist and fight it, but to open entirely to the prophetic picture God intends to deliver as I walk this road. Though some may see the pain of childbirth as a curse that fell on Eve in the garden (as perhaps I did at one time), I am beginning to view it as one of the greatest gifts God has given women . . . an opportunity not only to intimately participate in the creation process, but also to taste of the agony of his sacrifice and the triumphant victory of new life it affords!

Playing Catch Up. . .

2011-03-26T08:54:00.002-05:00

No, I didn't give the blog up for Lent (though it may seem that way). . :) I've spent the morning posting and backdating as much as possible. There are several new posts in the month of March. I promise to try to be more faithful. The past several weeks have been quite demanding and such a whirlwind. . .

Breakfast with Uncle Ebic

2011-03-15T08:27:00.000-05:00

Uncle Ebic came in town for Spencer and Lacy's wedding, so we met him at a really neat cafe in East Nashville for breakfast. . . We miss him so much. It was nice to connect with him face to face over French Toast Pancakes stuffed with Nutella and Banana! :)

This child's eyes are heavenly! Not sure where he got them, but I hope he shares the gene with his sister! :)

New Best Friends

2011-03-11T00:09:00.005-06:00

I have a LOT of catching up to do on the blog. I apologize. The month of March has been a whirlwind so far with birthdays and road trips . . . a wedding this weekend. I promise I'll catch up soon! For now. . . Here's Jonah with his new best friends. :) He bought these with a gift card from Aunt Sarah. Pretty sure they're going to be his first attachment objects, which is a bit comical for two reasons- first, they're as big as he is and second, he refuses to carry one without the other. :)

Letter to Eve

2011-03-10T15:28:00.003-06:00

(A long-overdue letter to my daughter)

Eve Amelie, my precious girl . . .

I received the hope of you in the months preceding your conception. My spirit was peaked in God for your life and expectation grew in my heart.

In August, prior to the revelation of you, I was overcome by feminine energy. It was as if the world around me (and all that was in me) began to bloom. My eyes were opened to the beauty, grace and charm of the ordinary. All things feminine caught my attention . . . I even wore flowers in my hair, which felt quite appropriate for the season (an outward sign of an inward change).

I began to receive what I interpreted as whispers from heaven of your impending life- a single pink rose growing in our front lawn, a white hair bow I found on the ground while walking one day . . . I saw your name everywhere (even in the word “everywhere”, even in the word “even”). The name “Eve” infiltrated my life it seemed and brought chills with every recognition. (I will write more about the power and significance of your name later. It overturns my heart and beckons me in profound ways. . .)

When your Dad and I received confirmation of your life, through 2 pink lines on a little white stick, I felt confident you were with me . . . my girl. My sweet, charming, beautiful GIRL! Even the color of the lines on the test felt like a proclamation of your gender in my spirit. I had only used tests with blue caps and lines prior, but randomly bought a pink one this time . . . coincidence? Not to me.

My soul thundered at the revelation of your gender at our 15-week ultrasound. It was to me confirmation that I hear the voice of God and have the capacity to receive his word over my family and children (even through the most ordinary and seemingly unspiritual moments and events of life). My spirit was energized with a deep assurance that God is active in the processes of our earthly existence, that his intent and purposes loom weighty overhead, that he whispers of things to come to those who walk with him and hunger for his voice.

I sense the pleasure and joy of God in these days as he knits you together in the secret place. He delights in you, Eve. He dreams over you . . . You are his mercy manifest; his promise revealed; his heart extended. As we receive you, we receive more of him . . .

Birthday Boy

2011-03-08T08:07:00.000-06:00

Hard to believe Jonah evolved from THIS:

To the adorable boy below in just 2 years!! :)

We had Jonah's birthday party several days before his actual birthday this year, so we tried to make his REAL birthday as special as we could. We went to storytime at the library then met Daddy for lunch and a visit to Centennial Park.

The Grizz and a Gypsy

2011-03-04T08:29:00.000-06:00

For Allen's birthday this years, Aunt Scarlett and Uncle Raymond helped me make one of his lifelong dreams come true. . . We went to Memphis to see the Grizz play. It was so much fun spending the day walking the city just the 2 of us and then sharing the joy of seeing one of his favorite teams live.

I had one of the most interesting experiences of my life while we were there. . .

While standing in line waiting for a bathroom at Starbucks, a tall man in his mid-forties with long curly hair and an Irish accent came up to me and said, "You're pregnant!" I laughed and asked if it was that obvious. He smiled and said, "It's a girl." I confirmed that it was in fact a girl. Then he proceeded to say, "She's due May 12th. . ." I immediately got chills! He had a 50/50 chance of getting his previous statement right, but stating her correct due date got my attention for sure. . . He went on to say, "This is not your first baby (Jonah was not with us) . . . You have a son who is almost 2." Jonah's birthday was the next week! At this point I was fixated on his every word. . . Curious about where this man came from and how in the world he was accurately stating details of my life. He said, "You're daughter will come 2 weeks early. She'll be 5lbs 10oz, but don't worry- she'll be healthy. . ."

WOW! I mean, seriously, what do you say in a moment like that??

He went on to explain that he was from a long line of Irish gypsies. . . He said he's not a gypsy himself, but when he gets instincts about people they're always right, so he wanted to share. . .

The most interesting aspect of all of this is that during our ride to Memphis I had an extensive and emotional phone conversation with my mom expressing concern over Eve's health and potential delivery complications. At that point she was still breech with the cord around her neck, and for a multitude of reasons it caused me to feel anxious (understatement). . . Needless-to-say, the timing of all of this was interesting.

It was as if the calm of God fell on me when the Irish Gypsy said "She'll be healthy". . . I actually repeated back to him "She'll be healthy?" And he smiled and said, "Yes! She'll be healthy. . ." I received those words in a Divine way in that moment and have genuinely not experienced that level of worry or anxiety over Eve's well being since. . .

I'm not sure what you believe about prophecy or those the Lord can and cannot use to do his work in our lives. I personally believe that he delights in using unexpected people and circumstances to bring about his purposes. I think many are used by him without ever realizing it (yes, even non-Christians). I'm not sure of the Irish Gypsy's spiritual state, but I feel strongly he was used by God that afternoon to speak life and hope over Eve . . . and I receive it still.

Whether she actually comes 2 weeks early and weighs 5lbs, 10oz is quite minimal in my mind. Even if she comes 2 weeks late and weighs 10lbs I'll still feel like that moment and interaction was given to me by God to still my anxious soul and bring assurance and faith I couldn't reach prior. . .

Happy Birthday, Jonz! :)

2011-03-03T07:53:00.001-06:00

It's been 2 years since we welcomed our beautiful son in to the world (and he still mesmerizes me). :) Jonah brings a level of joy and contentment to our lives that we could never reach without him. It's been so much fun watching his life and personality unfold. We look forward to the months and years ahead, anxious to see the plans and purposes of God fulfilled through him.

Thank you, Emily, for investing so much time and energy in capturing Jonah's special day!! :)

New Hair

2011-03-01T11:25:00.002-06:00

Jonah's new hair, thanks to Mimi! :) Looks like my toddler has morphed into a teen! LOVE. THIS. KID.

Playing with Papa and Grams

2011-03-01T00:02:00.004-06:00

This is a long video (5 minutes). . . I don't have the energy to edit. It was easier simply to export as is. This was taken last Thursday. My parents kept Jonah all afternoon and well into the evening to give me a much needed Mom break. Jonz had a blast with them as you'll see!! Pretty sure I didn't cross his mind once while he was there. :)

This is the 3rd post tonight. . . playing catch up after a few day sabbatical from the blog.

Bed Head

2011-02-28T23:13:00.004-06:00

These pictures were taken Saturday. . . Jonah woke with the COOLEST hair! :) I couldn't bring myself to wet it down. . . Such a surfer dude! ;)

Sword fighting with Popi
Jonah has since gotten a hair cut. . . the shortest of his life I think. I'll try to post pics tomorrow. He looks SO OLD!! :) I think his new look is adorable.

Seeing Eve

2011-02-28T23:03:00.002-06:00

These photos were taken last Wednesday before and after we saw Eve. I was so grateful my Mom and friend Lindsey (not pictured, unfortunately) were able to come! Sharing the joy of our daughter is so much fun!

Jonah wasn't in a picture taking mood after the ultrasound. He kept hiding from the camera. Both of our kids were camera shy that day it seems.
I'm never more grateful for my Mom than when I'm pregnant and with my kids. . . Her sacrifice to give me life is so pronounced through them! I'm deeply grateful that we're able to share this season together. . . I pray that the sacred bond my Mom and I have been blessed with will one day be cultivated between Eve and I. . . I'm so grateful to have such an incredible Mom who relates with me on such a deep level. She truly is one of my best friends!

Correction . . .

2011-02-24T10:00:00.006-06:00

I stated in my previous post that I felt like Eve had a unique look. . . Browsing Jonah's baby pictures this morning, I feel quite confident I was wrong. . . It appears that she IS her brothers clone! :) They definitely won't be able to deny each other!!

The Face of Eve

2011-02-23T21:27:00.003-06:00

Eve's umbilical cord, legs, and arms prevented us from getting a lot of clear footage during our ultrasound today, but we definitely had an opportunity to glimpse her face. . . She has the Willis nose and Willis toes for sure! :) Though I see a bit of Jonah in her, she's not at all a clone of him! :) Can't wait to hold this sweet girl and integrate her into our everyday! We are head-over-heels for her already! :)

Eve Pancakes

2011-02-23T10:21:00.004-06:00

For Valentine's Day, Allen bought a 4D ultrasound package at Focused Imagining. . . the BEST gift EVER!! :) Which means we get to see Eve TODAY at 5pm! I'm literally counting the hours! I have been all week. . . There's something so magical about glimpsing the life evolving in your body, you know?! We have friends who were scanned at the same facility during the same week of gestation (we'll be 29 weeks tomorrow), and their baby girl came out looking exactly like the images they captured! :) I'm a tad bit excited!!

I decided to use a mix I bought at an after V-Day sale to make pink, chocolate chip Eve pancakes this morning! ;) Seemed like a fun way to celebrate seeing our daughter. :)

Promise to post pics of Eve as soon as we get home tonight!! :) I may even have some video footage. . . :)

Random . . .

2011-02-22T09:45:00.004-06:00

Allen took these pictures. . . He loves close-ups of Jonah's face and features. And so do I. We're totally obsessed with him if you can't tell. :) He is one of the greatest joys of the life we share. We can't imagine existing without him. . .

Saturday night we registered for Eve. Jonah loved the gun, and I went NUTS! I was in girl heaven. . . It's still strange to me to gravitate toward pink (as I'm so accustomed to blue), but it's an exciting change, one I entirely welcome. I get an overwhelming sense that Eve's presence is going to bring such beauty, grace and feminine charm to our home. I'm so excited to receive her and integrate her into our everyday!

And a few close-ups of Jonah's eyes. One of our favorite features (among many). :) I was so excited that Allen was able to capture their heavenly, true-blue color. It's difficult for me to do with the camera for some reason.

UGH! I love these kids! We're so incredibly blessed. We don't take one single day with them for granted!!

Our Saturday

2011-02-19T16:44:00.005-06:00

We LOVE weekends!! It's so nice being together as a family! This morning we ventured downtown and had lunch at The Dog, dessert at Savarino's Cucina, and played at Dragon Park. It was LOTS of fun! :)

I love this picture of my boys!! :)

Jonah's Ethan hat! ;)

Philia Love Party

2011-02-19T09:42:00.006-06:00

Hospitality is one of the core passions Allen and I share and a virtue we hope to instill in our children. We want to live our lives wide open to others, sharing the ordinary and extraordinary with those God invites into our story. . . We believe it is essential to the Christian life, a pertinent aspect of being the "body" and sets the stage for unique encounters of God though relationship.

That being said, our current house isn't exactly ideal for huge parties (particularly our urban-sized dining area), so we've typically limited get-togethers at our place to one or two couples at a time. . . Last week, however, we both had an overwhelming urge to get lots of our friends together and felt like Valentine's week would be a great time to do it. . .

So in the spirit of celebrating Philia love (Friendship in Greek), 10 of our closest friends and their kids gathered at our house last night. We shared lots of stories, laughter, and life over an Italian dinner and fondue. It was perfect (in my opinion). . . so wonderful to be surrounded by so much love and new life!

We missed our friends Angela and John and their girls Baylor and Briley. Hopefully, we'll have another opportunity to do this soon and they'll be able to join us! :)

Thanks to my mom-n-law for the 6ft table, table cloths, candles, plates, and silverware. Our party wouldn't have been nearly as successful without you! :)

For those of you who don't know my husband well, he is quite the party king! Most men sit on the sidelines while their wives decorate, cook, and prepare for big events. He's right in the middle of it all, helping and offering creative ideas every step of the way! There are no words to describe how grateful I am for such an involved husband! I absolutely adore him!!

Josh, Sam, Ben, and baby Elsie
Jeremy and Adeline
Ben with a goofy smile and sweet baby Elsie (also smiling)! :) She's just 5 weeks old!
Adrian and Lindsey
Jonah had a bit of social anxiety as people poured into our house. He started sweating and looked really concerned. He came to me in the kitchen, pulled on my leg and said "Hold you, Mom." (with a frightened look in his eyes). I made a bottle to calm his nerves. It seemed to work. :)
Baby Elsie
Jeremy, Adeline, Adrian, Cole, and Jonz in the background
Ben and Elsie again
All of us at dinner. :)

The boys.
Adrian and Cole
The kids watching Cinderella. . . Lydia brought a special dress. She wanted to dance with Jonah! :)
Kristen and Elsie
Adrian, Lindsey, and Adeline
I wish pictures could capture the noise, laughter, and energy of our home last night. . . They just don't do it justice in my opinion! :)

Cheers to the gift of friendship and the beauty of evolving families! We are so blessed to share life with these incredible people!!

(PS: This is the 3rd post of the morning. . . playing catch up. Scroll down to see what else we've been up to lately.) :)

Grams and Papa

2011-02-19T09:39:00.003-06:00

Jonah spent the morning with Grams and Papa yesterday while I prepared for our big Valentine's party. He had a blast! I took more video than photos. I plan to edit and post those tonight, so make sure you check back! ;)

Outside. . . his favorite place to be.

Park with Grandma Bruce

2011-02-19T09:27:00.005-06:00

We've had a really fun week out of the house. I hate that I've been so irresponsible with our camera. I've failed to capture several big events. . . Meeting baby Gabrielle (my friend Amber's baby) for the first time, a doctors visit, and visit with Grams. . .

A little bit about the doctors appointment. . . I took Jonah in to have his ears and throat checked, as well as a couple of swollen lymph nodes that alarmed me on Wednesday. It had been exactly one week since his fluke 24 hour fever that presented no other symptoms, and I was concerned that maybe we were missing something. . . I've never seen a virus manifest and leave so quickly. That being said, the doctor assured me he was completely healthy and the lymph nodes sometimes take weeks, even months to go down in children. The most exciting aspect of our visit though was that we discovered JONAH GAINED 3 LBS IN 2 WEEKS!!! WOW! We're back up to the 50th percentile! It had to be prayer, because I really don't think he's eating that much differently than he was before. :) He now weighs 27 1/2 lbs! Thank God for healthy babies!! We're so blessed!

We remembered to take pictures at Memorial Park in Gallatin on Thursday. We picked Grandma Bruce up for lunch and she watched from the van as we played on the playground.

I must say, Gallatin has really invested in improving their park since I was a child. They now have a playground reminiscent of the one at Dragon Park (our favorite downtown on 31st/Blakemore). Parents can easily walk through it with their kids (which I LOVE)! It felt great to be outside this week. . . Refreshing to both of us, I think, after a long winter indoors.

And we really enjoyed sharing such a special day with Grandma Bruce. It was good for all of us!

Family Sushi Date

2011-02-14T21:08:00.003-06:00

Daddy took us to Kabuto for sushi tonight to celebrate V-Day. We had a GREAT time! We're extremely blessed to be surrounded by so much love in our family! Believe me, I don't take one single day for granted. . .

Just a few video clips of our time together. . .

After our sushi date, we went to Target to browse the toys. . . Jonah was hysterical with the dancing Mickey!

Valentine's Day! :)

2011-02-14T15:06:00.016-06:00

We've had so much fun celebrating love today, and there's more to come tonight!! :) We made plans earlier in the week to attend a dance party with Jonah's friend, Bailey, at Peek-a-Boo Playtown. It was a blast (as you'll seen in the video below).

Jonah dressed up for his date. . . quite a charming lad, don't you think?! ;)

Princely, just like his father. . .
Of course I had to remind him before we left that Mommy is his REAL Valentine! No one loves him more!! ;)
This is Bailey-girl. . . Such a cutie!
The kids were scared of the dancing kangaroo. . .

Renee, a friend of mine from about 7 years ago was the lead singer of the group that entertained. . . called the Zinghoppers. It was such a fun surprise to see a familiar face from seasons past, particularly in that context. . . My how far we've come! From the Nashville nightlife to play-centers and kids (she has a 5 year old and a 3 year old)! It's quite amazing really!

White boys may have a difficult time dancing, but dad-gum-it they can march (and vacuum)! ;) And they look good doing it! ;)

After the dance party, we met Daddy at Panara on West End for a picnic (he is after all an essential part of the significance of our V-Day). . . Then we walked to Starbucks for Frappucinos. . . It was 60 degrees and picture perfect!

"Aw, Cute!"

2011-02-13T21:06:00.005-06:00

Because I love naked belly pics (even if you don't) . . . ;)

Eve belly. . . 27 weeks!

It will be interesting to find out how much of this belly is Eve and how much is her mother. . . 20lbs and counting (13 weeks to go)!!
Regression? Maybe. ;)
Aunt Sarah came over today to bring lots of tu-tus for Eve. . . She made them all! I think she has girl fever almost as bad as I do! They're beautiful! While she was here, she showed her manicure to Jonah . . . He LOVED her nails and said "Aw, CuTE!" (completely unprompted). It always amazes me when he uses phrases in the appropriate context! :)

This is how free spirits count. . . Who says numbers should only be listed in one order? Perhaps there's a more interesting way to put them together. . . In fact, it may be best if some numbers were entirely deleted. You know, the boring ones like four, five, and six. . .

And this is a clip of Jonah in the bath tonight. . . Daddy was sprinkling him with cold water from a bottle. :)

Baby Madi

2011-02-12T20:50:00.002-06:00

We had our friends Josh and Sam and their beautiful baby girl, Madi, over for brunch today. We cherish the time we spend with them!

Pink feels so good in my arms!! :)

Time for a Trim

2011-02-11T22:53:00.005-06:00

You know it's time for a trim when you can't jump on your trampoline without your hair scratching your corneas . . . and to protect your eyes, your mom puts your bangs in a ponytail like a little girl! ;)

Daddy will kill us for this post!

And speaking of hair. . . here's a little clip of Jonah mesmerized by Daddy's 5 o'clock shadow. :)

Officially Sick

2011-02-10T13:54:00.008-06:00

Jonah's fever climbed to 102.5 in the night and he vomited. . . (the thing I dread most). It seems any time his temp reaches 102 that happens. Thankfully, we had an anti-nausea med given to us during his kidney infection that works wonders. I think every mom should have some on hand just in case. So far, he's only thrown up once, but I haven't given him an opportunity to do it again. I gave him another dose of anti-nausea when he woke up this morning. It lasts for 8 hours. As long as we keep his temp down, he acts totally normal- insanely energetic and happy. I'm not sure if we're dealing with a stomach bug or just a temp at this point, but I feel confident it's a virus of some sort. I'm praying its a simple 24 hour thing that will pass quickly (and not spread). I'm disinfecting our house like crazy! I'm such a germ-a-phobe!

In our house when our babies are sick and not nursing, they get the next best thing- a booby-bottle! ;) Nothing makes me miss breastfeeding more than having a sick baby! It always seemed to be the cure-all. . .

This is a video I took of Allen and Jonah watching Donald Duck on the iPod last night as we were waiting for the Advil to bring his fever down. I love how interactive Jonah is with anything he sees on that little device.

And here's another Cat and the Hat video, couldn't resist posting it. :) I'm not sure why he keeps blowing on his fingers! He didn't pick that up from me! LOL! :)

And this is a video message we made for Daddy on PhotoBooth yesterday. :)

Unexplained Fever

2011-02-09T20:37:00.004-06:00

It seems most people in the Nashville area hate snow, but we aren't among them. We absolutely LOVE it! Everything about it. . . the way the atmosphere smells and falls silent, the grace in which it falls from the sky, and yes, even the way it rearranges our lives. It's quite romanic if you think about it! ;) Our neighborhood feels remarkably homey covered in white. . . All that to say, Jonah and I spent at least an hour today staring out our picture window in the livingroom. We were both mesmerized. . .

Jonah hasn't eaten well since Sunday. That usually indicates some sort of sickness, but he hasn't been symptomatic at all. No cough, no runny nose, no vomiting, and no fever. . . that is until tonight. He was extra clingy today, constantly wanting to be held and asking for "ba-bas" . . . I took his temp several times, and it was normal. However, after dinner I felt heat radiating from his little body, so I took it again and he had a fever of 101.1. I'm still not sure why. He has no other symptoms. . . I felt his gums to see if his 2 year molars were breaking (I don't think they are). . . If he's not teething, I would assume its viral since he just finished a round of preventative antibiotic for exposure to Pertussis. . . We've been so grateful lately for the lack of sickness in Jonah over the past several months. It seems most of our family and friends have battled illness, but he hasn't even had a runny nose since November. That's 3 well months in a row (even after vaccinations), which is quite a feat with a little one. I'm praying this fever is a fluke and nothing more will come of it. . .

Jonah taking his temp . . .

He had to check both ears. :) I wish I had a video of him taking it. After it beeped, he looked at it and said "sick" in such a definitive way. It was quite adorable! :)
And this is after the fever broke. His smile and energy returned. Amazing how much impact a temp can have on a child's personality!

Slightly Obsessed

2011-02-08T20:18:00.003-06:00

with Woody and Buzz.

Sweet Love

2011-02-07T20:03:00.010-06:00

We're doing our best to celebrate love in our home this season! Tonight we made cupcakes and decorated them. Jonah had a great time. It's still hard for me to believe our baby is a toddler and capable of doing things like this!

After we finished our cupcakes, Daddy and Jonah sat down to read Dr. Seuss from the iPod (technology really is amazing!) Jonah was extremely into the story line! ("What!? Why?"):) This is the most we've seen him interact with a book yet.

Daddy's Shirt

2011-02-07T08:33:00.002-06:00

This picture was taken last week, but I had to post it. . . Jonah is wearing Allen's shirt from childhood (authentically vintage) ;) I love seeing him with toys Allen played with or in clothes he wore. . . We actually discussed this weekend what we should keep for our grandkids (a little early, I know, but you can never be too prepared for future generations) ;)
I apologize for missing a couple of days on the blog. I've had quite a hormonal weekend . . . feels a bit like depression (such a strong word and probably an exaggeration). My body is bursting at the seams with estrogen, not a fun hormone to have an abundance of. I'm praying for the sake of my family this grey feeling lifts soon (preferably today).

Sushi and Sword Fighting

2011-02-04T22:29:00.003-06:00

Jonah was enthralled with his sushi set tonight, and we enjoyed hearing him say "sushi" over and over. . . We're hoping he inherits our love for this style of cuisine! :)

After dinner last night, Allen and Jonah turned into crazy pirates and drew their swords. I caught their battle on camera. Warning. . . it's brutal! ;)

And a little glimpse of my naptime crochet practice. . . I didn't do so great following the pattern or wrapping it up, but I was pleased with the outcome. After all, it's only my second day crocheting, and I didn't have a teacher holding my hand. I'm not a huge fan of multicolored yarn for this project, but it's all I had. Finished this one in about 30 minutes. . .

My Valentine

2011-02-02T22:28:00.004-06:00

Thanks to Emily Rushton for these INCREDIBLE pictures!

How could we ever repay you?!

Flashback. . .

2011-02-02T18:45:00.003-06:00

This post is dedicated to my Mom! :) I think she'll appreciate it more than any one else could. . . I really enjoy looking back at our old baby pictures when we're pregnant. I realize our kids aren't clones of us and there's no way to predict what they'll look like, but it's fun to imagine which combination of our features they'll get. . . Here are a few of my baby pictures. As you can see, I haven't changed much! :)

Fattening Up

2011-02-01T20:44:00.003-06:00

Our primary goal today has been to encourage Jonah to consume as many calories as possible! I feel quite competent in this arena as I've definitively mastered high caloric intake in my own life (one of the few things I'm actually good at). The 5 lbs I've gained in the past 2 weeks are proof enough! ;) Jonah has been endlessly offered food since the moment he climbed out of bed this morning. . . Chocolate Cheerios, a granola bar, 10 oz of Ovaltine, Wheat Thins, yogurt covered raisins, green beans, sweet potatoes, pizza, chocolate covered sunflower seeds, spaghetti and meatballs, rolls, buzz juice, 16 oz of whole milk. He's consumed more calories today than he ever has in his life! Allen says he probably feels like he's on a cruise ship with an endless buffet! ;) We laughed about taking him back in March to find that he's suddenly grossly obese. . . After dinner tonight, Jonah took a deep breath and looked at me with an expression that said, "If I ingest one more thing, I'll puke." So we stopped feeding him.

We've flipped though this set of flashcards 6 or 7 times today. Jonah has had so much fun identifying objects and learning new words. Daddy was quite impressed (and so was I)!

Jonah plugged his ears tonight while Allen was talking to him. While his fingers were in his ears Allen continued to move his mouth but didn't make any sound. Jonah found it quite entertaining as you can see. . . I could never get enough of Jonah's laughter! We're so blessed to have a son that carries such a spirit of joy!

And a little flashback from last night. Jonah loves the arcade at Walmart. He encourages us to stop almost every time we check out, and it's always difficult to coax him away. Jonah's similar to a teenager in that he attempts to reason with us when our desire for him is contrary to his (as you'll seen in this video). My favorite part is toward the end when he chases after Daddy, pats his pocket, and asks for "Meeos" (money) . . . :)

Well Check

2011-01-31T21:23:00.005-06:00

My Mom was diagnosed with Pertusis (Whooping cough) last night in the ER (this on top of the many other physical issues she's battled lately). I feel so bad for her, but I'm thankful that this aspect of her condition has been given a definitive diagnosis and treatment.

We've suspected Pertusis for several days now, so we've kept our distance for the most part. However, we were exposed to her in the early stages of the illness and Pertusis has a 20 day incubation period. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the nature of Whooping Cough, it can last up to 3 months, and it's extremely dangerous for children to contract. I called Jonah's pediatrician this morning to review the vaccinations he's been given and which we're behind on. I was relieved to hear he had been given three rounds and was lacking only one. I know that vaccinations are highly controversial this day and age (particularly among our friends), but I've never been more grateful for them than now. . . We were behind on 15 and 18 month shots so we decided today would be a great day to catch up. The pediatrician prescribed a 5 day round of Zithromax for Jonah as a preventative treatment for his exposure to Pertusis, and Allen and I will be taking a regimen as well. You can never be too cautious with this kind of thing when kids are in the house!

At the appointment we discovered that Jonah's weight has dropped steadily since 18 months from the 50th percentile to less than the 10th. He weighs just 24 lbs (lost 6oz since November). The pediatrician was a bit concerned and said that gaining weight needs to be high on our priority list. She explained that fat intake directly affects cognitive development, which means being underweight is not simply a stature concern . . . She said if his weight continues to fall or he fails to gain, they will need to run tests to make sure his body is absorbing nutrients as it should and that there is no underlying infection present. Needless to say, we made a trip to the grocery tonight and bought as many fatty foods as possible for Jonah to consume. :) The doctor also prescribed a vitamin that should help. He measured 33 1/2 inches (40th percentile). We're grateful that we've seen no developmental delays so far and are prayerful that Jonah's appetite and desire for new foods will increase. He's been quite finicky so far. . .

Jonah at the doctor. . . It doesn't take much coaxing to get Jonah's clothes off, but the boots are a different story. If he had it his way, he would sleep in them! :) Needless-to-say, he was insistent that they say on during the appointment.

Jonah's expression after the nurse told us he would be receiving 4 injections! ;)
Jonah had a mild reaction to HepB (a rash around the injection site) so they gave him a dose of Benedryl. That coupled with a very early nap and the natural exhaustion that comes from vaccinations, and it makes sense that he wasn't exactly alert and attentive during dinner.

Adeline and Jonah...

2011-01-30T18:15:00.002-06:00

BiG DAY!

2011-01-29T23:43:00.004-06:00

We've had an action packed day today, full of mingling with family and friends. We started our morning (quite early) at Noshville downtown with the Willis Clan. . . I love (and sometimes feel I live for) Saturday morning breakfast. It's always a big deal at our house, and this morning was extra special!

The most charming smile in the world!! (I mean really, who could resist it?!)
Jonah has developed a love for reading lately, which we're quite excited to see. . . This coming after a long season of flipping quickly though pages and tossing books aside. He especially loves Alice. He's developed a bit of a crush on her we think. :)
This picture makes me laugh SO HARD! While at breakfast, Jonah pointed to the photo on the left and said "This, Daddy" and then pointed to the photo on the right and said "This, Mimi"!!!! LOL! Seriously, doesn't get more hysterical than that!! :) (Thanks to my Mom-in-law for letting me steal these breakfast pics from her blog!)

After breakfast we went home so the boys could take a nap and I could finish a quilt I've been working on for my Mom. She's been in quarantine for the past week, and I haven't been able to see her so I decided this would be a great way to express my love. This is my very first quilt. It took about 2 1/2 days and 20 hours to complete. A step-by-step tutorial will be posted to Momspiration by tomorrow hopefully. . . For those of you unfamiliar with the quilting process, let me just tell you, if someone takes the time to make you a quilt they really, ReALLY, REALLY love you! It's a LOT of work! I've decided it's one of the most definitive expressions of love there is! :)

The front of the quilt. . .

And the back. . . She loves it! ;) I couldn't have given my first quilt to a more deserving (or appreciative) person!

We had a late picnic lunch at my parents place. . . We picked up Grandma Bruce so she could join us. Jonah had a blast with Grandad! (Videos to come!)

I love seeing my Dad with Jonah. . . I can definitely tell Jonz has a special place in his heart. He waited so long for his boys! :)
LOVE THIS PIC! :)
And tonight we spent time with Lindsey, Jeremy, and Adeline. The kids were SO CUTE together! Lindsey and I crafted Valentine's heart wreaths. A tutorial for that will be posted to Momspiration soon as well. We had so much fun and got lots of great pictures and video (which I'll upload tomorrow). It's too late to edit all of them now. . . Here's a teaser. Yes, Jonah has fairies on his pajamas. We decided to give the kids a bath, so he borrowed them from Adeline. He'll be so mad we posted this pic of him one day, I just know it! ;)

10 hours

2011-01-28T14:46:00.006-06:00

Jonah slept 10 hours in a row last night (for the first time in his life) . . . He didn't stir once! No middle of the night bottle. . . no crying. . . I woke up this morning praying that he was still breathing! :) I don't (by any means) expect this to become a new trend, but I am quite thankful for a full nights sleep and wouldn't be opposed to experiencing it again tonight! Jonah really does have the coolest morning hair I've ever seen! (Please pardon the Chocolate Cheerios on Jonah's tongue. . . kind of gross, I know!) ;)

Sweet Boy

2011-01-27T22:13:00.003-06:00

Shirtless and oh so charming! ;)
Here's a glimpse of my project today. . . It's my biggest yet (and a surprise gift for my hearts first home)! Hopefully, I'll finish it and have a step-by-step, do-it-yourself posted to my Momspiration blog by Saturday (maybe sooner, I'm a bit addicted).

Long Kisses

2011-01-26T14:30:00.004-06:00

A few nights ago after bath Jonah, while sitting on my lap, made eye contact with me in the most loving way and kissed me . . . and kissed me. . . and kissed me. Long kisses, unlike any he's ever given before. It was the sweetest moment (this coming one night after he said "Love You" for the first time). If you couldn't tell, his boy has my heart!! I find it interesting that these new expressions of affection are surfacing during Valentines season!! :)

PS: My new background is called "Family Circus" . . . Feels quite appropriate, particularly today. ;) Long, LONG story. I'll spare you the details.

Registering for Eve

2011-01-25T11:17:00.007-06:00

Last night Allen sweetly initiated a trip to Target to register for Eve. It was one of the most surreal moments I've had so far in this pregnancy. The reality of our baby GIRL really sank in (for both of us, I believe)! It felt quite strange to sift through a sea of pink and purple instead of blue and green. We had huge smiles on our faces the entire time! :) The mystery and novelty I experienced with Jonah is just as pronounced in this pregnancy which is a welcomed surprise after wondering if subsequent pregnancies would somehow feel less awe-inspiring and significant. There really are no words to describe the level of excitement we feel about welcoming Eve into our family!

It was interesting how much easier and more enjoyable the process of registering for Eve was than for Jonah. The novelty of motherhood and a lack of knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of caring for a baby caused our registry process for him to be long and a tad bit overwhelming (filled with numerous calls to expert moms for their opinion on brands, necessities, and helpful gadgets). It felt amazing to know exactly which products we will need and which we absolutely will not and to have formed our own opinion (through experience) of the brands or products we prefer. There is a confidence we carry now surrounding our ability to nurture new life. It feels good to progress toward Eve without the weight of insecurity and questions. If you couldn't tell, I'm a HUGE fan of this subsequent baby thing!! :) I highly recommend it!! :)

Counting and Cursing

2011-01-24T19:42:00.002-06:00

Our toddler's increased ability to articulate his thoughts has illuminated several bad habits I've adopted over the years. We caught one of them on camera a few nights ago. Evidentially, when I drop things I say "shoot" . . . not as bad as other expletives I could use, but far from a word you'd desire to hear rolling from your toddlers tongue. I assure you, I'm making every effort to clean up my language! :)

Love You!

2011-01-23T19:32:00.001-06:00

Tonight Jonah reached a long awaited (highly anticipated) milestone. He finally said "LOVE YOU!" (First to Popi, I might add, which is not at all surprising). This video doesn't do justice to the sincerity in which it was originally spoken (with a hug and pat and eye contact), but I wanted you to hear these sweet words roll from his tongue.

Family Movie Night

2011-01-22T20:57:00.005-06:00

Allen planned (and initiated) our first family movie night (he's such an incredible husband and father)! This afternoon he took us to Popcorn Delight to pick out unique flavors of popcorn (highly recommended), downloaded Toy Story 3 to our desktop computer, and set it up in the living room. It was PERFECT! Especially after a long, stressful week. Jonah is amazing with movies. His attention span is unlike any 22 month old I've known. I have a feeling we'll be doing this again very soon!

Jonah and Eve

2011-01-22T10:30:00.003-06:00

Allen caught such a sweet moment between Jonah and Eve this morning after breakfast. . .

I sense that Jonz genuinely loves his baby sister already (though I realize cognitively he is far from understanding the reality of the changing dynamics in our home). He often kisses my belly or pats it and says "baby" or "Eve" (without any prompting). I can't help but feel she's a really lucky girl to be preceded by such a sweet and tender boy (and I think he's pretty lucky to have her as well!)

Listening to Eve! ;)

Grandma Bruce

2011-01-21T21:30:00.004-06:00

Yesterday was the 2nd anniversary of Grandpa Bruce's burial and what would have been his 90th birthday. We took lunch to Grandma's house to celebrate his life and legacy. It was such a sweet time. Jonah was quite entertaining . . . so jovial and great! He has such a contagiously joyous spirit! A characteristic I adore in him! ;)

Jonah calls Grandma "Bruce" . . . JUST "Bruce" as if they were on a basketball team together and they were too cool to use first names! ;) It's quite adorable. She loves it!

Grandma's walker is Jonah's playground. He wants one of his own for his birthday!
And Jonah's favorite toy, particularly in the car, is the Mickey Mouse guitar Nannie and Pa got him for Christmas. As you can see, he won't relinquish it even in his sleep!
Yesterday morning, Jonah accidentally spilled his "Me-O-s" (money) on the ground, so he ran to the kitchen, grabbed the broom, and swept it into a pile . . . He completely initiated the clean up on his own. I've decided he may have inherited Popi's cleaning gene! These Willis men are amazing house keepers! They put me to shame!!
It was another long day with my Mom, full of tests and examinations . . . Fortunately, we transfered her to Baptist, so I finally feel like she's in good hands. The care and attention she's receiving is heads above Sumner Regional. I'm hopeful that we're close to a solid diagnosis and treatment. They admitted her and will keep her through the weekend and until she shows marked signs of stability. Please keep her and her medical team in your prayers.

The King's Court

2011-01-20T19:48:00.004-06:00

Last week we grabbed a quick dinner at Burger King, one of Jessica's favorites for some reason ;) and Jonah was magnetically drawn to the BK crown. I'm not sure if he was captivated by the possibility of power or just the fact that he thought he looked really cool in it, but whatever the appeal, it didn't wear off easily. In fact, it was all we could do to pry it off of his head at bedtime. Maybe he has some type of complex that this new head gear is helping to surface.

Later that night, we had to make a run to Wal-Mart. Needless to say, Jonah was not about to relinquish his throne just yet. He greeted the peasants of his kingdom with a stately wave and made a royal trip around the arcade. We finally snapped a few pictures of him on my cell phone camera. (The racing games make him feel like more than just a monarchial figure-head;)

He continues to wear his crown whenever he feels the threat of a peasant uprising at our house.

Our Sophisticate

2011-01-19T20:59:00.004-06:00

Quite the little sophisticate, don't you think?! :)It's been another eventful day with Mom's health . . . several new concerns, more tests, and no progress at all toward diagnosis and treatment (at least that's how it feels). I'm too exhausted to go into details, but please pray if she comes to mind. She really needs it.

Jonah and Daddy

2011-01-18T20:15:00.002-06:00

Jonah has definitely inherited his fathers love for music! Almost every night they sit together with a guitar and play and sing. Tonight Jonah decided he'd experiment with songwriting. :) So glad we caught this on video! :)

PS: There's more from today in the posts below. :)

24 Weeks and Counting

2011-01-18T11:33:00.011-06:00

Because so many have requested that I post a bare Eve-belly pic. . . Here's one from today at 24 weeks. :) I absolutely LOVE watching the evolution of my body during pregnancy! It's fascinating!

And for those of you more modest than me, ignore the first photo, this one's for you! ;)
Jonah's belly at 24 weeks. . . He looks great, don't you think?! ;)

I'm pretty much obsessed with my children (if you couldn't tell)! :) Every phase of their development is absolutely miraculous to me. I hope I never grow numb to the sensation of new life evolving in my body, nor to the uniqueness of each stage of development beyond birth. I believe pregnancy and parenting is an invitation into the mystery, beauty, and heart of the Divine . . . Our kids provide an avenue of understanding in the realm of the spirit (if we're open to it) that we could never reach alone. Jonah and Eve are the greatest gifts I've ever received from God (I'm confident Allen would agree)!

I've mentioned before that I enjoy googling the gestational age of my kids to see what images surface. I love glimpsing life inside the womb . . . It helps me intimately connect with my kids before they're in my arms and amplifies the miracle of their development!

That being said, Eve has reached 24 weeks gestation and when I google her age I see images like the ones I've pasted below. . .

This is baby Elora, born in Australia at 24 weeks, and she survived!! :) The following two pictures are Elora fresh from the womb . . .

This is what Eve looks like now! Unbelievable!! :)

And this is Elora at 8 months! :)
This week, Allen and I have begun to feel Eve's body parts poking from my belly (we've felt her move for quite awhile now, but it's exciting to finally feel pronounced arms and knees, her bottom, back and hands). . . A couple nights ago, Eve repeatedly pressed her hand against Allen's hand (at least 8 times, maybe more). It was such a sweet moment . . . as if she were saying, "I feel you, Daddy! I sense your love for me . . . I'd rather be in your arms than in here!" ;)

This morning, after breakfast Eve consistently pressed her hand against MINE! :) And Jonah was able to see her twisting and turning in my belly. He kissed her over and over, saying "baby" and "Eve" . . . I think I smiled for at least 15 minutes straight after that. Such a sacred moment shared with my son and with God . . . delighting in his creation and the sweet souls he's entrusted to us!

Eve's newfound fascination with our touch is right on track with standard gestational development. 24 week reports state that she is "13 1/2 inches, 1 1/2 pounds" and she's "using her hands to explore a new world of tactile sensation." :)

I leave you with a photo of our precious girl. . . One (among many) I can't get enough of! I'm relatively sure I'm the only person on earth who looks at her ultrasound pictures every single day without fail)! ;)

Hospital with Grams

2011-01-17T21:17:00.010-06:00

We've had quite an eventful few days in our family with Mom's sickness and a sea of uncertainty concerning her condition. It's been very difficult to see her (who is typically a pillar of strength in our family) so weak and ill, but it's been remarkable to see her progress from being bed ridden and barely able to breath to smiling, laughing and chatting with us (though she's still quite weak).

As you likely already know, Mom was admitted to the hospital with tightness and pain in her chest and severe shortness of breath. They found water on her lungs and around her heart and elevated enzymes which indicated some sort of heart failure. Further tests showed abnormalities in the function of other organs as well.

Today she had an arteriogram which indicated that her heart is in perfect condition! We are so grateful to know that this main organ hasn't been permanently damaged! The doctors determined that she was stable enough to be released from the hospital this evening (though I personally have concerns it may be premature). She's still quite weak, needs lots of rest, and will see a specialist in coming days about other concerns, but we are deeply grateful for the positive report we received today and are believing for God's continued touch and healing. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers and encouragement! It means so much to our family!

My sister, Sarah, and her son/clone, Dawson :)

My Dad and Dawson. . . He's so glad he finally has boys after 2 decades of nothing but estrogen! I'm honestly not sure how he survived 4 women!
Aunt Sarah gave Jonah LOTS of chocolate to occupy him at the hospital. He was in heaven!
Jonah ADORES Dawson!! It's so cute to see them together!!
PRECIOUS!! :)
Grandad (who Jonah has been calling Pa-Pa today, which will likely stick) was quite the playground! He occupied Jonz for hours. I love seeing them together! :)
Aunt Sarah shared her headphones, which Jonah loved. So much like his Daddy!

And this is a picture of Grams (hopefully she won't kill me for posting it!) ;) . . . I think she looks absolutely beautiful! It's remarkable how healthy she looks here in comparison to days prior. Those of you who saw her will be baffled by it, I'm sure. In some ways, this picture doesn't to justice to how weak and sick she still feels, but it is a good testament to the progress that has been made!
We're praying for a full recovery for Mom! I believe we have seen (and will continue to see) the healing power of God to manifest in her body! We are also asking God to give the doctors wisdom and direction as they sift through tests, issue a diagnosis and determine the most effective course of treatment.

Thank you for continuing to pray and believe with us! It means more than I can adequately express!!

Like a Child

2011-01-16T09:11:00.004-06:00

Erika, a friend of mine from high school, has a sister who is currently battling stage 4 cancer. It has been an extremely emotional journey for them, but their faith (and the presence of God) has sustained them and been a constant source of hope and inspiration. Seeing them walk this road (mostly from a distance, though I had an opportunity to chat with Erika in person at the end of last year) has been quite moving for me. . . in a very similar fashion as following Joel's story.

I have a tendency to fear the future, particularly disease, and in my carnality, I wrestle the nature and goodness of the Divine when I see men and women (and their babies) who are kingdom-minded, devoted lovers of God suffer. My mom has been faithful to consistently remind me over the years as I hit these crisis-of-faith-moments that there is nothing that passes through the hand of God that he doesn't supply the grace and mercy to move through or overcome.

That being said, I have observed this faith and hope in my mom in the past 24 hours of facing such illness and so many unknowns . . . She truly is at peace in the arms of God. Her hope is securely fixed in him. He is her rock, her safety. . . she will not be moved!

This is a song, written and performed by Erika, that absolutely moved me this morning, considering all the men, women, and children I know facing harsh realities, yet safe in the lap of the Almighty. I pray it moves and lifts you as you listen!

Please Pray

2011-01-15T21:01:00.002-06:00

My mom checked in to the ER last night after experiencing chest pain and severe shortness of breath. They ran several tests and determined that she has fluid around her heart and increased enzymes that suggest damaged heart tissue. Her liver enzymes are also elevated indicating possible damage there as well. . . They ran a CT scan today, determining that she does not have a blood clot in her lungs and that she likely has pneumonia on top of her pulmonary issue. We're waiting to recieve the full report tomorrow. An arterior gram has been scheduled for Monday which will allow them to identify any blockages or damaged tissue. The doctors suspect a possible root cause that I don't feel comfortable disclosing here for risk of starting rumors. We should know more tomorrow. My mom is laboring to breathe and quite sick, but she is at peace in God and her faith is strong. We really appreciate your prayers in these days. . . I promise to update when I know more. . .

Our sweet monkey sleeping on Popi's lap. . .

Playdate with Connor

2011-01-14T13:21:00.008-06:00

Early in the week we planned a playdate at Monkey Joes with Jessica from church and her adorable son, Connor. . . Last night I felt like there was something important we had planned today, but I couldn't remember what it was. This morning I checked Facebook and read through our correspondence about the playdate, seeing that we were supposed to meet at 10am on Friday. . . It was 9:45 and we were still in pajamas (such slugs)! I felt TERRIBLE!! All the blood going to my belly is really affecting my brain these days!! ;)

Anyway, I called Jess and we were able to salvage our playdate by having them come to our place. The boys had a great time together and Jess and I really enjoyed chatting about life! It was great to get to know her better!

Connor is just 6 months younger than Jonah. . . and such a doll!

Jonah admiring his pregnant belly! ;) He actually requested that I take a picture of him in this position. . . guess he sees Daddy and I taking belly pics. ;)
The boys loved the kitchen. They had lots of fun cooking together! :)

Cheers to friends and the way they enhance our lives!!

Mimi's Porridge

2011-01-14T13:17:00.005-06:00

We hang out at Mimi and Popi's until late quite often, so we've developed a routine of bringing pajamas to change into (for Jonah not us) ;) After we give Jonah a bath and dress him Mimi makes her "special porridge" (with apple butter). Jonah loves it and now requests it as soon as we put his pajamas on! :) It's so cute to hear him say "Mimi, porridge" . . . :)