Serenity

Serenity
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Monday, April 15, 2013

18 Weeks and Counting

Our little monkey is almost 5 months old!! It is so hard to believe that she is growing so very fast! She has changed my life and I love being a Mommy!!

Kensei will be 5 months on April 29th. She is wearing 6-9 month clothes and moved to size 3 diapers this month!! She cut her first tooth over the last weekend at camp (April 5). Believe it or not she is nearly sitting up by herself and very close to rolling over! Toes are her newest thing and she LOVES to play with your fingers...if she's not chewing on them first! She has more teeth working towards breaking through! This baby girl is all smiles and laughs! We have been blessed with such a good baby!! She has picked up "growling" from somewhere and will lay there for a length of time just listening to herself! Since about 2 1/2 months she has basically been sleeping through the night. Bedtime is usually around 10 or so and she generally sleeps til 7 or 8 with a little bit of fussiness a couple times through the night (generally eased with a paci and/or a diaper change). We have been teaching her sign language and so far she can (mostly) sign "Momma" (much to Daddy's dismay). She probably doesn't have a clue what it means but she will learn and hopefully teaching her to sign will, among other things, help keep our tantrums to a minimum as she grows up!

Kensei even went on her first camping trip to PWYP in the mountains of NC!! It was pretty chilly that week but she did wonderful and had lots of fun meeting her extended family and new friends!!

Within the next month, we will be starting her on solid foods! After reading lots of information, we've decided to make our own baby food as much as possible, starting with avocados and bananas! I cannot wait to see the look on her face when she takes her first bites!!

A few more things I've learned as the journey of Mommy-hood continues:

  • No matter what time in the morning (or night) it is, seeing your baby girl's smile is always worth it.
  • You really do go through more diapers and wipes than you ever thought possible!
  • You do not have your own schedule now. Your schedule is her schedule!
  • Baby-wearing is an art that takes time to perfect for you and your LO, but is so incredibly worth it!
  • Holding your baby as she falls asleep with her head on your chest is one of the sweetest moments!
  • Getting out of the house on time, with everything you need (the first time) is a huge success....one that you don't have very often!! ;) 
  • The actions and expressions you find your baby doing are priceless, cute, and half the time hilarious!
  • Pictures and video are worth a thousand words, and everyone wants a copy! 
:) I love being a Mommy and I (we) have been incredibly blessed with a very sweet, happy baby (except for bedtime!)!! I do NOT wish these early months and years away but I do know that I can't wait to watch her develop and learn new things! She will be rolling, crawling, and into everything before we know it! 



"How Great Thou Art..."

Sitting here tonight listening to Alan Jackson's Youtube channel of good ol' gospel hymns! I am so thankful I was raised to love those songs! They have brought so many memories and so much comfort to me over the years. I can only hope to instill that same love of the old hymns into my children.

This morning at church I was reminded of why I am a part of a small group of people who came together because they loved Jesus and believed that church was more than just a building. A group who have come together in hard times, celebrated in times of joy, and over the last few years, have stood by each other through a million different situations..good and bad. I am so thankful to be welcomed back into this family after being away for a couple years.

When we moved home, I really didn't feel like I belonged anywhere. This morning I was reminded that I do belong somewhere and to Someone. I belong to the King. I am His princess and He loves me! He has put people in my life who are able to remind me of that when I've lost sight of it. Like today. Life has been pretty depressing and overwhelming for quite a while now, but I was reminded and encouraged more than once today that God has a plan, He works miracles, He provides, and He has not forgotten about my family.

My hubby has been desperately seeking work since we moved back home. I have even been looking some, too. We are down to our last dime with bills way overdue and debtors knocking at our door. Somehow we have managed to keep food in our house--enough to sustain us. This is not the first time this has happened. Each time we say it will never happen again, but unfortunately, it does. We are trying to get back on our feet and they keep getting kicked out from under us. At almost thirty years old, with three children to support, oodles of dollars in debt to pay, it really does seem like a hopeless situation.

I know two very sweet ladies in particular who have taken the time to listen and pray; and offered encouragement and suggestions. They have never failed to remind me Whose I am and that all things are possible. While many people have or would just say, "pray about it"/"God has a plan"/"you'll get through this" etc, etc...these two sweet ladies have taken my concerns and my fears to heart, and truly ministered to my very downtrodden being.

Sometimes its not the words that are said, but the sincerity behind them that makes all the difference.

You know who you are.....thank you for being YOU. Thank you for being strong for me when I can't do it for myself; Thank you for reminding me often that God really does have a purpose for all this heartache and stress. Thank you for reminding me that I have a place to belong. Thank you for loving my family and I no matter what and across the miles. I am always forever grateful to you for everything you have done...which may be more than you will ever know.

With Love.....