Mother’s Day and an Update!

Much has happened since I last blogged, but, between end-of-school chaos, spending time with Caleb, and keeping up the house; I can’t find more than ten minutes to sit down and write lately. I’m certain this will get better though; the month of May has always been hectic. And, since I’m still pinched for time, this post will be nothing more than bulleted list of recent happenings. So, here we go!

1. The first week back to work was a lot less stressful than I thought it would be. Much thanks can be given to my mom, who stayed with me for the first two weeks. Also, I was worried about pumping and keeping up my milk supply, but that worked out great. And, with the exception of one class, I have a wonderful group of students this year, so that helped significantly.
2. The second week consisted of a terrible cold virus, a computer crash, and a car wreck. It was pretty much terrible, but God was faithful and brought me through this week with no injuries. And, thankfully, we were able to restore the files on our computer (namely, Caleb and wedding pictures).
   

   Farewell to the faithful Taurus. It’s served Josh well since college

3. My principal offered me the position of teaching every-other-day next year, and (unless something radically changes), I’m doing it. It’s Josh’s last year of medical school, so it will help to have some income, but I will be at home with my baby most of the time
4. Caleb has reached several milestones. At 3 months (as of May 8th), he measured 25.5” and almost 16 lbs. He’s rolling over, doing tummy time (which he used to HATE), in size 3-6 month clothing, and starting to teeth. My little newborn has grown up! Although I mourn those days when he was so tiny and easy to pick up, I am really enjoying the 3 month age. He’s quite interactive and rarely fussy!
   

   Happy 3-month-old!

   

   He just loves to furrow his little brow

5. Yesterday marked  2 years since we adopted Millie. Most parents take their children back to visit the hospital they were born in. Well, we took Millie to visit the shelter yesterday. It will always amaze me that a shy, little shelter dog is now a well-adjusted, rambunctious member of our pack. She’s been my steadfast friend through many lonely nights as a med student’s wife, and I couldn’t imagine life without her.
   

   Millie and Mom outside the no-kill shelter where she was adopted

6. Today’s my first Mother’s Day, and I feel so blessed to be Caleb’s mommy. It still doesn’t seem real that I am the recipient of this day now. And, with each passing Mother’s Day, I realize just how much my mom sacrificed for me. The world would be a much better place if everyone had a mom like my mom.
   

   Me and Caleb on Mother’s Day–this kid LOVES to cuddle

And I love to give him tons of kisses!

Did I mention we LOVE to cuddle?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, my little boy is stirring from his mid-morning nap. I’ve posted an inane little video to capture his 3-month-self below. Trust me–I know this is only the kind of video a mother could love, but it’s here for documentary purposes. Now to cuddle!

 

Snack Attack!

My Afternoon Snack: Healthy Cookie Dough Dip with Graham Cracker Sticks

I’m always on the lookout for a healthy snack that actually fills me up. None of those Quaker rice cakes for me. Seriously, what’s the point of eating air? Anyway, I found this recipe for healthy cookie dough dip online, and I was skeptical (main ingredient is garbanzo beans) but decided to try it since I had all the ingredients on hand. And, you guessed it; it was actually very tasty! The real test will come when Josh tries it out. As for me and Millie, we loved it. In fact, Millie offered to clean my dish. Wasn’t that kind of her?

 

*Update: Josh really enjoyed this snack when he got home today, and he was totally shocked when I told him the main ingredient. Looks like a keeper!* 

 

The Sweetness of Life

Seeing the miracle of my son come to fruition will never cease to amaze me. With full-time work looming (12 days away, to be exact), I have been reminded of Emily Dickinson’s words: “That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.” I would also add to her observation that how it [life] came to be makes it equally as sweet.

Life is unarguably an act of God. Lately my reading goals have diminished due to the lack of two available hands (certainly not for lack of trying!), and I’ve spent more time watching TV. One channel that I enjoy is TED–nerdy, I know. Although a bit lengthy, I was particularly amazed at the following clips:

Start at 2 minutes with this first one if you have time to watch.

Although most of us have set through biology class and are well aware of the stages from implantation to birth, I find it more amazing that the timing and conditions had to be perfect in order to create each person throughout history. What a testimony to the hand of God that Caleb was chosen to be my son at this exact time in my life.

And, after watching October Baby this past week, I had to ask myself, “Is it really plausible that interactions before birth can impact our emotions later in life?” According to the research presented by Annie Murphy Paul in the second video, it makes perfect sense. And, why wouldn’t it? If life begins at conception, then these purports make sense. It becomes quite obvious that the sweetness of life starts from the very moment one is conceived.

Likewise, this learning rapidly continues after birth, and each day I witness an exquisite little being learning and adapting to his new life outside the womb. Does God intend for me to just mourn each moment that passes? Not at all, but He expects me to live each moment to His glory (I Cor. 10:31) and relish the miracles that He’s given me. And, in the midst of it all, I’m so thankful for modern technology to help me capture some of His gifts!

Here’s to eight weeks and the sweetness of life

 

Fifteen First-Month Lessons

Happy 1 Month Birthday to My Baby!

Caleb turned one month old this past Wednesday, and the common saying that “They’ll teach you more than you teach them” has certainly proven true for me at this point. So to commemorate this milestone, I’ve made a list of some mini-lessons, ranging from the serious to the insignificant.

1. Contractions were a lot more painful than I imagined. Sorry if this discourages anyone! Perhaps I will credit my surprise to the fact that I went into labor with very little sleep, which makes any challenge seem over-exaggerated.
2. Don’t bring a mere panty liner to the hospital for postpartum recovery, and certainly don’t show it to your mother lest she laugh at you during your moment of sad realization.
3. Keep visible reminders at hand of how important this baby is. While enduring endless bouts of screaming and fussiness, it makes a world of difference to keep this truth in mind: This child is an amazing gift from God. I have a wonderful journal that does this so effectively.
4. It’s not necessary to play lullabies all the time. They put me to sleep and often make me a little too weepy with their sentimental lyrics.
5. Josh and I have come to love infant gowns for nighttime changing, especially the kind with zippers (even easier!).
6. Don’t use Ebay to save money on baby items. I still have some faith in Craigslist, but I am SO over Ebay. As you might have guessed, there’s a long story here.
7. A+D diaper rash cream is way better than Desitin.
8. Maybe I can’t teach Bible verses or catechisms to Caleb at such a young age, but I can teach him patience and love.
9. Always put a bib on the baby during feeding time. Then, surround him with a towel or very large burping cloth. Espeially if your baby has refulx.
10. Have a camera within arm’s length at all times. I may look like a doting mother, but I won’t care a few years later when I see that sweet captured moment.
11. Seize upon every opportunity to get household duties done. I never realized five minutes could be so precious.
12. I also never realized how much I valued time for myself until I had Caleb. At first it frustrated me that I couldn’t just sit down and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee without it getting cold–petty, I know. Now I’ve accepted that those “me times” should not be an expectation, but rather a pleasant surprise if I happen upon them.
13. Gas drops are wonderful. If only I had known this sooner…
14. Get out as much as possible. Just going through the Chick-fil-a drive-thru with Caleb and Millie is enough to make me feel like I’ve accomplished something for the day.
15. Remember that my spouse is on the same team as me. When in survival mode, I’m tempted to lash out at the person who is the very closest to me, and I forget that we’re both heading in the same direction. Thankfully, we have a God who gives us the grace we need to be gracious to each other.

 

Life Since Baby

I’m in shock: Caleb is three weeks old today. As cliché as it sounds, I wish I could freeze time. Even the long nights, diaper blowouts, baby blues, and ridiculous amounts of fussiness are all freeze-worthy. These moments will never overshadow the times I’ve set holding and staring at my baby; watching his contented little face, pouty lips, and inquisitive eyes staring back at me. I’m in love, and I could lose myself in the moment forever.

However, it is week three, and I cannot spend the rest of my life in the rocker-recliner just reveling in the moment. Coincidentally, I tuned into Dr. David Jeremiah this past Thursday and Friday as I was rocking Caleb, and he was delivering a fabulous (yet, very convicting) message on procrastination. So, as my dear husband frequently says, I was reminded to “make hay while the sun shines (i.e., while Caleb sleeps!).”

Aside from those precious moments that I’ve deliberately set aside to bask in this miracle of new life, I’ve decided it’s time to start tackling those to-do items that have been set aside for tomorrow. For the most part, I’ve fully recovered since birth, so foremost on my list is to run! With almost all excuses eliminated, I got on that treadmill, and effortlessly ran for one whole minute. Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there. I continued running and walking for the next 20 minutes, and it was immensely rewarding. Perhaps the fact that I have been denied this activity for the past six months made it enjoyable? It will be interesting to see if I feel that way next time–ha!

And, I must give a shout out to two amazing high-impact sports bras that have made this feat possible for my post-baby body: the Moving Comfort Maia bra and the Moving Comfort Fiona bra. Seriously, if the girls are holding you back, check these out. Running is so much better!

Next on my list is to conquer my domestic weakness: housecleaning. With my hectic schedule, I’ve never really had a system for keeping up with dishes, vacuuming, establishing a meal schedule, etc. In short, I’m hoping to cultivate my domesticity during this short maternity leave, as well as channel my inner Terri (That’s my mother, and for those of you who know her, you know just what I’m talking about!).

Although I have too many other to-do items to mention (unfortunately, many of them are work-related), I will conclude by mentioning that I have a list of books that I’m hoping to finish before I go back to work on April 16. Most are parenting books because I am daily reminded of how wonderfully appreciative, yet woefully unprepared, I am for such a monumental task of raising a child. If you’ve read any of these and have feedback, I would love to hear. I would also love to hear any recommendations you might have.

• Shepherding a Child’s Heart
• Babywise
• Gospel-Powered Parenting
• Lineage of Grace 

In conclusion, here are some 3-week pictures of Caleb. It’s hard to believe our 8 lb, 6 oz baby is now almost 10 lbs and 3 weeks older.

3 Weeks Old and Enjoyin’ Life (Most of the Time!)

Still Loves His Pacifier

His Most Frequent Facial Expression

 

Introducing Caleb Thomas!

Our baby boy is finally here! The following is our birth story written by me with some help from Josh:

Caleb at 5 days old: We just love him SO much and are glad the waiting is over!

This past Tuesday morning I was 40 weeks, 6 days pregnant, so I started off the morning with all the labor-inducing remedies I had been trying since week 39: pineapple core, red raspberry leaf tea, and some evening primrose oil capsules. Mentally, I realized that these were probably doing nothing, but it gave me satisfaction to do something. I decided, however, to ramp things up by going on a 2-mile walk with Millie. My pelvis and lower back were killing me, and it was literally freezing outside. But, we went anyway, and, indeed, it was excruciating. Millie, however, enjoyed herself immensely. 

Next on the schedule was my 41-week visit to the baby doctor and sonographer. My parents had been in town for over a week now, so I was fortunate to have my mom go with me since Josh was working. Since Caleb was post due date, the doctor wanted an ultrasound to make sure everything looked okay. He looked confined, but healthy. And, I was told that due to calcification in the placenta an inducement would be necessary by Sunday, the 12th, if he didn’t come by then. After the sonogram I visited my doctor around 2 pm, and she seemed optimistic because I was at 2 centimeters. I then told her that she could strip my membranes in an attempt to get things moving a little more quickly. As soon as she finished the procedure, I felt menstrual-like cramping, and she said this was totally normal.

This cramping continued throughout the evening, but I had no expectation that labor was going to start since this was considered normal. My dad was out with Josh’s dad. So, my mom, Josh, and I decided we would just eat leftovers for dinner. I did not feel hungry due to the cramping, but I felt an obligation to eat the leftover Mexican in the fridge–a decision I would later regret.

We went to bed early, but I still felt uncomfortable from the cramping, so I listened to Erwin Lutzer to distract myself. I dozed off, but about 20 minutes the cramping woke me up. I told Josh that I was leaving the light on so I could get to the restroom in a hurry. He grunted something and rolled over. About ten minutes later, the cramping was really bothering me, so I shook Josh’s shoulder and asked him to hold my hand. Bless his heart–he was so tired, but he managed to throw his hand over his shoulder. Within the next 30 minutes, I tried to deal with the cramping, but it was intolerable. At this point, I really woke up Josh. He set up and started timing the cramping, and we realized that these were actually contractions occurring 90 seconds apart!

I then started trying to pack in between contractions. During the contractions I just doubled up on the floor in pain. I remember trying to reassure Millie that everything was just fine as she looked at me with bewilderment. We woke up my parents and headed toward the hopsital. It was about 11 pm, and traffic was light, so Josh sped the whole way there. Once we got in triage, they told me that I was 4 cm and would be admitted ASAP.

Once we got to our maternity suite (which was wonderful, by the way!), I met my nurse and doula, and I also realized just how nauseated I was. The nurse and doula commenced with helping me get through labor naturally. I constantly shifted positions and walked around, but I couldn’t get past the feeling of nausea and completely lost that night’s dinner (sorry if TMI!). Plus, I was rather sleep deprived and just wanted a short nap. At 7 cm I asked for an epidural, and by the time the anesthesiologist was there, I was almost at 8 cm. My nurse, doula, and loving husband assured me that I could get through without an epidural since I was moving so quickly. But, at this point, I realized I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the rest of the process without some relief, so I went forward with the epidural. About 20 minutes later, I was able to talk, laugh, and even take a very brief snooze.

Our first meeting with our son.

Labor continued to progress well, although towards the end the baby showed a number of decels, so I had to wear an oxygen mask and keep getting repositioned in order to keep the baby’s heart rate up. Around 5:45 am, I was completely dilated, and began pushing with Josh, Tess, and our nurse Andrea helping. Dr. Adams, the physician on call, came by to check on things and get ready for the delivery. Then, after only about 45 minutes of pushing, Caleb Thomas entered this world at 6:23am!

He had a nuchal cord that was quickly fixed, and furthermore had deposited some meconium during labor, so Dr. Adams immediately cut the cord and handed him off to the NICU team that was nearby. Caleb immediately begain crying, but he was suctioned out and cleaned up anyway for about 20 minutes before he was able to finally, after a very long wait, be held in my arms. I had wished for a snowfall on his birthday, and it snowed the entire night of his delivery. And, interestingly, he was born on a Wednesday at 6:23am on the night of a full moon, precisely like myself.

We stayed in our maternity suite until Friday afternoon. During that time, Caleb had an entourage of visitors–ranging from the pediatrician to the lactation consultant, and we unsuccessfully tried to sleep. It didn’t matter though. Our son was finally here, and we couldn’t be happier!

 

What Should Really Be in a Name?

Somewhere around the 36th week of pregnancy I had an epiphany of sorts. My search for our baby boy’s name had spiraled into a frantic hunt for THE perfect name. After hours of scouring internet forums and books, I realized that I had lost site of the objectives. In fact, I had no objectives! Of course I had those “things” that were in the back of my mind, but they were not written out in a clear, coherent manner. As a teacher, I am all about the objective statement for the day, the week, the unit, and the entire year. So why had I not thought about this earlier? Now, with his imminent arrival, we have just about nailed down his first name, and we’re still mulling through middle names. Without further delay, here are some objectives that I’m now trying to stand by.

My List of Objectives for Baby Names:

1. Ask myself “Why am I really choosing this name?” If there’s any indication from my subconscious that it’s because it will make someone else happy (other than me, Josh, or the baby), then I need to seriously reconsider it.
2. Can the name or potential initials be distorted or made fun of any way? If so, toss it out immediately.
3. Does this name have a cadence of sorts? This one is important to me as an English teacher.
4. Does this name hold particular meaning that I want my son to grow into? I don’t care how cute the name is; if it means something like “lover of snakes,” it’s out.
5. Do I know someone with this name? If so, I need to GET. OVER. IT. As a teacher, I’ve heard just about every name out there, and I’m trying hard to believe that even if [insert name] was/is a brat, that name will take on a totally new meaning to me if I decide to give it to my child.
6. Can I see my son being a CEO or leader and having this name? I better be able to!
7. Can this name be used for a girl? If so, it’s out. Having and embracing one’s God-given gender is a GOOD thing.
8. Is this name difficult to pronounce? If so, it’s out. Who wants to go around correcting everyone all the time?
9. And, last, do I like hearing the name? This one is so subjective, I know. And, I’m often confusing myself by saying it too many times until it sounds weird. That’s where I’ve learned to stop, take a break, and revisit.

What about you? Can you think of any worthy objectives that should be added to my list? The more objectives=fewer, yet better, names to choose from!

 

Almost 39 Weeks

38 weeks, 4 days

In just ten days, this baby should arrive–I hope. Until now, I never understood the whole agony of going beyond one’s due date. I always figured if one could be pregnant for 40 weeks, what is another few days? Well, I understand now. At this point, I’m really uncomfortable, and these last few days seem to drag on. Even more than my comfort level, I’m a girl who likes to plan. My sub plans are detailed, and I have everything set up so that the new teacher can walk in my classroom and seamlessly begin new units with all my classes. If Junior doesn’t come by his due date (2/1), I will stop working for the sole reason that I don’t want to give up THE plan and lose instructional days with my students, not because I want to sit at home and continue “nesting.” My current hope and prayer is that Junior comes on the 27th because Josh has time off medical school for the next three days. I guess we shall see!

Furthermore, in order to help get my body ready for the momentous event, I’ve done a little research on labor-inducing recipes. To my delight, I found some very tasty-looking recipes: lemon cupcakes, eggplant parmesan, and even a prego pizza. I certainly realize that there is little evidence testifying to the effectiveness of these recipes, but, hey, at least it gives me an excuse to bake some goodies.

Foremost on this list was a labor-inducing chocolate cake, which I modified into cupcakes. Labor-inducing or not, I will definitely be making this recipe again; these were some of the most moist, chocolatey cupcakes I’ve ever had. And, boy, did they satisfy this ridiculous muffin/cupcake craving I’ve been having. The only downside: they’re irresistible. Both Josh and I have had three today!

In other news, we’re still trying to transition Millie…

"Dad, do you mean to tell me that all this isn't for me?!"

 

37 Weeks

Josh and I just had a spur-of-the-moment date night this evening. Thankfully, I noticed a BOGO coupon sitting in my inbox for an entrée at a local restaurant this Wednesday, so we seized upon this opportunity to have a nice sit-down meal before the baby gets here. We don’t go out very often because of our schedules and budget, but this meal was worth all the time and money because it really hit me that this was probably our last date we would ever have together before we became parents. What a crazy thought!

The baby is now full-term, and his arrival is imminent. I don’t think he will come until at least 39 weeks, but I’m trying my best to get mentally prepared. And, at this point, I want him to come sooner rather than later. I discovered my first stretch mark last night and as superficial as it sounds, I was distraught. Josh just laughed. That’s OK though. He knows his role in counterbalancing my hormonal self. I’m also finding it more and more difficult to sleep, walk, or stand up. According to the doctor, this little boy has already dropped and wedged himself in the ready position, which explains this constant pelvic pressure. Thus, I have learned that the pregnancy waddle is not due to the excess weight, just the excess pain. Yet, despite the discomfort of pregnancy, I’m just ready to meet our son. Although I can’t imagine life as a parent, I’m already so deeply attached to this little creation of God’s.

37 Weeks--Baby is now full-term!

I'm trying to explain to my sweet Millie that her little brother (and future playmate) are in my big belly. She's doing her best to understand.

 

Our Story of Redemption

I have a wonderful resource to share, but first I must give a little background!

If I attend my church’s 8:30 morning worship service, I usually find myself driving back home around 11 am, which is the hour that Dr. Erwin Lutzer’s Moody Radio Hour is airing. I absolutely love being able to hear the lucid gospel-centered teaching of Dr. Lutzer. The current 4-part series is called The Drama of Redemption; part 1 can be downloaded here, and part 2 can be downloaded here.

I’ve always struggled with the year-long Bible plans because of my analytic nature. Instead of accepting a bird’s eye view, I tend to stop, land, and mull over a few verses for the entire time I’ve set aside. So, needless to say, reading through more than one chapter in a 30-minute sitting is difficult. Even with the geneologies, I often find myself sidetracked while exploring the significance of someone’s lineage. And, although I need to keep myself in check, I enjoy reading my Bible this way because it sticks with me, and it becomes more meaningful. But, with all that being said, I think everyone can use a healthy dose of the big picture, and Dr. Lutzer’s messages do just that. So, check them out, but that’s not all!

At the beginning of his message today, a lady delivered a moving narration, which can be found in part 2 around the 6-minute mark. I couldn’t get it out of my mind, and I finally found it here after a few minutes of Google-ing. It succinctly shows how the entire Bible points back to the gospel message of our redeemer Jesus. I’ve pasted the entire narrative below, and I plan to print it out and keep it in my Bible for a daily dose of the big picture

Called “The Gift of Life”

In Genesis, He is the seed of the woman. 
In Exodus, He is the passover lamb. 
In Leviticus, He is our high priest. 
In Numbers, He is the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. 
In Deuteronomy, He is the prophet like unto Moses. 
In Joshua, He is the captain of our salvation. 
In Judges, He is our judge and lawgiver. 
In Ruth, He is our kinsman redeemer. 
In 1 & 2 Samuel, He is our trusted prophet. 
In Kings and Chronicles, He is our reigning king. 
In Ezra and Nehemiah, He is the rebuilder of the broken down walls of human life. 
In Esther & Job, He is our ever-living redeemer. 
In Psalms, He is our shepherd. 
In Proverbs & Ecclesiastes, He is our wisdom. 
In Song of Solomon, He is our lover and bridegroom. 
In Isaiah, He is the prince of peace. 
In Jeremiah, He is the righteous branch. 
In Lamentations, He is our weeping prophet. 
In Ezekiel, He is our wonderful four faced man. 
In Daniel, He is the fourth man in life’s firey furnace. 
In Hosea, He is the faithful husband. 
In Joel, He is the baptizer with the Holy Ghost and fire. 
In Amos, He is our burden-bearer. 
In Obadiah, He is the mighty to save. 
In Johah, He is our great missionary. 
In Micah, He is the messenger of beautiful feet. 
In Nahum, He is the avenger of God’s elect. 
In Habakkuk, He is God’s evangelist. 
In Zephaniah, He is our Savior. 
In Haggai, He is the restorer of God’s lost heritage. 
In Zechariah, He is the fountain opened in the house of David. 
In Malachi, He is the sun of righteousness, rising with healing in His wings. 
In Matthew, He is the Messiah. 
In Mark, He is the wonder worker. 
In Luke, He is the son of man. 
In John, He is the Son of God. 
In Acts, He is the Holy Ghost. 
In Romans, He is our justifier. 
In 1 & 2 Corinthians, He is our santifier. 
In Galatians, He is our redeemer. 
In Ephesians, He is the Christ of unsearchable riches. 
In Philippians, He is the God who supplies all our needs. 
In Colossians, He is the fullness of God, bodily. 
In 1 & 2 Thessalonians, He is our coming king. 
In 1 & 2 Timothy, He is our mediator between God and man. 
In Titus, He is our faithful pastor. 
In Philemon, He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 
In Hebrews, He is the blood of the everlasting covenant. 
In James, He is our great physician. 
In 1 & 2 Peter, He is our chief shepherd. 
In 1, 2 & 3 John, He is love. 
In Jude, He is the Lord coming with ten thousands of His saints. 
In Revelation, He is the KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS!

Author unknown
Given by Pastor Tom Curry
Dec 1994