What is it about the coming of fall make me beyond thankful?!?

As I laid Lyric in her crib last night I was in awe at the handy work of our Creator! He made her just for us, with parts of each of us. She has her daddy's eyes, nose, and webbed toes... my legs, feet, and smile! I love that I can look down at her and see in her the man I love so much. Last night I watched as she slept, I then went and climbed into my own bed only to look over and see Trav sleeping just like her! They both had their hand in a fist right under their cheek. At that moment I was filled with gratitude to the one who gave them both to me. God knew what He was doing when He blessed me with Travis. This is a man who provides, protects, is faithful, loyal, loving and who will never leave my side even when life seems unbearable. God then blessed me with Lyric... the best gift ever in all the world!! She wakes up every morning with a smile and you can't help but to wake up happy even if it is 4:00am. I feel so blessed to her Mommy!

God is faithful!
This is what stayed in my mind while trying to conceive Lyric. Even though we went through the loss of two beautiful babies GOD WAS FAITHFUL! I remember finding the verses that I would claim and thanking Him for His promises!

We lost our 1st baby on 11/11/08. I had no idea where to begin searching for answers and reassurance that God remembered me. So I searched through the Bible looking up every 11:11 passage. It may seem silly but I know God had directed my steps so that I would find this beautiful passage:

By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:11

This verse wasn't like my circumstances but I knew that Sarah judged him faithful and so would I. I also claimed a verse in 1 Samuel knowing Hannah had felt forgotten by God and even though her heart was heavy and she felt hopeless... God blessed her with a son! Here is what she said with a thankful heart:

And Hannah prayed and said:
“My heart rejoices in the LORD;
My horn is exalted in the LORD.
I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
No one is holy like the LORD,
For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God."
1 Samuel 2:1-2

We may not always understand God's timing but I know that in His perfect time we will be blessed with exactly what we need. I am thankful as I look back now that I can see the hand of God at work in our lives, preparing us for His perfect will! Teaching us patience, teaching us to rely on Him, teaching us to rely on each other, teaching us that all we have is His, teaching us grace to get through those hard times, teaching us a love for one another that Lyric can see, teaching us that He has our lives all planned out and we have the honor as His children to trust Him.
Thank you Lord for the changing of the seasons in our lives.

The pressure makes us stronger, the struggle makes us hunger
The hard lessons make the difference and the difference makes it worth it.
Fireflight - For Those Who Wait

Ella!!!

Watch everytime her Mommy & Daddy kiss she will open her eyes! TOO CUTE!



Ok so I can't wait to meet this little ray of SUNSHINE! She is so silly already and I love her and her family! We have been praying so much for the Burks and for Ella! She is an amazing little girl with two amazing parents!

Play dates and Downtown!

PLAY DATES

Today was Lyric's 1st ever play date and she loved it... ok, ok she slept through it! We went to Jesse's to swim and it was so relaxing! Kayden and Sydnee (aka Sydlou)

My friend Amanda with her daughter KaydenLyric and I

They were wore out after swimming!

DOWNTOWN

We met Randi, Jon and some of their friends downtown tonight to enjoy some local art that was on display there! We had never been and really enjoyed ourselves! The diversity of people was so cool to see!

Aunt Randi and Lyric

"Lyric at the Plaza"

My bestest friend in all the land!

Our angel sleeping... what she does best at this stage!

Ella Dawn

Everyone has to see this beautiful baby girl! I know so many that have been praying and God is doing great things! Keep praying for Ella she has so much ahead of her. Jon, Amy and Ella make a beautiful family which you can see!
www.elladawn.blogspot.com

Breastfeeding... not for the faint of heart.

Let me begin by saying that I love breastfeeding Lyric!

It is creating a bond that we couldn't get any other way and I'm so thankful!

I am however surprised by how unaccepted it is... people think you're a loon! The looks, the isolation, the mere mention of it puts people in a panic. Why is something that is so natural being looked on as a circus act? Breastfeeding is so, so, so rewarding but comes with many challenges!

PROS

1. Always ready and always perfect for what your baby needs

2. Makes for a healthy baby

3. FREE

4. Bonding that is unexplainable

5. Lose that baby weight... burns an average of 500 extra calories a day!

6. No bottles to wash

7. Helps lower your risk of cancer

8. Did I mention free?

CONS

1. It is all you Momma!

Day, night, middle of the night, early morning...

Mom doesn't get a break... even if you're away from the baby, guess what? No one told your boobs, so a pumping we will go!

2. It so doesn't feel nice getting latched on the first 3 weeks or so!

3. It so doesn't feel good when you're milk comes in and not just the first time but every feeding time!

4. Going off alone to feed the baby... it gets lonely sometimes

5. You become the main attraction... not a good thing!

Even if you're discreet still awkward.

6. Breastfeeding moms have a hard time self-lubricating (sorry to be so personal but only women check this blog)

7. You're tired off your booty like you just worked out... every 2-4 hours!

All that to say that it takes discipline, determination, and self sacrifice! I'm doing this blog post because I don't think it is talked about enough. The people that do it, just do it and the ones that don't never really hear of the challenges. It doesn't just happen, it takes work!

Breastfeeding and pumping moms... WAY TO GO!

I know too many moms that breastfeed who need to hear way to go! I know it isn't the easiest thing at times and I think you ROCK!

Disclaimer: if you were unable to breastfeed I'm sorry. I can say if you get the chance... try it with full force and you'll be hooked! Thanks for reading.

Little CRAZY Lyric!

5 Years of Wedded BLISS!

We have been married for 5 years today and I can honestly say that I am so proud! Getting married at 18 was not recommended but it has worked out! I somehow landed this great guy who loves me beyond life and I'm so thankful for him each and every day!

Wedded BLISS as the title reads is not always the case but we know we have each others back at the end of the day and wouldn't want to be going through this crazy life with anyone else! God has been so gracious to us and has given us challenges to make us stronger and blessings to keep us thankful! Five years has produced so much in us and in looking back i'm excited to see what lies in the next 5 to 50 years!

Lyric is the best gift that we could have ask for and she arrived just in time to celebrate this time with us!