I have been meaning to give an update but I don't know exactly what to update. I am terrible at this, especially when it's been so long. I also fail at remembering to take pictures - even when I remember to bring the camera!
Kadence Ella is about 2 weeks away from her 8 month birthday. Unbelievable!
Overall, she is a happy and content girl. She smiles and laughs quite a bit. She loves to eat - especially apples, butternut squash, sweet potato and peas. She is at the point to where she will probably be mobile (crawling) pretty soon and as excited as I am about that, I am also a bit nervous. I love being a mom. It is a hard job and quite tiring at times but I love it nonetheless.
Did I mention she is also the cutest baby in the whole wide world?
Changing the subject some . . . Recently, I was talking to a sweet lady that I have a Bible Study with about how she is a visual learner. She was talking about how Galatians 5:25, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit," came more to life for her when she understood what it meant to "keep in step" with the Spirit. When soldiers are marching, they are to break cadence at a bridge, otherwise "keeping in step" could cause the bridge to collapse. That breathed a whole new meaning into my daughter's name for me.
Kadence is rhythm, while Ella is light. Initially, it was a simple prayer that her walk in life would be with the Lord. 1 John 1:5 leads me to 'light', "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." But I had not considered at all Galatians 5:25 for 'rhythm'. So, this conversation just deepened the meaning of my daughter's name for me and the prayer I have for her.
May her cadence with the Lord be strong.
And moving onto another concern . . . Biblical parenting. I am so unprepared and inept to be a parent, let alone one who is to share their life living out the Gospel. I know that I fall and fail miserably at this daily - moment to moment even. As much as I love Kadence, I don't love her like the Lord loves her. I'd like to think that I do but I don't. Which is amazing to think about how loved I am - we all are. really.
Biblical parenting = overwhelming task
I know that I am not alone in this. I know I have a Helper. I know that He will provide - and has provided - Godly people and mentors to help guide me (us) through parenthood. But I am still nervous.
So, on we go into the adventure called parenting . . .
As far as the birth parents go, we haven't had much contact with them since Kadence was 3 months old, when we met with them at Justin and Anne's house for a few hours. Daniel has spoken with B-daddy here and there. B-daddy is out of town a lot for work, which leaves B-mommy to fend for herself, which she is good at but I don't think she prefers - especially now. I can't imagine that this has been easy for them, so I will ask for your continued prayer support for them. And if you have any ideas on how we can love on them, please feel free to share. They mean so much to us and we consider them family.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Children of God
We are called 'children of God' - and what a blessing!! To experience the joy of loving my daughter is just a glimpse to help me grasp a little better Jesus' love for His children - for me!! I am a sinner. I am depraved. I have a deceitful heart and flesh that is quick to rise up. I have unclean hands and an unclean heart. I am always searching out things to satisfy that aren't Holy - they're not Jesus. I stumble. I fall.
I am a child of God and loved far more than I deserve.
Thank you, Jesus.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Misbelief Therapy
I am going to give you a book recommendation, Telling Yourself the Truth by Dr. William Backus.
It is not a book on parenting but it has been helpful in that area of life.
The gist of the book is about how you are responsible for your feelings, emotions and actions. That you are in charge of your happiness, joy and contentment. It's not some feel-good, sugar-coated, quick-fix tool - it is life changing. Dr.Backus has you examine your self-talk, identify misbeliefs and replace them with truth (which, of course, is Gospel-centered truth).
I love how he reminds you that life isn't easy and just because you are faced with situations in life that are terrible doesn't mean that they are not endurable. And from that endurance, there is great growth. And he gives you tools to endure your depression, anger, anxiety, addictions, lack of self-control, fear of change, your relationships with others and other issues.
I do have to warn you that this book is only good when you are ready to take a serious look at your life.
I will probably re-read it (for a third time) and take more time to meditiate on the questions and exercises, so if anyone is interested in doing this together, please let me know.
Lord bless you.
It is not a book on parenting but it has been helpful in that area of life.
The gist of the book is about how you are responsible for your feelings, emotions and actions. That you are in charge of your happiness, joy and contentment. It's not some feel-good, sugar-coated, quick-fix tool - it is life changing. Dr.Backus has you examine your self-talk, identify misbeliefs and replace them with truth (which, of course, is Gospel-centered truth).
I love how he reminds you that life isn't easy and just because you are faced with situations in life that are terrible doesn't mean that they are not endurable. And from that endurance, there is great growth. And he gives you tools to endure your depression, anger, anxiety, addictions, lack of self-control, fear of change, your relationships with others and other issues.
I do have to warn you that this book is only good when you are ready to take a serious look at your life.
I will probably re-read it (for a third time) and take more time to meditiate on the questions and exercises, so if anyone is interested in doing this together, please let me know.
Lord bless you.
Monday, November 1, 2010
November 1, 2010
I still have no idea what I am doing!
But I guess I never will . . .
Still love this job.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Parental Experimenting
Well, I am sure that all and everything I am doing would go against any pediatrician's advice. I have made gripe water (anise, chamomile and ginger) to mix into every bottle. I also get a non-dairy probitotic into her with some Cod Liver Oil and Aloe. Weird, I know but there is this learning curve that you go through as a parent.
Before you become a parent - ok, let me back up. Before I became a parent there was this list of things on which I would and would not do. No pacifier, only organic formula, cloth diapers all the way and the list goes on. . . .
Well, Kadence has a very strong urge to suck. So much so that she would take double of what she should've been taking her first few weeks. Which lead to major spit up waterfalls. It was lovely. This over eating caused us to have to back off from feeding her so much and soothing her with a pacifier. Yes, I was reluctant but had to chose what was in her best interest. I still consider the pacifier to be the most confounding and frustrating tool in my arsenal but it helps her soothe when I can't soothe her and saves my sanity at times, too.
On top of the waterfalls, we had a very fussy baby who couldn't pass gas. We had her on a dairy based organic formula which seemed to be working great - outside of the miserable baby. So, we switched to a hypoallergenic non-organic formula. And we still add Mylicon, gripe water and the other things listed above in order for her to not scream for four hours straight.
We do cloth diapers throughout the day but at night we find it easier to just put on a plastic (disposable) because she will soak through a cloth (and layers of cloth) rather quickly. Again, just a sanity saver for us.
Sanity has a high value to new parents.
On that note, my KO is awake and I must go and love on her. :-) My favorite parts of the day is when she wakes!!
Before you become a parent - ok, let me back up. Before I became a parent there was this list of things on which I would and would not do. No pacifier, only organic formula, cloth diapers all the way and the list goes on. . . .
Well, Kadence has a very strong urge to suck. So much so that she would take double of what she should've been taking her first few weeks. Which lead to major spit up waterfalls. It was lovely. This over eating caused us to have to back off from feeding her so much and soothing her with a pacifier. Yes, I was reluctant but had to chose what was in her best interest. I still consider the pacifier to be the most confounding and frustrating tool in my arsenal but it helps her soothe when I can't soothe her and saves my sanity at times, too.
On top of the waterfalls, we had a very fussy baby who couldn't pass gas. We had her on a dairy based organic formula which seemed to be working great - outside of the miserable baby. So, we switched to a hypoallergenic non-organic formula. And we still add Mylicon, gripe water and the other things listed above in order for her to not scream for four hours straight.
We do cloth diapers throughout the day but at night we find it easier to just put on a plastic (disposable) because she will soak through a cloth (and layers of cloth) rather quickly. Again, just a sanity saver for us.
Sanity has a high value to new parents.
On that note, my KO is awake and I must go and love on her. :-) My favorite parts of the day is when she wakes!!
Friday, October 15, 2010
10 weeks young
A lot of changes happen to a baby in the span of ten weeks.
Kadence has almost doubled in weight. She is really filling out! Her facial features are becoming more defined. Some days I wake up and ask her "What changed about you last night?" She looks the same but something is a little different. I can't imagine the changes that go on inside of her that I can't see.
And so I wonder about these growing pains and this witching hour that is a good bit of our afternoon. My self-diagnosing is calling it colic, after a little internet (dangerous, I know)research. I feel like a bit of a dunder head for not catching it sooner. I figured the formula that we have her on, Alimentum, would prevent that from happening. But even breast-fed babies are colicy.
It's amazing that the experience of a colicy baby breathes a whole new dimension into that word - colic. You hear people say so nonchalantly that "He was a colicy baby." But I think the people who make it through those weeks and months should receive a metal - or a pat on the back. And the poor, inconsolable babies . . . just the relief of not having that pain has got to be reward enough.
So, I am questioning if these sleep issues we've had these past few weeks aren't due to the (self-diagnosed) colic. So, we will be moving into a whole new bag of tricks for this one. Maybe that's why all this unsolicited and solicited advice for sleep has not been as successful as we would have hoped?
Parents learn a lot in the span of 10 weeks . . .
like how important it is not only for baby to sleep but for mom and dad, too. So maybe another day is better ti expound upon this point.
Kadence has almost doubled in weight. She is really filling out! Her facial features are becoming more defined. Some days I wake up and ask her "What changed about you last night?" She looks the same but something is a little different. I can't imagine the changes that go on inside of her that I can't see.
And so I wonder about these growing pains and this witching hour that is a good bit of our afternoon. My self-diagnosing is calling it colic, after a little internet (dangerous, I know)research. I feel like a bit of a dunder head for not catching it sooner. I figured the formula that we have her on, Alimentum, would prevent that from happening. But even breast-fed babies are colicy.
It's amazing that the experience of a colicy baby breathes a whole new dimension into that word - colic. You hear people say so nonchalantly that "He was a colicy baby." But I think the people who make it through those weeks and months should receive a metal - or a pat on the back. And the poor, inconsolable babies . . . just the relief of not having that pain has got to be reward enough.
So, I am questioning if these sleep issues we've had these past few weeks aren't due to the (self-diagnosed) colic. So, we will be moving into a whole new bag of tricks for this one. Maybe that's why all this unsolicited and solicited advice for sleep has not been as successful as we would have hoped?
Parents learn a lot in the span of 10 weeks . . .
like how important it is not only for baby to sleep but for mom and dad, too. So maybe another day is better ti expound upon this point.
Thank you Lord Jesus.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Goodness
I'll try a real quick one as my girl cat-naps. When I am walking, I ponder and meditate on the Lord and conclude many great and wonderful things about how He is working in my life for His glory. But I never have anything to write these ideas on as I am in the woods (with a baby strapped to the front and a backpack on the back) . . .
In writing the last entry, I just wanted to point out the normalcy of the insanity new parents feel. I did feel it appropriate to censor a lot of that but also thought of a few more things that I could've added that wouldn't flow well into this blog entry.
I probably should've been quicker to share all the other revelations of the Lord's goodness and blessings in my life (before the dark stuff). Although, I know this is just the beginning of my journey into parenthood. I am unwrapping what His love means as He calls us His children and we get to call Him, Abba Father. Daddy.
I am grateful that He continues to reveal to me how insufficient I am. I have a very hard head and heart and He continually has to repeat lessons like that to me. It's quite an adjustment to have this whole other being so dependent upon me for every need - and frankly it wears me out (physically, mentally, emotionally)! But Jesus never tires of us - never wears down and always supplies our needs with grace and mercy.
Well, more later. . . got a little girl who is waking and needs me :-)
Thank you, Lord.
In writing the last entry, I just wanted to point out the normalcy of the insanity new parents feel. I did feel it appropriate to censor a lot of that but also thought of a few more things that I could've added that wouldn't flow well into this blog entry.
I probably should've been quicker to share all the other revelations of the Lord's goodness and blessings in my life (before the dark stuff). Although, I know this is just the beginning of my journey into parenthood. I am unwrapping what His love means as He calls us His children and we get to call Him, Abba Father. Daddy.
I am grateful that He continues to reveal to me how insufficient I am. I have a very hard head and heart and He continually has to repeat lessons like that to me. It's quite an adjustment to have this whole other being so dependent upon me for every need - and frankly it wears me out (physically, mentally, emotionally)! But Jesus never tires of us - never wears down and always supplies our needs with grace and mercy.
Well, more later. . . got a little girl who is waking and needs me :-)
Thank you, Lord.
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