A little girl & A lot of love

It's been a while since I last updated, actually it's only been a little over two weeks.  That seems so unreal to me because it feels like forever ago I sat at the computer typing up this post on my due date discussing our options about our little girl's birth.  A lot changed.  We pretty much knew we were going to do a c-section that day.  It was the safest option for our baby so there really was no other choice to my way of thinking but we took the weekend to think about it like the doctor said to.  Monday we went in and find out there was another problem via an ultrasound, it looked like our little lady would have shoulder dystocia which made things a bit more serious and just confirmed that we were making the right choice in going with a c-section.  It all happened very fast though.   Suddenly the doctor was saying 'all right well let's schedule you right now' and the nurse said Friday but my doctor intervened and said before that so we decided on Wednesday...it was Monday it all seemed to be happening so fast!  So then I went over to the hospital for some blood work and husband drove over to sit with my mom and aunt while they waited for me right before I went in for the blood work I was called to the front desk apparently there was a phone call for me I couldn't imagine what that was about it turns out it was the secretary from the doctor's office saying they were moving my c-section to Tuesday...uhm what?...that's tomorrow!  I had to ask the lady to repeat herself I really did.  I was in total shock after that.  My husband looked like he was going to cry he was so happy...I thought I was going to throw up.  It was so real so fast!  Fast forward to the next day, we got to the hospital around 11 and before I knew it we were in the Maternity ward and I was meeting 'my nurse' Lyndsey *who was amazing and the Nursery Nurse named Celeste was also fantastic I will post about those ladies and my doctor later!* , after some trouble getting my IV in *I ended up having to have it in my wrist* my family started to pour in I had about 15 people there not including my husband, myself, and the nurses.  My doctor came in, I met my anesthesiologist and it was time to go and get my spinal *which was the part I was the most nervous for* walking into the OR was so weird it was cold and sterile and I really thought I was going to pass out at that point.  They had some trouble with my spinal and I ended up having more medication than normal them trying to give me my spinal actually took longer than the Cesarian itself.  I'm very thankful I didn't have to be put all the way out though, then my doctor came in and the ball started rolling suddenly the drugs kicked in and I was Gone I felt very nauseous but the anesthesiologist took care of that quickly enough then they brought my husband in and suddenly I was thinking "I'm open on the other side of this curtain...weird" I didn't let myself talk to him or anything I just sat there and did some thinking.  The weirdest part was actually feeling it when they took the baby out all the pressure and weight was just lifted out of me.  The doctor said "here she is and look her eyes are already wide open!" *then I also heard "Man look at that placenta!" ...that's nice lol* they cleaned her up and laid her directly on my face which I honestly loved every second of.  My husband was right there by my face as well and I just got to feel her and hear her little cry she even put her little fingers in my mouth I honestly felt like I was absorbing her into my heart it was a magical moment *that I actually have a photo of thanks to the anesthesiologist that I'll share later* and I will never forget a second of it.  Abigail Nancy Dianna Lester was born on February 12th 2013 at 2:37pm and weighed 8lbs and 9oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.

Blog Make-over

Well if you can't tell (then you must need to get your eyes checked or you've never been here before today) I've gotten a Fabulous blog make-over!  I was so thrilled when Janey over at Taingamala *she's an amazing blogger/Army wife that I totally wish I could know in real life and you will wish for the same thing I'm sure* contacted me asking if she could try out her design skills on my little blog, I'll let you in on a little secret I am no good at html or computer stuff or designing anything but I've been wanting to do something different to this little space of mine for so long but couldn't justify spending money on it *husband Just got a job we live in a one room place and are expecting our first little one* so of course I said Yes *more like screamed it but my poor computer got that part of it* this was like an answer to a prayer for me!  Lately things have been knocking me down and I've been getting a little blue and I must say giving her free reign and being utterly floored by her beautiful design just picked me right back up again!  I wasn't hesitant at all about letting her do what she wanted, she's so cute & classy and on top of that has a lovely sense of style!  I really could've cried when I saw my blog it felt so right and was pretty much everything I've wanted my blog to be but never though it could!  If Janey does decide to go into the blog design business *and lucky for you people I think she does!* then that means you could have a fabulous looking blog as well!

So just want to give a great big THANK  YOU to Jane!  You did an Amazing job I couldn't be happier!

Friday's Letters

Dear Thanksgiving you were fabulous this year, I thoroughly enjoyed you.  Especially since it was Husband's first Thanksgiving with us in our 3 year marriage.   You were one of the best we've had.  Dear Ham & Beans I'm so glad we had the left over ham bone and I made the choice to run to the store to get the beans you are now mixing with butter, bacon grease, onion, and garlic you will cook all day and continue to smell delicious and just make me feel warm and cozy.  Dear Weather thank you for being chilly today.  Seriously, awesome.  Dear Husband I was super excited to get a 4 day weekend with you since you've been working *praise the Lord* I've missed you so much!  But I am super proud of you for volunteering to work today.  Dear Pumpkin Cookies I'm going to put cream cheese frosting on you and maybe some cinnamon and then let everyone enjoy!  Dear Fall/Autumn Decorations I cannot  decide if I should put you away today...I am so very tempted.  I may not pull out Christmas stuff but I'd really like to...well see how the day goes.  Dear Grandpa I am so happy you got to eat some broth today and the tube came out!  You're getting better every day :D  Dear Camera/New tripod this was kind of a last minute thing taking a family picture, the lighting was bad, I hadn't even taken Tripod out of his box yet *yeah it's a he*, everyone had just eaten and we weren't looking out best I only snapped two pictures but I'm really happy with how they turned out...good job camera and tripod :)

Linking up with adventures of newlyweds for Friday's letters!

Thankful Day #2

So today was a bit better, still emotional, tired, stressed, and I feel as though I have literally gotten Nothing and I mean Nothing accomplished.  It's not a fun feeling.  But Grandpa is still in the hospital, the baby is getting bigger, Thanksgiving is still coming...life is going on despite my 'blahhh' days.  So who am I to try and stop it?  Part of growing up is rolling with the punches.  Not letting yourself fall into the self pity trap is one of the hardest and the Best things you can do.  So today when I was feeling grosser than gross with a ridiculous lower back ache what did I do?  Did I find my blanket and go curl up and hide?  Did I just give up?  No.  I wanted to, but I didn't.  I put on my big girl pants and got some baby shower stuff done, drank some tea, read some of the bible, made an eyebrow appointment *those things have been scary lately no joke* and a hair appointment...And that's it.  It's not a lot but it's a step in the direction of tomorrow being even better.  Sometimes I forget how important your appearance is to You I don't want my hair done or eyebrows groomed for my husband or anyone else it's for me.  To give me a little pick me up that apparently I've been needing lately, and I think it's really important to take care of yourself and sadly I've been letting myself go a little bit lately.  No more of that though *Lord willing* so tomorrow I'm going to catch up completely on my devotions and start my day off right *that means the bible before facebook or blogging* and try and focus on being better.

1. Stephen found his way to where he needed to be
2. The people calling and showing Grandma and Grandpa their love and support
3. That my cousins went in to see grandpa
4. feeling the baby move
5. heart burn doesn't last forevr
6. finally got the baby shower invites ordered
7. got the little poems for the tables ordered
8. we get paid tomorrow
9. I'm getting a much needed appearance overhaul tomorrow
10. our warm, comfortable, functional home ♥

Prayer Request

My husband spoke at our church on Saturday for the Veteran's day dinner they host every year.  He was really nervous but so genuine and everyone loved it.  We have a church full of veterans so they all feel a kinship with him and he feels the same way.  He spoke on struggles not only with being deployed but also with coming home and coping with PTSD and the stress of finding a job.  And apparently someone was really listening.  Today we got a call from a lady at church and she asked if he'd like to go in and give it a try tomorrow at her husband's company.  My husband is Thrilled I am nervous *as usual* we don't know if this will be a permanent position or not but it very well could be.  I just wanted to write a quick post and ask for prayers for him driving in an unknown city that's bigger than what he's used to and then just all the uncertainties that come with starting a new job *especially one he knows nothing about lol but thankfully they're providing all the training* so if you could please send a prayer or two our way we would so appreciate it!

That's called Satisfied

Yesterday I was snuggled up in bed getting ready to read my daily devotions.  I use a bible study app on my phone, I'm trying to read the entire bible in a year so I read a bit everyday and I chose to read it in chronological order so it's kind of interesting to see where I am in the bible that day.  But on this particular day I'm sad to say I was not curious at all, I wasn't really thinking about it I was kind of just going through the motions because I hadn't gone to church *again* and was feeling a bit guilty.  Now I've had plenty of excuses for not going to church for the last few weeks but when it comes down to it I always feel guilty *and I'm not one of those people that think you have to go to church to be a christian you can worship perfectly well in your own home* but Jesus died on the cross for me...would it really kill me to take a few hours out of the day once a week?  No.  No it would not.  So out of guilt I was pulling out my bible in our little home while my husband and dad were working on water pipes under the house, mom was cleaning, normal stuff ya know?  Well as is usually the case when you least expect it God points you in the direction you need to be.  Sometimes it is just so interesting to me the blatant messages you can receive from Christ in totally average ways at an unlikely time.  I wasn't going through a big trial, nothing was really wrong just average everyday stuff, I wasn't searching for answers, nothing I was just trying to ease my own guilt...I was going to fulfill in my mind this little requirement and then go on about my day and forget all about it.  Wrong.  My devotions that morning instructed me to read the book of Haggai *another thing I like about this daily devotions app is all the other parts of the bible I'm reading for the first time*.  I've never even looked at Haggai before, so much of this small book stuck out to me.

"Is it a time for yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"

"Give careful thought to your ways.  You have planted much, but have harvested little.  you eat but never have enough.  You drink, but never have your fill.  You put on clothes, but are not warm.  You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

"Give careful thought to your ways.  Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored.  you expect much, but see, it turned out to be little.  What you brought home, I blew away.  Why?  Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.  Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth it's crops."

Now Autumn is a month of harvest, plenty, celebrating family, being thankful for what you have, for being satisfied with what the Lord has given you.  What those verses were saying to me on that morning was that I need to learn to be satisfied with what I have, I am to some degree of course but it's definitely something I could do better at.  It also made me think that I need to do better honoring and thanking the Lord all the time.  Not just when I was receive a blessing or when I'm feeling guilty.  Fixing up our homes is important and necessary especially before winter sets in...but making sure that our faith and our relationship with the Lord is equally strong, secure, and weather-ready is even more important.  And our relationship with him requires constant up-keep, adjustments, and fixing on our part.  He wants not just be satisfied with what we have but Thankful for it.  That's what this beautiful season is supposed to high light.  But we can get carried away in other things.  I know I do.  I think it's important not to worry about the future, it's important to live in this moment and this day to love the people that God has placed in your life...you never know when they may not be there.  Life can change so quickly it's comforting to know that God is a constant he is the Alpha and Omega, The beginning and the end, like he says in exodus to Moses "I m that I am".  He's all encompassing.  He should be present in every aspect of our lives.

So after this lovely moment I had on Sunday, I felt the need to do better, to try.  So I made a list of things I'm going to work on this week to be a better christian.  To enjoy this life that I've been blessed with and to put God first.


Remember to pray before my meals *it's something so small but so important and I've gotten out of the habit*
Watch my potty mouth *a ridiculously hard habit to break*
Read my devotions Every day
Remember to keep up with my daily prayer list
Take pride in my home and myself
Enjoy the family that I'm blessed enough to live close to
Actually ask myself WWJD
Remember to be kind and helpful and have a good attitude while doing it
Be good stewards with our finances
Make a list of 5 blessings every day this week *they must be different everyday*
Go to church this week *maybe bible study?*
Find satisfaction in what we have

Now of course I should try and be the best Christian I can be every day but this week I want to Actively try and see if I can tell a difference, or even if those around me  can tell. . Enjoy this song by Jewel called 'Satisfied'

4months and 2days

 Ok.  So I keep seeing everyone filling out these little pregnancy questionnaire things and I thought why not do one for myself?  So here we go!

How Far Along: 4months and 2days

Size of the Baby: avocado

Maternity Clothes: They are in the mail and on the way thank the Lord!  Shirts are fine, it's pants and underwear I need help with!

Stretch marks: nothing that wasn't there before

Weight gain: 3lbs

Sleep: I sleep fine but lately I've been paranoid about how to sleep I freak out if I wake up and I'm on my stomach.

Best Moment of the Week: when I feel the little flutters or just something and I don't know how I just know it's my little one moving around.  Or whenever my husband and I sing to the baby or he just talks to my stomach *or rubs it ... it feels amazing*

Food Cravings: milkshakes, smoothies, and pizza

Gender: Unknown *but we think it's a girl*

Belly Button in or out: still in!

Anything making you queasy or sick: not to much except when I go to long without eating and then everything, or if I'm cooking dinner, if it's something fried I have a hard time standing over a hot greasy pan for to long.

Labor Signs: no

Wedding ring on or off: on

What I miss: I miss my normal pants lol and I also miss getting invited to things like friend's birthdays or days out *but apparently being pregnant is on par with being a comatose vegetable to the unmarried-thinking-that-they'll-NEVER-have-kids-crowd*

What I am looking forward to: finding out the gender, and getting our room all finished!, and of course the baby changing table is almost done!

Nursery: we don't have one lol we will all be living in a glorious little one room but we're preparing it for baby.  We'll be getting our rocking chair soon so that's really exciting.

Emotions: I'm crazy.  They'll either be fine, totally fine.  Or I'm super upset or I'll just randomly start crying...it's really lovely