Mine

These moments. The messy, dirty, everyday moments. I don't take pictures of those....Well...let me rephrase that. I don't POST the pictures I take of those. Sometimes I feel guilty about that, like somehow I'm being fake.

 

 But I came to a conclusion this morning. There's nothing wrong with only posting my most favorite photos of Selah because in 10 years I don't think I'll remember the hard days, I will remember how beautiful my baby was.

 I will see her trying to be her grown up self and I will remember her sweet chubby cheeks and the way her fine baby hair framed her face just so.

I will think in fondness about how her long soft lashes completely encompassed those big blue eyes.

I will want to remember the way her toes curled around each other and how she crossed her legs, all relaxed.

The way she saw the world through the wonder that only a six month old baby can have, because everything is new to them. Everything is the first time.

 In 10 years I don't think I'll remember how my hair is a mess and I haven't had a good nights rest in weeks.  But I will remember in fondness that I have the most beautiful baby in the whole world in my arms, that I'm totally enveloped and completely smitten. I will remember that she's mine.

The best gift.

 

 

 

 

I love home videos. I think that might be the reason why I have such a love for photography, because you are capturing that one moment in time so you will never forget it. I often think about the videos I'm recording of Selah. Will she watch them all the time like I do? Will she be nostalgic just like me?

We found some old home movies a few months ago from when I was a toddler, videos we had never seen before! It was so sweet seeing me as a little girl and seeing how Selah resembles me-even though I'd still say she looks so much like her daddy! ;) There was one particular video where I was raising my hands up in the air and my mom said , "praise Jesus!" and then she would say it again, "Praise Jesus, Sarah!" and I'd raise my hands in the air again! A two year old giving praise to the King of Kings! I love it!

 

  Deuteronomy 6:6-9 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Seeing that video encouraged me to plant seeds into Selah's life early. I know for sure that those small seeds that my mama planted on the inside of me grew my faith from that tender, early age. It helped me grow into the woman of God I am today.

I want the words and example I speak to Selah to take hold in her life. I want them to be real life Jesus encounters so she will never question her faith! That's my prayer for my sweet girl.

 

But I need to be an example to my children first! I need to make time to get into The Word in the morning. I want them to see me meditate on these precious words that are LIFE AND MEDICINE to our flesh! I want His words to flow from my mouth without hesitation, without self consciousness. To know who I am in Christ, which will in turn teach my children who they are in Christ! That's one of the best gifts I can give!

Selah-6 Months!

Man, I am wayyyy late on this update! Selah is now almost 6 1/2 months old so this should've been up about two weeks ago! Whoops! :/ You all forgive me, right? ;) How is it possible that my sweet pea is already 6 months old?!

People told me so many times before I was born that I need to cherish every moment that she is a baby because it goes by oh so fast. I never REALLY knew how fast it would go until now. Selah is already half a year old-in 6 months she will be a toddler! It's so surreal! I'm definitely going to soak up these next 6 months watching my baby girl grow into the sweet girl that God has created her to be. How blessed am I that He chose ME to be her mama? My cup runneth over!

Weight: Selah baby is a little over 13lbs! She's a little baby with a lot of spunk! She is in the 2nd percentile for her weight-just like her daddy was when he was a baby.


Height: Around 26 inches-around the 20th percentile. Nicknames: Little Missy, Missy, Sweet Pea, Miha

Eating: Selah is eating mamas milk every 3 hours in the day. Last month we also started her on baby food and she is loving it! Her favorites are carrots, sweet potatoes, and applesauce.

Sleeping: Selah is an official crib sleeper! She is sleeping on average 10 hours at night which is great for mama and dada! We actually get to spend time together once she goes to bed now which is awesome!


Diapers: Size 2

Clothing: Selah is finally officially in size 6 months clothes! I just packed up the last of her 3 month clothes.

Social: Selah is loving the nursery at church! All of the nursery workers think that she is the cutest thing, always smiling and giggling!

Likes: rolling from tummy to back and back to tummy, being mobile-rolling all over her bedroom floor, her paci, bath time, mama and daddy.

Dislikes: not having something to chew on. This girl is teething, teething, and more teething! What we're looking forward to: Her 6 month photo shoot coming up in a few weeks!

Selah-5 months old

Weight: Selah is almost 13 lbs.

Height: I would guess 25 inches

Nicknames: Say Say, Little Missy, Missy, Sweet Pea

Eating: Missy is eating every 2 1/2 to 3 hours now! It definitely makes going places a lot easier!

Sleeping: We have actually been teaching Selah to sleep in her crib this week. So far she hasn't slept through the night in there yet but it's coming!
Diapers: We just bought our first pack of size 2's yesterday! They're actually the fancy shmancy red and white striped ones for Christmas! :-)   Clothing: 3 months!


Social: Selah went into the nursery at Church for the first time on Sunday. I think it was harder on me than her! She seemed to do pretty well in there!
Likes: her bath toy, taking baths, grabbing her toys, chewing on EVERYTHING!

Dislikes: when mommy and daddy aren't holding her.

What we're looking forward to: Christmas! I can't wait to give Selah her presents! :)

 

I never knew.

I never knew...

that being a mommy would change my world.

I mean I guess I expected it, but I never knew how much! I realize now how self centered I used to be. Having a baby is oh so humbling because since I've been a mommy it hasn't once been about me. Selah's need and wants top all of mine at the moment and I'm totally okay with that.

I never knew...
that breastfeeding is HARD.

I had heard it can hurt a little at first so that's what I was expecting. No one ever told me how bad it would hurt! I thought it would be something so easy, so natural for both of us but it wasn't. For the first 5 weeks it was a fight and a struggle every single time she had a feeding. For the first few weeks I would cry at every feeding because of the pain. I definitely wasn't prepared for that.

I never knew...
That I wouldn't use any of the knowledge that I learned in my childbirth class.

When I was in labor with Selah everything that I was taught went out the window. Even the breathing techniques never got used! I was so sure I would at least remember those but in that moment my mind was just trying to focus on getting through the pain.

I never knew...

that just hearing her cry would make me cry.

I never knew...

That my heart could love so much.

What's in a name?

Hello all!

I'm sorry I've been MIA as of late. Taking care of sweet Selah is keeping me on my toes! She is six weeks old today and I can hardly believe it! She is already growing up so fast. I'm trying to just soak in and cherish these precious newborn days because I know in just a few months I will miss her being this size.

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I first heard Selah used as a name probably a little over a year ago and honestly I wasn't too fond of it. I definitely LOVED the meaning and how it was from the psalms but I just didn't like the way it sounded in my head. I remember the first time I saw it I kept trying to figure out how it was pronounced.
 "See-luh. Sell-uh. How are you supposed to say this name?" I thought.
A quick google search answered my question because well, I google everything! and I was pleasantly surprised. Say-luh. It actually had a nice ring to it!
That night I went home and asked Louie what he thought of it. He LOVED it! While I, myself was still on the fence.

When Louie and I first found out I was pregnant we had a girl name that we had always planned on using. Cora. I had loved the name since high school and Louie liked it to so we were pretty settled on it. But Selah was always kind of in the back of our minds.

Fast forward about two months. We still had no idea if the little babe in my belly was a lad or lassie. My pastor came over to me and asked me to lay my hand on my belly. He then put his hand on top of mine and began to prophesy over Selah. He said a lot of things but I can't quite remember everything that was said. The part that stuck out to me the most, though was that he said that the baby would be a psalmist and would be very gifted in music. Immediately tears began to flow. I was so astounded and amazed at God because Louie and I had always prayed that our baby would be musical. Our pastor had no idea!
I was also amazed that he said she would be a psalmist because my husband and I had prayed continuously that this baby would be after God's own heart-like David. David just so happens to be the one who wrote most of the psalms! I knew then fully and completely that this word was from The Lord. There was no way it couldn't have been!

After the prophesy the name Selah immediately popped into my mind. I was thinking then that maybe the baby would be a girl! Louie still had me convinced that she would be a boy, though.

By the time I was 20 weeks and ready for the gender ultrasound Louie and I were both sure that we would have a boy! To both of our surprise we found out we would be having a little princess!

And so Selah she was! :)

We chose the middle name Abigail after much back and forth. We didn't actually decide on her middle name until we saw her for the first time. Once we saw her we knew Abigail was right for her!

Selah- "Pause and Reflect"
Abigail-"The Father's Joy"

And she certainly is such a joy!

Selah's Birth Story

It was 6:45am and we were on our way to the hospital to get induced. It was not at all like I always imagined it would be. I had always thought about the day I would have my baby, I had it all planned out in my head. My water would break in the middle of the night and hubby and I would have to rush to the hospital-not so much. It's funny how sometimes things don't work out how you plan them to. But when I look back on Selah's birthday I will always remember how God's hand was all over the entire day.

On the way to the hospital Louie and I prayed for complete peace and protection over both Selah and I. We also prayed for an easy, quick delivery and for wisdom for the doctors, nurses, and anesthesiologist. We prayed that Selah's birth would be an amazing testimony. It helped me so much after we prayed and also knowing that our Church family was praying for us as well gave me so much peace.

Once we got to the hospital we got all checked in and brought into the room. The nurse checked my progress and I was already 4cm dilated!! Then she started hooking me up to all of the machines and going through all of the normal questions. At this point it was starting to get real and I just couldn't believe that this would be the day I would meet my sweet Selah-my miracle baby.

Once the IV was inserted(which wasn't bad at all by the way) they started the Pitocin. Pretty shortly after I started feeling contractions and they weren't that painful---yet. At this point I would say they were a 3 on the pain scale. At about 9am my mom and sister, Melanie came into our room. I had planned to let them stay in the room for the labor but I told them once I started pushing they would have to leave. At this point they were holding out hope that I would change my mind. I had my mind set though. I wanted her birth to be a special moment between Louie and I. I was determined to make that happen. 

At about 10am the resident doctor came in and broke my water, this is when the real pain started. contractions started coming one after another, a minute apart or so. I just remember trying not to show I was in pain. I just kept my eyes closed and squeezed my husbands hand.

The next time the nurse checked me I think I was about 6cm dilated. This was at about noon I think. Then the nurse asked me if I was ready for the epidural. At this point my pain was at about a 4 or 5-it was bad but still tolerable. I told the nurse I was ready, I figured it was pointless to go through pain unnecessarily when I knew I was getting an epidural anyway. It's a good thing I decided to get one because the next half hour I had to wait was horrible! That pain was just so bad! Especially when they had me sit on the side of the bed and wait for the anesthesiologist.

Once the anesthesiologist came in the room he started explaining to me what was happening. Honestly I was not listening to a word he was saying, I was in too much pain. I just felt like I was in a fog. Once the epidural was in and the pain started to leave I was feeling a whole lot better. I was so relaxed-I felt like I was in a hot tub! lol It was great! I remember telling my mom at that point I don't understand why in the world anyone would want to give birth naturally!


At about 2:30pm the nurse checked me and I was about 10cm dilated! At this point my mom, two of my older sisters, and Louie's mom were in the room. When the nurse checked me she noticed that Selah was transverse which means her head was facing up instead of facing down. Babies can be pushed out when they are transverse but you need to push for a lot longer so we wanted her to turn on her own before I started pushing.
My sister Amanda came over and laid hands on me and prayed and declared that Selah would turn on her own.  Since it was about time to push the nurse made everyone besides Louie leave the room. Then the nurse sat me up in a really weird position to try and get Selah to flip on her own. Sure enough the next time she checked me Selah was facing the right way! Hallelujah!

After this the nurse had me do a couple of practice pushes and everyone kept telling me what a good pusher I was because she started crowning right away. She had my husband come look and he kept saying how much hair she had! So all that heartburn wasn't for nothing! ;) I knew it! The nurse told me to stop pushing so that my doctor would have time to get to the hospital. My doctor was at her office about 20 or so minutes away. While waiting for my doctor to get there I was so relaxed. I just know I had the peace of God that we had been praying for.

Once my doctor got there she got all suited up as well as the student doctor that was shadowing her. We also had a student nurse in the room to observe-this was the first birth she had ever seen. I was so happy that this birth would be one she'd always remember because God's hand was all over it and it was so evident. She was actually standing right next to me when my sister prayed.

My doctor had me do about two pushes and then told me I only needed to do about four more good pushes and Selah would be out! I was so excited. In between pushes I was still so relaxed and was literally about to fall asleep. I kept telling my husband that it felt like I was in a hot tub!

Sure enough, four pushes later and the nurse told me to open my eyes and look at my baby! That moment was one I will always remember. It was so amazing and I couldn't help but be in awe of God! They placed her on my chest and all I could do was cry. I bawled and bawled! I honestly thought I would tear up-I had no idea I would cry like that.

On July 16, 2013 my life changed forever. I became a mommy. I found a love in my heart for this sweet baby that I never knew existed. Even now I'm tearing up because this has given me a little glimpse into how much God loves me. I look at her and I think about how God gave His only son-for me! So I could be saved and spend eternity with him! How amazing is that?!

Louie and I are so blessed and in love with this sweet baby!

She's Here!!!

We are so excited to announce the arrival of our blessing from God!

 

Selah Abigail

5lbs 14oz 19 3/4 inches long

July 16, 2013

I will be writing her birth story in the next couple of days so be looking out for that! :)

 

It was such an amazing birth-everything we prayed for! God is so good!

38 week bumpdate!

Hello lovely ladies! Hope you had an amazing 4th! I had a pretty awesome one even though baby Teal did not make her grand entrance! :) I actually turned 38 weeks Prego on the 4th so here is my belated bump date!

 

How far along? 38 weeks!

Baby's size? She's about 6.8lbs and is over 191/2 inches long

Weight Gain? about 30lbs

Belly button in or out? in still but pretty flattened out.

Sleep? I've been waking up at 4:30am everyday and I usually can't go back to sleep for about an hour afterwards.

Foods I am loving? If you haven't tried the smore frozen hot chocolate shake from Dairy Queen you definitely should! Man it is good!

Foods I am hating? Carmel. Gross!

Best moment this week? My last day at work was last Saturday! It was so surreal! I'm officially a stay at home mommy! :)

Movement? She's been moving all over the place!

Symptoms? Using the bathroom ALOT more! Especially when baby girl kicks my bladder. And alot of heartburn!
 
Gender? Sweet baby girl!!!

 

 

 

 

I won't forget.

I sat in that doctors office. So very nervous, stomach in knots. Staring in a mirror at the reflection of the girl I'd never thought I'd be. The one longing to be pregnant. The one who tried, hoped, prayed, and dreamed of the day when she would carry a baby in her womb. That was the reason I was there, to find out what was wrong with me. As the doctor went over each option my heart sank a little more with each word she said. But after all the tests were said and done she couldn't find one thing wrong with me. Not one. Praise be to God!

One year later I'm in that very same office, staring at what would seem like the same girl in the natural. But It's not. I'm not her anymore. My name is no longer just Sarah, but mommy. I smile because I'm remembering how far I've come. I remember the ache and the pain, He replaced with joy and dancing. That empty womb, He replaced with a miracle baby. I see this huge 9 month pregnant belly and I am thankful. Oh so thankful.

It's funny how many people complain about those doctors appointments-especially the last month of them when you have to get a pelvic exam everytime. It's not the most pleasant experience-I admit. But a few weeks ago as I was leaving the doctors office I was rejoicing that I get the opportunity to go to those doctors appoinments! That my baby girl is growing healthy and strong and will be here in a few short weeks! How could I ever be annoyed about those doctors appointments? How could I ever forget?

I believe God has been showing me lately that if we could just learn to see His goodness in every situation then we'd never have anything to complain about!

It reminds me of the story of the Israelites after God brought them out of Egypt. That had just crossed the red sea-not even a hair on their head was injured. When the waters rushed back down after they had made it safely across the sea they watched as the egyptian solders drowned. They rejoiced knowing what a good God they served. But then not even a few chapters later they began to complain and worry! They had forgotten that soon how God had preserved them, protected them, cared for them! How could they forget what He had already done?

This is something I have been guilty of doing many a time! I start to worry about little things and forget all of the amazing things The Lord has already done for me! How can I ever worry? How can I ever doubt? He has my best interest in mind always! His goodness encamps around me like a shield. I can't ever forget. No, I won't ever forget!



Pictures in Baby Girl's room! :)



37 weeks

I'm actually 38 weeks tomorrow btw!

How far along? 37 weeks! We're getting so close!!

Baby's size? She's over 6lbs now! My app says the size of a watermelon.

Weight Gain? about 30lbs

Belly button in or out? in still but pretty flattened out.

Sleep? Hasn't been too bad except for waking up to potty.

Foods I am loving? Ice cream! Preferably from Dairy Queen.

Foods I am hating? Carmel. Gross!

Best moment this week? This week I'm full term! Wahooo!! At my doctors appointment last Friday I was 2cm dilated and 90 percent effaced! She told me to make sure I get my bags packed because it looks like this baby is not going to wait until her due date to make her appearance!

Movement? She's been moving all over the place!

Symptoms? Using the bathroom ALOT more! Especially when baby girl kicks my bladder. And alot of heartburn!
 
Gender? Sweet baby girl!!!

Dear Sweet Pea.

Dear Baby girl, I love you oh so much! It's so amazing to think that we get to meet you in less than 6 weeks! Time has flown by! It seems like just yesterday I was staring at the pregnancy test that would change my life forever-seeing that one word I had waited so long to see. Pregnant. I hope someday you will know just how much your daddy and I wanted you and prayed for you. I keep thinking about the day when you will enter into the world. I'm so excited to just hold you in my arms and take in your sweet smell! I'm excited to see if you look more like me or your daddy. I hope you'll be a good combination of us both! I especially hope you have your daddy's hair! :) I know there will be times I will miss the days of you being in my womb, so I'm trying to enjoy them. I know I will miss feeling your sweet hiccups and having a special bond with you that no one else has. I love feeling every roll, kick, punch, and whatever else you've been doing in there! It's so much fun for me! There have been times I've complained about heartburn, backpain, and weight gain. But you know what? YOU are worth it! There hasn't been a day that has gone by where I haven't been so thankful for this gift I've been given! You are a gift from God little girl. Don't ever forget that! I love you always, Mommy.

33 weeks pregnant

How far along? 33 weeks (But technically 34 today, I'm a bit behind on these!)

Baby's size? She weighs as much as a pineapple


Weight Gain? about 30lbs

Belly button in or out? it's in still! I'm wondering if it will ever be an outie!

Sleep? I sometimes randomly wake up at 4am and cant get back to sleep for an hour or two.

Foods I am loving? I'm liking chocolate again! And ice cream! YUM!

Foods I am hating? Carmel still sounds pretty gross.

Best moment this week? Taking my maternity pics and coming to the realization that next month we will have our sweet baby! So amazing! :)

Movement? She's been moving all over the place!

Symptoms? Using the bathroom ALOT more! Especially when baby girl kicks my bladder. And alot of heartburn!
Gender? Sweet baby girl!!!

What a Gift!

It really bothers me when people make negative comments about having babies/the number of children someone has. Children are a blessing NEVER a burden!

Psalm 127:3"Children are a gift from the Lord, they are a reward from Him."

What an Honor!

Everyday I sit back and think about this amazing, astounding gift God has given me. My heart grieves when I hear people saying negative things about having children. Like the common,

"You're going to lose your freedom."

"Enjoy never sleeping again."

"You have HOW many kids?"

"Why would you want to have kids so early into your marriage?"

These words grieve my heart because when I hear them I'm reminded how much our country and society has devaulued our children. To make us think that children are burdens. How sad.

I have a coworker who is 8 months pregnant with her 4th baby. I overheard her talking to a customer yesterday who was being extrememly rude. When the customer heard that she was having her 4th baby she told her she was out of her mind. Then when the customer got up to leave she told my coworker to have her tubes tied!

That's the kind of society we live in?!

Having a child is an honor, a gift that should never be taken for granted!

Psalm 127:3(The Message)

"Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?
    the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows
    are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
    with your quivers full of children!"

I'm thanking God for giving me this baby, this gift! Hallelujah!

Mommy Five {Link-Up} #1

Hello Mommies! :)

I'm so excited to be a co-host in this new link up with Heather aka the sweetest girl ever! I seriously love her heart! It's also her birthday today so make sure to pop by her blog and wish her a happy 22nd!

The question for today is 5 things you can't live without as a mommy(or mommy to be) in my case!

1. TUMS-Seriously I've had some pretty crazy heartburn since i've been prego. I'm thinking this sweet pea is going to have LOTS of hair! ;)

2. Old Navy- In my opinion old navy has the best maternity clothes that don't cost you an insane amount! I think it's pretty ridiculous to spend so much money on a wardrobe you will only wear for so many months.

3.Breast Pads- This might be TMI but these are super important! If I forget to wear these to bed I wake up with a soaked shirt! I hope this means I will be a breastfeeding champ! Lol

4. Massages- I love massages from my hubby after a long day.

5. Ultrasound photos- I just love looking at these and being reminded of this little girl that's coming into our lives in just two months! I actually have her ultrasound picture on my phone background so I can see it all the time!