Lela- Moments with Me: 2008

Saturday, November 15, 2008

The Latest, Long Overdue

I'm attempting a new post! Wow! Is it actually happening?

Yes!

We've been busy to say the least. Not so busy that I couldn't have posted something, just have a ton of other things I'm spending my free time doing ('free time' has a whole new meaning to be now). Truett is a busy, 7 1/2 month old boy! He is playing on the floor a lot, on the verge of crawling. At first I was encouraging it, trying to help him learn to get up on his knees. Then I realized that would change my life forever --- I would be chasing him around the house trying to keep him out of things. So, he's on his own now :) (but it won't be long - just today he 'crawled' over to a basket and tried to get in it). He is full of joy and such a delight! He giggles a lot and it brightens my day. We've also been busy with family and friends. I had a couple of visits with my dear friend, Robyn and her little one Hannah (who is already 1!!!). We've had alot of Artie's family in and out of town too. We're hosting Thanksgiving this year, so now I'm busy with those details - which I thoroughly enjoy, I might add.

My post is short, but a post none the less.

Here are some photos to catch you up.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

A Passionate One

A few weeks ago, I was rocking Truett thinking about his little characteristics that have started to unfold before my very eyes. All the sudden, the pieces fit together ... Truett is a passion little thing! Everything he does, he does it with all his strength and with alot of heart. When he plays, he plays hard ... bobbing his head while on tummy time, trying to talk (which sounds more like squeeling), and trying to move toward a toy on the floor all at the same time. When we stand him up in our laps (which is his favorite way to posture himself) he digs his feet in, holds his head up proud, throws his arms open wide and squeels until it makes him laugh. When we give him a bath, he stares with intent at the running water and tries to reach it and taste it too. And unfortunately, when he gets mad he is passionate about that too. He stiffens his legs, pulls his eyes tightly shut and makes this cute frustrated sound. What comes with being the mother of a passionate child? Multiple prayers for wisdom in how to channel this passion toward Christ. What a great challenge to have?!

He's a precious one! He gives smiles away pretty freely. Just today I had to run some errands and everywhere I went he just smiled at everyone he saw.

It's starting to get really fun now. He likes to lay and play for awhile, I'm learning how to get out more and more, and he sleeping through the night!!! I think I had totally forgotten how good it feels to get a full night's sleep! We're approaching the time when I can start feeding him food, I'm very excited about that. I'm reading up on it as the time is quickly approaching.

So - that's my update. I know I'm due to post some of our wonderful NC vacation photos. I will do that soon. Thanks for keeping up with us. God Bless!

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Lullaby

Truett loves music! Have I mentioned that? I guess he would, given that I spend my first seven months of pregnancy on a stage twice a week singing in front of a drum set. Plus all the coorporate gatherings of God's people in singing that I participate in. Music just seems to calm him. I guess because it takes him back to the safety of being in the womb. He's been in the world only 4 months now and he was in the womb for 9. I don't blame him. We have a sweet time of worship together everyday. He just lights up with a smile when I sing to him. It's the dearest thing in the world. Here is his lullaby that he requests frequently, which is a prayer of mine for him...

You're a little piece of Heaven
You're a tiny ray of light
And I wish I could protect you
From the worries of this life
If there's one thing I could tell you
It's no matter what you do...

Hold to Jesus
He's holding onto you

The world will try to tell you
That might is more than right
That beauty is on the outside
And being good is a losing fight
Hold to what I tell you
For the world will make you choose

Hold to Jesus
He's holding onto you

Hold onto Jesus
And cling to His love
Rest deep in His mercy
Whenever things get rough
Don't lose sight of His goodness
And don't ever doubt this truth
When you hold onto Jesus
He's holding onto you

Here me dear Jesus

Rock this little one to sleep

Keep him close when he's scared

Give him grace when he's weak

I know he'll stumble

But I know he'll make it through

If you hold onto him

Just like You said you'd do

Hold him, Jesus

So he'll hold on tight...to You

"Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus."

~Philippians 3:12~

Thursday, June 05, 2008

3 Months Old

How does this happen so fast? Truett is almost 12 weeks old. It's hard to believe that much time has passed. Though some times I feel like he's always been a part of our lives. I can't imagine life without him now?! What did we used to do all day?

Truett is growing so much. He weighed almost 13 pounds at his 2 month well visit! He is really holding his head up while holding him, and while laying on his tummy too. It's so funny, he gets very serious while trying to balance his head with arms stiffed out and legs squarely in line. It's adorable! He is really cooing, gurggling, and "singing." He smiles SO big (especially when we greet him after he wakes up). He is reaching for things and laughing at his toys. He is actually majorly teething right now! The doctor said he has two top and two bottom teeth coming in. This early? My mother said that I was an early teether. O well, I guess let's just get this over with, right? He's not taking it too terribly (yet?!).

He is the love of my life. I am enjoying my call to raise this little boy. I'm taking advice by really just enjoying the time I have with him right now. I'm not in a hurry to get busy, I'm just enjoying having a new baby! Because before I know it, he's going to want to get down and play.

Just a few of the names I call Truett: Butter Bean, Pumpkin Pie, Sugar Beet, Buster Brown, Love Bug, Buddy Boy, and Momma's Baby. Artie calls Truett: BOY (it's so cute!). My mother (or Ma-Dea) calls Truett: Mister Buster (she says it in this little voice she uses, it's so funny, Truett lights up when she calls him). My sister Charlotte calls Truett: Twooit (like Elmer Fud..."We're hunting wabbits"). My niece calls him: Baby Truett. My Dad calls him: T.Lee (for his middle name). And some of the kids at church call him: Tru Dog. Needless to say, he's got a few nicknames.

He enjoys rocking, singing, taking a bath, music, going on walks, swinging, being outside, his paci, and being with Mommy and Daddy (and others that love him). We stay pretty busy. It's amazing how fast the day goes. Before I know it, it's almost time for Artie to come home and to get dinner going.

We going on our family vacation this summer to North Carolina. Can't wait! There's a ton of us going. We're staying in my mom's cottage and then will visit Artie's mom too. I'm looking forward to being outside without this horrible heat, getting fresh air, and just enjoying the blissful beauty of outdoor NC. We'll have lots to post about when we return.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Sweet & Funny Moments...

Okay, I have had several "posts" on my mind, just not really finding the time to post them. I have some sweet things that happen and I always hope to get it on a post. Then I have funny things happy and I always think, "this would be funny to tell." The trouble with doing it, you ask? Well, Truett's afternoon nap (which isn't totally consistant in time nor duration yet) is the only time I can think to do it (because at night I'm usually too fried to even have much of an adult conversation with Artie, unless I've had a nap ... which means I didn't post during the day -- get that? --). And the computer is located right next to him at the moment. So, I'm still working on that. But, the good news is, I'm finding a minute to do it now (at the forsaking of a nap and getting my own rest).

Truett is doing great! I caught up on my reading yesterday of where he "should be" developmentally and it amazed me to realize that he has been ahead of 'schedule' (who writes this stuff anyway?) all along -- so far. He has been smiling for a couple weeks now ... especially at me and Artie. It steals our hearts! He is holding his head up quite a bit and loves to look around, especially at the reflection of light (which Charlotte says is an attribute of an artist!). He can hold his head up while laying on his tummy. And lately, he has really started to coo and talk. It's so funny when he tries to "talk" to me or smile at me while he's nursing. Milk comes out everywhere and he just stares at me with a big smile and gurgles his lunch. So cute! It makes me laugh everytime. I am getting back into a little bit of "norm". I'm getting a walk everyday (which is the only way he'll take a long morning nap at this point). I'm back in church (though Wednesdays are hard, still working on those). I'm LOVING being a mother to the dearest little boy and the wife of the sweetest man on the planet. I LOVE my husband more than ever and I am head over heals in love with my son. Life is good! (It's hard work and tiring, but it's wonderful.)

Funny Moments...

1. I was trying to get my hair and makeup done for church one Sunday, and Truett just wanted to be held. So I put him in a baby sling with my bra and underwear on and stood in front of the mirror bouncing Truett, doing my hair and trying not to drop any makeup on him while applying it. :) Classic mother moment, huh?

2. So, going green, I walked to the postoffice from our house to buy some stamps. I grabbed my checkbook and Truett's paci and headed out the door. When purchasing them, I wrote my check and gladly handed it over - proud of my "killing two birds with one stone" kind-of day and the lady said, "How great that you walked, now I just need your Drivers Liscense." "WHAT?" I didn't have it! So, needless to say, I returned home without any stamps.

Sweet Moments...

(How to choose?)

1. Everytime I nurse, it's a sweet moment. I love the bond that Truett and I have together. He just stares at me, I love his big brown eyes staring at me.

2. One time, I couldn't get him to go to sleep. I was trying EVERYTHING. Finally, I just did what came natural ... I cuddled him close in my arms, swayed back and forth and sang praise songs right into his ear. He went right to sleep! (He LOVES music ... I have to keep a CD going in room while he naps. This shouldn't surprise me, I prayed non-stop when he was in the womb that God's praises would be written on his heart.)

3. The first time and every time he smiles at me!

4. Truett and I's prayer time together. We spend time praying out loud in the mornings. We pray for Daddy, for STF, for family, for our home, for friends, for his future wife and friends, etc.

4. When Artie gets home from work, he comes in and says, "Where are my babies?" and he gives both of us a kiss and tells us he's glad to be home (this makes my day!).

5. Before Artie and I go to bed, we go into Truett's room to do our final 'check on him' (yes, we still check on him every now and then), and we both just look at him and then look at each other and smile so big, then we pray for him when we say our nightly prayers together.

I could go on and on ...

I LOVE our little family and am proud to be the mother of this sweet little boy.

Thanks for keeping up with us. Email me! LelaMcCall@verizon.net

Here are some photos to keep you coming back...

Thursday, April 24, 2008

One Month Old

Hi Friends!

Things are going great with Truett. He is growing, growing, growing!!! I went to a friends' house yesterday to meet up with her and her one week old baby for a stroll and it was so amazing to see Truett bigger than another baby (it was my first time seeing that). My, they grow fast!

He is such a sweet baby. He has a very sweet and content temperment. Did I mention he is BEAUTIFUL!? He is starting to smile a little bit at me in the mornings when he's fed, changed and well slept. It steals my heart!

We still don't have much of a schedule - though I see us settling into one slowly. We were really struggling with no morning nap, besides little cat naps here and there, but then this week ... I figured him out. He is a paci/thumb (once he can find it) baby! And he also has to have praise music on to take his nap ... so sweet! I was hoping he wouldn't be a paci baby and I was fighting it, but I can only nurse him so many times before he'll just fall asleep. I thought about it yesterday though, I sucked my fingers for 10 years!!!!!! I found much comfort in my sucking, so why am I depriving my child from that joy? (Because I want to save him - and Artie and I $$$ - the teeth issue.) But, O well.

So, the other part of all this ... ME! It is quite an adjustment. It's a major change in daily life, in marriage, physically, spiritually and everything in between. I have a new found respect for my mother (how in the world did she do this SIX times and so close together?!?!?!). I pray more than I ever have in my life (and out loud too!). I call on the Lord in ways I never have. I see the Father heart of God in a whole new way. He LOVES us so much! His heart is always for us. He is contantly acting for our best. Yet, there are parts I cannot relate to God --- He NEVER tires. His patience NEVER runs out. He is NEVER selfish. He NEVER over reacts. He is the PERFECT parent. I find a lot of comfort knowing that I am free to know the Perfect Father and to call on His help and wisdom in caring for my child.

It blows Artie and I's minds that God chose to give us this child. We are called to shepherd his heart and to be his connection to Christ --- and Christ is his connection to God. What a priviledge and a humbling task ... to be the connection point to the Savior of every soul. And to get to do that to the love of your life ~ your child! Amazing!

Okay, I know my thoughts are scattered, but that's all I have time for right now. At least until I understand our day a little better.

Here are some photos to keep you coming back :)

Truett's first visit to Daddy's office :)

Friday, March 28, 2008

Truett Lee

So we have a new love in our lives ... our new baby boy ~ Truett Lee! We are so happy to announce his arrival on March 19th. He is just perfect and the prettiest baby in the whole wide world! Here's my proof...

We had a long road in labor (31 hours!) but he is well worth the work and wait. We are praising God for our healthy baby and spending most of our time, energy and affections on this new life God has given us.

Artie and I are doing good too. We're tired, but making it. We try to nap but it's hard when you just don't have much free hand time.

We stopped by the church office today to show him off to the staff - - - he's a celebrity over there. We're anticipating quite a wake when we finally make it to church.

My brain is pretty scattered right now - so that's all for now. I'll write again and bring you more pictures of our little man.

Love,

Lela (new Mommy!)

Saturday, March 08, 2008

9 Months Pregnant!

VERY PREGNANT ~

Well, I am officially 9 MONTHS pregnant! (And trust me, I can tell!!!) I have only one week left until my due date. I'm on the weekly doctors appointment rotation now. It's funny, when I walk in the office (waddling and limping from my sciatic nerve being pinched by this baby's position), the ladies at the front window just wave at me and say, "Don't worry about signing in, Lela, just have a seat." Then, the other day I was coming out of a dentist appointment and I passed a mail man walking the sidewalk. He took one look at me and said, "Wow, you've got the any day walk." I always swore I would never waddle when I was pregnant ... but Lord have mercy! Now I know why there is such a stigma this late in the game. It is uncomfortable and you are ready for this baby to be born!

At the same time, it is trully a delight. I have had a wonderful pregnancy with no complications and really no discomforts (minus the 1st trimester sickness and the last few weeks). I praise God for the health of me and the baby. I will admit, though, every morning I pray for it to be the day for this baby to be born. My spirit is lifted and my expectation is in Christ alone.

BABY SHOWERS ~

So I know that I am so late posting about this too ... sorry! I had two very fun baby showers. One coed at a friends house (Artie LOVES opening presents for those of you that don't know! I read the cards because I LOVE words and he tears open the gifts). And another shower with five very sweet, gracious hostess'! Artie and I have felt very overwhelmed with the generosity and the kindness expressed to us as we prepare for this little one on the way. I honestly do not know how we could have done this without our very supportive families and our incredibly loving church family. We are very thankful to each of you!!! (And thanks to you, we have a nursery full and ready to go, just missing a baby really.) Here are some photos...

STAY AT HOME "MOM" ~

Though I'm not a mom yet ... I am officially staying at home now. I resigned from working at South Tampa Fellowship to stay home and begin the awesome chapter of raising this precious piece of Artie and piece of me (and other children to come, Lord willing). It has been quite an adjustment for me in more ways than one. I want to write a post about this in particular, but don't have the energy right now, plus Artie is telling me he's starting to get hungry - so I better go start dinner, after all he did install a new garage door opener for me today.

For now, I am passing the time by nesting quite a bit with cleaning out closets, running errands, organizing random things, cleaning EVERYTHING, catching up with old friends, cooking, baking and constantly being sure the house is picked up because "this could be the day!" (And trying to make myself relax too because my mother keeps telling me, "save up your energy to push that baby out!) But most of all, I am WAITING on this sweet baby boy to come into this world and let Artie and I begin to love him and share with him the faithfulness of our Wonderful God!

UNTIL LATER ~

So, I guess until delivery ... I'm signing off. Stay tuned for photos of the most beautiful baby in the whole wide world :)

Much love to each of you!

Lela

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

God of Time

I am so emotional! This part of pregnancy is such a different experience. I cry so easily. A friend passed on a new album for me to take a listen to. There was a song that made me cry as he sang about time because this morning I read that I have 47 days or 6 weeks left of this sweet pregnancy time. It's hard to believe that we're coming to end of the beginning of this journey. We had dinner with a couple from church last night and were telling our story of the miracle of this child on the way. To stop and remember our travelings and our faith walk thus far has really moved me. To remember the times of prayer, pleeding, believing and walking with God as we sought to start a family moves me still. "Time" has been a common thought for me for this whole road I've walked. And "time" is also the center of my prayers for our coming son. My verse for him is Deuteronomy 7:9...

"Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is GOD, the faithful God, who keeps his covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commands."

And "time" is where God specializes.
A song of my heart sings...

You're there in the struggle

You're there in the fight

You'll be there all the time!

We praise You...

The God of our yesterdays

We praise You...

The God who is here today

We praise You...

Our God, as tomorrow comes.

We thank You...

For grace in our yesterdays

We thank You...

For peace in our hearts today

We thank You...

Our Joy, as tomorrow comes.

We will trust you God!

You're always closer than we know!

The God Who Was, Who Is, and Is to Come!

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Holiday Photos

So I figured out what keeps me from blogging. Sometimes I feel like I have too much catch up to sit down and write the past events, in order, with pictures. So - I'm starting a fresh. I'm not going to attempt to catch up on things, I'll just share some pictures from Christmas and then get right back to where I am. Hopefully this will get me on track for 2008 :)