Now is the time!

Being a mom is one of the greatest privileges on earth, but it can also be pretty dang challenging at times. I've experienced the most immense amount of joy, but I've also felt down and overwhelmed at times throughout the past several months. It's easy to get so caught up in my "to do" list (and the fact that I'm never going to get it all done), that I sometimes let precious moments with my baby boy slip by. I'm trying to make a concentrated effort to live more in the moment and let the other stuff go. It's the time I invest in our little boy that counts the most right now. When Bill and I were planning our wedding,  my mom told me to remember that "it doesn't have to be perfect to be perfect." That stuck with me because there is so much truth to it throughout everything in life. There can be hiccups here and there along the way, but it's those hiccups and bumps in the road that point us toward our Savior.

During my quiet time recently, the words "dog hair and dust" came to my mind.  The amount of dog hair and dust in this house sometimes drives me absolutely bonkers. I spend way too much of my time dwelling on the fact that I can never seem to get everything clean for more than 10 seconds (please tell me I'm not the only one?!). After thinking about the dog hair a dust, two more words came to my mind. Those words were "joy and trust." I felt like God was telling me to stop worrying about all the dog hair and dust in life (all the things that take our time and attention away from what really matters) and to start focusing on having joy and trust. I want to find joy in the moments I spend with my precious family, and I want to trust that God is in control even amidst the chaos of life. I can trust in the fact that even when I feel like I'm going crazy, God is still the same yesterday, today, and forever. And he will take care of me. One. Day. At. A. Time.

I can worry and fret my life away, or I can sit back and simply trust God. That is what the Bible commands us to do after all.  I'm not just a sinner saved by grace. I'm a wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend saved by grace. I won't ever be perfect at any of those roles, but I'm grateful to know someone who is. And as I strive (and often fail) to follow his example, I'm confident that he will be there to catch me when I fall and guide me onward. I hope you too will allow him to turn the "dog hair and dust" of life into complete "joy and trust." I think it will be worth it for you and me both. God bless!

P.S. For moms out there, I found this blog post extremely encouraging. I'd encourage you to read it if being a mom has sometimes made you feel "amazingly blessed and fiercely terrified" at the same time. Enjoy!

It's almost February, and I've got major catching up to do! Life was crazy over the holidays, and I never could find time to blog. Things are settling down a bit, so I thought I better get caught up while I can. Wesley will be 8 months old in just over a week, but let me rewind a couple months to Thanksgiving and our 6 month old.

We spent Thanksgiving in Dallas with the Bailey family, and it felt great to have everyone together. Like always, my Aunt Tina did not disappoint with her delicious cooking! And my mom did not disappoint with her amazing pies! The food was incredible, but I think the even bigger hits of the day were Wesley and cousins Johnny and Juliet. Babies just seem to make everyone happy! Family is so important to us, and though we should be grateful for our loved ones each and every day, it's nice to have a specific day in which we could be together and just relish in the love we share for one another. Most importantly, we gave thanks for our Savior and the love and grace he's shown to each of us.

After Thanksgiving, it was time to decorate for Christmas and savor the season with our happy 6 month old! At his 6 month appointment, Wesley weighed 18 lbs 3 oz (59th percentile) and was 28.5 inches long (still the 100th percentile). He's still our long and lean guy, with some adorable fat rolls here and there. How has it been half a year already?! Time. Is. Flying.

At 6 months, Wesley enjoyed jumping like crazy in his jumper, getting baths by dad, being thrown up in the air, having someone blow on his tummy or neck, grabbing on to Scarlett's fur, having his feet tickled, playing with touch and feel books, being read to, going to music class, and going on walks with Mommy and Daddy. As long as he's not hungry or super tired, he's a pretty happy little fellow. He loves movement and doesn't like to be in one place for too long. He knows hows to wear this momma out sometimes!

Wesley is rolling all over the place and can sit (very briefly) on his own before toppling over. At 6 months, he typically goes to bed between 7:30 and 7:45, and he wakes up between 6:15 and 6:30. He'll also take two hour to hour and half naps a day. He takes 6-7 oz of formula and breast milk 4 (sometimes 5) times a day, and he's eating solids around 4:45 each afternoon. He sometimes gets solids mid morning as well. So far he's really enjoyed rice cereal, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, and pears. He was not a huge fan of peas (and I don't blame him!). Wesley definitely loves to eat. Hmmm, I wonder who he got that from?!

I feel like the more he grows, the more fun he gets! In 6 short months, Wesley has turned our world upside down in the best way possible. It's hard to believe that in no time at all we will be celebrating his first birthday. I need not get ahead of myself though. I want to savor each day that I can while my baby is still a baby.  Below are a few pictures of our 6 month old and his first Thanksgiving.