Newborn Must-Haves!

To say that Taylor and I have learned a lot over the past 5 (almost 6!!!) months would be an understatement. Our lives are completely different (in a good way) and now our conversations revolve around Lucy's feeding schedule, when she last pooped and oh-my-goodness-did-you-just-see-that-adorable-face-she-made??? We now live in Babyland and the bane of our existence is all things baby! So I thought I would share a few of our favorite things for those who are interested! I'll also include some not-so-favorite things that I would recommend against. P.S. Links to the items are underlined.

Baby Gear:

Clothing. I didn't realize a 0-3 month size range existed until after Lucy was born and was 8 lbs. She fit newborn clothing for a short time but then I wished I had purchased those clothes in 0-3 mo size so she could've worn them longer. We loved one-piece sleepers (still do!) and recommend ones with zippers instead of snaps. If Taylor could give one piece of advice to new parents, he says "don't get sleepers with snaps, they are impossible to figure out in the middle of the night." I think at one point he also told me that outfits with a lot of snaps should be illegal. Haha. I have found that a lot of the cutest outfits have snaps, so having a few of both gives everyone some options. :) 

-We like Carter's Sleep and Play onesies. (They don't have size ranges, only NB, 3,6,9,12 mo)

-Target also has some inexpensive zip-up sleepers that come in size ranges NB, 0-3 mo, 3-6 mo. (*These have an inverted zipper meaning it starts at the top and zips down to the foot which I really like)

Sleep. Lucy liked to be held a lot as a newborn (still does!) so when we discovered that she loved to be swaddled (still does!) it made it easier to put her down to sleep in her crib.

-We registered for the SwaddleMe Original swaddles which we liked (the velcro wore out by the time she was about to grow out of them, size Small fit her until about 3 months) so then we bought...
-Halo SleepSack (She is currently in size Small, there is also a newborn size). The Halo SleepSack allows the arms to be swaddled or out which is great for when arms no longer needed to be swaddled.

-Noise machine. (CD player & MP3 file "Brown Noise") We play white noise in the background for Lucy's naps and at night. It really helps create a consistent environment for sleep; we can play it in the car or at Grandma & Grandpa's. It also blocks out extra noise in the environment to help her sleep better and longer (at least that's what I tell myself). ;) We bought a CD player and burned an MP3 file onto a CD that we play on repeat while she's sleeping.

-Blackout Curtains. I'm sure any brand will work fine. These ones match her nursery and block out bright daytime light. I have read that newborns shouldn't sleep in complete darkness during the daytime to help set their internal clock. Once Lucy had day and night figured out for the most part, we had her sleep with the curtains drawn.

-Chicco Pacifier. Our girl didn't take pacifiers for awhile and they are still kind of hit or miss. She mostly likes one when she's sleepy. Otherwise, she is more interested in chewing on it! I found these one-piece silicone pacifiers that are perfect for sucking or chewing- whatever Lucy feels like doing at the moment. They also come in several sizes... who knew that pacifiers have sizes! Ha!

On the Go. The Moby Wrap was a lifesaver for me! Lucy loved (required) to be held almost constantly for the first couple months of her life. I used to think I'd never be one of those moms who would carry their baby everywhere. I believe "I will be emotionally stable enough not to have to carry by baby everywhere" were my exact thoughts. Ha! But what if your baby doesn't want to be set down and cries until you pick them up??? Then you carry them in a baby sling! Lucy did really well in the Moby, but I know other brands are great too, I just haven't used them. She would even fall asleep and take long naps in it as I was moving around and making noise! I already miss being able to carry her like that all curled up against my chest... it was definitely a special time I will always remember!

-Ergo baby 360 carrier. We like this sturdier carrier that is supposed to fit babies/kids up to 33 pounds. I can wear it but it also fits Taylor well. It's good for longer walks or trips when you want to carry your baby for a longer amount of time. We got the newborn insert which was great; Lucy fit in it until about 2 months old.

Diaper Time. This changing pad called the Keekaroo Peanut Changer was recommended by my sister in law. It's a bit pricey but it's really awesome. It's made of a soft, rubbery material that is easily wiped down. I liked the idea of a quick cleaning vs. changing and laundering a changing pad cover each time things got crazy. The only thing I don't love about it is that sometimes it feels a little cool to touch. I usually have a burp cloth on the top part for Lucy to lay her head and back on. It comes in several fun colors!
-Boudreaux's Extra Strength Butt Paste works great. It has 40% zinc oxide so you are getting the most active ingredient for your money!

Play Time. I don't think babies need a large amount of toys, but it's nice to have a little variety for when they start being able to hold things and show interest in objects. I really had no idea what toys were developmentally appropriate, so thankfully a few kind souls gifted us with some great ones.

Lucy & Mr. Monkey

-Bright Starts crinkle toy. Lucy has the monkey one that we affectionately call "Mr. Monkey." He was her favorite for a long time! She loved the crinkle sound he made when she held him and she was also really interested in his face! She still likes to hang out with him and now likes to chew on his rubberized feet. This toy has stitched on details so you don't have to worry about any of the facial features being a choking hazard.
-Crinkle books. We love these things for the car as well as just about anywhere. Before Lucy could really grab onto anything, she was still able to "play" with these books because they just sat on her lap. She would bat at them with her hands and sometimes get a hold of them. Some of them are even machine washable, which I would highly recommend!
-Plastic links. These are the best!!! Now that Lucy can hold onto items means she can also drop/fling them out of reach. We have tethered many of her toys to her carseat, stroller, play mat, etc. so that they stay within reach and off of the floor. She likes to chew on them too. The other day I threw them in the dishwasher! I'm not sure if they are technically dishwasher safe but they seem to be fine.
-Activity Floor Mat. We have this one, but there are many styles that would work. Lucy loves hers and enjoys playing with her "animal friends" as Taylor calls them. She is getting good at grabbing them and seems to think they are very interesting. The only thing about this particular mat is that the fabric is a little slick. Sometimes I wonder if it makes it difficult for her to get traction to roll over or prop her head up when she is on her belly, but she doesn't seem to mind. The good things is that the fabric wipes off easily. The bottom mat un-hooks from the bars and I've thrown it in the washer a few times. We are big about machine washable and dishwasher friendly items around here!!
-Baby Einstein Musical Toy- This is a great little toy. Lucy still gets very interested in it when we turn it on. There are colored lights that blink in time with the classical music it plays. There are two volumes which is nice, but the music is actually nice to listen to! :)

(This post is not sponsored in any way, I'm just a big fan of these products and wanted to share!)

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The Contentment Project: Week 4.

Welcome to the final week of this year's Contentment Project! I'm so glad you joined. This month, I hope you were able to gain something from the challenges, encouragement, and weekly scripture memory. It's hard to combat materialism and worldly distractions, especially this time of year. So let's finish the challenge strong this week!

Challenge: Simplify your Surroundings.

I seem to accumulate stuff. I am not sure how it happens so regularly, but it does. Actually, I know exactly how it happens. I go to the store, see something cute or on sale, and decide to buy it without considering if it's necessary, if I have room for it, or if I already have a similar item. This also has to do with self-discipline, which I struggle to demonstrate at times! Anyway, I think we can all agree that we have too much stuff. Over the course of this week, take inventory throughout your home. Clean, sort, organize, discard, and donate. You may not have much to get rid of, and if so, that's great! But make sure that you take stock of your possessions to make note of what you actually have. This way, "what you need" won't be confused with "what you want" the next time you're at the store (or shopping online) and see that neat looking item that's 50% off. As you work through this challenge, be mindful of the gift each item is, whether you really need it or not. Sometimes when I get on a roll and I'm in the cleaning spirit, I can get carried away with purging and don't take the time to have a grateful heart about the items I am getting rid of. Wise purchase or not, the Lord provided me with the finances to afford it and that is a blessing! So, as you're adding to your Goodwill box, make sure you're thanking God for all He's given you. And ask Him for wisdom and self-control moving forward!

Weekly Scripture Memory:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 NIV

Encouragement:

As Christmas is approaching, it's easy to get caught up in the materialism and commercialism of the season. Parties, special programs, holiday sales and family gatherings... it's a busy and fun time! All these things are not inherently bad, unless they distract us from focusing on the Lord. Do they make us forget about the real reason we gather together with loved ones, exchange gifts and read the Christmas story? We can combat the worldliness of the holiday season by considering where we place our hope- is it in the things of this earth? Or is it in the gift of Jesus? Where are we storing up treasures? Like it says in Matthew 6, our hearts show evidence of where we place our treasure (our hope). For me, I can get caught up in finding contentment in worldly treasures. They may be nice for awhile, but I soon realize that nothing fulfills, comforts, and brings joy like hope in Jesus does. My heart quickly becomes discontent with earthly treasures. His eternal promises- his treasures in Heaven- are what should occupy our hearts, as they were designed to. His gifts will never disappoint and his love will never fail. May you truly experience His treasures this Christmas season!

Love,

Annie

Artwork from She Reads Truth.

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The Contentment Project: Week 3.

It's Thanksgiving week! One of my favorite weeks of the year. Growing up, my memories surrounding this holiday consist of traveling to either Ohio or St. Louis to celebrate with family. The people, the food, the fun times and games... these were the best parts of joining together to fellowship with loved ones. The last few years have been different as we haven't traveled out of state. Our Thanksgiving traditions have changed because we have our 2 immediate families close by that we are able to see within the same day. I recognize this as a huge blessing! Now things are even more different this year as we are experiencing things as a family of 3 for the first time- and we have our own little Turkey to be thankful for! I'm getting so excited to start our own traditions for holidays and other special times (birthdays!), and while Lucy is still a little too young for most of them, there is one that I definitely want to start this year (mostly because I need it, ha!).

I've named it Attitude of Gratitude Week. This may already be a thing, but I'm going to use this phrase and start something new for our family. My thought behind the idea is that it's one thing to say you're thankful for something, and it's another thing to actually be thankful for something and show it in your attitude and actions. (At least this is difficult for me...) Saying you're thankful for things is very good and should definitely be happening on a regular basis. However, to make it more challenging, I'm going to try to implement an action along with each aspect of thankfulness. This is going to take some brainstorming and some creativity, but I think it will be fun, and will have a great outcome in our heart-attitudes. Want to join?

Come up with 5 things you're thankful for and think of 5 practical actions to go along with them. 

Do one each day Monday-Friday (or since Monday is almost over, Tuesday-Saturday :). For example, I wrote a note to a friend today to share how thankful to the Lord I am for her. Simple, intentional and not focused on me. Less stuff, more Jesus.

Challenge:

See above! "Attitude of Gratitude" week! This will be fun :)

Weekly Scripture Memory:

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:15-17

Encouragement:

How did last week go, with no extra spending and no extra Social Media/Email checks?? To be honest, it didn't go as well as I had hoped it would for me. I was distracted this past week by several difficult things going on and let my self-discipline slip. Initially I used the circumstances as an excuse not to deny myself those time-wasters. I felt that I "needed" a distraction but I was convicted and realized that I was just causing myself to miss out on the growth that could've happened if I had replaced the time wasters (i.e. internet, tv, social media) with face-to-face conversations, prayer time, Scripture reading, etc. I'm starting fresh this week... and I'm so thankful for God's grace! 

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a wonderful week celebrating God's lavish blessings!




Artwork from Pinterest.

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The Contentment Project: Week 2.

I don't know about you, but the events of the past week have made me long for contentment even more! When situations are chaotic and people disagree, I think it points even more clearly to our need for God. He is in control, He always has been and He always will be. This is reason to have joy! I hope this month-long challenge is going well for you so far! Hopefully you have decided upon your spending-free categories and have been able to replace some of the desire for stuff with a greater desire for Jesus. Have you been able to start each day with the Lord, before time in the mirror, social media or email? Keep giving your first and your best time to the One who created time, and holds all time in His hands.

Here's what's up for week #2!

Scripture Memory:

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you"  Hebrews 13:5 NIV

Challenge:
Pick one, or both! I'm going to do both, because I need to do both. Maybe you've already mastered one of these, and if so, you're awesome and I want to be like you!

1) Only one social media check per day. This means a limited amount of time spent on each of your social media accounts, only once per day. If you spend a lot of time on your e-mail, for non-work-related purposes, then you can include e-mail too. I've chosen to do 10 minutes on Facebook and 10 minutes on Instagram, which means I've already used my allotment for today. I'm looking forward to real-life conversations, more book-reading, eye contact and being present with those who are in the same room! I anticipate this will also reduce discontentment and comparison as I will be forced to look around at all that I do have and be thankful for it!

2) Cell phone-->Home phone. Remember those phones that had cords and were attached to the wall? Those phones were just phones, not minicomputers with addictive qualities. My cell phone typically moves from room to room with me and is either in my hand, in my purse or sitting beside me on the table, couch, etc. It is distracting and gets my attention sometimes more than the human beings in the room. (This is sad!!) What really alarmed me the other day was when I noticed that I was looking at my phone while Lucy was looking up at at me smiling, and I was missing it! (Really sad!!) I do not want her to grow up consistently receiving half of my attention, especially in the young, formative years.  I want to give my full attention to those around me- this is respectful and loving. I don't want to miss out on things right in front of me. I do not need my phone for work, so you may need to modify this if you do. However, I think most everyone can agree that having a cell phone within arms reach does not make us a better wife, mother, friend, customer, employee, etc. to whomever we are with in the moment! Don't get me wrong- I really appreciate technology and don't wish for a life without it. However, I want to be better at managing my use of it, rather than it managing me. In summary, the challenge is to treat your phone like a "home phone" when you are at home. Pick a location in your house, maybe beside your actual landline phone if you have one, and park your phone there. Turn the volume up and walk away! If it rings, you will be able to hear it. If you miss a call, you can just call the person back. And if you miss a text, it probably wasn't that urgent. ;) ***Bonus! If you plug your phone while it's sitting there, the battery will actually be charged when you need it to be! This is great news for my ailing battery.

Encouragement:

As I've mentioned, the month of November is "Money Month" at our church. Yesterday our pastor said something that really stuck with me. "The people who are truly rich are those who look around at what they already have, and are content with it." Let's look up from our phones, tablets, and computers, and look away from the mirror, the media and the negativity in the world, and see all that the Lord has already given us. It's beyond anything that we deserve, and it's more than enough.

Artwork from Pinterest.

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The Contentment Project: Week 1.

Hello everyone!

Welcome to the first week of the Contentment Project! I'm so glad you're going to join in. Like I said before, this time around is going to be pretty simple. Less stuff, more Jesus! This week {today} you'll need to make some decisions and commit to them for the entire month. Think, pray and write, and let's grow in contentment and gratitude over the next few weeks!

1) No extra spending for the month of November! Decide what you're not going to buy and stick to it. For example, I am not going to spend money on any unnecessary items for myself (clothing, home decor items, Starbucks...). Think ahead to any required expenditures and plan to make allowances for those items only. (Another example, I need to purchase on a pair of shoes for my sister's wedding so that I can get my dress hemmed before the holidays. Also, I might need to start some Christmas shopping for other people before the month is over). Maybe you don't want to spend extra money eating out, or you might want to challenge yourself by giving up purchasing items online. Whatever it is, make a commitment, but make sure it will be challenge you. If you've already spent some extra money this month, that's okay. Start fresh today!

2) Weekly Scripture Memory! Write this on an index card and tape it to your mirror, or somewhere you often look. Repeat this Truth over and over in your mind and commit it to memory!

Philippians 4:8
"Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things."

3) This Week's Challenge: Every morning, before you look in the mirror, look into God's Word. When you wake up, give God the first and the best of your time. Out of habit, and for no good reason, I automatically check my phone, look at Facebook/Instagram and check my email. This has no benefit to my soul and certainly doesn't foster contentment in my heart. What would it be like if I gave the first few minutes of each day to the Lord? How would my perspective change if I first gazed into the perfect Word of God that is holy and beautiful, rather than gazing at various social media outlets that depict the depravity of the world and make me feel discontent? I plan to find out! Join me in starting every day this week by taking at least 10 minutes to read the Bible and pray.

4) Be encouraged! Make sure to remember why you're taking part in this challenge. When we give certain things up, they leave behind a gap that can be filled with something else. Giving up extra spending leaves the opportunity to be grateful for what we already possess, and reminds us about what is really important. Often, I tend to think about things that I want. When I get one thing, then I immediately think about the next thing that I want. By simply going on a hiatus from this pattern, I open up space to think about better, more important things (How can I bless others?), and I can actually be grateful for what I already have (God's blessings). Keep in mind why you're doing this challenge and make this month worthwhile!

I'm reading a book by Linda Dillow called Calm My Anxious Heart. I would highly recommend it if you haven't read it before (or recently!). It's all about choosing contentment. The chapter I read today spoke about our thoughts and the power they have on our level of contentment. The author writes "Our thought life-- not our circumstances-- determines whether we are content. Our thought life-- not our friends, husband, children, job or anything else-- determines our contentment!" What we think about has an enormous impact on our hearts. What we see and hear affects our thoughts. Philippians 4:8 tells us how to get our thought life on track to lead us to contentment. Dwell on the things of God... things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. He can help us to renew our minds {our thought life} if we simply ask Him and seek out His truth. He can transform us by renewing our minds! Romans 12:2. I'll leave you with another quote by Linda Dillow: "ultimately, contentment is more a shift in attitude than a change in circumstances." Let's shift our thoughts and attitudes toward contentment this week, no matter our circumstances!

Artwork from Pinterest.

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The Contentment Project.

It's November, which means it's that time of year again! I have been doing an annual gratitude challenge for the past several years and can't believe it's already time again! I'm going to do a more simplified version this year (due to my little distraction named Lucy) and I'm challenging myself to be content with that! (Oh the irony! Haha.) Previously, I have sent out emails inviting friends in my address book to join in the month-long challenge, but this year I'm going to post each week on my blog/Facebook and extend an invitation to anyone who is interested! You can message me your email address if you'd like for me to send the weekly challenge straight to your inbox, or you can follow along on your own by checking my blog every Monday. Either way, I hope you'll join!

This all started several years ago when our church did their annual "Stewardship Month" series about finances and honoring God with how we use what He's given us. I had also heard the term "No-spend November" thrown around and felt up for a challenge. So I brainstormed a way to incorporate all of the above into something that I named The Contentment Project. I also invited some friends to join in to make things extra fun. Since then, November has become a month for me to slow down, simplify my life, and take account of all that the Lord has blessed me with. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, my heart is much more content and ready to give thanks! 

So, for this challenge, I'm going to DECREASE my focus on stuff and myself and INCREASE my focus on Jesus and on others. Because my relationship with God makes me who I am, and affects everything I do, I simply cannot cut Him out of the picture. The posts I write will be from a faith-based perspective, but you don't have to share my beliefs to join in. There are lots of things that all of us can work on and I hope my thoughts can be encouraging to everyone, no matter what.

Here is what #theContentmentProject entails:

-Commitment to give up extra spending for the entire month of November (We can do it!!!! We are already 3 days into the month anyway ;P)

-Mini-challenges, including fasts from social media/TV/internet
-Weekly Scripture memory

-A weekly email sent out every Monday in November full of encouragement, the weekly challenge and glimpses of God's grace! (I will also post it on my blog)

So that's it! Send me a message or comment below if you want to join in! I'll add you to my weekly email list. 

I'm excited to grow in gratitude with you this month!

-Annie

Artwork from http://pursuitcommunity.com/seek-day-8-by-kathleen-clipper/

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The birth story of Lucy Rose Moore.

Taylor had to work a 24 hour shift on Sunday, June 26^th, so he left bright and early for the Richmond Lifeline base. I stayed in bed for a little while longer before getting up to get ready for church. After I went to the bathroom I quickly discovered I lost my mucus plug! (sorry, TMI) I called Taylor to tell him but we decided that we didn’t really know what that meant, so I left for church. I was having some light Braxton Hicks contractions, but this was nothing new since I’d been having them for several months. After the service, I talked with my in-laws and they asked if I wanted to get something to eat. Jena knew that I was having Braxton Hicks and had lost my mucus plug and she seemed a little concerned. So we decided to eat brunch at Cracker Barrel. I was hungry and thought that it would put Jena at ease to keep an eye on me for a while. :) In the meantime, Taylor was still at work and was getting nervous that things would start to happen while he was on a transport. I was still having a few Braxton Hicks contractions each hour, but they were nothing more than an uncomfortable tightening like they had always been and I was convinced that nothing was going to happen for a few days at least. It was a hot, sunny, beautiful day!

I called Taylor on my drive home and he reminded me that I had a “very low threshold” to call him when I felt like things were different and labor was starting. Nothing concrete had changed that I could verbalize to him. I just felt different, but I kept telling myself there was no way I could be close to delivering since it was still 9 days until Lucy’s due date! I had been trying to mentally prepare myself for going past her due date… I was convinced there was no way I would go into labor this early. I spent the afternoon cleaning the house and organizing various things. I baked chocolate chip cookies and watched When Harry Met Sally while I put together a lamp I had ordered for the nursery. We still had a few finishing touches before the nursery would be officially complete. For dinner I had leftover fajitas from the Mexican restaurant we went to the night before. (Subconsciously trying some labor-boosting old wives tales, apparently). By nighttime I was still having consistent Braxton Hicks contractions but nothing about them had changed. Taylor and I talked once more on the phone before I went to bed around 11:30pm. He was nervous that he would get called on a transport in the middle of the night and not be able to come home quickly. We prayed together and decided to go to bed; there was no good reason for him to come home yet. Plus, I was still convinced that I would not go into labor for at least another week!

I woke up around 2:00am on Monday, June 27th to a new feeling in my lower abdomen- a tight cramping that was now slightly painful. I opened the contraction timer app on my phone and timed a few. They were lasting about 1 minute and were 3-4 minutes apart. I called Taylor and told him “I think it’s time!” He didn’t waste any time coming home and arrived in about 35 minutes (it usually takes him about 1 hour to drive from Richmond…!) I was so glad he was back. I had hoped to labor for a while at home before going to the hospital. For the next few hours I alternated between sitting/bouncing on an exercise ball, walking around the house packing our bags and then leaning over Taylor during each contraction. I found that I didn’t like lying down and preferred to be upright during contractions. We called the number for the Obstetrician at the hospital around 4:15am and after answering her questions she told us to come to the hospital in about 1 hour if my contractions continued. I labored for about 2 more hours at home and then we decided to leave for Community Hospital North. I was not looking forward to the 30 minute drive, but I was also not excited about being told to go home because I wasn’t far enough along. At my last OB appointment the previous Friday I was 3 cm dilated so I was hopeful that I would be dilated at least another centimeter or 2 by the time they checked me. We left for the hospital around 6:30 am and arrived at OB triage just before 7am (and just in time for shift change! :P). There was another couple in front of us already getting registered so I went to the restroom and walked around the waiting room while I had a few more contractions. Once we got checked in and I got hooked up to the monitor in the triage room, the nurse checked my progress and found I was 4 cm dilated and 90% effaced! They decided to keep us and started my IV and drew labs. Taylor called my parents to tell them we were staying. They were on a trip that had been scheduled before get found out we were pregnant. We didn’t know what they were going to do but I was really hoping that my mom would decide to come back home!

I quickly discovered that I didn’t like sitting on the bed and not being able to stand up or move around during contractions. It felt like an eternity but finally another nurse came in to take us to our labor & delivery room. I opted to walk there because I was tired of sitting down through the contractions. Our nurse for the day was Laura and she was awesome! She was with us for the entire labor which was a huge blessing. When we told her about our desire for a natural labor & delivery she was immediately supportive and asked for our birth plan. We gave it to her and she taped it to the wall right inside the door. We had composed a birth plan as an attempt to be organized but were holding most of it loosely because we knew how unpredictable things could become. The main goal was to have a safe & healthy delivery for both me and Lucy. We had taken a natural birth class, the Bradley Method of Husband Coached Childbirth, and I felt prepared and determined to stick with what we learned as closely as possible. Taylor was already being an awesome “coach!”

After we got into the room, Laura hooked me up to the toco-monitor to get a 20 minute reading of Lucy’s heart rate and my contractions. Since I was planning to labor naturally, I was allowed to be off the monitor for 40 minutes of every hour, as long as everything was going well. I was also able to drink clear liquids, so Taylor gave me sips of water and Gatorade throughout the day. The 20 monitored-minutes seemed like forever because I just hated lying on the bed! But then Laura unhooked me and suggested using the exercise ball that she had brought into the room. I found that sitting on it and slightly bouncing in between contractions and leaning on Taylor during them was the most comfortable routine for me. Before I knew it, Laura came back in to hook me up to the monitor again. She said I could stay sitting on the ball while on the monitor and I was so glad to be able to remain in that position! But then all of a sudden I got super hot and sweaty and felt nauseous. I was pretty sure I was about to throw up so Laura got a basin for me and Taylor helped put my hair up. Laura also gave me a cool washcloth for my forehead. The feeling passed a few minutes later and I was glad I didn’t vomit. I wondered if that signaled my transition from first to second stage labor, but I thought it seemed too early in the process to be at that point already.

I continued the sitting, bouncing, water-sipping and leaning through the contractions. The whole time Taylor was there encouraging me with words and his presence. I asked him to read some Scripture to me from index cards that I had written out. He read a few but then for some reason I needed him to stop talking so I could repeat just a few words in my head, over and over, during each contraction. Those words were short prayers to the Lord for strength. Never before have I prayed so consistently or every few minutes for so many hours, and never have I been so desperate for God’s sustaining hand. The Lord was so faithful to give me peace and comfort in my spirit despite the physical pain and discomfort in my body. He allowed me to be calm and speak kindly to Taylor when at times I felt like being rude or short with him for no other reason than because of the pain. I was determined to continue laboring naturally and knew that complaining about a choice that I had made would be pointless. Plus I knew that remaining calm during the process would bring glory to the Lord because there would be no possible way I could be patient and peaceful if it weren’t for the Holy Spirit’s presence and power! There would literally be no other explanation for behaving counter to my sin nature! More than anything, I wanted the entire experience to bring honor to God… whether I had to get a C-section, or was able to deliver naturally. This was my true heart’s desire!

Our nurse checked me again around 9:45 am and I was 7 cm dilated and 100% effaced. Knowing I had only 3 cm to go really motivated me to keep going! I kept focusing on my breathing and relaxing my whole body during each contraction. Taylor said I was “in the zone” which is a good way to explain it because I don’t have many clear memories from this time. Since I had nixed the Scripture reading (ha!), Taylor played worship music on his phone instead which was in the background for most of the rest of labor. It was so soothing for both of us. We continued the pattern of intermittent monitoring and spent some time walking the halls. I was also able to get in the shower which was a great suggestion by Laura. The hot water felt so good on my abdomen and took the edge off during contractions. At some point during the morning my mom texted Taylor to say that she had gotten a flight out of NYC and was landing in Indy at 4:20pm. I was so glad and thankful she was going to be here to meet Lucy as soon as she was born. Knowing she was on her way was so reassuring!

My dilation was checked again at noon and it was 9 cm. The hours after that seem like a blur in my memory. I continued to breathe, bounce and lean through contractions that were getting more intense and a little closer together. The doctor came in to meet us at some point during the day; I can’t really remember when. Dr. Wagner introduced himself and explained that my OB, Dr. Pierce, was at another office for the day so she wasn’t able to be there for the delivery.  A little while later I was at 9.5 cm and soon after that, 10 cm and Laura suggested that I try to push. I really wasn’t feeling the urge to do so but she thought it might help Lucy get into a better position. We tried a few pushes but nothing really happened. Laura thought Lucy was still too high up. So, I got back off the bed and onto the ball and continued to work through contractions for another hour. I knew we were getting close to meeting our little girl!! The next hour seemed like a blur. 

I tried pushing again around 2:20 pm and Lucy had progressed further down so we decided to keep at it. I kept waiting for the feeling that I’ve heard women talk about, that “overwhelming urge to push.” I felt a little pressure and a different type of sensation, but no overwhelming urge. I felt slightly discouraged because I thought that meant we weren’t as close to the end as I had hoped. I was positioned on the bed with Taylor at my right and Laura to my left with my knees up to my chest. I hadn’t necessarily wanted to push lying on my back (had originally planned on squatting or semi-squatting) but at this point I didn’t care. When each contraction started Taylor counted me through each push with a deep breath- “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!” Strangely the pushing took away the discomfort of the contractions and this motivated me to continue. Maybe this was the “urge” people talked about? I kept pushing for about 35 more minutes when all of a sudden Laura said “Okay stop!” during one push. She could see Lucy’s head and quickly called for the doctor. It seemed like he took forever to get there but he arrived in only a few minutes. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to push during my next contraction which didn’t sound fun because of the pain that was more present while not pushing. But when he got there he told me I could keep at it and he and Laura prepped the drapes while Taylor kept coaching me through each push. I pushed for about 10 more minutes before Lucy’s head came out! I was working so hard with each push and was starting to get tired. I just wanted the contractions to stop and for our little girl to be born! During the push where her head emerged Taylor’s face looked worried all of a sudden. He said “push, push!!” and the look on his face and sense of urgency in his voice made me give it every last ounce of effort I had. I heard Laura page the NICU team and then she started putting a ton of pressure on my pubic bone. At this point I knew things were serious and that I had to give it everything I had. Several more pushes and about 1 minute later, after 13 hours of active labor, at 3:06pm, out came our girl! I didn’t hear any crying but I was strangely at peace. Again I knew it was the Lord sustaining me in that moment. I could see my baby with my own eyes and felt such relief. I didn’t know this at the time but Lucy’s shoulders had gotten stuck and her face was blue when her head came out. That is why Taylor looked so alarmed. They took her over to the baby warmer to stimulate her and then I heard her cry. I spoke a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord and nothing else mattered! Our daughter had been born! They placed her on my chest and I was overcome with disbelief and joy. I couldn’t believe she was finally in my arms. Then they took her back to the warmer and weighed her; she was 7 lbs 15.9 oz so they rounded up to 8 pounds! I heard someone say, “wow, Big Lucy!” I was tickled to know I gave birth to such a big (in my opinion) baby! We had not expected an 8 pound newborn, especially since she was 8 days early!

There is a little more to the story because Lucy’s oxygen levels were in the 80’s (normal is high 90’s) and she was making little grunting noises, both of which indicate inadequate oxygenation. The NICU physician was paged and evaluated her and put her on a little bit of oxygen. He suggested she go up to the NICU for observation. I expected to become emotional and at least tear up when I held Lucy for the first time, but there was so much going on that the urgency of the moment seemed to cancel out the happy tears, at least for the time being. Taylor went with her to the NICU and I stayed behind to get stitched up and to receive some Pitocin to help my uterus clamp down. In about 30 minutes, as soon as I was allowed to get out of bed, Laura helped me get cleaned up. It hurt a little to walk but the pain seemed irrelevant at the time because I just wanted to see my baby! Laura got a wheelchair to take me up to the NICU to be with Lucy. At that moment I could not have been more grateful that I didn’t get an epidural because I wouldn’t have been able to go anywhere if I had! Another one of God’s gracious provisions. When I was wheeled into the NICU room where Lucy was, I saw the most beautiful sight that brought tears to my eyes for the first time that day- my husband holding our newborn daughter. She was all bundled up and he was looking down at her so sweetly. She was hooked up to the monitor and a quick glance at it told me that all her numbers looked good. Thank you, Lord! Taylor and I switched chairs so I could hold Lucy and try to breastfeed her for the first time. As I held her in my arms, it still felt surreal that our baby had finally arrived!

We were able to get Lucy moved back down to my hospital room in less than an hour. Her assessment and vitals were normal and she wasn’t grunting anymore. We were rejoicing in her good health and quick improvement! As soon as we got back downstairs we let our families know they could come back to see her. My mom had arrived from the airport and Taylor’s parents and sister were in the waiting room. It was a very special time to see them meet and hold their granddaughter and niece for the first time. We started texting and calling friends and family to share the news. My brother was on a summer mission trip in Colorado so I was able to call him and tell him that he was an uncle! He was going to get to come back in the middle of his mission trip to meet her 2 weeks later. Taylor and I spent the evening holding our little girl and gazing into her sweet, sleeping face. We were officially a family of 3!

Giving birth was the hardest, most rewarding and most worshipful experience I’ve ever had. It was also a strengthening experience that deepened our marriage. It was like running a marathon, half naked and up a steep hill, and receiving the best prize at the end. No, not a shiny medal or banana and cookie, but instead we received a precious, angelic bundle of joy… our daughter Lucy Rose! It was truly the most amazing experience. It was exhausting, messy and not at all glamorous, but at the same time it was beautiful. Our daughter came straight from our Heavenly Father… entrusted to us for this life. What a priceless gift! We truly felt the prayers of friends and family during the entire day. We are so thankful for a healthy outcome for both Lucy and me. God’s goodness has never been more evident to us- to Him be the glory! Little did I know that there were many challenges yet to be experienced as first time parents of a newborn, but God’s faithfulness has only continued. The adventure has just begun!

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What's in a name?

In just about 2.5 months Taylor and I get to meet our daughter! We are awaiting her arrival with great anticipation and excitement, but have many questions too. What will she look like? Sound like? Be like? Hair color? Eye color? Length and weight? These are questions that we will know the answer to soon after she is born. However, more than all of these superficial inquiries, I wonder who she will be. What will she be passionate about? What will she find joy in? What will be her talents, dreams, hopes & fears? I've found myself pondering her identity. I pray that she will find her complete purpose and fulfillment in a relationship with Jesus, and that this will be the core of her identity. There are other things that play into who she is and who she will become, too. One of those things is her name! After some debate we have chosen a name for our sweet daughter-to-be:

Lucy Rose

It feels good to say it and to be one step closer to getting to know this little human being! If you ask Taylor, I may have made the process a bit more of an ordeal than necessary, but we made it through to the other side in mutual agreement. There is something about the concept of naming a person for their entire life that caused me to feel slightly overwhelmed and entirely motivated to take the responsibility seriously! Among other criteria, we wanted to pick a name that has special meaning and could serve as a life theme of sorts. Lucy means "light." Rose is my sister's middle name and my paternal great-grandmother's first name. To me, these two names create a picture of a promise. Our prayer for our daughter is that she will come to know the One who is the Light and as a reflection of Him, be a beautiful light in this dark world. Our blessing over her is that she will be strengthened and inspired by the meaning of her name and live this out as a sort of calling. May she be a sweet glimpse of God's light and love to everyone she meets!

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A Word for the Year.

The start of a new year is always an exciting time! The promise of a fresh start is renewed as resolutions are created, lists are made and new adventures are planned. I especially enjoy reflecting over the past year and pondering God's faithfulness through yet another 12 months. That enjoyment turns to excitement when I think and pray about what He has in store for the next 12 months. I typically come up with several (unrealistic) resolutions and then fall off the wagon by February. I end up disappointed but brush it off with the thought, I'm sure it will be a good year anyway. This is more of an assumption to quell my feelings of failure rather than an active belief in God's faithfulness.

Knowing the pattern I've gotten myself into, I decided to do things differently this year. I made no written resolutions or goals. Yes, there are many things I need to improve on and want to change, but clearly I needed a new approach. I asked the Lord to give me a word and a scripture for 2016. My desire was to have a theme for the year that would weave a common thread through each moment and season, all pointing me back to Jesus. I needed simple and straight forward and this seemed to be both.

As I sat on December 31st with my Bible and journal in hand, almost immediately the word Abide popped into my mind, along with the passage from John 15. I flipped the pages until I arrived at Jesus' words about the Vine and the branches. I read the first part of the chapter:

The Vine and the Branches

1  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9  “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14  You are my friends if you do what I command. 15  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17  This is my command: Love each other.

Wow. What rich and beautiful words. Jesus' words to his best friends, his disciples. And his words to us. Remain in me. ABIDE. This very word invokes a sense of rest, peace and security. Not in the world and its fickle ways. But in Jesus, the lover and saver of our souls. He gently reminds us that we can do nothing apart from him, nothing that is good or lasting. He reminds us that we can have complete joy in him and the strength to really love others. He gave us a perfect example of what a life connected to the Father looks like. Then he died for our sins, though he had committed none. And now he calls us friends.

After reading and considering the passage that I would make my theme for 2016, I realized I needed to make one goal. More of a resolve to become, rather than a resolution to do. Here it is:

Become a true disciple of Jesus.

This has already been a desire of mine and there are a million ways I've already failed. We attended a seminar at our church recently and one of the sessions was called "Becoming a Disciple." I knew immediately which one I had to attend! What a gift to have received this extra encouragement right at the beginning of the year. It felt like the Lord was saying I want this for you too. The speaker discussed spiritual disciplines of being a disciple (prayer, studying Scripture, worship, serving, solitude) and also touched on guilt vs. grace. If we are focused on our performance and checking off the disciplines as if they are duties, we will experience guilt and failure when we don't measure up. Conversely, if we focus on trusting Jesus, we will be able to practice these disciplines by his grace.

Abide. To me, this word embodies an assured calm that is reflective of Christ's character. The dictionary says that abide means to 'continue in a place, to sojourn.' That's what we are to do as disciples of Jesus. To journey with him, but to remain stationary in him. He tells us to "remain in his love." What a lovely dwelling place. Let us be the branches we are meant to be. And let Jesus be the vine. The result will be beautiful, lasting fruit!

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