Katy at 5 months

She still smiles all the time

learned to roll from front to back and back to front (look out world)

chews on everything

might be teething

giggles especially at James

is looking more and more like a combination of James and Anna

Can't sit up yet but is working on it

loves her swing 

loves to be in the sling (as long as she can see out)

Needs to see what is going on (especially when nursing)

Melts your heart

is a good sleeper

endlessly entertains us all

is such a sweet soul

She really is

Pure {Kaitlyn} Joy {Joy}
She fits the meaning of her name so well

Taken on 8/20/2010 two months old
Someday soon I'll explain why we gave her the name. :)

A night to remember

*Written about my last girls night out on August 5th. I am starting to realize that I may not get caught up on my blog as it is taking me too long. I may just have to skip to the present pretty soon here. : )

My friends arranged to have a fun girls night right before we were to move away. It was decided that we would go to the cheesecake factory (which is located at a mall) and then do a little shopping.

These are the beautiful woman who were able to come that night. There were 12 of us.

I was craving a salad....and salad I did get. This picture doesn't do it justice, Oh my word, it was the biggest salad I have ever seen. :)

After we finished eating it was pretty late and there was only about 10 minutes left to shop. So we had a mad dash out the door. Everyone scattered in smaller groups and went to their favorite places. Somehow we all managed to find one another again in the middle of this outdoor mall. The stores had closed but no one felt like ending the night just yet. Janel announced that we needed to make this a memorable night. She suggested that we go run through the water fountains. We all walked over there admiring the view at night. It really is a lovely place to go at night with the streets being all lit up and soft dancing music being played for the enjoyment of all

I didn't really think that anyone would ACTUALLY do it. But three of my friends (Janel, Jenny and Nicole) decided it really would be fun to run through the water.

Standing there watching them (and laughing) I thought, "I really wish I had enough guts to be that fun." Oh be careful what you wish...

I laughed so hard watching them that I nearly wet my pants! :) I asked them to get together so that I could take their picture. They had asked if I would like to join in the fun but I had declined using the excuse that I needed to take pictures.

Next Pam (my friend who takes amazing pictures) offered to take a picture of all 4 of us. She made me hand off my camera. They decided it would be nice to hug me, getting me all wet in the process.

I should have known it was coming, but the next thing I knew after a wet embrace was that I was being dragged into the fountain. :)

And before I know it I was running through too. Forgetting my age, forgetting that this was my last night out, just being caught up in the joy of being together and having fun like I was a child again.

I have not laughed so hard in so long. This picture truly captures the essence of the evening for me. It was definitely the BEST girls night we have had in a long time.

Thank you sweet friends for giving me the greatest gifts. The gift of laughter and the gift of your friendship. I treasure each and every one of you. Thank you for giving me a beautiful night that I will always remember!

You Capture: Joy

This weeks You Capture challenge is "Joy". At first I thought about taking pictures of my kids and husband. Obviously they bring me much joy. However, I really wanted to capture the thing that brings me a deeper, fuller joy then anything else in life....that would be my walk with my Lord. I find such joy in spending time in His Word. When I am able to rise early in the morning before my children, I brew a pot of coffee and sit in the quietness of the of the new day at my Saviors feet.

This is my chair...my quiet little corner of the house.

One of my favorite passages highlighted in the Psalms.

Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; in thy right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:11 NASV

Head on over to Beth's blog to check out how others captured joy.

Attitude check

I love how God uses simple things to remind me of where I need to be. Today it came in the form of a runny nose and a sore throat...

This week our family has been battling a nasty cold. First I came down with it, then Claire, then this morning Anna woke up with a sore throat. I have to admit that I was tempted to give into thoughts of, "Ugh, I am going to have to adjust my plans for the day." (Right I know, real loving). We were obviously not able to have a normal school day. Instead of feeling stressed about it, I decided that we would spend the morning doing some quiet activities. We snuggled and read lots of books together. After lunch I played games with the kids, more snuggling, and then I sent the kids upstairs to have some quiet play time while I did a few chores around the house. After chores were done and supper started we headed outside to enjoy the air that had turned crisp and fall like.

You would think with being sick the day would have been rough (because that's often how it is), but it wasn't. We actually had a very enjoyable day. I tried to put my finger on why it went so well. What made today so different? I realized that it was my attitude. I have a very type A personality. I like order and structure and schedules. I like lists and the feeling of accomplishing my tasks. In the past (and sometimes still) when things change I have a hard time going with the flow. Today I let go of my to-do lists and allowed God to lead me and show me what would be best. Today was a gift (never mind that it was covered in snot :)).

Angela Thomas in her book, "Tender Mercy for a Mother's Soul" says, "Being a mommy is both a gift and a burden. The responsibilities are never-ending and sometimes feel all-consuming. Yet the day will be won or lost, not based on my accomplishment, but based on my attitude. The grace of God can set my attitude free to be to be the mommy. By His grace, my frustrations can be replaced with peace. By His grace I can speak calmly and listen patiently. By His grace, I can forsake my to-do list and play with my children. By His grace, I can celebrate the season called Mommy."

The day is not won by what I accomplish...did you catch that...but by my attitude!! I love that! That is so true!! The day will NOT go well if I am grumpy. It will not go well if I see my children as a checklist. They are gifts given to me to shape and mold, and I have a responsibility to model Christ like behavior to them. But, I cannot do it without Him. God's grace to me is so amazing. By His grace I can take a deep breath and say, it's okay to be sick and just snuggle this morning. By His grace I can surrender my heart to Him and ask Him to replace it with His.

It's days like this that give me the strength to go on, and the ability to celebrate the joy of being a mother.

4 weeks

Wow, it's hard to believe that I gave birth to Claire 4 weeks ago already! It seems only a moment ago. I know a month isn't that long, but seriously time is just flying by. Even though I have been through this baby faze 3 other times before it is so amazing to watch another baby grow and change. Every stage is still exciting. Watching a life blossom is the most precious thing.

Claire is a very sweet baby. She is a bit fussier then any of our other babies were. For awhile she screamed all the time. That was very frustrating. She seemed like she was in pain all the time. I decided to go completely off dairy this week to see if that would make a difference. So far this week has gone really good. Claire has cried much less, she hardly spits up, whereas before she would spit up all the time and often it would be A TON. I think we may have found the solution. Sigh! Giving up dairy is going to be hard...I love cheese and milk and butter. But, the bright side is I will likely loose those 25 pounds I have left to loose a lot quicker! Having a happy baby is totally worth giving up any kind of food!

I am so enjoying having a newborn. Even though there is a lack of sleep, I don't want her to grow up so fast. I want to savor every minute. Sometimes I stay up a tad later then I should, just because I am taken by her sweetness and how soft and cuddly she is. Speaking of, I hear my baby calling. I must go and tend to her...

Happiness

*A list of things I am thinking of today that bring me joy.

Time in the Word

Hearing my children laugh

Watching Bill wrestle with the kids

Freshly bathed babies

Clean sheets

Homemade bread

Coffee

Bill's sense of humor

A good bargain

my church family

Hearing I love you from my family

Hugs

Seeing God's goodness evidently displayed in my life and in those around me

First Cry

*Keep in mind that I had just given birth. You will hear the Dr. talking in the background.

Claire's birth day story

Wednesday Feb 20th. I started having contractions. They continued throughout the day. The kids and I spent the day baking and getting things ready to put in the freezer (I will try and post those recipes at some point). By about 11 p.m. my contractions were 5 to 7 minutes apart. Bill decided around 1 a.m. to call his parents and bring the kids to their house. We thought this was it and baby was on her way...however, we were wrong. The contractions completely stopped by 3 a.m. Talk about disappointing. I felt really dumb because we had called Bill's parents in the middle of the night. You would think that by the 4th baby, I would know when I was in labor! :)

Thankfully I had my 40 week appointment scheduled for that Thursday morning. Bill decided to stay home from work and go with me to the Dr's. Dr W. checked me when we got into his office and agreed that it was false labor...I wasn't dilated at all. So, he gave Bill and I a few minutes to talk over and decide if we wanted to wait it out another week to see if I would go into labor on my own, or schedule to be induced. Bill and I talked (and I prayed silently) and decided to go ahead with the induction. Dr. W. asked us if he could get us in that morning would we want to do the induction then. Bill and I both said yes. It seemed like perfect timing. The kids were being taken care of and Bill was off work, and we even had our bags packed and in the car with us. Dr. W. called over to labor and delivery and they said they had an open room.

They started my induction around 10 a.m. Dr. W told the nurse to let him know as things progressed because he knew my labor would go fast. I was still having contractions on my own, so the Pitocin just sped things up.

My friend Janel stopped by with a "being induced" care package. I had called her to let her know that I was in the hospital. So she ran out and bought a magazine, sucky candies, and a bouquet of pink tulips. :) Unfortunately I didn't get much of a chance to enjoy them, because things went so fast. They came in (around 12:30) to give me my epidural not more then 10 minutes after Janel left. The epidural was so much more painful then I remembered it. :( But Bill was there and was so wonderful through the whole thing.

Dr. W. came down and broke my water around 1 p.m. I knew at that point that things would go fast. I laid back (they made me stay on my back) and just tried to relax and rest. It was really hard for me to relax for some reason. I kept shaking. Bill stood by my side and held my hand and tried to help me feel calm. It really was such an amazing process. Bill put on some music we had brought with us; "Sing Over me" and "The Living Room Sessions". Both were so peaceful and so full of praise and worship. I had prayed that God would be glorified through this whole day and that I could keep my eyes on Him. I rested and prayed.

Before I knew it I was feeling a lot of pressure. It was kind of funny to see the look on Bill's face when I told him things felt "different". I told him I thought I was going to have to push. The nurse had just walked out, and Bill frantically started to look for her. She had just been right around the corner. :)

They called my Dr to come because I was ready. The nurse asked me to do a practice push, I was about to when she suddenly changed her mind, "Uh you better wait for the Dr. The head is right there." She exclaimed!

It took 3 pushes and our sweet Claire was out (at 3:37 p.m.)! Her cry was the most amazing beautiful cry. We waited so long to meet her, and now she was finally here. Bill squeezed my hand, and tears filled my eyes. I was just in total amazement. I have never had such a wonderful birth experience. It was so so easy and peaceful!

I felt so great after Claire was born. Bill and I joked and laughed the whole time we were in the hospital. I have never felt more in love with my husband. He was and has been so sweet and supportive. He reaffirmed me by telling me how great I did, and how proud he was of me. He agreed that it was totally amazing.

My whole pregnancy and birth experience were such a gift from God. I really can't put into words what I feel right now. I am SO blessed. God has been so good to us. I am just so thankful!

Dr. W. with Claire.

Holding Claire for the first time.

Not the best picture of me...but I'm not going to be vain here! :)

Sweet kisses from Daddy.

A little quiet time

I walked into the living room to find this sweet scene. What Mommy doesn't love that?!

A full heart

For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands. Psalm 92:4

Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with love for my Savior. He is so good to me. I am so undeserving, and yet He continues to pour out His blessing to me. It just amazes me...God obviously knows our deepest longings and our hearts desires and the fact that He would choose to bless me, just blows me away.

Before we found out we were expecting baby #4, I knew in my heart that I would love to have another baby. We just weren't planning on it because of our circumstances. Thankfully God is in control and He knew better then us at what was the best timing. I felt it was selfish to think this, but my heart longed for another daughter. I'm not sure why, I really was content with the 3 little ones we have. I LOVE having the daughter I do have, and my boys...what can I say, they are so dear to me. But yet my heart longed...

Yesterday I had my 28 week Ob appointment. He decided to do another ultrasound just to double check the gender of the baby. My Dr. wasn't able to completely see everything at the last ultrasound. Well, this time he said for 100% certainty that it is in fact a girl!

I would NOT have been sad if it had turned out to be a boy. In fact, before I had Anna I always thought that I would rather just have all boys. :) But, my heart felt completely full when the Dr said for sure that we have been blessed with another daughter. It is really hard to describe the emotions that I felt. Maybe it sounds funny, but I really feel as though this baby completes our family(at least for now ;) ). Each of our children are such a blessing and add a unique quality to our family. I am excited to see how this little girl will fit into all of that, and what God has in store for us as a family of 6!!!

Thank you God for making me a blessed woman. I stand in awe at your goodness. Thank you for continually teaching me about what it means to have joy. I praise you God for this gift of life that grows within me. Thank you that she is fearfully and wonderfully made. I pray that each of our little ones would come to love you and see their need for you. Help me to be the mother You want me to be. Thank you for filling me, for knowing my needs, and for even giving me the desires of my heart. I am so undeserving. Your grace and love overwhelm me. My heart sings for joy at the works of Your hands. My delight is in You oh Lord!

*The picture is a close up of the baby's face. It really isn't very clear. You can see her nose, her cheek and an eye. It was much clearer on the computer then what the Dr. printed up. We got to see the baby sucking her thumb and moving her lips and moving her hands and fingers. It was a really fun apt. The kids were all excited to see the baby.

My delight and joy

Thank you Lord for these gifts that bring my heart so much joy....I am blessed indeed!

Choosing joy

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:11

I sat in the driveway, not ready to get out of the car. My eyes closed, spilling brimming tears down my face. So many emotions pulsing through my mind. A battle raged within, leaving me no choice but to fall at the Father's feet. My eyes had been opened to see, and now a choice must be made...a choice that my flesh wanted to give into...or the choice that would bring peace. I prayed silently for the strength to obey, and for once to be able to bite my tongue.

I don't know how many times a scene like this has played out before me. Whether it was feeling angry with my husband or with my children...or feeling hurt or frustrated or unappreciated. This particular instance I was upset with Bill, and it was nothing big. I was just frustrated with him for what I felt was his failure to meet my expectations. That morning I had been studying scripture and it had just hit me about the choice I have when in a situation. I can choose to give in to my (usually selfish) emotions, or I can choose to surrender to the Holy Spirit. I decided at that moment that I needed to surrender...to lay my anger and disappointment and the Lord's feet, and just let things go. I needed to choose to have joy. The next thing that happened was amazing...I felt such peace. And, when I talked to Bill we discovered that we had just miss-understood each other, and we both apologized.

I am learning more and more in my time in the Word that having joy is a choice. In order to have joy I have to make a choice, one of surrendering my emotions, what I think is right...taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:5). I can choose to have the joy of the Lord fill me. To set my mind on things above. To choose to set aside selfish desires and serve my family with joy. It is also so easy for me to get caught up in serving that I forget to choose joy. I can fail to see what a pleasure it is to raise my little ones....what a delight it is to love my husband. God is so good to give me grace, and to faithfully remind me. Amidst the chaos I can, and HAVE to choose joy. And oh, the peace that follows!"

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Phil 4:8 My mind needs to dwell on truth! It is hard to choose joy if my mind is in the wrong place.

These are the thoughts that have been running through my mind:

Set your minds on things above. (Col 3:2)

Pick up your cross (Matthew 16:24)

Lay down your life for a friend. (John 15:13)

Sacrifice

love

obedience

joy

Peace (Isaiah 26:3)

Quite a list, I think! It can feel overwhelming at times....and impossible. I guess that's because, apart from Christ I can do nothing. (John 15:5) I cannot even say that "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:3) To have joy is a choice...but I must take that one step further. In order for me to have joy, I must first of all choose death.

"The chance to die, to be crucified with Christ, was not a morbid thing, but the very gateway to life."--Elisabeth Elliot Wow...wrap your mind around that statement if you will...It seems so contrary to our natural thinking. The gateway to life is death.

John 12:24 says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." There is no fruit, there is no life unless death occurs. "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Gal 2:20 I need to realize my position. I died with Christ....but I have also been raised up with Him. I am a new creation. He empowers me with the ability to choose to do the right thing.

There are so many thoughts in my mind...and I don't know if they will make sense to anyone other then me. :) My desire is to live a life full of joy...I feel as though my heart has been opened to see what a wonderful process that is. I know it is not always an easy decision to make, but the peace that ensues is so rewarding.


So, tonight I am choosing the path of joy!

Savoring Each Moment

To experience happiness we must train ourselves to live in this moment, to savor it for what it is, not running ahead in anticipation of some future date nor lagging behind in the paralysis of the past. With wholeness and sensitivity we must live in the here and now...Those special savored moments of fun, reflection, happiness, and pleasure give us a tiny taste of what eternity with Christ will one day be like. --Luci Swindoll (You bring the Confetti )

I have been praying that the Lord would fill me with Joy, and that I would really treasure this time I have with my little ones. I have struggled much over the summer with my role (I have a post on that soon to come), so this has been my prayer lately.

I really felt impressed the other day that I need to be spending more quality time with my kids. So, I whispered to Anna as she was finishing her math, "How about we play dress up when you are done." Oh the joy to see her face light up. I spent 2 hours truly enjoying my children. I pray that I will never take for granted the privilege it is to be at home...and to savor each and every moment!

Spiderman and the the Queen

The princess and SpiderMan, having tea

James enjoying a cup of tea