Addy-girl is 1 month old

I cannot believe she is already a month old. Thought these were pretty cute!

I cannot believe she is already a month old. Thought these were pretty cute!

"Marriage is hard work."

Those words began and ended each of our premarital counseling sessions with Brink back in the day. In the 3 years that I have been married so far, I have definitely learned them and their absolute truth--although sometimes with ease and others with more difficulty. Dying to myself every day as a Christian is hard; dying to myself as an individual for my husband is harder. But it is so worth it--when I am intentional enough to do it. On our anniversary, we went to see this movie with minimal expectations. We saw Facing the Giants and loved it despite the harsh criticism of the acting. We were willing to give this one a try--even though the cheesiness of Kirk Cameron can be a little retching.

It was so worth it. I would recommend it to any married couple--no matter what phase of life. In the past month our life has drastically changed--in awe-inspiring ways, in stressful ways, in celebratory ways, in devastating ways. A new child, a job loss/change, new roles to learn, new sleep habits, new hormones, being even more totally dependent than we realized was possible on the Lord, being blissfully happy and utterly hopeless in the same hour... This month has been different for our marriage. Difficult but wonderful. This movie helped us celebrate our three happy, adventurous, successful years of our marriage so far. It also helped us prepare for the ncxt 3, and then the next... It brought up many important conversations and it helped me look at Patrick with a more mature (I hope) love. We are learning.

The movie itself isn't magical, but I believe God's work through it can be.

Those words began and ended each of our premarital counseling sessions with Brink back in the day. In the 3 years that I have been married so far, I have definitely learned them and their absolute truth--although sometimes with ease and others with more difficulty. Dying to myself every day as a Christian is hard; dying to myself as an individual for my husband is harder. But it is so worth it--when I am intentional enough to do it. On our anniversary, we went to see this movie with minimal expectations. We saw Facing the Giants and loved it despite the harsh criticism of the acting. We were willing to give this one a try--even though the cheesiness of Kirk Cameron can be a little retching.

It was so worth it. I would recommend it to any married couple--no matter what phase of life. In the past month our life has drastically changed--in awe-inspiring ways, in stressful ways, in celebratory ways, in devastating ways. A new child, a job loss/change, new roles to learn, new sleep habits, new hormones, being even more totally dependent than we realized was possible on the Lord, being blissfully happy and utterly hopeless in the same hour... This month has been different for our marriage. Difficult but wonderful. This movie helped us celebrate our three happy, adventurous, successful years of our marriage so far. It also helped us prepare for the ncxt 3, and then the next... It brought up many important conversations and it helped me look at Patrick with a more mature (I hope) love. We are learning.

The movie itself isn't magical, but I believe God's work through it can be.

Sleepyhead

Addison--fast asleep after all the stimulation of her play gym. :)

Addison--fast asleep after all the stimulation of her play gym. :)

Bliss

Today is Patrick's and my 3rd Wedding Anniversary, and we cannot believe how fast time has flown. These 3 years have been the happiest of my life, and I feel so blessed to be married to such a wonderful man of character and compassion! Love you!

Today is Patrick's and my 3rd Wedding Anniversary, and we cannot believe how fast time has flown. These 3 years have been the happiest of my life, and I feel so blessed to be married to such a wonderful man of character and compassion! Love you!

our life lately

Can't believe it's been so long since I blogged, but I've been stuck in babyland--and happily so.
Tomorrow Addison will be 2 weeks old, and I am shocked at how quickly the days have passed.

Today we had our 2 week doctor's appointment, and she has surpassed her birth weight and height and is just a content little thing. Patrick and I have thanked God for our special blessing repeatedly.

Her delivery went well. We found out on Thursday, the 25th, that the little Addy-girl was breech--her head right under my heart {just as I was inside my mom}, and our c-section was decisive and scheduled. Patrick and I enjoyed a dinner with my family at Loveless Cafe that night and a date night the next night, but all we could think about was how our life was about to totally change.

We went into the hospital at 7:30 a.m. and prepped for surgery at 9. I was holding my little sweetie by 9:26. The cesarean was surreal. My doctor talked me through the whole thing, and when I heard Addison's first cry, I laughed out loud. My family, who was in the waiting room just next to the operating room, heard both sounds and felt such relief and peace.

We stayed in the hospital until Tuesday, and then came home. My mom stayed with us for several days, and it was truly one of the most special times. I don't know what I would have done without her, and having a daughter--even just for a few days so far--has made me love my mom even more than I realized I could.

Our time at home has been measured from feeding to feeding. Time in between is either spent showering, sleeping, or writing thank you notes. Of course, mostly I find myself staring at my little girl.

We are completely exhausted, but we feel very blessed and humbled. We are learning to depend on God in a whole new way, and we are so thankful to be His.

Can't believe it's been so long since I blogged, but I've been stuck in babyland--and happily so.
Tomorrow Addison will be 2 weeks old, and I am shocked at how quickly the days have passed.

Today we had our 2 week doctor's appointment, and she has surpassed her birth weight and height and is just a content little thing. Patrick and I have thanked God for our special blessing repeatedly.

Her delivery went well. We found out on Thursday, the 25th, that the little Addy-girl was breech--her head right under my heart {just as I was inside my mom}, and our c-section was decisive and scheduled. Patrick and I enjoyed a dinner with my family at Loveless Cafe that night and a date night the next night, but all we could think about was how our life was about to totally change.

We went into the hospital at 7:30 a.m. and prepped for surgery at 9. I was holding my little sweetie by 9:26. The cesarean was surreal. My doctor talked me through the whole thing, and when I heard Addison's first cry, I laughed out loud. My family, who was in the waiting room just next to the operating room, heard both sounds and felt such relief and peace.

We stayed in the hospital until Tuesday, and then came home. My mom stayed with us for several days, and it was truly one of the most special times. I don't know what I would have done without her, and having a daughter--even just for a few days so far--has made me love my mom even more than I realized I could.

Our time at home has been measured from feeding to feeding. Time in between is either spent showering, sleeping, or writing thank you notes. Of course, mostly I find myself staring at my little girl.

We are completely exhausted, but we feel very blessed and humbled. We are learning to depend on God in a whole new way, and we are so thankful to be His.