Trees, breeze, finger sucking, napping...what could be better?

This afternoon Micah and I went outside and enjoyed the amazing weather. I got a towel and we laid down watching the trees blow in the wind. I love where we live. You know how somedays you just feel so blessed to be exactly where you are at, at that exact moment. Thats how I felt this afternoon with Micah, being outside with him and just watching him look at the trees while sucking on his fingers. I took advantage of his contentment and took a little catnap for myself. Anyways, I just wanted to share apart of my day with you that I really enjoyed :)

4 1/2 months

Here he is...the boy I get to be with everyday and watch grow :)

These are some things that Micah can do:

smile

coo

laugh with a little sound

drool (I think maybe a gallon a day)

hold a toy for a few minutes and explore it with his mouth

observe his surroundings

loves to be outside (if he is fussy we take him outside)

sucks on his thumb and fingers

gets super excited to see me in the morning

extends his elbows and locks them when he is on his belly to hold himself up

Yea...its great. When they are first born it is basically crying, pooping and sleeping. All of a sudden he is blossoming into this little human being that is active and responsive. Its a lot of fun :)

Ice Cream

I love ice cream. I just ate a bowl and I was sitting here trying to think of something to write about, and I couldn't stop thinking about how good my ice cream was. Ever since I can remember ice cream has been my favorite treat to eat at night. There is rarely a night I don't crave it. I love it when it is is partially melted, for some reason it makes it even richer and creamier. Shanes not into the melted ice cream, he always leaves it in his bowl. He'll probably think I'm wierd for noticing such a meaningless thing. But oh well, I love ice cream. Well, since ice cream is very high in fat, sugar, sat fat...you know all the bad stuff, I try to find something that is light and satifying. I have purchased many different kinds of lite and I have found nothing that can compare to the real deal, until now. If any of you are ice cream fanatics like I am you will for sure appreciate this information I am about to reveal to you. It is only 100 calories per serving compared to the 180 with the regular stuff and 1/2 the fat. It may not be the most exciting flavor but it does taste like the real thing at it is very satisfying. It is "Dreyers Double Churned Vanilla Bean Lite ice cream." I can eat my ice cream now, and not feel one bit of guilt. I am free to enjoy every bit of that rich and creamy desert :)

"Must see Movie"

Last night Shane and I borrowed a movie from some friends to watch. I have been wanting to see it, but I didn't have any idea of how good it would be. It was called, Freedom Writers and it starred Hilary Swank. It was about a high school English teacher who took on a class of students that lived in the projects in Long Beach. Most of them were involved in the gang life style and grew up in crazy rough family situations. She wanted so badly to get through to them and reach them in any way she could. Watching it I thought...she's crazy, this cute little preppy teacher getting through to these hard core, gangster teens...no way! She does though, and it is great how she does it. She sacrafices a ton to do it, and eventually gains there respect. This awesome change happens in their lives and it is so cool to see their lives transform and the way they view the world. I love it! It kind of reminded me of what Christ does with us. The minute we accept Him into our lives, He begins to change us and how we think. Before, all we knew was the life of sin...we didn't know any better. But when Christ comes in He puts our sin to death on the cross and we are set free from that life, and no longer have to live under that power any longer. We are free to know God and understand the things about Him. It's awesome!

Well anyways, I highly reccomend this movie...it's a tear jerker, so you might want to get out the kleenex.

My son, "The Stroller Hater"

Last night I wanted to go for a jog. It had cooled down a bit and it was a beautiful night...I had just felt like getting some fresh air and some exercise. I don't know why I thought things would be different, I know that Micah hates his stroller, anything that is not me or another person holding him he hates. I am pretty optimistic and I thought its close enough to his bedtime I was sure he would be out in a few minutes. Boy was I ever wrong. He wailed, and it only got worse the further I got. At about a mile out I gave in, I couldn't take it anymore. I took him out and carried him about a half mile until he seemed to calm down...I put him back in and he screamed even louder, but what was worse were the stares I got from the neighbors. They looked at me like I was a crazy person. I just waved and said hi as if nothing was wrong...it was actually pretty funny seeing there faces. Well, I hope this stage will pass soon. When I was pregnant I would picture me and my baby going for walks, jogs, shopping, anywhere to get out in the stroller and it would all be enjoyable for him and I. I had know idea that some babies hate the stroller. Its crazy too, I've got 3 different kind. Hopefully someday I'll use them. If you have any stories or advice I would love to hear. I know its not a huge deal, but its tough not being able to get out that much and the baby bjorn can be a killer on the back. If you think of it...and I feel wierd asking for prayer for this but why not, God cares about even the small things. Thanks:)

"Our Summer"

With Shane being a youth pastor his schedule was full of exciting, fun events with the kids. Here is a list of some of the things Shane got to do with his students this summer: White water rafting up at the American River in Sacremento, Hume Lake Christian camp with the Junior Highers, weekly poolsides on Wednesday and Thursday nights, Club Med where the kids and Shane meet up at a park and the kids learn how to spend a quite time with the Lord, paintballing, VBS, Magic Mountain, Beach days...I think the list could go on for awhile. I love it though...he has such a huge heart and I do as well to see the youth come to know Jesus Christ. We are so blessed to be where God has us...I could'nt imagine anything more perfect for us to be doing.

Well, other then the list I gave you...while Shane was out of town I made trips out to the O.C. to visit with friends and family. I got to visit with my good friend Erin who lives in Denmark with her husband Danny who is a professional soccer player and their two children Blake and Paige. I visited with my parents, my sister and nephews often. And one night we all went to the Fab Four Concert(a tribute band to the Beatles)and my nephews came out of the house wearing beatle shirts, they were so jazzed for the show...it was the cutest thing. My sister turned "30" and had a lot of exciting things happen with that, one of them I'll mention, going to New York with my mom and aunt sissy. I was bummed of course that I could'nt go, but I'll just have to wait till I am 30 and not nursing. Going to the beach a couple of times was great and I even got to surf, It was awesome:)Other then nursing, changing diapers, and soothing, this has been one of the best summers I have ever had. Having this little person and watching him now smile and coo, even his cry sometimes I can find to be kind of cute, nothing can compare. God is so good!

Motherhood

It has been such an awesome gift for Shane and I to get to know our little guy and watch him change and grow daily. I could have never had imagined how amazing it is being a mom. It is the best job in the world! It is so physically draining yet so fulfilling at the same time. I feel like I am living life in a different world now and through different lenses...it's definitely a big eye opener to how much my life really isn't mine anymore. I know it's ultimately God's, but Micah comes first before my needs. I don't think I realized it until I became one how selfless being a mother really is. If any of you have a mother out there thank her for mothering you. She gave so much of herself for you so that you would be happy, and have all your needs met and taken care of. There is nothing else I'd rather do. I praise God for the awesome gift he has given us!