Happy New Year!

Happy 2014!

It's been almost 3 months since I last blogged. Time has really flown by. I wasn't taking an intentional break, but little Iris has just been keeping me on my toes. She's been growing, developmentally leaping, teething, and has had a few colds and even a stomach bug that we all ending up catching (the great stomach bug of 2013 as we call it). She even turned one back in November!

So here's a little update on what's going on at our house. 

The holidays were busy and blessed. RJ and I spent a lot of time talking about how we want to spend our time and where we want our family's focus during the Christmas season. For us, it is on the birth of Christ. 

Our family, led by our church, is on a 21 day journey of prayer and fasting. This brings about a time of reflection and renewed strength to start the year. We are both new to fasting, so we are each doing it in our own way. RJ is fasting meat. This has proven to be a little move difficult because he recently went gluten free. So, he is having to do a little more meal planning. I am not fasting food because I am nursing. So, I am instead fasting Facebook. It's been harder than I thought it would be! I will confess that I cheated a few times yesterday. I had to do some housekeeping for a group that I administer, and I was sucked into checking my groups and notifications. Today has been much better. Even though I have wanted to log on, I have resisted the temptation.

Iris is now walking like a champ. She is babbling all the time as well. She is clueless to the fact that she doesn't have any actual words yet, as she is babbling all the time. She for sure knows what she is saying. If only I did! That would help some toddler frustrations. She is also working towards only napping once a day. To me, this seems like such a "big kid" thing! My little baby isn't a baby any more. She is quite the pistol, with her own thoughts, plans, and ideas of what she wants and what she wants me to do as well. She has also turned a corner and is finally eating more solids. This means she is nursing a little less now, which bring about a whole slew of mixed emotions for mommy! Bottom line is that she is happy and thriving, and we give all the glory to God for that. I am so happy He chose RJ and I to be her parents. 

I hope you are having as happy and blessed New Year as us!

Weekend Review

Friday night, little Iris decided she was quite hungry and needed to eat every hour and a half. So, needless to say, I was quite tired on Saturday. RJ was so sweet and got up early with her, so I could sleep in a little. I, then, went to the grocery store by myself, which felt like a spa day. It was pretty cold here, with temps in the 40s (quite unusual here in the deep south), so I rocked my boots one last time for the season. Sunday, I slept in again (thanks honey!), and I finally felt human again!. We went to church, and it was wonderful. I am so thankful that we are part of a community where God is truly present. It deepens my love and desire for Him. That afternoon, RJ got some needed rest as well. All in all, it was a pretty laid back weekend! 

Weekend Review

We had a fun and productive weekend. The weather was BEAUTIFUL. Saturday consisted of going to the farmers' market, a gumbo competition put on by local churches, and I even got to run some errands sans baby. Sunday, we did lots of things around our house. Me less so, because sweet, teething Iris only wanted mommy. RJ was a rockstar with doing laundry, grilling ribs for his co-workers (which is developing into a little side business), and planting my new blueberry bushes in the backyard. Hopefully we will be seeing some blueberries soon! I had a few herbs  in my garden come back from last year, so I transplanted them so they are now grouped together. 

Sunday, I really felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me about making our home more Christ centered. I listened to a few old sermons from our pastor, talking about our current culture. Our home really needs to be a place of sanctuary in Christ. A place where we can be refreshed and nourished to go back out into the world.  

Ephesians 4:25-5:20