In October, I got myself a very part time/seasonal job at Old Navy. I had never worked retail before, but I thought it would be fun and get me out of the house; Not to mention, give us a little extra cash for Christmas presents...and that it did. :) I only lasted until just after Christmas. Being 9 months prego, anything beyond a 4 hour shift being on my feet was pretty killer. And I have to say, people are absolutely NUTS while shopping during the holiday season. It made me sad actually. As Americans, we have definitely bought into the consumerism lie. Don't get me wrong, I like to shop and love to give gifts, but it did make me take a step back a re-evaluate things.
Anyway, I was actually asked this week if I would like to return again, on a VERY part time basis. I had tossed around the idea of looking for a job somewhere but, with no real options for baby sitting (don't want to put her in daycare and most fam members are working during the day) and with me being Audrey's food supply, I decided to hold off on the job search. So, when this opportunity came up, I was excited. :) It will be no more than 15-20 hrs weekly and the shifts will be no more than 4 hours. AND, they were totally ok with my availability working around Ryan's work schedule and church on Sunday. It's going to be nice just to get out of the house for a few hours here and there, have some extra spending cash/money toward groceries, and a DISCOUNT! ;)
I had my first 3 hour refresher training shift yesterday. It went well. I spent most of the time thinking about and praying for Audrey and Ryan. I was so bummed to come home to an inconsolable child. I felt so bad for Ryan...he had this look of complete helplessness as our child was screaming her head off. :/ He was so looking forward to having a good date night with his little daughter. She definitely relies on nursing for comfort, because she wasn't eating out of a bottle I had pumped for her. I'm hoping me being gone for a few hours at a time will help her and daddy bond and wean her off of comfort nursing.
In other news, I'm going to check out this Bible study group on Tuesday that I'm SUPER excited about!! It is called 'Motherwise' and consists of a group of women that are all actively still raising young children. So looking forward to connecting with some other moms and also getting into the Word with other believers.
Well, that's all I have to report for now. Baby girl is snoozing so I better get myself to bed too.
Peace out! :)
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
It was Ryan's 27th birthday on Sunday and we made a weekend out of it! It was a great, great, GREAT weekend! It was so refreshing and we really needed it.
Since we have been married, we have tried to set aside Friday evenings as date nights. It is something that I highly recommend to all married couples. Life gets so busy and it's important to take the time to make your marriage a priority. With the arrival of our little girl, obviously our date night has had to be postponed. This Friday, the Cook's date night resumed!! And just in the nick of time....I could tell that I needed a night out with my man. :) So, we left Audrey with the grandparents and went to see Alice in Wonderland. Can't say I really enjoyed the movie (too dark for me), but I thoroughly enjoyed some time away just me and the hubby. We got to hold hands and snuggle in the movie theater...so great. ;) I have to admit, I had to make a conscious effort not to think/worry about my daughter. It was probably good we didn't go to dinner, because I would have been talking about her or wanting to call to see how she was doing the entire evening. ;) But, Ryan encouraged me to just enjoy the 2.5 hrs we had together. Thank you to Gma Lori and Gpa Alan for taking such wonderful care of baby girl.
Saturday we decided to take a drive to Astoria. Just one of the many great things about living in Portland...the Ocean is just a couple hours away. Astoria is such a cute little seaside town. It's actually right where the Columbia river spills into the Pacific...I'd love to go back and spend a little more time exploring. They apparently have a trolley tour that takes you around to some of the spots where movies were filmed. i.e. The Goonies and Kindergarten Cop. Anyway...we got there around lunch time, had some fish and chips, then drove up to the Astoria Column. A breathtaking lookout spot! Baby Audrey was so good the entire day. And it was a Gorgeous, relatively warm, spring day!
The fun continued on into Sunday. We had a wonderful pdx Bridges Church service. Good Word, good Worship time, and good company. We were blessed to have some special visitors, Irma and David Wallace, friends from our home church in Phoenix. They took us out for a yummy lunch to help celebrate Ryan's birthday. It was such a treat to spend some time with familiar faces.
That evening, my sister-in-law, Shelley was having a baby shower hosted by some friends out in Scappose (town the Cooks lived in back in the day). Ryan graciously gave me permission to leave him for a few hours on his bday to go hang out with some ladies and show of our baby. He knew I needed it. :) He stayed at home and hung out playing xbox with his two brothers, which made me feel not so bad. Anyway, it was sooooo great to get to hang out with some other mommies with young babies! The shower was really fun...lots of good food and laughter and oohing and awing over adorable baby boy clothes. ;)
I thank the Lord for bringing my sweet, wonderful, most favorite, Ryan into the world 27 years ago! I have loved hearing about all the stories/events/memories that have made him who he is today. It's been fun celebrating the last 5 birthdays with him and looking forward to many more!
Love you so much, Love!!
p.s. I have to mention that my sister-in-law, Jennifer, blessed my socks off on Friday afternoon by treating me to a pedicure! She is 17, going to dual highschool and college and works a partime job for some extra cash. I was humbled that she wanted to spend some of that hard earned cash on me. And let me tell you...it was pure HEAVEN!! Audrey fell right asleep in my arms from the massage chair, so I was able to totally RELAX and enjoy the 30+ minutes of pampering. My toes look pretty again. :)
Since we have been married, we have tried to set aside Friday evenings as date nights. It is something that I highly recommend to all married couples. Life gets so busy and it's important to take the time to make your marriage a priority. With the arrival of our little girl, obviously our date night has had to be postponed. This Friday, the Cook's date night resumed!! And just in the nick of time....I could tell that I needed a night out with my man. :) So, we left Audrey with the grandparents and went to see Alice in Wonderland. Can't say I really enjoyed the movie (too dark for me), but I thoroughly enjoyed some time away just me and the hubby. We got to hold hands and snuggle in the movie theater...so great. ;) I have to admit, I had to make a conscious effort not to think/worry about my daughter. It was probably good we didn't go to dinner, because I would have been talking about her or wanting to call to see how she was doing the entire evening. ;) But, Ryan encouraged me to just enjoy the 2.5 hrs we had together. Thank you to Gma Lori and Gpa Alan for taking such wonderful care of baby girl.
Saturday we decided to take a drive to Astoria. Just one of the many great things about living in Portland...the Ocean is just a couple hours away. Astoria is such a cute little seaside town. It's actually right where the Columbia river spills into the Pacific...I'd love to go back and spend a little more time exploring. They apparently have a trolley tour that takes you around to some of the spots where movies were filmed. i.e. The Goonies and Kindergarten Cop. Anyway...we got there around lunch time, had some fish and chips, then drove up to the Astoria Column. A breathtaking lookout spot! Baby Audrey was so good the entire day. And it was a Gorgeous, relatively warm, spring day!
The fun continued on into Sunday. We had a wonderful pdx Bridges Church service. Good Word, good Worship time, and good company. We were blessed to have some special visitors, Irma and David Wallace, friends from our home church in Phoenix. They took us out for a yummy lunch to help celebrate Ryan's birthday. It was such a treat to spend some time with familiar faces.
That evening, my sister-in-law, Shelley was having a baby shower hosted by some friends out in Scappose (town the Cooks lived in back in the day). Ryan graciously gave me permission to leave him for a few hours on his bday to go hang out with some ladies and show of our baby. He knew I needed it. :) He stayed at home and hung out playing xbox with his two brothers, which made me feel not so bad. Anyway, it was sooooo great to get to hang out with some other mommies with young babies! The shower was really fun...lots of good food and laughter and oohing and awing over adorable baby boy clothes. ;)
I thank the Lord for bringing my sweet, wonderful, most favorite, Ryan into the world 27 years ago! I have loved hearing about all the stories/events/memories that have made him who he is today. It's been fun celebrating the last 5 birthdays with him and looking forward to many more!
Love you so much, Love!!
p.s. I have to mention that my sister-in-law, Jennifer, blessed my socks off on Friday afternoon by treating me to a pedicure! She is 17, going to dual highschool and college and works a partime job for some extra cash. I was humbled that she wanted to spend some of that hard earned cash on me. And let me tell you...it was pure HEAVEN!! Audrey fell right asleep in my arms from the massage chair, so I was able to totally RELAX and enjoy the 30+ minutes of pampering. My toes look pretty again. :)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
I said YES!
Three years ago today, I said yes to spending the rest of my life with my very best friend! Apart from giving my life to Christ, hands down, the best thing I ever said yes to! :)
Oh the memories.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Rose colored glasses
When Ryan and I were dating and eventually got engaged, we both remained pretty level-headed about our expectations of marriage. Yes, there was excitement and anticipation, but I think we were both pretty confident that marriage was not always going to be a picnic in the park. It's tough sometimes and takes work.
Now, becoming a parent...that is a whole other ballgame!! I will be the first to admit that I had myself a pair of rosie colored glasses about this mommy gig. You see, since I was a little girl, I have dreamt of the day I would have a baby. Playing house as a kid was always my favorite, and of course, I was always the designated mommy. ;) I knew that bringing someone into the world was going to be my greatest and most significant job for my entire life, but I had full confidence that everything would just come naturally. Toward the end of my pregnancy, people would ask me, "are you getting nervous about being a parent?" And the things I worried about were more the emotional and spiritual responsibilities of raising a child, never once was I concerned about meeting my child's physical demands. DEMANDS is the key word here. ;)
The reality of parenting is so different than what I had thought it would be. For example: I knew baby was going to need to be fed. I had images of gazing into my daughter's eyes as she suckled at my breast and it would just be so easy and natural. And at night, as we got ready for bed, I would rock her gently to sleep as I sang her a sweet lullaby and she would enter into sweet slumber through the night. Or after we have had a blissful feeding, I would put her over my shoulder and burp her with no difficulty. Oh and if there was any spit up, it would magically land on her cute little burp rag. HAHAHA...NOT!!! From day one, it's fighting this huge learning curve while in the midst of the most extreme exhaustion. I'm talking like death didn't sound so bad b/c I'd be able to sleep...no just kidding. ;) Here is this tiny, fragile, beautiful little person, screaming at me and I supply her every need. The reality is: Breastfeeding is painful (as least for me)! and it didn't come so naturally to me and baby. We've had to work at it. Sweet slumber? umm, yeah. Those first two weeks I felt like I was in a bad episode of the twilight zone. Audrey wanted to sleep all day (and so she did) and, you guessed it, be in and out of consciousness all night. And it's a bit of a lonely and helpless feeling when you're up in the middle of the night with an inconsolable child. And I got myself one gassy baby. If she has a gas bubble, we are gonna hear about it until it's out! ;) Oh and spit up? Usually ends up on me or hubby....which is mostly just funny. AND, babies are little poop machines and diapers are not Cheap!! lol. ;)
Now fast forward to present day. It's been 7 weeks since D-day (delivery day) and I can honestly say that although reality is different, it is better, because it's reality and we have our sweet, healthy, baby here. Things just seem to be getting easier with each passing day and with each hour of sleep we clock in. Me and baby girl aren't strangers anymore. In fact, we are pretty much like best buds! She sleeping better at night. She's even slept a few 6 hour stretches...GLORIOUS!! I'm loving those moments that I know she is cranky b/c she is tired and I can simply rock her to sleep in my arms. She started smiling at 2 weeks and just melts our hearts with every little grin. Things aren't easy by any means, but they don't feel so overwhelming (it's amazing what a little sleep can do for a person).
I did not write this post to sound like a total downer or complain about the responsiblities of parenthood (yes, I know, we signed up for this), but just to simple share my experience. Ryan and I have had some serious discussions about how difficult parenting is and we've only been doing it for 7 weeks. I am so BLESSED to have a supportive and loving husband by my side in this parenting gig. We have looked at each other in the midst of complete exhaustion and said, "how do single or teenage mom's do this or parents with multiple kids?!" I'm a quarter of a century old and I know the only way I have survived or will continue to survive this journey is by God's SUPERNATURAL strength! I've cried out more "HELP ME GOD" prayers in the last several weeks and recited Philippians 4:13 over and over, and let me tell you...God is faithful to hear our cries and is faithful to His promises. I CAN do all things THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens me! He is strong when I am weak.
So thankful that the Lord has chosen and entrusted us with this little miracle. I pray and will continue to pray that I can be the parent that Audrey needs, not just to meet her physical demands, but her spiritual needs. I pray that I can help create in her an appetite and a LOVE for the Lord and that as she grows she would be used by God to bless others and further His Kingdom!
In closing, if any of you reading this and are pregnant or thinking about having kids in the near future, do yourself a favor and take off your 'rose colored glasses' right now. It's going to be challenging and humbling and take the selfishness right out of you, but the reward greatly exceeds the sacrifice! You get to be a part of one of God's greatest miracles and have a front seat in watching your baby grow!..You will want to see it in CLEAR VIEW! :)
Love,
A very thankful and proud mama
Now, becoming a parent...that is a whole other ballgame!! I will be the first to admit that I had myself a pair of rosie colored glasses about this mommy gig. You see, since I was a little girl, I have dreamt of the day I would have a baby. Playing house as a kid was always my favorite, and of course, I was always the designated mommy. ;) I knew that bringing someone into the world was going to be my greatest and most significant job for my entire life, but I had full confidence that everything would just come naturally. Toward the end of my pregnancy, people would ask me, "are you getting nervous about being a parent?" And the things I worried about were more the emotional and spiritual responsibilities of raising a child, never once was I concerned about meeting my child's physical demands. DEMANDS is the key word here. ;)
The reality of parenting is so different than what I had thought it would be. For example: I knew baby was going to need to be fed. I had images of gazing into my daughter's eyes as she suckled at my breast and it would just be so easy and natural. And at night, as we got ready for bed, I would rock her gently to sleep as I sang her a sweet lullaby and she would enter into sweet slumber through the night. Or after we have had a blissful feeding, I would put her over my shoulder and burp her with no difficulty. Oh and if there was any spit up, it would magically land on her cute little burp rag. HAHAHA...NOT!!! From day one, it's fighting this huge learning curve while in the midst of the most extreme exhaustion. I'm talking like death didn't sound so bad b/c I'd be able to sleep...no just kidding. ;) Here is this tiny, fragile, beautiful little person, screaming at me and I supply her every need. The reality is: Breastfeeding is painful (as least for me)! and it didn't come so naturally to me and baby. We've had to work at it. Sweet slumber? umm, yeah. Those first two weeks I felt like I was in a bad episode of the twilight zone. Audrey wanted to sleep all day (and so she did) and, you guessed it, be in and out of consciousness all night. And it's a bit of a lonely and helpless feeling when you're up in the middle of the night with an inconsolable child. And I got myself one gassy baby. If she has a gas bubble, we are gonna hear about it until it's out! ;) Oh and spit up? Usually ends up on me or hubby....which is mostly just funny. AND, babies are little poop machines and diapers are not Cheap!! lol. ;)
Now fast forward to present day. It's been 7 weeks since D-day (delivery day) and I can honestly say that although reality is different, it is better, because it's reality and we have our sweet, healthy, baby here. Things just seem to be getting easier with each passing day and with each hour of sleep we clock in. Me and baby girl aren't strangers anymore. In fact, we are pretty much like best buds! She sleeping better at night. She's even slept a few 6 hour stretches...GLORIOUS!! I'm loving those moments that I know she is cranky b/c she is tired and I can simply rock her to sleep in my arms. She started smiling at 2 weeks and just melts our hearts with every little grin. Things aren't easy by any means, but they don't feel so overwhelming (it's amazing what a little sleep can do for a person).
I did not write this post to sound like a total downer or complain about the responsiblities of parenthood (yes, I know, we signed up for this), but just to simple share my experience. Ryan and I have had some serious discussions about how difficult parenting is and we've only been doing it for 7 weeks. I am so BLESSED to have a supportive and loving husband by my side in this parenting gig. We have looked at each other in the midst of complete exhaustion and said, "how do single or teenage mom's do this or parents with multiple kids?!" I'm a quarter of a century old and I know the only way I have survived or will continue to survive this journey is by God's SUPERNATURAL strength! I've cried out more "HELP ME GOD" prayers in the last several weeks and recited Philippians 4:13 over and over, and let me tell you...God is faithful to hear our cries and is faithful to His promises. I CAN do all things THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens me! He is strong when I am weak.
So thankful that the Lord has chosen and entrusted us with this little miracle. I pray and will continue to pray that I can be the parent that Audrey needs, not just to meet her physical demands, but her spiritual needs. I pray that I can help create in her an appetite and a LOVE for the Lord and that as she grows she would be used by God to bless others and further His Kingdom!
In closing, if any of you reading this and are pregnant or thinking about having kids in the near future, do yourself a favor and take off your 'rose colored glasses' right now. It's going to be challenging and humbling and take the selfishness right out of you, but the reward greatly exceeds the sacrifice! You get to be a part of one of God's greatest miracles and have a front seat in watching your baby grow!..You will want to see it in CLEAR VIEW! :)
Love,
A very thankful and proud mama
Monday, March 1, 2010
You had me at 'hello!'
So, I've been wanting to start a blog for awhile. I'm a fan of reading a few and thought it could be a great way to document life...especially since the arrival of our newest family member! Speaking of...Miss Audrey Joy arrived on January 12th, 2010. She was 6lbs 11oz, and 21 inches of pure wonderful! I knew that I was going to love her, but that second that she came out and they put her into my arms was completely life changing. I now believe in love at first sight. :) The greatest moment was when I looked up and saw my dear husband, Ryan, see her for the first time...I had no words, but lots of tears. :)
Well, life seems to be moving at the speed of light since that wonderful day. Our little lady will be 7 weeks tomorrow. These last several weeks have been the most challenging of my life and have rocked my world in a way I never thought possible....but that's a whole other post. ;) But for now, here are some pics of our little love bug thus far...
Daddy and his baby girl: January 12th, 2010
first bath at home :)
girl after mom's own heart...loves to sleep!
2 weeks and already smiley
1 month!
my budda belly baby...loves to eat!
well, thanks for stopping by....come back and visit again!!
Love,
Jessica
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