Blessings

D

o you ever feel like you take your blessings for granted? I do, it usually hits me at random times and I realize just how blessed I am. 

I saw a post on Facebook or somewhere that said "Heavenly Father, thank you for this beautiful life and forgive me if I don't love it enough." I think that prayer needs to be said daily. I mean honestly, think about how much we complain about on a daily basis, how much we wish we had this or that. How often are we really and truly just happy with what He has given us?

When I say that prayer I immediately think of my children. Oh my, He blessed me the days that He gave me my babies. I am so thankful that He chose me to be their Momma, I didn't look at it that way before. I never thought, these children aren't mine, they're His and He gave them to me. Just like, my own life...it's not mine, but His. He can take my babies, my husband, my home...everything, He can take it all and I can't do anything about it. I have everything that I do because He has blessed me with it. I need to be thankful for all of it, not wishing I had a new car, a bigger house or more money. I have all that I need, I have my Jesus and all that He has blessed me with. 

I struggle with the selfish thoughts and complaining every day, don't get me wrong. I whine about going to work, about only having one bathroom in our house, about how so and so has this or that and how I want that too. I can be pretty bad. You would think that after going through a tornado, having to live in a hotel for a month and then an apartment for another 3 months that I would have learned but nope! I'm just a complainer. 

So I'll keep praying that prayer and loving my babies. I'll keep going to work and be thankful that I have a job. I'll keep cleaning my house with the ONE bathroom and just be thankful I have a place to call home. 

Thank you Father, for this beautiful life.  

Love,

Krista

My blessings <3

Changed

I haven't posted in what, a year? That's crazy to me. I feel bad because I posted everything I could when Parker was a baby...Emma has nothing except when I was pregnant. So I'm going to begin again. I won't be going all the way back and trying to play catch up. I'm just going to start fresh. I may not post as much as I did before but I certainly want to post more.

I don't know if anyone even reads this blog anymore...but for those who do, I want to begin by sharing what has been going on within me. I'm not going to put all of it out here because its just a lot but I'm hopeful that what I do share will help others. 

"Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

About 3 years ago I began feeling a pull to go back to church, I knew that I needed to go but wasn't sure where and to be honest I was a little nervous. I'd had some really great experiences with church that ended up ending badly so I was worried that I would find a place I loved and then it wouldn't last. Parker and I started going with my mother in law to her church until Michael decided we should find our church home. We visited our current church the following weekend and I immediately knew we were where we were supposed to be. We joined a small group, I was baptized and we became members that year. Things were going really well and I was happy again but something was missing. We stopped going every Sunday and were starting to stagger Wednesday nights, it just wasn't something we were making a priority. 

It wasn't until April of this year that I really started feeling that pull again. Jesus was calling me to Him and I had begun praying daily again. I was asking Him to help me because I knew that I wasn't where I needed to be. My eyes were opened a little bit more after hearing the testimony of a friend in our small group. A seed was planted...but it wasn't until I went to the Allure ladies retreat that my life was truly changed. I had been invited and wanted to go very badly but wasn't planning to go due to other plans that were going on that weekend. One of the girls who had committed to go kept asking me and telling me that she wished I could go and I decided that I needed to go. I moved some things around, got over my fear of not knowing the other women and went. Best. Decision. Of. My. Life. I am changed. I never knew what I was missing until Jesus called to me, He opened my eyes and I was shown just how much He loves me and just how much I needed Him. I am truly a woman of God now, a bride of Christ. It's a wonderful feeling.

Here is a journal entry that I wrote while on the retreat, I read this when I am feeling low and need a reminder.

" It was amazing to know that He was with me, singing over me saying "That's MY girl" she is beautiful and wonderful and I value her so much that I gave my life for HER. I am making a place for her in my Father's house and will return for her soon."

All that said...things aren't perfect. I have struggles that I deal with every day, I worry and I get lazy with making time for Him. I know where I need to be better but in the end, as long as we strive to know Jesus more and to love Him more, the works and changes that we think we need to make to be better...they don't matter. 

I'm happy and excited about the things God is doing in my life. I'm trying to live my faith daily and not let anything rob my affections for my Jesus. I just have to put on my armor every morning and be prepared for the one who will be doing his very best to get at me. 

Thank you for reading, have a blessed day!

It's Sunday afternoon, Parker is FINALLY asleep or at least laying quietly in bed and Emma is in her crib but starting to make noise so I'm going to hammer out this McFatty post real quick!

So here's a flashback to before I got pregnant. I can't remember when this was taken but I know it was before August. Anyway This is what 144 pounds looked like! I had 14 more to lose but such is life...

Alright so here is a picture of how I look today, sorry for such blurry pictures but you get the idea.

I've got it all right back...maybe not in the same places as before but it's there. I'm 1 pound down this week! I was a little surprised because I was only able to attend one Zumba class and I'd eaten some junk. 

Anyway I'm hoping to go to both Zumba classes (maybe 3) and be a little stricter with my food choices and maybe there will be a larger loss next Sunday.

Well folks, Emma is up so I better go get her. I'll blog again later...maybe when both kids are asleep!

Well That Lasted About 2.5 Seconds

So all day I've been trying to get things done like clean house, spruce up the blog and generally have some "Me time" HAHAHA I know right. Here's the thing, I have this little girl who loves me sooooo much that she just wants to be with me at. all. times. It wouldn't be so bad if she could just sit in my lap or lay on my chest but that's just not what she wants today, she wants to use me as her personal paci. Now don't get me wrong, I love her so much I'd love to hold her all day and I'm spending as much snuggle time with her as I can before I have to go back to work but y'all...this comfort nursing has to stop or at least happen less. I don't know how much more my uh huhs can take. Any advice?

Oh and here's a super cute picture of her after one of the many nursing/paci sessions today, I mean who can resist that face? Not me...which is why I'm going to go sit in my recliner and be a human paci while my daughter sleeps. At least Swamp People is coming on.

One Giant Catch Up Post

I know I've been missing for a while, I just haven't felt like getting on the computer. I know I should probably split this post up into smaller ones but I just don't feel like it...and I have a 7 week old grunting and threatening a melt down at any moment. So here goes!

36 Weeks Pregnant 

I can pretty much guarantee that I was over it at this point ha-ha. I can't remember all that was going on at that point but I mean look at that belly! I worked until 2 days before my C-Section so I could clean the house and get the last minute stuff taken care of. I'm so glad I did too because it made everything much easier when we got home.

Emma's Birthday! 38 Weeks 5 Days

We got up that morning and headed to the hospital with high hopes we'd be getting in and done as soon as possible. I made sure to fix my hair and put on make up this time, you know, so I wouldn't look a hot mess in pictures! 

Here I am right after we got signed in and everything. 

After we got up to L&D and I got my sexy gown I got in the bed and settled in. They told us it wouldn't be until noon that we'd go in to surgery. My nurses came in and got me all hooked up, this was the WORST part of the process...getting my IV. I already hate getting shots but they couldn't find the vein and when they did, it blew...so they stuck me and dug around on BOTH hands until they finally floated it in. It hurt so bad, I could have slapped both nurses. 

Over the next few hours I visited with family and waited anxiously for them to come in and say it was time. It seemed to take forever and I was constantly looking at the clock.

Finally my anesthesiologist came in and explained how everything would go. She explained the spinal to me and told me what I would need to do for that, I was terrified of having it done and she was so sweet. After a few more questions and giving information they came in and wheeled me into the OR. The spinal that I was so so afraid of, was a piece of cake! It didn't hurt near as bad as that stupid IV did and the medicine started working immediately. I started feeling sick and nauseous so they gave me oxygen, and then got to work. 

It wasn't long before I heard my sweet girl cry and they dropped the curtain and put her on my chest. I wasn't expecting this because they only held Parker close to me so I could kiss him and talk to him before taking him. I got to put my arm around her and love on her...it was amazing. 

  

Emma was born on April 13, 2012 at 12:48 PM

She weighed 7lbs 12oz and was 20 inches long. 

Our stay at the hospital was so nice, they took really great care of us and of Emma. We were the only people there our last night so we walked around our floor and Emma was spoiled by all of the nurses.

I missed Parker so much while we were there but I know he had a good time with his grandparents. They came to visit us but Parker wasn't interested in me at all. He went straight to his sister.

Going Home and Everything Since...

We went home on Sunday morning, Emma was so tiny in her car seat. We were so happy to be home and have the 4 of us together. My mom and step dad were there to spend some time with us before they left and my mother in law brought Parker home. He immediately wanted to hold Emma.

Parker has been such a sweet big brother and a big big help. He has his moments, a lot, but when it comes to his baby sister he is on top of things. I love hearing him talk to her and tell her it's ok when she cries, or when he runs to her room to get a stuffed animal for her. He loves to give her kisses and hold her hand, he talks to her all of the time and asks to hold her a couple of times a week. He is protective of her and tells everyone about her. It melts my heart. 

2 weeks old in her pretty outfit

4 Weeks old smiling while she dreams.

5 Weeks old, having her first photo shoot!

5 Weeks old getting some sugar from bubba.

6 Weeks old, such a happy girl.

7 Weeks old with her bubba. 

I'm headed back to work on the 18th and not really looking forward to it. I've really enjoyed being home with my girl and getting to watch her grow. The worst part about daycare is how much I miss out on...I feel like my babies are with their teachers at day care more than they're with their own Momma! I wish staying home was an option for us but it's not, I know I'll live through it but it's going to be tough.

In other news, I'm starting McFatty Monday back up. I'll try to update every week like I did before and hopefully I'll start seeing results soon! I'm in the middle of week two and still at my starting weight, I'm on Weight Watchers again and I'm taking Aqua Zumba twice a week. I'll weigh again on Sunday and we'll see what happens!

I'll try to post more often now that I'm getting back into my normal routine. Hope you're having a great week!

32 weeks

It's late and I'm in the middle of bath time so this will be a quick one! I'm ready for Miss Emma to arrive and I'm looking forward to this crazy hectic month...there is so much to 2 and literally only 3 weekends in March to do it in. We are planning our C-Section for April 13th, the weekend after Easter, so it should be fun. I'll keep truckin along! 6 weeks to go!


How far along? 32 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 23 pounds total.  
Maternity clothes? Most definitely  
Sleep: Uncomfortable, I toss and turn all night, wake up sweating and sometimes can't sleep at all.
Best moment this week: Parker telling us he's going to give the yucky boys who mess with Emma a knuckle sandwich.
Movement: Constant. She moves most when I lay down of course lol.
Food cravings: Anything sweet & salad from cheddars.
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: No thank you.
Belly Button in or out? Out...so gross lol
What I miss: A good night's rest (and I'll be missing it for a while lol)
What I am looking forward to: Getting the nursery done. 
Weekly Wisdom: Naps are A-Okay
Milestones: Started appointments every two weeks. 

28 Weeks

YAY 3rd trimester! I'm so excited to be on the down hill side of this pregnancy. Emma will be here before we know it and I can't wait for her to be here. She is so strong, I'm surprised that Michael can't feel her kicks when we're in bed.

I'm really enjoying this pregnancy more than I did with Parker, I'm not miserable in 100 degree heat and I'm not swollen to twice my original size. The only things that have been bothering me are the sleepless nights due to potty trips and then just not sleeping soundly. I also get very uncomfortable standing for even short periods of time, she puts a ton of pressure on my insides and it feels like she might fall out!

It's not to terrible though and I'm happy to deal with these things to get her in the end.

Here is my 28 week survey and picture!

How far along? 28 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 17 pounds total.  
Maternity clothes? Most definitely  
Sleep: It could be better, I toss and turn a lot and then am up at least twice a night to potty.
Best moment this week: Parker saying "Mommy I need to give Emma hugs and kisses."
Movement: She kicks SO HARD and is flipping all the time.
Food cravings: Chocolate cake.
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: No thank you.
Belly Button in or out? In, but getting shallow
What I miss: Energy
What I am looking forward to: Getting the nursery done. 
Weekly Wisdom: Naps are A-Okay
Milestones: Third trimester!!