Blessings on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great! I have so much to be thankful for this year. First off I have a home to keep me warm and food to keep me plump:). I could not complain about my family (including n-laws), I'm pretty blessed there. I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband of 3.5 years. My latest blessing has been my sweet Londyn.
Last year I was 20 weeks pregnant with that little peanut:


This year we were celebrating 7.5 months of sweet bliss of being parents. I am one blessed momma!
Being silly:


Thanksgiving day Londyn enjoyed some of her mamaw Deckard dumplings and mashed potatoes, along with baby peaches. That night at Aunt Julie's she had pumpkin pie with daddy. Needless to say she loved them:



Friday before we left we were able to get a family picture:




It was a wonderful thanksgiving full of reminders of how blessed I am. I am a blessed daughter, sister, sister-n-law, wife, daughter-n-law, and momma.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Growing, Changing, and Learning at 7 months

I haven't written in a while. Life has somewhat been crazy, just come to my house you will see. Londyn has been growing, changing, and learning so much in the past month. Today she is 7 months old! I can't believe it. It is seriously almost time to start planning the party:). Keith and I have been talking lately about how much she has changed and how much she is doing now. In the past month we have added baby food to her diet (peas, green beans, squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots).When you put her on her belly she makes circles to get around to you (hasn't figured the crawling out yet). She loves to sit up and play with many toys. She likes to play "cause and Effect" by dropping and seeing if we pick up. She also likes to be passed around. She loves to squeal. Something that she has done for a while now is hum herself to sleep in the car.
I am looking for one of two things this month her to either start crawling or start pulling herself up. She is more interested in learning how to walk then she is crawling. Never has been one to lay on her belly.
In the past week I believe that she has been working on teeth. It's interesting how you go to a check up and your child is fine and then a few days later they come down with something. That is my sweet Londyn. I have nailed it down to an ear infection or teething. If she doesn't cut teeth this week I will probably get her in to the doctors next week.
She hasn't really been in her bed for almost a week now. Every time we put her to bed she will sleep and hour and then she is up and won't go back to sleep in there. Needless to say, we have had many nights of cuddling together.
I can't leave her sight for a second. She thinks she has to go to the bathroom, cook, and clean with me. Doesn't she know her day will come soon enough? Crazy girl.
Yes this past week has been a little stressful at bedtime but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Happy 7 months my sweet Londyn!

Prayer Walks

In high school and college I would run and work out to relieve stress. Since I've been married I have had little stresses but nothing run worthy.
Last week I was hit with some stress that was unbearable for me. I began to feel depression hit me, I just kept crying, I don't think there was much anyone could have done for me.
Having a little girl leaves no time for a mommy to have a bad day and be depressed. So Friday afternoon I decided that I would bundle her up in her stroller and her and I would go for a walk. As I was on my walk I began to talk to God just asking for His guidance and security. (I know people thought I was a crazy lady pushing her child) I just began sobbing and crying on our walk.
I have only done a few prayer walks in my life time. I can tell you this one was needed. I kept hearing these words as I walked, "I am your refuge, lean on me". As it was getting dark and we were nearing home I kept repeating those words to myself. I am so glad that God will take care of me.
In the end I tell myself this is all that matters: I am a child of God, I have a loving beautiful family, and there is nothing more that I need in this world.

Half way there!

So this Saturday Londyn will be the big 6 months. Wow! Can you believe it?! I feel like just yesterday I was in the hospital learning how to nurse her. Here she is growing up and adventuring out.
I had a dear friend who recently started her child at KK and she cried when she dropped off. Oh do I remember those days! I began laughing at myself that day because I cried over many things. First I cried because this little miracle survived in me for 9 months. Second I cried within 5 minutes of being at home the first day, because I was in charge of her. Third, I cried because she would cry in the car and there was nothing I can do for her. Fourth I cried because she had a belly ache and I tried everything. Fifth, I cried because I had to leave her for 8 hours out of the day so I could work. I knew how much of an influence her sitter would have on her and how little time I would see her in a day. The last time that I cried for her was when she slipped out of her stroller because I didn't buckle her in.
The reason that I laughed is because some of those things were so small, but so big at the time.
We have survived 6 months of her life and I think so far so good:). Now I have count downs. She will be eating baby food, sitting up, crawling, walking, coming to kk in 6 months, and turning the big 1 years old. Keith is convinced that Londyn should not have a birthday party. However, I am already imagining it. It will probably be bright colors because she likes Red and Hot Pink items. We will have a special cake or cupcake for her to eat. She will dig in (as she is already trying to eat our food) and make a fun filled mess. There will be tears shed because we didn't think that her birth would be successful. Family will be rejoicing with us. I am sure she will be spoiled with lots of toys (in the mind of a baby:)).
I love being her mommy and teaching her the way to go. Happy 6 months my sweet Londyn

Wanting the best for Londyn

Lately I have felt a lot of pressure from different people about letting Londyn go. You see she stays with me for church, I like her with us as much as possible (she will not want this forever), and I am having a hard time leaving her with other people than family and Heather. It's not that I don't trust that people can do it, it's that I want the best for my child. I want her to grow up knowing that we have always wanted the best for her. Sometimes I have a hard time because I know that every one parents differently and what if they try to care for Londyn in a way that I don't see fit.
I have really tried to let go and let more people adventure with her, maybe it's because the guilt trip is played, not for sure.
I do know this though, I worked hard to get this little girl and I don't want to ever lose her. It wasn't easy bringing her into this world, and I want to care for her and give her the best. I don't think that there is anything wrong with being picky, I am hoping that someday others see that too.
I love that girl and I am her mommy. I will always have a say in who she hangs out with or stays with. I think that what we do and allow today will be the judge of her future.
Don't we all want the best for our children? Should I loosen up some? Should I hand her off to more people? I am not sure that I know the answer to that. I do know, however, that there is nothing wrong with wanting the best. She's an investment!
I am so glad that God is trusting me with her! Thank you Jesus for sending me your Angel

Little miss Londyn

I have learned a few things in my short time as a parent. One thing that I have learned is that growth is an important thing along with always showing love and Christ. Let me get back to the growth thing for a bit. When Londyn was born she weighed 7.4lbs. As you know babies always lose a little weight after birth.
At one week the baby is expected to be back at birth weight, not our little peanut though. We had to come back for a weight check after the weekend. And then she started to really pack on the pounds at her 2 month check up, not a lot, but definite improvemnt. A few weeks ago I took Londyn in because she hadn't pooped (yes I said poop)for a week, I was worried about waiting too long and then going through the unneccesary process. When she was in for that she was at 13lbs a little over 4 months old. Yesterday she had to be weighed twice, coming out at 12lbs. How does a baby lose weight while on cereal? Her length was right on at 25 inches, she doing great there, but this weight thing is an issue. Who ever thought we would be encouraging weight gain. Londyn is somewhat benifitting from all of this, she gets more cereal. Not just more, but two more times a day! She has got to be in heaven today:). Along with cereal increase we are on vitamin drops. They smell aweful, I thought all baby medicine was sugar coated and flavored grape. We have a check up in a month to see where her weight is with more cereal.
On another note she loves floor time, her excer-saucer, talking, and hearing deep funny voices. She loves to give me kisses, rather a pro at it. She is determined to sit up soon and to start running.
So although we are working on gaining weight, we have seen so much change in Londyn in just this past week. We are learning to appreciate the little things all over again. God sure knew that we would need that reminder. God is God!

Women Of Faith

About a month ago I was given a ticket for the Women Of Faith Conference in Indianapolis for my birthday. I'm not going to lie, I was some what upset that the ticket was bought. I didn't feel that I had the time to take off work, leave/take Londyn, or that it was the right time to spend that kind of money.
Thursday I did the crazy packing for Londyn's and I over night stay in Indy. Somehow I managed to get everything in one duffle bag. Before Londyn, many of you know, I couldn't pack for myself in one duffle bag.
Friday morning at 8 we were off for the adventure. I heard a lot of great speakers, halerious comedians, well acted plays, and amazing worship. We were entertained by the following people: Andy Andrews, Mary Beth & Steven Curtis Chapman, Patsy Clairmont, Nicole Johnson, Mandisa, Marilyn Meberg, Sandi Patty, Anita Renfroe, and Lisa Whelchel. My favorite people were: Mandisa, The Chapmans, Anita Renfroe, and Patsy Clairmont. There were many stories I heard over the weekend. I heard about how each person is different in how they need praise, how labeling ourselves and people is not good, as well as the heartfelt stories of each person that stood on the stage. We heard stories of how each person has struggled one way or another, but yet God carried them through.
Anita Renfroe was halerious, she was full of jokes. Her big thing is to twist the original lyrics of songs. If you get a chance look up her videos on youtube: You will never look at "you raise me up", a turkey red button thing, and a shamwow the same way again.
Mandisa sung both Friday and Saturday. On Saturday she brought out former Idol contestant Melinda Doolitte to sing with her. Mandisa reminded me of this I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
The one story that has stuck with me and I keep thinking about over and over again is this. Mary Beth Chapman spoke about the tragic accident that killed their little Maria. She talked about how Maria had a picture sitting on her little table of a flower. But on the back of the paper she wrote this SEE and a picture of an angel. Mary Beth talked about being depressed and still coping with it, the hurt that she felt at the time of the loss, and everything in between. But at the end of her story she looked at her son (The one who was driving the vehicle the day of Maria's death) and she said these very words, "William, Mommy still loves you so much".
It reminds me that I can do many things, I will fall short many more times, and yet I serve a God who says, "Kimber, Daddy still loves you so much". Wow, I am amazed by that statement. Though Mary Beth probably didn't say that line for the audience, it caught my attention and I am so glad it did.

After realizing that God made a way for me to be at Women of Faith, I know I needed to hear many of those words. I wish that I could buy tickets for all the wonderful women in my life. Next year I hope to join the other 11,000 women in renewing my spirits with this incredible conference again!
It was an amazing time to get together with some of the ladies from church and experience this amazing time with them.