Life

I have been thinking a lot about life lately - specifically the beginnings of life.  I have been reading the book "Unplanned" by Abby Johnson.  Is is the story of a girl who was the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic and how God really opened her eyes to what abortion really is - murder.   I'm not quite done with it yet, but it is a great book - very honest.

I also watched this video this morning:

It's a bit long and it is does have several graphic pictures, but watch it when you have time.

I am much more emotionally attached to this issue now that Amaia is in our life.  If you don't know me well - I love to do my research!  Thus, while I was pregnant I always wanted to know what stage of development my baby was in and what new thing was going on with her each week.  I got all of the emails telling me the fruit that my baby was comparable in size to each week and when she was developing her fingernails and eyelashes, etc.  She had a heartbeat even before I knew I was pregnant and at 20 weeks I was barely showing, but almost every part of her tiny body was already formed.  I say all of this because it is hard for me to understand how anyone could think that this isn't life.  I wonder if people don't really think through what abortion actually is or if they just don't know the information.  In the book I am reading she talks about actually witnessing an abortion for the first time.  The baby was on an ultrasound so the doctor could see what he was doing more accurately.  She talked about watching the baby twisting and struggling to get away and then of course, losing that battle.  How can we think that isn't life?

This morning at our mom's group at church we talked about this verse: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers"  I John 3:16.  We talked about how our tendency is to see such value in laying our lives down for other adults, but when it comes to children, we can easily view them as not as important.  We can easily feel like our time would be much better spent on something else.  Ugh.  I have to admit I have felt that way at times too.  It was such a good reminder this morning - that spending my life on this sweet little girl is a mundane task at times, but actually I'm not sure that there is any more important thing I could be spending my time on.

My thoughts are a bit scattered, but I'm just so thankful that the Lord created this little girl and allows me to be her momma.  My desire to protect her, teach her, and provide a safe and loving environment for her to grow up in is quickly becoming the strongest desire of my heart. I still am so amazed that I get to participate in life.  I don't know how to communicate that in words, but I think it is amazing that I get to have anything to do with that.  I am sure that I don't deserve the privilege.  God created this perfectly unique, beautiful child and he allows me to raise her. 

On a lighter note: I inadvertently bought Amaia and I matching shirts :)  

Mamarazzi

I am kind of like Amaia's own personal mamarazzi - ha :)

She is getting a harder and harder to photograph by the day due the fact that she is a mover and a shaker, but I'm doing my best.

I loved this outfit and it went so well with her new, cute headband that we just had to do an impromptu photo shoot.

7 Months

To my sweet Amaia Papaya,

Wow, you are seven months old! This past month has gone particularly fast, I think because we have been so busy traveling the country and learning new skills!  This month you went on your first road trip.  Hopefully it was just the first of many road trips we will take together.  We went to Colorado with your Grandma-ma and Grandpa-pa.  We asked a lot of you on this trip - crazy schedules, lots of car time and napping on the go.  You had to be in your carseat a lot!!  BUT you really didn't protest until our very last day when we were on our way home anyways.  You coped with all the changes really well and it was so wonderful to be together as a family all week long.  Your daddy and grandparents loved being with you all week and got a kick out of figuring out new ways to get you to smile and laugh.


After the 6 month mark, we needed to get serious about foods other than rice cereal for you.  We started out with sweet potatoes.  You were not impressed with those one bit.  I don't really like sweet potatoes either so I don't blame you.  You don't have to like those, because let's be honest - I am probably not going to make them very often :)  Next, we tried green beans and for the first few days you made a funny face as if to communicate that it was the most disgusting thing you ever tasted.  I thought it was cute :)  I told you that you didn't really have a choice about eating your veggies and one day you just magically starting liking your green beans!!  I am excited to try out more foods with you.  Next up is squash and avocado and then we can move onto fruit (the good stuff!).  You are a happy girl when you are in your high chair and I can't wait until I can figure out how to coordinate all of our meals so that our entire little family can have dinner together.

You are also getting quite good at sitting up - you don't fall over very often anymore and even standing up!  You seem to really enjoy standing up and if I put your hands on our ottoman you can stand by yourself.  Here is what gets you excited these days: putting anything you can get your hands on in your mouth or just putting your hands in your mouth, going fast in the stroller, reading books, your jumperoo, singing songs, splashing in the bath, listening to daddy play the guitar and anything that you see me using a lot - my water bottle or the remote control are VERY interesting to you.  The other night you started to make what seemed like a fake coughing sound, which I thought was kind of funny.  Daddy and I started to make the same sound back at you and you thought that was SO funny!  Lately it is one of your favorite things to do and it is a sure way to get you to smile.  Actually, it is a sure way to get a smile out of me and your dad too!  I love seeing your sense of humor emerging.

We didn't have a doctor visit this month so I don't know your exact stats, but it is safe to say you are still growing at a rapid pace!  I can tell by how quickly you grow out of your clothes.  You are one long and lean baby girl.  You are already wearing the 12 month size in a few things.  Fall is my favorite season and I am loving dressing you up in fall clothes.  You don't have to try at all to be cute.  So many people comment to me about how beautiful you are and I agree wholeheartedly!

I love you so much sweet girl.  You will always be my favorite big girl!!
Love,
Mommy

To Do

I <3 to do lists.  I'm the type that will write things on my to do list that I have already completed just so I can cross it off. ha. I hope I'm not the only one that does that!

So my fall to do's in no particular order....

• Visit a pumpkin patch with Amaia and take a gazillion pictures
• Have family pictures taken
• Watch my lil' sis get married
• Vacation in Colorado with Amaia and not stress about it
• Make pumpkin lattes in the vitamix
• Organize the office FINALLY
• DIY a yarn wreath
• Get into a semi-regular work out routine
• Have a baby food making marathon session
• Find a cute Packers shirt. Go Pack Go!

Last but most certainly not least savor every moment with my little love.

Savoring sweet moments like this are pretty effortless...

Amaia now falls asleep on my shoulder after our bedtime feeding quite often.
Best part of my day every time!

Colorado Vacay

Ooooh how good it is to be home!!! Our little family has been on a roadtrip to Colorado for the past 10 days.  It was a wonderful trip!  But it tired mama out and it felt so sweet to be in our home again last night.   I slept so well!  And this morning was even sweeter with fall like temps and the first pumpkin spice latte of the season.  

10 days is a long time and I don't really know where to start, so I am going to let the pictures do the talking.....

Family pic at one of our first stops - Garden of the Gods.  Amaia is in her usual place - in the stroller napping.

Quite possibly the best part of the trip was getting to spend (almost) every minute of 10 days with him.

 I'm working on taking more family pics!  This was actually taken just outside of the Columbine Memorial.  If you are ever in the area I would really recommending stopping by.  It was the most personal and moving memorial I have ever seen.  

Oh my goodness she is so cute!  Amaia's first mountaintop experience.

 This picture captures several things about our trip.  First, we consumed lots and lots of Starbucks.   Also, we discovered that Amaia loves, loves, loves to grab your glass and suck on it.  I am guessing she likes the coolness??  Either way it's pretty funny to watch.

My sis and her fiance joined us for the last few days and we went out to a fancy dinner in Denver.  They love Amaia.

Amaia got to enjoy lots of time with her grandparents.  She also got to experience a roadtrip tradition in my family - she received her first goody bag filled with lots of new toys to entertain her :) 

We got to go on a tour of the Denver Broncos stadium.  It was really interesting and a great way to kick off football season!

The few days before our trip I was very nervous and thought that I was a complete crazy person for having the idea that I should take my 6-month old on a roadtrip.  For all that we asked of her, Amaia did awesome!  Sure we had a few rough nights and our share of poo explosions (TMI??) but all in all she was a champ.  BUT I also don't think I was the only one that was happy to be home last night.  Amaia seemed extra excited about being in her crib last night too.  

On the agenda this week:  lots of laundry and the first taste of sweet potatoes for the little one!