whew...

it has been a crazy 5 months. I feel like things are beginning to settle down just in time for them to pick back up again :) In the last 5 months we have

• moved across the country (really up but whose getting technical)
• left the comfort of what we did call "home"--our family, church home and friends
• been through a VERY cold winter
• started seminary
• began a new job
• moved into a new condo
• found a church
• met MANY new people

all while trying to be fully devoted followers of Christ as we raise a precious little boy that God has graciously entrusted us with.

I feel like somedays if we took that test "what is your stress level?" ours would be really high with all the change and newness. It has truly been a wonderful learning experience and we are so grateful to step out in faith (not having a place to live, work, $$ just 10 months ago) and "ride" on this journey God has set for us.

Today officially ends my 2 weeks of working 45+ hours while still being a mommy and wife. When we moved here I got a part time job to make ends meet helping this family out in the mornings and evenings, which meant I got to spend the days with my boys. It was a nice fit, but the driving was too much. I spent close to 2 hours (per day) 3 days a week just in driving. As I began praying for what God might have us to do...well low and behold he pretty much THREW this other job in my lap. Before I interviewed I thought well Lord if this is your will then I will trust you to work all the minor details out like...we would be in the south the whole month of july support raising/visiting family and friends...and well my husband is in seminary so each semester will look different...oh and did I mention I have an (at the time) 8 month old. I thought for sure this guy would move right along with his interview process, but he didn't. I interviewed and was hired on the spot even though there were other candidates. We prayed about it and I took the job. working both jobs has been nice because we have had the extra income we didn't budget for, but im pretty worn out :).

All this has been going on while Daniel began summer school this past monday. Not just any summer school..hard core Hebrew! I mean he was up late last night doing excerises and studying vocab. he had to learn something like 56 HEBREW vocab words for a quiz this morning...daniel only missed one :).

so back to this blessing of a job...what is it you ask and why did i take it when I had one that was very suitable? my new job is an administrative assistant/personal assistant for this guy who runs a ministry for pastors. and the catch??...I work from home. Not only is it a great ministry, but I can work while i'm in my pj's next to my little guy :) I do go in the office a couple of time a week for a few hours to debrief and get more work to do. i feel very blessed for this opportunity to be home with eli while still working. this job also will be wonderful for daniel because he can choose the classes he needs each semester since i make my own work schedule. i can work as few or as many hours as I would like each week.

daniel has been doing some personal training in the mornings which has helped out a good bit too!

God is good! (He would still be good even if He hadn't provided all these things) but we do give HIM all the glory!

mae

it's not always easy

being a parent is no cake walk. it's fun, exciting, rewarding but also frustrating, overwhelming and sometimes heartbreaking. heartbreaking is what we've been experiencing lately. before you panic and think oh no what's going on...maybe i should explain.

Eli is going through separation anxiety. the doctors have reassured us over and over (because i have asked quiet a few times the last 3 months) that this is perfectly normal. each sunday we walk in church and head to the nursery to leave the little guy. it doesn't happen every sunday, but often we walk in and he immediately starts crying. we put him on the ground and he starts crawling and reaching for us. okay what is a new mommy suppose to do? i know he has to learn but when he looks at me with those tear filled eyes, reaching for me to pick him up...ugh! i know this is a phase he is going through, and soon it will be over but it's hard at times. I want to tell him its okay...but he doesn't understand.

what's really interesting is I think he just doesn't like old people. no offense to any old person we know, but he seems to panic when any older person tries to say hello. we got in the elevator in our building the other day with 3 other more mature individuals. Eli looked at them, then back at daniel and I, and then back at them. then he immediately broke down and started crying squeezing my arm as tight as he could and turning his head so he couldn't see them anymore. as soon as we stepped off the elevator he stopped and started smiling and was happy again.

anyone out there have any advice or reassurance that their babies have gone through this at some point...this mama needs some feedback!

mae

Happy Mothers Day!!

I am not only blessed with a wonderful, loving and caring mom who means so much to me...

I am also blessed to be a mommy to the sweetest (in my opinion), most precious little boy i adore!

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

Psalm 127:3-5

mae

mommyhood

...is one of the hardest things i have ever been entrusted with, but boy is it so rewarding :)


mae

8 months & some change...

time is flying but we are having sooo much fun! Our little boy is busy as ever. crawling EVERYwhere & putting anything that he can find in his mouth. We never realized how easy he was until these past couple of weeks when all the sudden he became mobile. we have had to do some serious baby proofing!

we go to the doctor this week for his 8 month check up.

the little guy says "da da" daily but we have yet to get a clear "ma ma" from him. i believe i have heard him say it maybe once but nothing like the clarity of "da da".

he is becoming more and more interested in his sippy cup but we definitely have a ways to go.

the boy and I have been entertaining ourselves since daddy (aka the hubs) is finishing his first semester of seminary (which btw can i tell you that he LOVES it!!!). little man and i went to the park where some of the pics were taken.

im pretty sure we can't get enough of this little guy and feel so blessed by him :)

btw here is a plug...we are still doing children's, maternity, family, engagement, life & whatever else pictures you want! above is some of our work, but you can also visit our website for more photo's here. email or leave a message if you are interested!

mae