March 24, 2011

fifteen months

March 24, 2011/ sarah

Did you know that 15 months ago today was a snowy Christmas Eve?

I know that because thats the day 6 little pounds and 13 tiny ounces

changed my life.

(remember, I'm a first time mama so "month birthdays" are still a big deal!) :)

...Abigail Joy is 15 months old today!

I cannot believe it. I am in awe of how much she has grown and how much she has brought to our lives. Parker and I sat going through pictures from her birth last night and we were both just giddy talking about the memory of it all.

Parker recounted how proud he felt to hand me our daughter for the first time.

Ill never forget it either.

Such a proud feeling to hold your child for the first time.

My gorgeous little angel, God's beaming light of joy in our life.

15 months ago began the most beautiful yet most challenging

journey I've even taken.

Becoming a mother was the biggest adjustment I've ever had to make, but the one with the most and best rewards. In many ways (and im sure its true all through "parenthood"), I feel like I am still adjusting as each day passes. still learning, still growing as a mommy and as a woman.

But I am more complete now. More sure of God's love in my life.

More confident that being her mommy is the best role I'll ever play.

More full of life. and more full of JOY!

in the last 15 months....

(in no particular order)...

I have fallen in love.

I have cried as my baby is sick or hurting.

I have witnessed her first sitting, her first crawling, and now her first steps.

I have read a dozen books about caring for your new baby.

I think a read a few dozen more about "introducing solids".

I have asked my doula a million questions.

I have asked the pediatrician even more.

I have been "that mom" that calls the dr about everything.

I have learned to cope with not much sleep.

I have pushed through the many ups and downs of breastfeeding.

I have prayed over my daughter as she sleeps.

I have heard her first words...mama, dada, ba (ball), hi!, that, up...

I have been thankful for the love her grandparents give her.

I have laughed at her spunky personality.

I have been in awe of the compassion God put in someone so small.

I have spent a million hours staring at a tiny video monitor.

I have watched her light up when her dada is around.

...I have been changed and blessed beyond my wildest dreams.

such a big girl now...but she will always be my little baby.

Happy 15 months sweet pea!

March 22, 2011

lets meet for coffee...

March 22, 2011/ sarah

Mornin Ya'll! (yes, Im from Texas!)

This morning I am sitting down to enjoy a cup of coffee with you!

(well really a small soy chi tea latte... i don't drink coffee)

What are you having? do you drink coffee?

Dont know why I dont like coffee, I just dont,

but I am always up for a sweet something like chi tea or a delish white chocolate drink!

If we were meeting for coffee, or tea, today, I'd tell you that the weather is kindof weird this morning, nice and cool, but Im wanting it to be a little warmer.

its kindof cloudy, but don't see any rain yet!

Id tell you that this morning I've been listening to a new playlist I just made called "rest and worship". It has been really good for me as it really settles me and allows me to rest in Him, at least for that moment. How I long to allow more rest in my life. Real rest.

Believing God kind of rest. Knowing HE is in control kind of rest.

I know its there for me, I just tend to take the reigns and exhaust myself instead of just trusting Him. Hoping to have a little rest time today.

Id also tell you that I dropped Abigail off at MDO this morning. Im glad for the 5 hour break, but I also miss it when I don't have my usual sidekick around all day long.

She was so excited to go...she missed 2 weeks because of a cold, and then last week was spring break, so I know it'll be good for her today! She started walking since she's been to school, so I think today will be extra fun as she's able to explore and play on a whole new level...So happy for her!

On that note, I LOVE having a little walker around! My favorite part of her being a wobbly walker is the arms. They just seem to kindof flail and move as she learns to balance herself.

SO stinking cute.

Speaking of my little bug, she will be 15 months on Thursday! I know, I cant believe it either!

Seems like just yesterday that she was born on that snowy Christmas Eve.

Its been by far the best 15 months of my life, and I will blog about that on Thursday!

I love looking at old pics of how little she was. So sweet.

If we were meeting for a cup, I would tell you that I really should be going for a run or cleaning out closets today while Abigail is gone, but Im still working on the motivation for both of those things. Just feeling kindof tired today.

But maybe this tea will help!

I would also ask you to pray for our little family as God seems to be guiding us into a new season. Ill save details for the next time we meet, as it would be a whole other convo (or post). :)

Just pray for peace and guidance as we trust His plan and His leading.

Thanks for listening to me talk! Whats going on with you today? How can I lift you up in prayer right now? Just want to tell you that God's in control. He really is. Lets encourage each other with that, and help each other remember that He carries us and our burdens.

He makes our load light.

I've so enjoyed this time with you! Hope we can do it again soon...maybe next week?

OK, Have a blessed day!

If you need another cup of coffee today (it might be one of those days, right?), head over here...

March 21, 2011

life made lovely monday...bows!!

March 21, 2011/ sarah

Today I am taking joy in the simple but lovely things of my day.

Im linking up with other loves over at Blessed Little Nest

for "Life Made Lovely Monday"!

OK so im not usually a crafty gal, but let me tell you, blogs are SO inspiring to me...

encouraging me all the time to hop on the "do-it-yourself" wagon!

So, Im giving it a go.

Abigail's bows. oh so many bows!

(a girl cant ever have too many bows!! right?!?!)

and her poor little bows have lived in utter chaos in a basket for the last 15 months.

But not anymore!!!

I got to thinking about organizing her bows when I saw one of those sash bow organizers at a store, and I thought "well I could attempt that myself". So I came home and looked it up and found an even better solution for me...the Bow Frame!

I have actually made a frame like this before that I store all my earrings on (with a frame and window mesh), but now I have a whole new "accessory frame"! I found a few descriptions of how to do it online, and Im sure alot of you amazing mamas out there are many steps ahead of me and have made things like this for years, but I am proud of my bow frame. it was so easy to make, and man are we organized now! oh, and its stinking cute too!

just pick a frame (I got a cute one from Michael's - always great prices)

PS do you see the sweet little hands touching this frame?! :)

pick some ribbon you love or that coordinates with her room or bathroom...

remove the glass and matting from the frame, then turn the frame over.

then use a hot glue gun to attach the ribbon where you want it.

(a ruler came in handy here to help measure spacing)

I just put a little drop of glue at the top and bottom.

pull the ribbons tight as you attach them on the back of the frame.

And there you go!! You have a bow frame!

Now just add the bows and hang it up!!

and compliment yourself that you just made a simple, pretty thing

that will make your life a little simpler. and a little prettier too.

Hope you have a blessed Monday!

Become a follower at the bottom of the blog...

we love to share life and we'd love for you to keep up with us as we journey!

Happy Lovely Day!

linking up to...

March 20, 2011

hittin the trails...

March 20, 2011/ sarah

Part of the reason for the title of our blog using the word "racing" is also to talk about our goals and journey in our training for physical (biking and running) races.

(o man, what a little diva!)

Parker introduced me to biking early on in our life together.

My first mountain bike experience was just a few weeks into our marriage, and it wasn't pretty.

Lets just say there was a certain tree that did not like me very much. ouch.

He then got me interested in road biking, which also resulted in the lovely scar I still sport on my knee 5 years later. ha.

Parker and I did our first triathlon together 3 years ago, and though I literally almost drowned, and was at the end of the hundreds of people finishing....I finished. I will blog about it another time, but next to delivering a baby, and breastfeeding for 15 months and counting,

finishing the tri was one of the biggest and hardest accomplishments I have ever set out to do.

And now Im gonna do it again! (big sigh.)

I am learning to build my confidence in biking, and running and swimming too.

I have a bike of my own now and don't have to use Parker's, and I am learning that I love it!

(sweet little A enjoying the outdoors with us today!)

All that to say...today I hit the "training trails" with Parker (and Abigail in tow of course!)

We drove south of here to a state park with great mountain biking trails and a great lake to run around. Parker is doing an Adventure Race next weekend (paddling, running, biking, and a mystery event...oh so fun!), so he hit the trails with his bike, and I took A for a jog in the stroller.

If you don't live in our part of Texas, then you don't know...but it was GORGEOUS today!

Abigail loved being outside, she is definitely made for the outdoors

just like her mama and daddy.

She made her voice shake as I ran with her in the stroller, and every few minutes I would hear her giggle at the fact she was moving fast.

Much better than listening to music on the ipod.

My desire is to share my journey of training with you,

as I know it wont just be about improving distance or time.

(which for me it just about doing it at all...maybe someday I can worry about improving time and such!)

It will also be about self-discipline, building confidence in myself, overcoming fears (of falling and of failing), and learning that I can do it. It wont be perfect, or even pretty. I may even get another scar, but then hey, maybe I can have one for each knee! anyways.

I know this sounds silly, but I think that training for this is something the Lord has put in front of me to do. I know He has a lot to show me about myself through it. And about Him.

That HE is my Sustainer, my Carrier, my Protector, my Breath every day.

June 5th. 11 weeks from now. ahh!

Hopefully it will be another proud accomplishment in my life!

I will keep you posted (haha...such a blogger thing to say) on how things are going, and welcome any encouragement!

Thankful right now for the gifts and blessings in my life. Thankful for Gods restoring of my health (read more about that here.) Thankful for another reason to lean on His strength!