Retiring the Ole Blog

It's time for a change my friends, so reset your google reader feeds and mark the new link--follow our family on our new blog TheYoungs365---365 days of Young Family Life.

http://youngs365.blogspot.com/

Starting January 1, 2011--the blog kicks off so please don't miss the boat---we would love to have you follow us there.

365 Days Later

The past few days, I have been marveling at the difference a year makes.  365 days ago, we were in an apartment trucking along on our savings plan--I couldn't wait to be in a house.  365 days ago, I was daily meeting with my chiropractor praying that my doctors were not correct in the assessment that we would never have a child.  I knew my God, if it be His will could work a miracle. 365 days ago, I was spending every Tuesday night with my grandmother-savoring every moment with her because her health was fading fast. 

(I just read the next few paragraphs and came close to deleting it but decided to leave the rambling as is--I feel it may bless someone who is where I was this time last year. Pull up a chair, it's going to be a long one)

Last night, 365 days later I sat thinking about all the changes that took place and cried.  Sitting in the house, of my son's room, rocking my miracle boy and longing for my Granny Bonner to have had a chance to see his sweet smile and hear his giggles. (She would have loved to hear his laugh--sweetest sound EVER) Poor Baby Andrew was once again drenched in tears as I prayed and praised my Heavenly Father.  Outside of Andrew's room hangs a sketched picture of my grandparents.  I love this picture because the artist captured my grandmother's face perfectly.  It captured her sly smile and the twinkle in her eye.  Oh how she loved her family and especially her grandchildren.  I always tell Andrew that Granny would have loved him and that she was so happy to feel his first kicks when he was in my belly.  The joy that radiated from her face the day I told her I was pregnant will always remain as one of the sweetest gifts God could have given me.  You see, this time last year, I sat with my head in my grandmother's lap and cried because I wanted desperately to be a mother.  In addition to that, I wanted to be able to tell her I was pregnant before she died.  It was two days later, after I cried in her lap that I was rushing her to the hospital.  I was terrified of this trip.  Friends, she did not look good and it broke my heart to have her sitting in the seat next to me struggling for every single breath.  I knew in that moment that there was a reason why God had not answered my cry to be pregnant.  There would have been no way that a pregnant me would have been able to move my frail grandmother to the car. Granny never came home to her apartment after this trip to the hospital.  It was from here that we made the decision to put her in a nursing home.  That final slumber party was spent with a grandmother loving on her granddaughter and a granddaughter soaking up every moment with her grandmother.  I will forever cherish that night.  I love  the advice she gave to me as I cried and cried and cried for a baby.  She told me to never give up hope but to stop worrying and begin trusting God.  She said for me to enjoy this time with my husband because once I become pregnant it will never be the same.  And she told me that she knew one day I was going to make a great mom even if I never actually gave birth to one.

Last night, I sat and thought of these things and my heart hurt with a fresh pain for those who are right smack dab in the middle of where I was 365 days ago.  I cry for the women who are surrounded by pregnant women and wondering why has it not happened to them. I cry for the couples who struggle to muster up the love that needs to happen to bring a little one into this world.  Trust me girls, I know what you are feeling.  I know the ache your heart is feeling this very moment and my heart aches for you.  It would be easy for me to offer up some platitudes and tell you not to loose hope because you never know what is just around the corner.  Yet what happens if it never happens?  Will you be okay?  Will your marriage be okay? Will your faith in God be okay?

All of these questions, I asked myself almost every minute of the day.  There were a few absolutes that I clung to during my time of waiting.  I knew that no matter where the road led, I would not doubt God's sovereignty and His goodness in my life.  I knew that I had two ways to go about my life, joyfully or bitterly.  I made myself choose joy.  I also knew that I would not let my marriage fail because we didn't have a baby.  Do you know that in the Bible your marriage is complete when you say I do?  It doesn't say your marriage is complete when you have child one, two, three and four.  No, children are viewed as a bonus--they are not what makes your family unit complete.  Husband & Wife make the marriage complete.  I don't know about you but this was freeing for me.  I could take this concept and apply it to how I treated Jeff.  The 4 months before I became pregnant are some of the sweetest moments in our marriage.  What a gift from God to be able to say that.  Trust me, there were many times in our 4 1/2 years of waiting that I thought we weren't going to make it.  I am happy to say we did and with flying colors.

So as I ponder where the road has led us the past 365 days all I can do is offer up praise to God.  I praise Him for blessing us with a child.  When doctors told us it would take a miracle for us to get pregnant-God showed up and gave us that miracle.  When friends and family started to encourage us to seek adoption--I was encouraged to try a chiropractor first.  When I thought I would never be able to see Granny B's face when I told her I was pregnant--God allowed me to be able to tell her first.  She was also the first person to feel Baby Andrew's kicks--other than me. 

Friends, words can not adequately express the thanksgiving that flows from my heart 365 days later.  Yet, I spent 1000+ words trying to do so just now.  Oh sweet girl, reading this on the other end of the screen who needed these words tonight, I pray it blesses you. 

I'm praying for you and my heart aches with you.

Grocery Shopping-How Do You Do It

It's funny to think about how long I have known many of you and the topics of conversations that have spanned the years between us.  It's gone from talking about the boy at school who asked us out, to were Ross & Rachel really on a break, to what college to apply to, to the man we think could be THE ONE, to screaming over the phone, "I'm engaged!!!", to wedding plans and marriage ups & downs, to pregnancy hormones and birth stories, to now grocery shopping and coupon clipping.  Oh how I cherish the friendships that span the decades.  I am a blessed woman with a handful of Decade Chicks! 

So who would have thought we would one day be talking about grocery shopping?

I have come to realize in recent years that frugal women fascinate me.  I love a woman who is happy to take care of her home, enjoys mothering and loves to cook for her family.  These are the women I want to sit and pick their brain regarding their home caring/family caring routines. They are the ones that I want to spend a day with just to see how they fit it all into one day. In my married life,  I have been blessed with godly women who have shown  me the value in home and family caring.  Their ability to care for their family without breaking the bank is also an inspiration to me.

Recently I stumbled onto a blog that has also inspired me in the saving money department.  It's one of those blogs that I bookmarked so I can read the archives in my down time.  I just can't seem to get enough or her money saving tips.  Fascinating stuff!!!  Click the picture to see for yourself.

A few of my favorite articles are listed below.

• CVS Shopping 101
• 31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget
• We Payed Cash Series

One area her blog has inspired me is to get my grocery budget back on track.  Menu Planning and Budget shopping was a hobby for me before Andrew came along. I enjoyed the planning and shopping of it all.  Now I am just happy to get something on the table that is edible and not molding.  {I ate a sandwich the other night that didn't taste right.  Turns out the bread was on the way to being covered in green goodness.  I was two bites away from finishing it before I looked at the rest of the loaf to see the cause of why the bread wasn't tasting right---gross!!!} I used to laugh at my friends who would divide up topics of conversation into the before baby and after baby category.  Now that I am a mom I so get what they were saying and I apologize for laughing at you behind your back. {I am teasing--I never did that} I guess you can say Menu Planning was great... before baby.  Now I want menu planning to be great after baby.  I know myself well enough to know that I thrive with a well planned menu for the week and a grocery list in hand.  Without these two, my husband is usually making a dinner run or picking up something at the store that I forgot to get while I was shopping a few hours ago.  It's not pretty folks.

so friends let me ask you this...what are some things that have helped you grocery shopping after baby?
Are you a coupon clipper?  Do you shop at one store or do you buy from a variety of stores with the best deal?  Do you shop with the tot or do you leave him at home with Daddy?  {I choose to keep Andrew home with Daddy so I can shop at my own pace or read People magazine without a baby crying a high volumes}  Do you freeze meals to have on hand for those days you are in a pinch?

tell me your tricks.  give me your grocery shopping treats.

I really am curious to know how you, dear friends grocery shop.

If you comment, I promise my next post will be nothing but pictures of the sweet boy--so please, comment away.  The grandparents will thank you!

Andrew: Two Months

Andrew turned two months on October 16th and I am still trying to figure out how I can slow the process down.  It seems like only yesterday I was writing his one month post.  I don't even want to think about how it will feel to write his 12 month post one day.  I know this year is going to fly by and so I choose to embrace every up & down this past month has brought to the table.  Thankfully more ups than downs but I would be lying if I told you it was all great, all the time.

Andrew loves to sleep with his hands close to his face.

Over the past month, I started back to work.  Thankfully I work at home otherwise I would have begged to stay home.  God was good providing this jobs many years ago. Adding work into our daily routine has thrown both Andrew and I for a loop the past few weeks.  Even though I am still home all day, it's almost like he knows I am not fully paying attention to him.  For example, the other day I needed to take care of a few emails in the office.  I carried him in to sit on my lap while I worked and the minute I sat down in the chair, he threw a fit.  This was the first time he had ever done this and I was perplexed for a few minutes until I realized that Andrew is not happy when I am working.  I have since brought in his play mat to sit next to the desk so that I can answer emails scream free.  Good news is that we are finally both starting to find our way again and the work days are getting to be much easier.



My Little Co-Worker



This past month Andrew attended his first birthday party.  My favorite set of twins turned double digits and there was no way we were going to miss their ice skating party.  I had high hopes of ice skating with the kids but my husband asked me nicely to rethink that plan.  I was bummed but knew he was right, taking care of Andrew would not have been as easy with my arm in a sling.  :) 


Happy 10th Birthday E & C!

Andrew hung with Dad--the warmest spot at the rink

 
 

Maybe next year Andrew will stay awake for the party!

 Another first this month is I left the boy with a babysitter.  Okay it was his grandmother but still it was the first time I had to call in advance and arrange a sitter.  The night I needed a sitter happened to fall on my S.I.L Missy's birthday so I dropped him off at their house.  I guess you can say he went to his first birthday party without his parents this month too!

Happy Birthday Aunt Missy!

 

Andrew loves hanging with Lynnie!



One thing I absolutely love about this month is that he is starting to smile and coo at us.  Jeff & I could sit for hours watching his different facial expressions.  I know I am his mother but he is one cute kid.  

playing in his pack & play

We have come to realize this month that Andrew loves hanging in his pack & play, being outside and going for walks around the neighborhood.  All of these things are great tools during his fussy times.  It really is a joy to watch the world through his eyes.

Andrew's 2 month doctor visit

Andrew's stats as of 10-19-10

Pounds: 13.12
Height: 24 inches

Longest stretch of sleep: 5 1/2 hours

His latest nicknames: Chunky Monkey, Tooter Rooter & Mr Jim's (his Dad's nickname-not sure where it came from but it's pretty cute to hear Jeff say "Mr. Jim's what's wrong with you?)

Happy Two Month Birthday, Baby Boy!

Project: Painting Master Bedroom

{This blog post falls under the decorating side of things. I hope you enjoy the little projects I will highlight from time to time. I realize that decorating can be very subjective and may not be the update my family has been hoping for.  Yet, I have really enjoyed unwinding at night by planning out the next room project & thought it would be fun to highlight here}

I've been inspired to decorate our master bedroom.  I just haven't been happy with the unfinished feel of our room.  It has been my goal since moving into our home to create a master bedroom that could serve as a place of calming retreat for Jeff and me.  We were both inspired by our stay at the Paradise Point Resort in San Diego last fall.  This trip was special to both Jeff and I and we wanted the same feel for our bedroom.

Do you remember when I bought this bedding for the new house?  I still love it and have enjoyed the splash of color it adds to our room.  Yet there has been one little problem.  What color do I choose when there are so many to pick from?  I finally settled on Favorite Tan by Sherwin Williams for our bedroom and Comfort Gray for the bathroom.  The plan is to start painting this week so I will post before & after pictures soon.

I hoping the paint color will help inspire me to pick a rug for our room.  Hopefully I will find the rug before winter sets in, hardwood floors are cold in the morning :) I'm leaning towards this rug or possibly this one

So for the record my master bedroom decorating to do list is as follows:

1) Paint Room
2) Pick out Rug & Curtains
3) Find a chair for corner {something to lounge in & a cozy place to read}
4) Accessorize & frame pictures/mementos meaningful to us {more on this later}

I'll keep you posted with the process & thanks for allowing me the time to get my thoughts down "to paper."

Oh and for the family looking for the latest Andrew picture--here you go!

Isn't he sweet?

3 Random Things

1. I love babies in footy pajamas! Especially on this little guy! Thanks Aunt Jodi for the cool NASA pj's. I am glad I tried them on tonight because I don't think they would fit if I waited until he was actually 3 months old. Apparently my almost 6 week old is a big boy!

Look how long my boy is!

 2.  I finally got around to decorating the kitchen.  I was feeling pretty good about the progress I was making and happy that I have been able to use accessories that I already own until I asked for Jeff's opinion. Stupid me just had to know what he thought--he thought it was too girly.  That one little word has made me rethink the whole design scheme and I have spent most of Andrew's naps today trying to rethink a more neutral decor scheme.  After much thought and searching of the internet, I decided to stick with my gut and use the things that I love (and already own).  I know that when all is said and done he will be happy with the end result.  What was I thinking allowing a man who wears camo shorts with every shirt he owns (dress shirts and stripes not excluded) to question my taste in design anyway?

Here is a picture of my work in progress.  I still don't have it where I want it but I do love that plate rack with the red plates.

3.  I watched the sweetest movie today that I highly recommend.  Letters to God is about a little boy who has cancer and writes letters to God and mails via post office. I cried my eyes out during the end credits when they showed people touched by cancer.  I could not stop thinking of my friend Seth who died when we were nineteen years old from leukemia.  Just like this little boy, Seth's life touched many.  My fellow Deer Runner's, if you watch this movie make sure you have tissues close by because you will need them.  Friends, I cried like it was my job today as I watched the end credits roll.  Even if you are not a fan of tearjerkers, I highly recommend this movie.  The story and message are wonderful for everyone to watch. 

Andrew: One Month

Andrew- One Month

September 16, 2010 marked the one month birthday for our boy Andrew.  I never thought in a million years that I would feel the way I did the day he turned a month old.  Honestly it was a bittersweet day.  The tears flowed freely as I realized that a full 30 days has gone by since the day he was born.  Time passes way too quickly and I find myself begging the Lord to slow down the growing process just a bit. I can't seem to soak up enough of the newborn phase.  I find myself wanting to cherish every single moment with our precious boy.



Baby Acme was rough on Andrew



I absolutely love being a mother.  I feel complete like I have finally found my true ministry in life.  I told Jeff the first day that I was made to be a mother.  These words I continue to find myself repeating over the past few weeks.  Sleepless nights, fussy times, dirty diapers, pee in your face and spit up in your hair are all part of the motherhood experience that I find myself laughing through and knowing one day I will miss greatly.  These are the moments I prayed for as we waited for the Lord to bless us with a child.  These are the moments I try not to take for granted since I know so many girls longing for these memories as well.

Father & Son nap time

My favorite time of day is the times that I rock my baby in his room.  It seems like it is in these moments that time stands still.  I cherish the little hand that reaches up to grab my hair to twirl as he falls asleep.  Or the little sigh that he gives right before he falls into a deep sleep.  Truly, truly precious memories that I hope to never forget.

Many times this month, I find myself standing next to Andrew's crib thanking the Lord above for blessing us with Baby Andrew.  My poor baby has been baptised in my tears of joy more than I care to admit. I find myself in a constant state of praise for all the Lord has done for us. 



Andrew LOVES getting a bath!

Bath time, cuddles, family nap time and first smiles are all the things that I pray I never take for granted.  I will carry them with me for the rest of my life. 

One Month Doctor Visit

Andrew's one month stats as of 9-16-10

Pounds: 10.9

Inches: 22

We are truly grateful for the opportunity to raise and love on Andrew Jon--he is a precious gift that we never want to take for granted. 

A Few Firsts Happening Here

We are trying to find our groove around here for outings outside of the house.  This has been pretty easy to plan because he is still so young and typically will sleep for two hours after his feedings. 

Our first big outing was to Jason's Deli to celebrate Andrew's 2nd week on earth and to cure Mom of an intense case of cabin fever.  Once I fed him, we hurried to the restaurant where I am happy to report he stayed asleep until we arrived back at the house.

We also headed to church for the first time this past weekend.  This has been our biggest adventure of all by far.  I thought I had planned it out just right but was I ever so wrong.  The plan was for me to wake up early enough that I could get a shower and dry my hair before Andrew's next scheduled feeding.  Unfortunately when I got out of the shower, Andrew was screaming in his crib.  I wrapped my hair in a towel and quickly started to feed him.  This day, he decided that he would take his time eating so by the time we finished I had 5 minutes to spare before we had to walk out the door.  Thankfully my hair curled up after sitting in a towel for almost an hour and I still had my traveling make up bag packed from the hospital so both were quickly done in the car.

One word to describe my look: frazzled.

A funny story that happened while at church.  Andrew is a big tooter when he eats, after he eats and before he eats.  Basically this boy toots like no ones business.  The boy has very manly, very loud toots.  One of his feedings fell in the middle of church so I was fully prepared with bottle in hand to sit on the back row and feed our boy.  During his feeding our pastor gets up to pray and begin his sermon.  My son thought this would be a good time to let em rip.  Not just one or two but possibly close to a dozen, very loud, very manly toots came a flying.  His Nannie and Poppy, who were sitting two rows in front of us heard their precious grandson tooting up a storm.  I was trying not to laugh out loud but had silent laughter tears rolling down my cheeks.  Neither Jeff nor I could look at each other because the silent laughter would have become full on belly laugh. Imagine, his first Sunday at church and he is already acting up during the prayer.  Sadly all those toots were the result of a very loaded diaper being made so a quick exit was made to remedy the situation.  I am very happy we chose to sit on the back row and not our usual 3 rows from the front. 

Here is a quick video of a new trick Andrew discovered tonight.  Someone needs to tell this boy that he is only three weeks old and shouldn't be able to do the things he is already doing.

Introducing Andrew

This is our sweet baby, Andrew. The proof that God answers prayers and that good things do happen to those who wait.  I am loving every minute of being a new mom.  My favorite part is that newborn smell and the middle of the night cuddle times. I know these two things will not last forever so I am soaking up every single minute.

We are blessed beyond measure.  Andrew is a great sleeper and a good eater.  His pediatrician summed it up nicely the other day by describing him as laid back.  Don't get me wrong, he has his fussy moments but that quickly can be remedied with a bottle of breast milk.  (Yes, I said bottle--the boy is slow to nurse but thrives on a bottle. He's gaining weight and doing well so I'm good with that) 

He has his Daddy wrapped around his little finger.  One of my favorite things EVER is to listen to Jeff have guy talks with his son.  I hope to capture one of these talks on video but Jeff is not the type to perform on command so I will have to be tricky about it. The benefit to having a son who takes pumped bottles is that his Daddy can bond with his son while helping feed and the added bonus of  Jeff taking the night shift on the weekends.  This is a huge blessing to me since during the week I fly solos at night and most of the days. 

Thankfully our son thrives on routine and is slowly starting to get a routine of his own.  My favorite part of his routine is his nightly bath.  Andrew loves the water (again just like Daddy) and nothing relaxes this kid more than his sponge baths.  Baths are a great blessing in our house.

We thank God daily for blessing us with this sweet boy.  We have fallen head over heels with this little guy.  What a blessing he is to our family! 

Thank you Lord for answering our prayers for a baby!  We thank you for all that you have done and all that you are going to do in his life!

These Are the Days We Will Remember

I remember it like it was yesterday, driving in our rental car heading somewhere North. I had put together a Young Family road trip playlist and Jeff and I were sitting back enjoying the open road with songs blaring from our speakers.

The theme of that playlist was to live in the moment. My favorite was Keith Urban's "These Are the Days." At that moment in time those words resonated with me.

"These are the days we will remember. These are the times that won't come again...So take 'em by the hand, they're yours and mine. Take 'em by the hand and live your life. Take 'em by the hand don't let 'em all fly by"

It was on that road trip to the North that I decided that no matter where the road took me I was going to live fully in the moment--not letting life pass by but soaking up the present moment.  Today I am just days away from being a full time mom and tonight starts the official countdown to Andrew. My mom will be staying with me as we wait for Andrew to make his apperance into the world.  I still can't believe I am just days away from holding our son.  I would be lying if I told you that I wasn't a tad bit nervous, the unknown always makes me feel this way.  But then I have to remember the promise I made to myself many years ago on the open road while listening to Keith Urban. 

"These are the days we will remember. These are the times that won't come again...So take 'em by the hand, they're yours and mine. Take 'em by the hand and live your life. Take 'em by the hand don't let 'em all fly by"


This past week Jeff was on vacation.  We knew this would be his last vacation before our lives changed so we made a point to do a bunch of things that may not happen for awhile after Andrew comes.

• ate at Outback with our last Christmas gift card. 
• swam in the pool
• sat outside most evenings and listened to his radio scanner...we were able to pick up his work frequency so I got to hear a bit of the behind the scenes from work
• bought and installed Andrew's car seat.  The first time we drove with it in our car, we both turned our heads slowly to look at his seat before backing out of the driveway and Jeff said, "Well, it's official.  Our life is about to change."
• went to the movies--Inception still has my head spinning
• went to a local hardware store to buy a few batteries.  Jeff likes to support the "little guys" and of course when he declared this I had to laugh and now tease him often.  As we passed a local sno-cone stand I said,  "Let's go support the little guys, Jeff."
• while browsing at Steinmart (I can't wait to buy normal clothes again)  I started to pick out the brightest and most flamboyant outfits for Jeff.  The people shopping next to us gave us the funniest looks but we didn't care.  I wish I had my video camera with me to capture Jeff's running commentary on the outfits.  Priceless!
• went with M & M to take nephew Jacob on a big brother outing to Chuck E Cheese.  While the boys played, Meredith and I sat and talked about the littlest cousins we were about to bring into the world, who are days apart and will grow up to be best friends.  Crazy good times ahead!

Even though things are about to change, Jeff and I both can not wait to welcome the Little Mister into the world. We look forward to celebrating our new family of three and soaking up the newborn days---the good, the bad and the ugly.

I wanted to post a video of Keith Urban's These are the Days video to close this post and when I came across this families video I had to post it here.  I can't wait to take a trip with my boys one day.