Time

I was exactly 45 minutes late tonight for a meeting.  It was embarrassing.  Worst of all, it was a meeting that was planned because I pushed for it!  Had I not said, "Hey, let's have that meeting this week," we wouldn't have had it.  It was a good meeting, but long.  And I should have been there on time.  How did I miss that?

"Given infinite time and infinite resources anything is possible."  Thank you Dr. Lengle for putting so concisely, and I think of you often when I am short on time, sort on resources, or short on both.

Dr. Lengle was making the point in my first ever graduate school class, that the reason we disagree in politics is usually not because of ends - we all want to end homelessness, hunger, war, etc, etc.  The biggest issue is that we have limited time and limited resources with which to address these huge problems.  If we had infinite wealth, then there would be no reason for anyone to be homeless - we could all live in mansions, assuming, of course, that it took no time to build or otherwise upkeep said mansions.  There would still be political disagreements, sure, but imagine - a world with no limits for resources or time!?!  Wow.

I don't have infinite time, and nor do you.  Our days, minutes, seconds are numbered.  It's weird, but there's actually some comfort for me in that:  I don't have to accomplish everything.  In fact, I can't accomplish everything - I don't have time to.  Additionally, God has given me the perfect amount of resources (and time) to accomplish exactly His purpose in my life today.  My job is to live in such a way that honors Him and fulfill His purpose.

Does that make sense?  Think of a problem you faced today - I have a deadline for an article that I need to write, and I've missed it already by 2 days - imagine if you had unlimited time to solve that problem.  Or what if money, energy, or effort were readily available?  *sigh*  That would be ah-may-zing!

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about God just blowing my socks off (you can read about it here: Blown Away).  Well, that day that I was so blown away, it was because God provided a house for us.  You might think, "Oh, Steph's just being over-religious.  She credits God with stuff that just happens every day to normal people."  Fine.  Call it coincidence.  Call it fate.  Call it whatever you like.  But I call it God winking down at me, letting me know He's got my back.  Here's what happened...

Chase, Lily and I have been living in a small house.  It meets many of our needs, but it's just not as... comfortable as we'd like it to be.  Our neighbors are loud at all hours of the night right outside our bedroom windows, we averaged about 35 snake-kills per summer we've lived here, and the kitchen is "cozy" to say the least.  But God provided it a while ago when we needed it, and we are grateful for it.  But at Christmas time, Chase and I had a conversation that went something like this:

CHASE:  I'd like to move into a house that fits us a little better.
STEPH:  Like bigger?  We aren't ready to buy.  Do you want to spend more in rent?
CHASE:  No.  I'd like a bigger, nicer house, in a nicer neighborhood, for the same rent.
STEPH:  That's impossible.  I've watched the housing market like a hawk in this town for the last 18 months.  Dream on.
CHASE:  Well, that's what I want.
STEPH:  Not gonna happen, but you can wish...

Christmas passed, and I still watched the housing market, knowing that nothing would come up.  Our church's Christmas program was postponed to January due to weather, and the night of the program in January, my mom talked to some old family friends who'd come to watch their grandson in the program.  They mentioned off-hand about a house they were fixing up, and didn't have renters for yet.  Mom didn't say anything to them, but suggested to me that I call them.  That was Wednesday night.  I called Thursday night, we looked at the house on Saturday morning, we had a verbal contract that day with papers signed about a week later.

You're wondering about the house right?  It's a bigger house - about 400 sq ft more than we currently have.  It's in a much nicer, quieter neighborhood.  It fits our needs perfectly.  BUT the rent is $5 more per month.

Did you see that $5!?!  We can work an extra $5/month into our budget - we can handle that!  I told Chase when we got home from looking at the house that I felt like God was just winking down at us - letting us know that, yet again, though we don't deserve it, He's got a plan and He's looking after us.  I'm telling you, I've got realtor friends in town who I talk to on a regular basis.  I've watched housing here sell, I've watched it rent.  I know what stuff is "worth."  Call it what you will, but I call it God.

So now we're moving across town, and I'm already getting stressed about it - I don't always (or ever) respond well when I feel like my life is unorganized.  *sigh* I hate moving.  *sigh*  But the end result will be great, and we have great friends and great family who are planning to help with the move.  I really have nothing to complain about - but I do think "what if I had infinite time and infinite resources?" Think what my move would be like then!

There's never enough time, so I guess I'll move in the time I have with the resources I have, and all will be well.  I don't have to do it all - just what God asks me to each day.  

10 Ways to get from here to there with baby

Lily, my 16-month old, and I were on a bike ride today, and we were loving it.  I was so glad I'd gotten the bike and the bike seat for her, and the online reviewers were right - it's a great bike seat!  We'd ridden our bike over to a friend's house to pick up our Ergo Baby carrier that she'd borrowed.  And I got to thinking about all the different methods I've used to get out and about with my baby - as I thought back through the last 16 months, I was amazed at all the different apparatuses I've used!  As a new mom, I thought, I would have appreciated a blog or some advice about what worked for which situations and what I might want to look into getting.  

So this, my friends, is the blog post I wish I'd found when I was registering for all my baby showers.  A few quick things about my life before I get started:  I'm a part-time stay at home mom, and a part-time working out of the home mom.  I live in a very small town (population <3,000), but I shop in a large town nearby that has an indoor mall, an outdoor mall, department stores, etc.  Being a mom hasn't slowed my schedule, but rather has increased it - I didn't want having a baby to make me housebound, so after she was born, I took my baby out and did as I always had.  And this is how I did it...

10 ways to get from here to there with baby 

1.  The natural way - FREE!

The best part about carrying your baby in your tummy is that you don't have to pay a dime to do it (other than prenatal costs, of course).  However, the benefits come with drawbacks...  Kicks, flips, hiccups, heartburn, indigestion, squished bladder - it's lovely and horrible, sentimental and miserable, and thankfully it can only last so long.  Enjoy carrying baby this way, but if you're like me, you'll be glad when it's over too.  Thank Heavens pregnancy only lasts about 40 weeks!

And the joy of getting from here to there by simply carrying baby can't be overstated!  There's nothing better than just cuddling, snuggling, and otherwise loving on your little one while going places.  But beware the back pain that can be caused by carrying a growing baby too much especially if you carry primarily on one side.

2.  In an infant carrier - $75-$300 (depending on brand, pattern, and if you buy as part of a travel system)

This will likely be the first apparatus you put your little one into.  I loved our infant carrier.  We got the Graco SnugRide 35 travel system with the UrbanLite stroller (which I'll talk about more in a minute).  Here's a link to what we got (in a different pattern) on Amazon:  Graco SnugRide/UrbanLite Travel System  The car seat and base are easy to install, and the car seat is one of the lighter options on the market (at least it was when I was shopping).  My DH has a small car (a '99 4-door BMW), so it was important that the car seat fit in the back seat, and this one did!  I loved having an infant seat that just snapped in and out of the base - I could buckle my baby in her seat in the nice toasty-warm house, then cover her and carry her into the cold knowing that she was securely fastened and snug and warm.

The above is one of the two car seat covers I used on my Graco SnugRide.  New moms, here's a bit of advice:  get a car seat cover like this one!  It fits over the top of the car seat without going under the baby or interfering in the belts/fasteners in any way.  There's a face hole so mom can see baby, and a zipper going from the face hole to baby's feet so that I never had to remove or fiddle with the car seat cover until the weather got warm and I took it off.  There's a flap that veclros down over the face hole so that baby is totally covered for the windy walk from the house to the car, and then I opened up the cover in the car so baby could see.  Or I left it closed if we got into Walmart and baby was asleep - it kept things dark for her to sleep and people walked by without disturbing her.  These are great!  I had a Cozy Cover found here:  Car seat cover  and a fleece cover (the one pictured above) that was a bit lighter than the Cozy Cover and more appropriate for our spring/fall weather.  (I make these - if you want one, comment on this post!)  Covers cost between $20 and $50 depending on what you want.  

I have lots of friends that go with car seat brands other than Graco, and that's fine - do what feels right to you.  The reason we settled on the Graco was because it was a brand I recognized, and frankly, it fit into our limited budget and our tiny car.  No matter which one you get, in my opinion, the infant carrier is a must.

3.  In a convertible car seat - $40-$400

"What's the difference between an infant carrier and a convertible car seat?"  An infant carrier is only rear-facing, can be carried from car to house and back, and is typically rated for infants from 5 to 35 lbs or so.  A convertible car seat can rear-face for kids 5lbs-35lbs, and can front-face for kids 22lbs-40lbs or so.  Basically, when your baby outgrows his/her infant carrier, the convertible is what you'll need.  I used baby's first Christmas money to purchase her convertible, and we used it in the extra car rather than moving her car seat base back and forth.  Because they're rated for babies as small as 5lbs, you could use only this car seat for babies from newborn on, but then in cold weather you have to carry baby out to the car and buckle and unbuckle them with the car door hanging open and wind whipping all over baby's sweet little face.  Not ideal.    

Since our baby started toddling, I've really liked the convertible rather than the infant carrier.  Not only did she outgrow her infant carrier, but I also let her walk out to the car, which makes her feel like a big girl.  Also, she can see out of the convertible better than she could the infant carrier.  Authorities recommend leaving convertible car seats rear-facing until baby is 2 years old, though each car seat manufacturer has height/weight requirements for turning baby to forward facing too.  

The convertible pictured above is the Cosco Scenera.  We paid about $40 for it at Walmart.  The price alone was a huge selling point - we actually own 3 identical car seats - one for my car, one for DH's car, and one for grandma's car.  This car seat is large when rear-facing, but much smaller when front-facing.  That's something to keep in mind if you drive a compact car.  Now, I'm concerned not just about price, but also about safety, and when I researched car seats, this convertible got THE SAME SAFETY RATINGS as the $300+ brands.  So I figured, why spend just for a brand name?  Instead of getting 1 expensive car seat, we got 3, and that fit our need to get from here to there.

4.  In a full-size stroller - $75-$300 (depending on brand, pattern, and if you buy it as part of a travel system)

Depending on where you live and how you live your life, you may or may not use a full-size stroller.  I live just 2 blocks from the grocery store, library, post office, and thrift store in our small town, so I knew I'd need a stroller with some underneath storage.  I have used this stroller a TON!  The basket underneath fits 2 gallons of milk plus 3 bags of other groceries easily, and I still have room for my phone/drink/baby snacks in the parent storage on the handle.  It's a little bulky when folded, but I throw it in the back of my van for trips to the mall - it would take up most of a compact car's trunk.  It is easy to unfold, but does (in my experience) take 2 hands to fold.  For a full-size stroller it's not very heavy.  

The bar that goes across in front of baby has room for baby's drink, snacks and a toy, and it pops off and swivels down so that it's easy to get baby in and out.  Another thing I love about this stroller is that the baby's seatback lays back all the way so the seat and back are flat for baby to nap or sits up part way or all the way - we've used it SO much!  And did I mention that our infant carrier snaps into this stroller?!?  I have used it since Lily was born and can foresee using it for at least another 2 years.  It's held up well through my milk runs and other abuse, and has been a great investment for us.  We got the Graco UrbanLite as a part of our travel system like the one here:  Graco UrbanLite stroller as part of travel system  As I said in the infant carrier portion, a big portion of our decision to go with this stroller was due to our budget - but for the money I feel like we got a really quality product that fit how we would use the item.

(I only have one baby so far, but someday I hope to have more.  I've already looked into Sit n Stand double strollers, and this is the one I hope to get someday:  Graco Ready to Grow Stand n Ride Stroller.  The infant carrier I have already will snap into this stroller.  And while this one is a bit more expensive ($150-$180) than it's $120 counterpart, the extra $30 is worth it for the different arrangements for sitting kids.  If you're looking at a sit n stand, take a good look at the variations the different strollers offer and evaluate which will be best for how your family functions.

Also, I did NOT get a jogging stroller as I'm not a runner.  If you're a jogger, I suggest you check out the B.O.B.  My runner friends rave about this for a jogging stroller.  One friend commented, "Don't feel like I take the B.O.B. for a run.  I feel like the B.O.B. takes me for a run."  But warning: B.O.B.s are expensive ($300+).

5.  In an umbrella stroller  

"What's the difference between a full-size stroller and an umbrella stroller?"  Good question!  Umbrella strollers are *usually* cheaper, smaller, lighter, and generally less to deal with.  We bought a $20 one from Walmart, but were very dissatisfied with the wheels, and it was too short for us to push (I'm 5'9" and hubby is 6'3").  We felt like we had to hunch over to push the Walmart version.  So I did some research and we bought the stroller pictured above:  The First Years Umbrella Stroller  This stroller has parent storage between the handles, and a small basket underneath (enough to fit a small diaper bag).  It's light weight and perfect for air travel - we bought it right before a trip.  At $40, this is a steal!  It can handle infants from about 6 months till children are 50lbs!  It's sturdy, compact, functional, and comfortable for kiddos.  I've never regretted this purpose, and this stroller is a great back up for our full-size stroller.

6.  In your laundry basket - $10-$25

Ok, so maybe this isn't the first method of getting from here to there that you think of, but seriously, use the laundry basket!  My washer/dryer were in the basement, so I had to have a way to take baby with me.  If a laundry basket isn't your thing, then be a little creative.  I put this in this list because I think sometimes we get too uptight as moms and think we need every new gadget, widget, or baby item that is put on the market.  The reality is that we need much less than we "need."  So if your budget is limited like mine has been, or if you just don't want baby stuff filling up your house, that's ok!  Be the mom your baby needs you to be.  That's the most important thing.

7.  The Moby Wrap - $20-$50

I didn't think I'd like to "wear" my baby, but a trip that included 4 flights, 2 layovers, 2 different hotels, 1 cruise and 1 theme park changed my perspective!  There are lots of wrap styles.  I researched the K'tan, ring sling, regular sling, and the Moby wrap.  I settled on the Moby, because I got great reviews from a couple of friends who had Mobys, and because I found this online tutorial for how to make a moby.  I spent about $30 buying a cotton/poly blend fabric and accent fabric and made 2 wraps from it (one for me and one for my gift stash)!  And I do LOVE this wrap.  

It was especially great for air travel because there is no metal of any kind in the wrap, meaning I could wear baby as I walked through security without a problem.  Also, I loved that this wrap doesn't have anything around the waist area - I could sit and easily buckle my seat belt on the airplane without disturbing baby.  This is my favorite carrier for nap time, because I can really get baby snuggled in and cozy!  The carrier will handle tiny babies clear up to toddlers weighing 30 lbs.  A few drawbacks for this kind of carrier are:  it's a lot of fabric so it would be hot for mom and baby if you live in a hot climate, and it is only a front or front/hip carrier and baby must be facing mom (not facing forward).  All in all, a great option for us at about $15.

8.  In the Baby Bjorn - $55-$80

I lucked out on this one, because my sis-in-law loaned me her Baby Bjorn.  It's a great little front carrier, especially for newborns and infants.  I felt that baby stayed secure, and I loved that when she got bigger she could face forward.  In the cold months, I'd put her in this, put my coat over both of us (with her little face poking out the top) and we'd walk to the store/library/post office.  This carrier wasn't the most comfortable, and I didn't use it after Lily was about 6 months old because I liked my other ones better.  I gave the Baby Bjorn back to my sis-in-law because she had baby #3, and now that I have the wrap and the Ergo (described below) I don't think I'll want this one again.

9.  Ergo Baby - $100+

In the above picture I'm wearing the ErgoBaby on my front, but throughout our day at the theme park, baby rode on my front, my back, DH's front and DH's back.  It may seem silly, but one of the primary selling points (for me) on this carrier is that it looks like a backpack, thus my DH will wear it.  He loves our daughter and wants to help care for her everywhere we go, but he still wants to maintain some semblance of masculinity, and I can't blame him for that.  

Coming in right at $100, the Ergo is pricey, but it's been worth it for us.  This carrier will carry newborns (as long as you get the infant insert, something I plan to do with my next baby, which is about $20) all the way up to kids weighing 45lbs!  This carrier allows you to carry baby on front or back (thought baby always has to be facing you), and this was a big selling point for me.  I plan to use it for grocery shopping and other such errands until my baby outgrows it, and that she can ride on my back means that I could wear her if I get pregnant again.  

If I'm being totally honest, I bought this carrier on the recommendation of a friend who has a 16-month old and a 1 month old.  About 4 months ago (she had an 12-month old and was over 1/2 way through her 2nd pregnancy) when I was researching buying one, I asked to borrow hers.  She said, "Steph, I'll let you try it on, but you can't borrow it.  I use it every day."  That was recommendation enough for me!  Also, I suppose I should mention that this carrier is the one that hurts my back the least - it's named the Ergo because it's supposed to be the most ergonomically correct method of carrying your baby, and I have to agree, it is the most comfortable.

10.  WeeRide Bike Seat - $50-$80

This is our newest way to get from here to there.  I asked for a bike for Christmas, and Lily asked for a bike seat - and Santa delivered!  The bike seat Lily got is unlike any I'd seen before - it's a WeeRide front-mount seat, meaning that baby rides between my seat and my handle bars.  I was skeptical at best, but Santa delivered it, so I figured the least I could do was install it and give it a try.  I've been very pleasantly surprised!

This bike seat allows baby to see what's ahead and allows parent to talk to baby and hear baby throughout the ride.  The font-mount also means that baby's weight and movements are in the center of the bike making it much easier to balance than if baby were mounted behind.  To install, you first install a mounting bar between your seat and handlebars, then you attach the seat to the mounting bar.  This method of installation is great, because if you and DH both have bikes, you can purchase an extra mounting bar and move only the seat between bikes.  And the seat is super easy to move!  This also means that if you want to take a ride without the seat on your bike, you can take off the seat but leave the mounting bar.  Seriously, it's a really cool seat.

We've had 2 unseasonably warm days in January, which is why I mounted this seat and tried out my new bike.  And I wish it were spring.  We LOVE this set up!  The only thing I don't love are all of the forgotten muscles that are now reminding me how very forgotten they were... :)


Well, that's my list of ways to get from here to there with baby!  Seasoned moms, do you have a favorite way of getting you and your baby/babies from here to there?  New moms, did I miss a method you were wondering about?

Living in the moment

Why don't I live in the moment more often?  Tonight, just for a few minutes, I did, and it was glorious.  When Lily was first born, I reminded myself every moment to live in the moment, because it would pass all to quickly.  But now...

Now I have so much to think about.  I'm a perfectionist (not that you'd know that by observing the state of my house), the kind of perfectionist who looks ahead and plans for every possible foreseeable problem.  And once I'm fully equipped to handle anything that might go wrong, I can move forward to planning for the next thing and things go perfectly - never.  They never go the way I plan them or the way I worry they'll go wrong, but I still keep planning ahead anyway.

And this is a problem for me because it keeps me from enjoying the thing that's happening right now.  I miss out on right now either because I'm planning for the next thing or because I'm rethinking the last thing to determine how I could plan better for next time.  Am I the only one who does this???

I've always been this way, so Lily's birth was kind of an awakening for me to live in the moment - I have cherished every moment with her, and I want to cherish every moment with her for the rest of her life and mine.  I want to cherish every moment I get to spend, because life is all too short, isn't it?  It can be hard to remember that, though, when I'm running out the door balancing squirmy toddler, computer bag, purse, diaper bag, dolly, blanket, and coffee cup.  (And after making it to the car, I always have to run back into the house to grab my phone because I always forget it!)  How do I live in that moment?  I'm so focused on not dropping or spilling anything that I lose perspective.

There will be a day when I'll be able to walk out the door with nothing but a fashionable purse (not a mommy purse) holding my wallet, keys, and phone - not a wipe or diaper, toy or cracker, sippy cup or backup outfit to balance.  And that day will be glorious, but then I'll miss these days.  And I'll wonder why I didn't just live in the moment and appreciate each one as it came.

So I guess this is just a reminder to me to live in the moment - I only get to spend each one once.  To that end, a moment I did live in and enjoy today that I'd like to remember was Lily's first bike ride.  (the first of many I hope!)  The weather was so nice today (in January!) that I hooked her new bike seat to my new bike and we took it for a spin.  She loved it.  And so did I.

  

Blown away

Does God ever just blow your mind?  In a good way.  In showing you just what He's capable of doing?  Yesterday was like that for us.

You know how there are different facets of life - your family, your friends, your community, your personal life, your job, your hobbies, your hopes, your dreams, etc.  It was like God just looked at Chase and I and said, "I want to show you my glory in every facet of your life."  He did that, you know, with Moses in Exodus 33.  It's one of those stories that's sometimes talked about, but maybe not as much as it should be.

In Exodus 33:12-23, (this is my paraphrase - check out the actual passage here:  Exodus 33) Moses is up on Mt. Sinai chatting with God about the 10 Commandments.  They kind of get through things and Moses is like, "God, you're really great and all, but you want me to lead these people, but I feel like I'm doing it alone.  You've said 'Moses, you're the perfect guy for the job.'  But I need more than that - teach me your ways."  And God responds, "Ok, I'll go with you and give you rest.  You can relax."  Then Moses is like, "You have to go with us, or else how will others know that we're your people."  So God's like, "Ok, Moses.  I get it, I'm going with you."  Then Moses, realizing he's got God's ear and God is responding positively to his requests, "Show me your glory."  Isn't that gutsy!?!  And God responds (presumably without missing a beat), "Ok.  But I'm so awesome that I will literally blow you away, so I'll keep you safe and let you see as much of my glory as your little-human-self can handle.  And it's gonna be crazy cool for you."

I remember reading the story for myself the first time when I was in high school.  And I thought, Holy cow!  (But not the golden-idol-calf kind.)  Imagine!  God just walking in front of you, but his glory is so huge, He can't even show you His face.  He has to hide you in a little crevice in a rock in the side of the mountain so that you can't see His face so that He literally doesn't blow you away with how awesome He is.  Wow!  I remember thinking, I wish I could see that.

In retrospect, that was kind of silly of me.  I may not literally have seen God's face, but thanks to Christ's sacrifice on the cross, I get to walk daily with my Savior.  He came to earth 2,000 years ago, beat the crap out of death (I mean like total annihilation, a blow out, death didn't have a chance), and left the Holy Spirit behind to help me have a relationship with Him.  That's crazy.

But that wasn't enough.  He does little things every day that, if I watch for them, show me how much He loves me.  I'm so spoiled.  And yesterday may just top all days thus far of "spoiling Steph."  It was the equivalent of Christmas morning, mixed with a Halloween bucket overflowing with candy, mixed with I-just-got-into-my-top-choice-college-and-they're-giving-me-a-full-ride-scholarship, mixed with I-just-had-my-daughter-and-I-love-everything-and-everyone-in-sight, mixed with [insert best experience ever here].  Yesterday, there was a point at which Chase looked over at me and said, "Is there anything else we need to ask for?  I feel like we're getting everything we want! ...I should go buy a lottery ticket!"  No, Chase.  No lottery ticket.  :)

I want to interject here that I'm not one of those Christians who thinks that blessings are only the good things that happen to us.  Blessings, in my definition, are things that happen to us that drive us into closer relationship with the Lord, and those kinds of things are often difficult as we go through them.  My family and I burried my older brother 13 years ago - a blessing in my life because it forced me to decide if I was willing to trust a God I didn't/don't understand.  I NEVER want to live through that again.  Ever.  But, that doesn't mean that God didn't bless me through that circumstance in my life.

Having said all that, I'm also not one of those Christians who wants, in any way, to overlook the positive blessings God has showered down on me.  And yesterday we got drenched; it rained cats and dogs in this house; we're still dripping-wet, soaked-to-the-bone, lavishing-in-the-deluge of the blessings around here.

You may be wondering what these blessings all are, and I desperately want to share them with you.  But the time isn't quite right for that (and no, I am NOT pregnant with triplets, Sarah).   (Just want to get that assumption squelched right now!)  I will share, as soon as I am able, the details of all God is doing in our lives right now, of how He is hiding us in the cleft of a rock on a mountaintop so we can see His Glory passing by us, walking with us each day.  But for now, I just needed to testify to God's Greatness - it's so cool that He lets me see Him work (at least when I choose to watch for it).

Has God done amazing things in your life, things only He could do?  Big?  Small?  You know the kind of things I mean - the kind that you look at and go, "Wow.  That's crazy!  How did that ever happen?"  But then you know exactly how that happened - it happened only because Someone was watching out for you, and it's just so obvious if you'll only take a second to reflect. I always think of my button story when I think of things only God could do.  It was a small thing, only a button, but only God could do that.  You can read about it here:  The button story.

If you have a great story of God's provision/blessing/working in your life, will you share it with me via comment here, message on Facebook, or email?  I'd love to hear about it.  Sharing offers encouragement to those who hear and gives glory to the Only One who really deserves it.  And I promise, I'll share more details about yesterday as soon as I can!

Eureka!

This Christmas I asked for only 3 things:  a new non-stick 12-inch skillet with glass lid (of which I got 3 - thank Heavens for gift receipts!), a new bike, and a new vacuum.  Asking for the bike made me feel like a 5 year old, and asking for the vacuum made me feel like a 50 year old, so I figure with the skillet included in the mix, I average out to somewhere in the upper 20's, which is just about right.  :)

I received money and purchased my bike a couple of weeks ago at Walmart thanks to the help of Assembly man James.  Seriously - if you have to buy a bike, you should check reviews of things online, but then talk to the person who puts together bikes.  He had good advice about what the bikes were capable of, what kind of riding they were made for, and what brands hold up/don't hold up for different kinds of riding.  He also whipped out his tools and adjusted the bike seat and handle bars to fit me right there in the store so I could take a lap around the bike display.  It was AWESOME!

After my bike purchase, I still had enough left to order my vacuum, so I hopped on Amazon and ordered it.  Being such a popular vacuum and all, it was on back order.  :(  Boo.  But it finally came!!!!  May I introduce to you THE BOSS.  It's a Eureka Boss Smart-Vac (found on Amazon here), and I have to say I love it.  I vacuumed the living room twice because it was just so lovely to feel like it was actually getting good and clean!

You'll notice the old, but exceptionally clean carpet on which the vacuum is sitting.  It's a heavier vacuum, but my favorite feature about it is its BAG!  I've had a bagless for the last 7 1/2 years, and I HATE the dust and filters and dirt and yuck that one always has to deal with when running a bagless vacuum.  With this one, I'll just pull the bag out, put a new one in and avoid the whole filthy, dusty mess.  It was getting to be such a frustration that I only vacuumed when ABSOLUTELY necessary.  Even with it just sitting here beside me as I type, I can feel my house getting cleaner.  :)

It's such a good vacuum that although it is a bit loud, this is what my little Lily did while I vacuumed:

Yep, she napped.  :)  And I'd like to point out that her little dolly napped right along with her.  (*sigh* I LOVE that my little girl loves her dollies - it does this mommy's heart good!)

In other news, Lily and I have been cooking a lot lately:

This last week, we got out Lily's little kitchen set that I found last summer on a garage sale.  We put on our aprons and "cooked" up a storm!  Yet even with all her cool cooking toys, she still finds my pantry has the best ingredients...  Oh well.  :)

You know, motherhood certainly has its difficult moments, and with the flu going around, I know some of you are in the midst of difficulty with your kids right now.  But I try, as much as is humanly possible, to cherish each moment, good or bad.  And today, I'm cherishing clean carpet and a well-rested daughter.  What more could a mommy ask for?

2012 in review

Can it really be more than 2 weeks since I last blogged?  I've had so many blog ideas float through my head, but they all have seemed to escape me when I sat down at my computer to type - that's a sure sign that I shouldn't yet be blogging.  The best ideas stick in my mind; they take a couple of weeks of consideration to take shape, and then they come to life on my computer screen.  Lately, I've had nothing.

In the last 2 weeks, we've entered a new year.  I sort of coasted into 2013 wishing for time to reflect on 2012, to cherish again every blessed moment and learn again from every misstep.  I wished for that time of reflection, but I didn't have it.  I entered 2013 grasping backwards for more seconds, minutes to spend.  But none were there.  Instead, Father Time handed me Baby New Year 2013, and we were off and I had to play catch up.

So here I am with my New Year's resolutions barely underway, (but at least in order and giving me something for which to reach) and now I have a moment to reflect.  What better way to reflect now than to see the year in review...

 Lily was just over 3 months old on New Years last year.

Visiting with Great Grandpa Jerry.  So thankful he's home and well right now! 

 First bite of "real food" (i.e. cereal) at 5 months.

Helping Mommy at work - best motivation EVER!

First vacation.  We went to Texas to see dear friends - bff Cecily and her mommy Gina.  Little did we know then that Cecily would have a new baby sister before the year was out.  Welcome to the world Ava!

Hangin' with Great Grandma Dorothy and cousin Ella at Easter.

Easter adorableness.  I could just eat her up!!!

One of my favorite pictures of all time.  I can NOT get enough of those cheeks!!!

Snuggling Great Grandma Jewel - so lucky to have so many great grandparents to snuggle!

Wedding shower for Kendra!!! Was that really this last summer...

I love my life. I couldn't ask for more, wouldn't settle for less.

No better way to spend a weekend than at the lake.

Naked.

At cousin Abby's beautiful wedding! Lily had her first really high fever that night too.  :(

*sigh* Love that girl.

She is so my fav.

"Bye-bye!"

Said goodbye to Brook, the black dog, this fall.  She was a faithful friend.  Still have and love Frazier - he's so good with Lily.

SO tired.

Growing up WAY too fast!

This was the first night she really started copying me during her night time routine - combing her hair, cleaning her ears.  She's clearly a genius.

"Touchdown!"  ...something I wish she could have said a bit more about the Huskers this year.  

Snuggling with Sarah - a common sight over the summer.  :)

A shared birthday with Uncle Chet - went to visit his grave that day.  I want her to know that he is part of her story - I feel like they're connected in a very special way.

Little party at home with Mom and Dad for the big O-N-E!

Big Hello Kitty party with family and friends - thanks for celebrating with us!

First flight on the way down to Florida for a cruise.  She was an ANGEL on the flights!  She chased a little 2 year old boy in the airport too.  He was scared to death of her - it was hilarious!

The cruise that wasn't.  We spent a night on the ship in the port before Hurricane Sandy forced us to disembark and pursue other options for entertainment.

Hogwarts!!!!!  A fair substitution for a cruise, if I do say so myself.

The non-cruise wore all of us out.  Lil and I snuggled and slept on our flight home.

Love her face looking at her dad!  He was a "blind ref." 

"Helping" Mommy cook.  What a big girl!

Daddy's "girl time" with Lily.  He got the tea party part right... if only he'd teach her to use a cup rather than drinking straight from the spout of the teapot.  *sigh*  If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Christmas with cousins Ella and Tyus.  SO MUCH FUN!!!!

New cousin Zion.  Cuteness clearly runs in the family!  So glad he's safely here!!!

Thanks, Ella, for the rides around Grandma's house!  If only Mommy and Daddy liked pulling the wagon as much as you did...

Lily LOVED to "walk" in the snow and asked to do so every time I picked her up.  She followed me while I scooped the walk one afternoon, and she cried when we had to come inside.  

Unbelievable the changes in 2012.  What a blessing to be Lily's mommy.  Sometimes I struggle within myself when I see children whose parents don't or aren't able to take care of them.  It breaks my heart because each child, each individual, is as special as my Lily is.  The big difference, I guess, is that Lily is mine.  And for that reason I love her more than anyone else in the world.  I am so thankful to share the blessing of loving her and the task of raising her with the only person who loves her as much as I love her: my dear husband Chase.  What priceless gifts these two are to me.    

2012 was more than I could have ever dreamed.  Here's to 2013 -may it hold for each of us more smiles, fewer tears, more growth, and fewer fears. 

Happy New Year!