A Momma who prays...

As long as I can remember my Momma has prayed for me and tried to lead me to Jesus whenever she had the chance. There were times, my college days come to mind the most, when Momma prayed for me without ceasing. She would call me at night before she went to bed and read me a few Bible verses and then I'm sure when we got of the phone she started praying again that something stuck and I would turn it all around. 

It wasn't until I got into a few years of being a Momma myself that I really learned the true value of having a Momma that prays by being a Momma that prays. 

There are many days when all I can do is pray for my girls during times of sickness, misbehavior, or trouble at school and have faith that God will answer those prayers with the way He sees fit. I'm so grateful that I had a Momma that prayed probably very similar prayers over my sisters and I when we were little and continues to pray for us through adulthood. 

Now that my sisters and I are older, getting married, having kids and becoming the prayer warrior for our own families, I can feel so many of those prayers that she would tell me she was praying come to fruition now and I can see it in my sisters too. We are becoming strong women who love & trust in God  because she prays for us, has great faith and lives out that example for us. 

When my days are long and hard as a Momma, all I have to do is look at the road that I've traveled and see all of the things God has done in my life to guide and protect me. I look at my two little girls (4 & 1) and think about what their life ahead of them is like. What trials will they face? What heartaches will they know? How can I as their Momma prepare them? I often pray for guidance to parent each of them to fit their personality but also to prepare them for the road God has ahead of them. I have faith that if I pray for these girls without ceasing and trust the Lord, he will continue to guide me and they will know they are loved by a God that loves unconditionally. 

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

It's been a while....

But I think it's time to get back to blogging! I hate that I ever stopped because it was such a great way to keep up with the little things during pregnancy and the first few months with Hadley Kate.
Things have been wild these past few months getting to know my precious little lady, she is nothing like I expected!! We are full speed ahead in the mobile baby phase and it's exhausting (I hear it only gets worse) but its fun watching her discover everything.
Hadley Kate is just shy of 10 months old and looks like she is two!! She is always in the tip top height and weight percentile so she's going to be a very tall girl! She is saying Dada, Hey, uh-oh, and hey doo (my mom and dads dog but she says it to all dogs). She still refuses to say mama, sigh.
We recently found out she has a little reflux problem so she is getting medicine and I'm trying to keep her on puréed foods a little longer to help but she is so independent and stubborn and would much rather feed herself.
She still does not sleep through the night unless she starts in the bed with me. Otherwise she wakes up around 4:30-5:00 and I put her in the bed with me. She is a very rowdy sleeper and I usually get kicked, punched and head butted most of the night and wake up with the cutest little feet in my face!
I am still staying home with Hadley and it has been the biggest blessing. She is very much a Momma's girl and is going through a "I want Momma only phase" which makes my heart melt but makes my life so much harder too.
We enjoy each other so much and I think it gets better every day. I'm so thankful to be her Mommy!

Happy Halloween (a day late)

I would absolutely have loved this to have been a post with Hadley Kate in an adorable costume for her first Halloween but as a new Momma I have quickly learned that little miss runs our house and I just have to go with the flow....for now. After much deliberation on a costume for HK that she would actually wear I decided that it wasn't even worth it. I know that you will understand when you see the pictures below...all over a headband with a hairbow. I'm not kidding.

I'm not going to lie to you, I'm tired, and my kid likes to fuss A LOT. I spend about 90% of my day trying to keep her happy so the thought of her screaming ten times this amount because she is uncomfortable exhausts me even more. Thankfully for people like us there are cute Halloween shirts!!! 

Once we got rid of the hairbow and found paci, I had a happy camper! Maybe next year?

I hope that all of you had a Happy costume-filled Halloween!

Hadley Kate's Newborn Portraits

When Hadley Kate was 3 weeks old we made the trip to my hometown to visit family and have newborn portraits done! The talented photographer is a family friend of ours that we attend church with and photographed mine and my sisters senior portraits (many years ago!!!)

You can check out her blog here: Jami Ainsworth Photography

We were so pleased with how beautiful they turned out and I'm in the process of deciding which ones to order for print. I am so excited to have these because Hadley Kate has already changed so much from these photos.

Just a look at what we have been doing in October!

Hadley Kate and I have had somewhat busy October. We took our first road trip to my parents house and she was such a good baby. She slept most of the time and only cried a little bit! We got to spend lots of time with her grandparents and great grandparents. We have been getting out of the house more lately and have even braved a few restaurants as a family. We have done some shopping but she's not to big on it just yet! She is growing so quickly and everyone says that she looks like a much older baby.

Shopping with Momma and Daddy, not a big fan of shopping!

 The sweetest face ever to wake up to!

Napping with her Great-Ganny- Best Buddies!

Getting ready for a road trip with Momma!

Sweet sleeping angel!



My adorable chub!!!!

4-7 week updates!

Again this is just for me to keep up with what Miss Hadley is doing. She is growing so fast and is getting stronger and more stubborn by the day. I am so lucky to get to hang out with her every day!

4 Weeks
• We went back to Sassy and Pop’s house and strolled you down to see Nanny and Paw and you screamed until Sassy got you out.

• Pops and Gigi can both make you laugh and giggle. We found out that you are ticklish on your sides.

• You love your swing and will talk to the birdies and stare at yourself in the mirror. If your music stops playing you get so mad and will cry until we turn it back on.

• You also like playing in your bouncy seat and watching tv.

• Mornings are your best time of day and you usually get fussy in the afternoons.

• You love your Daddy and he can calm you down better than Momma can sometimes!

5 weeks
• Changed formula from similac sensitive to Gerber Good Start Soy and you did so much better!

• We went to the doctor for your one month check up and you weighed 11lbs and 6 oz and are 23 ½ inches long! You got your second Hepatitis shot and only cried for a minute, you got a pink camo bandaid. Daddy told the Dr. that you poot like a man!!

• Taking 4-5 ounces of formula every 3-4 hours.

• We went to Mimzi and Papaw’s house again and got to visit with Mamaw and Papaw Thomas.

• We can tell that you are noticing and reacting more to us. Every once and a while you will babble to us and it sounds just like a word (one night it sounded just like you said Daddy but it doesn’t count)

• We have started taking you places with us and sometimes you sleep the whole time and others you fuss and cry until we get home.


6 Weeks

• Changed formula from Good Start Soy to Enfamil Gentlease after some constipation issues
• Picking up her head more and more! Loves looking around and has to see what's going on
• She is talking to us and will smile and laugh, loves being sang to!
• She spends hours in her swing but the music has to be going the whole time
• Loves watching any type of sports with Daddy, he's so proud- I think it's just the bright colors and constant movement but hey who knows, she may be the next Erin Andrews!
• We took our first trip home to Sassy and Pop's (3 hour drive) just Momma and Hadley. We stayed for 5 days and she saw her first hot air balloon!

7 Weeks

• Can roll over from back to her side
• Started taking 5-6 ounces every 3-4 hours
• Slept in crib in her bedroom for the first time at 7 weeks 3 days
• Started spitting up a lot! Will definitely be asking the Dr at 2 month appointment
• Absolutely loves taking baths- kicks and splashes in the water and giggles the whole time!
• Loves hanging out outside- too bad it's starting to get cold :(
• Definitely recognizes Momma and Daddy's voices and faces

So things have been just a LITTLE crazy at our house lately and I have completely neglected my blog! I have been so busy enjoying every day with Hadley Kate. I have been keeping up with little things that are going on with miss Hadley so that I don't forget! Here is what has been going on from weeks 1-3.

1 week
• Sneezes in threes

• Cord fell off at one week and three days

• Smiles in sleep

• Went to MFG at 1 week and 5 days old

• Loves sucking on hands and fingers instead of pacifier

• Eyes started matting at 1 week old, dr. gave us eye ointment to put on for 1 week and told us to massage eye 3-4 times a day

• HATES being bathed (with washcloths) and having diaper and clothes changed

• Everybody says that you are the prettiest baby and that you look just like Momma

• Loves talking to us and  grunts and talks in her sleep

• Weighed 8lbs 2oz at 1 week appointment



2 Weeks

• Still hates bathes with washcloth and having clothes changed but tolerating diaper changes better

• Taking some 4oz bottles

• Grins when she poops

• Would rather sleep on momma than anywhere else (I don’t mind)

• Still mostly in newborn clothes- some 0-3 month

• Still in newborn diapers

• First trip to Sassy and Pop’s house at 2 weeks and 4 days old. She was so good on the trip and everybody loved coming to visit!

• Weighed 8lbs 13oz at 2 week appointment and changed formula to similac advanced because Enfamil gave gas



3 weeks

• At 3 weeks and 3 days we changed to another new formula similac sensitive because similac advanced gave her REALLY bad gas

• Had her first realbbath at 3 weeks old and loved it. She laid out in the tub and as so relaxed. Daddy and I love bath time because she is so funny and poots in the bathtub!

• Mimzi kept  by herself for the first time when she was 3 weeks and 4 days old so momma and daddy could go out to eat. She was so good and slept most of the time

• Went to Mimzi and Papaw’s house for the first time when you were 3 weeks and 3 days old