A motherly instinct is developed early in a little girl's heart.
In a pinch, a dryer sheet works quite well for a baby doll's blanket.
You are never to young to be "dolled up" with a smidgen of lip gloss.
A daughter's heart belongs to her daddy... forever.
Trucks, cars, and balls are not "boy" toys.
There's nothing as exciting as Daddy coming home.
There is always time to read. I have not once regretted letting Mackenna jump into my lap with a book and enjoying the story with her.
I throw just as many temper tantrums as my daughter, I just have slightly more self-control so they aren't as obvious.
Switching laundry, dusting, and emptying the dishwasher can be fun when my little helper is with me!
Just because there was no nap to be had doesn't mean the day is ruined. Sometimes the no-nap days are the most special because we end up snuggling up on the couch with a sippy cup of milk watching "Elmo" (aka Sesame Street).
Laughter is the best medicine and boy, do I have a little girl that likes to make her mommy laugh!
Dipping sauces make meal times more fun... and messy!
If I clap or cheer once, I better be ready to clap and cheer every time she does whatever it is I clapped and cheered for!
Just because she says, "OBEY!" with a smile and giggle doesn't mean she is actually excited about obeying. But, we're getting there!
It's the simple things in life that bring the most joy. Puppies, butterflies, flowers, and the wind sweeping across her face bring a bigger smile and wider eyes than any new toy ever would. Hands down!
And most importantly, love grows. Love grows every day. Little by little it grows. And some days your heart is so full that tears well up in your eyes and you find yourself in awe that God loves us even more than we could ever love our own children. And you marvel at the fact that He would willingingly send His Son, whom He loves more than we love our own children, to suffer and die for such wicked sinners as ourselves. And you are humbled, speechless, and overwhelmed with thanksgiving.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Immanuel, God with Us
One night last week my daughter, Mackenna, woke up after what appeared to be a nightmare. She awoke suddenly and her cry indicated that she was afraid, terrified even, and without hesitation Dustin rushed to her room. He soothed her, sang to her, and reassured her that everything was ok. After a few minutes he laid her back down, but within seconds her cries filled the air again. This time it was my turn.
While I held Mackenna, a memory was brought to my mind of the time that we spent with her in the NICU during her first few days of life. While I spent my days with her as she received antibiotics for the infection she was fighting, I wrote her a little lullaby that I would sing when she was hooked up to her IV's and I couldn't hold her. It goes something like this, "Oh Mackenna, Oh Mackenna, you're ok, my baby girl. Oh Mackenna, Oh Mackenna, you're ok, my baby girl. Mommy's here, mommy's here, you're ok my baby girl. Mommy's here, mommy's here, you're ok my baby girl." I would sing this little tune sometimes for twenty minutes. The message was clear, "I am here, you are mine, and you are ok."
After reliving this precious memory, I began to once again sing the song that I had sung to my darling daughter during her first few days of being in this world. And she calmed down. It was a special moment that we shared. I knew that she remembered the song. I could tell by the way she quieted down, her body relaxed, she snuggled closer into my arms, and she drifted back to sleep. She just needed to be reminded that I was there, she was mine, and she was ok.
And then God opened my eyes to see a truth that I so desperately needed last week. I have been pretty anxious about the upcoming delivery of our son, Sawyer. I am scheduled to have a cesarean next Thursday, December 1st. Facing surgery is a bit scary to me. Being awake during surgery is a bit scary to me. I have felt like a scared child the past few weeks. And I was keeping it all to myself. Sure, I would admit to family and close friends that I was a bit nervous. But I was more than a bit nervous, I was terrified. But then God, through this memory, shifted my focus. He convicted my heart and reminded me that when I am afraid I need to cry out to Him, just like Mackenna cries out for me and Dustin when she is afraid. And then He reminded me that He is with me and I am His. It was like He was singing me a lullaby and I quieted down, my body relaxed, I snuggled closer into His arms, and felt His peace.
Matthew 1:23 says, "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means 'God with us')."
God is a personal God. He is not a distant father who shows up for birthdays or special occasions. He's sensitive to His children. He loves us. We know He loves us because He sent Jesus Christ to make it possible for our relationship with Him to be restored. Our sin makes us His enemy, but He wants to be with us, so He made a way for us to be at peace with Him. When we trust Christ as our Savior we become His children. He is with us and we are His. What peace and joy that brings. His wrath is no longer upon us. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. The lullaby of the gospel soothes our souls and allows us to rest in the peace that only God can give, the peace that surpasses all understanding!
While I held Mackenna, a memory was brought to my mind of the time that we spent with her in the NICU during her first few days of life. While I spent my days with her as she received antibiotics for the infection she was fighting, I wrote her a little lullaby that I would sing when she was hooked up to her IV's and I couldn't hold her. It goes something like this, "Oh Mackenna, Oh Mackenna, you're ok, my baby girl. Oh Mackenna, Oh Mackenna, you're ok, my baby girl. Mommy's here, mommy's here, you're ok my baby girl. Mommy's here, mommy's here, you're ok my baby girl." I would sing this little tune sometimes for twenty minutes. The message was clear, "I am here, you are mine, and you are ok."
After reliving this precious memory, I began to once again sing the song that I had sung to my darling daughter during her first few days of being in this world. And she calmed down. It was a special moment that we shared. I knew that she remembered the song. I could tell by the way she quieted down, her body relaxed, she snuggled closer into my arms, and she drifted back to sleep. She just needed to be reminded that I was there, she was mine, and she was ok.
And then God opened my eyes to see a truth that I so desperately needed last week. I have been pretty anxious about the upcoming delivery of our son, Sawyer. I am scheduled to have a cesarean next Thursday, December 1st. Facing surgery is a bit scary to me. Being awake during surgery is a bit scary to me. I have felt like a scared child the past few weeks. And I was keeping it all to myself. Sure, I would admit to family and close friends that I was a bit nervous. But I was more than a bit nervous, I was terrified. But then God, through this memory, shifted my focus. He convicted my heart and reminded me that when I am afraid I need to cry out to Him, just like Mackenna cries out for me and Dustin when she is afraid. And then He reminded me that He is with me and I am His. It was like He was singing me a lullaby and I quieted down, my body relaxed, I snuggled closer into His arms, and felt His peace.
Matthew 1:23 says, "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means 'God with us')."
God is a personal God. He is not a distant father who shows up for birthdays or special occasions. He's sensitive to His children. He loves us. We know He loves us because He sent Jesus Christ to make it possible for our relationship with Him to be restored. Our sin makes us His enemy, but He wants to be with us, so He made a way for us to be at peace with Him. When we trust Christ as our Savior we become His children. He is with us and we are His. What peace and joy that brings. His wrath is no longer upon us. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. The lullaby of the gospel soothes our souls and allows us to rest in the peace that only God can give, the peace that surpasses all understanding!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
What's this blog all about?
Ideas for blog posts flood my mind on a regular basis. I have so many thoughts that I would love to put down on paper. But, amidst the flood of ideas, I am forced to ask myself the question, "Is it relevant?" When that question comes up you have to have a goal in mind to answer it correctly. If you don't have a goal, or a standard, the relevancy of a certain topic becomes mute. So, in this moment of reflection, I realized that my goals for this blog, my theme if you will, has not been clearly articulated, nor have my posts created any sort of hint of unity. And so, here I am to clarify what this blog is all about.
The title I have chosen for this blog is Helper by Design. It's inspired by a book written by Elyse Fitzpatrick with the same title. The book is about how to be a godly wife to your husband. To be honest, I've not completed the book, but what I have read is AMAZING, much like all of her other books. Although that is what inspired the title of this blog, I would like a much broader theme than just to write posts about helping my husband. As I have learned more and more about the role that God has designed for women, it has become clear to me that we are created to be helpers, not only to our husbands, but to everyone God places in our lives. We have been designed to nurture, foster ideas, come up with creative solutions to problems, sympathize with others distress, celebrate with other's successes, and help each other as we journey through this life.
With that in mind, I will write posts that are designed to help. Some may be stories about my children (to help lift the grandparent's spirits). Some may be sharing truth that I have learned while spending time with God. Some may be extremely practical (i.e. learning to cook once a month, getting a good deal at Target, etc). But all will be written with a heart that desires to fulfill the purpose that God has given me: to help.
Through this I pray that God would be glorified and many would be edified!
"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" Psalm 115:1
The title I have chosen for this blog is Helper by Design. It's inspired by a book written by Elyse Fitzpatrick with the same title. The book is about how to be a godly wife to your husband. To be honest, I've not completed the book, but what I have read is AMAZING, much like all of her other books. Although that is what inspired the title of this blog, I would like a much broader theme than just to write posts about helping my husband. As I have learned more and more about the role that God has designed for women, it has become clear to me that we are created to be helpers, not only to our husbands, but to everyone God places in our lives. We have been designed to nurture, foster ideas, come up with creative solutions to problems, sympathize with others distress, celebrate with other's successes, and help each other as we journey through this life.
With that in mind, I will write posts that are designed to help. Some may be stories about my children (to help lift the grandparent's spirits). Some may be sharing truth that I have learned while spending time with God. Some may be extremely practical (i.e. learning to cook once a month, getting a good deal at Target, etc). But all will be written with a heart that desires to fulfill the purpose that God has given me: to help.
Through this I pray that God would be glorified and many would be edified!
"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" Psalm 115:1
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Peace
"Peace, You give me peace when the storms come and I'm afraid. Peace, You give me peace when I trust in the words You say. You give me peace."
These words are the lyrics of a children's song by Sovereign Grace Music on the album shown below.
This album is one of my favorites of "Mackenna's music." But, I must confess, this morning I wanted to listen to it while I was getting ready, despite the fact that Mackenna was napping and the melodies and lyrics would not be reaching her ears. As I was getting ready, the above quoted lyrics hit my heart...hard. These lyrics prompted me to do a quick Biblical word study on "peace." Here are a few of the verses that stood out to my heart.
"But he was wounded for our transgressions;he was crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
"For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed,but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,"says the LORD, who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6
Peace.
We all want it. We all search for it. We all strive for it.
But how often do we actually experience it?
Far too often we look for peace in the wrong places. {Disclaimer- I am guilty of this just as much as anyone else} When I am having a stressful day, where do I go for peace? Starbucks, maybe? The television, the mall, the refrigerator (or freezer)? I think our downfall comes from our lack of understanding of what peace truly is and where we can go to get it. One verse that really stood out among the others for me was John 14:27.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
God gives peace. The peace that the world offers is dramatically different than the peace that God gives. This verse clearly distinguishes that God's peace is given to us not as the world's peace is given to us. Peace we achieve from worldly pleasures is fleeting and more often than not results in guilt and further unrest. So, where do we get the peace that God offers?
The Bible. His Word. Christ.
"But he was wounded for our transgressions;he was crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
The peace that our soul aches for is a peace that comes only by accepting Christ as our Savior. It comes from admitting that our hearts are wicked, desperately dark and sinful, and accepting the fact that we are helpless to change that in our own strength. In this dark place is where humility is fostered and Christ's light can shine and lead us to a place of repentance and trust in Him. And there, in that moment, He gives us peace. The peace that our soul aches for comes only through peace with our Creator, against whom we have rebelled and by whom we deserve to be punished. We all know this deep down in our hearts. We know we are created beings and we know we will be held accountable for our transgressions. The Bible tell us that.
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." Romans 1:18-21
But God does not leave us there. He draws us to himself and rather than pouring His wrath upon us, he offers us peace through faith in Him.
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
Peace will never be found in an Iced Carmel Machiato (one of my favorites). It will never be found in a clean house, a perfectly planned schedule, or a well-behaved child. True peace will only and always be found in Christ. In trusting Him for salvation and then trusting His word in every life circumstance. Is your 16 month old whining, fussing, and refusing to nap? You can have peace knowing that you are at peace with God and this circumstance will give you the opportunity to become more like Christ by showing patience, gently teaching, and loving unconditionally.
My prayer is this: For those of you reading this who have a relationship with Jesus, I pray that you would experience His peace every day by spending time with Him in His Word and prayer. For those of you who may be reading this who don't know if you have ever trusted Christ as your Savior, whose souls are noisy or fearful, I pray that you would not go another day without God's peace. It is available to all who will believe, through Christ alone.
" 'Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.' Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " John 14: 1, 6
For further reading: Two Ways to Live
Questions? Send me an email, I'd love to talk to you more about God's peace.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Creating Order in the Chaos
I don't know about you, but I am a very organized, schedule oriented, planning type of person. Before having a child the life I led was quite simple to organize, schedule, and plan. Enter Mackenna Grace Folden. My precious daughter is a lot like me in many ways. She is stubborn, knows how to charm her daddy, smiles at all the right times, likes to make people laugh... but organized, scheduled, or planned - she is not.
For the first four months of her life I skated by with the "new mommy adrenaline" and an excitement to finally be a stay-at-home working mom. :-) Then the chaos began to get to me. At first I noticed a slight anxiety creeping up inside me. Anxiety quickly turned into anger and annoyance, which are neither very attractive character traits. Then came the realization that my life would never be the same and God wanted it that way. The balance between trusting God and making choices to "create" order in my life was a tough concept for me to grasp. While it's true that God is a God of order, He has allowed this amazing little life to create some chaos in my life. What was He teaching me?
Through much thought, I believe that God is teaching me that I am NEVER in control of my life, no matter how orderly, neat, and scheduled it may look like from the outside. He is also teaching me how to become more like Him in spite of chaos. What choices can I make to "create" order out of chaos, while still behaving Christ-like when life happens and my plans are blown out of the water. How am I doing with this, you might ask? Well, not so great on most days, but I am ever-so-slowly learning. I can have a schedule but I must always remember that people are infinitely more important than following a schedule. I can discipline according to God's word, knowing that, like me, Mackenna is a slow learner and I need to be patient, not frustrated if it's taking her a while to learn a concept. I can be consistent, by God's grace alone, to provide a stable, secure, and loving household for my children and husband. I can spend time in God's Word and in prayer, gleaning wisdom and counsel from the perfect example of a parent who creates order out of His children's chaos. And for this, I am so thankful and humbled. Praise God!
For the first four months of her life I skated by with the "new mommy adrenaline" and an excitement to finally be a stay-at-home working mom. :-) Then the chaos began to get to me. At first I noticed a slight anxiety creeping up inside me. Anxiety quickly turned into anger and annoyance, which are neither very attractive character traits. Then came the realization that my life would never be the same and God wanted it that way. The balance between trusting God and making choices to "create" order in my life was a tough concept for me to grasp. While it's true that God is a God of order, He has allowed this amazing little life to create some chaos in my life. What was He teaching me?
Through much thought, I believe that God is teaching me that I am NEVER in control of my life, no matter how orderly, neat, and scheduled it may look like from the outside. He is also teaching me how to become more like Him in spite of chaos. What choices can I make to "create" order out of chaos, while still behaving Christ-like when life happens and my plans are blown out of the water. How am I doing with this, you might ask? Well, not so great on most days, but I am ever-so-slowly learning. I can have a schedule but I must always remember that people are infinitely more important than following a schedule. I can discipline according to God's word, knowing that, like me, Mackenna is a slow learner and I need to be patient, not frustrated if it's taking her a while to learn a concept. I can be consistent, by God's grace alone, to provide a stable, secure, and loving household for my children and husband. I can spend time in God's Word and in prayer, gleaning wisdom and counsel from the perfect example of a parent who creates order out of His children's chaos. And for this, I am so thankful and humbled. Praise God!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
More of This... Less of That
From time to time I like to reflect on whether or not my life is a picture of God's redemptive power. Often times I find that I fall ashamedly short. God has been using that time of reflection to help motivate me to make changes to better glorify Him. And so, I've compiled a list of small changes that I would like to make in my life. I think these changes will please God and help me find my joy in Him and my salvation rather than the things of this earth. Some of these will be easier than others. All of them will require me to depend on God's grace and strength to help me change my natural way of thinking and doing. I am SO thankful that I can know, without a doubt, that God stands ready to help me become more holy. What an amazingly patient, loving, and wise Father!
More time in God's Word and in communication with Him... Less time doing whatever I feel like doing.
More exercise & activity... Less laziness.
More respect & love towards my husband... Less of a critical attitude.
More time reading to and playing with Mackenna... Less "me" time.
More thoughts focused on Christ & others... Less concern for myself.
More thankfulness... Less complaining.
More cooking healthy meals at home... Less eating out.
More giving and saving... Less spending.
More reading... Less T.V.
More early bedtimes & early wake-ups... Less late nights and snooze button mornings.
More of God... Less of me.
More time in God's Word and in communication with Him... Less time doing whatever I feel like doing.
More exercise & activity... Less laziness.
More respect & love towards my husband... Less of a critical attitude.
More time reading to and playing with Mackenna... Less "me" time.
More thoughts focused on Christ & others... Less concern for myself.
More thankfulness... Less complaining.
More cooking healthy meals at home... Less eating out.
More giving and saving... Less spending.
More reading... Less T.V.
More early bedtimes & early wake-ups... Less late nights and snooze button mornings.
More of God... Less of me.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Frogs and Snails, and Puppy Dogs' Tails...
That's what little boys are made of!
It's a BOY!
Precious Profile Picture of Sawyer Matthias Folden!
On July 15th I had my 20 week ultrasound and we found out that we'll be welcoming a little boy into the Folden Family! While we would have been ecstatic for either gender (honestly, though I was really "feeling" a boy vibe early on), it really is exciting knowing that our son is on his way. We are praying that God will continue to bless this pregnancy and provide health and safety to myself and to baby Sawyer. This week I will have another prenatal appointment where I will have to get an early screening for Gestational Diabetes (which I had with Mackenna). If I have it again, it means a strict diet with barely any carbs or sugar! I am not too concerned about the screening because I don't mind giving up my carbs and sugar to ensure the health of my son. But, what I'm not looking forward to is the needle prick that tests my blood sugar! I remember with Mackenna, my fingers were so sore for the first few weeks!
Anyway, I am having a blast trying to design Mackenna and Sawyer's room. They'll be sharing a room at least for a year, but probably longer than that. So we are going with the colors: Green, Brown, and Pink. Colors they can grow with. Mackenna's side will be all girl and Sawyer's side will be all boy! Dustin is so excited to see it, which makes me excited to start on some of my projects.
Anywho, that's a quick update on pregnancy #2! Until next time!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Sleep, Anyone?
There has been little sleep going on this week in the Folden household. Wednesday evening, Dustin and I painted our kitchen and two walls in our living room. What I foolishly thought would take two hours ended up taking close to five! When we finished painting at midnight we were starving and had to have a snack and unwind. So we got to bed close to 1:00 AM but I slept like a rock!
Thursday night, one molar and one incisor tooth are to blame for a second sleepless night. I fell to sleep around 9:30 (on the couch while watching a movie with Dustin). After being woken up and settling back to sleep in bed, Mackenna awoke at 12:30 AM with what I can only guess was tooth pain. Her gums have been really swollen this week and I can almost feel the teeth... come on, already! From 12:30 AM to 2:30 AM there were a few thirty minute increments of sleep, but nothing truly restfull. Combine that with a mind full of thoughts and I am awake. I am exhausted, my eyelids are heavy, but I am awake. And I am planning to stay awake instead of tossing and turning in bed wondering why I can't fall to sleep. It's Friday. Maybe I can talk Dustin into letting me sleep in a bit tomorrow. ;-)
Thursday night, one molar and one incisor tooth are to blame for a second sleepless night. I fell to sleep around 9:30 (on the couch while watching a movie with Dustin). After being woken up and settling back to sleep in bed, Mackenna awoke at 12:30 AM with what I can only guess was tooth pain. Her gums have been really swollen this week and I can almost feel the teeth... come on, already! From 12:30 AM to 2:30 AM there were a few thirty minute increments of sleep, but nothing truly restfull. Combine that with a mind full of thoughts and I am awake. I am exhausted, my eyelids are heavy, but I am awake. And I am planning to stay awake instead of tossing and turning in bed wondering why I can't fall to sleep. It's Friday. Maybe I can talk Dustin into letting me sleep in a bit tomorrow. ;-)
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
One Year Ago, Today
One year ago, today, I was finally admitted into the hospital after four days of "pre-labor." I was growing in patience as I learned time and time again that I was only 3 cm dilated. I grew in trusting God's wisdom and love as the nurses and doctors rushed around me trying to find Mackenna's heart beat. They found it. Praise the Lord!
One year ago, today, I thanked the anesthesiologist for giving me the epidural that, during my pregnancy, I vowed I would never want. I stared at the fetal monitor and watched Mackenna's heart beat with every contraction even though the nurse told me to get some rest. {After our scare, are you kidding me?}
One year ago, today, I had a feeling in my gut that Mackenna would we welcomed into this world via a cesarian section. Today, I wear that scar proudly! One year ago, today, I once again learned to trust God more as Mackenna was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit to receive antibiotics for an infection that could have gotten a lot worse then it did. Again, God is so good! Praise the Lord!
One year ago, today, my little girl was brand new! And we were brand new parents! Still learning how to dress, feed, soothe, and protect our precious girl. Diaper changes took three times as long as they do now and bath time was almost more stressful than it was worth. Three hours of uninteruppted sleep was glorious and the newborn sleepy stage was not taken advantage of (if only I knew then what I know now)!
And today, we are a family of three. Today, I am a little weepy-eyed as memories of the past year flood my mind and fill my heart. Today, I am humbled by the grace of our Savior, giving us so many gifts that we don't deserve. First and foremost, our salvation in Christ. Today, I'm thanking God for the gift of Mackenna Grace Folden. Our hearts grow in love for her every day. And while today we may be a tad bit more experienced and a tiny bit wiser, we still have much to learn, much to experience, and much more wisdom to gain as we grow in parenthood.
One year ago, today, I thanked the anesthesiologist for giving me the epidural that, during my pregnancy, I vowed I would never want. I stared at the fetal monitor and watched Mackenna's heart beat with every contraction even though the nurse told me to get some rest. {After our scare, are you kidding me?}
One year ago, today, I had a feeling in my gut that Mackenna would we welcomed into this world via a cesarian section. Today, I wear that scar proudly! One year ago, today, I once again learned to trust God more as Mackenna was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit to receive antibiotics for an infection that could have gotten a lot worse then it did. Again, God is so good! Praise the Lord!
One year ago, today, my little girl was brand new! And we were brand new parents! Still learning how to dress, feed, soothe, and protect our precious girl. Diaper changes took three times as long as they do now and bath time was almost more stressful than it was worth. Three hours of uninteruppted sleep was glorious and the newborn sleepy stage was not taken advantage of (if only I knew then what I know now)!
And today, we are a family of three. Today, I am a little weepy-eyed as memories of the past year flood my mind and fill my heart. Today, I am humbled by the grace of our Savior, giving us so many gifts that we don't deserve. First and foremost, our salvation in Christ. Today, I'm thanking God for the gift of Mackenna Grace Folden. Our hearts grow in love for her every day. And while today we may be a tad bit more experienced and a tiny bit wiser, we still have much to learn, much to experience, and much more wisdom to gain as we grow in parenthood.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
I am not sure if I could document with words everything that my precious girl has learned over the past two months. So, I thought now would be a great time to do a picture blog... Here we go!
FEBRUARY
New Room Decor... Courtesy of my Cricut!
First Valentine's Day!
Learned to climb into the laundry basket... so proud!
A visit from Uncle TJ!
Sweet sleeping girl... this was after quite a battle, ending with a negotiation of napping with her pillow pet... but see, NO pacifier!
Playing with her Valentine's Day card from Gigi Rose (Great Grandma Rose)
Cruising the Couch!
Pulling to Standing!
"Soooo big!"
"Helping" mommy with laundry!
My little sporty girl!
MARCH
"Broccoli? No, thank you!"
A visit from Grandma Lee Lee & Auntie Allee!
Loves her baby, Ruby (named by Grandma Lee Lee)
I understand why this toy was given to us without battaries, but she just loves the "Ch-ch-ch-ch-pow!"
"The perimeter has been breached!"
Reading with Auntie Allee!
Learning to walk!
"For splashing and scrubbing and rub-a-dub dubbing, hands are dandy for toweling and tubbing." (Excerpt from Hooray for Hands!)
"Soooo big!"
We are ready for Spring!
Some new wheels! She cruises all over the place!
Munching on some toast!
Organizing the garage with daddy!
My girl loves to read! She'll sit and babble, I mean, read, for 30 minutes sometimes!
Mackenna's very first pedicure!
Mackenna LOVES Dustin's old "lovey," Ricky the Raccoon!
Taking a snooze on the way home from church!
Spring Tease day! It was 70+ degrees here and we made sure to get out and enjoy the warmth!
Colton & Mackenna loving the swings!
She won't take a sippy cup, so we're trying a straw... she loves it!
Just because it was so cute!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Bye bye, Pacifier!
The pacifier. For some parents, it's a must-have baby item. For others, it's the biggest parenting "no-no." For us, it was somewhere in between. During my pregnancy, we were set on not introducing Mackenna to a pacifier. I didn't register for any and I gave Dustin strict instructions to make sure that the well meaning neonatal nurses did not give one to Mackenna.
And then Mackenna was born. And she was admitted to NICU. And she wasn't really "sick," but she would cry at times (like all babies do) and her nurses had no other choice but to give her a pacifier so that she would be pacified so that they could pay attention to all the tiny babies who really needed their help. One problem, Mackenna didn't like the pacifier. You know, those green soothies that they give to every baby in the hospital. She hated them. But her strong dislike for the pacifier was quickly forgotten when those same nurses dunked the green soothie into sugar water. She loved sugar water. And so, her love for a pacifier began.
After bringing her home from the hospital and, shortly there after, discovering the world of a colicky baby, the pacifier brought us moments of peace amidst the crying and chaos. But we, of course, replaced the awkward green soothie for a more traditional pacifier, the Nuk. We limited her pacifier use to her most fussy time of the day and car rides (for my sanity). Months later, when the colic resolved, we found a more optimal time for pacifier use was for naps and bed time. And since then, her pacifier use was strictly before naps and bed time, and while in the car.
Well, for some reason, for the past two weeks, Mackenna has decided that playing and crawling around is much more fun then sleeping. So she's been fighting her naps. She rebelliously stands up in her crib, rips her pacifier out of her mouth, and throws it on the floor. During her first week of rebellion I would come in her room after 20 (OK, probably more like 5) minutes of crying, pick up her pacifier, stick it in her mouth, lay her back down, and we'd repeat this cycle about three times until she finally cried herself to sleep. One week of that was enough.
Week two's strategy is dramatically different. At nap time, I take her to her room, turn on her noise maker, give her a hug and a kiss, lay her down, walk out, and shut the door. We don't offer the pacifier since she's just been throwing it on the floor anyway. I don't look back after I start walking out and I shut the door. Shutting the door helps me resist the temptation to go back in to rescue her or even to check on her during her naps (which usually wakes her up). And then, I usually find something to keep me occupied. The house is very clean this week and I am almost caught up on all my chores!
"So," you ask, "how is she doing?" She's doing great! Day one was rough. She cried for 45 minutes, but then slept for an hour. Today, day five, she's cried for ten minutes! And bed time has had little to no tears all week! It will be nice to have this behind us. We've heard so many horror stories about getting rid of the pacifier. We are so thankful that Mackenna has made this a bit easier by initiating the pacifier elimination! Now we can focus on the next parenting hurdle... bottle to sippy cup... let's hope it's as easy to clear as eliminating the pacifier has been!
And then Mackenna was born. And she was admitted to NICU. And she wasn't really "sick," but she would cry at times (like all babies do) and her nurses had no other choice but to give her a pacifier so that she would be pacified so that they could pay attention to all the tiny babies who really needed their help. One problem, Mackenna didn't like the pacifier. You know, those green soothies that they give to every baby in the hospital. She hated them. But her strong dislike for the pacifier was quickly forgotten when those same nurses dunked the green soothie into sugar water. She loved sugar water. And so, her love for a pacifier began.
After bringing her home from the hospital and, shortly there after, discovering the world of a colicky baby, the pacifier brought us moments of peace amidst the crying and chaos. But we, of course, replaced the awkward green soothie for a more traditional pacifier, the Nuk. We limited her pacifier use to her most fussy time of the day and car rides (for my sanity). Months later, when the colic resolved, we found a more optimal time for pacifier use was for naps and bed time. And since then, her pacifier use was strictly before naps and bed time, and while in the car.
Well, for some reason, for the past two weeks, Mackenna has decided that playing and crawling around is much more fun then sleeping. So she's been fighting her naps. She rebelliously stands up in her crib, rips her pacifier out of her mouth, and throws it on the floor. During her first week of rebellion I would come in her room after 20 (OK, probably more like 5) minutes of crying, pick up her pacifier, stick it in her mouth, lay her back down, and we'd repeat this cycle about three times until she finally cried herself to sleep. One week of that was enough.
Week two's strategy is dramatically different. At nap time, I take her to her room, turn on her noise maker, give her a hug and a kiss, lay her down, walk out, and shut the door. We don't offer the pacifier since she's just been throwing it on the floor anyway. I don't look back after I start walking out and I shut the door. Shutting the door helps me resist the temptation to go back in to rescue her or even to check on her during her naps (which usually wakes her up). And then, I usually find something to keep me occupied. The house is very clean this week and I am almost caught up on all my chores!
"So," you ask, "how is she doing?" She's doing great! Day one was rough. She cried for 45 minutes, but then slept for an hour. Today, day five, she's cried for ten minutes! And bed time has had little to no tears all week! It will be nice to have this behind us. We've heard so many horror stories about getting rid of the pacifier. We are so thankful that Mackenna has made this a bit easier by initiating the pacifier elimination! Now we can focus on the next parenting hurdle... bottle to sippy cup... let's hope it's as easy to clear as eliminating the pacifier has been!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Where'd that appetite come from?
Over the past week, Mackenna's appetite has changed from almost non-existent to hungry every three hours! Since we've introduced table foods, she's actually excited about eating! The only time she eats "baby" food now is in the morning. She has pureed fruit with oatmeal for breakfast. Then for lunch, she's loving fresh steamed veggies. Yes, that's right, I said veggies. This week she has carrots, zucchini, and celery. On Tuesday I steamed up enough for the week. I put a bay leaf and fresh chopped garlic in the steaming water. I read somewhere that babies enjoy the flavor of garlic. She still doesn't eat a lot at each meal, but she's eating each meal... huge progress! Last night for supper, she enjoyed some Tortellini & Spinach Soup with us. And of course, some garlic bread. She ate up navy beans, spinach, and tortellini. It's so exciting to see her enjoying her food. We've been very careful to not force her to eat or to reward her too much when she does eat. We really want to make sure she grows up with a healthy perspective on food and we also want to teach her to eat healthful foods right away.
I get so excited to watch her chew her foods and enjoy the flavors dancing on her tongue. She is a great little eater now... that's something I never thought I'd say! I know this may just be a phase and that next week I may have my finicky little girl back, but I'm enjoying every minute of this new found appetite and zest for trying new foods!
I get so excited to watch her chew her foods and enjoy the flavors dancing on her tongue. She is a great little eater now... that's something I never thought I'd say! I know this may just be a phase and that next week I may have my finicky little girl back, but I'm enjoying every minute of this new found appetite and zest for trying new foods!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Felt Like A Child Again
Do you ever do something that reminds you of your childhood, and, "BAM!" you are back in that moment, re-living the memory, and feeling like a child again? That happened to me today. Today I got a chance to watch one of my friends children. He is five years old. So fun! When he comes over, I usually like to plan a fun craft or project. He tells his mom that he likes to come over to my house because we have craft time. So, anyway, today we made Valentine's Rice Krispy Treats. Yum!
As I plopped the butter into the saucepan, I went back. I went back almost twenty years and re-lived a memory of making Rice Krispy Treats with my Aunt Denise one summer in North Dakota. I don't remember exactly how old I was and I don't remember anything else about that day, but I do remember that I thought it was such hard work to stir the rice krispies into the melted marshmallows and butter. I remember my arm felt tired. I remember marveling at my aunt's strength as she mixed in the rice krispies after I had given up.
Today there was no ache in my arm and I laughed to myself when I quickly (and quite effortlessly), mixed in the rice krispies and coated them with the Shmallow Glue (that's what Eric and I decided to name the butter and marshmallow mixture). And then I pressed them into a baking dish and that was it! So simple! Of course, we had to taste a little bit to make sure it turned out right. And then again, as the simple goodness of butter, marshmallows, and rice krispies met the tip of my tongue, my heart was full of warmth at the memory of enjoying the fruits of our labor as I munched on Rice Krispy Treats with my aunt and my little cousins.
I love my family and I love memories. I am so thankful that God created our minds to be able to vividly remember moments that were so dear to our hearts and that we can go back to those times and feel those emotions as if it were happening all over again. I am blessed to have such an amazing family! And I am blessed to have so many heart warming memories of the time we spend together.
As I plopped the butter into the saucepan, I went back. I went back almost twenty years and re-lived a memory of making Rice Krispy Treats with my Aunt Denise one summer in North Dakota. I don't remember exactly how old I was and I don't remember anything else about that day, but I do remember that I thought it was such hard work to stir the rice krispies into the melted marshmallows and butter. I remember my arm felt tired. I remember marveling at my aunt's strength as she mixed in the rice krispies after I had given up.
Today there was no ache in my arm and I laughed to myself when I quickly (and quite effortlessly), mixed in the rice krispies and coated them with the Shmallow Glue (that's what Eric and I decided to name the butter and marshmallow mixture). And then I pressed them into a baking dish and that was it! So simple! Of course, we had to taste a little bit to make sure it turned out right. And then again, as the simple goodness of butter, marshmallows, and rice krispies met the tip of my tongue, my heart was full of warmth at the memory of enjoying the fruits of our labor as I munched on Rice Krispy Treats with my aunt and my little cousins.
I love my family and I love memories. I am so thankful that God created our minds to be able to vividly remember moments that were so dear to our hearts and that we can go back to those times and feel those emotions as if it were happening all over again. I am blessed to have such an amazing family! And I am blessed to have so many heart warming memories of the time we spend together.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Busy Bees
This week has been crazy! A lot going on in the Folden household. I wish that I would have gotten some pictures of Dustin cleaning our icy, snow-packed driveway because then I could have done an "our week in pictures" post. But, I do have some pictures of the events of the week so I will sprinkle them in here are there.
Our week began with a winter storm. We only got a small blast of arctic weather compared to many other cities in the U.S. but it was still quite a big storm for Lafayette. Most businesses were closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Usually I watch a little boy in the mornings, but his mom's work was closed, so it was just me and Mackenna hunkered down in our warm little house watching the pretty snowflakes fall to the ground. On Thursday I hosted a brunch at my house with my friends, Dawn & Aubrey. The kids played while we enjoyed brunch. It was a much needed "Mommy Time" after the two snow days that kept us all inside.
On Thursday Mackenna had to get some blood drawn to test for a couple allergies (milk, wheat, and gluten). Dustin blessed me so much by taking Mackenna to get her blood drawn so that I wouldn't have to endure seeing her in such pain. He said that she was a trooper, but that there were lots of tears. The nurse couldn't find her vein, so it took longer and I am sure was more painful. She's got her mommy's veins. Here are a few pictures of our little trooper with her Tweety bird band aid.
... And one of her reading one of her favorite books, upside down! Made me giggle!
Since we moved into our house in October, we've been saving little by little for a water softener and a dishwasher. It worked out for us to rent a water softening system, which left us money to purchase a dishwasher (yippee!) and so, on Thursday we purchased a dishwasher and Friday the water softener was installed. Friday night, Dustin and I (ok, mostly Dustin) installed the dishwasher. I am so proud of him! He did such a great job! He read the instructions, made a game plan, and an hour or so later we had a fully functioning dishwasher. I've done three loads of dishes already. Here are some snapshots of my handy man!
And then, Friday night I moved a load of laundry from the washer to the dryer and an hour later checked on it in the dryer and there was no warm air in the dryer. The air was cold and the clothes were still wet! I was freaking out! So on Saturday morning, Dustin googled our dryer's model number and followed some troubleshooting tips. Was the breaker tripped? No. Was the air vent clogged? No. We vacuumed it out and there was still no heat. After the first two "easy" steps, Dustin turned off the electricity to the dryer, moved it, took it apart, and checked a bunch of electrical things. Way over my head! But, he did find out that the heating element wasn't working. So, I searched for a Maytag store in town and called them up and they had our part in stock! Praise the Lord!
We quickly packed up our tired baby girl, picked up the part, stopped by a CVS Minute Clinic (I've been sick for three weeks, but got a prescription so hopefully will be doing better soon), stopped at a salon for a quick haircut for Dustin, and returned home. Dustin successfully installed the new heating element and voila, we have warm air in our dryer again! Here's some pictures of my handsome boy fixing our dryer. I know I am bias, but I sure think he's cute when he's fixing things. :-)
And now, we're home. And we're resting. Because we are both exhausted. Yes, I have laundry to do (since I couldn't do it yesterday), and yes, there are probably ten other things I could be doing. But, we've done a lot this week and we have a lot to do tomorrow and next week. So for right now, resting is the perfect thing for us to be doing.
Our week began with a winter storm. We only got a small blast of arctic weather compared to many other cities in the U.S. but it was still quite a big storm for Lafayette. Most businesses were closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Usually I watch a little boy in the mornings, but his mom's work was closed, so it was just me and Mackenna hunkered down in our warm little house watching the pretty snowflakes fall to the ground. On Thursday I hosted a brunch at my house with my friends, Dawn & Aubrey. The kids played while we enjoyed brunch. It was a much needed "Mommy Time" after the two snow days that kept us all inside.
On Thursday Mackenna had to get some blood drawn to test for a couple allergies (milk, wheat, and gluten). Dustin blessed me so much by taking Mackenna to get her blood drawn so that I wouldn't have to endure seeing her in such pain. He said that she was a trooper, but that there were lots of tears. The nurse couldn't find her vein, so it took longer and I am sure was more painful. She's got her mommy's veins. Here are a few pictures of our little trooper with her Tweety bird band aid.
... And one of her reading one of her favorite books, upside down! Made me giggle!
Since we moved into our house in October, we've been saving little by little for a water softener and a dishwasher. It worked out for us to rent a water softening system, which left us money to purchase a dishwasher (yippee!) and so, on Thursday we purchased a dishwasher and Friday the water softener was installed. Friday night, Dustin and I (ok, mostly Dustin) installed the dishwasher. I am so proud of him! He did such a great job! He read the instructions, made a game plan, and an hour or so later we had a fully functioning dishwasher. I've done three loads of dishes already. Here are some snapshots of my handy man!
We quickly packed up our tired baby girl, picked up the part, stopped by a CVS Minute Clinic (I've been sick for three weeks, but got a prescription so hopefully will be doing better soon), stopped at a salon for a quick haircut for Dustin, and returned home. Dustin successfully installed the new heating element and voila, we have warm air in our dryer again! Here's some pictures of my handsome boy fixing our dryer. I know I am bias, but I sure think he's cute when he's fixing things. :-)
And now, we're home. And we're resting. Because we are both exhausted. Yes, I have laundry to do (since I couldn't do it yesterday), and yes, there are probably ten other things I could be doing. But, we've done a lot this week and we have a lot to do tomorrow and next week. So for right now, resting is the perfect thing for us to be doing.
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