Twinsies.

I'm at a place of being content with the way that I look. It has been a HUGE struggle for a long time. But lately, my husband has helped me see something. Every part of us physically was created by our sovereign God. Our body type, our skin color, our facial structure - each designed by the Creator & each exactly how he wants it. I do believe that we are to steward our bodies because he gave them to us as a gift. But there is a balance between being healthy and being obsessed. Through this lesson, I have come to understand that I want to love and enjoy who I am.

One area that has been a struggle lately is how young I look. I know. I know. In 10,20,30,40,you name it years - I will love it!!!!!!!!!!!! But I am not there yet and so I don't fully understand the love that I will have for my young looking face. I got over this while in high school when people practically thought I was still in elementary school, and in college when people thought I was in junior high. But I am now a mama & people constantly ask, "Is that your baby?" And, "Is that your kid?"

So, in hopes of being transparent... I'll be honest and say many times I have replied with a tone that reeked of rudeness in my reply of yes. I get worn out and tired of hearing it. I want people to look at her and know without a shadow of a doubt that Siena Joy is my precious baby. But that's not where we are. And you know what folks? I have to be ok with that. The Lord made me with a young looking face and I need to rejoice in it because he made it that way!

Lord please help me to rejoice.

People also constantly think that SJ looks like Chris. Now, (I promise!!!!) I LOVE that she looks like my handsome hubby. But, sometimes I get a little jealous - remember that part about being transparent and honest. I am NOT telling you that my expectations or desires are Godly. But that is what I have been feeling lately. So, we need to battle those wrongful desires with the Lord and with the Word.

So here's the fun part.

We were at my mom's today as my great aunt was in town and the last time I had seen her was at Chris and I's wedding. While we were there she gave my mom my Oma's everyday dishes (GORGEOUS...I'll have to show some pictures soon... and I am a little jealous because the print is so beautiful). If you don't know - in our German family we call our Great Grandma's Oma... just a little tradition that I am forcing to be passed down as we go. She also brought me a vintage sewing book and my Oma's christmas necklace and earring set.

Just a side note: My Oma bought the earrings when her and Opa were out one year. Then for Christmas he surprised her with the necklace... What a sweet man.

Anyway, before this post gets disgustingly long, I opened up my baby book and this is what I found.

If you are just joining us, this is my sweet angel baby.

If I do say so... myself - I think we are a little bit like twinsie babies. If you have ever been in the same room as SJ - look at that little smirk I am making in the picture with Grandpa Don... TOTALLY SIENA JOY!!!!

This made my heart melt and I'm not going to lie, I am pretty excited.

24 reasons.

I LOVE MY HUSBAND!

Today is my sweet, loving, passionate husband's 24th birthday. Why yes, he was born on Cinco de Mayo. How sweet is that? Take a bit of advice, if you have a family member whose birthday is also on Cinco de Mayo & they also love Mexican food as much as we do - choose a different restaurant and hop on over to the Mexican place next weekend. We've made that birthday mistake before as everyone is getting their fajitas and margaritas on today.

Like I said, I love my husband - so I'll tell you a few reasons why.

1. He is striving to glorify Jesus in everything he does.

(This is one of the very first pictures that I took of him. I stared at this cute picture all the time...)

2. He loves me unconditionally (and there can be some tough stuff to love!)

3. He gets joy from Siena & you can tell by the way that he interacts with her.

4. He loves me enough to do things like paint my nails.

5. He plays the guitar.

6. He always has a song in his head & a perfect one for each moment.

7. He leads me well and by God's grace will continue to do so.

8. He snuggles me at night and lets me put my cold feet on him in bed to warm them up.

9. He loves what I cook.

10. He pushes me to take steps of faith and challenges me to do things out of my comfort zone.

11. He provides for me.

12. He makes me laugh by the silly things he says and does.

13. He accepts my obsession over ice cream.

14. He reads his bible every morning with his coffee and breakfast.

15. He loves adventures.

16. He appreciates weddings.

17. He reads and loves understanding new things.

18. He is a Coug.

19. He is a family man and desires to love and train our child(ren) to know the Lord.

20. He loves to stay healthy (much to my demise of loving fast food).

21. He runs. & runs with me (even a ten miler & I am slow!).

22. He loves me enough to take lots of pictures.

23. He's handsome.

24. He lives his life in a way that others look at and strive after.

I LOVE YOU CHRISTOPHER LEE!

1/2 a year!

Yes, it has been over two weeks since Siena Joy turned 1/2 a year old. It is actually really crazy that I have a 6 month old babe and that today she is actually closer to 7 months.

Here is her little 6 month old profile:

- Continues to be shy about rolling over and her favorite spot to do it is in her crib after naps

- Is now eating peas, avocado, green beans, banana, and brown rice cereal

- Is FULL of smiles

- Very interested in toys and grabbing things (even pinching skin)

- Growing back her pretty hair & has her little hair swirl again!

- Says adadada

- LOVES being outside and going for walks

- Is super interested in watching bigger kids

- Can nap almost anywhere we go & takes 2, sometimes 3 naps a day for between 45 mins and two hours each time

- Sleeps from 6:30pm - 7:30am (waking up around 1 & 4 - crying for a little bit and going back to bed, and eating around 6am)

- Smiles huge when she sees daddy

I love my sweetie pie. She is a bundle of joy and is such a blessing to our lives. Her personality has totally changed since she was a newborn and she is SO easygoing and loves playing!

Thankfulness (FINALLY!) #23 Dwelling in Joy

As we pray and thank God, we are filled with joy, and as we express joy, our hearts again turn to gratitude. Regardless of what is going on in our lives, we can respond with a heart full of joy because we know that our redeemer lives, that all things work together for good to those who love God, that our Lord will never leave us nor forsake us.

Joy is the natural response to such jubilant promises!

Job #23 - What are you most joyful about? Pray and ask the Lord and write it down & pop it into your jar of blessing!