Moving Furniture Fun

One of the projects I undertook yesterday after I wrapped up my midterms was rearranging the office area in our bedroom. Grant and I both agreed that we didn't like this arrangment, but I just hadn't gotten the gust of energy to mess with all the computer cords yet.
If you're reading this, would you please pause and text Grant to bust a move and get the crown molding up in the bedroom? Maybe if he gets a series of reminders from random people out there, he'll get motivated to do it!!! This is a bad picture, but below, you can kind of get an idea that it was sort of cramped behind the desk when we sat at our computer. As I'm blogging this, I'm pretty sure no one really even cares about this teeny issue of ours. I'll use the cop out that this is for my mom to see. :D

After breaking a sweat - pathetic - here is the switcharoo. I love it! I'm so surprised, because I like desks not facing a wall. But this prevents Naomi from unplugging the internet and other things, so that's nice. I changed up the lamp and am testing some different curtains, but still have to take that shelf down and rearrange wall items.

And someday, I'm going to get to throw away my $59.99 white cardboard box from Wal-Mart and buy a real grown-up bookshelf. Someday...

*Okay, if you didn't already, go text Grant about the crown molding! Lol. If you don't have his number, text me (if you have mine!) and I'll give it to you...

A Glorious Day...

Yesterday was just plain awesome. I woke up at 7:00 and took my midterm exam for the class I'm currently taking, Intrapartum. Intrapartum is just a fancy word for labor. And let me tell you - there's a reason it has a fancy word! This is no simple process!! Descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, restitution, external rotation - these are just the simple steps the baby goes through to make its entrance into the world and it can do so in a plethora of positions compared to the mom's pelvis. (Movie quote: "Would you say that I have a plethora of pinatas?" - Who knows it?!) Anyway, after finishing my exam and handing in my 45-page market research paper, I was on cloud nine! I had a great day cleaning the house and being with the baby. The weather certainly helps too - it's beautiful outside finally! So last night we had our first Fresh Perspectives class, a month-long Bible study at the barn where we are basically being re-introduced to the Bible and its structure and purpose. It was a fabulous class and we were very blessed and intrigued by the content taught.

Naomi came and was fabulous, as always. The class ended at 7:55, five minutes before her bedtime, but she just couldn't hang on. :) She slept like this all the way through the bumpy field back to our house, even with her sweet little hand on the bar! It was the cutest thing.

Tuckered out!

Rise Up...

Despite being quite stressed about a 40+page graduate paper this weekend, we have had a few fun moments today and yesterday as a family. Grant planned some special events for my first Mother's Day. I reminded him that technically, I was a mother last year. He responded by saying, "Well, but this is the first Mother's Day for Naomi's extrauterine life!" Now, THAT is a response coming from a student nurse-midwife's husband! Hahaha... Grant gave me the greatest gift of waking with the baby and letting me sleep until 10:30! I haven't done that in over a year! I felt amazing from the moment I woke up! We went to brunch at a fun restaurant here in Louisville and I was showered with cards and gifts - Naomi made me a piece of artwork with her handprint and I got earrings and a gift card to go shopping! Woohoo!

Proverbs 31:28 has always been an important verse to me - "Her children shall rise up and call her blessed." It came to mind countless times as I grew up with such a wonderful mom. I know that any good I have accomplished thus far in Naomi's short little life has been a result of God's grace and watching my own mother. I hope to continue to be humbled in motherhood, while honoring the Lord as I attempt to create a culture of love and freedom in which Naomi can grow.

This other quick pic was taken as Grant threw hats on all of us to watch our first Kentucky Derby as Kentuckians. The Derby was yesterday, in case you weren't aware - quite a fun event. I only enjoyed it for the two minutes that it lasted however, bookended by feverishly typing at the computer. Which reminds me, I should be writing on data analysis. Not on blogspot.

Happy Mother's Day!

Naomi Can Clap!!!

I was cooking dinner in the kitchen tonight and I looked over to see Naomi clapping her hands! It was the sweetest thing. She was just sitting, staring at her hands (with a quite serious look on her face) as she clapped and clapped! She just can't help herself now - it's so cute because she really just holds her left hand pretty still but she sure gets that right arm a goin'! (Mom, just like "The Clapper" at Heartland! LOL)

*Oh and the little diddy I sing so well at the end is on a Sesame Street episode she watches; apparently, I'm really not that great of a musician if you'll read the next post below. :(

Maybe She Won't...

I've always wondered if my children would end up wanting to play the violin at some point, because of being around me while I play it. There would never be ANY pressure for them to do any activity that wasn't a desire of their own, but I have thought it could be a fun thing and we would save some money on paying for private lessons! Well, today made me think twice!
Throughout my pregnancy, I played numerous times so Naomi could hear the violin in utero. Since she was born, however, I have hardly touched the thing. BIG mistake.
This afternoon, I tuned my violin up and thought I'd entertain Naomi a bit. While I was tuning the strings, she started making a loud whining noise and her eyes looked fearful - like how she sometimes gets when I run the vacuum. I thought to myself that she'd probably like it once I was playing actual music (she loves music and dancing). Nope. I kid you not, by the third note of "Mary Had A Little Lamb," my child was FREAKING OUT. First of all, we rarely see her cry. Secondly, I could not believe how quickly she worked herself up.

Huge tears.

Red face.

Shaking.

It was quite sad. For both of us. Obviously, I stopped on the word "Little" and swept her up. She just kept crying and considering how little I played, it took her a while to gather herself. Poor thing. I think I'm going to try again with my mute on (as common sense would tell, a mute cuts the volume of a violin in half at least) and see if that's not as scary to her. If that doesn't work, I might have to just play during her naps for a while. :(

The Pacifier Beast

Do you all remember one of the greatest movies - The Sandlot? If you've never seen it, it's a classic and a great movie for the whole family. Well, there is a scene in this movie where these boys discover that the dog (The Beast) next door to their baseball field has collected many of their baseballs over the years into a huge pile. I'm wondering if The Beast has secretly taken up residence in my daughter's nursery... only his love has become pacifiers. Over the last couple of days, I've had a difficult time locating any pacis for her. Today, I pulled the crib away from the wall to find this - a collection of NINE. At least now I know where they go!

And while we're on the subject of sandlots, go check out keepersofthesandlot.com and grab a copy of my dad's book. With decades of extensive baseball experience, he has written a true gem for any parent to read. While the book has a huge focus on how parents can positively shape and change their kids' lives through coaching sports, but it has invaluable lessons for any mom or dad and their child's activities. It's a great Father's Day gift for coaches of little league (or any sport)!!

Happy Wednesday!

Well, there's usually a reason for a dryspell in blog posts. And there is - a crazy week with grad school and a slight lack of motivation due to the CONSTANT gray clouds and rain here. I have an extremely high tolerance for rain. I love it. But I'm done! Soooo ready for the sun and some brighter weather to pick up my mood. Naomi greeted me this morning on her knees, which is now her favorite position. She pulls up to her knees onto anything that is approximately that height for her, though standing on the feet is not something we've accomplished quite yet.

What we HAVE accomplished is the development of a love for crawling to and sitting at my feet at all times. With just a slight whine accompanying her as she pulls on my pant legs, I believe we have entered into a bit of the separation jitters. :)

But she's so dang cute. So I don't mind.

This is a common scene around here. We often leave Kona's leash on her because she's easier to catch like that if she bolts toward the door. Naomi loves it. She crawls after the dog, grabs it, and you can see that her arms are blurry because she shakes it up and down. We are so grateful for a dog that is so patient and loves the baby. Every night we have to drag Kona out of the baby's room because she wants to sleep on her rug, right next to the crib. So funny!

What baby doesn't love electrical cords? And no, this is not something on the "approved activity" list at our house. And I believe we have an attachment forming. I just checked on her (yeah for two naps still), and she's holding her Lambie's hand! I keep presenting her baby lamb to her - a sweet gift from her Mimi - because what can I say, I'm totally pro-lovie. Yes, my child will likely walk around with a pacifier in her mouth, a lamb in one hand, and a blankie in the other. A shoutout to Abbey Engles and mothers alike. :)