Bearing fruit in a drought

Jeremiah 17: 5-8
This is what the Lord says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; He will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not care when the heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Wow! These verses have meant so much to me in the last few weeks. After David got laid off, I was shocked, upset, scared, worried, etc. After two days of absorbing the news and praying, I have had peace ever since. I am trusting the Lord to provide for our needs. He has for the last month and I am so thankful. Our rent was lowered. We've received unexpected checks in the mail. Small little jobs in photography and computers have provided for bills and I continue to tutor once a week which covers our groceries. God is so good.

Our roots are being supplied with nutrients and we are bearing fruit. We have enjoyed our 'vacation' as a family. David has been a huge help around the house and with Abigail when I wasn't feeling good in my first trimester. We look forward to learning what job God has for David. My husband has been very diligent to send out resumes and fill out applications. We know we aren't going to be stuck here forever. We have hope. This hope gives me joy. I am so thankful for God's provision and His plan. Right now I am trusting Him, enjoying the stream, cooling off in the shade, and rejoicing in the fruit He has and will create.

14 and 15 month stats

I am yet again behind in my blogging. I have a good reason! I promise. Abigail is going to be a big sister. I am 12 weeks 2 days pregnant! I am due March 6. Needless to say, I haven't been feeling well. This pregnancy has been filled with fatigue, headaches, heartburn, waves of nauseousness, and food aversions. I am hoping the worst of it is over, since I have hit 12 weeks. Although, last night I was incredibly sick and needed all day today to recover. I kept my food plan simple today with bland snacks of toast, crackers, apple sauce, and cereal. It all seemed to sit well on my empty stomach. We had an ultrasound on our first doctor visit and we got to see the baby's heart beating. We have another ultrasound scheduled in the beginning of October and we hope to find out the baby's sex. This pregnancy feels totally different, but I am not guessing a boy or girl yet. I have been praying for a healthy baby. So far, my blood tests and blood pressure have been on target. Before I found out I was pregnant, I participated in a weight loss challenge with a friend. In ten weeks, I lost 12 pounds and 7 inches. I exercised a lot and learned so much about nutrition that I made much better choices for my meals and snacks. I am really thankful that God prepared me to carry this baby with a healthier body. I needed to lose the weight so I can chase after my ever moving toddler. Now, with two, I will need to be really in shape. They will keep me on my toes! Since the last two months have been a bit of a blur, I will combine some of Abigail's information. The pics aren't that great. Many were taken from my phone. Yeah, mommy didn't take many pictures in the last few months either.
*14 months: 17 lbs 7 oz
*15 months: 18 lbs 6 oz (Yay! She gained almost a pound.)
*wears 6-9 month clothes (more 9 month now)
*wears size 3 diapers
*wears 6-12 month shoes (size 3)
*loves her baby dolls
*her seventh tooth has emerged
*peed in her potty twice!
*took make-up out of my purse and put it in the bathroom drawer with my other cosmetics (so smart!)
*enjoys looking out the window and looking at herself in mirrors
*still nursing: morning and nap time (signs for this, instead of pulling at my shirt)
*words she says: momma, dada or daddy, hi, bye bye, ball, baby, please, thank you, nigh-nigh, I love you, uh oh, Elmo
*sings: Ho,Ho, Ho Hosanna; Wheels on the Bus; Row, Row, Row your boat
*loves to climb her little rocking chair and stand on it, rock, sit down, get off, and do it all over again
*bouncing the ball and chasing after it is great fun
*likes to play with cups and straws
*still takes baths in her little blow up tub
*loves music and dancing
*loves to read books especially animal books
*makes animal noises: roars= lion, moos=cow, hoots=owl, barks=dog, meows=cat, quacks=duck
*gives lots of kisses and hugs to her family and her babies
*likes to close the dishwasher
*has curly hair and it is getting long (I need to cut her bangs, but I am scared to do it!)
*carefully turns her body around to climb down from the couch (can't climb up it yet)
*sleeps 12 hours at night, and takes 2-3 hour nap during the day
*still not liking cow's milk (gets plenty of calcium from whole milk yogurt and cheese)
*discovered her nostrils (so attractive!)
*enjoys chasing the dogs
*knows where her head is, feet are, tongue is, nose is, and belly
*likes to get into the dogs' water bowls
*restless in the car (we sing and I give her toys to keep her occupied)
*recognizes momma and dada in pictures
*loves to open and close doors
*figured out how to remove the plug covers (She tried to plug in the vacuum the other day.)
*turns the volume up or down on the TV receiver knob
*enjoys taking the contents out of her drawers, diaper bag, my purse, and daddy's wallet
*took her diaper off in her crib and peed on her bedding and floor
*loves getting balloons from Trader Joe's
*gets into cracker boxes if they are in reach and starts munching (goldfish, cheez-its, and graham crackers)
*still takes her shoes off in the car (tries to put them back on by herself)
*enjoys taking wipes out of their package and unrolling toilet paper
*loves to put shoes on mommy and daddy

13 month stats

Abigail is growing up so fast and I am falling behind in my documentation. :) I guess it is good that I am mothering and enjoying life. Blogs can wait. We made our monthly trek to the Wellness Center and our 13 month old weighs 17 lbs 4 oz. Her small stature has been a blessing on my back and my arms. She can stay tiny and petite as long as possible! She has been growing. I feel like suddenly she is leggy and fuller in the face. Here are some fun tidbits about her development:
*wears size 9 months clothes (surprisingly, some 6 month clothes still fit her)
*wears size 3 Pamper's Cruiser diapers
*wears size 3 shoes
*still nursing
*her hair is getting longer and she won't leave bows in it anymore (some rubber bands are left untouched)
*walking everywhere unassisted
*loves singing
*loves dogs
*enjoys playing with her yellow and orange bouncy balls
*points to your nose
*fascinated by her belly button
*wants to bite strange things (the couch, for example )
*puts sunglasses on/around her neck instead of her face
*loves opening and closing anything
*likes to put things in Noah's dog crate (even herself :)
*has gotten her legs caught in her crib when she is upset or sleeping
*still using her infant seat in the car (her Britax is waiting patiently in the corner of her room)
*loves laughing and falling backwards in our bed
*loves to hold and eat a banana all by herself
*loves ice water
*doesn't enjoy organic whole milk
*likes to push her mini stroller around and collect things to put in it throughout the house
*learned the sign for milk/nurse
*'talks' all the time
*likes to climb stairs on the playground
*getting more comfortable with strange ground textures (sand, grass, and woodchips aren't as scary)
*grunts and points for things she wants
*likes to take out the pots and pans in the kitchen cabinet
*likes to pick up our flip flops and walk around with them
*kisses her baby dolls and pictures of babies in books
*gives great hugs and kisses
*still wants to play when it is bedtime, so we have been letting her cry it out after our bedtime routine (this has been working)

12 month stats

This is almost a month overdue, but I need to record her stats so I don't forget them. At Abigail's one year checkup she was 16 lbs 14 oz and 28 1/4 inches tall. Abby is still in the first percentile, but she is staying on her growth curve. The doctor suggested we give her vitamins, since she is a picky eater. We are always trying new food with her to see how she likes them. She has days when she eats a lot and other days when she doesn't want to do much with food. She would rather play. Abigail has discovered playing with her food is a lot of fun. Once she starts playing in it, rubbing it all over, and throwing it on the floor; we end meal time. :) Life has become more fun as we have a toddler in the house. Here are some facts about her development and daily life.

*wearing size 2-3 Swaddler diapers

*wearing size 6-9 month clothes. (Some 9 month clothes fit her now!)

*loves to walk, takes some steps on her own (Today she took 21 in a row, unassisted.)

*enjoys opening and closing drawers and doors (She has smashed her fingers several times.)

*still takes a bath in the little blow up bath inside the big bathtub

*organic waffles, cream cheese toast, and mushrooms are new favorites on her menu

*loves to play with mama's keys

*sings and baby talks all the time

*says: mama, dada, hi, bye, barks like a dog

*waves, shakes her head no, claps, loves to pick up tiny pieces of anything on the floor

*gives kisses

*doesn't like sand, grass, or bubbles very much

*likes eggs one day and not the next

*loves to read books

*enjoys her new toys from her birthday

*Jeffrey, her stuffed giraffe, has become her new lovey

*has six teeth (She doesn't enjoy us brushing them.)

*loves to push her stroller

*doesn't like whole milk (She lets it fall out of her mouth.)

*still nursing

*pulls bows out of her hair

*still sits facing the back of the car since she is not 20 lbs (She doesn't like car rides as much as she used to. I am ready to turn her around.)

*only sucks her thumb when she sleeps and she does

n't do it as much as she used to

*has completely mastered all sippy and straw cups

*loves to climb out of her highchair, exersaucer, and car seat when I unbuckle her

*loves tickles

*smiley all day long (even when we are out in public)

*takes one good nap a day and sleeps for 12 hours at night

*loves the dogs (learned how to unlatch Noah's crate)

*discovered toilet paper

*enjoys riding in the stroller while mommy exercises(walks) with her friends

*points and grunts when she wants things

*we continue to use sign language with her

Pushing her stroller in downtown Fullerton Jeffrey and I are waiting for dada to get home.

See my cute curly ponytail!

Smiley bath time! Look at all my teeth!! Eating ice cream for the first time!

Yummy Cold Stone!

Our Little Cupcake Turned One!

What a fun few weeks it has been! Preparing for Abigail's first birthday was a blast, and a little stressful at times! :)I had fun being creative with invitations and decorations. I chose cupcakes for the theme in pinks and purples. I made the invitations after viewing many paper crafting ideas on-line. I took what I liked and made my own design. Another idea I adapted was making large cupcake centerpieces out of terra cotta pots. I bought six inch pots with eight inch water trays. After painting the pots purple and the trays white, I inverted the trays and hot-glued them on top. I painted and glued two spools to represent a candle on each pot. I shaped a gold sparkly pipe cleaner to look like the flame of the candle. The one I found on-line was just painted. I wanted puffy cupcakes, so I took square pieces of tissue paper and glued them in points to the top of the pots. This took forever! It reminded me of the pinata I made in eighth grade. I made a huge snowman for my Spanish class. It took me sixteen hours to glue all that tissue on! Thankfully, this did not take that long. My mom made all real edible cupcakes. They tasted as good as they looked! Before we ate our cupcakes, we enjoyed chicken salad sandwiches on croissants, veggies, potato salad, citrus fluff salad, chips and dip, string cheese, and goldfish crackers. We spent Abigail's birthday, May 21, at the LA Zoo and had her cupcake celebration on Saturday with family and friends at Tri-City Park. I can't believe my little girl is one. Time really does fly! I am so blessed to have a baby, who is now a toddler! God is so good to us. We are so blessed and thankful for her good health, sharp mind, and joyful spirit! :)

Growing up SO Fast

It seems like Abigail has suddenly had a growth spurt physically and developmentally. She now has five teeth! My baby is already transitioning into toddlerhood. Her personality is emerging and it is so much fun to see the little girl she is becoming. Here are some pictures from the last few weeks. She has already taken a few steps on her own. We took her down to Laguna last weekend. She was not impressed with the sand. :( She started crying every time we tried to let her touch it. Other than the sand incident, we had a great day spending time as a family.

Catching up and 11 Month Stats

I am finally getting around to writing again on my blog. Yay! The last month has been a bit crazy around here. David has been working insane hours, our refrigerator broke, a sink overflowed, and our dog, Macy, got another ear infection. Thankfully, David's work has slowed down a bit. He actually had dinner with the family a few nights this week. :) With a lot research on the internet and some prayer, I was able to fix our refrigerator. Wow, even I surprised myself. David fixed the sink and our dog just finished her round of antibiotics. Abigail and I have missed having David around, and it makes me even more thankful for the partnership and loving family we have. God has given us so much. I am extremely proud of my husband and his dedication to do an awesome job even though he was working countless hours with little to no sleep. What a great guy! I am so blessed!

Abigail has been growing up so fast. She is getting bigger and more independent.We made our monthly trip to the Wellness Center for her weight check and she is now 16 lbs 1 oz. This is still below the 3rd percentile, but after our last visit to the doctor, we were told not to worry, and to keep doing what we are doing. She will be checked out again at her one year checkup. As long as she continues to grow, we should not be concerned. We have been creative in the food department, offering her a variety of options for meal time to see what she favors. Our most recent additions to her menu are homemade smoothie pops, tofu, black beans, and garbanzo beans. I had never tried tofu before. The texture is interesting. It is a good source of protein and an easy finger food to prepare. I am so thankful for the incredible source the internet has been for helping me find good recipes and ideas for preparing healthy options for our little one. 95% of the food Abigail eats is organic. I have read so much about the importance of giving her the best food without all the chemicals and pesticides. Little bodies are so sensitive to these harmful elements. After learning about this, David and I are eating more organic food as well. About 50% of our refrigerator is filled with organic goodness. Organic food is more expensive, but I try to find it on sale. There are many frozen options as well. Trader Joes and Vons have quite a few organic foods that don't break the bank. I picked up a discounted book at Border's the other day and devoured it quickly. It is called Green Babies, Sage Moms:The Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Baby. I learned so much reading this book. In an effort to be more green, I have also changed some of my cleaning supplies. I now use vinegar and baking soda to clean. A great website called vinegartips.com has over 1,000 ways to use vinegar in your home from cleaning to gardening. :)

Back to Abigail's development! Here are some size facts and fun, quirky things she is doing these days.
*wears 6 month clothes, some 6-9 month clothes fit, but pants/shorts must be six months
*wears size 2 diapers
*clicks her tongue (especially to music)
*bobs her head and moves her body and arms to music
*if you sing out one note she will copy you, if you change your tone or do a scale she breaks up her notes as well
*stands on her own
*so close to walking independently
*walks her stroller around
*cruises on furniture
*still sucks her thumb to sleep at night
*likes to climb
*still in love with our dogs, laughs and squeals when they are close to her
*eats avocado almost every day
*enjoys eating scrambled egg yokes for breakfast
*when she nurses during the day, she holds her foot and extends her leg in the air :) (strange child)
*laughs saying,"ha-ha" after other people laugh
*says,"mama" all the time
*says, "baba" for her big lamb
*got her second tooth on April 21
*waves when you say, "bye-bye"
*loves the park and enjoys watching other children
*likes the swing and to go down the slide with mommy
*puts her baby or her bear in her stroller before she takes them for a spin
*loves books
*likes to pull all of her books off of her bookshelf and then explore her favorites
*loves her book about colors, I have it memorized!
*started taking bows out of her hair
*shy in new situations
*goes to the nursery at church with no problems now
*plays with her door to her bedroom
*likes to play her homemade drums of tupperware with spatulas and wisks
*likes mirrors
*loves peek-a-boo
*good sleeper
* very ticklish
*bites when she is teething
*loves ice and ice water
I can't believe she is almost a year old. The time has flown! :)