Why I Started This Blog

Remember the cute headband post from a few days ago? Well, that same friend, Brenda Horan, just posted a link to this site that sells the MOST FANCY AND AMAZING BABY SHOES I HAVE EVER SEEN. I could easily spend all my money buying these, so since that is the case I probably won't buy any because I wouldn't be able to stop. It's like those chips, you can't have just one. It is these kinds of "fancy" things that make my heart smile and why I started this blog; well, these shoes and imagining my most beautiful daughter wearing them.




Speaking of my most beautiful daughter. One of my biggest struggles as a mom was the whole sleep issue. Having watched the babywise DVDs and read numerous books on the subject of baby sleep, I thought I understood everything I needed to do to get my daughter to sleep well from the get-go. Turns out, the books just don't give room for the babies that have to grow into loving to sleep and learning to nap, which was the case with my little flower. I fortunately found another mommy-blog that was also a "baby-wise mom" and her baby didn't learn to nap longer than 45 minutes until 13 months old. Reading that blog was so comforting because after trying cry-it-out a couple times and various other less extreme methods, nothing worked. Well, I am proud to say that Daisy is doing significantly better on her naps, and it is now more the norm for her to take 1.5 hour naps than the 45 minute naps. If she wakes up at 45 minutes, most of the time she is able to put herself back to sleep. Tonight, when I laid her down still awake, she flipped over onto her stomach grabbed her bear and put her butt in the air as fast as she could, looked at me and then just calmly closed her eyes as if she couldn't wait to go to sleep. It was such a great moment for me. So, for any other moms out there struggling wtih sleep issues, your baby can learn to sleep and sometimes they just have to grow into it!

Ellen

So, now that I work part time, I have discovered the joy that is The Ellen Show. Everyone knows dance is a huge part of my past, and how much I love playing games, so it really is the perfect show for me (not to mention when she gives away cars, or pays bills, or gives money to people in need it kinda makes me want to cry which is really embarrasing to cry during a talk show). I think Daisy might like the show too (or maybe she just likes to be diaperless):

You might be asking why she is diaperless, and that is because I was in the middle of changing her diaper but her bloomers were in need of a good rinse in the sink, so while I did that, I let her lay on a blanket in the living room. So then she peed.

Done?

I have had a hard time blogging lately, in case you couldn't tell. While there are things I think are exciting and many yummy recipes (like last nights seared tuna steaks with a ginger cream sauce and steamed artichoke), adorable moments with Daisy (ie: recent pumpkin patch visit and zebra halloween costume), etc. I am just not sure I am committed to telling the internet about all of it. So, forgive me as I take some more time to stare at my daughter and decide. You can stare at her in the meantime too.

Garden and Gun

If you are wondering where I have been, well I was in Europe. Yes, I wrote that correctly, EUROPE. I went to Switzerland and Austria as Micah was the best man in a wedding there recently. So, of course many posts coming on the trip and all the fanciness there, but first, before I left, I encountered this magazine in Whole Foods:

I don't have the words. I took a picture on my phone because I didn't think anyone would believe me that this magazine existed and I was sure I was not going to see anything like this in Europe. So when I wanted to be reminded of what it was like to live in America, well, I just looked at this photo. (okay, in truth, it never came to that. I didn't look at this once but I knew I had the option.)

Some New Books

I recently finished a book recommended to me by a dear friend of mine, In A Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson. Great writer is he not but there were a few really great thoughts I walked away with after reading it. While the main point of the book is to no longer let obstacles be what hold you back in life, but rather use them as a springboard for progress and consider them an opportunity; I think what I came away with was the reminder of just how big my God is. Most of my readers actually know me personally so it comes as no surprise that I am a Christian, as in someone who believes in Jesus as God. If you know me, you also know that while I have truly had a blessed and incredible young life filled with amazing people, memories, experiences and opportunities, no life, including mine, has been without its share of disappointments and limitations. However, those disappointments and limitations should not necessarily be a reflection that my God is limited but possibly rather that my faith, my response to life, freedom of choice and action by others has been the reason for those disappointments or limitations. So, to share a few quotes with you of what is sticking out to me after reading this book. This quote is from a section where he talks about, "the way we grow up spiritually is by becoming more and more like a little child."

"We internalize limits. We grow up and grow old. What is worse, we become small people with a small God. I think part of Neos is training the limitlessness of youth. Regaining the idea that we have been created by a limitless God to have limitless dreams and imaginations."

Mark also includes this quite by Dorothy Sayers.
'The people who hanged Christ never, to do them justice, accused Him of being a bore- on the contrary; they thought Him too dynamic to be safe. It has been left for later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround Him with an atmosphere of tedium. We have very efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah, certified him 'meek and mild' and recommended Him as a fitting household pet for curates and pious old ladies."

My God is not tame, He is not mild, He is not limited; what would happen in my life or your life if we truly understood that idea and removed the limitations we have put on ourselves and on God?

Now for a complete switch, here the book I am about to start reading, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet. While it is an Oprah book club recommendation, I don't go to Oprah's church. I did just hear it is the largest church in the US. Have any of you "attended"? (attended is in quotes because I believe it is all online).

Precious

Precious!
Nuff said.

Pictures of Micah

So, remember how a long, long time ago I said I wanted to take more photos of Micah and photos of Micah and I in the last few months of it just being the two of us. (I also said I would get journals and I never did that) Well, I did take some photos, not quite every day as I intended, but some great ones nonetheless, and they truly capture an every-day feel I think! So, enjoy:

He had a love affair with his i-phone. I am really jealous alot.

He is always ready to protect me!

We have matching sweatshirts and we wanted to model them for you.

2 Years Ago Today

This is where I was two years ago today! Thanks Micah for loving me, even when you make me gain weight! (okay so maybe that is the baby's fault, but you still have a part in that too!) I love you babe and look forward to the rest of our lives together. ALL.

New Blog Inspiration

I read other people's blogs (which is why I started one) and a recent one I was directed to by a Ms. Heather, gave me two inspirations that I am turning into my own:

1. My first inspiration is from this blog posting- the author writes a letter to her daughter every month, and this was her 60th "newsletter" (or her daughter's fifth birthday). I was inspired by this because I thought it was such a neat way to say all the things you internalize about your children that they probably never realize until they are parents themselves. In the past few days I have been thinking that I really need some sort of book right now that tells the stories of how I told our coming child's grandparents that he/she was on the way, and how me and "Daddy" (in quotes because we aren't quite used to it yet) felt when we found out we were pregnant which was hyperventilating for me - on second thought, maybe I will leave that part out. So, I think I am going to start this and write a little note or letter to my soon-to-be child. And, not to be neglected- possibly my husband as well. It is only fair that after a lifetime together, he should have books telling of my constant adoration, admiration and love for him too- although he doesn't read books so that might be a waste of time. I will have to think on that one.

2. Micah and I don't take enough pictures together. In fact we have been really bad about it lately in spite of the fact that we bought a new fancy camera. So, since this is our anniversary month, I am going to make a point of taking a new photo of him or us together every day at least through the end of February. Since this site is dedicated to the everyday things I find fancy, I think I will take this month to fancy my husband, who is with me everyday. (please don't get mad at me for not taking photos from this Friday to Monday though as I am on a business trip and will be separated from him). Of course, I will share these pictures with you too - you may also see a huge belly in some of them.

A Year in Review

As it is now the first week of 2009, I thought I would do a brief review of last year, and also give you all an idea of a way to start out this year:

From top left to right, some of my highlights of 2008 are -

• Going to Uganda with my husband on a missions trip
• Going to a One Republic concert in St. Louis with friends (us under the arch)
• Good food!
• Find out we are going to have a surprise baby!!!
• Home renovations and decorations continue
• Micah and I's first ever non-school race- the 15k Tulsa Run
• Two of my best friends getting married
• Trip to Chicago
• Work- I did alot of that
• Stopping through New York on our way to Uganda
• Welcoming many new babies this year to friends and family
• This was taken at New Years 2008- the very start of last year! I love being married to Micah.

Last year was great- it had crafting, love, new friends, new family members, many babies, a couple of weddings, alot of really yummy food and drinks, wonderful travel experiences, and some fulfilling work moments too. As I look forward to 2009, I was challenged last night to not only set goals and resolutions for myself for 2009, but to look at the closest person in my life (who for me is my husband Micah) and to offer something that I would like to see come about in his / her life too. Often in life it is easy to become "me" focused, and this is one way of trying to keep others centered, and make sure you are helping others find greatness, fulfillment, and yes, even fancy things in life. It was a fun exercise and prompted good discussion later. So, maybe as you think about your New Year's resolutions, add one or two in for some other people you know that maybe you can help them reach! I wished for great depth and passion for Micah; that he could find more of the richness that life has to offer. (I would plan to start that goal with poetry, but not sure that is really up his alley)

Happy 2009 everyone!

A Fancy Christmas Miracle

Sunday, my pastor, Roger Nix, delivered a great message. One aspect of the miracle of Christmas is the whole "Immanuel" idea, which means "God with us". One of the most comforting things in life is when a friend can say, "me too!". When God came to earth at Christmas, he experienced the full range of the human experience, which means our God can say "me too!" He understands the complexities, trials, temptations, and heartaches of life as well as the great joys, miracle of family, siblings, and relationship. I serve a God that can say "me too".

When Micah and I went to Uganda this past summer, I found a nativity set made out of corn husks and miscellaneous items gathered from a field. I purchased it at a cafe that would go to support widows, orphans and missionaries in the area. This is my fancy reminder of Christ's humble entrance to our world. I love looking at this set and remembering God's grace in my life, his goodness and abundance to me, and that there is much more to life than just my existence in America- there are widows, orphans, missionaries, and people that fill this planet and Christ came for all of us.



The other part of Roger's message, and the message I see in my simple nativity set, is that it is us who are now responsible to be the living embodiment of Christ in the world. Not in the everyone is a deity way, but in that we can all say, "me too, I understand", and then we can help. When we pray, "Lord help my neighbor find a friend," God may say, "that is what you are there for." We are the physical hands and feet of Christ, and what better time to remember that God came to give and provide for everyone than at Christmas time.

I hope you all have a wonderful and Merry Christmas! I promise my next posts will be much more fun and fancy- full of pictures of treasure hunts, mermaid dress-up parties, and Cinderella puzzles.

Blonde Make-up Ambition

So, I recently went back blond. I know, I change my hair on a monthly basis it seems. And Mathew did a great job on the color. Mathew is also an all things zealous Christian. So, while we were talking in the 3 hour process of my hair, he asked, "Why isn't there Christian make-up?" Is Christianity so commercialized that there is a need for Christian make-up? I would imagine, if the answer to that question is "yes", that we would see names like "son-shine tan foundation" or "raptured rouge blush" and "blood of Christ lipstick". Quite fancy if you ask me.

This did remind me of something I did in highschool with a few of my other deviant friends. When prom dress-code was getting a bit out of hand, and the principle said he personally would be doing cleavage check at the door we decided to make posters in the passive agressive. We copied pictures of 1920's era fancy dresses that had a turtleneck, long sleeves, and floor-length (basically no skin), and made posters displaying the new "prom dress uniform" available. You guessed it, we named the different colors available in this dress very similar names to those I would imagine Christian make-up names being. Well, I must be off to find some Holy-eye Liner.