Helping Haley Learn

 I take motherhood very seriously.  It is more than holding her, nursing her, and changing her diaper.  As a mom, I believe that each day I need to help her grow in so many ways.  Lately, we have been practicing rolling over (she prefers trying to do that from back to front).  Here is a little video showing what she can do...she is SO close and I am excited to help her along the way :)

I believe that from the moment she was conceived, God entrusted her to me (and Zach) to help her find Him and to help her grow spiritually, emotionally, physically, socially, and mentally.  I was reminded of this after I found out some exciting news from my brother.  We are rejoicing with our little nephew Joel who accepted Christ this week.  This little guy has grown so fast...

Joel in 2008 at my wedding!

Joel with his new, engraved Bible!

 Check out my brother's blog post about it...it certainly challenges every parent in taking their spiritual role with their children seriously.  You can read his blog here.

Just a few more cute shots for good measure!

Cousin Love

Haley has been getting a lot of love from her cousins these days.  I think all of the cousins would agree with Porter... "Hawey is SO cute!"

 

Haley cannot wait to meet her Poncy cousins and get some special loving from them too!

 

On another note, Haley sure does love being with daddy!

Especially when it involves football and an awesome Broncos headband...more pictures to come, stay tuned!

 

Happy Monday all!  Isn't "Hawey so cute!?!"

Loving our Three Month Old

Oh my sweetness!

There aren't enough words that can express what my heart feels for this little one. 

Haley is getting closer to rolling over and sitting.  She loves to tell stories and sing with me...just babbling away about who knows what!  Her eyes tell a story all their own...when she smiles, they smile right along with her.  Her sweet little voice melts my heart.

Her chubby legs and feet are a favorite and they look adorable in her sparkly kicks :)

Our thankfulness for our little girl grows right along with her and we are blessed to call her our baby.

Happy three months Haley Madeline!  You are deeply loved. 

Lessons Learned (and Learning)

My friend Natalie recently wrote a post on her blog about finding strength in weakness and I was challenged by her words.  There is nothing easier than making it all about me, either with empty arrogance or false humility and belittlement towards oneself.  But I loved what she had to say.  There is a need for humble recognition of our shortcomings as humans.  Once we see ourselves with that lens, we can recognize that it is the Lord that changes us and gives us strength.  What a beautiful picture of true honesty and of our dependence on God!

Despite my imperfections and the struggles of being a new mom, I want to find strength and joy in our Creator.  It helps that His creation is beautiful.

Haley is a happy baby most of the time but with a newborn, there are moments where I have to work selflessly and patiently to care for her.  Sometimes that means I am not at my best (hence the pj's, messy hair, and crying baby).

Then there are moments of pure, simple joy as I watch Haley see the leaves on the trees for the first time...and really study them.

 

 Or the fun that I have with a baby girl.

 

Whatever day or moment I am having, whether my imperfections are blatantly apparent or not, I want to be a woman, a wife, and a mother that strives to find strength in the Lord.  I also want to recognize those precious moments as opportunities from the Lord to gain strength in Him and to be thankful for what He has given me.
 (Thanks Natalie for your encouraging and challenging post!)

Changing of the Seasons

With the start of fall and the Aspens turning gold, I find myself feeling refreshed.  Normally, I welcome the heat and sunshine but I am seriously looking forward to boot wearing cool weather.  And, fall happens to be my favorite season in Colorado...I thought it was summer but I changed my mind (yep, I give myself permission to do that from time to time, or all of the time...whatev).  

We went up to Winter Park and I was reminded of how much I love this time of year.

 It is not just that I love the weather itself, but I have always been one of those nerds that LOVES the start of school.  Yep, that's right.  I used to buy my folders and pens a month in advance just counting down the days for school to start.  I might have also sharpened those pencils and refused to use those crayons because I loved that feeling of having clean, new supplies in class the first week.  Don't judge, I was so cool.  And I digress...

Fall still feels like the start of something for me.  Of course Zach relishes in the start of football season (hence the picture of the elk in a Manning jersey found in Winter Park), and I love that we both have that same excitement when fall rolls around.

 

 

 With the colors changing outside and the temperature cooling down, I am refreshed.  Refreshed and reminded that I am not required to be the same person that I was yesterday.  Everything is constantly changing, I am constantly changing.  And it is in that reminder that I feel refreshed.  Refreshed in my pursuit of the Lord and my willingness to open my heart to His work in my life.  Refreshed to make new strides in my relationships, new and old, and to learn how to love better.  Refreshed in the little things, like finding the time and focus to go on a walk, eat healthy, or maybe even make some of the projects I have pinned on pinterest!  

Refreshed that I have a new day to show my sweet baby girl a little bit more of this world for the first time.  I find myself excited for those moments in her life where she changes and grows...to see the world with new eyes!  It is amazing to be on this journey with her. 

Life of Late According to Haley

We watched the Broncos opener and boy was I worried...

But then I remembered that we have Peyton Manning now!

I recently found out what my parents really think of me...

 That's right. A tax deduction?? I feel so used. 

I wonder if I can get some additional funds from daddy to invest in my e-trade account? ;)

My Grandma Dede gave me a pink giraffe to take my mind off of it...I love my giraffe.

 Oh, and I recently discovered the ottoman has decorative nail trim! I can't quite control my hand and eye coordination fully yet but I'm working on it...

And as always, my mom makes me laugh! If only she knew I was laughing at her and not with her :)

And then there are baby legs...yep, baby leg warmers...I definitely need to add some more of these to my wardrobe!

The Many Faces of Haley, Etc.

Not only does she make me laugh with her faces...but she is beautiful too.

Just because her hair looks like an old man's comb over, it doesn't mean she can't wear a cute, pink tutu...

Or wear adorable socks.

I just love my little, sweet baby...motherhood is amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Oh so sweet!

If you look closely you can see that she sticks her tongue out when she concentrates...she gets that from her daddy.

She also cheers for CU like her daddy but she prefers to support them in pink...too bad her attire didn't help them win against lowly Sacramento State.

On a completely different note, Haley has spent some special time with her Grandma Dede and Papa and I finally captured it! Gotta post some grandparent love on the blog!  She loves them so much already and they adore her...

How do grandkids always know who their grandparents are?  I still remember going to California and my nieces and nephew standing outside the car door jumping up and down chanting "Grandma Dede, Grandma Dede, Grandma Dede!"  Aunt Jackie was chopped liver :)