Happy Sunday...

Happy Sunday to you all! My family and I are currently in the airport. My husband is cuddling our daughter and sleeping on the floor. It's 5am and we are ready to be done traveling. We are starting our new adventure with the plans that God has laid out for us. I thought this verse was fitting for our life at this time. Always remember:

                                                                         Source: familybees.blogspot.com via Tory on Pinterest

Wordless{ish} Thursday...

It seems only appropriate to post a Wordless Wednesday post on a Thursday seeing as how I'm almost 2 days behind schedule! Whoops. I guess life has gotten the best of me and took me for a whirlwind ride. For some reason I have been off a day this entire week. This morning I asked my kindergarten boys to take out their journals (which we only do on Wednesday's) "But teacher, it's already Thursday!" Wow! I guess it's better to be behind a day than to be one day ahead of schedule huh?

Anyway, Bria loves to rip off her diaper and run around in her birthday suit! However, on this particular day, she decided to pee, everywhere. All over her legs, all over the carpet...It was like we had another little puppy around the house!

Clint quickly took her to the bathroom to rinse her off in the sink and she decided to sit down. She decided that this was a good place to play for a little while. So, being the good parents we are, we let her just sit in the bathroom sink and play for a good ole' 15 minutes :).

I think this may be the last time she will be able to fit in the sink, so of course, this Mama took some pictures!

{oh baby, i love your little rattail!}

{oh baby, how your smile makes my heart sing!}

24 Weeks!

Well, it's Wednesday which means I'm two days late in getting this post up. Oh well, at least it's here now right? Not much going on this week, although we are pretty darn excited it's the last week of March! Not so excited that we have gotten about 3 more inches of snow :( ... Summer can't come soon enough! Here is the preggo update for this week:

Did you notice anything? Yup! We have a name for baby girl.....Baylie Ann Shultz! When Clint and I First got together we coached an elementary girls basketball team and there was this sweet, precious little girl named Bailey. One night when we were talking about the team, Clint said, "if we ever have a girl, I want her name to be Bailey." So. When we were thinking of names for our second angel, we remembered the name Bailey! So, we decided to spell it a little differently for individuality's sake. Ann is my mother-in-law's middle name and somewhere there is an Ann on my side of the family but I'm not sure who.

So, what do you think? Yay? Nay? What are your thoughts on the spelling? Could it be a little bit more feminine? This is a hard decision and we would love some help!

Other things that are happening this week with ...Baylie:

your baby's the size of a grapefruit!

Your 10.5-to-11.8-inch fetus weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces and every week she gets closer and closer to being ready to survive (and thrive!) in the outside world.

 your baby at 24 weeks

• Her see-through skin is gradually becoming more opaque.
• And it's got a new pink glow, thanks to the small capillaries that have recently formed.

  pregnancy symptoms at 24 weeks

• Swollen ankles and feet. Be sure to elevate them while you're sitting.
• Leg cramps, which can be sign of dehydration.
• Back aches -- yup, still!
• Linea nigra. That's the dark line that runs up the center of your belly. It will fade after baby's born.
• Stretch marks, which may continue to appear as your skin stretches even more.

So, no swollen ankles and feet, very few leg cramps, lots of back aches, no Linea nigra so far, and no stretch marks! Yay me. I just hope I don't get any stretch marks. 

I hope all of you have a wonderful day :) 

 

A Toddler's Best Friend...

Everyone says that dogs are A Man's Best Friend ... But what they neglect to tell you is that they are toddler's best friend too. Maybe even more so. Ever since Bria was born, Sierra (our Jack Russel) has been glued to her. Following her around like a ... Well, puppy!

Today I was in the kitchen cleaning and I could no longer hear or see Bria. I went through the house (it didn't take long, since it's so small!) and found this:

They are in Sierra's kennel!! 

These two are mischievous. They get into trouble all the time. They are always together. If one's doing something wrong the other is right next to her! Bria feeds Sierra food from the table (I know...I should stop this). Sierra licks Bria until she gets mad and then Bria will ask for more right after.

I swear. It's the most Sweetest relationship! 

Oh, wanna know something else that's pretty sweet? 

"Puppy" was Bria's very first word! 

The photo below is one I'm entering into the Something Sweet photo challenge over at Our Reflection.

If you have some extra time, go over there to get a sweetness fix. There are many, many, many sweet photos! 

It's A...

Awww!!! We couldn't be more excited! Baby is healthy, and apparently very happy as there was non-stop movements!!!

I haven't forgotten

I am 16 weeks and 4 days today!!

Our second miracle is the size of an avacado weighing in at around 3.5 ounces and is about 4.6 inches long!!

I went to my monthly prenatal appointment last Thursday and was able to hear a heartbeat. It was 154, way, way, waaaay lower than Bria's 180! Clint automatically thinks this one is a boy, but we'll see. I don't have any preference of having a girl or a boy. All I know is, having another child is so exciting and I can't wait for Bria to have a younger sibling. She absolutely loves to play with kids.

You think that I would have already been used to hearing a heartbeat in my stomach after hearing Bria's not too long ago, but nope. It was just like the first time, and in fact it may have been even more heart-melting because now I know the feeling of being a mommy and to do it again is such a blessing.

I know I haven't been up-to-date with the monthly post and posting pictures of my ever-growing belly, but please know that we are constantly thinking of baby #2 and we couldn't me more excited. I have been keeping track of weekly things in a different way. I'm making a maternity book for baby, without the monthly pictures I did for Bria, something a little more different. Once I have a few more pages, I'm hoping to get a sneak peak up here on the blog soon!

For now, we are trying to stay warm with a constant temperature of -60 to -30 degrees! 

When at the babysitters...

I love the fact that our babysitter sends emails us little updates about how Bria is doing that day. Sometimes she even sends us pictures. It helps Mama and Daddy to see the little one doing cute things and hearing about how she ate or slept. It feels like I was there, kind of. Mary (Bria's babysitter) sent this picture and I just had to post it.


It must be a right of passage into toddler hood that is universal...

12 MONTHS!

Our dear Bria Eden is 1 year old today. It seems like just yesterday that I wrote this about our baby girl's birth. It's amazing how fast time goes by. I can honestly say that this has been the single best year of my life. She has grown into such a beautiful creature and I am excited to venture off into this new year with her. 

We are having a celebration on Friday with the Hansen family. It will consist of Bria's favorite food: Spaghetti, and cupcakes. Simple. Delicious. And all for Bria.


I wanted to do something special, so I created this banner in her honor. It is her monthly pictures (up to 11 months).

And in the essence of living in rural Alaska, I quickly printed out some other decorations for the food: These awesome Woodland creature printables. I found them Here. You can find the Woodland collection or others. I pinned the site for future holidays.

Here's our big girl opening her presents:

Bria Loves:
fake sneezing, waving and saying "hi" to everyone, giving Mommy and Daddy kisses, hug and pat her baby, dancing-even when there is no music, carrying her clothes all around the house.

Bria Doesn't Love:

when she signs more and we don't see it at first, Sierra barking at the door right next to her, losing her binkie at night. 

********

And her dessert for the evening: Pumpkin cakes (similar to pumpkin bread, just baked in cupcake pan). Bria actually preferred these over the cupcakes! This makes for a happy mommy that our daughter is on the "healthy" path. I just hope it lasts! 

Some of Bria's Firsts: 
11 months and 9 days:  signed "more"
11 months and 15 days:  gave a kiss
11 months and 18 days:  gave a hug
11 months and 19 days:  gives Daddy a kiss
11 months 23 days: fake sneezed (by the way, it's perhaps the single most adorable, yet belly-laughing events so far!)

Bria's Stats:


*19 1/2 Lbs.* *Really Long!*

Happy, Happy Birthday our Beautiful, Magnificant, Creation! 

(Check Bria out at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months, 8 months, 9 months, 10 months, 11 Months)

A Letter to the Birthday Girl...

 Dear Peanut,

Well my sweet Bria, today marks your first Birthday. You have brightened my world now for 365 days and each day gets brighter and sweeter, more than I could have ever dreamed of.

I now understand when Mama's everywhere say, "It feels like just yesterday that you were born- where did the time go?" because sweet B, that's exactly how I feel. It was on this day a year past, in the middle of winter, and the quickness of a mere few hours that we welcomed you into this world- and it was the start of everything. Every year on this day for the rest of my life, I will relive the power and emotion of that experience. 

My sweet-pea, I move and act and think differently since you were first laid in my arms. You have given me more purpose behind my reasons more motivation behind my actions. Thank you sweet baby girl for giving me more life.

I have loved watching you grow and achieve milestones. You are already so full of creativity and energy. You are always making people laugh with your goofy nature. You love to entertain and be the center of attention.

You are the center of our world. Bria, you are a wonderful joy to your father and I as a daughter and I know you will be an amazing role model and big sister to your younger sibling.

I can't wait for this gift of next year with you. And the one after that. And the one after that. And a lifetime of watching you become. Bria Eden, this whole world is yours for the taking and I have no doubt that's exactly what you'll do. 

Happy Happy 1st birthday dear one. 

I love you with all of my being.
Oodles, and oodles of hugs and kisses,

Your Mama

Bria has something to tell you....

I can't wait anymore!!

That's right! We are expecting. Again. 

It was a total surprise.

Even when I was nauseated for 23 out of 24 hours, crying because all I want is a sandwich from Subway (we don't have Subway here),  thinking of certain foods made my stomach twirl like a tornado, and the simple fact that all I wanted to do was sleep all day long, the thought of exercising was out the window, and I could feel my pants getting a little tighter to quickly...

I still thought I was coming down with a cold. 

When the "flu" symptoms didn't  subside after two weeks I had a little bit of an idea that it could be a tiny, itty, bitty, possibility that I could be pregnant. 

But we weren't trying. So how could I? 

Well.... on Thursday night 2 weeks ago I had a dream I took a pregnancy test and there were two pink lines. 

The next morning I called the clinic to make an appointment, and as soon as my lunch break started, I went down to pee in the cup. 

After waiting 10 minutes (being naive, mind you) the health aide came to get me. 

She pointed with her eyes towards those two pink lines. 

God truly had other plans for us...

 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  

-Jeremiah 29:11 

Even though we weren't planning on having another child so soon ( I regrettably didn't loose all the baby weight with Bria :S ) I couldn't be happier that our LORD decided it was time for us to create another miracle for our family. for the world. 

It has been a rough, tough ride with morning sickness (sorry if it's TMI), but I know that the outcome of this will be a magical, magnificent, and a miracle of a baby.

Folks, Life As We Know It has changed once again for us. It's exciting. It's scary. It's wonderful. It's amazing. 

It's a blessing!   

11 MONTHS!

So it's that time of the month again to announce that our sweet daughter is 11 months old.... *gasp* I can't believe I have been a mother for 11 months. It is so ridiculously crazy that our baby girl will be 1 year old in thirty days. Thirty.

Bria loves: 

jumping on the bed, waving good bye, carrying her clothes around the house, pushing the buttons on the telepohne/remotes.

Bria doesn't love:

when she doesn't get what she wants right away (aka phone or remotes), when mom leaves the bedroom when it's time to go to bed.

some of Bria's firsts: 

10 months and 12 days: ate gold fish 

10 months 17 days: first time having pumpkin bread

10 months 19 days: first Thanksgiving

10 months 20 days: first time on frozen Fish River in Chariot stroller

(Check Bria out at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months, 8 months, 9 months, 10 months)

Pasghetti Adventures!

Over the weekend, Bria had her first taste of Spaghetti and she absolutely loved every second of it. She ate it all by herself the entire time! It was hilarious to sit back and watch her try and get the noodles in her mouth. She figured out how to slurp the noodle into her mouth and continued to eat that way the rest of the time!

Here is the spaghetti queen:

10 MONTHS!

 Goodness gracious! Our little Peanut is 10 months old today... Sigh... I have such mixed feelings at this age. On one side, I am having so much fun watching her grow and explore new things each and every day, and on the other side, I am torn and saddened. I am sad because she is never going to ever be this small again. I am torn because she is growing more independent. I know it's not like she's a teenager, but in two months she will be one. And in 13 years, she will be a teenager. It happens fast.

Bria loves:

sitting on Sierra's head, blowing raspberries, laying her head on our shoulders, walking without our hands, and all food.

Bria doesn't love:
things getting taken from her, not being able to eat Sierra's food, waking up in her playpen by herself.

 

Bria's Stats:

I will get them this week!

Some of Bria's Firsts:

9 months and 1 day: Bria stood all by herself while playing with a toy

9 months and 8 days: ate corn for the first time

9 months 10 days: took two steps!

9 months and 11 days: ate blueberries for the first time

9 months and 26 days: first Halloween

9 months and 30 days: ate Spaghetti for the first time

love, love, love, love, love !!!

(Check Bria out at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months, 8 months, 9 months)

Bria's Made For Walkin'!

I hope everyone is have a great Friday!

The past 2 days I was able to stay home with Miss. B! It was so incredible and so much fun!! We did all sorts of things. We read, played, took baths, laughed, napped, cried, yelled, and loved on each other! I'm telling you. I could get used to staying home and watching Bria every second! She's an amazing little girl, and I'm not just saying this because she's my daughter (okay, maybe I'm saying it because she is  our daughter!)

While I download and edit all the pictures of the past two days, I wanted to share a video with you. I couldn't wait too long before I put it up. It's too precious to keep to myself!

 Folks, she's almost there. She's almost to the point where she just wants to walk-by herself-everywhere! I am so so so excited for this milestone in her life.

I hope you enjoyed the video, and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

P.S. don't forget to set your clocks back one hour for Fall Back on Saturday night!! Wahoo-I so need an extra hour of sleep :)

Project 31: A Proverbs 31 Woman

Some of you may not know, but I am part of a woman's bible study here in White Mountain and we come together every Tuesday for fellowship, snacks, and the most important thing: to talk about God and what is in our hearts. Last week our discussion was lead towards becoming a virtuous and Godly woman. 

The first time I read Proverbs 31 I was totally discouraged. I mean, I just read about the ideal, beautiful, perfect...Superwoman. A woman who gets up before her household to make breakfast. A woman who makes the clothing her children wear, a woman who goes to the fields and gathers food. A woman who sells merchandise at the market. She has all the qualities and characteristics of a virtuous wife/mother/woman.. She is a Godly woman.

I admit. I have been a victim of the media and how they portray women on how we should look, act, and what we should buy. I have fallen to the idea and belief that a woman is virtuous by her looks and appearance. This is not true. The pure beauty of a woman is what is inside of her heart and soul. A Godly woman is by, definition to be "God-like". As women, we need to strive to possess God-like characteristics. For ourselves. For our husbands, For our children. For God! A women who has a beautiful soul is beautiful.

The is my challenge to myself and to others who want to join me: I want to become the woman that God has asked us to strive for. A woman that, of course by no means has all of these characteristics, but a woman who wakes up every day and attempts to be a more virtuous woman that day. Just today. 

Wanna Join?! 

Proverbs 31


    ¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous wife? 
      For her worth is far above rubies. 
       ¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her; 
      So he will have no lack of gain. 
       ¹² She does him good and not evil 
      All the days of her life. 
       ¹³ She seeks wool and flax, 
      And willingly works with her hands. 
       ¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships, 
      She brings her food from afar. 
       ¹⁵ She also rises while it is yet night, 
      And provides food for her household, 
      And a portion for her maidservants. 
       ¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; 
      From her profits she plants a vineyard. 
       ¹⁷ She girds herself with strength, 
      And strengthens her arms. 
       ¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good, 
      And her lamp does not go out by night. 
       ¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff, 
      And her hand holds the spindle. 
       ²⁰ She extends her hand to the poor, 
      Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. 
       ²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household, 
      For all her household is clothed with scarlet. 
       ²² She makes tapestry for herself; 
      Her clothing is fine linen and purple. 
       ²³ Her husband is known in the gates, 
      When he sits among the elders of the land. 
       ²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
      And supplies sashes for the merchants. 
       ²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing; 
      She shall rejoice in time to come. 
       ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, 
      And on her tongue is the law of kindness. 
       ²⁷ She watches over the ways of her household, 
      And does not eat the bread of idleness. 
       ²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed; 
      Her husband also, and he praises her: 
       ²⁹ “ Many daughters have done well, 
      But you excel them all.” 
       ³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, 
      But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. 
       ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands, 
      And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Powerful stuff huh? I have read it probably over a dozen times and it never seizes to amaze me at how virtuous this woman is. She has it all together. What a powerful message to give us "other" women huh? hehe.

Here are the questions I have made for my challenge everyday. Please feel free to use them, or make up your own, or do both!

I'm not going to answer the questions on the blog because this is a personal journey. A journey between me and God. I will be keeping my answers in a journal. However, I will be posting the question to remind you of what to write about or think about.

I hope this is a self-discovering journey for all of us and I pray that it will deepen our understanding of the woman God wants us to be.

Day 1: What have been your thoughts and feelings when reading Proverbs 31?

Day 2: Is there a woman you know who has set an example to you of being a godly woman? 
Day 3: What does beauty mean to you? 
Day 4: Jaded Beauty. Has the world's definition of beauty ever jaded you?
Day 5:What makes you, uniquely you?

Day 6: What virtues do you value in yourself?
Day 7: What kind of woman would you like to be five years from now?
Day 8: Write a letter to yourself on one thing that you can do today to accomplish the woman you want to be in five years.
Day 9: Dependable. Steadfast. Trustworthy. Wise. Are these words that describe yourself?
Day 10:Are you truly available for your husband and his needs, or are your responsibilities thinning you and your patience out? What are some things that you can say "no" to, to make yourself more available to your husband?
Day 11: Write a letter to your husband to encourage and praise him. If you are not married, then write a letter to your future husband.
Day 12: What kind of impression are you giving of your husband?
Day 13: What kind of reputation are you giving to the Lord? 
Day 14: Describe a recent day when you were "fed" up with others. What led you to that point?
Day 15: What is something good you have done in the past?
Day 16:What is something good that you one day dream of doing? 
Day 17: What are some needs that need to be met in your community? Write about how you can extend your hand to those who need you.
Day 18: Write about your job. What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it?
Day 19: What would your job be if you could have any job in the world?
Day 20: Are there things that can help you achieve your dream job? What are things that can make your current job easier?
Day 21: Write down a time each month, week, or even day that you will allow time for yourself. This is an action day too. Please don't just write it down in a journal and forget about it. This is important. Really set aside that time for yourself.
Day 22: What do you have the most trouble being generous with?
Day 23: Write down at least three things that you could do to be more generous. Whether it's giving money, time, pocessions, etc. Make a plan to take action to be more generous for others.
Day 24: Write a letter to your daughter, or a young girl in your life. Tell her what characteristics & qualities you hope she has one day. Think of the Proverbs 31 woman and her characteristics, qualities, and virtues.
Day 25: Describe a time when you did not want to give because of fear that you would not be able to replenish what you are giving away.
Day 26: What is your greatest fear? What could you fill your mind with to combat that fear?
Day 27: Describe a woman you know personally who is savvy in some way.
Day 28: Describe a time that someone's words had a significant (either positive or negative) impact upon your life. Now describe a time when your words had affected someone's life (either positive or negative)
Day 29: What do you think that "fear of the Lord" means?
Day 30: Is there an area in your life that has not yet been strongly affected by the fear of the Lord?
Day 31: This is the last day of Project 31. Please write down how you have changed yourself to be more of a Godly, Proverbs 31 woman.

Congratulations. We did it. We just finished our journey towards become a more virtuous woman!