My Day and Odes...

So...I had a kickbutt day. Jude and I...we had SO much fun together. And b/c I know that you all care so much to know.... ;) we played on the swing...read a story...had tummy time...looked at our "friends" out the window...played on the mat...took a bath...had a "photoshoot"...and....the icing on the cake...we napped!!! Well...Jude napped...but we did it "babywise" style. We ate...had our wake-time...then when he started to fuss...I put him in his co-sleeper, turned on some music, and let him put himself to sleep. I did this 4 times...and it worked ALL 4 times!!!! I am simply amazed. Going to IKEA w/ Jaime and Zozo tomorrow...so our schedule will be a lil' messed up...but I am ALL KINDS of encouraged! I am so proud of my lil' lover! Seriously though...he doesn't do much...but I just beem w/ pride...for instance...when he burps- these manly burps- I just get so tickled! Now...if Derrick were to do that...I'd be repulsed...but lil' Juderbug...I just go nuts! :) Sigh...

Odes...Derrick has this thing where every once in a while he blogs the "Common Misconceptions of a Worship Leader" or some junk like that...I've decided that I'm going to have a theme that I blog about too... Mine are Odes. Odes to the people in my life that I love and couldn't live without. People who have impacted me and inspire me. Be on the lookout for an ode soon.

Ok. 10 mins late feeding lovebucket. Gotta run...mommyhood has totally made me into this smooshie person. I kinda like it...I think! ;)

Happy One Month!

A month ago today, I gave birth to the CUTEST little guy in the world. I can't believe so much time has already passed. I am so blessed to be this kid's mommy!

Jude,

You are such a sweet little boy. Mommy is so proud of you for learning about this crazy world! Mommy and daddy promise to try our best to be great parents to you. Remember that Jesus loves you and will be there for you- even when mommy and daddy let you down. We pray that you will grow up healthy and strong and make good choices. We pray that you will grow to know and love Christ, and will find ways to serve Him.

Thank you, my lil' lover, for bringing mommy and daddy such joy. You truly melt my heart. I love you, Mr. Jude-atude.

-Mommy

dolce

Did my very first bridal expo today. Wow. Are my legs killing me! I've got to give mad props to my partner Beth and her husband Ian. Ian blew my socks off w/ his mad/crazy/awesome carpentry skills- and his ability to network w/ people. Beth was WAY more with it than I was- super blessed to have her as a partner! My apologies to Beth that I wasn't nearly as outgoing as I coulda/shoulda been- think I was a little more overwhelmed than I thought I'd be!

Here are some things I learned today- and some highlights and hilarity:
* Having your booth next to the "Pole Divas" is qual-i-ty...if you ever wanna know how to pole dance...you'll have to google their name (wait- did I just give them business?!)
* Saw "Elton John" today- there were many freaks there in glorious outfits. Glorious.
* Bridzilla is not a joke. If you bring your entourage w/ you wearing matching hotpink bridal shirts...you mean business!
* I learned today that some of my work is "not for us" LOL!
* Our booth was located next to several people I know/know of- THAT was interesting- right Derrick??? :D
* Almost had to roundhouse kick an LA Fitness dood. Well...I guess we DID steal his booth...the DJ did it, I swear!
* Even trashy people get married. (I would know- seems to be the only types of weddings I've shot so far pre-dolce!)
* People who turn down an opportunity for something FREE...are freaks.
* Did I mention the pole dancing booth? Oh yeah- there were some demonstrations- THAT was quality. It was super funny watching everyone else watch them...in horror.
* What was NOT funny was the quantity of people (young...and not so young) who were all KINDS of excited for the pole dancing booth...they even posed for pictures on the pole- yes- they brought a pole.
* After standing for 500 hours, and carrying 500lbs of stuff to the car....out of the expo- across the street to the parking garage...you reeeeeeeaaaaallly don't wanna mess w/ Beth and I! We get cranky! ;)

I sure did miss my little lovebucket today though. Thought I was going to burst. I did pretty good...even seeing little babies...until I asked one lady how old her little girl was...and she told me that she would be a month tomorrow. That's when I became overwhelmed with sadness and missed my Judy Moody like crazy. From that moment on, it ripped my heart out to see a little baby. I drove home wicked fast to see my two boys. Sobbed when I finally got to hold my lil' love...so glad I'm going to be an at home mommy!

Choose Your Own Adventure

I love being a mommy...but man is it tough! I've recently decided that someone needs to author a "Choose Your Own Adventure" type book on parenting. For example...if your child does this, turn to page 54. If this is happening, turn to page 23. All the books I can read in the world hasn't fully prepared me for motherhood.

Here are my top 5 toughest things about being a new mommy:
5. Finding time for "us"...when am I going to have KimandDerrick time?!
4. Doing housework...I've done some- I just can't do it ALL like I used to!!!
3. What do I do with him?!
2. What exactly does it mean when...he cries? his belly button is still oozing? he won't nap? he naps too long? he eats too much? he won't eat as much as normal? etc etc etc
1. Just when you think you've figured it out...it all changes!!! :/

I'm sure I can think of a few dozen more things... :) Can't wait until I have a better grasp on this mommy thing! :)

How Great is our God?

Gotta keep this short...meeting w/ Beth to set up for the Bridal Expo tomorrow. If you think to...pray for us to have a successful first attempt at an Expo- and pray that I don't freak out at leaving my loverbucket all day!!! (He's in good hands though, aunt Tori is watching him!)

How Great is our God?

I have sang this song countless times at church. I've closed my eyes. I've raised my hands. But yesterday- this song just meant something more to me.

Michael and Heidi Gray are great friends of ours. They have been trying for several years to get pregnant. Recently they were presented with an opportunity to adopt a baby boy. His mother is 17 years old. I can't imagine putting my baby up for adoption- but at 17, when you're still learning to be an "adult" and learning responsibility and having teenaged hormotional issues... the decision must be that much more confusing. The Gray's have been in Utah for the past couple of weeks- anxiously awaiting the birth of their son. The birthmother was to have 24 hours after the birth before handing over the child to his new parents. Things didn't exactly go as planned. There were many many many people who prayed that this young girl would make the right decision to give up her rights and allow the Gray's to be the parents to this little boy that God intended them to be. Praise God that she did. To read the story in it's not rushed form...and to see pictures of little Harrison Michael Gray...go to Heidi's or Michael's blog. How great is our God? The God of perfect timing. The God who knew us before time. The God who loves. The God who answers prayers.

The splendor of a King,
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at his voice,
And trembles at his voice

How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great,
How great
Is our God

Age to age he stands
And time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End
The Godhead, Three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb

Name above all names
You are Worthy of all praise
and My heart will sing how great
Is our God


-Chris Tomlin

My Favorite Conversations

So...Derrick talks in his sleep. A lot. I love it...I'm usually a fairly light sleeper- so when he talks...I wake up...and talk back. Here was our conversation last night...

D: Are you going to use the mains?
K: Um...yes.
D: YES!!!!!!

The next thing I know...Derrick is on the ground!

K: Derrick- get up- get back in bed!
D: (grumbling noises)
K: DERRICK- get up- get back in bed!
D: I'm trying to fix something!!!
K: Derrick- you're sleeping- get back in bed!
D: Hang on! I'm trying to FIX something!!!
K: What are you trying to fix?
D: I'm trying to get my slideshow to work!
K: Derrick- get back in bed...

Finally Derrick gets into bed. He seems to actually be awake now. I start explaining the hilarity of him being on the floor doing who knows what.... his response to me....

D: Well...it won't matter when I'm 65!

Guess he wasn't really awake!

LOL!!!!!

My lil' loverbucket

Can I just tell you all how much I am in love with my boys? It's still funny for me to say that...my boys. I have a son! What?! Outrageous! I would love to sit here and verbally throwup all my thoughts...but seeing as Derrick is feeding Jude...and it's 11:10pm...and we need to sleep here soon...I just thought I'd do a little update.

Things I love about Jude:
* His Popeye face he makes when he's searching for food
* Cuddling at 5am- to make him go to sleep
* His smell- even the stinky one...
* His soft hair
* When he randomly "smiles"
* That he'll still latch on...even though nothing's coming out (sorry to the boys reading...er)
* His little sneeze
* When he responds to daddy's voice when he's home from work
* When he appears to be listening when I'm talking
* When he passes out to listening to me talk!!! lol
* How he puts his fist up to his face when he's eating...like he's thinking about something
* How much he enjoys bath time

oh...I could go on and on...

You know...they say that you fall in love w/ your spouse all over again when you have a kid. I did when I found out I was pregnant. I was waiting for that moment again when Jude was born. I couldn't believe how much more I could love Derrick by watching him w/ our son. He's such a good dad. He's an even better husband. I don't know that I could do this without him. I'm so thankful that he was able to spend the first 2 weeks off w/ me. He took such good care of us- (even when he was playing Mario Kart for hours a day!!!) ;)

Things I love about Derrick:
* He'll drop everything he's doing to help me out
* He believes in me and reassures me when I don't believe in myself
* When he's talking to Jude and says "Yes!" (you just have to hear it...it's wicked cute)
* That he'll change poopy diapers- reluctantly. LOL
* That he'll wake up at 1am just to keep me company
* His patience
* How much he loves his son

...oy...I'd better stop before I start crying. I'd like to keep that at a minimal tonight! :)

Writing this blog makes me think of the Grays. I'm so excited for Heidi to experience all these emotions with Harrison and Michael. I can't wait for them to get back from Utah so that Jude and Harry can meet! Oy. I'd better stop talking about that too- b/c that is a surefire way to get me cryin'! (We're prayin' for you, Grays!)

Anywho- gotta go- Derrick is waiting w/ Jude at the changing table. It's a stinker- and thus mom needs to come to the rescue!

Before I go...Anyone have advice on Jude's fussy time? From like...5:30pm-8pm?! He's not dirty. He's not hungry. But man can he scream and cry! (This is a new occurence- and I'd love for it to stop!)