Mini Cooper's Momma

Babies Galore!

2010-08-31T15:58:00.000-07:00

So... I am finally getting back in the saddle again and into the whole "social networking" loop! Yay me :-)

In the past few weeks I've been everything from overwhelmed to joyful and back to overwhelmed again. It's surely a roller coaster with 2 in diapers, but they are such a joy at the same time!

Judah is growing so so so so fast!!! He is talking constantly and speaking in sentences most of the time. Now, it does often take an interpreter to understand him, but MOM knows what he's saying!

Claire had her 2 month check up and weighs almost 12 lbs already! How quickly they grow. She is 22.1 inches long.

Here are some really cute pictures...

This is Judah learning to eat yogurt with a spoon... notice there are no clothes on him!

This is Claire at bedtime smiling away. She literally smiles all the time when she's awake...

And when she's asleep!!

And here is Judah playing his drums in his fireman's hat that Daddy brought home for him! So sweet!

Arrival of the "Claire Bear"

2010-07-15T14:34:00.000-07:00

I know it has taken me forever and a day to update this blog. That being said, I've been a wee bit busy having babies and all! :-)

Claire

Our newest arrival (Claire Elizabeth Coop) arrived on June 21, 2010 after 36 hours of labor! She couldn't quite decide if she wanted to make her grand appearance, but we're so glad she did!!!

Some things about Claire that make her even more special than usual are:

She slept almost through the night the first night we brought her home from the hospital!

She now sleeps about 5 hours at night which is still amazing for a baby that is not even one month old yet!!
She started smiling (and I mean SMILING) at about 4 days old.
She, like her brother Judah, holds her head up with no trouble and has since before she left the hospital! This particularly amazed her "Papaw Bryan" the most.
She can sleep through Judah's daily drum performances!! That takes real talent!

She was 7lbs at birth and weighed in at 8lbs 6oz just a bit over a week ago. She is also almost 21 inches long already. She reminds me of the "Dunn" side of the family, where Micah looks just like his Daddy.

Judah

In the latest Judah news, he did receive an adult-size drum set over the 4th of July holiday. This is, of course, his new favorite toy.
His new vocabulary words are as follows: (I will try not to leave any out)
- Get Yo Dubby (which means he wants to poke your belly button... don't ask~)
- I love you (my personal favorite)
- Peek-a-boo (which comes out sounding like "pizza dude") It makes me laugh uncontrollably
- Butterfly (which sounds like "bud-eye")
- Drum (of course!)
- Piano
- Radio
- Nose
- Please and Thank you before and after every gift received :-)
- Up please and Down please
- Some of his "aunties" taught him how to say "moco" which is spanish for "booger" - mom was not pleased... but it's really funny, too.
- Duckie and "quack quack"
- Einstein (which means he wants to watch one of his videos)
- Banana (which sounds like bada)
- Brush
- Book
- Diaper and "wipey"
- "no no Bishop" (this is what he says when scolding the dogs)
- "Don't touch it" (which is what he says when he sees something that's off limits - as he reaches for it... ha ha!)
- "Uh oh dropped it!" (when he throws food from his tray to give to the dogs and then he yells at them for eating it... so funny)
- Lion and "raaawwwrr"
- Claire (which, for some reason he HAS to say with his lips pursed and a smirk on his face... I have no clue why, but again, it's so incredibly cute!!!)

These are just to name a FEW. He talks day and night and is like a little parrot! I love it :-)

He is such an amazing kid, that's for sure. The adjustment to having a baby sister has been a bit difficult for him. He does deal with the jealousy thing from time to time, but I must say I am so proud of him. For being so small and unable to understand so much he really does respond like a champ
to having her around! He is constantly asking about "BABY" and trying to give her kisses.

Here are just a few pictures and a link to "Glamma's" facebook photo album to see the 4th of July weekend pictures she took, too!
http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php?fcode=b6bd5bca1&f=100000222307056#!/album.php?aid=2041826&id=1343796793

Here is Claire just days before her debut :-)

Here is our 1st pic together with Claire!

Here is Claire's 1st photo shoot in the hospital :-)

All dressed up with no place to go!

This is Judah kissing his baby sister. He LOVES her so much! I think she was just looking for food in this picture

Judah's first time to meet Claire!

Here is a nice fam pic at Maggiano's - Micah's fav place!

Here is Judah with Daddy on the drums - his 1st lesson!

Happy Mother's Day!!

2010-05-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

We had quite the eventful mother's day today. Judah is officially sleeping in his toddler bed now and is SUCH big boy. The only trouble we have is nap time. He didn't take a nap today but let me tell you... he is sound asleep now in his bed and it would take a mighty force to wake him!!

Our friend Abby came to cut Karanda's hair and Ruth helped watch him so I could sleep. That was my greatest mother's day gift yet... a 2 hour nap!!! There is a God and He loves me so!! Ruth caught this picture. I wish I had a scanner here because it is identical to a baby picture of me playing my "Mimi Alice's" old organ and applauding myself when I was done!!

Here are some other cute ones from the day at church...

My little man is so sweet!

A great day!

2010-04-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

Today I went and did a photo shoot for San Antonio Weddings Magazine. They did a bridesmaid dress spread that is going to come out in July and my name will be on all 7 pages as the company that did hair and makeup!!! So excited. We worked from 12 PM till 7 PM. It was amazing!!

I took this shot on my phone but it's the only one I had time to do. I will post as soon as the issue comes out so you can look it up and see the photos.

Smooth Guy Updates :-)

2010-04-15T18:28:00.000-07:00

So here is the latest in the life of Judah...

Some new words that he has added to his vocab repertoire are:
- Puppy (which sounds like bubby - just like his cousin, my niece, Emma used to say!)
- Wow! or Whoa!!! (so funny)
- Tree (he is learning that not every piece of foliage is a "flowie")
- Eat (Suprised it took him so long! LOL)
- Cracker (which we couldn't understand for the longest time because it sounded like "guaca")
- "Fant" which is short for Elephant... he usually just blows with his lips pursed together to make the sound which is much cuter in my humble opinion!
- Butter (which is butterfly)
- Bible (he said this on Easter Sunday when he was playing with one of his new books! Never taught it to him but wish we could take the credit for that one!)

In the land of TEETH:
There has been much breakthrough!!! He has his 2 bottom teeth (pray for them to straighten, they are a bit crooked but super cute). Just in the past 2-3 days he's cut 3 top teeth and man has he been a trooper. I know he's been in some serious pain and he's been super smooth!! They are still coming in but they just broke through the skin in the last day or so.

Here are some pictures of him in action...

He spends the day sometimes with his friends Gabriella and Konrad. Gabriella is helping him learn to walk in this picture! So hysterical!

This is an edited picture of Judah getting so excited to sit next to Konrad (who is about 10 months younger than him so he feels very "big brother" around him)

Here is a pic of one of his new favorite pass-times. DIRT!!!

One Small Step!

2010-04-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

Last night Judah took his first small steps by himself! It was very exciting for him and he suddenly thought he could run, therefore he kept lunging forward like a horse out of the gate and falling on his face. He would then laugh about the whole thing as I sat in amazement!

I am officially 30 weeks pregnant today!!! AHHH!! So much to do and no time to do it! Claire has begun to move around quite a bit more, which I must say I love! She is a kidder already, though. Every time I tell Micah to look or feel her move she stops! She's just playing hide and seek early :-) I cannot wait to see her beautiful face!

Here is a picture of one of the wall hangings I painted for her last week. It is on 4 separate canvasses that will be placed close together on the wall to make one big butterfly!

SA Weddings

2010-04-01T14:01:00.001-07:00

Here is my PAGE on San Antonio Weddings Site!!! YAY!!

Happy Anniversary To US

2010-04-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

Today is a great day! It has been four crazy years since Micah and I said "I DO" :-) It is hard to believe that time has flown so fast. We are awaiting the arrival of our 2nd little bundle and we have an amazing son that reminds us every day how good God is to both of us.

Micah has been not only an amazing husband, but a wonderful friend and a terrific father to Judah. I truly could not imagine my life without him in it now. I was so independent and "focused" on my dreams and goals just a short time ago and now I am so consumed with the plans that God has for our family and our ministry and life together. I never forsaw that life could be so fulfilling as a wife and mother. It is amazing!!

We are also surrounded by such wonderful friends and family that love and support us. Thanks to everyone who has stood by us in great times of triumph and times of "war" in the trenches!! Life would be boring without either of those and we are so grateful to have shared both with such loyal, trustworthy people.

Here are some things that Micah did for me today...

28 Weeks and Counting...

2010-03-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

I have officially entered into the 3rd trimester of my pregnancy... Oh joy! Leg cramps, lower back bliss, back to lack of energy and MOOD swings, constant instiable hunger, 8+ trips to the bathroom in one night... the list goes on :-)

However, there is a good list, too!
This is a really funny PREGNANCY CALENDAR that I read, too. It cheers me up!

I am ready to start getting the nursery in order. I am so excited about little Claire's arrival. I got to help decorate our church nursery and it kicked off the "nesting" instinct in me right away. I haven't really gotten that URGE yet. Now I am ready! I think part of it is that we cleared mosst of our front room out when we moved into our new church building so now Mel and Karanda will be moving in there so we can use their room for Claire! Yay!

Here is a pic of about 1/3 of the art work I did for the church babies. I want to do something similar for her just different colors. I got cheap canvases at JoAnn Fabrics so I will get some more and do my creative thing!!

As for Judah... He is drumming away! I cannot seem to put video on my blog right now, so go to my FACEBOOK and see my videos of Judah playing drums. You're sure to get a kick out of him!

I'm a Big Boy Now!

2010-03-23T09:04:00.000-07:00

So, as of 3-19-2010 Judah is officially "weaned" from every bottle feeding! This is great and terrible news all at once. The great news is obvious... He's growing up, he no longer needs that expensive formula, he is learning to sooth himself in other ways... the terrible, you ask? He wakes up at the most ungodly hours of the morning and is ready to start his day! I guess it is good for me to be getting up at 6 something but Lord!! My thought is Micah and I need to go to be sooner and we need to try and stretch his bedtime back about 1/2 hour and see if that helps!

I had a great week last week. Auntie Colleen was on Spring Break so she took Judah to the zoo and they had the time of their lives. I think she now is a bit empathetic regarding how heavy he is and how many times one has to lift their child in the matter of one day. It is not easy on the back! (Especially the pregnant one!) Judah was loving every second of it from what I hear. He called every animal "doggie??" and the only thing he did different was yell "ooh ooh ahh ahh!!!" when they approached the monkey cages. I taught him that! Yay! He also showed all the friends that went with them how he could pack in some serious carnage... he ate everything I packed for him (and that was enough for lunch and dinner!). This is the other down side to being weaned... the kid eats like a man who was just released from Shawshank prison! LOL

In other news, he does now have TWO official teeth on the bottom! I have attempted to get pictures but very unsuccessfully. He is not wanting to give me that bottom jaw smile to show them off!

He has learned how to say "Flower" which comes out "Owie" but that is what he means!

Claire is doing great from what I can feel. I am officially 27 weeks pregnant today! That means I am a week shy of being 7 months and a week shy of being in my 3rd trimester already!!!! I can't believe how quickly time flies when you are raising another little angel. Some days I don't even remember that I am with child... that seems impossible!

On that note... the Smooth Guy is crying and just woke from his nap so I had better go!

The MOM Connection

2010-03-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

I set up a group on Facebook to keep everyone filled in on our monthly "MOM Connection" events. Please sign in or join to see it! It is not just for women in San Antonio. I will post links to helpful sites I've found and I encourage you to do the same! It is good to feel like we have a network of other women in our shoes who we can relate to!

Our next event is the PICNIC AND EGG HUNT IN THE PARK!
Come join us! It will be so much FUN!!!

2010-03-15T14:19:00.000-07:00

Making beautiful music with pots and pans!

More Judah Words...

2010-03-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

Oh I almost forgot... There are more words that Judah says.

- He does say "No-No" now and he says it JUST like Mommy. Scary.
- Nummie Nummie - when he sees food of any sort... any time. Hungry or not.
- Doggie (which is almost identical to Daddy)
- Pa Pa (which is good to be any of the grand-daddies... close enough, anyway!)
- Mooo! (which is his cow noise, not really a word, per se)
- Woof Woof (his bark)

I think that's it for now. I always think of them when I am not by a computer. Man I need an I-Phone! LOL

Great Weekend

2010-03-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

So thanks again to those of you who helped nominate Micah for the "San Antonio's Most Deserving Worship Leader Contest". He didn't win overall but we did win free tickets to see Kari Jobe and Lincoln Brewster live. We got in before the public (several of whom had been waiting outside since 2 PM that day!!) We sat in the 3rd middle row and it was amazing!!

Kari Jobe opened the night and I was hit with the unexpected, overwhelming presence of God the moment she opened her mouth to worhsip. It was so refreshing. Micah and I realized that since we'd been married we had not ever been to a service where one or both of us was not leading worship. It was so rejuvinating to worship God together and share that experience. I cried like a baby through most of it. That is just what I do when I get to be in the wonderful presence of my Savior. It is too much for me to handle!! Micah's favorite part was, of course, Lincoln. The man can play electric guitar like nobody's business! We discovered he used to play with Journey, which makes total sense. He then met the Lord and moved to Modesto, CA where he played in the background of a worship team for several years. He still leads worship for that local church where he started out so many years ago! That is very admirable. He has not let fame and CD sales get him distracted from what is most important and he is very connected to his local church. Yay Linc!!

Here are some really horrible cell phone pictures, but you get the gist! Ha ha!

This is Kari Jobe in all her blurriness! LOL

And here is Lincoln Brewster tearing it up on the electric!

And in un-related news... here is Judah being his cute little self. Had to put him in here somewhere!

Mommy's Ever Growing Belly!

2010-03-13T08:34:00.000-08:00

So I realized just now that I have not yet posted pictures of Claire
inside her own little oven!!!
Here is a picture taken just this morning by the lovely "Auntie Kay"
of me holding Judah. I wish you could have heard him. It's like he
knew why we were taking the picture! He was saying "baby baby baby"
and patting me on the shoulder. He is going to be such a cute big
brother!!

Life is Good

2010-03-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

So excited to announce that I am officially a link on someone's blog!! Yay me! Click HERE to see the link to my portfolio for hair and makeup. I will also officially be appearing in the 2010/2011 issue of SAN ANTONIO WEDDINGS magazine and on their WEBSITE for 12 months!!

As we ring in a new era of parenting two little ones I will also be bringing in a lot more business for the coming year. I am so grateful for the opportunity to do something I LOVE and it is not keeping me from being here to raise my precious little ones. God is so good to me!

How Could I Forget...

2010-03-11T11:56:00.000-08:00

2 Things...

1. Thanks to those of you who helped nominate Micah for SA's most deserving worship leader. They have not announced a winner yet but they did call and invite Micah and I to the Lincoln Brewster concert this Saturday for FREE and we get early seating before the public arrives!! That is great news because Micah loves him so much as a worship artist and when I told him he got as excited as he gets... threw his hands up and said "woo hoo!"

2. I skipped some of the cutest pics...

These are all after bath time. He is so cuddly and cute.

He carries on quite the conversation with himself in the mirror. So funny.

Still talking! Trying to get out of going to bed already!! Just like me at that age...

A Day In The Life of a Smooth Guy :-)

2010-03-11T11:14:00.000-08:00

Judah is growing up so much. He already says so many words! It truly amazes me. Today we were reading his "Touch and Feel Animals" book and up until now most of the animals are "doggies" to him because those are his favorite! Today I pointed to the monkey and he said Oooh Oooh Aaah Aaah!! So he didn't say monkey but he made the sound!! Pretty impressive if you ask a bias mom! LOL

His official favorite time of day or night is either meal time or bath time. He lights up and starts screaming when he sees me making his PB & J which he now eats with mashed grapes, string cheese, fresh raspberries and blackberries!! He eats more than I do sometimes!! And as for bath time it is being naked that thrills his little heart the most. Two nights ago I got him out of the tub and put him on his changing table. He stood up and started dancing naked in the mirror and singing "Dudah Dudah Dudah!!" (which is the way he says his name). I tried to video tape it but my camera died just as I started. Sorry! It was probably a good thing because he got a little too excited and pee peed all over the dresser and mirror while dancing around! I laughed so hard I cried. I have yet to wipe the lotion handprints off of the mirror because they are so little and cute. Some messes are just to cute to erase right away. Don't worry, it will bother me in about another day!

Here are some pictures I put on Facebook but for those of you that are not on that lovely social networking (or, as I like to call it "NOTworking") site.... Here you go!

Dee Dee and I agree that this picture should be labeled "Bryan Dunn III"

This is his 1 year check-up. He loves his doctor. He has gotten even bigger since this picture a few weeks ago!

This is his favorite passtime. He didn't even give me a chance to break it into smaller pieces!

His first taste of yogurt. He approves. He is also the cutest little man in the universe!

He loves the park, too. ESPECIALLY the swings!

Nominate Micah For K-Love's Most Deserving Worship Leader...

2010-03-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

Here is the letter I sent in. Send your email nominations to this address and vote for Micah!!

Dear K-Love,

I would like to submit my Husband, Micah Coop, for the worship leader appreciation contest. I know that one would think that I'm a bit partial, being married to him, however, my admiration goes far beyond just his role as a wonderful husband and father.

Micah has faithfully led worship and worship teams for the past 12 years of his life with the most refreshing attitude I have ever seen from someone in his position. Many (and most times) he was given very little resources to work with and yet he seemed to turn nothing into something every time. He is truly a remarkable leader, but above that he is a TRUE worshipper, heart and soul. His love for God through some of the most challenging times I've ever seen anyone go through has caused all who attend our church to want to live their lives this way. His worship leading stretches far beyond a stage, a guitar and a microphone on a Sunday. That is simply the overflow of his love for God spilling out on one small occasion. He leads worship every day of his life by his example. No matter how much life throws at him he MAKES time to be alone with God every single day. He lives to serve and it shows in everything he does.

We moved to San Antonio about 4 years ago to start a brand new church here. He was leading in so many areas of the ministry, including worship. He spent his days and nights searching for a building we could meet in and praying with the team of pastors that moved here to start our church. One month after we were married and had moved here he was on his way home from a prayer meeting and a truck ran a red light and destroyed every bit of his car but the driver's seat. He was unconscious when the paramedics arrived and they thought he was gone. He ended up with a very serious head injury, major contusions all over his body, a punctured lung and a collapsed lung. The recovery process was very tough on him since he was in the middle of so many things and all he wanted to do was get back to his responsibilities. Within 2 weeks he was back on the stage loving God. You never would have known he was in so much pain. This was against the urging of his wife and doctors, of course! I have never seen anyone exemplify the saying "you can't keep a good man down" the way that he did then and continues to do every day.

The week our first son was born last year another major challenge presented itself. Our senior pastor of 15 years made the wonderful decision to begin pursuing one of his life-long dreams which caused him to step back from the role of pastoring the church here in San Antonio. He prayerfully knew that Micah would be the one to take over the leadership of the church, which he whole-heartedly agreed to do. In the midst of all the changes it was yet one more thing added to his already overflowing plate! That was one year ago and I stand amazed at the outstanding job that he has done. He has continued to lead worship while raising up other leaders within the team to take over. All the while he has lead the newly growing church with so much dignity and maturity. He is only 29 years old yet he is wise beyond his years. We have made so many sacrifices in order to do what we know God has called us to do, but I have never once heard him complain. Never. He is not only a minister to his congregation but to his family first. He is a walking example of Christ in 2010 walking the streets of San Antonio. He is like a hidden treasure in our city so full of talent and anointing. He has notebooks of songs that he's written that no one will probably ever hear but God and he's completely content to know that God is pleased with him. That's all he needs and that faith is contagious to everyone he meets.

He is deserving of the recognition that he rarely receives publicly. This contest would be an amazing way to display appreciation from our congregation for all that he has sacrificed to make sure that they are blessed, growing and reaching out to those in need of God's love. One of his greatest inspirations in the praise and worship industry is Lincoln Brewster. I think he may literally pass out with excitement if he were to be able to collaborate with him in a song writing session. Please consider him for this honor. I am not only writing as a loving wife, but as someone who has been forever changed by the life of a passionate, amazing man and worship leader. Micah Coop is 100% deserving of this award.

Sincerely,

Mary Coop

Fun in the Sun!

2010-03-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

It is finally getting nice outside where we can go play! I love winter but man do I love it when the warmth starts returning and we can go to the park and not have to wear a coat!

Yesterday I took Judah to feed the ducks with Alicia and his best baby friend Gabriella! He fed... himself! He didn't quite understand the concept since every time I hand him food it is for him and him alone! So here's a picture of him feeding.... the "ducks"

Then today we went to the park and had a great time! We met 2 new friends Mason and Sebastian. They were 7 months and 3 years old. I was so glad to meet another mommy, too! She has not made any friends yet here in San Antonio so I was thrilled to meet her and swap info. I love when stuff like that happens. Here is a picture of Judah going down the slide. (or about to) He was laughing the whole way once he got used to it. It warmed my heart!

I am starting a meeting for young moms called The "Mom Connection" that meets every first Saturday morning. This week is our first week and we're having brunch at my house and my friend Carmen is coming to share helpful mommy tips :-) Pray that it goes well. If you are in the San Antonio and have kids that are 4 and under please come!! Bring the kids along, too. You can find more info here or you can EMAIL me.

Also, I might be advertising in San Antonio Weddings Magazine! I sent them a link to my blog and they called me back in 5 minutes! Wow... God is good!

New Age New Kid!

2010-02-14T19:10:00.000-08:00

Judah is growing up so fast!

Here is a list of all the words he says so far...
- Mommy (or Mama)
- Daddy (which sounds like "Dat-tee!")
- Bye Bye
- Hi (or "hey!")
- Nana
- Thank you (or "tay too")
- Baby (or "bay bay")
- Eye (as he points to your eyeball and tries to put his finger in the socket!) Aunt Melissa taught him that!

He attempted the word "Claire" the other day but it was mostly spit bubbles and slapping my belly where Claire is. It was pretty funny, nonetheless!

Today is Valentine's Day and he got a rose at church which he ate. His poop, however, did not smell like the rose. I felt a bit ripped off!

Here are some pictures of his first birthday party. It was big fun! Lots of friends came and we had a blast.

Here is his baseball cake that mommy made all by herself!!

Here is Judah devouring the cake!

2010-02-05T12:52:00.001-08:00

A Smooth Guy Is Turning ONE!!

2010-02-05T12:29:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe Judah will be one year old on Tuesday!! His first birthday party is tomorrow. Before I know it he will be 16 ready to drive... Lord help me!

This year has been filled with so many happy times for us. I am so overwhelmed by God's love when I look at my son. I can't fathom how anyone could love somebody more than I love Judah and yet I know that God loves me a million times more. In the words of the midget white guy from the Princess Bride... "Inconceivable!"

I am more in love with my Savior today because of my son. So... thank you Judah for coming into my life and flooding me with so many thoughts and feelings I never knew I could have. You are the best gift I've ever known and you are so loved by Daddy and me.

Here is his invitation to the big celebration if you want to come!!

A New Friend Is Born!!

2010-01-27T16:08:00.000-08:00

Today our good friends Diane and Tony who live in Belfast, N. Ireland had a baby boy. I am not sure what they decided to name him yet. They were some of the few people I know who didn't ever find out what they were having until the moment of truth came upon them! I do not have that kind of patience!

So today in honor of his new Irish "cousin" Judah wore the soccer uniform that Diane and Tony brought him on their last visit to the US.

The American "Woman"

2010-01-23T09:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, so about once a year I get on my soap box over one particular issue or another. I thought I'd get it out of my system early this time around!

I love our nation. I love that we have such freedom. I, however, think we have turned freedom into fury when it comes to certain issues. I have been forever reading a book called "Created to be His Helpmeet" by Debi Pearl. It is a book about a woman's TRUE place in our ever-changing world. I love this book because it is a direct challenge to the God-forsaken feminist movement (which, in my opinion, should be called the masculine movement). It has taken us away from the very thing that is attractive and divine about us as women. If we want to be just like men then we can forget being desirable TO one!

In my younger 20's I was consumed with this movement and I didn't even notice that it was taking place. "I don't need no man to make me happy!" "Why do I have to stay home barefoot and pregnant when I have gifts and talents, too?" "I am worth more than just some cooking, cleaning, mothering housewife!"

The very things I looked down upon were my very own destiny to master and take dominion over... THE HOME! In today's twisted view of family and community we have lost the importance of the HOME. The moral standards, world views, talents and traits I possess today, be they good or bad, were not shaped in a classroom or a sanctuary. They were shaped by the time I spent with my mother and father at or away from the dinner table. They were formed by the discipline (or lack thereof) that I received on a daily basis in the home. They were formed by helping my mother make cookies and learning to sweep, mop and do my OWN laundry at the age of 10.

I see this new wave and this new generation of "entitlement" sweeping across most of the young women I meet today. It sickens me to the core. There are 25-year-old women who live in filth because they expect someone else to clean up their messes for them. Not just in their kitchen, bathroom or bedroom but in their lives that have wandered off course, as well. They don't know how to make food that doesn't come from a box. They don't feel that they are responsible to learn because "they don't have a family yet". There are little girls trapped in the bodies of beautiful women that are yearning for acceptance that they never got in the HOME. They are perpetuating the cycle of selfishness because in their search for acceptance they are getting pregnant and raising the next generation of entitled, affection hungry, spoiled children. When will this end?

Women that live lives instilled with values that promote family and character are pushed to the side and disrespected by this generation. We are deemed completely irrelevant because we are "JUST" housewives or stay-at-home moms with no lives. We can't possibly understand what happens in the "real world". Yet we are raising the very children that will be leading the kids of these young ladies in ethics, academics, and moral standards. Hitler, Obama, Bush, Gahndi, Jesus, Bin Laden... they all made a mark on history - good or bad - and they all had one thing in common. They had a MOTHER or FATHER (present or not). The job their parents was reflected in the way they turned out as men. Why do you think people worship The Virgin Mary to this day? All she did was raise a son (obviously he was part God's but we'll ignore that fact for a moment since few in her day acknowledged it). In today's society she would be turned down for lunch by every self-absorbed, over worked, over sexed young lady with a college degree! Our schools and our work places are filled with these ladies. Our daycare facilities, adoption agencies and abortion clinic waste baskets are filled with their children. Forgive me for being so blunt. It has to be said.

On a more positive note... there is so much hope, but we as the virtuous single women, wives and mothers that give a hoot have got to start doing something to set the standard that is desirable to these women. What will it take? What kind of commitment do we have to show to them to prove that we mean business? What will open their eyes that are no longer able to see truth or care about the difference between right or wrong?

Our first responsibility is to train up the young men and women in our very own homes. Our little ones. I sometimes lose sight of how important my job is. The other day I told Micah "I don't feel like I'm changing the world when I spend 2 hours a day swatting my son's hand for playing in the dogs' food and water!" He responded with much wisdom. He said "you are teaching him boundaries. One day he will want to touch a woman that is not his wife with every fiber of his being and somewhere deep in the recesses of his character and mind he will feel a 'swat' that tells him his consequences will not be worth the momentary pleasure". Wow.

That is how we spare the next generation from this disease of self-indulgence. At least, that's how we START. Our children will lead very soon. They will teach the children of the single moms what real love is. Our husbands can be the replacement dad's to their sons and daughters. We are the SALT of the earth according to Christ. Salt adds a flavor that you didn't have before. It also makes you so thirsty for only what can truly quench you. He is the only answer to this dilemma, this plague. We must live lives that are centered around Him, no matter how foolish it seems in this day and age. The truth is, the self-seeking, self-absorbed ones are also the ones who hate themselves and cannot look in the mirror and be happy. They know there's a thirst for more in their souls and we do have the only WATER that will quench it. THERE IS HOPE. It is not found in the government or behind any bedroom door. It is found in the ONE who is in us. Let us be the answer to the prayer prayed for us thousands of years ago.

Please pass this on to any woman you love.

2010-01-22T08:42:00.000-08:00

I found some great quotes on parenting today. Just thought I'd pass them along.

Parenthood: That state of being better chaperoned than you were before marriage. ~Marcelene Cox

Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories. ~John Wilmot

To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while. ~Josh Billings

Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve. ~Roger Lewin

No matter how calmly you try to referee, parenting will eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I'm not talking about the kids. ~Bill Cosby, Fatherhood, 1986

The trouble with having a stubbornness contest with your kids is that they have your stubbornness gene. ~Robert Brault

Human beings are the only creatures on earth that allow their children to come back home. ~Bill Cosby, Fatherhood, 1986

You have a lifetime to work, but children are only young once. ~Polish Proverb

2010... Ready for "Phase 2"

2010-01-06T12:18:00.001-08:00

Phase one (up until now):
-Transition
-Confusion
-Uncertainty
-Learning Curves (to say the LEAST!)
-Laying Foundations
-Sowing in a time of famine

Phase two (starts now):
-Building
-Earning
-Reaping
-Breakthroughs being manifested, not just hoped for or promised
-Winning over opposition, not just fighting all the time
-Finally benefitting from all we learned in phase one!

I am very excited that my phase 2 has begun!

Merry Christmas Today Becuase You Know I Won't Post Before Then.... LOL

2009-12-19T08:06:00.000-08:00

So I want to seriously wish all my friends a wonderful Christmas. Not filled with stress and last-minute "oh shoot I forgot so-and-so's gift..." shopping. Just remembering that, truly, Jesus is the ONLY reason for this wonderful time and looking around in amazement at all the incredible people He's planted in your life as a representation of how much he dearly loves you.

Update: Judah is FINALLY crawling!! Praise the Lord above. I thought this day would never come. Now that it is here I am kind-of wondering why I was in such a hurry. He has eaten an array of what can only be called "rubbish" from our floor. I have never swept and vacuumed so much in all my days!

So, I am making green bean casserole for Christmas dinner. I am a bit nervous because it is my Aunt Marinell's recipe. It includes worshteshire sauce, velveeta cheese and lots of butter!! I think it sounds like an absolute treat! Oh!! It also has WHOLE button mushrooms.... YUUUMMM~~ I am SO pregnant. Oh dear, no one is going to eat my food. Eh.. more for me!

And I have 2 weddings to do hair for in one morning tomorrow.... I still have not figured out the inner workings of my own brain and why I booked both of them, but my glorious friend Abby is going to help me and I know it will all work out!!! (That is complete blind faith talking!)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good... rest of the month... uh, yeah!

Love,
Mary

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-28T19:31:00.000-08:00

So, there are many reasons I have been unable to blog for the month of November...
The main one is that Judah was a sick little man for most of the month. I kept having to go to the doctor and get him on all kinds of antibiotics. Finally I took him in and they tested him for RSV and we found out that was what kept causing him to get sick so frequently! I was partially relieved and partially terrified! He had to do treatments every few hours for a week and finally those are over! Yay!!

Needless to say I didn't sleep and neither did he... for pretty much the whole month! I am so excited to become a part of society again. I get to go to church tomorrow and everything. So much to be thankful for.

We had the privilege of doing Thanksgiving at our house again this year. I will have pictures very soon. It was so much fun :-) We had about 15 people here and about 150 lbs of food or more! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love that you get to enjoy family and friends with no pressure of gift-giving and all that. I love to give and I love to receive, but I feel sometimes that Christmas has just gotten out of hand. I think we will start doing things to teach our kids that it is truly all about Christ coming in to the world and show them how they can bring Him into the lives of people that need Him. Of course I want to bless my kids every year, but I feel the biggest blessing I can give them is to teach them how to reach out. Just my opinion... not preaching here!

Next week you may not hear from me. I am taking Judah to see his Papaw and we are attending the funeral of my Great Aunt Midgie. You may remember her from the pictures I posted back in July. She was 92 years old and lived a full, wonderful life. She got to meet Judah and for that I am grateful. Her funeral is Wednesday and she will be greatly missed by all.

Thiking of Becoming a Business Owner?

2009-10-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

Start your own business for only $50. Get everything I got for $100. I have been a MK beauty consultant for over 2 years and I am so fulfilled. I get paid to help women find a more beautiful version of themselves and I also get to help people make money of their own. It never has felt like work to me. I want to pass that opportunity along to you!

Click Here to see my website and get more information about the October Opportunity!

Helping Dad Work

2009-10-29T20:11:00.001-07:00

Last night Micah watched Judah and could not get him to go to sleep so, as any good father would, he put him to work! He proceeded to text me this picture while I was in the middle of teaching a class to women and I almost lost it completely...

Pumpkin Painting

2009-10-20T13:11:00.000-07:00

I let Judah paint his own pumpkin today. He had a blast (which goes without saying!)

His main concern was eating the pumpkin stem...

He concluded that it was not the best taste in the world!

Sheee's Baaaack!!!

2009-10-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long delay in posting. I didn't realize people read this thing until I got all these questions... "why haven't you put up new pictures, etc?" So I am truly sorry, I will start the attempt to maintain at least once a week.

So, if you are my friend on Facebook you already know that I am EXPECTING BABY #2!!! If you have had children close together and have any sort of advice for me please let me know! Micah and I are very excited, however we do have a bit of nervous energy since we are finally getting used to parent-hood in general!!

My main concern is that all my children (present and future) feel like they are loved equally and abundantly.

So "Glamma" came to visit this past weekend and here are some pictures of the fun we had...

Here are the cool jammies that she brought Judah... He was still in them late Saturday! LOL

I was not a happy guy because people were trying to get me down for a nap so Glamma had to take me on a walk so I would go to sleep - FINALLY!!

SUCCESS!

Playing with one of my new balls that I got!! Such good form already!

We went to the pumpkin patch and I got to ride the "big green tractor"

This is my new sport called "pumpkin surfing"

This is my Clint Eastwood face....

Attempted Outing

2009-09-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

So today I wanted to take Judah to the park because my friend Rachel posted cute pictures of her little Katie Bug on the swings and I couldn't resist! Well my friend Ann went with me. We loaded the stroller, etc. and went on our merry little way. Judah talked the whole way there, obviously thrilled about the whole thing (as if he knew!).

So we pull up and I was gung-ho ready to get Judah playing and screaming with delight. I open the back door to the car and here is what I see...

There was drool and snoring... it was too much. I couldn't bear to wake him. We will try the park some other time. Meanwhile, being two females we went and got Baskin Robins as any good woman would in order to kill time and give her son a good "car nap". Suffering for the cause... I know, it's tough but I will make it! (-;

In other news... I died my hair yesterday at 6 PM. I had to be across town by 7 PM... not a good move. I laid Judah down for a nap and went to coloring like a mad woman! My plan failed - he woke up SCREAMING 10 minutes later. I had 1/3 of my scalp colored and my hands were full of dye. He was SO upset and then I finally went to pick him up holding him about 3 feet away from me and putting him on my bed. I was better off leaving him in the crib because when he realized that I was not going to hold and feed him it was all over. I thought there would be death by crying but we survived. Meanwhile, my hair turned out okay. All the nasty old blond highlights were annihilated!!
See?

Crazy Saturday Morning

2009-09-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

So Micah went to Mission, TX to help our church there with a building issue. He is only gone for 24hrs, but wouldn't you know...

My dog (Brooklyn) decides to get a stomach virus in the middle of the night and starts puking all over every surface EXCEPT the tile which would be simple to clean. Ugh! Then Judah has been teething something fierce to the point where I just don't think I can take the screaming and agony anymore. I so wish I could take the pain for him. So....

I wake up at 5 AM to the sweet sound of baby screams. Since Micah was gone and the bed was free I just put him in the bed with me. Usually I would never do that but I didn't feel like getting up again every hour. So he slept pretty good after that. Then in the morning I went to let the dogs out. Being that they'd been pent up in our house for 4 days because of the rain, they went bolting out of the front door and down the street. Not before sliding through the mud in our front yard, of course. So there I am in my "wife beater" and a black bra! LOL A baby on my hip and BAREFOOT, at that. Screaming in my front yard at my dogs. This scares the daylights out of Judah and he starts wailing uncontrollably. So I have to start running down the street because I can't yell anymore. Running, screaming baby, wife beater... not good. Oh, and did I mention that I hadn't showered and my hair was ALL over the place in like a side slept-in ponytail thing and bobby pins were scattered about flopping around in there somewhere. Oh it was just not good. And to top it all off I look up and there are our neighbors all sitting in their garage watching the whole thing, seemingly very entertained. Lord!

So I finally get the dogs in the house (mud prints on the carpet and all) and I get Judah in his high chair so he can eat breakfast. Then it starts (imagine gagging noises from the pit of ... you know where) I had just made Judah's rice cereal and I set it down and ran to Brooklyn, trying to move her to the tile in the entryway. I missed. She spewed all over the front carpet for the 3rd time. So I put down a towel and went back to tend to Judah. Only to find... Well the pictures will better explain anything I could attempt to say....

"Hey Mom, look what I did! You told me you wanted me to start learning to eat finger foods!"

"Look, I am doing such a wonderful job. I only missed my mouth a few times!"

"Mother, forgive me, for I know not what I chew..."

Yes there is cereal in my son's EYES. Don't judge... you would have stopped to take pictures, too, if you had such an opportunity. He didn't seem to mind!

Make-up 101 (This Was Way Too Fun To Do!)

2009-09-23T18:24:00.000-07:00

So I have about a million people ask me how I do my makeup and what colors I am wearing... yada, yada, yada... I finally decided to hunker down and give you a play by play. Do not try this at home (the photographing, that is... DO try the makeup thing!)

I am only going to do 1/2 of my face and by the end this will look really funny! What is even funnier is the "makeup faces" you will see me make!

So for the first time known to man I am about to do the unthinkable and I am going to take a picture of me in the "nude" (not really -- just my face!) This is me with NO added ingredients or preservatives!

Ugh... okay.... POST!

Am I still alive??? Wow - I thought that would kill me. I was wrong.
Since breath is still in my lungs I will start with step 1:

Step 1: Facial Highlighter

You want to put this in any areas that surround dark circles or any area that you wish to enhance based on your bone structure, etc.

(Click here for more application ti ps)

Step 2: Concealer

You only ever want to use your ring finger to apply concealer. It has the least amount of pressure and you don't usually get calloused there (unless you are my wonderful guitar-playing husband, in which case I would hope you never learn what concealer is - let alone wear it!!)

Then you will want to use a brush (if you have it) to apply. Mar y Kay has a wonderful brush set, however we don't yet have a concealer brush. I got mine at Ulta (shhhh....) but the next best thing is the ring finger. You can put concealer anywhere you want to, um... conceal? Ha! Above and just below the eye. Any zits or as we now like to refer to them as "blemishes" or dark spots. Try to use a shade that matches your skin tone. In looking at these pics I realize I need to go a bit darker! LOL

Step 3: Mineral Powder Foundation - By the way... this stuff ROCKS!!!!!!

The trick with this is to start with a tiny layer and add until you have the coverage you desire. You also want to get all the excess powder off the brush so that you don't get showered with powder. I learned to twist the cap into the empty lid and that pushes the powder up into the brush. Make sure you wash your brush after using and dry flat.

Now I have effectively powdered my eyelashes and they have disappeared! But no more shiny forehead and uneven complexion! Yay!

Okay...

Step 4, Part#1: Shadow - Highlighter Color = Moonston e (another good one is Crystaline)

This color only goes on the base of the eyelid (From lash line to crease) and on your brow bone just under the eyebrow. This adds a glow in the right places.

Step 4 Part #2: Shadow - Mid Tone - Chocolate Kiss (another great color is Vintage Gold)

This color goes in the crease area and just above to give it a natural shadow. You can get several application tips by clicking HERE based on your eye shape.

A trick to eye makeup and pretty much all else is LAYERING. Before you get ready to apply liner if you put a thin line of the mid-tone color at the lash line with an eyeliner brush (part of our brush set) it will add dimension to your overall look and keep things from getting smeared or fading throughout the day!

Step 4, Part #3: Shadow - Accent Color (Navy Blue)

Some other good colors for this are Iris, Golden Ol ive, or Denim Frost.

When using the Navy in particular you want to use VERY LITTLE. It is always better to get too little and add more than look like Bobo the Clown! Just dip the brush lightly and then...

Blow!

You will take the accent color and using a "c-curve" motion go from the corner of your lash line in to the middle of the eye. Then go back (always keeping the brush touching the lid - don't "flick" the shadow all over your cheek!) in the opposite direction to the corner and then up to the middle of the crease of your eye.

Then you will want to go back with the highlighting brush and blend all 3 colors together do they do not look "choppy" but smooth.

Step 5: Eyeliner (Black)

With Eyeliner you want to start from the outside corner and work your way in with tiny connecting strokes. This will keep you from having "skid marks" and you will also not have to PULL your eyes out. I feel for you if this is how you do your makeup because gravity will eventually set in and, unfortunately, what goes OUT must come DOWN! Ugh.

Step 5, Part #2: Blending Shadow With Liner (I love doing this!)

So you take the Navy shadow and using the eyeliner brush go over the liner that you just applied. Then you can blend that up into the color on your eyes. It makes it look like one fluid sea of color! This is what makes things go POP!!
See??

You can also put a highlighting powder in the corner of your eye closest to your nose and this will really widen and open up your eye.

Now to resurrect those lashes!

Step 6: Mascara (not just any, but... ULTIMATE Mascara)

This part is pretty self-explanatory. Make an incredibly funny face with your top and bottom lips curled over your teeth and your eyebrows raised to the sky. Then put it on in small layers until you have the desired thickness.

Step 7: Eyebrows! (Shading, filling, etc)

So this dang eyeliner brush is the coolest thing since sliced bread! I had an unfortunate "plucking incident" in 10th grade and my brows never fully recovered. I can't really "draw" them on because it is so obvious. I discovered if I take my brow pencil (Brunette) and rub it on the liner brush it softly fills in my brows in the most natural way I've found thus far! Yay!

Not too shabby, huh??

So now we are done with EYES!! And now I look like a cyclops!!! So scary!

On to the cheeks...

Step 8: Mineral Cheek Color (Color - Pink Petals)

First you want to make sure you use a brush that is thin and angled specifically for the cheek area. Don't use a fat powder brush because then you will not look contoured, you will just look pink!

Next you want to apply cheek color in the natural places to accent your bone structure. I have a shadow that already exists, be it fat or a cheek bone - who knows!? But that is where I put mine and I run it from the back to the front (the apple) of my cheek. Then blend backwards so it doesn't ever look streaky.

Then you can apply the mineral highlightin g powder that we used to highlight the eyes. We have both a matte and a shimmer for whatever finish you prefer. I like a little glitz!

All you do is apply this in the places you want to accent, much like the highlighting pen.

See how it sparkles? :-)

Last, but not.... LIPS!!

Step 9: Lip Liner (Color: Dusty Pink)

You want to start in the middle, go out, and then work your way in with feathering strokes. Much like the eye liner.

Step 10: Lip Color (Color: Sweet Nectar)

Apply from the outside to the middle and DO NOT rub your lips together after application of color or gloss. It causes it to clump on the sides and it will need to be taken off and re-applied sooner.

Step 11: Lip Gloss (Color: Bronze Bliss)

You can apply the gloss the opposite of the lip color. You want the concentration to be on the center so you can start there and work your way to the corner. If you want less shine, spread the gloss in a thin layer across entire lip. If you want to really glow dot the gloss on and only put it in the center of the lip. Again... NO RUBBING! :-)

Okay... now I need to do the rest of my face!

Before I do, remember BEFORE?: (ugh!)

Well, I'd like to introduce you to AFTER!:

5 Words: Thank God For Mary Kay
While "Before" was pretty bad, nothing is scarier than "cyclops girl!" Ha!
I hope you enjoyed and learned something. Leave any helpful comments below!

I Love FALL

2009-09-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

Today has been a doozie of a day, yet I don't care because it feels amazing outside! Judah is teething and running fever, fussy and irritable but when he steps outside he suddenly forgets the pain! See?

7 Months..... SEVEN MONTHS!!!!!

2009-09-09T08:42:00.000-07:00

My little, tiny, sweet bundle of joy has, seemingly overnight, turned into a boisterous 7-month-old full of personality and charm. I have no idea what has happened to the past 7 months but I do know that they have been filled with more joy than I ever expected.

Last night was a moment I will never forget. Tuesdays are Judah and Daddy nights. Micah watches him so I can go to my Mary Kay meetings. I came home and saw Judah's little blue New Testament Bible on Micah's desk in the front room. When I asked why it was there Micah said that he was reading it to him before bed and God gave him a scripture to speak over Judah. It was Psalm 27. He said God distinctly told him that Judah would live out that scripture. I was trying not to get emotional so that he would keep talking to me about it (you know men and displays of feelings... they don't mix too well.)

He continues by pulling out a journal that was given to him by his spiritual father and he'd been saving for a special occasion. He started writing to Judah in the journal. It was the sweetest thing I'd ever read. I tried and tried not to cry but didn't quite make it to the end. Ugh!

I am so amazingly blessed to have a husband that loves me and loves his family so much. Most of all, that loves the LORD! I thank God that our children will never know first hand what the word "divorce" means. Or what it feels like to be abused or neglected. I thank God that they will just assume it is normal not to experience fear because someone told them "you can't do it". That all they will know is positive reinforcement and that their discipline will be out of love, never anger. I am so glad to know what I know now and be able to pass it to the next generation.

I am so blessed.

Naptime with Mommy

2009-09-03T18:49:00.000-07:00

Sundays are very tiring for Micah and I. We both lead discipleship groups in the morning and then we eat a quick lunch, head home rest for a few minutes only to change clothes and go to the church for worship practice. So this past Sunday in the midst of it all Judah decided he wanted to start having major teething woes! I was miserable right along with him feeling so helpless because nothing was easing his pain. He would not sleep, eat, play or be distracted in any form. Finally I was able to feed him successfully and he fell fast asleep in the middle of the feeding. Instead of putting him in bed I decided "man I'm tired too!" so I just leaned back and went with it! It was 20 minutes of heaven. Micah saw the chance for a photo opp. so here it is :-)

In other news...
I have perpetually been a nail biter from the womb! (okay so that's a bit of an exaggeration, but not much!) Here lately I started taking vitamins and BOOM my nails grew STRONG before I had any chance to bite! I took a retarded picture but I'm so proud that I don't even care if it looks good! LOL Here it is!

Smooth Talking

2009-08-19T19:33:00.000-07:00

He had us cracking up! I love this sound. They grow up so quick!!!!

In other news my best friend Connie had her son yesterday (Noah James Davis). He is a doll!

What Happened To JULY!!!?

2009-08-06T14:49:00.001-07:00

So I am still writing "7" as the month on all my checks and it's already August 6th. That's "8"!! Which means Judah (or Baby J as we know him) is SIX MONTHS OLD! Or he will be in 3 days. Where in our beautiful blue earth did the time go?

And on that note...
I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday and we were laughing together at how people ask stay at home moms "so what did you do today, just rest?" Are you serious!!!!? I am lucky, and I mean LUCKY to take a shower before lunch time. If I get makeup on that is a miracle and if I dry my hair.... get ready for the apocalypse because Jesus is surely about to return!

The one I love the most is:
"Why don't you nap when your baby is napping?". Well, to name a few: my family would not have clean underwear, my house would look like a tornado and my business would remain in the red for eternity... but that's just naming a few. Those little 1 hour (and sometimes less!) windows are my one chance to accomplish something (apart from raising up the next generation of world-changers, of course)!!

When I was younger and much less wise...
I thought that being a stay-at-home mom was something women that had no plan for their future did. Now I clearly see that it's our God-given privilege to raise our own children and instill in them the values, ethics and education that we so desire for them to have for the rest of their lives. We never get this short period of time back! So have our extra wants sometimes been put on the back burner? Yes, at times. But I will say this, it is so fulfilling knowing that my son is not just being thrown in a daycare swing somewhere and only tended to when he has a need to be fed or changed. I am so grateful that I have the loving support of a husband that is willing to be a FATHER and not just a present male with no emotional or spiritual contribution. I have women friends who are forced to work full-time so that their children will not go hungry and yet they go without what really matters - parents that are the example of Christ to them. They would change it all tomorrow if they could, however, they have been left by their spouse with no choice. I am not saying they are wrong, but that I am so filled with gratitude regarding my situation.

Random Soap Box Serenade... sorry!
I know this has been rather deep compared to the normal cuteness that is my usual "post-a-licious-ness" but I just wanted to clear my head and give props to all the mommies that are making a difference in our future generation. Not saying that if you are working that you are not in that bunch AT ALL - to you I say WOW I don't know how on earth you do it. I am only saying that now in the time we live it is so easy to feel guilty for working, not working, etc... the point is that we have some serious responsibilty to take for our kids because one of them is going to be president, judge, teacher, movie producer, news anchor, mother, father... they will all influence in some way. It is up to us to determine how. What an amazing chance to change the world.

Okay, now for some cuteness...
Some pictures for your enjoyment to lighten the mood :-)

Here is Judah meeting his Great Great Aunt Midgie and Cousin Suzanne for the first time!

Here is Judah eating VERY successfully! He loves to eat now vs. the first month that we tried. He's been on solids since July 4! (How ironic that he'd take such a step on "independence day"!!) That's my boy!

And here's one of many from a photo shoot at Aunt Dee Dee's house! He has his "up to no good face" on.

2009-07-30T21:01:00.001-07:00

Is this a smooth guy or what?

2009-07-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

Here is a super cute video of the little man laughing at mommy.

Mary Kay Seminar

2009-07-18T20:01:00.001-07:00

So for the past 2 years I have been a beauty consultant. When I signed up I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Dawn (my mother-in-law) recruited me and I, of course, didn't want to say no to my mother-in-law because nothing ever ends well when you do that! LOL

I signed my agreement the very day that we were scheduled to close on our home. This was so frightening to me to start a business the same day as we were trying to save all the money we possibly could to pay for closing costs. But nonetheless, I plunged in head first having know clue what I was delving into. That was May 15th, 2007. By July I had sold nothing and done nothing. Dawn came to do my business debut at the end of July and things turned around immediately. I had 11 women in my living room who were practically dragged there by my threats :-0 I was so scared that she would drive all the way from Dallas for nothing. We hardly got many orders, it seemed, yet we sold $400 in product that day. I was forever amazed that in 1 hour we had made what I barely made in one week. AND... here's the thing... I HAD A BLAST. Are you kidding me? I just got seriously paid to have fun with my

friends? And put makeup on people!??

That was the first perk. Then as I started attending weekly meetings I realized that was only scratching the surface of what I had signed up for that wonderful day of May 15th. To name a few... I work for a company whose business plan is "God first, Family second, career third." and whose philosophy is the Golden Rule. This is in an industry that is filled with "so called" catty women yet there has been more love shown to me through the women that I have come in contact with than I can put into words. The only way I can succeed in this company is to put others needs above my own and help them to succeed first. You can't claw your way to the top

here! I am actually in direct sales and I have not felt the need nor the desire to pressure anyone into anything because I sell the product that has been number one by a LONG shot for 16+ years. The product sells itself. What other company could you work for that just for showing up they reward you, give you prizes, give you the use of a free car with insurance to boot? I stand amazed at the legacy that Mary Kay Ash left for people like me. 2 years ago I was in a dead end job (not the job I just left but a previous one). I wanted so badly to get out but saw no way to do so. I wanted to pursue cosmetology but didn't have money or any way to get money. I wanted to work with women and make them feel like a million bucks inside and out. Suddenly I found myself able to achieve all this via the vehicle that is my MK business.

My favorite perk is this: I found out I was pregnant last year just before my very first MK seminar. I was terrified, and thrilled all at once. I made a resolve in my heart that I would not have a baby and throw him into a day care so I could work 40+ hours to afford that day care. I knew God had given me the gift of a son so that I could raise him with the standards and values that have been passed down to me. My business has literally made that possible. It brings tears to my eyes to imagine what my life would be like had I not invested that $100 into my future. People spend more than that on shoes or even a manicure/pedicure these days. I have chosen to use that small investment to change the lives of every woman I meet. Whether it be to lift their spirit (and their face) with a facial or to give them the life altering career opportunity I am fully committed to doing just that.

Oh and to add yet another bonus to the list of how great this is... I am in the most recession-proof industry ever. Women will never stop washing their faces or wearing makeup. NEVER.

I just attended my second seminar in Dallas. Last year I didn't even qualify to sit in the arena (as there are 35,000+ women in attendance). This year I did and it was A-MAZING!! Here are some pictures

This is me in the lobby of our hotel.

This is the arena... wow :-)

I met Jasmine Murray in the elevator at the hotel to later find out she was singing at our seminar! She rocked it. She's so sweet. Of course I was dressed to the nines all week but the moment I happened to meet her first I was in my PJs. Because that is life. Oh well.

Tap Dancing

2009-06-27T15:18:00.001-07:00

This is Baby J dancing a little ditty! I love the look on his face when Daddy is playing with his toy! Life is such fun with this little guy.

A Date With Daddy

2009-06-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

Last week Ms. Ann took Judah, Micah and I to a baseball game. Here is a picture of the proud Dad at his son's first game. Judah loved every waking moment of it. I just went for the nachos and huge drinks :-)

Motor Skills

2009-06-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

So apparently Judah is functioning at the rate of a 6 month old and he's 4 months old!! I know that's only 2 months but in baby time that's like light years! Mainly this was determined by his fine motor skills. He is picking up toys and switching hands. He is putting most everything in his mouth. That is a fun stage!

The camera incident has not been resolved so you will have to settle for over-pixelated phone shots... sorry! Here are a few of Judah trying to decapitate his worm... He thinks it's funny!

And here are a few of my newly highlighted hair (self inflicted, of course).

What a Week!

2009-06-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

This week has seemed never ending! Micah had Music Camp and so I helped him with that. It was quite the adventure. Baby J was the camp mascot :-) The kids loved him so! I would come in every day and help the girls write music. We had songs ranging in topic from making the world a better place to the "frilly sock blues". Children make me laugh so much!

Then early Friday morning I began doing hair and makeup for an Indian wedding. If you've ever been to an Indian wedding you know they last 3 days and the women in particular have a different outfit for each ceremony. They also want to change their hair and makeup with each wardrobe change... fun! I would post pictures but the other eventful thing of the week happened.... One of the dogs (Bishop would be my guess) chewed through our camera charger. Nice. He's been subtly lashing out since the birth of our son. Oh jealousy. My guess is that he sees how much joy it brings us to take pictures of Judah that he discovered the way to end it all! Smart dog, darn it!

Then Friday evening Steve and Dawn came to stay the weekend for Dawn's birthday and Father's day. They helped watch Judah while I woke up at 3:45 on Saturday morning to start doing hair again by 5AM - ahh! I don't know how I made it through all that. Here's a mobile pic from Melissa's phone of them giving my son Coffee!! (not really but it so looks like he's just drinking away!)

Micah preached this morning and did wonderful. I, of course missed the last 30 minutes due to a hunger melt down in the nursery. I was glad to have heard as much as I did, though.

And in other baby news... Judah has started chewing 2 more things this week... his tongue and his bibs or blankets. He likes to have the cloth buffer between the fingers. He chews his tongue and looks like an old man. Then he gets really angry because his tongue hurts, but he things we're doing it because he looks at us like "why are you letting this pain get out of control for the love of God??!!" So cute. He also holds himself up from the tummy position brilliantly!!

2009-06-09T10:53:00.001-07:00

This is Judah all dressed up and having his Sunday morning photo shoot!!

He is 4 months old today. I cannot believe it!! Going to the doctor for a checkup... big fun!!

Lots of Firsts...

2009-06-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

Judah's first swimming adventure today....

His first time in his bouncy chair....

His first time to meet his great grandma and grandpa Andrade...

His first time to meet his cousin Faith and aunt Nancy...

We had lots of firsts this week including his zoo trip. It was great fun!!!!

In other news... Micah and I got to sing for the Boerne Police Dept. appreciation BBQ - here we are having fun :-)

Blowout at the Zoo

2009-06-01T16:12:00.000-07:00

We went to the zoo today with Aunt Dee Dee and Cousin Emma. It was fun! We got to see the monkeys (my personal zoo favorite!)

Judah's been having "poo poo problems" the past week. He's been a bit stopped up for whatever reason. Yesterday he was able to go in the morning and then in the afternoon around 1PM. He hadn't gone since then and it was about 3PM today!! Over 24hrs is not a good thing for infants.

Well he was in the little carrier (which is a personal milestone, too - he always cried before when put in this thing - my guess is because it squeezes all his man parts!!) and we were in "Toad-ally" when all of a sudden I felt bombs going off against my chest. This was not good since his rear-end was down by my belly button. To my dismay he had blown 24-hr-old poo all out of the top of his diaper, through his shirt, through his overalls and all over mommy's shirt!

Dee Dee was kind enough to assist me in the changing of the toxic waste. As we were leaving the zoo he did it again! And to top off the day, I realized as we were walking out that I had a huge glob of poo smeared across my hand that I didn't clean off. NICE!

Other than that fun story I had a blast and so did he! (as you can see below... he was so cute!)

Judah's Attempt At Crawling

2009-05-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

The thing I love the most are his little noises while he's trying so hard to push up with his arms! He's only 3 months and he wants to explore the world already! He worked so hard that he cried at the end!

My Child Smiles In His Sleep

2009-05-26T13:11:00.000-07:00

I think I have been kissed by heaven sometimes. I am so in love!

Fun With My Nieces!

2009-05-24T14:30:00.001-07:00

So yesterday was Jessie and Aubrie's birthday party. Much fun was had by ALL! Here are some cute pictures...
This is Aubrie about to launch balloons at anyone in her line of fire!!

Here is Jessie admiring her PERSONAL cake (which she took quite literally to mean that she got to eat it ALL. Dee Dee made her and Aubrie their own cakes thinking they understood that they would be sharing but they were decorated just for them... Jessie was not thrilled to learn that she was not allowed to devour the entire cake herself!! I love that girl!

Here is Uncle Todd with Judah.... so amazing! I'm so glad we had a little boy so he can play with his dad, grandpas and uncles (I say it plural because I am speaking present tense for Colleen :-) - Love you sister!!)

Here is Papaw Bryan with Baby Judah. It's scary how much they look alike sometimes!

Here's cousin Emma with Baby J!! He's waving hello!!

Here is Dee Dee being a kid with her kids... I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!

And here is me with my little man!! I love you!!!!!

Funny Story... So when I returned from my trip to Bastrop I went to Starbucks with Micah. My sister-in-law Melissa works there and gives us the most "awesomest" of hook-ups on drinks. I ALWAYS order the caramel frap with cream base and a shot of decaf (since I'm still nursing Judah). Well there was a mixup and I ended up with a Venti Java Chip - that's like 3 shots of espresso people!!!! I was so jittery. I didn't know it was caffeinated until about 11:30 PM and I started to feel funny - really funny. Then I asked her if it had caffeine and she said "you said you wanted it to!" Oh no!! Here is an idea of what I was like.

It was hysterical... Judah slept like a champ. I, however, did not... nor did Micah.

Daily Outings

2009-05-19T17:20:00.000-07:00

So, what used to take me about 30 minutes to accomplish now takes me about 3-4 hours which means I need to pack enough for 2 feedings just in case. And heaven forbid I pack less than 4 diapers! Today we went by my old job to say hi and, of course, we were there forever (which is great) but then I had to go by my OB's office to deliver makeup and that was another hour and 1/2 because all the girls there love Judah. Can you blame them? Look at this face!

And as you can see... he's in his big boy chair already! "Ride 'em Cowboy!!"

Judah ran out of diapers in the nursery at church on Sunday and so he had to borrow from a ONE-YEAR-OLD!!! Yes, he wears the same size diaper as a one-year-old baby! Yikes! Big booties DO run in the family I suppose!

And let the teething saga continue... now he is biting down in the middle of his feedings (if you know what I'm sayin'). Lord help me to hang in there please!! I don't know how much more my "girls" can handle! And oh my goodness - that child can soak an outfit in about 15 seconds! It amazes me that his body can produce so much liquid from such a little hole! Look at his onesie...

This Weekend

2009-05-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

We had really powerful things happening this weekend. Micah is now the senior pastor at church and it's been a great new challenge for us!!

Here are a few good thoughts from last night's teaching given by our senior leader Dr. Lindquist:

Some things in life are seasonal and others are timeless. Being a blessing to your leaders and those who watch over you will never grow old. As the head goes so goes the rest of the body... make sure your head is well taken care of and you will be too!
Many of us are SO CLOSE to breaking through and receiving our promise, but can abort it in about 5 minutes with OUR MOUTH :-0 Be careful what you say in this season of your life. Your words are like seeds and they will bear whatever fruit you speak! Ouch!
Why do we so often look to and get counsel from those with the same issues we have? Stop looking to peers in a crisis and look up - you may just GO up!
IQ is not as important as "I CAN" (I love that one!)

Pretty cool stuff! You had to have been there to get the depth of it. I love our church and the relationships I've built with people here. It is so rewarding and fulfilling. I better go for now!

More later ....

I Could Teach a One-Handed Typing Class!

2009-05-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

So I've gotten great at typing with Judah in my lap! Kan't yoo tail?

Other things I've learned to do one-handed: Cook (do not try this at home), laundry and other general fun housekeeping, highlight hair for goodness sake! (again - not recommended - ask my customer :-0) and apply my own mascara...

So I write this plunking out each letter with my right index finger as my left index finger is pruny and swollen from being the human teething ring.... yes I bought the squishy kind that you can refrigerate but he wants my left hand instead. Not my right hand, heaven forbid... that hand is useless to me - why would he want IT?

Okay... done with that saga... He DID take the teething ring yesterday... see?

It is getting so fun to give Judah a bath. The first bath I gave him after my c-section was a disaster. I didn't realize that he would spontaneously combust at any inkling of being cold, however it's true! I thought I was killing him for goodness sake! Then Aunt Colleen came to watch him and she gave him a bath. I realized I hadn't warned her of the famous "warm cloth on the 'no no's' to keep them from freezing" trick. She, too, thought she would get reported to CPS as he screamed so terrifyingly! Now he's discovered he can splash me and get back at me for taking away the comforting smell of his own spit-up that has collected amidst his million chins. It's truly awe inspiring! Here's a clip :-)

I am terribly excited about next weekend and the weekend after that. On the 23rd I will be celebrating the birthdays of 2 of my 3 nieces. (Jessie and Aubrie) They are the younger of the three. And then on the 24th I will be (hopefully) witnessing Emma (the oldest) get baptized! According to "Mama Dee Dee" she has been adamant about this for 2 years and the day is finally upon us. "Daddy Todd" gets to do the honors - that I just have to see. I have good money bet that he can't get through it without crying - even though he is quite the man's man. No father can get past that without tearing up... sorry! Are they not adorable?

Everyday Wonders

2009-05-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

The things that once wowed me are so different that the things that now take my breath away. I just spent about 2 hours marveling at my little man and how he "almost" lifted himself up by the arms as if to crawl! However, he did not.

In other late breaking news (lol) Judah is teething... yes, teething at 3 months!! I didn't know that was possible, but apparently so. He has been gnawing at my fingers and everything else within range (if you know what I mean... ouch!). Pray for me to have strength late in the night when he is fussy and feverish!

So I'll use this blog for several random things:
1. To get out the proper amount of words that women typically get to use per day
2. To show you cool products and "stuff" that I love and want to share with you
3. To post super cool photos of mah boys :-) (hubby and son)
4. To post pictures of my "work" i.e. the hair and makeup masterpieces that I'm working on.

I will also post songs and videos and other random things as they come along. Feel free to comment and share the love!