Well...suffice to say, I've been a horrible, horrible blogger lately.

But in my defense, I've been just a tad bit busy...

Meet my sweet daughter, Reese. She is the light of my life and I couldn't be prouder of her. She is 10 weeks now and (hopefully) happily adjusting to her first full day of daycare. Mommy is sad but it makes the time I'm with her much more sweet. I know I'm biased, but I think she is the cutest little thing ever.

Other randoms:

* Yay for spring! I love this time of year, when everything is new and young. Why couldn't it have come a bit earlier though? I was locked in my dreary, dirty house for 10 weeks with my sweet baby, and the week I return to work it's gorgeous outside. Hopefully Reese will get to enjoy the sunshine sometimes when the other little ones play outside at daycare.

* I am missing coffee and other types of caffeine...but I am happily denying myself for the sake of my daughter. The good Lord knows she doesn't need any more energy than she already has.

* Brent and I are participating in a Fireproof Love Dare Bible study through Brent's family's church. The group is fun and Brent and I really look forward to our Friday evenings we get to spend with them, as well as working on strengthening our union. Yay for marriage!

* Being a mom has made me appreciate and love, love, love God all the more. He has given me the most wonderful gift and I know I need to do my best to raise my girl the right way. I know I am up to the challenge! To God be the glory!

Hopefully it won't be so long before my next post. I've missed blogging and now I have a much more exciting life. :)

Baby (maybe) on the way...

Well, tomorrow is my official due date and I have a sneaking suspicion that the baby might not make it here by then. She just seems totally content curled up in my tummy and she isn't budging as far as I can tell. I have a doctor's appointment today so I will learn more about my progress, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high. I haven't really been feeling any significant contractions or noticed any big changes lately. I definitely don't want to rush her along, but it WOULD be nice to see her little face and to have my body back (somewhat!) I am so excited with the thought of once again being able to sleep on my stomach that I can hardly wait. (Last night I wanted to poke Brent in the ear because he was so comfortably sleeping on his stomach...oh how I miss those days!) Oh yeah...and to snuggle and play with my beautiful baby girl. That too. :)

I am congested and stuffy, but other than that I have no complaints. I have had a really easy pregnancy for my first time around and I'm hoping the delivery will go the same way. Brent has been working really hard to get the house done and it really looks great. I can't wait to be able to help him clean up all of the tools out of our bedroom and really take the place over as a relaxation spot! The only thing left to do in there is hang some artwork and bring in the baby bassinet.

Please pray for Brent and I as we move closer and closer to this new part of our lives. We are excited and scared to death and the same time. I know we will be fine, and that God will provide. Next time I post it will be pictures of my beautiful baby girl!

Great is Thy Faithfulness.

We sang this in church today. No words have ever rung more true to me lately. God is awesome and He is faithful.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Chorus
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Chorus

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Chorus

Family ties.

I never had the chance to meet my dad's mother. She died in 1964 when my dad was just 16 years old. We've never spoken much about her...I've never asked too many questions. I think I'm afraid to upset him as he was very close to her and know he was absolutely heartbroken when she passed away. He still speaks about her with a certain softness that I have never been brave enough to press for details. I have seen many photos of her and my great aunt has mentioned more than once that I remind her of my grandma. I see the photos and certainly don't see myself in the beautiful, statuesque woman I only know in black and white, but I do know enough about her short life to appreciate the sentiment.

DeLois Davenport(my grandma), Effie Davenport (my great-grandmother) and my dad.

I've been thinking about my Grandma DeLois a lot more lately....maybe it's because I'm about to have a little girl and I have such huge dreams for her; much like I'm sure my grandmother did for my young father. And even though I never had the pleasure of meeting her, I know that we are tied by so much more than just faded photographs and DNA. I know there is a part of her that will always be with me, even though I never knew her.

Grandma DeLois right before her wedding.

I know my grandmother was raised by a sweet, loving mother, so I'm assuming her personality was sweet as well (knowing my Great-Grandma Effie, she would be incapable of raising a mean child.) She was a Sunday School teacher and involved in Eastern Star. She loved shoes, owning many pairs (I know I did inherit that from her!) I know she fought bravely at the end of her life, but I know she was welcomed home by her Savior when she passed. I am so thankful for her life as she gave me my dear father. Maybe someday I will be brave enough to ask about her...I want to do that so she's not lost with my father forever when he's gone. I want my little girl to know the stories of a lady born long ago who is still, in so many ways, right here with us today.

Missing you.

It's so hard to believe that's it’s been so long since I've seen your face. Eleven long years missing you with such an intensity that's still fresh in my heart. I remember having "guys breakfasts" with you and Dad. Your bib overalls. The way your heart valve clicked. I remember your great joy and appreciation of a good meal. I remember you catching my feet while I was swinging and asking, "Where are you going to go now?" It saddens me that you never met Brent, never saw me graduate college, and will never meet my children. It makes me sad that my babies will never know you and the absolutely amazing person that you were. My heart breaks that there are no new pictures of you, no new messages on my answering machine with your voice. I can't pick up the phone and tell you that I love you.

I know your life was one well lived and without regrets. Every breath was filled with passion and love for life and God's wonderful creation. You gardened. You exercised. You prayed. You worked hard at everything you did. You helped at the church. And you loved your family and friends like no one I've ever known.

I have no doubt where you are now, and that you are at peace. You no longer know pain or suffering and no longer feel sadness. I know that you are with the Savior you love so dearly. I know I will see you again one day, and some days I just can't wait for that day to come. Until then, my heart is calmed by knowing that you are one of my favorite of Heaven's angels, saving a special place for me.

October.

October - by Robert Frost

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes' sake, if they were all
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost-
For the grapes' sake along the wall.

My favorite season!

I love fall...love, love, love it! I adore the crisp cool breezes and the hazy sunlight through the colored leaves. I can't wait for the leaves to turn this year....sometimes it feels as if time is moving so slowly. I love pumpkins and apple cider slushes and bonfires and hayrides and Halloween and baking and getting ready for the winter. I can't believe that this time next year I'll have a little one to share my favorite season with and take to the pumpkin patch for her first pumpkin. Hopefully she'll like the short, fat little pumpkins like I do. I don't know why I've always chosen those, but they've always been my favorites. It always worked out well as a child because my sister preferred the tall, skinny pumpkins. What a weird, particular family we have...

Last night Riley played in the yard (we haven't been able to drag Higgie out there lately) and Brent and I did absolutely nothing productive. We watched old episodes of The Office on TBS (all night long) and I fell asleep on the couch around 8:30. I awoke around 9:00 to a soft kiss on my forehead and a cool breeze blowing through the window. Why can't I wake up like that every time? I was treated to some ice cream and was sleeping again by 9:30. My wonderful husband let me sleep and roused me around 11 to get me into our own bed.

In baby news, McBaby is moving more and more but Brent still hasn't been able to feel her. I'm not sure if she's big enough or making enough movement for him to feel her yet, but I also think he loses patience with it quickly. He keeps saying "I'll feel her soon" or "we have 3 1/2 months left" but I want so badly for him to feel what I've been feeling. It's so amazing to feel her moving around in there, even though sometimes she moves at the worst times (she was really active this morning around 3:30).

On Sunday, Brent broke his arm playing softball. I am so sad for him because he loves the game so much and he's essentially done for the season. We are also right smack dab in the middle of a pretty major renovation to our master bedroom and bathroom (read: down to the studs in our bathroom) and that kind of puts a damper on things. Thank God for great friends and family, many of whom have already offered their services for our project. I am so thankful we are surrounded by such good people in our lives.

Well, back to the grind. I just wanted to give an update and say I'm so excited about entering my favorite time of year. Now I suddenly have a hankering for a decaf pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks...too bad I don't have a lunchbreak today, or I would totally treat myself to one. Maybe I can twist Brent's good arm and talk him into buying me an overpriced cup of joe for the second time this week on our way to Bible study tonight... :)

Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter. ~Carol Bishop Hipps