Taking a Stroll

Hello Friday! Daddy doesn't work (kinda) and Mommy sleeps in (kinda).

Katin absolutely LOVES her daddy. She just stares at him all day and smiles...even if he's not looking at her. It's really cute. So she loves when he is at home and we're all together :)

Today we went on a walk on a trail nearby. Gorgeous day outside today and we are looking forward to more warm days ahead.

Our cute little Rockies Fan...thanks Matt and Ali!!!

Walkin' on water

Umm..sweetie, you're supposed to hold onto the stroller!

Katin was so interested in everything...she watched the birds, the waterfalls, the airplanes...we thought she might nap...ha! Yea right!

Baby Dedication

These are some things I thought about as I stood up on stage:

*Katin, please don't cry.

*Katin, please don't pull mommy's hair.

*Katin, please don't yank mommy's shirt down.

*Katin, please don't get scared of the lights and people.

So, I thought it was a good thing that Thomas and I seriously discussed our decision to dedicate Katin to the Lord before going up on stage. We talked about what it means to dedicate her and what standing in front of the congregation to do it means to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I was so glad that I understood what we were about to do before it actually happened. Because if we hadn't I would have just walked away with a rose in one hand, a dedicated baby in the other, wondering if I flashed the audience!

Katin is not ours. She is our gift from God. As soon as we stared nervously at the stick saying "pregnant" we knew He had a gift for us. She is the most wonderful gift imaginable. We love her so much and we publicly announced that we promise to do the best we can to be Godly parents, remembering each day that she is ultimately His. Just like I am His, she is His. I pray everyday that she will grow up and know that she is His. And that He is hers...forever.

Katin, we love you. But not as much as God loves you. Crazy, I know. What a precious (and cute) gift we have!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all those incredible MOMS out there!

As I was standing in the card isle at Target staring at the Mother's Day cards wondering which one I would get my mom, it dawned on me. I am a mom! I have a daughter who will someday stand in the card isle in Target (yes, Target...she'll love it like I do) wondering which card to choose for me. CRAZY!

That's when it hit me...I'm actually doing it. I'm actually being a mom and I'm not that bad at it. I will admit, I was much better at my old job. The one I resigned from so I could start this new one. But who can blame me, I went to school to learn how to do that old job. There is no mommy school folks. Not that I know of anyway.

But you better believe it! Each day that rolls around I learn something new. And it takes some pretty impressive skills to be a mother. Like engineering skills. You gotta know how to build a very tall yet sturdy block tower so your baby can knock it over. Like doctor skills. You gotta know how to get those pesky little boogers that keep baby from breathing well out of baby's nose. Like lawyer skills. You gotta know how to reason with...well, yourself...about how to make a good decision. Like chef skills. You gotta know how to make baby food taste good. Like pilot skills. You gotta know how to fly an airplane spoon into baby's mouth. Like mommy skills. You know!?

And as I have learned these knew found skills, I think about my own mother who had to learn these skills with me. And she's still learning what it takes to be a mom....because it lasts forever. We're in it forever. I'm in this forever. And I couldn't be any happier. Not only because I have a precious daughter, but because I have an amazing mother who may not know this, but as she continues to be the best mom there is I am striving everyday to be half the mom she is to me. Because if I can do that, then forever will be truly wonderful.

Thanks Mom, I love you!