Inspiration

So as many of you know, we are struggling to sell our house. Since we listed with a realtor in October, they have shown it ZERO times. It is very disheartening. Through this process, I have flip flopped on being angry and then realizing I need to trust God and not be angry that I haven't gotten what I wanted yet.
The house we built in Edmond has sold. That temptation has now been lifted from our path. It was a pricey temptation, but none the less, it has been removed from our path. We know this happened for a reason. It was heartbreaking to lose that "hope" that we held on to, but we know we built that house out of haste without much prayer and petition. We did it more for us and didn't rely fully on God to tell us what to do. We knew in our hearts it was like the foolish man building his house on the sand. But I guess we thought that God would make it work. Much like in the song, "God will make a way where there seems to be no way..." Unfortunately we didn't realize that the way that God will make for us wasn't with a hasty decision. We continue to lean on God during this process. With that house out of our sights, I have noticed I have been able to focus more on Elouise. I'm not stressed with the thought of moving...I know it will happen one day...in GOD'S timing. As Ghee would have said, "Perfectly perfect" timing.

So I started a fast to focus and redirect my thoughts from things on Earth to things above. Since I can not physically fast - I did a "Facebook" fast. I found myself getting on Facebook for meaningless reasons just to kill time. So a facebook fast was a great thing for me. Today's reading really struck a chord with me. It is Psalms 27.

It's about time!!!

It's about time! I haven't blogged in almost a month!!! Oops!
Alright - here we go!
Elouise is now almost 4 months old. Goodness it has flown by!! She changes every single day. She is now focusing a lot more and smiling ALL the time!! She is a very very good baby. She lets anyone hold her and will smile or just look around. If she gets fussy, it's for GOOD reason, i.e., food, sleep...the normal stuff. She can hold her head up no problem now and is sleeping through the night.
We recently had our first "sick baby" experience. We noticed something was right with her. She was extremely whiny which is not like her at all. She whimpered all the time. Finally we noticed that her cheeks and nose were all red. We took her temp and it was over 100. I immediately called the doctor. She said she figured it was just a "bug" and called in a prescription. We didn't sleep at all that night. We checked on her every 2 hours. We were extremely worried. The next day she was slowly getting back to normal. She wasn't completely well, but her smiles were increasing. Her temp broke at 4 am. She finally, after two days, was back to normal.
Josh and I recently started the Arbonne Detox Diet. I can't do all of it because I still feed Elouise, but in one week I have dropped 5 lbs and can get on my size 4!!!!!! All by helping Josh do the detox! I can't wait to see what it's like after 28 days. Josh is doing it "full blast" so I can't wait to see what HIS results will be like. I just KNOW it will be fantastic!!

Our house is still on the market after lowering the price AGAIN. Nothing is really moving down here at all. We just keep praying and hoping that eventually someone will come along. As everyone says, it just takes one. Just one buyer...
We need prayers with this situation. It is extremely discouraging. We pray that God will provide the buyer for our house and also continue to be with us and keep from getting discouraged. It's all a test of faith for sure!

Love -

HL

The Mobile from the ALMIGHTY!

So I have spent the past 6 or so months looking for the "perfect" crib mobile for Elouise. I was extremely picky (probably too picky, oops). I had to have one where the rotating items faced down towards her face. Who cares if they had pretty hearts, but if she only saw the bottom of those hearts.....how boring! Also, I didn't want a "boy" one or a random sea themed or goofy one. It had to be "perfectly perfect" as Ghee would say. Finally, I found one. Once I got it, I discovered that it didn't fit on a sleigh like crib. LUCKILY, I called the company and they shipped me an adapter free of charge. It came in the mail today! Yippee! As I was reading earlier, Josh yelled at me to come upstairs (that is where Elouise's room is). I grumbled about putting my book down, and I hiked up the stairs. I could hear her, but I figured she was just laying on her changing pad talking. For some reason, while laying on her changing pad, Elouise LOVES to talk. Nope, not this time. She was laying in her crib MESMERIZED by this new mobile. Matter of fact, when I picked her up after nearly 20 minutes of looking at the mobile, she stuck that bottom lip out so far. She about burst into tears. So Josh and I put on our best baby voices to coax her out of crying.........
This mobile is definitely A MUST for us!

Big Smile!

Elouise loves to smile now!!! She will smile when anyone is talking to her. This is a picture I took of her smiling today. I was having a chaotic day, and this is all I need to make myself slow down and realize what really is important. It's amazing how life changes after you have a baby. You learn to cherish the moments that they fall asleep on your chest, holding them in your arms, and all the smiles. It really forces you to slow down - realizing it won't be like this for long. It amazes me how long I can spend just looking at her sleep! Oh God is so good!

Merry Christmas!

First trip to see Santa!!!!! My mom came in town, and we took Elouise to meet Santa. She loved him. She was decked out in a I love Santa tutu outfit with precious red leggings and red mary jane shoe/socks. She loved Santa, too. She got a little "too" lovey. She started nuzzling her face into his beard (which was real, by the way!)
I have to sign off for a sec to put a VERY tired elf to sleep! But I have more pics to post very soon! Her stocking...etc.
Love and Merry Christmas

Gearing Up For Thanksgiving! Another First!

We are getting ready for another first in our small little family. Elouise's first Thanksgiving! I've never been one for the big Thanksgiving feast (it kind of grosses me out that people overindulge just because of a "day", but that's just me!), however; it's the first holiday Elouise will be experiencing! Halloween was one thing, but now we're getting into family holidays. My family will be coming down to Idabel this year to celebrate. We normally would be going to see them, but we are figuring out how much harder it is to travel with a newborn. Maybe it's just me and my excessive packing, but we LOADED my Commander with stuff the last trip we made. Between suitcases and strollers and all kinds of fun things, I'm thinking I should be driving a bus instead of a Commander. There would be more trunk space for sure! I like to pack "in case of emergency". You never know when you'll need something. Plus, when traveling, you ALWAYS have to leave room for incidental purchases such as: shoes, clothes, home decor, you name it!

A boastful intermission - I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping! I prefer to have all of my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving. This drives my husband NUTS! He will wait until December 23rd to start shopping for Christmas. AH! This year, I have "wised" up. I have been keeping a running gift list on my cell phone for each recipient. That way I won't forget something someone mentioned they'd like - back in April! I live for gift giving. I don't care if I get anything. I just live to give presents!!!!!! I get more excited watching people open gifts I'm giving them then opening my own. However, as I'm sitting here typing, I overheard Natalie Morales discussing Black Friday deals. She asked the guest on the show if cut out coupons were "in style" anymore. Hello?!? Who cares if coupons are "in-style"! If they save me a few bucks that I could use elsewhere, I'm using them! That has got to be one of the most ridiculous things I've heard in a while. Just sayin.......


Oh! Another thing that I have to get done early (like my Christmas shopping) is my Thanksgiving grocery list. I can't stand going to Wal-Mart, but it's even worse a few days or day before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving groceries purchased?? CHECK! I have an excessive amount of canned pumpkin puree, cream cheese, butter, eggs....you name it!


IN my head at the moment, I'm preparing myself for the next thing after blogging that I need to do today (including a feeding and diaper change). Working out. I have always enjoyed working out. I love the rush, the terrible feeling during the workout where you're just trying to BREATHE, and then the prideful feeling after the workout. However, as much as I enjoy working out, I LOATHE AND HATE LOSING WEIGHT. I've never been good at a "diet". I like working out for the maintenance idea, but NOT having to lose weight. BUT - while I have lost all but 3 lbs of Elouise baby weight, NOT ONE PERSON told me what having a baby does to your body!! OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS! I now understand the mommy "pooch" below the belly button! GOOOOOOOOOOOODNESS! I have some SERIOUS sit ups to be doing!

Anyway - ONE MORE THING TO REPORT! ELOUISE HAS SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT 5 NIGHTS IN A ROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have always swaddled her at night, but to no avail, she would wake up at 330 and then 530. Now, we put her to bed at 1030 and she wakes up just before 7! THANKS TO THE SWADDLEME invention. Click on the SWADDLEME to see what this FABULOUS invention is! My Aunt Betty bought us these and we hadn't used them because we thought she had to be bigger. I had a fellow "new mommy friend" that told me it didn't matter the baby's size and to try it out. AS SOON AS WE DID - TADA! She slept through the night. So for those of you that struggle with gift giving - give these (for a baby of course). They are the greatest thing ever! The baby can't get out of them and they keep them nice and cozy. FABULOSO! I feel like a new woman with all this sleep! I actually organized many parts of my house yesterday with all my new found energy!

That's all for now! Got to get to working out! Enjoy the pics!
love

Firsts...

A few firsts this week that I get to tell about!

1st - First smile on camera! She is starting to smile in response to people talking!! It's soooo much fun! After we got home from church and lunch, she was allllll smiles!! After about 5 minutes of pictures, she got tired of it though.

2nd - First time to church! Elouise went to Bypass Church of Christ in Idabel. She almost lasted the whole service! We are both very happy that we both were able to take her. Josh leaves on Tuesday for the first time since she was born! Yikes! Here is a picture of her getting ready for church.

3rd - First Halloween! I have never been a huge Halloween person (I don't like the dressing up as dead people scary kinda stuff...) However, you can't beat a baby dressed up!! We had tons of trick-or-treaters at our house, and Elouise was ready! She went as Snow White. I will post a picture later today!

4th - This is the first time Josh is going to back to work since she was born!! He and I are dreading it. We are so thankful that we are blessed with a wonderful job, but it is sad that he will be leaving for 2 weeks. It will be an eye opening experience to say the least! Life a single mom...yikes!!!! (for 2 weeks anyway!) Please keep us in your prayers!