Picture Update and some words

Cedar had her 4 month check up (at 5+ months old) and survived another dose of immunizations this week.  The poor bug was a champ during the actual shots, she cried for a moment then settled herself quickly as soon as Jody picked her up.  It was the rest of the day that was a sobbing, fussy, snotty nightmare.  Thank goodness for bedtimes.

She is weighing in at 11 lbs 2 oz, and is 23 ish inches long.  Still pretty teeny, but doing well.  Sleeping and eating like a champ.  We are working towards more regular naptimes, but right now they happen when I feels necessary.  Generally, she has 2 good (usually) naps and one hit or miss nap around 4 or 5 pm.

Cedar and I begin nannying for a teeny, new baby (6 weeks old!) named Harper starting next Monday.  I'm happy that Cedar will have a little buddy to 'grow up' with, and I'm glad that she and I will be busy with a schedule, but I'm also a bit sad that we won't have our days completely to ourselves anymore.  Such is life, though.  It is ever changing, and I'm ready and excited to jump into this next season.

Moving on - Picture time!

Cedar and I had the pleasure of hanging with Hamilton last week while his daycare was closed.  It was great fun, and they seem to love each other.  Watching Ham really got me to missing my little Ayden back in Virginia, though.  Shout out to Ayden!

 We are enjoying cooler weather and a new interest in toys!  Here Cedar is showcasing her newly knitted hat (Thanks Auntie Nells!) and favorite toy which now goes anywhere we go.

 Swinging at Terry Park with Dad.

Pictured:  My three favorite things/persons in the world.

I had a bit of a revelation while peeking in on this sleeping beauty the other night.  

 I snuck into her nursery an hour or two after putting her to bed - just to take a peak - before putting myself to bed.  I tip toed towards her crib and looked over the edge and I saw our perfect, innocent, sweet little human sleeping so peacefully and it made my heart smile.

Night after night back in Virginia, Jody and I would share countdowns until her due date.  In X amount of days, we'd be holding our daughter.  In X amount of weeks, we'd be freed from the Navy.  In only so many weeks, we'd move back home, find a cute home to rent and paint a nursery for our kid.  And THEN things would be good.  We were waiting for our real life to start, and were fiiguring that all would fall into place with a little bit of hard work and some trust.

Insert Volcanic Eruption.

Living with a newborn is not a dreamy time full of family naptimes and free meal delivery services.  It was staying up days on end and living off of as much caffeine as allowed, while nursing (with difficulty) 24/7 and packing up one life and mentally preparing for another.

Moving back home has been hard, too.  Financially, mentally, physically and spiritually, we are tired. 

 But as I watched my sweet baby breathe quitely and perfectly in her sleep the other night, I realized that despite not having found our ideal job, family and social life here in Montana (yet?), we have everything that we had been dreaming and praying for during my entire pregnancy.  

A healthy, beautiful daughter

A home

Food on the table

Clothes on our backs

Montana

A nursery- A NURSERY! for our little Cedar

A supportive circle of friends and family

It's easy to say that God is good when life is good, but I'm learning how to 'Praise You in this Storm' as we make our way through this phase of life.

I'm also learning how to ask for help.  What encourages your heart lately?