Overdue for a post

Yep, I am overdue for a blog post.  I had a healthy baby boy.  He is now 11 weeks old.  My banner says 2011 and it is now 2013.  But it is not going to happen tonight.  So here are a few pictures.

Miles 6 weeks

Maxwell 11 weeks

Maxwell 6 weeks

Maxwell 1 day

Quick pics before baby's arrival

 Beautiful day in Golden

35.5 weeks

 38w 2d

 39w 3d

2y 6m 3w

Thoughts before I become a mother of two boys:

• I'm going to miss spending all day with just Miles, he is such a cool kid.
• I can't believe I'm doing this whole baby thing again.
• Ready to meet my baby boy, I have missed holding a baby.
• I'm praying for an easy labor and ideal postpartum (is there such a thing?).  Even if things don't go perfect, I know I can do all things through Him who give me strength.  Philippians 4:13

Ok this boy is coming in the next few days according to some signs.  Pictures and birth story to come soon!

Through the pregnancy

18 weeks 

 20 weeks (fav prego shot/outfit)

21 weeks  

23 weeks (camping) 

 27 weeks (lazy, don't want to change into the incredibly short dress)

32 weeks (at least my hair has improved)

Scene: Just say no

Each stage in life is different socially.  When I was in my twenties and single, I was available to do anything anytime and so I tried to go and do everything.  That was a fun time in life as I got to travel and try lots of new things, go to concerts and eat at nice restaurants.  


Enter husband 4 years ago today.  Enter son 20 months ago.  Scene: just say no.  


And action or rather no action.  Instead Calm.  Quiet.  Restful.  Intentional.  Meaningful.


This might be a little abrupt and antisocial, but really it's a desire to have a quiet and simple family life.  I don't want to spend every weekend rushing around to activities and meals out and birthday parties.  I like my weekends at home, reading, playing with Miles, walking to the park.  


But I think it is a fine line because I want to see my friends and family.  When do I say yes to an event or activity for our family?  Often I feel guilt not going.  Is that when I should say no?  When the guilt is urging me to go?  Should I go to every single one of Miles' friends birthday parties?  


I'm an introvert and my husband is becoming one as the years go on, so do we just cede to natural tendency?  I don't know.  


I don't think kiddie birthday parties are intrinsically evil or bad, I just don't like attending them.  So help me out friends, what do you think?  What makes it onto your calendar?

Thankful for

my husband who is very patient
my boy who is very cute
friends
family
a clean desk
snow
long runs
church
shiny new daily planner with plenty of possibilities
a lovely house
my local library
a working furnace

Peaceful Hike

Miles and I went hiking today at Green Mountain.  Miles was surprisingly agile on the rocky trail and considering his decision to run.  We hiked up and ate a snack at the top and came back down.  


It appears Miles is not afraid of heights, but he gave me a heart attach a few times while he ran on the drop-off side of the trail.

He also enjoyed picking up "balls" or rocks and throwing them down the steep hill.  Boys will be boys.

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My heart was happy to be outside in the quiet of the day.  It is amazing how you don't realize how noisy and busy the city until you get back to nature. 

Loving the read Last Child in the Woods.  Makes me nostalgic for Evergreen and our tree houses and knowing every inch of our 2 acre property.  

Laws and Principles

I just finished The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Timothy Keller.  I highly recommend this book for both married and singles.  Keller talks about how many enter marriage today with hopes of staying independent while still reaping the benefits of marriage domestically, financially, socially, and sexually.  After a few months or rather weeks, couples find that the other person is just as selfish as they are.  


Keller basis the book on Ephesians 5, you know the line, "wives submit to your husbands."  He talks what this really looks like if the husband is loving and making choices to serve the wife.  And the picture of marriage isn't what you get out of it, but what you give and serve.  


This means I do the dish even if it is my husband's turn.  I make daily choices to serve my husband and think what would make him happy.  I say I'm sorry more often than I have been.  


Keller also quotes Jane Eyre and this struck a cord with me concerning discipline.

I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man.  I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad-- as I am now.  Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be.  If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth?  They have a worth--so I have believed; and if I cannot believe it now, it is because I am insane--quite insane: with my veins running fire, and my heart beating faster than I can count its throbs.  Preconceived opinions, foregone determinations, are all I at this hour to stand by: there I plant my foot."  

I did.

I love this.  Mr. Rochester has just asked Jane to move in and be his mistress.  Jane is conflicted, she would love to say yes.  No one would blame her if she did after such a life of hardship.  And he loves her and all you need is love, right?  But she says to herself, "when life was easy and I wasn't faced with a difficult decision, I knew what was right and wrong.  Even though my heart wants to say yes and it would feel good, I know that it is wrong.  I will not trust what feels right, but go with what I know is right.  I stand my ground."

This is why I want to be disciplined because when it becomes routine and rhythm, it will just be part of who I am.  Whether that is God's Word or prayer or running.  


I have heard and used the excuse that doing something everyday is too legalistic.  Where is the freedom?  


The freedom is in God's grace.