Growing So Fast!!
Big Smile! Such a happy girl!!
So you're Mamaw....Daddy has told me so much about you!
Big smile for my Daddy! Love you!!
Great minds think alike....Mamaw and Stephanie matching
(Did you guys talk the night before?)
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
5 Weeks Old....Mamaws Here!
Growing So Fast!!
God is Good....Money does grow on trees....
Before Stephanie was born Josh and I decided that I would take my full 12 weeks of leave to stay at home with her. This was both an easy and difficult decision. Easy because, of course I wanted to stay home as long as possible with her! Difficult because I was only getting paid for 6 weeks of leave, and during this time I was getting a third of my normal paycheck. We knew this was the right decision though and that God would work it out.
Saying "God will work it out" and believing it was the easy part....but understanding how that would happen and not worrying about the details was the hard part (I'm a big planner and like to know the details :) When I found out I had high blood pressure and was put on bedrest I obviously had to stay home from work and my leave started a week early....I would have been worried but a friend gave me two of her personal days so I was paid for the week I had to take off (two of her days and two of my days) and so this did not count for part of my leave. I started my leave when planned which was a huge blessing because that means I get to stay home until mid April! Stephanie came right around her due date which also was a blessing because we had worked our budget around paychecks and her due date.....God was getting us through in these little things....
Now the HUGE God thing....There is NO other way to explain it! I decided to cancel my health ins through my job and go with the one through the military.......I did this with only TWO days to spare (my job only allows you to add or drop 30 days from a status change). HUGE miracle because we were just talking about me possibly changing and I decided to look into it and then go ahead and do it....wasn't sure why I felt the need to to it, I just did (now knowing that it was God pulling me in that direction). Strange, I decided to change OB's in November for personal reasons, just before I decided to cancel my district ins....my new dr happens to be on my new ins and my old dr wasn't!! I changed to my new dr not knowing this at all.....another step in God's plan for our financial stability.
My new ins through the military made cut our projected medical expenses by 90% (if not more!) We did not fully understand the benefits of canceling my ins, but through this God has made all things financial fall into place and seriously it's like money is growing on trees! Don't get me wrong, things are tight and I'm not going out and doing all those "fun" things until I go back to work...but I am able to sleep soundly at night knowing the bills are paid and we have the money to provide what our family needs (and even the occasional McDonalds burger :)
Back in September when Josh and I decided I would stay home I NEVER would have imagined the way in which God would provide for us, I just knew He would. It's AMAZING how he has taken the chain of events in our life (from my new position at work, Josh's current situation, the timing of me canceling ins, the timing of the birth and my decision to change OB's all to work in perfect harmony to get us through these few months. I have always been the one to worry about paying bills and how things are going financially. It's such a blessing that all of this has been taken care of for us and that I am able to sleep at night not thinking twice about how I will pay the bills. God is so good and has shown Himself to us in so many ways these past few months! It's amazing to see Him and His works so clearly! Never in my life have I experienced this.....I can't wait to see what He has in store for us in the months to come!!
Saying "God will work it out" and believing it was the easy part....but understanding how that would happen and not worrying about the details was the hard part (I'm a big planner and like to know the details :) When I found out I had high blood pressure and was put on bedrest I obviously had to stay home from work and my leave started a week early....I would have been worried but a friend gave me two of her personal days so I was paid for the week I had to take off (two of her days and two of my days) and so this did not count for part of my leave. I started my leave when planned which was a huge blessing because that means I get to stay home until mid April! Stephanie came right around her due date which also was a blessing because we had worked our budget around paychecks and her due date.....God was getting us through in these little things....
Now the HUGE God thing....There is NO other way to explain it! I decided to cancel my health ins through my job and go with the one through the military.......I did this with only TWO days to spare (my job only allows you to add or drop 30 days from a status change). HUGE miracle because we were just talking about me possibly changing and I decided to look into it and then go ahead and do it....wasn't sure why I felt the need to to it, I just did (now knowing that it was God pulling me in that direction). Strange, I decided to change OB's in November for personal reasons, just before I decided to cancel my district ins....my new dr happens to be on my new ins and my old dr wasn't!! I changed to my new dr not knowing this at all.....another step in God's plan for our financial stability.
My new ins through the military made cut our projected medical expenses by 90% (if not more!) We did not fully understand the benefits of canceling my ins, but through this God has made all things financial fall into place and seriously it's like money is growing on trees! Don't get me wrong, things are tight and I'm not going out and doing all those "fun" things until I go back to work...but I am able to sleep soundly at night knowing the bills are paid and we have the money to provide what our family needs (and even the occasional McDonalds burger :)
Back in September when Josh and I decided I would stay home I NEVER would have imagined the way in which God would provide for us, I just knew He would. It's AMAZING how he has taken the chain of events in our life (from my new position at work, Josh's current situation, the timing of me canceling ins, the timing of the birth and my decision to change OB's all to work in perfect harmony to get us through these few months. I have always been the one to worry about paying bills and how things are going financially. It's such a blessing that all of this has been taken care of for us and that I am able to sleep at night not thinking twice about how I will pay the bills. God is so good and has shown Himself to us in so many ways these past few months! It's amazing to see Him and His works so clearly! Never in my life have I experienced this.....I can't wait to see what He has in store for us in the months to come!!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Gampa's Concert
Stephanie and I were about to head home tonight (from mom and dads) when daddy decided to come down and sing to her....SOOO precious! It's a long couple clips, but I couldn't stop myself! Such a precious memory! Thank God for technology and for it being so easy to capture these precious moments!
My little Car Rider
Well Miss Stephanie used to be okay in the car. She didn't like her carseat but was fine once we were in the car....this has since changed! She HATES her carseat and SCREAMS half the time we have to go anywhere.....no matter how I time it! Here are some SUPER CUTE pictures of our most recent trip. It was super cold so she had to wear a hoodie....so cute (she didn't agree :) It's a super cute hoodie from ebay (the best place to shop for baby clothes!!)
One Month Old
Our little princess is one month old already! Hard to believe she was growing in me for 10 months and has now been in this world for a month....it seems like we have had her longer. She's getting out of that "newborn" look and starting to look and act more like a baby. She has a little personality, she talks and watches things....she is so involved in the world around her! God has blessed us with one month of pure bliss....can't wait to see what we experience in the months/years to come!
Above: Big hug for my daddy! Love you!
Below: The MANY faces of Stephanie Jo
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Mommys 27th Birthday
I always said I wanted to have my first baby at 27 and my second at 30....well Stephanie Jo came about 3 weeks before my 27th birthday and has been a huge blessing! This little girl made this the best birthday yet! Josh gave me the James Avery "Mothers Love" ring with a very special note....being a mom is the best adventure yet! Our little family is so precious to me, I thank God daily for the blessings He has given me and the journey He has our family on. Josh and my relationship with eachother and with God has only grown stronger...I can't wait to see where He takes us next :)
Here are some pictures from the visitors we had on my birthday. The Valdez family (plus Ade) came up for my birthday, Miss Sandi came to see Stephanie and so did Josh's parents (Mum and Papi to Stephanie). This was the first time Jim had seen her and the pictures say it all.....they are just precious! My Papa and Grandma and Aunt Laura were here too....but by then Stephanie was sleeping and I had put my camera away :) Enjoy!
Here are some pictures from the visitors we had on my birthday. The Valdez family (plus Ade) came up for my birthday, Miss Sandi came to see Stephanie and so did Josh's parents (Mum and Papi to Stephanie). This was the first time Jim had seen her and the pictures say it all.....they are just precious! My Papa and Grandma and Aunt Laura were here too....but by then Stephanie was sleeping and I had put my camera away :) Enjoy!
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