...are good days. 

 

Last week, Aunt Lisa came into town and she and I got to know each other. 

We had a blast!   

And she and my Momma stayed in their pj's all day and talked A LOT.  ...but I guess that's good for those grown-ups.  They seemed to enjoy it! 

Aunt Lisa loves cats, so she got to know Abby too.  I don't know Abby very well.  Momma doesn't let her spend time with me.  She says I have to wait until I'm older so I can pull Abby's tail. 

Momma calls this T.K.O.  I usually look like this right after the first course of each meal.  At least, that's what she says. 

Of course we do some errands during the day, and Momma has a two-mile walk around the neighborhood that she's started doing.  So I hang out in my favorite chair and snooze.  Momma calls it vibration therapy when she walks me in my stroller over the bumpy gravel.  It makes my head wiggle. 

Every morning we all hang out before Daddy goes to work.  We're kinda' sleepy.  I guess that's my fault.  I still keep us all up for an hour at about 2 a.m.  Hey, what can I say?  A (little) man's gotta' eat, right?

This was the last time I got to wear this outfit.  Momma was bummed because it's her favorite.  The pile of clothes I'm growing out of is getting bigger.  I grow fast! 

I was lookin' for something in my pocket to give Daddy, but all I found was fuzz.  

Just a regular day in the life of a little rock star. 

 

Hey Mom and Dad...  Remember when we were kids and Elizabeth and Danielle were over for dinner one evening?  (These two lovely ladies are the neighbor girls we grew up with.  We practially LIVED at each other's house during the summer time.)  Ok, ok, there were many evenings they were over.  Well, this particular evening you had shut the door between the kitchen and the dining room, where we were eating.  At the time, I thought it was because you trusted us and wanted to give us freedom and fun on our own.  I now realize that it was probably to block out the terror and chaos that we were creating.  Because that particular evening, we were filling our hamburgers with loads of ketchup and smashing down the top of the hamburger bun as hard as possible in order to see how far the ketchup would squirt across the table!  Needless to say, it had us giggling so hard that there was the inevitable occurence of explosive milk-through-the-nose laughter.  Multiple times.  I am SO sorry to whomever had to clean up after that dinner! 

 

Well, rest easy.  Because Danilo has made retribution.  He took revenge for you two days ago after his mid-afternoon meal.  He was so sweet and calm, as he nursed quietly.  After a while, he sighed deeply, and let go.  Suddenly, he sputtered a tiny sweet little cough, tilted his head up, and proceeded to SPRAY milk through his nose all over my face and chest!  Then he gave me the nicest grin afterwards! 

 

 

Well, lest I be mistaken for a woman without a competitive nature... I figure a little retribution of my own is called for.  After all.  I can't let the grandparents get the last word, can I!? 

 

I

THINK

NOT. 

 

This is Danny's latest cutest outfit: 

 

 

Do we not agree he has THE CUTEST TOOSHIE in town?  Oh, yes. 

 

 

Oh wait!  Check this picture out! 

 

 

Wait, that's not Danny.  WHO is that?!?  Why, that's Renee (at 6 months old)!  But why, pray tell, is she dressed like a boy?  Funny you should ask!  Wouldn't you like to know?  No matter.  I'll tell you anyway.  Well, when I was a little booger sweet baby, I had a rather short torso.  It made dresses difficult, because I would always crawl on the front of them.  Being the sensible mom that she is, my Mom dressed me in pants and shirts.  So I often looked like a...  well, I looked like a boy.  When we were out and about in the grocery store the sweet little ladies would say to my parents, "Aaaaw!  What a sweet little boy!  What's his name?"  And my mom - this is where the sensibility ENDS - would reply, "Andrew."  

 

 

What!? 

 

No wait...  it gets better. 

 

My Dad's answer was, "Alvin,"  just to see the looks on the poor little ladies in the grocery store who were horrified that such a cute little baby - because I was cute - would have such a horrendous name.  (Anyone reading this named Alvin out there, please accept my humblest apologies!) 

 

When it came time to go get my six month old portraits done, my Mom dressed me in my her the favorite outfit, with the favorite hat (given to me by my uncle) and took me on down to the photography studio.  The lady said, "Aaaw, what a cute little boy!  What's his name?"   You guessed it.  "Andrew," replied my Mom.  And she proceeded to let the photographer take my photo as a BOY!! 

 

 

Yes.  I'm scarred for life.  Can you tell?   

 

At least we've got the gender-appropriate outfit on the kid now.  Here he is, wearing my baby hat (yes, that thing is 30 years old). 

 

 

 

 

Here he is with an old clown toy that was also mine.  It has a little bell inside and it was one of my favorites! 

 

"Hey, whoa!  That thing is scary!  Mom, don't you know clowns are scary to kids!?  Sheesh!" 

 

"Plus, it seriously needs to be washed.  Gross, Mom."  

 

 

"Oh, you played with that when you were a kid?  Oh, yeah, it's kinda' cool." 

 

"Hmm, what does it do?"

 

"Cool jingle!" 

 

The other day, Danny actually reached for something he'd spotted!  This is the first time he's done that.  He spent about half an hour in this little jungle-theme exercise gym.  He was totally enthralled! 

 

 

 

 

Here's a video of him playing:  (Before you press "play," scroll down to the music player on the left and stop the music.)

      

 

Now that I've figured out how to embed videos...  I promise there will be lots more to come! 

 

Check it out!  I found the coolest thing last week! 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

A while back, I promised to tell you about God’s Perfect Timing…    

 

But first, I want to let you all know that things in this household have settled down considerably, and we are not quite so sleep-deprived as before.    On Tuesday night (after a much-needed heart-to-heart with a good friend and mentor of mine who is also an incredible mom) I determined that I was going to be in charge of the day’s schedule from now on and that Danny would NOT be.  After all, he is the kiddo and I am the mom and he does not run this house!  (Although it seemed like it was going to be that way for a while.)  Anyway, we truly put "Babywise" into practice and now all three of us are much happier and more rested.  It’s been a GREAT second half of the week, and Danny has settled into his schedule quite nicely. 

 

This little guy continues to just blow my mind with how incredibly I love him!  In fact, I was thinking…  How is it possible I could come to love someone SO much!?!  I mean, I truly love Alejandro that deeply and completely… but we’ve had over 7 years, since meeting each other for that to develop and grow.  My love for Danilo is that deep and wide, but it’s only been one month!  That is mind-blowing for me. 

 

I asked Alejandro the other day, on a much-needed date (yes, just the two of us because Mom babysat) what his favorite part of being a Dad was.  He had trouble putting it into words, but he said, “I guess just looking at him!  Knowing he came from me and you and our intense love for each other and how I just love him more than I can possibly imagine!  …Oh, and the diapers!” he added sarcastically, “I mean, that part is just the best!” 

 

But anyway…  back to the subject of His Perfect Timing.  Most of you know I have a Mary Kay business.  Some of you may wonder what would possess me to take part in a business that involves pseudo-cheerleader-type activities in which I join a group of women who seem WAY too excited about selling lipstick.  And WHY would I want to sell lipstick anyway?!?  Well, hopefully those of you who have taken part in my business have caught a glimpse of the fact that it’s much more than skin care and lipstick… and that it’s really about building up women, pouring into their lives and valuing them.  Some of my VERY BEST friends have come out of my business and I am eternally thankful for them. 

 

One of the things I appreciate most about my Mary Kay girlfriends is that we challenge each other to live BIG and to pursue God through the activity of our lives.  We often set goals for ourselves and then hold each other accountable to those goals and many times we cast a vision for what we’d like our lives to be like…  not just our business.  Prayer is a big part of the process.  So last year, at the beginning of July (which is the beginning of our “Mary Kay year”) I made a goal poster.  I put many things on this goal poster.  But one of the things I put was a picture of a pair of booties: 

 

 

Alejandro and I weren’t even thinking about starting a family yet.  In fact, we were most definitely “not ready.”  But I really wanted to be intentional about taking steps to get ready (financially, spiritually, relationally, etc.) to feel that we could start a family at any time.  

 

Since we got married, we both said that we wanted to start having kids after about five years.  It’s that question that everyone starts asking as soon as you’ve tied the knot.  “So, when do you think you’ll have kids?” people ask.  “Around 5 years of marriage,” was our answer.  But when our 5th year wedding anniversary started to get close, we both thought, “Nope, we’re still not ready!” 

 

And then God intervened. 

 

In September, we had a “scare.”  All you couples out there know what I’m talking about.  You know… the “oh-my-gosh-I-think-I-might-be-pregnant” SCARE.  Where both of your lives and senses of reality are totally suspended in utter panic for the duration of about a week until you find out that you’re really NOT pregnant.  Yeah.  That kind of a scare.  But an interesting thing happened during that week for me.  At the beginning of it I was definitely panicked.  I mean, I have always been totally excited about having kids, but I just didn’t feel ready then.  But by the end of the week, when I found out I wasn’t pregnant, I was absolutely heartbroken.  In that week, God planted in me a desire for children and He was preparing me for His Perfect Timing. 

 

Then October 18th rolled around – our 5 year anniversary – and Alejandro and I took off for a wonderful weekend at a bed and breakfast to spend together.  It was truly a memorable weekend!  We biked, hiked, ate yummy food, hot-tubbed, slept late…  It was FABULOUS! 

 

A week or so later, we started to suspect another SCARE.  But after the roller-coaster of emotions we had experienced the previous month, and because we had still been preventing, we both mentally said, “Nope, I’m not going down that emotional road again.  It’s surely nothing.”  However, a few days later, we were starting to wonder if maybe it wasn’t nothing, and I remember driving home talking to God about it.  He whispered to me, “Renee, if you are pregnant now, you will know that this is My Perfect Timing for you, because you didn’t make the decision to try.  You’ll know it’s Perfect Timing because it’s MY choice for you.  You’ll never doubt if you heard me wrong or if you tried too early and were financially irresponsible.  You’ll know this is MY desire for your life Right Now.” 

 

Well, praise God, we were wrong.  It wasn’t nothing.  It was definitely SOMETHING. And we were EXCITED!  (Ok, so after 24 hours we were excited…  It did take a little bit of time to sink in!)  I’m pretty darn sure Danilo was conceived one day after our 5th year wedding anniversary!

 

And wouldn’t you know it, Danilo was born on June 30.  That date might not seem significant to many of you.  But my Mary Kay girlfriends right now are smiling from ear to ear, because June 30 is the LAST DAY of the Mary Kay year.  It’s when all the contests are ending.  It’s when all of the goals that were set the previous July are finished.  Women promote themselves to be directors.  Diamonds and trips are won.  Pink Cadillacs are earned.  Dreams come true.  That day, my dream came true too – the dream I’d put on my goal poster the year before.  I guess God knows what he’s doin’ after all, huh. 

 

 

One more thing…

 

I DO have another dream that I’d like to share with all of you.  This may be one of the scariest things I’ve ever shared with so many people…  My dream is to promote myself to be a Mary Kay director – this is a position in which I get the privilege of training and mentoring a group of women to help them achieve what they want from their business.  My passion is sharing the Lord and His desire that we live BIG for Him.  I LOVE doing this through Mary Kay and being a director would give me a huge platform from which to do this.  So here’s the scary part:  I’m committed to working toward achieving this goal by March of 2010.  I’m sharing this with all of you because when I make it public…  well, then I really have to stick to it!  So feel free to hold me accountable!  Ask me how it’s going and how close I am! 

This is Not Me Monday.  It's one of my favorite posts on other blogs, so I thought I'd give it a try: 

 

 

So here goes... 

 

During my labor, I did NOT become the psycho pregnant woman you heard hollering at the top of her lungs from down the hall.  Nope.  That was not me.  I would never do that. 

 

Today, I did not give my baby son a pacifier five minutes after vowing he'd go the afternoon without it, simply because he stuck out that (absolutely irresistible) lower lip of his. 

 

 

I am not at the moment foregoing a much-needed nap because I am not completely addicted to blogs (both others and mine).  I have not spent the last week reading the entirety of a good friends' blog - like from 2007.  Nope, I didn't do that.  Because I didn't have other important things to do.  I did not read a blog post about contentment and then proceed to fervently covet my friend's gift of contentment, because I have not always struggled with wanting more than I have. 

 

Yesterday I did not pull out the Bumbo seat - designed for babies who can SIT UP and put my newborn in it!  Think he's ready?  ...Ok, I guess he still has a little room to grow into it! 

 

I did not choose to eat chocolate cream pie for breakfast last week instead of bran cereal, and I definitely did not serve myself an additional helping of my Mom's cheesy lasagna a few days ago, even though the cheese seems to be making me sick because it TASTED SO GOOD!  Furthermore, I did not mix up a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough without the eggs just so that I could eat the dough, with absolutely no intention of cooking the cookie dough into cookies.  And lastly my husband and I did not spend $9.00 (ridiculous!) on ice cream cones in Manitou Springs last weekend.  Oh, and I didn't get any ice cream on Danny either. 

 

 

I did not laugh when my baby son looked so cute crying. 

I did not cry today because he looked so adorable asleep and JUST BECAUSE HE'S MINE. 

I didn't catch myself with him in the mirror and ask myself, "Whose is that brown baby?  Certainly he couldn't belong to that pale woman!" 

I did not step on the scale again hoping it showed a smaller number than this morning and that somehow five more pounds had miraculously shed themselves between 6 a.m. and noon (despite the chocolate cream pie, ice cream, and cookie dough). 

 

I did not rejoice and even brag to my co-workers about 4 the consecutive hours of sleep that I got one night, as if that were a lot.  And I'm not still blogging instead of napping like I should.  ...and like Danny is...

 

These are things I would never do.  Why not?  Because I mostly certainly am NOT a sleep-deprived, crazy woman living the somewhat totally chaotic but absolutely fabulous life as mom-of-a-one-month-old.  Ok, so maybe I am.    So sue me. 

 

p.s.  He's four weeks tomorrow!  Who do you think won the resemblance contest? 

 

 

 

 

Personally, I think Alejandro wins, hands down! 

 

 

 

 

The most common question I've gotten recently is, "How are you doing?....  and how is the baby doing?"  Well, we truly are doing great!  We're

monumentally a little on the sleep deprived end of the scale, but really, we're doing wonderfully!   

 

 

I have completely recovered from the birth, and Danilo is eating like a champ...  which is much less painful now.  He's figured out how to latch on and I've toughened up, so nursing is going very well.  I'm amazed at how quickly this is returning to its normal shape and size! 

 

 

It's certainly not all the way there yet, but it is well on its way.  I was trying to calculate...  exactly how many calories must one burn in a day to lose 10 lbs in a week?  Based on how tired I am even after 10 hours of sleep (albeit in 2.5 hour increments), it's a lot!  And Danilo's belly button made its debut yesterday too!  His umbilucal cord stub came off (hoorah!) and his cute little belly button showed itself.  Now, is that not the cutest thing you've ever seen in your life?! 

 

 

Life around here is settling down.  I had two phenemonal weeks with my Mom... she was absolutely fabulous.  It was such a blessing to have her!  She was so supportive, really great at taking care of me so I could take care of Danilo, enjoyed "Grammy time" when I needed a break, and was so sensitive to know when to go make a phone call or read a book in the other room when Alejandro and I needed a moment...  Anyway, after two truly phenomenal weeks with my Mom, she headed back to San Diego yesterday.  But not before we enjoyed lasagna dinner and delicous desert with her and Shaun (my Mom's fiance) on Monday night.  Even though we did have to send Shaun to the grocery store half-way through cooking dinner... and even though upon sitting down to eat we discovered that there were NO napkins or paper towels (or even tissue) anywhere to be found in our house!  Shaun ran out to the car and grabbed the stash of McD's napkins shoved in the glove compartment of the car!   

 

 

 

Yesterday Danny and I had our first day on our own... and our first outting by ourselves!  First I wrestled with the car seat.  I ended up sweaty enough to need another shower, but I won.  Then we headed to the hospital for the nursing support class and weigh-in and Danilo's PKU test (in which they pricked his poor little heel for the bazillionth time).  He weighs 6 lbs 10 oz!  Go little man!  And then we went to Walmart to pick up a few necesary items and this extremely cute outfit for Danny and Dad

 

 

...and I forgot to get paper towels and napkins again!  I even walked an extra lap around Walmart thinking, "I know there was something else we needed!"    Oh well... 

 

Oh, and one last thing!  Danilo turned two weeks old yesterday!  We imprinted his hands and feet in plaster before they grow any more to celebrate.  Picture this:  Alejandro, Renee, a container of plaster, and a newborn.  Plaster was everywhere!  I wish I'd had a camera.  Oh well...  Danny survived and even escaped having any of his body parts permanently encased in plaster! 

 

I hope you all are having a wonderful week! 

 

Love,

Renee

Remember that Sunday school song? 

 

...Deep and wide... deep and wide... there's a fountain flowing deep and wide... 

 

Last week at about 3 a.m. I was nursing Danilo, on the verge of LOSING IT, when I decided that I would be proactive about the situation, and take a minute to drag myself out of my groggy state, put on some relaxing music, go to the bathroom, and get some water before pulling him close to feed him.  (This is because the previous nursing session in which I frantically jumped out of bed, scooped him up, and nursed him through thirst, hunger, pain, and an urgent need to pee...  well, let's just say it didn't go so well!) 

 

So the music I put in was a CD of lullaby Sunday School songs.  And the song playing was Deep and Wide.  I listened (a little more relaxed) as I gazed groggily at my little one, totally content and taking in his fill.  The words ran through my mind...  deep and wide... there's a fountain flowing... 

 

I was totally consumed by how in love with this little boy I am. And how that grows more each day.  And it dawned on me that the song never says what is deep and wide.  And then it dawned on me that it's a fountain of LOVE that flows from above that is deep and wide. 

 

I believe that God gives us things in life for the purpose of teaching us more about HIM.  NOT so that our life is more fun or more blessed.  Of course, often through the process we are more blessed, and our life is more fun!  However, I don't think that's why we receive those things.  New jobs, promotions, moves to a different city or state, spouses, houses, children...  they each give us an opportunity to see into His character a little deeper.  I have always believed this.  But it came home in a new way that night as I sat there nursing. 

 

Frankly, I was quite uncomfortable.  I was so filled with love for this little boy, but make no mistake about it; I was not having fun at that moment.  Yet I would have had it no other way.  And I thought, "God loves me that much... and infinitely more than I could ever fathom."  He endured much more than discomfort for me.  And what He feels towards me is so incredibly beyond what I could ever feel towards my baby.  His Spirit whispered to my soul, "Renee...  I love you this much.  Let that comfort you through this tough time.  Let me love on you.  Imagine my arms wrapped around you, holding you the way you hold
Danilo."  It was almost tangible.  Tears fell from my eyes in gratitude. 

 

Danilo is 10 days old today.  Here is a glimpse at the last 10 days with our family of three:   

 

DAY 1

 

 

 

DAY 2

 

DAY 3

 

DAY 5

 

DAY 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAY 8

 

DAY 9

 

 

 

DAY 10

 

I've gotten several questions about the correct pronunciation of Danilo's name.  Hopefully this will help: 

The boy's name Danilo (dah NEE lo) is a variant of Daniel, and the meaning of Danilo is "God is my judge". I was mistaken, and while Daniel is Hebrew, Danilo is not, but is used in English, Italian, Portuguese, Serbian and Spanish speaking countries. 

 

 

 A few months ago I wrote what no one told me about pregnancy and what everyone told me but I didn't entirely believe.   After 7 whole days of mommy-hood now...  here are my top two: 

 

What everyone told me but I couldn't have fathomed how true it really is:  This is the hardest thing you'll ever do in your life. 

What no one could've possibly told me in earthly language:  How utterly and completely I would instantly fall hopelessly in love with my most precious little boy. 

 

Here is the story of his debut into this world just 7 days ago:

 

Well it really started Sunday night, when we went to Walmart and I was having contractions - what is it about Walmart that makes me have contractions anyway?  Though I thought they were probably just more false alarms, Sunday night I went to bed and when Alejandro and I prayed together, I asked the Lord for these please to be the real thing, and to give me patience with His Perfect Timing (come back for more about this later). 

 

Monday morning, I woke up and the contractions had gotten harder and stayed consistent.  I layed there in bed, thinking, "should I cancel my Mary Kay appointment today?  or should I go?"  Well, it's a very good thing that I decided to cancel it, because by 9:30 a.m. I was using relaxation breathing for each contraction.  I could still talk through them, but I could tell they were the real thing.  So I called my photographer (she's responsible for all of the amazing pictures below, by the way) who's also my good friend.  At 10 a.m. I called the hospital and the nurses encouraged me to come in, even if they might send me home.  So I called Alejandro and said I thought he should come home.  At that moment, I was still able to be sweet and calm to him.   But not for long!  By 10:30, I called Alejandro again and said, "I JUST NEED YOU TO GET HOME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."  He made it across town in record time. 

 

When Alejandro got home, the routine was like this:  Alejandro takes the fastest shower of his life.  Alejandro coaches Renee through a contraction.  Alejandro puts his clothes on.  Alejandro coaches Renee through a contraction.  Alejandro grabs 3 things to put in the suitcase.  Alejandro coaches Renee through a contraction.  Alejandro puts those three things in the suitcase and grabs three more things.  Alejandro coaches Renee through a contraction.  Alejandro makes two sandwiches.  Alejandro coaches Renee through a contraction.  Alejandro...  You get the idea.  At 11:30 a.m. (I think) we made it to the hospital and went to triage.   (This is where they decide if you're in enough pain to be admitted to the hospital.)  Apparently, I was NOT.  Because I spent the next several hours in triage. 

I was only 1 cm dilated at that point - but my contractions were very intense, although the nurse (bless her wonderful heart) was not going to send me home.  Danilo was facing head down (good) but with his back against my spine (bad).  The "back labor" was excruciating.  But we did what we could without being able to admit me.  We started with some breathing techniques.  They kind of worked... but I was already pretty tired.  It was about 1 or 2 p.m.  I decided to accept a temporary pain medication that would allow me to sleep some and rest for more intense labor later on.  After about an hour of "rest" (because Alejandro still had to massage my back and I had to breathe controlled through each contraction, which were still about 3-4 minutes apart).  Then we headed for the tub. 

At about 4 p.m. I was still only 3-4 centimeters, but I was completely spent.  The nurse encouraged me that I should be very proud for making it that far without pain medication, but she warned me that when my water broke the contractions would be twice as hard.  In addition, I was fighting each contraction, which hindered the productivity of each one in getting me to the goal:  10 cm.  I decided (with a mix of disapointment and relief) to take an epidural.  I was then admitted, and we headed down the hall. 

...with some pauses and some difficulty...

 

After that, things got MUCH EASIER, and MUCH MORE FUN!  At 6 p.m. the epidural had set in and I had made it to 7 cm.  The waiting game began. 

 

By 8 p.m. I had gotten pretty hungry, having not eaten anything since I arrived at the hospital before noon, so when the nurses stepped out, a little rebellion took place...  My pregnancy craving for chocolate chip granola bars hit its peak! 

We waited some more and I rested some more.  I was between 7 and 8 centimeters then. 

At long last by midnight I was at 10 cm and it was time to push!   ...the fun part! 

No really... it really was fun!    I pushed for about an hour...  quite a challenge when you have no control over your body from the waist down! Finally the moment arrived when the little guy's head came out.  The cord was wrapped around his neck, but the doctor expertly cut it and slipped out his shoulders and body.  The moment I'd waited for had arrived, and I was absolutely elated.  It was so surreal and amazing.  I just remember holding his head in one hand and a foot in the other and thinking they were so tiny! 

Danilo was quickly whisked over to the nurse's table across the room, where I could watch and listen, and they got him breathing and cleaned him up. 

Proud Papa looked on and thanked our Lord, as the emotions finally hit him all at once. 

 

 

Danny makes this face ALL the time! 

Alejandro kept going back and forth between me and Danilo, until he was cleaned up...

...and ready to properly say hello.

It was unspeakably amazing to finally hold him in my arms.  Alejandro brought him to me and I looked into his tiny face and it was so new, and yet seemed so known.  So familiar.  As if I'd always known him.  I wanted to take in every detail and memorize his face. 

 

Father in heaven, how humbled we are to be graced with such a gift. 

 

Meet our baby boy! 

 

Danilo Chinchilla Porras was born early this morning, June 30th, at 1:19 a.m. 

He weighs 5 lbs, 10 oz and is 18 3/4 inches long. 

Danilo is Hebrew for Daniel and means "God is my Judge." 

 

 

Alejandro and I are both doing well and enjoying being new parents.    I'll send the complete story soon. 

Hello everyone! 

 

 

Here's just a little news on how this week of pregnancy has gone... 

 

Last week, at my appointment, the dr. said I had least another week to go...    And so I've waited impatiently.  I HAVE been keeping myself busy this week, though!  Look at all I've done this week... 

 

I got a haircut - shorter and easier.  (Not in the picture though.  You'll have to wait until next week's blog.)

 

I went swimming 3 times - who says 38 weeks is too late to start an exercise regimen?  One of my favorite expressions: "You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips."  So by golly, you can start an exercise regimen in your last two weeks of pregnancy!  Why not?  It has done WONDERS for me!  My mom, who visited this week, commented multiple times at how I was moving more easily even after just one day of swimming.  It's been GREAT!  So all you pregnant ladies out there, do whatever you can to get your hands on a swim membership. The comic relief I get, alone, from the gaping stares people give me as I ease myself and the basket ball on my front into the water, are payoff enough to keep going! 

 

My mom and I purchased the baby's mattress, as well as the last few items on the shopping list.  So now the little guy can arrive without my panic over not having gotten these few items.  Not that it really would have mattered.  I'm so sure that had contractions started, my mind would be on the baby sling to be bought or the crib sheets I hadn't found yet. 

 

Baby got to know Grammy's voice, since she spent the week with me.  That was PHENOMENAL too!  I can't wait till she comes back on Wednesday.  It was like having my own Encouragment Coach right here in my home.  "So what's on the schedule for tomorrow?  When do you want to exercise?  I'm going to clean the refrigerator, ok?  Do you have any Mary Kay phone calls you need to do?  Why don't you take a nap?"  I'm telling you - HEAVEN must be a little like this. 

 

I even held two facial apointments for my Mary Kay business and did makeup for my friend at her wedding! 

 

But the best accomplishment this week has to have been the last 48 hours:  (Husbands, take notes!)  Yesterday, Alejandro got up early with me before my Mary Kay appointment and fixed french toast for me!  Then he sent me out the door with a strawberry smoothie - my favorite!  Later that day, after a swim, I came home and he said (with a small large smirk) that I was to be ready at 5p.m. for our friends, Matt and Melissa, to come over and to just trust him.  At five, they arrived and Matt and Alejandro loaded their two pregnant wives into the car and carted us down the hill to the nail salon where they surprised us with the nail treatment of our choice!  Now, I have to tell you that getting my nails done is one of my GREATEST WEAKNESSES and one thing that makes me feel ABSOLUTELY PAMPERED TO THE MAX.  I was smiles from ear to ear!  While we got our nails done, the guys went back home and fixed a delicous pasta dinner complete with sparkling lemonade for us!  And to top it all off, with all that rest, pampering, healthy (or at least yummy) food, exercise, and fun, my feet have not been swollen for a whole 24 hours!!!    This has not been true for about four months! 

 

 

I hope you all had a weekend at least half as fabulous as mine has been! 

 

Love and blessings,

 

Renee

 

I can’t believe it’s only been about a week since I wrote last…  It seems that a million things have happened and about 4 weeks have gone by.  Or is it just that one week FEELs like four weeks, now that I JUST CAN’T WAIT to get this baby out of my tummy and into my arms… 

 

I’m about 37 ½ weeks along now, with just two and a half eternally long (I mean) itty bitty weeks to go.  This week, Alejandro finished painting the baby room – which I must say looks ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!  We moved all the baby gear into it, and last night at 2 a.m. I even packed the diaper bag.  (See below as to WHY I was doing that at 2 a.m.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toby's new favorite spot to hang out:  (at least until he hears the garage door - indication that Dad's home.)

 

Second big accomplishment:  I finished my last week at work, including training my replacement, and successfully cut the cord to my job for the next 12 weeks…  Well, almost.  I’ll cut it right after I get one more piece of information back from someone, adjust one more spreadsheet, and send it to the head of the finance department.  And right after I answer any questions that might come up in the next two weeks from my replacement.  Ok, so I’m not so good at truly walking away.  But I’m getting better.  (And by the way, my replacement, Brandon, is wonderful and will do a phenomenal job!)  Today I did succeed at ignoring work...  Third big accomplishment:  I have spent the last three glorious hours doing nothing, but sitting in this gorgeous baby room, in my new favorite rocker/glider reading my favorite blog and looking at how this tummy keeps growing and growing. 

 

And growing… 

 

 

Next big accomplishment:  This week, I also had my first bout of, “Am I in labor or is this just a false alarm?”  Actually, the answer is still to be determined.  But long-story short, last night I started having pretty consistent, but very very mild contractions ever 3-5 minutes.  And they really haven’t stopped…  But the fact that I’ve talked, slept, gone grocery shopping, had dinner, blogged, cooked a Father’s Day breakfast, and had phone conversations all the way through them makes it thoroughly obvious that it’s no where near time to head to the hospital.  Not to say they’ve all been “no big deal,” though.  They started at about 8 p.m. last night, and until 5:30 a.m., each one brought pretty intense cramping to my lower back.  If that’s any indication of what back labor is like, I’ll pass, thank you very much.  Praise the Lord:  This morning at 5:30 a.m., the lower back pain stopped, even though my abdomen continues to seem to stand up on its own every few minutes in a little contraction.  Who knows if the Baby turned, or what… but I’m thankful the back pain is no longer part of the experience. 

 

On Friday my doctor said my body’s not doing any of that dilating or effacing stuff yet.  Next appointment is Wednesday.  That will be 38 weeks.  I have been telling this baby that two weeks early would be just fine with me.  Wednesday we’ll see how good of a listener he’s shaping up to be… or if he’s more like his obstinate mommy and daddy who definitely do things in their own time. 

 

Last big accomplishment:  Wishing my sweet husband Happy Father’s Day upon waking up this morning (all three times) and letting him have the day to do the things he loves:  eating an omelet breakfast – it wasn’t pretty, but he said it was definitely yummy; washing his very dirty Jeep – I said it was what he wanted to do, not me, right?; going mountain biking; and later tonight we’ll go to Chili’s for dinner.  (Which I think I'm as equally excited about as he is.)

 

In Honor of Daddy’s Day, I’ll end with the following:  Why Alejandro will make THE MOST phenomenal Dad on the planet, I’m sure:  

 

 

He loves Jesus. 

 

He loves me. 

 

He loves this baby…  and he hasn’t even met him yet! 

 

He’s a phenomenally hard worker. 

(Although he won't let me take a picture of him working hard...)

 

He’s got a GREAT sense of humor. 

 

And because God made him that way. 

 

 

I love you, Ale.  Happy Father’s Day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 So, how's our little boy?  He's about 17 inches tall now (head to toe), although he stays curled up in a ball, so you can't really tell.  He weighs almost 3 pounds, so over the next 11 weeks, he'll put on lots of baby fat.  He kicks and jabs, stretches and turns all the time now.  Sometimes I can even sit and watch my stomach jump.  At the moment, his favorite spot to kick is my bladder... aah! 

 

 

 

This past December, my husband and I showed up at our Colorado Springs church (New Life Church) one Friday night excited about free Starbucks coffee and Panera Bread bagels, and we walked out of church without shoes.

 

We were at out church’s 20 something’s college age service.  Aaron Stern is the pastor of the Mill – the name of the ministry – and every year he does a Christmas project and gets all of the students involved.  The first year he did it, he learned that there was a single mom greatly in need of a car.  So he rallied the students, and together they raised enough money to buy her a car and present it to her.  This year, Aaron chose an organization called Soles for Souls.  This organization collects donations of old shoes and sends them all over the world wherever needed.  Aaron took the time to explain that in many nations, people go without shoes, and because of that, experience all sorts of problems that can lead to disease, crippling, and even death.  The church we attend is very large, and so even though it was a holiday weekend, there were about 800-900 students in attendance that night.  Aaron had put out a challenge to the Mill students for several weeks to see how many shoes could be collected and donated that night. 

 

Now we all know how phenomenal college students are at preparing ahead of time.  …You mean your college student doesn’t?  …Well, when I was in college, I sure didn’t!  There were many who came that night having totally forgotten about the shoe-drive, despite their good intentions.  Then there were those who were visiting or new… and then there were people like my husband and myself – the occasional attendees who are not on the email update list, but who enjoy the worship and teaching from time to time. 

 

As I sat there listening to Aaron talk about the great need for shoes all over the world, I thought of all of the pairs of shoes at home that I wouldn’t mind letting go of.  If only I’d known, I could have brought them along, rather than allowing them to continue to collect dust in the closet. 

 

Right then, Aaron took the challenge to another level.  He said, “You know, I know some of you are wishing you’d known to bring shoes from home… but you truly do still have an opportunity to give tonight.”  And then he challenged us (as he proceeded to remove his own tennis from his feet, and toss them into the donation pile) to step up to the challenge right then and there, with whatever shoes we had to give – even the ones on our feet.  He didn’t offer the opportunity to bring shoes the next day.  He simply said, “Would you give what you have right now?” 

 

Has God ever really “stuck it to ya’?”  You know… when God catches you right in a moment and asks you to rise to the occasion right then?  He asks you to meet his request immediately?  Well, He “stuck it to me,” that night, and I must say, I failed in every way that counts. 

 

As soon as Aaron started talking about shoes, I knew the call.  And I immediately resisted. 

I thought, “But I’m pregnant and these are my comfortable shoes.”  Actually, I had grabbed those shoes in a mad dash because the ones I really wanted to wear were not in reach. 

I reasoned, “But I need these shoes.”  That’s ridiculous!  I had two other pairs of black shoes at home!  I really didn’t NEED them. 

Put yourself in my place.  Look down at your shoes and ask yourself, “if I were asked to give these shoes right now… and go home without them, what would my objection be?  Or would you consider saying yes for the sake of having a great excuse to go shoe-shopping tomorrow?  Now, I’m not saying that it’s unreasonable to ever say no.  But what God showed me in that moment was most of the time we refuse to give we really just have no excuse.  We just like what we have and don’t want to let go of it. 

 

It was quite an amazing thing that happened next.  I did decide to give the shoes I was wearing.  Ultimately, I was convicted that God was calling me specifically to give them up and I grudgingly agreed.  In addition, my pride was certainly not going to allow me to be the only one walking out of church with shoes on while others walked out in socks… especially since my husband was one who was eager to give his.  So when worship music started playing, and students started approaching the front with shoes in bags that they’d gathered, and shoes from their feet that they’d pulled off, I got up and joined them as we walked towards the front. 

 

And then an interesting thing happened about halfway down the aisle to the donation pile:  God totally transformed my heart.  Often we are afraid to ask God to challenge or deepen our faith because we know that He’ll ask us to step out of our comfort zone.  We sometimes only take that first step out of grudging obedience.  But I have learned that that step taken (even grudgingly) is a step of faith, and GOD HONORS EVEN THE FIRST STEP taken in faith. 

 

I was halfway to the donation pile, dreading letting go of the shoes in my hands.  Alejandro walked behind me, and suddenly he stepped forward, wrapped his arms around my waist, and whispered, “That’s someone’s life there in your hands.”  Alejandro spoke the words to me, but truly, God had spoken to me in that moment.  As he said that, the Holy Spirit worked in my heart to transform my attitude, and instantly, it was no longer difficult to give up those shoes.  “Why did I even hesitate for a moment?” I thought to myself.  “I am giving life!”  My attention was turned in that moment from what I wanted, to what I had to give. 

 

I believe that just might be a key step in getting this nation out of financial crisis.  If we can take our attention off of what we want and don’t have, just long enough to focus on all that we have to give, then the fear and panic that grips us might lose its hold on us and in that way, God may eradicate the fear that holds us in financial bondage.  By realizing that not only does God provide for each of our needs, but that he’s given us an abundance out of which to extend our generosity, then we are no longer held in panic over financial matters.  We can rest in His caring arms. 

 

The Bible says that it is harder for a rich man to reach heaven, than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.  I think this is because we hold so tightly to what we think gives us stability and freedom, rather than reaching for the only One who can TRULY give stability and freedom.  I believe the best remedy for financial panic is to become an extravagant giver.  By that, I don’t mean giving irresponsibly.  I mean simply giving out of the resources made available to you.  It may be time. It may be clothes, shoes, food, or a listening ear.  Take inventory now of the blessings you have.  Think of five material blessings that are in your life:  your bank account (if you even have one, that’s a blessing), your home, your car, your clothes, and your job (which brings a paycheck).  Now think of five immaterial blessings in your life:  your family, your friends, the freedom to worship in a church of your choice, your health, your talent and capacity to work and serve. 

 

That night, Alejandro and I showed up at church looking forward to what we would get:  Panera Bread and Starbucks coffee.  And we walked out with no shoes, absolutely ecstatic over what we had been able to take part in.  What’s more, we were blown away by the generosity that we saw the college students show that night:  There were 800-900 students in attendance.  When Aaron asked us to come forward, it looked like a communion service.  Almost NO ONE remained seated.  Shoes and spare change were donated (since the shoes don’t arrive to Soles for Souls on their own).  That night 1,301 pairs of shoes were donated and $4,800 was raised by a bunch of poor college students. 

 

Now you tell me what God can’t do when we are eager to do all we know how and allow Him to lead us. 

 

Here is a picture of Pastor Aaron Stern, dumbstruck, behind a pile of shoes waist high. 

 

 

Lord, may we all become individually and corporately extravagant givers of the resources you’ve made available to us. 

 

I’m learning that giving is the best medicine to financial crisis, not necessarily because it comes back to you (although often times it does) but because it puts you in a mindset in which you focus on the abundance of blessing you’ve received and can pass on.  I challenge you to give in some way today.  Taking a mental inventory is one thing, but taking a step of action brings it home to a whole new level. 

 

If you would like to exercise this privilege of giving, there are many opportunities around you.  Here are three I know of: 

 

www.soles4souls.org is the site for Soles 4 Souls

http://themillonline.org is the site for the Mill – lead by Pastor Aaron Stern (you can donate on the Missions link under Community). 

and www.hcjb.org is the site for HCJB Global, an organization that provides Christian radio and health care around the world.  (This is where I work.)