Tag Archive - baby

Lil’ Miss – 6 Months

April 19, 2012 in Mamahood with 1 Comment

6 months

My oh my… my little lady is growing up and getting her little self all around this place! Today marks 6 months since she arrived in our arms and took over our lives! She is truly awe-inspiring and makes us drop our jaws in admiration and joy over her life and her abilities every single day.

(Celebrating today!) 

She now thoroughly enjoyed her Johnny Jump Up that we hang in the doorways and is getting to know her new-to-her activity center. Thankful to not only have to lay on the ground and scoot to get toys, she enjoys being up and seeing the world as she plays.

She’s well on her way to mastering the crawl… not completely there yet but that doesn’t stop her from moving all about to get where she wants to be! She’s up on her knees, nose-diving, booty in the air – working her way to places she wants to be!

We’ve begun to have family mealtimes with her in her Bumbo at the table! (She’s always sat up there with us but as of two weeks ago, she gets food too!) She has taken a liking to a few foods she explores and “eats” – carrots & green beans have been enjoyed along with red peppers pulling in as a favorite! Adding a few attempts at some pork and chicken! She’s well on her way to knowing what GOOD food is and savoring her meals. (I plan to do a post on the way we’re going about her beginning food/eating stages in the near future -

we’re not doing any purees – technically called baby-led weaning or, self-feeding… it’s more in line with how babies develop naturally than spoon-feeding! Like I said, another post regarding that is in the works for next week!)

We are so proud of her and thankful beyond what words can express for her being a part of our lives and God allowing us to raise a precious child of His. I am in pure amazement most days at how much she has learned and accomplished in her short 6 months… and so excited I get to observe and take part in how God shapes her life in the future.

I’ve already seen God use her to bring about smiles, laughter and joy in others’ lives. She is nothing but content, happy, a silly one and will gladly pass along a smile to brighten anyone’s day. There is no stranger in her eyes and she definitely has my curiosity of things – which I cannot thank God enough for! I love watching her discover and figure things out. I hope she’s always willing to discover, seek and find, enjoy new experiences and learn from what is around her. I want her to know she is free to explore the world as her playground, that she will discover other cultures and love on people in places far from her comfort zone!

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(Papa was her playground last week!) 

In her 6 months of life she’s been to Wisconsin, New Jersey, New York (& NYC), Illinois (Chicago), Indiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, Mexico… I’d say she’s off to a pretty good start on the traveling thing! She’s a trooper! (My Dad used to tell me that when we were traveling and touring the umpteenth cathedral during our years in Europe!)

We’re celebrating her 1/2 year today and so thankful for what she’s brought to our family!

Enjoy today!

SCK

An Anniversary & A Bambino!

April 18, 2012 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

Crystalina & Jesus POPS

There is much to celebrate today!
My heart is overflowing with jubilation!
I am grinning ear-to-ear!
I am elated to celebrate today! 

Why so much joy you ask?! You see, today marks a very special anniversary of two dear, dear friends in my life AND those friends just happened to have their first baby boy THIS MORNING!!!! Combine that with the fact that it was one of their birthdays earlier this week and we have a Celebration TRI-FECTA!

These two people, Crystalina & Jesus, bring so much into my life – joy, laughter, faith, growth, love, with a whole lotta e.t.c.! We’ve spent much time together and celebrated just about every event you can think of in each others’ presence. Affectionately, we call one another brothers and sisters. These two truly are that in my life.

In 2007, soon after I moved to NJ upon college graduation, I met Crystalina at the coffee lounge I was working at that my brother-in-law managed. It was an instant hit-off with us and our friendship has grown from those days on. We’ve not only spent time together, we’ve mentored teens together, had long talks over coffee, discussed and struggled with life decisions together, traveled and established a deep life-long friendship!  I met Jesus practically the same way – through my brother-in-law – he’s from Costa Rica and became closer than family in a matter of months. By the way – Costa Rica – what a beautiful country – if given the opportunity, I’d move there in a heartbeat!)

Last year, I got a call from Crystalina while she was down in CR visiting her (then) fiancé! They were thinking about getting married within a few days instead of the bigger wedding they’d been planning for later in the fall. I was so on-board for many reasons and in an instant knew I just had to figure out how to be in CR for the big event! Given about 48 hours until the ceremony, I hit the internet in search of tickets, ok’d it with Keith and called my Dad. Since I knew their wedding was happening quick, not many others from the US were going to be able to attend, which made it all the more important to conquer this feat and be there to celebrate their marriage as they said their vows.

Two frantic days later, I was packed, had a cell phone that would work in CR (try explaining that situation to the AT&T rep!), was packed and…. did NOT have a ticket! That’s right, it was now Saturday morning and I was waiting for the last minute ticket price to lower once more before confirming my flight that afternoon! Keith and I headed to the food market we volunteer at and he was on his iPhone every five minutes checking. With my bags in the car, I was ready to go straight to the airport! An hour and a half into our 3 hour shift, I told our team leader that we had to go – that I was actually going to Costa Rica and we had just bought the ticket on the iPhone! Needless to say, there was a lot of fast-paced explaining before we hit the highway to get me to my flight which was boarding in 2.5 hours!

That day, I was full of joy – not only was I getting to go back to Costa Rica (where I’d been the past two years in April as well), but I was going to be participating and witnessing two of my closest friends say, I do! Armed with a boarding pass, cell phone and camera, I was off! I arrived in CR that night and stayed with some missionary friends we know there. The next day began a whirl wind of wedding planning if I’ve ever seen it!

Due to the surprise of deciding to get married within three days – Crystalina was off to find a dress and I joined in the decorating committee, became the driver for the groom, and the event photographer! We had so much fun and there is not another couple I would want to go through that expedited process with! From grabbing flowers on our way to Jesus’ hometown from the airport, to stopping by the local hardware store to have a 12 ft plastic pipe weaved through our car, to finding a wedding night cabin for them which & having to call the fireman to come exterminate a swarm of bees in the area, to being asked within 10 minutes of the wedding if I’d walk her down the aisle! Much fun, stress and laughter was had to say the least!

As I think back, that trip was fantastic, and it also came at a time where I needed a revamp and a time away from MN in the most serious way. Things were rough around here last spring as we settled into life in MN and a trip away, to reconnect with a place I so long for almost every week, was just what the Almighty Doctor ordered!

So, a year ago today, I witnessed their marriage and was able to support them in a unique way being in Costa Rica…. and yesterday, I was sending text messages back and forth with Crystalina as she experienced the ups and downs of labor as she prepared to give birth to their son, Micah! What a year!!

This morning, at 8am,
Micah Mauricio Solano
was born!


Making Crystalina and Jesus parents on their first wedding anniversary! A long and hard night for both, yet such a joyous occasion for so many as we all welcome this little boy to the world and our hearts.

I am so freakin’ proud of these two, the trials and challenges they have face and continue to face seem like immoveable mountains often, but they cling to their God and trust in His unfailing plans for the fullest life He has for them. They constantly encourage one another, seeking out the best in each other so that not only in their marriage but in their friendships and family life they are working to be who God has made them to the utmost! And now, happily entering parenthood and so looking forward the adventure that will bring to their family!

There is much to celebrate today! There is much to be thankful for – their love & marriage, their healthy baby boy and our friendship with one another! Shortly after waking up this morning, we were able to Skype with Jesus and to hear the excitement through the tiredness of his voice was amazing. If only I could give each of them a giant bear hug!

I am thankful for the peace God brought through the labor and delivery, for the joy of new parents and the miracle of life that God allows us to experience as mama’s and papa’s. I’m thankful for friendships that go beyond talks – that are real and that we know we each would do anything in the world to be able to support and show love to one another. From airport pick-ups, to traveling for weddings and text message galore… this is what life-long friendship are for!

Seeing as this much has happened in a year – a year and a week ago, they didn’t even know they would be married within 7 days – I am wait in anxious anticipation over what God will bring them through and the adventure that is to be had throughout the next year as they welcome Micah into their lives and arms!

Crys & Jesus – SO proud of you guys! May God bless you today as you celebrate the life that has been added to your family! And may rest from the past few long days be found for each of you! Micah is such a precious boy and a joy in my life already! (PS – we did tell Brooklyn that her husband was born today! And Keith followed that up with the fact that he’s Costa Rican so they’d have cute kids one day! Never too early to start arranged marriages! ha) We’ll take you to POPS to celebrate when we all are in CR together SOON!

Enjoy today! 

SCK

To Feel Wanted

April 17, 2012 in Mamahood with 1 Comment

Brooklyn Newborn

Hello lovelies (and gents – you’re lovely too)! I trust you had a weekend full of rest and fun times with friends! Our weekend was both, complete with three bands of nasty storms that all happened within 40 minutes last night and snow flurries yesterday morning! Crazy weather I tell ya!?! Never have I seen it go from 93% humidity with sweat forming on my brow to 33 degrees with snow flurries floating about in a period of 12 hours!

Sunday night, the hubby and I watched an episode of the current show we’re devouring on Netflix. Usually it’s a casual, fun-plotted show about the inner workings of an alternative medicine office. But last night, while some undertones of the story line left us giggling, the main plot left me near tears. (And that does not happen often my friends!) This episode featured something they called “Safe Surrender” about the law that allows new mothers to drop off their babies at a hospital or police/fire station within 48 hours of the birth and no questions are asked. The office was diving into being a hotline for the service and faced two calls during the 42 minutes of the show. What struck me wasn’t the fact of this service, it was a line that came while the Dr. was taking care of the first baby girl before calling social services.

When asked by another co-worker if she wanted them to make the call that night, the Dr., holding the wee lil’ one close to her chest and gently swaying her, said,

“No, no… she deserves to feel wanted for at least one day.”

Wow.

Of course. The tears held themselves back, but my lip pouted out and the deepest part of me whimpered with a gut-wrenching sadness. A part of social services and caring for orphans that I’ve never thought about in those terms. Yes – this little child who was born into the world deserves to know and feel wanted. She deserves to know that her situation is not her fault. To know that love does exist and she wasn’t made to just be thrown into a make-shift system of care and sometimes false love. And to not have to wonder what her value is or feel unwanted.

I’ve shared before about how mama hood has changed the core of who I am and how I look at the littlest ones of our world. Last night, that core was shook again as I watched this lady care for this baby (whom she affectionately named Batgirl) for 24 hours. Knowing what was coming for this baby girl in “the system” – she wanted this baby to experience all the love and care she could for the time she had her. As mama’s, we spend our days doing this and wanting things to be perfect. But how often do we only do this with children. How often do we pass older folks who look desperate for love and to know they are wanted. Same condition, same remedy.

Watching the show, while the episode played on, my mind was stuck on that one line like superglue between your fingers. There was no avoiding it, no changing my thoughts to something fun. I went to bed with that line repeating over and over in my head like a broken record. How (even though I know it was fiction) I wanted to scoop up that baby and do the same that the Dr. did – show her affection, care for her needs. Mr. and I have talked about adoption being in our future, but last night I wanted to just run out and take in any babes who needed someone to show them they are wanted!

It brought all the emotions again from when Lil’ Miss was first born and had me scrolling through pictures remembering how tiny and dependent she was on some else to help introduce her to this bright new world out of her comfort zone she’d known for 9 months! Oh how many babes are there who are in desperate need of knowing the truths of love, care, hugs, affection, attention and want. I’m praying for those lil’ ones this morning. That adoptions may go smooth and quickly, that the ones being born today may find peace and unconditional love no matter what the situation is. That social workers would be able to know what is best in these situations. But also that people around me, whom are not babies or tots, would also feel that from me. Through a smile, a hug, a generous gift, or sharing a coffee. And that someday, I may get the chance to provide that loving home for a wee one in need.

“…she deserves to feel wanted…”

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Enjoi Today
SCK

Mama-hood Changed Me

March 6, 2012 in Mamahood with 2 Comments

Baby Girl

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Might need to warn you that this is a heavy-hearted post.

The title of this blog may cause you to think “duh!” if you’re already a mama but I’ve been reminded so much over the past week just how much this rings true. There’s the diapers, sleepless nights (though I have to say I’ve been blessed with a great sleeper!), fewer date nights, giving up yourself for your little one, and all the other ways you can possibly think that the daily activities change from being a wife to becoming a mother. But I’m not talking about the physical day-to-day routines (or lack there of), I’m talking about deeper changes, such as my reactions to other babies.

I was never a baby person. Sure, I think they’re cute but I never wanted to hold newborns in the hospital when visiting a new mama because I felt so awkward coming up with cute comments to say. The drool, slobber, spit-up was pretty much what I equated with babies and could always pass opportunity to hold a wee one. They say that changes “when it’s your own” and that is for sure considering I get slobbered and spit up on daily now!

The day I became responsible for the spit-up and poo!

Having Lil’ Miss in October has radically changed the way my mind and heart responds to these precious little gifts. Oh.my I cannot tell you how many hours the Mr. and I still spend in complete awe of Lil’ Miss! Her life, the fact that she is here, was created and knit together so perfectly in my womb. INCREDIBLE. It’s a completely different perspective. Just watching her sleep fills me with such wonder and adoration for our Creator. Now when I see other babies and pictures of wee little lives, I am instantly filled with such deep-seeded joy. Unexplainable joy and love for them. All of them.

Karen Feder Photography

But I sit here with a big lump in my throat today, I must share with you why this post is being written… lately I’ve come across and been reminded of some mama’s that have had few precious moments with their newborns. (by lately, I mean it’s been hitting me in a different way lately, not that I have learned of them recently, some actually happened years ago) Talk about something that cannot be understood or comprehended.  Something that challenges your faith and rocks your world harder than anything else possible, the loss of a precious new life goes completely against every fiber in our being. When I see these moments captured by film or words, it tears at my mama genes, ripping my heart apart for these mamas (and papas). Today I saw a father (who attended the same high school in Germany as me) had to lay his little princess to rest. The picture of her was breathtaking, she’s beautiful, tiny and so loved. Tonight, I was told of a teen mom whose baby will not live long due her brain having developed on the outside of her head, but what a precious little baby she is, looking up at her mama in the most endearing way that only newborns can.
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Lil’ Miss looking up at me the same way… I remember that look so vividly,
as if she was saying “so… I’m trusting you to take care of me Mama”

None of us will ever understand this loss. These mama’s have to face another day and gather strength, to rest in the knowledge that their son/daughter is safe in their Creator’s arms.

A part of who I have been created is to deeply feel the hurt of others in tragic situations and wishing I could be right there to provide some type of comfort or support. Tonight, after talking with my Mom about the little baby girl mentioned above, I’m broken. I want to just hold her and tell her how precious she is so that she hears it from as many people as possible before leaving this earth. How very, very precious life is.

I don’t mean to be a downer in a week that will be filled with such joy and to rejoice in these days that are made to live out the best we can, but this is real. This is hard. It’s something that was hard before I was a mama myself, but now is harder because I have my own little girl’s eyes to look into and personality to experience. Ever since Lil’ Miss was born, we have said she is God’s daughter first. Beloved. He has given her to us as a gift. (That’s why her middle name is Olivia) She doesn’t belong only to us. He created her every fiber. And now that I’ve encountered the miracle of life myself, it changes my perspective. Dramatically.

Karen Feder Photography

So today, I’m praying for these dear mamas who only were able to catch a glimpse of their precious babies’ lives and cling so tightly to the truth that God had a place for them in Heaven before they ever experienced much on Earth. Praying for comfort, joy to be brought into their lives and memories to carry them through the hardest of days they’ve been required to steward.

I ask you to pray too – if you don’t know anyone personally that has been through this you can join me in praying for a dear friend’s young nephew, Wilson, who has recently been diagnosed and is fighting for his life against Steven Johnson Syndrome. Or my precious friend, L, whose second & third child are in Heaven and is now pregnant with her fourth child and cautiously & anxiously waiting to meet her new baby girl.

Join me today in prayer.

ENJOI the wee ones that you are around today and
rejoice in their every adventure, word, blink and breath.
For they are the precious children of God and need to be loved on so much! 
I can’t say it loud/strong/sincere/awe-inspiring enough, 
THE WEE ONES IN OUR WORLD ARE SO VERY PRECIOUS!

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Karen Feder Photography

 

SCK