God's Provision

When I was pregnant with Lainey I prayed and prayed that God would make a way for me to stay home with our sweet girl. I knew how hard it would be when I looked at the numbers, but I trusted that if it was his will he would provide a way.  He has provided a way with a couple of work from home opportunities, but he has done so many other things as well. I've started a journal about his provision for us since Lainey was born and I have a feeling by the time I decide to go back to work it will be filled with stories of his Love and power. Some things are big and some are little, but it is so neat to see him working in our life.

When friends tell me they can't afford to stay home I want to be able to say, "Me either, but God can!!" He works in such amazing ways when you let him.

I know that God has blessed us with jobs that provide income, but on top of that he has provided in ways that cannot be attributed to working. This month alone God has provided the unexpected blessings of a free oil change, another check from CISD, (I haven't worked since October 14th and am still getting paid. That is GOD!) money from a training that I did, but was not expecting, a credit on my meat for meat day making my total much less than expected, a hand me down extra Britax carseat, $30 worth of formula for $1.20, a refund check from our OBGYN, a $50 check because an order I placed could not be filled, and a free Valentines Day present for my hubby. I won a giveaway!

So many blessings that I can't help but give God credit and be amazed at his works. Everything that we have comes from him, but it is so incredible to see him hard at work in our life. I encourage you to sit back and really look at the unexpected blessings God has given you. I hope you will be encouraged by his Love and by the ways that he provides for you as well. Have a blessed week!

Lainey's first Christmas

We had a wonderful first Christmas with our sweet girl! We started celebrating Thursday with my Nannie, my parents and little brother. We had tons of yummy treats and opened presents at our house so that Lainey wouldn't have to go anywhere in the car. Lainey loved meeting her Uncle Wade and spending time with everyone. That night we drove over to Cypress for the annual Francies Christmas party. We had so much fun at our friends Lyndsay and George's house. We had a gingerbread house decorating contest, ate amazing Christmas goodies once again and then had a very fun gift exchange with everyone. It was a blast!

On Friday we headed over to Mimi and Grandaddy's house in Houston and checked in to our hotel. We got to spend time with the entire Wade side of the family that night. We all went out to a Hibachi grill for dinner, played bunco and enjoyed catching up with everyone. It was wonderful to get to meet Lainey's two baby cousins Joseph and Benjamin, who were just adopted from Ethopia in September. They are 9 months old and so precious.

On Saturday we spent time with my family until about 2:00 and then headed over to Brian's parents for presents, dinner and a candlelight service at church. Lainey got to spend some time with her cousin Ashtyn and we all enjoyed fajitas for dinner. It was nice. After dinner we headed back to my grandparents house to hang out for a little while before the kids went to bed and then the adults enjoyed some time with Lainey.

On Sunday we went to breakfast at Mimi and Grandaddy's and spent time looking at what Santa had brought. We enjoyed some more love from our Wade family and then headed back to Brian's parents for church. Brian's mom has really been wanting to show Lainey off at church so we figured Christmas Day was the perfect time. After church we went back to Mimi and Grandaddy's for lunch and then hung our with everyone the rest of the afternoon. It was exhausting driving back and forth, but both families got to spend time with Lainey on her first Christmas so it was very worth it. We had 23 people at Mimi and Grandaddy's this year and everyone took turns loving on our girl. We are so blessed to have the amazing family that we do and truly enjoyed our first Christmas with Lainey. Hope you all enjoyed yours too!!

Lainey with my sweet Nannie!

Nannie got Lainey a bear that plays peek-a-boo! So much fun!

Mimi and Grandaddy provide lots of entertainment and love for Miss Lainey

Annalee wanted to make an "Oreo" with Lainey and the boys so we did! Too cute!

My precious Aunt Julie with Lainey! She has prayed for Lainey since before she was born.

Lainey's cute Christmas Eve outfit!

She is starting to smile more and more.

Heather, Mike and Ashtyn with Lainey

Jonathon, Jodie, Nathan and Anne came all the way from North Carolina to meet Lainey and the  twins.

Christmas Morning!!

My parents and brother with Lainey Christmas morning.

Lainey and her Joyz!

Brian's mom with her two girls.

Happy 7 Year Anniversary

December 19th we celebrated 7 years of marriage. God knew what he was doing when he put Brian in my life seven years ago. We only dated for three weeks before we were engaged and ended up getting married just 6 months later. People thought we were crazy and would never make it, but seven years later we are still going strong. I loved Brian so much when we got married, but love him so much more today. He is an amazing husband and a wonderful daddy to our sweet girl. His love for kids is what was so attractive about him when we met. That as well as his willingness to carry my pink backpack around while I directed summer camp for inner-city teenagers was what made me know he was a keeper. :)  (He's still carrying around pink backpacks today. However, now they are for Lainey, not for me.) I am so blessed to have him in my life!!

We also celebrated Lainey's two month birthday the 19th. We prayed for God to let us be parents for years before we actually had her, but as always, he had a plan. She has blessed our life in so many ways and brings so much joy to our life.

2 Month Check Up

Lainey had her two month check up today which was very tough for momma. She got her first round of shots and of course screamed which brought me to tears with her. I'm very thankful for vaccinations that keep kids from getting really sick, I just wish there was another way to get them. She was not a fan.

She is now 10 lbs. and 15 ounces, and 22 inches long. She's in the 35th percentile for height and 45th percentile for weight. I'm afraid she may be short like her mom.

I continue to love our doctor more and more. He's very attentive and so good with Lainey. He explains everything very well and makes me feel much more at ease. Today he did find something kind of scary, he noticed that Lainey had developed a heart murmur. He said that he wasn't going to worry too much just yet, but if it was still there or had changed by her next appointment he would have to send her to Texas Children's Hospital to have an echocardiogram to make sure something major was not wrong. That worries me, but I know God will take care of this precious baby girl.  Other than that, all was well. She did so good and looked adorable! She's been fussy this afternoon, but I've given her tylenol and will just keep watching her. Hopefully she won't be too miserable this weekend. We had hoped to enjoy some family time since Brian will finally be off of work. Yeah!!

She did so good letting Dr. Watson listen to her heart.

Home sweet home after shots!

Reindeer Shirts

A few weeks ago we had a girls craft night at church to make all of our little ones reindeer shirts. Last night at church some of them wore them and they were just precious! I'm thankful for the big girls that held Lainey so she could be in the picture. They did great. You can tell this photo session was a little hectic, but so cute! I'm thankful for the sweet friends Lainey will have growing up. What a blessing. 

Santa!!

Today we went to the library to meet Santa with Mrs. Jess, Kinley and Jaxon. We also got to see Mrs. Amanda, Jake and Seth and Mrs. Jessica, Julia and Jordan. It was quite an adventure. Santa put on a magic show, read all of the kids a story, had yummy treats for everyone and even took pictures with each kid. It was wonderful and such a fun first outing with all of Lainey's friends. I'm so glad she's getting to the age that we are comfortable leaving our house to go have some social time. We look forward to many more fun times. Here are a few pictures from today. 

She actually slept through part of it! 

I think I was more excited about seeing Santa than Lainey!

Precious girl!

Kinley did so great holding Lainey!!  

It's official... I'm going to stay home with Lainey!

Before Brian and I got married we decided that we would like for me to stay home once we had children. I admire moms that can juggle working and their families, but I've always known that would be a challenge for me. Since we found out we were pregnant I've been torn about this because of the financial struggle I knew we would face. I'm a very frugal person, but it's no secret that teachers don't exactly make a ton of money and with Lainey our health insurance will now be $650 a month. Yikes! Needless to say I've struggled to decide what would be best for us. After much thought and prayer I've decided that although it will be a huge financial challenge, I just can't leave Lainey with someone else in January. I don't want to ever regret not having this time with her so I am just going to try to live as frugally as possible for the next few years. I talked to my principal today and let him know that I would not be returning in four weeks as planned and he was so supportive. He obviously didn't want me to leave, but agreed to let me out of my contract which will allow me to work in Conroe ISD again if I want to in the future. I am very thankful for that. It's a bittersweet feeling because I do love teaching. However, at this point of my life I love my little one so much more and know that I will enjoy spending time with her as she begins to grow up. I may only get to be home for a couple of years, but for now we are going to soak up every moment!