Ransom Notes

Easter Celebration #1

2011-04-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

Ransom does not totally get the Easter egg hunt concept, but he knows there is candy invovled!

This was at my mom's house. She got him enough candy to satisfy 3 big kids. :)

Look at this face.

2011-04-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

Ransom is making up for lost time in the teeth department. His little mouth is a teeth making machine, and while we are glad they are all finally coming in it has been quite a painful process for all of us. We attempted to take him to the park yesterday to get some nice spring pictures, but he was obviously out of sorts and we never got anything close to a smile, but we did get this face a lot.

We also got lots of pictures of him not looking at the camera.

Oh well, hopefully we will be able to try again another time.

My Sweet Boy

2011-03-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

If you don't get the pleasure of being around Ransom, please let me tell you how much you are missing out. Ransom is now quickly approaching 20 months old, and he is learning something new everyday. He truly sees the World as an adventure, waking up every morning smiling, giggling, and ready to go. His vocabulary is pretty incredible, and he insists that you acknowledge every word. He still loves books, but has also discovered the world of Cars and blocks. He also loves Buzz Lightyear. He is definitely a mommy's boy, but loves wrestling and taking bubble bathes with his daddy. He can be quite rowdy, as boys should be, but also has a softer side that loves hugs and cuddles, and carries around a lovee named Boo-- He is pictured here with that special friend, who goes with him everywhere.

I love you sweet boy! You will always be my baby even when your the big brother.

PHOTOS BY: Matt Sanders

Seeing Pink

2011-03-25T14:41:00.000-07:00

This week is brought to you by the color pink and the letter C and the number 22.

I am 22 weeks pregnant this week. I am still being told by many that I hardly look pregnant, but I don't really believe them. :) Thanks anyway friends!

We have been trying to talk a lot about Ransom's little sister Corley, as to prepare him for the changes ahead, but it doesn't seem to be registering no matter how often we mention the C word.

I started and finished painting what will be Corley's room pink this week. There is still loads of work to be done in there, including carpet, furniture, and other decor. I still can't believe I painted a room pink!

An afternoon at the park.

2011-03-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

Her name

2011-03-04T07:06:00.000-08:00

Naming our children is a BIG deal to Daniel and I. We have long said that our children would have names that meant something and would hopefully speak into the legacy that they will live out. With our first baby having such a unique name, the pressure has been on to make sure our second baby received a name that meant as much to us as our first born. I knew that if our second child was a boy this would be next to impossible, so I began searching for names the moment I found out we were pregnant. God was definitely in control of this one though, because he took the need for another boy name off the table. We are having a little girl! A little girl is a whole other story. The legacy she will leave will no doubt be very different than any boys. Of course, we have no doubt it will be just as important.

After very little effort (Thank you Lord!) we have decided on the perfect name for her. Her first name will be Corley. This name was first brought to the table by my husband very early in my pregnancy, and it has been at top of both of our lists ever since. Corley means "carefree" and we hope this name will speak into her life. We want our daughter to understand that God is in control, and there is no reason to let worry or fear rule her life. In Matthew 6:25-34 it talks about overcoming worry with the realization that God knows and wants to meet our needs. I know as a woman it can be hard to let go of worry, but I pray these verses over my sweet daughter, that she might live in the freedom that God offers.

Her middle name will be Elise. Elise means "pledged to God". This is something that Daniel and I also take very seriously. We know that God has entrusted her to us, but that she is not ours to keep. We are charged with raising her to be a strong woman of faith, and while she will always be our little girl, she is first and foremost a daughter of God. God's love is even greater than ours, even if it seems impossible, because his love is perfect in every way. She will therefore be very much pledged to God, and we will not pretend that we know the best plans for her, but we trust that God will do great things in her life.

So there you have it, Corley Elise Cassil is due to come into this world on July 27th, and we look foward to meeting her face to face.

( I also need to give a shout out to my friend Corley Clifton, who I have known since the good ol' days at Heritage Baptist Church. She has kindly agreed to share her copyright on her name. :) Thanks girl!)

The Big Announcement

2011-03-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

I know I am horribly behind on my updates for this year. We have been busy, but I am not completely sure what with... just life I guess. Ransom is growing and so is the little one inside me, so of course that means that I am growing as well.

Speaking of the little one inside me, that is the reason for this post. We found out today that we are having a little GIRL. While Daniel and I have both said we wanted a house of boys for quite awhile now, we are so thrilled about the sweet little girl he is blessing us with. Her name will most likely be announced in the very near future, but I can't promise.

California

2011-01-05T15:24:00.000-08:00

Having fun on vacation. Here are few snapshots.

Telling Dad

2010-11-30T11:11:00.000-08:00

I made this small box and gave it to Daniel on the night that I found out I was pregnant. It was really important to me that I find a creative way to celebrate this with him, because with Ransom it was just full of shock and unbelief. Inside the box was one of Ransom's old pacifiers with a tag on it that said "Baby #2." It took him several seconds to put it all together, but once he did he was all smiles and gave me a great big hug.

Twice the Love

2010-11-27T14:23:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I think there is no way I could hold anymore love in my heart. I thought that when I fell in love with Daniel that my heart was overflowing, and then when Ransom came into our lives it was like my heart's capacity doubled and was overflowing once again. I look at my guys now and know there is no way I could love either of them anymore. The miracle of the whole thing is that even though I feel my heart is at full capacity, I know that God is already at work enlarging my heart once again.

Why do I need more capacity for love? Because God is entrusting us with another little miracle.

Thats right! Ransom is going to be a big brother. The love in the Cassil household just keeps growing.

Ransom in His Room

2010-11-15T15:09:00.000-08:00

There is nothing that he likes better than to read a book.

He also loves to rock in his chair with one of his Dr. Seuss buddies.

Or play with a toy.

(If you are wondering what is painted on the wall-- it is none other than Horton the Elephant)

He also likes to sit on the "ball" that Nonna made for him.

Sometimes a boy just needs to take off on a plane for some added adventure!

As you can see, Ransom's very bright colored room fits his fun loving personality pretty well.

Changes of Fall

2010-10-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite time of year. In case you haven't noticed, I love everything about it. I love putting on jeans for the first time after a long hot summer of shorts and dresses. The colors change and the weather changes, but also everyone's schedules change. This past year has been full of change for our family, but in this season the change seems to just keep on coming. I sometimes have a hard time embracing life's changes, but lately I have been grateful for them.

God has been speaking to Daniel and I. We both hear his voice, and we are trying to be sensitive to changes he wants to make in our lives. We have spent a good chunk of our married lives searching for a church to call home, and I am confident that God has finally given us that place at Bridgeway Church. We are both finding real relationships, and accountability. Ransom has TONS of kids to grow up with. We are just feeling so blessed in this place. We have been attending for some months now, and each week seems to bring a new challenge and some encouragement. God certainly had a reason for allowing us to be wandering from church to church during the season that we were in, but in this new season we are grateful for the stability. We can't wait to see what great things God has in store for us!

I think Ransom loves Fall at least as much as I do!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

More Fall Fun

2010-10-04T13:52:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned how much I love Ransom in his fall clothes? He looks like such a big boy in his jeans. I love him so much! He has to be the cutest kid in the world.

We took our first trip to the pumpkin patch this past weekend. To say that it was a hit would be a massive understatement. Ransom got to ride a pony, and pet a pig, some goats, and a llama. He also saw lots of ponies, horses, cows, and ducks. He got to go on a hay ride, which was definitely the highlight, and also walked through the corn maze. I didn't get any pictures while there, but I think we are planning on going back so I will definitely get some then.

Things are busy this time of year, but we are having a blast. As far as I am concerned it could be Fall all year long and I would never complain!

WE LOVE FALL

2010-10-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

The heat has finally let up some here in the great state of Oklahoma, and fall is in full swing. We are enjoying every moment of it! Ransom is spending lots of time outside, and is looking good in his fall clothes. Today was especially gorgeous, so we took another trip to the park.

As you can see, life just doesn't get to much better than this! We love having a toddler, even though there are definitely some challenges that come with it. Ransom is into everything, and climbing seems to be something he is determined to become a pro at. Ransom is hysterical though, and our days are filled with smiles and laughter, so we really feel blessed.

I'd Like to Introduce...

2010-09-30T06:21:00.000-07:00

Willa!

Our frisky, furry, feline.

Isn't she beautiful?

Taking the Park by storm

2010-09-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

Ransom has found his independence, and he loves it! We walked down to the park last night, and he was in heaven. He was able to explore every corner of the playground somewhat independently. It was SO MUCH FUN to watch him excitedly walk from one place to another. He also decided that he LOVES to slide. We have tried to go down them with him in the past, but this time we just let him go and you should have seen his face... pure delight! Here are a few pictures of our park adventure:

Going out Naked

2010-09-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

Last week my husband and I took a small parenting break. I packed Ransom a little bag, and he had his first sleepover at his Grandma and Papa's house. Daniel and I went to dinner with my family and then went to a Waterdeep concert (our favorite band-- or at least mine) at our church. It was such a nice little evening.

One thing I did notice was how much my identity has changed since becoming a mother. While at the restaurant with my family, we ran into an old family friend that we hadn't seen in several years. I suddenly felt naked. We've all had those dreams when you go to some public event and suddenly realize that you've forgotten a very important article of clothing, and then you wake up with that funny knot in your stomach. That's kinda how I felt. I didn't feel like I was showing a true representation of who I was, because I didn't have my son with me. "I AM A MOTHER" is what I kind of felt like declaring to anyone who would listen. I kinda wish I had one of those cheesy t-shirts that said something like #1 mom or something.

I think all parents need breaks, and should get away and remember that their identity is more than mother or father. I am a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and most importantly a child of God. The funny thing is that for some reason those parts of my identity seem to be easier to lose touch with.

Walking

2010-09-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

Quick Update

2010-09-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

I need to post some pics and video, but I don't have time right now. I did want to make sure and update that yesterday Ransom started walking around the house like a big boy. We have been watching him for weeks (if not months) take a few steps here and there, but he has just been very tentative about just taking off, but last night he really started walking around and exploring, and Daniel and I cheered ( although I think we were both kinda freaking out about how much trouble he is going to be getting into now). We are excited to see him grow and develop. He also has been talking a lot, and if he doesn't have the words to express himself he is very creative about how he communicates what he wants! It is actually quite entertaining. I hope to post a video of him walking sometime very soon!

Favorite Birthday Pictures

2010-08-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

The Birthday Party

2010-08-19T13:22:00.000-07:00

could really be described in one word... HOT! It was right at about 100 degrees. I think that most everyone found shade and still had plenty of fun though. Ransom started out the party a little uneasy about the heat and all of the attention.

But things started to look up when he found the sand and was able to get a bit dirty (he is definitely all boy in that way).

We had plenty to drink and ice cream to keep us cool.

A quick water balloon fight for the kids.

So overall it was a success.

***There will eventually be more pictures of the birthday boy NOT eating his cake, and other fun stuff too, but I don't have them yet.

Tomorrow

2010-08-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

My little man will officially be one. Leaving his infancy behind and charging (pretty literally) towards his boyhood.

I love you so much buddy!!!!

2 Big Milestones

2010-08-05T12:50:00.000-07:00

We have a tooth!! After months of wondering if he was ever gonna get teeth, he finally sprouted one and I am pretty sure another will be quickly following it. So excited that he got one before his first birthday!

Also, today was Ransom's first haircut! Daddy was not so excited about the idea of chopping off his little curls, but I couldn't stand the how uneven it was getting. I am pretty sure daddy will mourn the lost hair on his little man's head, but I personally think he looks very handsome. See for yourself:

Special thanks to cousin, Kendra, for giving our sweet boy his haircut today!

A new trick

2010-08-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

Ransom has been doing some pretty silly things lately. He is making us laugh constantly. This new trick was his effort of doing gymnastics with his cousins.

Early Birthday Present

2010-07-31T19:15:00.000-07:00

Daddy has been working on this for quite awhile now, so when he finally got it finished today we decided to go ahead and let Ransom try it out.

Has it really been

2010-07-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

almost 12 months since our little man entered this world. He really can't be almost 1 year old. Or I guess he could be, since he is. Our little guy is leaving his babyhood behind him, and it is bittersweet. The last several weeks of his development have been so much fun to watch. Walking and talking being the major developments as of late. He says momma, dadda, done, ball, book, moo, quack, duck, nack (snack), cup, milk, bye-bye, and etc. (those are just the ones that I am sure are intentional). It seems like he adds another word to his arsenal everyday. He LOVES books. When I say that please don't take it lightly... we spend most of our morning reading, and he would bring me book after book all day long if I would sit there. We have actually had more than one crying fit, because I had to get up and do something other than read to him. I love that he will sit with me and let me read to him or tell him about the pictures, and I hope this continues. His other love is balls. He loves to sit and roll balls back in forth or watch me bounce them. I love to watch him grow and develop and be so curious about life. I just wish I could keep him at each stage for just little bit longer, but the new stages come and I love them just as much.

These Chucks are made for walking, and thats just what they'll do...

2010-07-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Last week my mom bought Ransom 2 new pairs of shoes, and proclaimed that they were walking shoes. She said he would take off walking now that he had the appropriate big boy shoes. I couldn't imagine they would really make that much of a difference, but the reality is that Ransom started making some major strides in the walking department since then. He confidently walks/runs while holding on to a single finger with one hand, and today he took several independent steps on multiple occasions. While I don't give the shoes complete credit, I am not so sure that those nice flat soles didn't help out. Now I just need a magic trick for those teeth to pop through! :)

Wish I could take credit for this picture, but it's just a stock picture that I found. These are the same pair of magical walking shoes though!

Fourth of July weekend Part 1

2010-07-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

Well, we spent the day today at Daniel's Aunt Sandie's house. It was supposed to be whole afternoon of eating and sitting by the pool, but it rained a good part of the time. We ended up eating inside, while the kids patiently hoped and waited for the rain to stop, and much to my surprise, it eventually did. So the kids ran outside and got in a little bit of swimming.

Lula was certainly excited about the rain stopping!

Mirka and Max were happy to get a little wet 'n wild too.

Ransom splashed around a little bit, but then decided that hanging out on the water's edge was just as fun.

Fun was had by all!

Family Reunion

2010-07-03T14:19:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was the Moore family reunion. That would be Daniel's mom's family. Unfortunately, Ransom got a little sick not long after arriving at the hotel in Tulsa. So it was a little bit of a rough trip for us. But there were bright moments of fun with cousins whenever his fever broke. So, here is some photographic evidence of that trip.

I was really sad that Ransom was not feeling well. I know he would have loved the pool and time with his cousins if he had not been so under the weather. Oh well, there is always next year.

Ransom was sick for several more days after returning home. He ended up being a very sick little man registering temperatures as high as 105 degrees, and after several conversations with his doctor it was decided that he had a virus that was just gonna have to run it's course. Poor guy was a trooper though, and still managed to smile and laugh on a pretty consistent basis.

Well-Check

2010-06-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

So we were supposed to have this well-check at nine months, but we were in Florida. Ransom is in the 75th percentile for his height, but only in the 25th percentile for his weight. Dr. N said that while that was a drop in his growth curve it wasn't huge, and actually pretty common for babies at this age because of the rapid increase in activity. She checked out his gums and said she didn't see much that indicated a first tooth breaking through anytime real soon, so we continue to wait for that milestone to happen. She also checked his ears, as I had been noticing him grabbing at them, but said they look clear of infection. So all in all, she said he looked to be in good health, and was also glad to see him show off his slightly assisted walking skills. He was a big flirt. He didn't sit or stand or lay still for one second. He was a total show off. The end.

The Greats

2010-06-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

Great- grandparents that is!

Ransom and I with my Dad's mom.

Grandma Wanda and Grandpa Dave.

Big Boy, Big Truck

2010-06-14T16:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is a scab on his nose. He has entered the boy's club of facial injuries.

A few more Florida pics

2010-06-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

Ransom did eventually get used to the waves. So he was able to wash some of that yummy sand down with a nice face full of salt water.

But honestly the pool was more his water style.

But no one played the part of beach bum better than him.

For the big finale we went to Gulf World to see some Florida natives in action!

He likes to move it, move it.

2010-06-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

Ransom's crawling has gone through some major changes. He started out with an inch worm belly scoot and that morphed into more of an army crawl, then he went into a short stage of sitting up and using his legs to scoot himself around. He is now getting on all fours and is doing what looks mostly like a traditional crawl, but it has a special spin that you would have to see to really understand. Walking seems to be his main focus though. He wants us to hold on to his little fingers and help him walk almost all day long. Redirecting his attention only works on occasion. He can walk while holding on with only one hand and will probably be making attempts to let go altogether very soon. He pulls up on everything, and this has become a problem while attempting to give him a bath. We are working on teaching him that he must sit in the bath tub, but it is a very frustrating lesson to be learned.

In other news, Ransom is clapping and waving. He says "bye-bye", "look", "mama", and "duck". He also makes a panting noise if you ask him what a dog says. It is pretty cute. We are pretty sure he is going to be a very verbal child, because he does not seem to have a problem filling any amount of silence. He is always smiling and makes friends wherever he goes. His personality is really coming to life, and we are having a blast getting to know what makes him the special little guy that he is.

Ransom is 10 months old today. WOW! I can't believe it. We will be planning a first birthday part very soon.

Pretty girls.

2010-06-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

These sweet girls made me hope for a daughter someday.

( I have always said that I wanted a house full of boys).

Their feminine beauty was almost more than I could bare. I call them my gypsy girls, because they have free spirits and their outfits are often mismatched in the most perfect way.

Mirka was such a little mother to Ransom. She would wake up early in the mornings and help me take care of him.

Ana had quite the collection of CUTE swim wear. Her fashion sense is definitely way beyond her years!

We love you girls! Thanks for letting us play at the beach with you!

Dedicated to Daniel

2010-06-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Wrote this message in the Florida sand. I don't think it quite made up for the fact that he had to stay behind, but at least he knows I was thinking of him!

Florida

2010-06-09T13:22:00.000-07:00

Ransom and I took a nice long vacation to Florida a few weeks ago, and I am just now at the point where I can sit down and write an update. We went with some of our very favorite people to Seagrove Beach, FL. We were there for about 10 days, and we had a blast hanging out on the beach with Auntie Jo and Cousins, Mirka and Ana.

Ransom spent a lot of time eating the sand, since he was not to excited about the waves sneaking up on him in the water.

He also tried lots of new big boy foods, including this first bite of watermelon.

We played hard and enjoyed the salty ocean air even during rest time. Ransom loved kicking back on this porch swing and listening to the waves.

We were literally right on the beach. This stair case walked us straight from the house to the water.

I have so many pictures of this time. I will be doing several posts of this very fun vacation!

Mother's Day trip

2010-05-09T15:14:00.000-07:00

I love Aquariums. This particular one, I have been to a number of times. In fact, it is where Daniel and I had our first date.

And now we are showing our son what wonderful things live in the ocean.

Beautiful things.

Weird things.

Amazing things.

Complex things.

He was enamored. Just as I am every time I see the uniqueness of God's creation.

This guy happens to be my favorite. I have loved sharks for a long time. There is something about them that draws me in... probably the danger.

Thank you to my hubby for planning a trip to enjoy this special place with our son.

It's been awhile

2010-05-05T14:33:00.001-07:00

since my last post, and I guess I have no excuse. I have sat down a couple of times to write, but nothing really came of it. I guess my English Comp. class has taken all of my writing energy.

Ransom is doing well. He is pulling up on things these days. He is army crawling all over the place (when he feels like it). He is very LOUD. We take him places and all he does is squeal at the top of his lungs. I look around apologetically, and most people take it in stride, but we definitely get the occasional dirty look that begs us to shut our kid up or leave. I have decided that as long as they are happy noises people should be able to cope with it, but I also try to distract Ransom as often as I can so he doesn't have to use his voice for entertainment.

Daniel and I are still loving being parents. We can't really get enough of our little man. He is pretty much the center of our world, and it is going to get bad quickly if we don't let him know otherwise. I am not sure that is going to be easy though, with him being an only child and all. We may have to fix that someday. :) Note: I said SOMEDAY.

Well, thats really all I've got right now. I will try to post a picture of the first time Ransom pulled up by himself and some crawling video sometime soon. I also have some stuff of some spiritual importance to think through, and then there might be a post on that too.

Springtime fun

2010-04-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

Ransom making posing with the TX Blue Bonnets look manly.

Trying to get a hold of one of those yummy flowers.

Nonna helping Ransom stand, which made him very happy.

Now on to Houston.

On our way to the beach.

Chillin' with Aunt NeeNee.

The cousins after a long day.

Busy

2010-04-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Ransom and my mom and I got back on Tuesday from a trip to the Texas Hill Country. Ransom got to see Big Mom ( my mom's mom) and my Aunt Jayne. They have only gotten to see him a couple of times since he was born, so it was fun to watch them get to know him. He did really well traveling and slept pretty well in a strange place. We took lots of pictures of him with the Blue Bonnets ( Texas state flower-- they grow wild everywhere during the spring), and I will be posting those pictures as soon as I have time to sit down and load them onto my computer. I have been rushing around since we have pulled in our drive way, so the pictures will have to wait till another time. Why have I been rushing around? Well, thats because we are not done traveling!

We leave first thing tomorrow morning to go to Houston to see Uncle Tim and Aunt Denecia. We have not seen them since Christmas, and I am so excited for them to get to spend some time with Ransom. We will be traveling with Daniel's sister's family. We are excited to get to go on a trip together, but it might get a little crowded with 3 children and 4 adults in one mini-van. Oh well, it will be an adventure! We will return next Monday, so I should have pictures from that trip as well.

Ransom had his first haircut right after we got back from Texas. It was just a little trim around the ears and stuff, but it was yet another milestone. He has also decided that sitting is for babies and he is not one of those! He wants to be assisted to stand almost constantly, and therefore you must be by his side ready to help him stand at all times. It can be kind of exhausting, but it is also really entertaining to watch the excitement in his eyes when he is standing up.

Well, I am off to fold some laundry and finish packing up our bags. I will be excited to post pictures when we get back!

Easter

2010-04-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

Ransom really enjoyed his first Easter.

He loves getting to play with all of his cousins. Especially those pretty girls. :)

He would have let Papa swing him all day.

We are so thankful for our big extended family.

Auntie Jo and Ransom got some good bonding time in.

Again with the girls. :)

stream of consciousness

2010-03-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

It is a beautiful 80 degrees outside, but the wind is enough to blow you right over... Welcome to an Oklahoma spring. I have been trying my hardest to get Ransom outside as much as possible in the last week or so, and he seems to love every minute of it. He especially likes eating grass, sticks, and dirt. I try to keep these things out of his mouth so he doesn't choke, but it is kind of a losing battle, and I guess a little dirt most likely won't hurt him. The sun has definitely done me some good, I have found some of my lost energy.

Ransom has been really spending a lot of time on his belly lately trying to figure out how to crawl. He seems to be kinda stuck in the same place he has been for over a week now, so I am not sure when he is actually gonna take off, but I am happy to watch him just try for now. I feel like crawling is kind of the end of my infant. He will probably never sit still or let me cuddle him again. :( We will be off to the races, and our house will never be the same!

He has now learned to wave, and is working on clapping. He gets the motion, but very rarely do both of his hands end up meeting in the middle.

I have been thinking lately about how everyone says consistency is the key to parenting. Well I feel, at least in this stage of parenting, that flexibility is more the key. I have always been a firm believer in a routine, but lately I have been learning that basically a routine is made to be broken. Don't get me wrong, I have not abandoned our routine, but I would say that it is a rarity to be 100% on schedule. I am learning so much about myself during this mothering process. I am really finding it hard to be both consistent and flexible. Anyone else find that to be a little conflicting?

Rockin' the Hawk for Spring

2010-03-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

Pictures and Updates

2010-03-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

I feel as though my last serval posts have been a little deep, and not really updates on our sweet Ransom, so I plan to remedy that today. I have some cute photos of the little man I have been dying to upload. Drum roll please...

My little man is growing so fast. He is almost 7 months old. He is almost always smiling, except in the evenings, which he seems to be fussy then no matter how well he naps during the day. His facial expressions have become more complex. His cheeks continue to be so kissable it is impossible to resist. He LOVES to eat pureed anything. He is also eating some Cheerio's. He is beginning to show a preference to mommy over other people, but not to bad. He is still very social (we hope he stays that way).

I really think he might start crawling in some form soon. He is always more interested in the things just out of his reach than those fun toys he has sitting right in front of him. He also is very infatuated with other children, and watches them very closely.

So basically, he is doing fantastic! I find that no matter how tired or grumpy I am feeling when I wake up in the morning, the second I see his sweet face smiling up at me it all melts away and I am ready for a new day!

Parenting Goals

2010-03-05T13:32:00.000-08:00

If you have ever talked to me about children, then you probably know how passionate that I am about being a intentional parent. I am a Nanny by trade, and I have dealt with a lot of parents. I think my biggest pet peeve is unintentional parents. You know the ones. They decide they want to have a baby (or maybe they don't decide), and they get so excited about their sweet little "bundle of joy." They start preparing a nursery and buy all the latest trends in baby equipment and clothing, and then they wait for the arrival of their baby. What they forget to plan for is the fact that children are babies for a VERY short period of time. I think ~~most~~ A LOT of people give little to no thought about how they are going to raise their BABIES into independent adults. I am not saying that I have it all figured out, because let me tell you that I don't. I know every situation with every individual child is different, but how about some goals people?! What kind of child do you want to raise? What are some easy steps you can take from the earliest of age to get them there?

Right now, Daniel and I have 3 main goals for Ransom as an adult. The first is holiness. Teaching this will be our number one priority. We are willing to put his immediate happiness on the sideline in order to accomplish this long term goal. The second is independence. We are willing to step back and allow him to get a few bumps and scraps (literal or not) in order that he learn how to get up and persevere on his own, even though this one will probably be painful for us. The third is contentedness. I hope that we can show Ransom what true NEEDS are, and not shelter him from those that have them. In this way, I pray that he will have a soft heart toward others instead of focusing on how he can make himself more comfortable.

I honestly believe that just having some goals for our child(ren) will allow us to look at many of our future discipline issues a little more objectively. We can see a problem and hold that problem up against our goals and choose an appropriate reaction based on how they line up. I think we will also be able to choose our battles more effectively... if it doesn't affect the goals that we have laid out, then we don't even need to worry about it.

Every parent loves for their children to be happy and smiling, but it is my belief that my ultimate goal is not to have smiling children 100% of the time. In fact, I am prepared for lots of tears in the years ahead. I may be thought of as cruel by some, but I am willing to have that reputation if it will allow for Ransom's long term success.

NOTE: These goals have been discussed at length between my husband and I since before Ransom was even conceived, but the reason for me writing this post was because I read this post. It was fun to see how many of our goals lined up.

A bump in the road.

2010-03-02T08:28:00.000-08:00

I found out yesterday that at the end of this month Finn will be moving on to another childcare option. I have been watching this sweet boy since he was 6 months old, and it is going to be really hard on both of us to make this transition. I will miss his sweet smile and cute boyish ways, but I know his parents have his best interest in mind.

As I begin to process what this means for my family, especially financially, I can't help but worry a little bit. To say that Daniel and I have gotten used to the cushion that my salary provides would be an understatement. Some life changes are going to have to take place. We have been able to save some money(not as much as we probably could or should have) since Ransom was born, and that will hopefully help us make the transition a little bit better, but it will still be quite a challenge to us.

My biggest worry has become about the schooling that I recently felt called to start. I still believe that God has this plan for me, but I am beginning to wonder how he is going to accomplish it. We will no longer be able to pay for the classes on our own, so I will be looking into some financial help.

Your prayers would mean so much to me as we move foward. Pray that I would not let worry overwhelm me. Pray that Finn and I would transition as smoothly as possible. A prayer for Daniel and I's transition into living a more frugal life would be much appreciated. Finally, please be in prayer over financial options for my schooling. I know that God will provide a way, if this is truely His will for me.

I honestly think that this is God's timing for me to stop watching Finn, but it will be a hard road for many different reasons. I know that God is in the middle of this, nothing surprises Him, and He is orchestrating something new and it is gonna turn out fine (better than fine really).

Thankful Thursday

2010-02-25T15:34:00.000-08:00

What's not to be thankful for?

I look at this sweet face, and I know that I am blessed beyond measure.

In fact, I have been thinking about the MANY blessings that God has given me lately.

I want to give Him the glory for these blessings.

He created this miracle inside of me, and developed him into a beautiful little boy.

THANK YOU LORD FOR RANSOM.

Thank you for entrusting him into my care, as I know he is not mine, but yours.

"Nothing Changes, If Nothing Changes."

2010-02-24T07:30:00.000-08:00

Lots running through my head today. God has really been getting my attention lately. I feel Him drawing me closer to Him, and asking me to go deeper in my relationship with Him. This is kinda scary, but I know it is good. I have cried out to Him for forgiveness of my passiveness, ungratefulness, and selfishness. These sins grab a hold of me daily, and I pray for the grace to overcome. I really feel God wrapping His arms around me, and letting me feel His warmth. I really need the warmth right now.

I have been thinking a lot lately about being proactive. In the sermon I heard on Sunday, the preacher quoted this saying that he used to say with people in a recovery program, "Nothing changes, if nothing changes." I often find myself questioning if God is ever gonna change Daniel and I's circumstances, and I have been thinking lately that God is probably more than willing to change our circumstances if I am willing to take the steps and trust Him. So I am planning to make some changes so that I (only with God's help) can change my circumstances.

Today, I go to take a placement test at Rose State College. I have not taken classes since dropping out of the University of Oklahoma half way through my first semester of my freshmen year. I would be lying if I didn't say that as I move forward fear does not grip me. I have never been the greatest of students, and failure is not something that I deal with well. I need prayer. I need to succeed for lots of reasons. I need it just because I need to feel that success is something that I can attain. I need it to ensure a better future for my family. I need it, because I believe it is what God is calling me to do, and my goal in this life is to be obedient and bring glory to Him.

If you get a chance, please pray for me. Pray for me as I take this test. Pray for my selection of courses. Pray for my determination not to waiver, and for focus. Just pray for me how God might lead you.

BlogFrog

2010-02-23T07:23:00.000-08:00

If you are familiar with my blog, then you might have noticed something a little bit different hanging out on my left side bar. Do you see it over there? It's right under Ransom's picture and description. Well, that cool little widget (yes, that is a real word) lets me see who's stopping by and reading, and lets you say a quick "hi" or whatever floats your boat. In order for it to work, though, you need to sign up and get a blogfrog profile. Now, you may be thinking to yourself, why would I want to sign up for yet another social networking site? Why do I need another profile? Well, I guess you probably don't, but I would really enjoy seeing you over there, so I guess it's all about how much you love me...no, not really. I am just gonna try it out and see who participates. It might be fun to see who is reading, and what kind of feedback they have about my blog.

Video Update

2010-02-22T08:25:00.000-08:00

Baby Bear

2010-02-19T15:34:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen a cuter teddy bear?

A little Spotlight for Dad

2010-02-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

This is my husband. Basically, he is the coolest kid on the block. At least that is what I tell him when he gets dressed up in his tactical gear and plays with his toy guns (yes, they are toys, even though they look way to real in my opinion).

No, but really, he is the love of my life. He is a kid at heart (aren't most men?), and I wouldn't have it any other way. I really do look forward to the adventures that he and Ransom will go on together. When I was pregnant with Ransom, I would often find myself wondering what kind of father Daniel would be... I honestly have been completely blown away. From the moment that Ransom arrived He was his father and protector (see second pic). I fell in love with him all over again, and do almost everyday as I watch him love our son.

FOOD for thought

2010-02-08T16:58:00.000-08:00

Ransom is not quite 6 months old, but the Pediatrician has given us the go ahead to introduce him to some first foods. One way I am trying to be a intentional parent is to give Ransom a healthy variety of food from the very beginning. Hopefully, I will inspire a love for ALL foods, and will not have a picky eater on my hands. I also want to make sure that he gets all the nutritional value he can out of food, and so I have begun making his baby food from scratch.

See my handy-dandy Magic Bullet?

Now, some might say that is a lot of extra work for something that I can buy out of a can, but I counter that the food I make my sweet boy has no artificial preservatives and is made from fresh produce, so I know exactly what I am feeding my boy.

See how much prettier and nutritious food looks freshly made...

So far, we have made green beans, carrots, pears, peaches, broccoli, zucchini, sweet potato, peas, mango, and an occasional mashed up avocado.

Here is our current stock pile in the fridge...

Plus, it's really not that much extra work, and I really have fun doing it.

Express Yourself

2010-02-04T08:09:00.000-08:00

Ransom has learned how to use his voice to let us know exactly how he feels. Especially when he does not get his way. He often wants our phones or the remote, and of course he wants to put them in his mouth if we let him have them. As soon as we move those objects out of his sight he lets out a scream and tries his best to leap towards the direction they disappeared. When we hold him back to keep him from falling out of our arms he begins to wail. All of the sudden I find myself wondering what happened to my angel of a baby that did nothing but smile?

Dino Dreamin'

2010-02-01T11:38:00.001-08:00

Holiday Pictures

2010-01-31T12:39:00.000-08:00

Love this picture of Ransom with Papa on Christmas day.

Ransom and cousin Max.

Cousins- Selah and Lula

Our friends Casey (big one) and Colton (little guy) on New Year's Eve.

As you can imagine, these are just a few of our holiday pictures. I wish I had time to add all of them, but I did want to post a glimpse of the fun we had.

The Thaw

2010-01-31T12:23:00.000-08:00

Well, it turns out that every once in awhile Oklahoma weathermen actually get it right. Actually, this is the second time in a month that they predicted BIG storms and that is exactly what we got. We now look forward to thawing out a little bit. Which, we are being told, is exactly what we will be doing this next week.

Oh, how I long for spring. Winter tends to depress me. Not to mention everyone gets sick in the winter, and I am through with sickness. Fingers crossed. Ransom seems to be on the mend. He is no longer taking breathing treatments, and is eating better, but still not completely back to normal appetite. Daniel is still coughing quite a bit, but other than that seems to be feeling well. I am waking up in the morning a little congested, but usually after I get vertical that fixes itself. So everyone is healthy, and all we need is a little sunshine to brighten our days.

Gearing Up

2010-01-28T06:58:00.000-08:00

Well, Ransom went to the Dr. on Tuesday, and we found out he has RSV. The pediatrician said not to panic, that it is not quite as scary as it sounds. We do need to take it seriously though especially since he is so young, so she wrote us a prescription for at home breathing treatments. We have been giving them to him every 4 hours in hopes of keeping him out of the hospital, because pneumonia is a risk in small children with RSV. He seems a LITTLE bit better, but still not eating very well. :( He has already lost weight, and we worry every time he rejects his bottle after only taking in a couple ounces.

To make things a little more exciting the city is gearing up for a big ice storm. We are being told that we will be having mass power outages and road closings. The city is closing down even before the storm gets here. All of the schools are closed and many businesses will be closing. I am actually looking forward to hunkering in with my little family, as long as we keep our power that is. Since our entire family has been sick, we kinda went into survival mode, and have just been doing enough around the house to get by. Now we need to make up for some lost time. So it will be good for us to be stuck at home.

Well, it will be interesting to see how/if this storm really does develop. I will keep you updated!

Sick and Tired

2010-01-26T07:11:00.000-08:00

We have used up most of the Kleenex that Walgreen's has in stock (okay not really). We cough all day and night. We are sleeping very little which gives us all a little bit of a zombie look. Ransom has been a pretty tough kid through it all, until the last two days. My generally happy baby is very irritable, has had a low grade temp., and has decided that eating is overrated. I have ANOTHER doctor's appointment scheduled for him this afternoon, and I sure hope things will turn around from there. I can't remember the last time we have gotten more than a couple of hours of sleep at a time, so I am praying that we will soon see some relief.

On the up side... wait... having a hard time finding one. Oh yeah, our God is in control, and has blessed us with food, medicine, and clean water to hydrate ourselves with, which is more than many in the world have right now. I will try to remind myself of this as I get through the next few days.

I give up

2010-01-25T15:19:00.000-08:00

Okay so I am having a VERY hard time getting the pictures from the holiday's together, so I am going to post with out them and hopefully add them in a wordless post later.

We started our Christmas season with Tim and Denecia's wedding. Ransom wore his a "big boy" suit complete with velvet coat and red clip on tie. We had so much fun celebrating Denecia finally becoming an official part of the family, and I swear she had to be one of the most gorgeous brides I have ever seen.

The very next day, we gathered the family together once again for Ransom's dedication at church. Ransom was dedicated to the Lord and prayed over by our pastor, church, family, and friends. This time meant a lot to us, as we pray daily for our son's salvation.

On Christmas Eve we had a huge snow storm ( I think the final tally landed us at 14") that stranded many people and interrupted a lot of people's travel plans. We had planned on staying in town anyway, so we just hung out and did our thing. Daniel's sister's family (Andrea, Jeff, Bree, and Evy) did get stuck in Texas for several days though, and that meant delaying our Christmas celebration with them, but we still had a great time!

Overall, Ransom's first Christmas could not have gone better. We got to hang out with lots of family and had record snow fall (kinda sad he wasn't old enough to appreciate it). We are so thankful to have such great relationships with family-- most of which live very close.

So thats the update. I feel like it should have been more exciting since it took a month to post!

stream of consciousness

2010-01-13T13:58:00.000-08:00

My favorite blogger started doing these "stream of consciousness" posts, where she just writes out her immediate thoughts with no editing or anything and then posts it. I like those posts so I am going to give it a try.

I am so exhausted. I have no real reason for this exhaustion except that my body just needs to be woken up. I have done zero exercising since before I got pregnant and I just need to get my body back into shape. It is beginning to effect my emotional health now too. I can feel it. I just need to get motivated. I wish it was spring... then I would be more motivated to be outside and moving around, but in reality I need so much more than to just "move around." Anybody have a good work out program to suggest?

Ransom and Finn are upstairs sleeping. They didn't go down for naps until much later than normal and I really need to go wake them up so I can get Finn ready to go home. Just in case I actually have a reader who doesn't know, Finn is the little boy that I watch during the day. I have been his nanny since he was 6 months old. I love him like he was my own.

I know I need to update this blog with so much. I have yet to post 4 or 5 month pictures of Ransom, and the holiday's came and went without an update also. I have these posts started, but I just need to add photographs. My goal is to be completely updated on here by the end of the week.

Alrighty, got to go give a bath.

Ransom & Finn

2010-01-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

I know I seriously need to update on the comings and goings of our Christmas. That post is coming soon, but I took this video of Ransom and Finn yesterday and wanted to post it ASAP. It really shows how much Ransom is growing and developing.

Ready for Christmas

2009-12-08T11:38:00.000-08:00

Our new tree is up and decorated and we are so excited about this Christmas! We will be staying here in OKC for the holiday's, which is a rare occurrence for us. We will kick the Christmas celebration off with Daniel's brothers wedding and the fun won't stop till New Years.

Hope everyone has a great holiday! I know we will.

Good Morning

2009-11-26T07:33:00.000-08:00

Now this is a great way to start any day!

Good morning sweet boy. Let's have a great day!

3 Months

2009-11-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

Okay so, Ransom is fastly approaching 4 months now, but I never posted any pictures of him at 3 months so I am gonna play catch up now.

Ransom amazes us with how much personality he already exhibits. He loves to grab toys and hang on to them VERY tightly, and loves to chew on our fingers and nose. Ransom is weighing in at around 13 lbs, and started wearing 3-6 month clothes way before turning 3 months.

Happy Halloween

2009-11-02T06:08:00.001-08:00

Have you ever seen such an adorable dino?

Well, I am pretty confident that I have not!

We had a great weekend! We celebrated our niece's 4th birthday and actually didn't even put on our costume until the day after halloween. Oh well, the costume is documented, and we had fun doing a mini photo shoot in it.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-28T15:32:00.001-07:00

Family Photoshoot

2009-10-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

My sweet boy at 2 months old.

We just can't stop kissing his sweet cheeks!

The bench we are sitting on has a very important significance to our family... it is where Daniel proposed to me.

I know it has been awhile since my last post, but we have been busy! Our friend Bethany took these amazing photos for us. If you are thinking of getting some pictures taken, then she would be a great choice for a photographer. I would love to pass her information on to you.

In other news, Ransom is growing like crazy. He weighs over 12 lbs. now. He smiles and "talks" constantly, and he loves to hold on to his ducky toy.

The weather is getting cooler and we are enjoying fall. We are also looking forward to the coming holidays, which will be filled with "firsts" for Ransom.

Becoming a Morning Person

2009-09-20T10:10:00.000-07:00

Who knew that 6:00 a.m. would become my favorite part of the day!? Ransom is wide awake early in the morning and his smiles and coos make my day.

Having Fun With TWO boys

2009-09-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

I started watching Finn again this week! We are having fun. I am not sure who likes that toy more, but it is getting lots of good use.

Overwhelmed

2009-08-28T14:19:00.000-07:00

Ransom is well over 2 weeks old now, and I get asked on a daily basis, "How are you doing?" The answer to that question is I am overwhelmed.

I am overwhelmed with love for my sweet little boy, who I still sometimes doubt is really mine.

I am also overwhelmed with love for my sweet husband, who has reacted to fatherhood with amazing gentleness and protectiveness.

I am overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of people, not just family and good friends, but people who hardly know us.

I am overwhelmed with the weight of responsibility that comes with being a mother, but I am happy to finally feel it.

I am overwhelmed by the difficulties of nursing a very lazy eater.

I am also overwhelmed by the blessings that God has provided our little family. We have been given a beautiful, healthy little boy, who I cannot wait to watch grow into a Godly man.

Fun with Jaundice

2009-08-18T00:16:00.000-07:00

Uhhh not. Let me tell you there is nothing fun about your baby having Jaundice bad enough to get one of these cool machines brought to your home.

My sweet boy has to stay under the lights unless he is eating or we are changing a dirty diaper. He seems to rest relativity comfortably, but I just want to cuddle him so badly... I mean, he is just really hard to resist.

Also, no one is getting any rest around here, because he has to be under constant watch while under the lights. My husband and I are currently taking shifts staying up with him, but I am not sure how well Daniel is going to be able to cope with doing this and going to work in the morning. Please pray that these lights do the trick QUICKLY, so that we can go back to finding a normal schedule with our newborn son.

Home Sweet Home

2009-08-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

We are home! I don't know that I have ever FELT like I have been away for so long. Ransom is doing great and we are really enjoying parenthood, even when it means no sleep at all. Actually, we are getting SOME sleep. We have learned how highly overrated sleep is though, especially when faced with the choice of sleeping or holding our newborn son.

Here are few pictures of Ransom at home.

As you can see rest is a high priorty now that we are home!

Baby Ransom

2009-08-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

Ready

2009-08-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

Today I found out that I am scheduled to be induced on August 20th. I am having some very mixed emotions about this bit of news. I really want to give birth as naturally as possible, as I believe this will gve me the best chance of not having a c-section, but I am so ready to not be pregnant any longer. I am not sure I will make it to much longer with my sanity intact, so I just hope and pray that God will bring my son to my arms very soon. I would appreciate any prayers lifted up about this situation. I am still dialated to 2 cm, and I am now 85% effaced. My doctor believes it shouldn't take much to get me into labor, so I have been walking everyday and trying a few other natural inducement techniques to try to make that happen.

37 weeks

2009-07-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

Here I am 9 months pregnant. My sister wanted to do another update on pictures, so here it is!

In other news, I am now 2 cm dialated and still 50% effaced. Dr. Wilks says that I could go into labor tomorrow or it could still be a couple weeks... so be prepared, but don't hold your breath.

36 weeks

2009-07-16T11:37:00.000-07:00

I am officially 36 weeks pregnant! I feel like my belly is stretched to capacity. I have a list of aches and pains at least a mile long, and every morning I wake up a little bit more cranky. Today I punched Daniel (in the chest--not to hard) just to make it clear how unfun carrying his son around has become.

I do have a lot to be grateful for though and for the next few weeks I am going to try my best to focus on those things. The biggest one is that I have my son inside me... as many of you know getting pregnant was not a walk in the park for me, and in fact I had basically written off the possiblity of having biological children. I do not want to go a day without thanking the Lord for the MIRACLE that is Ransom Jay.

I am also very grateful for the amazing support system that Daniel and I have. We have now had 3 showers. The last of which was on Tuesday. It was so fun and we were given MORE gifts for our sweet boy. Thank you to everyone who was there and who put that party together. Your love and support means the world to us!

I did have a Dr's Appointment today. Everything is looking good and I am actually 1cm dialated and 50% effaced. I am hoping that just maybe that means Ransom will make his appearance sooner rather than later. I know that I shouldn't get my hopes up to high though. I will just try to be patient and keep myself busy for now.

Hopefully I will survive this Oklahoma heat just a little while longer!

Waiting...

2009-07-06T07:09:00.000-07:00

We had a great weekend celebrating the 4th of July and Ransom with family. Our family threw a HUGE shower for us that consisted of 46 people (16 of which were kids) and we ate our little hearts out and the kids swam till they almost turned to fish. We were spoiled with lots of gifts that we look foward to using with our sweet little boy. We definitely want to thank everyone who was there and who was involved with putting the party together. We have a great family and everytime I would look around I would smile knowing how many people Ransom will have in his life that love him. I love that we have such a big family! I cannot wait to watch him running around with all his cousins.

I am hoping that the next several weeks will be sweet ones that I will cherish, even though I am so looking foward to Ransom being here. I do not want to wish my time away. I am looking foward to finishing up our preparations of Ransom's room and other area's of our home, so that we will be ready to bring our sweet little bundle home to a cozy, organized, and safe place for him to grow.

First Birthing Class

2009-07-03T05:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a great day. I had a Dr.'s appointment in the morning where I learned that Ransom was already in head down position and my uterus is measuring perfectly to my due date. I was so happy! Daniel and I also went to our first birthing class last night and it was actually pretty fun. The instructor was really helpful and was really interested in our story and any fears about the birth we had. I was kinda dreading these classes, and really only signed up because I was sure it would make Daniel feel more comfortable when it came down to it. I was pleasently surprised, and admittedly probably needed the classes for myself also. I look foward to next week. I actually like the added baby centered activity to help pass the time between now and the actual birthdate.

This weekend is going to be a full one. It is 4th of July and so we will be celebrating that along with having a shower for Ransom. It is a family shower and I am very excited to get together with everyone by the pool and celebrate our Freedom and our little boy!

Busy, Busy

2009-06-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

I have resigned myself to the fact that life is in a new kind of pace for me. Relaxing evenings watching tv and cuddling with my husband are in short supply, and the weekends are not near as restful as they once were. I am not really complaining though. I just can't believe how crazy things have been and as I look at the weeks ahead I know that each week is just as full as the last if not more so.

We are getting so excited about the arrival of our son. We have just over 6 weeks till the big due date (although a slightly earlier than planned birthdate would not come unwelcome)! As we get closer to meeting our son I find myself dreaming of what our little guy will be like and how he will fit in our family. Every move Ransom makes sends me into day dreams about him and the person he will be... what will he look like? What kind of personality will he have? What will his first word be? How different will it feel to really be the mommy this time around, instead of just the nanny? I really just can't wait to meet him. Every night when I get up (at least 5 times to pee) I tell him that it is his fault, but he is worth every momment of lost sleep. I dream of the nights in the future when I will be getting up to snuggle and feed my sweet son, and it makes just a little bit easier.

Emotional doesn't even begin to describe me these days. I have never felt so many emotions streaming through my body at one time. I cry A LOT, but not always over the same emotion... one time it could be happiness, the next fear, the next anger, and the next exhaustion. I don't really feel totally in control of which emotion will overtake me at any given moment, but I pray that God will give me some control or my husband may kill me in the next 6+ weeks. Pray for me as I try to keep myself in check and pray especially for my husband, as he does not always know what hit him. Praise God that He is in the redeeming business, because I have definitely needed his redemption from myself lately. I continue to pray that He will give me the grace to finish this race strong. I want to honor Him in this proccess and I am pretty sure screaming and crying at my husband is not His idea of honoring.

I have doctors appointment on Thursday, so I will hopefully update again soon after that.

Wedding, Memorial Weekend, and Lots of Driving

2009-05-26T07:57:00.001-07:00

My brother is officially married! The wedding was gorgeous and fun was had by all. I am so excited to have a new sister-in-law and hope that they come and visit us soon. Since the wedding was on a Friday night and the rehearsal was on Thursday, my Memorial weekend was quite a bit more extended then most. After the wedding we headed towards Big Mom's house (my grandma) and had a day and a half of "lakin' it" with some extended family. Then loaded up for the 7 hour trip back home. Because sitting in a car for an extended amount of time is getting harder and harder for me we had to take it slow and so we stopped often, including a stop at Hillsborro Outlet Mall. Ransom was definitely the big winner of this shopping trip. We found a TON of bargains on clothing and we just couldn't resist adding to his already growing wardrobe. I can't wait till he is here so we can play dress up!

Answers to prayer

2009-05-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to report that Daniel has basically passed 2 years of school in one semester, and also has a great job that he started last week. He still needs a year of experience before he can get his official Journeyman's liscense, but he is definitely on his way and we know that a year will come and go before we know it. God has truely blessed us! We couldn't be more excited about how he is providing for us.

In other news, Ransom is kicking harder and more frequently these days, and it is fun to feel him move. I feel like I am already getting to know my son and I love him so much! Sleep is not coming to easily for me, but I am just going to chalk it up as preparation for the many middle of the night feedings to come. The next three months will be long hot summer months, and then will come the reward of meeting our son face to face! Thats right, only 3 months to go! See you in August little man!

26 weeks

2009-05-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

I am really busy this month. I am not sure how much I am going to be able to blog, but I did want to make good on my promise of pictures of my growing bellly. My sister took them and she tells me I look good in them, but I just see swollen arms and boobs that together are definitely bigger than my belly!

Today is my birthday!

2009-04-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

I am 24 today! What will I do to celebrate my birthday? Well, I had an early celebration with my family yesterday. We went to Red Robin and all of the gifts I got were actually for Ransom, which was done at my request. I will go out tonight Daniel's family and I am sure we will have a yummy meal and a great time. Oh and Daniel is going to be working on our flower beds outside this week for my birthday present from him. I am so excited about this as our front yard is looking pretty shabby. But the main event will be going to the Lion King play with Daniel and my sister tomorrow. My dad bought us tickets and we are all very pumped.
In Ransom news, he is still moving so much. And although I am not particularly fond of pregnancy thus far, I am glad that I have time to prepare for him to get here. His nursery is definitely coming along, but we do have quite a bit more still yet to do. I am getting ready to sign Daniel and I up for a birthing class at the hospital, which should be interesting. I am planning on taking a picture sometime this week of my growing belly, so stay tune for that! Here are a few more pics of the nursery taken last week.

Ultrasound

2009-04-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

Well, I had my ultrasound this morning and everything looked great. The only problem was that they could hardly get Ransom to stay still long enough to get the measurements and stuff that they needed. It seems as though my experience on Monday was just one of those things that they have no real explanation for and hopefully was an isolated event. But it was great to see him again and watch him do what looked like some kind baby acrobatics. They also told me he was "definitely still a boy." haha. We got a better picture of the proof of that too!

On a side note, Daniel had an interview this morning and we are definitely praying for the outcome of that meeting. Whatever happens with this particular company we know that God will find him the perfect place.

Small Scare

2009-04-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was quite an eventful day. I had the day off and so I had planned to work on Ransom's room and get some things done around the house. I woke up feeling a little weird though, but I thought I would just go ahead with my day and see what happened. I called my mom and asked her to come over to help with some more painting, but by the time she got there I was cramping and having some lower-back pain that was pretty uncomfortable. Now all day I debated as to wether or not these were just cramps from a growing uterus or not, and I got some of my pregnancy books that told me that I really shouldn't worry unless it was accompanied by nausea/vomitting or by spot bleeding. So I just tried to make it through the day without to much complaining, but I was definitely uncomfortable. So I go through the day the best I can and we get SOME of the stuff that I wanted to get done accomplised, but by the time evening hits I am exhausted and in pain and I just want to lay around. Then later I realize that I am in fact spotting a very little bit, so I decide it's time to call the doctor. I talk to the on call doctor and he says to head straight for the hospital. This is when I start to lose it. I tell Daniel that we have to head to the hospital and I call my mom and let her know and she of course jumps in her car to meet us there along with my dad and sister. Well, we get there and check me out and Ransom seems completely oblivious as he is doing flips to stay away from the heart monitor and then when she finally gets him "pinned down" his heart is beating strong. They run a few test and say that everything seems to be normal other than some blood in my urine, and they don't think that is coming from my cervix, so they monitor my uteran activity for awhile and then send me home. I talked to my doctor's nurse this morning and she said that sometimes these things just happen and resolve themselves and they are nothing to worry about, but to be on the safe side they are going to try and work me in to get a ultrasound in the next day or so.

So long story short we had a long night last night, but everything seems to be alright. I kinda wish they had some answer to give me, but I am trusting that God is in control and that he has Ransom in his hands. It will definitely be reassuring to have the ultrasound though. Please just pray that this is a one time event and that Ransom stays snug in my belly so he can be born a healthy full-term baby. They sent me away from the hospital with a sheet on signs of preterm labor and I was experiencing 4 out of the 7 symptoms throughout the day yesterday, so that definitely concerns me. However, today, I have had no symptoms at all and I feel good other than being extremely tired physically and emotionally. Thanks in advance for any prayers that are lifted up! I know God will hear and be glorified by the requests of His children.

The work continues

2009-04-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

A little more progess has been made on the nursery! I have to take pictures of small portions that are finished... for now. The first pic is of the one corner of the room that is almost complete. The second pic is of a door sign that has yet to be hung on the door... along with some tiny shoes and a tiny hat. Who doesn't love tiny accessories!?

Prayer

2009-04-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

I have heard many people say that their prayer life was highly intensified once they became parents. I know that this is definitely the case for me already. I have been crying out to the Lord for many things and praising him for many others. I thought I would share some of my prayer concerns and praises so that anyone who desires could join me. I know prayer is powerful and I have seen people unite in prayer and God really show up. So here it is...

- Ransom's health and growth
- God's protection durning the delivery
- Ransom's salvation
- Our at home business is not doing well in this economy
- Daniel's schooling to become a Heat & Air guy
- Daniel to get a job in the Heat & Air field

Praise God for...

- Our son!!
- Our marriage
- Our wonderful and newly remodeled home
- Loving and supportive friends and family

I would like to thank you in advance for any prayers lifted up on our behalf. We hope that our lives would bring glory to God's name, so I will be sure to keep you updated on the ways that God provides for us.

Dr. Appointment and exhaustion

2009-04-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

I went to Dr. yesterday and she says everything is looking great. Ransom is growning and so am I! My favorite part about going to the Dr.'s office is getting to hear his heartbeat. It is a magical sound that I think I could sit and listen to for hours on end. I have one of those contraptions that are made for listening to the heart at home, but I can very rarely pick up on his heartbeat with it, so I definitely look foward to hearing it on a monthly basis.

I am pretty exhausted these days. I don't know if it is because of the 19 month old that I chase around all day or the problems sleeping or the fact that my body is not used to growing another human being. I guess it is probably the combination of all three, but whatever the case, I am tired. I am just kinda bracing myself though, because I am pretty sure that I am going to continue on in this state (0r worse) of exhaustion for quite awhile.

20 weeks

2009-03-31T12:03:00.001-07:00

I have now passed the 20 week mark. That means that I am half way there!!! I am hoping that the second half goes faster than the first. I guess between not feeling well and the cold weather (not my favorite--never has been) it has been hard for me to distract myself enough. I am hoping with the Spring weather and the many activities of the summer that time will fly.

I have been trying to let go of some of the fear that I feel. I have been clinging to this verse. Psalm 139:23 "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb." I have to remind myself numerous times a day, when those fearful thoughts creep up on me, that God knows Ransom even now. God is making Ransom into the person he is to be, and I should have nothing to fear. He is God's Son even before he is mine. I may love him already, but that love is nothing compared to God's love.

My favorite music group is Waterdeep. Today I was listening to them on random and this very short song began to play and I realized that it described my situation completely.

Overwrought

Why am I so overwrought?
Why am I so disturbed?
Why can’t I just hope in God?

Despite all my emotions
I will believe
And praise
The one
Who saves me
And is my life

Sneak Peek at Ransom's Room

2009-03-29T18:21:00.000-07:00

I have spent a good chunk of the weekend working on Ransom's nursery with my mom, sister and of course my ever helpful husband. I thought I would post a very small portion of our work as a little teaser until it is complete. So, drum roll please...

I told you it would be a small peek!!!

Worry...

2009-03-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

This week has started out as a hard one for me. I am in constant prayer for my unborn son. I know that God is in control and is skillfully shaping my child in my womb, but I have been witness to several babies that were born with some pretty serious health issues at birth. If I let my head take over the worry becomes almost unbearable.

I am a pretty avid reader of this womans blog whose son was diagnosed with some pretty serious heart issues while in the womb, but after a prayer chain erupted through the internet her son was born seemingly completely healed. After over 4 months of healthy living and growing, this sweet chubby baby began having heart trouble again this week. My head has been spinning with thoughts of her and that sweet little infant who can probably only take so much more of the trauma that his body is going through. I ache at the thought of being a mother in her postion, but as I read her posts it is obvious that God is carrying her through this and she has given up her child completely to God. She believes in the power of prayer, but also knows that God already knows what will happen to her son. (please pray for baby Stellan and family... you can read the story at www.mycharmingkids.net)

I pray for the kind of faith that will allows me to give my child to God whether he is healthy or not. I know God is in control. I will continue to lift my son's body up to God, but I refuse to live a life of fear. God will take care of HIS son, Ransom.

Kid (and site) under contruction

2009-03-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

My mom keeps teasing me about this dream she (and many other pregnant women, come to find out) had when she was pregnant. In the dream she would take which ever one of us she was pregnant with out of her belly and play, sing, and talk to her sweet bundle of joy and then just simply put the baby back in after awhile. She asks me on a daily basis when I am going to take Ransom out and play with him. I laugh at the thougth of this, but I am also a little disgusted. When I think what Ransom would probably look like at this stage in the game I know he would probably not look that sweet and would have some major issues if I were to "take him out to play." So I am constantly reminded in this way, that as much as I sometimes wish I could skip the rest of this pregnancy (not to mention pushing him out) and just simply be holding my baby boy, it is for his and my own good that he stay in there while God finishes putting him together. I was thinking about getting some construction tape to wear across my belly...

On that note, this site is definitely under construction. It may not look pretty now, and everytime you log on you may find it a little more out of sorts, but I promise that in the end it will look great. It just may take some time (hopefully not 9 months).

(Also, if you can sing the lyrics to the song that goes along with my title, then you were probably part of the early years at HBC)

Falling in Love

2009-03-11T17:09:00.000-07:00

I remember when Daniel and I were dating and everything he did was amazing. I remember the first thing that I loved about him was his smile. I also loved his imperfections... his crooked nose (from being broke on 2 different occasions) is still one of my favorite parts about his physical characteristics. I loved that he made me have butterflies in my stomach everytime he touched me. I would lose sleep just thinking about him. I was pretty sure there was nothing about this guy that I didn't love. Of course that love has changed, and I could name at least 10 things off the top of my head that I don't LOVE about Daniel, but I still love him. I will always remember those things that I have always loved about him... just ask him... he can often get out of trouble just by smiling his childish grin at me.

I am falling in love again. I love a little guy who gives me butterflies everytime I feel his little kicks. I have lost numerous hours of sleep just thinking and dreaming about him ( well, maybe the need to pee every few hours contributes too). At this point, I can't imagine a time when he will be unloveable to me. I know in my head that in the years ahead I will be dealing with tantrums, messes, and just childish behavior... as i think of these things now though, I can only smile. I know my love for him will change and grow, and in the midst of these future hardships I will not be smiling, but for now I am enjoying these first stages of love all over again.

I love you, Ransom. I am so excited to meet you face to face. But for now keep growing and getting stronger. If you get bored in there, then go ahead and start working on that grin that your dad has mastered. No one will be able to resist it.

A name revealed...

2009-03-08T08:45:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, Daniel and I have been planning to name our son Joel since just a few days after finding out I was pregnant. Well, as many well intentioned plans do, things changed. This past weekend Daniel became very attached to a new name. It was my fault really and at first I really regretted it.

I had just recieved a big pile of books from a family member on pregnancy and breastfeeding, and stuck in the group was a baby name book. I was bored and picked it up while Daniel was playing video games. I looked up a few names that I was curious about the meanings and then a few of the more odd names caught my eye and I began reading them out loud to Daniel. I even found some names that I really liked that I had never thought about... but I was not in the market for a different name. I then came to THE name. I read it aloud, "Ransom", and Daniel made some comment about kinda liking it. I thought, " ya thats definitely unique", and then began flipping more pages. Later that evening Daniel says something about the more that he thought about "Ransom" the more he liked it. Come to find out, Ransom is the name of the main character in a triology written by C.S Lewis that Daniel read about a year ago. As I began to realize that Daniel was really considering this name, I started to think about all the names he could be called and began back-tracking. I then realized that the name may be just a little TOO unique, but Daniel really liked it. I decided not to really argue about it with him since we weren't sure if we were even having a boy yet and I would see if Daniel still liked it after we found out what we were having, but then began kinda talking to people about this weird name that Daniel had picked out. So anyway, on Thursday we find out we are having a boy! We are both so extatic. So I text everyone that I could think of at the time and people start responding with Congratulations and several friends use the name Ransom in their congrats. I kinda laugh, but then I began feeling Daniel out about if he is still set on this name. He is. That night I don't sleep at all. I am so excited, but also "Ransom" just keeps running through my head. I start to believe that maybe there is something to this name. I start thinking about what a ransom is and I realize that there was once a Ransom paid that saved me from myself. I am, of course, speaking of Jesus' death that saved me from my sinful nature. God then reminded me of the verse Mark 10:45, " For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." I realized that the best that I could hope for my son is that he know God, and realizes the price that was paid for him, and then be willing to lay down his life so that others might know God too. I have been praying for my child since the day I knew of him. I now choose to name him Ransom Jay Cassil as a reminder to pray, not only that he know who God is, but that he brings glory to God in his time here on earth.

Please pray for Ransom Jay Cassil. Pray for his body as it forms. Pray for his parents as they learn to be parents. Pray for the lives that Ransom will touch.