The Nursery

This is long overdue, and has been requested by several people so I'm finally posting pictures of Sadie's nursery!  I had plans to share a peek before she ever arrived...but, if you remember, my house was turned UPSIDE DOWN...and, Sadie decided to come early.  So, my plans changed.  These pictures were taken during Sadie's newborn session by the incredibly talented Dena Dendy (who was also our birth photographer) so there's a few pics with Sadie, but I didn't figure you would mind :)  I have added a few things to her room since these were taken, but it's basically the same.   

So, without further adieu...Sadie's nursery!

In the 10 years that we waited for a baby, I have decorated and redecorated about 1 million nurseries in my mind.  I absolutely love how everything turned out!  

My incredibly talented mother made ALL of the bedding, window treatment, table cloth, and changing pad cover.  I had seen this fabric several places online, and just fell in love with it.  We ordered all the fabric from Hawthorne Threads, and mom perfectly took my vision and made it exactly what I wanted!

If you know me well, you know I have an addiction love for Longaberger baskets...well, Sadie of course had to have her own set of baskets.  I have several in her room, and have the ivory and natural weave to match.  

The chair and ottoman were my sister's that she had used in her children's nurseries.  I had them recovered to match Sadie's room.  This is one of our sweet girl's favorite spots to snuggle with Mommy and read books!

The furniture in Sadie's room (with the exception of the crib), were mine from my childhood.  All the pieces were a honey oak color with brass hardware.  Our family friends, Reba and Charles, refurbish furniture and the transformation they did to these pieces is unbelievable!!  We custom color matched the paint to the crib finish, and they brought new life to these treasured pieces!  They are just beautiful!

Brad and I did not see eye to eye on what type of light fixture for Sadie's room in the beginning.  He, always being level headed and realistic, wanted to have a ceiling fan in her room.  Me, always being more interested in the design and making everything look pretty, had my heart set on a chandelier for her room.  After looking at several, he finally agreed to getting this chandelier.  It was the perfect finishing touch - the cherry on top so to speak :).  

One of my most favorite things in the nursery is the bird painting above the changing table.  It's a custom piece by Kelly Jackson.  Even after all the nursery decorating and redecorating I have done in my head, one thing I've always wanted was to some how incorporate the poem "All Things Bright and Beautiful" in the nursery.  I wanted a very subtle bird theme in Sadie's room, and Kelly created this painting with the words to the poem.  Love it!!

Kelly also painted this toy chest.  This was a trunk I used while in college.  Kelly took the bedding fabric and painted designs from the fabric on to the trunk, and added Sadie's name to the top.

The rug is from Pottery Barn Kids.  We looked at about 1,000 rugs (I wish I were exaggerating...) one weekend in Atlanta, and finally decided this was the right one.  It perfectly coordinates with the fabric colors and design.

The initials above the crib are from Langley Metal Works.  I also had them to do a bow holder that has her initials on it, but it's not pictured.

Well, that's the tour!  I know it sounds cliche, but seriously, I still feel like I need to pinch myself that I have a baby and this is her room!!  So blessed!

Sadie is 4 months old!

Time is flying, and our baby girl is growing!  Our sweet Sadie turned 4 months old last week!

What is Sadie up to these days?

• She weighs 13 lb 4 oz, and is 25 inches long.  
• She is in size 1 diapers.
• She is now in all 6 month clothes, even though some are still too big.  And, she has TINY feet - most newborn size shoes still do not fit.  I've had to have some crocheted shoes made custom for her...they are too sweet!
• Her eye color is still up for debate - we're holding out for them to stay blue, but some days they look brown or green.
• Her hair is really growing, and is in a stage right now where it won't lay down - it looks like it's spiked up! :)  It's so cute!
• She has stayed very consistent in her eating for the past couple of months - she still eats 4 ounces or nurses 15-20 minutes every 3-4 hours during the day.  Her pediatrician feels like if she's content with the amount she's eating, that there's no reason to up the amount or add any cereal yet.  
• She continues to be a GREAT sleeper!!  A lot of days she cat naps several times a day and doesn't take a long nap until the afternoon.  But, she goes down for the night around 10:00, and has been sleeping until 6:00 - 7:00 a.m.  So, so, so thankful!!!!
• She absolutely loves to sit up...and hates to be on her tummy!  She's very curious, and loves to look around and be talked to, so she likes sitting up so she can see everything.
• She has discovered TV, and her favorite things to watch are Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sesame Street, and FOOTBALL!! HA!  Every time a football game is on (which is almost daily at our house), she is glued to the TV.  She is truly our child! 

The past month has been a month full of celebrating!  Sadie attended her first birthday party...then a second...and, a third! 

John Wiiliam's 1st Brithday Farm Party...

 Jenna Beth's 3rd Birthday Minnie and Mickey party...

 and, Kenedi's 7th Birthday party!

 Oh, and we also celebrated Halloween!  Sadie was a Frog at our church's Fall Festival...

And, she was the cutest ice cream cone EVER for Halloween! :)

Sadie with all her loot...she got books for her "treats" this year :)

She also had her 3rd surgery this month...hopefully the last for a long while!  She had to have another esophageal dilation, but she's such a trooper - she did great!  This is her on our way home...

It's been a busy month for our little Sadie Hope!  She is changing every day, and doing new things!  Just in the pictures from this month, it's amazing to see how she's changed from the beginning of the month to the end!    

What a fun 4 months it has been!!!!

We love you, sweet girl!

One Year Ago...

Brad and I were anticipation of THE MOST important phone call of our lives.  After receiving the call, we took this picture to announce to my family that I was pregnant!

The text read, "next stop...Destination MATERNITY!"

After taking the picture, Brad and I went to buy something to give the baby.  Our first purchase for OUR baby.  We bought the sweetest little white bunny.

Today, one year later - this precious angel fills our days with smiles and coos.

And, Sadie and bunny are best buddies :)  Bunny has been with her through surgeries, and many rocking and reading sessions with Mommy.  Bunny stayed on my nightstand during my entire pregnancy...she's been on the journey with us!

What an unbelievable year it has been!

I know it is of no surprise what I'm most thankful for this Thanksgiving!  So, so, so thankful for Sadie Hope.  Thank you, sweet girl, for making me a Mama.  I love you!

A New Season

This post has absolutely nothing to do with the beach, but I promised to post some beach pictures, so they're just a bonus to my ramblings today... :)

For the first time in a very long time, I am in a new place in my life.  I have found something I have longed for, prayed for, searched for, and had just about decided my heart was incapable of.

Contentment.  

In this season, in this moment.

Now, most would assume (and I would have years ago) this contentment came when a little 7 lb, 5 oz baby entered my world a few months ago.  It is true - she has brought more joy, more happiness, and more love than I could have ever possibly imagined.  Our little Sadie is no doubt an unmistakable gift from God.    

But I want to be clear - this contentment is not about Sadie.  

This contentment is not about taking a year off from teaching...or, from a having perfectly imperfect marriage.

It's about Jesus.  It's about the heart change I have had.  It's about this season of life that He has brought me to - a season full of mothering, and ministering, and serving, and living in the right now.  It's about what He's doing in me.

Don't mistake this contentment as life is perfect.  Far from it.  My life is messy right now to say the least.  Some days are down right hard.  I still face struggles everyday, and go to bed many nights feeling like I should have accomplished more in the day.  I still face feelings of failure and insecurity.  Life is still too busy and more chaotic than it really should be.  I still mess up and have to ask for forgiveness daily.  

But, my heart is full.  And, I know, that I know, that I know, for this moment in time - I'm right where I need to be, doing exactly what I've been called to do.  Be a wife, be a mother, serve in ministry, and daily live in the moment - accepting the grace I've been so graciously given.  You see, I've spent way too many days and years just making it through.  Just surviving.  Loving the Lord always; but, never resting in Him enough to be content with where He had me.  Always looking and searching for the next season instead of enjoying the joy of the every day.  

The Lord has allowed me to break those chains I've been in for so long, and just breathe.  And rest in Him.  To enjoy this place, this time. Oh what peace contentment brings.

And friends, it feels good.

While this contentment is not hinged on having had Sadie, or my current employment status, or my marriage - having contentment with ME and my life allows me to find even greater joy in those things.  

So, I felt compelled to share this new season of contentment for 2 reasons.  The first, to celebrate...WHOOP, WHOOP!! :) Second, I want to encourage you if you just read this and feel bewildered or frustrated, because you are in a place of complete dis-contentment.  If you're worn out and tired.  Searching and trying to desperately reach a place of peace in your life, a place of contentment...hold on, friend.  Keep your head up high, and keep your eyes fixed on Him.  

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer...let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)   

 

Sadie is 3 Months Old!

I can't believe Miss Sadie Hope has already turned 3 months old.  I know I'm behind on posting this, but I did take her picture on her 3 month birthday...

What is Sadie up to these days?

• She weighs 11 lb 11 oz, and is 24 inches long.  
• She is in size 1 diapers.
• She wears 0-3 months and a few (smaller) 3-6 months clothes...I had to start putting up some of her clothes, mainly because of the season change more than her growing out of her clothes.  It was hard putting away some of those sweet outfits knowing she would never wear them again!  Each outfit had a memory attached to it...I can't believe how fast time is flying!!! 
• Her eye color is still up for debate - we're holding out for them to stay blue, but some days they look brown or green.
• Her hair is getting very thick, and is looking more light brown every day.
• She eats 4 ounces or nurses 15-20 minutes every 3-4 hours during the day.
• She is a great sleeper...she has her last feeding between 10:00-11:00 pm, and usually wakes up between 5:00-6:00 am.  
• She really has the sweetest personality...she typically doesn't cry unless she's super hungry or needs a diaper change.  She's a very laid back, happy baby!  I don't know how Brad and I got so lucky! :)
• She continues to smile and coo more and more, and is a little mover - she loves laying in her bed or her activity mat and kicking and "talking".  I just love to hear her - sweetest sounds ever!

Some of the most significant events this month were...

Sadie had to have her first esophageal dilation.  Part of TEF is narrowing of the esophagus, and from time to time she will have to have her esophagus stretched.  This was her 2nd surgery in her short little life; however, this was no where near as invasive as the first.  Thankfully, she did great and there were no complications!

 Sadie took her first road trip...to the beach!!  It was such a fun trip (more pics to come in another post!)

This has by far been the fastest, most wonderful 3 months of my life to date...I can't even imagine what is yet to come!!!  I'm so so so humbled to be this sweet angel's Mama!!

Happy 3 months, Sadie girl!!