"first" date

Last night we took our first date without the little lion man.  We talked (even though lots of it was about Juju!) free of interruption, ate a delicious meal, grabbed a coffee, took a country drive (we do that for fun!), did a little photo shoot ... just enjoyed the moments together until we could cuddle with Judah again! 

Do I ever love this man ... !!

pic pix: 14.Aug.2012, south of Calgary

not quite road tested

Take a good look at God's wonders ... they'll take your breath away ...

Bless the Lord, O peoples!  Give Him a thunderous welcome!
Didn't He set us on the road to life?  Didn't He keep us out of the ditch?
He trained us first, passed us like silver through refining fires, brought us into
Hardscrabble country, pushed us to the very limit,
Road-tested us inside and out, took us to hell and back;

Finally, He brought us to this well-watered place.

Psalm 66:7a, 8-12

Right now, with all of the changes and adaptions taking place in my life, I'm feeling like I am in some 'hardscrabble country' .... being pushed to my very limits.  Not quite at the point where I am being road-tested - so that I can fully articulate what I am specifically learning  - but KNOWING and TRUSTING that God is/will be guiding me.  He's keeping me out of the ditches.  And as He promised, He's set me on the road to life.

I'm not sure where you are at within your journey today.  Maybe similar to me, maybe you're closer to that road of completely understanding where you are on your map.  Regardless, remember and celebrate with me right now ... He has brought us to well-watered places before.  So will He do again!

Take a good look at God's wonders ... they'll take your breath away ...
Bless the Lord, O peoples!  Give Him a thunderous welcome!


pic pix: tonight - our first night away from Juju (yup, this Mama cried!), 14.Aug.2012, Calgary, AB

two months ...

After we finished supper tonight, we quickly went out to the backyard to take a few 2-month-old shots.  Previous to these expressive faces (!) there were tears *mama has sad face* ... and following these shots there were more tears!  All, just to show off Juju's cute face on the sheepskin rug!

 Mama and Daddy keep saying I'm getting so big ... I guess my 13 lbs. would explain that!  I LOVE when they help me stand up on my feet.  I may just be the earliest walker compared to all my other cousins :)  This month I started blowing bubbles on my lower lip to pass the time while Mama is cleaning/getting ready/doing her thing.  Daily, we have talking contests ... I always last the longest and talk the loudest.  Mama says that I'm like my Pepere, as I like to hear the sound of my own voice talking!  I've been on 2 camping trips this month and think those mountains are pretty sweet, just not them mosquitoes :(  I've also attended two more weddings (and a stagette!) to which I showed off my kickin' dance moves, cool outfits, and impressed everyone with well-behaved I was.  Gee ... being a sociable 2 month old ... the life!!!

our day in pictures

1. the darndest, cutest little boy around
2. afternoon read with an afternoon coffee
3. summer afternoon thunderstorm
4. someone loves their suce
5. cute baby fingers
6. never-ending laundry
7. "look mama, I'm stuck in the corner!"
8. "mama!  are you going to help me get out?!"
9. yummy carrot cake with cream cheese icing

thoughts. things.

Has it EVER been a busy time!  From the first week of June, until this last weekend, we have been going going going!!  Like I mentioned in my last post, new things, changes, busyness.  All good things, but a LOT to digest in 2 months.

At this present moment, I'm looking forward to settling into a new schedule and lifestyle with Judah.  Integrating blogging and jogging back into my routine is next on the agenda.  I haven't really done much of either since last August!  As well, come September, I'd like to find a Bible study or something.  I've got a load of pictures to sift through, especially now that I take so many shots of Ju-ju!  Some camping weekends ahead, my piano ready to be played, a few blank canvases waiting to be given some color-lovin...let's just say, i'm excited with all that my plate holds coming up!

 

1. auntie instagramming

2. cousins meet

3. sunday afternoon in the park

4. stagette in banff

5. mama & judah

6. what a beautiful bride

one month ...

I know this post is a little late (was planning on posting this July 13th!), but we have been super busy as of late: 

. My girlfriend is getting married next weekend, and I am trying to help out as much as I can there.
. We have had out of town family visiting since the beginning of June!!  Lots of catching up, lots of sites to see.
. Matt, Judah and I have been adjusting to our new life and schedules together.  (ie. Some nights I have the energy to get the house clean, some I don't.)  We have yet to establish something entirely efficient :)

But without any further ado, here's the little guy at 1 month old!

So far, I've acquired many nicknames - Juju, Little Lion Man, J-Dawg, Juju-bug, Jude, Buddha Judah ... just to name a few!  I'm already trying to stand and can hold my head so well, it makes Mama & Papa proud.  Since I was a day old, I've slept through the night (minus that one time) and my Mama brags about that to everyone :)  I like to hold my big hands in fists ... maybe one day, I'll be a boxer like my Great-Grandpa.  Mama and I like to go on walks and visit friends and family over coffee (which doesn't bother my tummy one bit!).  I had a baby shower a couple weeks ago, and have even already attended my first wedding!  Life is great at a month old ...

pic pix: one month old on the sheepskin, 13.July,2012, Calgary, AB

live now

It's been so long since I've had (what feels like) a chunk of time to be able to write.  Friday marked my boy's 1 month birthday.  Yes, 1 FULL month ago from when he first debuted himself out of the womb (*late* 1 month post still to come!).  We couldn't be more blessed.  Judah is such a happy, sleeping (yes, through the night!), content baby.  Just a little bit of mama bragging going on!

A bunch of new changes, habits, and routines starting over here ... it's challenging, but so refreshing.  It feels like it's been a while since I had a "new" start and the reason couldn't be more lovable!  For the longest time, it's felt like we've put off making concrete decisions (where to live, be part of a community, etc.) because of our unforeseeable future.  But lately, both Matt and I have been seeing the need to live NOW, regardless of what reworkings may take place in the 'tomorrows' to come.  The fact of the matter is, we are living right this second and not in the future.  Judah has been a good reminder of that ... like when he falls asleep, the important question of that moment ends up being, "Should I do   (insert task)   now?  Or take a nap as well?!"

It seems a lot of my days have not felt 'productive' like I used to feel.  Judah, now, makes up my day ... tending to his needs is my new "productive".  Coming from a go-go-go and do-do-do mentality, I can be hard on myself when I can't see the fruit of tasks being accomplished.  Although, with each passing day that Judah is rapidly changing and developing, I am again realizing that precious moments like these quickly evaporate and each of those seconds hold special value.  More value than a checklist being all ticked off.

As prolific as each day may or may not seem ... every single day threads into the story of our lives.  The insignificant and important worries/jobs/responsibilities of our "present", make up our story.

Sharing a morning cuddle with Ju-ju, I sing this song and want to live today as such... 

Live Now - Paul Brandt

I heard it from a newborn baby
Loud and clear in that first breath of air
I heard it when grandpa was dying
It was faintly there
Live now

I guess it really is quite that simple
Sometimes it's easier said than done
But all the cool rain does is fall down
And all the river does is run
Live now

We're not promised tomorrow
Like vapor, this these days here are fading away
Baby, this time I'm holding you is borrowed
But every second by God's grace, I'm gonna
Live now

I've learned I can't control the future
I've learned I must forgive the past somehow
Cause we are here only a moment
And life's too short not to live now

pic pix: my little lion man, 04.Jul.2012, Calgary, AB