Check out her baby blanket. I had a co worker recommend this lady who custom makes baby crib sets. I picked out the fabric and she does the rest. Now Clara will have her own blankey like the rest of her siblings!
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
More Clara photos
Check out her baby blanket. I had a co worker recommend this lady who custom makes baby crib sets. I picked out the fabric and she does the rest. Now Clara will have her own blankey like the rest of her siblings!
Clara 4 weeks old
Isn't she cute. Or as Ava would say, "Ahhh, Clara you're so cute, cute, cute!" Clara is just busy being a baby. She eats, sleeps, poops, and cries. In a nut shell, she likes to cuddle, cling, and be warm. A typical baby, not much to share.
Oh, yeah here's a fun mom story. Joe went to Barbados on mock business/ 1 day vaca, and I was home for 4 days ALONE, all alone. Well clara, who had been sleeping for 4 hours during the nights decides to get up every 2 hours to eat, burp and cry all 4 days Joe was gone. FUN! Well, when he got back, guess who decided to return to her 4 hour sleep habit, yeah that's right, CLARA. Way to go Clara, or should I say, way to go Joe!
Awana Awards
We had another great year in Awana. It was tougher on me than the chillun, due to me waddling around a huge church chasing 5th & 6th graders around. I had the best volunteers cover for me 3/4th of the year however.
Gabe and Ava had a great year and walked away all the richer with God's word hidden in their hearts.
easter picture fiasco
What the heck. The spirit of Dennis the picture ruiner has invaded my offspring. We attemped to take our own famly photos for Easter, becasue I'm too friggen cheap to pay for quality and these are the least painful results. Why do I torment myself, right?
Friday, May 22, 2009
The smitten older brother
Gabe is smitten and often claims that Clara is his favorite sister . We let him think that for now. What a blessing to have such a loving brother.
Baby Clara Ann "broccoli" Stewart
Baby Clara was born May 18th, induced early due to mom's misery. Thank you Dr. Drikell
Baby is named after Great Grandpa Clarence and my sister Adriel Ann. It was also the name Joe and I didn't debate and argue over. Joe and I loved Grandpa so much. When we were first married we'd go over and visit Great grandma and Great grandpa and he would tell us funny stories about the good ol days.
He made us laugh and think about life past 20 years of age. We still reminisce about him and our happy pobre time in Grand Forks. Our favorite part about visiting with him was when he'd shout at grandma from his swivel chair, " Momma, give me some coffee!" and she'd yell back, " In a minute, I'm making your sandwich,". But in less than 2 minutes, there was his coffee on a hot afternoon day. Joe tried that on me once and I'm pretty sure he got a shoe thrown at him.
Ann comes from Adriel Ann, reaon being, I still like her after all these years, so I thought I'd name something after her.
The name Clara means BRIGHT and Ann means Favored or Grace. Clara is and will be Brightly Favored!
Birthing Story:
Joe and I went into the hospital at 7a.m. to be induced. I stole some toast on the way out the door because I knew I'd be starving and couldn't eat. I was hooked up to the "speed it up" meds and off the contractinons went. I was fine a happy for 2.5 hours. The contractions went every minute on top of each other all the way down to every 7 minutes. For jeeze sakes is all I could think. I have plans, come on baby! Watch what you swish for, right?
The Dr. came pre warned that I deliver fast starting at 5 months of pregnancy, so with this in mind she broke my water at 10:57. The contractions started immediately and I went from peace loving happiness to PAIN, in less than a minute.
I told Joe that if the pain lasts any longer than an hour or more I couldn't take it and he needed to help me make a decision for drugs or no drugs. Every time I contimplate them, I end up with a baby on my lap, 30 minutes later, so the plans for a spine shot nerv fully develope. The nurse was also the best EVER. She said, give it 15 minutes and I'll check to see how far along you are and you can make a decision from there. I agreed.
The pain worsened and I was feeling the need to push with in 15 minutes. She checked me again and said I was at 5 cm, then 6cm., then 7cm...Every 2 contractions, if not less, I was dilating 1 full centimeter. The nurse and Dr. were ready though, unlike my other deliveries, which seemed to surprise everyone but Joe and I. We always warn them; I deliver fast, but no one wants to believe me, until they're catching baby in a baseball glove.
I went from 3.5 cm at 10:57 to delivery in less than an hour. She was brorn at 11:39. It was super fast and Clara even got a bruise on her forehead to prove it!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Babyshower Rock
The best way to usher in a new life: American Idol Kareoke! The kids were more impressed by their own skills, but honestly the women were the higher scorers. It had something to do with being able to read words or something.
Anywho, do you want to know something super unproductive? 3 youngins helping me open presents!
Fun times was had by ALL! More pics to come...
Friday, April 17, 2009
A life in Review: 4 years in review: snap shots only!
Ava is so excited about her princess party. I have possibly 8 girls coming over in their princess attire to act like royalty. I will be playing the role of mother servant and I have a lot of high expectations that Ava has made quite clear to me on many occassions.
Wish me luck and I will blog the video and photos as soon as the princess lets me rest!
Wish me luck and I will blog the video and photos as soon as the princess lets me rest!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Romans 8:38
"(38) For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (39) neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
I'm not sure if it is my old age (crawling up on 31 folks, send presents after June 1st please. They will be accepted until late Sept.)or the pregnancy hormones (these will pass in June as well)but ever since my trip to Cambodia my life verse of Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, be not of your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM and He will make your path straight" has been upgraded to Romans 8:38-39.
Why you ask? Well, because life has changed a bit for me. That's all, no real big revelations, no real life or death situation (beside the grease fire) but simply life's consistancy has allowed me to focus on God's consistancy. I pity those who do not have what I have, and i am not talking about my kids, hubby, home, car or job. I'm talking about my security. Plain and simple hope, peace, and unconditional salvation and grace.
With the increasing of my offspring comes added pressure to not fear, Obama doesn't help the situation.
After having Gabe 8 years ago, my fear meter went up. Than working in a very dangerous inner city environment increased that fear ten fold. But Proverbs 3:5 brought me peace. Jesus always reassured me, why fear? What's the point? I brought you here, do you think I'd allow you to be hurt?
The answer was no. No HE did not bring me to ATL to get hurt, shot, beat up or act dumb. I learned my surroundings, adapted a bit too much, but grew in my understanding that HE is still in control as long as I let HIM be.
After having Ava and moving to MO, I realized that I didn't want danger anymore or the stress of pouring more into someone else's kids in a classroom only to return home to my hubby and kids totally spent! I wanted home time. Hence, Proverbs 3:5 gave me my current job. EASY LIKE BUTTER, or better yet, "Sunday morning". I was able to come home earlier, not as tired, my job was a bit more fulfilling and life seemed to settle down and I regained a focus I felt I lost.
Now I find myself looking for more challenges. I'm not in danger persay, but here comes the added danger of growing luke-warm, Sunday-Christianesque, and I say "No thank you complacency", "I'll pass apathy".
Cambodia reignited that fire to be bold in the everyday monotony of life. And not because anything dangerous or miraculous occurred, but rather the opposite. I'm content in planting seeds, teaching and seeing no immediate result, just making a plan to do something I was designed to do and follow through with it.
Is that not the meaing of life, just live "it".
American Culture has slapped us with an identity problem that I don't identify with at all. If we are not doing something deemed Wonderful or attention grabbing than we have no value. But that is simply "LIES from the DEVIL". I have purpose and meaning regardless of others given attention and/or kudos. I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and somehow the joke has lost humor now that Richard Smally has possible become a Senator. I digress.
Easter reminded me that when you have the Peace that Passes all Understanding the only limit there is to the HAND of God is what I put on HIM. Ask for the impossible, demand the best, Wait for the Hope longed for (not Obama's version). There is nothing lofty in expecting God to be God. What's the worst that could happen?
Nothing can steal or rob me of Peace and assurance of Jesus? What can steal heaven from me? I know you Karma people are knocking on all the wood that you can find right now, but I don't fear that. Karma doesn't exsist when there's true peace. I'm not under a knife of the world's scale and scrutiny, or other people's meter of goodness and justice.
I read good news today about my grandfather. My heart rejoiced, I was in the middle of testing my students, so there was no dance of joy, but I know the angels did that for me. It also reminded me that I will be over critical, my weakness will resonate, I will lose arguments and friendships, I will be disappointed and grieve, but all this pales when put into an eternal perspective that it all passes and in the end, HE who has won, will greet me in the end.
I'm not sure if it is my old age (crawling up on 31 folks, send presents after June 1st please. They will be accepted until late Sept.)or the pregnancy hormones (these will pass in June as well)but ever since my trip to Cambodia my life verse of Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, be not of your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM and He will make your path straight" has been upgraded to Romans 8:38-39.
Why you ask? Well, because life has changed a bit for me. That's all, no real big revelations, no real life or death situation (beside the grease fire) but simply life's consistancy has allowed me to focus on God's consistancy. I pity those who do not have what I have, and i am not talking about my kids, hubby, home, car or job. I'm talking about my security. Plain and simple hope, peace, and unconditional salvation and grace.
With the increasing of my offspring comes added pressure to not fear, Obama doesn't help the situation.
After having Gabe 8 years ago, my fear meter went up. Than working in a very dangerous inner city environment increased that fear ten fold. But Proverbs 3:5 brought me peace. Jesus always reassured me, why fear? What's the point? I brought you here, do you think I'd allow you to be hurt?
The answer was no. No HE did not bring me to ATL to get hurt, shot, beat up or act dumb. I learned my surroundings, adapted a bit too much, but grew in my understanding that HE is still in control as long as I let HIM be.
After having Ava and moving to MO, I realized that I didn't want danger anymore or the stress of pouring more into someone else's kids in a classroom only to return home to my hubby and kids totally spent! I wanted home time. Hence, Proverbs 3:5 gave me my current job. EASY LIKE BUTTER, or better yet, "Sunday morning". I was able to come home earlier, not as tired, my job was a bit more fulfilling and life seemed to settle down and I regained a focus I felt I lost.
Now I find myself looking for more challenges. I'm not in danger persay, but here comes the added danger of growing luke-warm, Sunday-Christianesque, and I say "No thank you complacency", "I'll pass apathy".
Cambodia reignited that fire to be bold in the everyday monotony of life. And not because anything dangerous or miraculous occurred, but rather the opposite. I'm content in planting seeds, teaching and seeing no immediate result, just making a plan to do something I was designed to do and follow through with it.
Is that not the meaing of life, just live "it".
American Culture has slapped us with an identity problem that I don't identify with at all. If we are not doing something deemed Wonderful or attention grabbing than we have no value. But that is simply "LIES from the DEVIL". I have purpose and meaning regardless of others given attention and/or kudos. I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and somehow the joke has lost humor now that Richard Smally has possible become a Senator. I digress.
Easter reminded me that when you have the Peace that Passes all Understanding the only limit there is to the HAND of God is what I put on HIM. Ask for the impossible, demand the best, Wait for the Hope longed for (not Obama's version). There is nothing lofty in expecting God to be God. What's the worst that could happen?
Nothing can steal or rob me of Peace and assurance of Jesus? What can steal heaven from me? I know you Karma people are knocking on all the wood that you can find right now, but I don't fear that. Karma doesn't exsist when there's true peace. I'm not under a knife of the world's scale and scrutiny, or other people's meter of goodness and justice.
I read good news today about my grandfather. My heart rejoiced, I was in the middle of testing my students, so there was no dance of joy, but I know the angels did that for me. It also reminded me that I will be over critical, my weakness will resonate, I will lose arguments and friendships, I will be disappointed and grieve, but all this pales when put into an eternal perspective that it all passes and in the end, HE who has won, will greet me in the end.
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