Update

We have settled into a nice little routine.  Matthew is fast approaching 6 months old and I wonder where the time has gone!

He just started rolling over a week or so ago.
We started solids after we moved in to the new house.  I make pureed vegetables and fruits from our weekly veg box courtesy of Grow Alabama.  So far we have enjoyed peaches, bananas, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, and avocado.
He is super social and LOVES a good party.
He learned that when he cries, mom and dad come running.  Mom and dad have learned that its ok to let him cry for a bit.  As a result, he is now sleeping through the night. Yay!

Family Trip to Cape San Blas

Going to the beach with an infant is, well, exhausting.  So I can't say I have as many pictures as I wanted.  Matthew had a hard time sleeping (and staying asleep) while at the beach and then we all got sick.  But that first day I managed to get a few pictures.

Happy Father's Day and Five Months Old!

I must say that I didn't do near as good a job with Father's Day as Paul did with Mother's Day.  I have a myriad of excuses, but the bottom line is that I owe Paul a proper Father's Day!

They did get to celebrate together by dancing in the party room to "Guantanamera".  

Four Months Old!

Happy Mother's Day

The Friday before mother's day,  I had to stay late at work and last minute asked Paul to pick up Matthew from daycare.  I was so upset.  I live for my evenings with Matthew.  I love picking him up, talking with him on the short ride home and then getting home and starting our evening routine.  We sit on the sofa and play with his blocks and lovey, talk about his day, and snuggle.  Since I am at work all day, I let him nurse as much as he likes.  Once Paul gets home, he gets bath time with Daddy and then its time for bed.  Once he gets older, we'll add a book and prayer.  For now, he is usually out just after his bath.  Well, since I didn't leave work until almost 7pm I was quite upset that I probably missed out on my evening time with the Mateo.

I was in for quite the surprise!

When I walked in the house, I was greeted with a chatty Mateo, balloons and flowers and a card from both my boys.

Having a baby has changed every aspect of our lives.  I can barely remember the days before Matthew came along ad I am so thankful for this little man God has given us.

How much can change in a year

Mother's day.

How much can change in one year.

One year ago, I hit rock bottom as I mourned the loss of a biological child.  Mother's day 2011 was very painful.  I spent the day with Paul's family and felt very left out as all of the women were celebrated for their devotion to their children.  I wanted so desperately to be included.  But how could I?  I wasn't a mother.

Then, I received the sweetest note from Paul's little sister wishing me a "Happy Mommy's Day!"  I melted.  I cried.  I yearned to be more than just Reggie and Dex's mommy.  On several occasions I had to excuse myself and just sat in the bathroom and cried.  And cried.  And cried.

Somewhere along the way I came to accept that while I wasn't a mother, someday God would grow our family and we would have a child of our own.  I was lead to this verse from 1 Peter 5:


⁸ Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ¹⁰And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 


His promises are true.  Little did I know the plans God had for our family.  As I was mourning the loss of a biological child sweet baby Matthew was being wonderfully and fearfully made.  How much can change in a year.


As we celebrate mothers tomorrow I remember the many women in my life who don't have children of their own, but are mothers none the less.  Whether her arms ache for a child or she has chosen not to have children, the very nature of women is to nurture the physical, moral, emotional, and spiritual lives of those in her life.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the beautiful women in my life.

Bath Time!

A month or so ago we started our night time routine.  It has been a HUGE success.  Matthew has really taken to it and amazingly he is asleep by 7 or 8 pm every evening.  Part of the night time routine is bath time with Daddy.  Paul LOVES to sing to Matthew and during bath time the song of choice is the rubber ducky song.  Enjoy!