Ellie's Auntie Nhu Doll

This week we had a very special package arrive in the mail....it had Ellie's first dolly in it.  And what makes this an extra special dolly is that it is one that we are calling "Auntie Nhu."  I thought it would be a great way to introduce Ellie to Nhu, even though Nhu is on the other side of the world.  It may be a type of doll that she won't be able to play with for a while, but we can still take it out and teach her who Auntie Nhu is.

The next doll we wanted to get her is one from the Philippines that we will name "Melissa," after the girl we have sponsored through Remember Nhu for the last few years.  Melissa is a part of our family in our eyes too.  We hope one day to meet her in person.  But in the meantime, we want Ellie to know who she is and learn to pray for her too.  My Aunt Kathy told me that she is going to try to find the doll that my Dad brought back from the Philippines for her when he was in the navy.  That would be amazing! If she can't find it, we will order a different one.

The other reason why I thought this idea was so great is that we want Ellie to love and help people all around the world.  I have prayed many times that she will be a woman who helps those who can't help themselves.  Whether that is going around the world and helping those who are mistreated, hungry, or alone.  Or whether that is helping her own neighbors down the street who need groceries or just need a friend...I just hope she loves people radically.

At church on Sunday we sang a song that got me thinking....

We must go live to feed the hungry

Stand beside the broken, we must go

Stepping forward, keep us from just singing

Move us into action, we must go

To act justly everyday

Loving mercy in every way

Walking humbly before You, God

You have shown us, what you require

Freely we've received

Now freely we give

As we sang, I was praying Ellie would grow to be a woman who does just that.

Also, Caleb and I really hope to adopt one day.  (That is a story in itself.)  We have committed that to Him because we don't know exactly how that will look time-wise or financially...but we have entrusted that dream to Him and hope one day to have another little kiddo in our home with us.  Who knows, maybe from US, or maybe from across the world.  So we hope to instill that love in Ellie from early on.

All to say, it was fun having the package arrive.  Hopefully it is one of the first, of many lessons, we can teach our little girl.

My First Official Mother's Day

Today was my first official Mother's Day as a Mom!  And we had such a great time...Caleb took Ellie and I to Silver Falls.  Since he and I met, I have mentioned from time to time wanting to go there but we just never had.  It has been over a decade since I had been there.  So he decided he wanted to make a day of it, grab us some Chipotle for a picnic lunch, and take us girls out there.  He said he had thought of getting me a pampering day or something, but he thought about it and concluded I would probably rather do this, since my primary love language is quality time.  He was right.  I couldn't have asked for a better Mother's Day.  Relaxing with my two favorite people outdoors.

Caleb is somewhere behind the waterfall in the picture above.  I stayed back with Elliot, since it was hard maneuvering the stroller to get there (although we LOVE our all terrain jogging stroller!!) and there was a pretty good mist she probably wouldn't have appreciated.  It was the perfect day too.  This week has been in the mid 80's, but today was closer to 70...and as a true Oregonian, I actually appreciate being outside when it is overcast.

Yesterday we went out to Dad and Diane's for a Mother's Day celebration with the family.  It was great just hanging out and having a BBQ.   I don't think Grandpa can get enough of little Ellie.  I have to just add....Caleb calls him "G Daddy Flan Flan" and it is funny cause at first it started as a joke...But Dad seems to laugh a little less every time...but its so funny! Caleb also plans to jokingly call his own dad "G Mac Daddy." Haha!

Also, this week my cousin Maleah came into town with her boyfriend Matt.  It was fun to see her again after so many years, and we picked up right where we left off.  Too bad they don't live here nearby or we would love to see them more often!

I was never worried bringing Ellie anywhere before this week.  She had yet to have any type of public melt down or crying what-so-ever.  That is until this week.  Once when I treated myself to a Mother's Day gift of getting my eye brows waxed...and thankfully I was surrounded by friends who understood at that point.  And then when we went to dinner with Maleah and Matt, she cried as well and I rushed her outside til she calmed down. Thankfully it was a really noisy restaurant already!  haha!  But I have to add a series of pictures that Maleah took that just crack me up of Elliot's face changes as she is about to cry!  Oh I love my little girl...even when she isn't so happy.

All to say, we have had a great time these last few days.  And we will definitely sleep well tonight.  (Well, if Ellie does too actually! hahaha!)  Especially since Caleb had to work security at the high school prom in Salem last night and didn't get home til after midnight.  We feel so old...tired so easily these days.  But it is a good tired cause our lives are so full.  

It has been such a great day celebrating the fact that I am a mother...and I am so thankful I get to be Ellie's mom.

Five Minute Friday: Comfort

I used to be unsettled by silence.  Now I realize silence is the most underrated thing there is.

I used to think that I needed to have the right words to speak to a hurting friend.  Now that I have experienced great pain, uncertainty, insecurity, and loss I know I was so very wrong.

The song "You say it best, when you say nothing at all" comes to mind....

There are times that words are not what bring comfort.  There are times when what I need most is a warm embrace, an understanding look...and faithful, loyal, never-leaving, always believing companion.

There is no place on earth that I feel safer than in my husbands strong arms.  My world could be shaken, my heart could be broken, I could lose everything.  Yet, his presence makes me feel more steady.  His love brings healing.  His grace restores hope.

Much like my Heavenly Father's embrace.

Sometimes comfort come most by just leaning in.

And sometimes providing comfort comes, not by profound wisdom and insight, but by open arms and a humble silence........

*************

Ellie's Second Month

Ellie turned two months old yesterday!

She is growing and changing by the day it seems.  Our little girl is getting big, and is oh so beautiful.  At her 2 month check up, this last week, she weighed 11 lbs 8 oz!  She is in the 85th percentile for height, and just under 50th percentile in weight for her height.  So she is a healthy girl!

Her strength continues to amazing us.  We keep wondering if it is her genes, or the organic whole food prenatal vitamins I took (as well as prenatal DHA).  Regardless, we are thankful, and it is fun to watch her milestones.  Her head and neck are so strong; she regularly holds her head up when you hold her or sit her up.  She would rather sit (assisted) or lounge more than laying down on her back...I think we are still dealing with some reflux.  She held a rattle for the first time a couple weeks ago...and let me tell you, her grip is soooo strong the doctor even commented on it at her appointment when she grabbed her stethoscope and won't let go.  (Caleb thinks its a great grip to hold a tennis racket one day, hahaha!)  She also is taking her WubbaNub/pacifier out of her mouth on her own and sometimes holding it afterwards.  She does not like to nap a lot of the time during the day (although Mommy makes her, even if she is fighting it the whole time).

But the best news is that she slept through the night on Thursday night!  I have to add that she did get restless a few times, and almost woke up, but I heard her and had to go put her pacifier in her mouth to keep her asleep a handful of times.  But, all to say, Elliot is growing and healthy!

I think our favorite thing about this last month is how much Ellie has been smiling.  She looks up and smiles back at us.  She is especially smiley in the morning.  It is just so precious.  And she is slowly starting to laugh a little bit...and definitely trying to talk and find her voice.

Another one of my favorite things from this month, although there are probably so many moms out there that will read this and think it is totally not okay (but I am gonna write it anyways cause this is our family journal and I want to remember it), is....after Caleb goes off to work, sometimes I put Ellie in bed next to me and we "sleep" for another hour or so.  Well, I sort of dose, she sleeps.  But the cutest part is I didn't know a baby this age could want to cuddle so much.  She literally wants to hold my hand (well, my finger) to fall asleep.  And I tried putting some space between us, but she leans her whole body towards me so we could be close.  It is so sweet.  I figured it was fine to do a little bit because it hasn't effected her napping in her crib later in the day.  And I know I won't be able to for long, once she can roll from her back to her front.

On Saturday Caleb took Ellie out for their first Daddy/daughter outing.  And of all things, which really shouldn't surprise anybody, he took her around town to try to hunt down some ammo.  Then he ended with taking her to a nearby park where his buddy, Corey, was to introduce her to him and his family.  Caleb told me it was so fun, she was a sweet little girl for him, and I could tell he felt proud to take her out and that she is his daughter.

This month I also took her to her first book club.  These ladies are such a great group of women!  We have had this group for a couple years now and I just love them all so much.  It was so fun to take her...and she loved it too because they just passed her around the whole time.  I can't wait for her to grow up surrounded by these ladies....and hopefully develop a love for Jesus and books in the process!

Here are some more pictures from the month that I just love....

 And some of my absolute favorites, is of Ellie in her ruffled football outfit (it has ruffles on the sleeves and back side)... :)  It's Daddy's absolute favorite outfit too!

We just love our little lady.  She is such a blessing, and brings us so much joy!  Happy Second Month Birthday Ellie J!!!