A 10 Point Update

So much has been going on that I feel like I hardly have time to think!

People tell you and try to prepare you but NOTHING can prepare you for having a baby. Life is amazing, don't get me wrong! Having a baby just amplifies how busy you are and makes every little errand and event seem like a mile stone! Here's an update broken down by numbers. Doing it this way keeps me on tack! =)

So here's a quick update...

1. Me and Kai went to Texas. Drove down with some friends and flew back up. Kai was PERFECT! He slept almost the entire 14 hours in the car and slept the entire plane ride. That was a HUGE answer to prayer! He to to spend some much needed time with all of the grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends. We can't wait to see them all again!

Kai with my Mom "Gigi"

Me Kai and my cousin Justin and his new baby boy Grayson (who is two weeks older than Kai)

Kai and Mawmaw got to meet for the first time!

I got to spend time in Austin with Dad and the family there. We spent most of out time in Lake Travis this time around... I can't believe I left this view for the cornfields of the midwest!

Dad and Deb and Kaitlyn putting Kai to sleep. As long as the piano was being played and Dad was singing to him, he was happy!

My precious littlest sister Kaitlyn and Kai playing together while I was rehearsing with Dad. (He asked me to sing at their church while I was home, of course I obliged.)

2. If you know me you know that I thrive on creativity. My need to create has recently began manifesting itself in the form of a new found obsession with cupcakes. From simply looking at them, to baking them, to eating them... I've got cupcake fever for sure. I'm getting better and better at making them look adorable yet delicious! It really is an art form! =) Me and Seth are talking somewhat seriously about opening a cupcake/ice cream shop here in Centralia. I'll let you know how this begins to play out.

3. I went back to work this week after staying home with Kai since I was 8 1/2 months pregnant. I have actually really enjoyed being back so far. After some prayer and thought, we decided I would only go back part time. Now I am back 2 and 1/2 days a week. I wasn't sure how I would react, but since it worked out to have all family members watch Kai I don't think it's as hard as it would have been if daycare was our only option.

4. Our 2 year anniversary is coming up in a couple of weeks and I'm super excited about it!

5. Unlike my mother, I LOVE to cook. I really want to get to the point of being an excellent cook, especially more on the gourmet side, so I've recently committed to cooking 4 nights a week. So far, so good. This weeks menus have consisted of: Buffalo Chicken Stromboli, Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad, Honey glazed hot wings (baked, not fried!) and I still have one more night to pick. I'm thinking maybe mozzarella stuffed meatballs???

6. Youth camp week is behind us and was a huge success! I'm so incredibly proud of Seth. Now it's on to the rest of the summer that is jam packed full of activities.

7. Did I mention I got to do some major shopping while I was in Texas? Oh my Lord. It was heavenly. 2 purses, 5 pairs of shoes, lots of new makeup, and lots of articles of clothing later.... I had to check an extra bag on the plane AND have mom mail me some things. It's nice to splurge every now and then... and of course Daddy did some spoiling as well. =)

8. I let my 14 year old sister cut my bangs. She had cut her own and they looked SO freakin cute I got her to cut mine. It was a HUGE risk that paid off. Thanks Chrissy for my bangs! You're going to do awesome things in the fashion industry!


9. Along with going back to work, I have started singing again. Also, I do voice lessons every summer so that's starting back up, so far I have two students. I also train the vocalists in our youth praise teams, so that's another 12, but that's more off and on throughout the entire year. I'm starting to think very seriously about doing a worship project. Definitely on my prayer list. I got the chance to sing at Centralia's "Relay for Life". They asked me to sing the song dedicated to the survivors. It went very well, and later at the same event I sang with one of our church's praise teams. So it's been a lot of fun getting to sing again. That was definitely the hardest part about maternity leave!

10. Life is really good. Although my heart longs for Texas and for my friends and family to be close, I know we are right where God wants us and there's total peace in that... and with His peace comes His joy.

Oh and P.S.: We got a new car! It's a black Suzuki XL7 which is their big SUV. It's got three row seating and lots of room. I absolutely love it!