2 Months, Marathons, & Mother's Day!

May 5th

Smiley Sam is 2 months old!

Sam is now 10 weeks old, but I have been so busy taking care of him that I haven't posted his 2 month pictures yet! Sam is getting more & more interactive every day. He is full of big, gummy smiles for his Mommy, Daddy, and anyone else who can talk ridiculous baby talk to him! He recently acquired a swing where he is now taking most of his naps. His best naps are still when we are out and about though. He is happy most of the time, but sometimes surprises us with a really good fuss! At night Sam normally wakes up about 3 times to eat, but randomly has a night here and there where he only gets up once or twice. At his two month check-up he weighed 11 1/2 lbs and is 50th percentile in height & weight. I love his blue eyes and dimple chin and all-around handsome good looks he gets from his Dad! We are so thankful to God for a healthy, thriving baby boy.

Sam says, "Ah. Goo. Gaah. "
Translation: "Hi mommy! I love you!"

May 11th

We took our first day trip as a family of three to the St. Cloud area to watch Chris run in the Lake Wobegon Marathon. 20 - 30 mph wind gusts couldn't stop us! I know Sam was excited to see his daddy run, but throughout the morning his energy levels waxed & waned:

A bit of the time he was awake . . . 

. . . but for most of it he was asleep. 

Post-race celebration! Chris came in 8th with a PR of 3:01!!!

May 12th

 Mother's Day was a joyful day indeed. One year ago I prayed that I would be a mommy by this Mother's Day. God was indeed merciful and gracious and answered that prayer with Samuel Anthony.

Lovin' on my little man.

Seeing God

As a new mother I have eaten up every piece of advice I can get from books, conversations, and, yes, those frantic Google searches! But I am learning that what I need most is to see God. I don't first need the newest parenting techniques - the best advice for getting a baby to nap better or how to make tummy time work or what to do when I get shampoo in my baby's eyes; I must see God. I must let the beauty of my rescue in the gospel of Jesus Christ captivate me. When I focus on the Gospel first, I learn to take joy in putting Sam's needs before my own when I remember the sacrifice of my Savior. I can have patience in the inconsolable cries when I remember God's patience with me. I can be content when life is hard, because he has promised never to leave me or forsake me. I'm so thankful that God has chosen to show me more of himself through motherhood.

New Challenges

Chris and I are figuring out how to process life together when Sam occupies so much of our energy. And new challenges lie ahead: For the next month I return to work part time until summer break. We are curious to see how life will look next year in Chris' final year of seminary. And we are getting more serious about seeking the next step upon his graduation. It all feels very weighty at times. We have certainly felt the support of many of you as our family has grown by one. Thank you for loving us & praying for us as we come to mind.