In the works

OK, pictures are coming soon I promise. Our computer apparently has a virus and its really frustrating to try and upload anything. I haven't even touched the computer in the last week because I think I have "Computer Rage." It's a lot like 'Road Rage' but on the computer. You know, when something is not loading fast enough or the link that you want to open doesn't work, most normal people just get frustrated and move on. Well, not me. I get heated inside, throw the mouse down or click 50 times (as if that helps anything), mumble under my breath and then I usually just have to walk away. So, since we have a virus and it is incredibly hard for me, I just stay away (it's better for everyone that way).

One month and counting.

OK, so I have all of these great hopes to post everyday and really I do try and think about something cool to post and usually nothing comes up. Well, that's not really true. I have a 3 month old and I have an interesting life, but I am not a good writer. I want to be a good writer. I want to write something that just jumps off the page and captures the reader, but I get lazy. I convince myself that I don't have time to write anything or that no one really reads what I write anyway so then I end up not posting for a month.

So, lately I have been praying that God would reveal areas in my life that I need to work on. I have a tendency to get comfortable in life and just kind of coast through it. That really is no way to live. God can always be working on us and wants to continually mold us into His creation. I want to be moldable. I want to not live comfortably. I want to have deepness with the Lord. But, am I willing?

I have an easy time at pointing out what others need to change or do differently in their lives. It is so much easier to see things from the outside looking in. But the funny thing is that I can do nothing to change them. I can't point out to them what they are doing wrong because I have a plank sticking out of my own eye. How is it that the speck in their eye looks so much worse then my PLANK? So, in my times with the Lord I have been asking Him to first show me what it is that I need to remove from my eye and then how. This has been a long, hard process. I know that God just keeps loving telling me exactly what it is that I need to do, but I seem to have static on in my ears and can't or won't hear Him clearly. "God, please yell because I'm having a hard time hearing you."

So, over the past two weeks I have been in Albuquerque. Away from my comforts, away from my routine and also way from the static. I guess it is easier to hear God when things are quite. I have been reading through Proverbs for some time now and this week I noticed something that I think God has been pointing out all along. A lot of Proverbs talks about laziness. Today I read the very last chapter on being a wife of noble character and oh man... "OK, God I get it!" The wife that is talked about is always busy. Always doing the things she needs to do to take care of her family, her husband and bring honor to God. This is what God has been trying to tell me. I need to be focusing on being this kind of wife.

I find it easy to do the things that I like to do. I like to play with Ryland, I like to spend time with Kyle, I like to go on walks, I like to surf the net, and I can easily fill my day with those things, but is that being a wife of noble character? So, my prayer for right now is for God to reveal to me the things I need to change about my comfortable life so that I can honor the Lord and my husband through everything I do. (It's easy to write about it...)

Going to the mall

On Sat we got to spend some time with our friends at the Grapevine Mills Mall. It was fun, especially since we decided to spend some of our Christmas money on a few fun things (not all on bills)! Ryland loves riding along in her carrier (she hates the stroller) so we are happy to strap her on and stroll through the mall. I have gone several times to the mall on my own just for the exercise and an excuse to get out of the house. She usually is happy and looking around at everything for 10-15 mins and then she's out cold for a good two hours... it is very nice and makes for a good workout! She also likes her sling just as much, but she is getting a little big for it.

Right after I turned off the camera... sure

Hello World!

We figured out how to post video clips! Here is me shamelessly trying to get Ryland to smile... not happening. :)

Deeply affected

A family from our church lost their 3 month old daughter, Ryane Rush, last Wednesday. Please lift them up in prayer. The Rush family is on my mind all day and it can only make me feel blessed that I have this day with Ryland. This event has reminds me to cherish every moment with her, because we are not promised anything more.

I cannot even fathom what they are going through, but my heart is heavy for them and I just ache when I think about what they are going through. Please, please pray for them.

You can read Ryane's story at http://www.rushdelivery.us/.

More pictures added to the album!

Sorry it's taken so long to post more pictures... spending time on the computer is not so much a priority anymore these days. Since it is so late I will be brief...

1. Baby acne is clearing up, yea!!!!
2. She slept from Midnight to 7 am last night - Woooooooooowhooooooo!
3. She has begun smiling at people and things (and her smile is beautiful)
4. She is taking naps in her crib, we are trying to get her comfortable in there for the big move out of our room (but who knows when I'll actually let go and move her)
5. She is holding her head up on her own for long periods now
6. She loves bath time
7. She enjoys sitting in her bouncer
8. I went for my 6 week check up and all's well
9. She has probably a week left in her newborn sleepers... she is getting too tall for them!
10. She went to bible study for the first time this week and did great!

OK, that's all for now. - I'm going to get her to sleep and pray that tonight is a good as last night! :)

Getting back to life... really?

Well, everyday is a new day. It's been four weeks since Ryland was born and I am feeling more normal everyday. But, normal is still very much a relative term since I have never been a mom before, my normal is totally new and I'm getting used to it. I love Ryland with all me heart! It is hard to explain the love I have for her (if your a parent, you know exactly what I mean).

We are getting out now, which is really nice! We have not taken her anywhere where people hold her or touch her since it is flu season, we are trying to be really careful about germs, so for now, she rides in the sling (that she LOVES) and I wash my hands before I take her out. We've gone to the mall twice and out for coffee twice, but everytime I get fresh air I feel so much better!

For the last three weeks, our wonderful bible study family has been brining us dinners every other night, which has been such a huge blessing! They have really helped me not to even have to worry about dinner or grocery shopping which has been just a huge blessing!!!

I have created a web album of pictures of Ryland. I will continue to add photos to this album, so keep looking. I will try and change the cover picture when I add new pictures as a sign.

First time to go out for coffee.

We had our two week check-up last Wednesday and everything looks great! She gained 10 oz and grew 1.5 inches since birth. She is healthy and thriving which is exactly what we want. The only thing that is going 'wrong' is her stinking little belly button. She has had more belly button issues since birth, but if that is all that is 'wrong' then I can handle it.

Here are some pictures of her on this day and getting some fresh air. Oh how nice it was to get out of the house!

Love

Great shot Nini! :)

Favorite sleeping positions...

She's here!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ryland Shay Witt made her arrival into this world at 4:16pm on January 10, 2008. She weighed 9lbs 3oz and was 21 inches long (well, 21.25 when she was born, but she had a cone head, so on day two she measured 21). The birth and the last five days have been more perfect then I could have ever imagined! We are both doing great and getting settled into our new life.

My parents have been in town helping us get ready for her arrival and helping us after the birth. It has been amazing having them here. They sacrificed so much to come for the amount of time that they did, but they have made this whole experience what it has been, perfect! Thank you is not enough, but that is all I know how to say. My sister also has been here helping us in this transition, I am so thankful that she lives so close!

Kyle too has been fabulous! He has taken to his new role as a Dad so great! He said the cutest thing the other day, "God made Ryland the perfect size, she fits just right in my arms." Words cannot describe how much more I love him as everyday goes by. I feel like I am getting to know him all over again and loving every minute of it.

Ryland has been so much fun over the last five days. Even at this age, she has so much personality and I love every inch of her! It is true what they say, I never thought I could love another human the way that I am in love with her! Here are a few pictures of these past few days. There will be more to come, but as you can imagine my computer time is limited. :)

Thank you all for your prayers and support! We have truly been blessed to be surrounded by so many amazing people. Thank you Lord for this wonderful life!

January 10, 2008 will be her birthday!

Well, the day has finally come. Ryland Shay will be born sometime tomorrow, January 10, 2008. There are several things that I love about tomorrow. First, it's Kyle's GREAT-grandpa's birthday. He will be 92 years old! Isn't that amazing, that Ryland will share her most special day with her GREAT-GREAT-Grandpa who is still alive! I love that!

Second, I love that she will be born in 2008. For those of you who don't know me very well, the number 8 is my number. I was born on the 8th day, in the 8th month, in 83 sometime during 8 o'clock and I weighed just over 8 lbs. My sister's birthday is also on the 8th. So, her being born in the 8th year of 2000 is really fitting.

Third, I love that her birthday is far enough away from the holidays to be super special and that she will get to celebrate her birthday during school. I was a summer baby so I never got a special day at school to bring cupcakes for the class, but she will and that is cool for me.

Forth, although I have hatted waiting for her to come into the world and I am having to look for the positive things about being induced, I like that since it is planned, everyone will be able to make it in time for her birth (except Keisha, Ryland's aunt). Both grandparents will be there and her aunt Tal which makes it so special and less stressful for everyone.

I am feeling almost every feeling you can feel at one time. I am excited and scared, anxious and relieved, terrified and joyful... I don't even know how to describe it all. We have to be there at 6am tomorrow and they will start the process of induction. There are several things that are on my side before going in. As of Tuesday I was 2.5 cementers dilated and 70% effaced. This, I'm told, helps going into the induction since I am already progressing. But, on the other hand, we had an ultrasound done on Tuesday and they are estimating her to be about 9lbs!!!! So, this process will probably be an all day event, but I am looking forward to this day that will change our lives forever!

In the end, I am disappointed that I have to be induced, but this is the way God decided to begin the story of Ryland's life and I know because of that it will be perfect. Thank you for your continued prayers and I promise to get pictures posted as soon as I can.

Quick update (becuase there's not much going on...)

So, our sweet little girl is still taking her time coming into this world! We went to our Dr appointment today and not much has changed. I am 1.5 cementers dilated and 60% effaced, but other then that there is no news. If she decides not to come into this world before too long, we will be induced towards the beginning of next week. Please pray that she comes on her own time, I know that people get induced all the time and I trust my Dr whole-heartedly, but I really want her to come when she is ready. Although, I keep reminding myself that God has written her birth story and it will be just how He planned it, even if it's not my plan. :)

Thank you all for your prayers and we will keep you posted!

Waiting on a Frustrating Little Girl

Ryland is already messing with my head....I think she is just going to hang out in her momma's tummy forever. Sherah had some false contractions last Wednesday, and I thought my little girl was finally on her way. Since then.........nothing. That little girl is already playing games with me. It has been nice to have family in to help take care of her since I am still working during this holiday time just waiting on her to get here. I wish I could explain all of the emotions that are going through me right now. For those of you who have kids, well you know, for those of you who don't just imagine the first time you had to wait to go into Disneyland, or the first time you remember having to wait all day to open your presents on Christmas day, and mulitply that by like a million. The suspense is killing me. I can't wait to see what my beautiful little girl looks like. With my luck she is going to look just like her mom and if that is the case I am done for. That little girl will be able to ask for anything ever, and I will do everything I can to get it for her. I just can't wait, and I know each of you are excited for her arrival as well. We will let all of you know as soon as anything changes in our lives. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and your thoughts they are appreciated more than you know, and you each have brought tears to my eyes, as I think of all the people that are involved in our lives, and that we are getting to experience life with. I can't wait to introduce you all to Ryland Shay Witt. Hopefully she will be here soon.

Kyle