My New Year's Eve dates...

I'm hoping for two kisses at midnight!!

Is it nap time yet?

One month...

One month ago today, I was holding Lily for the first time.

After we were moved from the delivery room to our hospital room when Chris left to go meet his parents downstairs, I was left with Lily alone for the first time. She was asleep in my arms and I was looking over all the goodness that is her and smelling her head and taking in the moment. I will never forget the weight of that moment. Realizing that I was a mom and this little baby in my arms, was my daughter. It was a sweet time I will remember for the rest of her life.

I'm sitting cross-legged on my couch, obviously with my laptop, and there is a little pink bundle laying next to me. I've been making a mental list of things that are different now that I'm no longer pregnant and consequently have a newborn.

Number one. Thank You God, I do not have to visit the ladies room every 20 minutes.

Number two. I have never had as much compassion for a certain farm animal as I do now. Holy dairy cow.

Number three. When I crawl in bed at night, I am usually shivering because it's so cold in our room. But every time I wake up to feed Lily or roll on my stomach just because I can, I find myself in a pool of sweat. It is so gross.

Number four. I have gotten use to a shower becoming very low on the list of priorities, which due to number 3, makes for a hot mess. Seriously it's disgusting.

Number five. I'm dying to take a bath - a bath so hot that it will give me a fever or nearly make me pass out. In case you do not already know this, when you are expecting, you're not supposed to take hot baths. And after the baby comes you have to only take showers for a certain length of time.

Number six. I will never again take buttoning and zipping my pants for granted, bending over for any reason, putting on pants without falling over, getting out of bed without need of a crane, and (sound the trumpets) laying on my stomach...even saying it is refreshing!

Number seven. Because of my lack of sleep, which is taking its toll after four weeks, my vision is a little blurry and it's hard to read things on the computer.

Number eight. When Lily's umbilical cord stump fell off, I couldn't throw it away. It sat on her changing table for several weeks, then I finally realized how hormonal I was being and threw it away.

Number nine. Carrying 20 lbs of weight on the inside is much easier than carrying 7 lbs on the outside...especially when you add the weight of a stupid plastic car seat.

Number ten. I finally get to take pictures of my sweet girl with homemade signs marking each month she is here. I've always loved my friends' pictures of their little ones and now I get to join in on the fun!!

I'm baaaack...

OK...hold onto your hats...I think it's time to restart this badboy up again. Stay tuned for the new misadventures of The Reeves Life, featuring our star, Lillian Grace!!!

A needed reminder...

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been dealing with a lot of self-pity lately because I've been so sick with morning sickness every day.  It's been challenging to remind myself of that this is a gift and God is walking beside me every step of the way.  My wonderful brother-in-law sent me this encouragement this morning and I am so glad he did.  How easily I forget...

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God.

Psalms 139:17

Divine omniscience affords no comfort to the ungodly mind, but to the child of God it overflows with consolation. God is always thinking upon us, never turns aside his mind from us, has us always before his eyes; and this is precisely as we would have it, for it would be dreadful to exist for a moment beyond the observation of our heavenly Father. His thoughts are always tender, loving, wise, prudent, far-reaching, and they bring to us countless benefits: hence it is a choice delight to remember them. The Lord always did think upon his people: hence their election and the covenant of grace by which their salvation is secured; he always will think upon them: hence their final perseverance by which they shall be brought safely to their final rest. In all our wanderings the watchful glance of the Eternal Watcher is evermore fixed upon us-we never roam beyond the Shepherd's eye. In our sorrows he observes us incessantly, and not a pang escapes him; in our toils he marks all our weariness, and writes in his book all the struggles of his faithful ones. These thoughts of the Lord encompass us in all our paths, and penetrate the innermost region of our being. Not a nerve or tissue, valve or vessel, of our bodily organization is uncared for; all the littles of our little world are thought upon by the great God.

Dear reader, is this precious to you? then hold to it. Never be led astray by those philosophic fools who preach up an impersonal God, and talk of self-existent, self-governing matter. The Lord liveth and thinketh upon us, this is a truth far too precious for us to be lightly robbed of it. The notice of a nobleman is valued so highly that he who has it counts his fortune made; but what is it to be thought of by the King of kings! If the Lord thinketh upon us, all is well, and we may rejoice evermore.

(from Spurgeon's Morning and Evening)

Reflections on being pregnant...

Just a little reflection about pregnancy... The presence of a tiny "zygote" in your womb begins an amazing, permanent upheaval in your life. Being an expectant mommy changes the way you react to food and certain smells, the way you fit in your jeans, the things that make you sad or annoyed, and how long or short your fuse is. 

As of late, I have ditched my longtime gum preference because it's just too strong, bought every fragrance of Febreze because I can't stand the smell of our apartment...I've narrowed it down to something in the pantry, my new bedtime is 8:30pm, I can still button my jeans, but I am left with a very serious impression at the end of the day from all the tension on my stomach.  Now I have lowered my standards of a great day to being able to eat and keep down three meals and having any friends left at the end of the day. Not only have I been a bit wrapped up in self-pity from my all-day nausea, but I have became surprisingly bold. You know the filter that helps you not say everything you think? That filter took a vacation.  The other day at a party with a bunch of girlfriends, I put my foot in my mouth in a big way and didn't even realize it until way later.  Another observation about pregnancy is that I have to eat every 1.5 hours or so or I will start gagging.  Eating is no longer fun and I am very unimaginative when it comes to what it is...last night, my bedtime snack was croutons.   

I seriously can't wait for the baby to be here.;)  As long as the baby keeps growing strong and healthy, who cares if I constantly eat, blow up like a balloon, can't chew gum, and have some hard days.  

Baby, you are loved by your mommy and daddy.  We can't wait to meet you!!

Happy Birthday!!

Welcome, Deacon Kuiper!!

I'm so stinkin proud of my friends Abby and Jason who delivered their 9lb 4oz baby boy today in Tokyo. He was a sight for sore eyes for them both. Isn't he beautiful?! Please remember them today and send lots of prayers for a quick and smooth recovery and homecoming for them!

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Psalm 127:3-4

Surprise, Surprise!!

Chris and I are thrilled to announce that we are going to have a baby!! We went to the doctor this morning and I wanted to share our baby's first photo. Also wanted to share some pics of the night I told Chris...so fun!!

A want to want God

I read this poem from A.W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God today on Justin Tailor's Blog and am knowing these thoughts all too well lately.  Thought you would be well served to read it as well. Love you All!

O God, I have tasted Your goodness,
and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more.
I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace.
I am ashamed of my lack of desire.
O God, the Triune God,
I want to want You;
I long to be filled with longing;
I thirst to be made more thirsty still.
Show me Your glory, I pray,
so I may know You indeed.
Begin in mercy a new work of love within me…
Give me grace to rise and follow You up from this misty lowland
where I have wandered so long.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

22 Words

I read this and found it kinda funny. See if you can come up with any more.

22 English words that still exist almost entirely because of hymns and the King James Bible
By Abraham Piper on Language
(A guest post by Joe Rigney)
1. Verily
2. Buffet
3. Diadem
4. Beseech
5. Balm
6. Ebenezer
7. Hark!
8. Begotten
9. Hither
10. Admonish
11. Gird
12. Want (as in “lack”)
13. Hallowed
14. Firmament
15. Brethren
16. Bulwark
17. Countenance
18. Quickening
19. Adjure
20. Brimstone
21. Surety
22. Goad

What others can you think of?

Thoughts on need

I just read a great blog by Josh Harris.  It's reminding me of my friends in Japan who I miss dearly.  It also reminded me and encouraged me to not count the things of this world of much value.  I get to caught up in wanting this and that, and just this weekend, I had to turn away from feeling like I needed more.

I hope you all will go here and read his blog and be reminded of God's provision on what we need.

Tuesday

This blog broke my heart and I wanted to pass it on to all of you, friends. Please be praying for this family and their precious little girl.

From their blog:

My deepest fears were confirmed. Tomorrow we take our precious daughter home. Her cancer doubled in size in less than a week proving once and for all that it is horribly aggressive and no longer chemo sensitive. We have no idea how to do this but we have no doubt we will be cared for every step of the way. This is all I have in me. Please pray for peace for our children, our parents and our siblings. Tuesday, full of grace, you are our so very loved.

Joel's Transmission

My sweet husband started a blog. I could go on and on about him and how much you will be blessed by his words, but I will let you see for yourself.

www.joelstransmission.blogspot.com