Christmas 2012

Christmas this year was memorable.  So many joys and blessings to celebrate and of course celebrating the birth of our Savior.  Neela has a better understanding of our traditions and what we value in our lives which made this season that much sweeter.  Everyday was filled with Christmas crafts such as glitter Christmas trees, cotton snowmans, snowflake ornaments, homemade nativity scene, Christmas coloring pages, etc.  Everyday we ate a mini candy cane from our countdown Christmas tree and read our advent study from Neela's Jesus Story Book Bible.  I loved seeing the joy on her face as we did those activities and as she learned Christmas songs.  I love how we are developing our Christmas traditions as our family.  

This was Ashwin's first Christmas! Ok, so he had no idea what was going on, but he loved the lights, being shown coloring decorations, and hearing his big sister sing Christmas songs.  He is such a joy.  Thankful for this season anticipating the birth of our Savior and I am thankful for this season of life and how God has revealed Himself to me this year.

Loved 2012 and let's see what 2013 brings!

Christmas at my parent's house. 

Carriage Ride! 

Roasting Marshmellows 

Christmas Cookes 

Time with sweet friends. 

First time to have rice cereal! 

Christmas at the Gaylord Texan. 

Trail of Lights! 

Neela singing at church. 

Trail of Lights 

Siblings!

5 Months

                                                             (sitting in his sister's chair)

My sweet little boy is 5 months old and I just can't believe how quickly the time has flown by!  I know everyone says time flies with the second child and it is so true. I've really enjoyed and savored my moments with him.  It's different the second time around because I know how quickly they grow and so I've learned to sit in each stage more and not be nervous or frazzled of every spit up or sleepless night.  :)  I've learned to take it in strides and I know, by God's design, they naturally grow on their own in each stage and do their thing! :) Crazy how that works. :)

People often ask me if I see the difference in my children's personality and the answer is yes.  It's amazing to see that even at 5 months old, he personality is shining through. Ashwin is jolly, playful, and attentive. But when he sees an object that looks different to him he has this "mean muggin" face and starts kicking around.  For example, on the fridge we had pumpkin picture with eyes Neela made.  Anytime I was carrying him near the fridge, he would stare at the pumpkin and start kicking.  So hilarious!  I would laugh to the point of no return.  It was the cutest thing.  He did the same thing with a balloon Neela had.  So that's different. He does have many facial expressions of, "what you lookin at", "Who are you?", "I like you", "what are you" and so many more. Is that his personality or just being a boy?  Not sure but it's cute.
Both my kids are cuddlers.  Ashwin loves just to be close to you loves when I just embrace him and keep him close.

He loves his big sister.  Seriously, it's the cutest thing.  He watches her every move and when she plays with him, he is smiling ear to ear. One morning I was taking him out of the crib and Neela came into his room and set up all her barbies and started playing on his rug.  So I got his bumbo and set him down to see what she was doing.  He loved it! He watched her sing, talk with her barbies and move them around. I can't wait until they can play together. Neela's great with him and loves to "baby talk" to him.

This months fun facts:
- still rolling over all the time and gets frustrated if he stays on his tummy too long
- eating rice cereal (loves it!) in the process of making the next foods
- grabs toys
- starting to teeth
- loves his pacie
- still sleeping through the night
- dropped him off once in the childcare for bible study.

Morning

I am definitely a morning person and thankful for time I can wake up and prepare my heart before my children wake up.

This morning Hebrews 2:14,15 reminded me, Christmas is for Freedom.

Through Jesus' death on the cross, the power of death is destroyed.  We have NOTHING to fear of this world and can walk in freedom and peace.

Praying I walk fearlessly in Him.  Free to take any risk for Christ!

"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. - Hebrews 2:14-15

Excited to spend time with my children today, to love them well, and point them to the One we desperately need.

Kiddos waking up, gotta go!

Happy Wednesday!

3 Months

3 months old.  I can't believe how much Ashwin has grown and developed.  He is such a sweet, even tempered, smiley baby.  When I pick him up for the first time in the morning, the first thing he does is smile.  As I change his diaper he smiles. After I feed him, he smiles.  Truly friends, it's the sweetest thing.  He is very attentive to his surroundings and is easily engaged when you are holding him.

 Since the first night home, he always had at least one 4 hour stretch, but since month two, he sleeps 8 hours plus every night! Praising God for this blessing! Both kids go to bed at 8pm and Tim and I have time together.  Yay! So thankful for this bundle of joy. I could hug him all day.

Neela loves her little brother and helping when she can or just being patient while we tend to him.  She has transitioned so well from being an only child to being a big sister.  I am so proud of her.  She started a dance class last month and is loving it.  She dances around the house and pretends she is a dancer.  She is really into arts and crafts which is right up my alley so daily activities are fun to do because I get to hang out with who I love doing a hobby I love doing.

Ashwin's current behaviors:
- kicking in the air
- cooing
- smiling (all the time!)


Today's big accomplishment.... he rolled onto his tummy!!!  The picture above was taken right after he rolled over today. We love him and are so proud of him.

Love being these kids' mama!

Special day of the year

This month we celebrated our 6th year of marriage.  What a joy!  It's crazy to think all we have been through together and how much life experience we have together.  Getting married young comes with challenges, but I am thankful we were able to make so many life decisions together and have been able to grow together in so many ways.

After 3 cities, 5 homes,  7 jobs, 4 cars, business owner, church plant,and 2 kids later here we are. 

Daily we are thankful for the joys and trials we have faced and how God has revealed himself faithful, trustworthy, and glorious in all situations.  My heart has been so transformed by God's overwhelming steadfast love for us and how He has molded our marriage with Him as our foundation.  I am thankful for our ability to be vulnerable with hardened hearts covered with prayer and joyful testimonies and encouragement with truth filled hearts seeing our own sin and recognzing our need for our Savior.

This marriage has been the best experience of my life.  We are not the same people we were when we got married.... we are being transformed by our Jesus and I love seeing Jesus shine in Tim and him striving for our marriage and our family to seek Him and for us to have fun. 

Transitioning from one child to two has been a different having no down time, but we are embracing the change and often remind each other to enjoy this stage of sleepless nights, balancing two children's attention, and still spending quality time together, it will be over and then on to the next phase. ( i think sleepless nights also do something to a person :) ) I recently studied the Psalm of Ascent and refer back to Psalm 127 and rejoice in this gift.  Children are a blessing from the Lord. Yes, this stage will come and go and we will have our routine back with a new normal.  I am thankful for Tim being a fab father and a husband who serves constantly. 

Birth Story

Ok, so this is a little late, but better late than never right? Our sweet baby boy is 6 weeks old and is doing great. He is sweet, attentive and always looks like he is in deep thought. It's so adorable. 

I was told to make sure I write down my birth story because I will soon forget all the details and I do not want to miss any due to this crazy experience. 

My first child's labor was by the book: smooth , on my due date, short, and memorable. Sequence of events: My water broke, I took a shower, labor for 4 hrs (dilated 2cm before labor) with the epidermal, pushed 30 minutes and our daughter was here. This time was very different. 

I wake up around 3:45am with my stomach bothering me. The baby shifted alot at night, so I assumed that's all it was. Well, the cramping started to be a little more consistent so I get out of bed just to be more awake and alert.  I start cleaning our house by picking up toys and straightening up. The pain in my stomach started to get more intense so I  timed the contractions to see how far apart they were. Yeah, So they were 4 minutes a part!!  At my doctor's appointment the day before, the doctor said to be at the hospital when contractions were 7 minutes a part due to me being almost 4 cm dilated and my first labor going so fast. EKK!!! I woke Tim up and told him I think I am in labor, I called the doctor and let them know the situation. After that, I called my friend Holly to head on over to be with Neela. 

On our way to the hospital, Tim ran through every stop sign and red light as he prayed for the labor and our baby. We get to the hospital and I had to stop often to Endure contractions by bending over and yelling out a bit. (umm yeah, totally like the movies)  When we arrived on our floor we checked in with nurses who took their time, or it seemed to me. They put us in a room and asked me to put on a gown that was literally like a sheet, I couldn't figure out how to put it on!! As we are trying to figure it out, a major contraction comes and do as I'm fighting through the contraction, Tim thoughtfully tried to maximize the time by helping me change. Well, I turned into a crazy lady and very aggressively told him to stop and pushed him a but. Yes, I was that crazy lady. :) Tim was a trooper and endured my craziness and we I finally got the gown. 

The next few moments I will never forget... The nurse came in to check my progression and said I was completely dilated and I'm about to meet my baby. I said, oh! Well, I need the epidermal." and she said, "Honey, it's too late for the epidermal." what!?! I lost it at this point and proceeded to cry, stated over and over "I can't do this", and continued through contractions. As they wheeled me to the delivery room and I'm still saying "I can't do this", a nurse grabs me and says, "You can do this and you are about to do this." she gave me a few pointers and started to get the room ready and called for the doctor. All of a sudden I  felt pressure and tell the nurse I think I need to push. Now I have never researched how to have a natural birth because it was not an option to me, but it's amazing how God has designed our bodies to know what to do. All of a sudden I felt pressure and told the nurse I think I need to push now. She freaked out a bit because she was not ready and the doctor was not there. Well, a few seconds later the doctor came in, I pushed 3 times, and met my baby boy for the first time. All within 15 minutes of being at the hospital, he was born.  What an amazing experience! I am thankful for this gift of life from the Lord. He doesn't have to let us be a part of this process of life entering this world but He does. The joy of a new life, it's just a glimpse into the love our Father has for each child of his who is a new creation in him. 

Craziest experience of my life. Ashwin came 1 week early with a grand entrance. 

Ashwin was 6 lbs 15 ounces and 19 inches long. Healthy, beautiful, and attentive. :) 

Baby Boy

This pregnancy definitely has been a different experience with a little one already at home.  The first time around I would come home everyday, take a nap, eat a snack and then lay around for the rest of the day. Definitely not this time.  Having a little one at home keeps me busy, in a fun way.  Being lazy around the house definitely is not on the agenda.  Our day is full of reading, parks, crafts, barbies, and play time in her kitchen.  I am thankful for my tender hearted daughter.  She hugs my tummy often and baby talks to my tummy.  We read a big sister book at bedtime and she loves sharing about how she will help with the baby and get to be a big sister.  She is currently excited about the arrival of her baby brother and knows she will meet him at the hospital.

We know there are many transitions ahead and we are praying for God's steady hand to guide us through this time.  I'm in my 37th week and thankful I have had a smooth pregnancy.  I am currently 2 cm dilated and my doctor said this labor will move quickly due to my first labor being so quick.  So if you think about us, please pray for the labor process and our upcoming transition. We are trusting God's timing, and entrusting this beautiful gift of life to Him.

Here are a few of my pregnancy pictures with Baby Birdwell #2.  We are so excited to meet him! 

April: Not sure which week, but I think 20 weeks.

Week 22

Week 28

Week 32

Week 33

Week 35

Week 36: