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:

Beach!

We took a few days for ourselves and went to the beach!  This was Neela's first trip to the beach and she LOVED it! She loved the sand in her toes, building sand castles, letting her barbies have a "sand" party, and finding shells.  She liked the ocean water but did not like the "saltiness" of the water.  Everytime she mentioned the water, "salty" was mentioned in the sentence. :)

Neela playing in the sand!

Pink toe nails in the sand.

Neela and Daddy shooting seagulls with the water toys. :)

Me playing in the sand.

On this trip I was 32 weeks along with our baby boy.  The beach was a great place to go on a trip pregnant because it's mostly laying around on the beach and in the sand.  I can do that. :) 

I can't get the pic to turn right side up!

It was a great getaway and a fun trip before baby boy comes.  Soon we will be a family of four at the beach.  Yay!

Cravings

People say every pregnant is different.... it's true. I am currently 27 weeks along and there is definitely no denying I am preggo. :)

With my first pregnancy, I ate so healthy. Not even on purpose, it's just what I craved. I craved spinach, tomatoes, outmeal, tons of water, etc. This pregnancy has been completely different. Both pregnancies I craved hamburgers and fries but this time it is so much more! I can totally eat a burger for every meal and not regret it. I love Mighty Fine Burgers... truly the best burgers ever. They are freshly make, the atmosphere is clean, and they have great fries! ;) This baby is getting some serious nutrious food. :) (sarcasm insert right here)

Here is the website if you are interested: http://mightyfineburgers.com/#/home

Another one of my cravings is chocolate. Yes, this has always been a weakeness of mine, but so much more now. I usually try not to buy extra little things when I go to the grocery store, but not now. I come home every week with a butterfinger, twix, or little debbie cakes. I know!?! Little Debbie Cakes, really!?! I don't think I have purchased those since college. Yes this has become a staple in our home. Neela expects some type of sugar in our home at all times. Not a good habit for me to keep. My teeth are totally going to rot out.

Last but not least, caffeine. Yes I said it. I crave this daily. I did not think about coffee and coke when I was pregnant last time, but that is not the case this time. I just started drinking coffee a few months before this pregnancy so maybe that's why but it's a strong craving. I am always so excited when someone wants to meet at Starbucks or another coffee shop. Yes! Let's do it! :) I do try to limit my intake, but I have been drinking caffeine here and there. I admit it.

My favorte thing about being pregnant is feeling him move around in my tummy. A life, inside me... growing, developing, bonding. What a privilege this is. The other day, Neela and I took a nap together and it was such a sweet moment because here I am laying with my baby girl and inside my tummy my little boy is moving and kicking around. I was having a special moment with both of my kids. A mother of two little ones!

Don't get me wrong, I know life is about to get crazy with two little ones, but I'm ok with that. I have a great husband who is a fabulous hubby, father, and support. Neela would enjoy nothing more than extra time with her Daddy while mommy is feeding or taking care of her brother. She knows Daddy is the fun one who does the crazy activities like plays "superman" with her (he lets her stand on his stomach, holds her hands up and lets her lean forward as he balances her), runs in the sprinkler with her, and tosses her in the air.  I think he's pretty fun too. :) We are praying we are able to embrace the chaos and enjoy this season of life.

We are so thankful for the sweet support we have. Friends have flooded us with baby boy clothes, a mattress, and other baby items. Thankful for everyone's excitement and love toward our little family.

Bluebonnets

Loving this season...



Grateful for my portion...



"Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you."
Luke 12:27, 28

Rescued

I once was lost but now I’m found.
I have been rescued.

I once was dead in my soul and heart but now I am alive.
I have been rescued.

I once was under rules and regulations but now I am under liberty.
I have been rescued.

I once was under judgment, but now I am made righteous.
I have been rescued.

I once was in chains, but now I am free.
I have been rescued.

I once was trying to earn approval, but now I am loved and accepted as I am.
I have been rescued.

I have been rescued.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

The LORD your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”

My life has been transformed and I am daily being sanctified by knowing my need for God and knowing who God is. I am not perfect and don't have my life together, but I know a perfect God who has given me new life.