Who's the kiddo?

This is such a fun time of year....right?!? Usually it is for me, but after nursing a sick baby for over two months and then dealing with my own virus for the past week - I really didn't know how I'd pull together enough energy to help make FC's first holiday season a memorable one. This time last year I wrote about legacy and tradition and how I looked forward to sharing bits of John and I's family traditions with our "peanut" this year. In all seriousness this means teaching FC about our faith and why the holidays are truly important. Another aspect of this is just simple fun - and choo-choo trains!! John has been talking trains for the past few months so I wasn't surprised this week when he informed me that FC and him really needed a train for under our Christmas tree.

John and I both shared trains with our grandfathers. John and his Grampy and myself and my Pappy. I remember sitting on my grandfather's lap and him controlling the gauges with  my hand. As a child, my grandfather built a simple platform for our tree to stand on with a train track running around it. My brothers and I would spend our evenings playing with the train. John did too. So, we decided to pass this rich tradition on to our daughter - I really didn't think she'd enjoy it much this year, but I was wrong! She has had so much fun with the trains this weekend - I can't wait to see what she thinks of them as she gets older.

Side note: our steam engine is the "Strasburg" engine - and actual steam engine still running in Lancaster County, PA - close to where I was raised. This past summer FC, John, myself, and my Mom visited Lancaster and rode on the train while on vacation. So when we found this engine at our local hobby store we just couldn't pass it up!

She seems pleased with just the tree...does this mean I'm done?

 

Daddy got the train set up and was SO excited. He is a little boy at heart.

 

She is so happy to see that train and hear the whistle that she even manages to crawl forward a few wiggles.

 

Our Strasburg Engine.

 

 

 

Daddy is in heaven right now!

Giggly baby!

 

I MUST catch that train (what baby and Murphy are thinking!).

Murphy charged the train over and over...such a hotdog!

Family Time

It seems like I'm playing catch-up in every aspect of my life these days...just enough housecleaning to keep our home liveable, snippets of paperwork between bathtime, dinner prep, and before-mentioned housecleaning, and of course - and probably most important of all - squeezing in uninterrupted time with my sweet baby, my fur-babies, and my sweet husband. Needless to say, blogging falls at the bottom of my to-do list. While I sometimes consider quitting the blog - I then remember why I started to begin with - it's such a great way to save highlights of goodtimes with my family. So worth it.

I was cleaning up my picture files today and found many wonderful moments with my family that are so dear to me - the everyday play, outtings, and daily routines are really what makes my life so special these days. I am so thankful for my family...we are very blessed to have each other and these moments together. Keep 'em coming Father!

An impromptu afternoon trip to one of my favorite places in Marietta - the park on the square. People stroll, lay on the grass and read, and children dart around the play ground and fountains. Such a fun place to just "be" with my favorite people. 

FC taking in the view of the flags on display for Veteran's Day

Daddy and FC

Sadly, one of the few pictures of FC and I together. I might not have on make-up and my hair is totally gross, but the smile is genuine! I love my little girl.

 

We love to be bums in this house!

Best time of the day in this house is 6am! Come on over for a cup of coffee...you really can't be too early. Even FC gets her own cup.

Our puppies were our first babies - and they seem to be handling having a new baby in the house quite well. Annie remains aloof and distant, but that should keep her safe from FC's advances to explore. Murphy, on the other hand, can't get enough of this child. He bonded to FC from early in my pregnancy with her when he would lay over my tummy and follow me from room to room - guess he knew I was carrying something special!

Murphy is such a licker!

FC really would love to jump on top of that hotdog! Take notice to Annie in the background - she could care less what is happening in the playroom - just as long as no one messes with her and her pillow.

 

 

Aren't they cute!!

 

 

Annie "gaurds" our yard throughout the day. John decided to have a look too.

 

FC is 6 Months Old....And Couting!

As I mentioned earlier, the month of October has flown by. We have made two trips to Huntsville, John and I are busy at work (not complaining - job security is a great thing to have!), and FC is changing so quickly. I can't believe she'll be seven months old in just a couple of weeks. Ugh...slow down baby girl!! I figured a pictures would best describe this past month for us.

Playtime with our family in Huntsville

Our little music makers...

Pap looked like he needed some help. FC was happy to oblige.

Cousins at play...we're so excited to hear that we'll have a new little cousin sometime late May!!

FC is growing too fast! 6 Months Old and Counting...

 

Trying to figure out this crawling thing.



True classic literature here.

 

 

Looking Like Fall Here!

 



Murphy sunbathing.

Annie hunting.

 



Trying to escape. Or eat a leaf.

Watching the puppies chase stuff.

Funny. I saw that same face a dinner last night.

 

There were plenty of smiles, but this is about the best I could do. Her smile is camera shy!

A Beautiful Mess

October flew by so fast I feel like I missed it all together! This time of year is truly one of my favorites...the cooler mornings, fall colors, and probably most of all: running season! It has also given way to a new season in my life; one that is difficult to describe.  A "beautiful mess" might best sum it up. The mess is totally self-created - I am becoming increasingly aware how sinfully vain and prideful I've become and how little I've acknowledged God's control in my life. Over the years I have attempted, with little success, to "handle" life. Well, throwing a husband and child into the mix and my "handled" life has become so messy that I am sometimes so completely overwhelemed that I'm nearly impossible to live with. My failed attempts to deal with my internal conflicts and external responsiblities have such a toxic effect on the ones I care about most. Someone once told me that I, as wife and mother, have the power to set the tone for my household. And I think it's true. My bad attitude was negatively affecting all of us. My husband had the courage and love for me to call me and my attitude "out". I'm so thankful for his raw honesty. We, together, have prayed God back into His rightful place of control in our lives. It is taking a concious effort each day...to recognize escalating frustration and call for help from God, my husband, or a friend. I can't do this on my own...and thankfully I don't have to! I am learning a hard lesson in humility. I can not be perfect. God is going to make my mess beautiful....just wait and see! It is OK that my house is not as clean as it used to be. It is OK that my body is still fluffy. It is OK that I am still behind at work. It is OK that once again we're late. It is OK because God said so! I'm so thankful that I don't have to clean up this mess by myself!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5-6 NIV

My Happy Baby...

This post was going to be about home improvement in the Lindgren household, but I was happily side-tracked by FC last night...she met a major milestone and is now rolling all over the place! Home improvement can wait until another day!

We chose sweet FC's name because it had a special "ring" to it for both John and I  - quite a feat given that I work with children every day and have certain personality traits and experiences tied to many names. We also wanted a name with special meaning; one that FC could be proud of. Her namesake, St. Felicity, was an incredible woman of faith who died for what she believed in.  Felicity also means "happy". We thought it was a perfect fit for our little peanut. We couldn't wait to hold our happy baby! But, as all you parents out there know...first-time parenting is such an unpredictable journey! Newborns cry...alot. Colicky newborns cry even more...much, much more. We struggled with not being able to soothe our baby and rarely seeing those adorable baby smiles and grins. I kept wondering...."When are we going to get to see happy?". It was, after all, what her name meant! There were days when I literally prayed FC and I through the day. Thankfully, there were many wise women put in my life to offer encouragement and hope...that one day SOON I'd get my "happy". Well - I am thrilled to announce that we are THERE . Most days are just absolute joy...the fussing that we see now has a real purpose and can be soothed...and giggles, laughing, and cooing are the norm. I can't wait to squeeze my happy baby every morning when she wakes and is happily cooing in her crib. I can't wait to hit the door after work to squeeze in some silly play time before we all head to bed. She is such a fun baby and we are just blown away by how much our lives have changed for the better. We are truly blessed...and YES, I'd do it ALL over again!

My first trio of pictures were taken on a "typical" Monday...I'm usually trying to wrap up a little paperwork before Tuesday and knock out the food prep and cooking for our week. FC is the coolest side-kick ever!!

Nana is one of our FAVORITE people around here...she rescued FC from daycare this past Thursday and spent two days playing with FC and mommy. SO fun!!

 



A beautiful picture taken Saturday morning in Marietta's square.

FC sporting her owl hat...I just couldn't resist!

And, as you guessed it, Daddy-time! Much to mommy's disdain, it appears that FC enjoys video game playing too. Her and Daddy were just so darn cute playing together that I couldn't be mad!

 

Now finally after much anticpation, FC is rolling...and rolling...and rolling. She gets the biggest kick out of it. Take a look!

 

 

 

 



Fall Days...Let's get a little dirty!

One of my favorite ways to escape from the stress of life is to spend time outdoors. Be it a run through the battlefield near our home or just a day getting my hands dirty in the backyard, I look forward to my time outside. Usually our backyard is in full-bloom during the summer thanks to an array of potted plants dotting our incredibly shady yard. This year, however, thanks to sweet FC's arrival I had absolutely NO flowers anywhere. This weekend I decided it was time to remedy our barren yard with a little mommy-daughter flower project. FC helped me pick out flowers at our local nursery and she even got to tickle her toes in a little dirt and moss while I planted our pots. Even as a fussy newborn she loved to be outside....maybe she will enjoy the outdoors one day as much as her mommy!

Beautiful day, beautiful girl!



She really loves orange...Daddy is teaching her young! WDE.
 

I love those precious toes...
 

Playing footsie with a leaf!

Ahhhh....
 



A Lesson In Trust...

Having a child has strengthened my faith in so many ways. Experiencing the miracle of conception and birth of a child first hand has been such an amazing blessing - there is no denying Our God, The Creator! In the past five months I have also been given a precious (and on-going!) lesson in Trust. The love and worry a mom has for her child can be completely consuming...especially since caring for a child is such a guessing-game. I truly believe the saying "your guess is as good as mine" came from a conversation between first time parents. So many times all I can do is Pray...pray for peace and protection over my sweet child, pray for direction and guidance as how to care for her, pray that my husband and I will survive the latest trial in one piece....and the list goes on. One morning a few weekends ago when I went to check on FC in her room I found her face-down, swaddled, in her rock-n-play! The rock-n-play sits at a 45 degree angle with sloping sides....it is not meant for tummy time by any stretch of the imagination. My. Heart. Stopped. I flipped my baby over and waited to hear her breathe. She was fine, of course! But, I was so overcome with fear...I kept thinking about all the "what if's" the rest of the day. And then my mom reminded me..."she's in God's hands".

"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, will keep me safe." Psalms 4:8 NIV

How often does fear guide your decision making rather than your trust in God? I'm ashamed at how often I give fear such power in my life that I miss out on the experiences of life! I am finding peace in knowing that God loves me and has a special plan for me. He is in control of my life. Let me say that again for myself....HE IS IN CONTROL OF MY LIFE. Whew....breathe in peace, exhale fear. Repeat. Why fear what God has already planned for me and my family out of His deep and incomprehensible love for us? Find encouragement in the words of our Lord...

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" John 14:27

As the children's song says, "He's still working on me....to make me what I ought to be". God isn't through with me yet...so I will try to put this lesson into play in my life; I will live out this blessed life I have been given by trusting in God's promises...and oh, how much do we love our life these days!!

 

Just a little monkeying around!