The Birchbox Reverse

So I've seen bloggers post about their Birchboxes and it made me want to join in on the fun. But I got to thinking...What if I could put a twist on this? What if I could do something for someone else? Hmmm...I got an idea...I call it The Birchbox Reverse.

So...reverse...I decided to make a little $10.00 goodie box for a friend, her husband and their little boy and send it as a surprise! I know it's only $10.00, but I hope it brightens their day! Doesn't everybody love getting surprises in the mail?!

Let me know if you guys try The Birchbox Reverse! Spread some love peeps!

p.s. Don't get me wrong, I still love Birchbox :)

Date Night with My Boyfriends

We stood together tightly in the doorway of the crowded and noisy restaurant, Mr. Baker lugging around baby boy in his bulky car seat and me wishing I could be of some help. Date night is a little different, but once we made it to our seats everything, well, mostly everything fell right back into place. 

We chatted like normal and joked about the couple next to us sitting on the same side of the booth like we use to. Now the spot next to me is taken by my little man. My new love. My new "boyfriend". 

This is most certainly the only time where the word 'boyfriend' for another man will be acceptable to my husband. Don't worry Mr. Baker-you are still my main man. Loves :)

My Boys

...Ahemmm...excuse me...

I mean...My MEN

:)

Happy Weekend!

Baby Dedication

This past Sunday was our little man's baby dedication ceremony at our church. There were 19 baby boys and 3 baby girls. If you didn't notice, there was a huge surge of baby boys born at our church. All the old men started predicting war...

Our pastor shared a little about Ry and how his middle name means "gift of God" (and that he most certainly is my friends :). Then he shared some life verses that we are praying for him: Ephesians 2:8-10, 2 Peter 3:18, and Matthew 22:37-39 and a prayer from us:

We pray that Ry will, by the grace of God, be saved through faith in Jesus Christ and commit his life to loving and growing in the knowledge of Him. We also pray that he will be disciplined and zealous in speaking God's truths.

After the ceremony, I decided that I wanted to add a few more life verses for us. Deuteronomy 6:5-9. These verses tell us to love the Lord with all our heart, souls and might. They command us to always have God's word on our hearts and to "teach them diligently to your sons" and talk of them "when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up". I am so glad that Mr. Baker and I are a part of a church that encourages us to follow in these ways and I pray that we can live our lives so that Christ overflows in all that we do.

This Sunday was also Ry's 1 month birthday (Happy Birthday Sugar Bear!) and Sanctity of Life day. As I listened to a song at church about God being the giver of life, I was reminded of the parallels between the new life of a baby and the new life as a Christian. Both beautiful and pure. Both dependent upon someone/something for growth. Both not able to stay the same forever. Thank you God for the eternal life you have given Mr. Baker and I through Your Son, Jesus Christ and for the new life of baby Ry. May we all continue to grow and mature in You.

We praise you God-the giver of life.

Surprising & Amazing

It's surprising how much laundry I've been doing lately. Load...after load...after load...How does this little man dirty so many things?!

It's amazing how therapeutic a hot shower and some alone time can be. Shout out to my awesome hubs for baby watching so I can enjoy this small luxury.

It's surprising how often I/my clothes now seem to have a faint scent of a mix of baby and milk. My new momma perfume I guess-thanks little man ;)---hence the first surprising statement above.

It's amazing how much my baby boy has already grown. I'm trying to slow still frames in my mind that capture how little he is/was, but he keeps changing right before my eyes!

It's surprising how much my body now craves caffeine.

It's amazing how long I can look into my baby's eyes.

It's surprising how such a tiny person can make such manly bodily noises. He has perfected the timing of them as well. ;)

It's amazing how a small Dr. Pepper from Sonic can now brighten my day. I need the extra kick these days.

It's surprising how well you can still function on such little uninterrupted sleep.

It's amazing how much you can do with one hand. I always prided myself in being such a talented multi-tasker, but my level of multitasking has drastically improved. I now wish I had two extra hands ;). Hold pacifier in, rock baby, type...

It's surprising how many diapers I have already changed. I like to make a game of it now, seeing how quickly and efficiently I can get it done. My form is on it's way to becoming unparalleled by others.

It's amazing loving someone this much in such a short amount of time.

It's surprising how quickly life has changed...BUT...

It's amazing how much I love being mommy.

Best. Thing. Ever.

Courtney & Courtney

Today I am featuring two friends: Courtney & Courtney.

Both are creative and passionate. One through her love for children of the world and one through her photography.

First up: Courtney ;)

She and her husband are good friends of ours who are adopting from Ethiopia. While they are waiting on their precious child, they are going to be reaching out to orphans in Guatemala through a ministry called Eagles Nest. They are fundraising to help cover the cost of their travels and to help support the ministry.

(necklace not included-charm only)

Courtney had the bright idea to make these little nest charms to help people remember to pray for the children at Eagles Nest. As she calls it, a nest for "the nest". The charms are $8.00 and come in five color variations. Check them out!

Next up: Courtney ;)

Courtney's husband works with Mr. Baker-they are two nerdy number crunching guys-just kidding boys ;). I am so glad that hubs was able to connect me to Courtney and her photography. Check out her website-Oh My Dear and follow her on Facebook. She is so sweet and takes amazing pictures. I highly recommend her. Here are a few pics from our maternity and newborn sessions. Enjoy :)

Happy MLK Day!! :)

The Weekend Changes

...in instagram...

new things
bye-bye car

hello family SUV
us
baby boy

my lovie

It's crazy how such a tiny person can bring about such big change. Is it time for him to eat? Does he need his diaper changed? Is he too hot or too cold? Why is he crying??! Everything now revolves around baby 'Ry'-in a good way :).

This weekend I took another step in the shoes of my new role as mommy. I said good-bye to a friend of 8 years-my car. Not just any car, but the car that, in my mind, represented my youth. She was with me through the end of my senior year of high school, college, and 4 years of marriage. She was my baby.

I don't know why but I always seem to attach memories to things. I think that's why I always struggle in letting go. But this time, it was easier. I still cried, but it was easier. I am so thankful for this little new life, my new role, and this new adventure. It's good for me to let go. It's good for me to change.

I'm all done growing up now, right? ;)

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Last week I learned more about human trafficking and was encouraged by a few ministries that are working towards ending it. HERE is the post that I wrote.

I have discovered another awesome organization and wanted to share. Check out Radiant Cosmetics. Their mission is to raise awareness about human trafficking and support for victims through cosmetics!

The Birth Story

Healthy baby boy. 7lbs 1 oz, 19 1/4 in long.

I still have a difficult time remembering those numbers because the first time I heard them I was in a dream. It all happened so fast. Suddenly the life that was growing inside of me that I had been praying for was on my chest. That moment and the first few days that followed are indescribable. The feelings of love were overwhelming. Breathtaking. Something only God could create. I remember sobbing as I held you for the first time. There I was a new mom with a beautiful new life.

You did need a little coaxing to help bring you into this world-maybe you're a little shy or maybe you're not a fan of change (like your mom).

Thursday, December 22nd 12 a.m. we arrived at the hospital. We checked in and then rode the elevator to the second floor. A nurse showed us to our room and after barely getting settled and changing into my gown they started my IV, drew some blood, and placed Cytotec to help get the induction process going. We tried to get some sleep that night, but with the anxiety and all the in-and-outs from the nurses, sleep was far from us.

At 8 a.m. they started me on Pitocin and my doctor came in to break my water. This was very uncomfortable and she wasn't able to break it the first time.

At 9 a.m. my doctor came back for another try. She was successful this time.

By 10:30-11 a.m. I was dilated to about a 4. I was shaking, curled up on one side of the bed clinging to the bedrail and this was when I decided that I wanted the epidural. The epidural was, by every meaning of the word, a lifesaver. However, getting it was not so pleasant.

At about 12 p.m. we were told by the nurses to take a nap because they weren't expecting any more progress until about 3-4 p.m. They made a joke and said I could prove them wrong though. So we told our parents to go have lunch and we tried to take a nap. We laid there talking for a while and then I started feeling some pains. Mr. Baker went to get a nurse for me and when she checked I was dilated to a 10. In one hour I went from being dilated 4 or 5 to a 10. The nurses started scrambling and kept telling me not to push. Nothing was set up and no one was ready for this baby to come!

At 1 p.m. it was time to push. I was in this zone, almost like I was outside of my body. I could hear all the voices telling me to push. I closed my eyes. I was determined.

At 1:35 p.m. on December 22nd, my son was born. A moment in time that was perfectly and wonderfully made. A moment of no words. A place forever frozen in my mind.

Beautiful. Precious. Life.

Learning Together

Baby and I have been so blessed that Mr. Baker is off work for a few weeks with us. Today we have been watching the livestream of Passion 2012, which is a Christian conference. I highly recommend looking into it.

http://live.268generation.com/

The focus of the conference this year is to bring an end to human trafficking. One ministry that was mentioned was Tiny Hands International. I visited their website and found this. $10 bracelets as a reminder to pray for a girl that is vulnerable to human trafficking or already involved in it. The black band on the bracelet represents the darkness of this sin, the stone represents the girl you are praying for and the stone's color displays God's hope.

Visit the website.

Buy a bracelet.

Pray for these girls.

Nicknames

Mr. Baker and I are the self proclaimed king and queen of nicknames. Baby boy has already acquired several.

Pea-knuckle: This was your first nickname ever. It was given the day we found out about you. One of the best days of our lives :)

Hiccup machine: One of my favorite things while you were in my belly were your tiny hiccups. Thus the nickname. The name fits even better now and it's so fun to see you with your hiccups in person, although I don't think you're the biggest fan of them.

Mr. Squiggles: A kicker and a squirmer you were! Tiny knees, feet, elbows all over the place! Arching your back was also a signature move.

Honey Badger: This one is from daddy. I think he stole it from a football player-he thinks you're fearless ;)

Bubba: This one just comes natural.

Sugar: You're a sweetie and sugar man was daddy's nickname from your Gram.

Ry dog, Ry-Ry, Ry man: annnnnd any other "Ry" versions.

Along with all the cute-sy barnyard and wild animal names you can think of :)

It's going to be fun naming you over the years.