What I've Learned This Week

Who said a stay-at-home mom couldn't engage in continuing education? Here is a summary of what I have learned this week:

1. Things function better when plugged in - much better
2. Watching a toddler problem solve provides a good 5 minutes of entertainment.
3. Children are slippery when wet.
4. Chasing around a dust pile that is being swept up off the floor is so much more fun than animated toys & TV combined.
5. Dog fur is a great fashion accessory, even on a pacifier.
6. Other parents do not always watch their children, so you better be ready to babysit for free.
7. When in a grocery store with a toddler, keep 2 child's arm lengths away from the shelves at all times! And if you are carrying them in a back pack baby carrier, be prepared to have to return stolen goods to the store.
8. It's easier to just give in and eat the piece of chocolate cake than to fight the temptation... seriously, you will not will that battle! Made from scratch chocolate cake is a powerful weapon that we were not equipped to fight against.
9. You're child can get sick when you take them to the pediatrician for their "Well-Child" check-up. Conspiracy or business model? I'll let you decide.
10. Going pee alone is not a right, it's a privledge

The Breastfeeding Chronicles... *Reader Beware*

Payton continues to initiate me into the club of strange breastfeeding stories. I've had my boobs pulled out like a self-service bar, had blood drawn from my nipples from biting (not really strange, but you do become a different person after that kind of pain), I've given and received the milk hosing, I've had my nipples stretched out further than I ever dreamed possible, I have had Payton move her body up, down, and all around while still latched on (yes, we have nursed with her feet up by my ears)... oh the stories. This one, though, tops them all. She likes to act out and "sing" to "If You're Happy & You Know It." Yesterday I guess she was workin' it extra hard and needed a milk break. WHILE ON THE BREAST she decides to act out, "If you're happy and you know it do all three [clap, clap] [stomp, stomp] Amen!" Even muttering a little "Amen" with my boob in her mouth! Haha! Man, I love it!

Keep the entertainment coming, munchkin. Keep it coming!

Mid-Summer Update

After July 4th passes I am ready for summer to be over. The 4th is the climax of the summer for me and then my soul starts longing for the cooler weather of the fall. There is something about the Autumn months that warms me from the inside out. The harvest of wholesome garden veggies, cool nights, the NC State Fair, changing of leaves... I love it all! But I cannot forget how good God has been this summer, and He is still doing an amazing work in our lives.

Payton is doing so well, running around, starting to "talk" and amazes me everyday with her understanding of her world. She got sick with a viral illness back at the end of June which plaugued her with a fever of close to 104! I felt so blessed that we're still breastfeeding because it was really our saving grace. God sure knew what he was doing when he created the whole breastfeeding thing. Not only didn't Payton never get dehydrated, she was getting vital nutrients and antibodies during this time of sickness! She recovered and is back to her normal crazy self. She is intrigued by worship music and loves to "sing" and dance. She even lifts her hands up! It's the most precious thing to see a little child worship God. The funny thing is, she really doesn't get this excited for any other type of music. We definitely have a little worshipper on our hands. On the work front, Nathan has been told he should be on first shift by summer's end, which is the answer to a prayer that we've been praying for 3 years. My mom is doing well and is alive to celebrate another birthday this month! Praise the Lord! She is on a chemotheapy pill and so far so good. She is also involved in a study that is looking at the relationship between exercise and cancer. A study she is very excited to be a part of. And of course we cannot forget the blessings of a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, shirts on our backs, a job, and friends, family, and a God who love us. God is without a doubt our Jehovah Jireh!

So what do we have to look forward to in these last months of summer? In about 3 weeks I will be visiting my family in NH. I am very much looking forward to this visit as I get to meet my new cousin (once removed) who as I type is in the process of being born. Not to mention I get to escape the heat of August in the South... pray that NH isn't having a heat wave! When I get back from NH I am home for about 2 weeks then Nate, Payton and I will be venturing off to Myrtle Beach with Nate's parents. We are very excited for our beach trip this year since Payton was only 2 months old the first time she was at the ocean. We're ready to see how our little water bug likes this ocean this time. She has already proven her love for the pool so this will be a fun adventure for her. We're also going to visit the Ripley's Aquarium again, which will thrill Payton to pieces to see fish. We're also going to celebrate Nate's birthday while we're in SC. August is going to be a busy month, but filled with loads of FUN! I look forward to sharing the stories.

So happy mid-summer everyone. We pray that everyone is doing well and is staying cool in this heat.

Until next time...

Injury Part 1

 Just when I get into the swing of things training again I start having issues with my calf. I hadn't even been running for 2 weeks when this started, what in the world!? So after about 3 weeks of this craziness, I scheduled an appointment to see my doctor (who also practices sports medicine) this Friday to get some answers. For those of you who know me, you know I hate going to the doctor. But this injury is painful. The flexor muscles on the medial side of my tibia are seriously aggravated. Truth be told, I hope that's all it is and that I don't have a stress fracture. Anyway, hopefully the diagnosis game will stop on Friday and I don't need to see an orthopedic doctor. Stay tuned... and if you are looking for me, I'm either on the couch or in the pool. BLAH.

New Pictures!

I admit, I need to get my camera out more! Honestly, I usually just forget. So my mid-year resolution is to keep the camera attached at my hip and get that shutter button going again!

Here are some photos from some of our morning play times on the back deck:

Fun Story of the Day

Payton is at the age where she understands more words than she can say. So far she understands the words that identify her toys, mommy, daddy, Luna (or as she calls her, La La), hug, bye-bye, etc. But what I discovered tonight just blew my mind. I found out she knows the word "book" (perhaps because they are her obsession right now and she loves being read to). But that's not what blew my mind. She actually knows her books by name! On the couple she "struggled" with identifying, I would say the first few lines of the book and she would quickly figure it out and get the matching book.


I know, I know... some of you are probably thinking, "big deal!" But to learn that your child is more aware of her world than you thought is fun discovery. Not to mention that it's fun to be able to communicate with her!

I have always thought that having the experience to watch a child grow and develop is such an amazing blessing!!Anyway, that is my fun story for the day!

XO

Midnight Meditations

Very rarely do I wake up during the night with Payton and turn my focus to God. I mean, really? It's 1:00am, I am tired, groggy, and yes, annoyed that I have been woken up out of a good sleep. But when I think of it, what a perfect time to listen for His voice! It's the quiet of the night, and with my mind not fully functioning on it's normal intellectual level, God is able to "get through" a little easier. Not to mention I don't feel like talking much, so God can actually get a word in - haha! So I decided to start turning an ear to God at these odd hours of the night and listening to what He has to say to me. After all, I am on HIS time, not my time. I am not sure I know of one person in the Bible who God has approached at a time that was "ideal" for them. Why should I be any different? I started to call these moments my midnight meditations.

Last night's word from the Lord was interesting and unexpected. For almost a week now, I am getting into a habit of waking up early to enjoy some quiet time with the Lord, read the Word, and pray. The goal? I want a life of intimacy with the Lord. I want to walk in His presence and do His will. The problem? God clearly pointed this out to me early this morning. I have a tendency to be a thinker. Correct that, and overthinker. I can think and analyze something until I am blue in the face. Ask my husband, he has witnessed the craziness that goes on up there in my head. God said to me plain as day, "Tiffany, your hunger for me cannot be in your head, it must be in your heart." Well duh, God! But obviously the "duh" is on me, because I missed something so simple, yet so profound. My hunger for Him had quickly become reduced to an intellectual thought process, a mere matter of religious practice! The mind can be a dangerous thing and can cause us to doubt, over think, and question what the heart easily accepts as truth. Therefore, we need to clear our minds of our own thoughts and guard them. When the mind is clear (as mine was at 1:00am) God can pour His thoughts in. And I want a mind filled with God's thoughts! As it says in Isaiah 55:9, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Why would I want my mind filled with my thoughts when I could have the thoughts of God poured in? But those thoughts cannot be poured into a vessel that is full!

My new goal? To make my hunger for the Lord be from my heart, not my head. I need to a good heart search and find out what it is that is hindering that closeness that I desire!

"Lord, please search my heart and reveal to me areas of my life that need to be laid down at the cross! Burn away everything in my heart and mind that is hindering true intimacy with you. AMEN!"

Until next time...

The Ups and Downs of Parenting

Nobody tells you just how hard parenting can be. True, you see other parents and witness their struggles with their children, but you never think that you'll deal with similar struggles. My ordeal began back with Payton's birth. With a c-section, I never had the opportunity to experience birth bonding. The separation after birth was torture for me and I torment myself with guilt when I think of the stress it might have caused Payton. From that moment, separation from her became a real struggle for me. I was constantly feeling a guilt in my heart that wasn't allowing me to parent effectively or in Payton's best interest.

After spending some time in prayer with the Lord, I began to realize that this isn't about me at all. The emotions that I am feeling shouldn't be getting in the way of doing what is best for my daughter. Then I got to thinking, where would this world be if God disciplined us in a way that was best for Him? If God dealt with His children in a way that would accommodate His emotional needs, we would be lost children with no guidance on how to navigate this crazy world. How can I do that to Payton? How can I parent based on my emotional ups and downs and expect her to gain the tools needed to be a happy and thriving young woman? Yikes! This was hard stuff to swallow. So I have set my mind to read some parenting books by Christian authors to gain a more Godly perspective on raising children. I mean, if I am going to use a parenting method wouldn't it make sense to use same method as the Ultimate Parent, our Heavenly Father?

Here's to new beginnings and fresh starts! AMEN!

Until next time...

Oh May, Where Did You Go?

I never realized blogging was so much work! I suppose when you're chasing a 13 month old around you don't have much time for playing online. May has been a much more relaxed month for us. We didn't over schedule ourselves like I had promised and boy, what a difference it made! The hard part? Leaving Sundays as a day of rest. I guess it's hard for me to slow down sometimes. But I cannot believe that May is almost over! Where does the time go?

Payton is growing like a weed: tall and skinny! Ever since her birth, I waited for the day she would get those cute little baby rolls. Never happened. She is finally getting a slight pooch on her belly. And I do mean slight! She is quickly learning how to run (big surprise there, huh?) which is keeping me busy. She also has a quickly developing personality! She is quite the little terd sometimes, but I love her for it. Just this morning I told her it was time for her diaper change. She came over to me, grabbed the diaper in one hand, the wipes in the other hand, and ran off! That was a classic terd moment! She really is a joy though and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to stay home with her and witness all the fun.

Our community pool opened at the beginning of the month and Payton is thoroughly enjoying the water. I had no doubt since bath time is one of her favorite activities. Our search for a floaty for her has finally ended. We have tried two types of floats and she has hated both. We finally tried one out yesterday that she loved. And mommy loves it too since her left bicep has become well adept at isometric exercise! Now the search is on to find said float today!

On the work front, Nate has finally received word that he'll be moving to a first shift position in August or September! The hours are still a little funky, but they will allow him to coach and also have a good amount of time at home with me and Payton. We have been praying for 3 years for a first shift position and are feeling so thankful that it has finally happened! Praise the Lord! When they say God works in His own time they weren't kidding!

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend! Enjoy the unofficial start of summer and as the Early Show said this morning, we're gonna be chillin' and grillin' this weekend!

Until next time...

Happy Mother's Day!

I still can't believe that I get to celebrate Mother's Day. Even last year it seemed strange that, aside from my birthday, I get a day set aside to celebrate what I do as a mom. This year I got a wonderful gift from Nate and Payton. Nate woke up at 7:30am (yes, you read that right) and watched Payton so I could go out for a run before church. I got home to he and Payton making me pancakes (complete with fresh strawberries on top) and eggs! Mmmmm.... it was delicious!

So to all the mommas (and soon to be mommas) HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Proverbs 31:10-31 "A Wife of Noble Character" (NIV)

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; or all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

Let's Pick Some Strawberries!

I'm never getting store bought strawberries ever again! I had my first experience with organic, locally farm grown berries at Vollmer Farms in Bunn, NC and I think I have died and gone to heaven! The sweetness, the juiciness, the tenderness... oh, I could go on and on.

The real fun of this wonderful berry picking day was of course watching Payton. We thought, "She'll be great at this. She picks off our herbs on the deck, so she'll be good a picking strawberries." Boy were we wrong! Not only was she more interested in the ones smashed on the ground, the ones she did want to pick were not even ripe (they were still white). But she sure knows how to pick a good basil leaf without instruction - HA! When she finally got the hang of it all the berries she picked went straight to her mouth. She loved them! And mommy was sure happy she brought an outfit change! Not only did this farm have amazing strawberries, they also had homemade ice cream. So I died and went to heaven yet again! As did Payton, who gladly ate an entire 8 oz cup of strawberry ice cream by herself! Now to take on the nap time challenge!

Enjoy a few pics...

Until next time...

http://s598.photobucket.com/albums/tt61/hedgpethhoney/Strawberry%20Picking%20at%20Vollmer%20Farm/

Password: misspaytonlee

Thank Goodness for Breastfeeding!

I remember about 6 months ago being so ready to be done with breastfeeding. My determination to make it a full 12 months helped me not to quit, but boy was I ready to kick the ball and chain that I felt. As time went on Payton began to enjoy nursing more, as did I. I began to view it as one of the most amazing bonds that an individual could experience. So here we are nearing 13 months and we're still going strong! And thank the Lord, because at Payton's last peds appointment, they informed me that she needs to gain some weight. Easier said than done, because the last time I checked you couldn't force feed a baby. All I have to say is that if it weren't for breastfeeding Payton would probably be having some serious weight issues! No joke. When all of the frustration kicks in during meal time, when I want to pull my hair out because she spits everything she eats back out, when I want to cry because I feel like I am failing to provide nutrition to my child... when that happens I nurse. Then I remember that for the past 13 months I have done the absolute best thing for my daughter. And even now, as I told my mom, breastfeeding has been our saving grace and I have no intention on weaning until I am confident that Payton is ready to take that next step. She likes solid food, but she loves breastmilk. I can't help it if tastes so darn good =)

Don't Put All Your Children in One Basket!

Words and pictures do not do this situation justice!

Is April Over Yet?

April has been so crazy and I am so happy it's almost over! Easter, 3 birthdays, 3 birthday parties, an anniversary, family in town, family coming over for dinner, and one free weekend that turned into house/yardwork. Yes, it's been crazy in the Hedgpeth home this month. Maybe I am partly to blame. I guess I don't know how to schedule this family with breathing room. Come May, I am putting restrictions down. We will devote Sundays to rest, and one WHOLE weekend to relaxation. If that means something doesn't get done or we postpone plans for another weekend so be it!

But through all of the chaos came a lot of great memories. Payton turned 1 on the 14th. Nathan and I still can't believe that a whole year has past since her birth, and it almost doesn't seem possible. She got spoiled with a mini birthday party on the 14th with Nate and I, a party that seemed to last for 4 days with friends/family, and then a 3rd party with our church family. We look forward to what the next year has in store for us as we venture into the wonderful toddler years!

Until next week...