People definitely don't lie when they say how fast a baby grows!!! There are some days where I go to grab Baby E out of his crib in the morning and I SWEAR he grew over night. Then there is the fact that when I take him jogging in his jogging stroller he feels heavier and heavier each time. My husband and I have dubbed him "sack of taters" (as in potatoes) because he is like a little sack of potatoes to carry around.  |
| Anyone want to paint our closet doors white? |
Boy have I been a slacker!!! Well, where the blog is concerned. It seems like lately, Baby E, has been a real time suck and very needy. Maybe he is going through a growth spurt. It seems that is my excuse every time he is extra fussy or needy. Oh well...it is nice to have an "excuse" other than "he is just a baby." That one gets old REAL quick. Baby Ethan turned 3 months over the weekend and we took a little mountain getaway with my parents. 
My parents own a mountain house up in Leadville, CO. It is the highest town in the United States; 10,200 feet to be exact. Each year they have these insane endurance events that attract some incredible athletes. Lance Armstrong for one. This past weekend was the Race Across the Sky Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race. It is a 100 mile out-and-back course through the amazing terrain in Leadville. You reach over 12,000 feet twice during the race, and there are multiple points where 99% of riders will need to get off their bikes and walk. Many say it is harder than an Ironman Triathlon and many don't finish. My husband and I have been wanting to go watch this race for 2 years and finally had the chance to this year. 
It was an incredible sight to see all 1,900+ riders at the starting line. We then headed up to the Pipeline which was about 28 miles into the race. This is a switch back decent and was so cool to see all these riders barreling down one after another. From the top of the switchbacks all the riders look like little ants. All I could think of while watching was that if I ever do this race...I better be at the back because I will be braking the whole way down - HA. After some cheering we spent the rest of the day napping and going on our own bike ride. The first since Baby E had been born. It was like a little mini-date for my husband and I. We also spent a good hunk of time cheering on the finishers as they crossed the finish line. The winner, an Olympian, finished in 6 hours and 23 minutes. The woman winner in 7 hours at 16 minutes...shattering her own course record by 15 minutes!! Majority of the people took between 9 and 12 hours to finish. Most looking exhausted and dirty! We also celebrated Baby E's 3 Month Birthday...Boy do we love our little dude! He is getting so big!! 
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| Growth Chart (idea from Whipper Berry) |
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| One of Many Fun Headbands I am creating! |
He's gonna get in trouble, oh, he's gonna get in fights
I'm gonna lose my temper and some sleep
It's safe to say that I'm gonna get my payback
If he's anything like me
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| I LOVE this picture! |
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| Ignore the Messy Counter |
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| I do clean the bathroom...so once again ignore the goobered mirror! |
What a Week! From taking care of a newborn, to computer troubles (reason for late post), to chores (which didn't get done), to Baby E's first shots. It has been an up and down sort of week. The little bright light in all the stress and exhaustion of this week was going to our Church's Prophetic Prayer night. I had only been prayed over once and the first time it kinda weirded me out. People talking in tongues, "hearing" from the Holy Spirit, telling you what the Lord has for you...not things you grow up with when you have spent the majority of your life in a Catholic church. So, this time I was a little more prepared. My husband discussed with me what to expect from this experience and I was VERY excited to go and see the words that the Lord had for me.
Many people don't know this about me...but about 7 years ago I started to have panic attacks. The kind where all of a sudden you feel like you are having a heart attack. Your heart races, you get clammy hands, you get dizzy, and you just have to drop whatever you are doing and LEAVE. I can remember the first one...I was in the doctor's office with a friend and had this uncontrollable urge that I had to leave...that my life depended on it. Then they would come at the most unpredictable times. In line at the grocery store (there were times I would have to leave my cart full of groceries), in elevators, in my car, watching TV. For no rhyme or reason they would just consume me. These panic attacks ended up developing into constant anxiety. Anxiety of them happening and not having a way out...Anxiety of them never getting better....Anxiety that I was broken...the anxiety lead to depression...it's a vicious cycle. I was depressed because I wasn't myself anymore, because I couldn't do the things I enjoyed. I was constantly putting together "escape plans" in case of an attack. I was no longer my carefree, outgoing self. It took me a long time to get help. There is still such a stigma that goes along with "mental" disorders. I was worried people would look at me like I was crazy. Well my doctor put me on an antidepressant and it was a lifesaver. However, I still struggled with the panic attacks and anxiety on a daily basis. I was always on edge with worry in the back of my mind. This brings me to the words the Lord had for me when I was prayed for.
The first words that were said to me were "the Lord gives me a picture of a calm ocean at sunset. There are no waves, no ripples, just complete calm. He has you in a place of rest right now. You are calm and happy with where you are." CALM?! That is not the word I would have used to ever describe myself. However since Baby E was born I have finally felt like God has brought me my purpose in life...to be a mom. I have been at peace with everything. I have had no anxiety and no stress. I know that I cannot be a parent alone, and I think for the first time I have completely surrendered myself to God...knowing that I need his help...and he has blessed me with Peace. Instead of worrying about worrying...or worrying about the baby, or about being a parent, or really about everything, I Pray. I know God has me in this place for a reason and that He is my rock...through all the ups and downs.
Philippians 4:6
The Message (MSG)6-7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
WORKOUTSo, I am not a Yoga expert...however I love it when I am tired and stressed out. You can get a GREAT calming mind-body makeover. Since I am not a yogi, Google has provided me with many-a-great yoga workouts! Here is one of my favorite from Fitness Magazine!! I hope you enjoy. Just click the link below!
Come Visit me at Inspired by Sarah today for my weekly Friday Fitness Blog. The next 4 Fridays will focus on the four most common excuses not to exercise. This week we are tackling not having enough Time...and next week we will focus on being too tired! Hope to see you there!!
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| $170 was a Tad over my budget! |
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| Picture kinda stinks...trying to multitaks while holding Baby E:) |
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