5 Generations

Merry Christmas! This lovely photo was taken at Christmas dinner- an amazing five generations in one picture: Caleb, me, my mom, my grandmom, and my great- Aunt Ginny.

So much to tell...

This past week has been so full and continues to be full- due to this lovely holiday season! Last Tuesday was our 2nd anniversary, so Josh and I decided to celebrate with a real live actual date on Friday! We took Caleb to my mom's house, and went to the movies, out to lunch, and then to Target. It was heavenly to be out and about as a married couple, not as parents! I know that you never stop being parents- but it is nice to have grown-up time every now and then! Caleb was very good for Grandma Laurie, so hopefully Josh and I can continue to date each other, even though we have a tiny baby.

On Tuesday we also took Caleb for his 2nd Dr's appointment, he has grown from 6lbs 6oz to 8lbs 5oz! Our big healthy boy! You can definitely tell he has gained weight especially in his thick thighs, round cheeks, and pudgy fingers! We love it! So cuddly and snuggly squish-able!

Tomorrow Scott and Meg fly in from Mississippi to celebrate Christmas with us! I can't wait to see them!

On this Christmas Eve, I gaze at my sweet baby boy, and wonder how much faith it must have taken the wise men, and shepherds to come and worship baby Jesus. Obviously, He was small and dependent and weak, yet sweet and cuddly, and while that does evoke lots of oohs and ahhs, it doesn't make me fall down in awe and worship. I am so glad God chose "the weak things of this world to shame the wise", and that Jesus "who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." It astonishes me that Jesus loved us so much as to put off His glory, and wrap Himself up in the soft, sweet-smelling skin of a tiny baby. But I praise Him today for that great love!!

My life in pictures

Enough

So Caleb has been here for two and a half weeks now and we love him more than ever... but the new baby novelty has somewhat worn off. It isn't as easy to be pleasant when he doesn't want to sleep at 2am... it isn't as bearable to be up with him while he fusses at 5am...and the tears come all too easily when I just can't figure out how to make him happy. These are all too common occurrences among every new mother- so I don't feel alone in my plight! There are definitely moments of sheer joy as he turns toward me when he hears my voice, or when he just stares into my eyes as he eats. His face is still angelic while he sleeps, and his fingers still wrap snuggly around mine. I love being a mom... I'm just tired today.

Thankfully, I was able to go to church for the first time today- such a refreshment for my spirit and my social self. I got teary as we sang "You are my supply, my breath of life, still more awesome than I know. You are my reward, worth living for, still more awesome than I know. And all of You is more than enough for, all of me for every thirst and every need, You satisfy me and all I have in You is more than enough." He is enough, and I cling to that promise every minute these days!

Sweet Dreams...

I love the look of sweet dreams, as a smile plays on Caleb's tiny lips. The wonder of God's handiwork astounds me daily! While the nights are sometimes long- and the forever-ness of motherhood threatens to overwhelm me at times- it is sheer joy to know he is ours. God has answered our prayers thus far- He has been so faithful- and we know that He will continue to sustain us. And when things get hard- all we have to do is look at him- and see God's reflection in the face of our tiny little bundle of blessing named Caleb.

Mother's love...

I can't believe how much love fills my heart as I stare at this precious little boy! I could take pictures of him all day long, and never get bored! As Josh and I snuggled up with Caleb this morning I was just overjoyed at the love within our tiny, new family! This is such an amazing journey and I am blessed to have these two amazing guys in my life!

Five Days Old

Caleb is such a contented baby- it may be the jaundice making him so sleepy but for now it is really helping me recover! Today was his fourth heel stick, and only the first one during which he cried. He really doesn't upset easily- for which we are so grateful! I'm sure the days ahead (as he grows older) will be full of more hours of awake time, and probably fussy time, but God has granted us grace to meet each and every need so far, and we have full faith that He will continue granting us that grace and sustenance. We are so blessed to be a family of three now- God is good and His love endures forever!

Caleb Dustin is here!!

Caleb Dustin Hallahan entered the world on Nov. 30, 2006- 1:02am. I started having contractions Wed morning- did lots of nesting- even baked cookies! I knew I had an appointment with my midwife at 3:45 that afternoon- so I figured nothing would happen before then. I had some lunch, took a nap, and got a shower and then we headed to the midwife's. I was immediately hooked up to a monitor- and they said my contractions looked good, then she checked to see how dilated I was... I was already at 5 cm! So we went home had some dinner, packed the car and headed to the hospital. No one could believe how calm we were- but the contractions (while they were obviously effective), just didn't really hurt. We arrived at the hospital at 7:30pm.

Things started getting harder around 10pm at which time I asked if I could use the bathroom... the nurse said she would check me first, she informed me that I was already at 9cm! And the midwife hadn't arrived yet!!! So I labored on the birth ball while Josh and my mom rubbed my back and stroked my hair through each contraction. I was so relaxed at this point- which was a good thing. My midwife arrived and by then things were getting intense. I got on the bed and just tried to breathe and focus- Josh was great! He just laid on the bed beside me, rubbed my back and kept encouraging me. By midnight my midwife broke my water, which increased the contractions, and my midwife helped me stretch while he crowned (definitely the worst part)- and then I pushed for ten minutes and Caleb came into the world at 1:02am. He was quite blue at first- but they were able to pink him right up. It was the longest minute of my life. But now he is here and a healthy, yet tiny 6lbs 10oz.