Almost There!

I thought turning to the side was supposed to make you look skinnier! Apparently that's not working for me anymore :) This is a photo of Andy and I at the wedding last weekend. Thanks Mom Bogard for the photo.

A Success!

Fisher spent his first over night without Mama and Dada and without a hitch I might add, well except that I think that his Mimi & Bumpa (Brown), and Aunt Kiki (Carrie) were a little worn out the following day. We went to Sabrina (Spencer) and Calvin Carr's Wedding in Presque Isle on Saturday, it was beautiful. We got the chance to really enjoy the day without having to chase our busy little guy around. I think it was the first time in a year and half that I was able to complete an adult conversation. What a concept, right? Fisher is just so active, climbing, running, and just plain exploring that it requires one's undivided attention just to know his where abouts and keep him out of harm's way. On the way over to the wedding, Andy and I were able to spend the 2-hour car ride catching up with each other (even though I will admit we spent quite a bit of it talking about Fisher) and once we got there we had alot of time to spend with our "Bogard Family." It sounds like Fisher had a good time too. He got to show off his ever expanding vocabulary, visit with family at my cousin's graduation party, and read plenty of books (one of his favorite activities). Alright, so I bet your wondering if I was at all disappointed things went as well as they did. Absolutely not! When I picked him up Sunday morning before church he had slept well and was very excited to see me. Though he isn't saying "I love you" yet, he embraced me and I knew what he meant. Once we got to church he ran straight in the auditorium to see his dad playing the drums and danced with excitement when he saw him (some of you have seen this dance, now commonly known as "fast feet"). This expereince has reminded me how God's provision is perfect. Though we can't afford some big extravagant vacation, that isn't what we needed. God knew that all Andy and I really needed was a little time for each other and an opportunity to let someone else chase Fisher for a little while. I now also know that Fisher will be just fine when I'm in the hospital overnight when our new baby comes next month. When I take the time to listen to God, He always speaks just the message my heart needs to hear. God has made it clear to me that He is not only growing the new baby inside of me, but at the same time, preparing each of us in different ways for this baby's arrival.

Bragging Up Fisher's Dad

I need to brag up Fisher’s Daddy. He’s worked so hard the last few weeks on the baby’s room and it’s getting there. There’s one coat of paint on the walls, though we will be tweaking it a tad. It is a spring green color- a yellowish green, our color palette called it “aloe vera” one could also call it “green banana” or “granny smith,” you’re getting the picture, we decided to do an accent wall in yellow, but we’re not crazy about it, so we’re changing the accent wall to a lighter version of the green color. Anyway, it’s turning out just like I imagined. Andy and I make a good team when it comes to projects like this. He some how has a way of turning my vision into a reality. Which brings me to why I feel so blessed to have him, this project really is just a metaphor for how he daily makes my dreams come true. He’s an amazing man of God, super dad, unbelievable husband, diligent provider, and most of all I’m thankful that he is my very best friend.

Dadda will be back in a couple days

Andy is working on a house in Birmingham (MI) so he's out of town a couple nights a week each week. You would think that Fisher and I would get used to it (since he started the project in April, I think), but it's just not the same without him here. I really miss him in the early evening when Makita goes to bark at someone walking down the street and then (because the dog's barking) Fisher runs to the front door all excited and yells, "Dadda," with the biggest smile as he waits for the front door to open and his dad to walk through. It breaks my heart to explain to him that his Dad's not coming home for a couple days. Of course he doesn't understand too much about time, but just explaining it to him brings his Mamma to tears. I usually try to distract him with playing something else which usually works. The problem is that I have a hard time distracting myself. It's funny how I start missing him Sunday nights (mind you he doesn't leave till VERY early on Monday Mornings). He'll be home this week on Wednesday evening, so he's only gone two nights, but it's just not the same without him. Thankfully the project won't last forever and he most likely won't be doing anything like this again, so in the mean time Fisher and I (and the new baby for a few weeks) will try keeping ourselves busy while we wait for Dadda to come walking through the door again.

Fisher's New(ish) Picture

Preparing my heart

Last night, was the last of our “Birthing Wisdom” classes. Andy and I both felt a little sad that the class was over because we’ve been so incredibly blessed by it. To prepare for our final class we both had homework assignments to prepare. My homework was to create a “labor bundle,” the assignment was to find items that represent motherhood, fatherhood, and the new baby, the idea is that the birth process is a journey that the three of us will embark on together. To represent motherhood I brought my sling, to me the sling represents the closeness, protection and unconditional love that mommas provide to their children. To represent fatherhood, I brought a maple leaf, to me the leaf represents a father’s role in encouraging and building confidence in a child, so much that a child embraces new challenges like climbing a tree for the first time. In my life, I’ve been so fortunate to experience a father and husband who are both great encouragers. The last item I chose was to represent the baby; a candle or the new light that the world will experience as a result of this child. Part of me has been a little concerned about the cliché-ish things everyone worries about with a second child, “Will we be able to love this child as much as we love Fisher?” and “Will we be able to provide Fisher all the love and attention he deserves with a new baby too?” The Holy Spirit reminded me that before Fisher was born I didn’t know that I could love a child as much as I do. The same will be true with this baby, there’s a part of me that I am unaware exists until this new child arrives, and God brings light to the part of my heart that was already created to love him or her. Although, the assignment didn’t help us with things like Lamaze breathing it was one that brought me peace and comfort and has made my heart more prepared to bring this new life into the world. I am thankful to both Lee (who is the course instructor, OB nurse, and now friend) and to my Heavenly Father for the wisdom and insight I’ve gained through the course of this class! (I’ll tell you more about Andy’s homework in my next blog entry)