Simply Sara

Wow, I feel like I'm back in college, staying up late for no other reason except that I can..... Four Jobs I've Had: 1. Babysitter 2. "Fry Girl" at Arby's (3 weeks in High School - what a nightmare!) 3. Lead Teacher of Toddler Classroom (Montessori School) 4. Stay at Home Mom (It is a job!) Four Movies I can watch over and over: 1. Runaway Bride 2. Emma 3. Possession 4. Pride and Prejudice (The long A&E Version) Four Places I've Lived: 1. LaGrange, GA 2. the dorms at Anderson College 3. Our first townhouse in Anderson 4. Our current house in Anderson Four T.V. Shows I love: 1. LOST 2. Gilmore Girls 3. Las Vegas (don't ask) 4. American Idol/the Bachelor Paris Four Places I've Vacationed: 1. Myrtle Beach 2. Mexico (Honeymoon) 3. London, England 4. Jackson Hole, WY Four of my Favorite Dishes: 1. Pine Island Shrimp 2. Taco Soup 3. Steak, cooked medium 4. Greenbean Casserole Four Sites I Visit Daily: 1. Meg's 2. Perry's 3. Kathryn's 4. Ebay ...

Here's what I've been reading: "What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women" by Dr. James Dobson - Wow. I finished it last night with a greater understanding of who I am as a woman and how that effects my role as wife and mom. I highly recommend that every woman reads this book and their spouses read it as well. Or at least share the highlights with your husbands. This book expresses a tenderness for stay-at-home moms and even brings to light the struggles that most moms experience. "and the Shofar Blew" by Francine Rivers - This is actually a re-read for me. Ms. Rivers is perhaps one of my favorite authors. Her book, "Redeeming Love" brought me to tears like no book has before. Truly a talented writer. This particular book looks at the life of a pastor who builds a "mega-church" with a foundation not on Jesus, but on his own power, fame and pride. A great book about motives of the heart in Christian service.

What a nice day. Lucas and I have returned home after a busy weekend visiting family in Georgia and attending baby showers for cousin Alyssa, who is due to arrive in 6 weeks. I am thankful to be home with my dear husband. The strong sense of "home" I feel after being gone catches me off guard, because I am often full of complaints about the size, lack of storage, ugly floors and ranch-design of our home. It's funny how a house can grow on you. I still feel such warmth for our first home, the townhouse we rented on Dundee Court. The three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths were like pure heaven to me after touring other, much smaller apartments up for rent throughout our town. And what special place it was for us. It's where we learned the ins and outs of being married - sharing a bathroom, deciding who would clean said bathroom, having "discussions" which kept us up until 1 or 2 am when a resolve was found, and quite simply, how to truly love. Leaving that apa...

1.3.06 

And so begins my journey into the world of physical exercise. My dear husband looked at me the other week and pondered, "why do people need a new year to motivate them to start something.?If they want change in their life, they should just do it and not wait for the new year." As much as I agree, the start of a new year has indeed motivated me. It has been the kickstart I need to shed the final two baby pounds and start on the "Sara" pounds. And so explains the title. I'm in pain. I'm hurting. Billy Blanks is kicking my booty.

Lucas is working on his second 2 hour nap for the day. Over the past couple weeks, Lucas has been readjusting this nap schedule. The first nap is always predictable; two hours after waking up, Lucas goes does for a nap. However, that nap can last a very short 30 minutes up to 2 hours! The second nap is completely dependent on the length of the first nap, so planning my day activities days in advance is highly unlikely. To shake things up even more, if the first two naps are on the short side, Lucas will start to fuss in between the last two feedings of the night, indicating the need for another nap, just an hour before bedtime. As much as I have prided myself on following a feeding schedule, I can't seem to get his naps in line. Any suggestions?

My first drum lesson! 1.18.06 

Here's what I've been reading lately..... "My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love . This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism , even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us then we do ourselves. And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condeming ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God's command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we lived deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding persence in us: by...

It is so painful for me to hear Lucas cry. Sometimes, I manage to tune it out, gritting my teeth, desperate to distract myself with a book or conversation. Other times I laugh as I gently remind Lucas that there is no need to cry like the world is about to end. But for some reason, when we put Lucas in his crib for either a nap or for bed time, hearing him cry becomes painful. A war begins to take place in my mind; do I go back in there and try to soothe him or should I let him cry it out? How long do I let him cry? Shouldn't I put his pacifier back in his mouth? B.B. (before baby) I would have staunchly said, "let him cry it out". But now four months in, Matt and I strive to find the balance of self-soothing and enabling. We never rock him to sleep and always put him in the crib awake. We even strive hard to not pick him back up once he is put down, unless it is the following morning, of course. Lucas is crying in his crib right now, by the way. He didn't g...

I'm so excited. Matt doesn't have to work today, which means that we get to spend the day together! So far our plans include cleaning the house, putting away the Christmas decorations, and giving me a much needed break. I'm particularly excited about the last one. You see, a certain store in the mall is having their biggest store of the year and I just happen to have a gift card compliments of a very wise friend. My sweet husband has agreed to watch Lucas while I shop till I drop. (Actually the card is only for $25, so there won't be much dropping, but it will be fun anyway.) I've been busy with Ebay lately. I purchased some Mary Kay products from Matt's cousin last week to help her out and to potentionally help me out. I'm sad to admit that Mary Kay doesn't sell much more over cost on Ebay. Good for the buyer, not good for the seller like me. Very small profit margin. But I am enjoying my Ebay business. It's kind of fun. Well, I think I am g...

I'm four months old today!