So BIG!!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!
I have really slacked off on blogging for a while, so it is definitely time to catch up!

Little Miss Mia (who's not quite as little anymore) is 3 months old now!! It has been soo amazing watching her grow. I'm sure that she is at least 12 lbs 6 oz now, and it seemed to happen overnight, literally. Two days ago she was fitting into 0-3 clothes with room to spare and yesterday morning when I tried to put her clothes on her I was shocked to find that nothing 0-3 fit and I had to break out the 3-6. So fast!

She is trying to make intentional movements now, talks alot!!, and is still just her sweet, easy-going self. She is also playing in the exersaucer now.

Nov 18th was Daddy's 25th birthday and we had a party here at the house.

November 19th we celebrated Thanksgiving with the Wills/Crema side of the family.

On Wednesday, the 21st, we left for Ohio. Made it there around midnight. Thursday was Mia and Mommy's first Thanksgiving in Ohio. Mia got to meet her Aunt Rita, Aunt Wendy, Uncle Rex, and Uncle Brad; Her cousins Gwen, Shelli, Dawn, Jason, and Ryan (and she met Frederick, too); and she met her fellow great-grandkids Claye and Brookston. It was a very nice meal followed by card playing for the men and chatting for the women.

Friday we went to Gwen's beautiful new home to have a shower for Lacey. It was a very nice time as well.

That night we had dinner with Aunt Linda and Uncle George. She also met Charity, Derek, and Ella, and we are really looking forward to meeting baby Taatjes, too.

Saturday morning Nate, Mia, and I drove to Chardon to see Aunt Kassie and Uncle Bruce, Terry, Bruce, and the kids. Mia met Abbey and Parker while she was there. While we were there, Mia got to see her first snow!!

Uncle Bruce also took Nate on an errand...Uncle Bruce works for the funeral home and transports bodies from the hospital or home to the funeral home. Nate said he thought it was pretty interesting! I got to have a wonderful time catching up with Aunt Kassie and talking with Terri and Abbey. You can always count on Chardon for great snow storms!

You know, it is so amazing that both of our families live so close together! And 2 sides of his family too!!

With all that driving...probably around 30 hours in 5 days, she only cried for about 5 minutes. We are so grateful! We are so spoiled! We are expecting the next time (child) to be different!

On Saturday and Sunday, Daddy did a monolouge at church where he was Adam and lit the 1st candle on the advent wreath. We are so pround of Daddy...he did an awesome job. Saturday night after he was done he came and sat next to us...but forgot to turn off his Microphone! Mia decided it would be the best time to let out the loudest truck-driver burp you have ever heard come out of a litttle peanut person! So funny!

Lately, I've been working on Christmas cards like crazy with my sis (WHO IS STAYING IN NJ...PRAISE GOD! THEY ARE GETTING A HOUSE IN EGG HARBOR THAT IS SOOO CUTE! SHAWN AND AYDEN AND LEVI WILL ALL BE JERSEY BOYS!!!!! GOD IS SO GOOD!) Shopping for Christmas, and trying to get it all done before the crazy party rush.

This morning we woke up and there was 3.5 inches of snow on the ground, so Nate called over to Dad R to see who would be shoveling the driveway and walkway at Grandma and Grandpa's. We found out that Grandpa fell late last night and broke his hip. He is currently at the hospital waiting to have surgery, but can't have it for a few days because he is on Cumidin. He has a very positive outlook and the family is ready and willing to help in anyway possible. Please pray for both of them if you get the chance. So there we are, back up to the current events. Love you all.

Hello Again!

Hello!

It's like the Robinsons fell off the face of the blogging-earth! Been too long since I've had the chance to write! Mia is 10 weeks now...for some reason, we lost a week somewhere-I really thought she was only 9 weeks until I counted on the calendar today. Guess I'll be doing that with years sooner than later!

The last time I wrote was on the 2nd...Mia's 2 month birthday. Lots has happened in the last 10 days!
Her new bed

She slept in her crib for the first time that night (the 2nd) and slept all the way through the night. We spent Sat evening the 3rd with Uncle Shawn for his birthday.

Ready for Church!!

Then Mon morn, she had 4 shots and 1 oral vaccine. She cried, but recovered quickly when she got to eat! Mommy didn't cry either! At that appt., she weighed 10 lbs 2 oz (25th %), was 22 inches long (35th %) and her head was measured at 14.5 inches in circumference (10th %). So...she is still a peanut! Although I think she has definitely gained since then!

Two days later (Wed the 7th) we went to Lancaster so that Nate could attend the Christian School Teacher Conference they were having there. Thursday, Mia and I went shopping (my downfall is Carters!!!). We came home early on Friday because Nate had a pretty bad head cold that was driving him crazy!

A Little Smirk and A Makeshift Mobile in Lancaster

On Saturday, I spent the day with Misty, a friend I met at 20 Something. She organized a shower for her sister and did a beautiful job! That night, Rich came over, and we had a great time playing scategories and decorating cakes! That same night, I saw her staring at and following her hands. So much fun!

Sunday morning (the 11th), Miss Mia had her first shower and loved it! The water would hit her right in the face and she didn't mind at all! She just blinked a few times and smiled big.

Sunday afternoon was Aunt Lacey's surprise bridal shower too. It was very nice, and since there was cow print everywhere, Mia had lots to look at!

Today we were going to meet Renee and Reece to go walking, but we didn't because 15 minutes before we were going to leave Mia puked. I'm hoping it was just a bubble and not a tummy virus...but would rather be safe than sorry! So we will try to walk on Thursday instead.

Today she is wearing her first pair of jeans!

Nate's birthday is coming up, so we'll be having a family get together on Sat the 17th around 7:00. Then Wills' Thanksgiving will be Mon night the 19th, and then we get on the road again to go to OH to see the Hummels and enjoy a Berlin-style Thanksgiving. Mia has some relatives to meet out there too!

Daddy reading a book-a little while ago...Mia loves her books!

Our "Oh, so Happy!" Girl

2 Months old today!

Oh my!!! I'm 2 months old already!

Tonight we are really planning to put Mia in her crib for the first time overnight. She loves her crib during the daytime, I am just curious to see how it works out overnight. She has definitely found her hands now and they are in her mouth a lot. She is playing on her activity mat for longer periods of time...she played for 45 minutes by herself this morning on that play gym.

She is a happy little girl! She is getting lounder and chattier all the time, too.

Technical Difficulties

So....Verizon heard it from the Robinson family this week. I think we finally convinced them there is a problem in our area. Mom and Dad R, Grandma and Grandpa R and our computers have all been experiencing the same exact problem...we can't get to the Internet, but Verizon (our Internet service provider) is convinced that it is not their problem. It's hard to believe when 3 houses within 3 blocks of each other are having the same problem and they all happen to have the same provider!
Hopefully it will be fixed soon...but for now, I am writing from my sister's computer.
The peanut is doing well. She is still a peanut...only 9 lbs and she is now 8 weeks old (yesterday). But we are happy, healthy, and doing more everyday! Today she played with her activity gym for 30 minutes while I was on the phone with Verizon-it was on 'motion' to trigger the music and she was setting it off all by herself. She has her appt for her shots on the 5th...coming up soon. I'll get some pic's up as soon as our Internet is up and going.
Prayer Request Please: Ginny and Andy are leaving for Africa on Wed. so please pray for travelling mercies, for safety while in Africa, and that many would come to know the Lord as a result of hearing the gospel. So exciting, but there is definitely a spiritual battle that will go on. For those who do not know them, they are good friends who are going with the Jesus film to Timbuktu to share the gospel with the Songhai people who have no written language at all. They are scheduled to return in 2 weeks.

Bible Study...update

Last night was the Bible Study that Nate and I have gone to since Memorial Day 2004. It has always been such an awesome time of fellowship and seeking God through His word. Serious accountability and encouragement is always a big part, too. Last night was filled with conviction for me! We talked about Romans 7:6 "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." We ended up talking about how we can walk by the Spirit as Christians, relying on nothing but God...freeing but so hard to do in this country when there is so much temptation to rely on self, money, or posessions. The whole night just left me recognizing how often I function apart from God..and find myself stressed out and frustrated. God is so good to bring me to a place where I am able to see my sin and my need for Him.

So the baby's thrush is almost gone...you cannot see it anymore, at least, but I was instructed to keep giving her the medication for 48 hrs after it clears up. She is such a doll! She has been sleeping through the night still and we are actually thinking about moving her into her crib...we'll see!

Other than that, things are well...we are happy, healthy, and smiling. God Bless!

Living with a different perspective...

This was quite a weekend for stretching my opinion of what a typical day should look like. Ginny and I were talking for the first time in a while...she and Andy are leaving for Africa in less than 2 weeks (for a short trip), but our conversation focused a great deal on living as if tomorrow is not guaranteed. Our conversation just got my brain going about priorities, purpose, and passions. What temporary things are receiving my time over eternal relationships? What purpose is each day given to me for? What passion has God implanted in me to use for His glory? I haven't gotten the answers to all of those questions, but my heart is definitely softer and my ears more open to hearing what I am really here for.
Then Saturday I went to the PINK breast cancer rally at Beacon. I had never been to anything like that before, but I can't imagine a better way to discuss the concerns and issues of breast cancer than within the context of God's Word and His sovereignty over every moment of our lives-however long or in whatever circumstances His all knowing and all loving self has allowed into our lives. There was a woman there who is currently struggling with cancer...seems like such a scary place to be...but when she would speak about her circumstances, as hard as they ARE and as unsure as her future is...she KNOWS that she rests in God's hands, held tightly to Himself, closer that she has ever been and trusting as deeply as she can moment by moment relying on Him for strength. She is sure that she is a jar of clay-filled with God's Spirit-His love, grace, and peace. She said that we, as jars, can be filled with His Spirit so that we bubble over and His amazing love can be seen by others. And sometimes we have cracks and holes (cancer, difficulties, weaknesses, trials) in our jars. Often we see those holes as frustrations, limitations, road bumps, and mistakes, but God is just providing more ways for His grace and mercy to leak out and show His love to others who need it so badly.
I am not guaranteed my next breath. So often I live like I am. Just a lot to think about...a lot to let go of, and a lot to take more seriously. A lot to be more joyful about, a lot to notice more closely, a need to love more deeply-to forget excuses, recognize needs, and do what matters for eternity. I want my life to be full. As long or as short as He ordains...full of days where He is glorified in my life as I seek out His purposes, priorities, and passions.

Spoke too soon!

So...apparently I should not have said that her thrush was gone...it has definitely improved, but it has really been a tough thing to get rid of. I was so looking forward to not have to give her the medication anymore. Poor thing, she chokes, gags, and gasps for air everytime we give it to her (3x's a day) no matter how slowly we give it to her or what position she is in. She definitely doesn't like the stuff, but she is a sweetheart and she takes it anyway...no crying, just gagging.

Good news though, she is pushing herself up really well while she is on her belly, and for the 4th night in a row she has slept completely through the night, waking up at 6:30. Not holding my breath that it will stay this way, but it has been nice the last few nights!

Thrush no more!

Not gonna be a long blog, but I wanted to let all those who have been praying for little Miss Murphy (Murphy's Law) here that the thrush is almost gone! Her tongue and lips look much better. We wanted to thank everyone who prayed for her...we love you and appreciate the prayers.

Happy Birthday Luke!! Hope you had a great day!

6 weeks today!

Little Mia is 6 weeks old today, and as a present to her very appreciative Mommy and Daddy, she slept straight through the night from 10:30-7:00! She also holds her bottle by herself now!! Just kidding...but we did get a picture of what looked like she was holding her bottle...

So, the way she looks at her Daddy...she is just in awe of him...I guess that makes 2 of us! The Robinson girls just adore the man of this house! This picture was taken Friday after Nate got home from work. This is her typical response to him...and he just turns into a puddle of mush over her!

Church today was awesome...just another reminder of how much I need Jesus to get me through to eternity. The sermon was basically on being truly who we claim to be...Christians without the mask of religiosity. One thing Pastor Pete said was that the cure for hypocrisy is repentance and confession. Seems obvious, but he then said that a disciples walk should be extremely familiar with the process of falling to Jesus' feet in repentance and constantly expessing humility in confession to others (whom we sin against) as well. I dunno, may not seem as profound to anyone else, but God knew that's what I needed to hear. So freeing to allow myself to be wrong...to let go of my pride long enough to fall down at His feet and say I'm sorry. There is so much less to guard against...no need to fear being wrong and no need to defend once I have made a mistake. This used to be so much harder for me than it is now...Thank God for His help.

Blog Worthy Moment

This won't be a long one, but yesterday when Nate got home from work, he came and took Mia like he always does to spend some time with her. We were over my parents house for dinner and Nate was sitting in one of the chairs in the livingroom. I walked out of the room to go talk to my sister in the kitchen and not even 30 seconds later I hear Nate, "Ahh...Jenn!!!" Well, Mia had generously puked right on the top of his head as he was playing with her. It ran down his face and all over his work clothes...nice! Just thought you might enjoy that mental picture!

This is where the fun happened! Notice that he doesn't have a nice shirt and tie on anymore!

Mama and Papa had the two babies playing together.

Uncle Shawn, Shawzie, Shawno...we're still working on it...suggestions are needed!

The Family...lots of love for a little one.

So, when I was growing up I was blessed to have one great grandparent in my life. Grandma A. was 94 when she passed away, but she was around for most of my childhood. She was straight from England, very prim and proper, but always fun to be around. Afternoon tea, piano concerts, Andes mints, and trips to Monroe village left wonderful memories of times with her.

I was also fortunate to have two sets of grandparents when I was born. My Mama and Papa (my mother's parents) are still very active and involved in my life today. Mom-mom and Pop-pop, my Dad's parents, aren't around anymore, though. Pop-pop passed away when I was three. Memories include the comforting smell of sweet cigars, sitting in his lap while he was sitting in his comfy chair, and trying to run by his chair fast enough that he wouldn't catch us...a little game he would play with us. Other than that, I can't remember too much...and even those memories are with the help of my sisters fabulous memory. My Mom-mom, well...I remember a lot. I remember compassion, patience, faithfulness, true joy, contentedness in even the most difficult situations. She was a truly godly woman who trusted Him in every moment...knowing that whatever the circumstance may be, no matter how difficult or painful, that she was there for a reason: His purpose. I really wish she could have told her grandchildren the stories she told us before we went to bed. I really wish my kids could have one Thanksgiving at Mom-mom's. I really wish I could stand on a chair in the kitchen watching her cook again. All selfish wishes...because I know that right now she is sitting at Jesus's feet...where she always wanted to be, and to know these memories is enough to make me fall more in love with Jesus, probably all she ever wanted to do. Her name is Clara, Miriam's middle name-the least I can do to honor her example in this life. I can't wait to tell Mia why we named her what we did.

Mia is blessed to have her grandparents on both sides Nee-nee and Pop-Pop (My parents) and Grams and Grumpy (Nate's parents). She has Mama and Papa (My grandparents on my Mom's side), Grandma and Grandpa Robinson (Nate's Grandparents on his Dad's side), and she had Grandma Wilda and Grandpa Bill (Nate's Grandparents on his Mom's side). She also has her Kissy and Uncle Shawn (we're trying to come up with a more fun name!!) and her Aunt Lacey and Uncle Luke. She is so loved by her family, and so blessed to have all of them in her life. God has been so gracious.