Can I blog even once a month?!?!?

Well, for right now that seems like it is going to be the goal. New Year's resolutions have never worked out for me, so I am trying to set my goals low (or reasonable) enough that I can keep them. Blog once a week?...no, once a month! Exercise daily?...no, exercise when I can, with the goal of health rather than a size 6 again. Cut out all sweets?...no, cut out some of the sweets. Do devotions for 30 minutes once a day?...no, be devoted to God. Have my house clean all the time?...no,have my house clean enough that you can walk through it without getting hurt. My personality is such that I set the most unreasonable expectations for myself...always perfection...or a failed attempt at it. So I guess my resolution would be to not set up expectations for myself and others that end up in disappointment anyway. I end up frustrated so often and miss the fun that could be had. I think Nate has been trying to tell me this for 7 years now. Sorry, Hon. I've been fearful that I would set up expectations for Little Miss Mia that would be unfair...so I am trying now to work on all that before she is old enough to recognize that her Mommy can be a little neurotic.

This past moth was a whirlwind to say the least. The last time I blogged Mia experienced her first snow in Jersey and it was substantial. I have you know that since that time we have had no more snow and have now experienced 3 days or 65 degree weather. Absolutely beautiful, but so strange, so NJ!

Two days after I wrote, Mia switched to all 3-6 mo. clothes. Girls clothes are soooooooo fun!

Grandpa Robinson also had surgery that day. He is home now...1 day before Luke and Lacey's wedding. He was at the Heath Center at Galloway (Where Mom-mom was for a while-a little nostalgic) and was able to leave on Christmas Day to come home and have dinner with the folks. Praise God he is doing well, though itching to get back to normalcy. Can you blame him?

Mia had her first cold that weekend (of the 8th). The 9th we took our family picture down by the meadow where Nate proposed to me. That week Mia didn't fit into size 1 diapers anymore and I switched her to 1-2's. By Christmas she was in 2's. Growing so fast!

The 18th was the start of the Christmas craziness for us. The 18th was Al Syvertsen's surprise B-day party and the 20 Something Christmas Party.

***Please Pray for the Syvertsen Family right now. Eileen who has been battling cancer was taken to the hospital because she had a severe stroke. She's currently unable to respond verbally to the family, but has responded through movement. Please pray for mercy and a miracle whether it be total physical healing or that she would go home to Jesus very soon. The whole family is with her and have asked for prayer. ***

The next night was the couples Christmas dinner at the Olive garden where Nate and I acquired a yellow porcelain duck toilet brush holder which in now on display and in use in our bathroom (Thanks to Jenna and Tony).

The 21st, Shawn, Kristy, Ayden, and Levi bought their first home in Egg Harbor-permanent NJ residents! Saturday night we had a little shindig over at their place to celebrate and thank God for how good his is...good, amazing, marvelous, faithful...awesome!

Sunday night was Mama's birthday. The Crema get together, we decorate the tree together (you just can't change some traditions!), catch up, watch the kids run around...Ayden bit the cake just after Mama blew out the candles...wish I had a picture of that for you! Nice relaxed time to see the family.

On Christmas Eve we went to Beacon to the later service. By that time I was getting cranky and Nate fell asleep (the service was awesome, but he said that it was unfair to have to stay awake when the lights were out). We came home and put the baby to bed.

Christmas morning Mia let us sleep in until 8:30 or so and we opened stockings and Nate found out that he would be getting the electronic drum set he had been wanting. My husband did an excellent job on my stocking this year and he even got me the apron that I had been wanting for so long that I forgot about it. He got me a tea infuser too-very creative!

Then we got ready and went over my parents house to have brunch and then over to Shawn and Kristy's to work on the house for a little bit.

Dinner was at 4:00 at the Robinson's- I guess I should clarify which ones now that there are 4 Robinson residences. Carl and Terri had Grandma and Grandpa, Luke and Lacey, George and Linda, Kathleen, Nate, Mia, and Myself over for a very nice dinner, dessert, and the yearly gift exchange...always fun.

Mia was introduced to her jumper on the 29th. My goodness she loves that thing! That morning she jumped to her heart's content and then fell right asleep in the jumper!

On New Year's Eve, we had plans to go over to Jeff and Sue's and celebrate with them, but by that time we were so tired, we really just needed a quiet night. So, Nate, Mia, and I had a nice simple New Year's celebration at home. Mia went to sleep around 10:00. Nate and I crashed after midnight and a long game of Monopoly-I never win that game!

On the 2nd Mia had her 4 month checkup. Dr. said everything was fine. She is doing very well developmentally. She was 24.5 inches long (50th %), 14.5 lbs. (70th %), and her head was 15.5 inches in circumference (10th %). So...for all who have thought that she still looks like a peanut...its cause she has a small noggin! She had to have her shots again...she's not a fan!!!! The nurses tried to do it as fast as they could...2 shots on each thigh, but Mia let them know what she thought of that. She screamed so loud for so long that the Dr. came back in the room to make sure that everyone was ok. After I was allowed to pick her up she calmed down with some hugs and a binky.

She ate rice for the first time on the 3rd. Not totally in love with it...but now she is doing much better and is definitely getting the hang of it! The 3rd was also Luke and Lacey's rehearsal for the wedding and then the rehearsal dinner at a local Japanese Hibachi grill. It was a wonderful time...absolutely hysterical!

Friday was the wedding at 4:00. It was really a beautiful ceremony and the country club that the reception was in was gorgeous! Nate was completely fine with his brother getting married...no emotions, no reminiscing...until it was time to do the toast and he broke down! It was a really beautiful toast to the future and that God would bless them with much joy and many blessings. A very fun night.

Charity and Ella stayed over the next two nights...so good to see them both. So glad they were able to stay with us. Ella was so sweet to Mia giving her kisses!

Things were much more calm this week. We took it easy. Yesterday Mia really giggled for the first time. Daddy was tickling her! Today she scrunched her nose for the first time at her Neenee (My Mom).

Tonight we are planning to meet up with Jeff and Sue and then go pick up Luke and Lacey from the airport. Tomorrow Nate has a CPR class about an hour away and I am helping with the house until he gets back. Sunday is Papa's birthday party and Sunday night we have Bible study. Back to the norm. Off to the races!

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.