My sweet boy

So I have a sweet story about my boy that I just had to document. A mommy's boy already at 2 years old!

This morning I got Finn out of bed and dressed for the day. As we are walking out of his room, he looks at my feet and says "Mommy, feet cold?" I said "Well, I guess a little." To which he grabs my hand and says "Hold Finn's hand, Mommy." Then he walks me to my room and leads me right to my sock drawer. He opens it and hands me a pair of my slipper sock saying - "Here Mommy, here." So I said "Thank you, Finn" and I put them on. Then he says "Mommy, feet cold now?" I just shook my head and said, "no." And with that Finn said "You're welcome, Mommy...Mommy, Finn said you're welcome."

 I love that he was just taking care of me. He will make a good husband some day. But for now, I'm just enjoying my little mommy's boy!

Wordless Wednesday

The paperless life

I have started the year 2012 with a new initiative.

To be paperless!

The hardest part was my weekly planner - life on balance. I scheduled out my week so I would be balanced in all areas and achieve my goals. After meeting with a few different people I created my own "system."

Today I thought I'd share it with my readers. Maybe it will help you to use less paper and embrace more technology :)

1. On Sunday evenings, I look at the upcoming week to see whats going on. I also look my quarterly goals to make sure I schedule in some things I need to do to make those goals. My calendar is on Google Calendar and my goals are all typed up in Evernote. Note-If you haven't used Evernote yet - I highly recommend it.

2. I then use Remember the Milk to put all the tasks in that need to be done. I have created lists in Remember the Milk to keep things organized. See screenshot below. All the tasks are first put in the inbox because its easiest to type them all in. Then after all the tasks are in - I organize them into whichever list they belong. Note - the lists have an alphabetical letter so they stay in that order.

3. Any tasks that are calendar specific, I add them on my calendar so my time isn't wasted. Things like breakfast with Finn, review a product, finish up filing my taxes, etc would go on my calendar for the upcoming week.

4. During the week as things come in that I need to to. I just add them in the Remember the Milk inbox to be looked at that Sunday. Also, if you have an iPhone 4s - you can connect Siri and Remember the Milk. It's pretty awesome. Here's the instructions: http://www.rememberthemilk.com/services/siri/

And that's it. Pretty simple. I like this system so far. The most important part is that I'm intentional with my time. Last year my main goal was balance. This year it's intentionality. I want to make sure everything I do has purpose. Without purpose, I'm just wasting precious time that my Savior has given me.

24 week update

Baby is the size of: Papaya

Any symptoms? Same ole, same ole. Still nauseous from time to time. But I definitely have more good days then bad days. So I praise God for that!

Are you wearing maternity clothes? I am now in full maternity clothes. I got my closet changed out this past week. So I feel much more organized. And boy do I love these stretching maternity pants!

Are you feeling movement? I just love the movement. Over the past 2 weeks, I've been able to feel the baby on the outside. Finn was the first to feel it, which is so cool to me! And Allison (my work friend) was second in line. Very special. This baby moves all day long so it's great feeling life inside of me!

Food cravings: Still Mexican. Pretty sure I could eat Moe's veggie nachos daily :) haha!

Do you have a name picked out? I forgot to share the names last month. So I will today. We haven't settled on middle names yet. But our boy name is Micah and our girl name is Selah. I love both of them. But I really love my girl name. 

Have you gained weight? I finally hit my pre-pregnancy weight 2 weeks ago. Since then I have gained maybe 1 or 2 pounds. 

Belly Button in or out? Almost completely out now!

What I am looking forward to this next month? I can hardly believe I will be entering the third trimester next month. This pregnancy is really flying by for me. I'm looking forward to being a month closing to meeting this baby!

How was the last month? We had our 20 week ultrasound and it was so awesome having Finn with us. He pointing out the baby. And since then he has been much more engaged in the pregnancy. My favorite thing is him asking to say "hi" to the baby all the time!

And just for fun....I have a funny story. Finn was feeling the baby move and the baby kicked him. He said "Mommy, what's that?" And I replied "That was the baby kicking your hand." And with that Finn thought for a few minutes and then responded - "Mommy, I kick baby too? (with his foot lifted up)" He is so funny. I just love how his mind works.

**And for a picture. I don't have a 24 week picture of me when I was pregnant with Finn. But I did round up an ultrasound pic of Finn at 28 weeks and a pic of Micah or Selah at 21 weeks. So I made a comparison of the two babies. Similar? Different? What do you think? Also, boy or girl -what's your vote?!

Wordless Wednesday

There is some of me in there...

Last week Finn started playing with my phone. He recorded himself and it was too cute! I see several faces that he makes and they look like me. So I just had to share. Enjoy...

Distractions

So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" Nehemiah 6:3 NASB

Ring, ring...beep beep..vibrate...vibrate...

Distractions. We all have them. The question is how do we deal with them?

This past week Andy did a message about finding what your "one thing" is.  By "one thing" I mean - what is the one thing that must be focused on this year. The one thing you must achieve, conquer, beat, etc. 

In Andy's message, he used the story of Nehemiah. It's a fascinating book of the Bible. I highly recommend you reading it! Also, it would be great for you to watch the message online - http://northpoint.org/messages/this-one-thing.

Anyway, basically the message challenged me to rid myself of certain distractions. It can be people, projects, technology, habits, etc. So I'm working on that. I will definitely be easing off Facebook. It's always been a distraction for me. And G and I have implemented a no technology time at home. It starts when we get home from work and ends once Finn is down. I just love that time for the 3 of us. 

Nothing in this life is easy. But I know my "wall" is my family. "The days are long, but the years are short." I want to make my family my priority. My husband and children are the most important thing right now. Especially Finn and this baby on the way. The kids are G and I's mission field. We are raising up a generation for Christ. Talk about great responsibility!

I will leave you with this. Find out what your wall is. And then stay on it. Remind yourself as often as possible - "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down." 

A new year...

Today's Jesus Calling was so good. And I thought this was the best way to start a new year on purpose! Happy New Year friends! Enjoy some encouragement from this devotional. I pray that each person reading knows they ended 2011 well and will start 2012 with purpose. So my question for you - how will you change the world in 2012???

 January 1 

 Come to Me with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed. A close walk with Me is a life of continual newness. Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year. Instead, seek My Face with an open mind, knowing that your journey with Me involves being transformed by the renewing of your mind. As you focus your thoughts on Me, be aware that I am fully attentive to you. I see you with a steady eye, because My attention span is infinite. I know and understand you completely; My thoughts embrace you in everlasting Love. I also know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Give yourself fully to this adventure of increasing attentiveness to My Presence.


 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. —Romans 12:2 


 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11