a little update

Hello blogland! Kate is one month old!
Life with a newborn is a whole new experience! We are loving being parents and dreaming of the day we will sleep for more than 4 hours at a time. Seriously, we really love being Kate's parents and watching her change as she starts to engage with her world a little more. She's a wonderful, beautiful baby. We know we are very blessed.

We have gotten out a little with her. This past week I had to order my bridesmaid dress for my sister-in-law's wedding. So the three of us headed to San Antonio so I could try on and order the dress. Kate mostly stayed in the car with Josh and mostly slept the whole time. I was worried about doing too much with her, so we got something quick to eat and headed back home. She did good and we look forward to being able to take more time in San Antonio with her. She also went with me to a training meeting for the pregnancy center where I might start volunteering once Kate gets a little bigger. She did great! Little by little we are getting used to doing other activities. We have already gone walking at the park twice and several walks around the neighborhood.

Last weekend Josh's dad turned 55 and we had a fun time celebrating at their place. Michael grilled fajitas and veggie kabobs, made guacamole, and his girlfriend Denise made rice and taught Jo Ann how to make some delicious potatoes. Josh and I made the cake. Everything was delicious! Kate slept through most of the celebration.More later

Stand by Me

This video clip is so cool. I was introduced to it in an email forward.

This is what the email said:

"It is a composite audio/video of song whereby additional tracks were laid in by different singers and musicians from different places around the world. The finished product is tremendous!

The song itself is that classic standard "Stand By Me" originally released in 1955 by The Staple Singers and released again in 1961 by the Drifters."

Check it out:
Stand By Me around the world

Great-grandparents are a blessing

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

This weekend my parents came into town again and brought my Mima, one of Kate's great-grandmothers. We had a great weekend hanging out and enjoying Kate with my family.
On Easter Sunday we got to dedicate Kate at our church. We were worried that she wouldn't get to go because we were having a special service outside and rain was predicted. But around 8:30am the sun came out and the air warmed up. It was a nice service and Kate did so great for her first time at church.

My brother and his girlfriend also came into town Saturday and got to celebrate Easter with us.

We'll look forward to an Easter dress and egg hunt next year!

Helping Daddy while he works from home

Hello big blue eyes!

Tummy time with mommy...but she kinda fell asleep

Firsts

Here are a few of Kate's firsts:

First bath in the kitchen sink! No, we didn't use the Ajax on her...
Kate seemed to not mind the bath and maybe even liked it. She was very patient while her parents figured out how the do the whole thing, too.


First time in the stroller!
On Saturday we had our first day without chilly wind and we took her out briefly for a walk up the street. I was worried about her head wobbling around too much since the road is kind of rough, so we didn't stay out very long. Next time I'll put in a blanket or something to pad her head more. She's just so little still!

First time out alone with mom!
Okay, there's no picture for this one because we were alone just the two of us. I got her all ready and loaded up for the doctor's appointment by myself and made it there with plenty of time. Then we had to go over to the hospital for lab work for her 2 week old state tests. We did all of that by ourselves. Way to go Seefeldt girls!

Too Precious

Love those little smiles!

What about Sammy?

For anyone who has been curious about how our dog, Sammy, has been adjusting, here's an update. Sammy is great with Kate. He's not really excited about hanging out with her yet, probably because she doesn't do anything that interests him. He is a little mopey about not getting attention, but he's being very sweet about it.

A few nights ago when we were up for a feeding I noticed that Sammy was lying on the floor next to his pillow, not on it. I thought that was weird until I saw why. Sammy's little toy (a crazy-eyed donkey dog toy we named Pedro) was lying on the pillow. Sammy generously had given his bed to his Pedro and was lying next to him. I think he was trying to tell us that he knows how to care for a baby.

More pictures!

Clayton and Holly came by the hospital before we left on Wednesday.


The hospital sent us a birthday cake!
Meeting Sammy for the first time when we got home. He is so great with her - already protective and vigilant. He likes to check on her and give a small lick to the back of her head. She doesn't mind him at all and is not ever phased by his barking.
Our precious Kate holding my dad's thumb
with my parents - They're grandparents! Yay!
with Kate's uncle, my brotherKate is amazing! I can't even start to talk about how incredible she is without choking up. I'm sure it's the hormones. =) Or the fact that our life has changed forever in the most incredible way.

Rejoice

The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17


We are back home and have survived our first two nights of minimal sleep. Sarah's mom, Sheila, is staying with us and taking great care of us. It has been a blessing to have my parents so close by as well.
Thank you to everyone who has written with words of encouragement, celebration, and love!

What an amazing blessing to take such delight in our little daughter, to rejoice over her, and to quiet her with our love. Our understanding and experience of our Father's great love for us continues to grow everyday!
We rejoice in His everlasting love and provision!

She's here!

Our sweet baby girl is here! She came right on her due date. I wonder if that means she's going to be a time-keeping rule-follower. =)
We got here about 4:30am and Kate was born at 1:34pm. She weighed in at 7lbs, 12 ounces and is 21.5 inches long.

Funny story: As we getting her all ready to come out, a few of us made guesses on how big she was going to be. Randomly I guessed 7/12, just to throw something out there. And sure enough!

She is a healthy, wiggly little one. Her face gets really serious when she sleeps and she likes to be swaddled tight. It's amazing that she's ours! In some ways we can't believe it's true, and in other ways it just seems so normal for her to be with us. She's a good eater, but she does not like to be woken up and she will let you know! Kate has a good cry but doesn't voice it too often. She has been very content so far.

I'm feeling pretty good. Really the whole thing seemed a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. I know recovery will take some time, but none of that seems to matter now that she's here. I should be terribly exhausted at this point, but I'm only a little tired. Josh has been wonderful and has stayed here with me the whole time. It is such a blessing to get to do this together. It's so cool to watch him walking around the room with his little girl on his arm. Can't wait for many more such moments.

As you can imagine, many pictures were taken. These are just a few that ended up on our camera. I'll get others from the family and we'll post more later, of course.

Thank you for all your prayers. We are one happy, blessed family.

At the hospital

We came to the hospital about 400 this morning. Kate is on her way and will be here today! Mom and baby are healthy so far and we are waiting.

Value Life

Mark 3:1-5
He (Jesus) entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. They were watching Him to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. He said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up and come forward!" And He said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?" But they kept silent. After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Seems like such an easy question: Do you save a life or do you kill? My kids in Sunday school would have been jumping to be chosen to answer a question put that simply. Save or kill?

I read this and think "Come on, guys. You sure are hung up on your laws." But what about me?

Are there times that I hold to my so-called principles or traditions at the expense of saving life? Do I miss opportunities to see someone healed because I don't think it should be done in this way or at this time or at this location?

Value life

I need to look for every opportunity to value life over some rule or guideline. I must seek life with reckless abandon, so that I and those I come across can have life to the full.

A little perspective, please

As I'm nearing the end of carrying Kate in my womb, time seems to drag on. So I thought I'd look up the gestation period of animals for a little comparison. (Not to say that a human baby is the same as an animal baby, but just to see what animals go through.)

Here are a few:
elephant - 645 days, (that's almost 2 years!)
beaver - 122 days,
domestic cat -61 days, (2 months!)
domestic dog - 64 days, (again!)
kangaroo - 42 days, (wow! but I guess then they use the pouch)
horse - 336 days,
mouse - 19 days, (we don't even know we're pregnant at that point!)
whale - 490 days,
zebra - 365 days

Whales and elephants take the cake! I guess if you're growing something that big it takes a while. Horses and Zebras aren't far behind...around 100 days longer than humans.

Ah, well, interesting information. Here's a visual of me at 39 weeks.

Kate's getting too big for her home...time to come out!

Still here

There has not been a whole lot to report, which is why I haven't blogged in a while. We are still waiting on little Kate to appear. She is officially due in one week from today. The doctor says everything looks good and we are progressing a little, so that's hopeful. Practice contractions have woken me up at night, so I'm pretty sure my body knows what to do when it's time.

In anticipation of our major life change, Josh and I have been spending time together doing more spontaneous, rather than our usually scheduled, activities. Yesterday evening we decided on a whim to drive to San Antonio to go to Target and eat at Chick-fil-A. May sound normal or boring to you, but when you live in a town without these common establishments, it's kind of fun! We've been eating out more also in anticipation of being more reclusive right after our addition.

It's been funny hearing the "advice" people give you on how to go into labor. Let's see, I've heard: eat Mexican food, eat spicy food, eat Mexican food on a full moon night, have sex, eat chili, walk, jump on a trampoline, and go shopping. Whenever I do go into labor, I'll have to remember whatever it was I did right before and that will be my advice. Maybe it will be "update your blog." Haha.

What I am doing is trying to keep myself busy so I'm not twiddling my thumbs. I have sort of started getting involved with the pregnancy center in Kerrville and I am doing a project for them right now. I don't think I've ever cleaned house as much as I have the past week. I want to make sure things are clean if we have to rush off and someone else has to come over to the house. And I do go walking every day.

I'll try to think of a funny story to post later. Feel free to share your "advice" on labor instigators. =)

Bunny Room

Here are some pictures of Kate's room. I would say it's about 98% finished. There are a few little things I would like to do still. However, due to the lack of shopping venues available here, I am having to be even more creative to accomplish what I want and that takes more time.
My mom painted the closet doors with the adorable bunny scene. Definitely not something I could do!

A bed ready for a baby! Can't wait to check on her sleeping there!

Hanging out in Kerrville

My brother came in town this weekend and went to church with us on Sunday. After lunch with several members from our church and our pastors, we decided to spend some time longboarding. Well, the guys were going to longboard and I was going to walk with Sammy and take pictures. So, we went to a location I will not name and Josh learned how to longboard. Sammy got to pull Matthew around.

Don't they look like kids getting into trouble? heehee!

A great Sunday afternoon was had by all.

Ready, Set, Wait

I haven't been sure what to update about lately. Life is just rolling along here in Kerrville. But the major thing going on with us right now is we are waiting for Kate. We are almost at 38 weeks along and she is in place, set to launch. We finished up the major stuff in the nursery this weekend...though there are a few details I might add this week as I wait for her.

Here is a sneak peak at her crib...if you can see it behind my big Kate belly.
I will take more pictures during the day tomorrow to post. I am so excited about her room!

So now we just go about life as usual and see when this little one decides to make her entrance.

Last Road Trip

Josh and I went to Arlington this past weekend for a wedding, in which Josh was a groomsman. It was so good to be able to see some friends again, though it was a whirlwind of a weekend. (We also took advantage of being in the same town as a Target and Babies-R-Us to finish up our shopping for Kate.) We also got to go to our church again on Sunday morning. What a blessing to worship with that church family again. We had lunch afterwards with couples from our small group and it was so good and so normal to hang out with them again.

The wedding was beautiful and the reception was a blast! Josh and I danced the night away, though a few of my moves were a bit modified due to differences in mobility and balance since the last time I dances. In fact, while doing "the Twist," I started doubting I would be able to get myself back up after twisting real low. =) And my heart rate jumps up a lot faster these days, leaving me a bit breathless. It was so fun though! One friend from the reception said it was inspiring to see Josh and me out there dancing at 8 months pregnant. Glad we could make a difference in someone's life.

The lovely Mr. and Mrs. Tucker

Slowing down for a romantic slow dance - looking a bit large in the profile.


Twisting with Jonah - that kid can dance!

So the weekend was great, but the road trip was not so great. I was uncomfortable pretty much the whole time. We had to stop a few times just so I could get out and try to stretch a little. I'm not up for any more road trips before Kate comes into the world. Although it's a lot easier caring for her right now, it's not easy road tripping with her. =)

Prayer request update

I'm sorry I did not update before. I asked for prayers and then did not follow up. So sorry.

Sadly, my friend Shelley had to be induced at 23 weeks and little Ava could not survive. There are no words at a time like this and no answers to offer. Shelley knows God is in control, while struggling of course to understand how that all works together. My heart is heavy, knowing there is nothing I can do for her and hurting too.

Father, your children don't understand. We hurt and we long for you to provide an answer, a reason, a solution. We long to feel you comfort us. Thank you that we don't walk alone.

Please pray for Shelley and Mike as they walk through this journey.

Bloch's Law of the Search

You always find something in the first place you look, but you never find it the first time you look there.

(Doesn't it drive you crazy when this is true!)

Sarah's addition:

And it's usually someone else who finds it in the first place you had looked!!

=)

Adventures in Kerrville, part 2

It's a jungle out here.

One of my weekly activities in Kerrville is going grocery shopping at HEB. Now, I am really glad we have an HEB. It's a great store. Apparently I'm not the only one who think so. It is always crowded. Some times of the day are worse than others, but the parking lot is always full and the store is crowded.

Going grocery shopping has become an adventure.

I am writing today to let you know that you do not need to feel sorry for the old people in Kerrville I write about. They know the laws of the jungle. It's about survival. Especially in HEB.

I used to feel bad for complaining about the traffic jams they caused in the aisles. I used to try to romanticize it all and think about how lovely it will be to still be grocery shopping with Josh at that age.

Today I almost got run down by a senior citizen and his shopping cart. We were at the end of an aisle, trying to move into the rows of cashier aisles. There were herds of people pushing carts across the way and they were not budging to let anyone out. I was trying to be kind and patient. An elderly man pulled up next to me, completely blocking the aisle to anyone who might want to enter, and began heading me off. I turned and looked directly at him, thinking that maybe then he would recognize me as a fellow shopper and not a product display. This was to no avail. He was going to get out into the main thoroughfare even if it meant running over my "great with child" body.

I actually am proud to say that I beat him out. I can play by jungle rules when necessary. I don't know what happened to the man...in the jungle you can't look back.

HEB. It's a jungle. But don't worry, I can hang.

Overwhelmed

Overwhelmed by generosity and giving and love.

Wednesday the ladies of the ministry my parents-in-law used to work with had a luncheon for Jo Ann and me to celebrate Kate. I was honored by the fact that they wanted to see me and celebrate with us. I did not expect gifts at all. But we were showered with necessities and soft things for Kate - mostly pink and all adorable.

Wednesday night Josh and I went to our family bible study with the church we have been attending for almost a month. This was the first time the other families were there and we had a pot-luck dinner to enjoy getting to know each other. Completely unexpected we were given a box full of baby gifts. I am so amazed at the giving and generosity after being at this church for only a month.

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

Prayers Needed

Please pray for my friend Shelley and her husband Mike. Shelley is about 23 weeks pregnant and has been put in the hospital on bedrest and monitoring for the rest of her pregnancy. This will be their first baby, a little girl. Shelley is of course very worried. This has been a hard road so far for them to have a baby. Please pray for the baby Ava, for her to grow and continue developing. Please pray for Shelley that she would be able to rest and not worry. Pray for Mike to be able to be her support and to keep everything else together. Pray that Shelley's body would be able to carry this baby until she can survive well on her own. Pray that God would be the strength and comfort that they need right now as they try to trust and wait.
Thank you

waiting for his buddy

Sammy is ready to meet Kate

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tulips from Josh

This year for Valentine's Day I really wanted to find a different way to share the love we have been so generously and freely given by God. We got a couple boxes of cute valentines at the grocery store...

...and visited a couple of nursing homes in Kerrville. At the first one we were able to actually visit the residents. The nurses made a list of the residents on their halls who normally don't get many visitors and who might like a visit from a random couple and we set out. A couple of the rooms we went to were sad as the resident was barely there and just seemed so sad and lonely. Other people were more talkative and eager to meet us. At the second home we just had to drop off the valentines to be distributed at dinner or something.

We had such a good time spreading love to the people we met and the nurses there at the homes. Many of the residents asked us where we were from or straight up asking why we had come. It's sad to know that they don't get random visitors very often and wonder why anyone would come see them.

It was good for us to get out and stop looking at ourselves and look after those around us.

34 weeks

We had another doctor's appointment today. She said everything looks good and Kate is measuring a good size. We are going to start weekly appointments now, which really makes it seem like we are moving along.

Kate still moves like crazy! She stays head-down, but she still moves from side to side, flipping over so she can kick my right side and then later my left. It will be interesting to see if this activity is any indication of her personality once she's born.

I'm still feeling good...just big. I remember a friend writing on her blog when she was pregnant with her third baby that you should not say "You look big" to a pregnant woman - you just say "You look great." (Now this was coming from a woman with a healthy self-image.) I remember at the time (long before I was pregnant) not really understanding that because I always thought it was cool and amazing how the body changes growing a baby. Now I understand. Even though I have not minded gaining weight or getting bigger, being pregnant you just FEEL big all the time. I can't fit between the cars parked in the garage unless they are as far apart as possible. I can't fit between the exercise machines to get to my machine unless I can use one on the end. I just feel big. And happy to be big if it means a healthy happy baby. But it's still nice when someone says "You look great."

Disclaimer: I'm not fishing for a compliment. Just a word of advice for anyone talking to pregnant women. =)

Expecting...Love

Absent

I know I've been absent from blogworld. It's been an interesting time for me. In some ways a dry time, in some ways a wondering time, in many ways a restless time.

The transition has been a hard one for me. I've gone from being in school, working part-time, doing 2 counseling internship, and being involved in our church (all at the same time) to no school, no job, no counseling, no home church, no friends. Very abruptly it all ended. And then I was in a new place with a new house to organize and a new town to learn. Not to mention a new baby on the way.

Talk about culture shock. It's a blessing to be able to stay home while my husband provides for us. And yet I haven't been able to fully rest in it because my spirit has been so restless. Not that I haven't had fun or been happy - I have. There just have been a lot of sudden changes.

I'm now involved in a bible study and we have found a church. I have started making friends. Our house is basically set up and the nursery is on the way to being finished. I'm finding my way around town and do enjoy free time. But it hasn't been easy.

The lack of human interaction has been the most difficult thing for me. I found myself without motivation to do the tasks I had set for myself that day. I found myself discouraged and irritable. I found myself wondering Who am I and What is my life to look like now?

And that's why I've been more absent these days. I've also been absent from my own reflections on what's going on. I think it's changing - I reached a break-point and I think it's changing. I've wanted to write posts and had imagined what I could with more free time. And then nothing came. But I think that's changing.

So for those of you who still check this blog and are still interested in hearing from us, thanks. I'd like to say that I'm learning all these things that I'll share with you soon. But really I'm just looking forward to being restful and peaceful instead of restless and anxious. It's coming.

Fighting Monsters

"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster."
-Nietzsche

I ran across this quote in a book I'm reading. I've been thinking about how relevant that could be to our politics today. I think it can be easy in the process to lose sight of what the fight is really about. If we are not careful, we can become the very thing we should struggle against.

Bombing an abortion clinic in the name of pro-life is becoming a monster. Extreme example. What about slandering a president because he does not demonstrate the moral values you support? What does that say about the state of the heart? (Matthew 15:18-20)

We can disagree and we can be angry. We don't have to become monsters in the process.

I think that it is important to let our voices be heard on political and social issues. And I think that when we disagree, we need to remember that we are not fighting against people. As Christians, our war is not against people but against forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). We need to pray for people, pray for our nation, and not become monsters ourselves.

Make use of every opportunity to demonstrate that those who are redeemed do not conform to the standards of the world.

A Visit

Yay for visitors in Kerrville! My brother, who is still fundraising for the Young Life club in Puerto Rico that he is going to start, has been traveling around doing leadership training and meeting with folks. While in Austin, he took a trip out to K-town to see us. It was so great to see him and hear what is going on in this grand new adventure preparing for Puerto Rico. He really has a passion and a vision.

Also while he was here we took some time to get him to take some maternity pictures for us. I'll post those when I get them!

Super Bowl

When moving to a new town at the beginning of the year, there is always the concern about having to spend the Super Bowl, a time usually enjoyed with friends or family, alone. Fortunately we were invited to a party with other young families. I have to say this was our first Super Bowl event where there were almost as many kids as adults. Babies propped up on Daddy's lap as they watched the game, moms down on the floor playing or checking on the toddlers getting into stuff. Next year for the Super Bowl Kate will have the best seat in the house on Josh's lap. =)

We tried to get festive with the dessert we took to the party. We made two Jello Cheesecakes and decorated one for the Steelers and one for the Cardinals. The Steelers one got eaten - which is fine because it didn't look as cool. The Steelers logo is kind of lame for a cake.

We had a fun night and only made the babies cry once at one of the really exciting times when everyone was cheering and making a ruckus. Haha, good times!