lubbock

It was so fun to be back in lubbock these last two weeks... I feel like it is another home for us because we love jord and drew's friends and church so much. It is always great to be there with them...

And it was even more fun to be there and meet Sayla Grace. She is seriously such a doll, y'all... what a precious little baby girl! It is always rough on my heart to leave, but even more so this time. I already miss those remke's so much and now there are more of them to miss!

"bay-be book!"

Y'all know sweet Keadryn's love for baby burke... she is such a doll to him! All day, we hear her chattering, "Bay-be Book." And she LOVES to help me get him up from a nap. She dashes to the room we're staying in and stands on her very tiptoes to peek in his pack-n-play. I can't wait to see their friendship as they get older... precious.

missing adam

It's great to be in Lubbock... but we are definitely missing Adam! Two weeks is a long time to be away... Lots of studying time for Adam, which is great, but not any family time, which is a bummer.

reflections of a labor coach

I am finally sitting at home (well, at jord's home...) after a whirlwind of busyness this last 24 hours... I am still tearing up at the thought of my darling new niece and her wonderful parents and I thought I'd try to get some of this written down before I lose the moment.

Jordi's labor was pretty average... about 13 hours with some laid-back parts (where we were talking about the first starbucks each of us ever visited- haha!), some REALLY tough parts (Jord breathing through those contractions at the end!), some scary parts (little Sayla Grace had the cord wrapped around her neck when she came out- poor purple little thing) and some superexciting parts ("meet your precious baby girl!"). I think most labors and deliveries have those components- exciting, scary, difficult... What is so amazing is how those pieces come together into an absolute miracle.

It is a miracle that last night Jord was just her normal, albeit larger than average, self with a teensy person inside her and that tonight there is a new member of their family out here on the outside. It is a miracle that Sayla has her own destiny from the Lord- her own gifts, her own calling, her own part to play in history... and that Jord and Drew get to be a part of that. It is a miracle what the sleep-deprived human body can do- truly a miracle.

I guess it is just a miracle the way God chose to do this- to let us be a part of bringing a whole new life into the world. I would never do things this way; I am way to much of a control freak and I think people are a little to chance-y and irresponsible to be trusted with something this huge. Luckily the Lord is smarter than me...

Tonight I am praising God for the miracle of new life.

welcome sayla grace!

I mentioned earlier this year that we were so thrilled to find out that baby keadryn would be joined by a little sister. AND SHE'S HERE!!!

6 pounds, 9 ounces, 19 inches long, born at 2:27 this afternoon... her mama was a CHAMP in labor!

Sayla Grace, you have the most wonderful family that I can imagine. Your parents are fabulous and love Jesus so much... and Keadryn is going to be the best big sister ever! I can't wait to get to know you and to see the unique role that you play in this family as y'all serve the Lord together...

new discovery

The Small One has discovered his thumb... and loves loves loves it! :)

if only you could bottle rest...

killing time (and eating free chicken strips) at chick fil a

after a few laps around the mall

Since Burke came early and I went to the middleeast more than a week after Keadryn was born, my experience with past-your-due-date-waiting is fairly limited. I mean, I know most people have babies after their due dates. And I've talked to several (very frustrated) friends about how stir crazy you go when you are waiting on an overripe Little One to pop out. But I've never experienced the sit-and-stare-at-the-belly-and-wait phenomenon firsthand.

It's tricky. You can't really make plans because really, you'll be going into labor any day and what if today is that day? And if your mom is like our mom, there isn't any cleaning to do because the cabinets and pantry have already been organized, the kitchen floor was scrubbed yesterday, the laundry is all washed and folded and the bathrooms were just cleaned. Even the front walk and drive way are all swept clean. Seriously.

We've been eating spicy food, popcorn and pineapples (don't worry Laura, Jord likes pineapple), going on plenty of walks, and rubbing Jordi's feet and acupressure points, but to no avail. When she was pregnant with Keadryn, Jord even drank castor oil- it ruined her for ever trying that again.

I keep thinking about how chill things are right now and fast forwarding in my head to a few days from now when things will be anything but chill around here. If only we could save a little bit of this time and rest for later.