Reflection

How blessed we all have been to know Brandon and Gara. We are now blessed with the opportunity to participate in the new wonderful blessing allowed them. They have been blessed with Travis through the love they have and exhibit for each other. We now have an opportunity to experience and are a part of this beautiful new life. I am so thankful that Brandon and Gara have allowed us to take place in the many milestones in their lives. We all have taken part in the many events in their lives and now with the addition of Travis from the announcement that Travis was on the way early last year.


Travis is well on his way to being the most memorialized child in history beginning with the very first ultrasound pictures. One snapshot at a time, each is a representative of a brief moment of time. However, each carries with it much more. With each picture we will all have an opportunity in the future to go back and relive the sounds, smells, and touch we each associate with that picture. It will be different for each of us and carry a special meaning for each. It is amazing how old pictures can trigger all of the senses and take you back to that time of life,

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Brandon and Gara enjoy and embrace this time of your life. Do not get bogged down in the minutiae of the day to day. Love and embrace Travis daily and do not worry about the many insignificant problems that will come each day. Be thankful Travis has strong lungs when he lets you know he is in need of something, unhappy, or perhaps just having a bad day, be thankful he has a sharp mind as he lets you know he does not want to take a nap because he does not want to miss anything or be away from you for even a minute. Do not struggle with the day to day parenting and the questions you are unable to find an answer in the parenting book. Be thankful as believers in Jesus Christ you have been given the Holy Spirit to indwell you. He will lead and guild you and provide directive in dealing with each and every problem that arises in your new parenting role. Luke 11:11-13 11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" I ask this of you not of one in judgment but one that struggles daily with problems of the day and often unable to enjoy the current for worry of the future.

As I think back to Mother’s Day and the dedication of Travis to the Lord. I think of the phrase from the poem by William Ross Wallace. "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Is The Hand That Rules The World”. The poem praises motherhood and the power mothers have in the direction of the world via the influence of the children they raise. I cannot think of a more appropriate time of dedication than on Mother’s Day. Dedication is a promise to God to provide a Spiritual home for Travis to grow and know Jesus at an early age. This should be the premier responsibility in parenthood. The earlier a child knows Jesus as Savior the more influence he will have in changing the world.

I love you all very much and I am so grateful that you include me in your lives.

Uncle Mickey

Dancing with Momo

Happy Memorial Day!

Hope everyone is having a blessed day celebrating and remembering on this special day!  A special thank you to those that have served and a special prayer for those who are serving today.  God Bless You and God Bless The U.S.A.

Xoxo,
Gara

Strike

I need to let Travis write his 9 month post to let you all know all the business that he is up to these days, but we've been a little preoccupied.  See, on Tuesday morning, Travis turned 39 weeks old (translates to 9 months), and every week, I get these little "what your baby is probably up to" emails.  Tuesday's said:

As baby nears his first birthday, he may start to show disinterest in regular activities like napping and nursing. It's fine to follow baby's cues -- a nap a day may be all he really needs at this point, and it's safe to replace some breastfeedings with solids.

What, Travis show disinterest in nursing?  Preposterous.  It is seemingly one of his favorite things to do (and momma's too).  Well, as if he read the email too, Travis went on a nursing strike on Tuesday, and dramatically unfortunately for momma, he is still on it. 

Next to Travis's health and safety upon entering the world, I prayed during my pregnancy to be able to breastfeed.  It was something so important to me.  Brandon and I took the classes, and I read the books.  (We should have spent this time on understanding "sleep" issues since breastfeeding was so easy and natural for both Travis and I, but who knew??).  I wanted to be able to be his sole source of nutrition for those first few months and experience that bond between mother and baby that only breastfeeding truly allows.  Thankfully, I have been able to breastfeed exclusively so far and am continuing to pump like a mad woman to keep up with him now that he won't nurse.  I also have a new appreciation for the working moms that pump for their little ones since pumping and washing parts, bottles, etc. is a ton more hassle than just whipping out the boob. (Way to go, K!).  He seems fine on the bottle, and I think it was (is) much more traumatic for me than for him.  Nursing strikes can last a couple of weeks so I've read so he may go back, but I'm sort of doubtful.  I've been super prayerful about the whole ordeal, and know that "it is what it is" and just look back on the experience with such awe and amazement and appreciation that I was able to nurse him for nine months to the day.

My two bestest mommy K (Krista & Kimberly) friends have been so supportive during all of this.  Kimberly's advice was "but as long as he is happy...then we shall all be happy."  So true - this is after all about him way more than it should be about me and my selfishness!  Krista shot me a ENMV verse when I needed it most.   I had planned on nursing him at least til he was a year old, and maybe beyond depending on how his dairy/soy allergies wound up, but she reminded me:  [M]any are the plans of a man's heart, but the Lord's purpose (even weaning waaaay before momma is ready) prevails.  Proverbs 19:21

If this is the end of nursing Travis, I am grateful for the opportunity and will cherish the moments that we had together in this capacity.  I will remember the bird mouth faces he would make when he was so tiny (which seems like forever ago) and the milk drunk reaction he would have when his tummy was full and being the only thing that would make him happy when he wasn't feeling well or at night.  I love you, little stinker!

Mommas, soak it all in, every sniff and grunt and mouthful, because you never know when the last nursing session is the last.

Xoxo,
Gara

Happy 9 Month Birthday!

9 Month Bear Take-Down

Monthly photo shoot is no longer a one-man job.

Dear Travis,

Happy 9 Month Birthday! You are growing up so quickly. Seeing how much you change on a daily basis makes me remember your cousin Kyler as a baby. He has always been in such a hurry to grow up and be a big boy. No matter how hard mothers try to teach their children to stop and enjoy being a kid, they push ahead and insist on growing up too fast. It seems like yesterday that we were getting the call that you were born and now you are 9 months old. We will turn around and you will be 9 years old, just like Kyler did.

You are a true gift and a miracle! Your Mama and Daddy prayed that they would have such a sweet angel come into their lives. It was a stressful and tough journey but now that we have you here it all makes sense. God has given your parents and the rest of us a gift in you. It is funny how you can find such joy in the happiness of those that you love. You give me that joy every time your Mama looks at you, takes a picture, or types a blog post. She is so complete because of you and that makes me happy!

We are going to have so much fun together! One thing that you might not know about our family is that we take great trips and have lots of fun just being together. I am honored to be your Aunt Sonnet and I Love You with all my heart! Your cousin Kyler has been waiting for you to get bigger so that he can play with you. He has waited to have another kid in the family for quite some time. He is going to be able to teach you all kinds of things, some of which your parents would rather you not know, but that’s the breaks. We love you and can’t wait to see you again.

XOXO
Aunt Sonnet

Hey buddy,

First off, I wanted you to know that I love you so very much. I know this feeling, of course, extends to all of my family but living down the street and being able to see you grow, learn and smile first hand, has brought so much more joy to my life than I ever thought it could. Truthfully, my visits to your house have easily become the best part of my day.

Now when your mom called me to say that you were on your way to us, I was ecstatic and overjoyed. I had prayed for you to come to your parents for so long that the news seemed surreal. Nine months and several Eggo waffles later, when you arrived it became clear to me that my prayers were more than answered.

I love being an aunt more than anything in this world, plain and simple. Some would say that it’s because I am able to spoil you rotten, fill you with sugar and send you home to mama. Which is mostly true, but, being an aunt means that I am given several opportunities that otherwise would not be my privilege. This is an excerpt from a poem I found online that seems to explain everything relatively well.

There are aunts to look up to,

aunts who are wise,

Those who are good friends,

and those who advise.

There are aunts who are lovable,

and aunts who are fun.

This is the kind of aunt that I hope I am to you now and that I wish to continue to be to you later. You came into my life when I needed you most, and just as I can always count on you and your smile to make my day better and brighter, you will always be able to count on me to make your days the best they can be. Happy 9-month Birthday, T!

Love,
Aunt Momo

The Many Faces of Travis

I was needing a test subject for a new blanket I got to use as a background, so I made Travis do a bit of posing for me on Friday afternoon.  I literally shot about 50 images of him in the span of 10 minutes.  I was so amazed by the number of "looks" he was giving me.

Also, it looks like Mr. T's eyes are going brown.  At the very least, they are gray now and don't have much blue left in them.  Looks like Papaw's recessive blue genes aren't gonna get it done.  :)

Whenever I pay another photographer to take T's pics for us, they always ask why I don't do them myself.  This is why!

Too busy mauling my camera strap.

It's hard to take a properly composed pic while saying Peek-a-Boo!

And he decides to give his sweetest smile when the flash doesn't go off.

Xoxo,
Gara

38 weeks 4 days

The light of my life!

  

This was two days before Travis entered the world.

I may or may not have photoshopped the purple stretch marks out.

I didn’t have enough non-veiny skin to photoshop the massive veins out.

Travis,


Today, you have been on the outside of my tummy for as long as you were inside. Both spans of time seem like eternity and a blink all at once. Carrying you in my tummy brought terrible non-stop Tums-popping heartburn, an amazing level of caution and protectiveness over you, stretch marks like you wouldn’t believe, a 56 pound weight gain, the most ridiculous need for Eggo waffles, and the indescribable emotions associated with feeling you have the hiccups, stretch, and flutter around inside of me. Having you outside of my tummy has brought crazy baby bangs and hair loss, a level of caution and protectiveness over you that I couldn’t even imagine when you were just in my belly, a 70 pound weight loss (thanks to breastfeeding and dairy & soy free – NOT working out), and an unconditional love deeper and stronger than words can explain. Happy 38 weeks and 4 days, son!

I love you!
Mommy

Let me tell you 'bout my best friend...

This is Noah.

He is camera shy ... not!

This is us hanging out with our other friend, Austin.  Notice how we are all looking in different directions, and only Austin is looking at the camera.  Our mommies never can get us all looking and smiling. 

This was our last attempt.  Fail.

Noah is 2.5 months younger than I am, but he is way more mobile.  Noah's crazy antics in the nursery at church got him bounced to the crawler room - so long sucka...  I'm sad to see him go, but glad that I got all the sweet ladies to myself now.

Even when I really concentrate, Noah can crawl faster than me.

It's a good thing I got him beat in the luscious locks department.

N-dawg + T-meister = BFF

May 9, 2010

On May 9, 2010, we celebrated Mother's Day, Travis's baby dedication at Church, and Travis's first ear infection.  Two super special events took a backseat to us caring for our little guy.  Poor thing.  He started feeling crummy Saturday afternoon and got progressively worse over the next 48 hours.  I had chalked up most of his crankiness to teething, but felt like something more was going on after he was running a fever on Sunday.  Grandpa and I took him in to the doctor on Monday morning, and sure enough, he had an ear infection.  Thus, we started his first of what I'm guessing will be many rounds of amoxicillin.  Lovey and Pop got Travis his birthday present a few months early, and it was one of very few things that made him happy during the day.  Not much smiling from the T-meister.  :(

Unfortunately for Travis, his baby dedication was scheduled for Sunday morning, and we had about 20 friends and family hitting town to celebrate with us.  He wasn't his usual smiling happy self at church, but we were able to avoid a meltdown, so we will consider it a success.  Our family was very understanding, and he napped throughout his whole celebration luncheon.  I'm so glad that Lovey and Grandpa were both in town to help with sad Travis.  He just wanted to be held and loved on and sleep was a real struggle both Saturday and Sunday nights.  We capped off my first Mother's Day by getting showered in puke as I layed him down to bed.  Grandpa walked T around while Brandon and I stripped down his bed and I changed clothes.  T watched some cartoons with Grandpa before I put him back down.  Poor little guy.  I was washing the puke out of my ponytail and thinking how glamourous this whole motherhood business is.  :)

Baby dedication is really a lot more to do with Brandon and I making a pledge to raise Travis in a Christian home and teaching him the Jesus way.  The message that went along with the baby dedication service (it just so happened that this was the message, i.e., it isn't always this one when babies are dedicated) was one about "Affirmation and Support" from the Families Are Us series.  Proverbs 22:6 reads "[t]rain a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."  Imagine the world if all parents followed the Word as the ultimate parenting guide!! 

Growing up, my mom had a magnet on the fridge with the following: 

100 Ways to Say Good Job

Right on!· You're so smart! · Nice going. · Good remembering. · I knew you could do it. · You've got it made. · SUPER! · That's right! · That's good. · I'm very proud of you. · You're really working hard today. · Way to go! · You are very good at that. · That's coming along nicely. · GOOD WORK! · I'm happy to see you working like that. · That's much, much better! · Exactly right. · I'm proud of the way you worked today. · You're doing that much better today. · You've just about got it. · That's the best you've ever done. · You're doing a good job. · THAT'S IT! · Now you've figured it out. · That's quite an improvement. · GREAT! · Congratulations! · Not bad. · Keep working on it. · You're improving. · Now you have it!

· You are learning fast. · Good for you! · Couldn't have done it better myself. · Aren't you proud of yourself'

· One more time and you'll have it. · You really make my job fun. · That's the right way to do it. · You're getting better every day. · You did it that time! · That's not half bad. · Nice going. · You haven't missed a thing! · WOW! · That's the way! · Keep up the good work. · TERRIFIC! · Nothing can stop you now. · That's the way to do it. · SENSATIONAL! · You've got your brain in gear today. · That's better. · That was first class work. · EXCELLENT! · That's the best ever. · You've just about mastered it. · PERFECT! · That's better than ever. · Much better! · WONDERFUL! · You must have been practicing. · You did that very well. · FINE! · You're on the right track now! · You're really going to town. · OUTSTANDING! · FANTASTIC! · TREMENDOUS! · That's how to handle that. · Now that's what I call a fine job. · That's great. · You're really improving. · You're doing beautifully! · SUPERB! · You've got that down pat. · You certainly did well today. · Keep it up! · Congratulations. You got it right! · You did a lot of work today. · Well look at you go. · That's it. · I like knowing you. · MARVELOUS! · I like that. · Fabulous! · Now you have the hang of it. · You're doing fine! · Good thinking. · You are really learning a lot. · Good going. · I've never seen anyone do it better. · Keep on trying. · You outdid yourself today! · Good for you! · I think you've got it now. · That's a good (boy/girl). · Good job, (person's name). · You figured that out fast. · You remembered! · That's really nice. · That kind of work makes me happy. · It's such a pleasure to teach when

I think you're doing the right thing · "Look at you...smarty pants!'' · "Way to go...little buddy!" · "Awesome...kiddo!" · "You're just too much!''

 
Love these.  I definitely always knew that my family loved and supported me, and I know that Travis will feel the same.
 
Dear Lord, 
 
How grateful we are for the amazing blessing that you have given to us in our son, Travis.  Today, May 9, 2010, we dedicate him to you and pledge to bring him up in your Word and in your way.  God, just as we have asked of you many times before, please bless this child.  Teach him and use him!  What comfort we have knowing that you have a plan for his life.  We ask that you guide us as we parent him and that we teach him to know and love you.  Use this child to your glory.  

We humbly and gratefully ask these things in Jesus's name. 
Amen.

Xoxo,
Gara

Lubbock Trip!

A couple of weeks ago we traveled to Lubbock for a long weekend for one of my dear law school friend's bachelorette festivities.  Of course, we also got to hang out with our amazing family.  As an added bonus, another law school friend and her daughter, Addison (4 days older than Travis), came and stayed with us at Lovey and Pop's.  We had an amazing time as usual!

Travis loved:

scooting around on the hard wood floor (he can move twice as fast when he's not on carpet - if only we could wrap him in Swiffers)

bath time with Grana

snuggling with Lovey

showing off his army crawl for Nannie

eating his first popsicle (a homemade pear juice and banana concoction)

terrorizing Precious

hanging out outdoors in the West Texas wind

 

watching Mom act crazy on Cousin Kyler's skateboard

 

living like a King on Pop's lap

 

 

saying hi to lots of family

serenading Aunt Elva & Uncle Tommy

looking up to Cousin Kyler

swimming with Dad (Travis loved it even more this time!)

meeting Mommy's friends, and

playing with Addison (kudos to all the moms of twins out there!).

Xoxo,

Gara