Playdate for Kate

Kate: Hi, my name is Kate. What's yours?
Louise: My name is Louise. My mom and your mom are friends.
Kate: I know. My mom said that we are just one week apart, exactly.
Louise: Yea and born with the same doctor and in the same room.
Kate: That's freaky. Did you know our mom's are both from Texas too?
Louise: Yea. That's a crazy place. Have you been to visit?
Kate: Oh yes. My mom and dad and I were there for two weeks. It's good to be back.
Louise: Do you want to get some lunch now?
Kate: Sure. M-O-M....I'm ready to eat.

Reflection

Today is the third day that I am officially a stay-at-home mom. It has been a good week, for the most part, and I have prayed that each day is lived on mission and with eternal purpose. It's strange not having to be somewhere at a certain time and not having to answer to someone, so to speak. Although the more I think about it - how many times was I working in corporate america, and it was just another day I did my job and really didn't live intentionally even though I was "employed"? Hmmm...something to think about.

Well, this morning I met with a few other mothers, as we are starting a weekly morning prayer time. We are going to focus on praying scripture over our children and praying for Godly characteristics to be formed in their lives. Of course, we play an integral part in that, don't we? I can't pray that Kate be compassionate, if I am not a compassionate person and example for her.

After our coffee/prayer time, I went and bought a mirror for Kate. She is at the stage that she LOVES to see herself in the mirror. Interesting isn't it? That's actually a developmental stage - to love looking at yourself in the mirror. I mean she LOVES it. It doesn't matter if she is screaming or tired or hungry...it ALWAYS makes her stop and just smile or cackle when she realizes she's seeing herself or even her mommy through this mirror.
It made me think today, as I watched her, that my prayer is for her to always love what she sees in that reflection. That she knows she is beautiful no matter what and that she knows what reflection we are put on this earth to show to others. That at a certain time in her life, as God pursues her heart - that soon He will be that reflection.

My dear friend, Jes Looney, told me last week as she affirmed my decision to stay home with Kate, "Shawna, you have been given the responsibility to be Jesus to Kate, not someone else." What powerful words. What a powerful description of my "job" now and what a glorious, yet demanding responsibility that I will never master, but a goal I will always work towards with His grace and wisdom. That has stuck with me every day since that conversation, and will continue to forever. That's what it's all about. That's the reflection I want Kate to see. That's the reflection I want to see for myself.

What do you see? What do you want to see? Just something to think about.

Good To Be Back

This morning I was struck with an overwhelming feeling of "it's so good to be back". It's not often I have that feeling when leaving family and friends...but this time, it really was so good. I am giddy. It's beautiful outside right now. Fall is in the air and you can't miss it.

Kate and I went to the park today for our morning ritual "walk around the loop". Today is extra beautiful. Leaves are falling. Children playing and laughing in their little coats. Mums planted around in bright colors. Pumpkin decor lining the streets. I love this time of year. It's good to be back.

Full O' Friends

I just got back from our 2 week trip to Texas and it was FULL, as usual. We really packed it all in and it was SO good to see everyone. Over the past few years, I have worked on making friends in a new state, keeping in touch with old friends, questioned what kind of friend I am,wrestled with the "definition of a friend", and I can honestly say that my life is so full of true friends and I am beyond thankful.

During these few weeks, I have:

* Stayed up until 2:30am just visiting about life and love and all that tends to follow, with a dear friend.

* Laughed until tears came out of my eyeballs, as we told countless stories of growing up in good ol' Rockwall with a group of friends. Some of us have known each other from 2nd grade and beyond. Love that!
* Visited about the past 10 years with my senior class at our VERY successful high school reunion.
* Sat outside and enjoyed lunch for hours with my girlfriends and their moms and our kids.
* Shared grief as I cried with my closest girlfriends at the loss of her dad, unexpectedly, last weekend.
* Driven 3 hours to visit 4 hours with my special college friends and roommate
* Been able to see and hold my college friend's adorable 4 day old daughter, while watching all of our children play together. (minus a few in this pic)
*Visited with my sister and best friend ,while she loved on baby Kate.
I am back in the City now with my best friend and husband and I can't help but feel that my life is just so full. Friends have a way of making you feel that way, you know. Thank you, friends, for enriching my life these past few weeks. I consider myself extremely blessed to call you true friends.

I now know my definition of a true friend: someone who you can be yourself with - good or bad - for years and years, through differences and distances. It is someone to live life with; someone who evolves with you through it all and never gives up or leaves. I am thankful for more than one who I call friend.

I miss you ALL already. Thank you for the wonderful memories! :)

Woo Pig Sooie

Yea - well, that's what them folks say in Fayetville. Kate and I were able to go see Uncle Rhett up close and in person last weekend. I have tons of pics, but here are just a few. We had a GREAT time and the Razorbacks brought home a W!!

Kate hanging out at the tailgate with us.

Don't you LOVE my bow?! Grandma got it for me. :)
A quick pic with the celebrity on his way into the stadium.

Can you believe my little brother is up on the huge jumbo-tron????

This was the funniest thing we saw...McFadden's car. Now that is awesome!

This is the ugliest thing we saw. What is that? Ewwww....

Here's Uncle Rhett in action on the field.

Go Rhett! You can see Rhett again this weekend on ESPN as Arkansas takes on Auburn. Pray for #51!!!!!!!! You can do it, Buddy! We love you!

The Announcement

My sweet and amazingly talented friend, Shannon, generously flew to New York and spent an entire day with Kate and I and David. We took pictures everywhere in Central Park, along 79th street, and in our apartment. I wanted to share them with you (if you haven't seen them already).

Instructions:

1. Go to http://www.shannonho.com/.

2. Click on clients

3. Type in User Name: babykate and Password: sullivan

4. Note: there is a slideshow at the beginning and then you can click on the link to "view all images"

Enjoy!

Thank you, Shannon!!!!

Momma Artwork

This post happens to be at my husband's expense, but let me start by saying a few encouraging words. This weekend I needed to go the dentist and David is always more than willing to babysit Kate for a few hours or longer, which allows me to get out and enjoy some "me" time. I appreciate that so much, because as you other mothers know...that is much needed from time to time. :)

So, I needed to go the dentist and decided that instead of taking a cab back, I would walk the 20 or so blocks. It was beautiful outside and I thought it would be nice to soak it all in. On my way back, I receive a call from "husband".

Husband: "I'm an idiot".
Me: "What happened?", thinking to myself, please tell me Kate is OK and you are OK and she didn't like fall out of her stroller or something.
Husband: "Well, I was helping clean the kitchen and I was sterilizing your breast pump materials. Kate woke up and I was feeding her and then started to smell this strange smell. Then I realized, I had put them on the stove in a pot of boiling water and forgot about them. They are now destroyed. [paraphrased]

Knowing that I need to go into the office this week to clean out my office and turn in my computer, I knew I needed to pump for the babysitter. Sigh. I respond,

Me: Oh no. OK, I hope we can buy some replacement parts, because I'll probably need them this week.

By the time I got home, David had already found a store a few blocks away that we could buy the parts and I got everything new for less than $20. :) Yea. A successful recovery. However, I could NOT resist the urge to take a picture of what I came home to on Saturday. It is ... momma artwork, if you will.