Grace by mohawk

SO many changes in the last month for Sam Jam. She has...

• started crawling and pulling up (no sitting still anymore!)
• sprouted a few more teeth
• transitioned from breast milk to formula
• introduced many new foods to her diet (new favs include black beans, pulled pork, and frozen yogurt pops)
• discovered some new sounds (da-da and rolling her tongue)
• and pulled out nearly half of her own hair (creating a mohawk of sorts)

While she's been busy growing up, I've been riding an emotional roller-coaster, wind slapping my face, hands grasping for something to hold onto, simultaneously enjoying the ride and wanting it to slow down. I've experienced immense joy and pride watching her develop and try & conquer new things. I've experienced excitement and worry as she explores the world around her. I've experienced hair-pulling frustration (literally) during the torturous process that is teething. Before I realized we had a problem, Sam had pulled out so much of her hair that she almost looks like a different kid. I've joked about it with friends, family, and neighbors, but honestly, it makes me anxious. I'm also humbled by it. I didn't realize how much pride I took in her full & fun auburn hair until it was gone. We are now trying to prevent it as best we can, which includes capping her hands with her sleeves while she sleeps. I think it began with teething but has become a comfort activity (and bad habit). She does it not only when her gums hurt but also when she's tired and hungry. My pediatrician was baffled when I explained it. In fact, she spilled coffee on herself and told me she had never heard of a 9-month-old with enough strength and resolve to pull her own hair out. I felt awesome after that conversation. I'm sad and confused by this (doesn't it hurt? won't something else satisfy? Not your beautiful hair!), and for some reason, I feel like a failure. Like I can't comfort my child, so she has to resort to self-injury. This may seem stupid, and it kind of is. But this is where my crazy mom-brain takes me at times. I am reminded, however, that this is another way to commit my kid to the Lord. I can only do so much to stop her from pulling her hair out now or dating a loser later. She belongs to the Lord. He's got her. Rest my burdened heart.

"Mom, I gave myself a mohawk. Deal with it." 

 Goodbye auburn locks, hello strawberry blonde peach fuzz

 You can tell she's really focused when her tongue is out

No lack of smiles

I tell you what, Sam has been a relatively easy baby, but parenting is not easy. I'm flying by the seat of my pants, figuring it all out as I go. I need grace. Every day. Every second of every day. It is by grace that I can love and guide Sammy well. Lord knows the number of mom fail stories I have accumulated in just 9 months. It is also by grace that I can laugh at myself and remember that the failures or perceived failures don't define me, they mold me.

Sitting pretty

I'm getting as many snapshots as I can before she truly cannot sit still. Here's my pretty girl...

Behold, children are a gift from the Lord... Psalm 127:3

Spring has sprung

and so has Sam's first tooth! Hooray! The process was not fun though. Nearly four days of fever, congestion, fussiness, rage. Tylenol and motrin have been the heroes. Occasionally, mom snuggles or a frozen carrot would satisfy. It feels as if Sam has been teething for-ev-er, but I know we are just at the beginning! Teething is a marathon not a sprint, and endurance is the word.

The only good thing about being sick = extended snuggle time

Classic Sam... left thumb in mouth, right hand twirling hair

Besides teething and sickness, the start of spring has been filled with visitors, races, and tiling for the Norrises.

We ran the Monument Ave. 10k and the Run for FUNd 5k to benefit our church's preschool. Steve summed up the 10k well when he said we were the least prepared, oldest, and coldest we've ever been. Truer words have not been said.

Sprint to the finish line! 

The 5k was a fun one and ended in a photo finish. After a grueling uphill march our tired little pack of runners approached the finish line. Without warning (and after he had been complaining of his old, worn out legs), church elder and friend, Steve Byrd, flew by my right side at full speed, eyes on the prize (as documented by the photo above). Instinctively, I took off after him leaving my running partner who I told only seconds earlier we'd cross the finish line together. My true self revealed. Competitive juices flowing, we sprinted to the end. I think Steve got me by a toe. I told him I'm calling his bluff next time!

We've also had a few visitors over the last few weeks including my sister, Mom, Aunt Gigi, and my brother-in-law & his family. 

 Samwich

 Bath time with cousin Cat! This photo will be shown at their high school graduation party.

Pony tail gang

We love visitors and are grateful to have the space to host out-of-towners. Let us know if you'd like to visit! Our recent visitors have been patient and understanding of the work zone that is the guest bathroom. Steve's been working hard to renovate it. Another slow process; however, this past weekend he finished tiling and installed the toilet! House projects are like teething, but just like those teeth are bound to come in eventually, these projects will be completed too. I know my hubby, he'll get the job done. It will most likely take three times as long as initially predicted, but it. will. get. done. 

Tile away, tile away

In our Easter best

I think we're looking good in our Easter best. The only thing we need is a tan.

 Steve (or affectionately known as The Bear) and high school guys from the youth group

Youth ministry partners and dear friends (We're all London bound this summer!)

Sam is way cuter than the bunny

Risen

Easter, simply put, is the celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead. We cling to these truths and praise him...

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. -Matthew 28:6a

God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. -Acts 2:24

[Jesus] was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. -Romans 4:25

And as our pastor so wisely said this morning, "If Jesus is risen, all the promises of the gospel are true. It means that those wild things Jesus said are true, and he had the authority to say them... The really great news is not just that we should repent but that we can repent because God is more than willing. In fact, the resurrection of Jesus is Him throwing open the door to us. There is a throne of grace for us to run to."

We believe he is risen, he is alive now. This makes all the difference. This changes everything and gives us more hope than I can begin to explain here. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday. It is good because "The great redeeming work is done." For you. For me. Christ died for sinners. There is a solution to our problem. A way to peace, joy, and life. Jesus said, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." John 14:1-3 

I urge you this Easter weekend to consider believing. Spoiler alert: it gets better... death could not hold Jesus. He died, but he lives.

“It is finished.” John 19:30
                                             

’Tis finished! The Messiah dies,
Cut off for sins, but not his own!
Accomplished is the sacrifice,
The great redeeming work is done;
Finished the first transgression is,
And purged the guilt of actual sin,
And everlasting righteousness
Is now to all the world brought in.

’Tis finished, all my guilt and pain,
I want no sacrifice beside,
For me, for me, the Lamb is slain,
And I am more than justified;
Sin, death, and hell are now subdued,
All grace is now to sinners given,
And lo, I plead th’ atoning blood,
For pardon, holiness, and heaven.

Charles Wesley, Short Hymns on Select Passages of the Holy Scriptures (1762)

Sam-do