She is 4 months....

Baby girl has her four month appointment today! I can hardly believe it. She has been a miracle since the day we found out we were pregnant. She brings so much joy into our house, families, friends and even our neighborhood. Her smiles are precious gifts. Her giggles make my heart want to burst. She is a treasure to be shared. Each day is cherished because it could be the last . I relish each moment because I'll never get them back. The phone, laundry, dishes, to-do lists can wait. When the moment is special it is uninterpretable because I make it. Nothing is more important than time. Time spent with the one I love.

 

I don't want thoughts of regret when I look back at her childhood thinking I should have played with her more, giggled more, spent more time, loosened up more, created more, imagined more, stepped into her shoes and wondered, awed and discovered more.

Responsibilities are important, we're weighted down by the luggage of life. But, sometime we pick up bags that aren't as important as the ones we leave behind. We need money so we pick up an extra job or work a lot of overtime, but is it worth what precious time we have. It'll be harder without the extra cash, but is it worth it? We clean frantically, switching out laundry, wiping down the (what we thought was a good idea) dark wood floors. She's happy and laughing and we say we'll play with her after. Why not take advantage of the opportunity now?

Balance is a constant struggle. I've learned to let go in so many ways and have so much more to loosen my controlling, death grip of a hold from. Life is learning.

The photos were taken by some dear friends at Gleason Photoworks in Red Bluff!

Pondering from the Porcelain

I had an epiphany. Sitting on the toilet. Yes, I know this is graphic but that's where bright ideas come...there and the shower. Anyways, I was sitting on the toilet doing my thing, thinking about Miss Juliet's earlier diaper catastrophe when it hit me that all that I am is all thanks to my mother (and some dad of course).  Hang with me here. My ability to talk, walk and use the toilet are all thanks to the patient and helpful instruction of my mother. All of it. I suddenly had a greater appreciation for my mom. You know those moments you wished you would have realized sooner and thinking back to the unappreciative teen years you began to feel really bad, that's me there.

I just wanted to say thanks mom! To all mom's for that matter. You are appreciated and loved. I think Meg Meeker says it perfectly in her book "The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers". She states,

      " The truth is, you are worth more than you can imagine. I don't care if you you

feel like a lousy mom or you are fabulous. Whether you're a workaholic who feels like 

she never sees her kids or a stay-at-home mom who feels unappreciated, you are woefully

 misguided in your thinking...you are not a failure. But you feel like one. I can confidently

 say this because, as a pediatrician, my job is to watch you and keep your kids healthy.

 And when I see them, I see kids who love their moms. I see how your kids look at you,

 hang on to your knees, and hold your hand. I see you more akin to how they see you- as

 a woman who is needed, loved and cherished."

 

Motherhood is no easy job. I'm realizing that now. The tables have turned full circle and I am realizing the sacrifices my mom made. The dreams she had to put on hold, the parties she missed breast feeding in the back room, the outfits she burned after a diaper spillage, the frumpy mom look after those rough 3 night feedings and seeing people you haven't seen for a while in the store ("Really, I don't look like this, it's been a rough night" "Really sister, I couldn't tell by side pony and your boob still hanging out of your shirt"), answering the door and realizing you haven't pulled your shirt down or your not wearing pants (I cannot name the amount of times of done this one), forgetting to eat until 2pm, never enjoying a shower so much in my life (It's the one place that's quite and that I can be free of crotch and boob pads and the stench of milk). Side note, Husbands if you can give your wife anything in the day. Take the baby and allow her to take a long shower. It'll make her feel human again.

 

All this to say thank you mom's. You are needed! You are loved! You are appreciated! Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed...sometimes it just takes your kids 26 years and a baby of their own to get the picture. Love you mom!

 

 

 

My mom Lacy with her first grandchild, my daughter Juliet

Why GoodWordGoodWine?

My father once said to me "Emily, you're good at everything but you're not great at anything." After overcoming my initial shock and defeat I scraped together what confidence I had left off the floor I realized he was RIGHT! That was a humbling, but defining moment in my life.

I've always loved new experiences: people, places, foods, fades etc. I familiarize myself with everything. Let's take sports for example, I would try out a sport and become good, but never exceptionally great. Why? Maybe I'm mediocre. Or just bored.  I'm still trying to figure that one out.

So, I decided to start a blog, but what to write about with my unique lack of narrowed passion. Well, just that. I'll start a blog about EVERYTHING. Which goes against EVERYTHING I've ever learned. As a business major this goes against all business sense. In order to be successful one needs to find a niche market and stick with it. And there is no such thing as a niche in everything.

Maybe EVERYTHING is a little broad, but I do know a thing or two about me. Currently, I'm newly married, just bought my first home and just had a baby. These all came with their own unique challenges. Thus, I hope to somehow reach an audience that is in a similar phase of life as I am. Hopefully you can learn from me or I from you :)

A blog about EVERTHING is difficult to name. Yes, I could use my name. Blah! Boring! After a few days thought I decided on GoodWordGoodWine, which is a women's group I created a few years back. The purpose is to develop lasting relations with a small group of women (8-10). This group would serve as support during the many transitions in life such a marriage, moving, babies, jobs etc. It was also developed to strengthen these women emotionally, relationally, spiritually and physically. EUREKA! Everything I want for a blog.