Peace on Earth---- and in the Harvey Home!

Its been a while since I shared a little bit of my heart. Mainly due to the fact that my daughter, who I love dearly, HATES to nap! So blog posting has taken an unfortunate hit since we were blessed with her presence. All that said, it’s a Sunday--- so daddy is home and mommy gets to blog and share a little with you today.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have wanted to be a mom. I remember as a child, “feeding” my babies as my mom fed my sister. I would change their diapers, find babysitters for them as I went off to play, and yes they did require their own car seat in the car. (my poor parents… they were so patient!) My desire to be a mom only grew as I got older. I nannied for various families, and could not wait til the day I got to care for my own littles. I desired to teach my kids everything from their “abc’s and 1,2,3’s” to a strong and powerful understanding of the “Fathers” love. I desired to be a part of it all, not wanting to miss out on a single milestone or minute in their development.

A year ago, when the word “pregnant” appeared on a home pregnancy test, I was elated. It was like a dream come true. However, there was another part to my dream. I always dreamed of being a loving, supportive and “submissive” wife. I know that word submissive seems so archaic to some, but it’s always been a strong conviction on my heart. To find a husband who would lead me so well that I could and would follow him with utter trust and security. I found that man. My husband leads our home in a compassionate, prayerful and amazing way. However, this became a little more challenge as the months of pregnancy passed. Matt is an amazing teacher and I strongly felt he was living out his God given purpose. With that, my dream of being home with my children dwindled. The struggle only grew with the birth of the most precious girl in the world!

So there I was---- caught between the “need” to be at home with my daughter and the conviction to support and submit to my husband. I was blessed with a five month maternity leave, and was loving each and every moment of it! However as the months, weeks, days and moments passed, my anxiety about returning to work and leaving my daughter only grew. I began experiencing insomnia which then led to panic attacks. I prayed regularly for the Lord to soften my heart towards returning to work and for him to fill me with his peace as time passed. As time ticked on, my anxiety continued to grow. I felt as though I was being ignored, as though I was not praying correctly or that for some reason I was just not being heard…. that was not the case. In my heart I knew that was not the case, but my reality still wasn’t changing and neither was my heart. Until I took Hannah in for her four month appointment.

At her appointment the topic of childcare for Hannah was brought up and my anxiety for returning to work was addressed and then something crazy happened. God pulled the blanket. He’d been planning something big, He’d kept a real good secret! He knew the whole time this day would change my life, change our life. I was offered a job. A 1.5 day a week job. Yes, I would get to spend the other 5.5 days in the week with my beautiful daughter. He has been listening, but just not answering in the way I wanted. He was not going to soften my heart, because He has better plans. He was going to change the situation!

God is so faithful, even in moments when I doubt or question. When I think He’s not listening… its really that I’m not trusting. I feel so blessed. I feel so lucky. I feel like I’ve been given the best gift ever… more time with my sweet girl. He has given peace to my heart, to my home and to my life. And because a post isn’t complete without some photos, here is the best Christmas gift I’ve ever received! May your home be filled with peace this season and all year round!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Giving Thanks.

As I look around… I realize how much I have to Give Thanks for. Although this “mommyhood” thing has played with my emotions--- making them more up and down the the scariest of roller coasters--- I still have be blessed in abundance. Life is funny that way. Some how when we are the most blessed, is when the enemy enters with the most force. He enters with such a strong force that we can be momentarily blinded to all the good that surrounds us. He tries to take those moments from us, and I’m not having it anymore. God has blessed me, and blessed me abundance. Because of Thanksgiving, November has become the “thankful” month, but why just November? So here is what I have decided--- each month, one post will be focus on “Giving Thanks.” Because being thankful is a choice ( sometimes it may be more difficult than others), it’s a choice we need to  choose daily.

So we will start today--- and in honor of Thanksgiving, I will share 22 things from my list (in no particular order)

1. A God who is with me in the ups and downs, the bumpy and the smooth, and always provides me hope.

2. A husband who loves me and our daughter so well.

3. A beautiful and healthy baby girl.

4. Family who loves and supports us.

5. A home that provides us shelter, warmth and a place to welcome others.

6. Neighbors who visit us on walks, and love on us so well.

7. Friends who brighten our days and give us encouragement.

8. A country that allows us great freedoms.

9. The most beautiful smile on my baby girls face.

10. The fact that volleyball is almost over and we will get more quality family time.

11. Having a job that pays the bills, and with people who I enjoy.

12. Good health.

13. Good food on our table.

14. Being able to sleep again, after two weeks of insomnia.

15. Toys for my daughter to play with, to encourage growth and development.

16. Moments spent on the couch reading Dr. Seuss books.

17. Hannah having aunts and uncles who love her like crazy.

18. Hannah having cousins who will teach her the ropes.

19. A reliable car so we can visit family far away.

20. My daughters “coos” and “babbles” that melt my heart.

21. Hearing my husband singing to our daughter.

22. A perfect little family.

Lord, I give you thanks…. I have more than I deserve.

One person who changed all my relationships…

On July 25th, our whole world changed! Almost exactly a month early, Baby Harvey decided to make its entrance into the world. Not only were we surprised by an early arrive--- but even better we were surprised with the blessing of a daughter. In the beginning we decided to wait until the birth to find out the gender of our child. Due to my three nephews, we were convinced that a boy would be joining our family--- but we were wrong. At 4:21pm, a 6lb 6oz baby girl joined our family! Hannah was absolutely perfect. She is still absolutely perfect.

It is amazing how such a small little person can cause so much change. The minute I held her in my arms, looked into her eyes, touched her soft wrinkled skin--- I melted and everything changed. At that moment I felt more love for my God, my husband and a newfound love for my child. Having a baby is a pure miracle—it is the most amazing experience and something that makes God’s love so evident. He created a beautiful, perfect, sweet and most importantly healthy child--- and blessed our family with her. When labor started, so did the prayers. Being almost five weeks early I prayed for our childs lungs, I prayed for its weight, I prayed for its complete health. Once again, God was faithful. Hannah has experienced some minor health problems, but they have all been MINOR. I am so thankful to my God for the amazing gift of my little family. Seeing Matt with Hannah melts my heart. He is an amazing father who is already loving and leading Hannah so well. Seeing him soothing her at 2am brings tears to my eyes (and not just because I am sleep deprived). I feel closer to my husband then ever before and am so thankful for the man that he is and that father that he has become. My life feels so full.

Hannah I pray that you always know how much you are loved. Not only by daddy and me--- but by God. You were made special by him. Every part of you was created with thought, with love and with a purpose. At barely three weeks old, you already have so much personality. You tell a story with your hands, you already know what you like and dislike (and are not afraid to let everyone else know), and most importantly you melt our hearts with your dreaming laughs.  I cannot wait to see what your future holds. I feel so blessed to be your mommy and have already created so many memories with you. I love you with all my heart. And please remember, “You is kind, you is smart, you is important” from The Help.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:13-14 (Hannah’s life verse)

Baby Hannah

Yesterday I was blessed to spend time with the Walker Family. Baby Hannah is the newest member and made her debut about two weeks ago. Take it from me, she is so sweet. I have to be honest and say that newborn and child photography are probably two of my favorites. Everything is so new, exciting, different---- so many “firsts”. Yesterdays session was no different. Hannah was as precious as can be and older brother Jacob was all boy and so much fun as well. We were even able to snag a few shots of them together. The bond between siblings is so fun, and I am excited for the Walker siblings to form their own relationship.

With “40 days” left in my pregnancy and the temperature rising, I am getting more and more ready to meet the newest member of our family. Even more excited to see if we will be welcoming a Bryson Robert or our very own Hannah Grace. My crazy pregnancy dreams and my “inuition” have been nudging me that I will soon be hold baby Bryson in my arms. Making yesterdays photography session a little more special. I was already able to capture pictures of Hannah, even if it was not my Hannah--- it is so fun with all the pink, flowers, frills, ruffles, and bows. And if we are surprised and Hannah Grace enters our family--- yesterdays session becomes extra special because I got to take pictures of a prospective best friend (they’ll have to be friends since they share the same name and all).

Walkers, I am so excited for you and the newest addition to your family. I pray that your home is now filled with more love then ever. That life allows you to experience and treasure all of the “firsts” of your two little ones. I pray that their relationship grows everyday and become more then just siblings, they become friends. Congratulations and God Bless!

 

“May the LORD cause you to flourish, both you and your children.” Psalm 115:14

Something different---

This past Friday my sister was kind enough to take maternity pictures for us--- such a blessing! It is not very often that I am the one in front of the camera, it was a very different and fun change of pace. (I must say that it was a little weird editing pictures of myself) My sister did an amazing job and got some really good pictures--- maybe Ill be able to convince her to join me in photography some day. On Friday, as I was getting ready, it hit me. “We are taking maternity pictures today. We have less then eight weeks until Baby Harvey joins us in this world!” So crazy to me that we are in the single digits--- that anywhere between five and eight weeks from now we will be holding our daughter or son in our arms. Gives me the butterflies just thinking about it. The baby is moving more and more, becoming a little gymnast in there doing turns, flips, and sometimes even feels like back-handsprings. It is a very fun, miraculous and amazing feeling but I have hit that point--- I am ready to meet my baby! I want to see if a Hannah or Bryson will be joining our family. I want to kiss, rock, snuggle, and love my baby. Most of all I want all those things for Matt. I cannot wait to see him as a father. Imagining him hold our child in his arms already brings tears to my eyes because I know the love he already has for his child and the kind of dad he will be. I am a blessed woman! For now I will wait a few more weeks and hang some amazing pictures in the nursery. Thank you Auntie Casey--- you blessed us greatly!

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

Family, memories, time---- Grau Family Preview

Today’s post is long overdue. I had the privilege of working with the Grau Family once again this past Saturday. Stacy and I met in nursing school and she is just as sweet as her family. It has been such a blessing to take pictures of her family a few times over the past few years. Seeing them interact as a family was so special. Their children are so clearly loved--- was very easy to see that they are a family who spends time together, making memories, and supporting one another. That’s what family is all about right? Being intentional, being supportive, being compassionate, being there.

As each day passes and I am one day closer to meeting our newest family member--- I find myself reflecting lots on these things. Getting more and more excited to start traditions, make memories, build a family base on love, and just spend time being there. That is my newest stance--- being there. Making intentional time of undistracted interaction. Although my husband would say that I am a “type A” personality--- I want to be the mother who lets the dishes pile up for the day because the books we were reading were too good, or the fort we made were too fun, or the conversations were too important. I want my children to be my priority and have comfort in the fact that everything else will eventually get done. This could prove to be a slight struggle as disorganization can get under my skin, but I don’t want to miss out on my children because of something fleeting.

Thank you Grau Family for sharing this special time in your lives with me. Enjoy those kiddos of yours--- they are something special! Happy Wednesday--- God Bless.