CherrickVille

Just Be

One of the things that I have learned to do is Just Be.  I have certainly had seasons where I stress over what is to come and seasons where I kick myself over what just was, but it is a skill to learn how to Just Be with each new season.

I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to Stay-at-Home with our little lady each day.  If she is having a bad day, no problem, I don't have anywhere I need to be.  If she is having a good day, great, let's play!  I am trying to be intentional to sip each moment and each day with her as though it's the last - and, in a way each day is the biggest she's ever been and the smallest she'll ever be.  (Does that make sense?)

I am constantly aware that I'm supposed to feel bad about not having a career or more "things" to do.  I know that I'm supposed to be doing it all - hey, I'm still in my 20s!  I don't know where I heard this (T.V.?), but it seems I should feel like I'm not doing anything valuable with my life - you know, because "what DO you DO all day?" But, I have to say that of all the work I've done and fancy-sounding jobs that I've had, this is the only job where I've been completely essential - irreplaceable even.  I am exactly where I'm supposed to be. 

"...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Phillipians 4:11-13

So, here's what I did today:

 

 

 

I really couldn't resist buying these little wings!  She is such a great baby, I thought this little costume would be fun!

Milestones:

1. She rolled over from her belly to her back yesterday - several times:-)

2. Kevin and I had a night out on Friday - our first night out!!! - Thanks Erin!

3. Our friend Brittany watched her on Saturday morning while I participated in the Mad Mud Run - she's getting lots of time with other peeps!!!  Thanks Brittany!

Who does she look like?

Kevin and I always talk about what Reagan might be like when she grows up.  And another mystery is wondering what she will look like as an adult. So, here are pictures of me and Kevin when we were both about 3 months old and one of Reagan at 3 months.  It's fun to look and compare, but in the end, she looks like Reagan.

Joy at 3 months

  Kevin at 3 months

Kevin's editorial "Here's another picture of me.  I don't know what that first one is of, but wow!  Let's just say I had a great diversity of appearance as a baby and leave it at that."

 

Reagan 3 months

A Little Competition Never Hurt

My life is full of two things and two people: everything baby and everything fitness. 

We took a break from our regular routines and headed over to a fun competition on the other side of town.  I played the role of photographer and baby tamer and Kevin played the athlete.  We are trying to incorporate fun events throughout the year to make working out more fun and purposeful.

Here's some shots of Kevin at the Toro Olympic Weight Lifting Open at Mesa Mountain View High School...  I'm not really sure where the mountains were to view, but he finished first in his division!  Way to represent Team Cherrick!

Getting ready.

Weight in the heels... drive through the floor...

 

Clean...

 

and Jerk. - 264 lbs

By the way, while each athlete attempts his or her lift, the gym gets completely quiet.  Reagan was a perfect angel - hardly a peep :-) - and by far the youngest cheerleader in the gym!  How did we get so lucky?

Naked Baby on the Lawn

This one is for the grandparents - and anyone else who just loves looking at new photos of Reagan.  I don't think that I will ever get enough snuggling, smiling, cooing, baby dimples, baby rolls, elbow dimples, thigh rolls or more snuggling.

 

 

 

 

This week's milestones:

1. Napping more predictably
2. Bedtime 7pm (might even make it earlier)
3. Slept on Daddy's chest (she can be pretty wiggly with Daddy so this was a big deal)
4. More smiles
5. More Baby Babble

Thanks Steph for helping with the gorgeous pics!

A Sunday Stroll

Next to our home there is a pond with willow trees, a fountain, ducks and a swan.  We'd never been there before because it's also a cemetery.  But it's beautiful and we figured we could enjoy it better than the residents.   

A great excuse for another family portrait.

 

We were able to put Big Red to use (aka our stroller).  Behind Kevin you will see some memorials and at the top of the picture is our condominium complex.

Here's the swan and some mallards behind it. 

Reagan Flashback (5 days old)

Here's a little clip of Reagan at 5 days old.  I just found it on my computer!

It's amazing how much she has changed in such a short time!

Reagan's First Week from Joy on Vimeo.

Baby Babble

I can hardly believe that I was able to capture this on video... and she didn't stop once the camera was rolling.

Interpretation below:

Baby Babble from Joy on Vimeo.

"Hi, You don't know that I can hear you.  What ever you say (giggle), I understand it all."  (This next part is in German, so I can't interpret...) "How's it goin'... Daddy"

She did this most of the day (and wore herself out b/c when she wasn't talking, she was sleeping).

Look What Reagan Found!!!

I heard a very loud smacking sound coming from the South side of our condo...  It was the sound of a thumb discovered!

Perhaps she'll find the left hand tomorrow...

The Bib Club Strikes Back

I think that this short clip captures the essence of both these little ladies.  Watch how Reagan is contemplating our lighting choice, world peace or her next meal while Nora is dancing and seemingly saying "Where's the party at?"

Reagan and Nora from Joy on Vimeo.

For more on The Bib Club, see this post.

This Week's Milestones:
1. She just went through a growth spurt over the weekend and has started to have more reasonable eat/sleep patterns :-)
2. Lots and lots of cooing and babbling (I'm hoping to capture this to share)
3. She is getting so BIG!

Becoming a Cherrick

Growing up, I always thought it was weird to know that one day I would have a different last name.  I'd be apart of some family that, when I was 6 I'd never heard of, and most likely couldn't even spell.

The other day, I opened up a program on my computer and the system information displayed "Joy Warren."  I thought, that looks so weird to me.  That's not me.  But that IS me, just me sans Kevin and Reagan.  It made me realize that I have embraced my Cherrickness.

Marriage is such a gift.  Taking Kevin's name is just an outward expression of our commitment.  It reminds me of God's plan for marriage - His intent is that we would become "One" :

"So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; ²² and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. ²³ Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." ²⁴ Therefore a man leaves his father
and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh." Genesis 2:21-24

Pictured: My two favorite Cherricks watching College football (well, one of them anyway)