Baby Smiles

She melts my heart.

One Month

Brooklyn is one month old! 

Some of her favorite things include: her pacifier, looking at the blinds, the sound of the vacuum cleaner, looking at the couch, her butterfly rattle, her mom's singing (the only person in the world that appreciates this) and dancing with daddy.

Some of her nicknames are: Brooklyn Bear, Gizmo, The Giz, and Sweet Cheeks

Things we love about her: her stretches when she wakes up, her sweet cuddles, her little mullet, her EVERYTHING 

Introducing Brooklyn Elaine

Meet Brooklyn Elaine Venable.

She was born September 13

weighed 7 lbs 1 oz

19 1/2 in long

We are absolutely in love with this amazing gift.

I am so very thankful God has chosen me to be this sweet baby's mother.

My heart is completely overwhelmed with love each day.

Thank you Lord for answering all of our prayers through our pregnancy, delivery, and new journey together now. We are excited to see what you have in store for our baby girl!

Another TWO Bite the Dust!

Yesterday I completed two more classes! 

I can't say it was my best work, but I did have a baby in the middle of the semester.

That counts for something, right?!

Now I'm looking forward to some free time and knocking some things off the good ole' Fall bucket list!

It is my favorite season of the year!

Brooklyn Elaine's Nursery

 

We feel so very thankful that the Lord put such sweet family and friends in our lives to provide every bit of this nursery for us! He is such an awesome provider and He is already proving to us how He is going to take care of our family with our new baby girl. Thank you friends & family for helping us welcome Brooklyn Elaine into the world. We are beyond excited to meet the little one!

Thankful Thursday

Before posting this, I must admit I did not have a very thankful heart today, actually I had the exact opposite. I woke up feeling really tired and pretty overwhelmed with school, disorganization of my house (with the move), and missing spending more time with my husband now that our crazy summer scheduled is in full swing. Instead of choosing joy & thankfulness, I choose to focus on myself and my circumstances which lead to sin & emptiness. Thankfully, I am a work in progress and obviously need much more modeling from Christ. It taught me that choosing joy may not always be easy, but it is definitely worth it! Some highlights from my thankful journey this week include:

Lord, thank you for.....

-breezy Chicago nights

-meeting four adorable hispanic girls that live two doors down from us

-sweet little Vanessa praising God through dance on Sunday

-hearing Leroy's journey of freedom from a drug addiction

-a picnic in Oz Park with Alyssa

-being 1/3 of the way done with my summer class

-getting to see my family in two weeks

-feeling my sweet girl moving inside of me

-a great doctor's appointment

-a ceiling fan in our bedroom

"You have made known to me the path of life; you fill me with joy in your presence, with external pleasures at your right hand." Ps 16:11

Partying Kenyan Style

A few weeks ago, our friend & brother in Christ, Njenga, left to spend the summer in his home country Kenya. We are already missing Nejenga's wise, joyful, and crazy spirit, but are excited to hear what Christ is doing through his trip. Before he left we had a night of celebration Kenyan style. It was my first time to try grilled goat and mandazi bread and it won't be my last. We ended the night with hot tea, African dancing that eventually led to the Wobble Baby, and jammin with some instruments. I am very thankful for the body of Mosaic and how they bless my life. 

Njenga preparing the goat meat.

Mandanzi: a fried bread

Goat & Kenyan sauce.

Also, Baby Venable loves to get down. I just couldn't control her. 

27 (almost 28) Weeks

Taken at 25 weeks.

Size of the baby: Head of cauliflower (16 in. 2.5 lbs)

Maternity Clothes: Yes! I have some regular size shorts, but they have the stretchy band at the top.

Boy or Girl: a sweet baby girl!

Movement: She is a very active little lady, mostly at night and early mornings. 

Sleep: I'm sleeping great!

Anything you miss?: being able to go at a faster pace.

Cravings: lots of cereal.

Symptoms: some side and lower back pain.

Any fears?: not really. 

Best moment of the month: The ultrasound! It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. It is truly a miracle that a little human is growing inside of me! It was a breathtaking moment as we were able to see all of the body parts and watch our little girl move around. 

The Beginning of "Thankful Thursday"

I have been completely blessed to read the book, 1,000 Gifts by Ann Voscamp. I have had the book for quite sometime, but just recently picked it up off my bookshelf to read and it has been perfect timing. Ann writes about the importance of having joy in all circumstance and continually giving thanks to Christ throughout the day. She compiled a list of things that she is thankful for, recording 1,000 things. I also have started my own list. I have grown and learned much in the past weeks of recognizing and recording gifts from God.

• I have become more aware of Christ's presence in my life as I look for things to be thankful for. He has truly blessed me so much and I want to experience joy in Him as I recognize the way He is moving in my life. 
• My ungrateful and selfish heart has been laid bare as I realize how I miss out on the act of thankfulness when I am concerned solely about myself. I recognize where I need Christ's transforming power to truly consider others and their feelings above my own.
• My gaze is slowly not becoming on my own life but on the goodness and character of God. 

Thank you Christ for

never forsaking me. 

pieces of Texas. 

a front yard for Selah.

a new neighborhood to start our family in. 

hearing two-year-olds laughter when I turn on the bubble machine.

friends that helped us move and paint.

your constant, unfailing presence.

a growing baby girl.

how you have built Mosaic Church.

women's community at our Village time.

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And his courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name."

Psalm 100:4

20 Weeks!

Today, we have hit the half-way mark through our pregnancy! The first half has seemed to go by super fast and I hope the second one does as well because we are already daydreaming about meeting our baby!

Size of the baby: a mango

Maternity Clothes: For the most part maternity clothes with the exception of my work clothes. I found some really comfortable pregnancy shorts from walmart for $11 and am thinking I should invest in another pair!

Boy or Girl: We will hopefully find out May 1! One week from today!

Movement: Yes! I have felt sweet little baby flutters for a couple of weeks now. I have felt big movements 3 or 4 times this past week. Scott always runs to my tummy, but hasn't felt it yet.

Sleep: I am still adjusting to sleeping on my side, I turn and move a lot, but am still getting good rest.

Anything you miss?: Not having to worry about slowing down or taking breaks when I need to. 

Cravings: Ice Cream, but I would crave that before pregnancy too.

Symptoms: I get tired faster

Any fears?: The thought of a c-section.

Best moment of the month: Feeling the baby move and reading to the baby with Scott. 

Friday's Favorite

Ethnic Food.

Chicago is a great place to try many diverse types of cultural food. There are endless options and lately I have had some opportunities to try some new places out! 

For a friend's birthday a couple of weeks ago we tried out Cumin, an Indian/Nepalese restaurant in Wicker Park. It was a fun experience, we ordered many different dishes and tasted a little bit of everyones. I had only had Indian food once or twice before in NYC so it was great eating it in our own neighborhood.

There has been another addition to Wicker Park restaurants lately, called the Falafel and Grill. Scott and I have eaten there a couple of times. Not too long ago I tried my very first falafels and they were tasty.

One of my favorite culture and dining experiences, was with a group of friends at a Korean BBQ restaurant. One of our friends is half Korean and was able to educate us on some of the foods and ways they are prepared. It was really delicious and fun to prepare the food right on the table!

Maybe one day I will actually know what I am ordering and how to pronounce at these restaurants!

Almost 15 Weeks!

I can't believe 15 weeks have already gone by! I hope the next two trimesters go by quickly as well, Scott and I are already feeling antsy to meet our baby! I have felt really great this first trimester with only 4-5 days of really being sick! I am so incredible thankful for a breezy three months of pregnancy!

I found these fun facts/questions to answer from a blog I read here! I am going to try to update them every month! 

Size of the baby: an orange

Maternity Clothes: I hate wearing my regular jeans! Thankfully, my sweet Mom sent me some funds to buy some maternity clothes. I still wear my regular khaki work pants and most of my shirts, but I am loving my maternity "jeggings" (jean leggings), skirts, and tights. 

Boy or Girl: We will hopefully find out May 1!

Movement: Not yet! 

Sleep: I am sleeping just fine! I am learning to sleep on my side as opposed to my stomach. 

Anything you miss?: Tuna! I really want to eat lots of tuna, but I have to limit my intake.

Cravings: Tuna, Salt & Vinegar Chips

Symptoms: None really...

Any fears?: The thought of a c-section.

Best moment of the month: Seeing and hearing our sweet baby's heart beat.

I am looking forward to our next trimester!

Baby Venable

This past New Year's Eve, Scott and I were overjoyed to learn that we were expecting a baby. About four tests and a doctor's appointment later the reality of this new gift began to sink in and actually still is! We feel extremely blessed beyond measure and continue to praise God for this new life He is creating inside me. It blows my mind that an actually baby is forming inside of my body- it is such a beautiful thing and a complete miracle from Christ. 

Already, Christ has been teaching me a new dependence on Him. (I imagine the journey of parenthood will continue to teach much further dependence) He is the giver of life and the only one who can sustain this life growing inside of me and we have been depending on Him to take care of our baby. 

Through these first few months, I am also reminded of how Christ's presence is always with us. Just as the baby is always with me, inside of me growing and forming, so is His presence with me. This gift has been such a tangible reminder of how we are never alone as we follow Him. He is there guiding us every step of the way.

There are times of fear as we think about raising our baby, but the Lord is reminding me to focus on becoming more and more like Him. After-all, He is the perfect Father. I pray that Scott and I will imitate Christ and be molded by Him so that we can be empowered to be like Him to our child. 

Praise God for the gift of life! Praise God for being our perfect Father!

St. Patty's Day Fun!

Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day and I learned Chicago really LOVES to celebrate. Scott and I joined in on the fun with a couple of friends and went downtown to watch the Chicago River turn green. The weather was absolutely perfect.

Scott, Jennifer, Kevin, and Stephanie

St. Patty's Day Fun

After the river, we made our way to Chick-fil-a for some lunch and then to Logan Square for a movie. The Logan Square theatre had been renovated and yesterday was the opening day. All movies, popcorn, and drinks were $1! You can't beat that- so we ended up seeing The Goonies. It was my first time to see it from beginning to end. It was a super fun St. Patrick's Day!

Logan Square Theater 

Friday's Favorite

ANOTHER FREE FLIGHT!

After coming back from Texas on Christmas break, it was the first time Scott & I didn't have another trip planned to go back since we moved to Chicago. We are so thankful to have visited our family several times over the first year and a half we have lived in Chicago. Between holidays, weddings, and family vacations I was able to see my family about every 3 months. It was a little challenging being back at home and not having a planned trip to Texas to look forward to. Then, last Friday, Scott and I skyped with some friends from Texas who are getting married and want Scott to officiate the wedding. They are going to pay for both of our flights to spend about 5 days with our family and friends! We are both very thankful and are looking forward to being back in the Lone Star State and hanging out with some of these goons.

BOCA BABY!

In less than two months, I will be in Florida with these three college friends.

After reviewing our finances and thinking the trip wasn't possible, I was surprised by a phone call from my friend Lauren Lisenbee with a free flight. I am beyond thankful and stoked to spend a week with these three amazing, crazy, hilarious, wonderful friends. Praise the Lord for vacation and friendship!