21 Months & 1st Ear Infection

Yesterday Kennedy celebrated her 21 month birthday with the sniffles and a cough that woke her several times during the night. Today she woke up from her nap with goopy red eyes and was also tugging on her ear. A trip to the after hours clinic confirmed an ear infection and pinkeye for our angel gir. Her favorite thing to watch right now is Pinocchio which is, "nocchio" and through tears she requested we watch that this evening. We all snuggled up with some goldfish crackers and cuddled but every time she would cough she would cry. Poor little thing! She has been fast asleep since 8:30 and I pray she gets good rest tonight.

We love you so much Kennedy Kate!

Shout Out

My dad called and mentioned that he, "loved the pictures on my blog of KK walking in her new back yard." That means daddy reads my blog! He also said that his parents (obviously my grandparents) Mamie & Granddaddy check my blog OFTEN & LOVE IT! So shout out to y'all! I love y'all and promise I'll do a much better job of posting more regularly!
Here are some pictures from today. KK is teething so we snuggled on the couch and watched Rudy today. She's so sweet!
Happy reading!

Aubree Kate

Our friends Ryan & Ashley Snell welcomed Aubree Kate to the world yesterday!
Born at 7:14, 7 pounds 2 ounces, 19 3/4 in

Only 1

I absolutely love this and I am jumping right in. I know there is a need for diapers in the households of families with babies. I also know there are new moms all over our community tonight worrying about how they will afford such diapers and praying for help. Here's where we come in:

I've started a nameless- for-now diaper ministry and I'm going for it. I'm not working out the details. I'm not putting it off. I'm delivering diapers. Who needs some? And while I am there delivering them I think I will pray with these new mommies and love on them and offer encouragement because I certainly do NOT have expertise. If you would like to donate diapers to this cause AWESOME! I'll even come pick them up.

I know I'm filled to be emptied again. The seed I've received I will sow

Hillsong (desert song)

Diaper Rash & Doubling

Diaper Rash:

Kennedy has been battling a diaper rash for a day or so so she's been crying when it's time for a diaper change. Poor baby. I'm learning things about being a better parent every day. Like the late night I went to HEB for diapers and the only size 3's available were in the Munchkin brand and I didn't want to go to Wal-Mart AT ALL so I bought them against my better judgment and the next day with butt paste and all my sweet baby girl has a diaper rash that WILL NOT LEAVE. URGG After the run-on sentence trip BACK out to Wal-Mart the next day we have Pampers Cruisers and a little healing butt that you get to read about on this here blog. *sigh* rookie mommy mistake number 234829384

Doubling:

Doubling is a way for people who have partnered with FHTM (our home based business) to double their paycheck. We have had the pleasure of helping people go from single pay to double pay. Yesterday I got a call from a doubling paycheck person in tears because they were so thankful they have stuck with and pushed through the "no's" (we get a lot of those) to be able to pay all of their bills AND HAVE SOME LEFT OVER for the first time in 14 months. Blessing. I never thought I would be in network marketing and a really really never thought I could make a dime in it. I was wrong. I also never thought that I would have the chance to help a lot of other people make money for their families and in this economy that just thrills me.

So the point to this post is to say that I love being a mom and I love my work and I am so very thankful for every up and down and every joy and tear and sacrifice that they bring. I was put here for this purpose and for such a time AS THIS.

Look at This

Kennedy went to sleep last night at 8:30pm and slept until 9:30am. I think she was a tired girl.

But look how I found her when I walked in her room this morning:

7 Months

On August 26th Kennedy Kate turned 7 months old:

Dear Kennedy,

You are so much fun and learning to crawl all around your room. You love all of your stuffed animals and like to pull them off the shelf and make a mess of your room. Here are some other highlights:

You still wear size 3 diapers but we finally moved to the cruisers
You love sweet potatoes
Bath time is still a favorite part of your day
Your newest interest is in books
You talk and squeal all the time
You like cheerios but can't figure out how to put them in your mouth after you pick them up
You sleep from about 10pm-9am
You began the teething process

You are the light of our life!

Almost Playing Catch Up

Wow...life has completely sped by the last few weeks. Anyone else feel that way? The last day that I marked off in my day planner was August 15th proving that the last half of the month was a whirlwind. It ended with:

• Kennedy Turns 7 months old. how?
• a wedding rehearsal
• a wedding #bestweddingsincemine
• Lindsey (sister), Landon (nephew), and my mom came to visit
• The month ended strong GO TEAM
• Clemma Childress died at the age of 88 (Kyle's paternal grandmother)
• A funeral was attended

And all of the events deserve a blog post separately. I'll attempt to write about those things in the coming days but today I must do what I do best and inspire, motivate, and publicly speak. Oh and out of the events listed above, the funeral is the one that touched my spirit the most. It's hard to find time to blog after you've been reminded how precious life is. I made a pact with God that I would live out my days deliberately from here on out. Always in the moment. Always making the time I'm given count.

John 14:2
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

Until then. I'm His for the taking

Man's Best Friend

Belle is our *chocolate dog. She is a Labrador retriever and too smart for her own good. I always said I would NEVER have an inside dog but please remember that I also said I would NEVER live in Austin, date or marry a Marine, be in a network marketing company, or *weigh over 200 pounds. It seems to me that all things that I nevered have worked out pretty well for me.

Belle's full name is Jingle Belle because she was born on Christmas day. She will be 2 this Christmas.
She takes wonderful care of her sister KK and runs up and down the stairs if I don't go "fetch" our crying baby fast enough for her.
She's always smiling
and gentle if I get sad and need a friend
She's always ready for a run.

and I know she will be loyal to the end:

*chocolate dog- our nephew Landon calls her a chocolate dog and thinks it is so funny

*200- I weighed in at 212 the day that I was checked into the hospital to have Kennedy Kate :)

9 Days

My sister-in-law Kelly Paige is getting married on August 27th and I am getting so excited! There is so much to be done and I'm just talking about for my family and me:

Tomorrow: eye doctor appointment that I dread every single year. I need lasik. now. bad. #sickofmessingwithit & on the hunt for the perfect pair of not too tall silver wedge shoes for wedding party & a rehearsal dinner dress (have I mentioned that I am almost as excited about the rehearsal dinner as I am this wedding? It's going to be grand y'all)

Saturday: highlights/hair trim/pedicure YES! & helping KP & RP move into their house if they want my help. PS: have to work a 3.5 mile run in at some point this day

Sunday-Wednesday: some major working for this momma. Have I mentioned that this shouldn't make you feel bad for me because I absolutely L.O.V.E. what I do for a living?

Thursday & Friday: I'm at the bride's side if she needs me. I am making myself available for any task, errand, etc. and of course the rehearsal dinner on Friday :)

Saturday: THE BIG DAY. Hair & Make up HERE and then HERE for the celebration of my favorite couple to ever marry (sorry folks..I'm bias). I am SO SO SO blessed to be KP's sister-in-law AND Russell is so So SO blessed to be marrying into the Childress family. They are the best people around. No really. It's true.

Can you tell I've had coffee, and a run, and am unstoppable? Angel girl is napping so now I will go on with my plans to conquer today!

Thank you Lord for times of celebration and joy and love and just YOU. You rock my world & are the rock of my world.

Gotta Run

Why Do Something?

I got a text today from a friend that said, "wow, why do you want to run another marathon?" ANSWER: Because running makes me feel alive and I'll get lazy if I don't have a goal and it has to be a big goal so I'll push myself a little harder than I think I can do if the goal is big and I feel/am closer to the Lord when I run" yes yes I know RUN ON sentence. This goal got me thinking:

Why do anything in life? People don't ask me all the time but I know they think it: Why in the world are you building a business with FHTM? My answer to that question is simple: Because I want to. Because I love people. Because I love being a part of something bigger than me. Because teaching at a high school in Austin was never going to get us out of the debt hole we were in. Because I still get to teach and coach every day of my life. Because it's worth it. But more than all of those things: I am forced to trust the Lord every day in every moment of working our business. He doesn't promise me success, health, or even ease in life but He does promise to make me loving, pure, and humble like Christ. Kyle and I have been with FHTM for 4 years next month and I can't imagine doing anything else with my life. In the book Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung, he states: "If you are seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, you will be in God's will, so just go out and do something" (61.)

I will leave you with this video from John Piper:

A Game Of Hope

At church this morning we were shown the above video and challenged to bless this summer. Pastor Ryan told us a story about a recent prayer meeting with major church leaders (men) in the Austin area. He said that one of the men spoke up and said that in all his years of ministry he hadn't had a mentor. He hadn't had anyone to come along side him and encourage him; it had always just been a competition. This message of considering others more than myself was heart wrenching and I feel changed today. **My favorite part about coaching high school track in the spring of 2008 was that I got to teach something I was passionate about and then cheer the kids on as they sprinted towards their finish lines.

As you know from a previous post It has been on my heart to cheer each of you on. To pray for you in your need but much more than that come along side you and cheer you on.

What are we waiting for?

If we are the body?

Numbers 6:24-26

²⁴The LORD bless you and keep you; ²⁵the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; ²⁶the LORD lift up his countenance^[a] upon you and give you peace.

Ephesians 5:1-2

¹ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ²And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, afragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

A Weekend to Remember

4 Generations. Me, KK, my mom, and my grandmother

KK got to meet her great grandmother Esmond for the first time.

Posing with Grandma

With Grandma (my mom)

Saturday:

10AM: we went to look at the house that my aunt Candy is building and it is modern and beautiful! I wish that I would have taken pictures to share with yall.

2PM: Visit to my grandma and grandpa's house

4PM: Visit to my Aunt Pam and Uncle Kerry's new house. My cousin Courtney was there and it was great to see her. They loved meeting KK for the first time!

7PM: Dinner at Bay Town seafood where I had fried shrimp and stuffed crab

We ended a wonderful weekend with some dinner at the Salt Lick. We haven't been there in a very long time and it was nice to share a meal with my honey. I am loving every bit of being a mommy and will cherish every card that I received today. I don't want to take a single day for granted with my family and I am so glad that I got to spend some time with my mom's side. I pray that this weekend left my mom feeling refreshed and renewed. I sure feel that way!

What Did We Do?

I'm not sure what we did without Kennedy Kate

I'm sure we got a whole lot more done around the house

But life sure wasn't as sweet

I can tell you that

And she sure helps a lot :)

(Helping mommy sign up new team members)

25 & 1

Yesterday was a VERY eventful day so I didn't get a chance to write my weekly pregnancy post:

Here's how it went

9:30AM: I'm drinking my "fruit punch" for my glucose test and it's not so bad.

10:00AM: We arrived at Hay's Women's Health for my appointment and received a call from Mark Wittenburg and my friend Beth (his wife) telling us that she has been having contractions every 10 minutes since 6PM the night before and her doctor told her to come on in.

10:30AM: The nurse calls me to the room and takes my blood for the test. Not fun

11:00AM We happily leave the appointment after hearing a great sounding baby heart beat, having a few questions answered, getting a names of local pediatrician, and setting my next appointment (the last monthly appointment) for November 10th.

11:15AM: Text from Mark that says "Beth is 5cm and the baby will be here today"

11:15-11:30AM pure excitement in our car! That baby isn't due until November 12th! My last blog post was about this! We pray for baby's health and for Beth's and get home to change and head to the hospital.

11:30AM: We arrive home to a big box of KENNEDY'S BEDDING on our porch :) :) Oh I wish that crib were here! It is so pretty and I can't wait to set up her room!

12:00PM: Hospital, wait, Beth decided on epidural, wait, more waiting..........

6:06PM: ..........

Nathan Robert Wittenburg is here!! He's healthy and doing great and so is momma! 5.7 pounds and 18.5 inches long. All of the nurses in the nursery are ohhing and ahhing over him and of course we are too!!

Proud mom and dad

On Saturday Beth and I were talking about how she probably won't be at my first baby shower on November 13th because of Nathan's due date. Oh how we were wrong. Thank you Lord for reminding me that its Your time not ours!! He is precious.

So with that:

How your baby's growing

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 25 Weeks & 1 day

Size of baby: Baby K is the size of a Rutabaga???

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 22 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Jeans ordered online should be here any day now. I'll model them for you

Gender: Girl

Movement: getting kicked several times a day :)

Sleep: Had a HORRIBLE nights sleep Monday night but last night was better

What I miss: sprinting ;) I can't wait to train for a race or two

Cravings: Milk, Fruit

Best Moment this week: Her bedding arriving. Purchasing maternity jeans (can you see how much I miss my jeans ;), Nathan Robert being born!!!!! Her first friend is already here and waiting for her!

buybuyBABY

Whitney brought over our babies first outfit!!! If I wasn't in love with my little "sweet pea" already..I AM NOW!!! I think this is going to be a very long pregnancy :) Good news! EVERY DAY FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS!! I am very thankful for all of the support, prayers, and encouragement!!
PS: Did I mention that this whole pregnancy thing has brought my husband and I closer than I thought possible?? What Joy!! Kyle will be a wonderful fabulous daddy!

Noon

Thank you to our wonderful team who helped us achieve our goal! We couldn't have done this without each and every one of you. Also, thank you to my wonderful friends who have encouraged us in the last few weeks to keep pressing on toward our goal. Thank you to the Lord. Ephesians

3:20 is ringing in my heart so loud I had that I sobbed in my bubble bath with thanksgiving!!

And thank you to my wonderful husband who knew this day was coming since the day that we signed up in FHTM! I LOVE YOU and am so thankful that you believe! We pick the car up at Noon in Waco!

Monday Monday

I have never been more excited to start a week in all my life!! Here's why:

• We are 13 people away from reaching one of the biggest goals we have had for the last 2.5 years! We will pick up our Lexus this week! THANK YOU FORTUNE Hi-TECH MARKETING
• Jill Wenzel and I have started "Slim in 6" again. My mother-in-law asked if that stood for "slim in 6 minutes" haha WE WISH!! Its a 6 week 6 days a week training program that WORKS!
• Tomorrow is my 3rd wedding anniversary to Mr. Kyle Childress
• Wednesday I get to speak in New Braunfels, TX and share our story.
• Friday and Saturday I am going to a women's conference in Austin with Stephanie Helm and Ashley Snell
• Sunday will hold another fabulous day at MBC