Family Vacations

Family vacations are beautiful things.  As long as I can remember, I have loved the time away with my parents and siblings.  The road trip to our destination was always a highlight, despite the many fights and arguments and tears that occurred -- a natural result of eleven people being cramped together in one vehicle for hours on end.

Searching for license plates from every state with my sisters.
Watching the scenery of America pass by out the window.
Attempting to make sandwiches while my dad barreled down the interstate well above the speed limit.
My dad refusing to stop for potty breaks except at meals.
Arguing about who would sit in the dreaded back seat.
Reading too many books to count.
Blasting music from the terrible car speakers.
Harmonizing with my sisters to every song.
Complaining when my parents turned the music down (apparently it was always louder in the front seats, even when faded to the back).
Staying at sketchy motels with weird slogans, like "Stay Where the Stars Stay" in Nashville.

These are only a few of the things that consisted of a typical Morrow road trip.  I must say, in spite of the stress, cramped quarters, and inevitable conflict, I miss those times.

This year, Gabriel and I met my family in Colorado Springs, where we are staying with my aunt and uncle.  Unable to miss a lot of work, Drew joined us just yesterday evening.  In listening to my siblings and parents recount the fun (and horror) of the four-day road trip they took to get here, I cannot help but feel a little sad.

My solace lies in the hope that, one day, I will be able to recreate the road trips that will forever live fondly in my memories for my own children.  Yes, even the tears and creepy lodgings.

Smallville

I have a confession.

I am pretty much addicted to Smallville.

Drew and I finished all eight seasons in probably less than a year.  We then took a break while we waited for the ninth season to finish up.

That idea was a really good one, considering I was being visited by Clark and Lois in my dreams.  I even dreamed that I was Lois and Drew was Clark a few times.  Those were pretty awesome dreams!

We just started the ninth season and, holy cow, I think it's going to be the best one yet.  I'm already getting re-addicted.

I think I'm going to get my hair cut like Chloe next time I'm in Virginia.  Her cowlick gives me hope.
 

I think she might have a double crown, as well, so you know it's destiny. ;) There are only so many ways we cowlick-cursed people can wear our hair and it actually look good.

Okay, I must go now and be productive while I anticipate the possibility of watching another episode with Drew tonight...

♥ TL

Life Moves Quickly

As a very experienced mother of four weeks (haha), I have come to the conclusion that life goes by too fast.

I have been watching my infant son grow right before my eyes.  Sometimes I wish I could just stop the clock and freeze him right as he is now:  before his poop smells and while just looking at random things like ceiling fans can make him grin from ear to ear.

However, I can't stop time from moving, no matter how much I would like to!

I realized this truth more fully when Gabriel decided that it was time to roll over.

At four weeks old.

Yes.  FOUR WEEKS.

I have a video as proof.  This was the third time he rolled over fully, but the first time I could catch it on video.  He's also rolled from his tummy to his side a few times.

Needless to say, he is growing up WAY too fast for my liking. :(

To Nap or Not to Nap

As I sit here writing this, I am listening to my little guy cry in the other room. :( He does not like to go to sleep.  Of course, once he does, he doesn't want to wake up for the world.  Sounds a lot like me when I was younger.  Since becoming a mom, however, I actually relish bedtime!

I've been reading that 15-20 minutes of crying is not bad for a baby; that some babies cannot fall asleep without expending energy crying; that babies need to learn to fall asleep on their own without a sleep aid (such as nursing, rocking, or swinging).

But I still hate to hear my baby cry!  It's a heart-wrenching sound.  In the long-run, I know it's better to just let him cry, but it's so hard knowing that I can do something about his distress and shouldn't.

There... he's stopped.  It wasn't that long of a cry this time.  Of course, he cried off and on through his first morning nap, and then I gave in half-way through his second one and put him in his swing.  I have no doubt that he is exhausted... and maybe he's already started to learn...

The Miracle of Life

It's amazing to me that one of God's greatest miracles happens every day and that average people like myself get the privilege to participate in it.

On Friday afternoon, my son came into the world.  It was a miracle and that's really the only way I know how to describe it.  It was both the hardest day of my life and the most beautiful.  Yes, I believe it was an even more beautiful day than the day Drew and I got married.  The amount of work that went into giving birth to Gabriel made the reward of holding him in my arms for the first time the most amazing moment of my life.  Drew and I both feel that the day was more special than our wedding, because it was the culmination of what happened that day as we covenanted together to become a family under God.

In any case... the last couple of days have been amazing, as well.  Although they have been rough at times (like when Gabriel slept only three hours one night and cried inconsolably the rest of the time), overall, it has been absolutely incredible.

Holding the precious bundle of joy that God gave us to raise...
feeling inexplicable love for a little person I have only just met...
staring into his beautiful face as he sleeps in my arms...
having him study my face with interest...
snuggling him close as I nurse him...
hearing him breathe and make baby noises...
seeing him calm down from crying as I swaddle him...
knowing that I am his main source of food, love, and care.

Motherhood is turning out to be so much more beautiful that I could ever have dreamed.