Life as of lately

I haven't posted many things lately on here. I just got a new laptop so it will definitely will be a lot easier to get things posted rather than having to use the family computer. Lately I've just been busy with my little one. It's amazing how many things can change with an infant. I can no longer make decisions without thinking how it will effect Judah. Tasks that used to be simple are no longer simple, and I'm fine with that. He makes life so much more enjoyable.

Even though I have devoted my life to being a stay-at-home-mom/wife, my desire for pursuing an education is still there. It has actually increased since I had Judah. Judah and my future little ones won't always be so little. I plan on homeschooling my children but one day they'll all be young adults and I will no longer be needed as much at home. Going to school right now is tough, but it's important to me. I'm so thankful to have an understanding and supportive husband of my decision to stay in school. It might take me a whole lot longer than I had planned to become a Speech and Language Pathologist but one day I will get there. I'm in the process of getting my AA right now and am only taking 2 night classes so I don't overload myself. It's sometimes discouraging when I do the math and realize how long it really will take until I reach the level of education I'm going for but I'm a little closer every semester to that degree. I'll achieve that goal and I hope that my future children will see that it is possible to reach goals that you have set.

Judah 2 months

Judah turned 2 months on Sunday. He's growing up so quick and it's bittersweet. I love how alert he's getting and how he smiles when he sees me, but I'm never going to have my scrunched up little Judah with the new baby smell. We had a daycare in our home growing up so I've seen and watched literally hundreds of babies and I have to say he's seriously the cutest! 

Things Judah now does:
He snorts... A lot. It's the cutest thing ever! Especially when he's mad, he starts snorting which makes me laugh and he gets more upset. 

He tracks people. I'll walk around him and he'll turn his head and/or eyes. 

He smiles and laughs at appropriate times. It melts my heart to see him smile when he sees me. He hasn't quite mastered his laugh yet but it's cute to see him try. 

I still can't get over that I'm a mother. I'm in charge of a humans life. I pray that God directs me in my journey of motherhood and that Daniel and I are  Christ-like in the decisions we make as parents. This is an amazing time in my life and I couldn't be happier. 

cg

The 7 Baby Steps

As I stated in this previous post, my husband and I are going through Financial Peace University. These are The 7 Baby Steps principles to living a debt free life:

Luckily, Daniel and I had just begun a savings a couple months before we started FPU so we had a little extra saved. We finally sold my car which brought in some extra money that we are saving to buy another car with. It's exciting to be able to scratch off one of the baby steps from our list. Having a one person income supporting a 3 person family isn't easy so being able to learn how to manage our money is very very important to us. 
Before we started FPU, we would receive my husbands paycheck, pay our bills, and not really know where the left over money went. In this course, we're learning to tell our money where to go and not let it slip out of our hands.

Finding out the sex

Because our baby wasn't cooperating with us during ultrasounds at the doctors, my husband and I decided to splurge and pay for a 4D ultrasound. I, of course, without thinking about the ultrasound decided to eat a very heavy lunch and so the baby wasn't very active during our ultrasound. Because of this, our little one slept through the whole thing covering their face. Luckily, they offered us a second viewing for half price! Although we never were 100% certain, my OB told me that "It looks like a girl, but don't go shopping yet!". Of course, after she told us that I was convinced I was having a girl. All I could do was pin things on Pinterest that was little girl related and my husband and I picked out her name. I knew what colors I wanted her nursery to be and I had everything figured out, or so I thought..It turns out that it was a good thing that I didn't go out shopping because we are having a boy!

I was in complete shock when she announced it was a boy. I thought "no, we're having a girl, she must be wrong". Of course she showed us "the goods" and yes, indeed he is a boy! For several hours after the ultrasound I was still in complete shock. This changed everything! I had so many things rushing through my head. I had to change my pins, rethink names (unless he didn't mind being called Annie), think of a new color scheme, etc. After a while I was excited with the thought of having a boy. We since then have come up with his name. Judah Benjamin Lopez. We wanted a strong Biblical name and Judah means "Praise". 
I stare at these ultrasound pictures and re-watch the ultrasound DVDs over and over. It's amazing to think that I am forming life. I get overwhelmed with the thought of God trusting my husband and myself to raise up a child. So many people struggle with infertility and yet I was so blessed to be able to conceive. 
We can't wait for this little bundle of joy to come into the world. He is already loved my so many. In less than 10 weeks (hopefully!) we will be smothering him with kisses and hugs and so much love!

Pregnancy Update

I have absolutely been horrible at updating about my pregnancy. Recently I began taking weekly photos but my first trimester or so was barley documented :( Nevertheless I am determined to continue to take photos at this amazing time my life. So here is a quick update so far in this pregnancy:
First Trimester
-Morning sickness, everyday multiple times
-Nauseous, always nauseous (I even made my husband change his deodorant and body wash because everything made me feel queasy) 
-Picky eater, very limited in what I ate because of the nasea 
-Tired
-Headaches
-Very gassy (tmi!)
-Bloating, I didn't quite gain any weight, maybe 4 pounds but my body was definately changing and I started buying maternity pants in the first trimester to feel more comfortable in clothes.

Second Trimester
- Finally able to eating again! 
-Morning sickness almost nonexistent
-Started showing dramatically
-Headaches
Started feeling movement! Most exciting feel ever!!
-A lot of comfortableness, always sore

Third Trimester (So far)
-Very tired, I feel like I can't go a day without a nap
-Using the restroom every 30 mins!
-Always feeling movement and kicks to my ribs!
-Found out the sex of our baby BOY!!!
-Excited!

I don't think I've had any particular cravings, I'm started wanting sour candies more but other than that my appetite hasn't changed much. Right now I am 28+6 and have gained about 14 pounds. All I want to do is shop but I am trying to control it and wait until after my baby shower to get necessities rather than a bunch of things I just want! I will try my best to update this as much as possible :)

Financial Peace University

So last week my husband and I, along with my mom started taking FPU by Dave Ramsey through our church. We are hoping and praying that this will help us manage our money and get out of debt. It's amazing to see where my husband and I were a year ago compared to today. 

A year ago we had a nice sized apartment, comfortably living off one income, always eating out at nice restaurants, and had two cars. Now, we're living at my grandparents house with my grandparents along with my mom and brother, converted their living room into a bedroom/small living space, tightly living on one income, neither of us have a car and are expecting our first child this April. We've gone through so many things in the last year and half of marriage. Despite it all, I'd much rather be where we are today than a year ago. Daniel and I were completely lost. Our priorities weren't right, God was no where even near the center of our marriage and when things came against us, we didn't know how to lean on each other. Rather we attacked each other and pointed fingers. Being put in our current situation has given us the opportunity to really humble ourselves. We don't take for granted what we have and it's really helped us to lean on each other and work together. Daily we read our Bibles together and do our devotionals. 

We might not be able to give our son the nicest things like we might once have, but this child is going to grow up in a house where he sees love and commitment. Where God is at the center and we strive to live a life bringing honor to His name. 

Compelled

via

I sit here at the computer desk with my coffee in hand. I look at blogs, fashion, recipes, things that inspire me.Things that inspire selfish wants and needs. I feel guilty, I know I'm not doing enough. I have this feeling in my gut, this emptiness that hasn't been filled in a while. Why was it that when I was a kid I had the same compassion for others but also had the action to do something? My heart aches for something more. I'm trying to pursue God with everything I have in me. I'm trying my best to live a life worthy of Him. I'm somewhere in my life that I don't want to be. I'm 19 years young and feel that I'm not doing my best to my ability to give everything to the one who died for me. Easter just passed and I guess it's just brought back this burning passion that I once had. I want to be able to one day face God and those pearly white gates and know without a doubt I did everything in my ability to show God's undying love to others. I don't quite know what it is that God's telling me I need to do, but I know it's going to be something big and it's going to be in the near future.
I have a lot of things going on lately, I'm at a big crossroads in my life and I'm choosing to put everything I am, all my faith, in the hands of my Creator.