More Motherhood Stuff...always questioning what I'm doing.

Well, last night was a doozy. Ada was awake and crying from 2-4 am. We tried a new tactic--NOT giving her a bottle, but going in every thirty minutes or so to comfort her. We thought it might help to calm her down more quickly. Didn't work, obviously. So, new plan. We are going back to taking turns, but to insure that each of us gets a full night's sleep every other night (especially with the crying it out keeping us up for two hours at a time) we are going to be sleeping in separate rooms for a week or so. Now, obviously, if this lasts past two weeks, we will return to sharing a room, but right now the best thing for our marriage seems to be that we each get sleep!! So...tonight I have Ada duty all by my lonesome, and Scott will be sleeping downstairs in the guest room. Last night Scott technically had Ada duty, but I lay awake beside him listening to her cry. We are hoping the new plan will prevent the off duty spouse from waking up. We'll see. We have both been walking around in a fog from lack of sleep for the past few weeks, and we are hoping the new plan will somewhat remedy that. Our main resolve--Ada no longer, no matter what, gets a bottle in the middle of the night. Oh please, please let us get to the other side of this little phase.

I have a slight suspicion that some of this has to do with teething because she has only two teeth and she is almost 11 months. Surely a few more will break through soon.

On another note--nap time. I just don't know what to do. Again, feedback is greatly appreciated. We are trying one nap for now because that seems to produce a more quality nap overall, but it leaves her very sleepy by 6 pm, which seems way too early for bed. We typically put her in bed at 7:30, but she is already in bed and asleep, and it is only 6:12. She took a midday nap from 11-1 pm today, and I tried putting her down again at 3pm, but she was having none of it. Suggestions, anyone? I just don't want her waking up for the day at like 4:30 am. This whole mother thing is such a guessing game, and I have a feeling our next baby will be nothing like Ada, so we will have to relearn everything. One more way we have to be dependent on God every second, right? I have found my prayers have become very daily since becoming a mother. Sometimes they seem insignificant, but God created me to do this, right? So they must not be insignificant to him. Oh that I might bring him glory in the day to day.

Finally, thanks for all the running feedback. It really helps. I think I am going to combine Milla and Adam's suggestions--give myself a break and set small goals. I have been feeling all of this panic to be ready for the half-marathon instead of just running because I like to run. Maybe I should get back into the swing of things with running, and then find a half-marathon (or 10k, for that matter) to run. We'll see. Before I even saw those suggestions, I went out last night with the intention of running for as long as I could, and then walking, and it was so much more enjoyable. Granted, I only ran for 15 minutes, but I enjoyed it. And it had been a very long time since I had enjoyed a run.

Wish us luck tonight...I am crossing my fingers that we will have another fluke night, and Ada will sleep until morning!!

Sunday Night, Running, and a few other things to record

Tonight our church went from a missionary church to a particular church. This means that our tiny church, which has been in the planting phase for four years now, can now stand on its own with no monetary support from the Presbytery. And Scott and I got to be a part of the celebration, as members.

As I sat in the celebration service tonight, I felt very taken care of by God. And very aware of how much I do not know about what I need. I remember the first time with visited South Point, and, in pride, we expressed to each other that we weren't sure if it was what we were looking for. Because, of course, we were looking for Intown, which was not to be found in South Atlanta. What I have found since then, is that Southpoint seems like the perfect fit for our family. We have grown to love the people and the church, and no matter where life takes us, this small church will always be so special to me because it is the first church Scott and I joined as a married couple, and it will be the church where Ada is baptized (more on that later because that has been a decision I have wrestled with). Tonight let me see even more into the hearts of the people who first started Southpoint, and it was very encouraging to hear how much they desire for everyone to know the gospel. Simple as that. It all comes back to the gospel. God continues to provide in such specific and unpredictable ways.

On a completely opposite note, I am just having the hardest time with the half-marathon training, and I am quickly losing steam. I just keep hitting brick wall after brick wall. The running is not getting easier, and I am getting more and more behind in my training. I can't even run three miles, and it's not for lack of effort. It feels physically impossible. Any advice, anyone? My motivation is hitting rock bottom, and I feel like throwing in the towel. I thought it would get easier. I am having a hard time remembering why I wanted to do this in the first place. I burn more calories doing tae bo boot camp, and it isn't nearly as hard for me to do. I don't know. Maybe I am just not a runner.

And the last random thing to share, our desk top computer is so very sick with a virus, and I don't know when I will be able to download any pictures. I am so scared that I am going to lose all of my pictures because of this. I have a few printed of Ada after she was born, and I have a few saved with Kodak Gallery, but not nearly as many as I have saved on the desktop. Any computer geniuses out there have any advice for getting rid of a virus?

P.S. tonight marks night three in letting Ada cry-it-out. She slept all night last night, but I think it was just a fluke. So with renewed determination, we will see what happens tonight. Stay posted.

It's Friday. And that's reason enough to be excited.

Tonight's the big night when Scott and I are venturing into the city. And hopefully I will come home with some new shoes that will do wonders for all of this training. I'll keep you posted.

Other news--well, obviously, I updated the blog, and in the process I lost all of my links. I am so sad about that, but I am pleased with the new heading. Check out scrapblog to make your own. I discovered the site through another friend's blog, so let's just keep passing the word. It's so much fun that I am tempted to change my heading every week. Don't worry, I think I am finally finished "decorating" the blog. In the mean time, I will slowly be adding links to all of the blogs that I read.

What else? Well, this week's bargain. I have to share. I have a wedding to go to this weekend in Rome, GA. As of Wednesday, I had no idea what I was going to wear. Ada and I were in Wal-Mart, and I decided to stroll through the clothing section, just to see what there was to see, and, guess what? I found a precious little black sun dress for $9.00!!! And I will be wearing it on Saturday. It is the bargain of all bargains, and I am so proud. Pictures to come. Lesson learned--don't underestimate what you might find in Wal-Mart.

While in Wal-Mart I also picked up my first two sewing patterns. I know, I know, I don't even have a sewing machine yet, but I just couldn't resist. I am dying to get my hands on that sewing machine, and, well, if I can't do that, I can at least learn to read a pattern so that I will be ready when the machine is finally in my posession.

We have a busy weekend ahead that involves a visit from old friends, a Saturday afternoon wedding, and Elisha Boutwell's birthday party. Elisha turning one is just a reminder that Ada's first birthday is right around the corner--wow.

Speaking of that little stinker, she is more on the go than ever. She even crawled up the entire staircase yesterday (with Scott right behind her just in case). She has had another cold this week, but that has not slowed her down--though it has caused some sleepless nights for us all. And last night, she said what I am considering her first word--bye. Scott and I were waving and saying bye (even though we weren't going anywhere), and she imitated us. So of course we got her to say it over and over again. It is so cute. She waves her hand back and forth and says bye. Where did my tiny baby go? I bought batteries for the camera today, so there will be pictures and even a video to come.

And that's our Friday. What about you? Any big Memorial Day Plans?

p.s. I am still accepting recipes. Even if you already submitted one. Consider it an open invitation.

A few things to discuss

I am LOVING all of the recipes. Please, please, please keep sending them. I am writing them all on recipe cards with the name of the person who sent the recipe, and I will let you know as I try each one. The best part is they are all so doable. I have so many cook books that call for a million ingredients in each recipe, and I just never use them. It's just not practical. But ya'll have provided many nights of easy, good eating. Thanks so much.

Second of all...do you remember how I mentioned at the beginning of the half-marathon training, that I always have knee trouble when I run for any extended period of time? Well, the knee trouble showed up yesterday. I am moving up to 2.25 miles this week--it's a slow process, okay, and for me, 2.25 miles is a lot ;)--but anyway, about 2 seconds after I was out the door, my knee started doing its thing. It was the worst run in the history of runs, but somehow I knew that if I didn't finish, it would be the end of my training. And I have to run this half-marathon. I really have to. So, I struggled through the run, at such a slow pace that Ada could have crawled beside me, but I finished it without technically walking. However, I know that the time has come for new shoes, or it will be the end of the half-marathon for me. And, surprisingly, Scott agreed, and this Friday we are off to Atlanta for the night to buy some new running shoes. I am so excited. There is a store within walking distance of our first apartment that specializes in running shoes, so they can do that whole thing where they watch me run and then tell me what I need. I am hoping they will have lots of good advice for my knee trouble. Plus, Ada has never been to midtown, and 9 months seems as good a time as any to take her. I think we are going to end the night with dinner at CPK. We got a coupon when we were there for our anniversary, and it expires soon, so we have to use it, right?

Finally, stay tuned because I will be updating the blog heading soon. I just feel like it needs to be more creative, so you should see a new look for the blog in the next few days. We'll see.

Happy Tuesday, everyone.