I remember the exhaustion I had in the days and weeks following Noah's birth. But this is a different kind of weariness. My bones ache, my eyes throb, my heart's sad, my whole being is stretched entirely too thin. To go through the list of "what's gone wrong" this week would be tiresome and too much for another to read, so please just take it for what it is worth when I say that I have almost had more than I can bear this week.
Maybe in days gone by, a good cry would help me relieve some stress but I can honestly say that I don't remember the last time that I really, really cried. I always have hated the aftermath of a cry-session: your eyes are swollen, your nose is stuffy, you feel vulnerable and weak. It is all too much for me usually. But tonight my sweet friend, Melanie, called me on my cell and then persisted when I didn't answer and called my house. All it took was for her to ask me what was wrong and the dams burst. A river of self-pity ran until it was dry. It was just what I needed...
My best friend, Lydia, tells me I am strong and capable and excellent... but why do I feel like I am living in a permanant complex puzzle? If it isn't one thing, it's another: it's the dog being super dependent, barking at EVERYTHING and not eating; it's my child not letting go of my leg because he can't understand why his daddy isn't coming home; it's my house falling into complete disarray as I stand by and watch it happen; it's the inability to sleep when sleep is not only desired but essential. I can be many things, but super-human is not one of them. And it seems this week that being super-human is a requirement in my home.
The loosely translated 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that "God never gives us more than we can bear." The actual verse is "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."
Basically, God never gives us more than He knows we can actually handle. And while He knows HOW we will choose to handle the given situation, He will sit back and watch us make the difficult decision to soar or fall, to succeed or to fail. And when we feel there is no way out of our given situation, God will always provide an escape. He will delight in our choice should we choose to take a stand against "temptation." Yet, I still feel like I am constantly standing on the edge of a cliff wondering if I am going to fly high off of it or fall flat on my face. I guess that accompanies being a Child of God: we are given struggles but we are ALWAYS given an escape route.
God desperately wants us to rest in Him; but knowing that and actually resting and knowing He is God are completely separate. I choose peace... no matter how it eludes me tonight.
Our Babies
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
1 Year Stats
We had Noah's 1 year check up today and it seems we have a healthy, strapping, and happy young man. He's in the 80th percentile across the board:
- 31 1/2 inches long
- 25 lbs, 4 ounces (he only gained 1 pound since he was 9 months)
- 18 1/2 inch head circumference
His pediatrician, Dr. Judd, is so wonderful. She loves Noah and he loves her. We will miss her when we move in June. Noah had a great visit till we were sent out to the waiting room to wait till he was called back for his vaccinations (MMR, Hep A, Prevnar and flu). He was entertaining himself and playing with another little girl. He began to chase her and he slipped and landed square on his chin. All hysteria broke loose! He now has a terribly black and blue chin but I am so thankful he didn't break a tooth or bite his tongue in the fall. As soon as I got him calmed down (it was nothing a little "doose" (juice) and hugs couldn't take care of!), they called him back for his shots. Wow, did I feel like a bad mom while we held him down and he looked me pleadingly in the eyes and screamed! He hasn't cried through shots in so long but these 4 hurt.
We did a lot of research and praying about what to do regarding vaccinations. I initially decided (well, Dan and I did but I was the one doing the majority of the research) that we were going to do the Dr. Sears' method of vaccinating and space them out. However, we flew to the Mainland with Noah when he was 2 months old and with the amount of germs and diseases on the planes between here and the States, our doctor really advised us to get him fully vaccinated in accordance with the Acadamy's recommendations. As I said in my previous entry, there isn't a day that I don't lay my hands over him in complete authority and plead the blood of Jesus all over his body. We are confident that vaccinating him fully is the best method for us and ultimately, for him. There are so many parents choosing NOT to vaccinate these days that diseases that had become obsolete are breaking out again all over the place. We decided that it is wiser to prevent and take the miniscule risk of side effects than to expose his little system to germs that could wipe him out should he come into contact with them.
I am presently listening to him wailing in his crib. He's so overtired from the week's events and now from the pain of his accident and shots that napping seems to be out of the question. Darn it... I have so much packing to do for our trip this weekend! But, hey, who can complain when their child is so healthy!? Not me.
L-O-V-E
Being a mom is hard. It is harder than I ever could have imagined. You are no longer able to be selfish - those days are over the minute you conceive. But what I have found in my 1 year of being a mother to the most precious boy is that I no longer WANT to be selfish. Oh yes, I wake up many mornings longing for just another hour of sleep but the magnetism pulling me into Noah's room is so forceful, for I know waiting just beyond that door is the biggest smile and arms waiting to wrap themselves around my neck. Sleeping in? Who needs it when that is waiting for you in the crib in just the next room!
Each night when I am rocking my baby to sleep, I pray over him: I lay my hand on his head, his tummy, his back, his hands, his feet and I just plead the blood of Jesus all over his little body. I lift up his mind, his spirit, and his heart. I pray that God will continue to find me worthy of being the mother of Noah Beall for many, many happy and wonderful years to come and I praise Him for having entrusted Noah to me over this past year.
Most often, I am brought to tears as I pray and begin to fully comprehend the responsibility and authority that I have been given over his little life. Noah's hair ends up being stuck to his head because of the tears that I shed as I reflect on the love that I have for him compared to the unfathomable love that our God has for us. Being a parent has now given me a small glimpse into the absolute delight that the birth of Jesus provided Him, and a glimpse into the sheer agony that the persecution and crucifixition of His only Begotten Son had on the Father. Yet, His sacrifice was the ultimate act of love to a very unworthy mankind.
In Genesis 17 and 21, we learn that Abraham was 99 years old and had no children. Yet God appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” When Abraham heard that, he fell on his face as God continued to say to him,“Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations... I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you." HOW AWESOME to be found worthy of a) having God reveal His face to you and b) to be blessed that greatly at 99 because God found you blameless!
Abraham laughed when God told him that Sarah would conceive in her old age, but he trusted God. Out of that trust, blamelessness, and faithfulness came Abraham's beloved son, Isaac. He followed God's instruction and was willing to sacrifice his boy. Yet, because of his faithfulness and obedience, God told him, “because you have done this, and have not withheld your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore... And by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.” Wow.
When I reflect on Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his beloved boy, I think about whether or not I would ever be able to be that obedient. My immediate gut-reaction is "absolutely not." Yet, that is what God did for us!
Every day I make a point to tell Noah that he is indeed the "love of my life." Of course, his daddy is also the "love of my life," but in a much different context. I heard once that the most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. My husband adores me, and I him, and we make a point many times each day to kiss and hug in front of Noah so he sees how much love we share. But the love we share for one another is much different than the love we have for Noah.
Just today Noah and I were watching Sesame Street and one of the sketches had Elmo (Noah's favorite) asking his friend how could she love him when she loved her son so much. Elmo was afraid that she would run out of love and not have enough for him. She responded that one can never love too much or run out of love; there is always room for more love in our hearts and there are so many different types of love.
The love that I have for Noah in indescribeable. It pains my heart to the point that I think it will explode. So many mothers, including my own, warned me of the intensity of that love before I gave birth but NOTHING can prepare you for the magnitude of a Mother's Love till you experience it yourself.
"Her children arise up, and call her blessed." -- Proverbs 31:28
Each night when I am rocking my baby to sleep, I pray over him: I lay my hand on his head, his tummy, his back, his hands, his feet and I just plead the blood of Jesus all over his little body. I lift up his mind, his spirit, and his heart. I pray that God will continue to find me worthy of being the mother of Noah Beall for many, many happy and wonderful years to come and I praise Him for having entrusted Noah to me over this past year.
Most often, I am brought to tears as I pray and begin to fully comprehend the responsibility and authority that I have been given over his little life. Noah's hair ends up being stuck to his head because of the tears that I shed as I reflect on the love that I have for him compared to the unfathomable love that our God has for us. Being a parent has now given me a small glimpse into the absolute delight that the birth of Jesus provided Him, and a glimpse into the sheer agony that the persecution and crucifixition of His only Begotten Son had on the Father. Yet, His sacrifice was the ultimate act of love to a very unworthy mankind.
In Genesis 17 and 21, we learn that Abraham was 99 years old and had no children. Yet God appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” When Abraham heard that, he fell on his face as God continued to say to him,“Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations... I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you." HOW AWESOME to be found worthy of a) having God reveal His face to you and b) to be blessed that greatly at 99 because God found you blameless!
Abraham laughed when God told him that Sarah would conceive in her old age, but he trusted God. Out of that trust, blamelessness, and faithfulness came Abraham's beloved son, Isaac. He followed God's instruction and was willing to sacrifice his boy. Yet, because of his faithfulness and obedience, God told him, “because you have done this, and have not withheld your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore... And by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.” Wow.
When I reflect on Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his beloved boy, I think about whether or not I would ever be able to be that obedient. My immediate gut-reaction is "absolutely not." Yet, that is what God did for us!
Every day I make a point to tell Noah that he is indeed the "love of my life." Of course, his daddy is also the "love of my life," but in a much different context. I heard once that the most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. My husband adores me, and I him, and we make a point many times each day to kiss and hug in front of Noah so he sees how much love we share. But the love we share for one another is much different than the love we have for Noah.
Just today Noah and I were watching Sesame Street and one of the sketches had Elmo (Noah's favorite) asking his friend how could she love him when she loved her son so much. Elmo was afraid that she would run out of love and not have enough for him. She responded that one can never love too much or run out of love; there is always room for more love in our hearts and there are so many different types of love.
The love that I have for Noah in indescribeable. It pains my heart to the point that I think it will explode. So many mothers, including my own, warned me of the intensity of that love before I gave birth but NOTHING can prepare you for the magnitude of a Mother's Love till you experience it yourself.
"Her children arise up, and call her blessed." -- Proverbs 31:28
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
What a talker!
Noah Beall is a man of many words. Yes, we have been doing some sign language with him, albeit only a minimum amount because we realized that we were wasting our time with sign language early on: the kid is able to verbalize what he wants! Not kidding, he has the incredible ability to "talk" and has been doing that since he was about 8-9 months. He is a sponge; we say a word and he repeats it. Here are some of the numerous things he is saying right now (mind you, the pronunciation is what you would expect of a 1 year old!):
- "Baw" - Ball is his favorite word. He and Piper will tug over the many balls rolling around our living room and patio. Noah always wins. He will just repeat "baw" over and over again while he's playing with it. He also enjoys showing the "baw" to you. He loves to say it over and over when he's soothing himself to sleep.
- "Da-da" and "Ma-ma" - Obviously, this is what he calls us.
- "Daw" - Dog
- "E-ow" - When he sees his cat, Maria, this is what he does! It is his attempt to say "meow"
- "Oo - oo" - When I ask him what a doggie says, he says this instead of "ruff-ruff"
- "Doose" - Juice
- "Peas" - We tried to sign "please" to him over and over but he just started saying it instead! He whispers this one and it is so cute when he is begging for whatever it is you are eating and whispers "peas"
- "Gone-gone" - This means "all gone/done" or "down" or "finished." We taught him the sign for "all done" but he just now waves his hands and says "gone-gone" instead!
- "Uh-ohhhh" - Self explanatory! He loves to drop things over the side of the tub and then throw up his hands and say "uh-ohhhh."
- "Ed-owh" - "Hello." He says this one a lot right after he wakes up in the morning and is chatting to us while we change his diaper.
- "Heeeeyyyy!" - This is one of my favorites! He gives us the best greeting with this when we've been in the other room and he is seeing us for the first time in a few minutes or when he's standing and waiting in his crib for us to come get him. He does it with the biggest smile on his face too.
- "Buh-buh" - "Bye-bye." He usually does this when we are taking him up to his room for his naps. He will wave his hands towards his face while he repeats "buh-buh" many times over.
Noah is so verbal. It is fun each day to watch him learn a new word or gesture. When we were home over Christmas, my dad (Grandaddy) taught him how to snap. So, while he doesn't have the snapping sound down yet, he will rub his fingers together in great effort! He also likes to blow on things or tell you to "shhh." I have been whistling to him and he's actually been able to whistle back to me several times!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Fun Little Man
Noah's growing by the day and is into EVERYTHING. Here are some cute photos of him from the past week.
"It's all in a day's work, Mom"
"It's all in a day's work, Mom"
Noah is obsessed with his daddy's guitar
"Peek-a-boo!"
The kids waiting on Daddy to throw the "baw"
Noah's best impression of a pig
Invite
Sorry that you all had to go through the hassle of getting 'invited' to read this blog. I didn't know I could make it private but saw a friend's status update on Facebook last night saying she had made her blog private. I realized after looking at the Live Traffic feed on our blog that I didn't know many of the readers coming to our blog from various locations nationwide - I would end up racking my brain to try to figure out who I knew in Oregon or Maine, for example. So I decided to take the same route as Amy and make our blog as private as is possible on this World Wide Web. It is creepy to know that your daily updates are available to anyone who might Google you, if you think about it!
Katie
Katie
Wow.
If you read in my previous entry my letter to GW Bush, this will surprise you: his secretary contacted my dad's secretary after getting her information from Karl Rove. George W. Bush wants to contact me so he had his secretary track down my information! Here is the email correspondence below between my dad's secretary, Mrs. Sander's and Bush's secretary:
-------------------------
Subject: President Bush's response to Katie Hawkins Beall
Ms. Sanders:
Karl Rove passed on Katie Hawkins Beall’s thoughtful note to President Bush, and he would like to write her back. Per our phone conversation, we’d like to confirm a few things. Can you please confirm her rank, active duty status, and husband’s name? Do you have a mailing address?
Many thanks for your help!
Daena Stanek
Associate Director of Correspondence
Office of George W. Bush
-------------------------
Subject: President Bush's response to Katie Hawkins Beall
Ms. Sanders:
Karl Rove passed on Katie Hawkins Beall’s thoughtful note to President Bush, and he would like to write her back. Per our phone conversation, we’d like to confirm a few things. Can you please confirm her rank, active duty status, and husband’s name? Do you have a mailing address?
Many thanks for your help!
Daena Stanek
Associate Director of Correspondence
Office of George W. Bush
Friday, February 20, 2009
Travel
My sweet husband leaves today for Montgomery, Alabama where he will be doing Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base for the next 6 weeks. For you non-military types, this is necessary career progression training for all O-3s. Unfortunately, Dan already completed the coursework for SOS online last year but it is better to also do it in-residence. He actually wasn't supposed to go till September but that was after we move and the 'higher ups' got him into an earlier course at the last minute. So, he leaves today and Noah and I go next Sunday to join him. We will all come back to Hawaii on 29 March.
Since Alabama is obviously home for me, then there is no excuse for my not traveling there as well. My parents are aching to have Noah home and with them moving into their beautiful new home at The Waters on March 5th, it will be great to be there to help, have help with Noah and transition into a new home as a family. We are all very excited for this new phase in my parents' lives.
Yes, my dad is still Chancellor at Troy and will remain there till a) he either decides 100% to run for governor of Alabama or b) he decides NOT to run and fulfills his contract to Troy and chooses to retire. Either way, my folks are moving into their own home in Montgomery, Alabama and will still use the Chancellor's home in Troy to entertain and stay in when needed.
There is so much to do to get my husband ready to go. As I said, this was a last minute TDY and his orders were just processed yesterday... he leaves today. I have had a lot to do: get my ticket for me and Noah squared away, get our bills paid, get Dan ready and then have SO much to do this next week by myself such as get our animals taken care of for the month we are gone and pack for myself and a little guy. It is times like this that I would give anything to live closer to my family so I could have some help! I envy people who have grandma living just down the road. Oh well, maybe our next assignment will afford us a little less distance between us and grandparents! Speaking of which, I have a lot of you asking if we yet know where we will be moving. The answer is 'not yet.' But as soon as we find out and can process it ourselves, we will let you know (I am still praying for the South!).
Katie
Since Alabama is obviously home for me, then there is no excuse for my not traveling there as well. My parents are aching to have Noah home and with them moving into their beautiful new home at The Waters on March 5th, it will be great to be there to help, have help with Noah and transition into a new home as a family. We are all very excited for this new phase in my parents' lives.
Yes, my dad is still Chancellor at Troy and will remain there till a) he either decides 100% to run for governor of Alabama or b) he decides NOT to run and fulfills his contract to Troy and chooses to retire. Either way, my folks are moving into their own home in Montgomery, Alabama and will still use the Chancellor's home in Troy to entertain and stay in when needed.
There is so much to do to get my husband ready to go. As I said, this was a last minute TDY and his orders were just processed yesterday... he leaves today. I have had a lot to do: get my ticket for me and Noah squared away, get our bills paid, get Dan ready and then have SO much to do this next week by myself such as get our animals taken care of for the month we are gone and pack for myself and a little guy. It is times like this that I would give anything to live closer to my family so I could have some help! I envy people who have grandma living just down the road. Oh well, maybe our next assignment will afford us a little less distance between us and grandparents! Speaking of which, I have a lot of you asking if we yet know where we will be moving. The answer is 'not yet.' But as soon as we find out and can process it ourselves, we will let you know (I am still praying for the South!).
Katie
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Oh, the Competition
I know that parenting isn’t a competition… but dang it, if mom’s aren’t the most competitive group on this planet. When a woman is pregnant, the competition begins: how far along one is, how sick/not sick one is, how much weight one gains.
Then when the child is born, the competition continues: how much the child weighs, how much weight the mom is able to lose in a nanosecond, developmental milestones reached, how many teeth the child pops through and how early, the child’s sleeping habits and breastfeeding success…. It gives me a headache. And makes me sick to my stomach that women can be so catty about how perfect their babies are and how wonderful the experience of being pregnant was for them.
I unfortunately had a handful of those “friends” who were pregnant at the same time as me and gave birth a tad bit before Noah was born. Everything was perfection for those girls and I really beat myself up that my pregnancy was so much longer, frustrating and then my childbirth experience went NOTHING as planned. Yet those girls knew my struggle and were terrible about “checking” on me but only as an excuse to brag about their easy births and natural abilities to breastfeed and then onto how their child was hitting milestones well before the expected time.
Why are women like that? Why can we not just be happy for one another and celebrate another’s happiness even when the other is struggling? Why can’t we just support each other and only offer our stories up when ASKED?! I find myself daily comparing my weight loss and child’s development to another’s. I hate, HATE that about myself too and thankfully I have a wonderful husband who constantly reminds me that our parenting experiences and Noah are completely unique. But still…
Having suffered because of other girls’ need to brag has made me try to be more sensitive in ever offering up advice or my experiences unless asked. I think we should all try to be a bit more sensitive – especially when talking to new moms. We can all remember how trying and terrifying those first few months were as new mamas. And whether one admits it or not, we have all struggled at some point and resented the other moms who offered advice when it definitely wasn’t wanted!
Katie
Then when the child is born, the competition continues: how much the child weighs, how much weight the mom is able to lose in a nanosecond, developmental milestones reached, how many teeth the child pops through and how early, the child’s sleeping habits and breastfeeding success…. It gives me a headache. And makes me sick to my stomach that women can be so catty about how perfect their babies are and how wonderful the experience of being pregnant was for them.
I unfortunately had a handful of those “friends” who were pregnant at the same time as me and gave birth a tad bit before Noah was born. Everything was perfection for those girls and I really beat myself up that my pregnancy was so much longer, frustrating and then my childbirth experience went NOTHING as planned. Yet those girls knew my struggle and were terrible about “checking” on me but only as an excuse to brag about their easy births and natural abilities to breastfeed and then onto how their child was hitting milestones well before the expected time.
Why are women like that? Why can we not just be happy for one another and celebrate another’s happiness even when the other is struggling? Why can’t we just support each other and only offer our stories up when ASKED?! I find myself daily comparing my weight loss and child’s development to another’s. I hate, HATE that about myself too and thankfully I have a wonderful husband who constantly reminds me that our parenting experiences and Noah are completely unique. But still…
Having suffered because of other girls’ need to brag has made me try to be more sensitive in ever offering up advice or my experiences unless asked. I think we should all try to be a bit more sensitive – especially when talking to new moms. We can all remember how trying and terrifying those first few months were as new mamas. And whether one admits it or not, we have all struggled at some point and resented the other moms who offered advice when it definitely wasn’t wanted!
Katie
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
What a small, small world...
Wow. That's all I can say: Wow. Last year, my parents hosted Karl Rove at Troy University. Through that visit, a friendship was born between my mom and Mr. Rove.
On the eve of Obama's inauguration, I was so heavy hearted. I was in desperate need to express myself, so the best I could do was to write President Bush a letter of gratitude. I posted it on our http://www.babybeall.com/ website so that one day, Noah would know how much his mom (especially) and dad supported our former president. NEVER, EVER did I imagine that President Bush would actually read that letter. But just today, my mom sent that letter onto her friend, Mr. Rove, and Mr. Rove responded immediately and told her "Janice,... I will pass Katie's wonderful note on to President Bush. Many, many thanks..." So, since President Bush is apparantly reading my letter to him today, I thought I would share that with you as well as post the letter here for those of you who didn't see it on our baby website.
_________________________________________
[Written on the night of 19 January 2009]
Much of the rest of the world may be rejoicing tonight that it is the final 12 hours of George W. Bush's presidency. However, my heart is heavy as we say goodbye to an outstanding leader, man of character and Commander in Chief. I will forever be grateful that his name is on my Air Force commissioning certificate and that he was my boss for the time I served on active duty. To have served such an honorable man, I am thankful.
While some of his decisions were questioned by many, and while the majority of Americans ridiculed him outwardly, my family and I chose to stand behind him and lift him up in prayer. President Bush is a man of faith, who includes God in his decision making process and for that very reason, I felt safe with him in the White House.
Tomorrow, the course of America's history changes. In comes the celebrated Barak Obama and out goes the mocked George W. Bush. How horrible of a nation are we that we have disrespected a man who stood in front of the world on September 11, 2001 and reassured a broken people that we would seek out and punish those responsible for the horrors that were committed on American soil. He chose the course and he chose to STAY the course. Right or wrong, he did what he thought was best for us as a nation. No matter how one agrees or disagrees with his choices, one cannot deny that the changes we are seeing in Iraq now as they stand up as a democratic and free nation are a direct result of President Bush's determination and vision. It is heart breaking that for all that he has done right and for how much he clearly loves this country he has selflessly served for the past 8 years that we as a nation are kicking him out of the door without so much as a thank you. Many are hoping it hits him in the back as he leaves.
While we may not all agree with the Bush policies, none of us can deny that he led the United States of America through one of the darkest times in our history. And he did so with his head held high and with his decisions decisively and firmly made. I slept soundly with him as our leader, I am thankful for him and for his service.
Tonight I sign off with the meager words "thank you" to President Bush. Thank you for doing the best you could given the terrible circumstances you faced. Thank you for sacrificing the past 8 years of your life to serve a cause greater than yourself. Thank you for standing firm and tall against those who wanted nothing more than to see our nation fall. And thank you for seeking out the wisdom of our God everyday. You will continue to be lifted up in prayer. I miss you already so much that my heart aches and I will pray for vindication for you. I am confident that one day in the near future, the rest of the world will realize all of the great, great things you accomplished in your time in office and they too will be grateful.
On the eve of Obama's inauguration, I was so heavy hearted. I was in desperate need to express myself, so the best I could do was to write President Bush a letter of gratitude. I posted it on our http://www.babybeall.com/ website so that one day, Noah would know how much his mom (especially) and dad supported our former president. NEVER, EVER did I imagine that President Bush would actually read that letter. But just today, my mom sent that letter onto her friend, Mr. Rove, and Mr. Rove responded immediately and told her "Janice,... I will pass Katie's wonderful note on to President Bush. Many, many thanks..." So, since President Bush is apparantly reading my letter to him today, I thought I would share that with you as well as post the letter here for those of you who didn't see it on our baby website.
_________________________________________
[Written on the night of 19 January 2009]
Much of the rest of the world may be rejoicing tonight that it is the final 12 hours of George W. Bush's presidency. However, my heart is heavy as we say goodbye to an outstanding leader, man of character and Commander in Chief. I will forever be grateful that his name is on my Air Force commissioning certificate and that he was my boss for the time I served on active duty. To have served such an honorable man, I am thankful.
While some of his decisions were questioned by many, and while the majority of Americans ridiculed him outwardly, my family and I chose to stand behind him and lift him up in prayer. President Bush is a man of faith, who includes God in his decision making process and for that very reason, I felt safe with him in the White House.
Tomorrow, the course of America's history changes. In comes the celebrated Barak Obama and out goes the mocked George W. Bush. How horrible of a nation are we that we have disrespected a man who stood in front of the world on September 11, 2001 and reassured a broken people that we would seek out and punish those responsible for the horrors that were committed on American soil. He chose the course and he chose to STAY the course. Right or wrong, he did what he thought was best for us as a nation. No matter how one agrees or disagrees with his choices, one cannot deny that the changes we are seeing in Iraq now as they stand up as a democratic and free nation are a direct result of President Bush's determination and vision. It is heart breaking that for all that he has done right and for how much he clearly loves this country he has selflessly served for the past 8 years that we as a nation are kicking him out of the door without so much as a thank you. Many are hoping it hits him in the back as he leaves.
While we may not all agree with the Bush policies, none of us can deny that he led the United States of America through one of the darkest times in our history. And he did so with his head held high and with his decisions decisively and firmly made. I slept soundly with him as our leader, I am thankful for him and for his service.
Tonight I sign off with the meager words "thank you" to President Bush. Thank you for doing the best you could given the terrible circumstances you faced. Thank you for sacrificing the past 8 years of your life to serve a cause greater than yourself. Thank you for standing firm and tall against those who wanted nothing more than to see our nation fall. And thank you for seeking out the wisdom of our God everyday. You will continue to be lifted up in prayer. I miss you already so much that my heart aches and I will pray for vindication for you. I am confident that one day in the near future, the rest of the world will realize all of the great, great things you accomplished in your time in office and they too will be grateful.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Birthday Photos
Noah had a great and VERY full week! Here are some snapshots into the big events of the week.
Noah loves Elmo!
Noah and his daddy
He's obsessed with peek-a-boo right now
We did this month-by-month poster for his party
Our family at Noah's party
Cupcake EVERYWHERE!
Ready to dig in
Noah, Daddy and E-L-M-O
Mama and Noah opening presents on birthday morning
"Gimme that camera, lady"
Sunday, February 15, 2009
43/50 Ain't Bad... Right?
I am not going to lie: losing the weight I gained while pregnant with Noah has been so challenging. I was drafted into believing the myth that I could eat what I wanted because it would "fall off" when I started breastfeeding and my hormones leveled out. Nothing anyone told me would sway me - it would take me experiencing the torment of post-pregnancy weight myself.
Not a week after Noah was born was it that I bought the latest copy of People and US Weekly featuring mom's such as Nicole Richie and Christina Aguilara on the cover. They had babies one month before me and they were already sporting big boobs and small waists. It was then that I started freaking out that only 30 had immediately fallen off and not the whole 50! Not kidding: within 6 days of Noah's birth, 30 pounds melted away. But for the majority of the year following those first 6 days, I was stuck with the rest. My sweet husband had to constantly remind me that my obsession with looking like the newest star moms wasn't going to happen right away because they had nannies, cooks, trainers, 8+ hours of sleep a night.... yet they all lie and say that the weight fell off through breastfeeding and through the sheer joy of just being a new mom.... What a load of garbage.
While my sister, Kelly, was here 2 weeks after Noah's birth, I made her get out with our new Valco jogger stroller to get my weight loss regime underway. Crazy? Yes, I was. But I was obsessed with being a super mom. Well, God had a lesson for me to learn in my first year of being a mom: I had a healthy, perfect baby boy in my arms and while I despised my new figure, I had to daily challenge myself to focus on Noah and the total blessing he is to our life.
The entire first year of Noah's life, I could have been classified as 'obese' by today's standards. But magically, when the first year of his birth rolled near, the weight started falling off. No matter the amount of obsession I had had, or how many miles I ran (I went through 3 pairs of serious running shoes since Noah's birth - that is how much I ran/walked/pushed myself to the limit) or how I watched my calorie intake, that weight was going to come off when it was ready and not a moment before.
Just today, I put on a pair of my favorite pre-Noah pants that only 2-3 weeks ago didn't fit, and they fit like a glove, perfectly. I was elated. I still want to be 10 pounds lighter than when I got pregnant with Noah but I have to admit, 7 left over from Noah's birth plus 10 extra ain't bad compared to the 50 I started out with! Whoo hoo!
I will never make the same mistake of eating all that I want in my future pregnancies - I refuse to go through the misery of the kind that I have experienced this first year of Noah's life. It is just not worth it.
Katie
Not a week after Noah was born was it that I bought the latest copy of People and US Weekly featuring mom's such as Nicole Richie and Christina Aguilara on the cover. They had babies one month before me and they were already sporting big boobs and small waists. It was then that I started freaking out that only 30 had immediately fallen off and not the whole 50! Not kidding: within 6 days of Noah's birth, 30 pounds melted away. But for the majority of the year following those first 6 days, I was stuck with the rest. My sweet husband had to constantly remind me that my obsession with looking like the newest star moms wasn't going to happen right away because they had nannies, cooks, trainers, 8+ hours of sleep a night.... yet they all lie and say that the weight fell off through breastfeeding and through the sheer joy of just being a new mom.... What a load of garbage.
While my sister, Kelly, was here 2 weeks after Noah's birth, I made her get out with our new Valco jogger stroller to get my weight loss regime underway. Crazy? Yes, I was. But I was obsessed with being a super mom. Well, God had a lesson for me to learn in my first year of being a mom: I had a healthy, perfect baby boy in my arms and while I despised my new figure, I had to daily challenge myself to focus on Noah and the total blessing he is to our life.
The entire first year of Noah's life, I could have been classified as 'obese' by today's standards. But magically, when the first year of his birth rolled near, the weight started falling off. No matter the amount of obsession I had had, or how many miles I ran (I went through 3 pairs of serious running shoes since Noah's birth - that is how much I ran/walked/pushed myself to the limit) or how I watched my calorie intake, that weight was going to come off when it was ready and not a moment before.
Just today, I put on a pair of my favorite pre-Noah pants that only 2-3 weeks ago didn't fit, and they fit like a glove, perfectly. I was elated. I still want to be 10 pounds lighter than when I got pregnant with Noah but I have to admit, 7 left over from Noah's birth plus 10 extra ain't bad compared to the 50 I started out with! Whoo hoo!
I will never make the same mistake of eating all that I want in my future pregnancies - I refuse to go through the misery of the kind that I have experienced this first year of Noah's life. It is just not worth it.
Katie
Then and Now
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Great Week
We really had so much fun celebrating Noah's 1st birthday. The whole week was slammed with stuff to do! We had a great time at Noah's party, which was here at our house in Hawaii, then on Sunday we went to the 2009 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium with a bunch of our friends. Noah was a trooper - he loved the whole first half then tapped out on my shoulder for most of the second.
Dan was thankfully off on Noah's actual birthday - 12 February - so we got up and had a leisurely morning with waffles, coffee, presents and relaxing. Noah racked up on the loot! He got some really awesome gifts. My mom and dad gave him a massive activity center and some smockings (much to Dan's chagrin). Dan's parents gave him some really sentimental gifts - including a shirt that was Dan's dad's shirt at the US Naval Acadamy when he was a freshman. They dressed Dan in it on his 1st birthday and then had that photo framed to give to us along with the same shirt for us to put Noah in to continue the tradition. Noah got lots of Elmo stuff, Disney DVDs from Aunt Kelly, and too many toys to count! We look like we have opened a daycare center in our living room.
Then when Noah had his nap, we loaded up and went into Waikiki to the Honolulu Zoo. He LOVED it there! We saw elephants, tigers, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras - he had such a great time. And of course, he was a trooper and took a nap in his stroller. For dinner, we ate at LuLu's which is right on the beach in Waikiki and had a great time. Noah had his first mac and cheese and insisted on throwing it at all of the pigeons - ewww.
All in all it was a fabulous week. Now we have a lot of logistical issues facing us. We still don't know where we are moving in June and now Dan has gotten tapped to go to Squadron Officer School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama this Friday. He already completed the course via correspondence but it is good for his career to go in residence. So he leaves us on Friday and although I said I wouldn't ever travel between Hawaii and the Mainland again until we moved, I am heading back to Alabama the first week of March to be with Dan and see my family. They wouldn't forgive me if I didn't bring Noah for the 6 weeks Dan is there! So we are trying to get our lives squared away before this trip which we won't return from till the last day of March. We then have April and May to pack up and enjoy the remaining time here in Hawaii before we move in June.... I am anxious to know WHERE we will be going! I will obviously keep you all posted...
Katie
Dan was thankfully off on Noah's actual birthday - 12 February - so we got up and had a leisurely morning with waffles, coffee, presents and relaxing. Noah racked up on the loot! He got some really awesome gifts. My mom and dad gave him a massive activity center and some smockings (much to Dan's chagrin). Dan's parents gave him some really sentimental gifts - including a shirt that was Dan's dad's shirt at the US Naval Acadamy when he was a freshman. They dressed Dan in it on his 1st birthday and then had that photo framed to give to us along with the same shirt for us to put Noah in to continue the tradition. Noah got lots of Elmo stuff, Disney DVDs from Aunt Kelly, and too many toys to count! We look like we have opened a daycare center in our living room.
Then when Noah had his nap, we loaded up and went into Waikiki to the Honolulu Zoo. He LOVED it there! We saw elephants, tigers, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras - he had such a great time. And of course, he was a trooper and took a nap in his stroller. For dinner, we ate at LuLu's which is right on the beach in Waikiki and had a great time. Noah had his first mac and cheese and insisted on throwing it at all of the pigeons - ewww.
All in all it was a fabulous week. Now we have a lot of logistical issues facing us. We still don't know where we are moving in June and now Dan has gotten tapped to go to Squadron Officer School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama this Friday. He already completed the course via correspondence but it is good for his career to go in residence. So he leaves us on Friday and although I said I wouldn't ever travel between Hawaii and the Mainland again until we moved, I am heading back to Alabama the first week of March to be with Dan and see my family. They wouldn't forgive me if I didn't bring Noah for the 6 weeks Dan is there! So we are trying to get our lives squared away before this trip which we won't return from till the last day of March. We then have April and May to pack up and enjoy the remaining time here in Hawaii before we move in June.... I am anxious to know WHERE we will be going! I will obviously keep you all posted...
Katie
Friday, February 13, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Videos of Noah
Noah doing the "sugar plum" dance with Aunt Kelly and Daddy on Christmas Day 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocRWnodrbyU
Grandaddy receiving his big gift from the family on Christmas Day 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZjnxH2EZCM
Noah eating his first ever cupcake!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmbK0FPGyUU
Noah and his daddy jumping on the moon bounce after his birthday party
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhSjtyLT3o4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocRWnodrbyU
Grandaddy receiving his big gift from the family on Christmas Day 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZjnxH2EZCM
Noah eating his first ever cupcake!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmbK0FPGyUU
Noah and his daddy jumping on the moon bounce after his birthday party
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhSjtyLT3o4
Sadness
I have been reading "The Shack" and feel like I have been taking the journey of heartbreak, understanding, "The Great Sadness," and ultimately forgiveness and freedom with the main character, Mack.
I got to the part last night when he gets to see Missy, his precious daughter, and while she can't see him, she knows he is there and she signs "I Love You" to her daddy and I absolutely lost it. How can a God of love allow bad things to happen to good people? Or innocent little girls such as Missy? But as a Christian, one has to understand that while God's heartbreaks just as much - if not more - than our's do when something terrible happens, He gave us a choice long ago to remain in Him or to separate ourselves from Him in the Garden. For all mankind, Adam made the choice to become independent of God, thus, satan was allowed to have the freedom to run rampant on this earth and cause terrible, evil things to happen to God's beloved children. That is a hard thing to wrap one's mind around.... But we must if we are to understand the true love that God has for his people.
My cousin Karen's best friend, Rebekah and her husband, Benji gave birth to their baby girl Gracie on Friday. For those of you who followed our babybeall website, you know that Gracie had Trisomy 18. She was stillborn but they were allowed to hold their daughter all night and even give her a bath. Please follow their blog link on the right of this one under "The Benjamites" and lift them up in prayer with us. God is just as sad as they are, but He has Gracie in Heaven with him today and forever more and as believers, what a GREAT FREEDOM we have in knowing that we will all be reunited with our babies, our parents, our friends and our families one day because we choose to love Jesus and have Him live in our hearts.
Sadness is only relevant on this earth and one day, it will not be our companion any longer. Let's rejoice in that.
I got to the part last night when he gets to see Missy, his precious daughter, and while she can't see him, she knows he is there and she signs "I Love You" to her daddy and I absolutely lost it. How can a God of love allow bad things to happen to good people? Or innocent little girls such as Missy? But as a Christian, one has to understand that while God's heartbreaks just as much - if not more - than our's do when something terrible happens, He gave us a choice long ago to remain in Him or to separate ourselves from Him in the Garden. For all mankind, Adam made the choice to become independent of God, thus, satan was allowed to have the freedom to run rampant on this earth and cause terrible, evil things to happen to God's beloved children. That is a hard thing to wrap one's mind around.... But we must if we are to understand the true love that God has for his people.
My cousin Karen's best friend, Rebekah and her husband, Benji gave birth to their baby girl Gracie on Friday. For those of you who followed our babybeall website, you know that Gracie had Trisomy 18. She was stillborn but they were allowed to hold their daughter all night and even give her a bath. Please follow their blog link on the right of this one under "The Benjamites" and lift them up in prayer with us. God is just as sad as they are, but He has Gracie in Heaven with him today and forever more and as believers, what a GREAT FREEDOM we have in knowing that we will all be reunited with our babies, our parents, our friends and our families one day because we choose to love Jesus and have Him live in our hearts.
Sadness is only relevant on this earth and one day, it will not be our companion any longer. Let's rejoice in that.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
About my pregnancy
This is a fun questionairre that I just filled out on Facebook. Thought I would share it here since Noah's birthday is now a week away.
_____________________________
1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? Absolutely not. We got pregnant right before my in-laws were to come to Hawaii to see us for 2 weeks. I guess Noah was a total love child and meant to be!!
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Happily. For 1 ½ years.
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? To say that I was shocked is an understatement. I called my sister-in-law, Annie, who had been in Hawaii with us for 2 weeks before we found out that I was pregnant and the first thing she said to me was “But we drank the whole time we were there!” Oh well, Noah turned out perfect.
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? Stupid question.
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? I was 27 when I conceived and 28 when I gave birth.
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? Funny story… I was actually deep cleaning my house after we had the Beall clan here and had an old pregnancy test in the medicine cabinet. I didn’t even think that I could be pregnant but I wanted to get rid of the test before it was old and unreliable and I had to toss it. Plus, I had had all the PMS signs one could have plus some spotting. There was no reason to think I could be pregnant.
So, while Dan was downstairs drinking beer and watching basketball on his Memorial Day 2007 off, I took the test and set it aside. Almost 30 minutes had passed before I went back into the bathroom to use it again (what can I say, I drink a gallon of water a day) and realized I hadn’t thrown the test away. I picked it up, glanced at it and began to toss it into the garbage can when I realized there were two lines instead of one…. Uh oh. So, I go downstairs, tell Dan I had taken a test (which he got mad about because he thought I should’ve told him that I had taken it…) and then shoved it into his face. I said “what does this say?” he said “I don’t even know what that thing is.” He paused his game and I told him it was obviously a pregnancy test and it was clearly positive. He told me to go to the doctor the next day, unpaused his game and took a long swig of beer. That’s my guy.
I went to the doctor the next day, had some blood work done and was told to go back to work and wait to hear from them. 4 hours passed with no word. So, I called them and the nurse said “Oh, sorry. We were supposed to call you. Well…. Congratulations. You are 5 weeks pregnant.” What?! How could that be?! We weren’t planning this for like, 2 more years.
I decided to drive to Dan’s office to tell him and when I got there, I got a call on my cell from Dan. He said he had driven home over lunch to let our new puppy, Piper, out. He said “What’s the verdict?” and I told him that I was pregnant but had wanted to wait to tell him in person. And if you can believe it, he actually said to me: “Catch me next time around!!!” And that is our story.
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? See answer above!
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? I knew from Day 1 that I was pregnant with a boy and never doubted it for a second. Noah was Noah from the get-go and I knew it instinctively. But, yes, we definitely found out at 20 weeks.
9. DUE DATE? 2 February 2008 but he had other plans and was almost 2 weeks late. Insert the word misery here.
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Not once.
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Bleu cheese dressing, chicken pot pies, root beer and lots of water.
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? I got sick of the “Is this baby ever going to come?!” routine. I also heard that I had been pregnant forever a lot…
13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? A sweet, sweet boy.
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? Not for a millisecond.
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? Ugh, too much. About 45.
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? I had two baby showers. One in Troy, Alabama that was fabulous when I was 7 months and another about 2 weeks before Noah was due in Hawaii by my group of girlfriends.
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? They were both surprises initially.
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? At 10 weeks, I had some spotting and thought I had miscarried. But after that, it was smooth sailing. Except that he was so late. That can be considered a complication by my standards!
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? 36 HOURS. Went in at the crack of dawn on 11 February and he didn’t come till the following night.
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? Dan. My mom was with us.
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Danny Boy.
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? C-section
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? I didn’t get an epidural till after 30+ hours of labor. Couldn’t take it anymore. But, who could after that length of time?!
25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 7lbs, 10oz and was 19” long
26. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? Tuesday, 12 February 2008 at 7:18 pm
27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Noah Everard Beall (after the Biblical character, Noah, and after my grandfather, Everard Flude Grindley, who was an immigrant from Ireland and a truly amazing man of God).
31. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? My sweet boy will be 1 in a week. Wow, how the time flies.
_____________________________
1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? Absolutely not. We got pregnant right before my in-laws were to come to Hawaii to see us for 2 weeks. I guess Noah was a total love child and meant to be!!
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Happily. For 1 ½ years.
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? To say that I was shocked is an understatement. I called my sister-in-law, Annie, who had been in Hawaii with us for 2 weeks before we found out that I was pregnant and the first thing she said to me was “But we drank the whole time we were there!” Oh well, Noah turned out perfect.
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? Stupid question.
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? I was 27 when I conceived and 28 when I gave birth.
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? Funny story… I was actually deep cleaning my house after we had the Beall clan here and had an old pregnancy test in the medicine cabinet. I didn’t even think that I could be pregnant but I wanted to get rid of the test before it was old and unreliable and I had to toss it. Plus, I had had all the PMS signs one could have plus some spotting. There was no reason to think I could be pregnant.
So, while Dan was downstairs drinking beer and watching basketball on his Memorial Day 2007 off, I took the test and set it aside. Almost 30 minutes had passed before I went back into the bathroom to use it again (what can I say, I drink a gallon of water a day) and realized I hadn’t thrown the test away. I picked it up, glanced at it and began to toss it into the garbage can when I realized there were two lines instead of one…. Uh oh. So, I go downstairs, tell Dan I had taken a test (which he got mad about because he thought I should’ve told him that I had taken it…) and then shoved it into his face. I said “what does this say?” he said “I don’t even know what that thing is.” He paused his game and I told him it was obviously a pregnancy test and it was clearly positive. He told me to go to the doctor the next day, unpaused his game and took a long swig of beer. That’s my guy.
I went to the doctor the next day, had some blood work done and was told to go back to work and wait to hear from them. 4 hours passed with no word. So, I called them and the nurse said “Oh, sorry. We were supposed to call you. Well…. Congratulations. You are 5 weeks pregnant.” What?! How could that be?! We weren’t planning this for like, 2 more years.
I decided to drive to Dan’s office to tell him and when I got there, I got a call on my cell from Dan. He said he had driven home over lunch to let our new puppy, Piper, out. He said “What’s the verdict?” and I told him that I was pregnant but had wanted to wait to tell him in person. And if you can believe it, he actually said to me: “Catch me next time around!!!” And that is our story.
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? See answer above!
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? I knew from Day 1 that I was pregnant with a boy and never doubted it for a second. Noah was Noah from the get-go and I knew it instinctively. But, yes, we definitely found out at 20 weeks.
9. DUE DATE? 2 February 2008 but he had other plans and was almost 2 weeks late. Insert the word misery here.
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Not once.
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Bleu cheese dressing, chicken pot pies, root beer and lots of water.
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? I got sick of the “Is this baby ever going to come?!” routine. I also heard that I had been pregnant forever a lot…
13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? A sweet, sweet boy.
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? Not for a millisecond.
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? Ugh, too much. About 45.
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? I had two baby showers. One in Troy, Alabama that was fabulous when I was 7 months and another about 2 weeks before Noah was due in Hawaii by my group of girlfriends.
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? They were both surprises initially.
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? At 10 weeks, I had some spotting and thought I had miscarried. But after that, it was smooth sailing. Except that he was so late. That can be considered a complication by my standards!
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? 36 HOURS. Went in at the crack of dawn on 11 February and he didn’t come till the following night.
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? Dan. My mom was with us.
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Danny Boy.
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? C-section
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? I didn’t get an epidural till after 30+ hours of labor. Couldn’t take it anymore. But, who could after that length of time?!
25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 7lbs, 10oz and was 19” long
26. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? Tuesday, 12 February 2008 at 7:18 pm
27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Noah Everard Beall (after the Biblical character, Noah, and after my grandfather, Everard Flude Grindley, who was an immigrant from Ireland and a truly amazing man of God).
31. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? My sweet boy will be 1 in a week. Wow, how the time flies.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
On our way...
I promise that we will be up and running soon! Noah turns 1 year old next week (February 12th) and we will keep www.babybeall.com till the end of the month but will begin transitioning to this site throughout the next few weeks. I am looking forward to having a blog that can be a little more flexible with what we post! Noah's site has been tailored just for him since it was my effort to archive his first year to the best of my ability. This site will allow me some liberty in my writing about things that I want to write about! Obviously, most of the entries will likely be about 'my boys' but it will be fun to have some flexibility.
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!
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