On A Day in LA with Baby Daxton

Ever since I moved from CA to NC, I kept tabs on the places that have opened or I didn't get to go to that I could visit when I am in LA. My sister always asks where I want to go and plans some days with those adventures and a few other she thinks we might enjoy. This trip is no different except that we got to plan to bring an extra little body along. Daxton spent the day yesterday going from Malibu to Westwood to Downtown to Koreatown. He loved the food at Malibu Farms Cafe, took in the sights at the Getty Villa, made some new friends, slept through an In-N-Out drive thru, attempted pictures in front of the wings, and really wanted mine and my sister's Korean food, which he didn't get. He only fussed a bit on the two hour drive to Malibu (should've been 50 minutes or less), a bit in the car here or there, and a bit on the way home. I am going to deduce that fussing was due to his front bottom teeth cutting and wanting to be out of the car on another adventure. I love that I have a little buddy to adventure with me! Thank you CC for planning such a fun day!

On Taking a Break

I've been so busy lately, always coming or going, always driving. Daxton has been super fussy in his car seat and I'm wondering if he is thinking the same thing I am...let's take a break! *cue Hamilton soundtrack* I don't know why I've been so busy and I don't know why I don't just chill. I need to retreat. I need to cancel plans, not make any new ones, forget about errands, and just stay home for a day with my baby, cuddling and watching Gilmore Girls. I find myself rushing things so we could move on or putting D down so I can clean and get stuff done. I am officially on a home vacation. I'm not leaving unless I feel led and it will be leisurely and spontaneous and fun. I'm talking no errands, no chores, no worries. So much to the point that I'll get drive thru junk food for dinner so I can spend more time with my baby. He's almost 5 months. I won't be able to call him a baby much longer. He will be a toddler and saying, "No, I don't want to," before I know it. So while Dad is away until tomorrow night, Daxton and I are gonna chill. Sorry Stephen, but the place will probably be a mess when you get home. The dishes are clean in the dishwasher, half a load of laundry is still in the dryer, the dining room table has become a depository for mail, books, toys, and Easter candy, pillows are strewn lazily on the couch, oh look, more laundry on the couch! The PlayStation is hanging on a chair in the middle of the living room and there are quite a few seltzer cans clandestinely placed around the house. I have a project half finished on the mantle and the other half on the chest in the living room. So now that I've listed all that I would have to do, I don't feel so bad about not doing it! All for this moment...

On Continual Growth

Tonight, as I was putting Daxton to bed, I wondered if he is going to sleep well tonight. Last night, he slept until 4:30 and Stephen and I were ecstatic, hoping we had made it through the worst part of the sleep regression. I jokingly told Stephen it was our reward for giving time to the church for Good Friday when we could have had a family day instead. Tonight I thought, "Maybe there was something to that comment and maybe he will sleep well tonight because I served again and I'm really feeling the power of the Lord". But how silly is that; I am not serving because of the benefits or rewards, I am serving because I want to connect with others and grow in my faith. As I laid D down, I heard God remind me, "It isn't going to be easy." If I continue to look for ease or comfort, I will never be challenged, so I will never grow. Life is about continual growth. Earth experiences challenges every year. During winter, trees lose their leaves and grass is browned. But once spring comes, we see how the earth grows again out of it's challenges; a beautiful cycle set forth by the Creator. Winter is not easy for many, but come spring, we are able to see such wonderful rebirth. As a parent, we will face challenges, dry season, and a lot of storms, but the beautiful growth we will see in our children is such a magical thing. All our challenges, all our struggles, will bring forward some type of growth. It may not be something tangible, it may not be something big, it may not even be soon-God's timing will always trump our own-but it will happen. During your storms, pray for growth and pray for patience. Give God a chance to work in your life and you will be amazed with the outcome!