4AM

Lily has been teething like crazy so our night times have become hit or miss sleep wise. She has been handling the teeth coming in with minimal drama and her fussiness has really been tame. Its hard though to be back to the up 2 or 3 times during the nights, but at least she is not in screaming pain.

Well this morning she woke up at 1 and then again at 4AM. As I pulled myself over to her bedroom at 4 I realized that aside from exhaustion I was feeling annoyed. When I got to her room and scooped her up out of her crib, her crying instantly subsided and she laid her little head on my shoulder. We went over to the rocking chair and I put her to my breast. I was hit with this realization of how utterly precious this moment was. To have her lying in my arms, holding onto my shirt and finding comfort at my breast was an experience that would have been so easy to miss being focused on the hour of the morning or the fact that she was not sleeping through the night. The annoyance that I felt melted into complete and utter contentment at being able to spend this precious time with my baby. To know that I am her whole world right now, her security, her hope, her trust and her joy. It really brought to light the relationship that we have with the Lord. When He looks at us and calls us his children He thinks of us the way I thought of Lily this morning. The difference is that His love is complete and is never annoyed, or frustrated. No, His love is perfect all of the time. Lately Lily has been growing and changing exponentially and the moments of her young life fly away. There is a small part of me that wants to keep her this little and snuggly for at least 5 more years, then she can grow up. I know, not possible, but my prayer is that when she wakes me up again at 4AM I will wish the time could go a little slower while I am loving my baby girl.

Down Grandpa's Bumpy Road

On Sunday following the nuptials, we headed to church and then back home for some much needed rest and relaxation. Lily Grace ended up sound asleep in Grandma's arms before the service was out, she was so tired! Once we got back home Grandma Jill settled Lily down on the toy piano and showed her how easy it was to make fun noise come out of the keys.


She lasted only a short time before she fell apart into tears and we had to commit her to her crib for nap time.

That evening we headed over to Daniel and Lauras house (where her first tooth was discovered!) for pizza and fellowship.


Lily was a doll and spent most of the evening rolling around the apartment and playing with anything that she could find. When not exploring her surroundings she was cuddling with mom or Aunt Laura!


Bob and I had a real treat because Ryan Roberts came and met us for a quick visit. Ryan and Bob were in Youth Group together growing up and Ryan drove all the way out to Colorado for our wedding.


One of the best memories we have of him is playing our trash can as a drum during a pre wedding family sing along. Ryan is now a full blown musician and recording CD's. What a great time!

Monday morning had us all tucked away in the car headed across the prairie to Grandma and Grandpa Kuenster's house! Lily was a trooper and slept much of the way. When not sleeping she was either eating or screaming. We made it to the Mississippi River and crossed over to Farmersburg. We trucked down Grandpa's Bumpy Road and make it to the farm house! Great Grandma and Grandpa Kuenster absolutely LOVED Lily Grace and Grandma K couldn't stop smiling and holding her.





The snug little farmhouse doesn't have any air conditioning so evenings were a bit warm. Lily was such a good baby and aside from having a hard time getting to sleep, she slept very well throughout the night.

Jill, Bob and I got up for a country morning run on Tuesday and left the baby in the excited hands of Great Grandma. She was such a great sitter and even managed to rock the baby asleep.






By the time we made it to Grandpa's trailer, Lily was ready for her second nap so we put her in the air conditioned trailer with Grandma Jill and Great Grandma Joyce on baby duty and Bob and I went fishing with the master, Grandpa K. Once out in the water, I put my worm in and snagged a fish right quick. This was the first of about 15 that I snagged. None of them were big enough to keep, but we had a blast throwing them back. Bob and I fished while Grandpa served as the worm guy and the dehooker (for me at least, Bob had to handle his own fish and worms :).



After a 3 hour fishing trip and consecutive baby nap, we arrived back at the dock and got the baby dressed in her digs for her first boat ride! We put her pink life vest on her, slathered her with sunscreen, added a summer bonnet and her pacifier and headed to the boat.


For all the fun we told her she was going to have she was thoroughly unconvinced and screamed for most of the ride. Poor baby! Maybe 7 months was a bit too soon for a boat ride. She sure looked awfully cute though!





For our last night, Great Grandma Joyce and Grandma Jill read Dr. Suess to the baby and enjoyed all of her antics.



The next morning Grandpa K made his delicious blueberry pancakes and we all said our goodbyes.



After hugs and kisses we jumped in the car and headed back to the airport. Our trip home was very uneventful, and we were blessed with an empty seat on the airplane. It was great because the baby slept the whole way home.