To the most important woman in my life!

I wrote this note a few weeks ago and did not post it! But I can not make it stop! Better late than never!

One of the things I am most grateful for is that God has given me the mother that I have! I have the privilege to say that not only is she my mother, but also my friend, and I pray that I will be a mother like her! 

Well, my mom celebrates her birthday this week, and unfortunately I am not going to be able to be with her because we just traveled to Trujillo (north of Lima) for our annual missionary trip :( Thankfully my mom understands that and she’s not upset ;) 

But just because I can’t be with her for her birthday doesn’t mean that I can’t give her a nice gift, don’t you agree? Well, after thinking and thinking about what would be the best gift, I decided to make her a calendar for her office. 

Maybe a calendar doesn’t seem like “the best gift,” but what you don’t know is that this calendar is filled with pictures of Caleb ;) 

We didn’t have much free time to make a calendar, so we pulled two all-nighters (when I say that we both stayed up all night I say it because Robert helped me to glue the pages) 

On Sunday afternoon, we ate lunch together to celebrate my mom’s birthday and we gave her our gift. She loved it! 

I can almost see her showing those pictures of her grandson to the entire world ;)

Poor Baby

Well, today my Caleb went in for his check-up. We went to the clinic and they were able to take his height and weight. My little boy has gained 1.5 kilograms (about 3.3 lbs.) since last month, which is very good, but he has not changed much in height.
The nurse told me that I should watch how much I eat and make sure that I am eating nutritiously. I have to confess that I have not been very good at that :(. I need to be more attentive and start to eat more nutritious food. I feel really bad when the nurse asks, “Are you eating well?” I feel like a “bad mommy.”
Unlike when I was pregnant, now I am hungry, but instead of eating fruit or something “nutritious,” I have been eating desserts. So now I’m going to drink more water and watch my diet because everything I eat affects my little Caleb.

Ok, continuing with Caleb’s check-up... Caleb was very happy, playing and smiling at the nurse while she weighed him, measured him, and let him play, but everything changed when the time came for those dreaded shots.
My poor baby boy cried and screamed (with tears, so it was for real). It made me very upset, but I couldn’t do anything about it.
He slept the whole way home and then he was fine, until the afternoon... Even though I tried not to move the leg where he got the most painful shot, he moved it himself (well normally he never stops moving his legs!), so in the afternoon he started to cry and cry... Well I should say he screamed and screamed. His leg was so swelled up (and very red), and he kept on looking at me as if to say “Mommy it hurts.” We put warm rags on his leg, and little by little the swelling went down. After all of the tears, he finally fell asleep. He woke up complaining and crying until his leg went back to its normal color.
Since we got home we’ve put him in our bed, and he’s still in our bed now. It seems like his leg doesn’t hurt anymore, but he’s not moving much either... he’s a little more relaxed than normal. His eyes are heavy and he’s not smiling very much, but I think that I would be the same way if I had such a painful injection!

I think that tonight we are going to let him sleep in our bed so that we can make sure he’s ok during the night. Well, only if my husband says it’s ok. I think that I am a very worried and protective mother, but... He’s only 4 months old! :)

Today Caleb was supposed to get his shots. It was one of the first things on my mind when I woke up this morning. The last time Caleb got his shots (two months ago), it was horrible! Seriously! His leg swelled up and he screamed and screamed, then afterwards he got sick and stayed sick for several days. I’m not sure if he got sick because of the vaccinations, but now when I think of him getting his shots again I get a little bit nervous :)
This morning we went to the clinic but the nurse wasn’t there, so tomorrow we have to go again so he can get his shots :( At least Caleb had fun today, though he has no idea what awaits him tomorrow :)

I think it hurts us as moms when we know it’s time for our little ones to get their shots. But we can’t do anything to stop it, because we know that it is necessary. It is a temporary pain that helps us live a healthy life.
At times we also have to go through “temporary pains” that will help us in the future. God allows us to go through different trials in our lives that help us to trust Him more. Are you going through a tough time in your life? Put your trust in the Lord. He always has a purpose for everything that happens in our lives - He is perfecting us!
We can have peace in the middle of the storm, knowing that God holds us in His arms!

Finally!!!

I have wanted to have a personal blog for awhile - a place where I can record the things that are happening in my life.

I´m not sure how often I will be able to write, as I have a husband, an 4-month-old baby boy, a house, a family, and a wonderful ministry; all of which it a bit difficult to find time to sit down and write.

Personally, I love to talk, so this is a good way to "talk" and be to express the things that are going on in my heart and mind.

At this time especially, I feel that God is preparing us for something that is much greater that what we have imagined. It scares me a little because I´m afraid of failing, but a the same time God shows me in His Word that "I can trust Him" and that He will help me through this beautiful adventure that He has set out for us.

It is wonderful to trust in God, isn't it? The God who created the heavens and the earth is the same God who tells me "Do NOT worry, I am with you". I can be at peace because He is with me!