I got spoiled for my birthday! I wanted to share some of the awesomeness I received! My parents came out from Oklahoma to visit and Brook had a few days off work so we had a great time celebrating.  The munchkin decided it was time to start teething so she gave me the gift of spending a LOT more time with her…in the middle of the night.  Poor kid.

But I also got some stinkin’ amazing gifts from my outstanding family. From hubby…iPhone 4. Rock on. Love it so much! From the kid (and hubby and pup)…a super cute strap for my camera. It still hasn’t arrived yet but I can’t wait to get this on my camera! From the parentals…a blender. Because afterall I’m old and like to blend. From the in-laws…the Vintage Pearl necklace I’ve been wanting with the kid’s name on it.  Looking forward to adding more charms to this as we add on to our family!

Thanks for making it special! Birthday’s are awesome!

]]> http://karakaejames.com/2010/07/birthday-recap/feed/ 1 http://karakaejames.com/2010/05/the-okie-trip/ http://karakaejames.com/2010/05/the-okie-trip/#comments Tue, 18 May 2010 21:23:34 +0000 karakaejames http://karakaejames.com/?p=2722

We got home last night from a great trip to visit family and friends in Oklahoma.  This was Jessi Girl’s first flight, trip to OK and first time to see most of the family.  She did so great on the flight there and back! I couldn’t believe it.  My apologies to everyone who got to witness the lungs of our sweet girl.  The amount of people overwhelmed Jessika and she was a bit stressed throughout the trip.  I had no idea that a trip could be so traumatic on an infant, but now I know! I didn’t realize how attached she had become to mommy & daddy either! I’m glad she’s as crazy about us as she is!

A brief moment of smiles…

The best part of this trip…was the break I got.  I left my baby girl for the first time, and actually did something for myself.  It was great.  Brook and I were able to even spend a little time together just us.  Thank you to our family for hanging with the kiddo and letting us get a breather!!

We spent several days in Edmond and even got to take a quick trip to Tulsa to see Adam, Stacy and baby Jackson!! We saw what seemed to be millions of fam and friends and then we were off to Purcell for a few days.  Sunday we spent the day with my brother and celebrated our niece’s 1st birthday.

It was a wonderful trip, but Jessi is happy to be home and back in her routine. I’m happy that the screaming has lessened. Hopefully the next trip won’t be so stressful on our girl!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY TAELYN!! Aunt KK loves you!!

Today we are off on a short vacation to Oklahoma to visit family and friends. Everyone will get to meet Jessi and hang with her and I know that’s what everyone is really looking forward to. What am I looking forward to?

A break.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m obsessed with my kid. She is my joy. But I am exhausted. For the past 7 weeks I have spent every moment with her and my world has revolved around her every coo, poo, feeding, drool, smile and precious giggle. But in 7 weeks I haven’t taken a moment for myself. So this week I’m going to rest and let my family spend time with her. I’m going to leave her for the first time and go get my hair done. Maybe I’ll get a coffee and sit. It might get wild.

As a mom my world has completely changed. But I am realizing how important it is to still take some time for me. So for my sanity, and under strict orders from my hubby…I will rest.  I will take a break.

A huge thank you in advance to our family for loving our baby girl and letting this tired mommy have a break!

At Catalyst a couple weeks ago, we were encouraged by one of the speakers to have a “what if” meeting with our families.  He said that he would bring in a white board and the family would gather around and write a bunch of “what if’s” on the board.

What if we got a dog?

What if we cleaned the kitchen?

What if we read the bible together?

What if we went on a cruise?

What if we took a yoga class?

What if we went on a mission trip as a family?

What if… What if… What if?

and so on.  He said to come up with about 15-20 random what if’s.  They can be serious, ridiculous, funny…whatever.  Just whatever comes to mind. Eventually one or two of those what if’s might begin to surface.  It might start to turn into something you as a family really consider.  Maybe it is time to take a trip together, or maybe it just just time to clean the kitchen.

Brook and I asked ourselves a couple of “what if’s” that week.  One really kinda surprised us both, but seems to be something God has really laid on our hearts as a couple.  I have no idea what God will do with this what if, and what it means at this point but it’s exciting to allow your hearts to be opened to the possibilities of God’s full potential for your life.

I encourage you to ask some “what if’s”.  Ask anything.  And pray.  See what God puts on your heart and what you can’t get out of your mind.  Maybe it’s time to act.

I can’t believe it…a month has come and gone.  Our little girl is a whole month old! WOW! Parts of it seem to have flown by, and parts of it seem to have gone on forever.  It’s hard to even remember life without our little girl.  She has become the greatest blessing and joy in our lives.  She is so much fun!

The first 3 weeks were pretty sleepless in our house, but for a whole week now she has been sleeping great.  We put her to bed around 11 or 12 every night and she only wakes up at 4 to eat and then right back to sleep until around 7 or 8.  It’s been wonderful!! I’m so glad she is starting to get the sleeping thing figured out, and it sure helps with my sanity! I sure hope she keeps it up and starts to sleep all the way through the night soon.

She has been learning lots of new things and we’ve seen tons of changes in her.  She found her tongue this past week and its so funny to watch her play with it all the time.  She makes some of the cutest little noises & faces and in the last few days we’ve seen tons of smiles.  Poor kid looks like she’ll have my crooked smile, but it sure is cute! I can’t wait to hear those first giggles…any day now!

We are having a blast being parents and figuring this whole thing out.  We have a LONG way to go, but are loving it.

Happy one month Jessika Kaye!

The Holidays have been a little different for us the last couple of years since moving 1500 miles from our families. Last year we spent Thanksgiving alone and had steak. Talk about a quiet Holiday. We were lucky enough to be able to go to OK this year for Thanksgiving, but working for a church…Christmas is never a good time for us to get away. 

My parents will taking the trip out to Cali again this year for Christmas, and B’s parents will be here the week after Christmas.  I’m so thankful for parents who care enough to make the trip out to spend Christmas with us! Although I’m sure this Christmas will be consumed with planning for Baby Girl & setting up her nursery…I’m fine with that! I am looking forward to next year and all it will bring with a little one crawling around trying to pull down the Christmas tree and being more excited about the boxes her gifts come in than her actual gifts.

The mother-in-law blogged about Christmas Traditions and wanting to start some new ones with a new generation coming. I agree!  I loved Christmas as a kid (and still do!) and always looked forward to the fun traditions with my family. I want Christmas to be a wonderful time for our kids, and start some traditions that we can pass on to our kiddos.

What are some traditions that you and your family do?

What are some things your grandparents did/do for you, or you do for your grandkids?

We’re back in the OC, and we had a wonderful time in Oklahoma!!!

Before we left I made a list of places I was craving that only Oklahoma has. I did a pretty good job!

Recap of food eaten:

Rodney’s Pizza
Raising Cane’s
McAlister’s
Hideaway
Teds
Braums
Earl’s BBQ

This doesn’t include Thanksgiving Dinner(s).  I’m a little nervous to weigh in at my next doctor’s appointment.  Could be ugly…but well worth it! YUM.

We had a wonderful day with my family on Friday and getting to spend the day with our niece Taelyn.  She was only a few weeks old last time we saw her and now she’s six months! She’s pretty cute!

Uncle Brook & Aunt KK

Sunday night was our baby shower and we had a great time!!!! These girls had the right idea and served a real meal…hello bbq! What pregnant woman wants to eat crackers and tiny desserts for a baby shower? No thank you…I’m not working on fitting in a wedding gown at the end of this.  I think those hospital gowns are huge and I’ll fit just fine

 
Preggo Friends                                Aunt Cayce

Big & Little…The greatest friends ever!!

Last pic of us before babies!!!!!!!!!!

It was such a great trip, and a blast to spend time with family & friends in the great state of Oklahoma.  I’m happy to be home with my puppy and back to the norm, but vacation is always great!!

Hello December! 3 months until we meet our daughter!!

I’m taking the next few days away from the blog to spend time with family & friends! I am so excited and really enjoying our vacation!

Friday – My brother, his wife & my precious niece Taelyn are coming to my parents to spend the day.  We haven’t seen Taelyn in 6 months and I can’t wait to love on her!! So bummed that the other niece, Tallie can’t be here

Saturday – FOOTBALL FOOTBALL FOOTBALL!!! Gooooooooooo POKES! Spending some quality time with Brook’s brother, sister, & bro in-law.  Going to dinner with Lee & Wes Jackson…so thankful for great friends!

Sunday Part 1 – We’ll be making our grand appearance at an OKC area Lifechurch.tv Campus.  Haven’t decided which one yet.  It’ll be like Where’s Waldo. Be on the lookout!

Sunday Part 2 – Baby Shower!!!! I’ve never had one of these before for me! Kinda excited! So thankful that we were able to make it to OK and our amazing friends/family put this together for us.  Can’t wait to see everyone!!!!

Monday – Probably a little shopping with mom & then off to the airport! Home to the OC and pick up our first born.  I sure miss that little guy!

Going to be a great weekend and I’m looking forward to all the amazing time with friends and family. Be on the lookout in a few days for plenty of pictures!!

(Skipping a week on the Friday Belly Shot…I’ll still post one on Twitter & Facebook )

Hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving!

Thankful that I have a healthy beautiful little baby girl growing inside of me. I’m going to take good care of her this Thanksgiving and feed her all kinds of yummy things!!

Thankful for my husband and best friend.  I couldn’t ask for a better man and everyday is an adventure with him. (yes baby…i DO like adventures with you!! )

Thankful we get to spend this Thanksgiving with family. (We’ll miss Brook’s parents & Reagan!)

Thankful that we have some amazing friends/family throwing us a baby shower in OK! We’re so excited to bless our baby girl.

Thankful that I’m pregnant and no one will think twice when I devour an entire pumpkin pie by myself. 

Thankful for pumpkin pie.

Happy Thanksgiving my friends.  I hope it is a day filled with blessings and joy!

Another “downfall” of being a pastor’s wife is Sunday Mornings. Yeah, that’s when we go to church. But church for pastor’s wives is different. We don’t get up on Sunday Mornings as a family and make breakfast and watch cartoons with the kids in our pjs. My hubby rolls out of bed around 4am or something insane to get to the church. It’s a work day for him. Which leaves me at home alone on Sunday’s. Lately, since our church went portable, I’ve been getting up and going with him to help with set up (because im that nutty supportive wife). However, in a few months I will be home getting a baby ready all by myself.

I love to hear people talk about their Sunday mornings as a family. Coffee and donuts. Homemade pancakes. Cartoons in pjs. Getting ready and going to church as a family.

My children will never know this. Sundays will likely be a morning of craziness with mom.

I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Because we are changing lives. It’s what we do. I’m so proud of my husband and happy to support him. Even if that means no Sunday morning routines as a family. I’m proud that my kids will see my husband dedicating his life to serve the Lord and lead others to Him.  What a great example he will set for them!! (Plus, they’ll LOVE getting to watch dad on stage!)

Pastor’s Wives – What does your Sunday routine look like with the kids or just you and hubby?

Church Attenders – What does your Sunday routine look like?? I encourage you to make it a fun family day if you aren’t already!