Romans 4 (message)

"But the story we're given is a God-story, not an Abraham (Emily, fill in your name)-story. What we read in Scripture is, "Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own."
Man this smacked me right in between the eyes this morning....Abraham entered into what GOD WAS DOING for him, not what Abraham was doing for God. How many times have I been doing my own thing and expected for God to join in...."Oh wow Emily! That is such a great idea, I NEVER thought of that....." Yeah right, I can't see the whole picture, only He knows where I am going, I just have to follow in faith HIS plan. I was reading through my blogs a year ago, right when we started in-vitro and just felt that part of my story I totally trusted God...we made the decision to do in-vitro and never looked back. We let God write that story, and thankfully it did end the way I wanted it to. I have a son, a happy, healthy, beautiful boy! So if I trusted God through that situation, why is it so hard to trust him each day? I mean it's not just in the big stuff God is writing my story...it is every second, every minute, every hour, every day! He is using little old me, and I know I miss opportunities each day because I selfishly take over, choose the comfortable route and ignore His promptings. Boy, I have a lot to learn.


"But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift"
I was in the recliner with Camden last night. We were reading a book (Pajama Time, is one of the best!), and then said a quick prayer together. I remember feeling so inadequate to be in the position I am in. A mom, what a HUGE responsibility...I have a little life to raise, to love, and to grow in God's way. I started to freak out a little bit....Camden is around for good, he is going to be a toddler, a teenager, and hopefully a dad one day too (Lord willing). I am the person (and Colin) that God gave this responsibilty to, I am the one that has to set an example, discipline him, and ultimately love him forever. Now don't get me wrong, I am up for this, I am all about being a mom....but as I reflected on all that God whispered to my spirit, "you are not alone, WE are going to do this together." That is all I needed....We are not alone.....we have this amazing God who knows the plans he has for Camden and as long as we trust and seek Him for wisdom we will be OK.

So whereever you are, if you think that the job in front of you or the story He is writing for you is too big.....it is not, we can do ALL things through Christ who gives us strength. Pray if you are worried, trust that Big man upstairs, He loves each of us and knows us better than any one person (every hair on your head).

So my prayers is that there be less of me everyday, that God grow more and more in my life and that I am listening to the story HE is writing, and know that story is never too big!

14 weeks

Look at this cute outfit! I captured this picture right before he left mommy a special "present"


My sweet baby boy is 14 weeks! I can't believe it...Colin and I were rearranging the living room last night, including recent pix and I couldn't believe my big ol pregnant belly. It feels like so long ago that I was sporting that baby belly around town. It has almost been 100 days since I was at St Joe East delivering our little gift. Still blown away by God's goodness everyday. He has given us more than we could ever ask for or imagine. Thank you!

So....our little guy is quite busy these days. He is going to bed between 8:30 and 9:30 and will sleep anywhere from 10-12 hours (thank goodness, we know we are jinxing this good fortune by writing it down). He wakes up happy and we eat, read a few books, and get ready for the day. He cat naps during the morning and then after his lunch he typically sleeps 2-3 hours. Daddy gets home sometimes in time for his dinner bottle and then we all hang out (Camden sleeps a little) until bedtime. I love my days with this little guy. HE loves to swing, lay on his mat and coo, punch, suck on his hands, and kick, kick, kick.

I love being a mom!

Pictures from the last two weeks

How cute is this onsie? (I am excited to start subbing this fall in the TLS Preschool)


3 Generations



Aunt Karen came to visit baby Camden (Nana Pam's sister)



Mama and Papa came to visit their great-grandson (Nana Pam's parents)



This is my adorable son with a mohawk, picking his nose, and a pacifier in his ear. I originally took the picture because I loved how he was holding his camo blanket.


I thought this was a great picture of Grandma and Camden


When I say Camden LOVES his new chair...it is an understatement. This chair was $12 from Once Upon a Child and I would have paid $100 if I knew how amazing it would be. I can cook, clean, shower, etc while he punches away at the rattles.

Finally....

So, my poor computer was eaten up with viruses, turns out it had nothing to do with internet access at my house. I dropped off my computer to MCA (don't know what the letters stand for, but they are cheap and quick and right next to Two Chicks on Southland Dr....little shopping?), and an hour later the tech called and said, "Mrs. Stout, I have no idea what is wrong with your computer, I can't do anything. I am going to have to put all your important files on a disk and start from scratch." Oh my.....what in the world did I do? Well a day later they called back and told me to come in and pick it up....$125 here I am with my laptop back in my life. Let's not even talk about how I had to remember the password to reconnect to wireless (J Corn pulled through and figured it out).

The last week has been great for me and my boys. Colin has been really busy at work, and comes home and is the best dad. We had mama, papa, and Aunt Karen come and visit last Saturday for the day. We have pictures (I will download later). We had so much fun showing off our little guy. He was smiling and cooing for his great-grandparents. They are from Florida and have kept up via pix and blog, but it was so cool to get to see them hold him and gush all over him. They love him as much as we do.

Over the last week we made a quick trip to the dr because I was a little concerned about some spitting up (little anxious after our trip to the hospital and surgery), but it turns out I was feeding him to much....ha, how easy was that. The cool part was is they weighed my little roly poly and he is a whopping 13.4 pounds...the Dr said he shot up percentiles in weight. While at the Dr I noticed how intrigued he was by the room and the dr. He just looked at everything....as if seeing it for the first time, colors objects...he was blown away. I told him if he got this excited about an office, I couldn't wait to take him to Disney.

He is also starting to suck on his hands and fingers, punch and focus on objects (I have a video I will try and upload probably to FB), smile more and more, scream out, kick, and drum roll please sleep throught the night (Oh gosh I hate to write that and jinx it.....don't ever speak of it outloud). He goes down around 9 wakes up around 6 or 7 and goes back down until 9 or 10. I love going into his room each morning to watch him stretch, yawn (Ohhh, I will video that). After that we go into my room, get in bed and eat, read, lotion up and get dressed for the day. He is so awesome! I just adore my little man. Well, I know that i have a lot to catch up on...but that is the short version. As long as I don't get my computer sick again, my blogs should be more consistent. My next post will be pix from the last week.....
Em

Sorry

Friends,
My Internet is down at my house and I haven't been able to update my blog. I am currently at my mom and dad's with five minutes to spare before little man wakes up. We are all doing well and I hope to post 13 week pix tomorrow.
EM

Post of Pictures...

Camden adores his daddy...look at that little arm, I melted


My little man exhausted and sleeping on Grandma's lap.....love it!


I bought Camden this new chair the other day (for $12) complete with all these really cool toys. Well being anal annie that I am I put them all in my steam bag and let's just say only 2 out of the 6 survived...oops. I didn't realize things like that exploded and melted. Sorry buddy.



Camo Cam....just like his daddy!


This is a post of pix that I have taken recently and forgot to put on the blog. I can't believe how my little man is filling out, he is just getting so big. He is full of smiles and coeing up a storm. I love it. One of my favorite times is right when he wakes up every morning. We pile in the bed (with Sampson). I feed him, we have some tummy time and read a few books. After tummy time, I turn him over and set him up in his boppy, where he just smiles and coo's for me. I love it! He is the best!

11 weeks....

Camden loves bathtime....takes place in the sink (daddy loves using the sprayer)


Happy 4th of July!



I am still in disbelief that I am a mom.....especially of an 11 week old baby. That is crazy! Well I am happy to report that Camden is officially smiling and cooing. He is soooo cute, and looks totally different with a big cheese spreading across his face. It melts my heart EVERY time! Some other things my sweet boy is enjoying these days.....sleeping, eating, swinging, hanging out on mommy and daddy's bed listening to music (on belly and back), reading books, singing 5 Little Monkey's, and running errands. Camden went to lunch after church last week and was so well behaved. He ate and then slept the rest of the time. Speaking of sleeping, he still loves to have those arms out and tucked behind his head. Our evening routine includes a walk around 830, followed by a bath, bottle, book, and then bed. We have been putting him down awake and he puts himself right to sleep. Daddy was away one night this week and Camden and I were home alone....that sweet baby slept from 9-7:30. His Aunt Jess came by and helped out! We have had a great week....and are just loving every second God gives us with this sweet little guy!

Em

You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ!

I have started studying through the book of Romans. I have decided that I really need to take a look at each chapter and as I go highlight lines and phrases that stand out to me and then write about why they stand out to me. Today was my first day and this line in the message stood out to me....


"You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus."

This to me is so encouraging. As you know I haven't been happy with who I am lately. I am dealing with self-image stuff (who would have thought at 31?). But these are such encouraging words....there is not mistake as to who I am at this very moment. I am who I am through Christ. I need to let go of this heartache of weight, age, ect and just enjoy who I am. Enjoy each day I have been given. Focus on the many, many blessings I have been given through this gift of Jesus. Focus on the call of Jesus. I believe that Satan is trying to distract me from God's call each day in my life....and it is working. I know that I am still going to cringe when I look in the mirror, but now I am going to add this scripture to my mirror and look at that and know that that I am who I am through HIM who gives me life....gave me breath to breathe another day, and to grab every opportunity I am given. Thanks for listening to my rambling....I was encouraged and was hoping someone else would be too.

Em

Just look at these three precious friends I have been given....and our sweet makeovers (it's not facebook girls)

Thoughts.....

I had the opportunity to get two make-overs today. One is a trial run for the wedding and the other was a fun girls night out. I am not naming which one I like the best or where the makeovers are from....I just want to know which one you think I should go with for the wedding????? A or B....be honest. Girls, it was so much fun spending time with you all, I love ya. (if you read this and haven't commented before....I need your comments now!)

A



B

Busiest Day EVER!

Charlie, and Mommy helped Anna blow out her candles......Happy Birthday sweet Anna


Anna Banana is 2!


Lauren and Jack (Jack kept singing Happy Birthday, it was adorable)


I had to remind my husband it was Anna's big day and to let her play with her presents!


This is what Camden did during the birthday festivities (I was hoping he would wake up, but he didn't until it was time to eat at 6:30...sorry friends)


Jess, Em, Kelly, and Em at Graeters to introduce camden to posey and the jones'


Colin and Dave


Camden and Posey


Dave and Marvelous Mia


Kelly and her sweet baby boy Eli


My buddy Jackson (Kelly and Dave's sweet little boy)


Em and Em plus our new friends (Emily Pelsue is a friend of our from Jax...we missed seeing you Aaron, and love your sweet girl!)


This is Posie Jean Pelsue, I have been waiting to squeeze her for months!


My sweet boy ....look at him holding the bottle (too bad he didn't eat anything)


We decided to get crazy and have an action packed day with the boy! It all started with church at 10:10.....Camden sleeps through the worship and then always wakes up around the time Jon/Mike/whoever starts preaching. I get to hold him during the remainder of the service where he snuggles up close and falls back asleep. I love it! After church we grabbed lunch with some of our favorite friends, Nakada, KJ, Soph, Riley, Leigh (2 baby girls in utero) and Aaron. We went to Logan's where we fed Camden and then I actualy had to change him in the little changing station in the bathroom. After a full belly and a clean diaper he slept while we ate and chatted with friends. After lunch we be-bopped over to the mall and walked around. Daddy found a sweet new pair of camo crocs. He loves them! After the mall we actually went home and all took naps (even Sampson). Around 4:30 we got up and going again and headed to baby Anna Banana's 2nd Birthday...pix above. We enjoyed pizza with the Vandemark's family and good friends. We also got to enjoy pizza and delicious cake! After the birthday party, we went over to Graeter's to meet the infamous Posie Pelsue and hang out with more good friends. (J Corn and the Jones'....pix above). We fed Camden at 6 where he didn't seem too interested to eat at all. I think we are moving into eating every four hours....who knows. After a long action packed, fun day we came home had bath, bottle, book, and bed. Our little guy was beat (and so were we). He slept from 9-3:30 and then 4:00-9...AWESOME! Loved being a little more out and about yesterday and spending time with friends we love.

Today I am heading to the mall with Whitney (my future sister) and her sister to get trial run on our makeup and have lunch. So excited. Then tonight I am going to meet some other girls at the mall for a girls night....can't wait. I will post pix.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!
Em

Lake! (and meeting Aunt Kristin)

Aunt Kristin meeting my boy....love it!


Nanny and Camden


Uncle Mac and Aunt Whitney.....big day is coming!!!!


Grandaddy and my boy


Loved this picture...


Camden sporting his sweet threads from Aunt Whitney.


Em and Kris....love you friend


The boys....


William Henry Howard....such a cutie...he enjoyed swimming yesterday!


Matt and Will


Grandma feeding Camden


Pop feeding Camden


After a fun day in the sun, we brought our little frog home for bath, bottle, and bed!

Yesterday was such a beautiful day and we had so much fun at the lake. Camden enjoyed swinging, snuggling, and the shade! I have missed spending time with everyone, and just enjoyed doing nothing....we sat up on the deck and just relaxed. It was awesome. Everyone wanted to feed and hold Camden, so it made for an easy day for mom and dad :) (nobody volunteered to change any diapers, hmmmm...) We are so thankful that we get to go down to the cabin with such great family and friends. Love you guys! Enjoy the pictures from our first day at the lake with baby Cam.

Big Deal....we made Melanie's Blog.....

http://melaniemauer.typepad.com/
(cut and paste the above link....I am not tech savvy, anyone know how to do that)

July 01, 2009
camden - week one
i'm convinced i spent at least an hour a day gushing over this sweet family...anyone who knows them, knows how fantastic they are. and there's this lovely little walk down memory lane that happens as i see a family grow to include a new baby. this shot is in camden's nursery...i know that at some point he'll know, he's incredibly lucky to have these two as his parents. -m-


a baby overwhelms us with it's lovableness; even it's smell stirs us more deeply than the smell of pine

Big Adventure....

We are packing up and heading to the lake today. My mom and dad share a cabin with another amazing couple down at Herrington Lake (they are my second set of parents, love you jan and jim). We are going to spend the day outside with good friends. I am really looking forward to Camden sporting some of his cute lake attire from his Aunt Whitney. I am nervous about the schedule....but I know my boy will eat and sleep, and get LOTS and LOTS of love....which is way more important to me. I will post pix tomorrow of our big adventure. Pray I don't fret about my self image....bathing suits are not my friend and I am having a really rough time.
Em

A lot can happen in a year......

Check out my post from last July. I spent some of the morning reading through our journey. I laughed, I cried, and then I ran upstairs and snuggled with my little miracle. God thank you so much for entrusting us with this sweet little boy. We are forever grateful for this journey and the answered prayers. Couldn't have done it without the family and friends you surrounded us with.....God you are so good!


Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Beginnings......

Tomorrow Colin and I are going to our first education class for IVF. We have been praying for this process over the last few months and are anxiously awaiting to start. I have the HUGE box of meds/injections and a peace that God is ultimately the one that is going to bless us with a child. The journey so far has been like a roller coaster ride. We have had many ups and downs with previous procedures and meds (Chlomid is from the devil), all unsuccessful. I think that it is normal to have some reservations about IVF, but we really feel like God is leading us down this road.
We are hoping that there is another couple in our class that we can walk through this with. We have been incredibly fortunate to have many friends and our families to walk with us, but it is going to be really cool to hopefully connect with another couple who is going through the exact same thing.
I will keep you posted......The link to our Dr.'s website is below. He is a wonderful man, and came highly recommended from my OB/GYN who is a strong man of faith. (God is so good!)
http://bluegrassfertilitycenter.com/

Please continue to pray for us as we walk through this process.


Baby Buddies Summer 2008


Baby Buddies Summer 2009