always one more thing to do!

It seems these days I never really have time to get everything done that I want.  Alas, no blogging for the last two weeks.  We have definitely been busy at the Cherry house, Scarlett was 17 weeks old on Friday, and that means that we had her 4 month appointment.  As of 09/01, she weighed 14.6 lbs and was 25.5 inches long.  Thats all good and well until the doc came and in and said "huh, weight and height are good...what's going on with her head?"  Um, excuse me?  Evidently Miss S is even smarter than we originally thought..her head is officially large by my doctors standards and is in the 90th percentile.  What do those graphs really mean anyway?  I think she is just perfect! 
Saturday night was the kick off to the highly anticipated Razorback football season, we all went out to the farm and watched the game on pay per view, they did not disappoint, GO HOGS! 

Today Scarlett and I had lunch with my dear friend Sara and her sweet pea Emily Brooke, we miss those girls so much and it was great to spend some time with them.  After lunch we headed over to David's Uncle Jerry's for more Family time.  David's cousins Brian and Steven were there with their families so it was really great to catch up and just hang out for a while, we don't see them near enough.   After all that, Scarlett is absolutely worn out...I think she literally got so tired it made her sick...when we got home tonight she was so fussy, which is NOT like her, and her nose and eyes are runny with a touch of fever.  We did an early bath and dinner so she is tucked in for the night, hopefully she will feel good tomorrow because we are supossed to get up and do it all over again at the farm with my side of the family.  I am thankful for the 3 day weekend, I covet any extra time I get to spend with my Honey and Sweet Baby Girl!

I feel like I should tack on a follow up note to my last blog...I'm still working full time, as planned.  Its really not any easier today than it was then but, as I've said before, it's all about perspective.  I have several second Mom's at my church and one that I love dearly is Rita, this whole work/stay home delima I've had over the last couple months reminds me of something she jokingly said in a bible class a while back.  One week she asked us for prayers to help her find a job...about a week later she came back to class and said, "yall did too good of a job praying for me...I already got a new job but I was really hoping for that to happen a few weeks down the road so I could take a break!"   Of course she was absolutely kidding, but isn't that sooo true for many of us?  We ask God for something but then we want it on our time, to fit into our schedules.  I'm just thankful to HAVE my job...so, I'm not changing anything anytime soon, God is good and he has answered our prayers, we are so blessed!

Happy Labor Day, much love to all!

And...I'm back

So, as  I have previously blogged, I started back to work 2 weeks ago...full time, slammed busy, jump in head first kind of back.  I'm not gonna lie...the first week back I cried every night.  It had nothing to do with not wanting to work, I have a really great job that I love, but ohmygoodness it absolutely kills me to leave Scarlett all day.  I had such an overwhelming feeling of guilt that I was shipping her off to the baby sitter all day and that I would only have her for 4-5 hrs at night before I was putting her to bed. Throw in there the necessary items of day to day life (dinner, bath time, laundry, bills, preparing for the next day, etc) and I just couldn't handle it.  There was a point where I nearly broke down and my Mom called me out and said that I was acting depressed and needed to snap out of it (just one of the things Mom's are good for, right?).  She reminded me that all things in life are a choice and I am the one making choices in my life.  As usual, she is right...but, here's the thing...the right choice for one new Mom is not the right choice for all new Mom's.  I am a Mother AND I'm a professional.  The reality of my life is that we depend on the financial support of my income...that is our own doing...we could have been more conservative over the last 6 years and I might be typing a completely different post, but we weren't, so...I'm not.  To those stay at home Mom's out there...I commend you, you did the right things in your life to allow you to spend all those precious moments with your children, and I can imagine that you will absolutely NEVER regret making sacrifices to stay home.  To the rest of us working Mom's out there...we did, and are doing, the right things too...the right things for us and our families.  What David keeps telling me (I need to hear it daily), is that we are on plan, a plan that will hopefully allow me to stay at home down the road when my children really need me and will remember it.  What I know in my heart is that we both just have to step back and let God take over, he has blessed us tremendously with every single thing we could ever want in life, and he will always take care of our family.  Leaving Scarlett last week (week 2), was easier...not because I cared any less or was getting used to it (I doubt you ever get used to turning your back and walking out on your baby), but my perspective has changed...I'm doing this for her and her future.

Enough of that...I feel like I have so much I could say but it would probably come out as a bunch of nonesense so I'll pick a few highlights that come to mind for the last couple of weeks...

• My BFF Haley got a teaching job at the New School in Fayetteville!  She is uubbbber talented when it comes to anything, but especially with children and her gift for creativity and teaching.  I know she will touch many lives in her career and I am so proud of her!
• I'm LOVING Scarletts full time baby sitter, Abuela (Grandma in Spanish), she is wonderful with Scarlett, lives near our house, super affordable, and just a great person.  (bonus-maybe S will be bilingual!) 
• We are having family pic's taken (finally) in two weekends out at the farm, Scarlett has a BUNCH of new adorable leg warmers that she will be sporting (remember what I said about needing to work?) 
• I got my car back
• Lastly-I've lost 7lbs since starting back to work...this should have been my #1, hooray!!!! 

No pics being uploaded tonight...I will add some later, have a great week and remember to count your blessings, name them one-by-one! 

I didn't see you because I have 50 wicker baskets blocking my view...

This is the lovely excuse "Mr. Old man I forgot to button up my shirt", gave me after plowing into me at the inner section of 264 and Old Missouri yesterday.  Somehow that tid bit of info didn't exactly make me feel sympathetic and the police didn't care for it either, enter the breath-a-lizer test at 9am in the morning.  All chiding aside, I'm so thankful no one was hurt especially Miss Sweet Pea who was in the back seat, Dude has insurance so in the whole scheme of things it's not a big deal.  Onto more fun things, last week we spent the week with my Family at Buffalo River, we stayed in a wonderful lodge (highly recommend for large groups, www.cedarcrestlodge.net) right on the water and everyone had a blast, especially all the boys (big and little).  We were so thankful that Grandma Norma and Granny Carolyn got to come too, they are so loved by all and made the trip that much better.  They were also so generous with their time and babysat Scarlett A LOT so that Dave and I could hike. The Buffalo has always been one of our favorite places and it was great to get out and enjoy God's glory. However, I do have to say that either the trails got much harder since last year or I must be lugging around about 25 extra lbs...unfortunately I fear it's the latter.  SO, I'm doing something about it, the baby weight afforded me a beautiful, healthy, little girl but now it has worn out its welcome, hopefully by blogging this ugly truth, I will be able to stick to it and be back in all my cute Seven and Citizen jeans before my bday on 09/24. Oh how I long for those jeans to fit, I am a jean FREAK.  Here are some pics from the week, I still don't know how to post a pic and write about it, then post another, it never comes out right.  Help would be appreciated...

One more thing, I'm back to work next week, technically my start date is a week from today (Friday) but I'm thinking I may just go back Monday to get in a full week, either way it's going to kill me leaving Scarlett, please pray for me as I am truly struggling with finding the trust and inner peace to leave her.

A little this and a little that

I hope everyone had a great 4th! We went to the farm for burgers and then headed to the Naturals game to watch big Dave throw out the first pitch!  Since I haven't blogged it previously I will use this time to say how proud I am of my wonderful husband.  When I was barely pregnant David had the opportunity to apply for a job a Great Southern Bank, opening in Rogers.  The interview process went really well but disappointingly, the bank opening was going to be delayed so they decided not to hire anyone.  We had basically put the job out of our minds when, out of the blue, my last month of pregnancy, they called Dave again and asked him to reapply for the management position as they were ready to move forward. After several interviews and stressful weeks, DAVE GOT THE JOB!  It could not have come at a better time for us, as this enabled me to take my full twelve weeks of maternity leave and stay home with Scarlett.  Thus the reason for the throwing of the first pitch, quite an honor and I must say he was pretty awesome, I was only disappointed they didn't offer him any baseball pants to wear...those are pretty hot. 
On to baby news...we had our dreaded 8 week appointment today where Scarlett got her shots, we definitely know what the "hurt" cry sounds like now and I hope not to hear it again for some time.  It was a little traumatic for her at the time but today she has just slept and slept so hopefully she will feel lots better tomorrow.  Her weight was 11.3 and she is 23.25 inches long.  That is the 61% for weight and the 83% for height...long and lean...where the heck did she get that?
This Sunday we leave for the annual family trip to Ponca, we upgraded to the Cedar Crest lodge this year and I'm pretty excited about it.  Heath, Andrea, and Luke have been gone for a month so we are so looking forward to spending the week with them and everyone else. Even Granny and Grandma are coming this year, I have a feeling that has to do more with the Grandbabies than the scenery but we'll take them however we can get them! Here are some pics of the last few days, somehow I didn't get one good picture of Scarlett's 4th of July outfit, the bow lasted all of an hour but I do love the red checked shirt and denim bloomers, she was so cute.

All in a days work

This week has been one of great fun!  As Scarlett is a little bigger, all of 7 weeks, I feel more comfortable getting her out a little more often. Feedings and naps are now consistent and predictable so for the most part she is easy to tote around and I find myself settling in quite nicely as an on-the-go Mom.  I am SO thankful for my other Mom friends who offer great advice, comedic relief and reassurance. Monday I walked 6 miles with Lauren, Caitlin, Janice, and Vicki...(let's not get into it, it wasn't pretty) while my Grandma had Scarlett.  It was nice to get out and break a sweat!  Tuesday I met Kari Beth and the Girls and the pool for some fun in the sun, Scarlett is not quite ready to take on the pool but she got in a nice cat nap in Sarah's lap. Sweet Elle took a little nap too, it will be so fun when these girls can play and entertain each other.

That night we met David's Dad at the Naturals Game for Fathers Day, it was surprisingly breezy and cool, S slept right through most of it, but when she woke up, she was all CHEESE, here she is hamming it up for Dad.  Yesterday Mom was off so we went out to the farm, ate lunch and laid by the pool, last night was church and we were happy to get home and rest.  We are staying in today to rest and get ready for the family garage sale Saturday morning at Vicki's. I updated my earlier post with some pics since Scarlett's arrival, enjoy!

A few minor changes...

Since my last post you could say things around the Cherry household have changed, as I post now, the new boss of the house is serenely sleeping in my arms (thanks Jelly Bean sling, you are a big help!) Scarlett Rae Cherry was born on May 7th via induction, and weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces, 20.5 inches long.  My pregnancy, delivery, and adjustment into motherhood have all gone picture perfect, I can't thank God enough for the blessings we have been given.  Scarlett is a mess...the best kind of mess you just don't want to ever put down, and you want to get all her neck sugar!  I LOVE that she already has personality, and is a wonderful, easy going little bundle.  She is 5 weeks old and the things I want to remember are that she is already sleeping 4-6 consecutive hours at night, holds her head up like a champ, really likes to kick, kick, kick, smiles for Mom and Dad, doesn't like dirty diapers (who can blame her, right?) and does not like to be left alone in a room.  I am off work until August and I'm loving every single minute of being a stay at home Mom and Wife.

Yesterday Dave had a half day so we decided to get out and spend some QT as a family, we went to our normal place of relaxation...the Farm.  It was such a great afternoon, Scarlett and I made a nice little setup at the pond, watched Dave fish, let the dogs play, visited with Nana and Papaw, ate dinner and watched the Bachelorette (I love Roberto, Kirk and Chris from Cape Cod).  It was so nice to enjoy the fresh air and company.

First pic as a family of 3, I still cant believe it...

Newborn and then 1 month, we will make this a monthly practice. 

Chillaxin with Daddy

Just a little morning side grin for Mom...love it!!!

Even big tough Papaws take advantage of the Boppy!