Selah Opal is Three Months Old!

New Tricks

Selah, Luther, Olive and I are all learning some new tricks.

Selah's new trick, she's discovered her shadow and thinks it's really cool. Putting her to sleep can be a challenge now because she prefers to watch the shadow puppets she makes with her arms than to close her eyes (I have to admit I get into the shadow puppet action because it makes her smile). She's also learning to reach and grab things, apparently she's young to be doing that so of course we think she's a genius. The trick I like the most is when she imitates me saying who who who like a little Owl. We go back and forth who who up to ten time in a row. Again making her a genius by our account. Finally not so much as a trick, but a favorite, she looooooves her mobile. It has a bunch of goofy characters on it that are bright colors, then behind them are these umbrella looking things that have a swirl of black and white, she freaks when I put her under it.

Luther's new trick is learning to stay up all night, just to turn around and help me take care of the baby all day which I appreciate. He's been on call a lot the last few weeks and there is no rest for the werry while he's at the hospital. He gets an hour of sleep here and there if he's lucky just to drag himself home where he gets a few hours of sleep, then gets up again to help me with Selah. I really appreciate how great he's been. On Monday he starts In Service for a month, then he's on OB for a month so Selah and I are going to be on our own a lot. Though Luther's the one that suffers the most, he has to leave at 6:00am and wont be home until about 7:00pm for the next 2 months. He also has to be on call 4 of the 8 weekends. So we just have to get through the next 2 months and the rest of his intern year will be a breeze.

Me... well my new trick is getting everything we need on a very tight budget. We've been living on a budget for the last few years, but now with me staying home with Selah and Luther making decent money, but not as much as our loans allowed us to live on we have really reigned it in. I have about 5 envelopes marked, household/MISC, medical, Selah, clothing, food. Anyway, I get $50 in each envelope for the month. So $25 every 2 weeks isn't much, when something is on sale for $6 you really have to think about it because that only leaves you with $19. I'm the one after lots of arguing with God told Luther he should put me on a tighter budget/allowance. I thought it would be horrible. I never realized how great it felt to know exactly how much I had to spend, even if it's only $2. The stress has melted away and though I spend a lot of time at home; I've also learned where the local library is, so I can borrow a book instead of spending $12 on one I can't return. I take walks, and work out everyday whether if it's at home or at the Y. I also have more time to blog and try and stay in contact with our loved ones. The coolest thing is the gifts we've been getting in the mail, things that would be luxuries for us that we would have not purchased. For instance we got home last night from our one night out this month and at our front door was a gift. A friend from Dominica, Nanooka had sent us a very expensive wool and fleece liner for Selah's car seat/stroller it fits inside so you can zip them up and keep them nice and warm. With the winter coming this is going to be so awesome! We also received a gift card to Old Navy so I could get some warm clothes that are 3-6months for Selah. She is such a little baby she is still in her 0-3 month clothes, I never planned that I would need warm 3-6 clothes because Luther and didn't think we'd have such a small baby. So, my new trick has left me lighter and richer than ever.

A special thank you goes out to Nanooka we are so thankful and overwhelmed by your gift it couldn't have come at a better time. We love you and miss you.

Olives new trick is learning to leave the baby alone! Selah is so tempting she always has some spit up or a stinky diaper Olive would love to get her chops on, but Selah hates to be licked so you see the problem, one love to like and the other hates to be liked.

A Minute at the Park

So the title says it all. Being that our budget is tight we try and get out and do things that don't require money. So, we went to the park, it was only for a few minutes because I forgot a binky, but we still got out into the fresh air and had a great 2 minutes:).

The Lion's Roar

This weekend we went to a retreat with Luther's residency program. It was at the Dells about an hour and a half North from us. It was great to get to the check in counter and have them say your paid in full without getting out a credit card:). The retreat was at the Kalahari, it's a huge hotel and with an even bigger indoor water park. Anyway, it was great to get away, Selah did well she played all day and slept all night and long into the morning. I think the blackout curtains helped, so when I got home I stabled a sheet to the window in her room behind all the cute curtains in the hope she'll sleep long into the morning at home.:). One of Luther assignments while he was there was to come up with a skit with his fellow first years. They did a take off of the Wizard of Oz. Luther was the Lion and he did a great job he roared so loud he scared one of the kids watching. The word on the street is that it was the best skit ever. We made his costume the night before with a little material and a hot glue gun. It cost 60 cents to make and we had such a good time coming up with it together. Sometimes when Luther and I do things together I forget were married because were such great friends. I know corny but it's true. The last night we were there we took Selah on the Lazy river and into the wave pool at the water park she loved it!!! Luther held her on his chest face up so she could see all the crazy stuff on the ceiling while I directed the double inter tube. It was fun to have a family moment like that, it helped me to see pass the crying, the floppy head, and complete dependancey and see the light at the end of the tunnel where were a family doing fun things together.

Photo Shoot

These are Selah's 2 month pictures. While we were in Oregon I had extra time so I look a ton of photos of her. These are all the cutiest photos.

Rocker Chic

So were still working on getting her pointer finger up for a full rock on sign:). The onsie Selah has on saids, LA LA LA LA Daddy Rocks and sings to me. It's so true when I saw it of course on clearence I had to buy it for her. Luther plays his guitars and sings to her all the time. He will stop everything and sing to her if she gets upset, even if were at a restraunt, and he's in the middle of a conversation with his friends he's never too busy to sing. What a good daddy.

Oregon Coast: Part II - Blessing

While we were in Oregon, Luther's dad bless or dedicate Selah. This is what Steve got from the Lord for Selah. Palms 10:18 "defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more." He said she will be a great woman of mercy. She will thread the needle with a steady eye and a steady hand. Selah will be who people call when they need someone to be exact. She will be a women of precision in the natural with great hand eye coordination and in the spiritual realm she will bring order.