I am linking up with The Gypsy Mama for this week's installation of Five Minute Fridays:
We set a timer, throw caution to the winds and try to remember what it was like to just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.
1. Write for 5 minutes flat on the prompt- no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking 2. Link back here and invite others to join in. 3. Meet & encourage someone who linked up before you.
OK, are you ready? Give us your best five minutes on:
Gift...
I have two gifts I am thankful this morning... well and every day.
I don't know know where I would be without my husband. He is truly my best friend, someone I truly believe God handpick and shaped for me.
He has stood by through my side through many trying and difficult times. Especially when we were waiting for this Gift.
I wrote yesterday about a sweet "gift of a day" with my baby girl. Sometimes I still can believe she is ours. Our gift to keep, and give back to her Heavenly Father.
As I was looking at my little gift at one point yesterday, tears filled my eyes, and I seriously thought my heart would explode with all the love oozing out for my baby-gift-girl. I squeezed her, probably, a little too tight in an attempt to let her know how much her mama loved her and is thankful for her.
What on earth did we ever do to deserve such a gift? She is a gift I daily pray we will be good stewards of. A gift we raise to love her Jesus, and, as the plaque soon to be hanging in her nursery says,
Seek Justice, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with (her) God. Micah 6:8
Today was a great day! I am in yoga pants, spit up stained shirt, hair piled on top of my head, and minimal make up on. I may not look like I had a great day, but I did.
My house looks like it hasn't had a good day in a month. There is laundry everywhere! Remind me to never go on a week's vacation, without the husband, during the season change. You come back with all of your's and the baby's laundry, his laundry, which is substantially more then usual since he worked out way more with you out of town. Plus, you are pulling out the next season's clothes, washing new baby clothes, etc... I feel like I have swimming in laundry all week, and there is no end in sight!
I did however manage to make dinner, thanks to Pinterest! Supposedly these are the best Chicken Enchilada's out there. I will let you know if they live up to all the hype.
So why was it a good day? My baby girl slept on me! For hours!
She hasn't done this since she was a month old. At the ripe old age of 4 weeks she decided being rocked and cuddled to sleep was for babies. Since she was so mature, she could go to sleep by herself. Zip that girl up in her woombie, and out she goes. How I have missed those sweet snuggled slumbers!
Ellie got her first immunizations this week, and they have definitely made her tired. I got her up for her noon feeding, and while she ate, she slept. And she continued to sleep. She slept on me until 3pm!
At first, I thought how sweet it was. About 45 minutes into it, I started seeing and thinking about all I should be doing - laundry, cooking, cleaning, organizing, etc... I started to feel slightly panicked as my planned out schedule for the day was being completely thrown off.
Then I realized. I won't have many more days like this. Ellie is growing up way too fast. Plus, if we ever have more babies, I won't have the luxury of sitting on the couch for hours, uninterrupted. This is it. It's my one and only chance to soak up precious moments such as these.
So the schedule went out the window as we snuggled down into the couch together. I even dozed a bit myself.
One of our college girls came over visit with us and see Ellie this evening. The laundry was piled on the couch and dishes were in the sink. Oh, and I greeted her at the door in the ensemble described above. This is huge for me - to calmly and comfortably visit with guest in a house full of such disarray.
"Excuse the mess," I said, "We were making memories today."
This is a Word Document I put together for some of my expectant mom friends who were finding registering for their baby more then a bit overwhelming. Understandably! While registering for you wedding is so much fun, I think most people find baby registering stressful and/or overwhelming. For such little creatures, the sure do require a lot of stuff! And there is so much to chose from! Some of the choices are high quality and life/sanity savers, while others are gimmicks and a complete waste of your time and trash.
These are the products are what worked for us. I saw their effectiveness even before I was a mom, when I worked as a nanny and pediatric nurse. I have linked most of the products back to Baby's R Us, as I simply pulled them off my registry. I have not been compensated or endorsed to write this post. These thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
The Woombie and Swaddle Me products:
Babies LOVE to be swaddled! Even if they seem to fight it first, they really do
love it. And they sleep sooo much better swaddled – it helps ease their startle
reflex, and makes them feel secure. I love swaddling with Mom’s On-Call’s
swaddle blankets (the muslin swaddle blankets on the market do not work!) but eventually the babies
start to bust out… and husbands, aunts, and grandparents who don’t religiously
practice swaddling can’t do it effectively. J
The Woombie and Swaddle-Me’s come in great handy!
Once a baby can roll over, they need their arms
unswaddled. Since loose blankets are still not recommended at this age, so the
sleep sacks are a great option that still give babies a sense of security, as
well as keeping them warm.
The Soothies are for babies 0-6 months, and I
think worse best for babies who are going to be breastfed. I also think the
majority of babies like these, and that they cause the least amount of nipple
confusion whether breast or bottle feeding.
Wubbanubs are GENIOUS inventions! They involve
the Sooties paci’s (best for breastfeeding babies) with little stuffed animals
attached. The stuffed animal can lie on the baby’s chest, etc… to help keep the
paci in until the baby is old enough to coordinate the sucking motion to keep the
paci in the baby’s mouth. Plus, when the baby gets older, it gives them
something to hold onto/play with. You can read about their creation here.
Travel Basinet: this is a great alternative to
having to lug a huge/heavy pack and play around! It fits most babies up to at
least 9 months. It folds up to about the size of a diaper bag and is super
light.
I don’t know how moms survived before video
monitors – especially in multi-level homes!? This monitor system has the
ability to network with several cameras for when/if you have several kids you
want to monitor. The video aspect really helps when you move the baby into
their own room!
I want one of these for myself! The Snug-a-bunny
is the best bouncy seat! Its quite large, so the baby can enjoy it for months,
and has the all important for soothing vibrating function
You do need a rectal thermometer, but the
temporal ones are awesome! This is one of the best – we used it in all the
pediatric offices where I used to work
We love this travel system. It has awesome
reviews, and most of our friends have a version of this system as well. Super
easy to use, fold up, and snap in
The Hooter Hider: Yes, this is really what they are called, and they are
genius! The strap around the neck keeps the baby from batting the
blanket down, keeping you modest and covered. The neck piece also has structure
to it so that you and the baby can make eyed contact during the feeding, which
I love. I also think it helps the babies not feel so isolated/smothered as they
get older. I am a very private/modest person and wasn't sure how I would feel
about breastfeeding in public, but I quickly realized/learned if I only
breastfed behind closed doors, I would never rarely be
able to socialize. This thing goes everywhere with me, and Ellie
and I have already eaten/fed in numerous social settings. I strongly recommend
moms start using this early on in the nursing journey so the baby
gets used to eating "covered."
Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breastpump - On-the-Go Tote: Every
nursing mother needs a breast pump - no questions asked!
This pump came highly recommended to me by many moms and lactation
consultants. Yes, it is expensive, however, everyone who I know
that has one has been able to use them after all their pregnancies, for
years. This is another item, I pack up and take everywhere with me. Don't
worry... while I might be comfortable nursing in public, I am not going
to be allowing the public to view this "cow-esque" experience anytime
soon. Few things make you feel more animalistic then hooking yourself up to a
breast pump.
Medela Bottles and Accessories: I think the Medela brand bottles/nipples
are the best compliment to breast feeding. All their bottles attach to the
breast pump as well. I am not a huge fan of the breast milk bags, as I think
they are difficult to handle and very easy to spill. Once you start pumping,
you view your milk as liquid gold and even just a few spilled drops can nearly
bring on the tears.
If you are going to be taking the time to pump, you need the hands-free
options! This is what I use, and it is extremely comfortable and secure. While,
I don't go around the house vacuuming or dusting while hooked up to my
hands-free device, but I can do many sedentary activities while pumping, which
is very nice/helpful when pressed for time.
Supplemental Nursing System: I recommend purchasing
one of these and bringing it, unopened, to the hospital. You
may not need it, in which case, you can just return it. However, if you are
like me and your milk takes days to come in, this will save your
sanity, life, and make your baby much happier. I did not have one, and luckily
had a nurse who help us set up a makeshift system, but taping a feeding tube to
your already sore bo.ob and attaching it to a syringe that someone has to hold
over your shoulder is far from ideal. Either system gets the job done, and I
credit this (and our 1.5 hour feedings until my milk came in - ugh) with
keeping Ellie from having to use the bili-lights. Another cool use for this
system is for adoptive moms who have to use formula but still want to experience
the bonding that comes with nursing!
Soothies: these are pricey, but I would honestly pay twice as much for
them, they are that darn good. I realize lanolin is the
"healer" of choice, but it honestly did not think it worked all that
well for me. Soothies and vitamin E oil were my go to pain reducers/healers.
The Soothies are usually good for up to 3 days. Most hospitals have samples of
them, so be sure to stock up while you are there!
The Boppy: My mom is so jealous of this creation! This comfy little
pillow is so helpful during those early days, after delivery, to keep the baby
in an a comfortable nursing position, saving your back, arms, and shoulders
until your "mom muscles" are nicely developed. It can also be used
for tummy time for the baby, and as a positioner to help the baby sit up. I
recommend getting the plain muslin boppy, and purchasing a cover(s). That way
when life's little mishaps spew, spill, and squirt all over the much loved and
used boppy, the cover can be removed and washed, and its as good as new
Bumbo seats are
great for the baby developementally! They can also double as a feeding chair
when you add the tray to them, making they a great travel option.
This is the best infant carrier out there. There
are many other options, but everyone I know who has ever tried the wraps, etc..
still ends up going back to the Bjorn. The wraps are great in theory, but very
difficult to master alone, and they get progressively more difficult as the
child gets older/builder.
Sophie is one of the world’s oldest and most
famous baby toys. Its healthy, safe, and a developmentally sound toy. Read why
it’s a must have for every baby here:Link
We have hardwood
floors making tummy time and playing on the floor difficult… and cold. This mat
is great, so soft and plush, and Ellie loves it! It also makes a great backdrop
of pictures.
If you haven’t yet discovered Moms On Call yet,
you must! Follow them on twitter and facebook for additional support. I suggest moms and dads watch the 0-3 month
seminar at least twice before their baby actually arrives. These ladies do such
a great job decreasing stress and fear and empowering new moms. Their Baby Care
book is a home essential, as are their swaddle blankets.
Another baby-must-have that Moms On Call suggests is a loud white noise machine. Most infant sound machines are not loud enough – the adult ones are better. Or you can use a MP3 player and down load a white noise sound bit onto an iPod, etc..
Pampers swaddlers are my favorites, especially
for the infants (I get sensitives for infants). I think they have the most leak
protection and they have the moisture stripe down the center (yellow when dry,
blue in the presence of urine). Wet
diapers that first week are so small in volume and so obsessed about it… its
hard to tell if/when a baby has actually peed, which can stress a sleep
deprived mom out. However, this moisture stripe is very sensitive and takes the
guess work out of it.
The Nose Frida is one product I have not personally purchased or used yet. However, I live in the allergy capital of the world and know many moms who swear by this. As a nurse, I have seen many babies requiring either frequent office visits or even hospitalizations simply to manage/suction all their secretions. If/when Ellie gets her first URI, we will definitely be using this. I plan on purchasing it soon, so we have it before we need it. Yes, the concept sounds gross, but the mechanics are not, I promise!:)
I also use an infant sleep
positioner for Ellie, which the AAP has ruled against. You can read their
reasons here: http://bit.ly/wIMMZC I feel
completely comfortable using this for Ellie, especially while she is still in
the room with us. She does not sleep comfortably on her back, and had lots of
trouble with reflux when she was first born. The positioner helped keep her on
her side, and be much more comfortable. You can still find them at most
consignment shops/sales.
I did not register for a swing,
as not all kids end up liking them, and I think they are ridiculously over
priced. As luck would have it, Ellie ended up loving swings! I was able to
purchase a next to new swing at a consignment
sale for less then half of what the swing would have cost retail.
We did not get the
play/activity mat we registered for, and I am glad. They are another
ridiculously overpriced item. I purchased a washable one consignment, still in
the packaging, and could not be happier with it.
Yes, yes, this is really a blog post about plain, good ol' poop! Why might you ask? Well, first of all I am a nurse - we delight in all manner of bodily functions. And now I am a mommy, and mommies delight in any and all accomplishments of their kids. And what is a bigger accomplishment then poop for a baby? I mean eating and sleeping come pretty naturally, without much effort on their part. But poop? Well, poop requires some hard work on their part... and on mommy and daddy's part too!:)
So to start off, my milk didn't come in until Ellie was nearly 5 days old. We were having to do supplemental feedings with formula - icky nasty formula - and a feeding tube. She was definitely NOT a fan. She was so tiny and sleepy, making feedings a bit of a challenge to complete. She didn't eat much at all those first few days. Therefore, she had an extremely hard time passing her meconium. I wish we had a picture/video of Jared's facial expression and reactions to seeing balloons of tar being expelled from his little girl!
Monday morning, milk arrived, and Ellie ate like a starving child... which she kind of was. That morning was our first appointment with the pediatrician. We got mommy, daddy, and baby all dressed and ready to go in plenty of time to make it to the doctor. As soon as we put Ellie into her carseat, I heard the bowel rumble and saw the look of blessedly sweet contentment come across her face. We decided to just wait to change her at the doctors office, as it was just minutes away from our house. This was the first true poopy diaper her daddy had ever witnessed, and he nearly hit the floor when I unfastened the tabs and pulled the diaper back to examine the contents. The nursing staff at the office got quite a laugh out of it.
We had to go back to the pediatrician Wednesday to have silver nitrate applied to her cord site as it was having some premature separation. Once the site got all cleaned up, we ran to the store to pick up a few baby necessities. While we were there we heard the tell tale sounds and saw the same look come across her face. No worries, we would be home soon. And really, how much poo could a child the size of a bake potato really produce. Let me answer that question for you - a lot!
Ellie had been dressed in this precious white preemie gown, her Aunt Brenna got her.
We got home to discover an overflowing diaper of poop... up to her chest and shoulder blades. And yes, that previously cleaned umbilical area caked in bowel goo! UGH
When I was first shopping for Ellie's clothes, and people would asked me what I liked, I was all about the sweet little layette gowns. I loved them... and still do! As long as you don't have a blow out to contend with. Pulling poop saturated clothes over your infant's head is just messy business, no matter how much of pro you are.
The above poop adventure was supposed to be Jared's first dirty diaper changing experience, but being the incredible wife I am, I went ahead and took care of it myself, and allowed him to just assist. And let's face it, if the roles had been reversed I would have been left with a whole heck of a lot more mess to clean up!
As luck would have it, I did record the first Daddy-Changing-Dirty-Diaper episode, and here it is for your viewing pleasure!:)
After this, pooping just became another routine event at our house. You fed Ellie - she pooped. You put Ellie to sleep - she pooped. You played with Ellie - she pooped. But nothing traumatic or destructive. Until the wee hours of January 31 (thank goodness for the new face.book timeline - makes it very easy to browse back through statuses to figure out when things actually happened!) She waited until after midnight feeding to have her biggest blow out to date. Up the back, down the legs, and puddled in the feet of her sleepers.
Let's go a head and just state the fact that having been a mom for only a little over 2 weeks, I was a wee bit sleep deprived. Therefore, please with hold your judging when I state that I might have only bathed my daughter with wet wipes, and waited for the light of day before immersing her in actual water.
Later the morning, before the bath that should have occurred hours ago (but remember, we aren't judging here) I was changing her first diaper of the normal morning hours. As I was cleaning her, I heard a suspicious sound but didn't see any following results. Uh, lucky me, we dodged a bullet. About 3.5 seconds later, I feel something cold on my check, and absentmindedly touched it with the back of my hand. No bullet dodged - pooped in the face! Wet wipes to the rescue yet again. Yes, that is correct, no shower until hours later. I did bathe my child before bathing myself. I am just that kind of mom - ha!:)
Ok, so the poop chronicles are drawing to an end, I promise!
Around 5-6 weeks, Ellie went through a growth spurt, as most babies do. She ate every 1.5-2.5 hours during the day. Breast milk has very little waste, so while some breast fed babies poop every feeding, or more, other breast fed babies can go quite a long time between stools, once their body's GI systems mature in their digesting processes. This usually happens about the time they go through a growth spurt, often times causing constipation. We had about 10 days of this.
I tried every all-natural remedy there was, but none of them worked. Finally, we gave into using suppositories. They worked like magic, within 15-30 minutes.
One evening, Ellie was particularly uncomfortable having gone days without the content this post is all about. I had a hair appointment around 7:30pm, so Ellie and Jared were just going to have Daddy-Daughter night. Being the sweet wife I am, I didn't want to leave him with a screaming baby - daddies just don't handle crying babies like mommies do - so I gave her another suppository, around 5:30, thinking that would be plenty of time for it to works its magic. Wrong! It still hadn't taken effect by the time I had to leave, so both Jared and I offered up silent prayers the results would hold off until I returned.
I came home from my appointment to find both daddy and daughter lying exhaustedly on the couch, looking like they just made it through the war zone. Jared was shirtless and Ellie was naked down to her diaper. There were poop covered clothes on the floor, as well as poop covered towels (adult sized towels, ya'll!) all over the house. Evidently, the suppository decided to work its magic while Jared was giving Ellie a bottle... and the results were massive.
I like to think it was a bonding moment for the two of them... although I think her daddy may still be a bit traumatized...
In closing, as soon as we finished bathing her the other night, Ellie kindly waited until I had her diaper on and half her pajamas before having another blow out. Huge, large, massive does not even begin to describe this mess. I held her by her arm pits over our bathtub while Jared hosed her off with our hand held shower head. And lucky for you, we got a few pictures.:)
The grunting begins...
pooping is just hard wok, ya'll
Thank you, Jesus, sweet blessed relief
For some reason mommy wouldn't hold me close any more...
Getting ready for bath#2 of the night, within 10 minutes of each other
And there you have it folks - Poop Chronicles from the Ross Household. Time will tell if this is the first of many installments... or not.:)
Loud does not even begin to describe the gym we found ourselves in last night. And loud does not come close to describing the wails that came from my tiny, precious girl, as we entered the beyond LOUD gym. But I am pretty sure only her mommy could hear her wails over the cheering crowd's roar.
For the first time in her short life, her momma had allowed her to come off her strictly scheduled life, and my daughter was NOT a fan!
It was past her bed time. Her feedings had happened at haphazard times through out the day.
I walked around the top rim of screaming gym, pushing her in the stroller, willing her to go to sleep, to no avail.
Finally, I found a "quieter" corner in a stairwell landing. I put my head next to hers, face to face in her stroller.
Balancing on one leg, I pushed her stroller back and forth with one of my feet, slowly and rhythmically. We sang her "sleep songs": Jesus Loves Me, 'Tis So Sweet, I Want to Know Christ, Seek Ye First.
The wails subsided and the eyes drooped. However, every time the crowd's cries surged, my baby would startle, out would come the most pitiful lip, and her eyes would just scream to me, "Mommy, help me!"
Finally, mommy picked her up, zipped her up in her wombie, and walked back into the LOUD gym, with my baby girl snuggle up against my chest.
Soon the cries of my baby settled into sweet calm breathing patterns, and away she slept. The loud gym couldn't disrupt the peace and comfort we both found in each other's shared warmth. Her soft murmurings music to my ears, even in that loud gym
Motherhood allows you to hear those precious little noises, that no one else hears, above all the world's hustle and bustle.
If you are reading this, and all is going according to plan, it is 8 am and I should be pulling into Nashville about now, to meet up with my mom (or maybe another friend or two) to make our way out to Springfield , MO to cheer on the NCC WARRIORS through their journey at NCHB (National Christian HomeSchool Basketball) National Championship. Yes, that means I was able to get both Ellie and I up, dressed, fed, and in the car by 6:30 am....
We have a lot of players, teams, and families going this year!
Of course the two players (and teams) I am most excited about watching are these:
My sister, Mary Grace and her Varsity Girl's Team
My brother, Christopher, and his Varsity Boys Team
I got to see Christopher play in his first National Tournament, as an "end of the bench middle schooler."
I have promised him since then that I would go to his senior/final trip to Nationals. When we found out we were expecting Ellie near the end of January, beginning of February, I was worried I might not be able to keep this promise, but I was determined to do my best. When she came extra early, I wasn't sure if this was going to help or thwart our efforts. Since she has been an exceptional baby, a great traveler, and because I am just an all around super awesome big sister :), we are going to give it a whirl. Worst case scenario, its a near disaster and Ellie and I end up spending a lot of time in our hotel room... which is basically like staying home all day, which is what we do a lot... maybe they will have an indoor pool to change things up a bit.
My family has many memories from Nationals over the years. Its always a great time! Here are some pics from back in the day.
Both Christopher and Mary Grace have made All-Tournament Team at the last two national tournaments.
Could my sibs be any cuter!?!?
And just because I have always wanted to do this - here is a collage of the many faces of my dad when he coaches. He has coached numerous Warrior Basketball teams over the years, but this year he will be sitting in the stands with us. My dad is one of the most laid back individuals I know... until he puts on his coaching uniform... then its a act fit for a run at the Oscar's.:) He is very passionate this game and his players!
The sweet lady in the middle of the collage is my dad's mom.
It will probably be pretty quiet on the blog front this week, unless I get several posts written and scheduled ahead of time - I make no promises. I don't have a smart phone or laptop, so it will be a pretty "unplugged" week.
Ellie and her wardrobe are ready to go!
Hopefully we will be seeing lots of this sweet face...
We recently traveled back to Nashville to celebrate with my baby brother, Christopher, and his basketball team, for their Senior Day Game. It was a great weekend of celebrating teamwork, friendships, and last but certainly not least - winning!
There was a presentation of the players and their parents, along with picture boards and biographical write ups. Christopher's words were so sweet - naming our two brothers as his best friends, and thanking sisters, myself and Mary Grace, for our love and support over the years.
Ellie was dressed and ready for the big day, but unfortunately was having tummy issues, and wasn't her usual calm, laid back self. The tummy issues resulted in a massive blowout up to her neck on our way back to my parent's house that night.
Our "Aunt Tammy" came in for the game / Christopher and our parents
I cannot believe Christopher is completing his senior year of high school!!!!!!!!! I was 11 years old when he was born. I was actually in the delivery room with my parents and watched the delivery. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and probably what started me on the path to my nursing career.
He was pretty much my very own live baby doll. I toted him everywhere. I called him "My little ray of sunshine." He was such a chubby and snuggly little guy. He called me "Maimie" at first. And eventually it became, "Mommy, I mean, Amy.":)
When I was 12 years old everyone thought I was 24 years old, and when I was 24 years old, everyone thought I was 12 years old... go figure. Because of this, everyone thought Christopher was my son, which resulted in some awkward moments and situations.
He has always been my little buddy. When I moved out of the house, he was the sibling that called me the most to ask if I would come home for dinner, or just a visit.
When I was being induced with Ellie, he was so attentive. He was very intrigued by the monitors, pumps, and wires. He watched everything, and me, very intently. As soon as Ellie was born, he was a natural and a pro... like he had always been an uncle. To clarify, he was not in the delivery when Ellie was born!
Not only have I watched this incredible young man grow up before my eyes, but also on the basketball court. Here he is at his first middle school basketball game. I definitely cried when he ran out on the court for warm ups and when he went into the game for the first time.... and I was a nervous wreck!
soooo tiny!
He has made lots of friends over the years through this team, and it has been a so much fun watching them all grow up together... into towering men!
I would love to say I taught him all he knows about the game, and that he got his skills from me, but that is definitely not the case! However, when I saw these pictures below, I realized I did in fact pass on some skills... a flare for the dramatics!:)
He has worked so hard over the last few years on disproving the theory "white men can't jump."
He now proudly holds the title of the "only Elliott Man to Dunk in a Game." It never gets old watching this feat! Unfortunately, none of my video files will upload for you to view!
This kid hardly looks my "baby brother" anymore....
More like my "Man Brother.":)
Kind of crazy how similar he and my dad look, uh?!?
He recently took another very "adult like" step into the next phase of his life. He signed with Trevecca University's Basketball Program. My older brother, Matthew, also played at Trevecca, and is now in his second year as a Graduate Assistant, while he works on his MBA degree. And yes, my dad is the Athletic Director at the university, as well. But before you start crying "nepotism," Dad was named AD after my brothers started their careers/signed with TNU. :) I can't wait to watch another brother put on a TNU jersey and take to the court... although, I am not ready for what this does to a big sister's nerves!
Christopher's team has experienced a season of extreme's this year - lots of highs and lows, awesome buzzer beating wins, and heart breaking losses.
Good Luck to all the NCC Warrior Basketball teams as they head out to National's next week. Play like Warriors
" ... discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
for bodilydiscipline is only of littleprofit, but godliness
is profitable for allthings, since it holds promise for
the presentlife and also for the life to come."
1 Timothy 4:7a-8
As for you, Christopher Moriah Elliott, my little "Ria-Beaners, Beans, Reeso, and Fer-Fer"
I love you oh so much, and could not be more proud of the young man in Christ you are becoming! Run with perseverance the race marked out before you. Heb 12:1
