Disneyland!

So, we took the boy to Disneyland because our passes were about to expire. I think only OC kids go to Disneyland in the first two months of life.  I chuckled a little every time I saw someone over the age of 50 with a "1st Visit" button... finding it funny that our little squirt had the same button.

Thanks Rodsteins for the super cute outfit!  I always laughed a little at all the people wearing Disney garb at Disneyland..you know it's not ok to "wear the concert t-shirt to the concert."  But suddenly I have a small child and I jumped at the chance to put him in a cute Disney outfit for his big outing!  

In fact...I brought 2 outfits...

His first and only ride.  The train around the park!  Can you tell he loved it?!?! It was a super hot August day so we weren't up for waiting in lines in the heat.  We figured one ride was good enough.

We had some of this...

and some of this...

and some of these...

Thanks Lori for the Pooh outfit!  

It was too hot for a total wardrobe change, but his hat sure did look cute!

One happy family at the Happiest Place on Earth!

2 months have come and gone!

Here are some photos of our favorite 2 month old!  He is such a sweet boy and he started smiling at us that past month!  What a treat to walk into his room in the morning and be greeted with the most precious smile.  

We can't stop kissing his squishy little face!

..and those toes!  I could just eat them up!

like I said - can't stop kissing!

We love you Cooper!  You have rocked our world!

Growing!

I took some photos of the boy today and thought I'd share.  I think he is pretty darn cute :)

Yesterday Cooper and I took a trip back up to Glendale for my 6 week post delivery check up.  We stopped at Whole Foods for breakfast just like on delivery day and I got a warm fuzzy feeling when I walked into the hospital..a sort of "at home" feeling.  I think because this was the place where our lives were forever changed and our family grew by one sweet little peanut.  

We love Dr Frields and are so thankful for the wonderful experience we had at Glendale Adventist!  It was fun to bring Cooper into the office and Dr Frields graciously allowed me to take a picture.  

1 Month old

Hard to believe one month has already passed!  

We sure are enjoying life with our boy.  We are learning his ins and outs and loving on his squishy face! He has been quite busy in the last month.  He has met a bunch of family and friends, gone to the pool, hit the mall, cheered on the Angels, visited the mountains and gone to church. 

As for us. This is the hardest we have ever worked, the most concerned we have ever been, loved the most deeply we ever have and so much more.  With each new experience we are reminded of how the Lord created this little person and put him in our care.  We feel blessed and honored to have been given him.  We also feel the weight of raising him to become the godly man the Lord desires him to be.  We pray for him often and would love for you to join us!  Pray that he would come to an understanding of what it meant for Christ to die on the cross early in his life.  Pray that he would have a desire to learn God's Word and follow in His ways and not the worlds.  Pray that we would be diligent to train him and teach him truth that comes from scripture. Pray that we would rely on the Lord and not lean on our own understanding, that we would trust in His perfect plan for Cooper's life and that we (well, me not Matt) would not worry about all there is to worry about.

It gives us great hope that we can bring these prayers before a kind and loving God and know that He is faithful to answer.

Parenting Lesson #1

I have realized that parenting lessons are going to come at me quickly and I better be ready if I only want to learn them once!  So, I thought it might be nice to share what the Lord is teaching me through being a Mama to Cooper and pray it is an encouragement to you as well!  

Here it is:
Lesson #1 - They grow and change and there is nothing you can do to stop it

Before Cooper arrived Matt and I went and did some plant shopping. We got some great new house plants and Matt spent the afternoon potting and watering them.  When he was done they looked great!  Fresh, new, the perfect size for the pots... and I came to a realization.  I didn't want them to change.  I liked the way they looked, the size they were and the flowers they had.  Well, I feel the same way to an even greater degree about my son as I do my house plants.  

{ please don't change }

I've had the Taylor Swift song, Never Grow Up, floating around in my head for the last couple of weeks.  The chorus goes like this..

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

But this thinking is not right thinking.  It is not aligned with what I know to be true about God (He, in fact, is the only thing that doesn't change).  This thinking puts me in control, like I have something to do with how fast or quickly something will grow or change.  But I am not in control. Not even close to being in control.  God is. I live in the will of my Father and I can (and should) find complete rest and peace in that.


{ Cooper will change }  

This squishy face will grow into a boy and eventually a man. It is a guarantee.  And if I change my mindset to accept that, these next years will be much more enjoyable.  It is futile to hold on so tightly and wish desperately for him "to stay this little."  I need to focus instead on what is going on right now, enjoy the stage he is in and be purposeful about parenting him.  I need to redeem the time and not try to stop it.  

I am resolved, that when Taylor Swift pops into my head I will instead replace those lyrics with this truth from scripture...

Is. 26:3 "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You."

A little catching up to do

Well hello!  Where to begin with this post...  

WE HAD A BABY!!!  

Pretty good place to start right?  

June 18, 2011 will forever be a special day in the Poladian household.  Cooper John made his entrance into the world and quickly filled up space in our hearts. We are taken with him and continue to give thanks to God for the miracle of his life.  He is a true joy and has made me run the gamut of emotion in just 2 weeks of life.  I have felt confident, completely overwhelmed, totally inadequate, elated, sad and overcome with love at various points.  It is during these times that I am so thankful for prayer and the ability to retreat into conversation with my heavenly Father to ease my anxiety or share in my joy. I am also thankful for friends, family and pediatricians who are available to answer my questions and give helpful advice.  

So what have we done in the last two weeks?  

A whole lot of staring at fingers, toes, lips and cheeks. Feeding. Getting as much sleep as we can. Visiting. Enjoying meals brought by wonderfully caring people. Relishing in our full days together as a family while Matt is off work. Feeding. Oh, and more feeding.

Matt has put together this great website for Cooper.  Click HERE to check it out to see what the latest is and to keep up on Cooper's growth.

And of course, some photos of our sweet boy.

Prayer Journal

So, the Women's Ministry at Compass put out these great prayer journals last September when women's bible study started.  Matt mentioned..back in September..that he would enjoying having something like it.  Well, I am a little embarrassed to say how long it took me to make him one, so we'll just say it took me as long as it takes for a baby to cook! It is nothing fancy or anything, but it gets the job done.  If you are a woman and you go to Compass... go buy the one in the bookstore...much better than mine!  This was one of Matthew's 30 days of 30 gifts, so without further adieu - the Prayer Journal!

Step 1: I typed up a template for each day of the week with different people, groups, categories, etc to pray for.  Email me if you want it and I'll send it right over. I then cut it to fit the already purchased blank page moleskine.  These come in a pack of three and can be used for so many things.  

Side note: I have a little obsession with moleskine.  I use their 18month planner and would be completely lost without it!  Go here to see all their products.  I usually pick mine up at Barnes and Noble.

This was my companion while I worked.  I think he is pretty cute!

Step 2: I made labels for each day of the week, one for the cover page and one for answered prayer.  Again I have the template and will send it over if you want it.  I backed it with some colorful paper..because I think that always makes a huge difference.  

Step 3: I glued the daily outlines into the journal

... and I might have enjoyed some chocolate while making this gift

Step 4: I left some blank pages after each day outline for him to add personal requests and requests for others.  The idea was given to me to use post-it notes so that you will never run out of pages and you can simply move the post it to the "answered prayer" section at the back of the journal when the Lord has answered a prayer...because He always does in some way or another!

And there you have it!  

Psalm 54:2 "O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth."