My best friends baby...

Madelyn Kate Quillo
Born January 29, to Jeremy and Carrie Quillo
8 lb. 19 1/2 inches

Camera Phone Picture: 25 weeks

Mike took this before he left town so he could show friends D. Oh and how do I know she's 25 weeks? I get an email every Thursday from Parents magazine telling me how many weeks old she is and what milestone she might be hitting or what medical advice I might need. Look it up!

Swap

I am doing my first swap! Check it out at Mobile Swap!

Hello to my swap friend Anna. She is in Brisbane, Australia (a five hour drive south of the Great Barrier Reef).

This swap is already closed but if you want to try to get in on another swap check out Sew Mama Sew. They post new swaps often. Keep warm Louisville! It's a low of 1 degree tonight!

Psalm 51

Sojournmusic.com recently posted my favorite sermon of Mike's (thanks Bobby). He spoke a while back on Psalm 51. Mike explores this passage and what it teaches on repentance, saying your sorry, and confession. I learned the importance of asking for forgiveness (beyond just saying I'm sorry) when I wrong someone.

You can also go and listen to the song Psalm 51. It is fitting that we listen to the album that was dedicated to our dear friend Aaron Marrs. Aaron, a faithful friend to many was lost at sea three years ago this week. I thank God for our time with him.

"Focus on the good"

If you are a mom I really want you to go here and read this entry. It is by a lovely lady that I go to church with, Courtney Bell. OK go, read it and then come back.

Are you back? Good. I really needed that the other day. You see when I am shopping, at church, or at any public place, D stares at people. She loves watching them. I had gotten in the habit of calling her nosey in front of perfect strangers. I didn't realize I was doing this until I read Courtney's entry. So I was challenged to "Focus on the Good". I want to say, "You love people so much, don't you?"

This also reminds me a few weeks ago someone asked Mike if Dorothy was a good baby. He said yes, he spoke of how content and joyful she is. They then said, Oh so she sleeps through the night"? He looked at me. We were both like, what? Does sleeping throughout the night equate a "good baby". D doesn't sleep throughout the night. For the most part she can sleep about 8 or 9 hours and then go back to sleep for another 3. Sometimes she wakes up every 3 or 4 hours. It has worn on me. I was bit sleep deprived there for a while but, I still thing she is a "good baby". So here I go I am focusing on the good. It reminds me of another Courtney (Paris) and how she blogs little notes to her kids, I have always loved that.

Dear D,
You are five months. I love how you:

• wrinkle your nose when you see your daddy
• look back and forth at daddy and I when we pray
• sing when you hear music
• cry at the vacuum sweeper
  
• love people so much you can't take your eyes off of them
• grab your blanket and rub your face in it then get sleepy
  
• cross your eyes when you take you pacifier out and look at it
  
• have joy and contenment throughout your days
  
• listen to Nana, grandma, and daddy on the phone
• hate to lay on your stomach
  
• puke a little when you sit up by yourself
• laugh with joy when I come in the room
• listen to books and look at the pictures
• dance and sing during worship on Sundays

I love you!

Eating, Sitting, and Nagging...

EATING
One of D's first meals last week. She crosses her eyes at the spoon.

SITTING
She sits up about a fourth of the time but only for a few seconds.


NAGGING
We had that leaking roof a few weeks ago. Remember? It was on the day that my family celebrated Christmas. Anyway. The ice froze on our new roof on our new house, pooled and then leaked through the ceiling of our utility room. I remember discovering it and thinking how I didn't want it to worry Mike. I wanted to guard him from the worry, stress and overall nuisance of the leak. He climbed up during a snowy icy weather and broke the ice and in the end all was well and fixed. Our home warranty covered another leak that was in our skylight. So it was all taken care of. Whew. But our dear friend and Daniel did a sermon series on gender and he used some verses in Proverbs.

Proverbs 27:15 (New International Version).

15 A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day;

Now read this (Amplified Bible)

Proverbs 21:9

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a nagging, quarrelsome, and faultfinding woman

I have learned that women are good at nagging. To be fair men can nag but women can really take a point and harp on it all ding dang day. So anyway. My point is that the scriptures are telling me that Mike would rather see and hear his new house have a ceiling leak and THEN CLIMB UP ON THE ICY WET ROOF, than stay in the house and hear me harp, nag, quarrel... That is just a little lesson I have been reminded of lately. Thought I should share it. Also you can listen to Daniel's Sermons here.

Flickr or Shutterfly

Flickr or Shutterfly? Which do you recommend? I think I know which one I want to use. But first! Give me pros or cons of both. Is there another photo sharing/printing site that I should consider? Post or email me and let me know.


PS That red background was making me nuts. Here is a snowy blue, from my thematic teacher's heart to you.

5 months old

Remember this at one month?






Here she is yesterday at FIVE! (please ignore the string or drool:)
and a few moments later after she rolled...

12

12 degrees + Rheumatoid Arthritis = flair up.
Luckily there was a run of movies on a HD channel that was made for me.
A League of Their Own, Rudy, The Goonies, and Empire Records (extended fan edition)!

A year in pictures...

A look back on 2007
...reconnected with the girls in January...we actually got together three times this year!



Quite a bit of crafting and sewing... this was a Valentine gift for my mom.














Beautiful Gracie came in March



Ginger in the spring

An spring afternoon at the park.



August 2nd we got our beautiful Dorothy Jean















D and her friends in the fall



A new home



A growing girl at three months in November



Eight wonderful years this December


...and a very sweet Christmas...

Gracie (9 months) Sadie (4 years) Dorothy (4 months)

My Family's Christmas was an unusual one that will probably go down in history. Little things were different from normal. It was a nice time with family. It left me wanting more quality time. Here are some of the things that took place:

The Dale and Sue Huff Family

Uncle Randy and Aunt Janie (HI JANIE:)

• Dorothy was sick
• Uncle Randy and Aunt Janie had two flat tires
• We were without power for several hours
• The dinner my mom prepared could not be heated up
• We had Bearno's pizza for Christmas dinner
• We all had to go home soon after the lights came back on due to the weather

All that aside Santa visited. My four year niece, Sadie was a-dor-a-ble when he showed up.

Who is coming to our house?

Who is coming to our house?
That is the name of the board book we have been reading to D before bed. It is about all of the animals in the stable as they prepare for Mary and Joseph's stay.
OK so I was really getting anxious about Christmas tonight. I was worried about my parents, brothers, and aunt and uncle coming for breakfast on Saturday, and getting presents bought, made, and wrapped...and then we don't have a tree yet...and when will we decorate it? But, and this will sound trite to some of you- I remembered none of that matters, because Jesus is the reason for the season. Reading that book to Dorothy again tonight just simplified it in my mind. All that matters is the fact that Christ came for us. This is a time to celebrate, not stress. So I know that others have made this point before and much more eloquently but I just wanted to bring it up again. Christ is the reason we celebrate this time of year. May God bless you this week.

8 years!

Our Wedding Day. On the way to our reception in our Model A. December 4, 1999. Ages- 19!

I know, I know, I already announced it on Sojourn's message board and Facebook but this past Tuesday was our Eighth Wedding Anniversary. To put that into perspective, consider this. We got married before Y2K and while Bill Clinton was still president.

I was going to scan some photos but I just couldn't pull that off as my pictures are still packed from the move and in temporary storage for now. So, I was so excited then when I found a CD with our wedding slide show that my father in law made me right after our wedding. It was with our CDs and kinda scratched but I found two pictures for your viewing enjoyment.


My first Christmas with the Cospers 1998!

Worship

This past weekend Mike gave the sermon at Sojourn. He taught, “Worship has never been merely music - not in the Old Testament, not in the New Testament, not in Heaven. Worship is a life lived in response to God’s glory, a life that seeks to testify to his glory and worth.”
Here is the link to the sermon: Colossians 3:11-17

Also the amazing new Christmas CD that Mike and the worship team worked on will be here soon. You can get any of Sojourn's CDs there.

Speaking of worship, I am reading one of my favorite authors, Linda Dillow. The book is Satisfy My Thirsty Soul. I'm just on the first few chapters. The book explores similar ideas from Mike's sermon: that worship is an act AND a lifestyle. I'll post more as I read further.

Today's picture is brought to you by some mother/daughter bonding time. That's D singing (aka yelling) while I kiss her. She really likes to "sing" and blow raspberries lately. Today she rolled from stomach to back for the first time. Mike and I then had her do it over and over. She got so mad! My mom says that just about every kid gets mad and that's what entices them to roll in the first place, to get off their stomachs.

Thanksgiving Day

Cousins: Sadie, Gracie, and Dorothy
(Why do I love this so much?)

Hello.
How are you?
It's been a while.
I thought it might be.

We are totally moved, why is it so hard to get the last load of random items? Mike and my dad got the last bit of junk. We are maybe 3/4 of the way unpacked. I have found most things we need. Still missing items, but they'll turn up.

The picture is Dorothy's three month picture. She's wearing her leg warmers from Terri and Ellory.

On Thanksgiving we always go around and say what we are thankful for. I have so many things to say. I remember when my aunt said she was thankful that kids went to bed at night. As I was a kid at the time I didn't understand, but man do I now. This Thursday will be the first time that all of my dad's family will be together in years.

I am looking forward to the holidays. I was telling Mike's family today that I just realized to me that it's the holiday and it D's first holiday. So I want to know your family traditions. Here are two of ours:

1. Mike and I always have Pillsbury Orange Rolls on Christmas morning. It's a good, simple tradition.
2. My Grandpa Huff grew up in the depression, to remind us of that, my dad has always given us a quarter and an orange in our stocking.

We plan on keeping those traditions. We are going to start a something with an advent calender along with our family prayer time. Any suggestions? What are some other traditions we should take up? Post or email and let me know!

Until then!

Up to our ears in boxes...been reading the bible chronologically with Mandy and Karen...They along with Erin are holding me accountable to be in the word each day...it's been working for the most part...D is three months I took the "month" picture but must have packed away my cord to put them on here...there are also some of her in her colts cheerleader outfit...she and her dad cried after that game...but we are not fair weathered fans we still love Peyton and his team...it was a good game but in the end, a sad game...we take possession of the house tomorrow..move this weekend...until then! God Bless!

Our new little home, that's me peeking out.
Cute backyard!



Sojourn's Fall Festival and Affordable Art Fair.
Lorie bought one of my purses from the Affordable Art Fair!
Lindsay did too!
Mike and Dorothy spent the day together while Terri and I sold our fine products. The Art behind them is the one we bought for D's new room. Sarah Hall did that piece and it's perfect.

Terri, Ellory, Karen, Dorothy(the penguin), and I at our sales table.

Fall Finally!

Oh nerds! It's been too long. I was doing so well posting and then life went crazy as it does in October. Why October? Here is to fill you in.

*Doing better health wise, well sorta. We have been relearning what it means to live with Rheumatoid Arthritis since I was in remission during pregnancy. Cold, wet weather makes it hurt all over. I have found that cutting back on wheat, dairy, and sugar help minimize the pain. To bad for me because cereal, cheese and candy are my favorite foods. Mike is doing better and has follow up appointments next week. Keep us in your prayers and thanks for all of your comments, emails, and previous prayers.
*Bought a house. Yup, sure did. It'd in Germantown. We will close on November 7th. I think even more exciting than having a house is that I have a DISHWASHER! Seriously folks, we are going on 8 years of marriage without one. sigh. We are so excited. The house is a remodeled turn of the century home. Yeah! So it has the charm of an oldie but the benefits of a new house...and we have a garage, and our own yard that we don't have to share unless we want to.
*Come to the Fall festival! I am in the Affordable Art Show! I have made a messenger bag, purses, holidays onesies, and more. Everything is under a hundred bucks but mine is way under that amount. This is the first time I will sell any of my stuff and it is all original designs so I am excited and nervous.
*Dorothy Jean is 12 weeks today. It is so crazy to see how much she can do each day. She mimics Mike and I. She also sticks her bottom lip out when she is sad. And if you catch her off guard she gets sad and then cries, so hurt. Most of the time though, she is throwing her head back laughing and wrinkling her nose.

OK, so that's us for a while. Thanks to all of my readers for checking in on us. Especially my Aunt Jane who checks, can't wait to see you in December!

11 weeks

Real Quick.

Real quick. We are experiencing some health issues. Please pray for Mike. He has some doctor's visits tomorrow. Dorothy is doing well. She saw her hands and feet yesterday. It was very exciting for her.

Welcome to my blog, again.

I remember when I first read a blog, probably five or six years ago. It was a friend's blog. It was hilarious, witty, and a blessing in that it talked about her faith in God and Journey with Christ. I remember thinking blogs were a great way to communicate with family and friends from out of town...but I also thought about the caution that one should take in what they write for safety. I guess I thought if I started one some day I should be cautious.

When I started this blog it was mostly to post the pictures of my trip to Europe, with the idea that I would talk a bit about my life, our marriage and interests too, particularly my journey in faith. As I discovered the many arts, craft, and sewing blogs over the past year, I have been more inspired to create and share those ideas on this blog as well. Then I reunited with some dear friends and we discussed how we keep up with each other through this sort of thing so I wanted to post more updates on life. And I have to post pics of D and share my adventures in motherhood. How could I not? But. I really want to get to the real reason I have a blog. I need to state my ultimate purpose for this little thing I write every few days.

This is about Christ.
I am about Christ.
It is high time I get bold enough to say it here. I would say to your face but, I have been too afraid to type it out where who knows who reads it, which is just silly.

So hello to all.
All I know, use to know, don't know at all.
Welcome to my blog, again.
If you choose to visit again and/or often expect some pictures of our little family, updates of how were doing, what sewing and crafting projects I am working on.
But above all know that I am learning to find contentment in Christ. Not what I own, not where I live, not where I work, not what I drive, not what I wear...

Two Months

Two months old. People ask if she is four. Cooing, smiling, and laughing are what she does for fun. Compare how big she's gotten to these pictures.
We love her so. I am teary eyed, she's sleeping in her room in the big crib tonight. Oh me.

Edit: At her two month check up she was 12 pounds 11 oz and 23 1/2 inches.

Happy needle crafting!

Some dear friends were discussing ideas for cheap and crafty baby gifts so I cut and pasted my favorites below. Some I have tried, all I hope to try. I can't wait to try the toddler dress from a button up shirt for D next summer. Be sure to check out the last two as there are links to multiple projects (I love the SewMamaSew blog!)

Baby Sling
Kids pants
Toddler dress from button up shirt
Baby Booties
Headbands for adults and kids
Embroidery tutorial for burp clothes
Embroidery patterns for burp clothes
Sew Mama Sew: Girls' clothes tutorial round-up
Sew Mama Sew: Boys' clothes tutorial round-up

I love to hear if you have other tutorials I should add to my list.
Happy needle crafting!

Edit: Most of these links ask that you make these for yourself or gifts. They don't want you to use their patterns and then sell them. Just wanted to warn you.

What'cha Making? Below are some of my latest projects

I have been making these baby slings for friends. That's my little D in there, sleeping. I got the fabric last spring at Hancock's for 3 bucks a yard! I wish I had bought more. Here is the pattern/instructions if you want to give it a try:
Karma Baby Sling.
Here is a photo album for my friends in Africa with pics of our first few weeks as parents. I am making another for Mike's grandma.

...Someday soon I'll post the instructions on this tied baby quilt which I made as a baby gift for Nathan and Amy(it's similar to the one in the Oct. Martha mag, which is originally from the book, Last-Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts, which BTW is on my wish list) .


Post a comment and let me know what you've been making and any favorite sewing or crafty links you have. God Bless you all this week!

Which Austen Lady are you?

Take the Quiz here!

Come on Carrie, Leesa, Hilary, Rebecca... I know you want to know!

No title needed.

Friends Forever...

Little Miss Coffey, Little Miss Cosper, & Little Miss Abell!

Mondays.

We use to hate Mondays around here. Sunday night's were full of dread for the upcoming week, my dear husband would have just worked a sixteen hour work day and I was always polishing up lesson plans and grading spelling tests. Now Monday is our day of rest. Yesterday Mike got up with little D at 6am. They watched the weekend's football highlights together while I napped and after I got up Mike went and got some Nord's donuts and Quill's coffee. To top the day off we had Kasmir's Tiki Masala for dinner.

After all the indulgence yesterday, today marked our getting back to healthy eating. We don't live on junk food but I have had quite a bit of cinnamon toast and oreos in the last 10 months. So here is to healthier alternatives.

Smiling and crafting.

I know, I know, this is turning into a blog all about Dorothy. I know lots of you don't mind that though, especially her grandparents! This pic is her again at just a few days old. Mike and I haven't loaded her newer smiling pics. She is smiling at Mike all the time. She is pretty use to me and she only smiles at me every now and then, but when she does it melts me.

D was measured at her one month check up this week and is 11 pounds 2 oz and 21 1/8 inches. Since late July we have had SOOO many friends who have had babies. There is Thomas, Anna, Levi, our Dorothy, Logan and this week we welcomed Nora, Arlen, and Ruby. Next up is baby Eubanks. It's in the water people.


In other news...
Leesa and I have known each other for about seven years but realized recently that we have the same birthdays and mutual love of crafting. She encouraged me the other day with this:

"At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a
disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of
my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong,
stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see
myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up
at a job that they will never see finished, to work on
something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no
cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there
are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the
friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My
mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies,
and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and
presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built
a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to
come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his
friend, to add, "You're gonna love it here."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We
cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it
is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at
what we have built, but also at the beauty that has
been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible
women.

May the passion of your building be fueled by your
faith that the eyes of God see everything."

Thanks to all who commented last time. It encourages me to keep posting when I know you all are reading.
God bless you all this week.

One month old!!!

This is Dorothy in th hospital on day three...












And this is one month!







That is the little quilt I made the week before she was born. I started it once the c-section was scheduled. I was going stir crazy because I felt huge and it was so hot. I didn't want to watch TV all week so I made her this blanket and Mike got her the bear. We are hoping to take a picture on the quilt with the bear every month to show her growth.

Obviously she is a great eater. Some random nerd at a restaurant called her a meatloaf!!! Mike thought I was going to kill the guy. Whatever, she is super healthy!

Anyway post a comment and say hello. Especially all our family and friends who are visiting for the first time.

Did Do List

I can't remember where I saw it but the other day I read a suggestion for new moms to make a "Did Do List" instead of a "To Do List". It is encouraging when you feel like you haven't done anything all day. Here is my list for today so far:

• Woke up at 8:30 and got Dorothy and I fed, cleaned up and dressed to meet Mike at church by 9:30 (OK we were a little late).
• Listened to Daniel's sermon, which inspired me to memorize John 17:24 and Hebrews 7:25
  
• Ate Kentucky Fried Chicken for the first time in about 5 years
• Remembered why I only eat Kentucky Fried Chicken every 5 years
  
• Changed 10 diapers
• Fed Dorothy 7 times
• Held and loved on Dorothy
  
• Made sweet tea
  
• Watched some Sunday Night Football and ate sushi with Mike
• Did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen!!!
• Updated my blog.

John 17:24 (New Living Translation)

Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

Hebrews 7:25 (New Living Translation)

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

Grandma and Nana

I was going through the photos of Dorothy and all that has happened since she arrived. I stumbled on this one. It is her two grandmothers, Nana Cosper and Grandma Huff. Mike took this picture as they stood right outside of the surgery wing, which they were NOT supposed to be doing, but they are grandmas, what can you do?

If you know me well you know I had the joy of spending time with my two grandmas growing up and I have been praying Dorothy will be able to have as many memories with her grandmothers as I did with mine. May they teach her many things like I learned: cross stitch, sewing, baking, canning, reading, faith in God, love for family...
She is blessed to have them.

Two weeks in...

Dorothy is two weeks old today! We are figuring things out daily, but Mike and I kind of can't remember life without her. We are falling into a little bit of routine and count ourselves blessed when it goes as planned and muddle through when it doesn't. Mike has surpassed all that I could have imagined him being as a dad, he is so caring, thoughtful and has blown me away. Our parents have blessed us over and over with love, support, and endless gifts. Thanks to the family and friends that have welcomed Dorothy. I'll post more soon on my tales of motherhood as well as more pictures.

Dorothy Jean Cosper

9 years ago yesterday...

...I went on my first date with Mike!

How much longer?

Memorizing: learn by heart.

I looked up the definition of memorizing today while contemplating my continuous need for meditating on scripture. Websters defines it

Memorizing: to commit to memory: learn by heart.

Not just learn by mind, but by heart. Dallas Willard writes: "...memorization is vital. It is astonishing how little of the Bible is known "by heart" by people who profess to honor it. If we do not know it how can it help us? It cannot. Memorization, by contrast, enables us to keep it constantly before our minds. And that makes it possible to consciously hold ourselves within the flow of God's life which is Torah and Logos."

Click for the rest of Willard's article titled "Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation and the Restoration of the Soul" .

Sooo, Here is one I am working on now.
Matthew 11:27-29 (NIV)

27"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Good music

Jamie Barnes, Rebecca Dennison, Mike Cosper, Doug Elmore...

June, 23 2007 11 PM
at Jazz Factory : Late Night Salon
815 W. Market St, Louisville, Kentucky
Cost : $3

random movements...

It has been going on for a few months but continues to get more crazy. I am referring to the jolt that I have everyday several times a day. You hear about pregnant women feeling their baby move but they never told me that is is jolting. It is so funny, I'm sitting there in church or at one of Mike's shows and she's like "I like this music, I'll dance". It is so strong that I actually move without meaning to. I mean I have literally rocked back and forth from it. My friend Jill and I said that we always thought it was weird how pregnant women are rubbing their stomachs. We had both vowed not to do that. Well I learn the more you say you'll never do it in reference to motherhood, the more likely that "never" will come back to haunt you. Later Jill and I admitted we were both certified belly holders. It is because of this: the bigger the baby the more noticeable the movement. So much so that someone can see from across the room. That's why my hand is on my stomach...why is yours?

a list to update you.

*Basement flooded, lost lots of stuff, threw away about ten boxes and donated fifteen to Goodwill...something I wanted to do before the baby but probably wouldn't have if there hadn't been such an urgent reason. How did I get so much crap anyway?

*No traveling when you are this pregnant. No Miami Beach, No Europe, and oh I miss it. Does Cincinnati count as a vacation?

*Lachlan & Terri had their baby, Ellory Sue. She is so sweet and I am so glad we will get to raise families together.

*Pray for Mike, we see the spine specialist on Monday.

*Been sewing a lot. Lots of good projects I want to show, but my little CyberShot is sick... we are shopping for a new camera.

*Mike's amazing band plays again at the Jazz factory in a few weeks...more on that later.

*My dear Carrie is having a baby too. Love you Carrie.

*The girls are planning another reunion, Kirsten will be on the road and we'll miss her.