Good Things Part 2

1. Jimmy took his girls on a date last night. Bellie and I love when he takes us out!
2. Bellie has learned to give kisses, and last night she decided she wanted to kiss mommy over and over and over! It was wonderful and oh so sweet!
3. My husband's oddities: real conversation with Jimmy the other day. Me: "Babe, they have a CAROUSEL at that park!" Jimmy: "WOW" (LONG PAUSE) "I'm drawing a blank. What's that?" Hahahaha- oh Jimmy! Man, do I love him.
   
4. Said carousel is at a local park where we will be having Bellie's FIRST Birthday party- a carnival party! How did we get to her turning one already? I am so ridiculously excited to throw my baby a party!
   
5. I got to spend the morning yesterday with a great friend. It was so relaxing and refreshing.
6. Cuban food- yummy- we're eating it tonight!
7. Bellie's stories. They don't make any sense but they are fabuloso. (see below)
8. Church tomorrow in the sanctuary. Last week was wonderful and refreshing.
9. Saturdays- Jimmy is home!
10. Naps- I'm about to go take one...
    

Good Things Part 1

A friend told me to focus on the good and the progress during the trying times that my family and our church find ourselves in SO- Top Ten Good Things For This Week:

1. Psalms- Psalm 63:5-8 ^"My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
   and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
   when I remember you upon my bed,
   and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
   for you have been my help,
   and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
   My soul clings to you;
   your right hand upholds me."
2. CS Lewis- thinking of starting to read "Reflections on the Psalms" (seeing a theme here?)
3. Women who speak truth in my life- friends who over and over point me to Christ as the source of all truth and knowledge and who encourage and admonish me. Walking with people like that is sweet and rich. Covenant community is like sweet fresh water for my soul.
   
4. My sister Lily. We may have once been dubbed the "bitter bicker twins" but she is now my closest ally. She's wise, and compassionate, and generous.
5. Croissants- oh butter how I love you.
6. Baby giggles and kisses. Worth every moment of parenting. And even worth getting spit up in my mouth that one time I kissed her!
   
7. A husband who knows me and still loves me and who wants to be with me so often! Jimmy comes to see me at work. And he returns my impatience with his affection. And he takes joy in Isabelle and I!
   
8. Pretty notecards- makes the unskilled writing of my feelings for someone so much more lovely.
9. Talking with old friends who have known who I am for so long. They accept all that has changed because they know me and can still see me.
10. Bellie pushing her doll stroller around her room tonight naked. TOTALLY priceless. Until she peed.
    

God is making progress... community is being formed - lunch today to celebrate a coworker's baby on the way with new and old friends... God's people are pressing on- service in the sanctuary, commitments to love each other without ceasing... we laughed all together at our staff meeting today- A few months ago I might have said we were at least a year away from that. How gracious is our God who lets us in to watch his work.

Oh Blog, How I Miss You!

I love blogging. I never do it anymore because, well I am in mommy/merger land.

I love to talk about how I feel- like how I am so incredibly fulfilled in my new jobs even with this crazy merger stuff.

I love to share the things that I love- like my baby and all the pretty, inspirational things I come across and wish I had thought of.

I love to express my feelings- like my angst via sarcasm ;)

I love to be heard- haha as if anyone reads this.

There have been so many beginnings of posts lately. But mid-merger things are pretty hectic and heated on days. I've decided lately that I ought to hold my tongue. Even here.

So- what can I talk about? I think I'll make a top ten favorite things of the moment list...

1. Having a happy little family. We're there! We have passed the difficult part of a new, first baby where I worried if she would die, and where I didn't feel competent, and where I felt like I lost my identity to her. I am so thoroughly enjoying each day, and it is flying by faster than my life has ever gone before. She's delightful and smiley and learning so fast! Jimy and I couldn't be happier where we're at!

2. Vacation at the beach- friends and no kids. We went away for 2 full days and one night with another couple who are good friends of ours. I haven't felt so free in forever! It was fun, relaxing, quick, restful, comical, and filled with quality conversation. We had nice weather, we didn't get bored because we fit in lots of activity, but we didn't overdo it either. And everything went just right! We could have stayed another 2 days! I thought about Bellie, but never felt worried. And coming home to kiss on her was so great!

3. Not being pregnant. A friend was telling me about her clothes not fitting this morning because she's starting to show. I don't miss that one bit. And boy am I glad that I didn't stay fat- cause I was huge! I felt like I was probably going to have to waddle for the rest of my life. I'm so glad that I have some time before we're planning to have the next one. (I probably shouldn't even type this though- God so often rewrites my plans!)

4. Event Planning- it is so ME. I love doing it, and I hopefully am getting better. I told my boss that I'm totally unqualified and untrained but he hired me anyway. I make messes of things usually, but things always seem to get straightened out pre-party! Oh- and great perk- I get to keep a subscription to Martha as part of my "work" WOO!

5. Pictures of our family by Sarah. They really capture Bellie so well, and Jimmy likes them so much that he wants to do it every year at least! Call her- she's the best.










































6. Bellie's reaction to dogs. I hate dogs. HATE. Bellie seriously loves them. *sigh* but her reaction to them is priceless. She gets SO excited and squeels and kicks and pants. and then I tell her, "Yes, Bellie a DOGGY!... Doggy's are so nice and they're for other people's houses." Praying for graciousness here, and that I would never ever have to have a dog!

7. Bellie's new smile- that big huse open mouthed grin recently got even better. She added a nose scrunch.

8. Tuesdays and Thursdays. I have inexpensive, onsite childcare from 9 to 2. Oh and Bellie loves it. HECK YES!

9. Shopping- okay I always love this. My latest favs are J.Crew, the Loft, Janie and Jack, and Francesca's. Not that I get to really buy much- but it is so fun to look and Bellie is a great shopping partner. She particularly likes the stops we make at the fountain- she squeels and yells at it. Also priceless.

10. Planning a first birthday and another mini-vacation for Jimmy and I. SO much to look forward to before Fall! I may be depressed when it's all over though!

That's all I've got in me tonight. See you in two months (hopefully sooner).

OH PS- I know everyone is so over hearing about Michael Jackson. But I loved him and my heart is still sad over it. RIP.

The month of May via my facebook status updates

• Erin Branham stocked up on formula and diapers today. (Not gonna lie breaking news on swine flu made me nervous. I’m over it now and have a month’s worth of formula and diapers to show for it.)
• Erin Branham loves my family. They're so sweet and lovable with their big chubby cheeks!
• Erin Branham pink eye
• Erin Branham I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!
• Erin Branham I always love my husband... but today I am especially fond of him. I came home from having fun at a baby shower to find that He CLEANED THE GARAGE!
• Erin Branham the Installation service last night was AMAZING! ONE SERVICE... we had ONE SERVICE!
• Erin Branham accidentally sent out my timesheet to our entire staff today. AWESOME JOB ERIN!
• Erin Branham going to starbucks with some lovely ladies to event plan tonight... kind of like girl's night.
• Erin Branham Has no need to watch reality tv...thanks to status updates I already know who got voted off of EVERYTHING!
• Erin Branham doesn't like American Idol, and I really don't like status updates about it.
• Erin Branham happy day- Bellie is napping, my house is nearly clean, I have 3 new pairs of shoes, and I may even get in a nap! Oh, and I don't have to go to the Ridge but ONCE this weekend!
• Erin Branham Jimmy took Isabelley and I on a date. She loved the water fountain and we loved watching her discover something new.
• Erin Branham what an interesting day- we went to the mall and Bellie gagged herself and then puked everywhere... then she whined when I tried to walk away from a TV playing a rap video... then she squealed and yelled at the fountain...Finally we took her to a picnic where she made a serious fashion statement and tried to eat another baby's foot. Only my kid.
• Erin Branham Isabelley is stinky today. I guess going without a bath the last two nights will do that.
• Erin Branham had a nice nap and a family walk this afternoon. I love Sundays.
• Erin Branham about to go to bed at Mimi's. I brought Bellie to see her familia and watch her cousin graduate tomorrow.
• Erin Branham Isabelley dragged herself forward just a tad today (army crawl style) I don't think I can call it crawling, but it was better than going backwards!
• Erin Branham is watching music videos with Bellie.
• Erin Branham hoping for sunshine tomorrow!
• Erin Branham We had sunshine JUST long enough for a fun time at the pool!
• Erin Branham is watching the 4th movie this weekend... such a nice relaxing weekend!
• Erin Branham Thanks to Bobbi & Nicole I have been inspired to plan my meals for the week: Mon- take out pizza, Tuesday- a chocolate chip cookie and hardboiled egg (Jimmy's at a mtg), Wednesday- Cereal/eggs, Thursday- something quick on our way up to West Palm, Friday- another meal on the road on our way to VACATION! Ah, another week of being a domestic goddess!
• Erin Branham thinks Isabelley might be sick. My poor baby!
• Erin Branham is STILL waiting for my husband to get home from a deacon mtg. What the heck- 3 1/2 hours long!
• Erin Branham Isabelley is FINALLY sleeping. Her afternoon nap has been a nightmare today!
• Erin Branham is baking- That's right I'm in the kitchen. The peer pressure got to me. I'm now making two things of Amish Bread. Not gonna lie I'm not feeling it. It's called friendship bread cause you can share a "starter" with someone elsebut it's kinda like saying "Here have some work. You can spend a few hours in the kitchen, & your husband can make 2 trips to the grocery in one night!" So... anyone want a starter?

Why I haven't posted in oh a month or so...

I've been busy with my girl! Look how little Isabelley has grown:

a few days old-


8 months later-

What Happens in Naples Stays in Naples...

The retreat was fantastic... needless to say I missed Isabelle but I had too much fun to be sad about it, and actually I missed Jimmy more! My post title was actually announced by our retreat leader (I'm pretty sure it had to do with an expenditure she made while there ;) and it was very fitting.

Here are my top 5 memories that I'm allowed to reveal:

1. Late night talking which led to a split contest and cheering in our room. (I roomed with our pastor's wife, our music pastor's wife, and another deacon's wife. We are so mature.)
   
2. An impromptu photo session at the beach. America's Next Top Model has nothing on us.
   
3. Our mandatory hour of quiet time (bible and praying kind of quiet time).
   
4. Getting pulled over on our way back from dinner- yes I was driving, yes our pastor's wife was in the car with me, yes she took our my bible and placed it so the cop could see it, yes our music pastor's wife was in the back seat, yes she was prodding me to try and cry, no I didn't get a ticket for the illegal left turn that I made.
5. Time with my friends, learning together and from each other. They are amazing women.
   

I'm Leaving!

Tomorrow will be the first time that I leave Isabelle for an overnight trip. I'm SO looking forward to going, but I'm a little nervous about leaving her. To try to prepare Jimmy I have been telling him for weeks now, "Now, when I'm gone, don't forget to..." He's probably ready to tell me to shut up already, but he's kindly refrained.

Where am I going, you ask? Naples for a women's retreat. It was already planned for New City, and so I'm looking forward to spending time with my sisters (mostly New City women, but a few Ridgers too) and hearing some great teaching. Oh and did I mention sitting by the pool without the baby whining for my attention?

I'm SO hoping that I will be able to focus on being there and not be thinking of Jimmy and Bellie constantly. Don't get me wrong I want to miss them, but there have been times since she's born when I leave her with a babysitter and feel anxious the entire time I'm gone. It's terrible. Actually, come to think of it, during most of my life I have not been "in the moment." I constantly think of what's next or what was etc. I wish that I was wiser and had enjoyed each phase of life more instead of longing for the next step. (Maybe I should title this post "Patience: My Lack of It".)

So today, I'm working on preparing Isabelle and all the baby paraphernalia she needs while I'm gone, as well as packing and wrapping up any last minute registration stuff for the retreat. The more prepared I feel the better I am able to enjoy time away from her. So, I've set up a bag of clothes and diapers for each day and instructions for each day and so on... Jimmy is either going to be very thankful or annoyed with my obsessiveness.

In other news, we've now worshiped as one church for two Sundays. It feels like it has been FAR longer which is making me impatient. I'm impatient to be more united, I'm impatient to get settled into my position there, I'm impatient for Isabelle to get more adjusted to being in the nursery there, etc! And I feel like in some ways it is going to take a miracle to get our church united under one vision. Jimmy has told me that I need to just be patient, and that our God IS a miracle worker so we ought to be praying fervently. UGH I hate it when he's right.

That's all my rambling thoughts for now. See you when I get back.