life begins with lulu

One of my desires for 2012 was to improve my blog, which mostly meant write about something other than Lulu from time to time. I have been working hard on that and am fairly pleased with my progress. But something unexpected is happening.

This month has been one of spiritual renewal for me (that’s not the unexpected part!). One day at a time, I have felt little pushes to make changes in my life— giving up sweets and sweeteners, not using a computer in the day until I’ve first spent time with God, offering more leadership and service in my church, etc. One area that I feel like I’ve been pulled away from is Internet use. Last week in fact, I wrote all my blog posts over the weekend and scheduled them to publish on different days so that I didn’t write at all or read other blogs all week. It was amazing and fresh and quiet.

Over the last weeks but especially the last few days, I have sensed God inviting me into new endeavors and away from blogging. It wasn’t something I expected to happen, and I’m feeling some grief about it to be honest. I value this blog as a way to share my life with friends and family, a way to keep Lulu’s loved ones close to her in spirit if not geographically, a way to document her little life, and a way for me to process my thoughts and express my creativity. That feels like a lot to give up.

At the same time, I have a sense of joyful expectation about what’s ahead. It feels like I have a choice between talking about how great my life is and experiencing that life on a deeper level. There’s a lot going on here on Georgia Ave. I planted a 4x12 spring garden yesterday, we are getting chickens this weekend, I’m spending more quality time with my in-laws, we are starting a weekly tradition of inviting people over for dinner, I’m writing more love letters, new and precious friendships are coming into my life, I baked bread for the first time this week, spring has arrived in NC and I want to be outside….

And I feel a call to move into a quieter, more reflective season. More intimate and personal. Private, not in the sense that I don’t share it, but that I intentionally share it, and my sharing happens in the context of relationship.

I intend to keep the practice of writing a weekly summary with photos, both because it’s something I want Lulu to have one day and because I want her true fans to stay in the loop. I’ll probably throw in some tidbits about grown-up life here and there, too (because aren’t you curious about my endeavor in urban farming?!). But for now, I want to do that via email so that it can be more relational. If you’d like to receive those emails, let me know in a comment or by email (hpmurray at gmail). I’m glad to share with anyone who is interested, so don’t be shy if you’re a stranger or just a distant friend!

And lastly I’ll leave you with this bit of Scripture that sums up where I want to go these days and the life I feel God inviting me into. I hope it blesses you as it has blessed me.

God, I’m not trying to rule the roost,
I don’t want to be king of the mountain.
I haven’t meddled where I have no business
Or fantasized grandiose plans.

I’ve kept my feet on the ground,
I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.
Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,
My soul is a baby content.

Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.
Hope now; hope always!

Psalm 131, The Message

Not the prettiest thing in the world, but how could I resist this $3 Walmart score?!

Mami + Papi = yo!

Another week of unpredictability on Georgia Ave. I just never know whether the nap is going to be 30 min or 2 hrs. The good news is that I feel very content going with Lucy’s little schedule. It’s fine with me either way.

She lost interest in Patty-cake this week and is now just into the clapping. She can’t clap, but anytime she hears one, she lights up. Cutest thing ever. I can’t wait until she can clap herself!

Out of nowhere yesterday, while Tim’s mom and stepdad were visiting, she decided she likes to stick her tongue all the way out of her mouth and wiggle it around. Better yet, when I do it, she copies me. I know, these sound like small things, but that milestone in connecting with others is huge for me and so so fun!

And after thirty-one weeks of avoiding tummy time like the plague, she’s started rolling onto her stomach on occasion. We’ve found her that way at the end of a few naps, and she does it to get closer to toys and other objects of interest on the floor. This is one step closer to mobile, which is both scary and exciting for me.

By the way (or not), elimination communication seems to have hit a break-through! For a couple of months now, I have been putting her on her little potty after she wakes up in the morning and after naps. Most days, she does her business every time, and recently, I’m starting to notice that her diapers aren’t very wet when I change them (which I usually only do at these potty-occasions). Many days we don’t have any dirty diapers (yay). I talked to a friend yesterday whose 14-month old just moved from diapers to underwear. We may just join the ranks some day!

Outtakes from our 7-month photo shoot. I love these because they’re faces I see during my day but don’t usually think to photograph or share!

Gave Lulu a baby massage this week with Noodle&Boo lotion from Lizzie and Mary Ellen. Nothing finer than soft baby skin, especially when it’s this round and squishy!

Click each image for instructions or information!

No babyccinos for Lucy yet, but she does bring her own book to peruse at coffeeshops.

Last week Joanna Goddard wrote about authenticity on her blog, and her zillions of readers commented with their own vulnerable confessions. Fascinating. You should check it out. I wonder what this (and something like postsecret) says about us?

Ten confessions stolen from the comments. I wonder what yours would be?

1. I judge people based on what is in their shopping cart at the grocery store.
2. I have an underbite which has got more pronounced in recent years. It’s sounds so silly, but my wedding is coming up and I’m worried about how I will look in the photos!
3. I also can’t stand the sound of people eating cereal or the sight of anyone eating cereal in all honesty (the only exception is my toddler who’s eating I love even if it’s always super messy).
4. Whenever I meet someone new I worry they won’t like me. So much so, that I usually can’t even remember their name because I’m so worried about it.
5. I don’t know how to wear make-up. I was never taught, and I don’t even understand the order of things. The best I can do is eyeliner and mascara; everything else gets lost to me. Most days I’m ok with it, but there are definitely some where I feel like a failure of a woman.
6. I have to admit—that I’m one of those people who talks too loud. I have no sense of volume control and tend to talk even louder when discussing private matters.
7. I love eating things with slimy textures, the slimier the better.
8. I’m secretly really scared of putting my nose underwater, I don’t know why, I just am.
9. I’m scared that the reason I’m single is that there is something wrong with me.
10. I’m afraid I’m selling my soul to the blogosphere.

That last one was mine. I’ll explain another day.

piggyback with papi