Hope Spoken Link Up

Introduce Yourself.

Hey y'all! My name is Amanda. I'm married to a wonderfully steadfast man named Lee.  We met when I was 15 years old and he, 17 years old. Fast forward almost 10 years later, we have been married for 3 1/2 years and have our first precious baby, Hudson, who is now five months old!

I am now a stay-at-home mom with our sweet guy, but am still a licensed RN, which I practiced with great love before Hudson came into this world. I worked in cardiac critical care and loved every bit of the fast paced, nasty, hard work that came along with it. However, more than anything, I loved caring for hurting people, even though it was one of the hardest jobs I have ever done.  I am so grateful for that experience and career, but I'm so thankful and happy that I get to be home with our boy at this time! Learning daily how I can live for the kingdom at home, even though some of my "ordinary" days tempt me to look at them as well...ordinary. 

I love {most all} things active and outdoors, but a lover of all things girly as well.  I will rarely say no to coffee and chocolate or a scone.  I love people and doing real life with them/living out community. I love everything about sitting with people over a yummy drink or food and getting real with one another.  Being in the kitchen and cooking for my family makes me happy.  

oh....the babe just woke from his nap. Please, excuse me. 

Ok, back. I'm sure I could think of more little things about myself. But most of all, you must know that I love Jesus with all my heart, love knowing His Word, and I want everything to do with Him.

 I really cannot wait to meet everyone! 

Something you're a little timid or nervous about for the weekend.

My baby will be nine months old when it's time for Hope Spoken.  Even though, my husband will be do a wonderful job taking care of him, it'll be the longest I've ever been away from him. Even though I would not be considered shy, when I am in big groups, I can just kind of blend in and go with the flow. I'll love talking with everyone, but my default is just to watch when I'm not in my comfort zone. 

Something that you are hoping to take away from the weekend.

In removing myself from my normal, I'm hoping and praying that I can be honest with myself and God, that real community and new friendships can be felt and known with all the ladies, I would come away more courageous, but really, I just want what the Lord wants for me that weekend. And I hope its big and mighty, and heart changing. It doesn't get much better than gathering together with women of God who just want to encounter Him.  

Share something fun/random about yourself.

Almost everyday, I put some semi-sweet chocolate chips in a napkin or sandwich baggie and eat them as I go about my afternoon. It's just a thing. I don't know how it started. Whenever I moved to college, my mom cleaned out my closet and found little sandwich baggies with 1 or 2 leftover semi-sweet chocolate chips in them. She found it funny {and probably sentimental}.  I did say I will hardly ever say no to chocolate.


www.hopespoken.org

Dear Hudson {Four Months}

Dear Hudson,

Mister big guy, I think I see glimpses of a little boy in your sweet baby body, which means you are growing! I literally saw it with my eyes.  One night, I put pajamas on you one night and your toes didn't reach the bottom of the "footies" and the sleeves went to your fingers.  We had a complete week of eating every two hours during the night and day.  That following week, those very same pajamas fit perfectly. No wonder you were so hungry, you were busy growing!

Out to dinner with friends: Mrs. Lizzie, Mrs. Laura, and Karis!

Apparently you practice yoga in your sleep :)

One thing I love about seeing your personality is that it is a happy one! It doesn't take much or anything at all to make you smile or even giggle. When I'm talking on the phone, I'll often look over and find you staring right at me smiling as if it was you and I having the conversation :)

We have discovered you are very much a people person.  You love toys and all, but they don't hold your attention like a person! If someone is interacting with you at any level, you usually are staring intently at them or smiling at them.  I love finding these things out about you!

I can tell your core is getting stronger as you are not as wobbly when I hold you sitting up or when you are sitting in your bumbo seat.  You also have fully discovered that you can stand up if you lock your legs.  You always think it's the best discovery each time and show how proud of yourself you are by smiling or opening up your mouth wide! Looking in the mirror really holds your attention now. It's as if you have met a new friend each time!

You did it one time when you were five weeks old, but you officially & intentionally rolled over from stomach to back! You are always so surprised by yourself when it happens. Laying there with your eyes wide and a frozen expression, then after a few seconds, smiling at your achievements. Sometimes, though, you forget you are capable of rolling over and just lay there and yell out of frustration :)

Max wanted to be apart of tummy time, too. 

On August 30th, your friend Hudson was born! We now have 1 toddler, 3 babies, and one baby on the way in our community group.  Sweet little blessings! We love that we have so many babies to love on! We went to visit Hudson and his mommy & daddy at the hospital. You were enthralled with him and just kept staring at him, which was so cute! He is the sweetest, tiniest little guy!  I know you both will soon have lots of fun together.

 Of course, we had to take some Game Day pictures. Let's get real, you have to be the cutest razorback fan around! Saturday mornings in the fall are filled with yummy breakfast food, football news in the morning, and football games in the afternoon. I know Daddy will love when you can enjoy watching the game with him!

I thought for sure this could only happen with a little girl, but without knowing it, we went out of the house matching one day! Nana caught it and we both thought it was hilarious.  I thought it was so cute & I better try to get away with it now, because you will soon think that is NOT cool.

 We also took you to the nursery at church for the first time! The sweetest ladies took such good care of you and they said you did a great job.  Hooray! We are so thankful for wonderful people who take care you while Mommy and Daddy worship and spend time learning about Jesus! Soon, you'll be doing just the same in church! I pray that you not only have an unwavering love for the Lord, but a love for learning about him, too,

You are so sweet when you wake up, especially in the morning, and are very cuddly! Mommy & Daddy both love this time with you.  I've discovered you sleep really well if I nap with you, which is a sweet sleep for me too, buddy! Speaking of sleep, we also encountered a pretty intense growth spurt and reverted to our newborn sleeping pattern for about a week. This resulted in staying in our pj's and taking naps all day together.

Early mornings with Daddy. 

Nana and Poppy came in town and will be here for all the Razorback home games. I know they are so thankful they will get to see you frequently and watch you grow, as are we! CeCe and Pops also came into town and couldn't believed how much you grew since mid-July.  They miss you so much everyday! CeCe enjoyed rocking you to sleep for your naps while you were here. She told me it was like she was rocking your Daddy to sleep all over again :)

CeCe keepin' you entertained while we are out to eat!

We had a little playdate with Karis! Mommy got a little dose of what it would be like to have twins.  Y'all were so cute together, but y'all did decide to have a few synchronized crying events. I was silently applauding moms of twins :) We had a good time together and loved spending time with sweet Karis!

Your great-grandparents, Memaw & Papaw, & Auntie Jo came to visit you the weekend you turned four months old! They loved and loved on you. You were completely intrigued by Papaw's white beard, listened intensely to Auntie Jo's conversations with you, and loved all the cuddles from Memaw! Aunt Cait and Uncle Britton spent the weekend with us too.  It was shame you didn't get any attention that weekend ;-)

Loving all the attention from Memaw, Auntie Jo, & Aunt Caitlin

I have seen the biggest physical growth spurt in you this past month! You have officially gone from newborn to baby. I'm so thankful for a healthy, happy, growing boy! You fill our days with lots of smiles that are contagious and we couldn't ask for anything sweeter.

We love you, big boy!

'

Dear Hudson {Three Months}

Dear Hudson,

How has it been three months since we held you for the very first time? You have broadened our world to new perspectives and new joys.  I still stare at you; wondering how blessed we are that you are ours! I think we will be doing that the rest of our lives, though.  

This past month we have really seen even more of that little personality come forth & you have really become quite the chatty one! It is so fun to listen to you blabber & coo to us as if you are holding a real genuine conversation - well, to you it is very real! :) 

This past month, we celebrated Daddy's 27th birthday! I already have to remind him how old he is turning.  He had a bunch of his friends in town and we ended the weekend with a party with our community group. Your friend Karis came to play with you at the party as well! We love pretty little Karis!

One of mommy's best friends, Paige came to visit us for a few days during the week! She is your honorary Auntie and does a fabulous job in the role. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends that love our little guy so well! Auntie Paige outdid herself while she was here: she rocked you, cooked delicious blueberry crisps [yes, plural. because Mommy & paige are obsessed with it] + dinner, pushed you in your stroller while we shopped, and even gave Max (our dog) a bath! You are going to love her as you grow up....she is quite the hilarious and I know will be teaching you new and fun things every chance she gets. Her husband, Matt and her moved to Boston a few weeks later. We can't wait to go up to visit within the 2 years they will live there!  

While she was here, you laughed for the first time! All three of us couldn't stop smiling and laughing. We could tell it took so much effort from your little self to create that laugh, and boy did we LOVE it. 

We took advantage of the RARE and gorgeous August weather one Saturday and spent our day doing fun errands and stopped at "The Yacht Club", a park of airstream trailers, to get delicious treats at Lo's Sweet Treats & Other Eats.  

In the beginning of August we made a trip to Dallas not only to be with Nana & Poppy, but also to meet your great grandparents (Mommy's Nonnie & Papa) and great Aunt Steph! Of course, we were so happy to get some cousin time in with Isaac. It's so fun seeing you two together each time as y'all are a little bit older! Before long, it will be real playtime and Aunt Erin and I will be running around trying to keep up with you two! 

Auntie Erin, Isaac, Great Grandma (Nonnie), Hudson & Mommy. (Hudson always trying to wiggle).

Your smiles have gotten bigger and even more intentional and it makes our hearts explode each time. When your Daddy gets home from work everyday, you give him the biggest smile.  I think it may be his favorite part of his day.  You look so much like your Daddy and I love it! You've also officially "found your feet". You've been pulling those feet up and reaching towards them for the past few weeks, but finally got a hold of them.  When you wake up from naps, I often find you holding on to them rocking from side to side! 

We went for your two-month old check up about 1 1/2 weeks before you turned 3 months old. You are 25 inches long (75th percentile) and 13 lb 3 oz (50th percentile)! My big growing boy! Not too far away from doubling your birth weight.  

The doctor said you are one healthy growing boy, which we are so thankful for and praise the Lord for good health!  You got your shots at the end of the appointment.  Don't worry, mommy cried right along with you. However, you calmed down quickly and gave mama a big smile, which eased my heart. We took a good nap together when we got home!

Waiting for the doctor!

We can definitely see already that you are ALL boy and love it! You are one wiggly little guy.  If you are laying under you jungle mat, your little legs don't stop! I have a feeling we'll be playing lots of sports and always on the go.  I can't wait for the adventures ahead and I know you'll keep mommy on her toes! 

We love those big blue eyes! We will have to find out if they will stay that color.  You love bath time now and have reversed from crying during bath, to crying when you get out of the bath.  However, you immediately starting smiling and laughing when I put you on your changing table to dry you off.  It's your "happy place" and has been since you were born.  

Celebrating at the other Hudson's baby shower with Emilie & Karis!

For the most part, you have never enjoyed 'tummy time' and never would really lift your head up. But you've had great head control when I would hold you upright. I felt like I failed in doing tummy time, but Aunt E suggested I used the Boppy.  One day, it's almost like it "clicked" and a few days before you turned 3 months you popped that head up like a champ! You seem pretty darn proud of yourself, too!

I say it all the time, but each month is a joy watching you grow, develop, and learn! I love being your mommy and spending each day with you! Even as a little guy, you are teaching us so much, causing us to stop and see God in the tiniest of ways. You keep us smiling, bouncing, making funny noises, and staring at you in great awe!

We love you, our dear little guy!

Mommy & Daddy

Anniversary + Dessert

Of course, our {third} anniversary looked quite different this year.  Usually we would go out to dinner + dessert, maybe make a full date day, or do a quick overnight stay-cation!

We now have a tiny person who is completely dependent upon on us for his every need. Having to celebrate our anniversary on our back porch was just as romantic + fun as doing any of our other regular choices of celebration. Why? We were celebrating the very thing, marriage, that gave us the sweetest blessing, who was just sleeping right inside our house. 

After work, Lee picked up a delicious meal from one of our favorite Italian restaurants here in Fayetteville. I was wanting to make the outdoor patio "romantic looking", but was having to use what I had around the house because I couldn't run out due to a newborn baby who was still having acid reflux/tummy troubles. To my surprise, my sweet husband came home with wine, flowers, candles, and the cutest candle holders to decorate the patio table. I mean, the man went to Hobby Lobby....by himself....all to make the table special...for me. What a guy!

I wanted to contribute somehow to the evening. So, I decided a few days before I would make dessert. I decided on Chocolate Silk Pie from Smitten Kitchen's Cookbook. [Note: start this dessert day before because you have to let it chill in refrigerator for at least 6 hours].  I knew not to fool myself thinking I could just whip a dessert in an hour. You know, babies have a way of knowing when it's the worst time to wake up or cry...like when you have egg all over your hands or there is one minute away from the oven timer going off [therefore, things burn], etc. So, I started this dessert at 9:00am that morning. Yes. I want to be realistic here with [new] mommyhood. Guess when I finished it? 3:00pm. So don't you go thinking that I was whisking around the kitchen in an apron with my makeup done while the baby slept like a champ. I intentionally started it at 9:00am and worked on it during naps. In the end, the pie was DELICIOUS. So worth it. Therefore, I need to share the recipe [at the bottom].

Right as Lee got home, I was rocking Hudson to sleep. Perfect, right? Lee dishes up the food, light the candles, poured the wine, arranged flowers (oh yeah, he did...and it looked beautiful). I came out of the room, smiling "ahhh, baby is asleep". I grabbed a wine glass and what do we hear on the monitor? Baby is awake. We laughed and looked at each other and I said, "of course!"  I went back into the room rocked him to sleep...Lee brought the food back in and covered it. I got Hudson to go back to sleep and we brought back everything outside to eat. It was a sweet dinner, sitting there, talking and smiling about how different this anniversary was but in such a sweet, blessed way. I mean, my goodness, here we are celebrating three years of life together as husband + wife with the sweetest blessing as a result in tiny human form.  Just as we took our last bite and sipped the wine....baby woke up! Hey, at least we finished dinner :) 

Why am I sharing the small details of that? Because I want to be realistic [and also remember the memories of our 3rd anniversary with a 5 week old]. I posted a picture of our anniversary dinner on instagram. I was thinking later how instagram/facebook/twitter are the highlight reels of our life. It's not a bad thing [I mean, who is like "everybody! Look how awesome I look with the flu!].  However, I know new moms out there [because I've done this myself] may have looked at that picture [and other people's pictures at different times] and thought "oh what a perfect, candlelit, backyard porch dinner......" when all in all, it wasn't as smooth as it may have appeared! 

I would not have wanted to spend our  third anniversary any other way. We were rocking, feeding, cuddling the very fruit of our marriage, which is what we were celebrating that day. We were celebrating real life together and the three years of it that we have done in unity, in oneness. What joy that brings me!

My husband, I would not want to do this real, day to day life with anyone else. You are our rock and you love and serve our family well. Thank you for being my fearless leader and now a fearless leader to a little baby boy, who will forever look up to you. Thank you for loving me past my faults. Going through this new thing of parenthood with you has made me fall even more in love with who you are! 

I love you! 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Chocolate Silk Pie

The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook

Ingredients

Chocolate Crust: 1 1/2 cup chocolate-wafer crumbs, 2 Tbs sugar, Pinch of salt, 5 Tbs unsalted butter, melted

Filling: 12 tbs butter, at room temp, 1 cup sugar, 3 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted & cooled, 3 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract

Garnish: 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 1 Tbs sugar, chocolate curls shaved from bittersweet bar (optional)

Crust. Preheat oven to 350. Mix together cookie crumbs, sugar, and salt. Stir in melted butter. Press crumbs across bottom and sides of 9 inch pie crust pan. Bake for 10 min. Let cool completely. 

[Note: I could not find chocolate wafer cookies, so I used the chocolate part of oreos. Warning: delicious oreo creme will be left over. Staring at you]

Filling.  In mixer, whip butter + sugar together. Keep mixer going & slowly pour in chocolate. Add eggs one at a time, beating for 5 minutes after each egg. {this is SO important to the recipe}. Blend vanilla in. Spread filling in pie crust. Chill for at least 6 hours. 

Topping. Right before serving, beat cream + sugar together until soft peaks form. Spoon onto pie and spread. Can add chocolate shavings if you would like.