The Big 23

Yes, another year older-and quite a year too! I had a very nice birthday (aside from yardwork LOL) and got many birthday wishes. Thanks so much! I look forward to seeing how 23 is going to feel!

While I wait for Mob Wars to refresh

Well, it has been too long since I've updated (and my grams would definitely agree to that!) Rob and Charity and Soph have come and gone (sadly), Daniel has had another checkup and Ryan and I have been working our tails off!

Seeing my little family from Florida was wonderful. Meeting Charity was cool and seeing my niece for the first time was awesome! She is a cutie and so full of life. And always on the go and wanting to just do! Sadly, once they got back we got news that Charity (a Caples now!) will be deployed in August :( I'm not sure what will be in store for them, but my prayers are being lifted that way.

Mr. Daniel is growing like a weed! He is over 18 lbs. now and almost 28 inches long! He says "dada and gaga" and so much nonsense that all Ryan and I do is laugh. He has recently learned to walk all the way around his stationary toy and amuses himself for quite a while with that. He also enjoys watching Family Guy-a lot...

Work has been an adventure. Just when I think I have something down pat, something happens and I feel so dumb LOL. These kiddos are hard work! Here's hoping by October, I can do this! The girls in my fellowship are all really nice and we all get along well, so it'll be nice to be the "new people" together.

This past month has really tried on my patience and my faith, but I have pulled through with the help of God and my family. And although Ryan and I are still quite aways off from where we would like to be, we are working together to accomplish this. A true test for our marriage, lemme tell ya!

On a lighter note, I'll leave you with some pictures of this past month :)

Confessions

I confess...

I take lots of pictures because I'm afraid of forgetting the moments
It took me too long to find Jesus, but one moment to love Him
I sometimes wonder what it would be like if I wasn't a mother, then realize there isn't another life I would ever desire
I sometimes am not content with how I look, but rarely do anything about it
I love to read and can finish a book in one day if I'm allowed to
I do not like all of my family, but I do try to pray for them
I worry about not having another child
I love the early morning ritual of the 3 of us lounging in bed and reconnecting as a family
I love the sound of my child's laugh and the way he loves to look at me
I miss tennis-s.o. m.u.c.h.
I miss old friends
I sometimes feel that I don't pray the right way
I love dogs more when I don't live with them
I worry so much about Daniel's allergies
I wish Ryan would go to church with me
I am a pushover, even if it sounds like I'm not
I love to play house and see Ryan's clothes mingle with mine
I h.a.t.e. credit cards
I love sweets
I worry about my Grandma
I love my parents and my mom is my best friend
I wish Ryan would listen to me more
I love to drive on sunny days with a destination to no where
I'm obsessed with Target
I love the gestures of love more than the act
I love soft sheets and brand new socks
I have to have me time to reconnect with my everyone else time
I cannot cook as well as I would like to
I have only child syndrome even though I am not
I miss my brother so much
I worry about not having a good relationship with my sister-in-law
I am a Myspace addict because I am nosey by nature
I sometimes think what if?
I find confessions good for the soul, but do not believe it will get me into Heaven
I am super shy when confronted
I am scared about being a labor nurse
I want another baby after seeing the excited faces of newly dubbed parents
I still cry at every delivery I see
I confess...

Daniel Robert

Yesterday was Daniel's 6 month mark...cannot believe it! It has been an exciting, tiring, love filled 6 months Ryan and I have shared with our baby. He is such a little person now! He laughs at himself, entertains himself and cries like you wouldn't believe when it's food time. He is my heart. It seems like yesterday when Ryan and I were heading to the hospital in anticipation for our little man's arrival. One of the best days in my life. I look forward to the next 6 months, but am wanting it to go slower! I can't imagine Daniel at a year!

Trust

Folks, I am T.I.R.E.D. Tired of a 5 day a week jobs (and no, I'm not being a baby; you try working 12 hour days 3 days and week and then have to switch it up), tired of worrying about money, tired of being tired! Where is an easy button when I need one?

Here is my easy button: God.

I try really hard to give my fears to God, but sometimes I'm really stubborn, and can't help but obsess over them. I went Bible searching and came across a really good scripture and it helped me understand His willingness to help:

"There is no fear in love but perfect love drives out fear, for fear has a torment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." ***1 John 4:18***

All God asks is that we TRUST Him, put Him FIRST, and do the BEST WE CAN. Most of what I worry over I have little control over anyway, so why not trust that He has the answers and can get myself and my little family through it?

There are still going to be times I know where I'll fall back and stress over things that aren't necessarily going in ways that I think they should be going, but I have to remember they are going in ways that God wants them to go, and I must put my trust in Him.

Old married lady

Yes,
folks, it has been a year since I said those vows and made myself a
Metz.
Scary, huh? It has been one VERY eventful year. There was
the
good, the
bad, and the inbetween, but I can't think of a better person I
would have wanted
to share each day with. I can't wait to see what
each new day brings us,
and am excited for more years together. Now,
if only during this next
year, I can get him to take out the garbage...
:)

Oh what a week!

This was the first week of RN orientation to the perinatal fellowship. Wow. I have never felt so overwhelmed and excited and nervous! Each day that I was in class made me realize the seriousness of my job. As much as I would love to have normal, healthy deliveries and normal, healthy babies, that may not always be so. I am feeling a humongous responsibility and praying that I can do this. There is one particular teacher that I am having qualms about, but I pray that God gives me the patience and desire to work even harder to not so much gain this person's approval, but prove to myself that I was destined to do this. And if in the process she sees that I am very much a right fit and know my stuff, then even better :)

Ok, so now that I have had time to finish this blog, the above still pertains, but I have actually been on the floor now. I met my preceptor and she is A.W.E.S.O.M.E.! God couldn't have paired me with a better person. She is so knowledgeable and sweet and I think she'll watch out for me. This past Saturday I saw a normal, healthy delivery and got down and dirty in there. I have seen quite a few deliveries, but this was the first time that I was assisting the mom and standing near the doctor. So beautiful. They were the cutest couple :)

We found out earlier that Daniel is allergic to cats, dogs, egg whites and peanuts :( It is nice to know, but it's upsetting to know he's allergic to egg whites and peanuts. I pray he grows out of it, and if not, then I am granted the knowledge of how to help him with his food allergies. It is still frustrating that his face breaks out. It looks really uncomfortable and I feel that I am failing his as a mommy :( I need to pray on this more...