The Craigs: 2012

Christmas with the Craigs:2012

Our 1st Christmas together as a family of 3 wasn't quite had I envisioned it to be. My brother in law, Marcus, had the flu the week before Christmas so we waited a day to let his meds kick in & their house to air out. I woke up on Sunday morning with a scratchy throat but didn't think about it. We drove to Atlanta that day & by Sunday night my eyes were watering and I felt horrible. Had fever all night long & didn't sleep at wink. I woke up Monday morning (Christmas Eve) and just knew I had the FLU! After a 3.5 hr wait at the Minute Clinic, it was confirmed. The FLU for Christmas! I bought masks so I wouldn't get anybody else sick and just tried to "isolate" myself. I was mostly worried about my nephew Benton who has had RSV & has been in & out of the hospital but God was faithful and so far NO ONE has gotten the flu from me. Even Sweet P seems to be fine.

Mommy is sick so masks for everyone!

From Christmas 2012

Christmas morning brought lots of joy with Kinley's red kitchen.

From Christmas 2012

Mr. Benton loved his new wheels

From Christmas 2012

Paisley could have cared less about presents but LOVED the wrapping paper

From Christmas 2012

Gotta love Christmas morning pictures when everybody looks like a wreck.

From Christmas 2012

Todd got a TEXAS belt buckle. Every rancher needs a belt buckle & I figured he needed his before we moved.

From Christmas 2012

I got a BIG surprise this year- mentoring session with my favorite photographer & friends (whom I stalk ) Lauren Garrison. I was literally jumping up & down. Todd had asked if he could combine my Christmas & birthday gifts and I informed him that it better be a good one & it was !

From Christmas 2012

Christmas day was spent at Sean & Kristen's for dinner. Kristen served the most amazing food on an absolutely gorgeous table.

From Christmas 2012

Paisley loved her Grandma Beth

From Christmas 2012

There was lots of chaos & lots of fun with 5 kids!

From Christmas 2012

There was even dancing to booty music. My niece Calista loves to dance.

From Christmas 2012

I didn't take my normal amount of pictures since I really wasn't up to par but I did score some pretty cute ones of Paisley.

I love this picture of Paisley & her daddy on Christmas Eve.

From Christmas 2012

Is it just me or does this kid get cuter & cuter????????

From Christmas 2012

I hope you & your family had a very Merry & sick free Christmas!
P.S. Happy New Year!

Angels among us

How can people say there aren't angels among us? I can name 3 angels that have blessed my life in the last month. 3 people who gave us their time, energy & strength to take care of my baby for the last 3 weeks so that she wouldn't have to go to daycare while I worked.

Have I told you that story yet? That Paisley only lasted 4 hours at daycare one Monday before Todd picked her up and then refused to let her go back there? And then I had to scrammble to find people to watch her until Dec 21st? Well God proved Himself faithful once again and 3 special ladies came to our rescue.

Mother Therese flew back to NC after a week after she was here for Thanksgiving. She unfortunately had a rough week. I don't know if Paisley had seperation anxiety or if the antibiotics from the virus she picked up while being at a daycare for 4 hours messed her up or if she just bad a week but Paisley was not her typical happy self that week. She literally went on a 4 day hunger strike and refused to eat during the day while I was at work. She would go 12 hrs each day without eating. It stressed both my mom & I out. I'm so thankful that my mother was there to take care of her during that stressful week instead of Paisley being at a daycare. I can't thank Momma T enough!

From Paisley_Month 5

My friend Kaleena had Paisley the next week. Kaleena is a school teacher & was tracked out in December so she was willing to help us out (can you say Jesus that she would be tracked out when we needed her the most!). Thankfully Paisley had a better week and she ate. Kaleena would literally write up details of their days together. And like true teacher fashion, she would give me assesments on what Paisley was doing, things she liked & how she could improve certain skills. You have NO idea how thankful I was that this teacher was here with my baby. Kaleena even taught me a few things that I didn't know about Paisley and about our dishwasher caddie! :-)

From Paisley_Month 5

My friend Kelly stepped up the next week. She said the Lord had already put it on her heart before I called & asked her to babysit. How cool is that? Well, Kelly is a super hero mommy. She has 2 kids of her own so 3 is a lot of work! They had a birthday party for Jesus! And they had craft day and made this.

From Paisley_Month 5

Thank you just doesn't cut it! I cannot thank these 3 angels enough for taking such good care of my baby.

We love you all!
Todd, Candice & Paisley

5 months

Paisley was 5 months yesterday. After the tradegy in CT this past Friday, I have to admit that I hugged her a little harder & kissed those fat cheeks a 1,000 times more this weekend. I CANNOT even imagine what those parents are going through. I can honestly say I don't know what I'd do if something ever happened to Paisley. All I can do is pray for EVERY single person affected by this senseless act and pray that somehow God brings good from this evil.

Here is my 5 month Sweet P- she is finally starting to smile for the camera

From Paisley_Month 5

And an extra one- I know everybody is busy this week preparing for Christmas. If you're like me, you've waited way too long to get everything done. Here's hoping you get all your to-do's knocked out this week.

From Paisley_Month 5

Hello Santa

Santa came to our neighborhood clubhouse 2 weekends ago. We got Paisley dressed up in her finest elf costume and went down to visit.

From Paisley_Month 5

She wasn't really sure about Santa. Just stared at him with big old eyes. Didn't cry. Didn't smile. Just a blank stare.

From Paisley_Month 5

She looks thrilled doesn't she?

From Paisley_Month 5

I can just hear her saying "I don't know why you guys continue to dress me up & take pictures of me. It's starting to get old!"

From Paisley_Month 5

Poor baby has NO clue but the picture taking has only begun! Haha

Never say never

Have you ever said that you’ll NEVER do something? Well I have. Plenty of times. I’m learning that if you call yourself a Christian then NEVER really shouldn’t be in your vocabulary because God is funny. He’s got a funny sense of humor. He’ll change your heart, change your mindset and even ask you to do things you said you would never do. For example, I’ve said I’ll never be a stay at home mom. I’ve said I’ll never move back to southeast Texas. And I’ve said I’ll never own a dog. Well 2 out of the 3 will be a reality soon and I’m pretty sure that once Paisley starts talking, Todd will teach her to ask for a puppy and all 3 will be a reality!

Yep- that’s right. I’m going to be a stay at home mommy and we’re moving to SOUTHEAST Texas!

Seems like a sudden move right? Well, we’ve been praying for a year that God would allow us to be closer to family. Once Paisley was born we realized how hard it is to be in Raleigh on our own away from both sides of our families. God started moving on my heart about staying at home 4 weeks ago when I visited Paisley’s daycare. It just wasn’t right. I knew it in my spirit but I tried to ignore it. Then that one morning God spoke to me through that devotional and I knew I had my answer. If you didn’t read about that then click here. So once I decided to stay at home then there wasn’t a tie to Raleigh anymore. Todd talked to his boss about moving and work remotely and they are 100% supportive. So it was just a matter of where we would move- closer to my family or closer to his? I’m happy to say that we decided to move to Texas to be closer to my family. I know that this is a sacrifice for Todd but he is also very excited. He gets to be the rancher he’s always dreamed of being and he gets 24 hours access to a farm pond! Paisley gets her mommy at home and I get to live closer to my momma. Everybody wins in this decision!

This decision comes at a price. We love Raleigh. We love our friends here and we love our church! Can't imagine finding a better church anywhere. Pastor Mike's sermon this weekend was again about RISK. I wrote down something he said that I'm going to hold on to "God will never ask you to give up something that He doesn't plan to replace with something better". So I'm going to hold Him to it!

Our plan is to put our house on the market after the Holidays are over. Once it sells, we’ll move to Texas. We plan to move into the garage apartment at my parents in Spurger until we found a house. That way we're not strapped or rushed to make a purchase and we don't have two mortgages.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”. We believe that God is moving us to a new season in our lives and that this is His will for our little family. We covet your prayers as we prepare to sell the house & the BIG move ahead!

Love,
Candice

Happy December!

It's December which means CHRISTMAS is right around the corner. I love Christmas. Love the decorations, all the Christmas movies and seeing family!

Nothing says Christmas like a Gingerbread latte from Starbucks & Christmas tree bokeh

From Paisley_Month 5

A girl & her first Christmas tree

From Paisley_Month 5

She is loving all the lights & decorations around our house. Lots to explore!

From Paisley_Month 5

She's also fasinated with her toes right now

From Paisley_Month 5

Hope yall have a good weekend!
Candice

Wittle People Wednesday

I'm linking up with my friend Ashley for Wittle People Wednesday. We had a playdate with her & her daughter Felicity last week and Ashley borrowed Paisley's onesie & tutu for a quick Christmas photo shot. I thought it would be cute to show you that same picture here!

From NC Thanksgiving

P loved playing with the tulle

From NC Thanksgiving

If you want to see other wittle people go check out Ashley's blog here

Happy Thanksgiving

We are thankful for so many of God's blessings this year- especially this little turkey!

From Paisley_Month 5

I hope everyone has a wonderful time spent with family this Thanksgiving!
Candice

I surrender all

There aren't any cute pictures with this blog. This is just me writing so that I'll remember what happened this morning. And this is me asking and begging you to pray for me and the decisions that lie ahead.

I've been dreading this day for awhile. We did a dry run of the daycare this morning. I knew it was important to do this because Todd will be dropping off in the morning & he needs to get use to the routine. He also hasn't visited our daycare so he needed to see it. So this morning Paisley woke up at 6am. I fed her, we played for a bit and then the 3 of us prayed like we always do each morning. Then we headed to The Learning Experience Daycare in Apex. It's literally a mile from our house so its super convenient for us & on the way to Todd's work. We checked her in & talked to the manager. We went into her room and met the teachers. They gave us the run down on how everything would go each day, what she would need, etc. It was a bright room. Lots of cribs lined the walls and parents were starting to come in. Babies seemed happy, parents seemed happy but all I could do was cringe. Todd looked a little leery, asking lots of questions. We filled out some paper work, set up a pin for the automatic computer check in and I started to cry. Just the thought of leaving my precious baby in this "institution" where she needs a pin number made me ill. I knew it would. I've been battling the thought of daycare for months. Just not thinking about it since I had so much time at home. Well, the time has come & I have MAJOR anxiety. It's all I think about it. It's all I pray about it. It's all Todd & I talk about. It has CONSUMED us. What is the best thing for Paisley? What is the best thing for our family? Where does God want us? And will we (mostly me) be obedient?

Honestly- I didn't think it would be hard to leave my baby in the care of someone else. Well, that's what I thought before I had her. Million of parents work & millions of babies go to daycare. It's just how the world works. I grew up with a working mom & I can see her reaping the benefits from that now as she is about to retire after 31.5 years at AT&T. I know that it's good for moms to get out of the house and have a life of their own. I know that financially it helps & affords families to take vacations, be involved in extra curricular activities and puts less burden on the husband to provide. There are so many benefits to working moms and I always knew that I would continue to work when I had kids. I told Todd that before we even got married (even though he has always wanted me to stay at home).

But something is changing in me. This child has COMPLETELY changed my heart. I love her SO much. How on earth can I let someone else care for her 8 hours a day? I'm too OCD, too controlling to let some stranger watch my child. If it was family then maybe it would be a different story but we have NO family here in NC. No support except friends who can only do so much.

After the run through, Todd went to work and Paisley went down for a nap. I sat on the couch and just wept to God. I begged Him to show me what is best for Paisley. I prayed that He would give me the courage to do WHATEVER He leads me to do. I then started to worry. What if I give up my good paying government job & I can never get it back? What if I quit and then Todd loses his job? I know that staying at home will probably be best for now but what about long term? I let fear consume me. Then I remembered the sermon from this weekend about taking a RISK when we follow God. About how we don't need to live in fear and how faith is about trusting God. And that sometimes life with God doesn't make sense but that it is an adventure. The series is great & I encourage you to listen here

A friend told me about a daily devotional recently & I got the app on my phone. It's called "Jesus Calling" and I highly recommend it. It's written in a way that sounds like God is talking to you. So I opened it up and here was the devotion for today- November 19, 2012.

"Leave outcomes up to Me. Follow me wherever I lead, without worrying about how it will all turn out. Think of your life as an adventure, with Me as your guide and companion. Live in the now, concentrating on staying in step with Me. When our path leads to a cliff, be willing to climb it with My help. When we come to a resting place, take time to be refreshed in My presence. Enjoy the rhythm of life lived close to Me. You already know the ultimate destination of your journey: your entrance into heaven. So keep your focus on the path just before you, leaving outcomes up to Me."

And if that wasn't enough, there are verses that go with the devotion and today's verses were.......

"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling". Exodus 15:13

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14

Anybody who knows us, knows that Psalm 27:13-14 is Todd's FAVORITE verse. It was the theme to our wedding almost 3 years ago. God showed this verse to Todd 7 years ago when he was divorced & just had survived a serious car accident that should have killed him. Todd's jaw was wired shut, sinuses blown out and a piece of his hip was removed and put into his mouth because he had broken the bones that held his teeth together. Todd was in a pit and God showed him Psalm 27:13-14. Todd had no hope of goodness. All he had was pain & disappointment but God kept telling him to wait and believe. Wait and believe. And sure enough Todd saw God's promise come alive on February 20, 2012. Then Todd saw it again on July 17, 2012. Todd has always called me his "goodness in the land of the living" and now he calls Paisley the same thing!

How cool that God would use this devotion and this verse to speak LOUDLY to me!

Then I got on my knees and broke down. Cried like a baby. And these words came out of my mouth "I surrender". I don't know if I have really ever said that before or even meant it but I do now. Whatever God wants from me, I'll do it. I'll give my job. I've give up my current lifestyle, shopping habits and expensive taste. I've give up everything I have for this perfect, little baby who is our goodness in the land of the living. I'm done. My life is not my own. God wins. She wins.

So what does this mean for us? I don't know. I so badly wish God would just show us the future and literally tell us where to be but it doesn't work that way. All we can do now is PRAY and LISTEN and BELIEVE.

Will you pray for us? Will you pray for me? I know how this works. I'll make a decision now that I believe is best but fear will creep back again and I'll go back on the promise to surrender everything. Will you pray that God will make his path clear? Do I need to give up my job and be a stay at home mom? Should we stay in Raleigh? Or would it be better for us to live near family? Pleas pray that God will show us exactly where He wants us. I pray that He orchestrates things in such a way that it's VERY CLEAR where He wants us. I tend to be stupid & blind when it comes to major decisions. I also tend to panic. Please pray that Todd & I make decisions so that we will have "peace that surpasses all understanding" (Phil 4:7) I know that the decisions that are coming in the next few weeks & months will impact the life of my daughter. Please pray that we have wisdom where we lack it and that the decisions we make will be in the best interest of our daughter.

I love the old hymn "I Surrender All". I listened to it this morning with hands raised high to the sky and meant every word. Listen by clicking here

Thank you for listening. And more importantly, thank you for your prayers & your friendship.

Love,
Candice

4 months

Paisley is 4 months old today! We celebrated by going to the doctor & getting shots! That was fun. (not)

The perfect baby weighs 14 lbs & 10 oz. When I saw the scale, I almost had a heart attack. Doesn't that look like she weighs 1410 lbs???!!! Holy cow.

From Paisley_Month 4

Everything checked out good & she is starting to slow down on her growth rate. 78% instead of 83%.

From Paisley_Month 4

She wasn't a big fan of her oral vaccine.

From Paisley_Month 4

And she sure wasn't happy when they poked her in her legs twice. Poor baby!

From Paisley_Month 4

Like the good momma that I am- I planned ahead & took our 4 month old pictures yesterday!!!

From Paisley_Month 4

And a little comparison of her growth over the last 4 months.

From Collages

Hope everyone has a good weekend!
Candice

Wittle People Wednesday

I'm trying something new. My friend Ashley does 'Wittle People Wednesday' on her blog where you share a picture of a wittle person. Hello! This is perfect for me. But I've tried to grab this "button" in the past but have had problems. So here goes.....

Here's my new favorite picture of Paisley. This is what I envision her saying to me
"You know mom, I was thinking.... You're the BEST mommy ever!"

From Paisley_Month 4

Ok- now for the button so you can see other pictures.

Weeks 13-16

Paisley is 4 months old & I'm LOVING this age. If she could stay this little forever, I wouldn't mind. She's doing so many new things that I've been writing them down lately so I won't forget. Here's the list of our "news"...

Laughing! Just started this last week
Gurgling
No more swaddling. Put her down for a nap the day she turned 16 wks without the swaddle & we haven't looked back. She use to LOVE being swaddled but now she really loves having her hands free while she sleeps. Makes getting to her fingers much easier
Obsessed with putting fingers in her mouth. I mean OBSESSED. There aren't many pictures of her these days without the fingers in the mouth.

From Collages

Not really taking the paci anymore. Only when she's really tired.
Not liking a bottle either- that's super convenient since I'll be going back to work in 2 weeks!!!
Also not a fan of being put in vegetables. Note to self: Make the leg holes of the pumpkin bigger next time! (I blame Todd for this) The left is a picture from Pinterest- that's how it was suppose to look. The right is our picture!

From Collages

Tummy time is less dramatic but she still doesn't like it

From Paisley_Month 4

Grabbing at things (especially with her left hand). Not really grabbing with the right. I wonder if this means she'll be left handed?
Starting to put things in her mouth & chew on them- like her favorite rattle

From Paisley_Month 4

Her talking is getting VERY LOUD. Wonder where she gets that from? Can you say Momma T!
Fascinated with lights & ceiling fans
Will give you kisses with her mouth wide open (I love this!)

From Paisley_Month 4

She WOBBLES! Loves to stand up but doesn't have solid control of her body yet. We call it "the wobble" since we heard/saw this new line dance at a wedding a few weeks ago. Pretty sure they got that idea from a 4 month old baby

From Paisley_Month 4

We go for her 4 month old doctor appointment on Friday. She'll have another round of shots. She wasn't a big fan of that last time. I know this sounds mean- but I really want to bring my camera along to capture the moment. Todd is going with us so I just might do it. hehe

Happy Veterans Day!
Love,
Candice

The Craigs

Christmas with the Craigs:2012

Angels among us

5 months

Hello Santa

Never say never

Happy December!

Wittle People Wednesday

Happy Thanksgiving

I surrender all

4 months

Wittle People Wednesday

Weeks 13-16

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