#9 Figure out how babies work....practice on Emma...

I could smell the stench brewing from a mile away. A look of terror fell over my face as Emma was making her "poo face". Up until now, I haven't received ANY poopy surprises. On previous diaper explosions, from when we would babysit Will (6 years ago), Andrew would take care of them because he knew that I would barf at any slight smell of a stink. Andrew, the sweet hubs that he is, gave me a little pep talk, "you got this, Case". I knew I would have to go boldly where I had never gone before....

Let me give you a little background information before I give you my baby tips on changing a beast of a diaper. The gag reflex has been working long since I can remember. Around the year of 1990, my dad made me barf with his "morning business". Around the year of 2000, one of my friends let one slip and I had to pull over the car, but I was too late and barfed all over my leg. The year 2010, someone let one slip while outside and I ran inside and puked. WHO DOES THAT! These are the big three gags of my lifetime. I am not even counting all the numerous times I have gagged at youth group kids, Suki, brothers, birth, public bathrooms, etc... the tightness in the back of the throat is happening right now!

So with that in mind, I'll give you the tips that I, the gaggiest person in the world, used in changing the nastiest diaper ever.

Baby Diaper Explosion Steps for those who gag easily:
You will need baby changing pad(s), a box of wipes, fresh diaper, candles, matches, a coach, loosely fitted t-shirt, plastic sack and latex gloves.
1. Place child on changing pad.
2. Light candles with matches.
3, Put gloves on.
4. Cover nose and mouth with loosely fitted shirt and take deep breaths.
5. Look to coach for pep talk, "you got this, Case".
6. Slowly unstrap the diaper that holds the yuckiness.
7. Allow coach to hold the legs and remind you to breath (inside your t-shirt of course).
8. Use at least 20 wipes to clean up the nastiness that looks a little like guacamole.
9. Dispose of the diaper in a plastic sack in your neighbor's trash can! Get that stuff far away as possible!
10. New diaper on and we are good to go.

I know, it sounds dramatic, but I did it! My first gross diaper to change EVER!

How can something so GROSS come out of something so CUTE??

#9 Figure out how babies work....practice on Emma.

In this whole adventure of The Cradle List, I thought it would be wise to learn some Baby 101.  I have had a lot of time with the new niece, Emma. She has taught me a lot in the last couple of days! I have made a list of five things that I have learned from my little snoogity boogity woogity.....Emma.

1. Don't drain the water out of the whale bath tub with baby still in it. May turn over! Good thing I have quick reflexes.
2.  Keep a bottle in the car. Baby will scream bloody murder as you try to catch happy hour at Sonic, so while you have your Blue Coconut Cream Slush the baby can sip on whatever that nasty stuff is in that bottle. Win win.
3. When crying.....DFS. Diaper, Feed, Sleep. It has got to be one of the three!
4. Bottle Prep. Instead of pouring the formula into the water, you should pour the water into the formula or it is just a big lumpy mess and the powder goes everywhere. It took me three bottles to finally figure this out! Don't make fun! I am still working on my cooking skills!

5. Keep burp cloth on your shoulder at all times and keep another right beside you. Spit up is just disgusting and smells like death. Of course both times I kept Emma this  week, I was not burp cloth ready. I was sprayed immediately! Totally gagged! 

She's so stinkin' cute and I am having a blast learning all about babies!

#6 Attend Numerous Concerts

Well our second concert of the year was at the Workplay Theater in Birmingham. We saw The Civil Wars w/ Lucy Schwartz. What I love about the Workplay Theater is that you are more than likely going to have a run in with the performers. Josh waved enthusiastically at John Paul White upon arrival to the theater. I had quite the awkward run in with Lucy Schwartz. I know one of her songs and that's about it. I totally dorked it up! i.e. the following photo. She is like 6'5 and had to double over to take a photo with Marisa and me.

She is a "loopist" meaning she creates small sections of sound and plays it continuously while adding additional small sections to it. The machine is called a "looper" and the process of doing this is called "looping". Now that I have bestowed upon you this very important information, The Civil Wars......

If you have never heard of The Civil Wars, you should definitely check them out. They actually have the #1 album on iTunes at this very moment.  I love how they are completely stripped down to an acoustic guitar, little bit of piano, and vocals. Oh and the vocals are absolutely amazing!

My Father's Father by The Civil Wars

Andrew loves Barton Hollow

 Needless to say we had a great time. #6 is off to a good start this year. We have seen two concerts in two months and have another one lined up for April.....The Avett Brothers and Band of Horses!! HEY-OOO! We are stoked!

#12 Settle In (Part 2)

Andrew and I (mostly me) are absolutely FREAKING about where to live in Jackson.

I have this desire to live in the Belhaven area. I want to be urban!  My mom is completely freaking about the whole idea. She thinks we will more than likely have our things stolen or be shanked. (slang term for being punctured with a knife) I understand that living the "urban life" has its issues and good ole' mom just wants to protect us. The one year that I lived in the Jackson area, I did not watch the news for fear that I would never want to leave the house.

Somewhere in my mind I picture us living in an urban community. I picture Andrew starting some kind of basketball ministry. I picture myself being involved in some kind of mercy ministry or possibly involved in the youth or children's ministry in a church. My mind is running wild with all of these ideas. I find it exciting to think about how God could use us! I think somehow and in someway that God could use us in changing and turning hearts from racism and hatred to hearts that know the God of love and peace.

Another choice is the suburbs. We have been looking for a home in the Brandon, Richland, Pearl, and Florence areas. We feel like this is the safe, obvious choice. To be a suburbanite! (that's actually a real word, spell check said so)  Something about this makes me feel like we are disconnecting ourselves. I realize there is nothing wrong with living in the "burbs", but I have some issues about  having to commute at least 20 minutes to a church. I don't want to be a church commuter; I want to be in a church's community.

Anyway, this is the struggle of the day. If you were to be around me you could see that I am a total basket- case as of late!

In my Bible study today, I read that our prayers are a profound encouragement to believers. "In prayer we are with others and encouraging others through the Holy Spirit, who closes the distance between us." (how amazing is the Holy Spirit, that he links us together!)

Pray that no matter where we are living that we would glorify God  through restoring His kingdom. Pray for our new church family that we will be meeting shortly! Pray for my sanity, that I would have peace knowing that the God of the universe is at work even in these small details of my little life. Pray for us!

I hope this doesn't sound like a me me me post, but more like a post that we are struggling and we need our friends and family to pray and encourage us as we seek out how to glorify God in our next move.

"Finally, brothers rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." Ephesians 13:11