Living With Purpose

The last week has been exhausting, so although I've wanted to blog, I've put it off in order to find some rest in between feedings. However, I thought I should at least announce that 4 weeks before we had planned, we got to meet our beautiful daughter! Sonya Joy Hodge was born at 11:10 PM on September 20th. She weighed 3lbs 14oz and measured at 17 1/2 inches long. She was taken to the NICU very soon after birth, but the doctors said her lungs seemed fully developed. They did find a small hole in her heart that they're hoping she'll grow into, and they've been monitoring her little heart because of some small irregularities, which they also said could heal as she grows. She is beautiful and sweet, but she's got a healthy amount of fight in her. Matt and I have spend every day since her birth in the NICU. We are so thankful that the doctors caught the preeclampsia when they did! Already, we can not imagine our lives without her! Please pray that she will continue...

Several weeks ago people started asking me if I was ready for our little girl to make her appearance. I said, "Absolutely not! The room isn't painted yet!" It wasn't too long after we found out we were expecting a girl that I started to look on Craigslist for furniture that would go well in a baby room. I try to keep from impulsive and expensive buys by asking myself these two questions: Is it a good deal and do I absolutely love the item(s). Asking myself these two questions helped secure a $60.00 wicker furniture set, a $90 crib that transitions from a crib - to a toddler bed - to a twin sized bed, we found a 9 piece crib set for $75 that was both elegant but cute. However, none of this felt like an accomplishment because the room was still a dark forest green and brown! Matt teasingly kept reminding me that he had picked out these colors and that he was offended I didn't want to use them for our little girl. He sweetly took me shopping for paint though. I had...

I put off writing about little Sonya's baby shower because it was a little overwhelming to me! Don't get me wrong - it was wonderful - I just felt so humbled by all the sweet ladies who showed up and very literally showered us with gifts for our little girl! Mom Hodge did an absolutely beautiful job on the the decorations and the food! Of course, she was running on steroids, (due to some complications with MS) so she seemed to have an incredible amount of energy the days prior to the shower! Please keep her in your prayers! She went with a classy vintage/shaby chic theme. Everything was beautiful! I wish that I had taken pictures, but I stole some and will have to steal some more later! I'm not sure how many ladies we had in total, but it was enough to make it seem like quite the gathering! We had the ladies from Tabernacle Baptist, the ladies from our church, and the ladies from Fergies. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, which made it much easier for me to enjoy my...