prayer for zoe

My prayer for my Zoe, as i look at you and see nothing but peace and
contentment on your beautiful little face. I pray as you grow up you
may have that peace that surpasses understanding through Christ who
strengthens us. Love you my angel.

Philippians 4:6-8,11-13 (NLT)
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God
what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will
experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His
peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
[8] And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your
thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and
lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and
worthy of praise. [11] Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned
how to be content with whatever I have. [12] I know how to live on
almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living
in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with
plenty or little. [13] For I can do everything through Christ, who
gives me strength.

oh so glorious day

pie filling and cupcakes yum yum

With the help of my little sweet cupcake

sleeping baby

Family Stroll

watching football with dada

Today mama is super happy. Since you were born we have had so much going on we haven't had a whole day to just be a family and today it finally happened! I'm in heaven.
We had no big plans just soak in our blessings and no matter what mama and dada weren't allowed to even have the tiniest disagreement. Today was going to be a good day.. And it was.
After having been a mama/Martha Stewart and having baked a meat pie and cupcakes while dada worked and had to go to Aunt Kaneeka's shower I was ready for a good night sleep Saturday night and maybe sleep in Sunday morning. The best part was that you were so good, you judt watched me cook, bake and do dishes. My "perfect" baby and i regular Martha Stewart I am.. Yeah right!!
Sleep in?? Apparently that's now a thing of the past, by 8:30am dada was washing breakfast dishes. OMG there's a new regime in the Lashley house. It didn't matter though cause we were together.. Yay. We had a family stroll planned cause mama and dada used to have Sunday morning walks before church and it was time to get back to that with our bundle of joy. It used to take us 10minutes to get from our bed to the door, now, well like I said there's a new regime in town:))
After a nice hour long walk that felt like going up cowles mountain for mama's new body I got to finally.. this is a place of truth so here goes..wash my hair since before you were born. Yucky mama. I know It's terrible but my shower time has been cut down, unless dada is still in the building, bathroom breaks are few and far between and mealtimes, those happen when, well whenever I can get a bite in. Hair washing honestly didn't even cross my mind until this oh so glorious day!! And to top it off I took a looong three hour nap while you and dada watched football-still digesting your apparent love of football-while dada fed, changed and loved you.
did I mention....OH SO GLORIOUS DAY!!

My Love

I'm completely and totally in love with you my baby. I love the sound and smell of your breath, the way your little hands lay on my chest like you're holding on for dear life. The way you curl up on me to get a good nap going, and the soft feel of your baby hair on my chin.

I love the how when you sit on my lap you tilt your head back so can stare at me as I talk or sing to you. The way you move your eyes away when you're done staring and take in what else is going on that your little eyes can capture. It's the look I like to call the
"and moving on" look:)

I love watching you get chubbier and your new double chin and seeing you 'neckin' coming in. Everyday you make me feel so blessed and so joyful just because of you. Being a mommy is a 24/7 gig with no pay, lots of poop, feeding, burping, throw up, no scheduled ten minute breaks or meal times, scheduled quick showers in between feedings.. The list is endless yet for the life of me I love this more than anything I ever done in my life.

You are the biggest accomplishment in our lives. Now back to snuggle time( where I tell you how much I love you a thousand times just in case you didn't hear me the first hundred)

Dada's Big 3-0!!

Dada loves Zoe

Yum Yum Dinner and Dessert

Happy Birthday Dada!! Hope you enjoyed your day of surf, me, yummy chicken pot pie and chocolate coffee cake mommy made from scratch....Love Zoe

P.S Great job on passing your test. You've made three of your dreams come true before you turned 30
Daddy/Retailer/Realtor..Way to go Dada:)

Two Weeks Ago...

mom rocking the fabulous hospital gown..shut it down

Saturday night October 1st  around 6:30pm mommy and daddy called the doctor cause something wasn't right, four hours later they said mommy seemed fine, but needed to spend the night in triage to be on the safe side. Sunday morning doctor said it was time to work on getting you out, because guess what mommy was only .5cm dilated. And at noon we were officially admitted and started waiting on something to happen.



Aunt Jenni telling you to come out already

 Monday morning, afternoon we were still waiting, progressing but waiting. By 5pm mommy was at 9cm but you were not happy. your heart rate was going down every time mommy had a contraction so the doctor decided that it was time to do a c-section. mommy and daddy were super nervous but both prayed as we waited for the procedure to start. And here's a shocker daddy talked about the Lakers and Kobe possibly going to play...etc i can't even get into it again.                  

Daddy and Zoe bonding

At 6:40pm you came out, you had a double cord around your neck and had poop in the amniotic fluid, so we were happy you were okay after they checked you and they took you and dada to the recovery room while mommy was being closed up.

Aunt Chenai Adores Baby Zoe!!





Aunt Jenni changing you in the hospital

Aunt Paula!!

Picture from shoot done by hospital

Another hospital shot

Aunt Glo visits

Dada loves his time with ZOE

Aunt Heather visits



Aunt Lizzie and Zoe in LA

You had your first road trip to LA this past weekend, and you were an amazing baby, you slept the whole way there and most of the way back home. You got to spend time with aunt lizzie and aunt chenai and got to finally meet uncle rich. Your first slumber party at the Millards was a success!

Aunt Lizzie's awesome muffins

Someone is super excited to see you again.





You're Finally Here!!

October 3rd 2011, 6:40pm at 7lbs 6oz's and 22 inches.. Best day of our lives!! Happy Birthday Zoe!!

It's been a wild week for our little family and there's so much to say, but also so much to do. But truly we are over the moon with joy and can't wait to chronicle the wild countdown to your arrival. It's not over cause I'm writing this in a doctor's office waiting room, so I can get my stitches I got having taken out and you and daddy are taking your first stroll in your stroller outside waiting for me. Such simple things have become oh so momentous!!
I love you and I can't wait to get out and listen to daddy talk non-stop( now you understand) about how cool it was hanging out with you and what an awesome stroller it is etc..correct me of I'm wrong!! Lol..

Happy Birthday Cousin Jenny!!

Eight years ago today beautiful baby Jenny was born. It has added so much joy to our family's life and she continues to be the best first born grandchild, striving to be her best and loving her family and today esp her new cousin Zoe as fiercely as a lionness. She told me today she feels older and smarter esp because she can do her multiplications and math and science are her favorite subjects because they're harder, and she really has to think. And this week was her favorite because you were born on Monday and on Friday she's 8.."isn't that great?"
She obviously can't wait to see you and loved it when I sang in happy birthday on baby voice..she giggled and said "ahhh thanks baby Zoe.

Happy birthday cousin Jenni we'll see you soon.

October First's

So it looks like you're going to be an October baby!!! October is also the month of three other special birthdays. Special because all three of the people where life-changing firsts in my life.

October 7th-Cousin Jenny

This was the first time I ever saw someone in labor for hours when Auntie Danai was about to have Jenny. I remember the hot baths Auntie Danai and i ran for her to try and ease the pain. When she would squeeze my hand during a contraction until i couldn't feel my fingers. Trying to go into work later that day, and leaving after an hour when Auntie Chenai called to say her and Uncle Guppy were taking her to the hospital. The first time I watched someone birth a child when Auntie Danai had her. My first time seeing a miracle right before my eyes.
The first time I experienced pure, unconditional love at first sight when I laid eyes on Jenny for the first time.
The first time a little girl could make my heart melt with a smile and a cuddle and still does.

October 8th- Grandpa Clem

The first man who loved me even before I was born. The first man to teach me how to be my best no matter what, because he believed I could and would do anything and would do it well. "excellent" was one of his favorite words when commenting on one of his kids' job well done:) My one and only Parp who taught me love by his fierce love for Grandma and us. And when he passed it was the first time I felt a deep loss like never before, and somehow even in death I continue to learn so much from him daily.

October 21st- Your dad, My best friend

The first man in my adult life who actually courted me and treated and still treats me like a lady. Before we were married I never asked your dad to come and hang out with me. He always called me and politely yet confidently let me know he was coming over later and would bring dinner for us. I will always remember that. My heart was hard before I met your dad, but he got through like no man had ever done. He was and is the first man who has loved me romantically like I'd never been loved before. He is the father our soon-to-be first born child. He is the first love of my life.

October ?- Zoe's birthday
My first love before sight. See you soon my little one:)