Levi {2 Months}

Size: Levi is mostly in 3 month clothes now and size 1 diapers. At his July 2nd appointment he weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces and today at his 2 month appointment he weighed 10 pounds, 1 ounce!

Eating: After noticing several signs and symptoms of an allergy (eczema, green stools, reflux, cough, really bad baby acne/rash on his face), we took Levi to the doctor on July 2nd and the doctor tested his diaper and diagnosed him with a dairy allergy. I started a dairy free diet on June 30 (after calling the nurse a few days before with suspicions that it could be an allergy) and have seen substantial improvement ever since! His skin cleared up almost immediately and the other symptoms are gone as well. We started Zantac on July 20th to help ease the discomfort of the acid reflux which is the only symptom that hasn't improved since no dairy. I'm not talking about the normal baby spit-up here. I'm talking projectile vomiting a substantial amount after most feedings. Not fun for anyone. The doctor says he will outgrow the allergy-- if not by 6 months then by 1 year or 2 years. While it takes a little more time and thought to read labels and ingredients, I am thankful that it's a fixable problem and he is an otherwise healthy, growing boy. 

Rash on June 17

No rash on July 29 after one month of no dairy

Sleeping: We are religious (yet also adaptable) with our schedule of eat, play, sleep every 3 hours (+/- based on Levi's needs) and it seems to be working like a charm! The Lord has blessed us with a great sleeper!! June 27th began a great sleep streak that has yet to be broken. Levi sleeps anywhere from 7-9 hours straight at night after going down between 10 and 11 p.m. He takes a 3+ hour nap after his first feeding in the morning and then takes short naps (30-45 minutes or so) the rest of the day with one longer nap (about 2 hours) in the late afternoon. Levi had his first nap in his crib a few weeks ago and did great. I try to let him nap in his crib at least once a day now but plan to keep him in the rock n play at night until we get the reflux under control. I am so thankful we are mastering our routine... it feels so good!
    
Milestones: We've been busy this month! We went on our first run with the Bob stroller on July 4th and he slept the whole time :) Started running again after my doc gave me the "all clear" at my 6 week post-partum appointment. Feels so good to be running again!! Daddy was in Honduras July 6-13 and we missed him like crazy. He had a great time with our students though and it was a great trip ministering at New Life Children's Home. Holley was a tremendous help to me while he was gone-- I am so thankful for her and for her servant's heart. Doesn't hurt that she loves little Levi to pieces. We took our first overnight trip to the beach at 7 weeks old and he did really well traveling and sleeping. I start working PT from home on Monday and praying for lots of grace as I fold working into our schedule.

Likes: Being snuggled, Avent pacis, lying on my changing table, bath time, standing/pushing off with my strong legs, music, laughing and making cute little noises.

Dislikes: Tummy time (only likes it for about 20 seconds), being wet or dirty, loud noises/being startled.

My sweet angel

Wrapped up in the blanket my Mimi knit for me :) 

We've enjoyed lots of visitors while I've been on maternity leave: Maria and Matthew Owens, Ann Marie Knight, Becky and Kaitlyn Brown, the Delks, Patty Roland, Celin, Kyndra, Aunt Meg, Abbey and David, Lawren Lowdermilk, April Burns, Sara Lynn and Doc, Cookie and Robert, Jessica, Meredith, Amanda Droze, Jess Rupar, Aunt Lauren and Addyson, my mom, and Mimi has been coming to see me on Sunday mornings! 

((Psalm 121:1-2))

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come? 

 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth. 

Levi {1 Month}

Size: Levi is a growing little peanut. He's still in newborn clothes (and some 0-3 months) and diapers but getting bigger every day. Daddy says he has "orangutan arms" :)

Eating/Sleeping: It took a good 10 days or so to really master breastfeeding and an eating schedule, but now Levi is a great nurser and breastfeeds every 2.5-3.5 hours like clock work. We do our best to keep him on this schedule during the day so he has a full belly for good nighttime sleep. I usually cluster feed in the evenings and put him down around 10 p.m. He sleeps anywhere from 4-6.5 hour stretches through the night... and has treated us the last two nights by sleeping 7 hours straight!! He sleeps in his rock n play sleeper in our room at night and usually naps in the Mamaroo, his rock n play, or my arms during the day. I will eventually start transitioning him to naps in his crib so he will learn to sleep there at night- but that's a little further down the road :)

Milestones: He had a good two week checkup and was back up to his birth weight. The doctor was impressed with his weight gain- yay! Levi and mommy survived our first week without daddy while he was at Summersalt. We missed him, but by God's grace, we did it, and are praying the Lord will give all three of us overwhelming peace when Ryan is in Honduras.

Likes: Falling asleep on Daddy's chest, eating, being sniffed by Finley, riding in the car/carseat, being held and rocked/any kind of motion, the white noise on the sound machine, being swaddled, sucking on his hand and fingers, when Mommy sings Jesus Loves Me, staring at the ceiling fan- ha!

Dislikes: His paci (much to my dismay- he ONLY takes his wubanub when he's in his car seat but has starting showing interest in the Avent paci since yesterday!), having a dirty diaper, being cold.

((Psalm 16:11))

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Day 1 & 2

((Psalm 126:3))

The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.

Introducing...

Levi Davis Brannan

Born Friday, May 29, 2015 at 8:28 a.m.

7 pounds 6 ounces 20 inches long

To God be the glory, great things He has done! 

Mother's Day 2015

I thank the Lord for the blessing and honor it was to be carrying our (37w3d!) child on Mother's Day this year. We had a great morning at church, a nice lunch with my family and then dinner with the Brannans. Though Levi is still baking away, my sweet hubby still celebrated me by adding the baby carriage charm to my beloved Pandora bracelet. Can't wait to be holding our boy next Mother's Day- what a gift THAT will be! 

I can't wait to add Levi to this picture!

Mommy to Finley the fur baby :) 

((Proverbs 31:30))

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Bumpdate {37 Weeks}

37w2d

How far along: 37w2d-- full term! Praise the Lord!

Size of baby: Large cantaloupe

Total weight gain/loss: +28 pounds

Sleep: Still sleeping ok but it's difficult to get and stay comfortable. My leg cramps have come back and I'm up a lot to use the bathroom and because of my heartburn. The Lord's way of preparing me for what's to come I'm sure!

Cravings/Aversions: Tums. I crave Tums. 

Exercise: Still power walking a few times a week and just generally trying to move around as much as possible.

Movement: Levi's movements are changing as he is running out of room. I definitely feel him a lot, but the flips and rolls have turned into what feels like him stretching his arms and legs. Those little feet are still in my right side and he still gets the hiccups once or twice a day. 

Labor Signs/Symptoms: I've noticed a lot of BH contractions. My first painful ones came last week and some have even woken me up at night. It's truly the craziest feeling and they have been very distinct for me. Guess my body is getting ready for the big day :) 

Best moment this week: We had an ultrasound two weeks ago and Levi was measuring in the 57th percentile and weighing in at 5.9 pounds. The ultrasound also showed he has a "good amount" of hair. I cannot wait to be the judge of that myself!!

What I am looking forward to: Meeting this baby boy of ours!! I can't wait to see what day the Lord ordains for his birthday.

What I miss/What I'm loving: I'm loving these last days/weeks alone with Ryan. We have truly savored our time together, just us. We have taken lots of walks, gone on lots of dates, and have been imagining what life as a family of 3 will soon be like. 

What I’m reading: Kyndra gave me a few books about breastfeeding so I'm skimming those for now. I bought Angie Smith's new Bible study, Seamless, to do while I'm on maternity leave. I am so looking forward to it!  

Levi's Nursery

Levi's nursery is done! Ryan and I had such a fun time picking everything out and decorating his room. It has been so neat to watch our empty guest room transform into such a sweet space for our son. All that's missing now is our little man!

Even little boys can have monograms :) 

Snagged the bedding from Pottery Barn Kids on sale and the elephant crib sheet came from Target thanks to Abbey! 

Pillow from PBK, lanterns from World Market, and banner made by Aunt Meg from my baby shower.

This was Ryan's dresser growing up that I painted with some perfectly matched chalk paint that Megan found for me in Greenville. 

I bought these little spice racks from Ikea with the intention of hanging them on the wall somewhere. Ryan thought it would be better to attach them to the dresser and boy was he right. I adore them here!!

Love how the paintings turned out. So thankful for each fingerprint on those trees.

Changing table full of the essentials ;)

I couldn't really get a good picture, but this is a framed print called "Parent's Prayer." My college friend and ADPi sister, Becca, sells it in her shop, Sacred Made. 

My new favorite room in the house!

Finley is ready to meet his little bro. 

((Psalm 139:13-16))

For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

To Know Him and To Make Him Known

As I reflect today, one month away from our due date and 24 days away from maternity leave, I thank God that His plans are immeasurably greater than anything I could ever ask or imagine. 

When I first came to CIU in March 2010, I was a 23 year old baby. I had no idea how the Lord would grow and shape me when I sat down at my "big girl" desk in my "big girl" office for the first time. I did not know that in the next 5 years I would get married, live in the on-campus apartments with my HUSBAND, change job titles, join a Bible study with Abbey and other CIU grads that would change my life and show me how to truly study the Bible, earn a seminary degree (well not me *technically* but I deserve some credit!!), meet women who have become life long friends, buy a home, get pregnant, and transition from full-time marketing manager to full-time mommy.

So much has changed in my life over the last 5 years, but CIU has been a constant. It hasn't been an easy 5 years. In fact, many (MANY!) months were very hard as I sometimes struggled to embrace God's pruning and refining by fire. While I have certainly learned a lot professionally, the things that have impacted me most have happened through the working of the Holy Spirit through His people, His Word, and His faithfulness. 

:::

It is because of CIU I have learned what it means to serve and love God with reckless abandon. Never before had I seen a community of people really live and breathe God's Word until I came to CIU.... looking at Scripture not only as a road map for victorious Christian living, but as their Daily Bread. People ready to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. 

It is because of CIU that I've witnessed the church be the church... the hands and feet of Christ. I've seen CIU's core value of "prayer and faith" lived out as I've prayed weekly with my teammates, in small groups, with total strangers... in the middle of the work day. 

It is because of CIU that I've had the opportunity to worship in chapel twice a week and sit under the teaching of godly men and women. I've seen students, staff, and faculty raise their hands in worship and have been challenged to live a life totally and utterly surrendered to the will of God.  

:::

Unless Levi decides to make an early debut, my last day as a full-time employee at CIU will be May 22. I plan to take 10 weeks of maternity leave and begin part-time as the CIU Social Media Specialist, managing the messaging and the branding of the university's accounts, on August 3rd... from home.  

It has been our fervent prayer over the last few years that God would provide a way for me to stay home with our children and also provide an income. God faithfully answered that prayer through a series of divine events when I was just 7 weeks pregnant. I cannot express in words how grateful I am for this opportunity to stay home with Levi or for how kind and sovereign the Lord is to orchestrate the details of our lives with such care. 

I am thrilled for what's ahead of us and for how God has used CIU in such an instrumental way to equip me as a professional, to mold me as a wife and Believer, and to prepare me as a mother. CIU's motto will continue to serve as a constant reminder that no matter where I am or what my "job" may be in this life, my ultimate purpose is To Know Him and To Make Him Known. 

My dear friend, Kyndra, is just one of the many reasons I'm grateful God placed me at CIU. She and my beloved coworkers threw Ryan and me a baby shower at Mellow Mushroom on April 22 and showered us with gifts and godly advice for baby Levi. 

((Ephesians 3:20-21))

 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.