Pic Update

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Dear Brazilian Visa Giver

We are done with paperwork... for now. The lady at the consulate told us to expect about a 2 month wait for our visas. In the mean time we are spending time with family and friends.
Christmas is almost here and we are rejoicing in our Savior. We are trusting his timing for our departure to Brazil.

Big Day

Tomorrow morning we meet with the Brazilian consulate for our interview and to turn in our stack of paperwork. This day seemed like it would never come. Steven started gathering information way back in March.
We are both exhausted and yet excited. Karis is happy (well rested from sleeping the whole way to Atlanta).
Our church family is such a blessing to us! We were sad to leave, but are greatly encouraged to have amazing prayer support! The pic is of our commissioning last Sunday.
We love you FBC! Thank you!

Parenting

I have learned many things over the past six weeks. For example, I now know where elevators are located in the mall. Learning to care for a newborn brings many challenges, but the biggest challenge to me has been where I fall on the spectrum of styles of parenting. Before Karis I didn't even know there was such philosophies. On one end of the spectrum there is parent-led and on the other is baby-led. Basically do you as the parent direct your baby or do you allow your baby to direct you.

At first I was on the parent-led extreme. I fed her according to the clock not when she wanted to eat and I determined when she was finished eating. We let her cry when trying to go to sleep instead of running to pick her up at the first whimper. Then, we tried the other end of the spectrum. We would stop her from crying at the first sound of displeasure in order to prevent her from getting worked up into a big fuss. We fed her more often because we thought she might be hungry.

Where have we ended up? Well, that's still to be determined. However, I will conclude that we are not at either end of the spectrum. We are not Baby Wise and we are not Attachment Parenting. I like my baby to be on a schedule so that I know what to expect (thank you Baby Wise), but I also like to carry my baby on me so she is comforted.

I have a lot more to learn. Mostly by trial and error. Please feel free to weigh in on your experience and expertise.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Our tradition continued last night for our second wedding anniversary. Once a year we venture out to a nice restaurant and order whatever we like. This is no ordinary restaurant. It is Porter's. This is the first place Steven took me on a date December 11th 2006. We celebrated our first anniversary there last year assuming it would be the last time. Little did we know we would be back one more time... and with a 5 week old baby girl. God has blessed us and give us much grace in our short time as a family.

Thankful

Molly comes for a visit!

She makes me laugh

Karis is a wiggle worm. She made us laugh out loud when she got both of her legs into one leg of her outfit.

Family Devotion

Billirubin- DONE

Update! She is no longer on the blanket. And she gained 2 ounces.


Please continue to pray for Karis. She has been on the billirubin blanket now for a week. Her level is not improving significantly enough to take her off. Nursing is getting better, but we have to constantly wake her up to get her to eat.
Thanks!

A Picture

New Addition!

We are pleased to announce the birth of our little girl . The Father gave her to us free from the womb Today at 5:01 PM weighing in at 6 lbs. 12 oz. We did not know when this day would finally come, but we are so thankful to the Father for this gift of joy and love. We appreciate all of you who lift us up, encourage us, care for us, and bless us. If you would like to come and visit while we are still at UNC Women's Hospital, please call us directly at our room number at 919-966-7118. We are in room 5W08. So you are probably wondering now after all this time, "What is her name!!!???". Drum roll please....
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KARIS ANN GILLUM

11 Days to go

Shout out to Casey... (the only one I trust to cut my hair) for my new do. At least I'll have cute hair during labor. Ha! This just might be the last pic of me pregnant. I would be happy about that.

New Blog to Follow

Cake Wrecks is the new blog that has me laughing. For example...

Sewing Project

My new sewing machine was just the push I needed to jump in and complete my sewing project. I thought about what I was going to make for my daughter... first, it has to either go into the crate not to be seen again until Feb. 2011 or small and light enough to travel in our luggage. Second, it probably should not be clothes because she has plenty. Third, I'm still a beginner so it needs to be simple. Therefore, I decided to make her crib bedding. After buying some of the fabric I found out that cribs are not the same size in Brazil. So I returned the bumper pad forms... and was discouraged. Then, my new sewing machine arrived and had a sewing night with friends. Now I am back on track for completing at least a dust ruffle before she arrives (that is if she stays at "hotel utero" until her due date- Oct.30).

A little behind...

Here are some pics from Scott's (Steven's brother) wedding. Scott and Ryanne got married on Sept. 12.

Shower Pics

Check out some pictures from my baby shower...
The Finn Family Blog

Gospel Coalition

Baby Shower in Virginia

The best cup cakes ever and the sweetest Brazilians sisters a girl could ask for. Does it get any better here on earth?

What we do for entertainment when we have no tv

We have some free time here and have tried to develop our artistic skills. Please enjoy our awesome drawing of each other.
In your opinion who does this look like?
Steven drew this picture... of me.

The whole group of us (kids included) adding up to over 300 traveled to DC last Monday. This is the only picture we took the whole day. I was exhausted after the day and took a nap on the way home.

14 days - 50 days - lots of days

We only have 14 days left in training.
50 days until the baby's due date. She is about the size of a pineapple.
And too many days to count until we actually arrive in Brazil.

No Mr. President!

Picture Update

Steven's race. Him at mile 10. I was driving by in the opposite direction and just happened upon him. It was like I planned it.
Almost missed the finish because we had to park a mile away.
Wife and daughter are so proud!
The group of friends.
We love to play our new game. Thanks for Apples to Apples!