M&M&m

My Secret Sister from church last year gave me a beautiful blooming violet. I really liked the gift, however, one of my first comments was, “Too bad I’m going to end up killing it!”  I did my best to care for it in the meantime. I had a nice spot for it at our old house, in the kitchen with west lighting. When we moved to our new duplex, I was certian it would die on me since I’ve heard that violets tend to be particular. I found a nice spot with northern lighting in our new kitchen. Much to my suprise, it has thrived even more in this new spot! A few weeks ago when I was inspecting it, I noticed tiny buds beginning to form. Wow…it was going to bloom finally!! I’ve waited a few weeks to take the pics so as to share with you all. I think it’s all the more beautiful since I’ve put so much care into it for the past year and half or so. Maybe I do have a bit of my mom’s green thumb after all! =)  

Being a new mom, I can’t help but relate this to my newest little flower, Maelyn Joy. I hope and pray that all the love and care I’m putting into her develops into a beautiful, godly woman one day.  We pray for her daily, and beg the Lord’s wisdom in the huge task ahead.  She is such a huge blessing!! 

Have you ever wondered how many other people there are out there who share your name?

I recently came across this website, and thought is was fun and interesting! 

Interestingly enough, there are only 3,048 people in the US with the last name of Abrahamson. 

704,196 people in the US have the name Melissa.

Only 7 share my married name.

On the other hand, there are 458 Melissa Gordon’s out there in the US.

There are 10 Matthew Abrahamson’s.

Can you believe there are 1,004,471 people in the US that have the first name Matthew? Wow!!

Now this is the best part!

There are only about 1,524 people with the first name Maelyn, and as for the name Maelyn Abrahamson?

She is probably the only one in the entire U.S. that has it!! I guess we really did pick out an original name! =)

So…go try it for yourself, and please share what you think when you get your results!! =)

http://www.howmanyofme.com

It’s so hard to believe that little miss Maelyn has been a part of our lives for 10 weeks now.  She has enriched us in so many ways. I wouldn’t trade a minute for anything!!

She did have her 2 month check up on the 29th of July.  She weighed in at 11lbs 11oz. and grew to 24 inches!! Our little baby isn’t so little! I always hear parents say how fast they grow…I never doubted this comment, but is just strikes a whole different chord when it’s your little one inching taller seemingly before your eyes.

Maelynis doing so well. We are still nursing exclusively, and that is going wonderfully. She’s off to a healthy start in life! Sleeping?? Well, she is doing that well too. She will regularly sleep a solid 6 hours in a night w/o waking for a feeding. With the recent move to our new place, it has taken some adjustement for us all, but she is doing so well. Soon we will begin the transition to her crib for nights. She has been in the bassinet in our room thus far. I think this transition will be harder on me!! =)  Maelyn isn’t so fond of tummy time, but we do it anyway, and her back and neck are getting very strong! Recently she started giving us a cute tiny laugh. It’s not very regular yet…and we are on the hunt to hear it again..its adorable!!

What I love about my baby girl….

~ I love it when she falls asleep on my chest.

~ I love her sighs when she is falling asleep.

~ I love her big smile.

~I love her coo’s and chatter when she’s awake and excited.

~ I love how Matt can make her smile more than anyone else. 

~ I love seeing the way they look at each other.

~ I love being a mommy!!

As many of you know, we were once in the process of adopting a little girl from China. We completed the paper chase, and were in the waiting stage for our referral. Eventually the Lord interrupted our plans, and gave us our beautiful daughter, Maelyn! ( Thank you, Lord!!) However, we still have a big heart for adoption, and the China program. I have been checking in from time to time to see how the wait is going for those who had our same Log In Date. I peeked in just last week, and to my great horror…our LID of March 9, 2006, is STILL WAITING!!!! China has only referred up through the Log in Date of January 23, 2006. Wow…My heart just aches for these families!! The patience of these Mom’s and Dad’s in waiting are simply astounding to me. There are so many unknowns in the China program, and it seems that the process continues to slow. My mind can’t help but wonder what would be if we had still been waiting…would we, could we be so patient??
My heart and prayers to all the China babies still waiting for their forever families, and all those mommies out there in tears, waiting to fill empty arms!

Matt & I have had lots of “first’s” lately. This past week was a very special one, as it was his very first Father’s Day as a new daddy.  It didn’t come lightly.  It meant so much to both of us to have him stand in church for the first time to be recognized with all the other Dad’s. As it turns out, even with all the other Dad’s in our church, he was previliged to be recognized as the  “newest” dad, for only 2 1/2 weeks.  God is so good!  Tomorrow the little lady will be 3 whole weeks old.  My heart is so full, so joyful. How much love can a heart hold? Seeing my husband through eyes as a parent is a whole new love.  He hasn’t held back at all. Quite the opposite!!! Let me share a story we will hold close forever..=)   Our first week home, this new daddy was changing our dear newborn’s diaper shortly before bedtime.  I heard some chatting and laughing, all normal. Then I hear disapproval, then more, and as I walked into the nursery to see what caused the comments and noised…we both ended up in laughter!! Our sweet Maelyn had decided to give her new dad a lesson in diaper changing. She had shown her mighty “emptying” skills quite forcefully just as he had taken the old diaper away. So,second diaper in hand, she decided to pee a bit. Third and fourth diapers ended up with Poo on them as well, and not even ON her yet, mind you!! This incredible man…instead of becoming disgusted, just began laughing with the experience of it all! It was a moment we won’t ever forget.  So, the changing table cover had gotten it too..and needed to be washed. Just as it was freshly washed, and back on the table pad..you guessed it.  Fresh #2 again!!! She has a talent!! Ha ha!!  Not too worry…we’ve learned our lesson.  Unpredictable accidents are NOT just for baby boys!! =)  My husband has embraced these “lesson’s”, and is loving being a new dad. He changes diapers, gives baths, takes walks. He calms her, cuddles her, and makes her smile. He is everything and more that I ever dreamed, that I ever wanted to give him. I know he cherishes these moments every bit as much as I do.  Being a father is everything to him, and I must say I’ve fallin even more in love, every day, with both of them.