a sleeping baby & a warm cup of coffee

I'm definitely enjoying my Saturday morning alone. Yep, ALONE with a sleeping baby. We are currently living with Todd & Brooke in Durham while our house is being finished, and I think this is my first time being "alone" since we moved in. Honestly, it's quite peaceful & I think I kind of like it. Living with Todd & Brooke has been a tremendous blessing for our family & we are definitely having some fun times! Ryleigh loves hanging out with her older cousin girls!

I've spent my morning "alone" thinking through paint colors for our new home & doing some birthday party planning for the Ry Girl. We decided to postpone her party until we are in our house & I'm thrilled with this decision. Her '13 Month Birthday Party' will be over Memorial Day weekend so that our family can come up to celebrate her, see our home & spend a long weekend hanging out. It's so exciting---I can hardly wait!

Anyway, I wanted to give an update on the girl. I've been doing some yard selling for summer clothes for her & I think that she is officially ready for spring & summer. I even snagged her a really cute swimsuit! I need to gather a few more items but yard selling & consignment sells have been amazing for gathering items for her summer wardrobe. I've also been hitting up the winter clearance for next winter & I got her the cutest little purple jacket for only $3.98! Oh yea, that is my kind of deal!

She is so grown up these days. I wish everyone could just spend some time with her & enjoy the joy that she brings. I love her & being a mommy to her is the best ever. She has the most loving personality & I've been told, "she's just so gentle with everything that she touches". I'm so curious to see who this little lady is going to grow up to be. I know this much, she is going to bring so much joy to all that she meets.

I did want to share a fun memory that was made last night. Ethan's sister, Erika, came up to visit with her 5 month old, Kamber. Ry & Kamber had a good time hanging out & Kamber is getting so fun these days. Last night, the girls took a bubble bath together. Ry & Kamber were not too thrilled with the idea of sharing the bubbles but it was so fun to watch! Here is a picture of this moment:



Anyway, I hope that you are enjoying this warm, beautiful spring day as much as I am!

love,
Brandy

date night & a new home

Ethan & I went on a date tonight to see The Civil Wars at the Pour House here in Raleigh. we had a great time & I am very thankful to a sweet friend, Amy Crouch, for watching Ryleigh for us. it was our first time leaving her with someone other than family & my first time not putting her to sleep at night. it's such a weird feeling. I am resisting every urge to go in there, wake her up & cuddle. I've definitely taken all of the nights I've had to cuddle with my bug for granted. tomorrow night, I am going to cherish every second with my girl---I hope that she never wants to stop cuddling with her Mommy!

on a different note, Ethan & I are moving in a week from Saturday! yikes! we are moving to Durham & moving in with Todd, Brooke & their girls while our house is being built---yipee! our house! I'm so excited! our closing date for the new house is April 27th. we've decided to postpone Ry's 1st birthday until she is 13 months old so that we can do it in our new home. now, I definitely can't wait to decorate for her party!

I Feel a Change Coming On

my Ryleigh Bug has recently started to want to go to sleep on her own. I know that many mommas aim for that & I admit that I did too. it's just the reality of it that makes me sad. I love snuggling with my girl before she takes her nap & before she goes to bed. those moments right before she drifts off to sleep are honestly some of my favorite moments being a mom. Ryleigh likes to grab my hair or rub my face as she is drifting off. are those days gone? have I had my last sleepy-face-rub from Ry?

lately she will not even attempt to go to sleep unless I lay her in her crib. oh the way things change. life with Ryleigh changes more & more every day. I know change is good but it doesn't mean it's always easy or comfortable. I'm realizing that I can't fully wrap my head around one aspect of mommy-hood when it changes. what's next? I feel a change coming on.

where has the time gone?

our Ryleigh Marie is now 9 months old & she is already taking steps! she is growing way too fast---how do we slow this down?? at her 9 month appointment she weighed 17lbs 8oz (25%) & is 28.5 inches long (76%)! she's growing like a weed! I've realized I need to hold on to & cherish every little moment. she is learning new things everyday & I can hardly keep up! she loves to eat & some of her favorite foods are: banannas, shredded cheese, yogurt, mandarin oranges & avocado! she makes a big mess but it's so fun watching her explore all these new textures & flavors. I've even caught her trying to feed our pup, Oregon, a few times! but hey, at least she likes to share! she is also into anything & everything including: unfolding the laundry that I just get folded, emptying Ore's food & water bowls, unraveling the toilet paper, throwing our DVDs off their stand & opening our kitchen cabinets! we have done minimal baby-proofing since we are moving in a month. needless to say, I am very busy these days! we are looking forward to moving, getting unpacked & baby-proofing our new home for a soon to be walking toddler!

we had a great Christmas and it was so fun watching Ryleigh open her presents! she definitely did her fair share of eating bows, pulling ornaments off the tree & climbing over gifts. we spent Christmas morning at our home in Raleigh & drove to Durham to spend the rest of the day with Todd, Brooke & their girls. we even got snow on Christmas Day & we ended up with about 7 inches! it was so fun to play in the snow & Ryleigh was definitely all bundled up---she was wearing like 6 layers! we were able to go to Augusta, GA to spend Christmas with family the week after Christmas & we made lots of good memories! Christmas will never be the same for us now that we have Ry. she brings such a new joy & a new understanding for why we celebrate! I'm definitely already looking forward to Christmas next year!

Ethan & I have already begun planning for Ryleigh's first birthday party & it's so fun to think through all of the details. her party is going to be on Saturday, April 9th & we are so excited! I hope your 2011 started off as great as ours---we are definitely looking forward to all that this year holds!

love, Brandy

seven months to seventeen years

to my Ryleigh Marie---

In one week you will be 7 months old---my, oh my where has the time gone?

I remember the day that you were born. Every detail of that day will forever be engrained in my memory. I was so glad to finally hear your little cry. It was the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. Due to the c-section, I couldn’t see anything but your sweet little whimper let me know that everything was okay. After hours & hours of hard labor, your poor momma just wanted to know that you were safe.

Today, I still want to know the same thing. I get up during the night just to make sure that you are breathing. I’m constantly trying to keep you from falling and hitting your head because you pull yourself up on any & every thing that you can. I’m so anxious about this next step of eating because I’m afraid of you choking. I don’t trust you with anyone (that’s why your daddy & I have only gone on one date alone in 7 months). Maybe it’s a mommy thing---but I always want to make sure that you are safe & the best way to do that is to never leave you.

I know this sounds ridiculous but it’s truth. Your momma is already dreading the day that you tell me that you are going off to college. How did my momma let me ever move to California for two years? I can’t even imagine….

You love your daddy. I wish there was some way for me to capture the look that you give him when he comes home from work. He truly is yours. He’s a great daddy & he looks forward to spending time with you everyday. The other night, you and he were cuddling in bed. You had your arm rested on his arm. I went and laid down beside you guys. I too put my hand on your daddy’s arm and you slapped it off. It was as if you were telling me, “he’s mine!”

You often make your daddy & me laugh. Your favorite word is “hey”---and it suits you perfectly. You are quite the social baby girl but you do get bashful. I love when you get bashful. You dig your face into my shirt and it’s the sweetest thing!

You really are the best thing that I’ve ever done. It sounds cliché but it’s true. You are my best little friend. I can’t wait to see how you are going to turn out & the woman that you are going to grow to be. Please take your time. I am going to relish every little second & teach you everything that I know. Seven months will be seventeen years in no time.

love, your momma


Ryleigh on Halloween, 6 months old, 14 1/2 lbs & 26 1/2 inches long

our life over the past 6 months:

we said goodbye to our life & friends in San Rafael, California and moved to Raleigh, NC where we would begin a new life & meet new friends.

we arrived in Raleigh on February 1st and Ethan started his job at Vintage 21 Church as the Director of Kids & Families. he literally hit the ground running. he had lots to do and prepare before our little miss Ryleigh arrived, including Raleigh Easter.

we spent our first two months in Raleigh looking for an apartment, unpacking & getting everything ready for Miss Ryleigh's arrival. our sweet Ry Bug was born on Saturday, April 17th at 1:08am (birth story will come soon) and we were instantly in love.

we've spent the past two months getting to know this sweet baby girl and learning how to be parents. we hope to use this blog (especially now that we have internet again) to share with our friends & family our journey as parents.

here are some pictures from Ryleigh's first 11 weeks:

my life was forever changed in this momentphoto booth fun with Daddy in the hospitalI can't stop staring at her--she's beautiful!we finally got to take her home & she wore the dress I wore home from the hospitalher first bath at homeone month oldnapping with her daddyshe's just so pretty!she loves the pool already!two months oldshe really is growing way too fast!

Perkins Family Update

Dear Friends,

I wanted to write a note to inform all you about some recent events in our lives.

First, I wanted to say that Brandy and Baby Ryleigh are doing great. Today, Brandy is officially 30 weeks!!! It is hard to imagine that in just 10 weeks or less, we will have our little baby home with us! We are so very, very excited!

The next thing is pretty big news!

During this time of transition, we have been actively seeking an opportunity for employment. We were in contact with several places early on and none of them seemed to be able or desiring to hire me (Ethan). The plan has been for us to move from San Rafael, California to Augusta, GA. We also planned to stay with my parents until after the Ryleigh was born. As time has drawn closer for our departure, this seemed to be our future!

But then again...God often has other plans!

As many of you know, my brother, Todd, has been working for an ACTS 29 church called Vintage 21 in Raleigh, North Carolina as the Children's Director. In late December, Todd was moved from his job as Children's Director to become the new head Pastor of Vintage 21 Durham. This left an opening in the Children's Director position. Todd spoke with a few of the Pastors at Vintage 21 and told them I may be interested in this position. After a few conversations with Nate Williams, I was told that due to a few circumstances at Vintage 21 the position may not be available until later this summer.

I quickly moved on and considered the job interesting but was accepting of the circumstance. If I was to get a job at Vintage 21 it would be God who would have to work!

But then again...God is always at work!

Last week I was contacted by Nate and offered the position of Children's Director at Vintage 21. After speaking with Brandy about this and spending time in prayer, we have made the decision to move directly to Raleigh, North Carolina and take the position as Children's Director.

This job is a part-time position and it will require me to find another part-time job in order to have the finances to take care of my family. Living in Raleigh will offer me a chance to do something I have become extremely interested in, continuing my education in seminary!

With all this news, I believe the most important thing I have to say to you all is to pray for us!

God is leading my family to a place we have not planned. As of right now we do not have a place to live, we will be staying with my brother in Durham until we can find a place. We do not have another job offer to help us financially. We will be in a new place, with new people, and a new environment. AND we are having a baby in 10 weeks or less!!!

All of these things bring stress and pressure in our lives---we need your prayers that God will provide and keep us at peace.

To be sure these things sound scary and unsure, but we serve an amazing Father who has already taken care of so much in both our lives. We ask you to pray for us so that you can spend time with our Father. I have no doubt that God will take care of my family, I just want everyone, including us, to give God the glory when he does take care of us!

Thank you for your prayers and thank you for all the support each one of you has shown us!

Grace and Peace,

THE PERKINS FAMILY

For more information about where we will be serving and worshipping: vintage21.com