Church at home?

Me and Griffin are having church at home these days. We are watching a Driscoll sermon together. I guess it's not technically "church" so to say since it's not with other believers but since I was told by Griffin's doctors no church(too many people) I haven't been to church on Sunday morning since his birth. It's really weird. This is the most Sunday's in a row that I haven't gone to church ever I think. So today I busted out Tyler's computer and found a recent podcast sermon video on "Humble Christians" by Mark Driscoll- pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. I paused it for a sec to blog real quick because the Lord is really using it to teach me. Thank you Lord for technology where I can be ministered to from home. I pray Griffin by Your grace will be a humble boy and man someday. That he will be teachable, considerate of others, will accept accountability, and will strive to be who You want him to be- no more and no less. I also pray these things for myself as well. That I will continue to grow and mature in faith in You. amen.

4 weeks - 1 month on Tues

Where does the time go? how have 4 weeks flown by already? What adventure these past 4 weeks have been! We praise the Lord for them and look forward to the weeks ahead.

I had to take this pic of Griffin yesterday- he had FINALLY fallen asleep for his nap after a hard fight as you can tell...he of course cried some and then managed to squirm one arm out of the swaddle (I can't tell if he likes to be swaddled for sure yet or not, sometimes he seems to like it, sometimes he doesn't) , he wiggled his way almost completely off the safety wedge pad and if you look real close his pacifier(it's green) got wedged between his ear and the safety wedge pad. I walked in and looked at him and immediately laughed. He is doing so many things now that are just so funny! :)

My mowHawk keeps getting taller!

Took some pics of Griffin this afternoon while he was awake and alert. It may just be me, but it seems like his hair is growing! Now he was born with a head full of hair (my dad says he has a hippie grandson)...his hair comes down over his little ears and he has a nice natural mowhawk. Tyler and I both adore it and think it's the coolest thing. But it seems like his little mowhawk has gotten taller since we first came home with him. Maybe, maybe not, but I hope he keeps all that hair. I know some babies hair falls out and they become bald. Either way we'll love him still. :)
Hope everyone enjoys these.
We are doing well. Griffin is now wearing a 1 diaper instead of the newborns and he is sleeping and eating well still. Momma is looking forward to the week he starts sleeping through the night, altough it has gotten easier to wake up and feed as he has gotten better at eating.
Tyler leaves this evening to go on a short weekend mission trip with students. His mom and dad are coming to stay with me and Griffin Friday night. I am looking forward to their sweet company and getting to watch them enjoy Griffin.
Please pray for me as I endure solitude for a few more weeks. Doctors orders to go nowhere public and have no visitors (although I have have some) until Griffin's next appt on June 12th. It's been hard not socializing much, but the Lord has reminded me what a gift solitude can be when used for prayer.
Please pray for Tyler too as he continues to work real hard at his job and being real busy this summer with trips, etc.
Thank you all who check our blog for all your prayers during this time of change in our lives. We truly appreciate every single one!

Griffin is 3wks old today!

Yes, that's right! Time has flown and we can't believe that Griffin is 3 weeks old. He's doing so good and growing every day. He can't even wear some of his pajamas anymore. It's been a great weekend, and I'm definitely going to look forward to weekends with Haley and Griffin.

Cristy Cross pic :)

this is our little man at 2 days old. He's changed and grown so much in just two weeks! 

First family photos & with Naunie

We took our first family photos the other day when my mom was still here. They turned out quite nicely we thought and can't wait to take more! Naunie (what my mom wants her grandchildren to call her) also got in on the action.

Last days with mom

Tomorrow will be the last day for my mom to be here with us. I have come to realization that she IS LEAVING. I think I am ready, however. I think we (Tyler and I) are ready. We don't want her to go, but know it's whats best and are ready to take on parenthood by ourselves. I feel comfortable knowing I will be at home with Griffin each day. I know the Lord will help me each day. My mom has been a special gift to us from the Lord these last two weeks. She has helped me get adjusted and to feel confident in doing my motherly duties for Griffin. I didn't really realize small things would be kinda scarey, like giving him a bath all by myself. My and I have come to the conclusion that little baby boys are a wee bit harder to take care of after they're born. You have to take care of different things, and they like to shoot you almost in the face when you're changing their diaper. I need to get a shield! I have learned so much in these last two weeks. I def understand when they say parenthood will sanctify you. God has taught me so much patience that I thought I already had but apparently did not. He has taught me selflessness and a love for this sweet baby that is truly different than any other love. I have analized it some: I love God most, then I love Tyler next most, and now I love Griffin next next most. All the loves are different. It's interesting figuring out this new love for your child, a child you haven't had, and now have. All I know is that I do love him and it has to be a selfless love. I have to die to myself so much, but I wouldn't want to do anything else.
Griffin has been a wonderful baby so far. He sleeps well, eats well, and is just a joy to have.

So, my mom will leave on Tues. and it will be just fine. I will cry. I will miss her. But it's time to experience parenthood all by ourselves, it's the next step. It will be an adventure, as it has been already, and it will be wonderful. :)

Fuel 05.13.09

Power Over Death (Mark 5:21-43) from Tyler Hicks on Vimeo.

We have seen that Jesus has power over nature and over evil. Now we see His power over death. He is the sovereign Lord. He is God.

Blake Hicks concert!

Blake Hicks live
Java Loft (21st & Prince)
7-9pm

FREE!

Glow Worm Griffin

Glow Worm Griffin from Tyler Hicks on Vimeo.

Griffin had a little Jaundice, so he had to wear "the wallaby" for a few days. But he's doing great now!

Griffin the Strong Fighter

We decided that Griffin's little gloves looked like boxing gloves, and since his name means "Strong Fighter," we decided to draw the UFC logo on them. And then today Haley caught Griffin in a perfect smile!

Day 9

Hung out with my mom and my son today. The days just get easier and easier feeding wise. Griffin has become such a great eater and they weighed him at the doc office when we went to get lab work done today and he now weighs 7.2 lbs.! We were celebrating when this little scale said it. Gaining weight is the goal with a newborn and it looks like Griffin is doing well so far. Praise the Lord.

On another note, this is awesome news: Tyler kept Griffin yesterday afternoon for 3 hours so my mom and I could go to the mall and have a break and enjoy going out with one another to shop. I told Tyler that him keeping Griffin would be his mothers day gift to me so he agreed and didn't even really make a big deal about it. He was confident! :) I was glad. I had milk ready for him for him to feed Griffin and he had everything needed in order to survive. And he did! He did with no problems at all! I was so proud of him and he acted like it was the easiest thing he's ever done. It was amazing! So praise the Lord for a willing husband.

My mom and I are watching Dancing with the Stars which is special because when I used live at home during my student teaching it was tradition that we watch it every week together. I have so enjoyed my mom being here, not just for the help she has been but for the quality time I've gotten to spend with her, which is like gold now that we live so far away. My friendship with my mom is very very special and to have spent Mothers Day with her too, was so sweet! She is a special women that is appreciated more than I can explain. Thanks MOM! And thanks for serving the Lord by serving your family.

I will post more Griffin pics later. He is growing and today he blew spit bubbles for the first time. ha!

Our adventure

Ok, so I have a few minutes and so I will attempt a description of the adventure we had this past weekend.

It started Friday night when we had company over (our sweet friends Amy and Joseph). I thought it was a good time to practice my hospitality since I haven't been working and had extra time. I did realize it was the night before Griffin was due, but just really thought there was no possible way he would come on his exact due date. Well the contractions started as I was finishing up making dinner and they continued as we all played "Sorry" around the table. Amy and Tyler started timing them and they were so close together and the ones where I could not talk during them. Amy told me I should really go to the hosp, but I had already had a few false alarms and didn't want to make a big deal out of nothing again, but I knew these contractions were the real deal and so Tyler and I got everything into the tahoe and headed to the hosp.
We got there and I could barely walk to the labor & delivery unit. We got to L&D and they said they did not have any rooms available and that they were really busy and that they would fix me up a place down at the end of the hall with a screen. I figured it would be like that and as I was about to think negatively, Tyler looked over at me and calmly said, "Haley, Jesus was born in a manger, so Griffin can be born in the hall if he must be" At that moment I knew I was going to have to be flexible and grateful for even having a hosp to go to in the first place.
So we spent a few hours in the hall, but Tyler and I mostly walked up and down it which helped ease my contractions. Finally they had a room ready for us. We moved in and I had already decided at that point that I wanted the epidural. I figured it in my mind that since it was night time and I had been so busy all day that trying to do labor and delivery w/ out pain meds would not be very smart. And I just wanted it, to be honest. Pain vs. no pain? I'll take the no pain.
So got the epidural and I was able to rest and sleep all night long as I dilated.
Next day I finally got to 10 cm and 3 hours later Griffin was here! Just 3 hours, not that bad...yeah right! What they don't really tell you is that the epidural can wear off when it's time to deliver the baby, and sometimes they let it so you'll know when to push. It was the worst thing I have ever experienced and would never wish it upon any women going to give birth. But everything was fine, it just took the little guy some time because his head was slightly turned or he just did not want to come out into the world for just 3 more hours! But neither him nor I were ever distressed or in danger so they would not do a c-section and for that I am grateful despite all the pain I went through. I just prayed the whole time and knew the Lord would give me strength to make it through, there were times when I thought I was going to to have to give up, but the Lord just kept me going and persevering till the end. Like every mother says, it was all def worth it and having a baby in our lives has been so wonderful, fun, and exciting. I give glory to our great God who has us in His strong hands at all times, I had prayed for an easy and short labor and delivery as I prayed also for God's will. God is good and His will is best and He has taught me so much through this adventure. It was so much fun experiencing it with Tyler. We have a family now. It is so cool! We are a family with a child, a wonderful, sweet, baby boy Griffin Scott. Life is sweet.

Griffin in a bowl

check out the sweetest picture of our son to date at http://cristycrossphotography.blogspot.com/

Thanks to Cristy for capturing Griffin's tenderness, sweetness, and beauty. We love you!

Life lived as parents

I have a few min before I feed Griffin and thought I'd make my first post since becoming a mom. What do I think about it? I think it is the sweetest gift God has given me behind Jesus himself and Tyler of course. This motherhood thing is def my calling and my dream. Thank you, Father for this gift.
I have enjoyed every sec of it, even the late night feedings because then it's just me and Griffin and I get him all to myself and there's something neat about being up with my son when the rest of the world is sleeping, just us..bonding and enjoying each other.
I feel overjoyed and undeserving of this beautiful baby. I have decided that if the Lord gives us all boys I would be completely satisfied.

Thanks to everyone who has prayed or is praying for us. I could def feel them during labor and delivery. I will try post a description of that adventure soon. It was the worst thing I have ever gone through but at the same time the most incredible thing. I am thankful Griffin and I are safe and sound and healthy. It's very strange that just whalah! you're no longer pregnant anymore! it's such a quick body change! I am enjoying being back to normal though and getting to shave my legs without knowing I'm scrunching Griffin.

Anyhow, we love Griffin so much and we will try not to make this blog "Griffin's Blog" but it may happen anyways, we'll see. :)

Here's every pic I've got so far...

Griffin

Fuel 04.29.09

Power Over Evil (Mark 5:1-20) from Tyler Hicks on Vimeo.

Jesus shows that He is sovereign over everything, including evil. In this story, Jesus converts a demon-possessed man into a missionary for His name. Here are some thoughts for practical application:
1. Trust that Jesus has all power and is completely good
2. Do you have a missionary mindset everywhere you go?
3. What difference does Jesus make in your life? Are you telling anyone about this?