Tag: month by month

Eleven Months of Baby Phoenix And Encouragement For All Us Weary Mamas

On By Styld by GraceIn Faith, Marriage, motherhood4 Comments

At 11 months Phoenix loves stealing my green smoothie, crawling and standing EVERYWHERE, enjoys being outside and exploring new textures like grass, and officially owns his first pair of Nike Airs.

I can hardly believe we are a few weeks away from Phoenix’s 1st birthday. ::mind blown:: This past year the days felt like forever but in reality it went by quicker than I thought. Time is moving faster and I’m trying to hold on to every moment and memory as much as I can.

I take pictures daily of Phoenix and special milestone moments are recorded too. I don’t want to miss a single things.

What a rollercoaster of a year. Of a journey, I should say. Motherhood brings so many changes. Your body changes. Your dream changes. Your career changes. Your marriage changes. Your mind changes.

And for women like me who have gone through infertility and fertility treatments, the journey can feel longer and more complicated. The emotional baggage (anxiety, fear, loss, grief) you carry going into pregnancy and then postpartum takes time to unpack and heal from. Add a global pandemic and… my goodness, it’s a lot.

I have tried with all my strength to remain hopeful, positive, and full of faith. Somedays are easier than others. Thankfully, my mind and body feel like they’re getting back to being me. And that feels great!

Lately, I’ve been trying to figure out how I will manage to work full-time, run a small biz/ blog, stay at home with Phoenix, and be a wife, and clean, and make time for me. It all feels incredibly overwhelming. And frankly, it’s hard not to feel like I’m failing when I’ve dropped the ball in more than one area.

What’s been my solution to all the changes, ups and downs, failures? Pouring it all out before God. Just laying it all out there for Him to hear and see. For a while I just felt like a broken record. And so I stopped the sacred and holy practice of pouring my heart out before the Lord.

But I was reminded recently, that like the woman who anointed Jesus with her tears and perfume, I too can pour out all of me before Him. I can become undone before Him. He can handle it.

Mama, you can unravel before your God. He is not like us who become awkward, distant, or embarrassed by vulnerability. He can see it and hear it all without a flinch.

Being a mom has taught me that just like Phoenix can cry loud or quiet tears, so can I cry loud or quiet tears before my Heavenly Father.

Leading up to Phoenix’s 1st birthday, I look back and remember all that had to come into place to get here. There has been sorrow and joy.

I think of the present. How beautiful it is to witness the smile and milestones of a new life.

And as I look ahead, I stop. I give the future to God. As much as I’d like to dwell in the “what ifs” of the future, I decide to pour it all out to God and let him carry that burden for me. It makes me a better mom, a better wife, and a more faithful follower of Christ.

Mamas, tias, abuelas, sisters–Let him heal the wounds of the past. Let his hands hold your future. And live in the present where His mercies are new and His grace is more than enough.

Seven Months Of Phoenix And 12 Bible Verses To Pray Over Your Kids

On By Styld by GraceIn Faith, motherhood4 Comments

I never understood what it meant to pray without ceasing until I became a mom. I never understood why my mom prayed over me one night I got home at 4 AM after being out and up to no good. But now I do.

She literally came into the room, turned on the light, and said, “I have to tell you something I felt God put in my heart and pray over you”. And I was like, “Mom. Please not now”.

She told me anyway and prayed over me anyway. Even though I was half asleep and didn’t want anything to do with God.

She just knew she had to. She knew the power of prayer and she had not lost hope that I’d return to Jesus.

Well, I truly believe God heard the cries of my mom. And that memory will never be erased from my mind.

Now that I’m a mom, especially during these uneasy and uncertain times, I too have not stopped praying for my son. And I hope one day he holds a lasting memory of his mama praying for him fervently, like I do of my mom.

There is one prayer I pray every night over him. It goes like this: “Lord, may your goodness, mercy, love, and favor always be with Phoenix. I declare that even at a young age, Phoenix will receive you as his Lord and Savior and never turn from your ways. And I pray that he’ll grow up to be a mighty man of God who will do great works for your Kingdom and glory”.

Isn’t that the cry of every parent for their child(ren)?

I really wanted to gather scripture that could backup this prayer. So I compiled a list and I thought I should share it with you.

Here’s a list of 12 bible verses to speak over your kid(s):

Pray For Their Heart

“Create a new, clean heart within me. Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:10‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“We have proved ourselves by our lifestyles of purity, by our spiritual insights, by our patience, and by showing kindness, by the Spirit of holiness and by our uncritical love for you.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:6‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Pray For Their Walk

“Teach me more about you, how you work and how you move, so that I can walk onward in your truth until everything within me brings honor to your name.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭86:11‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“Lord, when you said to me, “Seek my face,” my inner being responded, “I’m seeking your face with all my heart.””
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:8‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“Seek more of his strength! Seek more of him! Let’s always be seeking the light of his face.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105:4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Pray For Their Soul

“Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God. Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.”
Ephesians 6:17 TPT

“You will be satisfied with a full life and with all that I do for you. For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!”
Psalms 91:16 TPT

The Lord is my revelation-light to guide me along the way; he’s the source of my salvation to defend me every day. I fear no one! I’ll never turn back and run from you, Lord; surround and protect me”.
Psalms 27:1 TPT

Pray For Their Works

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
James 1:22 ESV

“Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others. For we know that we will receive a reward, an inheritance from the Lord, as we serve the Lord Yahweh, the Anointed One!”
Colossians 3:23-24 TPT

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”.
Matthew 5:16 ESV

Leaving A Legacy Of Faith And Grace

My hope is that I’d be able to leave a legacy of faith in Phoenix like my mother has for me. That I’d pray bold prayers and stand in the gap when my kid needs it. And that I’d extend the same grace to Phoenix that I was given by my mother and by God, as he finds himself in Him.

Six Months Of Phoenix And Baby Must Haves That We Can’t Live Without

On By Styld by GraceIn Faith, Home Decor, motherhoodLeave a comment

I can’t believe six months have already come and gone. Many nights as I give Phoenix his last bottle, I hold him close, and I look through his newborn pictures.

Especially the ones we have from the hospital. It’s almost surreal that we’re here. Despite all the opposition, we made it! (Thank you, Jesus).

It amazes me how much he’s grown since he was born. We love seeing him discover the world little bit by little each day. It’s beautiful to rediscover it with him.

When people say, “Enjoy every moment. It goes by so fast”, they are not lying. It truly does happen so quickly. One day seems like an eternity but as a whole, time flies by!

This baby will have a very well documented life because we have taken at least one picture of him every single day since he was born. Pictures are special. I treasure them. And my phone’s camera roll is FILLED with pictures of Phoenix. Actually, I think all my pictures are of him.

In the last six months, I’ve been learning to be a mom. I’ve been learning to love my new body. I’ve been learning to be selfless. To give more than I possibly think I can. And I’ve learned that less important things, like working all the time, can wait.

Becoming a parent changes you forever. It all changes. But it’s such a beautiful change. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Even during a pandemic.

While this new season can be really difficult to adjust to, the right support system and encouragement, makes all the difference. And so does having the right baby must haves. And all the mamas, said, “Amen”!

Here’s a list of “must haves’ that helped us thrive in the newborn stage and “must haves” that we now cannot live without:

Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic Baby Bottles
LIFE. SAVERS. It is worth the time and effort that it takes to assemble these if your baby struggles with colic.

Taking Cara Babies Newborn Class
Lord, what would I have done without this?! It helped me learn about baby sleep, how to lay a solid sleep foundation, without feeling guilty if I wanted to hold my baby to sleep.

SwaddleMe Swaddles
Unless you’re a labor and delivery nurse, swaddling with regular blankets is super difficult and a waste of time. Just get swaddles with velcro. These were my favorite.

Uppa Baby Vista Stroller & Bassinet
Worth every penny. I love this stroller. It’s lightweight, easy to assemble, easy to open and close, and easy to use with one hand. And the one hand thing is important because I’m always holding either a bottle, a toy, or Phoenix.

Moby & Friends Showerhead
Makes removing bubbles and soap easy and now that Phoenix is older, he loves playing with the splashing water.

Hatch Baby Sound Machine
Now we can’t fall asleep without it. We may have to buy one for our room once Phoenix starts sleeping in his nursery (lol).

BEABA Babycook 4 in 1 Steam Cooker & Blender
If you’re planning on making your own baby food, this is worth the investment. You don’t have to worry about a long food prep process. This makes it so easy and quick. I also love that I don’t have to worry about using our blender and cross contaminating his food with ours.

Nested Bean Zen Sack Classic
As you can see, most of the products here are sleep related. Because sleep is IMPORTANT. We love using sleep sacks for Phoenix because it keeps him at a good body temperature and it’s safer than using a loose blanket.

Little Tikes My First Seat
I use this on my countertop to have Phoenix close by while I clean my kitchen. And I’ve been using it during feeding time before transitioning him to a highchair.

Skip Hop Campling Cubs Activity Gym
We’ve used this activity gym since Phoenix was about one month old for tummy time. And now it’s a true life saver when I need to check emails or finish up some work. It keeps him entertained while learning through all the sensory activities.

Fisher-Price Pizza Teether
I left the best for last. This is Phoenix’s favorite teether. We usually have pizza once a week and since Phoenix can’t eat real pizza yet, we got him a baby version 😉 He loves it! Fun and functional.

Hope this was helpful! Why don’t you share it with all your new and expectant mama friends? 🙂

Five Months Of Baby Phoenix And Coping With Anxiety During A Pandemic

On By Styld by GraceIn Faith, motherhood4 Comments

It’s been 5 months with this cutie and 5 months of sheltering at home. I wish I could fully express through these words how utterly exhausted AND incredibly grateful I feel. 

Phoenix is becoming so much more aware of the world around him. He loves his play gym, crinkly toys, and has recently started watching Sesame Street, which he loves. He’s sitting up with support from mommy and daddy. He giggles and laughs, loves silly play and dance parties. 

Although I love making special memories with him in our home, I really wish I could take him to all the places I dreamt of taking him when I had him in my belly. 

Put plainly: this sucks. Becoming a mom at the same time as a global pandemic is not what I ever expected. Especially after waiting so long for our miracle baby. In all honesty, I just feel like it’s so unfair. And I feel selfish admitting that because I know there are people in far worse situations during this time. 

I’ve dealt with the worst anxiety I’ve ever felt in my life. My thoughts have been like an endless roller coaster. And there is so much sadness in my heart. The consensus, from speaking to friends and connecting with others on social media, is that I’m not the only person dealing with this.

While I feel so blessed to have Phoenix, I also feel like he’s missing out on the best version of me (mom guilt, anyone?) I try my very best every single day. But sometimes it’s inevitable to feel worry, anxiety, sadness, and fatigue. 

Being in isolation and dealing with anxiety has taken a toll on me. As I’m sure it has for you with whatever you’re dealing with. We were not created to do life on our own.

So today it’s my true heart’s desire to offer you a space where you don’t feel so alone. Can I share somethings I’ve learned in this pandemic to cope and overcome?

CONNECT
I’ve found it so helpful during this crazy time to connect with other new moms. Listening to what they’re going through has opened my heart and perspective. I’ve been surprised by how their emotions and experiences are much like mine. The result? Not feeling as isolated and alone. While also being reassured that I am not crazy or a bad mom (and neither are you, friend).

TAKE BABY STEPS
If you’re suffering with anxiety, what has helped me is to just take baby steps. Don’t allow people’s expectations or criticism to influence your decisions. It doesn’t matter if no one understands. Trust me, I know this is extremely hard. As a 4 in the enneagram, I really hate feeling misunderstood. Just take care of yourself and do what you need to do, little by little, to move forward. 

BE CONSUMED
Finally, being consumed by God’s presence has given me a place to rest and be made new. For me, being consumed by His presence means to absorb it and give it my full attention. And I’ve practiced that by trading all the crazy things I read or hear for His truth. In order to do that, it’s meant reading his word more, staying away from social media, and having conversation that edify my faith in Him.

I wish life was different right now. I wish I could take my son to my favorite places and share his beautiful smile with the people who love him. My heart is broken that this is life right now. 

But despite all that, in my heart of hearts I know that God is a God who uses all things for our good. I know He is a God who redeems lost time. I know He is a God who mends and heals our broken hearts. And I know He is a God of restoration and nothing is wasted when we put our hope and trust in Him.

Truly, I hope you feel seen and heard through this blog today. I don’t know exactly what you’re facing. We may all be going through the same pandemic, but all our experiences are different. Styld by Grace will be here to offer you support, understanding, and the hope of Jesus.

PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
I surrender all the stress, heartbreak, confusion, and anxious thoughts. I ask for you to fill me anew. Lord, I humble myself and bow before you. I come under your Lordship and sovereignty. There is no better place to be. You see the bigger picture. And I trust you. I trust that you’re good and faithful even when I can’t see it. Jesus, I speak your name and declare it over my home and family. There is power in your name. There is nothing that can match it. For you defeated death. And through you we are saved. Lord, give us an extra measure of faith and grace in this season. We lift our eyes up to you. We love you and we’re thankful that in just one moment we can come before your throne and be transformed and renewed. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Four Months of Baby Phoenix And Finding A Fresh Perspective

On By Styld by GraceIn Design, Faith, motherhood2 Comments

What can I say? Being a mom is the most beautiful and most challenging thing in the world. One minute your heart feels like it can explode with love and the next you’re filled with worry because you’re not sure if you’re doing anything right. But regardless of all the emotional ups and downs, it’s been such a special season.

The past couple weeks I’ve been holding down the fort all on my own during the day since my hubby went back to work from leave. I was so worried I wouldn’t be able to handle it all. But I managed to cook a few meals, have all bottles ready on time, make my bed everyday, and take a shower in between naps. WOOHOO! I have to admit I love all the 1:1 time I spend with Phoenix. I get to witness all the daily little changes.

He is smart, strong, and fun! He is so observant. Has a strong grip. And wakes up with smiles and giggles.

I can’t believe God made me HIS mommy. His bright eyed stare and happy expressions make my day. He’s my little joy bomb!

In a couple weeks, I go back to work from parental leave. And I am hoping and praying that I can balance being a mom, having a full-time job, and running Styld by Grace. I know I’m not the first or last mom to do this. It’s doable. And I lean on knowing that God will give me the grace for this new season.

My main goal for 2020 was to focus on loving my growing family. And I felt strongly in my heart to give that my full attention during my parental leave. Which meant putting other things on hold. It meant taking a step back from writing and creating for Styld by Grace. And I was so worried this would backfire and cause my progress to take a hit. I was very tempted to ignore that little voice. But I chose to obey the direction God was taking me on.

To my surprise, I have had record views on the blog these past few months. All the time, effort, and content I’ve created throughout the years have not been in vain. I’m so glad that the stuff I’ve been creating throughout the years is standing the test of time. I’m thankful that in following my gut (the Holy Spirit’s guidance), God’s favor and blessing followed.

I’ve also learned a very important lesson about creating and building. It’s not about the quantity. It’s about the quality. Striving to keep up appearances will never pay off. But investing time and effort for the things that really resonate with people and are authentic to who you are, will always pay off.

This little miracle God gave us has put so many things into perspective. I feel incredibly fortunate to have a little family of my own. It has sparked a desire to dig deeper both personally and creatively. And I’m excited to create from a refreshed frame of mind. THANK YOU for being part of all the seasons Styld by Grace has been through. This next chapter will be the best one yet!