Nine Years

This photos was taken 9 years ago today. I was so excited to marry this man, but honestly, I still had those tiny twinges of uncertainty. What if he's not actually perfect? But then I would remember the way he treated his mother and sisters, those in authority over him, and those at his service, and I knew he was a good man.

Truthfully, our marriage hasn't been perfect. We are two imperfect people, and we have had a few trials and tears along the way. But because he has shown me what it looks like to be humble and ask forgiveness (for both great and small offenses), our home is rich with joy and laughter.

He is gentle and strong, firm and gracious, patient and hard working, smart and just the right amount of nerdy. He does dishes, makes lunches, changes diapers, and gets up in the middle of the night to rearrange blankets for small people. He cares for me tenderly all the times I am sick or unwell. He reads to, dances with, sings with, teaches, plays with and tickles our children. He loves learning, exploring, and adventures, as well as quiet evenings at home. He laughs easily, forgives quickly, loves fiercely, and hates what is evil. He is faithful, wise, generous, thoughtful, kind, and a better man than I ever hoped for.

He is a good man.

Happy anniversary, Bryan. I am so thankful that God saw fit to make you my husband, and I look forward to growing old together. I love you so much.

Number Four!

Baby number four is due in April! We got this lovely little surprise a few weeks ago.

This morning we got our first look at our beautiful baby #4! She (chances seem likely that's it's a girl) is 8 weeks today, and about the size and shape of a gummy bear. Official due date is April 14. I can't wait to meet this little person in seven months!!!


The first thing I noticed was the beautiful little heart, flickering away on the ultrasound screen. What joy to hear the wonderful wumpa-wumpa of a strong hear beating about 162 times a minutes.

The little white ring is the yolk sac, and next to it is our tiny baby, laying on it's side. You can see the head, an arm, and there's even a tiny little butt.

Norah Katherine Blakey

Norah Katherine Blakey was born on Thursday, July 3, at 10:38 pm.  She weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces, and was 21 inches long. 

10 hours old. 

Crinkly skin still adjusting to our world.

We were surprised by how blond she is.  Her eyelashes are platinum, along with the downy lanugo that covers her ears, back, and chubby shoulders.  Her hair is sandy blond, and I'm curious to see how much it will change.

She was born two days after her due date, and I was having a difficult time remaining patient.  My body launched into labor on Thursday afternoon, we hurried to the hospital, and after seven hours (and a glorious planned epidural), she was in our arms.  Everything went wonderfully, and of course we absolutely love her.  More details and pictures coming soon!

Friends Pregnant

I've been meaning to touch on this subject since that wonderful day way back in October.  We had just found out that we were pregnant, and it was bittersweet telling some of our best friends, since we knew they wanted more kids, too.

Well wouldn't you know it, God had a beautiful plan for this story, too.  Three days later, Betsy got a positive pregnancy test, too.  We were both overflowing with joy, in case you can't tell.

It's been such a crazy, fun, blessed experience being pregnant together.  Encouraging each other through the morning sickness, praying for each other in moments of uncertainty, celebrating clothes that no longer fit, sharing pregnancy cravings, knitting and crocheting baby blankets together, guessing which one of us will get to hold our babies first, and rejoicing together in every good appointment and ultrasound. 

A few months ago, I texted Betsy and mentioned that I was craving the Lettuce Wraps from one of our favorite restaurants in Pullman.  Just the mention triggered the same craving for her, and she ending up driving the half hour round trip to get a double order, and brought it to my house where we indulged our cravings together.  True friendship right there.  We shared a lot of similar cravings, as well as lack of desire to be in our kitchens at times. 

This last Saturday, our husbands spent the day with the kids, and Betsy and I took ourselves out for a day of pampering. We got coffee at Bucer's, and then got pedicures, which was actually a first for me.  Then we went out to lunch at Bloom, and hit the mall to get smoothies and shop for post-partum clothes.

Later, after a picnic dinner from the Co-op, I realized we needed a few pictures together.  I drug Betsy over to a brick wall, and handed Bryan my iPhone.  I was pleased with the results from our impromptu 60 second photo shoot.

I'm really excited about today.  Because Betsy is in labor.  I guess she beat me to it.  But that's okay, because I'm so excited that I get to hold her baby in a little while.  God has been so kind to us, and today is a day of great rejoicing.

Baby Will

Bryan's sister Jessie had her baby on early on Thursday morning.  Baby Will was born on his grandfather Kenneth's birthday.  (Which, I might add, was the day I guessed he'd make his grand entrance.)

At almost 9 1/2 pounds with lots of dark hair, William Kenneth Trotter is a pretty handsome little fella.  We got to meet him later that afternoon, and I'm glad I remembered to drag my camera along.

Chloë and Elaina were sooo excited to meet their new cousin.  We slathered their hands with sanitizer, and they promptly covered Baby Will in hugs and kisses and affectionate pats.  Chloë actually started sobbing when it was time to go home, because didn't want to leave.  Even after we got home, she would still burst into tears and exclaim that she missed Baby Will.

We have since had the pleasure of spending time with this sweet family a couple more times.  Kaleb and Jessie are absolutely wonderful new parents; aglow with excitement, wonder, and sleep deprivation. 

We love you so much already, Will!  Thanks for making me an Aunt!  We are so excited to see what God had planned for your future!

Old Friends

A few days after Christmas, we got to meet up with our dear friends the Rusts and the Strubles.  The Rusts live in Seattle, and the Strubles are in Maryland, so it had been two years since the six of us got together.  Er, the 13 of us.

Four Blakeys, six Rusts, and three Strubles.

L to R: Adam, Kay, Noah and Marae Rust, Elaina and Chloë Blakey, and Audrey Struble.

A lot has changed in few years.  Alex, Luke and Bryan were roommates in 2004.  I met Katie, and then we met The Guys, and then Lynnessa joined The Gang, as we referred to ourselves.

By 2006, we were all married and in each other's weddings.  And now we're living happily ever after.

A Good Ultrasound

I sat on the little exam table, holding Bryan's hand, discussing different aspects of pregnancy, labor, and delivery with Dr. Minudri.  He was great.  I'd seen him deliver a few babies in nursing school and at friend's births, and was always impressed with his approach and attitude. Since our wonderful midwife moved across the country last summer, we were forced to make some new decisions.  I absolutely loved our home births.  But I've never been under the impression that hospitals are crazy or evil.  In fact, I think our local hospital and some of our local doctors are particularly wonderful.

So when we found out we were pregnant, Bryan and I began discussing our options.  Choose a new midwife, or choose a doctor and try a hospital birth?  We analyzed the pros and cons.  I made an appointment with Dr. Minudri, and we decided we'd see how we felt after our appointment.

I've been pretty sick with morning sickness during the last month.  There have been days where I have either been in bed or on the couch for 23 hours a day.  I had to force myself to eat a few crackers and a bowl of cheerios.  Any smell (or sometimes even the thought of food) was enough to make me throw up.  I started taking Unisom and B6 every night, and that eased the nausea a little. But I was still pretty sick.

Then last week I started feeling a tiny bit better.  The day before Thanksgiving, I was actually on my feet and in my kitchen for the first time in weeks.  I made green bean casserole and berry pies.  Granted, the bacon grease for the green beans made me throw up, but I could tell I was having a good day.  "I'll feel horrible tomorrow," I thought.  But I didn't.  And the next day I even felt a tiny bit better than that.  I ate a whole plate of Thanksgiving leftovers. I've been feeling a tiny bit better every day.  I've been eating a little bit of normal food.  And keeping it down.

So I started to worry.  Something must be wrong with the baby.  I don't start feeling better until the second trimester.  So something has to be wrong.  I shouldn't be feeling better and eating real food yet.  Something's wrong.  The baby probably died, and my hCG levels are dropping, which is why I'm feeling better, and I'm going to have a miscarriage any day.  After all, almost a third of all pregnancies end in miscarriage.  I've had two healthy pregnancies, so I'm due for a miscarriage.  I have so many friends with heartbreaking stories of miscarriages, it has to be my turn.  Plus, I've just been thinking about miscarriage a lot lately, so God is probably trying to prepare my heart for such a hard thing. 

So this morning I sat on the exam table, really comfortable with Dr. Minudri's answers to my questions.  But I couldn't shake the feeling that our conversation might be pointless.  Maybe my pregnancy is already over and we just don't know it yet. 

I finally laid back, and he squirted the cold ultrasound jelly on my belly.  I held Bryan's hand, and we watched the ultrasound monitor screen.  And suddenly, there was a tiny little baby on the screen.  "Oh hi, Baby," I whispered, as my eyes welled up.  I squeezed Bryan's hand.  The baby kicked and squirmed around a little. 

Our baby.  Our baby was alive.  And kicking and squirming.

The little heart was flickering away.  Dr. Minudri pushed a couple of buttons on the ultrasound machine, and suddenly we heard a beautiful little heartbeat.

Our baby.  Our baby's heart was beating.  158, I think he said.  Silent little tears kept sliding down my face.

Beautiful.  Perfect, as far as we could tell.  Our baby was alive, kicking, and beautiful. 

We finished up our appointment, and I kissed Bryan goodbye so he could head to work.  I got in my car, and sat there for a minute.  My baby wasn't dead.  I realized that was really what I had been expecting.  But I had been so wrong.  Never have I ever been so glad that I was wrong.  Tears started falling again.  I started sobbing.  God, why is my baby so alive, when so many are not?  Thank you, thank you thank you. 

Last week I had been thinking about how we should bless the name of the Lord, in good times and in hard times.  I was thinking I was going to learn what it really means to bless the name of the Lord while walking through the wilderness.  But God didn't give me that lesson today. 

Today my heart is overflowing with joy, amazement, and gratitude.  Blessed be Your name, in the land that is plentiful, where your streams of abundance flow.  Blessed be Your name.  I cried some more, and then pulled myself together.  Silly pregnancy hormones.

Yay for pregnancy hormones.

Coming July, 2014!

Due July 1, which means I'm 5 weeks today. I know this is considered really early to announce a pregnancy, but since we fully believe that this child is fully our baby, we want our friends and family to rejoice with us! And, in case morning sickness kicks in, you won't have to wonder why I look green all the time.

We covet your prayers, especially since we know that these early weeks of pregnancy are the most fragile.  I'm also a little bit nervous about caring for two energetic little girls while I battle morning sickness.  So pray with us that this baby will grow strong and healthy to full term, and that there won't be very much morning sickness.

Thanks be to God for this new life.

Happy 30th

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband, the father of my girls, the man God knew fit me best. My very own Superman.  I don't know why God saw fit to bless me so greatly. 

Happy 30th, Bryan. I love you.

Elaina's Baptism

Growing up, I attended various denominations and branches of Christian protestant churches. My family moved around the country a few times, and we always did a bit of church hopping before finding one my parents decided we should regularly attend. Presbyterian, Community, Baptist, Charismatic, and other various Non-Denominational churches.

When I married a Reformed man, I knew I would stir up a few controversial topics among my family and old friends. But I also knew that when it comes down to it, it really doesn't matter if our music is centuries old, or written last week. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter if our sermon is preached from a man wearing a robe or faded jeans. It doesn't matter if we use the King James version of the Bible, or the NIV. What matters is that we believe in one true triune God, and one Lord and Savior: Jesus Christ.

I never would have guessed I would end up attending a Reformed church that I love. The people there are some of the kindest, most generous, and most sincere people I have ever had the pleasure of befriending.

And we baptize our babies. Because we believe in the promises of God.

Elaina Halcyon Blakey was baptized on April 29. Thanks be to God.



"Elaina will spend the remainder of her life learning to be a Blakey. That’s a life-long project for anyone. More profoundly, she will spend her life growing into her name as a child of the heavenly Father, a sister of her Brother Jesus, walking with the Spirit of adoption. God is true. His Name sticks regardless. God calls her by baptism to be a true witness so that God’s truth will shine in her." -Dr. Leithart
Read the rest of Dr. Leithart's exhortation here or below.



"As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."


The little dress that Elaina wore was the same dress Chloë was baptized in. And it was one of my cute little dresses when I was a baby.




Exhortation by Peter Leithart, April 29, 2012

Matthew 28:18-20: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age.

Baptism is a naming ceremony. Your daughter already has a name, and a meaningful one. Baptism adds another name because in baptism she becomes a member of a new family. She receives the family name of Father, Son, and Spirit. At the same time, God Himself takes on a new name, for here He promises to be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and now Elaina.

We Protestants don’t like to say that baptism works “automatically,” because in some respects it doesn’t. Baptism doesn’t guarantee eternal salvation. But in this respect – as a naming ceremony – baptism is automatic. Everyone who is baptized receives a new name, whether they want it or not.

Like everything else Elaina has, this name is a gift of sheer grace. Elaina didn’t choose you as her parents. She didn’t choose to live in Moscow, or to be an American, or to be born to members of this church. And she doesn’t choose to be given the family Name of the Triune God. God chooses her. Through this water He lays His mighty hand on her to declare to the world that she is a daughter of His love.

Names always come at the beginning. You didn’t hold off a few years to discover your daughter’s temperament so you could make sure to give her an appropriate name. You named her as soon as she was born. We name our children in hope that they will live up to their name.

God does the same. He doesn’t leave us wandering around trying to find our name. At the beginning, before we have shown our true colors, God risks placing His name on us and adopting us into His family.

Elaina will spend the remainder of her life learning to be a Blakey. That’s a life-long project for anyone. More profoundly, she will spend her life growing into her name as a child of the heavenly Father, a sister of her Brother Jesus, walking with the Spirit of adoption. God is true. His Name sticks regardless. God calls her by baptism to be a true witness so that God’s truth will shine in her.

Elaina Halcyon Blakey

She's here. We give thanks to God for his perfect timing, despite our efforts to get her to come a little early. God is so good.

12 hours old.

Elaina Halcyon Blakey was born on her due date, on Wednesday, February 1st, at home with the assistance of our wonderful midwife and her assistant, a nurse. After 5 hours of intense active back labor, she came into this world at 9:24 pm, weighing 7 lbs 14 oz, and 19 3/4 inches long.


Moments after she was born.

We are so thankful to have her in our arms, and we are all doing well. There will be more details and pictures soon.

We're having a...

GIRL!

Chloë is going to have a sister.

And we're going to have two little girls!


(We went to the mall after the ultrasound, and oh, whaddaya know, I found myself picking out some cute dresses on clearance for my daughters for next summer. I am so very excited.)

I've been sick with some weird flu and cold bug this week, which landed me on the couch for a few days. Yuck. But I managed to make it up to Spokane yesterday and keep our ultrasound appointment for Baby #2. Bryan took the day off from work so he could come, and was a great chauffeur for my sick and tired self.

As soon as the ultrasound was up on the TV screen, Bryan pointed and told Chloë it was a baby. "Bay-bee! Bey-bee!" she kept repeating, and pointing to the screen. She did this periodically throughout the hour long appointment. We thought it was so sweet, but also curious, since there really wasn't anything on the screen that resembled any baby she'd seen. But she was obviously excited.

Everything looked perfect.


There she is. Our beautiful little girl. With brains, too.


She's got a fist against her nose.

We got to see her practicing her breathing, which was amazing to watch. Her little chest and abdomen moved in quick repetition for a few seconds. Breathing! My tiny baby that is the size of a banana, and doesn't even have air to breathe. We saw her yawn a couple of times. Big, open mouth, regular old yawn. She kept putting her hand up to her face and mouth. She wasn't actually sucking her thumb, but she really seemed to prefer a hand next to her face. Her little heart was galloping along in the 160s again. Perfect little heart with four chambers. And we saw her liver and kidneys... it's impossible not to be overwhelmed at the beauty and goodness of our Creator. There's a little person, living and growing inside of me!


Kind of a sideways shot of her lower arm and slightly closed hand.


Look at her perfect little foot!!!

The baby had her legs together and even crossed throughout the ultrasound until the very end. I kept praying that we would get a glimpse of the gender, since we (probably) won't be having any more ultrasounds. Bryan and I were so convinced that we were going to find out we were having a boy. This pregnancy has just been so different than the last, and surely there was a logical explanation for it. Besides, we both just had "that feeling," and all of our instincts were right with the first pregnancy.

We were wrong.

So there you have it. She's definitely a girl.

This is a long video, but here's your very first video of our beautiful second daughter. (At least check out a few seconds right after the 2 minute mark. You can see heart and then you hear it beating. And at 5:45 you can see her little chest contractions of her practicing her breathing. How amazing.)


Only 4 1/2 months, and we get to meet her! I am so excited.