Thank you Jesus for Breast milk?!?!.. is that weird ;)

So the last time I posted I think I shared how cutting my child's fingernails felt like an accomplishment to me, a huge one at that. Well let me just tell you things have been a little crazier around here since those little finger nail clippings. I have had some of the hardest times as a mom for almost two months now.
 Moriah our now 5 month old was having the hardest time nursing so soon after I noticed her frustrations and mine I thought I needed to start giving her formula in addition to nursing her.  I had the guilt of not nursing her but then needed my sanity and let go of the guilt. With Moriah I was determined to nurse her the longest and was looking forward to it.  ((with my boys- due to working full time with Cohen and  Conrad I felt wasn't getting enough and we had just moved to Haiti and I was worried so just started adding formula)) My boys had no problem took the formula and nursed until it got to the point they were doing it maybe once a day (6 months and 9 months) so then they were just getting all  formula. It was hard for me and I felt guilty but then thought they are being fed and doing well and soon the guilt was gone.
Moriah was not content one bit with formula and I tried three different kinds. So I then was looking into ways to bring my milk in and started pumping all day to help bring my milk in. I was trying to self diagnose my daughters issues and try to figure out what was wrong with her. I was seriously so overwhelmed and tired and would nurse her give her formula even though it upset her then I would go pump. My boys ((ages 2 and 3)) were like two little wild animals going crazy in the house while I was being consumed with figuring out how to nurse Moriah. Turns out they would even make it harder for me to nurse her because I am a human jungle gym to them especially my 2 year old. She was so distracted and that made nursing through a hard time even harder.
To wrap this up ((even though I could write a book on my frustrations))- with tons of great advice from friends, family members, The snap mom community, The Breastfeeding Center, and most importantly PRAYER, patience and endurance that comes from none other than the Lord Jesus Christ :) I have made it out alive of this dry spell and Moriah is a fighter she has managed to continue to strictly breastfeed and we are going on three solid days with no supplementing of formula and I am so THANKFUL and proud! Just even this past Friday I was so frustrated and gave Moriah formula for the last time I texted my mom and had told my sisters I was so over nursing. It is still not the easiest thing to do right now but I am so glad and want to give thanks and the Glory to God for the change I have seen these last couple days. I feel so much better and plus the sun was shining these last couple days in Ohio which makes it all even better!  So YES THANK YOU JESUS FOR BREASTMILK!! And don't judge me if Moriah nurses for 5 years ;) we fought hard to keep that milk coming in!

Philippians 4: 10-13
 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.


I have to say also that I am thankful for my husband and his support and times like these my heart goes out to single parents who are doing it on their own most the time, you guys rock! Praying for strength to single parents today!


** disclaimers:
**I totally would have given into formula if she had allowed it, realizing now my milk did this with my boys also and they transitioned to the formula fine so I didn't have to fight for my milk supply like I did this time, but it has given me a new found appreciation for nursing and I am so thankful I made it through. I thought being a stay at home mom and back in the states nursing was going to be so easy but now I know with two little boys needing my attention nursing is a struggle at times but I am even more encouraged to fight through it and continue to nurse as long as I can. I realize now it is a gift and some people don't make it through the struggle of nursing like how I was with my boys. So don't feel guilty about it I think we as mothers have a lot of guilt and we shouldn't do that. But for me this time around I am thankful that she wouldn't take the formula because it made me keep at nursing and trying to bring in my milk.

**in the end what worked best for me was pumping after each time I nursed her and nursing her whenever she would let me and I was taking fenugreek that I picked up from Vitanet. I made sure to drink lots of water and I tried to eat more realizing sometimes I would make lunch for my boys sit to nurse her and not sit and eat as much as I should so I am trying to do that as well.

**I encourage anyone who does want to continue nursing to keep at it and talk to others who have gone through it because my friends and family were really the most helpful and I am thankful for them!

Praying and thinking of anyone else going through this right now!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! 

-Love Eric, Briana, 
Cohen, Conrad, and Moriah

Jesus is the reason for the season!

This is as close as we are going to get for sending out Christmas cards. Enjoy! ;)

 I don't know why things like that can be so difficult when they really are something you can do very fast these days all online with your own photos. Though for me instead of stressing over getting it done I just choose not to do it.

But still why is it that the littlest things can be so hard to do take cutting three little children's nails for example. Seriously the struggle for my children to let me do this to each of their fingers and toes, you would think I was giving them shots. They all fight it. But once I get it done I feel like I ran a full marathon and I feel so accomplished. Only to turn around and get scratched the next week an get to do it all over again. :) 

One of my goals for this next year is to get organized with my children's photos and make them some photo books. With not printing our pictures out these days they just sit in files in our computer and I have almost lost all of our photos twice. I really pray I can do this and get caught up on photo books for Cohen and Conrad. Seems like it should again be so simple especially with shutterfly and other internet sites you can use. But I haven't ever been really good at things like that and I hope to change that this year! 

So even though we didn't do Christmas Card that doesn't mean we haven't enjoyed getting them! 

I love the good old Christmas cards that actually require you to use ink, but I also love the new ways you can be creative with adding photos. Eric and I decided we were going to pick our favorites from the ones we received this year. Though we enjoyed them all there were two we have for the winners!

Drum roll please…………………….

The most creative goes to ……

&

The cutest goes to ……

{{Congrats to our winners! Excited about our new tradition and to do this again next year - 

no pressure people ;) }}

These two cards inspire me to be good at taking photos of my children and to be organized with them! 

Knowing both these families and both working moms shows that you can find time for the little things. If your enjoying your first little baby or still cleaning up after your older boys be encouraged that if you like me find it hard to get the little things done it can happen! 

Thanks for all the Christmas wishes from all our family and friends! I am excited for another New Year! Comment below with your goals for this next year, we can be praying for one another on reaching our goals! 

I said yes ;)

This weekend 5 years ago Eric asked me to be his wife.

I said yes of course and was (and still am) so excited!!

 I literally could not sleep for days. I remember asking my Dad if this feeling would ever go away. I never had a problem falling asleep and I could not for anything sleep especially the night it happened. I ended up taking a shower finally around 4am. I thought something was wrong with me, my eyes would not close. I was just way too shocked and excited, it was the best feeling in the world.

I eventually within the week was able to sleep and had no problem then making up for the sleep I had missed, though now when I would lay down my guest list and to do list was running through my mind at night.

but anyways…

 He totally and completely surprised me I had no idea even after receiving a text from him the day before that said "tell them your picking up the bible with the name Briana Coblentz on it" -haha I just thought it was a Christmas gift instead of a promise ring like people do he was giving me a promise bible. :)

I received that text on a friday evening while I was riding to Pittsburgh for his basketball game he was playing for Akron University at that time. I was in the back of his parents car and while I was beaming from ear to ear after reading that text still not at all thinking engagement not once did that cross my mind, I was just so excited to see that text knowing yes one day I will be his wife, we had been dating for three years and knew we wanted to get married though it was not time and we were going to wait for him to graduate. At the same time he was texting his mom letting her know he was going to propose tomorrow - lol if you know my mother in law (whom I love and have a great relationship with :) ) you know that she was freaking out and wanted to talk about it with her husband but here I was in the car with them, she knew he was going to do it as she went with him to get the ring but she didn't think it was going to be that soon. But Eric said he was way too excited to wait.

To skip ahead and so this isn't 5 pages long I will give you a brief version on how it went down…

He had wanted to take me out and picked me up at work, he said he wanted to stop at the church for something, still not thinking anything going to the church on saturday night wasn't something we did but the man loves Jesus I just thought he wanted to go and pray together or something.. not sure but he took me into the sanctuary and walked me down the candle lit aisle where at the altar was roses more candles and a bible opened up. He said read this pointing to the highlighted verse:

"my soul has found the one it loves" song of solomon 3:4

short verse that took me a while to read because things started to click in my head. I turn around to see him on one knee with a ring in his hand.. "what are you serious?!" "shut up!" "are you serious?" "is this a joke!!"

After telling me lots of sweet things and how much he loved me and that he wanted me to be his wife, he asked me to marry him and I said YES! :)

His proposal and reasoning behind the church was a representation of doing it before God, he could have done it anywhere and it would have been before God but it was special and it was neat to stand at the altar and pray over our lives together and Thank God for bringing us together.

I never imagined that my engagement would have been that perfect.

and I can't imagine if we would have waited and got married once he graduated, which would have been just last year.  We sure would have missed out on a lot together. Eric had said he was praying about it and that was what helped him make the decision, and my fathers blessing of course. :)

He was so nervous but I couldn't tell he was just so sweet.  He is an amazing husband and father, I am so blessed to have him. My feelings of excitement have not changed though my reasoning for lack of sleep has and that is our three little beautiful blessings Cohen, Conrad, and Moriah. ;)

I am so thankful he asked me to be his wife.

Moriah Lael Coblentz

September 23, 2013

5:03 AM

7 lbs 14 0z 

20 inches

pretty blue eyes &

lots of dark beautiful hair.

she looks like her daddy

& her brothers.

she is perfect.

she is beautiful.

she is sweet.

she is so loved.

we are thankful.

we are blessed.

we are in love.

When I look at my children and especially after they are just born and you are holding them for the first time or during my pregnancy as I feel the baby move, I am reminded just How GREAT our God is, what a miracle. Thank you Jesus for our healthy precious daughter.

Every good and perfect gift comes from above. 

James 1:17

You can see Conrad is just about to attack his sister- they are very loving with her but this just captures what it's like with these little ones Conrad especially right now can't turn my back for one second. I love these children. :) 

Tara Bowers did an amazing job on our photos and we are thankful for her patience and talent. I am enjoying being a mom of three but also realizing it is hard to get things done, and when it comes to blogging that is the last on my list, but as I get a better handle on nursing and being the mom of three little children I hopefully can get into a routine to find some more down time. :) 

Until then I am just making sure my children are loved, fed, getting sleep, baths & letting my children make messes and memories.

Thanks for reading.

-Bri

My Dear Daughter

{{39 weeks}}

My Dear Daughter, 

For 39 weeks now I have carried you around with me every single day. In the beginning it was rough and then after 14 weeks you were so good to me. :) Now were in the end and I can tell were both ready to have you in my arms. We found out you were a girl at 15 weeks, I was so excited and nervous to be excited knowing we would be 100% sure at the next appointment -when 20 weeks confirmed it we were thrilled and in shock and still are but no matter what we love you. 
 I remember the morning I found out you were growing inside of me. We were still in Haiti at the time and your Grandma Karen, Uncle Caleb, Aunt Megan, and Levi were visiting. 
The night before I found out -your Daddy was telling them how bad he wanted us to have another baby especially a daughter. 

He was praying that God would bless us with another child. He was praying for you even before he knew.  I was praying too that if it was the Lords will He would allow it to happen. I was trusting that God knew what was best for us. 
So when I took a test on January 21st I was surprised but not really.. shocked in a little disbelief but yet I was so excited and I couldn't wait to tell your Daddy, the boys and our family visiting.
I waited all day though I wanted to tell right away. I waited til the evening during our family worship and devotion time with Cohen and Conrad before bed. I had the camera ready to capture your Dads reaction. We were reading about Adam and Eve and I asked Cohen what was Gods punishment to Eve for eating from the tree. ((looking for the answer "she would have birth pains" )) when he didn't answer me I said 

"Eric how then did God punish Eve?"
His reply
"She would have pains in child birth.."
"Yep! And so will I in nine months!!!" 
haha

you can imagine the "what no way" and the ongoing excitement as we celebrated together. From the time you were so tiny growing inside me we were thrilled. 

We have been singing to you reading to you and praying for you everyday, for your health, your life, your future, your relationships.. (yes I am already praying for your husband) most importantly we pray that you will know, love, and follow your creator, and heavenly father Jesus. 

You have two amazing big brothers, Cohen who just turned three asks me about you everyday he kisses you often and wants to pull up my shirt to feel you moving around, he is so wild and a little impatient right now, he wants to know when you are coming out..?? ( me too :) ) He says "Mom did they cut your baby out yet?" or "Did the baby come yet?"I keep reassuring him that I will let him know when you are here. Conrad who is just a year and a half older than you- he is the one laying on you so much he says "baby" and will wrap his arms around my belly or lightly tap it. 

You move around so much my dear and for the last couple weeks every couple days I think you are coming. Seriously I think you are just as wild as your brothers.. I can't wait to meet you. 

I love you so much already and I can't wait for you to be here in our arms. I can't wait for you to meet your Daddy. He is so amazing and will be such a good father to you and the best example of a Godly man.  I can't wait for you to meet Cohen and Conrad they are going to be so in love with you and probably kiss and hug you too much. You have wonderful grandparents that are so excited for your arrival, along with lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. 

I am a little scared to have not only three children but a daughter. I hope that you always see your self for the beautiful person that God made you to be. I hope you always know the value of your life and how much we love you. I hope as a mother I can be your best friend, but also be such a good role model to you of a Godly woman. 

I am waiting for you and praying for you. Whenever your ready so am I. I love you so much and I can't wait to start our mother / daughter journey together. 

-love your momma 

p.s. we do have a special name picked out for you and I can't wait to hold you and call you by your name for the very first time. I love you so much. 

"your are fearfully and wonderfully made"
Pslam 139:14

37 weeks ahh!!

37 weeks down .....3..2..1!! to go?? I am going to be totally honest with you here and let you know I am freaking out just a little bit, how am I going to nurse my sweet little baby girl with my two monkeys on my back?? I need to clone myself twice.. :)

I had that thought this morning - and when I say freaking out I mean in the calmest way possible as my two boys climbed on top of me one hanging around my neck the other laying sideways across my stomach ( I think Conrad has really grown to enjoy my hard big belly he loves to just lay right on top of it) Glad it is comfortable for someone. :) but it just hit me and what if I need to be nursing at this time what will the boys do then? Oh Lord help me! :) Who knows, all I can do now is pray, pray, pray.. and hope for the best. I will let you know once the baby comes and then when I say I am freaking out I might really be freaking out or crying. Doing something other than sitting calmly.

I am really excited though to be having a daughter! I could just cry thinking about her right now. I am getting so excited and anticipating what will she look like?... how big will she be?... will she keep her blue eyes like the boys?...will she come out with lots of hair?...will she sleep good?.. (( I hope!))

but.. 

Most importantly when I pray for her everyday all those things don't even come close to my deepest longing and desire for her is to know and love Jesus with all her heart. As a mother and follower of Jesus Christ that is the one thing I pray my children have, is a relationship with Jesus. I pray that as parents we can be an amazing example of Christ's love to our children so that they too have their own desire in their hearts to want to know Him.

-bri

Just had to share these photos of my boys they are growing up too fast 
and are way too cute not to share!!
Cohen 2 (-at the end of this week he will be three :) ) -above
 Conrad 18 months -below
Photo Credit: Tara Bowers

37wks baby bump
{{I have been feeling so many contractions and lots of pressure-
I even thought my water broke yesterday but false alarm}}
Eric took this photo + my sister Megan did my hair for me
If you need your hair done you can contact her through here!! She does a great job :)  

Life in the fast lane..

Hard to believe our time in Haiti has come and gone and we are already back into the swing of life in Ohio.  I ask you to continue to pray with us for the girls we placed back in family, praying for their lives in Haiti.

We miss our friends and life in Haiti. There is a lot I am thankful to not be dealing with on a daily basis, like bugs, heat, generators... but we are content at where God has us for now.

Our baby girl is rapidly growing (still inside the womb) ETA the 25th of September.

Cohen and Conrad have been enjoying themselves these last two months spending all their time and energy playing outside with friends and cousins. I finally got Cohen to get rid of his nuk (binky, pacifier) and we are in the potty training process..(NOT FUN) Conrad I think knows something is up - I feel so guilty at times that he is going to have a hard time when the baby comes but him and Cohen are playing together and getting into more and more trouble so hopefully it will not be too hard for him.

Eric has dove right back into working and just this past week started at the church as well. He is so happy to be working in the church and can't hardly wait to start seminary school in the fall.

As a now stay at home mom (before moving to Haiti I worked full time)  I think I am trying to find my place and my role of course first and most important I am a mother and wife and so thankful to be both! I am in constant prayer trying to figure out how I will ever have three children (three, 3 years and under )  but I know as long as I continue to put my hope and trust in the Lord and commit each day to Him that I will not fail. I know there will probably be days I feel like a failure or just really tired. But just as God was with us in our hardest days and weeks in Haiti He is with me daily as I strive to be the mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend here in little Hartville, Ohio.

I have never been a coffee drinker I don't at all care for the taste but just the other day had some with lots of french vanilla creamer and thought I could drink this... I informed Eric I may start drinking coffee -or maybe just creamer ;) - once I have three children running around.

I hope to keep up with my blog and share what happens with us I don't know how good I will be or how exciting these posts will get. With just the boys right now they still nap for me a couple hours a day at the same time :) there are days they wont nap or they put up a fight, when they are up I am up right next to them making sure they stay out of trouble so I will do my best and keep praying for the time to allow me to blog.  I hope to be an encouragement at times or just a realization that your not alone in life and parenting or being a perfect wife can be hard, but it is certainly not impossible and we can only Look to Jesus our perfect example. Giving all the Glory to my creator, father, Lord and Savior-  Jesus Christ.



Proverbs 20:24 NLT
"The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?"