A Few Riley Randoms...

Our computer is having some major issues, hence a few pictures to tide you over 'til who knows when.  But then, what's new about my lack of posting as of late!

Riley's 1st Swim

Riley's 1st 0-3 Month Outfit

Riley's 1st Toy - Lion Wrist Rattle

What happens if you leave Riley to sit on her own.

Riley's 1st Valentine

Restless Spirits

The time for transition has come knocking at our door again.  It can be chalked up to a number of reasons, but mostly I would say that our spirits were growing restless and the Lord allowed the wind of change to blow by.  I could tell for a number of months now that a move was coming, though I would not have predicted quite so soon.  All of our married years, we have worked in the college setting and do not like to think of working at a college less than four years.  No, there is no magic in the number four, but in college life it takes us through a whole group of students, start to finish.  Really both Brenton and I prefer to go into a new opportunity and think it is for the long haul though it does not always play out as expected.

When we married in 2006, Brenton had been coaching at Oklahoma Wesleyan University for two years and myself, one.  We left two years after getting married and moved to Montreat College, where we are currently located.  The plan, was to at minimum, stay in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina another year and a half, yet a wonderful opportunity opened up in the last month.

University of the Cumberlands, located in the mountains of Kentucky, only three hours from Asheville, has offered Brenton the position of Head Men's Soccer Coach.  Brenton accepted the offer last week.  Our house is currently on the market for any of you lookers and we will be moving to Kentucky in the very near future.  I (Kelly) am so proud of Brenton as Cumberlands has been ranked in the top 25 of NAIA over the past few years.  Brenton is stepping into a wonderful opportunity and another chance of ministry as Cumberlands is also part of the Southern Baptist affiliation.  Brenton and I both look forward to ministering at, yet, another university and being a part of it's community.  To Asheville, the Montreat Cavaliers and all of our wonderful friends, we will miss you very much!

Whirlwind

This past month has been a whirlwind to say the least!  After my parents visit, we headed up north for a quick trip.  Our first stop was by my parents place and to Plymouth Wesleyan where Riley was dedicated.  After the Sunday service, we trekked to Michigan to stay a night with my sister (Kelly) so Riley could see the rest of the Dongell clan.  So great to see Jen, Brent, Brandon, and the kiddos.  Love and miss you all tons!

Shortly after our return to North Carolina, Brenton's parents dropped in to love on our little gal who fell in love with her grandparents.  Riley started to cry the day after all our company was gone as she was not held every second of the day.  Our sweet girl is having to grow up, though not by her choice!

Riley will be four weeks this Thursday and is getting a belly to match her plump little cheeks.  We are loving having more to love on.  We have been blessed that she is sleeping a six hour stretch at night on her own accord, though we have been learning to adjust to her new fussy behavior as she stays awake more throughout the day.  Guess there is no such thing as a baby that does not cry!  However, I must make the disclaimer that she is a good baby and we have had it pretty easy, not sure what we will do with a baby that is not naturally as peaceful!

 

Our Little Sleeper

So far Riley has proved to be a restful little gal.  Of course she is up a number of times a night to eat, without us having to set an alarm, but then right back to sleep.  It has been a blessing as she only cries when her stomach gets a little gassy, when she has made us a messy diaper, or when it is simply time to eat.  Thank you Riley for letting us sleep a little!

While we are still tired, we are blessed with a sweet and beautiful charmer.  The one who currently has us mesmerized and constantly wanting to cuddle her.  She is more precious than we could have expected or imagined. 



And even with another big weekend snow storm, my parents blessed us with a last minute visit this past weekend and early week to help spoil us and Riley.  We are also looking forward to seeing the Benwares shortly, as both parents have been so gracious and flexible regarding visits due to snow storms, work schedules, and anxiously waiting on Riley's arrival.  Thank you to both our godly and loving parents that have gone before us to model parenting and set wonderful examples for us to follow!

How Our Sweet Riley Graced Us...

We cannot thank everyone enough for praying us through God's timing concerning the birth of our little gal. Had Riley graced us early, I really cannot imagine how different our experience would have been.  The Lord's timing in Riley's birth was so amazing. We went in early Thursday morning to be induced. While the hospital staff was preparing for the day and monitoring the baby and I, they realized my contractions were 5 minutes apart (though I felt nothing). Within the half hour my contractions came on strong and were less than 2 minutes apart. From the point I started to feel contractions, Riley was born less than 3 hours later. Praise Jesus that we had scheduled this very specific induction date and for all the prayers. If the Lord had not coordinated these specifics so intricately, I would not have made it to the hospital in time to receive the epidural. I am amazed with anyone who has given a natural birth at this point! Thank you for your prayers and thank you Jesus.

Riley Grace Benware was 9lb. and 21in., to everyone's surprise.  Her little foot prints were so big they went onto the writing space in her baby book.  Our doctor, and the two nurses were all floored with her size, as we had been assured our baby could not be 9lb. or more.  A few of the first comments in the room were, "Look at that mass of hair!" and "Those hands and feet are huge."  We have plenty of loveable pudge, which just means more to cuddle, and tons of dark baby soft hair.  Riley's little blue eyes are still taking time to open much as she is still a little swollen.  It is fun to see her changing ever so slowly, even in one day.  We love our little girl.

 

White Christmas

Today marks the first white Christmas for a guy who has waited thirty years... you finally got one bud!  It is also our first Christmas alone, which I have to confess I thought I'd be crying by now.  However, we have had plenty of calls from family and we have been enjoying our last few weeks together before the little one decides to arrive, keeping plenty busy.  Brenton and I have made about every kind of Christmas goodie one could think of, watched all our Christmas movies, slept in, gone to the mall for plenty of walks to try and hurry our baby gal along, and, with working, I have not had a chance to be sad.  Exactly what I had hoped for, a fun and full Christmas, our last one with just the two of us.

And so today, Christmas day, we've been pretty lazy; watching the snow fall, resting, listening to Christmas music, waiting on the ham to cook, and watching the dogs frolic in the snow.  It is absolutely beautiful and perfect.  We've come to expect our weekly snow storm on the weekends here in the North Carolina mountains.  It usually snows about two to three days and then clears up for the remainder of the week.  Within a few hours this morning we already had two inches... feels like we are vacationing in a mountain cabin, though we live here.  And it looks like the constant snow could leave us with 8-10 inches of fluffy white goodness with no trouble at all!  Pray we make it to the hospital if our baby comes with in the next two days, and that I don't have to ride our neighbors 4-wheeler down the mountain by means of getting there.  Although, I can imagine it could be much worse!

Merry Christmas!

Love the Benwares

And a little picture to leave you smiling!  The pups trying on our baby's gifts...