A Wonderful Day

July 2, 2008

It is a few days overdue, but I had to finish this series and write about the day Silas was born.

I was somewhat apprehensive about being induced. I was concerned that perhaps Silas was not ready to come into the world. I did not want to take his life into my hands. From the first moment that we found out about him, Shane and I had trusted the Lord with our boy. That was not going to change on the day of his birth.

So it was incredibly fun to hear all day from my doctor and nurses how ready I was to have a baby. I responded great to being induced, loved getting my epidural, and enjoyed every moment that led up to Silas' birth. It was a wonderful day. Highlighted by meeting Silas for the first time. What joy.

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July 2, 2009

We had a birthday party at our house on Thursday night for Silas. We invited a few friends from church, friends who have babysat Silas this year, a couple friends from my work, and our neighbors. One year after his birth-day, Silas' birthday was another wonderful day.

Luther and Augustine "helped" me decorate while Silas was napping. Then the puppies went off to play in our youth building for the rest of the evening...


I made Silas a "Very Hungry Caterpillar" cupcake cake. It turned out sweet...

After our friends arrived, Shane talked for just a minute about our prayer and desire for Silas as he grows...

Then Silas blew out his first birthday candle...

First taste of sweets...

Then Silas opened presents and played with his friends...

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How adorable is this bunch? All boys except little baby Lily in between her brothers...

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We are amazed that a year has passed, but are loving each and every new thing...

After our friends left and our one-year-old went to bed, Shane went to pick up the puppies while I cleaned up the house. Then we both started to pack. We left the next morning for Illinois, where Shane's family celebrated Silas' birthday with us on the 4th. It was a whirlwind of a weekend, but very worth it. I will share more about that soon.

July 1, 2008

The night before Silas was born we took this picture...

If you look not-even-closely at my face you will see that it is a face that is ready to have a baby. I was more than ready. But I still wondered if Silas was ready.

At my pregnant request, we went out for dessert that night at the Pie Kitchen. Louisville natives know...it is good. I had chocolate cake and mocha chip ice cream. Nothing like ending my pregnancy on a high note. But it was delightful. It was the last thing I ate before baby arrived.

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July 1, 2009

Silas is 11 months, 4 weeks, and 1 day old. Have you noticed the counter goes by actual weeks and not by month-days? Silas was born on a Wednesday; exactly one year ago today.

Shane told Silas this morning, "It's your last day being zero!"

We played like crazy this morning. Then Silas took a 3 1/2 hour nap after lunch. When he woke up, I had all his presents wrapped waiting for him to see. His response? "Is at?"

We skyped with my parents tonight so Silas could open some presents with Papa and Nana. We had such fun...

Let the birthday festivities begin!

June 30, 2008

It was Monday last year. We all slept an extra hour or two since my parents arrived late the night before. And we stayed up even later talking all things baby. I'm pretty sure we drove around on Monday to show them the Louisville sights (read: our church, Walmart, and the hospital).

My long excursion to the grocery store on Sunday had not sent me into labor. So Monday night when I woke and couldn't sleep, I trudged up and down our stairs at least 10 times, hoping that maybe my water would break or something. I still have no idea what it is like to go into labor naturally, so I don't really know what I was hoping would happen. For some reason I really didn't want to have to be induced. I wanted the surprise of labor starting on it's own. And I did not want to take the timing of his birth into my own hands. But I'll write more about that later...

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June 30, 2009

Silas is 11 months, 3 weeks, and 7 days old.

Silas and I went shopping today for first birthday party stuff. It was such fun. Just the thought of getting kid birthday things made me giggle the entire time.

Silas loves being at the store. He likes watching the people and looking at the TV screens and being part of the hustle and bustle. When he was a baby I had to wear him in a baby carrier to get though a whole trip to the store. Now he sits in the cart, eats a snack, and enjoys the ride. Until I push it a bit too long. Then he starts to reach into the back of the cart and try to throw things out (I'm not kidding). Whereupon, I take him out and hold him, pulling the heavy cart beside us. I'm sure we're a sight.

Silas ate tacos with us tonight (well, the meat part). He loved it. He is quite the eater and isn't picky. He is thrilled with finger foods and eats what we are having if it is soft enough. I am giving him more fresh fruits and veggies as he can handle them (so far he has blueberries, pears, pineapple, banana, peas, sweet potato, avocado, and corn). And we're starting on whole milk.

And with that documented, I'm heading to bed. Lots to do to get ready for a birthday in just 2 days!

June 29, 2008

In 2008, June 29 was a Sunday. This was my ORIGINAL due date. My doctor had moved it up to the 27th based on how I was measuring at an ultrasound somewhere along the way. They should have left it the way it was...or pushed it back. That way I wouldn't have been quite so anxious to get things moving by this time.

It was a Sunday but I can't remember for sure if I went to church that day. I'm thinking not. I know it's not a reason to miss worship, but I was so tired of saying, Yep, I'm still here. Nope, no baby yet. Yep, I do keep getting bigger. Nope, no real contractions. Yep, I was due on Friday. Sigh.

I did go to the grocery store that afternoon. That I remember. It was a huge trip. Shane reprimanded me for going. I was completely exhausted when I got home, but felt victorious that the house would be well-stocked for the days to come. Shane gently called it spending a whole lot of money at the store. I called it nesting.

My parents arrived that night. While I had desperately wanted to have our baby as soon as possible, I was overjoyed that they got to see me in all my pregnant glory. And it was priceless that they would get to be with us for each moment of our baby's birth. I still thank the Lord that His timing is perfect.

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June 29, 2009

Silas spent the day with our friend Tiffany and her two boys today. I was at work and Shane had class. It has been the hardest thing for me this year: the leaving. I do love what I do. I see purpose in the work the Lord has given to me. I am grateful that I make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities; I get to come alongside parents of children with special needs. I have had the chance to be a mentor. I have direct contact with people who do not know Christ.

But I miss Silas like crazy. It may only be 19 hours a week, but it is still 19 hours that I would otherwise be answering is at?, sitting under our backyard tree blowing bubbles, pushing a stroller through the neighborhood, changing diapers, teaching boundaries, reading cardboard books, making goofy sounds, singing silly songs, fostering good sleep, and pushing any and all buttons in sight. And all the while, knowing it is the most purposeful work I have ever done.

Don't get me wrong. This is the right thing for us during this season. I am much at peace with working. I do miss Silas, but he is well cared for and loved when he is not with me. Being with our friends has done wonders for his social development. Being away has done wonders for my appreciation of the time I have with him. And we are more a family because we are all making this work together. Shane and I always said we would go wherever the Lord called us. Here we are. This is our calling. We walk it not nearly as perfectly as we would like, but much more joyfully than we would have expected. It is grace. That's all I can say: it's His grace.

June 28, 2008

Last year June 28 was a Saturday. And I have no idea what we were doing on that day. I'm guessing I was cleaning the house to prepare to have my parents come stay with us. Maybe we went out to get one or two last-minute baby things. I'm sure I re-arranged Silas' baby closet one more time.

So since I can't remember this particular day, I was looking back on blog posts from last year right before Silas was born. Even though I was over my due date on this day, I had many thoughts about the timing of his birth. I shared that Shane and I had celebrated our anniversary the weekend before, just in case our baby came a bit early. And I noted that Silas' name was a God-given reflection of how He had worked in our lives last year.

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June 28, 2009

Silas is 11 months, 3 weeks, and 5 days old.
While I am getting ready in the morning, Silas loves to pull everything out of the cabinet below my sink. He does it slowly and deliberately; he examines each bottle or tube, shakes them, squeezes them, then throws them behind him. Don't worry, all the "ouchies" are locked in the cabinet under Shane's sink.
Silas has been going to the nursery at church for months now. But just recently he has decided it's really hard to say goodbye to Mommy and Daddy when we drop him off. Therefore, the whole thing has become torture. Once we're gone for a few minutes, he calms and plays happily. But his pacifier is his best friend at church so far.
I do like to have him in worship with us. So about one Sunday a month we keep him, hold him during the music, and one of us takes him out once the sermon starts. We did that today.

We worship with Silas all the time. We sing songs about Jesus at naptime and bedtime. He hears me memorize scripture. He pauses before mealtime for us to pray (even if it's forced right now, you know?). Church will always be a vital part of our lives, but it will never take the place of Silas seeing Christ reflected in our everyday lives. Before he was born, I never took this responsibility as deeply to heart as I do now. Silas is starting to learn. My prayer is that the Truth of the Cross be the most important thing we ever teach him.

June 27, 2008

One year ago today was my due date. It was a Friday. I was terribly anxious to meet our baby boy and had hoped all week that he would come at least a little bit early!

But Silas was not meant to be a June baby after all. So on my due date Shane and I headed in to my doctor's office for one last appointment. I had been having contractions the whole previous week. But "nothing organized", I kept telling everyone. It was just a random contraction here or there.

My doctor had me sit with a monitor on for quite a while. Silas must have been sleepy because he wasn't moving much once they put the monitor on. A nurse came in after some time and reminded me to push the button when I felt him move. I told her I hadn't felt him move so she proceeded to wake him. It was the most bizarre and somewhat unnerving thing: she took a vibrating device (it made me think of getting shocked without the pain) that kind of buzzed and stuck it on my tummy. Silas woke up! I apologized to him time and again. Poor baby - no wonder he didn't make any moves toward birth after that!

My doctor was pretty nonchalant about when they would induce me. She started to say that they would just see me the next Friday, one week after I was due, and decide then. But that would be the 4th of July. "We'll be here," she said. But I don't want to have a baby on the 4th of July. "Well, when do you want to have him?" We looked at the doctor on call sheet, reminded ourselves that we had prayed for wisdom, and chose Wednesday, July 2nd. "We'll see you before then," the nurse said as we left.

I went on in to work, after Shane and I decided that it would be my last day. I really didn't have much to do. I had turned my whole caseload over to a new and wonderful speech pathologist already. I didn't even have one client to see anymore. I finished up the last bit of paperwork, made the rounds to tell our director and the other therapists the plan, then left the building. If it had not been so hot and I had not been so large and tired, I might have reveled a bit more in the joy of leaving work for the last time pre-baby. My days being a full-time speech pathologist were over. I was going to be a full-time wife and mom who worked a few hours doing speech therapy. I couldn't wait.

But before all that, I decided to nap. The heat and weight were enough to put all future plans on hold. So nap I did. And I never loved it more.

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June 27, 2009

Silas is 11 months, 3 weeks, and 4 days old.
He is taking steps on his own.
His favorite word to say is "push." It sounds like hoosh most of the time. He says it and points to any button he sees (toys, light switches, garage door opener).
He can climb our stairs.
He loves to look at books and turns the pages himself.
Has one particular dog in one particular book that he especially likes. And he likes to point to it.
Usually sleeps at least 11 hours at night. But every now and then he wakes and just wants to be with Mommy. I try to appreciate it.
Naps about 3 hours during the day.
Is asking "What is that?" Sounds like is at? And he points to anything close by. He laughs every time I answer: That's a fence, a window, the tree, our car, Silas, your swimming pool, the grass, a bird, Auggie, clouds, LuLu, the puppy's food, the grill, Daddy...

We laugh and laugh and laugh. Even in the middle of the night (most of the time). Silas has certainly added to our joy.

GREAT Nana and Papa

My grandparents from Kansas City came through for an overnight stay on Thursday. They were on their way to Tennessee to see more of our family. We have not seen them since Christmas and they have never been to visit us in Kentucky until now. It was GREAT fun to have Silas' Great-Nana and Great-Papa here for a bit.


Silas loved sitting with Great Papa and playing with his cane...

Reading books with Great Nana...

Talking about all the activity outside...

Watching the puppies play ball...

Silas had just woken up on Friday morning when it was time to say goodbye. We are so glad you came!

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And by-the-way, we didn't leave Shane out of all the pictures on purpose. He was away at camp all week so he missed out on all our activities. He got home yesterday and we are so glad to have him back! Life is always better when we're all home.