Joys of the Moment

My children snuggling with Nana and Papa (after 9 months apart!)...

My children snuggling with me...

Baking and decorating cookies with friends (thanks to the ever-crafty Natalie for this fun morning!)...

Time with dear friends...

Getting to play outside in the frost (doesn't look like it will be a white Christmas for us this year)...

A new hat...

The playing of many games now that Aunt Tara is here...

The continually growing wall of Christmas greetings (reminding me every time I look at it how blessed we are by the people in our lives)...

And one of the greatest joys of these moments has been reading God Gave Us Christmas to Silas over and over again the past few days.  I cleaned out our finished attic room last weekend because my sister needed a space to stay since my parents are here too.  I found a big stack of books and games that has been hidden away in a box since we moved.  Silas has loved the new reading selections and has made his way through several of the games with Aunt Tara (watch out if you come over to play, Si can hold his own at Dominoes).   Anyway, back to the book, I was reading with him the other night and started getting teary realizing the Truth that Silas was absorbing when he said, "There's the baby Jesus pig," and pointed to the picture.  Y'all, the baby does look like a pig.  Hope I haven't ruined the book for you!  But it was great for me; the balance of what I would like life to be and what it is.  Like the fact that one of our baby Jesus' has been thrown away twice and thankfully recovered.  Or that now the littler baby Jesus stays permanently in his manger on the island along with the animal's hay because one little boy has been known to put the entirety of those things in his mouth.

Oh my.  Joys of the moment.  Realities in this home.  Thankful that as God Gave Us Christmas teaches, God can be found everywhere...even in the messiness that is life with little ones.  He truly is Immanuel, God with us.

Another Little Man

I could tell on the ultrasound screen before the tech even said anything.  I said, "Oh it's a boy, isn't it?"  She laughed and confirmed.  Shane said, "That's what I was thinking too!"

I guess when you've seen as many ultrasounds as we have, you start to figure it out.

So our fourth child will be a boy, a baby brother, another little man.  We couldn't be more pleased.  He will fit right in among the crazy and cozy, love, laughter and fullness that is our home.  I already love saying him and he and his.  In the past 30 or so hours, the discussion on names has hit an all-time high.  It's so fun.  Lieren will remain our darling, it seems.  And my good friend Nikki reminded me late yesterday afternoon that I used to always say I wanted to be a mom to a house-full of boys.  Love how the Lord often puts things deep in our hearts which He alone knows how to fulfill.

In light of there being another baby on the way, the reality of whom just multiplied exponentially, I decided it was high time I quit giving bottles to the two in the house whom we still call babies.  Yes, at 17 months, Simeon and Lieren were still getting an evening bottle of whole milk before bedtime.  I did the same thing with Silas.  I had been thinking about transitioning them off it for a while, then on Saturday we had friends here in the evening so I just decided to do it.  Those two babies didn't even seem to notice.  I gave them a sippy cup instead and they didn't bat an eye.  What big kids!

I've also been weaning them (Sim, mainly) off their pacis except for sleeptimes.  You probably think Sim always has a paci because he does seem to have one in most pictures lately.  I admit we went through a few weeks there where I did let him have it a lot.  He was getting teeth and needed some kind of soothing.  And because his language was still growing, I wasn't that concerned.  But now we're through that phase so I've been leaving their pacifiers in their room for the most part and not even taking them on some outings.  Both babies have done great, even Sim not having one at church at all this past Sunday!

So here are a few other random things I want to remember about these days (continuing the list from the other day):

5.  Shane vacuums for us every single morning before he leaves for work.  It is so nice to start the day fresh like that.  And if you have dogs like ours, you understand!

6.  I realized yesterday that I have been doing our to-and-from the car routine for over a year now.  Because we live on a busy street, I don't just let the children out freely.  One sits by the front door in a stroller while I get the other two.  It makes for lots more back-and-forths, especially when we go somewhere by ourselves more than once in a day (like Sundays), but at least I know everyone is safe.

7.  I have been training Sim and Lieren to come when I ask so I have been taking their little hands and leading them to where I am as I repeat, "Say yes, Mommy."  It has been adorable to hear Sim at random times walk around saying it.  His version sounds like, "Eh mahmmy."

8.  The day we opened up the nativity set, Shane took one look at the baby Jesus and stated that they must have been wanting to emphasize the passage that says He had no beauty that we should desire Him (Isaiah 53).  Ha!  I wondered if it was in poor taste to actually write that out, but Shane assured me that if you took one look at it, you would agree.

9.  Playgroup was at our house today.  Nine children and four mommies, with 2 of us pregnant. I couldn't be more thankful for good friends.

And I'll finish with an even number 10.  I told someone this evening at a women's ministry meeting that life is nice and calm right now.  The lady next to me laughed and said, "Your house? Calm?" in a very loving way (she is someone we know well).  I laughed back.  Yeah, I guess calm is relative.  We are loving this stage, though.  We have the cutest conversations with Silas and the babies are just plain fun (I really love this 18-month-ish age).  So maybe calm isn't the best descriptor, but it is a good season to be thinking about adding another little one to the mix.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow we will find out whether this little person joining our family is a boy or a girl.  There is something about finding out that makes it all so much more personal for me.  We'll start to call the baby "he" or "she" and we'll settle on a name.  We'll begin to imagine how this addition will fit into the bigger picture of our family.  And I'll finally know if our beloved green highchair is on its way out, leaving only the pink one behind, or vice versa.

It will be a good day for me.  This entire pregnancy I've found myself saying really? to myself a lot.  Really?  Pregnant?  Then a test confirms...yes, really.  And an ultrasound shows...yes, really.  Next the sickness proves...yes, really.  Then pulling out the maternity jeans reveal...yes, really.  Recently the slight flutters of baby kicks remind...yes, really.  And now the sonogram will take me to a new level of bonding with this child.  Really, I know you are coming, little one.  But really, I still can't believe the wonder of it.

In the beginning I had a strong feeling about whether this one was a boy or girl.  But now, not so much.  What I am thankful for is that I can honestly say I will be thrilled either way.  Shane and I discussed it tonight and agreed we were in the same place about it:  great benefits whether this one is a boy or a girl.  The Lord has been good to us and we know we can trust Him to add whomever needs to be in our family right now.

So since I guess I am too excited to sleep, I am going to recount a few things about recent days I want to remember...

1.  Silas seeing his friend Jack at church, giving him a big hug, and saying, "Now you're happy because I'm here!"  Silas then went into his class and happily saw another friend, Haley.  They awkwardly kind-of hugged and kind-of tried to give high-fives but it ended up looking like they were both just jumping up and down flapping their hands at each other.  I had to laugh.  Their teachers always say the three of them are quite a threesome.

2.  Simeon is now jumping with both feet off the ground.  The boy is crazy I tell you.  We have started to have to discipline him for attempting to climb the gate at the bottom of the stairs to try to get to the light switches or the videos.  His passion and zest for life are astounding.  I just pray he survives toddlerhood.

3.  Lieren had to go to the ER a couple weeks ago for a concussion after a fall.  She fully recovered that night, and we were thankful that the Lord protected her.  How Sim has never landed himself in an ambulance is beyond me.

4.  I ordered the children a nativity set they can play with and it came in the mail yesterday.  We got it out this morning, which provided great entertainment on this stay-at-home day.  I showed Lieren baby Jesus and told her Mary was his mommy.  She then took baby Jesus and put him in Mary's arms (as best you can a plastic figure) and rocked them.  So sweet!

Well, I'm feeling bedtime coming on.  We are going to play with friends in the morning then our ultrasound is in the afternoon.  So we'll be in touch...  

Ringing In the Holidays

I put up our Christmas tree the week before Thanksgiving.  I have never put it up that early before but was itching to start getting the decorations out.  We actually didn't decorate it until this week because I needed to switch out some lights but long gone are the days of getting all the decorating done in a day so I am glad I started early.

I can't remember a Holiday season in recent years when I have been more excited about Christmas.  I know it is in part because I am not in the sick days of a pregnancy like 2 years ago, nor are we just coming off a move with 2 little babies in the house like last year.  This year we are settled and rested and I am thrilled to feel up to decorating.  I am also counting down the days until my parents come to visit, which will be one of the best gifts I'll get this year!

We started off telling the children that they needed to leave the ornaments on the tree.  We quickly abandoned that expectation, I bought a bunch of cheap red and green balls at Walmart, filled the reachable branches with them, and let them pull to their hearts content.  It has actually been fun.  I packed away the trains and a few other toys to re-claim our dining room for the Holidays so all three have loved having something new to play with.  And I have resigned myself again to the reality that we are not about perfection in our home.  I won't be surprised if the tree looks bare in spots like this for most of the season...

My sister was here all week.  We both had a first this year and went out for some Black Friday shopping.  We went at midnight on Thursday and dropped into bed around 4.  It was a fun experience, not one I'm sure I will make a yearly tradition, but fun nonetheless.

We spent Thanksgiving day with Shane's family.  I finally found the best way to take a photo of the children with someone else...strap them in!

Because typically this is what we get...

Anyhow, we had a blast having Aunt Tara here this week, thoroughly enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal with family, worked off any pounds we gained feasting by taking all three kids to Monkey Joe's on Friday, and were sad to drive her to the airport today...

And mainly for my parent's enjoyment, here is one of the many things Tara got to do while she was here.  You just never know when Silas is going to bust out a "dancey-dance" he learned on Yo Gabba Gabba!

If You Were Silas...

...you would have thoroughly enjoyed your first trip ever to the library earlier this fall.  You would have then looked forward to Tuesdays when you and Mommy went to Rhythm and Rhyme Storytime while the babies took a nap.  You would have asked repeatedly on Tuesday mornings if Miss Alexis was going to come while the babies slept.  And you might not have realized it, but your Mommy would breathe in deep each week of the time alone with you, getting to see you and hear you and take time with you.

If you were Silas, you would have finished up your fall tumbling class recently.  You would have shown off your skills on the last day to a room full of moms and dads who are probably a bit like your parents: wondering where this little flurry of activity at age 3 will take us in the years to come.

If you were Silas, you would be loving having your Aunt Tara here to visit this week.  You would have counted down the days on the calendar till she came, anticipating a trip to the airport to pick her up.  You would be making up all kinds of silly games for her to play while requesting that your brother and sister "go see Mommy right now" so as not to interrupt all the game-playing.

If you were Silas, you would be fully aware that another baby is on the way in your home.  After staunchly assuring those who would listen that it was a girl baby for many weeks, you would now be convinced it is a boy whose name should be Tiger.  Good call, sweetie.  We'll think about it.

And if you were Silas, you would not have known that your Mommy has recently been praying for ways for you to see the reality of the world; to grow up knowing that life is not all videos and new toys and playdates and trips to Target.  But on Monday you would have gotten to be part of something that answered those prayers:  you served alongside Daddy and many others from our church to fill and deliver Thanksgiving baskets.  Then when you got home, you would have said, "We gave food to the people because we love Jesus.  And Jesus would give food to people.  Some of them didn't have a turkey.  But now they have a turkey for Thanksgiving!"

I know you're not Silas.  But if you were, you would probably never know how full my life is because of you.


*I feel compelled to add how grateful I was that it worked out for Silas to go with Shane to help with the baskets on Monday.  It really was a last-minute decision but I can see looking back that the Lord was answering my prayers.  Our lives are sheer survival to some extent and I have been begging the Lord to show me how we can teach our children to be the hands and feet of Christ when I can't even get the laundry done or dinner made every day.  So it was a gracious gift that turned out to be the perfect training opportunity for our oldest son.  His understanding of the event was surprising and a reminder that the Lord knew better than I how ready he was for something like this.*

A Random Bit of Updating

I have to confess I cried this morning when we woke to find that Simeon had pink eye.  It meant we had to stay home from Bible study.  I was so ready to learn from the lesson and be with the ladies in my small group...we only have one more week left!  Our Wednesday mornings have been such a source of true fellowship for me.  I hated to miss.

But after my bit of cry, the children and I ended up having a very sweet morning.  Even so sweet that I was glad I didn't miss the time with them.  At one point Silas suggested we play ring around the rosie.  So we pulled Sim and Lieren in and they played with us.  Lieren really loved it and would jump right up each time to get ready to hold hands again.  She has quite a good understanding of collective play.  Sim tolerated it a few times then went on to something else.  He is our independent one.

Because I hadn't planned on getting anything done this morning, I didn't try to.  I played with the children more than I have in weeks.  We read books endlessly.  And we moved a whole bunch of toys around.  I am always amazed at how our children re-discover toys just because they are in a different location!

Anyway, a few updates...Simeon is talking quite a bit lately, which makes me so proud.  He does not have as many words as Lieren, but he is beginning to put 2 words together.  The other day he said "ah-dah wa-wa" (all done water) and this morning when I spilled a whole cup of milk he said, "uh-oh wa-wa".

Lieren has a baby doll that she is completely attached to.  She sleeps with it and seems to know where it is at all times.  When she is tired she wants it and when she gets hurt she reaches for it.  She calls it "Baby".  Fascinating to see how different a girl is than the boys.

Sim and Lieren gobbled down their dinner tonight, veggies and all, when I let them use a little baby fork.  This was after they had both refused it at the beginning of the meal.  I must remember to never underestimate the power of novelty.  They are learning and doing quite well eating small quantities of yoghurt or applesauce with a spoon.

And here's the sole picture I took today.  Lieren loves to push either of her brothers on the cars...

Rewards

Everyone in our family is napping right now.  It is a beautiful, quiet thing.

At the end of last week I told Shane that it was one of the most wonderful weeks I have had recently with our Silas.  I know it is partly because I am feeling better and have more energy to be consistent with him and to give him a good dose of attention.  But I do believe it is also because we put major focus on a reward system.

I felt like things had gotten a little negative around our house; lots of time being spent talking about the things that were not quite right and less voicing of the positives.  I wanted a way to change that around and get us looking for, noticing, and calling attention to the ways Silas was giving God glory.  So I made up some simple charts and off we went...

He had a chart for having a Happy Heart (first time obedience with no whining), Encouraging one Another (using loving words), and Loving One Another (using hands to love - acts of service or choosing to ask for help rather than hitting/pushing a sibling or puppy).

And Silas got to choose what reward he wanted from a catalog we had.  He chose what is called an UglyDoll.  (Seriously.  Who knows the mind of a 3 year old?)  We then called it an UglyGuy cause our boys don't play with dolls.  Ha!

It took several days and lots of opportunities for Silas to get all his stickers.  But on Saturday he was thrilled when he got his last one and we announced we could all get in the car to buy his reward.  Silas had his heart set on the green guy so you'll understand my joy and relief when we got to the store and they had ONE green one left.

I had been telling Silas throughout the week that I was most proud of him because every time he chose to have a happy heart he was giving God glory, especially in the moments when he didn't really want to.  And I also shared with him how thankful I was that his good choices made our home a more peaceful place.

I definitely don't want Silas to only choose to obey because he has a reward waiting for him.  But at the same time, our God is a rewarder.  Not so often with the tangible things, although He has always provided above and beyond what we needed or deserved, but always with the gift of giving us more of Himself.  I am praying that as our children learn to obey, they will be amazed again and again at the spiritual rewards they reap.

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace

by those who make peace.

James 3:18

Do not be afraid...

I am your shield, your very great reward.

Genesis 15:1