Andrew ~ 3 Months Old

Andrew, you are 3 months old today! What a happy and sweet boy you are. You continue to give us more joy than we could have ever imagined.

You love to smile and talk. You look at me so intently when I talk to you and you smile back and talk to me. We have long conversations! I say something and you coo and make all kinds of precious sounds back to me. I love it! You are so responsive and engaging. You love lying on the activity mat and looking at your toys. You also love the bouncy seat. You’ve started reaching for the toys now. Another thing you love is looking at your hands.

You are still a chubby little baby and everyone who sees you comments on your cheeks! You are over 15 pounds now. You wear size 3 diapers and 3-6 month clothes.

You are a champion sleeper at night. You sleep for a nice, long stretch of 6 or 7 hours each night. Usually you just wake up to eat and go right back to sleep but you have recently started to put your fingers in your mouth and sometimes you wake yourself up from your little hand in your mouth. It is hard to keep you swaddled. You are determined to get those fingers in your mouth. A few days ago you started just putting one finger in your mouth and it’s the cutest thing. During the day you take little cat naps, sometimes only 10 minutes. You really like to be in motion while you sleep during the day but unfortunately our swing broke. Thankfully you fall asleep pretty easily, you just don’t stay asleep!

We are all so enamored with you Andrew! You have stolen all of our hearts.

First Days

Dearest Andrew,

We have had five days together as a family of six. They have been five blissful, wonderful days. I want to write it all down because I am afraid I will forget how it has felt to welcome you into our family.

It is so different this time. I am filled with gratitude that we get to experience this again, new life and love. I didn’t know we would have another child. And it is more wonderful than words can express. This time we know how fast it all flies by. We have been out of diapers and middle of the night feedings for quite some time. When you are a new mom and right in the middle of it all, the exhausting parts of being a parent sometimes feel that they will never end, that you will never sleep well again, never be able to sit down and read a book… People tell you that it goes by so quickly, that they wish they could go back to those days but you wonder if they really remember what those days are like. Now I know that it is true. And I feel as if it is a small miracle that I get to go back and do this again.

I am grateful for every sound you make, each little yawn and cry. I cherish the time when you stare into my face and I can stare into yours. I go to sleep looking forward to the quiet time we will share together that night, when all the world is dark and peaceful and you and I awake in secret. I am glad to sit and nurse you and when you are ready to nurse again just minutes after we have finished, I smile, knowing I get to have you all to myself once again.

Your siblings adore you, Andrew. All three of them ask to hold you all day long. You are never out of someone’s arms. Yesterday I heard Genevieve’s sweet voice singing, and I looked in the living room to see her holding you and singing to you and you staring back at her, both of you completely enamored. Charlotte loves to hold you and burp you after you have eaten. She pats your back gently and whispers “hello” to you in the sweetest voice. Christian calls you “mi pollito lindo,” and all throughout the day he comes and kisses you and asks, “how’s mi pollito lindo?” I am in awe of the love they each have for you and it has been one of the biggest blessings to be able to watch them welcome you into our family.

Daddy has taken such good care of us all. It is beautiful to watch how much he delights in each one of his children. When he finally gets to hold you, there is such a peace that comes over him. You have blessed each of us so much by joining our family.

I am continually struck by the thought that we are experiencing something so miraculous, yet at the same time so ordinary. Every child comes into the world this way, as an innocent baby. It feels like we are in this secret world here with you, yet all over there are others inhabiting their own secret, life giving worlds. We are not alone in this, although it feels that way. It feels as if we are privy to this sacred and beautiful and mysterious new life with you, and it is ours alone. Part of me just wants to stay in this space that is just ours. And it saddens me that I know we can’t. I know that it is wonderful too, that we will watch you grow and flourish, but I long to hold you close, to protect you and keep you in my arms, to have these days to live again and again.

The weather has been mild and beautiful and we have been able to sit outside a little bit and enjoy it. Sunday was one of the best days, I think. Daddy and your siblings were outside playing in the yard and we joined them. We sat outside in the sunshine and watched the kids play. You slept in my arms and I couldn’t have been happier than in that moment.

I pray this wonder and love would not dissipate. These ordinary moments of being together have been so miraculous, I pray that they would not end. Please, Lord, help me remember each and every moment, each feeling and the way the unimportant has ceased to matter in these last few days. I pray that our family would be strengthened and bonded together, that we would cherish each other and show each other love and patience and kindness more and more because of this time we are sharing together.

So, this is love…

First Day of School 2015

    

Charlotte

Charlotte

Full of life and exuberance

Never lukewarm

Sweet, loving, compassionate

Fiery, strong, demanding

Loves to talk and ask questions, to laugh and have fun

Helpful and giving

Loyal

On Parenthood

It is sometimes overwhelming, the realization that these three little lives have been entrusted to my care. I want to do this parenting thing right. I won’t get another chance at it. And there are some things that I’m learning along the way that I want to make sure that I remember.

Children are not tiny adults and I should not expect them to act that way.

The bodies, minds and emotions of my precious little ones are growing and changing enormously each day. Although as adults we idealize childhood and it’s lack of pressure and responsibility, there is so much happening within our little ones. I must remember to extend grace, to help them navigate these uncharted waters. I must not have unreasonable expectations of how my children should act. I have to slow down, stoop down and see things through their eyes. I must have patience and empathy.

I try to remember what it felt like when I was a child and was so deeply involved in a book or activity that I could not bring myself away from it to get to the dinner table. When I see Genevieve turning the page in her book to continue reading when I’ve called her three times already it is easy to become impatient, to speak unkindly, to threaten or to punish. Instead, I have to remember, to stop being the mom for a moment and become the child who is simply enthralled in a story. I can call for once again, this time a little louder. Or I can go over to her, lovingly place my arm around her shoulders, look into her eyes and tell her I understand how hard it can be to pull ourselves away from a good book. I can tell her that I love her and that it would please me if she would obey even though it is difficult. I can hold her hand and help her to do the right thing.

But all this depends on whether I have learned what we try to teach our children. Do I understand that the world does not revolve around me or that there are things more important than the dinner I just prepared? Am I willing to put aside my agenda to extend love and grace to my child? Have I gotten the point that my children’s hearts are more important than the items on my to do list?

I’m still learning and I hope that day by day I get better. Because I love these children more than life and I want more than anything to treat them always like the treasures they are to me.

Sweet Dreams

As I am putting Christian to sleep, Charlotte comes in the room as she often does and says, “Mama, can I pray for him?”

“Of course,” I answer.

She lays her hand upon his head and begins. “Dear Jesus, Help Christian to not have bad dreams. Help him to dream about princesses and Ariel. Amen”

Then she kisses him sweetly on the head.

Happy Half Birthday Christian!

Today you are six months old!

We are so blessed to have spent these six months with you. Christian, you are just the most joyful little baby. Your smile brings happiness to our hearts. All we have to do is look at you and you will smile and show us your beautiful dimples. Then you get shy and bury your head in the chest of whomever is carrying you. I love to watch you giggle when I kiss and hug you. You close your eyes and laugh. It is so sweet.

You are very active and have been crawling for more than a  month already! You love to scoot around the den and you always head straight for the things that don’t belong to you. You especially love to touch Genevieve’s books. You can sit up but you would rather be crawling. You also stood up in your crib a few days ago. It is so funny to look over at you in the crib and see your little head peering over the side!

You are getting so big! You weigh about 18 pounds and wear size 6-12 month clothing. You are a sweet and happy baby. You don’t mind being in the car seat which is very helpful when we have to go to the store or take take Genevieve to a class. You usually sleep in there or just play with your toys and look around. You used to sleep through all of church in the stroller but lately you have been staying awake. I think you don’t want to miss anything. You love to look around and take everything in. We usually have to take you out into the foyer because you like to sing and growl during the service!

We are all in love with you Christian! We call you Handsome and you certainly are! You are our sweet, sweet boy and we are so blessed to have you.

This is the way we…

…fall asleep

My Genevieve

Every time I look at you I can’t help but notice all of these changes. Changes that have taken you from my precious little baby to a beautiful little girl. Your legs are long and lean. Your chubby cheeks have given way to a more mature face. Your golden brown hair is making its way down your back. (which of course you are thrilled about!)

Time is going so quickly that I find myself counting the years that I have left with you. Fourteen more years until college. Nine more years until you are a teenager and you might not be interested in spending that much time with us! I know I’m crazy but it’s a good reminder to cherish each day, each minute that I have with you. It won’t be long until you won’t want to sneak into our bed anymore. And you won’t always need us to tuck you in 800 times each night. So instead of being frustrated that you are out of bed AGAIN I just want to cherish that opportunity to give you one more squeeze and tell you how precious you are to me one more time.

So I pray that God would just help me to be patient and see each moment with you as a gift. Because eventually you will stay in your seat for an entire meal. And then one day you won’t be around for dinner with us anymore. So for now let me lovingly remind you to eat your veggies and please be still and stop blowing bubbles in your drink… while I still have you here. For all too soon you will be grown and will be off sharing dinner with someone else.

I just want you to know how very much I love you Genevieve.

Apple Picking 2012

This day could not have been more perfect. It was the kind of day that all you can do is marvel at a God who can create such beauty. It was warm and breezy and the sky was just magnificent.

Genevieve and Charlotte were just thrilled to run down the rows of apple trees, Genevieve picking apples and Charlotte eating them! Genevieve remembered the technique from last year- three twists and then pull up toward the sky. And just like last year, once Charlotte picked her first apple she was too distracted eating it to pick any more! Christian was happy napping in the sling.

The girls explored the grounds, picking flowers, sugar snap peas and fall raspberries. I gave Genevieve and Charlotte each a basket to put their raspberries in but Charlotte was eating them faster than we could pick them! And then she moved on to Genevieve’s basket and luckily her sister was generous enough to share. I couldn’t help but think of the story “Blueberries for Sal.” I’ll have to read it to Charlotte. I am sure she will be able to relate!

Our day was complete with a visit to Tate’s Bakery. We sat outside and snacked on some delicious butterscotch cookies.

It was a truly beautiful day!