Yesterday, as I brought Livia downstairs following her nap, I was snuggling her and giving her kisses. (I love these few minutes after her naps when she wants me to hold her. She wraps her arms around my neck and tucks herself into a little ball against me. I LOVE it!)
"Livia!" I said. "You are getting so big- and I love you so much!" *kisses*
"You're my BIG girl," I said proudly. "How old are you?" (This has been a common question since her birthday less than a week ago- and she has ALWAYS known the answer and told her questioner,"TWO!")
Well, she pulled back and looked me right in the eyes and said, "TWO . . . and a HALF!"
I couldn't believe it. Okay, yes I can. I'm sure this is directly related to the conversations of her brothers, who actually ARE five-and-a-half and three-and-a-half.
So. . . she was two for six days. At this rate she'll be 10 when her new sibling arrives.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Owenism
"Can I do my hair today so I look like who I am?"
(Interpretation: he wants to do his hair all spikey, "like Grandma's" so he looks like what he wants to look like. I think.)
(Interpretation: he wants to do his hair all spikey, "like Grandma's" so he looks like what he wants to look like. I think.)
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Happy Birthday Livia!
Many of you have asked how Livia's birthday was. Honestly, it was great. 2 year old birthdays are fun, with very low expectations at our house.
The day started with a special outing, just Daddy and Livia. Daddy has started taking the birthday child out for breakfast- or donuts- depending upon their age. Livia and Braden brought home donuts for everyone and she literally danced in her chair while humming and eating her sprinkled donut with abandon. (We only have donuts on birthdays!)
There were balloons, another "tradition." She even had presents, thanks to her relatives far away. =) And on Sunday we took Pink Lady cake to home group, where everyone sang Happy Birthday and Liv blew out her candles like a pro. (She has, after all, been practicing since Charlotte's birthday in January!) She was delighted, which was such fun to watch. And of course, this birthday causes me to think back over the past year and the previous year, to give thanks to God who has so lavishly blessed us with children who show us His goodness and faithfulness. We are blessed beyond words, and birthdays are a wonderful reminder.
The day started with a special outing, just Daddy and Livia. Daddy has started taking the birthday child out for breakfast- or donuts- depending upon their age. Livia and Braden brought home donuts for everyone and she literally danced in her chair while humming and eating her sprinkled donut with abandon. (We only have donuts on birthdays!)
There were balloons, another "tradition." She even had presents, thanks to her relatives far away. =) And on Sunday we took Pink Lady cake to home group, where everyone sang Happy Birthday and Liv blew out her candles like a pro. (She has, after all, been practicing since Charlotte's birthday in January!) She was delighted, which was such fun to watch. And of course, this birthday causes me to think back over the past year and the previous year, to give thanks to God who has so lavishly blessed us with children who show us His goodness and faithfulness. We are blessed beyond words, and birthdays are a wonderful reminder.
RETraining
This is really just a note to self. Self- don't do it. It's not worth it.
I tend to forget things too quickly. This is why it is still difficult to raise children after already jumping many of the same hurdles. . . three times. (that, and they are all different so you never really get a system down pat!)
I'm also realizing that God is gracious to me in both letting me learn some things the hard way and then also giving me enough faith to sometimes not have to learn them that way. This is one lesson I learned the hard way, after not accepting the way my conscience (and the Spirit) led. I'm posting so that you all can remind me; therefore I (we) should not have to suffer the ill effects of this again.
My lesson was this: it is unwise to allow your children to spend largish amounts of time with other children whom you (the parent= me) do not really care to be around. Okay, that's a little harsh. It's not that there are a lot of children that I don't enjoy being around. In fact, I pretty much enjoy ALL children. The real issue here is that I really only want my children spending chunks of time with other children that if they chose to emulate them, I would appreciate it.
Hmmm. I think my pregnant brain is operating in fuzzy mode. What I'm trying to say is this (one more shot and I'm out!): If I don't want my children to act like other children, then I should wisely limit the amount of time that they spend together. (Was that clear?!)
My children, at 5, 3, and 2 (!) are still so impressionable. They pick up attitudes, words, gestures, and ways of relating to others. Because I believe that these years are SO critical for moral and spiritual formation, I am called to be choosy on their behalf. That is why we don't use a tv in our home. That is why my kids are not in preschool. That is why we memorize Scripture and read books with valuable moral lessons (and leave other books at the library for other children!). This is not me saying what a great job I'm doing- because I haven't been doing such a great job. I've chosen some free times for myself where my children were NOT in ideal company. Thank God that He uses my imperfections and others! My children will not ever be ideal (ha! what an idea!), and yet I want to care for them as my most precious gift and as my utmost responsibility. When I act in foolish ways, the repercussions fall out through our whole family.
It's not worth it. It takes hours and days and weeks of retraining. And though there is value in that process, it's hard work! I would rather work hard on other things than retraining.
I tend to forget things too quickly. This is why it is still difficult to raise children after already jumping many of the same hurdles. . . three times. (that, and they are all different so you never really get a system down pat!)
I'm also realizing that God is gracious to me in both letting me learn some things the hard way and then also giving me enough faith to sometimes not have to learn them that way. This is one lesson I learned the hard way, after not accepting the way my conscience (and the Spirit) led. I'm posting so that you all can remind me; therefore I (we) should not have to suffer the ill effects of this again.
My lesson was this: it is unwise to allow your children to spend largish amounts of time with other children whom you (the parent= me) do not really care to be around. Okay, that's a little harsh. It's not that there are a lot of children that I don't enjoy being around. In fact, I pretty much enjoy ALL children. The real issue here is that I really only want my children spending chunks of time with other children that if they chose to emulate them, I would appreciate it.
Hmmm. I think my pregnant brain is operating in fuzzy mode. What I'm trying to say is this (one more shot and I'm out!): If I don't want my children to act like other children, then I should wisely limit the amount of time that they spend together. (Was that clear?!)
My children, at 5, 3, and 2 (!) are still so impressionable. They pick up attitudes, words, gestures, and ways of relating to others. Because I believe that these years are SO critical for moral and spiritual formation, I am called to be choosy on their behalf. That is why we don't use a tv in our home. That is why my kids are not in preschool. That is why we memorize Scripture and read books with valuable moral lessons (and leave other books at the library for other children!). This is not me saying what a great job I'm doing- because I haven't been doing such a great job. I've chosen some free times for myself where my children were NOT in ideal company. Thank God that He uses my imperfections and others! My children will not ever be ideal (ha! what an idea!), and yet I want to care for them as my most precious gift and as my utmost responsibility. When I act in foolish ways, the repercussions fall out through our whole family.
It's not worth it. It takes hours and days and weeks of retraining. And though there is value in that process, it's hard work! I would rather work hard on other things than retraining.
Monday, April 16, 2007
We Still Have Something in Common
My husband and I still have something in common. I've been wondering, considering we are living dual lives. He has a law school life that I know very little about. I have a home life that he understands minimally. We come together to "do life" as a team for brief evening hours and occasionally on weekends. These parallel lives have caused me to wonder more than once, "Will I even KNOW this person when law school is finished?"
I probably don't need to worry. (Okay. I do NOT need to worry. I'll choose to spend my time praying instead!) We ARE still a great team. And while he is being challenged and experiencing growth, I feel that I'm also being sifted (at home, with JuicePlus+, in relationships). And it's for good.
So, these are the reasons why I found today divinely ironic. God was good enough to allow me to see that Braden and I are still one. In the exact same hour of the afternoon, my Darling Husband was giving his first oral argument (which is a very big deal) of law school, and I was presenting my own case for replacement windows to the Historic Review Committee of the city of Lynchburg. He faced 3 judges; I had 7. We both had microphones and notes. I had pictures. And boys.
We were both keyed up; this was the big deal of the day (or the week even!). He supposedly did great. (I believe him!) I had a definitive okay to proceed with the new windows. So it was a good afternoon. He says I win, then (because I had more people to present to).
I say. . . what happens, then, when we're arguing against each other?! And, at least we still have things in common. =) Doesn't God give us great reasons to smile?
I probably don't need to worry. (Okay. I do NOT need to worry. I'll choose to spend my time praying instead!) We ARE still a great team. And while he is being challenged and experiencing growth, I feel that I'm also being sifted (at home, with JuicePlus+, in relationships). And it's for good.
So, these are the reasons why I found today divinely ironic. God was good enough to allow me to see that Braden and I are still one. In the exact same hour of the afternoon, my Darling Husband was giving his first oral argument (which is a very big deal) of law school, and I was presenting my own case for replacement windows to the Historic Review Committee of the city of Lynchburg. He faced 3 judges; I had 7. We both had microphones and notes. I had pictures. And boys.
We were both keyed up; this was the big deal of the day (or the week even!). He supposedly did great. (I believe him!) I had a definitive okay to proceed with the new windows. So it was a good afternoon. He says I win, then (because I had more people to present to).
I say. . . what happens, then, when we're arguing against each other?! And, at least we still have things in common. =) Doesn't God give us great reasons to smile?
Thursday, April 12, 2007
More from the Mind of a 3 Year Old
I love the ways children put words together. It's just amazing how their language explodes and they figure out how to make sentences and conjugate verbs and use plurals, etc. Really! We take it so much for granted. . . and I only realize the vast amount of learning that's going on when something goes awry.
Today the boys were hitting a tennis ball back and forth across the back yard. Rhyle got weary of the game (after Owen hit him twice in the arm with a tennis racket!) and decided to jump on the trampoline. After a little while he asked Owen, "Are you done tennising yet?"
The other word that he used (though I don't remember the context) was "blooding." As in, "my cut is done blooding." Ahhhh. Little glimpses into the inner workings of his mind.
Today the boys were hitting a tennis ball back and forth across the back yard. Rhyle got weary of the game (after Owen hit him twice in the arm with a tennis racket!) and decided to jump on the trampoline. After a little while he asked Owen, "Are you done tennising yet?"
The other word that he used (though I don't remember the context) was "blooding." As in, "my cut is done blooding." Ahhhh. Little glimpses into the inner workings of his mind.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Aha!. . . and More Confusion
Yes, to those of you who wondered if Livia was just teething. . . I think she was. A month after her crying during naps and at night, tugging at her ears, and having a runny nose. . . I see a 2 year molar.
So there! An explanation! It's earlier than my boy's got their 2 year molars, but she has gotten most of her teeth earlier. There were lots of tricky clues, but YES, mothers all over seem to know that tricky clues can often be simply answered, "teeth." Thank you to all my wise friends.
And now we're in for round two. Apparently all that to do was just for the FIRST molar. And here we go again, armed with Tylenol, and other teething tricks.
One (frustrating, exhausting) mystery solved. Now. . . if someone could help me understand why my potty trained one year old has had a run of accidents (ha ha). THREE pairs of wet pants and unders in 30 minutes? Come on, that's just ridiculous. (Especially since I was right there with her!) SOMETHING is going on.
And with those words, the exact same words I used before the 2 year molar, I'll leave you. I have confidence that I'll understand this, too, in time. If not, I'll stop caring because there will be other, greater, more pressing mysteries. (I really do enjoy moving beyond teething and toilet training and thinking a bit deeper!)
So there! An explanation! It's earlier than my boy's got their 2 year molars, but she has gotten most of her teeth earlier. There were lots of tricky clues, but YES, mothers all over seem to know that tricky clues can often be simply answered, "teeth." Thank you to all my wise friends.
And now we're in for round two. Apparently all that to do was just for the FIRST molar. And here we go again, armed with Tylenol, and other teething tricks.
One (frustrating, exhausting) mystery solved. Now. . . if someone could help me understand why my potty trained one year old has had a run of accidents (ha ha). THREE pairs of wet pants and unders in 30 minutes? Come on, that's just ridiculous. (Especially since I was right there with her!) SOMETHING is going on.
And with those words, the exact same words I used before the 2 year molar, I'll leave you. I have confidence that I'll understand this, too, in time. If not, I'll stop caring because there will be other, greater, more pressing mysteries. (I really do enjoy moving beyond teething and toilet training and thinking a bit deeper!)
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