Sanity

I'm the crazy kinda mom that makes a ol' silly song outta every ol' sayin'. I think I do it more for sanity so I won't loose my mind. This morning I was getting ready for work and was getting Aaron's (stored breast) milk ready and the bag started leaking.

So I started singing:
There's a snag in my bag and I'm loosing this gold; I gotta get paid what I'm owed

My very generous daughter said: You should be a singer!

Me: Why?

Alisia: 'Cause you always sing

Me: Usually singers can sing GOOD

Alisia: Well then you can write songs

Me: Again, usually people write real songs

Alisia: Well then you can just sing country music!

The funny thing was, she was serious! Like country music doesn't really count. What do YOU do to keep your sanity?

70°'s Again

After that COLD last week, we were way excited to have some nice weather come our way again! This is only about 1/2 of our neighborhood gang. Alisia and the other girls were riding their bikes. I love how Angel and Aaron are in there too!

Here's mostly everyone. Soon Aaron will toddling behind.

Aaron loves the weather too! Like most kids, he enjoys being outside.

See? Either that, or he just loves his Mommy!

Squeezy

When you have squeezy cheeks like these....

...this happens ALL the time!

Sorry Aaron! But we just love you sooo much!!

More Than a Memory Verse

When I was in school we had to read and memorize famous poems by authors such as Robert Frost, Emily Dickenson, Walt Whitman, and Langston Hughes. We had to cut them apart and try to understand what each phrase meant. Even now, when I hear just part of one of these poems, I try to remember how it goes and am reminded of the meaning. The great thing about school-age was just how easy it was to memorize...back then.

Well, our kids are given a new memory verse to memorize each week. I have just been amazed seeing how Alisia and Caleb burry God's word in their heart. Alisia doesn't just want to memorize the words, but wants to understand what each phrase means. How valuable this will be for her as she grows and is reminded of them later in her life. She also uses them to comfort others.

One night Caleb couldn't go to sleep and he was saying he was scared. He is NOT usually like this and I was just trying to minimize it by saying "oh, it's not a big deal, Caleb, don't be scared." It didn't help any. He wanted someone to sleep with him.

Alisia pulls out her armor and says "don't be afraid Caleb, Jesus is always with us." Then she goes on to quote the scripture she learned. "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9).

They started talking to eachother as if I wasn't even there! They were talking about God is everywhere and if you are underwater or on top of a mountian, and He is even in Korea which is far, far away!

Shortly after that we were in the car and it was rainy and windy and a neighbor was with us. She said she always gets scared when it is rainy and windy and thinks there's going to be a tornado. Alisia pulls out another scripture "For God has not given us a spirt of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) This obviously wasn't quite as comforting to our neighbor, who is just learning about God, mostly from us. But this reminded Caleb of their earlier conversation and he started telling her that God is everywhere. It didn't make much sense to her as Caleb and Alisia were trying to explain how this is possible. I sat in the front seat listening and didn't say a word. Just pondering these things in my heart.

*Sniff, Sniff*

Guess who's 3 months old!!


Well, technically on Saturday. Which means Mommy is back to work. Lots of stories to share. Back to blogging. Praising God for His protection. Praying for a good baby today for Papi!

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; Let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in You."
Psalm 5:11

September Sun

We've had some gorgeous September weather! And just like always, the kids love being outside. But since moving, now we have some great neighborhood friends and a great flat yard to play in, and a basically quiet street. We have really settled in well.

While the kids play in the yard, Aaron usually watches (or sleeps.)

Caleb found a new interrest this summer.

He really impresses me how much he's learned.

Alisia and I got pampered!

It was her first time!

And we just love how they turned out!

Here's a picture of some cuteness until I can get some more up!

More Soon!

Let Me Explain

I promised life hasn't stopped for us now that Aaron is born. We are still here. Let me explain.

I used to wake up to a beautiful sleeping baby in front of me every morning! I couldn't get enough of him and would just watch in amazement his peaceful sleeping body.

And take pictures of course.

And more pictures.

Then, I started to wake up to a beautiful alert baby, looking all around his home and gazing back into my eyes. I couldn't get enough of him and just had to lay beside him in amazement as we gazed at each other.

And take more pictures of course.

Now I wake up every morning to a very happy baby smiling and cooing. And I just can't get enough of him. I am still in amazement how beautiful he is!

I have to make sure I don't miss any of these big beautiful smiles!

So I also take more pictures!

Not forgetting to mention these two other beautiful children who are growing much faster than I am comfortable with and are about to start school again next week. I can't get enough of them. Thanking God for every moment I have with my three children.

Understand?

Birth Story and Pics

Well, with a new baby at home, we have lots of stories and lots of pics.

For now, here's Aaron's first pics from the hospital and coming home. There's still lots of adjusting going on, but we've also been enjoying lots of lovin' on this little guy!

It's not much of an exciting birth story. The cool thing was it happened on July 3rd, Angel and I were both off work because of the 4th holiday. I tried staying home as long as I could. I woke up twice early in the morning and wondered if it was because of contractions. I told Angel I thought it was happening, but still wasn't sure. When we finally got out of bed and going for the day, I started telling him everytime I had a contraction and he would write it down. They were about every 10 minutes at 9:30 (am). A few hours later Angel kept loosing the paper and pen, so Alisia took over recording them. They were't very hard, but they were consistent, so we knew it was happening and rejoiced that I wouldn't be getting induced!

While we were home, I tried to stay distracted and threw in a load of laundry, did some dishes, Angel mowed the yard, Alisia and I played a card game, updated the blog, we walked around Wal-Mart and stopped by my parents house. By that time, around 5:00, they were getting harder and every 4-5 minutes. We went home, Angel grabed a shower, got the suitcase, and headed to the hospital. We checked in about 7:45. When we got up the floor it was about 8 pm and I was at 5 cm. I was discouraged because I had been going through this all day. I was hoping I would be closer. We spent two hours breathing through contractions and different positions. By 10 pm I was so tired and ready for some Meds. Everyone was happy when I started to get angry at the way Angel was holding my hand. They said that's a "good sign" and I was almost done. They checked me and I was already at 9 1/2 cm and decided I could make it to the end. Me, my mom, Angel, a midwife-in-training, the midwife observing, the doctor observing, and the labor delivery nurse were all just waiting for the next contraction. 2-3 contractions later I was pushing him out. He was born at 10:24 pm.

First pic: They placed him right up on my belly when he was born.

Yup. 8.12 No Meds. :)

Proud Papi:

Proud siblings! Love at first sight!

Proud big sister! And proud Grammy (who helped me SO much in the delivery room)!

Caleb was SO curious about everything they were doing to the baby and mommy! He kept asking tons of questions, the good thing was the nurse was patient enough to answer most of them. She thought he was so cute. "Why does the baby have to be in that cart, Where are they taking him, why is his face have that stuff on it, why do you have those things hooked up to you, did you scream" And so many more!

He was also so proud of his little brother and very eager to hold him.

In awe and in love:

Birth record:

My mom had to work while we were in the hospital and came to check on us every chance she got:

Have to fight her down if you want to hold him:

Right after delivery the nurse asked me "what did you have? A boy or a girl" I guess I'm not use to that question yet because my responce was "I have one of each" after she looked at me strangly, I realized that I have one girl and two boys. Then I responded "no, I had a boy."

Happy Mommy with her three kids!

On Sunday, Uncle Jarrod and Aunt Stephanie came to meet their new nephew:




And help us back up to go home:

Yay, going home!

Angel was scheduled to give the message on Sunday. I had to miss it, but I heard he did great!! Right after church, we all went home.

First car ride. Those things sure don't help keep their head up like they're supposed to.

At home:

Still in Awe:

Hanging out with Aunt Stephanie:

And many more adventures to come!