Lifesong

Let the countdown begin....

Fifteen days until my baby turns four. Yep, I blinked.

We made a countdown chain so she can pull one off each day til her birthday. (Oh, and so she can stop asking me every morning "Is it my birthday?")

Sometimes the anticipation is just as fun as the event itself, don't you think? Maybe at least for a four year old. So far, she's more excited about who is COMING to her party than gifts. She hasn't spoken of gifts a single time, which is surprising to me. (I'm sure that will change when she SEES them.)

But for now, we'll just keep ripping off a chain a day, anticipating together the milestone of four years.

Through the (new) lens

   

I am loving it!

Thirty-Two

Today I turn thirty-two years old. Thirty-two. How did this happen? Wasn't I just 20 last year? I'm feeling the lyrics of Kenny Chesney's Don't Blink: Don't blink cuz just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you wake up and you're twenty-five..." Life seems like that sometimes, doesn't it?

I have now celebrated my birthday thirty-two times. Wow. I can remember turning 5 and the first day of kindergarten was my birthday (my Mom made cookies for me to take to my class); a Hawaiian Luau party when I was maybe 8 years old; a teddy bear party for my 10th; my Sweet 16 pool party with my friend Michelle whose birthday was the same day; turning 21 in college and my friend making me a "It's My Birthday..I'm 21!" button to wear; my 26th surprise party that John organized right after we had moved to Atlanta and my parents drove over to surprise me; turning 28 and realizing that would be the last birthday before I would be a Mama.

I have had a wonderful 32 years. Spent seven of them as a teenager. Five of the years I don't even recall - only in pictures and even then I can hardly recognize myself as a tiny baby, toddler, little girl. Eighteen years at home with my family. Four years at college. Ten of the years I've been married. And four years I've been a Mama, starting my own family. Don't blink.

Now next year I can recall my 32nd birthday and how I spent the good portion of the morning in the ER. Next year, that will be funny. This year, it shaved a good 5 years off my life. Christian was chewing on a plastic hammer of Ansley's, sitting up and looking around, and before I knew it he had fallen forward and the entire handle went in his mouth. He screamed like I've rarely heard him scream; I knew it must have hurt. I pick him up and walk around with him, and he starts to calm down, but not before he starts coughing and spitting up blood. I call our pediatrician, who says to take him to the ER. Thankfully, after looking down his throat and taking a chest x-ray, it looks like everything is ok, but still this afternoon he is very grumpy and sleepy.

I got a new lens for my camera for my birthday, and a cool new strap. I would take a picture, but well, they are both attached to my camera (but I can't wait to try out my new lens!). Enjoyed a post-ER lunch with John and the kids at one of my favorite places - Panera. I've enjoyed getting quite a few packages in the mail, cards, emails, e-cards and phone calls. Thank you! I am blessed to have the wonderful friends and family that I do.

I received one of those song cards from my friend Ashley. It was funny; I laughed and laughed when I opened it. But since Ansley got a hold of it, I've heard it no less than 100 times, and now it's just not quite as funny as it first was. So, to Ashley: Yodel-ayyyyyy Heeeeee-Hooooooo! :) (But thanks for thinking of me!)

I'll try not to blink in the coming year, and savor the 365 days of being thirty-two.

Blessed

Praise God! My Dad's tumor has shrunk!

Dr. Lockhart said he was very encouraged, and it was extremely rare for a tumor of this kind to reduce at all. He was amazed. The next step is 6 more weeks of chemotherapy (3 weeks on, 1 week off, 3 weeks on) and another CAT scan. The tumor hasn't shunk enough to be operable just yet. Your prayers, my friends, are powerful and effective! Thank you so much.

Today we celebrate. We thank God for his miraculous healing and answered prayer!

{This is more indicative of our day so far:}

This post brought to you by Tylenol

She is feeling much better - really seems almost back to normal today. (Had a little run in with a chair over the weekend.)

But, sadly, I am a lousy shield. The Boy is sick.

No, really. He is. You may be fooled by the picture, but I assure you, the shield did not work. Here he is eating breakfast this morning, and as soon as I pull out the camera, this is the look he gives me. Little stinker. Despite a 101 degree fever, much congestion in his nose and chest, and a pitiful sounding cough, he can still manage to find a smile for his Mama. Amazingly, he slept all night last night, but we heard him coughing throughout the night and were up several times checking on him.

At least they can play together now, which Ansley has been dying to do ever since she was banned from touching him.

Ansley was a little over nine months when she got sick for the first time (with Rotovirus). This is Christian's first time getting sick, so I suppose for having two, 7+ months isn't too bad.

On a different note, check this out. It is phenomenal. It brought tears to my eyes and made me smile. (I should explain that these two men raised this lion from a cub, and this was the first time they had seen each other in almost a year, since taking Christian the Lion to Africa to live normally.)

I will update again this afternoon when my Dad gets back from his appointment. (He meets with his oncologist at 11:40 CST.)

Happy Explorer

Christian discovered (for the first time) today that he does not have to stay on the carpet where I put him. Why, if he just pushes his little legs, they will take him anywhere he wants to go! He is quite happy exploring his way around the house, which means baby proofing is coming soon!

Here he made a surprisingly quick beeline to follow Kota, who quickly scurried up the stairs. Then he looks back as if to say "What? I'm not doing anything! Are you distracted by how cute I am?"

He gives up on Kota, hanging out on Stair 8, safe for now. Then he crawls back in the kitchen to see what I'm up to. "Watcha doin' Mommy?"

But quickly detours, because this looks like more fun. Check out those toes - how do you even do that? "Life under the table is good!"

I know, I know, there is a huge imbalance in photos of my two children. I just can't emphasize enough how much more cooperative the above subject is. Mostly I get her back running away from me, or that scrunchee nose face. Actually today I thought I'd spare you because today's pictures would not be pretty - Ansley has a cold. The dreaded summer cold (from gymnastics on Tuesday). Today I am being a Human Shield, sacrificing myself in order to deflect the germs away from Christian. We'll see if my efforts pay off.

Fortunately, she's in good spirits and seems to be feeling ok. Tonight I made her some Jello Jigglers as a sick surprise tomorrow. Hopefully we can all avoid it and be back to normal by the end of the weekend.

Happy Weekend!

wasted

Sometimes the Cuteness Factor wins out over the Practical Factor. I purchased this adorable outfit for Christian before he was born, and this is the first time he's ever worn it. I noticed it in his closet this morning, where the tag says "12.5 - 16.5 pounds". Oops, missed that one. So I put it on him, figuring I would at least get a photo of him in it.

I think he looks quite handsome.

Experiment, Part II

Christian gives his full attention to Hannah, pondering the advantages of a soft, fluffy object over a hard, metal object that might roll away from him.

Oh, no! Wait, Christian...what's going on? Oh, poor Hannah! She is flung to the side.

Hummer wins. With not even a second glance at poor Hannah.

Experiment*

Meet Hannah. Hannah has been well-loved by Ansley. Hannah has had her clothes changed more times than a newborn baby, and usually winds up naked.

Meet Hummer. Hummer has also been well-loved by Ansley. Hummer has taken many a Little People for wild rides through the playroom and down the hall.

Here's the set-up: Hannah on one side, Hummer on the other.

Then I place Christian an equal distance from both of them.

He looks at both, and then he's off!

Which one will he choose? Hummer, because he's a boy? Or Hannah, because he's used to playing with Ansley?

*Results may vary.

{Random} Ten on Tuesday

1. It's HOT. Yeah, well, I didn't say they were ten new things on Tuesday, just ten random things.

2. Last week Ansley was moved up to the 4 year old class in gymnastics. She is doing great, and really loves it. The last class was for 2 and 3 year olds, and while Ansley definitely enjoyed it, she really seemed too old for a lot of the things they were doing. Now she is in a class with all four 4 year olds, and she is doing all kinds of new stuff! Fun to see. She is on the uneven bars now, balance beam, trampoline, learning cartwheels, headstands, handstands, pikes and backbends, to name a few.

3. On Sunday, we went to a family picnic with the guys that John is in a Bible study with. It was only about 25 minutes from here, but seemed so secluded and peaceful. (It was at the cabin of one of the couples in the group). On the way there, we passed the entrance to Blackberry Farm (on my wish list of "one days") and then the cabin was just past it. Ansley thoroughly enjoyed herself - we saw a wild turkey and some cows, she enjoyed a super-cool see saw, and found lots of bugs to enjoy. Everyone was very sweet to her (John is the youngest in the Bible study - most of them are our parents age, or a little younger - so we are the only ones with small children), and we enjoyed a delicious meal and dessert - grilled fruit with ice cream and chocolate syrup - YUM.

4. I am getting ready to order some materials to start working with Ansley on how to read. I am so excited! After a lot of research (and lots of emails to my friend Renee!), I think I am leaning towards Five In A Row . Any opinions? I just can't imagine how unbelievably cool it will be to start working with Ansley on this, and then to see her read on her own!  This brings me to another random question for all you homeschool moms out there - when did you start official homeschool cirriculum? Ansley would miss the cut off for public schools next year, but she will be almost five, so do I start that year, or wait until the next? Anyway, random things on my mind today.

5. Christian continues to scoot his way all over the house! He is so close to crawling - he gets up on his hands and knees and moves back and forth, but then collapses and scoots to what he wants. It's so cute! He has two teeth now - can you see them in this picture? I love his baby blues.

6. Have you heard? John's Manville is here. Check out the basement photos to see.

7. Last week, Christy came to take some pictures of Christian at 7 months. We have a "parts and faces" of Ansley when she was 7 months that I love, so I wanted to do the same for him. I can't wait to see the pictures, and while Christy was here, she shared with me some of her trade secrets. Thanks, Christy! I have been pouring over books and my camera manual trying to become as half as good of a photographer as she is.

8. My Dad continues to feel great and is doing fabulous! This Thursday is his CAT scan, and the following Monday he meets with his oncologist to see what's going on. I am doing a partial fast (since I am nursing, I can't do a full one) in the time leading up to my Dad's doctor's appointment. As I have been praying for my Dad, I have felt that this is something God is wanting me to do to demonstrate my faithfulness. Why? When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you" (Jeremiah 29:13,14). Andrew Murray says, "Fasting helps to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything - to sacrifice ourselves - to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God." I couldn't put it any better than that. Please join me in praising God for all that he does and has yet to do in our lives, and for praying for his glory in this situation....for his glory.

9. We just had a little rain pass through (or as Ansley calls them "Stormy Normies"). Maybe that's the start of a cool front??

10. Ansley just came downstairs and announced "My playroom is a MESS! I'm gonna clean it up, because I'm almost four, and that's what girls do who are almost four." Wow, really? I'm all for that!