Look who is

Rolling over.
I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. Surely this doesn't mean she's going to move more than Robert. Surely.

Driving Miss Emma

Where to ma'am?

Guess who's playing...

tee ball...

Gifts

It's been "trendy" for a while now.

It's true. Christian books trend in and out just like secular ones.

I hope this one stays around.

For a long time.

99% of our home library we owe to Grandaddy and Meemaw. And this treasure was no exception.

If you haven't read these pages, I really encourage you to.

If you have, read it again.  It is compelling. Inspiring.  Even Kathie Lee Gifford agrees.

In Mrs. Voskamp's own words:

The book is written in its own idiosyncratic language—prose meeting poetry, a strange kind of language. Throughout Scripture, when a person came into the presence of God, the only language they had to stammer out anything was a different language than their vernacular. The only way to communicate their encounter with God was often through lyrical language. I didn't think a book written in that "prosetical" God-encounter language would ever find a real home out in the world.

{And after 39 weeks on the NYT best seller list since its January 2011 release, it sure found it way into millions of homes and hearts.}

But maybe that is exactly what we're all hungry for—a powerful, personal encounter with God in a language all of its own?

Amen.

Valentine Rewind

In an effort to preserve what little memory I have, I'm going to post our Valentine's activity.  A little late. Like 42,000 other folks with Pinterest accounts, we made crayon hearts for Emma to give out at school (and to a few friends).  It was super easy--and a really nice activity since the kids were quarantined at home for 2 weeks with colds and ear infections. We needed something to do!

You start by unwrapping 1 million crayons.  (Ok, it's not 1 million.  It just FEELS like it).  This is also a perfect use for all those broken crayon bits that wind up all over the house...

Preheat your oven. Silently wish you had a gas stove--or at least an oven with a Time Cook feature. I mean, c'mon--how's a girl supposed to have Sunday lunch ready when we get back from church?

Remember the task at hand, and:

Fill heart molds with crayon bits.

Pop them in the oven for 10-15 minutes, watching each minute to make sure they are "cooking."

Check on this guy.  Make sure he hasn't gotten into anymore cat fights.

And make some gift tags.

Make sure to have a four year old color in the hearts on the tags.  And not just any four year old will do.  She needs to be dedicated to coloring, imaginative, joyful, funny and creative.  Lucky me. I knew just where to find her.

And voila!

Notice how I forgot to take a picture of the finished crayon?  Nice Clark. Real nice.  But you get the gist anyways, I'm sure. And if not, just search melted heart crayon on Pintrest.  You'll see the other 999,999 ways to do it--that all look "fantastic."  Because, let's face, doesn't everything on Pinterest look "fantastic"?  I.e. nobody throws up pictures of their crappy, disorganized kitchens where their kids are covered in what was supposed to be dinner, but is now just a crusty, burned disaster; and where they hosted said child's birthday party, void of a meticulously selected (or any recognizable) theme, and precisely created decorations. Nobody shows the pictures of what their kids, ages 6 and under, have done to their house, each other, and the family pet(s), while mommy was churning out homemade craft after homemade craft all while redoing every room in the house. Oh no, those pictures don't exist on Pinterest.  Must be because that is the stuff nobody wants to see.  You know, the real life kind of stuff.  The stuff that only happens at my house, right?? :)

Ahh, I digress...

Tootles!

Month 2

So here we are.  2 months in.  You'd think I could throw up something in this venue a little more frequently.  Woulda. Coulda. Shoulda. I say.  But you know what? Life is happening around here.  You know, all the usual antics like box sliding.  Emma can certainly do anything in her "heels."  She is the quintessential lady.  

We're grateful to enjoy each day and feel incredibly and undeservedly blessed.

This angel is now officially 2 months (ahem, 11 weeks Sunday) old.  She is a blessing.  She has hung on through cold and flu season, catching now 2 colds and working on a third.  Even still, she is a delight.  When she is feeling well, she loves to talk, loves her play gym, and is pretty close to rolling over (I know!).  She adores a passy--and her thumb.  I honestly think she might be sucking blood out of her thumb sometimes.  She is fiercely attached!

She's crept up the charts and is more in line with Emma and Robert's stats at 2 months.  She weighed 11 lbs 13 oz (75%) and was 23 inches (75%).  And oh yeah, she smiles. Lots.

And now, for the inevitable comparisons:

This month has also brought some new changes.  Look who's sharing a room...

There have been lots and lots of early mornings.  It is equal parts entertaining and annoying to turn on the monitor before 6 am to see the mischief going on.  Maybe I should take a picture of the monitor.

If we were Emma, this is the scene we'd see when we woke up (sans Robert of course).

And here's the view from Robert's jail crib.

With this close proximity, how could anyone expect much sleep? :)  Eventually the exhaustion has to set in and they will sleep again, right? :)  Those that have walked this road before us tell me to expect two weeks of H-E-double hockey sticks, and then...room sharing bliss.  

Any chance we can adopt this IKEA mantra?

Not sure how to simplify that to toddler and preschool levels, but I loved the sentiment. Apparently so much I decided to take a picture of it when I was there in November.  I only wished it included something about the importance of organization!  Which, is why we're SO thankful for Granddaddy's work putting up costume hooks for Emma's princess dresses.  A girl can never have too many princess costumes.  Right?  And now, a place to put them.  I'm sure Robert is grateful too since he is now a cohabitant in the princess palace.

And finally, this month saw Jason a year older and now one piano closer.  I called Jason's dad after Christmas and asked if there was any way we could get Jason's mom's piano moved from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham as a birthday surprise.  He graciously agreed, and the week of Jason's birthday, we squished some things together and made room for it.  It has been wonderful to have more music in the house! And of course, the kids love it.  Do you think it contributes to the lack of sleep? :)

That's about it.  I'm not even going to say I'll be back here soon. Because frankly, who knows!
The end.

Month 1

Whew.

That's about it.

But so I can remember what life has been like (say, if I dare get the crazy idea to go for No. 4), we are surviving.  Not quite thriving.  But all things in their own time.  So far, each child has proven to be a very different adjustment.  With the first (dear Emma) it was adjusting to 3 hour schedules, interrupted sleep, the revelation of the extent of my selfishness and the overall fear of parenting.  No. 2 (fearless Robert) challenged us with permanent sleep deprivation, the elimination of mommy naps and the need to multi-task all day.  To date, no. 3 (precious Nelia), has forced me to abandon the hope I will ever sleep more than 4 uninterrupted hours again, challenged me to break up sibling wrestling matches with my foot while nursing, to relish the peace and quiet of only one child crying, and to embrace paper plates and the remote control.

And there are people that have more than 3 kids. Lots more.

What has made these first few weeks worth every. single. lost wink of sleep?  This adorable face.  And how much her sister and brother already LOVE and ADORE her.

Kidding aside (sort of), the first month has been overall good. The Lord is certainly kind.  Nelia is (so far) our smallest baby! At her one month check up, she weighed in at 9 lbs 14 oz (25%) and 20 1/4 inches (25%).  At their 1 month check ups, both Emma and Robert were off the charts for weight and close to 90% in height.  No doubt Nelia will catch up soon!

She is a good baby, and I am already thankful I can enjoy so much more of her infancy. Strange though it seems--despite the need to spread my time between the three--I feel like I can enjoy her more (or maybe it's that the Lord has enabled me to let 1 or 2 things go...like the need to wear clothes-see below)

For those of you who enjoy comparisons, below are some "chair pics."  Robert is the upper right and Emma is the bottom right.  Don't they all look SO much alike--except for the hair?  Regardless, it is undeniable that Emma and Nelia are sisters!!

I'll try to reemerge in this space more often! But for now, there is one baby who needs to be fed and one momma who needs to shower today. Be back soon!

P.S. A HUGE thanks to all our family and friends for their support, love, food, grace, prayers and forgiveness during the past few weeks. I have been trying to respond to people as best I can, but if you haven't heard from me, I'm SO sorry! I promise I will contact you soon-! :)