some shel silverstein

I don't advocate this kind of talk in our family, but we've been listening to a lot of Shel Silverstein in the car and his rendition of "One Sister For Sale" is totally hilarious and the kids love it.

Curren cracks me up!

my boy

Oh, this boy. He melts my heart...that's always a strange phrase to me when people use it. I think what I want to say is that my heart swells with joy when I look into his face, especially in the mornings when he comes out declaring, "Good morning, Mama! The sun is yellow!" I love to watch him learn and grow. He knows how to put his shoes on and clear his place at the table by himself. He unexpectedly walks up to me most days and says, "I love you, mama!" and can quote most of The Hungry Caterpillar. He drums on everything with my spatulas and everything he holds in his hands at some point becomes a guitar (be it my broom or a pencil). And it's these times of sweetness that I need to savor, to remember when the hard times come.

I really dislike labeling kids as "stubborn," I think this has such negative connotation. For truly, because of our sinful natures we are ALL stubborn and choose our own way all the time, refusing to listen to wisdom; we all do what is right in our own eyes (Prov. 3:7). With that said, I also think some children are more compliant than others so their "stubborn" ways go unnoticed or overshadowed by a sibling's. Regardless, any sinful, defiant behavior needs to be corrected and currently, I am in a tough season with my boy. Curren is my more "spirited" and challenging child and is pushing me to new levels of growth in my own spiritual life.

For example, he is an *extremely* picky eater. And has been for most of his little life. I haven't met many kids who are as selective about food as he or gets as angry as he does that he can't have what he wants (milk!). It has caused me to cry in recent days, it's such a frustrating battle. "No whinning," "food first, then milk," are common phrases he hears, and yet he continues to push, and push, and push. He's also been waking up early and getting in his sisters' beds at night. And he wants more water when he gets put to bed. And again, when he doesn't get what he wants, he gets frustrated. Oh, so frustrated and angry.

When days, hours, or minutes push me to utter discouragement (too many days recently!), I pray first. It's been helping a great deal; this new challenge in my parenting is causing me to seek the Lord's help anew. I try to encourage the positive areas I see in Curren, while gently and lovingly correcting his behavior (this can be so tough). In such dark moments, I remind myself of his sweet and gentle side: daredevil, adventure-loving, active, hilarious belly laugh, sweet right-cheek dimple, sharing toys with Kate, playtime with Maggie, helper in the kitchen, snuggler at night.

Thanks to my children, I see my own sinfulness in ways I never anticipated: I'm quicker to frustration, anger, joy-lessness, selfishness, *especially* when my children need me most--in their OWN sinful moments and it's almost always (always!) when I want to do my own thing--clean the kitchen, talk to a friend on the phone (and it's only a quick call, what the heck!), a playdate where I simply NEED mom time and want to visit with my friend while all the kids should play happily together, etc.). Talk about needing Christs's strength to not only help me examine my own heart, but to help my children do the same.

I'm continuing to find joy in my mothering. It's a sweet, humbling, and beyond-challenging job of shaping these little souls God has given to us. But, He gives strength and I'm thankful for that.

Taking time in the midst of change

We move to Texas in less than 4 days. It's been a whirlwind last 2 1/2 weeks since we figured out what was next for us. There is packing to do. People to see. Places to go. In the midst of all these things, it's still important for me to find time to connect with my kids. And I'll be honest, I have found it tough on certain days, as I try to pack and get things ready to leave. If you've ever moved, you know what I'm talking about.

I've tried to step away and focus on them and of course, when I have, it's rewarding.

Some last snuggles with Pops



Water play in the backyard

Mags and I put together a quick nature table of items we found in the backyard (Maggie took the 2nd pic)

what we've been up to

Dog watching
Popcorn eating
Smoothie drinking
Lounging
Teeth losing
Starbucks treat sharing
Water coloring

what we've been up to

It's been a busy, though relatively-stress free couple of weeks (all evidence of God's great grace): we made another move (locally)! I think we are experts at this point, as several of my friends have joked, and should start a business on "how to move well." We are poised to make some significant changes in our lives! Hoping for further clarity in the weeks to come.

Maggie holding our bus roll. I LOVE this new family art piece. My friend, Lindsey, designed one for her family last year and I loved it so much, I immediately asked her to design one for us. It's list of all the places we've lived. Bus rolls were once used to alert riders to upcoming destinations.

Most of our stuff is paired down, paired down, paired down and now in storage.

Sweet Kate has been loving time in the swing! We've been having beautiful spring weather here.

Oh, C is ALL boy on so many levels. Give him paint and watch him paint in the designated area with Mags and turn around and he's running around the backyard pouring paint everywhere.

them

This sweet girl is so incredibly articulate it blows my mind some days. She makes up hilarious stories, still loves to play "voices" (where we imitate a character in a show/book and "talk" to her in that voice), and has her first loose tooth! She is so excited and yes, it's very early for this (she is just 4, but apparently, those who teethe early, lose early).
This boy is always singing, and I do mean always: when he wakes up it's either his FAVORITE David Crowder song, "Oh, Happiness," "All Creatures of Our God and King," or U2's "Beautiful Day." If you start a song, he can finish it. He sings loudly in public now, too. For example, he was belting out "How He Loves" (a David Crowder cover song) in Target yesterday. He likes to play chase and hide-and-seek with his sister, even hiding his bear under the table yesterday, then racing to the wall to cover his eyes and count. How cute is that?! He accidently locked himself in the bathroom on Sunday afternoon and I had Maggie feed him chocolate chips, one at a time, under the door to pass the time while we waited for the locksmith. He LOVES chocolate and after he was freed he was begging for more "choco!"

This little girl is eating lots of solid foods: sweet potatoes, bananas, pears, green beans, squash, avocado. Her 3rd tooth is coming in, I'm sure of it. She rolls everywhere (and has rolls everywhere-ha!), still sleeps like a champ, loves to be cuddled, and always finds a way to take her socks off and eat them.

My little boy turns 2!

Today is Curren's 2nd birthday! Two years that have just flown by, more than I can remember with Maggie. I so love my sweet little man. He is full of energy, loves all things music, iPhone, iPad, and drumming, knows almost all his ABC's by sight and in the last few weeks loves to identify any letter that comes across his radar, can count from 1-10, is gentle and kind to his sisters and loves to be outdoors.

His birth was one I will never forget (my first VBAC), the experience worth every moment until I held him in my arms. I love raising a boy; he is a true joy and delight to our family.

We love you, C!

22 months

Really, how is my sweet, energetic, talking-up-a-storm, boy almost 2 years old?!

I LOVE this little man. Our sweet C. Our Munch.

He does everything with great passion, it's already so very obvious. He is incredibly gentle and loving with both of his sisters. To a fault. He plays fairly well alone, but for sure loves, loves, loves to be outdoors, running off excess energy.

What a gift! What a joy he is in our life! Just wanted to take a moment to share.

fun dip

First "Fun Dip!"
"I'll share with you!"
Crushed, when the sharing is through. No more fun!

what's fall without a visit to Pumpkin City?

Last year, October 2009, with cousin Jacob

This year's sibling pic, October 2010, aka "do-you-know-how-hard-it-is-to-get-all-of-them-to- both-smile-AND-look-at-the-camera-simultaneously?!" (if you're a mama, of course you do)

Curren was in *hog heaven* both driving this car, the tractor above, and the train (not pictured)

my amazing trio

LOVE them. That is all.

21-months

This age is one of my favorite with my kiddos. It seems for both we blinked and they were talking up a storm. I'm surprised he's talking this early, actually, as experts (aka: moms) tell you that boys mature slower than girls. Maggie started saying alot of words early(prior to age 1) and it just never stopped. Between 13-15 months of age she was speaking in short phrases. Curren said his first words right around 11/12 months of age, but there really hasn't been much beyond "mama," "dada," "dog," and "ba" (for everything from his blanket to a ball) and maybe a couple more for the past well, 8 months.

But, look out! This boy has been listening and is now officially downright chatty. His words include: choo-choo, all aboard, train, a plethora of animal sounds when asked what the respective animal says (moo, baa, ssss, roar, quack, neigh, arf, meow), butterfly, milk, Maga (for maggie), night-night, pillow, jesus, blanket, shoe, sock, hot, no touch, yes, coffee, airplane, spoon, fork, edamame, cashew, banana, oatmeal, car, truck, book, table, horse, duck, moon, ocean, colors, door, red, blue, flower, jump, run.

And it's like he learns at least a new word daily when Aron and I relay what we've been hearing to eachother. And Curren apparently knows how to count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. What?! It must be that older sibling thing.

And he gives the BEST kisses. It's like the light went on one day and he now purses his lips together and makes the biggest smooching noise when he kisses us (btw--we are a lip kissing family. And it's funny as I didn't grow up that way, but I think I just wanted to do this with my kiddos. Anyone else?).

He tells us vehemently if he doesn't like a song, be it on the iPod or one we sing. His current favorites are "Baa Baa Black Sheep" and "He is Jealous For Me." And I'm remiss to admit that he LOVES our iPhone; it has been a closet secret for us for almost a year, as he started playing with it occasionally around 11 months. That boy knows his phone. However, it appears we aren't the only parents who give our kids an iPhone...from time to time. The NY Times ran a most interesting article about toddlers' current favorite toy. Look out.

it's blurry, i know, but it's so sweet

I love my iPhone as I can snap pictures any time I want. I just need to remember to take them away from direct light.

But, I had to take this immediately when I saw it.

They were sharing a sucker. And oh-so pleased about it!

"Cheese"

Curren is learning to smile on command and say, "Cheese!" Here's a snapshot of what it looks like. Or not (too early in the morning).

I sure love my boy!