A reason to worship

It was a joy to host over 25 people for a Resurrection lunch today. As we wrapped up the delicious Tri-tip (Billy's specialty and certainly a crowd pleaser) and skillet potatoes, a host of salads and sweets, we spent some time in worship to our risen Savior! Brian started the worship off with a new original chorus the Lord laid on his heart this afternoon and the whole group easily joined in with beautiful harmonies. We continued the time with some old favorites and really old favorites (seems like family get togethers are the only time we get to sing those anymore).
 The 4 and under crowd had discovered the many Easter basket goodies from Gramm and Papa earlier, so they were busily playing with all the eggs scattered on the floor (and snacking on the organic fruit treats and banana chips Gramm was so thoughful to fill the eggs with :) There was a great ease to the atmosphere, just enjoying the family, friends (new and old) and Jesus who was present with us. I loved it, and I believe God smiled upon it as well. Aaron and his fam didn't get to join the fun (I'm so accustomed to us all being together I kept re-counting and looking for Nova during all the kid pics), but the latest addition to the cousin crew, Valor Michael and his mommy came! He is sweet and it was he and Owen's first holiday, so of course, they had to get in the group shot :) I originaly intended for Owen and Valor to share a basket, but when I put my little big 8 week old in it, I said "Oh, Wow, you are BIG!" Good thing we had an extra basket for Valor to sleep in his own abode :) I LOVED Owen's expression during that whole fiasco!

"Mom, seriously?!"



Gramm and her grandboys

 

Lu & Olives's cousin Samuel got to come

I admit

There's something indescribable about having a warm bundle of  baby snuggled up on your chest. That sweet baby smell, and soft little whistley coo's while baby is sleeping. I just really think it's quite addicting.

In the kitchen this afternoon, while I subconsciously bounced Owen to sleep in my sling, I stood thinking about my first encounter with a "how to sling" chapter in a "how to" baby book.
It was March or April (I can't be too sure) of 2009, and our little William Riley was just a tiny little thing. I had been "kangaroo caring" for him skin-to-skin as early as the hospital days...but this super small baby was just taking his sweet time growing. A mom (and countless other family members) can get quite worked up and worried about a baby that doesn't want to grow, but I remember sitting on our tan leather sectional in the living room of our town home ENGULFED in a book my mother had let me "borrow".

I had read the What to Expect's and the Babywise's and the Your Pregnancy Week by Week's gleaning a little something from each of them, but as I read each word of this rather wordy but super informative book my mom let me "borrow", I learned that I felt comfortable with attachment parenting. Ok, so maybe there are few details of the attachment lifestyle that we don't necessarily stick to every single time, like when we carry a happily sleeping newborn into a restaurant in the car seat. Or when a baby in our home might get placed in a bouncy seat to get some Vitamin D by the window. But you can rest assured, the majority of the time, if I can help it, that baby (especially in the early months), will be happily slung on it's mommy. Besides, who wants a crying baby in the other room, while they're chasing a two and four year old through the house anyway?! :) Baby's happy. Mommy's happy. Siblings get attention from Mommy. It's a win-win.
So as I delved in deeper to that "borrowed' book, I learned about how God certainly made the amazing mother-baby bond. And it all just made sense. Mommy can regulate baby's heart rate if they sleep close in proximity-baby can actually start "thriving" when kept skin to skin (we saw Will progress immediately from this). How phenomenal. I read about a mother's milk supply being boosted or a baby being smarter from babywearing or a how to get your pre-pregnancy body back, pumping when necessary (which it was for Will), how to keep up with milestones (and when to worry), how to feed your toddlers healthier food options, how to treat a booboo or childhood illnesses...and on and on. THIS IS GOOD STUFF PEOPLE.
I realize you don't just get your "mommyhood" from a book, or other's advice, for that matter. Experience usually brings a lot of knowledge (and three kids 4 and under brings ALOT of experiences! LOL!). I also believe so many moms have a variety of parenting and mothering styles that work for them. You've gott'a be you. But everybody likes to have a "go-to" book every now and then, and this was mine.
So thanks Mom, for lending me that "borrowed" book that remains on my bedside table four years later!

Unplanned two-year Plan

In 5 years of marriage, Billy and I have managed to add three amazing members to our family.

Our first born, Will, came a month before our first anniversary. Emma, our busy middle child came about 24 months after her big brother, and 7 week old Owen, 23 months after that. Sure it's a little bit crazy at times, keeping up with three so young, but we couldn't imagine our lives any other way. When it comes to birth control and family planning, I often tease that we're on the "Unplanned two-year plan".

There have been many moments in our children's development over the last 4 years where I've thought, "this is my favorite age!". You know, those early stages of crawling, first words, cruising (and curiosity), and then of course, first steps! In these moments, I just wanted to freeze time...and savor every bit of that "firstness" since it doesn't usually last that long.

When Will started taking first steps, we were thrilled knowing he'd be completely independently walking in no time. To his (and our) frustration, those "first steps" seemed to last for what seems like years. He is sooooo smart, and his memory just amazes everyone. He has such a tender heart and the cutest endearing personality. He makes friends easily, and loves his family, and remembers names and adores his ginormous lab Jax. He wakes up eager to learn, is beginning to read and a quick learner, but getting his little body to do what he wants it to do, now, that's a different story.

Will has endured a number of physical therapy sessions over the course of the last 3 years and is currently enjoying a semester of therapeutic horseback riding. His unique genetic condition brings it's challenges, but his name certainly suits him. When he has a WILL to do something, his persistence is quite impressive.

So you can imagine on his fourth birthday, when I had that camera phone in my hand, recording a very imperfect video of my first born taking over 103 steps (you better believe we counted!), my heart was BURSTING with pride and excitement for what is next on his "to do" list. He has an open road of exciting adventures ahead, and for him, this was just another "Unplanned two-year plan".