James turns 4

So, it's birthday season in this house again, and James' turn was next. He turned 4, and is quite proud of the fact. Me...not so much. These kids are growing up way too fast for this Mama's liking. I know they'll still be my kids forever, but they won't be my hug-gable, kissable, cuddle kids forever. Anyhow, James is now 4, and there's not much I can do to change that!













I'm just not sure where to start with this boy. I'll try not to brag, as that will surely backfire on me, but this little guy just melts my heart. Pretty much everything out of his mouth is either hilarious or the sweetest words you'll ever hear (unless he's bossing little sister, then he's not always so nice). I regretfully neglect to discipline this kid as often as I should, because he's just so darn cute (even when he's naughty). Who can resist that little dimpled grin? Whenever he talks, he raises his eyebrows like what he's saying is the most important message in the world. You just have to listen (with anticipation, of course) as he is always so enthralling to watch and listen to. Last night the last thing out of his mouth was, "I should go check on Daddy, and make sure he remembered to take his medicine" (Dad is sick and James was in charge of getting the medicine to Dad when we got home from town). Tonight it was, "Mom, we forgot to build a scarecrow to keep the animals out of our garden" (which we planted today). He is always quite concerned about something or someone, and is our prayer warrior. He remembers to pray for people when we often forget.

















This year he wanted a "Busytown" (from the Richard Scarry books) cake for his birthday. He had seen a picture of a 3-D one that his second cousin had, and thought I could recreate something of the like. He got the cake, but it was much simpler than he had explained that he wanted. He was quite thrilled none the less though. He loves Sally the Cat, and the kids play Busytown pretty often where Sally and Huckle (Luke) and Hilda the Hippo (Elise) go on all sorts of adventures. Here he is trying out his new bike that he acquired for his birthday.

















Here's a few of his latest sayings: (all 'r's and 'l's are said as 'w's)
James was peeling a banana when I asked him to share it with his sister. He replied, "Sure, just as soon as I can get this plastic wrap off of it!"












While driving the other day, he asked me to turn the car so that the sun would shine in his window because he had something to tell the sun (it was shining only in the front). I was turning soon anyhow, so when I did he said (to the sun), "Hello, Mr. Sun. Thank you. Thank you for making our world so bright!" And then to the rest of us in the car, "That's all I have to say to him!"

When James was playing outside the other day, his play pants had holes in both knees and he told his Daddy, "Look, my knees are getting vitamin D!"

Elise turns 2

Her "Cake Cake" ball she got (Strawberry Shortcake is her favorite these days)

It's about time for a birthday update. Our Elise has now turned two, and we are beginning to see the boy/girl difference. She loves necklaces and many types of shoes. She often 'does' her own hair, which is quite lovely, as you can see from the picture. My Mom loves to buy little shoes, and keeps her well supplied. She calls them her "Gaga shoes" (Grandma shoes) and her black ones are the favorites. She'd wear them all day everyday if she could!

She is talking quite a lot now, and parrots everything we say. The other night Greg said, "oh, boy" with a weary sigh, and she followed suit. Very cute! She loves to ride her tricycle (and of course always asks for her "hat" (helmet) too. She calls me "Bubby" and Greg is "Daddy", Luke has been "Wook", "Kook" and now this week is "Wukey", and James is "J" and she is "A-Wee". It's pretty neat to see her thoughts, since our boys never talked this early. Her favorite saying is "took 'way" which is whenever the boys have something she wants, and she claims they took it away (which, sometimes they do, but most often they don't). These past couple days she's been "shut a door" alot, whenever she can find a door that needs shutting. She has learned to get into the fridge and came to me the other morning (while I was still in bed) jostling a nearly full milk jug (lid already off) and a cup wanting me to pour her a drink.

This picture below is the only time I've ever thought she looks like I did when I was little. I'll have to find a picture of myself at that age to compare. She most often gets told she looks 'Somero'. One friend of ours saw her running through a wedding reception and said, "that little girl must be Clark Somero's granddaughter". People also say she looks like Grandma Somero, and Great Grandma Davidson too.

Here's one of her and her "Be-A" (baby). She loves to push them around in her shopping cart and here is singing songs to one of them. She has finally figured out that pacifiers are for babies, and gladly gives them to her dollies and doesn't even want hers any more. (Yay!)

Here's at the ocean a few weeks ago. Greg was fishing, so the kids and I played in the sand. It was a gorgeous beach, which I'd love to go back to (and quite uninhabited too, which made it more enjoyable)













And that's all for now!!

Nighttime Thoughts

It's late, but I'm having one of my pregnancy induced insomnia nights, so I might as well update a post (or two if I can't sleep!)...So, where were we?

I do believe it's time to write a bit about the next biggest change in our life, which will be baby #4, coming soon to our home (due mid Sept.) I have different thoughts with this pregnancy, knowing that I'll have as many children as my parents ever did, and surpassing Greg's parents. That's a weird feeling! Adding homeschooling to the mix, and I'm really not sure how it'll all work out, to be truthful. The blessing I can see right now though, is that my biggest helper will be home with me, and not off to school where I'd be stuck at home with a medium-good helper and a very useless (but eager) helper and a new baby. This baby does happen to be arriving at the middle of gardening/canning/school starting time of year, so that should leave for a busy fall. And since I have ideas of grandeur about my garden (again) this year, I hope some things will work in my favor.

Before we found out we were expecting this baby, I had some qualms about having more children. Although I wanted a 'large' family (whatever that may be), I didn't have the confidence to trust that God would adequately supply me with the strength and wisdom to do so. I talked to one of my wise friends, and she advised me of some things that I found very encouraging, which I'll share with you.
1) In the Bible, children are always spoken of as a blessing. Why would we turn away/delay having blessings heaped upon us? (and debt is a curse, in yet we're often quick to get into it)
2) God also always promises that He is with us, and will adequately 'arm' us for the task He has given. (money, health, strength, wisdom, etc.)
3) We need to look at child spacing/fertility/family planning with an eternal perspective, not a carnal one. Pray that God would override our limited human understanding, and fill us with His wisdom and truths.
4) Pray daily for strength, wisdom, patience, and all other virtues we may need as a parent. "Lean not on your own understanding" to tackle this most important job.
5) Don't let the world's views shape our Christian walk and decision making. This can often be influenced by well-meaning Christian people who do not have Biblical wisdom when it comes to these matters, and can often be our own family members (or even spouse). Pray for conviction, that you wouldn't be swayed by ideas that are not from above!

That said, I was confident that God would not only adequately arm me (and my dear husband), but that He would willingly take over all the details that I seem to fret about. This is a daily struggle; as I want to know all, see all and understand all that is going on in my world, but I know that I just can't handle it on my own. I've tried that before, and only end up in failure.

I do still have lots of fears (umm, not sleeping for instance) that I am trying hard to hand over to Him, but can only continue to trust that God knows what is best for me, and that He's shaping and molding me into the person He wants me to be. Challenges are never easy, but we do gain experience, patience, and sympathy for others when we are faced with trials.

I do have a few new things to try as far as sleeping/nursing goes with the next baby. I don't know that they'll solve anything, but that's my only hope from this end of things. I've had 3 babies with the same issues , which is why I've been scared to go forward. I see other people's placid babies around and wonder what that could be like. I've never had even moments where I could relax that first year, or moments when nursing my baby was even the least bit enjoyable. It's just a job that I do because I know it's best for my baby and myself, and through it all have been able to look back to see where I've bonded with them and been thankful for those sleepless nights (after they're done and over with). I also feel I am in tune with my children alot more through my added time with them when they are babies. It's not enjoyable time for me, because usually they have a tummy ache or are over tired (a.k.a. excessive crying), but I do learn alot about them that would be easier to miss if a baby was more relaxed. I've also discovered baby wearing, which has been the biggest blessing so far. With my oldest two kids, I just let everything else go to care for them, but with more kids, that just can't happen. We need to eat occasionally, and clean clothes are a bit of a necessity.

So, that's about where it stands. Trying to take it one day at a time, and praying for guidance to make changes that may make things run smoother, so that I can actually enjoy my baby, while he/she is yet a baby. Please keep us in your prayers, that we could seek His will more and that we could also trust His guidance rather than try to figure things out on our own.

Oh, and James is convinced this baby is a girl, because that's what he's been praying for. (so that Elise will have a sister to play with and will leave him and Luke alone). Luke was praying for a kitty, but will agree to a new baby instead since he didn't have a choice in the matter. We'll have to wait and see!