Today, as on many weekends, I was on duty. I do about 10-12 weekends of duty in our dorm every school year. As House Mother, I'm never actually off duty (more like always on call) but I do have a great staff that covers some weekends and weeknights so that I can at least close my door every once in a while. Anyway, this weekend I was on duty, and my husband really needed to go to the grocery store today (we were seriously out of everything) at the same time as I was doing our regular mid-day check-in with all the girls. At this time, they have to physically present themselves in my office, so I have to physically be IN my office to receive them! Hubby planned to take one of the boys with him to the store for a little quality time, so we decided I would be in the office which is adjacent to our apartment with both apartment and office doors open (essentially I was no farther away than you would be if, for example, you were in the kitchen and your kids were in their playroom or bedroom), and that Big Sis would be in charge of W while Daddy and D were gone shopping.
I had to write about this because it was so precious to see how seriously she took her responsibility. In the 30 minutes I was in the office, she had made him a behavior chart, posted it on the refrigerator, updated it about 4 times and given him two stickers on his chest for good behavior. She didn't call me for any intervention until she decided it was W's rest time, and he did not agree. Luckily Daddy got home about that time, so everyone's attention was diverted.
She has really developed such a loving and caring heart for her little brothers, and they just love her right back. It is the greatest thing in the world at the end of a long day to see the three of them together playing and laughing without any intervention from Mom and Dad. We have so many wonderful days ahead of us! I can't wait to see how number four fits into the mix!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Well...
My boys have been somewhat slow to develop their linguistic skills. This was a little hard for me at first because I'm so, how to say it...verbose...loquacious.... So is our daughter, only about 10 times more than I am. The boys have been in speech therapy for about a year and they quickly reached a "within normal limits" range, but we continue with the therapy because A) there is still room for progress and B) they are obsessed with their therapist. Whatever Ms. H says GOES in their world. Serioulsy, it is like she is Santa Claus, they get so worked up and excited about going to see her every week. And I have to admit that I am almost as carried away with her as they are. She really and truly loves them (they are awfully loveable) and I love that about her!
In true twin form, one of them is a little more verbal than the other. He has always tried to do the talking for both of them, and for too long we let him do it. If W asked for juice, D got it too. If W asked for a snack, D got it too. We have finally gotten away from that as D will now tell you exactly what he wants and what he DOESN'T want. It's been so cool to see his personality emerge as his verbal skills are developing.
W's newest word is "well..." As in "W, what did you do at school today?" "Well....I...uh..." And he stops with that! It's too funny. It's like he's learned this new form, and he's not quite sure what to do with it, but by golly that's not going to stop him from using it! It's really cute.
In line with his newly found assertiveness, D's big thing now is "D's turn." Not "my turn" but "D's turn." Turn taking is tough for any 3 year old (and their parents), but with multiples, it's an art form, so it's good that they at least have the concept. It's a start!
And, frankly it's amazing that they, or anyone in our household, get a word in edgewise what with all the talking coming from the six year old, a.k.a Her Royal Highness, Princess McChatty. She's been saying things like, "Well, I prefer the pink one, although the purple one is quite lovely, too" since she was about 2 and 1/2. One of her favorite stories is when the boys came home from the hospital and she was about 7 days from turning 3, she asked me (amidst their tandem cries) "Mommy, is it time for the babies to go back to the hospital now?" And, for about 6 weeks after they were born, she asked me at bedtime every night if they would be back in my tummy when she woke up. Poor baby--she just did not know what had hit her! In retrospect, I'm thankful that she had the verbal skill she did so that she was at least able to verbalize her frustrations. Now that I have TWO 3 year olds, I realize that's not always a given. They have made such progress, though. I am sure that by the time the baby arrives, they'll be well able to express the same feelings their big sis had about them.
Now, I'm off to turn up the heat and go to bed. It is supposed to be in the high teens tomorrow morning. I really thought (okay hoped) that we left these temps behind when we moved from Chicago back to the balmy climate of Georgia. Oh, well...at least I know it won't last long here, as opposed to Chicago where the cold and wet and mud lasted until May.
In true twin form, one of them is a little more verbal than the other. He has always tried to do the talking for both of them, and for too long we let him do it. If W asked for juice, D got it too. If W asked for a snack, D got it too. We have finally gotten away from that as D will now tell you exactly what he wants and what he DOESN'T want. It's been so cool to see his personality emerge as his verbal skills are developing.
W's newest word is "well..." As in "W, what did you do at school today?" "Well....I...uh..." And he stops with that! It's too funny. It's like he's learned this new form, and he's not quite sure what to do with it, but by golly that's not going to stop him from using it! It's really cute.
In line with his newly found assertiveness, D's big thing now is "D's turn." Not "my turn" but "D's turn." Turn taking is tough for any 3 year old (and their parents), but with multiples, it's an art form, so it's good that they at least have the concept. It's a start!
And, frankly it's amazing that they, or anyone in our household, get a word in edgewise what with all the talking coming from the six year old, a.k.a Her Royal Highness, Princess McChatty. She's been saying things like, "Well, I prefer the pink one, although the purple one is quite lovely, too" since she was about 2 and 1/2. One of her favorite stories is when the boys came home from the hospital and she was about 7 days from turning 3, she asked me (amidst their tandem cries) "Mommy, is it time for the babies to go back to the hospital now?" And, for about 6 weeks after they were born, she asked me at bedtime every night if they would be back in my tummy when she woke up. Poor baby--she just did not know what had hit her! In retrospect, I'm thankful that she had the verbal skill she did so that she was at least able to verbalize her frustrations. Now that I have TWO 3 year olds, I realize that's not always a given. They have made such progress, though. I am sure that by the time the baby arrives, they'll be well able to express the same feelings their big sis had about them.
Now, I'm off to turn up the heat and go to bed. It is supposed to be in the high teens tomorrow morning. I really thought (okay hoped) that we left these temps behind when we moved from Chicago back to the balmy climate of Georgia. Oh, well...at least I know it won't last long here, as opposed to Chicago where the cold and wet and mud lasted until May.
My New Title
I'm so excited...from now on everyone can call me:
It so suits me. At 22 weeks pregnant, I am definitely blossoming, and any kind of wafer...or anything edible... sounds good to me.
 | My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Eminence the Very Viscountess Tara the Blossoming of Old Tonbridge Wafers Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title |
It so suits me. At 22 weeks pregnant, I am definitely blossoming, and any kind of wafer...or anything edible... sounds good to me.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
PJ update
Since this blog is mainly for the purpose of helping me not forget every single thing my kids ever did, I want to update on the problem I described a few weeks ago wherein Thing 1 and Thing 2 were stripping naked and peeing in their beds at night and at naptime. I think I mentioned that we put them in their pjs backwards (the zip up kind with feet) and this pretty well stopped Thing 2 from further mischief (except that now he takes his sheet off and then, when I go get him up, says "I take my sheet off, Mama. It's a no-no"). Thing 1 however...was another story. He found that while he couldn't reach the zipper or undo the snap at the top, he could work his shoulders through the neck-hole and thus "houdini" his way out of the pjs...and his diaper. So, my husband had the truly (I mean actually truly, not saracastically truly) brilliant idea of using some old pjs that are too small and cutting the feet out to make them long enough. This has worked beautifully! They are very snug, but not uncomfortably so, and the neck is small enough that he can't wiggle his way out of them (we still put them on backwards).
Now, I am sure that there are those who would think that we should discipline them out of this habit and not just "accomodate" our way around it. But really...it is hard to come up with a consequence for behavior that takes place mainly in the middle of the night...and mama and daddy just want to go to sleep. Living with 29 teenage girls, not to mention our own three, leaves sleep at premium for both of us (see post below as to what girls consider valid reasons for waking you up in the dead middle of the night). So, we do pretty much whatever it takes to maximize our own slumber time.
As I said, Thing 2 loves to take his sheet off now, though only at naptime and not at bedtime. Thing 1 has a new trick though and it is so cute. He gets completely under his FITTED crib sheet (yes, they are still in cribs..they aren't potty trained either...and they turned 3 in November...I am up for the 2007 WORLD'S WORST MOMMY AWARD). When I say completely under, I mean he takes his blanky and disappears under the sheet. Then he falls sound asleep. Because I'm, you know, paranoid and neurotic, I extricate him once he is asleep. He never wakes up.
Again, the things they think of that never EVER crossed their sister's mind. And to think...I have another one on the way! But, really they are so precious and sweet almost all the time that I can't fault them their bed-time antics.
Now, I am sure that there are those who would think that we should discipline them out of this habit and not just "accomodate" our way around it. But really...it is hard to come up with a consequence for behavior that takes place mainly in the middle of the night...and mama and daddy just want to go to sleep. Living with 29 teenage girls, not to mention our own three, leaves sleep at premium for both of us (see post below as to what girls consider valid reasons for waking you up in the dead middle of the night). So, we do pretty much whatever it takes to maximize our own slumber time.
As I said, Thing 2 loves to take his sheet off now, though only at naptime and not at bedtime. Thing 1 has a new trick though and it is so cute. He gets completely under his FITTED crib sheet (yes, they are still in cribs..they aren't potty trained either...and they turned 3 in November...I am up for the 2007 WORLD'S WORST MOMMY AWARD). When I say completely under, I mean he takes his blanky and disappears under the sheet. Then he falls sound asleep. Because I'm, you know, paranoid and neurotic, I extricate him once he is asleep. He never wakes up.
Again, the things they think of that never EVER crossed their sister's mind. And to think...I have another one on the way! But, really they are so precious and sweet almost all the time that I can't fault them their bed-time antics.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Showing her love...
Following a day filled with twin boys with twin stomach viruses, I had the sweetest moment with my daughter tonight at bedtime. After we read and sang songs, she said her prayers:
"God, our Father. Please bless all the children in the world, especially Sara so that she can come back to drama class (more on Sara later). Thank you for letting us be born and live on this earth, the most wonderful planet in the universe. Thank you for this great, warm and safe home that you gave our family to live in and for giving us plenty of food to eat. Thank you God for my family and please bless my Mama, Daddy, brothers and the new baby. Amen"
I told her thank you afterwards for her sweet prayer. And then she said, "Mama, I just try to show God my love when I pray."
Indeed.
My kids prayers always bring me joy...but this just made my day. I think she gets it.
Now to Sara. I don't know Sara, though she was in a production of the Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever with my daughter this past Christmas (they both played baby angels), but she is seven years old and has just been diagnosed with a malignant tumor in her femur. Our drama teacher has asked us all to pray for her healing and to ask others to pray for her too. So, on the off chance that someone will "lurk" past here, please pray for Sara. Our family surely will.
I should probably go get some sleep before someone gets sick again!
"God, our Father. Please bless all the children in the world, especially Sara so that she can come back to drama class (more on Sara later). Thank you for letting us be born and live on this earth, the most wonderful planet in the universe. Thank you for this great, warm and safe home that you gave our family to live in and for giving us plenty of food to eat. Thank you God for my family and please bless my Mama, Daddy, brothers and the new baby. Amen"
I told her thank you afterwards for her sweet prayer. And then she said, "Mama, I just try to show God my love when I pray."
Indeed.
My kids prayers always bring me joy...but this just made my day. I think she gets it.
Now to Sara. I don't know Sara, though she was in a production of the Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever with my daughter this past Christmas (they both played baby angels), but she is seven years old and has just been diagnosed with a malignant tumor in her femur. Our drama teacher has asked us all to pray for her healing and to ask others to pray for her too. So, on the off chance that someone will "lurk" past here, please pray for Sara. Our family surely will.
I should probably go get some sleep before someone gets sick again!
Monday, January 15, 2007
She even counted her prayers
Tonight, as I was just about to settle to catch the last hour of the Golden Globes, I heard a sneeze at the top of the stairs. I called out my daughters name, and the tears started to fall.
She: "Mommy, I cannot sleep because I am so worried about a lot of stuff." (Sob, sob sniffle)
Me: "Oh, sweetie, tell Mommy what you are worried about."
She: "It's so many things, I can't even remember. I've just completely forgotten them all." (Sniffle, sob, sob)
Me: "Okay, let's go to your room, blow your nose and I'll lie down with you for a few minutes."
She: (Sob, Sob, Sob) "Thank you,Mommy."
Then, while I'm getting a tissue for her, she explains to me the GREAT lengths she went to in order to try to fall asleep (through all of this...sob, sob, sob):
"I counted sheep. I said my prayers. I counted my prayers. I told myself a story. I sang myself a song. I looked at all the great pictures of myself and all the fun things in my life around my room." (now really SOBBING) "Finally, I tried to tell time, but I just couldn't do it!"
She had been in bed for an hour and a half at least, so she probably did all of this and much more before I heard her on the stairs. Truly, I don't know where she gets it...
She: "Mommy, I cannot sleep because I am so worried about a lot of stuff." (Sob, sob sniffle)
Me: "Oh, sweetie, tell Mommy what you are worried about."
She: "It's so many things, I can't even remember. I've just completely forgotten them all." (Sniffle, sob, sob)
Me: "Okay, let's go to your room, blow your nose and I'll lie down with you for a few minutes."
She: (Sob, Sob, Sob) "Thank you,Mommy."
Then, while I'm getting a tissue for her, she explains to me the GREAT lengths she went to in order to try to fall asleep (through all of this...sob, sob, sob):
"I counted sheep. I said my prayers. I counted my prayers. I told myself a story. I sang myself a song. I looked at all the great pictures of myself and all the fun things in my life around my room." (now really SOBBING) "Finally, I tried to tell time, but I just couldn't do it!"
She had been in bed for an hour and a half at least, so she probably did all of this and much more before I heard her on the stairs. Truly, I don't know where she gets it...
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Why my brain is so tired
I've already admitted that I'm a working mom (please don't hate me), but I have not explained why I live with 29 teenage girls. My husband and I work at a co-ed boarding school, and I am a House Mom for one of the girls' dorms. I have been "living" this job for 5 years now. For the first 3 years, I was in a boys' dorm. At that point, our family had just outgrown the apartment that went with that dorm, and we got the opportunity to move to a much bigger apartment in one of the girls' dorms. I bet I've been asked 300 times which I liked better--boys or girls. Both definitely have their advantages and disadvantages. For example:
1. Boys are very stinky--girls almost always smell nice!
2. Boys are rowdy--girls don't generally wrestle in the halls, give each other wedgies, play soccer in their rooms, have video game tournaments, or break...everything they touch.
3. Boys are messy--you wouldn't believe the conditions their rooms were in if I told you--Girls can be messy too, but for the most part, they like for things to look nice.
However...
1. Girls have DRAMA--Let me say it again--Girls have DRAMA. The tears never stop flowing around here. Seriously, someone is ALWAYS cyring over something. The only time I EVER had one of the boys cry was when they knew they were in seriously, seriously deep trouble and had to call and tell their parents about it. Luckily this wasn't that often, so not many tears shed in the boys' dorm.
2. Girls are needy. A crisis for a girl (meaning a good reason to call me or ring my doorbell at 2 a.m.) could be anything from a boyfriend issue (slightly legitimate) to a broken fingernail without a nail file in sight (not a good reason to wake up a sleeping pregnant woman). Boys just don't get worked up over this stuff that often, and if they do, they will definitely wait until the sun comes up to talk to you about it.
3. Some girls have "issues" with their mothers. This translates into "issues" with their house mother sometimes. The girls adore my husband and think he hung the moon. I, meanwhile, get dirty looks if I don't answer my cell phone (provided by the school to be SURE the kids have 24/7 access to me) on the first ring. What, do I think they have all day to sit around waiting for me to attend to their needs??? The nerve of me. Boys on the other hand generally love their mothers, which means they find it pretty easy to love their house mother. I got a lot more love and affirmation from the boys than I do from the girls for sure. And those poor boys actually had to put up with me while I was pregnant with TWINS. The girls have only had to deal with a singleton pregnancy.
Actaully, at the end of the day I can't say that I like either one better than the other. They are both lots of fun most of the time. And they both leave me exhausted in totally different ways. The girl drama has been as thick as I've ever seen it around here this past week, and I am just plain worn out by it. I hope this upcoming week will be better. Some sleep would surely be good for all of us (especially the pregnant lady).
In addition to the House Mother role, this year I have taken on a new responsibility. I am coordinating the spiritual life programming for the school. This means I am in charge of planning 2 chapel services a week (one for the whole school,day and boarding, and one just for boarding students), a bible study, and in interfaith discussion group where kids from different faith traditions can share what they believe in a safe and respectful environment. Did I know that I was going to be pregnant when I took on this new role? Definitely....NO. Still, we are making it work. My husband is wonderful and supports my dual roles here (he also teaches history full time), and we have the best babysitter in the world (really--God sent her straight from heaven to our family), plus my mom lives in town. And because I live and work in the same place and my schedule is flexible (if a bit hectic sometimes), I actually get to spend far more time with my kids than the average working mom. I am always able to go to their schools for parties, plays, etc. And I even get a moment to myself in the mid-mornings most days of the week. Still, I worry that I am shortchanging my own little ones sometimes. I pray constantly that God will show me if I am doing too much to the detriment of our family. Meanwhile, I am also praying for the strength, wisdom, and patience to serve in my current roles here at school. I am constantly reminded that our family is truly living a ministry by former and current students telling me that we have made a difference in their lives. Whether they just needed a stable family life, or something deeper and more spiritual, we have been so blessed to serve so many young people over the years. I hope our children will grow to feel a part of that "ministry" and value it like we do.
Enough rambling...time to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!
1. Boys are very stinky--girls almost always smell nice!
2. Boys are rowdy--girls don't generally wrestle in the halls, give each other wedgies, play soccer in their rooms, have video game tournaments, or break...everything they touch.
3. Boys are messy--you wouldn't believe the conditions their rooms were in if I told you--Girls can be messy too, but for the most part, they like for things to look nice.
However...
1. Girls have DRAMA--Let me say it again--Girls have DRAMA. The tears never stop flowing around here. Seriously, someone is ALWAYS cyring over something. The only time I EVER had one of the boys cry was when they knew they were in seriously, seriously deep trouble and had to call and tell their parents about it. Luckily this wasn't that often, so not many tears shed in the boys' dorm.
2. Girls are needy. A crisis for a girl (meaning a good reason to call me or ring my doorbell at 2 a.m.) could be anything from a boyfriend issue (slightly legitimate) to a broken fingernail without a nail file in sight (not a good reason to wake up a sleeping pregnant woman). Boys just don't get worked up over this stuff that often, and if they do, they will definitely wait until the sun comes up to talk to you about it.
3. Some girls have "issues" with their mothers. This translates into "issues" with their house mother sometimes. The girls adore my husband and think he hung the moon. I, meanwhile, get dirty looks if I don't answer my cell phone (provided by the school to be SURE the kids have 24/7 access to me) on the first ring. What, do I think they have all day to sit around waiting for me to attend to their needs??? The nerve of me. Boys on the other hand generally love their mothers, which means they find it pretty easy to love their house mother. I got a lot more love and affirmation from the boys than I do from the girls for sure. And those poor boys actually had to put up with me while I was pregnant with TWINS. The girls have only had to deal with a singleton pregnancy.
Actaully, at the end of the day I can't say that I like either one better than the other. They are both lots of fun most of the time. And they both leave me exhausted in totally different ways. The girl drama has been as thick as I've ever seen it around here this past week, and I am just plain worn out by it. I hope this upcoming week will be better. Some sleep would surely be good for all of us (especially the pregnant lady).
In addition to the House Mother role, this year I have taken on a new responsibility. I am coordinating the spiritual life programming for the school. This means I am in charge of planning 2 chapel services a week (one for the whole school,day and boarding, and one just for boarding students), a bible study, and in interfaith discussion group where kids from different faith traditions can share what they believe in a safe and respectful environment. Did I know that I was going to be pregnant when I took on this new role? Definitely....NO. Still, we are making it work. My husband is wonderful and supports my dual roles here (he also teaches history full time), and we have the best babysitter in the world (really--God sent her straight from heaven to our family), plus my mom lives in town. And because I live and work in the same place and my schedule is flexible (if a bit hectic sometimes), I actually get to spend far more time with my kids than the average working mom. I am always able to go to their schools for parties, plays, etc. And I even get a moment to myself in the mid-mornings most days of the week. Still, I worry that I am shortchanging my own little ones sometimes. I pray constantly that God will show me if I am doing too much to the detriment of our family. Meanwhile, I am also praying for the strength, wisdom, and patience to serve in my current roles here at school. I am constantly reminded that our family is truly living a ministry by former and current students telling me that we have made a difference in their lives. Whether they just needed a stable family life, or something deeper and more spiritual, we have been so blessed to serve so many young people over the years. I hope our children will grow to feel a part of that "ministry" and value it like we do.
Enough rambling...time to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!
Saturday, January 6, 2007
To amnio or not to amnio
Ever since I found out baby number four is on the way and realized that I would be, you know...over 35 (okay 36) when baby arrived, I have insisted that I wanted an amniocentesis. Let me be very clear that we would not terminate a pregnancy no matter what the results. But, I am a planner (okay, AND a worrier), and I felt like the more information I could have and the earlier I could get it, the better off we'd all be.
2 1/2 weeks ago I went in at 16 weeks for the big scary needle in the belly. Before we even began, my doctor said that sometimes there was not a large enough pocket of fluid in the right area (i.e. not right next to, oh say, the baby's head or something) and, in that case, we would try again in two weeks. Well, sure enough the only large pocket of fluid was right next to the little rascal's head. So, he sent me away and told me to come back in two weeks. He also told me to drink lots of water in the two days prior to the next attempt.
So, I drank and drank. We went back this past Wednesday. The doctor scanned my belly for at least 20 full minutes. There was our cute little boy--his ankles crossed and totally kicked back and taking up as much room in utero as he possibly could! No snuggly fetal position for him, thank you very much! Why curl up when you have all that glorious room to yourself, right?
The doctor said there was actually plenty of fluid in there. It's just that little one was taking up almost every square centimeter of it. Once again, the only large pocket of fluid was right next to his sweet little head (no big scary needles allowed near sweet tiny baby heads). So, still no amnio.
The doctor discussed our options. We could wait a couple of weeks and try again. We could go to the perinatologist I saw with the boys and let him try. Or we could go ahead with the Maternal Serum Screen and see what that yields. Apparently if the serum screen looks good and 20 week ultrasound looks good, the odds of there being any chromosomal issues will be similar to what they would be for someone in their early 20s.
We decided to go ahead with the blood screen. I told my husband that I really don't think God wanted me to have the procedure done--at least not at that time and under those terms (my terms). I'm getting another much needed lesson in trust, faith, patience...all things I am not always so great at.
This reminds me of another story I want to write about sometime--a conversation I had with a friend...a mom of much older kids...when I was filled with anxiety about one of our unborn twins having a potentially serious heart condition. That's a story I don't ever want to forget.
I am going to turn my energy from worry to where it should have been all along. Thanking God for the healthy, already feisty little boy growing inside of me and placing him totally and completely in God's hands.
2 1/2 weeks ago I went in at 16 weeks for the big scary needle in the belly. Before we even began, my doctor said that sometimes there was not a large enough pocket of fluid in the right area (i.e. not right next to, oh say, the baby's head or something) and, in that case, we would try again in two weeks. Well, sure enough the only large pocket of fluid was right next to the little rascal's head. So, he sent me away and told me to come back in two weeks. He also told me to drink lots of water in the two days prior to the next attempt.
So, I drank and drank. We went back this past Wednesday. The doctor scanned my belly for at least 20 full minutes. There was our cute little boy--his ankles crossed and totally kicked back and taking up as much room in utero as he possibly could! No snuggly fetal position for him, thank you very much! Why curl up when you have all that glorious room to yourself, right?
The doctor said there was actually plenty of fluid in there. It's just that little one was taking up almost every square centimeter of it. Once again, the only large pocket of fluid was right next to his sweet little head (no big scary needles allowed near sweet tiny baby heads). So, still no amnio.
The doctor discussed our options. We could wait a couple of weeks and try again. We could go to the perinatologist I saw with the boys and let him try. Or we could go ahead with the Maternal Serum Screen and see what that yields. Apparently if the serum screen looks good and 20 week ultrasound looks good, the odds of there being any chromosomal issues will be similar to what they would be for someone in their early 20s.
We decided to go ahead with the blood screen. I told my husband that I really don't think God wanted me to have the procedure done--at least not at that time and under those terms (my terms). I'm getting another much needed lesson in trust, faith, patience...all things I am not always so great at.
This reminds me of another story I want to write about sometime--a conversation I had with a friend...a mom of much older kids...when I was filled with anxiety about one of our unborn twins having a potentially serious heart condition. That's a story I don't ever want to forget.
I am going to turn my energy from worry to where it should have been all along. Thanking God for the healthy, already feisty little boy growing inside of me and placing him totally and completely in God's hands.
Monday, January 1, 2007
New Year's Eve Fun
Our family has a tradition of spending New Year's Eve with two other families (the Zs and the Ws) at the home at the home of the Ws. Last year, we all actually spent the night, but this year we knew our 3 year olds would never go to sleep if we didn't bring them home at some point. We stayed until about 10:30 and then brought them back home and put them straight to bed (bonus--they slept until 10:30 this morning). The princess, big girl that she is, got to stay for the sleepover. She thought she was super grown up.
We usually just have lots of appetizers and graze all through the night. The kids played hard and all four of the boys in attendance knocked heads with each other at some point. The girls (3 of them) had lots of girly fun including making the required "no boys aloud" sign for the bedroom door (the oldest two girls present are only six, so I thought this was some good inventive spelling).
Other details of the evening shall be witheld to protect the guilty...I mean, innocent.
I am so thankful for these great friends. I'm glad we have each other and I'm glad our kids have each other. What great memories they'll have of these times when they grow up. I am glad that we have friends who also value spending time with their children (and apparently ours) rather than hiring sitters and going out for the night.
And I can't believe it's 2007. The year in which our family will grow from 5 to 6. The year in which I'll be pregnant for the last time (really sort of sad and really sort of happy--depends on the day). The year in which we get to meet our sweet new baby boy!
Who knows what the year will bring? Well, actually I know who knows it, and I'm sure He's got it all under control. I just pray for the grace to rise to it!
Happy New Year!
We usually just have lots of appetizers and graze all through the night. The kids played hard and all four of the boys in attendance knocked heads with each other at some point. The girls (3 of them) had lots of girly fun including making the required "no boys aloud" sign for the bedroom door (the oldest two girls present are only six, so I thought this was some good inventive spelling).
Other details of the evening shall be witheld to protect the guilty...I mean, innocent.
I am so thankful for these great friends. I'm glad we have each other and I'm glad our kids have each other. What great memories they'll have of these times when they grow up. I am glad that we have friends who also value spending time with their children (and apparently ours) rather than hiring sitters and going out for the night.
And I can't believe it's 2007. The year in which our family will grow from 5 to 6. The year in which I'll be pregnant for the last time (really sort of sad and really sort of happy--depends on the day). The year in which we get to meet our sweet new baby boy!
Who knows what the year will bring? Well, actually I know who knows it, and I'm sure He's got it all under control. I just pray for the grace to rise to it!
Happy New Year!
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