Alleluia!

As I write there is a fair amount of snow outside my window. I'm up early with some half-caf coffee after a pretty decent night (of which there are more and more, and for which I am so grateful). I guess we are getting our chance to possibly take Karis sledding (um, for the first time EVER. 3 1/2 and no sledding, that's right). Ironically, in Jesus Calling this morning, there was a sentence about "don't complain about anything, even the weather".  Not once has this little daily book mentioned the weather - hilarious!

I'm thinking about the last time I sat down to write and all the little and big moments of the past few weeks. The big event was Holy Week, which led up to the Saturday Easter Vigil, at which Judah was baptized. I haven't taken time to fully reflect on the power of this sacrament and what it means for his life. He is a child of God, and right now the words Christian said while he anointed Judah's head with oil come to mind: "Judah you are signed with the seal of the cross."

Some sweet memories include . . .

- An open house here for family and Godparents. It was a joy to watch people mingle, and most followed us to the church for the Vigil
- Judah wore a beautiful outfit that his Grandma Lorie got especially for him
- We all watched and worshiped at the Vigil, which is my very favorite service EVER. The three hours are filled with dramatic retelling of passages from Genesis to the Gospels that lead up to the official start of the Easter celebration. The scripture, the songs, the lighting, the dancing, the artwork - all intricate, intentional, astounding. Judah slept through a great deal of the service in the Moby, I'll always remember that time with him
- Before the service, I went to nurse and change Judah. I was in the basement bathroom, he was getting tired, and I was having quite the time trying to get him dressed. I was regretting not taking my mom up on her offer to come along to help . . . and not a minute later she and Karis walked into the bathroom. It was a sweet moment, and so needed. Thank you, Karis, for needing to go to the bathroom! We got him suited up, Moby-wrapped, and soaked in the service together
- The verses we chose for Judah are Ephesians 1: 17-19a:
"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Hi, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance of the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe."

Easter was an exciting celebration, church and hymns and hot cross buns, brunch at Mill Valley Kitchen, naps (Grandpa Kirk helped Karis nap that weekend, precious), dinner at Redstone, cupcakes and ice cream back here for Uncle Drew's birthday.

The next week I quite crashed! We enjoyed restored health, a dinner here with former neighbors, story and craft time at Lifeway, walks around the neighborhood. At the end of the week we welcomed a dear  friend from college and had a fabulous time having her with us through the weekend. The days flew with some running around, hanging out, cooking, and getting through season 1 of Call the Midwife.

Daily updates are that the days begin earlier and earlier. And thus my chances to practice flexibility increase. I admit that I have quite the standard for how the days should look, and I realize more and more that it's not really up to me! Will I learn?

Karis-isms:

- "Mommy, did Luke's grandpa drive to heaven in a car? I think Luke's grandpa has lots of good snacks in bed in heaven" (we visited some grieving friends, and since it was Lent and all, thought we might as well be honest about everything - it's opened up some good conversations)
- "Carry me! My foot hurts. I don't think I'll jump off the bed anymore" (Karis and her friends were - sneakily - jumping off an adult bed . . . Karis however, didn't have a pillow to land on. Thank God my mom arrived a few hours later to help carry Karis around)
- "I'm going to be so tired if I finish all my dinner"
- "I'm going to be so dizzy if I clean up"
- "Can you reach the ceiling?" (said every single place we go - not sure from where this came?)
- "Christ the Lord is Risen Today!" (she sings this hymn with such gusto. Actually, Karis sings through her day, very entertaining and uplifting)
- She dresses her piggy bank during nappers
- She puts stickers on everything. Everything. I had a lady at Target this week ask me if she should remove the stickers from my jacket.
- "Mommy, why is the weather broken?" Indeed, dear daughter!


Judah updates:

- He LOVES to be looked at, talked to, and held (especially so he can look over one's shoulder)
- He continues to be calm, content, and mellow
- He falls asleep almost immediately when I wrap him in the Moby wrap
- He blows bubbles of spit and can soak my shirt (or his) in minutes
- He likes to suck on his hands when he can find them
- He lights up with smiling eyes and gummy mouth, coos, and is basically the most squishy and delicious little thing ever

In media:

An article to love

A song to dance to from the Vigil. Considering it's about PRAISE (the meaning of Judah), I believe this will be the song I most remember from his baptism  - it's also the song during which the congregation sings alleluia for the first time, the start of the Easter celebration.


From How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk:
". . . the hardest part is the shift we have to make in attitude. We have to stop thinking of the child as a problem that needs correction . . . we have to stop worrying that if we're not 'tough enough' the child will take advantage of us. It requires a great act of faith to believe that if we take the time to sit down and share our real feelings with a young person, and listen to his feelings, together we'll come up with solutions that will be right for both of us . . . when there is conflict, we no longer have to mobilize our forces against each other and worry about who will emerge victorious and who will go down in defeat".
(this is resonating after some bedtime behavior regression - I just told Trevor earlier in the week how normal things were feeling). I keep wondering what our various roles are in this situation - between grace, authority, help, independence . . . Anyways!


I got Alexander and the Terrible Horrible . . . book for Karis, and discovered I really don't enjoy reading that book - and she of course keeps asking for the "sick book" (because he's sick in it). Is this indicative of future differing opinions on literature?

Started reading the book Wonder for book club. Interesting.

Finished Bringing up Bebe, thoroughly entertaining and surprisingly applicable.

8 children were baptized that night,  amazing to share the joy with so many families

Late at night after the Vigil

Karis at the end of the Vigil . . . claiming the Rold Golds and offering them to other hungry tots

Word of the Year

Around the lunch table with Trev's parents recently, I was reminded about the Word of the Year. 2013 for me is: PRAISE.

Last year's word was "Grace", the meaning of Karis's name. Judah means "praise", and that meaning is what sealed the selling of the name to us, and feels quite appropriate for the way these months have begun for us.

The thing about Praise is that it's a posture that I do have to choose. Even when things are smooth and easy, it's easy to neglect to praise, easy to get caught in the dragging details (like, dragging-on coughs for everyone, that's the deal this week). Our nights around here are not the most restful, and in those moments I can feel just so tired and whiny - and it hit me the other day that it's about 1 hour a day that's like that. The other hours are really pretty amazing. Then I got to thinking about expectations, and how I can so easily expect perfect days . . . what would make a day "perfect" and feeling frustrated when it's not. Good grief, time to change that mind set. I always struggle with wanting control and this is a season of continually learning to let go. My mantra lately is "nothing is a big deal". Because thankfully, lately, nothing really IS a big deal. So yeah, praise. Lots of it. On an opposite note, sometimes I'm so overwhelmed with all for which we have to get praise, that it can be hard to receive so much during this season, to rest into the blessings, to let them spill over and hopefully bless others.

And there are my random thoughts.

We're in the midst of Holy Week, and it's been amazing to listen to Karis start to get it, to ask questions and talk about Jesus dying on the cross. Here's a song if you have time to listen.

I was blessed to celebrate my birthday yesterday - how different than a year ago! I'm loved celebrating the day with my children . . . Karis was quite underwhelmed that it's my birthday, which I think is kind of funny. We met my bro for coffee and then I whisked the kids to the doctor - mostly for Judah's cough - and discovered K has an ear infection. And I'm under directions to monitor Judah's cough. On the drive home I called Trevor to whine, he wasn't available, which is probably good, because I had time to realize that: a) we're not THAT sick, really, b) we have a fabulous clinic, c) this just fits my "managing expectations" mode right now. Sometimes in the midst of sniffles, priorities are clearer. To top it off, Karis also didn't nap, had a major meltdown when our friends came over this afternoon (which was such a blessing to have them here, to talk and watch our children play), then fell asleep on our way to dinner. Precious child of mine. We enjoyed Potbelly's sandwiches, Trev & K went back to Teavana, both kids went to bed peacefully, we got to watch an episode of Call the Midwife, and then both kids (and subsequently, me) had a fabulous night of sleep. This life is a gift.

I realized after my last post that I've been neglecting to include any Judah updates!

- He smiles and coos and squeals and is just completely delightful!
- He now sleeps at night in his crib . . . which for me is a significant step in separation and feels odd and sad. Actually, with Trev on Karis's floor these days, our bedroom is pretty lonely
- He has one blowout a day (at least), Karis loves when I get hit with the yellow stuff
- He slurps his hands, and it's the cutest sound ever
- He gazes into our eyes and lights up, his eyes even smile
- He loves when we use the "snot sucker" on him. Hilarious
- He continues to be mellow and loves to sleep. And I love to hold him when he sleeps.
- He's getting baptized this weekend at the Easter Vigil. Every time I think about it I want to cry


Karis-isms
- "Mommy, we got you tea! Do you want to open it now? You're gonna be so SURPRISED!"
- "I don't feel well, I have a bad cough. My ear hurts. Can I go to sleep until it's better like daddy did?" (then proceeds to lay down in a fetal position, just like Trev when he was sick in bed)
- "Daddy, can you help me sleep?" (and then in the middle of the night, when he's on her floor: "Daddy, can I lay on the floor with you? Do you want to lay in bed with me? It's really comfortable. There's lots of room")
- "Mommy, I'll give you choices. Which one do you want?" (said while clothes shopping, she's going to be such a great help to me in this area - well, she already is)
- "Can I smell it?" (loves to smell anything, and come to think of it she's always been able to identify smells very well, which leads to . . .)
- "Mmm, it smells like a restaurant!"
- "Mommy, you're having a coffee date, I'm having a water date" (said at Panera, true statement)
- "Can you do the snot sucker on me?" (she watches us do the 'nose frieda' on Judah)
- "Mommy, when can I watch doctor?" (she found the Call the Midwife DVD, and I told her she can watch it when she's 22)
- "Where's my coffee?!" (said in the middle of the night, waking up delirious with a fever)
- "Mommy, should we write a thank you note to the nice man at Osaka for cooking our food?"  (for not liking it there, I thought this was sweet)
- "Mommy, when I'm bigger I'm going to drive you to the Mall of America and we're going to get chicken wings!" (cousin Caroline was telling her about eating chicken wings at MOA . . . I'm excited to make this one happen!)
- "I wrote you a birthday card! It says 'daughter loves you'" (melt my heart)


Some media I've been loving the past week:

A Chuck Swindoll series on parenting. I could listen to his voice all. day. long. One of the best points I've soaked in is to get to really  KNOW our children.

Bringing up Bebe. An account of an American raising her children in France, there are some quite applicable observations.

Parenting with Love and Logic. An interesting approach to letting natural consequences be the main discipline in parenting.

Call the Midwife. Pure delight and also quite emotional to watch as I hold a sleeping Judah.

I loved this blog post.

And this one.

Waiting for Birdie. A dear friend sent this my way, hilarious and holds many truisms. Such as, "Maybe you just can't warn people about the real things (about parenthood). 'Oh, good luck with the baby! Enjoy eating out while you still can! And, you know, enjoy your mind, before it liquefies. In fact, enjoy your whole life, before it turns into a disorienting blur of love and crushing anxiety.' Nobody mentioned the way my heart would be brought to its knees, a thousand times a day, by my love for the baby . . . "

I agree with her - in a good way. And we surely enjoy everything . . . our lives and restaurants and our liquefied minds.

Moved and Moving

Moving and moved in musings . . .

Well, we moved. It happened! I sometimes still walk around our house wondering if this is all truly real . . . we love being here, and are slowly settling in. I was thinking about our moving week and in some ways it felt like a wedding: lots of people working together for this one event, so many people blessing us in various ways, God providing just what we needed when we needed it. I also likened the last couple days before closing date to a marathon, and even said out loud to my mom: "It's like approaching the finish line, sometimes you p**p your pants but the feeling of joy and relief when you cross the line is still awesome". There was no p**p involved, but we did have quite the week of last minute shopping for a washer and dryer, Karis up for hours in the middle of the night after not wanting to go to bed, last minute packing boxes.

And really, there were specific gifts to each day that week: a friend brought a new CD and danced and laughed with Karis while I packed a couple boxes. A family had us over to their lovely home for dinner and playing with their dear daughters, a friend gave us enough soup (like, best soup I've ever had) to last through the week, friends came over one morning to help clear out our fridge and listen to my Karis-not-sleeping woes and offer empathy and suggestions, Trev's aunt and uncle came and helped us with final packing details - AND helped with Karis while we closed AND helped us move in. My fabulous new sister-in-law-to-be (congrats to D & M!) had the kids and me to her place on moving day so we could stay rested and safe. Myriad friends helped on moving day and they got it ALL in one trip. Crazy! It was all truly beautiful. Trevor planned the work and worked the plan, I'm so proud of him. We're so grateful.

We've already loved having my mom and grandma visit (and help tremendously while Trev traveled, wonderful to make memories here with 4 generations of females taking over the casa. We had a blast), many friends over to run around, and Trev's parents were here last weekend and lightened things up greatly here.

Now Trev's getting over pneumonia and Karis croup. We are SO excited for spring.

Parenting lately has been humbling and interesting - I read a quote recently that "families are God's classroom." Yup, we're learning a lot. About letting go of expectations, being flexible, letting a lot of things go, living in the moment, claiming joy. Karis is delightful, and she has endured lots of little-world-rocking change: brother, house, lots of people coming and going. Trevor now sleeps on her floor, which is what gets us all rest. Well, it gets them rest, ha - Judah and I are up quite a bit! But in the grand picture, wow, these things are "the small stuff" and I was glad for a reminder from my dad to "not sweat the small stuff". Takes discipline to do that, and that's okay. I feel like I need to lighten up, which takes some intentionality. So, for today, my lighten up effort will be to: go into Karis's room for Monkey Monday acting like a monkey. Dance with her in the play room. Get something messy and try to not care.

Parenting consumes my thoughts and actions twenty four hours a day right now. I took K to the pediatrician last week to make sure she didn't have a lingering ear infection (really, I was probably looking for a reason for the acting out, and the screaming in the middle of the night!). Super healthy girl (thankfully) and the doc gave me some good prescriptions: time for myself one night a week (i.e. be gone at bedtime), alone time with Karis in the evening . . . yes, please, to both! It was good to just chat with someone and receive some affirmation about the things we're trying. The thing I'm realizing is that we're establishing habits all the time, some good and some bad. And when I realize the bad ones, the change has to start with US as the adults. Humbling, challenging, growing. Thankfully there's a million chances a day to try new things. Thankfully there is loads of grace for everyone. I believe these are God's children, entrusted to our care. Putting that belief into practice by sincerely trusting and letting go, that's a bit more difficult.

I took my couple hours out alone (well, with Judah) last week to run an errand and then get coffee. A cashier looked at Judah and said how excited she was to have kids - to which I'm still analyzing my reaction: almost started crying, gushed about how amazing parenthood is . . . then found myself wanting to cry (mostly in a good way) about how absolutely life changing it is. I mean, I was on my "break" but all I could think about was Karis: are they having fun? Will she go to bed all right? Does she know she's safe and loved and that we want the absolute best for her? Are we setting the right limits between grace and boundaries?

So yeah, I almost cried in front of this sweet cashier, and then went to have a cup of coffee and try to read a fun book but continued to think about my children and parenting. Eventually these thoughts lead to prayer and surrender - maybe eventually I'll arrive at that solution sooner. All in all, it's so amazing to know the beauty of life through these experiences, to know my limitations and weaknesses, to know God's grace and strength and perspective.


Karis-isms
- "I don't want him to do the hot burn again!" (at Osaka, a hibachi grill place where they cook in front of you - flames included)
- "If I eat all this rice, I might be full and get a headache"
-  "This is my winter modesty dress. I needed one!"
- "Mommy, should we take an airplane to Bismarck and have dinner there tonight?"
- "Mommy, let's play airplane!"
- "Look at my tattoo!"
- "Daddy, read about the sheep!" (every night, she wants Trevor to tell her the parable of the lost sheep)

 

My Valentines

The latest quotable comes from The Scarlet Pimpernel:

"The weariest nights, the longest days, sooner or later must perforce come to an end."

Indeed! There have been some weary nights and long days, for sure. But I also know this season is fleeting and so am trying so hard to live in the moment.

The moments have held many memories, this week was special because of Valentine's Day. Karis appropriately picked out a fancy red dress (pictures below), which she wore all day. Little girl had an ear infection, so we laid low. We went to Caribou for a coffee date, which was hilarious. She sipped her smoothie and told me all about "her kids", telling me what they did when they born. Karis hilarious! Judah slept through the whole thing (I sure hope he tolerates coffee dates someday). A dear friend delivered cookies and frosting to our door, so that provided a creative diversion. Another friend without young kids and not afraid of our bad germs came by to help decorate them. We whipped up some red jello and made heart jigglers. And no V-day would be complete without our Pope family tradition of buy-one-get-one-free Q doba for dinner.

My favorite part of Valentine's Day was when Trevor came home bearing cards for me and Karis - the smile that lit up Karis's face will remain in my memory . . . she took the card to bed, and when Trevor went in to rub her back (bedtime is a whole other story now, uff da) she was reading it. Still my heart!

Last weekend was many things: interesting, joyful, miserable, ironic. Trev was supposed to be on the men's ski retreat and so my precious mother and grandmother booked tickets to take care of the rest of us here during his absence. Well, we got slammed with what appears to have been "the" flu: respiratory version, aches, chills. I escaped pretty well with just a couple quite uncomfortable days, Karis's lingered and turned into an ear infection, Trevor was in the basement for three days straight. THANK GOD my mom and grandma were here - sickness coupled with a snowstorm would have made me go crazy if I were alone. And also thank God Judah escaped illness. A couple of my closest cousins were also in town and we did manage to have some fun with some meals out and in with them. Memorable!

Valentine's Day this week was the most gorgeous sight with snow on the trees and the sun shining. Again, trying to soak in the moments that make up the days. I'm even getting a box packed here and there, which feels like quite an accomplishment. Not to mention, getting rid of loads of clutter. So cleansing.

The below has only taken . . . several weeks to write . . . and as you'll see, the bulk of text is attributed to other authors!

Karis-isms:

- "You're such a miracle!"
- "Mommy, can you please go to the kitchen?"
- "Can I have some leaves, please?" (spinach)
- "I'll be the mother" (said to one of her younger friends at our small group gathering while she helped her use the bathroom)
- Lately Karis wakes up from her nap dressed differently than I left her . . . most often in a new shirt and tights. Impressive, considering she has to find her way to new clothing in the dark and then wiggle into the too-small tights
- "Some of my boys play 'hey now right now'" (true, this is the game she plays with her closest little guy friends)
- "Who is God?" (whoa, big question!)
- "Life is good!" (after Grandma Lorie asked her "How's life?")
- "A glass for mommy juice!" (a glass in her play kitchen that is actually for ice cream but resembles a wine glass)
- "You can go to Trader Joe's by yourself, I want to stay here with daddy" (said after I came back from being gone overnight . . . sad!)
- "Mommy, don't be overwhelmed!" (after hearing me - from another room - say that I feel overwhelmed. HOW did she get so perceptive? Scary)

Karis has been transitioning well with so much going on - it's been interesting to get to know her even more as she adjusts. I really miss our hours of one-on-one time, and I'm realizing that we're both growing up and separating from each other. I've had moments of grief about this, which I guess is also part of the growing process.

Judah adventures:
- Many people who meet him say "he looks just like Karis!". I love that.
- He is a sleepy, chill child. Falls asleep nursing, sleeps a couple hours at a time (day or night, feels long during the day and short during the night)
- He went to his first ladies' book club (only boy allowed, ha)
- He went to his first ladies' retreat (which included his first trip out-of-state to Wisconsin)

Middle of the night book reading quotables:

From The Social Animal by David Brooks (interesting method of writing - he's making his point about human socialization/self-realization and other things in narrative form . . . with tons of research and statistics woven throughout):

"The average baby demands adult attention of one kind or another every twenty seconds. New mothers lose and average of seven hundred hours of sleep during that first year. Marital satisfaction plummets 70 percent, while the risk of maternal depression more than doubles . . . women who give birth to boys have shorter life expectancies because the boys' testosterone can compromise their immune system . . .

babies organize their internal states by seeing their own minds reflected back at them in the faces of others . . . [babies and mothers/fathers] get to know each other largely through touch, tears, looks, smell and laughter. It is possible to have a complex human relationship without words."

Fascinating! And . . . true, probably?!  I'm really tired. Thankful to be healthy and feeling generally good and mostly positive.

And, from the Mayo Book of Pregnancy and Baby's First Year - advice about transitioning to having a new baby: 
"Postpone major changes"
I laughed at this one as I read it out loud to Trevor. Sure, no problem. But how about Trevor gets a new job (a couple months ago) and we decide to move homes? Exciting major changes for sure . . . all positive and we're thankful.

I'm also reading an interesting book by an NPR journalist about centenarians, If I Live to Be 100. Full of interviews and perspectives from 100-something across the country, I'm reminded to thinking about life NOW. How am I living, who am I becoming? The author reflects on an interview she had with a couple who are both in their 100's:

"My marriage is so short compared to their's. How lucky they are to have had so much time together. What can I possibly do to make the years my husband and I have left together mean more?

Be here now, I thought. Be here now."

This is admittedly a challenge for me right now . . . the days are a whirlwind and Trevor receives whatever leftover patience, kindness, affection that I have to offer. May I remember that "the days are long but the years are short".

Little Women (and Men, too)

We're into week three of this family of four, finding rhythms, out of our sweats and pajamas, and back to Monkey Monday. Some random-ness below for anyone interested in the happenings of a rather simple and quite content family.

Karisms
- Playing her guitar like a cello: sitting in her rocking chair, using Mrs. Potato Head's arm as a bow
- "Mommy, can we go buy a cello after nappers?"
- Playing "midwife" elaborately. She goes through the whole appointment, even uses a picture frame as her computer. Hand sanitizer goes on the stethoscope and is later wiped off with tissues. Lots and lots of bandaids are used.
- Playing "coffee" by using dried kidney beans and coffee filters. She offers me and Trevor "medium decaf", and it sure is delicious.
- "Let's read the milkman!" (we have a couple vintage stories - Eloise Wilkin & Virginia Lee Burton - they both have milkmen. Hilarious)
- She is glued to Judah, I'm so humbled by her sweet, welcoming spirit

Judah-stats
- He is thriving, very sweet, more alert and looking around every day
- People say he has long fingers, a nicely shaped head, and looks like Karis when she was an infant
- His umbilical cord fell off on Sunday and Karis was excited to do tummy time with him

Mom-marvels
- Trying to savor the moments and not zoom into life's details too quickly . . .
- Amazed by the gift of creation
- Thankful for family and friends to love on us and our children (thank you, all!)
- Loving that it's cold outside so we can hunker down in our home
- Writing this quickly so am definitely missing a lot but just have to feel like I finished something!

Sometimes I look at Judah and I wonder who he will become. I can picture him being a man and I envision him being lively, strong in character, soft in heart. He will surely be well taken care of, Karis is protective and proud of her little brother. Come to think of it, pretty sure we say "Little Brother" more than we say "Judah". We've enjoyed almost two weeks of having family around, they were all so wonderful to dote on Karis and give Judah cuddles (which means I got some needed baths, naps, quiet times). We're thankful. This week we'll find out what some "new normals" are around here.

Some book quotables from the last few days:

From The Divine Hours (a prayer book we use during mealtimes and bedtime):

Psalm 127:3
". . . he gives to his beloved sleep"

I laughed out loud when I read this. I think Trevor must be the beloved in our house right now! And Karis. 2 out of 4 isn't bad, I guess.

I've also been loving some more Little Women in the wee hours of the nursing night time. There was a chapter about Meg and Mr. Brooke's parenting and marriage strategies/challenges. I know I was smiling as I related to the descriptions . . . Meg giving everything to her babies and having nothing left for her husband . . . feeling worn out but not able to let go of the tasks that she feels are hers to do. Good reminders, lots to think about. Marmee gives her some solicited advice and to me, reveals the sage that she is. Advice I feel is for me as well:

"You have only made the mistake that most young wives make - forgotten your duty to your husband in your love for your children. (talking about her own marriage, she says) Each do our part alone in many things, but at home we work together, always.

Go out more: keep cheerful as well as busy, for you are the sunshine-maker of the family, and if you get dismal there is no fair weather. Then I'd try to take an interest in what John likes . . . don't shut yourself up in a bandbox because you are a woman . . . take your part in the world's work, for it all affects you and yours. no time is so beautiful and precious to parents as the first years of the little lives given them to train. . . through your children you will learn to know and love one another as you should."

The chapter ends (as does this post) in this way:

"This is the sort of shelf on which young wives and mothers may consent to be laid, safe from the restless fret and fever of the world, finding loyal lovers in the little sons and daughters who cling to them, undaunted by sorrow, poverty, or age; walking side by side, through fair and stormy weather, with a faithful friend, who is, int he true sense of the good old Saxon word, the 'houseband', and learning, as Meg learned, that a woman's happiest kingdom is home, her highest honor the art of ruling it, not as a queen, but a wise wife and mother."

Two for One

So . . .

Just like that, our boy is HERE! There's so much my heart and mind are wanting to write, and hopefully will get to soon . . .

Judah Robert Ryan was born quickly and health-fully on December 28th at 8:48am. WOW, I can hardly believe it. He is one week old as of just a few hours ago . . .

More to follow for sure, we are filled with PRAISE (the meaning of Judah). It's all too much.


______________________________________________________________

And here is your two-for-one deal: below is a post that was in progress (you know, on my "to do list") before Judah's arrival.


Karis-isms (pre baby Judah!)

- "Mommy, I'm going to make a phone call. Can you please be quiet?"
- "We're all dressed in our best!" (what Karis tells Trevor when they are all suited up for going outside)
- "Mommy, is baby brother going to be born today, or next time?" (asked after I told her we were leaving for a midwife appointment)
- "I like to write m&m's with feet and kitty cats with tails"
- "Is baby brother kicking really hard?"
- "Someday, when I'm big, I can go see The Hobbit!"
- "Mommy's gingerbread has a baby belly" (true - they gave out homemade gingerbread people at church one Sunday, and even had special ones for the pregnant mommas with a baby gingerbread embedded into the belly)
- "I need to go wash my dishes!"
- "Do you want to put some sugar in your tea? Do you want to join me?"
- "I can't wait to have my guac" (you know, guacamole. atta girl)
- "Someday I'll have a phone that works and I can talk to her"
- "Can I please have some berries with my gingerbread stomach?" (she ate a gingerbread man piece by piece, and thought the red  hot candies were berries)
- "I want baby brother to come out right now" (said with her stomach on my belly: 12/18 - a day I had been contracting a lot)
- "I made a fancy feast for us!" (included tea, meatballs and ice cream - she even used a cookbook and utensils)

The festivities have been fabulous and relaxed this season. We made a little family memory a few weeks ago when we used some of Trev's hotel/travel points to spend the night in a hotel 5 minutes down the road. We arrived in a snow-storm, ate pizza, explored the hotel, swam, opened up "new-to-her" pj's for Karis and ate popcorn in bed. Karis got the huge bedroom so we could traipse around the living room area . . . and sleep on the less-than-full-size pull out (discovered that after lights out for K). Cozy! I crashed early and Trevor was entertained by Predators. Christmas-y, right? We had a blast, a fun family memory.

The night was most memorable for me because I was up almost every half hour with contractions, thinking "Oh boy, this is it. How are we going to get to the hospital . . .  I'll have to stop at home and get my bag . . . "  Well, the morning found things much calmer and the day went on as usual. Interestingly, at my midwife appointment a few days later I told her about that night.  It took her about 2 seconds to say, "Oh yeah, that happens a lot during snow storms". Huh. So, I've been watching the weather.

News in Trevor's sphere is that he's settling into his new job, we went to his work Christmas party, and he saw The Hobbit. He hosted a guys' night game party, organized Brews with the Bros, and has been an organizing machine. A good month.

We've enjoyed going through our Christmas movies, and with the help of some friends we introduced Karis to A Muppet Christmas Carol - hilarious. I got through The Family Stone without crying . . . and decided that instead of watching Little Women, I thought I might as well read it. I am loving its reminders of deep, simple faith - that life is not always easy but God is always good. That we are continually on a journey of character growth and all have obstacles to overcome - and strengths to offer. I'm loving the example of "Marmee", her mothering is beautiful and real (again, not without its trials).

I was thankful to read this passage: "I like to think He was a little child once, for then I don't seem so far away, and that helps me" (said by young Amy, who is explaining one of her paintings of Mother Mary and Jesus to her mom).

Isn't that so Christmas?

And now it's the 26th. We spent the last several days here with my parents, celebrating Christmas. We're so thankful to have had family here, I feel like we had a retreat in our home with laid back meals (thanks, mom, for the meatballs & turkey & stuffing & bounteous baked goods!), lots of decaf, Christmas music, and playing with Karis. We got to spend some time Christmas Day with the "Minneapolis Popes", also such a gift.

And of course every day we're eagerly waiting to meet baby boy - the anticipation is both exhilarating and exhausting. I remind Trevor every once in a while that most of my thoughts now are about labor/birth. I was thankful to come across a passage that I hope to remember during labor. Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

I'm not sure who was enjoying watching Santa Claus more . . . Trevor or Karis?

Daddy's shoveling helper

Cozy Christmas