After a completely horrible comment was made on one of my youtube videos last night, I've decided to take my blog private.
Yes, I have thought about doing this before now. I've been avoiding this step as long as possible, thinking that my writing and pictures and videos were just being enjoyed by friends and family and as importantly, that I wanted my readers to be able to share my blog with others that knew them (or us). I incorrectly assumed that I was flying under the radar anyway.
So when a sexual reference comment about my son landed with a thud in my inbox last night, I was shocked to say the least. Eric happened to be working late yesterday, and after my boys were tucked into bed, it was dark and quiet and lonely in the house. The words hit me like a blinding flash, a searing burn that couldn't be soothed by the cool and dark comfort of truth I repeated to myself - I am safe, my boys are safe. I was extremely shaken by the feelings of vulnerability and fear that immediately flooded into my world, even though I knew this person could not have found me or my sons. His only weapon was crudely chosen words, representing thoughts that were too dark to repeat. I was terrified for my sons, for their future, for the world that we live in that is home to even one mind such as his.
For that reason, my blog is now private. And my youtube videos are quickly going private as well.
If you're reading this, it's because you're very welcome here - I'm glad you're here. My blog is my most consistent (ha! that's just laughable over the course of this last year!) method of expressing my creativity and it's a treasured way for me to share the goings-on of my family with you all.
If you have friends or family members that you want to share my blog with, just drop me a note, I'm happy to add them - really it's not a bother at all. A great sorrow about taking this blog private is that there is now a hoop to jump through before you can access my stories and pictures. I hope you'll understand it's necessity and visit often.
And please leave a comment. Your comments, especially now, will give me a reason to come back and begin to pour myself back into this little family journal. I want to be excited about my writing again. Until then, I hope you enjoy a *private* glimpse into the last three years of my life...
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Photo evidence...
In thinking more and more about what life is like for Brooks now that Jack is here, I remembered this picture.
For several weeks, he enjoyed sitting in the baby carseat... Lately he's been asking if he can "drink Jack's milk" and occasionally trying to climb into the jumperoo... My sweet little boy really does want to fit in, doesn't he?
Hopefully my new perspective will make it a bit easier for him to be three and we can all enjoy who and where we are in life!
For several weeks, he enjoyed sitting in the baby carseat... Lately he's been asking if he can "drink Jack's milk" and occasionally trying to climb into the jumperoo... My sweet little boy really does want to fit in, doesn't he?
Hopefully my new perspective will make it a bit easier for him to be three and we can all enjoy who and where we are in life!
My Parenting Revelation!!
Brooks is three years, three months and four days old. That's 1192 days old. My goodness, he's so young! I haven't been remembering this very well lately, and when that fact dawned on me again yesterday, everything immediately felt better.
I'm watching Baby Jack discover his hands and fingers and learn that his two new teeth can *bite* and figure out that I don't actually disappear when we play peek-a-boo. He's young but already doing so many things that he couldn't do just a few weeks ago (roll over, get his paci back in his mouth the right way, take off his own hat so he can chew on the "apple stem") and I've been celebrating each little accomplishment. Yesterday was his first real "solid food" - the sweet potatoes were a huge hit!
So why exactly have I stopped doing that for Brooks!?
Since Christmas, Brooks is now exclusively wearing underwear while he's awake (we're still in pull-ups at naptime and bedtime) with very few accidents, dressing himself more, clearing his dishes from the table, hanging up his own coat, following three step instructions ("please go to the other room, find the burp cloth and bring it to me") and recognizing numbers on signs while we're driving. He's learning new things at an incredible pace, but I've been slower to pour on the praise, because I think my expectations have just been too high.
As my dear mother in law pointed out, Brooks has been speaking in complete paragraphs for so long, it's really not hard to imagine that he's older than he is. He's been talking about feelings, and apologizing when appropriate, and tuning into emotions around him, that at times it seems like he's years older than he is.
So I've been pushing him - to be consistently doing the things that I believe he's capable of. But just because he's done these things once, or a half dozen, or even twenty times, that doesn't mean he's fully mastered them - to get dressed by himself, to clip his own car seat buckles, to pick up his toys, to always know when he needs a toilet (and to give me 10 minutes warning!), the list goes on... All the while, he's watching me and Eric take care of every little need for Jack, feeding and diapering and dressing him, responding to each little gurgle, carrying him everywhere, giving him lots of cuddles every time he does something new or amazing or cute... Life is hard right now for Brooks, much harder than it was six months ago, and I've not been making it any easier.
We spent the past weekend in Nashville, and while it was a great visit with family, I felt very out of sorts with my parenting. When I asked my mom yesterday, "I'm pushing Brooks too hard, aren't it?", she agreed that I was. She also (kindly) pointed out that - OF COURSE - Brooks can't articulate that he feels jealous of the attention I'm giving Jack. All he can do is try to get my attention in other ways, either with "bad" behavior, or being loud, or being "needy" - demanding that I do things for him that I'm convinced he can do on his own. He just wants to be assured that he belongs, and that he still has a place in this family.
So, duh! It's just not right to expect him to perform perfectly every time - he's JUST THREE! (I can't manage perfection even in my mid-thirties!) But when I give him grace to keep trying, and view his mistakes as opportunities to learn, and lavish him with verbal affirmation when he succeeds, then not only is *he* happier, but I'm happier too!
This is basic stuff. I see that now on this side of the revelation. But it really changes everything. How I respond to both his good and bad behavior and - even more importantly - his attitude, how I plan our day (leave extra time for transitions and delays), how I speak my own words - to comfort and encourage and train, how I use my eyes and expressions to calm and nurture and bring humor to hard moments.
God, please give me clarity to remember this every single day. No guilt will eat me up over my mistakes - You've given me a brand new day to try again. I have so little time to pour into these boys. Grant me the grace and the patience and self-control to do it well, in every moment...
The eyes of these darling children look up to me to reflect back to them who they are and who they can become. I pray that I'm a loving and grace-filled mirror, so they believe the very best about themselves...
I'm watching Baby Jack discover his hands and fingers and learn that his two new teeth can *bite* and figure out that I don't actually disappear when we play peek-a-boo. He's young but already doing so many things that he couldn't do just a few weeks ago (roll over, get his paci back in his mouth the right way, take off his own hat so he can chew on the "apple stem") and I've been celebrating each little accomplishment. Yesterday was his first real "solid food" - the sweet potatoes were a huge hit!
So why exactly have I stopped doing that for Brooks!?
Since Christmas, Brooks is now exclusively wearing underwear while he's awake (we're still in pull-ups at naptime and bedtime) with very few accidents, dressing himself more, clearing his dishes from the table, hanging up his own coat, following three step instructions ("please go to the other room, find the burp cloth and bring it to me") and recognizing numbers on signs while we're driving. He's learning new things at an incredible pace, but I've been slower to pour on the praise, because I think my expectations have just been too high.
As my dear mother in law pointed out, Brooks has been speaking in complete paragraphs for so long, it's really not hard to imagine that he's older than he is. He's been talking about feelings, and apologizing when appropriate, and tuning into emotions around him, that at times it seems like he's years older than he is.
So I've been pushing him - to be consistently doing the things that I believe he's capable of. But just because he's done these things once, or a half dozen, or even twenty times, that doesn't mean he's fully mastered them - to get dressed by himself, to clip his own car seat buckles, to pick up his toys, to always know when he needs a toilet (and to give me 10 minutes warning!), the list goes on... All the while, he's watching me and Eric take care of every little need for Jack, feeding and diapering and dressing him, responding to each little gurgle, carrying him everywhere, giving him lots of cuddles every time he does something new or amazing or cute... Life is hard right now for Brooks, much harder than it was six months ago, and I've not been making it any easier.
We spent the past weekend in Nashville, and while it was a great visit with family, I felt very out of sorts with my parenting. When I asked my mom yesterday, "I'm pushing Brooks too hard, aren't it?", she agreed that I was. She also (kindly) pointed out that - OF COURSE - Brooks can't articulate that he feels jealous of the attention I'm giving Jack. All he can do is try to get my attention in other ways, either with "bad" behavior, or being loud, or being "needy" - demanding that I do things for him that I'm convinced he can do on his own. He just wants to be assured that he belongs, and that he still has a place in this family.
So, duh! It's just not right to expect him to perform perfectly every time - he's JUST THREE! (I can't manage perfection even in my mid-thirties!) But when I give him grace to keep trying, and view his mistakes as opportunities to learn, and lavish him with verbal affirmation when he succeeds, then not only is *he* happier, but I'm happier too!
This is basic stuff. I see that now on this side of the revelation. But it really changes everything. How I respond to both his good and bad behavior and - even more importantly - his attitude, how I plan our day (leave extra time for transitions and delays), how I speak my own words - to comfort and encourage and train, how I use my eyes and expressions to calm and nurture and bring humor to hard moments.
God, please give me clarity to remember this every single day. No guilt will eat me up over my mistakes - You've given me a brand new day to try again. I have so little time to pour into these boys. Grant me the grace and the patience and self-control to do it well, in every moment...
The eyes of these darling children look up to me to reflect back to them who they are and who they can become. I pray that I'm a loving and grace-filled mirror, so they believe the very best about themselves...
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Introducing...
On Jack's five month birthday, I'd like to share him with the world...
Our second son was born August 27, 2009 - ten days after his due date, and weighed 9 pounds, 10 ounces at birth. He arrived at 10:08pm after about 18 hours of medication free labor - the birth story is long and I've promised myself that I'll write more specifics later, but suffice it to say right now, his birthday was an amazing blessing filled with one particularly specific answered prayer, a lot of incredible pain, and the perfect outcome - healthy baby and momma!
What a chunk! I include this picture because it proves he had rolls, even at birth. When he was placed on the scale, the nurse read out the metric weight and then made a mistake on the conversion. I heard her and sat there moments after the birth thinking "REALLY!? I just delivered a 10 and a half pound baby??!" oh no, just 9 pounds, 10 ounces!
After some additional excitement in the delivery room and a midnight pizza ordered into our postpartum room, Jack and I snuggled and slept all night with him tucked under my arm, smelling delicious! Introducing him to Brooks the next morning was one of the best moments of my life. Brooks could not have been more excited to meet his little brother.
Our growing family in Vandy hospital...
This pose, with his fist up by his face, was how he spent several months in the womb. All of our ultrasound pics of him have his little hand curled up next to his cheek and he slept in this same position for weeks after birth.
Coming home from the hospital to my parents' home was an incredible privilege. Having extended family there to help with Brooks and to love on me and Eric and the new baby made those first few weeks so much easier! Eric's parents came to Nashville the day after the birth to see all of us and stayed for several days of visiting and good baby cuddling time.
I love this picture of Jack sleeping in my mom's arms. This is peace.
Nashville had an incredibly mild summer, and the whole family got to enjoy naps on the back porch, including the new guy!
Jack even had his own spot right off of our guest room! Mom and Dad purged their cedar closet and made the room into a cozy little nursery for us.
Having the extra hands with meal prep and laundry, etc allowed all of us to enjoy more moments like this one... Brooks checking out his baby brother - what an incredible blessing!
My wonderful birth doula, Gaylea... she was just such a gift! If you're expecting and are considering hiring a doula, I urge you to do it! Her support was such a help to us, especially as we were trying for a low-intervention VBAC.
Jack had a very smooth transition to life out of the womb, with only a few truly sleepless nights, and only about 10 days of nursing challenges. Once he was past that hump, he continued gaining weight well and started sleeping... like a baby!
During all this time, our precious son still didn't have a name! It took us eight days after his birth to finalize his name, and oh my goodness, what a saga!! In the end it was the Vanderbilt vital records department representative who pushed us to make a decision - she informed us that we were holding up the delivery of all birth certificates of all the babies born in the month of August. We had to give her a name by 3pm or we'd face the logistics of legally naming the child on our own. Ok! ok!
John Frederic Wallace Wheeler - welcome to our world. We couldn't love you any more than we already do.
Our second son was born August 27, 2009 - ten days after his due date, and weighed 9 pounds, 10 ounces at birth. He arrived at 10:08pm after about 18 hours of medication free labor - the birth story is long and I've promised myself that I'll write more specifics later, but suffice it to say right now, his birthday was an amazing blessing filled with one particularly specific answered prayer, a lot of incredible pain, and the perfect outcome - healthy baby and momma!
What a chunk! I include this picture because it proves he had rolls, even at birth. When he was placed on the scale, the nurse read out the metric weight and then made a mistake on the conversion. I heard her and sat there moments after the birth thinking "REALLY!? I just delivered a 10 and a half pound baby??!" oh no, just 9 pounds, 10 ounces!
After some additional excitement in the delivery room and a midnight pizza ordered into our postpartum room, Jack and I snuggled and slept all night with him tucked under my arm, smelling delicious! Introducing him to Brooks the next morning was one of the best moments of my life. Brooks could not have been more excited to meet his little brother.
Our growing family in Vandy hospital...
This pose, with his fist up by his face, was how he spent several months in the womb. All of our ultrasound pics of him have his little hand curled up next to his cheek and he slept in this same position for weeks after birth.
Coming home from the hospital to my parents' home was an incredible privilege. Having extended family there to help with Brooks and to love on me and Eric and the new baby made those first few weeks so much easier! Eric's parents came to Nashville the day after the birth to see all of us and stayed for several days of visiting and good baby cuddling time.
I love this picture of Jack sleeping in my mom's arms. This is peace.
Nashville had an incredibly mild summer, and the whole family got to enjoy naps on the back porch, including the new guy!
Jack even had his own spot right off of our guest room! Mom and Dad purged their cedar closet and made the room into a cozy little nursery for us.
Having the extra hands with meal prep and laundry, etc allowed all of us to enjoy more moments like this one... Brooks checking out his baby brother - what an incredible blessing!
My wonderful birth doula, Gaylea... she was just such a gift! If you're expecting and are considering hiring a doula, I urge you to do it! Her support was such a help to us, especially as we were trying for a low-intervention VBAC.
Jack had a very smooth transition to life out of the womb, with only a few truly sleepless nights, and only about 10 days of nursing challenges. Once he was past that hump, he continued gaining weight well and started sleeping... like a baby!
During all this time, our precious son still didn't have a name! It took us eight days after his birth to finalize his name, and oh my goodness, what a saga!! In the end it was the Vanderbilt vital records department representative who pushed us to make a decision - she informed us that we were holding up the delivery of all birth certificates of all the babies born in the month of August. We had to give her a name by 3pm or we'd face the logistics of legally naming the child on our own. Ok! ok!
John Frederic Wallace Wheeler - welcome to our world. We couldn't love you any more than we already do.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
A New Year
With so much change in the last six months, I can't believe we're already in 2010. New beginnings are all around us. I could write volumes about our Christmas holiday but I'll start with a quick update with two recent photos of the boys.
Jack is so precious these days! At 4.5 months old he's still a chunk, eating and sleeping very well. We've been home from our holiday adventures for less than a week, but I'm trying to get him on a more consistent routine so that his sleeping and eating schedules will dovetail nicely with the rest of the family's. He's so happy! He laughs all the time and adores being tickled. He's also sticking everything he can reach into his mouth, to discover and to try and cut his first teeth. He's drooling like a champ and gnawing on our fingers constantly, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple teeth appear anytime. He seems to really like textures, maybe more than Brooks at this stage, snugging with his soft "brown monkey" and his lovey blanket from the Bomars. Check out those huge hands and pudgy wrists - just a sneak peak at the rolls that are EVERYWHERE on this boy. I love his squeezable softness! This photo was snapped as he was playing with his favorite car seat toy "blue birdie". It's a pull and shake toy and he's completely fascinated! That puckered lip expression reminds me so much of Brooks at this age. His chewy rattle and our silly faces are other favorite "toys" - what a delight this age is.
As I type, Brooks is attending his first pre-school-esque class with the Chicago Park District. Given that he runs constantly and is only still when he's asleep in his bed, we signed him up for two Park District Classes to provide him more organized play and interaction with other children in a more formal format. He plays his guitar and sings at the top of his lungs constantly, Silly Songs with Larry are big favs right now. He still loves cars and trucks and tractors and anything with wheels. He's doing a lot more imaginative play - talking about characters from his favorite books and making up songs and stories. Brooks and Dada play lots of "football" together in the evenings - it involves running around with a ball in his hands and avoiding the Dada Defense who's trying to tackle him - Brooks is alternately quarterback and running back. He really likes his gloves and hat (Auburn colors = Chicago Bears colors, making it easy to find accessories that Brooks loves!) He's a great big brother, smothering Jack in kisses and hugs and all sorts of affection. Of course, we're getting lots of independent streaks - NO and I don't want THAT, but generally he's great fun to be around with a sweet, kind spirit.
Eric and I are still working hard to find a new normal in Chicago. There are still boxes to be unpacked and endless home improvement projects, but we can usually lay hands on anything we need around the house. I'm filling the fridge and freezer with our favorite winter time foods (mass cooking happened last night! - 3 recipes of spaghetti sauce and 2 batches of chili prepped in one evening) and trying to find time to get to the local YMCA more regularly. We're also struggling to make a decision about which church to attend. I think we knew we'd have trouble with this one, but I honestly thought we would have sorted it out by now. Such a key area of our lives, and we both feel strongly about choosing the right church home. We'll get there...
Over Christmas, I read the book Velva Jean Learns to Drive and I can't believe how moved I was by this novel. I think I need to start up a book club just to discuss this one story. It made me rethink some of my old dreams... and encouraged me to creatively find time and energy to pursue them within this current life stage. A challenge to be sure, but everything seems possible in January, right?
Blessings to you and yours this new year.
Jack is so precious these days! At 4.5 months old he's still a chunk, eating and sleeping very well. We've been home from our holiday adventures for less than a week, but I'm trying to get him on a more consistent routine so that his sleeping and eating schedules will dovetail nicely with the rest of the family's. He's so happy! He laughs all the time and adores being tickled. He's also sticking everything he can reach into his mouth, to discover and to try and cut his first teeth. He's drooling like a champ and gnawing on our fingers constantly, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple teeth appear anytime. He seems to really like textures, maybe more than Brooks at this stage, snugging with his soft "brown monkey" and his lovey blanket from the Bomars. Check out those huge hands and pudgy wrists - just a sneak peak at the rolls that are EVERYWHERE on this boy. I love his squeezable softness! This photo was snapped as he was playing with his favorite car seat toy "blue birdie". It's a pull and shake toy and he's completely fascinated! That puckered lip expression reminds me so much of Brooks at this age. His chewy rattle and our silly faces are other favorite "toys" - what a delight this age is.
As I type, Brooks is attending his first pre-school-esque class with the Chicago Park District. Given that he runs constantly and is only still when he's asleep in his bed, we signed him up for two Park District Classes to provide him more organized play and interaction with other children in a more formal format. He plays his guitar and sings at the top of his lungs constantly, Silly Songs with Larry are big favs right now. He still loves cars and trucks and tractors and anything with wheels. He's doing a lot more imaginative play - talking about characters from his favorite books and making up songs and stories. Brooks and Dada play lots of "football" together in the evenings - it involves running around with a ball in his hands and avoiding the Dada Defense who's trying to tackle him - Brooks is alternately quarterback and running back. He really likes his gloves and hat (Auburn colors = Chicago Bears colors, making it easy to find accessories that Brooks loves!) He's a great big brother, smothering Jack in kisses and hugs and all sorts of affection. Of course, we're getting lots of independent streaks - NO and I don't want THAT, but generally he's great fun to be around with a sweet, kind spirit.
Eric and I are still working hard to find a new normal in Chicago. There are still boxes to be unpacked and endless home improvement projects, but we can usually lay hands on anything we need around the house. I'm filling the fridge and freezer with our favorite winter time foods (mass cooking happened last night! - 3 recipes of spaghetti sauce and 2 batches of chili prepped in one evening) and trying to find time to get to the local YMCA more regularly. We're also struggling to make a decision about which church to attend. I think we knew we'd have trouble with this one, but I honestly thought we would have sorted it out by now. Such a key area of our lives, and we both feel strongly about choosing the right church home. We'll get there...
Over Christmas, I read the book Velva Jean Learns to Drive and I can't believe how moved I was by this novel. I think I need to start up a book club just to discuss this one story. It made me rethink some of my old dreams... and encouraged me to creatively find time and energy to pursue them within this current life stage. A challenge to be sure, but everything seems possible in January, right?
Blessings to you and yours this new year.
Monday, December 7, 2009
The Silence is Broken...
At least temporarily. I miss blogging. I really really miss blogging. But I haven't figured out how to fit it into my life again, with this new normal of two kids, and a new house, and a new life in Chicago. Everything *still* feels new these days - and not new as in shiny and pretty and flashy, but new like different and mysterious and somewhat unsettling. I'm sure this new normal will fit us soon enough - we're just breaking in our current Chicago life, like a new pair of shoes. Until then I'm doing mostly just the essential things... But I do hope to start blogging more regularly again soon.
However, the idea of "catching up on the blog" feels quite daunting - we've had so much to write about lately! Jack's amazing birth and his first few months with us, Brooks's new role as big brother, our departure from Nashville, our new home here with a whole new life in Chicago, Brooks's third birthday, Thanksgiving adventures, etc ... It's over-whelming just thinking about it. So instead, I'm going to shelve all of that right now and talk about something else.
Christmas. It's here again - unbelievably... where has 2009 gone!? We'll be packing up and heading South to see my family in less than two weeks, just after my 35th birthday. For the second time in my life, I have a newborn son at Christmas time - what a particularly meaningful way to look at the Christmas story from the eyes of Jesus's mother. I love cuddling Jack when he's sleepy or making him laugh during his play time. Last night, as I fed him in the middle of the night, I realized that we don't have too many more of these wee-hour feedings (hopefully!) left and I should savor the quiet time with just him ... I do so love new babies.
Having a vivacious three year old in the house has also made Christmas 2009 really fun. Brooks is absorbing all of it, and beginning to learn what Christmas means - we've been reading Christmas books and talking about celebrating Jesus's birthday, playing with a new nativity set,
and enjoying an advent calendar with little nativity toys to velcro into place around the stable each day. Christmas songs are playing around the house all day long, and I've loved hearing Of the Father's Love Begotten and Come Thou Long Expected Jesus in services this month. Sarah Groves' To Be With You is echoing in my mind constantly. And when we strolled to the grocery store together Wednesday night, Brooks was squealing with delight as he spotted one house after another with "twinkly lights" in the windows and on doors, decorating trees and front gates. It's different than my childhood - competing with my sister to see who will count the most house lights as we drive through middle TN - but just like me as a kid, he particularly loves the colored ones.
The big event so far this season has been the procurement of our very first Christmas tree. (I know, I know! I've been married for 6.5 years and have a three year old son and haven't had a tree before. It's just wrong!) After scoping out several places in our neighborhood for the best Frasier Firs, we went to a local nursery and picked out a beautiful fragrant tree, just perfect for our front window.
Can you tell the boys are happy!? I think Brooks was a bit enthralled by the whole event - picking out the best one, tying it to the roof of our car, unloading a real TREE, INTO THE HOUSE! Wow! The next day the lights appeared, and the following day the ornaments arrived. The first morning he saw the tree fully decked out, he did several laps around it pointing to ornaments, asking "what's this one, Momma? And this one? And this? and THIS?!" It was precious. He sang at the top of his lungs "that's our Christmas TREE!!" (where is the video camera when you need it!?) and asked if it was already Christmas Day yet. Now several days later, I sometimes catch him standing at the tree and just looking or gently touching the bottom ornaments (cloth or hard plastic ornaments, ie the indestructible ones, hang from the bottom branches) or he'll ring the little silver bells that we took home from Molly and Trace's wedding in December of 2006. What a sweet little guy!
Here's another favorite picture from this week... Brooks received a fantastic gift from our friends Yang Ping and Shireen - he loves playing "London" with a set of wooden toys from Hamley's Toy Store and I love that it gives us the opportunity to talk about double decker buses, Bobbies and Beef-eaters, Big Ben and the Tower of London, reliving some wonderful London memories. The day I snapped this picture, Brooks informed me that the policemen were in the forest guarding the boy (himself)...
Life is full and moving fast. Jack is already three months old! But I'm still savoring as often as I can, attempting to enjoy my sons rather than "manage" them. Christmas celebrations have certainly helped with that in the last week!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
However, the idea of "catching up on the blog" feels quite daunting - we've had so much to write about lately! Jack's amazing birth and his first few months with us, Brooks's new role as big brother, our departure from Nashville, our new home here with a whole new life in Chicago, Brooks's third birthday, Thanksgiving adventures, etc ... It's over-whelming just thinking about it. So instead, I'm going to shelve all of that right now and talk about something else.
Christmas. It's here again - unbelievably... where has 2009 gone!? We'll be packing up and heading South to see my family in less than two weeks, just after my 35th birthday. For the second time in my life, I have a newborn son at Christmas time - what a particularly meaningful way to look at the Christmas story from the eyes of Jesus's mother. I love cuddling Jack when he's sleepy or making him laugh during his play time. Last night, as I fed him in the middle of the night, I realized that we don't have too many more of these wee-hour feedings (hopefully!) left and I should savor the quiet time with just him ... I do so love new babies.
Having a vivacious three year old in the house has also made Christmas 2009 really fun. Brooks is absorbing all of it, and beginning to learn what Christmas means - we've been reading Christmas books and talking about celebrating Jesus's birthday, playing with a new nativity set,
and enjoying an advent calendar with little nativity toys to velcro into place around the stable each day. Christmas songs are playing around the house all day long, and I've loved hearing Of the Father's Love Begotten and Come Thou Long Expected Jesus in services this month. Sarah Groves' To Be With You is echoing in my mind constantly. And when we strolled to the grocery store together Wednesday night, Brooks was squealing with delight as he spotted one house after another with "twinkly lights" in the windows and on doors, decorating trees and front gates. It's different than my childhood - competing with my sister to see who will count the most house lights as we drive through middle TN - but just like me as a kid, he particularly loves the colored ones.
The big event so far this season has been the procurement of our very first Christmas tree. (I know, I know! I've been married for 6.5 years and have a three year old son and haven't had a tree before. It's just wrong!) After scoping out several places in our neighborhood for the best Frasier Firs, we went to a local nursery and picked out a beautiful fragrant tree, just perfect for our front window.
Can you tell the boys are happy!? I think Brooks was a bit enthralled by the whole event - picking out the best one, tying it to the roof of our car, unloading a real TREE, INTO THE HOUSE! Wow! The next day the lights appeared, and the following day the ornaments arrived. The first morning he saw the tree fully decked out, he did several laps around it pointing to ornaments, asking "what's this one, Momma? And this one? And this? and THIS?!" It was precious. He sang at the top of his lungs "that's our Christmas TREE!!" (where is the video camera when you need it!?) and asked if it was already Christmas Day yet. Now several days later, I sometimes catch him standing at the tree and just looking or gently touching the bottom ornaments (cloth or hard plastic ornaments, ie the indestructible ones, hang from the bottom branches) or he'll ring the little silver bells that we took home from Molly and Trace's wedding in December of 2006. What a sweet little guy!
Here's another favorite picture from this week... Brooks received a fantastic gift from our friends Yang Ping and Shireen - he loves playing "London" with a set of wooden toys from Hamley's Toy Store and I love that it gives us the opportunity to talk about double decker buses, Bobbies and Beef-eaters, Big Ben and the Tower of London, reliving some wonderful London memories. The day I snapped this picture, Brooks informed me that the policemen were in the forest guarding the boy (himself)...
Life is full and moving fast. Jack is already three months old! But I'm still savoring as often as I can, attempting to enjoy my sons rather than "manage" them. Christmas celebrations have certainly helped with that in the last week!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Deuce's Due Date
I've put aside blogging this summer, given all the other things that have taken our time and attention, but after seeing the movie Julie and Julia (which I highly recommend), I've decided I just can't let it go permanently - I love it too much! So here's a quick update...
Today is the day that we've been expecting the arrival of our second son (nicknamed Deuce by his father) but I think the day will surely now come and go without his appearance. I had my 40 week check-up today and the Vandy midwife (my primary caregiver for this delivery) said that I'm still just 1 centimeter dilated, and the baby has not yet dropped. I guess he's just enjoying the last few snug days in Momma's belly.
Brooks is enjoying Momma's belly these days too. Our good friend Tonyamas, wife of Eric's college roommate, was in town a couple of weekends ago with a group of E's college friends and she took a few shots of us. Here are some of my favorites! :)
Presumbly, our last sitting as a family of three...
Brooks loves to "give Baby Brudder a hug" every day and will regularly talk to him through the microphone of my belly button.
Come out, little man, we can't wait to meet you!
I'm sure there will be additional, more frequent updates soon, when we have a new family member to introduce ... stay tuned!
Today is the day that we've been expecting the arrival of our second son (nicknamed Deuce by his father) but I think the day will surely now come and go without his appearance. I had my 40 week check-up today and the Vandy midwife (my primary caregiver for this delivery) said that I'm still just 1 centimeter dilated, and the baby has not yet dropped. I guess he's just enjoying the last few snug days in Momma's belly.
Brooks is enjoying Momma's belly these days too. Our good friend Tonyamas, wife of Eric's college roommate, was in town a couple of weekends ago with a group of E's college friends and she took a few shots of us. Here are some of my favorites! :)
Presumbly, our last sitting as a family of three...
Brooks loves to "give Baby Brudder a hug" every day and will regularly talk to him through the microphone of my belly button.
Come out, little man, we can't wait to meet you!
I'm sure there will be additional, more frequent updates soon, when we have a new family member to introduce ... stay tuned!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Happy Father's Day, Eric!
Just a quick note to my darling husband, who is such an amazing dad in so many ways. I could not say enough how GRATEFUL I am for Brooks to have you to look to as a role model.
Thanks to you, our home has a strong leader, a rock solid foundation, and a wonderfully fun playmate for all our leisure time, to speak nothing of your abilities to carry everything - EVERYTHING - when we travel together! :) I love you so much and am so grateful to share this adventure of life with you!
A few favorite recent shots... Here are the boys enjoying the sunshine and shade in Kew Gardens while Aunt Sissy was in town...
And here are two from a lazy day earlier this month, when Brooks wanted to join Dada on the couch to read. Brooks climbed up and over him with his book and then got very tickled when Mama wanted a picture! :)
Thanks to you, our home has a strong leader, a rock solid foundation, and a wonderfully fun playmate for all our leisure time, to speak nothing of your abilities to carry everything - EVERYTHING - when we travel together! :) I love you so much and am so grateful to share this adventure of life with you!
A few favorite recent shots... Here are the boys enjoying the sunshine and shade in Kew Gardens while Aunt Sissy was in town...
And here are two from a lazy day earlier this month, when Brooks wanted to join Dada on the couch to read. Brooks climbed up and over him with his book and then got very tickled when Mama wanted a picture! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)