Today you are five

Dear Sophia,

Exactly five years ago (@ 6:02pm) you entered this world! What a joy to see the face of the sweet girl who'd been growing inside of me for 41 weeks and 3 days. Daddy was there, so was our midwife, Angel, and a nurse or two. Grammy and Aunt Jeni got to be present for the grand entrance as well! What a special and proud moment it was for all of us. I will never forget it!

There is something very special about being the first child. You were are first miracle, our first chance to extend beyond ourselves, Daddy and me, to love someone else beyond what we could imagine. You were the first real evidence that indeed, we were one. To see how God created you out of a unique combination of our own genes - it was very cool! You are so much your Daddy, and yet, at the same time, you are so much me. God has blessed us with many miracle children since you, but you were the first, and that makes you very special indeed!

Today Daddy and I are taking you out on a date, just the three of us. It's a tradition we'd like to carry on through the years with you and your siblings. On your Big Day, you get to be pampered and doted on, because we want to show you how much we love you by spending that extra time just with you. We'll end the day with Riley (and just so happens this year with Grammy and Grampy) and a special birthday dinner - you've chosen pizza. Then we'll get to enjoy the cupcakes you helped me make last night! Yum!

You are one of my favorite people in this whole wide world. I love spending time with you. I love your imagination and creativity. I love you energy and your zeal for life. I love your passion and your drive. I love that you love dressing up in pretty dresses and having your hair in bows, while at the same time climbing a tree and playing pirates with the neighbors. I love how when you meet a kid about your age you want to play with them and you are always ready with some creative game or story to act out. You get very puzzled when some children seem uninterested in playing - as do I! You are often bored - because your poor Mom can't always keep up with you, but you are probably the least boring person I know! I love that about you. I love your love of learning. You have a good memory and you adore learning and creating new things.

My biggest prayer for you, Sophia Ruth, is that God would call you out from among the people to serve Him and love Him all the days of your life. I pray that He would develop all of your wonderful traits to be used for His purpose and His kingdom- to bless and to serve others. I can imagine you doing so much with your life, and I cannot wait to see what path God leads you on. I know that hard times will come your way, but I pray that God would prepare all of our hearts for those times, and that Jesus would be ever-near and would walk with us through them.

I love you so much. I can barely stand to be apart from you for a whole day and I adore living life with you. I'm sure this will change, but right now you are very adamant about always sitting next to me at meals and are certain you will live with me and Daddy for the rest of your life. I don't try to convince you otherwise, because I know that some day you won't choose me as your meal-mate and some day you will move out. I choose to cherish these moments that you are with me each and every day and I hold on to the hope that as you need me less you will rather choose to become my friend. I so look forward to a future with you as my daughter and cannot wait to see what adventures God takes you on!

All my love,
Mommy

Donuts and a Duck Dog Tree

ADDITION: On behalf of my brother-in-law, "Donuts and a duck dog," is from Dr. Seuss' ABC book. You know, "Big D, Little D, what begins with D? Donuts and a duck dog, D D D." :)


So, the donuts were great! It was Riley's first taste, and he ate almost three! He loved them. Of course Sophia made her dent in the pile too! The hot chocolate flowed, which Riley was NOT a fan of, and the tree... well, it might as well be a duck dog at this point, because the "pre-lit" part, is not lighting! Poor Jamie is trying his best to get it figured out. I'll post another picture when the tree isn't looking so sad... Can you spot a cute little someone peeking into the tree picture?? Happy Tuesday! We're listening to Christmas music for the first time today too, how about you?

My Children

Sophia said some great things in church today! She stays with us for the sermon now, and was quietly playing with some paper dolls (Mary, Joseph and Jesus) I had left over from Sunday School. Jamie overheard her whispering the following conversation between Jesus and Mary:

Mary: How did you do that honey?

Jesus: I am Jesus... I can float in the air. Everything that is impossible is possible for me.

***

Out of NO WHERE during the service, Sophia looks up at me and whispers, "Mom, there was a kid with six toes! I hope I get six toes!"

When relating this story to Jamie later, he said he had overheard my Mom (in Sophia's earshot) saying something about some kid with six toes on one foot. Soph doesn't miss much!

***

So... Jamie and I went and saw Wicked last Thursday and had a great dinner date afterwards. My parents graciously watched the kids for us, and were planning on keeping them for the night so we could just come home and sleep in on Friday. Well, earlier in the week Riley got a bit of a cold and was teething his molars in a major way. Late Wednesday night I just had this "Mom Feeling" that Jamie and I should not be away from the kids Thursday night, so, I trusted that feeling and we joined the kids at my parents Thursday night.

Thank the Lord for His Spirit's urging! Poor Riley was suffering from a low-grade fever by the time we left for the play and when we returned around 9:30pm, he'd only just gotten to sleep. He woke up shortly after we got home and was back down by maybe 10:30pm. He was up again around 1am (Jamie and I had only gotten to bed around midnight, as we stayed up watching some TV - a treat since we don't have cable at our house). He didn't ever go back to sleep! He was alternately happily playing and inconsolably screaming/crying. None of our usual "tricks" were working. He was a mess. Somehow God gave Jamie and I the strength to make it through the night with him.

Around 6am, Jamie took him for a car ride and he fell asleep and stayed asleep once back for about an hour. I knew something besides teething was up, and since his fever was low-grade, I suspected an ear infection. Well, Jamie took Riley back out for another car ride around 7:30am, and Riley screamed in the car for an hour before falling asleep. Jamie drove around for a bit more before coming back to my parents. We were waiting for the Peds. office to open so we could take him in. Thankfully we were able to take him to a local Ped late that morning, and he was quickly diagnosed with an ear infection, in each ear! The poor baby. My last ear infection was in college, and it was so painful I went to the ER and thought I was going to die. I cannot imagine having one in each ear and not being able to understand why I was in so much pain.

He started antibiotics Friday, but was still a big mess. He never napped and got to bed late. But, he did sleep pretty well Friday night and took a great nap Saturday and is pretty much back to himself now. I'm hopeful he'll be back in ship shape by Thanksgiving!

In the past few days Riley has become quite the hugger! It is so adorable and wonderful! He especially loves to go up to Sophia and give her these amazing hugs. Last night before laying him down, I asked him for a hug and he hugged me! I just love it. The stinker still won't say a word, but he sure knows how to communicate! He understands pretty much everything and finds ways to tell us what he wants too.

We're planning on putting our tree up today. Is yours up yet?

Wicked!

Today Jamie and I are going to see "Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz." I am SO excited!!! We first saw this musical advertised on our trip to Chicago over two years ago. We thought it looked really fun. I don't know a whole lot about the story or plot, but I've heard amazing things about both, and that the music is spectacular. I simply adore stage theatre and couldn't think of a better date with my hubby!!! I'll let you know how it is! Thanks to our parents and siblings for pitching in to make my birthday wish come true!!!

21 Weeks

Apparently Baby Girl is about 3/4 lb. and the length of a carrot (10 1/2 in.)! I can't believe I'm half-way to D-day. The last couple weeks have been really wonderful, pregnancy-wise. My "morning" sickness is a thing of the past and the heartburn and acid reflux hasn't kicked in too bad yet. I feel motivated and energetic to get things done, and I'm still pretty comfortable since I'm not huge yet. I got to buy some new - much needed - maternity tops with some birthday money, so that always makes a girl feel better! :)

I'm loving the random kisses Sophia gives to my belly, and how she's frequently drawing pictures or making some sort of artwork for the new baby. She was "painting" on Jamie's iPod yesterday while in the car, and started crying because she'd accidentally erased the picture and it was for the baby. Her tender spirit carries me through those moments when she's being a spit fire! :) She is still learning Chinese, and is doing really well! She has such a great memory. She's really starting to read too. She's constantly sounding out words and asking us what such-and-such spells. She also had quite a knack for doing simple math problems (always self-initiated) in her head. Art has got to be her favorite though. For a girl who is always on the go and sometimes has a hard time focusing on a single task, if you give her a hands- on art project, she will sit and focus for a long time! She is SO creative.

Riley boy is so adorable and funny. At home he is a busy, giggly mess. When we're out in public he is the most stoic little guy! One has to work very hard to get a smile from him and if he lets you hold him, believe me, you are privileged! He's definitely a Mama's and Daddy's boy. If he wants me, he will do all he can to get to me. Thankfully, he loves to have Jamie hold him too, so if Jamie's available I might get to use the bathroom without an audience! :) Riley is a very focused little boy. He loves to figure out how things go together and work. His favorite thing the past day or so has been dumping rocks in and out of his little dump truck. He also LOVES to dance! He's stingy with kisses but can give a fierce hug! Now that we've been watching his diet very closely for a few weeks, his milk allergy symptoms have cleared up a ton! I'm not sure we're totally there... but it is SO much better than before. He loves to eat and is determined to feel himself. I'm not sure we're capable of creating children who don't want to be independent from the get-go!

A Birthday Wrap-Up

Last week at this time I was in the midst of turning 29! Jamie and many others went out of their way to make my birthday really special this year! Thank you to all my family and friends who don't just say they love me, but really extend themselves to show me that they love me. I am greatly blessed!

And now... I really need to get cracking because my first-born will be five next week and that is a MAJOR birthday, so it needs to be extra special!

"Leaf" the fun to us! :)

Caught some fun on video while playing in the leaves at my sister's house!

Where'd she go?

He's not so sure about this...

Is he getting too old to do this? ;)

Sleeping like a baby? Oxymoron!!!

While visiting my sister and brother-in-law last week, Riley proved to us, once again, that away from home he's a bit high-maintenance when it comes to napping and sleeping. All three nights away were spent with him up a lot and then waking for the day unusually early. Even with that, he also only napped once while we were there. Well, that's not entirely true...

We had to make a run to Stuff Mart, and he fell fast asleep in the car, due to his late night partying and early morning waking. I carried him into the store, and much to my surprise, he stayed asleep. I then decided to try something I was sure would never work! I laid him gently in the cart - and would you know, he stayed asleep like that for almost the whole store trip!!! Jamie and I were amazed, our kids just don't tend to sleep in random public places! Isn't he a doll?

A leasel please

These are the beautiful mini-pumpkins Sophia got to paint while we were visiting my sister and brother-in-law. My sister knows how much Sophia loves to stay busy and how much she loves art, so she bought some pumpkins and some paints and Sophia had a blast creating these masterpieces! But! It didn't stop there, oh no. Sophia had to keep painting. After the pumpkins were complete I got her some plain white paper, at which point, upon receiving, she informed me she'd need a leasel (she meant easel!) and a palette with which to mix colors. Well, no "leasel," but I was able to provide her with a palette! She went on to paint many pictures and even some rocks we found! (And side note, as long as she was using her palette, she insisted on standing to paint! She was determined to create an easel out of something as well, but I wasn't able to support any of her ideas.)

She is such an artist, just like her Daddy. I love her!

One more year...

The delicious birthday cake my sister made me this past weekend. She also spoiled me by letting me choose whatever meal I wanted, and bought me gorgeous orange roses!

Next year though, I'm scared... you see, today, I turn 29. If you know anything about math (ha!), then you might figure out I'll be turning the big 3-0 next year. When my dear, beautiful, talented, wonderful, most-favorite sister turned 30 a few years ago, let's just say there was a bit of teasing coming from her favorite younger sister. She's been vowing to get me back ever since, and now I only have one year left till the year of revenge. :) Be kind dear sister, be kind.

Turning 29 shouldn't be a big deal I suppose. I don't expect it to feel too different, and yet, I see it as sort of a pivotal birthday, like turning 5 or 10 or 16. It's my last year as a really young adult. Next year, I'll be in my 30s? That sounds SO strange to me.

So, for any readers out there that are over 30, any thoughts on how I should spend the last year of my 20s? Any advice on how I ought to approach my 30s?

Have a great day! I expect to. :) I have a great hubby who loves to spoil me on my birthday.

A Great Trip

Last week we headed to my sister's house to visit for a few days. We had a grand time! The best part was just spending time with my sis, her hubby and their adorable daughter (okay, and the dog. :) ). Cora, my niece, is getting so big and has such a great personality! I loved seeing Riley and Sophia interact with her. Sophia played the part of "little mama," or big sister. She was very gentle and loving and even got to help Cora drink her bottle. I am anticipating her being a huge help to me when Baby Girl is born! Riley was equally as adorable! We weren't sure what he'd do... but, he actually switched from stealing Cora's paci's to giving them to her! Now, granted, if she wasn't interested, he'd help himself, same with the teething rings, but he was always the gentleman and offered to her first! :) I caught him many times gently laying his head on hers to "kiss" her. He also liked to hold her hand and give her high-fives.

Molly, the dog, on the other hand... well, he meant to be gentle, he was just a bit over-zealous. He loves this dog and literally followed her everywhere! She was so gentle and patient though, a very good dog indeed.

Enjoy seeing some of our special moments caught in pictures:

First cousin bath.

Riley being ever-present with Molly, and Molly being ever-patient!

Playing in all the leaves!

Poor Cora did not see the fun in this.

My beautiful green-eyed girl.

Bonfire and s'mores! Fun and yum!

We love the Hardins!!!

Auntie Jeni loving on the babies.

Sisters.

Our growing family. ;)

Two 14 month-olds and a four-year-old...

... make for a challenging photo shoot! We never did get a great photo, at least not of their faces! Oh well, we tried. :)

Try #1 - ended in quite the tumble.

Try #2 - Sophia tried her best, but those babies didn't want to sit!

Try #3 - well, they are cute, even when not cooperating with our poses!

Try #4 - Let's trick them to be still by looking out the window! :) It's working pretty well!

Try #5 - The backs of babies heads are so cute, after all! Hopefully buddies in the making!