And That's Why...

The hubs was home last Friday, so I thought it was the perfect time to go shopping. For me. By myself. Ahhhh, a time of relaxation and leisure. Yeah, right. Have I ever mentioned that I'm not a shopper?

I eagerly strolled into the newly renovated Kohl's, gift card and $10 coupon in hand, ready to find a new outfit. How hard could it be? Some of my girlfriends shop at Kohl's, and they always dress so nicely. Apparently much harder than I had anticipated. (But I didn't realize that until later.)

I didn't really have a plan in mind; I figured I'd just browse, using the mannequins for inspiration since I have a difficult time just piecing items together. But again, I was pretty confident that I could do this. After all, I was hoping for JUST ONE OUTFIT. 

The search commenced. Hmmm, maybe this shirt. Uh, or this one. Now if I could find a skirt... Hmmm, the clearance section. Oh, here's a sweater. But what about this one to go with the shirt in case I get cold? Oh, what size? What color? Oh, maybe green would go, but, uh..., no green. Hmmm, scratch that idea.  Still searching for bottoms for the shirt. Ooooh, dresses. Uh, do I really want to pay that much? But they're super cute. 


So, you get the idea. After pulling a few things from the racks, I ventured to the dressing rooms, and quickly learned that the items I had pulled were not cutting it for me. Too big. Too small. Just doesn't look right. These don't work together. *sigh* At this point, I was getting frustrated, especially since I had already been around the Women's Department two or three times, and I hadn't found much else to choose from. (I might not have had something specific in mind, but I did know I wanted that I could wear to church, especially since my church outfits of late have been jeans and a sweater.) Why is this so difficult? 

Not wanting my $10 coupon to go to waste, I perused the store again, determined to find something. My eyes wandered back to the dresses I had noticed earlier (the ones that I thought were too expensive). Well, I guess I could see if there's one in my size. Success! One of the patterns I liked was the right size. After a quick price check (on sale for 50% off! Score!), it was back to the dressing room....

The moment of truth: it fit! Hallelujah! Finally!


Though I left the store elated and even relieved, the whole experience reminded me why I don't like to shop. I might have patience when it comes to teaching and working with children, but when it comes to browsing clothes, looking for just the right item, well, I have barely enough (patience) to last an hour. And that's just finding something I might want to try on. Compound that with actually finding something in my size (for they never have my size, it seems), and I'm lucky to leave the store in a good mood. 


The moral of this story: Order online. OR go shopping with a girlfriend who knows what she's doing.

 

Times of Refreshing

I'm not sure if I've ever really read Acts 3:19 ("times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord") that's referenced in a Bible study I'm completing, but today it really struck a cord. Lately, it feels as if I'm so out of the loop when it comes to staying on top of social matters (FB, email, Pinterest, texts, etc.). Granted, part of this is by choice, but part of it is due to time constraints. Still, I couldn't help but feel -- dare I admit it?-- envious of everyone who does seem to stay connected (or at least the appearance of being connected). "What is wrong with me? How does so and so do it? What am I doing wrong?" Thankfully, several friends spoke truth to me in light of my "concern" (which really shouldn't be one, honestly): Priorities vary from person to person, and right now, my priority is my children. While I'm not always on top of what's going on with all my friends, and I'm certainly not the best about checking status updates regularly, I am trying to make meaningful connections with my children. (Please don't assume that I'm saying those who diligently check FB updates are neglecting their kids, for I don't mean that at all. This is totally about me, my kids, and how I manage my time.)

Anyway, the verse from Acts resonated with me because of these recent circumstances. Had I read this passage prior to those destructive thoughts, I'm not sure it would have affected me as much; honestly, I might have just glanced over those words had I read them just a week ago. But God, in His infinite grace and goodness, knew when I needed to read them.

Go figure that I didn't read them until today. A week after those initial thoughts. And one day after some precious moments with Leah and Hunter. Yesterday afternoon I had wanted to get some cleaning done. I had wanted to make some baby food. But God had other plans. Scott had to fix part of the porch after work, which meant that my to-do list had to take a backseat. "Great. One less thing done, " I thought. But God did something better than expected: He used those unexpected minutes with my kids to refresh my spirit. I had a chance to play -- just play, with my babies, free from distraction. And though that meant we ate dinner a bit later, and the dusting didn't get done, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. All because I allowed God to prioritize my afternoon.

How freeing and refreshing to step out in accordance with God's will, neglecting the endless, all-important to-do list in favor of fleeting moments with two of the greatest blessings in my life! Now, if only I could remember this lesson, this truth, a bit more regularly.

Bittersweet

Today marks Hunter's 10-month birthday. Wow. He's quickly heading toward "toddler-dom" and away from "baby-dom". As if the days and months, as well as Hunter's physical and developmental progress weren't enough to remind us of the passage of time, the baby stuff itself has chimed in. 


The family room now resembles life before Hunter (with the exception of a few new toys); no more do we have the pack-n-play set-up, sticking out of an odd corner and collecting random baby toys. The exersaucer and swing are gone, too, freeing up space in the living room and dining room (respectively), and no longer tempting little girls who wish to revisit their infancy. 


I confess that I'm happy to see these large items gone, simply because I don't like clutter. But saying good-bye is sad, too, for I know that their departure heralds the departure of a time in our lives, too. While Hunter is still a baby, he isn't so little anymore. Each day is one day closer to him being a toddler.. and then a little boy. How quickly the time passes (how cliche!); the physical reminders (or lack thereof) laugh in my face of moments not-so-long-ago, or perhaps they whisper "don't put us away, not yet".  Either way, their absence is bittersweet, a sign that time doesn't stand still, so we must treasure these moments while we can.

 Sit in the crib for the photo? Uh, think again!

 Leah wanted to commemorate Hunter's 10-month birthday, too. They're both waving to the camera.

Hunter LOVES grabbing this throw from the back of the recliner.

You're Not Gonna Believe This...

Well, some of you won't believe this. Others, who don't know me as well, won't understand the issue here:

The kids and I left town today. As in, we left our nice little area of suburbia and headed north to Mt. Vernon.

Shocker, I know. It wasn't my idea though. Mel (my baby sis) wanted to take her girls (Alyssa & Kenzie) up to see the shuttle circling DC, so the kids and I accompanied her. (Good thing she mentioned this since I, who-never-gets-to-watch-the-news-and-so-is-the-most-uninformed-person-in-this-area, had no idea this was going to take place.) 

We thought we had planned our trip (and timing) perfectly. We left my house just after 9, and headed north. As we were slowly making our way up Route 1, the shuttle made its way overhead. Mel and I quickly pulled over, hoping we could get the kids out in time to witness the event. Not sure if Leah actually saw the shuttle; I pointed, but I think she was looking in another direction. (Though, when I asked if she had seen it, she replied "uh-huh.") 

We filed back into our vehicles and proceeded to our destination, a park off the George Washington Memorial Parkway. It was packed! (Guess we weren't the only ones out and about.) And... we just managed to miss the shuttle flying over the Potomac. *sigh* 

So much for taking pics of the shuttle. Good thing the kids didn't disappoint! (Though I realized after uploading these that Alyssa is mysteriously absent from them, even though she was always right there.)

 Leah was the only one of the three girls who wanted to hold the ladybug (one of three!) we found. She loved letting it "tickle" her fingers. 

 Well, at least Kenzie is looking at the camera!

 He might not look too happy, but Hunter LOVED being outside, especially since he could watch his sis, his cousins, and Diesel (my sister's Great Dane). 

 If we had let him, he probably would have tried EVERYONE'S lunch. He certainly tried wearing it all.

Kenzie's intense focus on the box of animal crackers made me laugh.

Learning Curve

Already I've noticed some differences between boys and girls (developmentally, duh). I certainly hadn't expected these differences to manifest themselves so early on; after all, Hunter's not even a year yet. No matter. He's quickly schooling us in the joys of having a boy.

A friend who also has two kids (one of each, daughter first, like us) recently told me that having the girl first does nothing to prepare you for having a boy. Actually, maybe having a girl first is a bit of a disservice; you're lulled into thinking "I can do this parenting thing; I don't understand why so many other parents (those with boys) are always so tired." And then you have a boy who totally upends that thinking.

What we've learned so far (yes, these might just reflect personality differences, but we attribute them to gender):

  -Leah: Would stay in one room as a baby, even after she started crawling.

  -Hunter: Check ya later! I'm heading to ... (bathroom, office, living room, stairs)

  -Leah: Pulled on the locked cabinets a couple times, and then moved on.

  -Hunter: I KNOW these open. If I just keep trying...

  -Leah: Baby proof? Uh, sure we did. Minimally.

  -Hunter: Gives a whole new meaning to babyproof. Hmmm, what will he get into/ explore next? 

  -Leah: When she expressed an interest in the stairs, Scott helped her climb them, thinking (correctly) that if it wore her out, she wouldn't bother with them again. (Thus we didn't need a gate at the bottom of the stairs.)

  -Hunter: I might be tired (when I reach the top), but I want to do that again... and again... and again. (We now keep the doors to the kitchen closed since little man will make a break for the stairs whenever he gets a chance. Upstairs is no different, either; looks like we'll have to put a gate up after all. Otherwise, Hunter will try to crawl headfirst down the stairs!)

Needless to say, at times it seems as if we're learning how to parent all over again. I certainly better understand where some of my girlfriends (of boys) were coming from when they advised me to move certain breakables out of Leah's reach. I scoffed at the time since Leah really wasn't that interested (or she learned quickly not to mess with them); I doubt that Hunter will be so compliant. No, I can picture him just grinning, and going back for more. 

9 Months Old

We're that much closer to one year! Yikes! Here are the highlights of having a 9-month-old baby boy around:

*Loves to walk (assisted), but if he can't get a helping hand, he's happy to crawl (hands and knees, now) and explore as he pleases. Often this involves chasing big sis around, but not always; sometimes the little man decides to venture off on his own (obviously not for long, but he does like to sneak off into the dining room/ living room as he makes his way to the office).

*Has five teeth. Teething is more like a lowlight (since who really enjoys the process), but at least the results are adorable (Hunter has a slight gap between his top two teeth. So cute... until we have to pay for braces!)

*Chatters quite a bit. Honestly, he seems to be more talkative than Leah ever was at this age. Then again, he does spend most of his time with two girls all day, every day. 

*Prefers feeding himself (to be fed by us) but we haven't introduced very many finger foods yet, so he still has to rely on us. Here's to trying some new foods this month: pasta, bread, very soft fruit, cheese, beans.

*Pulls himself up on everything and everyone. Nothing can stop him. Due to this newly mastered skill, I'm even busier than before. My goodness; the boy doesn't slow down! (I know, I know, all of you with boys are saying, "Told ya so!")

*One more highlight: So, the other morning, Scott was holding Hunter while I was getting our stuff ready to go. Hunter had tired of walking around/ playing with Scott, and wanted to see me for some cuddle time. "Hunter, Mommy has to put this away, and go to the bathroom, and then I can hold you," I told him. (Though I told him all of this, I didn't know exactly how much he processed/ understood. Still, that hasn't prevented me from speaking this way to him before.) Upon telling him this, he wiggled out of Scott's arms, presumably to walk around and explore while I finished what I was doing. 

    Well, wouldn't you know it, he proceeded to walk to the bathroom door, whereupon he turned and looked over his shoulder as if to say, "Okay, Mom. Here's the bathroom. Let's go." But wait, there's more. He then walked INTO the bathroom and SAT DOWN in front of the toilet to wait for me! Guess the little bugger didn't want to wait for me any longer than necessary!

 Wrestling with Daddy

 "Look what I can do!"

 It's not a purse; it's a man bag. (He loves carrying around Leah's purse like a trophy.)

Sneaking in a show with big sis.

Three?!!

How did this happen? Leah is now THREE YEARS OLD. THREE!! My baby girl is more like a pre-schooler than an infant, a difference that's only exaggerated by Hunter's presence. 

I can see why some parents get carried away with birthday parties/ celebrations; I didn't want to stop celebrating my baby girl's arrival. 

Day 1: A birthday playdate with friends, fruit dessert pizzas, and strawberry cupcakes. Top it all off with the arrival of Grandma and Papa from New York.

Day 2: A birthday lunch party consisting of homemade pizza courtesy of Chef Leah (her specialty? pepperoni, peppers, and olives-- Yum!) and strawberry cupcakes (of course!). Grandma and Papa, and Nama and Grandpa helped us sample Leah's creation before showering her with gifts.

Come Sunday, I felt like we were supposed to continue the festivities, and in a way, we did; when Leah had a cupcake for dessert, she requested the birthday song, too. Unbeknownst to us, she wanted the candle in her cupcake; when we placed it in front of her sans one, she burst into tears. (We quickly remedied that situation.)

In honor of my precious daughter's third year, here are some things I adore about her (warning: yes, this involves heaping lavish praise on my little girl): 

*Her heart: for others, and for God. Leah wants others to be happy and feel loved, even if she doesn't best express those sentiments all the time (like when she randomly antagonizes a friend or when she snags a toy from Hunter's hands). Most of the time, she's all hugs (or in the case of Hunter, kisses, too. Poor boy can't escape from his sister's hands... yet). And she loves the Lord, even if she doesn't always want to pray with us. What's funny, though, is that when she's resting, I can hear her praying, "Dear God, Thank you for...," and singing songs from Bible study. Plus, she loves sharing what she's learned from Bible study. Her favorite story recently is when Jesus calmed the storm (another favorite is Jesus and the children). 

*Her intelligence:  She knows her letter sounds, and is working on learning out to spell/ identify short words (cat, mat, fat, etc.). This is all Leah-driven; sometime during the past year, she expressed an interest in learning letter sounds, and just recently expressed an interest in spelling. We're just capitalizing on that.

*Her creativity: Give this girl some stickers and markers, and you have a friend for life. She could spend hours creating her "masterpieces", whether it's painting, using stickers, coloring pictures, or playing with play-doh. If it involves art, she's all over it. Her recent achievement: starting to color in the lines. I'm still floored by this one, probably because it happened almost overnight (or so it seems).

*Her silliness: Oh my, the things she says and does! I wish I could record or list them all. A recent one: "If you're happy and you know it pretend to sleep --snoring sounds." Or while lifting one leg in the air, "I'm Angelina Ballerina!" Or even when she takes great pride in giving me raspberries. How I love those silly, playful moments with her. They remind me of why staying home with her and Hunter is such a joy and a blessing.

So happy birthday, baby girl! You are a beautiful, kind, loving little lady, and my life is immeasurably better because of you.

 Apparently, cupcakes are for smushing, not eating. 

 Can you tell she's excited about Grandma and Papa's arrival?

 So serious when her friends sang Happy Birthday. Blowing out a candle is apparently pretty serious business.

 Leah's specialty!

 Spending as much time as possible with her grandparents.

Happy Birthday, baby girl!