Miss List

I'll be completely honest that the past few weeks with 3 children has completely changed my outlook on life.  I mean it.  I am a firm believer that God knows what is best, but He is knocking my socks off with this little addition.  I never knew a 10 lb. baby could do that, but God surely is teaching me a multitude of lessons having given us Elias. 

I find myself "missing" things...  You know, like the-life-before-three-children kind of missing things.  I miss getting places on time.  I miss having just enough hands.  I miss sleep.  I miss pre-pregnancy clothes.  I miss an under-packed diaper bag.  I miss extra room in the van.  I miss open space in the fridge.  I miss clean counters.  I miss going to church.  I miss time with my husband.  Did I mention that I miss sleep?!

And yet, I don't miss anything at all.  I can barely remember life before three.  Oh my word, how I love watching my boys learn to live with one another!  I love seeing the older boys "take care" of the baby.  I enjoy the newborn cries and the sweet words my older boys say.  I never imagined life could be so full!  My three sons make me better just by being here and overwhelming me, testing me, and teaching me to lean more on the Lord.  I love, love, love this life I've been blessed with. 

Daniel and Samuel help Elias

understand "tummy time."

Going for their first walk together with Mom.

Yes, the double stroller is HEAVY.

Thank goodness, Daniel can drive

himself on his tricycle!

This doesn't happen often...

SO, I pulled over to make certain

I had a picture of it.

All three boys were asleep in the van.

It was so sweet...  and quiet.

Scaredy Samuel

Samuel has always been a shy and timid child.  He is very cautious and thinks through everything he does, says, or eats before going ahead with it. 

The list of things he is afraid of (and dislikes) continues to grow...

• Wind
• Things the Wind Moves (our canopy tent, bubbles, etc.)
• Bugs
• Rain
• Thunder
• Horns (car, train, etc.)
• Trains (real not play ones)
• Strangers
• Getting Wet
• Sprinklers
• Dirt
• Dirty Hands
• The Dark
• Spankings

He's too cute when he finds himself frightened.  He runs immediately to the nearest person and begins to cry, exclaiming, "I skeered.  It's skeery!"  I love how careful he is.  He isn't scared to be honest with his true feelings. 

Before I Forget...

• Elias weighed 10 lbs. 10 oz. at 4 weeks old.  This is the 94th percentile.  He is huge for his age!
• Our fence is almost complete!  We just need a latch for the gate.
• Samuel needs a riding toy like Daniel's John Deere...  Grandpa needs to get to it!
• After two weeks of congestion, it was determined on Thursday (4 wks. old) that Elias has pneumonia in his left lung.  X-rays weren't as bad as I expected, but the pricks and swabbing were awful (for me).
• Simple is best.  I do not need a fancy, decorated house to be happy.  My children love making messes, running through our halls, and breaking anything in sight.  It's okay NOT to overdo it.
• Brian now has a smartphone.  Wow. 
• The best part about the combination of the fence and rainy days?  The mud pit it leaves in the center of the yard.  Daniel spent an hour in it.  He slept a FULL 10 hours that night!
• My favorite verse right now is Psalm 30:5, For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.  I don't know what I like about it, but it keeps coming to mind.
• I'm ready to start "teaching" my boys.  I mean, really teaching them.  Crafts, alphabet, numbers, and all...