Transition

 

I guess when you are raising kids maybe it always feel like they are in a state of transition.  Right now definitely feels like one.  



Lucy vacillates constantly between insisting that she is a "little bitty baby Lucy" and a "big girl" -- on her way to getting "bigger, bigger, bigger, biggest." 



I can see the internal conflict -- wanting to be little, cooed over, taken care of... and also wanting to be the big sister, capable, thoughtful. 



Yesterday she politely but emphatically asked that she be allowed to sit in Elliot's high chair at breakfast, because she was a "little bitty baby Lucy" -- but then she delighted in breaking apart her bacon into little tiny pieces and sharing them with Elliot (in the extra booster seat).  Her bacon.  A most beloved culinary delight usually guarded tightly and consumed quickly. 



"Silly gross" is a phrase we've been hearing a lot lately.  As in--I licked your nose!!  That's silly gross.  Lucy loves this "game"--if you can call it that.



Lucy definitely understands there is a baby in mommy's tummy -- and she can tell you that the baby is coming in the summer.  And that we don't know if it's a boy or a girl.  It's very different this time around.  When I was pregnant with Elliot, Lucy was still a baby herself.  She wasn't even 18 months when he was born.  She was, I'm sorry to say, completely taken by surprise by the new arrival of her brother.  But this time, she can't wait to hold her new sibling!  It's exciting to see her looking forward to baby #3.  She lays her head on my belly in the evenings and says, "Goodnight, baby!  I'll see you in the summer!"



Elliot is everyday more a little boy and less a little baby.  He is so affectionate and cuddly, though.  I hope that doesn't change any time soon.  He loves giving sweet kisses -- to stuffed animals, to Lucy, to our friends, to Daniel's and my legs while we're cooking in the kitchen in the evenings.  And to my computer. 
 

I can't tell you how many lip marks I've rubbed off my computer screen.  There is always a cute baby or friend's child showing on my computer screen (or photos of the kids), and he never misses an opportunity to share a kiss. 



Spring has arrived, and the last few signs of winter are quickly disappearing. 





I love this time of year.  I love the storms and the cooler weather, and the mystery of exactly what kind of weather the day will bring.  In August there is no mystery. 



Ten more weeks till baby #3.  Eight more weeks till my medical re-certification exam (PANRE).  Procrastination time is over. 



It's a relief (I hate procrastinating) and also terrifying.  The 5 hour exam will not be enjoyable to take, but I'm guessing that at 38 weeks pregnant I'll be ready to get it over with. 



I finally have begun a small amount of experimentation with macro photography. 
 

I know almost nothing about it, but I realized this morning how enjoyable it is to get really close and be really still -- it's drastically different from photographing two moving toddlers, and I'd like to get better at it.

Bubbles

I have a love/hate relationship with bubbles.  I love that the kids love them. 



They are always excited to blow bubbles.  And I suppose there's something magical about bubbles--how they float and pop and are each a little different. 




But they are a mess.  The highest quality bubbles I've been able to find is the Gazillion brand, and it's thick and slippery. 



Why do they not put some kind of yummy smell into these bottles of bubbles?  Don't these companies know that the viscous fluid ends up all over everything?  The least they could do is flavor it to smell like fresh laundry or country apple or some other deliciousness. 



This is, I realize now that I'm typing it, a first world problem.  I should not be complaining about the completely accessible, safe, fun activity that my kids adore.  Should not. 
 

Want to know a completely painless way to consume hundreds of calories of nutrition-free carbs?  Pretzel bites.  Fresh ones. 
 

The pretzel craving is milder with this pregnancy than with Elliot''s -- but it's still there, for sure.

Thank you, baby #3, Google, and bread machine, for making these little dreams a reality. 

Rain Storms Just Got A Little Nicer

I love rain storms in the spring.  Love them.  I love how the air smells, and how it sounds outside, and how everything gets a little cooler. 

 
 

Turns out rain storms make Elliot very clingy and cuddly.  He is like a puppy. 



When it starts raining hard, there is no where he'd rather be than in my arms, with head down, snuggled close. 
 



I mean... I didn't think I could enjoy rain storms any more, but yes--this makes them even nicer.

We Survived Week One. And Lucy's Carwash Fixation

 

Daniel is gone for 2 consecutive weeks.  And, my friends, we have survived the first week.  That is saying something, since early in the week I was ill and really not feeling up to the job of single parenting two toddlers while 6 months pregnant. 
 

Especially with both sets of grandparents unavailable to swoop in.  Tuesday was the low point.  I was actually short of breath most of the day and seriously concerned something was wrong.  But after a very quick check at the midwife and a somewhat decent night's sleep that evening... everything was looking a little better Wednesday morning.  And we continued improving through the week, finally really finding our rhythm yesterday and today.  And so going into next week, I'm not feeling short of breath thinking about doing it again.  I'm feeling okay.  And that's a miracle.  May God smite me dead if I should ever utter a critical word about a single parent -- it is not easy, even only for a week.  Shoot--even only for a day. 



We are well into the bunk bed transition now.  The kids have been going to bed at the same time--and I'll credit their not playing till all hours together to the friendly parent/police stationed in the room while they fall asleep. 



Some day we'll give them the space to play and enjoy each other's company a little more at night time, but for now -- it takes a solid hour for them to fall asleep, even with one of us in the room the whole time.  I can't imagine leaving it all up to them to fall asleep without us in there.  Though, one day, we'll be there. 



I found this cool wagon at a resale shop.  Isn't it neat? 



I can't wait to pose a newborn boy in it -- but for now, the kids love playing in it.  And it's stout!



Lucy is completely hung up on something that happened 6 months ago.  We picked up my nephew from school one day and then proceeded to the car wash.  It was Lucy's first time, and she was understandably a little afraid of all the noises and confusing, soapy visual display on every window.  She held Jack's hand--which I told her, after the fact, was so sweet.  So now she repeats this narrative literally everyday.  To anyone who asks her a question that seems like an opening to discuss it.  Ex: Lucy--how was your day? 
It wah-pretty good.  We went a car wash, and it was LOUD.  There were red towels.  I hold Jack's hand.  It wah-sooooo sweeeeet.  
Was that today?
Ummmm no.  It wah---a WHY--ago.  
Would you like to go back to the car wash again some time?
Ummmm no thank you.



Even with Daniel gone this whole week -- she could articulate on the phone, Hi, Dada--You coming back on Friiiiiiday?  At night-night-time?
Yes, Lucy, I miss you!
But we went to a car wash.  It was LOUD.  There were red towels.  I hold Jack's hand.  It was sooooo sweeeeeeet.



It's so funny... I guess she's still processing what happened?  She definitely does not want to go back any time soon.  But she brings it up multiple times/day.  I had no idea the impact that day would have for her.  The car was just really dirty.



Makes me really curious what other random things from her childhood she will latch onto and remember with crystal clarity. 

New Cereal and New Sidewalk

 

It was like Christmas morning here today.  For the very first time (that they can remember) the kids tried a different kind of cheerios!



This kind of cheerios is cracklin' oat bran, and it's amazing.  The kids loved it.  It was my favorite as a kid.



Christmas morning for me this morning included new sidewalks!  Our neighborhood's sidewalks have shifted over the years,  and they're really bumpy in places--plus, they collect water when it rains.  Maybe it seems silly to get so excited about new sidewalks.  But I can't help it.



And the added bonus of real, live construction vehicles on our very own street was such a thrill to the kids.  They were a little nervous about them -- they're pretty noisy.  But they were definitely fascinated, too.



It has been a month of growing for Lucy.  It's normal for kids to go through short periods of increased irritability.  But that little phrase, "increased irritability" doesn't really do it justice in this case.  I said more prayers for patience and confessed more anger and apologized more to Lucy than every before.  It was rough.



Her emotional highs have been very high.  And her emotional lows have been epically low.  Sometimes it's just rough being a 2-year-old.  And sometimes it's pretty rough being the mommy of a 2-year-old.  Or the daddy, for that matter.



We are so grateful to be parents -- but it sure does remind us of our need for grace.  I'm thankful God is able to redeem the impact on my kids of even my worst parenting moments.



It's all grace with Him.

Fifteen Months (Elliot's Monthly Photo)

Oh. my. goodness!  It has been a busy few weeks for us!  My sincerest apologies for the lapse in blog postings -- but here I am, again! 

In the last few weeks I have had several photography sessions, including my own brother's wedding and his bride's bridal portraits before that!  You can see some of the photos from that session here (click link). 



Elliot has grown leaps and bounds the last month in his understanding of us and his ability to communicate.  His words are still fairly few--but this month he added "mama" and "dada" to his list!  He also loves to tell you what a duck says (quack quack!) and a puppy dog (woof woof!).  And he now says "yeah" (for yes) and also "that" (when he's pointing to something). 






He began giving kisses to the computer screen this month, especially when I'm editing a newborn's photo or looking at photos of babies on Facebook.  I'm inclined to believe he adopted this behavior after watching Lucy do it numerous times.  She has been all about kisses this month! 



As of today, Elliot is expressing some real enthusiasm for going potty!  He went and sat on his little potty during nap time, and after I removed his diaper, he went!  It was so exciting -- for both of us.  I'm sure we have months and months of potty training ahead (and a hefty set-back when baby comes in June), but still it's exciting to see him express such interest at so young an age.  Makes me cautiously hopeful that we won't be changing his diapers 18 months from now.



The kids have loved sleeping in their new bunk beds in their new room!  I need to update with photos, but I haven't finished (or started) the curtains yet, and I want them to be completed before I take the "after" photos of the kids' new room. 



Elliot, you are such an intelligent, delightful, affectionate, sweet little baby boy!!  You are much loved by me, your dada, and your sister, who calls you Buggaboy. 



She loves checking up on you.  Even if you only cough twice, she is there saying, "You okay, Buggaboy?"