Joy...

"the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying" (random house dictionary)

My brother-in-law, Jason, wrote today in his monthly update from Baghdad: "the freshness of simple joy at being in the presence of people you love and people who love you is all the salve the soul needs to heal. I highly recommend big doses to everyone." I am in the midst of a big dose of simple joy at being in the presence of people I love and people who love me. I have a sweet baby girl--"perfect" the doctor said today. I must agree.

And as I tickled John with kisses tonight and watched him point to the gloves, lemon, digger truck, and kitty cat in First Colors, I knew that his birthday today is only a reminder of the fact he's two years old. After his bath this morning I said, "come here, sweet baby. I need to dry you off big boy. Well...which one is it?" Baby? Big boy? He'll always be my firstborn, my sweet introduction to motherhood, my little friend. But he's not my "baby" anymore. I have a new baby which makes it easier. But at the same time I look at her tiny face and know this doesn't last for long. So I'm basking in it, enjoying it, letting all the joy sink in deep.

family time

Today we said goodbye to Shawna and Jonathan. I'm sad to see them go since we won't be together again until Christmas. But I am extremely grateful for the time they were here and for the immense help they cheerfully gave us. I could not have made it through the last few days in one piece if they hadn't been here to build blocks and make meals and hold Hava. Thank you Shawna and Jon!

"Dad, do we really get to keep her?!?"

Elizabeth and Cambria arrived this morning. We are so blessed to be surrounded by family at this special time. Havilah, you're part of an amazing extended family (and honorary family) that will love you and care for you throughout your life. Lucky girl!

1 day old

Fresh photos of our sweet pea:

Welcome, precious!

Havilah Joy Honeycutt has arrived! Here's the story, in pictures:

Shawna arrived Saturday morning.

Sunday night we got ready to go to the hospital at some point during the night.

Monday morning, 6 a.m.--it was finally our turn to come in!

Shawna arrived later in the morning to keep me company during the five hours of labor.

Welcome, baby girl! At 1:01 p.m., Hava entered the world with no complications...and after only 4-5 minutes of pushing.

John was beside himself with joy when he realized mom was holding the long-anticipated BABY SISTER!

Havilah prepares for her bath.

Visitors! Megan was the first non-parent, non-medical staff to hold our sweet girl. She came with Jim and Shane. We also saw Elise, Damon, Chloe, Haylie, Sophie, Scott, Robyn, Samantha, Ryan, and Jadon.

Happy family!

Proud papa...

And that was Havilah's first day of life! We're SO glad she's here to stay. (-:

change

I am on the brink of a new phase of life. I must be getting older because change is growing more difficult. I used to want to jump into new things...and as quick as I could! Billy was always the tentative one, the sentimental about the old days one, the why-couldn't-things-stay-the-same one. And it's not that I want things to stay the same now (what kind of person would want to stay 9 months pregnant??). It's just that I'm not pushing my way to the front of the line for jumping into the pool's deep end. Maybe because I've done this before. I know now what is ahead of me: the labor and delivery, the long recovery, the challenge of getting to know what makes my newborn tick, the sleeplessness.... Or maybe it's because I have my focus all wrong. Everything is ready. My house is clean, the laundry is fresh, Havilah's things are in order, the fridge is full, the errands are run, my job is wrapped up. But my mind isn't orderly. My heart isn't fully prepared. I will soon be the de facto mother of two small children. I've never done this before and it seems...well, daunting. My goal for the next two days before I check into the hospital is to rest my mind and calm my heart.

If you know me well, you know how much I love babies--especially my babies. It's not that I don't want Havilah to come. It's that I don't want my baby Hava or my big boy John to have less than the best from me. I want to be all there. I want to avoid mistakes. I want to be able to give myself to them, to give them happy childhoods that lead to responsible, fulfilling, God-honoring adulthoods. In essence, I want what any good mom wants. God help me; I can't do this on my own.

apache junction trip

Today we had a lovely (though burning hot!) day in Apache Junction and the surrounding area. Jim, Megan, and Shane were with us to enjoy a steamboat ride on Canyon Lake, ice cream in Tortilla Flats (population of 6, supposedly), a look through an old mining town that's now a ghost town, and tons of Arizona-beautiful scenery.

fun in the sun

Here's one of John's favorite books (at least this week): Wheels on the Bus. Why read a book when you can sing it??

John, participating in his favorite activity:

Oh, but it's so hard when your mom makes you stop and dry your hands...

John builds a tower of canned goods:

Life here is good. Nothing too exciting. I'm finishing work this week before I take a few months of maternity leave. I really love my job and will miss the brain stimulation it gives me (c'mon, you mean, besides Wheels on the Bus???) but I sure will appreciate the chance to focus on my kids. John will need lots of love and attention and Havilah will need lots of everything. She comes a week from tomorrow!

Billy begins night shift this week, beginning on Wednesday. Because of the shift change, he has an extra long weekend which we are taking advantage of to get things done. I just finished making one of John's birthday gifts. I'll post pictures once he receives it (though he has already tried it on several times so I could measure the sizing). We're also planning to take a day trip with Jim and Megan on Tuesday--should be good to get out of the city.

Hope you are all doing well!

congratulations Christina and Zach!!!

More good news: Christina and Zach are engaged! I'm so excited for my friend from kindergarten to be getting married. Congratulations!!

Here is her engagement ring:

countdown!

We had an hour with Bill last night at the airport. His layover from Oklahoma to Portland was in Phoenix so we met him in the airport for some coffee and a chance to actually see each other, not just talk with each other. It's always a treat to have time with our Portland family!

We received good news yesterday--the end is in sight! I am scheduled to be induced on Monday, August 27th. Shawna comes to visit on August 25th so she'll be here when Hava's born and will be able to help care for John while I'm in the hospital. Of course, I could go into labor naturally before then...but at least I know I won't go past my September 1 due date. And John and Havilah won't have to share his birthday on August 31. I'm relieved to have a finish line. I'm no good at waiting for good things! Meanwhile, all of Havilah's things are in order and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing her!

baby koala & mama bear

John and I are anticipating a new baby with our attitudes. He's become my baby koala. Today while I made our bean burritos for lunch (side note: I'm so lucky to have an "easy" husband who requests bean burritos for lunch 4 times a week!), John was literally hanging off my knees. With Hava hanging out all over my abdomen, I felt a little weighed down with children. What will I do when there are three or four? Maybe John won't cling then....

He's my baby koala bear. We have a favorite bedtime book called "Mama Mama" (and it's other half: "Papa Papa") where the baby animals say little poems to their mothers, telling the mamas how to care for them and of their love. I may have read the book to John one too many times. I see themes of the poems in his day-to-day activities: "Mama, mama, you are fine. You are clever, you are MINE!" Somewhere inside, he knows the days of just "mom and John" are dwindling down.

And if John is a baby koala, I have turned into a mama beast (perhaps bear sounds better, but it would have to be one of the fiercer types). Don't touch my kids! Don't mess with my kids! I'm considering going into hiding until the baby is out and my mind is stable and I stop scaring the world.

Some mothers say pregnancy is the most wonderful time of their lives. I am not part of that elite group. Pregnancy is a means to an end: a baby. And the baby becomes a sweet toddler and someday I will have adult children who, if I'm blessed, will want to be with me because they love me, beastly parts and all.

Shane and John

More pictures of John and Shane together, compliments of Megan.


above: Shane "kissing" John.

nine years later

Billy and I saw Dr. Bass, my new ob/gyn, this afternoon. He was helpful, attentive, professional, and really listened to us. It's a breath of fresh air! He even gave us an ultrasound to check out how Hava's doing. She's measuring around 6 lbs 4 oz and had plenty of amniotic fluid so things seem to be ok. We got a little peak of her face. So sweet!

No definitive answer on whether we will induce and when that would be, but it seems like if we do it would be in 2 1/2 or 3 weeks. I'll probably have a firm answer next week (though I've been saying that for weeks now!).

Tonight we went for a walk around the neighborhood behind our place. The temperature was just in the 80s and the sun was setting as we strolled around. John had fun riding on Billy's back.

Today is the ninth anniversary of Billy and I meeting. It was August 6, 1998, when I saved him a seat next to me on the camp bus headed for Rooster Rock. And the rest, as they say, is history. I never imagined that day at the river that nine years later I would be living in Phoenix, Arizona, married to Billy for four years and two months, with our second child just weeks away from entering the world. We've been through so much together--rough spots along the way but mostly as we look back, it's sweet memories and happy times. And the best is yet to come.