m & m : musings and mothering

hey 2012

2012-01-29T21:22:00.010-07:00

Five years ago, I got on a plane with 16-month-old John and said goodbye to a wintery white Portland. A couple hours later and a new life had begun for me, and him, and Billy, and Havilah who was about the size of a bean. Ok, life for Havilah was new in general so she doesn't count.

It's been five years! Amazing.

It's also been a bit of time since I appeared in the blogging world, so here is a little update on our family in general. (Posts are in the works for each child individually.)

Homeschool:

John is nothing if he isn't enthusiastic about homeschooling. He even clamors for school on the weekends and when he's sick. His favorite things are practicing writing letters and numbers, coloring pictures, and our homeschool group park days every week.

Billy turned 30!! We celebrated with a night away for just the two of us and then an open house with lots of wonderful people. Thirty is suiting him well; he means so much to our family and takes excellent care of us.

Twins! Yes, a new nephew and a new niece were born during our time in Oregon. We had the fun privilege of holding them when they were just hours old (I'm holding Mary and Billy has Micah).

Here's a shot of their Mommy's belly just three days earlier. The little girls are wearing matching dresses I sewed for them. The pattern was quite involved but the work was well worth it. The cousins looked so darling all dressed up together.

Back at home, we have been working on projects around the house, getting more connected at church, and are finding a rhythm for balancing home and homeschool. It sounds boring, but it keeps me busy and content.

I'm thankful for the last five years here in the desert, but I'm especially thankful for this time of life right now. It's a blessing to feel like I'm exactly where I should be, doing what I should be doing. God is faithful!

This week, I...

2011-09-24T20:24:00.005-07:00

* Painted a formerly rust colored kitchen a lovely shade of green. Behr calls it "cricket"--a perfectly awful name for green paint. It's more of a mellow mint and brightens my kitchen right up.

* Took this BIG girl to her first dance lesson. She had fun! (She's sitting in front of the green kitchen wall in these photos.)

* Completed my first week of homeschooling. It included some head scratching (me), some enthusiasm for learning (John), lots of paper cutting and Awana verses, John learning to write his numbers, and two field trips: the zoo and the plant nursery.

* Went on a date with Billy. Those are few and far between, something we are now resolved to fix. It's amazing how a few hours to have a cup of coffee with my husband can focus and energize me for a new week.

* Thought about my sister-in-law who found out she's having twins in January, not just one baby. We're excited for another niece and nephew!

* Helped out again at Sprouts, the Awana class for 2-year-olds at our church. Those kids are amazingly cute--all 30 of them!

* Took one nap. Maybe this should be on my agenda every week?

* Made homemade doughnuts after reading to the kids about Almonzo's birthday and his farmer mother who had a doughnut jar. wow. That sounds incredible. (The kids love the Little House on the Prairie books; they are so educational...and delicious!)

* Ignored the mess of boxes and stuff in my bedroom as it is doubling as a storage room and office. All in good time, everything will have a place....

* Contemplated God's goodness in sending several women my way who were encouraged by my miscarriage website, babygrief. Around this time of year, I think more about the little one we lost and it does the heart good to hear from others who have gathered strength from my story. Thank you Lord.

* Began making a mental list of the ways I know I'm finally getting older. It's a sorry list. But I'm going to work on adding some positives and then maybe I can share it with you.

* felt tired. No idea why....

school is in session

2011-09-20T19:50:00.011-07:00

We've decided to switch to homeschooling John for the rest of this kindergarten year, and to work with Hava on preschool activities while we're at it. I didn't want to get into such an undertaking without a designated room, so we transferred D to Hava's room and made his bedroom into the homeschool room.

There's still work to be done on the school room, but here's a glimpse of where we're at now:

On our first day, we took a walk to look for seeds in nature.

Hard at work!

John has discovered three of the benefits of homeschooling: your craft supplies are always available, you can craft topless, and a snack of almonds can find its way into the classroom.

Along with schooling at home, we have initiated mandatory quiet time every afternoon. Half an hour of kids plus books--in their own space--means I get a little break midday. Hava fell asleep during quiet time yesterday:

I am open to any and all suggestions for schooling kids at home. I think we have a good plan in place for this year. But I know I am a greenhorn and am ready to learn, right alongside my kids.

{Billy and I refinished the school table from an old wooden table found on craigslist. Neither of us had undertaken a project like this before, and it was fun to work on together. Now we need to finish the chairs...}

6 (full) weeks

2011-09-06T20:54:00.023-07:00

What have we been up to over the last 6 weeks? Well, I'm glad you asked! Though you probably won't be, after you here this list:

moving. enough said. no, there aren't pictures.

swimming...

celebrating (for the first round) three special people. This time, it was with Mimi. And, no, the kids don't look like lobsters because I neglected once again to apply sunscreen. This time, the 95 degree house and 105 degree outside temps receive the credit.

so, then we replaced our air conditioner.

But back to the Mimi birthday party! Mimi got lots of love after present opening:

A couple days later, David's birthday came around and we had leftover chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. (Are you wondering why David is alone with fire? Me too. I don't seem to remember that part of his birthday...)

Another wonderful thing about celebrating birthdays all month is the packages that arrive via mail, all full of presents. (Thank you auntie Katie!)

Two days after David's birthday, big boy John started kindergarten. This is the best shot we got of him on his first day. silly boy!

[ok, here's the kindergarten scoop: John loves it; his teacher, Mrs. Stefan, is outstanding; the school is half a mile from our house; he goes in the afternoon which is perfect for our schedule; his homework takes approximately three minutes each evening, and ANOTHER girl has her eye on John. This girl, Eve, claims that John is "my first love! the love of my life!!" bah humbug. Go away Eve! John is developing quite an interest in her as well. It's hard not to love in return when you're Prince Charming in someone's eyes. I asked John why Eve is her friend and he said, "because she loves to hug me." Please! Ok, quick survey: should I home school him or lock him in his room?? But, like I said, school is great.]

Then Hava turned 4! The little darling already knows more Bible and theology than most college students, but she continually reminds me that she's still barely out of toddlerhood by putting everything--did I say everything?--yes, everything, everything, everything in her mouth. Is this normal or am I crazy to think most 4-year-olds don't suck on shopping carts, their brother's shoes, dead bugs, cleaning rags, pool noodles, old gum, etc.?

Her birthday was lovely, just like her (minus that mouth thing). She requested meatballs, something we haven't had since her birthday last year. (Her memory astounds me every day--how did she remember her third birthday?) There was strawberry shortcake with whipped cream afterward. We played games, nursed a sicky brother (John), and got a big surprise when Billy told us he was taking the day off for her. Don't you just love her cupcake shirt?

Four days later, we finished the birthday festivities with John Willis. By then, David was the sicky but we hauled him to the zoo anyway (he had a stroller, after all) for a couple delightful, albeit hot, hours of animal gazing. John requested pizza and "blueberry coconut cake," which I had never heard of. I improvised by making our favorite blueberry lemon cake and topping it with whipped cream and toasted coconut. It worked!

On a very important note, we introduced the kids to cassette tapes. They laid like this for hours until David poured water into the stereo. David is with pouring out water as Hava is with anything that can fit in her mouth. I tell you, there are a thousand things I will miss about having my kids all small enough to fit on my lap and believe everything I say. The water spills everywhere is not counted in that thousand. (This is the reason why D and H have soggy behinds in the photo...they accidentally sat in a victimized location.)

As you can probably tell, I needed a few days away from my kids--darling though they are--and my sister conveniently had a baby boy on David's birthday so a trip was in order (between David's and Hava's birthdays). Plus, I hadn't met my brother's little girl yet so I definitely needed to head north. Billy took over for five days and I enjoyed every minute of holding my niece and nephew, catching up with Shawna & Jordan and Jonathan & Chelsea, and experiencing jeans weather. Sorry, my pictures of Abigail are just on facebook. But here's little Elijah:

On the home front, the kids rearranged their sleeping habits. Hava plays musical beds most nights, though she sleeps best next to John in his queen size bed. We very rarely had kids in our bed (besides babies) before the move. Now, I often find a sweet little face next to mine:

we've learned to swim! John and Hava can now keep themselves afloat and moving around the water. Both of them have learned to jump in on their own too! David is happier saying "ready? Go!" and jumping to me.

Yes, David is talking! hooray, hooray! Actually, he's more of a parrot than a conversationalist at this point, but the boy has lots of words! hooray!

here is my calming point: the backyard.

In the pool, the troubles of ruined tape players and troublesome kindergarten girls and whatever other troubles may be, melt away as we have family time together. In the end, that's what I want to remember from the last six weeks and for the years to come--enjoying each other in our own little spot, under the trees.

a part of ourselves

2011-07-24T20:47:00.005-07:00

"All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another." ~Anatole France

This July. Oh my, this July. Three kids at home and a make-it-myself frame of mind usually fill my days in a tidy, steady way. This July: buying a home, packing the house we've lived in for nearly all of Hava's life, editing projects, Billy working 60-70 hours a week, 100+ degree heat, and my 14-year-old brother Ben staying for nine days. My cup overflows!

Tomorrow or the next day we'll get the call to come get the keys to our new house. Our house. I didn't think it would happen this quickly and that our house would fit us so perfectly. I'm very thankful.

In three weeks, I'll be packing John's backpack for his first day of kindergarten. He's ready; he's excited. I'm getting nervous but know that he needs this...and that he needs me to be chill about it.

It's all good change, but change does bring its own "melancholy." Goodbye old life with all my babies still babies at home, at the same home we've been in for so long. Hello revised life with my oldest not always there, with a new house to make a home. I'm glad for the change. I'm thankful for the change. I'm just a little weary with the change.

August will be insane too. A friend and I agreed this morning that we are looking forward to September. I think by then, the changes will feel just right.

2011-07-04T19:23:00.007-07:00

We have a house! It feels too good to be true, but we are on our way to owning the first house we looked at or put an offer on. We'll be moving just a couple weeks before the school year starts in mid August--what perfect timing.

Welcome to our home!

Our favorite thing about the house is the location: close to family and church and surrounded by trees.

Praise God for this blessing!

Flashback

2011-06-01T07:14:00.022-07:00

Found Billy's little outfit way back from 1983 . . . David fit it perfectly and was delighted to have his picture taken. But first, the Daddy:

And now, Daddy's clone:

going...

gone!

Someday, Picasa will have a "booger remover" tool similar to their "red eye" function. Alas, not yet.

He's a keeper!

March, April, and May...

2011-05-13T22:55:00.025-07:00

Since I last posted, we drove to Oklahoma to visit Billy's lovely extended family for five days (and drove back in one day--not for the faint of heart!). The trip was even better than we expected and gave us quality time with all of his grandparents, every aunt and uncle, and half of his twelve cousins. Our kids had a blast playing on the farm, going fishing, exploring Enid's children's museum, staying in a motel, getting to know their family, digging in the dirt, and throwing balls for the farm dogs. We're already looking forward to the next time we will go again.

Right after we returned, my sister (and her in utero son) came for a visit for six wonderful days. I really appreciated having time to reconnect with her. She is an auntie extraordinaire and the kids soaked up more family time in March by playing, playing, playing with Auntie Shawna.

April brought changes. Or really, acceptance of changes. And also acceptance that some things are not changing. Though we had hoped and planned to move back to the Northwest, we are now planning--and coming to peace with--staying in the Valley indefinitely. I could not tell you why God is keeping us here, but I do feel that He is behind this. We are both so thankful for Billy's excellent job which he enjoys; it's really a perfect career for him. And fortunately for me and Billy, our kids are blissfully content to be "home" wherever mom and dad are, even if that's among the cactus.

Since we'll be here for a while, this month we are starting the search for a home of our own. We've lived in the same rental house for over three years and it's been a good place for us to have little kids but now that our family is growing up, we're looking forward to having a space that is better suited to our needs. The home buying process can be intimidating. Hopefully it won't take too long or get too complicated (hey, I can hope...).

Easter morning:

May also brought our first broken bone. John fractured his right thumb after a skillfully placed kick from his darling sister. That was urgent care trip number one. Four days later, I found myself there again with David. An empty olive can in the recycling bin gave him a very deep "L" shaped cut on his right pinkie. The doctor concentrated very intently to place five stitches in such a tiny finger. Both boys were so tough and incredibly tolerant of the pain (and blood in D's case). That was the same week that David and Hava both had the flu (which was the fourth or fifth time the flu has visited our house this season!). I'm praying that we are through with medical emergencies and that pesky flu for at least a few weeks.

In between urgent care visits, we went to see Seussical, a fantastic musical that featured my talented eight-year-old cousin, Sophie. David had a babysitter (hooray!) and we enjoyed the event with the "big kids," who were in Dr. Seuss heaven. What a fun show!

We have entered the Lego phase of life--for all three kids--oh my.

Next month, we are looking forward to a visit from Papa and Mimi and plenty of swimming when the hot weather is in full swing. And, maybe, we'll buy a house. That would be wonderful!

5.5

2011-03-15T20:54:00.009-07:00

John Willis is 5.5! He is maturing quickly. Often, Billy and I wonder what he's thinking about now that he's past the preschool age of say everything you're thinking right when you think it. Not that John doesn't talk (he talks all day!), but I can tell he is becoming introspective and really trying to understand the world. At least as much as you can when you're five-and-a-half.

* John's passions in life are playing, food, and his Dad. Not necessarily in that order. The boy plays from the moment he wakes up until the moment I finally convince him to rest. He likes to read books with us, or watch an occasional movie, or rarely just snuggle...but mainly he loves to play, play, play.

* This kid is so ready for kindergarten. His speech is improving every day (he gets speech therapy at our neighborhood school twice a week), his confidence is growing, and he has a good grasp on the social and academic concepts he'll need to start kindergarten. I'm a little nervous about it, but he's very excited--it doesn't hurt that he'll be six inches taller (and as much as a year older) than the other kids.

* John is an excellent older brother. His siblings are lucky bums, for sure. He is selfless in his love and care for them and is constantly looking out for them (except he does love to pour water on Hava's face in the bath. sigh. I guess no one's perfect.).

We love you, John boy!

3.5

2011-03-14T20:49:00.009-07:00

My sweet Hava Joy is 3.5! She says the funniest things every day and brings us so much JOY!

* Havilah's favorite things include reading books with Mom and Dad (she regularly sits for an hour at a time doing this--long after her brothers have moved on), making a mess, eating all kinds of food, playing outside, and being with other kids around her age.

* These two are joined at the hip. In fact, I wasn't really sure I could post about Havilah without at least mentioning her brother's name. Havilah's world revolves around John in so many ways. We are curious to see how she grows and develops when he enters kindergarten in August. For now, they are together 24/7 and that is a positive thing 23.5/7 (the other .5? That's when she complains "Mom! He's not obeying me!!")

* Havilah relishes messes. (Remember the sugar?) Someday she may be a neat freak, but these days she positively enjoys getting mud in her hair, getting scraped up from climbing the lemon tree, and on this particular occasion...rolling a "poop ball" for an invisible dung beetle, naturally.

* Hava loves to be barefoot. She takes her shoes off every time she gets the chance. Here's her bare foot at the Mariners' spring training game we went to recently--her shoes were in another row, where she had kicked them off.

* She is steadily learning to control those passionate emotions that make life with Hava a bit like riding a roller coaster. But when she's happy (and usually she is), she lights up our home with her smile.

I'm so glad to have this precious daughter!

1.5

2011-03-13T21:18:00.013-07:00

David is 19 months old today--here is his 1.5 year old update (only a month behind!):

* David is Mr. Independent. If he can possibly do it by himself, he would like to do it by himself. This includes feeding, putting on his shoes, washing up, and lately--using the potty chair. An independent third child is a beautiful thing indeed.

* David is not speaking. Unless you count "Daddy" which I do, but barely. The pediatrician was concerned (it's her job to be concerned, I swear) so we had a state Early Intervention child development specialist and a speech therapist come to "evaluate" David. Their conclusion was that David is on target/advanced in his development and that he is not interested in talking like a baby so he'll probably start speaking once he's able to get full sentences out. That would not surprise me. Even if that's not the case, we don't see any signs of a speech disorder (thank you, Lord!).

* David thinks he's as big as John and Hava, and should be able to do everything they do. This can have interesting results. However, when it comes to potty training, I'm glad to have him be in a rush to grow up (nap time, on the other hand, is a different story).

* The kid is a charmer. Such a smile! He looks the most like Billy to me--maybe that's why I'm a sucker for his sweet little face.

* David's favorite things include food (all kinds, except meat), playing outside, Cutie (good gracious, that girl has been around a long time), anything John and Hava are doing, greeting Daddy when he comes home, EATING, playing in the church nursery, BATHS, and sometimes snuggling. My favorite is snuggling.

Love this kid!

Oregon trip, part 2

2011-02-27T21:17:00.003-07:00

While in Oregon, we took a trip to Pacific City with both sets of parents and Ben and Anna. We had a great beach house big enough for all of us and the weather was gorgeous. It was very relaxing family time.

What a beautiful girl (this is at the top of the gigantic Pacific City dune)!

The kids loved snuggling and reading with Grandma Nee and Papa Dave at their house:

We enjoyed a visit with Stephanie and baby Cora:

My mom and I went out for lunch and when we got back to her house, we found two kids asleep with Papa Dave:

John and Hava helped Billy and Bill build this little picnic table, which they enjoyed eating at (inside the house!):

Mimi and Hava:

Such a nice vacation!

On weeks like this one...

2011-02-25T09:40:00.001-07:00

This week has been marked by disappointing news--for both us and our families. It involves recharting our course and reframing our mindset. Yet I feel so secure in God's personal attention to our lives.

Because he has good things for my life--for our lives--he leads me to a place I didn't put in my plans, but that I can see is part of a greater plan. For my good. I do believe this wholeheartedly, even on hard weeks.

When I was little, my mom worked with me and Shawna to memorize Psalm 121. I remember lying in bed at my Nonni's old house in Snohomish. I could see the sheep out in the pasture and Shawna, Mom, and I repeated these verses several times:

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you—

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

The LORD will keep me from all harm...He will watch over my life...He will watch over my coming and going--this week and forever. I'm so thankful for that.

Cousins!

2011-02-17T21:31:00.001-07:00

I'm alive!

Some people were wondering about that--and some people suggested I might even be through blogging. But I'm alive and I'm here with a couple posts for this week. First up are the cousins!

We went to Oregon at the end of January-beginning of February for an excellent trip that we absolutely packed with family and friends. During that time, we spent parts of two days with Jason and Elizabeth and their three kids, Cambria, Ezekiel, and Sophia. The kids hadn't seen each other in ten months but they picked up exactly where they left off last year--deep in cousin love!

Fairy girls:

Sophia had just turned one, and all five of us loved snuggling her:

The big kids:

The middles:

The babies:

A cousin tea party:

Have I mentioned that John loves babies? He does. Sophie stole his heart instantly (well, she's simply adorable, so I don't blame him).

On our way outside for a fire and roasted marshmallows:

My kids are suckers for wagons--and their Dad--and especially their Dad with a wagon.

More of the babies (and doesn't David look like a giant??):

Did I mention that John loves Sophie? Oh yes, he does.

All ten of us:

Thank you Jason and Elizabeth for hosting the family time!

December

2010-12-19T22:36:00.015-07:00

Lots of blessings have come our way this month. Many people who we love are carrying burdens--and to some extent we carry those too--but here at the Honeycutt homestead I'm happy to report that we have had an abundance of love and peace.

Well, we did murder a tree but, hey, that's what it was grown for, right??

(Ok, Home Depot's minions killed it for us, but we don't mind because nothing beats a live tree...).

Billy and I had plenty of help when it came to decorating the tree. Come to think of it, our elves have helped all month by continuously redecorating it.

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is taking walks after dinner to see Christmas lights. We bundle up for the fun of it and to get in the Christmas spirit, not because it's actually cold. (-:

The kids and I decorated a gingerbread house:

And the best part about Christmas is the Christmas music! We listen to Christmas tunes early and often around here, so the kids are starting to learn the words to many of the songs. John and David had fun pretending to play the music too.

Last Sunday, John and Havilah were in our Christmas play for one song with the other preschoolers.

John really got into it:

Havilah did not.

Today we enjoyed our first AZ family Christmas gathering, complete with lollipop making and the First Annual Talent Show. Hava sang "Away in a Manger" with two of her older cousins, Sophie and Haylie.

Christmas is alive and well here--we're looking forward to a festive, relaxing week!

Grandparents (x2)

2010-11-07T19:40:00.016-07:00

We had two lovely family visits--first from Billy's parents, Mimi and Papa (in October), and then from my dad, Papa Dave (last week). It's always such a blessing to have family stay with us!

"Make a sad face..."

"Now make a happy face!"

All I want for Christmas...

2010-11-02T15:05:00.005-07:00

Actually, he also wants a remote control car...but that doesn't fit the song now does it?

boy in a bucket

2010-10-25T19:43:00.007-07:00

Today at lunch, there was a small contest and I'm afraid I was the loser. Here was the score:

High chair: negative 5 points

David's outfit: negative 10 points

Mama: negative 5 points

David: 50 points

Orange bucket and (outdoor!) faucet: 20 points, for the assist

Oh yeah, that noise in the middle of lunch (coming from the back regions of D. S.) should not have been ignored. But he had a blast cleaning up!

I love that boy, even when he stinks!

October (in pictures)

2010-10-12T07:59:00.011-07:00

caught a picture of David throwing a ball:

love this one:

two kids in a Costco box:

a few things

2010-09-13T21:26:00.002-07:00

Just a few thoughts:

* Tonight at dinner I told John that he gets to start speech therapy at the elementary school down the road. He will start going twice a week and he was genuinely excited. I decided to give it to him straight and I told him that it was speech therapy and that the therapist would work with him on his words and language. He said, "can I go in the morning?" with a smile--so I think he's looking forward to being back in the school setting.

* What I didn't anticipate with that exchange is that Havilah would feel left out. She wanted to go too, poor thing, but of course that can't happen. She looked into her bowl of food and started to cry to herself very softly. Then when I asked her what she was feeling, she tried to hide that she was crying. Sometimes I have to remind myself that she just turned three: her emotions and social awareness are so keen, more than I expect for someone who is so tiny.

* I took the older two to the doctor today for check ups. I promised "no shots!" but we left the doctor's office with no less than one urine analysis, two TB tests (which are shots), three vaccinations, two flu shots, and two orders for blood draws later this week. Oops...I hope they forgive me sometime this month.

* Fall is coming to the desert! It's still a million degrees during the day but I can OPEN MY WINDOWS in the mornings and take un-scorching walks after sunset!! I'm a little excited.

* Mimi and Papa are coming for a visit in one short month! Hooray for grandparent time!

* I've been working through this Bible study with a friend and finding it challenging and encouraging at the same time.

* David is full on walking and I swear that baby will start talking next week. He never stops jabbering! I guess he has to get with the program or get run over! (-:

John is 5!

2010-09-03T19:54:00.001-07:00

John is five years old...how is that possible? Weren't we just living in Floyd Light Apartments (loved that apartment...such sweet memories) with little chubby John learning to crawl around? No? Maybe he's zooming up and down the sloped sidewalks on his Razor (muttering "Whoah, that's awesome. Yeah, that's amazing" to himself), growing taller every day, and sometimes giving me a glimpse of what he'll be like at fifteen. And when I'm blogging about his fifteenth birthday...that will be the day.

Here's a story that illustrates a paradox with John: last week, we went to the doctor's office for Billy and the office is next door to the hospital. It was raining that afternoon and we had to park at the far end of the parking lot. John was thrilled to see that an elderly gentleman was driving a little shuttle cart around, taking folks to the front door. John said, "Mom, can I ask him for a ride?" I said yes so he ran toward the man yelling, "Can we get on? Can we ride?" The man was good humored and we climbed on for a ride. John commented on everything: the rain, the ride, the hospital.... Finally, the man asked John, "Are you a chatterbox?" to which John said "no" (and probably thought "a whatbox?"). The elderly man grinned and said "could have fooled me!"

My boy was accused of being a chatterbox! His speech disorder is still present, it's still obvious to anyone who talks to him for more than three minutes...but he's beating it. That kid loves to talk! He and Hava chatter all day. And though our mother/son conversations are limited by his vocabulary, we are starting to be able to talk together about his thoughts and ideas.

John loves to be active, spend time with his dad, cuddle, hear stories, ride his Razor and new bicycle, play with his siblings, help me cook, and go to library story time. And yes, Jenny is still loved. What a sweet (big!) boy!

Havilah is 3!

2010-08-30T21:52:00.001-07:00

My darling baby girl is three years old! Wow...and three years old is such a fun age. She talks all the time--about everything--and keeps us (meaning Billy and I) quite entertained. Some of my favorite lines:

"John is almost five and then he'll be a handful."

"Can I go look in the mirror at my curls?"

"I'm not going to ever, ever do that again" (in reference to some injury...)

"Jesus made the people" (she says this several times a day, always out of the blue)

Havilah is potty trained (praise God!), loves (loves!) to play with John all day, is enthusiastic about food, is quite attached to her baby dolls, loves to hear stories, and oh my, oh my that girl can scream...sometimes out of happiness but usually out of frustration or anger. I must admit, I will not miss the screaming part of this age.

The crazy thing about the three year birthday is that it marks the end of the "crucial first three years." At three, 80 percent of "critical brain development" is complete. The foundation for her life has been completely laid and is now ready for her (and us) to build the house of her childhood and adulthood on. It's a scary concept, really, because it feels like a door has closed forever. And yet, it's exciting to be moving into a new stage of her life.

Havilah is a ray of sunshine in our home. She has her Daddy wrapped around her little finger and is definitely a mama's girl. One of my favorite things about Hava is that she is very enthusiastic about everything. I love that girl!

birthday boy

2010-08-19T12:09:00.009-07:00

David Samuel is one!

He loved his birthday carrot cake! But he was not impressed with the ice cream; he threw it off his tray...weird baby.

He was methodical with his presents, slowly ripping off the paper and handing me each little piece.

And look who's beginning to walk!

Happy birthday D!

D

2010-07-19T20:33:00.007-07:00

Here's a little video of David. It's classic D: throwing whatever he gets his hands on, laughing, babbling, and getting mauled by his brother.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

That's Havilah's voice in the background, informing me that "butt and buddy are the same word." Then, because she's not supposed to say butt, she uses the proper term many times ("buttocks. buttocks. buttocks.") Thanks Hava--what a sweet addition to our video.

This baby will be one in just a few weeks...I'm savoring his last moments of babyhood (our last family moments of babyhood) but am also looking forward to David being able to run and play with his siblings. Good thing my friends are having babies now (congratulations Stephanie and Steve!!!) or I would be sad to see this stage leaving. Dear sweet David, for as long as you'll let me, I will baby you and kiss your sweet fat cheeks!

sugar, sugar

2010-07-09T14:10:00.001-07:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A couple days ago we had a snow flurry here in the Valley of the Sun, which resulted in me mopping my floor (twice!) and baths for two adorable--and sticky--children.

I was innocently cleaning out the pantry, and Havilah spilled powdered sugar as she was carrying it to the trash. The rest, as they say, is history.

**please excuse the sideways video at the beginning. I did not initially realize the camera was set to video.**

Graduation!

2010-06-01T22:20:00.001-07:00

Goodbye cubby...

Goodbye name tag:

Goodbye bus...

Goodbye Ms. Kim...

Goodbye Ms. Nancy...

Goodbye Ms. Martin...

That's right--the end of school arrived a few weeks ago and we are still sad to see it go. But we were blessed to end the school year with a bang. First, the preschool graduation ceremony.

Look who came to watch the festivities--Jenny!

(Yes, Jenny is wearing an outfit. I cut up one of Hava's old onesies and sewed it into a little outfit for The Beloved. Next, Jenny got a quilt.... Either I have a sewing problem or John is seriously addicted to that monkey--or both!)

My aunt Elise and cousin Kelson came to watch too.

Four preschool classes graduated at the same time. All fifty or so kids walked into and around the cafeteria dancing to the chicken dance. Hilarious!

John with his "diploma":

On the last day of school (a week after the promotion), all the preschool families were invited for an ice cream sundae party, complete with a slideshow of pictures from the last two years. We were the only family members that came so we had the party to ourselves. It was such a nice way to say goodbye to the people and experience that were such a huge part of our lives. (This is Ms. Jenny holding David below:)

Ms. Nancy put on her sunglasses and pulled out her kleenex when it was time for the final goodbyes. We were all a little choked up, really.

Although we gave the teachers thank-you gifts and told them how much they have meant to all of us--and especially John--I don't think we can ever fully appreciate or communicate our gratitude for all the love, energy, and attention they poured into our John. We sure will miss preschool!

9 months

2010-05-31T14:35:00.000-07:00

Now that the baby is, well, almost 10 months old, I thought I would share a few photos of the little guy at 9 months:

David loves his big brother (and sister)...and has lately been interested in watching/getting involved in everything they do.

The sidekick below is Jenny, who will be featured in another post tomorrow (John's preschool graduation!):

David weighed 21.5 pounds at his nine month check-up, and was 28.5 inches long (or would that be high?). He's pulling himself up on everything and is a very fast crawler. He has started to wave (when he feels like it) and is getting used to nursery too. Overall, he is still a happy, easy-going kid who just likes to watch all the action around him. I love you DS!

edible

2010-04-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

David's black-bean-fest a few nights ago turned into an immediate bath-in-the-sink:

I don't really think he's edible, but it is tempting to nibble on such a cute baby!

Name banners

2010-04-24T17:09:00.000-07:00

My latest sewing project was name banners for John and Havilah. They're simple, but the kids love seeing their names on the wall.

The many faces of Havilah

2010-04-23T23:24:00.007-07:00

This girl. She is what we affectionately call a "piece of work." That means she wears her emotions on her sleeve, she has high highs and low lows, and she...well, she's darling.

Havilah's passion is food, no doubt. She loves to eat!

This sad face is so sad to see...brother John can't handle it and will often give Hava her way just to make the crying stop.

And then there's her wild side. I was trying to take a picture of Hava in her corner of the kids' room, which has been newly converted to a "big girl" bed. This is the best I got:

Yeah, that's Sweetie Pie being hung by her toes. Poor baby.

Hava's a smarty pants and loves to listen to books. Lately we've been overdosing on Clifford.

My sweet girl--what would I do without her?

Oregon Coast Aquarium, in pictures

2010-04-18T21:23:00.020-07:00

David at 8 months

2010-04-16T22:56:00.006-07:00

David Samuel is eight months old and acquiring new skills that make life much easier for him and me, such as sitting up alone, crawling, relishing fruits and vegetables (not just milk), playing with his sister and brother, and sleeping in his crib (along with our bed). John and Hava were about twelve months old when they transitioned to the crib but for David, the time has definitely come now. We're only on night three, but so far, he's slept much better compared to the last couple weeks...and I have evenings free of small helpers or visitors.

David's personality is very sweet. He loves to watch people and see what's going on. He's happy to be with other people and will give one of his big smiles to anyone who gives him attention.

A few days ago we made s'mores in the backyard and David sat with John to watch the fire. Moments like that make him seem so old. His babyhood will soon be over...sniff sniff.

Trying to crawl away:

Sleeping in the crib:

I love my David! Such a sweet baby and a wonderful part of our family!

There's a big boy in my house...

2010-04-15T09:37:00.005-07:00

I had no idea kids could lose teeth at the age of four. But John is living proof that you can. I noticed he had a loose tooth this week and this morning he wiggled it out.

He's still four and a half months away from his fifth birthday, but the birthday has already been on my mind because five seems so old. He hasn't been a baby for a while. But at least I could call him a toddler or then a preschooler. But five means he's just "boy." Nothing baby about that, especially when the baby teeth begin falling out, making room for--ack!--adult teeth. Good thing there's still a baby in the house for me to snuggle!

More family pictures

2010-04-14T20:54:00.011-07:00

A few more shots of our time with family in Oregon:

David eating Grandpa's apple:

David hanging out with the feet:

Is there anything better in the whole world than grandparents? We think not.

Coming in the next few days...the Oregon Aquarium, David's 8-month update, and a sewing project. Watch out, I'm on a roll!

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace

2010-04-13T23:18:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, my talented sister-in-law, Elizabeth, created two calligraphy pieces for our home. The first is of Psalm 1, one of Billy's favorite scriptures.

The second piece is the "prayer of Assisi" which says:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

I love this prayer, and want to be the kind of person who matches these ideals. Yet when I begin to pray, I can't get past the first line: Lord, make me an instrument of peace. In my home, in my church, in my friendships, in my extended family...I desire to be at peace--and to be one who imparts peace and love. I may never make it on to the second line of the prayer (especially when the weariness of caring for little kids gets the best of me)...but I will keep praying. What a blessing that it is God who does the changing, if I will just be changeable!

Cousins!

2010-04-12T21:37:00.019-07:00

After our enjoyable and short visit in California, we flew up to Portland just in time for Bill's 50th birthday party. This was the first time for the kids to see their cousins since June 2008 (when Ezekiel was just a baby and David and Sophia were yet to exist).

Elizabeth and her kids stayed with us for the week, which gave all six kids plenty of time to play and make memories.

David and Sophia:

(Flashback to April, 2006, when Cambria and John were babies):

These kids had boundless energy. It took all five adults to keep the six kids (ages four and under!) safe and happy.

One of the funniest memories was when we took all the kids to the mall for a "cousins picture." The results were less than stunning but the process was quite funny.

Walking through the mall:

Billy took a few unauthorized photos inside the studio. This pretty much sums it up:

So you can see why no photos were purchased. (-:

I'm excited to see the cousins' relationships flourish in the years to come. They are all so close in age--and both Billy and I & Jason and Elizabeth value their relationships--so I know they will be friends. And partners in crime, no doubt.

We're already looking forward to our next time with the cousins--whenever that may be!

2010-04-11T14:34:00.007-07:00

My little brother was married on March 20, 2010 in California. You can see hundreds of pictures on their photographer's website (jonathanandchelsea.opendoorweddings.com); below are a few that captured the beautiful setting, happy bride and groom, and darn good looking ring bearer and flower girl...

Movie star auntie with baby David:

I am so glad that we were part of Jonathan and Chelsea's wedding day. It was a happy day and very glorifying to God. Congratulations Jonathan and Chelsea--we love you!

thanks, Mom

2010-04-10T14:46:00.004-07:00

My life lesson learned in March was "listen to Mom." She usually knows best about shopping early for a dress to wear to your brother's wedding, for example. She also knows a bit (or a lot) about everything else. So when she emailed me today and gently asked for a blog posting, I decided to listen to her (hey, it only took twenty-six and a half years!). In fact, I plan to put a little something on the blog every day this week because there is so much to catch up on. We were in California. There was an important--and gorgeous--wedding. We were in Oregon. There was much family time and even some Oregon sunshine. There has been sewing and crafting going on around here (after we recovered from the flu, which will not be mentioned on the blog again).

Until next time (tomorrow), I leave you with pictures of three stinkin' cute kids at Montavilla Park. Such a sweet place.

Papa's visit

2010-03-08T11:05:00.001-07:00

Papa came for a short visit the last weekend of February. The kids soaked up the time with Papa, who didn't get a moment's rest. It was fun. (-:

We are looking forward to seeing him again later this month for his 50th birthday celebrations. We will have time with almost every family member--hooray!

Phoenix in springtime means baseball

2010-03-06T09:05:00.007-07:00

We went to our first Spring Training game yesterday. The Mariners and Padres have their spring training facilities here in Peoria and we took advantage of the opportunity to take in a game for cheap. We only lasted for an hour and a half, but that was more than we expected. It was a perfect day to be outside, have family time, and watch a little baseball.

Ichiro Suzuki and Ken Griffey, Jr. (below) were both up to bat a couple of times. That was the best part for Billy.

The kids' favorite part was when a batter broke his bat while hitting the ball. They were amazed that he could splinter the bat. David slept through most of the game, in his Daddy's arms. That is, until Ichiro hit a triple and we became suddenly noisy. (-:

The kindergarten question

2010-02-13T23:15:00.002-07:00

John will have another year at home: to grow bigger, gain more life experience, refine his speech, play with his sister and baby brother, take naps, and emotionally mature. After much thought and consideration, we feel that John's school years will be happier and more successful if they don't begin this fall. No kindergarten this year, and I'm glad. Arizona has mandatory full-day kindergarten which means he would be gone all day, eat a sack lunch in the cafeteria, and attend school with kids through the eighth grade--when he's still four-years-old (since the schools start here in the second week of August).

Kids who turn five before September 1 make the "deadline" for starting kindergarten--and John was born at noon on August 31--making John a deadline baby who would be the youngest kid in his class if he started this fall. On top of that, his speech disorder limits his ability to communicate his questions and needs. In developmental preschool, that has not been a problem. Some of those kids!--they have needs. You know? So he's in good company now. But even kindergarteners can be harsh and a teacher in charge of 25 or 30 five-year-olds couldn't help John in the way he needs help if he is to stay with the class. I know, kindergarten is mostly about finger paint and stories, but then there's first grade and second grade and...he would probably struggle every year of his schooling.

Which isn't to say that he won't struggle if he starts kindergarten when he's almost six. It's just that we won't be guaranteeing his struggle.

Happily, he's completely unaware of all the discussing and consulting and weighing of options that have been going on around here. Because he's just a little kid. And I want him to have another year of that. Today he "scrapbooked" with me (ahem, took my stickers and pens and made me quite nervous that he would mark on his album which I was working on), helped me bake bread, played at the library with Hava and a couple other kids, went out for Valentine's treats with the whole family (thanks to Mimi and Papa!), practiced his speech with Starfall.com, listened to stories, did the dishes (see the note on scrapbooking...but this time my kitchen floor was well watered), took a bath, and played with the new love of his life: a stuffed monkey named Jenny. Ah, Jenny. She deserves her own post.

Anyway, he'll be ok. Another year at home, it won't kill him. And hopefully it will help him advance in his speech and regulate his emotions so he can breeze through kindergarten when it comes. We haven't decided exactly what we'll do in the fall. Actually, there are a few other questions in life to answer--or attempt to answer--before we can make that call. I do know that I want it to be laid back because this will be his last year as a small kid without any worries. I want to capitalize on that. So stay tuned!

Meanwhile, here is a video of John reading to Havilah that makes me laugh because it is so real. They are being sweet to each other and then there is a little bit of slapping. Yep, that about sums it up.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

mom's visit

2010-02-10T19:22:00.018-07:00

Lately, we've been doing a lot of this:

yeah, we've had the crud and it's finally on it's way out. But before that, we had a lovely visit from Grandma Née.

While she was here, we took a trip to the Phoenix Zoo. The kids were in great moods and really enjoyed the animals...

Ducks

Baboons

Rhinos

Tiger

Zebra

And even a kangaroo joey (aka baby brother)!

Thanks for coming, Mom! We look forward to seeing you (and the rest of the family) again in March!

Doing what he does best...

2010-01-20T19:56:00.010-07:00

...playing!

handsome pants

2010-01-19T20:52:00.008-07:00

David is already five months old--time sure moves more quickly with the third baby. I'm trying to soak up all the babyness left in our family before this stage is gone (not that I don't love and enjoy toddlerhood and the preschool years--it's just that those times are more, shall we say, complicated). He is definitely an enjoyable baby!

he's not a sold-out fan of the bumbo...but it buys me a few minutes here and there.

he does like the swing at the park though!

such a happy kid!

baby laughs!

Kewpie girl

2010-01-16T14:32:00.007-07:00

There is a little Kewpie doll loose in my house. She is a little pistol but those curls...those curls have been known to get her out of a scrape or two.

Don't you think the hair patterns are similar?

(speaking of scrapes, that's the reason for her band aid in the pictures.)

family photos

2010-01-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

So this post took me longer to put together, because I was trying to use Blogger's Improvements, but they turned out to be Failures instead. Now that Christmas is long forgotten, I bring you our family Christmas photos (drum roll, please...):

David loved having his picture taken!

Yeah, we were sweating in those sweaters--gotta love the SW winter--but I am so happy to have captured this moment in our family (it had been two years since our last photo!).

The baby

2009-12-19T21:14:00.002-07:00

This little guy has stolen my heart...I'm completely in love with a two foot five, seventeen and a half pound, toothless, incontinent man who barfs on me several times a day. What can I say? Mothering hormones are one of God's best creations--and this smile can melt the hearts of people who aren't even blood related to him:

He's such a sweet, easygoing baby. He will let anyone hold him and doesn't even complain when his brother accidentally rolls him off the (thankfully low) futon. Not that that happened here this afternoon.

He's only four months old, but I really can't imagine my life--or our family--without darling little David Samuel. It's especially meaningful to have a baby at Christmas time. What a good reminder for me of how Christ humbled himself to become a tiny, toothless, incontinent, barfy little guy. For us. It's amazing, if you think about it. Merry first Christmas, baby David!

Hava Joy

2009-12-12T23:21:00.000-07:00

My baby girl is growing up...she's starting to use the potty chair, wear Disney princess undies, learn her colors and numbers and shapes, and talk to us about everything! We get a kick out of her telling us stories. Yesterday she told me a joke that went a little like this:

Havilah: poopoo diaper

Me: you have poop in your diaper?

H: yes

M: (opening the diaper) no just pee

H: poop! Hahahaha!!!

M: just pee

H: (wicked laugh) that's funny!

Hey, it's funny if you're two years old.

Come to think of it, so much of a two-year-old's life is about their bathroom business. Frankly, I'm getting a bit over-pooed these days, but that's a different story. She and I both chuckled over her first joke. I know there are many others to come--probably all bathroom jokes, too!

Hava is a ham and a charmer (today she announced "I'm a cute girl!") but she can also be quite emotional and aggressive. John had a huge Hava-bite-size bruise on his leg last week. I think he took her baby doll or something else offensive and she took a chunk out of his leg. alas. But how can you not adore this little smile?

And...she's got hair! After all these years, she sported her first "pigtails" a week ago. She was very proud!

It's coming in curly, like Billy's. I'm excited to play with her hair more as it continues to grow.

And the chick has a sense of style too:

Hava has nearly everyone she knows wrapped around her finger. She plays a little game with Billy where he says "Hava, are you Daddy's girl?" and she says "No! Mama's girl!" but really she is Daddy's girl and Mommy's girl. I'm so glad that we have our girl!

gum

2009-12-12T20:48:00.004-07:00

John wanted a piece of gum, so he got up on the counter to get it. I walked into the kitchen to find this:

Silly kid!

Starting from the top...John

2009-12-07T14:51:00.000-07:00

John Willis is four in every way. The brightest parts of his life right now are definitely his siblings and school. He adores his preschool and the amazing Ms. Martin, Ms. Nancy, Ms. Kim, and Ms. Jenny. This year they have had field trips to the fire station and the dentist (?).

John is talking a lot more these days though almost every sentence is missing at least one word. We have been taking a break from speech therapy, for several reasons (one being the baby). I know he still needs the therapy, but sometimes I don't know if he can handle more in his life right now. Soon we'll begin again...I'm already searching for a new SLP. John's teachers think he'll be ready for typical kindergarten in the fall but we haven't decided what to do about the next school year. He was born less than 12 hours before the cut off date so he could either be the very oldest or very youngest in his class. We're kicking around the idea of starting him in kindergarten next year with the option to have him repeat kindergarten or start first grade the following year. Only time will tell what will be best for him.

On the "Cars" slide at his school carnival. Last year he wouldn't get near this thing; this year he went down it at least a dozen times and said "I did it!'' after every slide.

Hava and David are John's buddies for sure. Hava copies everything John does--sometimes that's good, sometimes not--and will play whatever game he wants to play. David is comfortable with John (now Hava is anther story...) and seems to know that John thinks he's the best thing since Duplos. I'm glad that David has John for a big brother because he will always have a bigger kid around to look out for him and care for him.

John doesn't usually care about having his picture taken, but he often asks me to get the camera when he's holding David. Which is why a lot of the recent pictures of John look like this:

John is nearly obsessed with the alphabet, his name, his family and friend's names, and anything relating to letters and their sounds. He can write his name and isn't far from writing other letters too. His favorite hobby is testing the limits with mom, which requires a lot from me and makes me even more grateful for the times Billy is around to take over. Why are dads so much more intimidating than moms?

John loves to snuggle, have his back rubbed, ride his Razor, eat, talk very loud, color, cut papers into little pieces, help me cook, talk on the phone, play on the computer, and read books. No wonder we're both tired at the end of the day!

And the WINNER...

2009-12-02T20:33:00.015-07:00

...of the Most Delinquent Blogger Award is...me!

thank you. thank you.

I'm honored, humbled, delighted, and disgusted with myself for deserving this award.

I don't want to hog the trophy though so I'm going to get back in the swing of things. Coming today: the holidays (beginning with, ahem, Halloween). Coming later this week: a post for each of my darling children who zap all of my energy each day so that the thought of blogging exhausts me. But they really are cute and deserve a little blog love, which I will be happy to share with you in the near future.

Anyway...

The kids in costume: Hava had a sweet princess witch (or at least that's what we figured it was) costume that my mom sent for her. I got John a firefighter jacket on Etsy since he wanted to be a fireman. Right now he's trying to figure out how to be both a firefighter and a police officer when he's "big like Daddy" so the jacket was a big hit. David was a pumpkin head, thanks to a little knit pumpkin hat, also from Etsy. I don't have any pictures of him in the hat (what kind of mother am I?!?) so you'll have to imagine his sweet face combined with a pumpkin.

We spent Thanksgiving at my Nonni and Bumpa's house (mom's parents) with all of the family who lives in town. John and Hava spent the whole day playing in the sand around the play structure. They came home filthy but happy. David was a bit doted on since he's the youngest and a very relaxed baby (completely opposite of Havilah!).

This picture is my very favorite:

And here's David, not just with his great grandma (Nonni), but his great, great grandma as well (Grandma Dorothy). If your title has commas in it, you know you're old and special.

Here's one of me with my constant accessory, DS. He likes to stick his fingers out of the sling these days. Maybe so I don't forget about him in the midst of the typical craziness around here. This was taken while I was making ginger cookies for the Feast.

The day after Thanksgiving, we made a trip to Home Depot (it's not exactly Mt. Hood, but close) for a Noble. The front room now smells delicious and although we had several fiascoes with the lights, the tree is now up and completely enjoyed by all.

Back to Thanksgiving... this year--as always--I have so much to be thankful for. My husband has a job, when so many people do not. David was born full term and healthy, and he is such a pleasant baby. I have been able to work much less this year so that I can devote my energy to John, Hava, and David. I have lovely friends who put up with my silliness and my blogging deficiency. My family is large, supportive, and they pray for me. I have a God whose mercies are new every morning (need that). I have a comfortable bed and a husband who gets up with the kids every morning he's off of work so that I can stay in bed. The future is bright (though hazy) and God is faithful. What more can I ask?

More soon!

Two months old

2009-10-18T22:19:00.004-07:00

David is now two months old (plus a few days, I guess) though it seems like he's been around a lot longer than that. He likes to be held and is seriously cute when he coos, which is often. David weighed 14 pounds at his checkup a few days ago--what a chunk! Here he is, napping in the sun like a true desert baby:

I couldn't ask for a sweeter baby, especially for a third child (not that I'm exactly saying my older two can drain my energy, but...). When I'm out and about with just him, people always assume he's my first and say "enjoy him while he's little; they grow up so fast!" Believe me, I know, people. I am in no rush for this little guy to grow up.

John said the other day, "Let's keep him!" and I agree!

this week...

2009-10-10T22:16:00.016-07:00

...I celebrated another year of life on Tuesday--26 years old now

...had some down time at the cabin with my husband and kids. Havilah was a little high strung (ok, a lot) but we still enjoyed being out of town and the sensation of cold air.

...bought the kids some pumpkins on the side of the road in Flagstaff.

...the kids and I had fun at the park tonight with all of the Phoenix area family, celebrating the October birthdays. David was passed around a bit--he's very snugly!

...(well, a few weeks ago) David began smiling and rolling over. Now I am looking forward to hearing him laugh!

...we are making a routine that involves all five of us, being productive, enjoying family time, and growing as people. Wish us luck! (-:

siblings

2009-10-01T23:34:00.009-07:00

David is one patient baby, I'm telling you...

He's well loved and receives plenty of affection; it will be a good day when he can stand up for himself and join in the play--rather than being the toy!! (-:

birth story and pictures

2009-09-12T19:51:00.025-07:00

David Samuel Honeycutt was born August 13 at 11:59 a.m. after approximately 20 hours of labor. It was a challenge to convince him to get out of my ribs, which is why it lasted so long. Despite the length, the labor and birth went exactly as I wanted it to. I had amazing nurses and felt in control of my movement, pain, and how things progressed. There were no complications and he was born a healthy 9 lbs, 2 oz, and 20 1/4 inches long.

Like my other babies, he's a good nurser and a good sleeper. He's especially calm and easy going (especially if he's being held). His life mainly consists of eating and sleeping, but he's beginning to have periods of alertness when he takes in the world, including his lovely visitors and adoring siblings. (-:

My dad came for a quick visit a couple days after David's birth. Originally, we thought he would be the last grandparent to come so it was a nice surprise to have him come early (since David did too!).

Next came Mimi...

and a few days later, Papa...

Last but certainly not least, my mom came for a visit:

John is doing so well with David. David is actually relaxed in John's arms, which surprises me considering John is just four. He probably has a bit of daddy magic, like his dad.

Havilah has to be watched a bit closer but she adores "Dadid" just as much.

Oh, and his parents don't think he's half bad either...

Shawna, Jordan, Jonathan, and Jonathan's girlfriend Chelsea will be here over the next week. Hooray for family visits--I am so grateful that our family has made the effort to be with us in this special (albeit slightly hectic) time!

...the oil of gladness instead of mourning... - Isaiah 61:3

2009-09-07T22:37:00.003-07:00

Five years ago today my world turned upside down when we found out that our first baby had died in the womb. I was twenty years old and had never encountered deep grief. I had also never encountered a community of love carrying me through such pain and darkness. That day brought so much sadness and many questions. It also brought so much support and many acts of love and thoughtfulness. A few months ago I re-read all of the cards and notes sent to us after our baby died. I cried at the memories and thanked God for giving us people who stood with us, told us of their experiences with baby loss, and prayed us through the dark.

I miss that little babe. I think a part of me always will. I have healed from the grief and am whole. I also see (some of) the purposes for what we went through. But my heart will always feel sad when I wonder about my baby and think of what "would have been."

Today, though, I thank God for three beautiful, healthy children who fill my heart with joy day after day. They are sunshine in my house, the fulfillment of my longing for a baby that was so intense five years ago. Today, I am a different person than I was five years ago. God has indeed "provide[d] for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair" (Isaiah 61:3).

a picture is worth a thousand words (more words to come later...)

2009-08-24T16:14:00.012-07:00

Soon I'll be on my way to the hospital....

2009-08-12T16:32:00.002-07:00

...lots of pictures to come soon! (Yes, yes, he does appear to be coming quite early!)

vacation!

2009-08-02T22:26:00.029-07:00

This last weekend (Wednesday-Friday for Billy's schedule) we escaped the Valley and the scorching heat and relaxed at my aunt and uncle's cabin in the woods of Williams, Arizona. Besides a few relatively minor fiascoes, we enjoyed a very relaxing family time--just the four of us, before we become the five of us. The Grand Canyon, a muddy--but not man made--lake, fires with roasted hot dogs and s'mores, train tracks and lots of trains just a short walk away (heaven for John!), exploring in the woods, a hammock, teeter-totter, and tire swing. Here are a few of the pictures:

only pictures...

2009-07-26T21:11:00.005-07:00

time for a post!

2009-07-19T19:22:00.009-07:00

So, I've been quiet around here but not because nothing has been happening. In fact, things have been happening at a very steady rate and some days it's all we can do to get the minimum stuff done. And I've had a lot of big things on my heart so I guess I've been in productivity-and-thoughtfulness mode, not blogging mode. But I really want to add some photos and bring things up to date:

First, we have just about a month to go until baby time! The guest room is getting ready for lots of visitors, the carpets have all been cleaned, the sewing projects are almost all completed, and soon the baby clothes will be washed and my bags will be packed. I'm at the point of seeing the doctor every week, so I know we're close (thank God! I have never really enjoyed the last few weeks of pregnancy...). Oh, funny story! I had a doctor's appointment on Friday morning which are generally boring and quite routine. My doctor, Dr. Bass, is fantastic and personable but I usually just see him for a couple minutes since there isn't anything unusual going on. This time, I laid down on the table for him to listen to the heartbeat, as always. But David was in active mode and was squiggling all over. Dr. Bass was amazed to see David's feet, hands, back, and bum moving back and forth (well, really all around!) across my belly. He said, "You would think I see this all the time, but I don't! It's amazing!" and he just started laughing and got his M.A. to come in and look at the-freak-show-which-was-my-stomach. She was amazed too and said "I've never seen anything like that before; can I touch it??" By then, I had to start laughing because this is an O.B. and his assistant for pete's sake! They stood there wide-eyed and incredulous for several minutes. Go, David, showing off before you're even born!

In other news...John is doing really well. He's had only two therapy sessions this whole summer (school starts in four weeks!); last time, Ms. Tamara said "Whatever you're doing at home, keep doing. He's progressing amazingly well." I have no regrets about him having a true summer break. I'm excited to see what his teachers think of his progress when school begins again. This morning in Sunday school I asked all of the kids "who made the sun and stars?" and John yelled out "God did!" So cute.

Havilah locked herself in the kids' room tonight and try as I might, I could not get my door-unlocking skills to make that door open. John was starting to worry so I got the jar of M&Ms usually reserved for potty chair treats (and prego Mama cravings) and slipped a few under the door. "Hava, you can have more treats if you turn the little knob on the door handle!" After what felt like forever, she got it open and just stood there like "What? I wasn't worried!" That girl! She's talking up a storm these days. Much of it is unintelligible but she has several hundred words so I am grateful. So grateful. She also loves to copy John--everything he says and does; she even copies his fears and phobias (drat!).

Billy is trying to survive working outside in 110 + degree temperatures. He's also finishing up an English class that has been the bane of his existence (almost done!). He's looking forward to having a few weeks off when the baby comes...and I'm looking forward to that too (perhaps I will nap? shower? let someone else hold this heavy baby?).

I am sewing like crazy (blog post coming soon to show you what I've been working on!), cleaning and organizing--ahem, nesting--like crazy, and trying not to go crazy. (-:

On to the pictures!

"Hava, sit my lap? Yeah?" (this is how half of his sentences end: "yeah?")

"Yeah!"

from my point of view:

2009-06-28T20:49:00.012-07:00

A kiddie swim pool, ever present water bottles, kids running around in just a diaper/undies, watermelon, 111 degrees--yes, it feels like summer.

And this growing bump reminds me that there isn't much time before I have more kids than hands...how will that work?!?

p.s. can you tell which one of my children is less willing to be photographed? I'll have to work on that!

Daddy love

2009-06-21T20:27:00.003-07:00

There was just a bit of Daddy love here today...just a bit more than the usual oceanful (let's just say I am definitely not the parent of choice unless someone is injured)!

As I prayed at lunch today I thanked God for giving both me and Billy wonderful fathers who were always there for us and who taught us to love Him. And I especially thanked God for this man who adores his children, has incredible wisdom and discretion regarding what they need, and who is absolutely committed to being there day in and day out.

Happy Father's Day Billy! We love you!

the last two weeks

2009-06-15T20:25:00.015-07:00

The past two weeks have been full: sickness--now health!--which led to ear infections and antibiotics for both kids, a visit from Anna and Ben, our sixth anniversary (on the sixth), fun visits with family and friends here in the Valley, Billy working a lot, and two 3D ultrasounds. And I've failed to blog about any of them, so here are the pictures:

David's placenta is big but still within the normal range, so it doesn't look like it will be a concern. He's big too (as is his mother, ahem)--close to three and a half pounds now, according to the only-semi-accurate ultrasound measurements. His cheeks already look plump--yikes!

a bit of brother wrestling:

Ben was Mr. Popular around here because he played nonstop. He said to me, "I don't know how you do this every day." I told him that I don't usually play chase throughout the whole house, built tents and forts, construct cool train sets and wedgits towers, play dress up, read books, roll the kids up in a quilt like hot dogs, go swimming, and let them beat up on me--all in the same afternoon. (-:

The new development at our house is that Havilah's bed is now in John's room. Tonight is the fifth night and so far it has worked even better than having them in their own rooms. Havilah's room has always doubled as a guest room but now it will be devoted to the grandparents, aunts, and uncles who come to visit after David's arrival.

The unanticipated benefit of having Havilah in the same room as John is that she makes noise as soon as she wakes up rather than playing by herself while she fills her pants and then calling for me. So she has used the potty chair for her morning business the last several days. Yesterday she told Ben "Poo poo, toilet, treat!" She knows the routine--take your job to the toilet and mommy will hunt around the kitchen for a treat. Tonight I had absolutely nothing "treat" to give her so she settled for a frozen blueberry. She didn't seem to notice that it wasn't chocolate--lucky me! I'm not potty training her yet, but if she wants to poop train herself then who am I to complain?

(making lemon poppy seed scones tonight--yum!)

And on the twelfth day, she made cinnamon rolls...

2009-06-01T19:53:00.004-07:00

...really, what else is there to do after having someone/everyone in the house sick for so long?

growing belly

2009-05-30T20:38:00.004-07:00

A few shots for those who are far away:

We had a little ultrasound on Friday and David appears to be about two and a half pounds at this point, with 11 or 12 weeks to go. His placenta is enlarged--as was Hava's--so I'll have an in-depth ultrasound sometime in the next week or two to make sure everything is working properly. Personally, I think I just make big placentas but better safe than sorry, I suppose.

I'm very happy to be in the third trimester!

lately

2009-05-17T21:49:00.010-07:00

I have been majorly nesting--aka cleaning out every drawer and closet to throw away, give away, or otherwise get rid of anything we don't use or don't need. I've taken some furniture, a box, and two bags of stuff to the thrift store so far this week, but I've already started to fill another basket so I'm sure to go again soon. Billy has caught the bug too; thankfully, we're on the same page here!

In the organizing spirit, I went through all of the baby and toddler clothes that I have saved from John and Hava (many boxes worth). In the middle of the mess, we found an old dinosaur costume of John's that Havilah can barely fit into. Isn't she sweet?

So I couldn't resist pulling out the photos of John in this costume for Halloween 2006:

With (baby!) cousin Cambria, the strawberry:

My how my boy has changed since then! His latest interest is Billy's iPod which John claims belongs to "Daddy and John."

(Makes me wonder what his kids will be experiencing when they're three and a half!)

The iPod is safe, but nearly everything else around here is one step away from the recycling bin or the thrift store. I like to think of it as preparing to move--long in advance!

High five!

2009-05-16T20:15:00.001-07:00

Daddy and Hava's hands...

speech & summer

2009-05-14T14:02:00.003-07:00

I think it's time for a small update on John's speech, therapy, and school. Starting with school: there are only four school days left of this school year! The final day is next Wednesday and then we'll be on summer vacation.

Last Friday, Billy and I met with his teacher, school speech therapist, and the vice principal for his I.E.P. (Individual Education Plan) meeting. John does not qualify for summer assistance because, basically, he did too well this school year and didn't show a need for it. I actually felt satisfied that he doesn't qualify for assistance. It's a milestone...and a goal: someday, he won't qualify for any "special services."

Ms. Martin and Ms. Jenny were pleased with his progress and set lofty goals for next school year. It inspired me to set some summer goals for John. Just because he isn't in school, doesn't mean we won't be working hard and learning lots.

On a similar note, I just got back from John's therapy and Tamara (the speech therapist) said, "John is making huge improvements, don't you think?" Yes, I do think so! He has started to tell us what he's thinking about (whether or not we can understand it) and he is taking more risks verbally. Sadly, our insurance for the "year" runs out soon so we really will have a summer break, in every sense of the word. The insurance coverage begins again in August so until then we'll work hard on our own (oh, and with the help of his beloved www.starfall.com).

Now I need to get busy planning what our days will look like, without the structure of school and therapy appointments (and with the major inconvenience of not being able to be outside for more than a few minutes at a time because summer has arrived). Weekly library trips? Setting up the swim pool in the backyard for quick morning dips? Play dates? Children's museum? I'll have to plan, or we'll end up just getting out of the house for groceries...not good. Let me know if you have any good ideas!

minivan mama

2009-05-08T22:51:00.004-07:00

Does this make me a grown-up?? Just four weeks shy of six years of marriage, we have finally become a two vehicle family. There was no room in the inn (that is, the Malibu) for another carseat, so we didn't have many options. I'm especially happy about the color and the deal we got.

Long live this minivan!

pajamas!

2009-05-05T19:46:00.006-07:00

I was able to get some fun pajama fabric for John in Portland (thanks Mimi!) and finished up four pairs, which he loves. It sure is nice to have a grateful three-year-old to bestow sewing projects upon. (-: Hava got a pair of pants too, for fun. Tonight they obliged me with a tiny photo shoot:

And--unrelated to sewing--I finally found a trick to get John to smile for the camera. Hooray! I was getting tired of having all of his pictures look a bit dopey. (-:

my kids :: an update

2009-04-28T20:01:00.008-07:00

Havilah is saying no now. She has the tone, the context, the facial expression, the volume--it's all down pat. We are in trouble!

John only has three weeks of school left. Where has this school year gone to? We will meet with his teacher, speech therapist, principal, etc. next Friday to discuss next school year and possible summer help for him. Personally, I think he'll be fine either way--with a break from school or with more "help."

Today is 23 weeks for baby David. Since I have never made it all the way to 40 weeks (more like 39), I'm telling myself that it's only 16 more weeks of your life! Actually, he's been a little nicer to me than Havilah was. Maybe that means he'll be calmer?!?

In un-kid-related news, we just got the official word that our lease is extended until at least the end of 2009, so we won't be moving in 115 degree heat when I'm 7 months prego. What a blessing to know that this is where we'll be bringing the babe home to!

Thanks to Auntie Katie, we have a new sling for him, which Havilah happily tried out for us:

Now we just need to get a bigger vehicle, and we'll be ready!

a good day contains...

2009-04-25T19:39:00.003-07:00

* kids who wake up happy

* chocolate

* tea (iced, this time of year)

* a good chat with someone special

* a little baking

* a finished sewing project (pajama pants for John today!)

* clean laundry, clean dishes, and a clear mind

* something encouraging

* fresh air

* down time in the afternoon

* homemade food

* a low need for disciplining little ones

* an art project with my kids

* lots of love and hugs

Hope your day was happy too!