Andrew and I have now been married for 6 1/2 years. Time has flown by, as we were told it would, but I could have never imagined that at 28, I would be 2 years away from being the wife of a full-fledged surgeon, a mother of 3 beautiful kids, and live across the country from anyone who has known me before I was a mommy. That being said, I could not ask for anything different than the way things are now. God has us out here for a reason and has made it clear by the blessings we have had while being just the 5 of us. We miss the family and friends that are far away, but it makes our time with them even more special when we do see them. We really look forward to more travels as the years go on as the kids grow up.
Andrew is still LOVING the ability to play in the woods and occasionally shoot something. He is hoping to take Ella and Peter fishing this summer and do more things outside as a family. His job keeps him busy, but almost always happy. The kids love to say their daddy fixes bones and he is thrilled to BE the fixer of bones. God has given him a gift not only as a surgeon, but in his relationships and interaction with his co-workers. He truly has a ministry at his job and it's a daily challenge, but a good one.
He hopes to catch some more fish this summer in Alaska, work out more this year, he dreams of being a truck owner someday, and is excited as this year holds much less challenging rotations, which means a little more time with the family. The kids love their daddy and ask all day long, "Is Daddy coming home soon?" They run to the door and greet him with loud hellos. He's been a great husband and father even in the busy times.
As the busy mommy of the three silliest and busiest kids I know, I go about my days sometimes with only one thing in mind...."is it naptime yet?" Now, while this may not be ideal, there is no mother out there who could say they don't ask themselves that same question. I will say, the days are getting easier as John learns to do more on his own and the older two learn to help. We are reading more books, singing more songs, going on more outings, and generally having more fun with the four of us at home. I still find time to dabble online, write this blog (at naptime), knit, take pictures, get to my mom's group, hang out with other moms, and occasionally get out on my own for a break. I am learning every day how to be a better mom and how to make my kids aware of God's love. This is hard when I'm yelling at them while the song, "I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N" plays in the background and I think, "there's something wrong with this picture." God gives me the strength to calm down, re-direct, and realize there's more to life than a clean house. This past year was a hard one and I know that it put my mind in a negative thought pattern and my attitude in a downward spiral. Dealing with the loss of loved ones has not hit me so much until recently when even deaths from previous years started to tug at my heart. God has a way of making things easier as time passes, but as for healing, I think that will take forever. I'm thankful for a strong group of friends and lots of prayer that has followed our family.
On a lighter note, I have a new interest in home decor and fashion on a small level. I've been reading more about ways to make my home more comfy and inviting, as well as updating my wardrobe. Sounds silly I know, but as we get rid of large baby items and I get rid of being large with babies, I find it interesting and exciting. This is a slow process though, as I have to do it all in a manner that doesn't upset the bank, or make it myself. I am praying about maybe selling my knit stuff online as I have been asked a number of times about it, we'll see. I am also getting more into the books the dwell so lonely and unread on my shelf. I've started walking again since we moved the treadmill downstairs. Not a good decorating move, but a fashion move, since maybe my clothes will fit better in the months to come :). Enough about me, onto the offspring!
Ella is 4 plus 2 months and my, have those 2 months been intense. She is learning so much and loves to take it all in. Singing and dancing are among her favorite things, and she is very interested in typing on the computer. I open blank documents for her to just type away. She comes up with silly phrases and loves to make her brothers laugh. Recently she has taken up the art of arguing, which has been a challenge to Andrew and I. "But Mom..." is not something I like to hear, but have had the displeasure of for a few months now. I know I'm getting a taste of myself as a 4 year old. Ella is almost always happy though and she is a GREAT big sister. She loves her little girl friends and can't wait to meet her new baby girl cousin. If anyone has a new baby girl, she gets very excited. She has her own room now, painted pink and all. She's doing much better staying in it at night since it's been finished. She is a huge fan of anything Princess, even though she's never seen the movies. She knows her ABC's, counts to 20 almost perfectly, and we're praying about school this coming Fall. The thought scares me, that's for sure. I can't believe how much her looks have changed in the last year, her face is thinner and she has gained a few inches. Andrew says when she wears her leggings and long shirts that she looks like a tiny teenager. I was shocked and sad when I could shop in the Kids' section at GAP, not just the baby one. Letting go is not easy, even when it's silly stuff like that. Ella is more shy around people we don't know or large groups of kids, but is getting better about it. I appreciate her need to check out the scene before jumping right in. She's great. She still likes to cuddle. She likes to do things with just me and say, "Just the girls are going, sorry guys."
Peter is going to be 3 in 4 months. My middle man keeps life interesting to say the least. He is laughing hysterically one minute and screaming in anger the next. He hardly ever wakes up happy. It's a slow process of finding out what exactly he wants. You know what it usually is? "Mama, hold me." Okay, who passes that up? I sit and hold him every chance I get. He still asks me every night to lay with him, but I tell him, "I lay with you every morning when you crawl in my bed after daddy goes to work, and I lay with you at your naptime so you don't bug your brother." Peter has been talking since before he was 2 and now tells full stories, sings songs, repeats everything he finds interesting, which means EVERYTHING Ella says. He's potty training and doing amazing. He's earned a race car almost every day so far, and it's been great motivation. Ella is a big help in this area too. Peter LOVES the color green. Everything green is HIS. Now he has a green room, green pajamas, green clothes, green shoes. It's just too bad he doesn't like it enough to eat many green veggies. And forget avocado. Go figure. He would live outside if it weren't cold and he can't wait to ride bikes when it warms up. He loves to help and lives on encouragement and hugs. He knows how to chew gum and loves ice cream. He loves his little brother and is now excited he walking. Speaking of John...
John is an absolute JOY. When his siblings are screaming and carrying on, he will stay still in your lap with his blankie and suck his left hand pointer and middle fingers like nothing is going on. Recently he has started to pick up on the frenzy that makes my life interesting and happily join right in. He walks around clapping and yelling his own words or even singing "la, da, la, da." He gives me the funniest looks when he's in his high chair and really loves to eat. I will say, he's got my problem with texture of foods. He doesn't like chunks of fruit in yogurt, scrambled eggs, anything cooled that was once hot, and sliced cheese, it has to be chunks. He loves applesauce, still eats baby food since he only has 3 teeth (!), soups, noodles, chicken nuggets, sausage, and the little frozen veggie variety mix that he can pick up himself. He's really into shoes right now. He can say, "Mama, Dada, Nye nye (night night), buh bye, dog, trsh (trash), hot, he makes the 's' sound when he wants to shake something, understands instructions like 'go find Ella and Peter, find the ball, up, down, and show me the dog.'" I see his little mind working all the time as he watches the other two, sometimes I hope he doesn't watch too closely. He loves bath time and yelling with Ella and Peter when we go through the tunnel. He is much more sensitive to punishment and listens very well when told NO. I love his huge cheeks and big blue eyes. I could sit and squeeze him all day. He likes to be held and doesn't like it when his brother and sister try to get held at the same time. When we pray at night before bed he repeats, "Jees" when I say, "dear Jesus..." and smiles until I lay him down. He has a spot on the corner of his blankie that has to be by his nose while he sucks his fingers. It stinks, literally, smells bad. I wash it over and over and he always goes back to that spot. I love it, he's so silly. He's the only kid that's not afraid of dogs. He is obsessed with them. Still not getting one.
That is US. Party of 5. Well, almost always a party. Blessed and happy.
