How Embarrassing!

I think embarrassing moments just come with territory....you know...of being a mom.  It's been a while since I've really had one.  So I was due.


Just the other day, a friend of mine (and fellow homeschool mom) reminded me of one of the coolest place in our town....the lending library.  We were at the regular library for our weekly story-time/craft when we had the discussion about what wonderful, educational items could be checked out across town at the lending library.  Usually, after an hour of helping a 4 year old pick out books, chasing a 2 year old, feeding snacks to a 12 month old, keeping all still for the duration of a 20 minute story time, and helping with crafts...I'm sort of ready to go home and call it a morning!


Well, I was just too excited.


So, we headed across town and I began the talk.  You know, the one about how it is very important to use our manners, stay close to mommy, use our inside voice, yada, yada, yada.....


We get out and load Levi into the stroller, Noah walks beside me holding the stroller strap, Savannah holds Noah's hand and we head proudly into the overly quiet office building.  I'm feeling good because, we talked!


A nice middle-eastern lady escorts us down a long hallway into what is known as the lending library.  It is a single room with floor to (nearly) ceiling industrial shelving holding more clear plastic tubs than I could possibly count.  I've never seen so many educational items so organized and in one place!  Of course, all tubs are labeled making it easy for mom to pick and choose! =)


As I am noticing the beautifully typed labels, I'm realizing that my 2 year old is also amazed by the room and has wandered out of my sight.


Seconds after my realizing this, the nice lady with her middle-eastern accent raises her eyebrows and says, "Ma'am, are you watching him?  (begins walking dashing to the back of room and around a wall into another area) Ma'am where is your son?" Well, considering it had been about 2 minutes total since we had entered...I had not been that worried, until her questions! Should I be worried, I'm thinking.


She comes back around the corner gently guiding him in front of her and most politely, but assertively makes this request....


"Ma'am would you please monitor your son?  He was on my computer!"


2 minutes inside this place and I am starting to sweat.


I kneel down beside sweet little Noah and remind him of the talk.  We find a toy he is interested in and after checking on Savannah, who is thankfully doing as she was told, I browsed.


Overwhelmed by all the "stuff," I begin to make my allotted 7 choices.  Pumpkin puzzle, Bowling game, little people set, 2 counting peg board sets...  Savannah spots a bright pink bouncy ball and is excitedly asking if we can check it out.  So, the nice lady gets it for her and then kindly gives her permission to bounce with it in the hallway.  How nice.


Noah picked up on what was going on and dashed out the door to join her.  I hear some giggling (including a little from the lady)...and some bouncing.  Then, running.  Then the sound of this...


"Miss, are you finished?  Your children are quite unruly!" 


Unruly.  Unruly.  Her words just resound in my head and I can't get past...Unruly.


What is it about that word that makes me think of a child screaming to the top of his lungs at his mother in the grocery store while jumping up and down in the shopping cart crushing all the cereal boxes?


Feeling a little disheartened with my unruly children, I replied calmly AND with a smile, "Yes, ma'am."


She needed to go over all the procedures with me about check-out.  (Oh, and my heart rate is on a continual climb).


I have Savannah and Noah sit down by the door in the hallway.


The lady and I finish and she helps us to the door.


The talk resumes.




You know, as I'm learning how to be a mother (because it really is a never-ending cycle of learning) I'm realizing the task is quite huge.  It involves day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second guiding...nurturing...modeling...  and the list goes on.  I must see their heart as Christ sees their heart.  I could have scolded, in anger, both of them in that hallway.  But, despite my embarrassment (for my "unruly" children), I saw their hearts.  So, I'm thankful today for that.


So you want to know my prayer? It's simply this.


"Lord, you gave me three precious children to mother.  May I see them as you see them.  May I correct them as you might correct them.  And may they see your unending love through me.  Amen."

Happy Father's Day!

He's the daddy who shows up at the mall for his little girl's 4th birthday to surprise her...with balloon in hand.

He's the daddy his little boy looks up to (and looks just like!).

He's the daddy who leads by example and always shows his children how much he loves them.

He's the daddy his little boy runs to when he's hurt.

He's the daddy upon who's strength his baby relies.

And he's the daddy these 3 LOVE!

And this mama sure loves you too.  Thank you for working so hard for us, for loving us, for EVERYTHING you do for our nest.  You are simply the best.  
Happy Father's Day babe.


~k.

A Night in our Nest

On most evenings after supper, this is what you'll find going on in our nest...

Savannah reads to Levi while Mommy cleans the table and does dishes (and snaps a few pictures)...

 while Daddy does bath time! 

One down, 2 to go...


Noah is loving books and enjoys having daddy read to him at night after his bath.  So, daddy dresses him, brushes his teeth, takes him to kiss mommy then sits on the floor in his room.  Noah, like clockwork, closes his door and heads to his book basket to pick out a few good reads.  He plops in daddy's lap and listens, sometimes turning the pages himself...sometimes, jumping up in mid sentence to choose another book.  All in all, some great one-on-one time with daddy. (and sometimes mommy).


Once in bed, Dolan calls to Savannah and she has her turn in the tub.  Her night routine is more time consuming... washing/conditioning that long hair, then combing/drying... you get the picture. Her books are usually longer and she likes to talk....about everything!! 


The reason Dolan bathes them separately is so he can spend quality time with each of them since he is often late arriving home. And, this gives Savannah some quiet reading time.  Each of them enjoy this quality time with daddy so much! If I am doing bath time, they get bathed together (excluding Levi, of course).  


Levi is last, and super quick! Unlike his big brother and sister who dread stepping out of the warm bath, Levi is content...maybe because he knows next on the routine is a snack.  


Then, we spend the next hour or so listening to Savannah ask questions like, "How can I go to sleep?" "Can you come help me fall asleep?" "Mommy, I have a question." "What was that noise?" "Daddy, I have a question.""Who opened the door?" "Can you come cover Dordi up?" (Dordi is her beloved baby doll). "Mommy, I have a question."  We put up with this most night's, occasionally closing her door for a little while (she has a night light).  It does make watching American Idol a little difficult... But we love her, questions and all! 


Our night's can get a little crazy at times, but I'm thankful to have such a helpmate to share them with.  We make a great team! 


I hope you enjoyed a little peek into a typical night in our nest.


~k.      

Baby Watch...

38 weeks and 2 days today...


Doctor's report this morning:  


2 cm and could be any time!  (But you know how that goes...)


Contractions have been coming but very irregular and mostly at night.  We're so excited to meet baby ________!  (bet you thought I was going to tell you his name...)


Time has gone by quickly and now we are preparing for his arrival into this world.  Please pray for our family as we become a family of 5 that we may continue to shepherd their hearts and raise them in a way that is pleasing to the Father. 


Stay tuned as "Baby Watch" continues... 

From baby to playmate...

For many months, Savannah has been content to play independently or with mommy and daddy.  After all, all her little brother can do is cry, toddle, babble, and annoy her by wanting to take away anything she chooses to play with.  (If you thought sibling rivalry started later in the childhood years...come to my house and we'll prove you wrong).  


But her little brother is growing up! He is learning to communicate in a way that Savannah..."gets," he can move around rather quickly...ok, he can RUN!  And most importantly, he absolutely adores her.  He lights up when she comes in the room.  When her voice is not heard for an extended period of time (say more than 5 minutes), he is calling..."ANnah."  Even in the car...if she is quiet for long, he begins calling.  Just today, he was calling her and through my rearview mirror I saw a sweet smile spread across her face.  She said, "Mommy, Noah's calling me!"  


Tonight's plan was to eat dinner, have a short time for play, and have kiddos in bed at 8:00 (been a long day). =)  Well, at 7:45 my house was FILLED with the sounds of giggling and laughing....(you know that adorable baby belly laugh?) along with the fast pitter patter of little feet running all through the house.  (I love it when Savannah keeps Noah busy while I'm loading the dishwasher since he finds great joy in climbing on the unlatched door and pulling out all the CUTLERY).  


The sound was precious...music to the ears.  Play went on for another 30 minutes before we began the bedtime routine. They went to bed happy children....and as I write this, I am one happy mama (who is not in bed but should be!)


Thank you Lord for letting me be flexible and recognize the simple joys of childhood...and please help me to do so more often.  

A little too quiet

Today was a beautiful wedding day for some friends of ours from church. They are married now, the reception is over and I am sitting in my chair thinking it's a little too quiet in our house. Savannah is soundly sleeping...and Noah is.....on the way home with daddy. He spent his first night away last night with Dolan's mom and dad. We had such a busy weekend with the rehearsal and the all-day wedding events, we didn't want to expose him to all the hustle and bustle. So, it's a little more quiet now than I have become accustomed to. I'm finding out in moments like these just how much I love the sounds my children make. Those constant sounds of love, fear, frustration, hunger, play, laughter, sadness...and the one I'm missing right now...bedtime breathing. Noah can be heard breathing in his crib from the living room with the television on! Tonight, there is no tv and it is ever so quiet. Father, may I bask in these days of childhood noises, for I know that one day not too long from now, I'll wish for them back.

We are thankful for the great care Noah was in and did not worry one single moment about him! Family is such a gift and we are so grateful for the great one we have!

I would write more, but the sound of a garage door opening is beckoning me out of my chair and to the door! I'm off to get my hands on that little one and enjoy whatever sound he wants to make right now!