Someone Else's Baby Miracle

Today I went to take a meal to my friend Dawn, who had a baby 3 weeks ago. This is what's different about my life now. First of all, I would have never waited 3 weeks before. Second, as I contemplated how to actually make a meal and get it to South City at a decent time, I was totally at a loss. I could either make the meal at like 1:00 and take it after Little Sissy's nap. That's really too late for lunch and way too early for dinner. OR I could make it while the girls are taking their afternoon naps. But then they don't wake up until 5:30 and then I have to feed them and then we have to fight traffic, putting us at our destination at 7:00 or later--way too late for their supper. In the end. I took them a frozen meal from Sam's. Yep, me who prides myself on making yummy meals and hospitality. I took a frozen meal (still frozen--I didn't even cook it for them), salad still in a bag, and bread still in a bag. I'm a little embarrassed, but at least it's groceries they don't have to buy themselves. The other embarrassing thing was when the other daddy took Big Sissy out in the yard to play ball with him and his little boy. The boy was whacking the ball into the alley and Big Sissy didn't have a clue what to do. Hmmm...guess I've never played ball with her really. That seems like Daddy's job, but Daddy hasn't done it either. I think I see sports equipment in her future...birthday, maybe? But here is the beautiful thing about all of it. My friend, who has a little boy about Big Sissy's age, has a beautiful baby boy. I think she's had 8 miscarriages, so it's been quite a rough journey for them. This baby, who weighed over 10 lbs., came in less than 2 hours from the start of labor to the finish. Since they were planning to use a midwife, this finish entailed she and the daddy delivering this big baby at home in the bathtub and then leaving him "connected" for 2 more hours while they waited for the midwife to arrive. Isn't that crazy?! I love that story. He is healthy and beautiful and worth the wait. As Dawn's husband has been searching for a teaching position for quite some time since finishing his doctoral work, this baby is a visible reminder of God's presence in their lives.

I'm Still Little

As we're all getting adjusted to Hubby's new schedule, there have been some setbacks in our family. One is that Big Sissy has been wetting her pants with some regularity. I've been handling it fairly well, I think, but today I sort of snapped. I was going on and on about how she is a big girl and she knows how to go on the potty and all she has to do is tell me, yadda yadda yadda. She was actually listening and during one of my breaths, she just said, "Mommy, I'm still little." I'm teary now just thinking about it. Yes. She's still little. She won't be little long, and I don't want to waste it being angry about the little things. Thank you for speaking that into my heart. And if you ever read my blog after you learn to read, I'm sorry for trying to make you grow up too fast. And for anyone else reading, welcome to one of my yucky mommy emotional moments. I'm trying to share the good and the bad. I also just watched The Diary of Anne Frank (I wasn't able to find a current movie at the library--see last blog). I have no idea why I pick movies that I know will make me cry. Probably because I saw it in 5th grade and had nightmares for years. I wanted to see it now and see if it still affects me the same way. It does. Hopefully the Nazis will not find my hiding place tonight while I'm sleeping. Happy blog next time, I promise. :)

Getting Nervous

I feel like I'm pretty well adjusted to having 2 children in my life. In fact, it's great fun. Last night I had to go to the library because I never can seem to return the DVDs on time and I always have a late fee. First we go to the book section. I mean, we can't go straight to the movies. It is a library, after all. Big Sissy finds a Big Comfy Couch book, which she wants me to read to her right then. The kids thought it was "story time with Ms. Christy" because they all started gathering around. Anyway, it was kind of a long book. By the time I finished and the children scattered, Little Sissy had cleared the entire Mary Kate and Ashley section as well as the Little House on the Prairie section of the shelves. By the time I cleaned all that up, Big Sissy had "picked out some more books" for us--about 27. I held Little Sissy and cleaned up the extra books. We promptly headed to the movie section with my bag stuffed more full than I wanted it. We found movies for Big Sissy pretty quickly. All I wanted was one movie for myself that didn't have subtitles and was newer than 1983. As I was looking, Little Sissy was clearing the entire mystery and drama sections on the shelves she could reach. As I was cleaning that up, Big Sissy was "picking out some movies for Mommy," which was mostly Monty Python. I'm hunched over picking up MORE movies (thankfully I'm not too big yet), and I looked up to see another mom smiling at me knowingly. "I have 4 kids," she said. "I only brought my oldest." I can see why! I want my children to have the library experience, but I was sweating by the time we left. Today I'm a little nervous about adding a 3rd to the madness. I think, though, that I'm actually more nervous about getting huge and just getting stuck in that hunched over position someday. I always seem to be picking up something. Maybe I should attach one of those call buttons on my belly, not for emergency labor. Just for emergency getting stuck.

My Little Laundry

I don't have a lot to say about this one, but aren't they cute? There was another cute one of them kissing in the laundry basket but I had to hold the laundry basket up with my foot since Little Sissy was making it tip over, and you could see my big nasty toenail in the picture. Even painted, it definitely marred the beauty of the girls.

Going on a Date

Sadly, I can't remember the last date Hubby and I went on. This is proof that it's been a while. You can tell by the picture that I was way excited to get dressed up and go out and that Hubby is not interested in dressing up if he doesn't have to. Anyway...we got to go see Les Miserables at the Muny tonight. It's my favorite show ever. The music makes me cry. I think this is my 4th time to see it on stage. This was not my favorite time, but it was still good nevertheless. I think when Inspector Javert kills himself at the end because he can't live with knowing his pursuit for "justice" keeps getting returned with mercy is such a great picture of what legalism will do to a soul. At one point we had a counselor who recommended this movie to us because we were struggling with grace/forgiveness/justice issues. This might be why it's my favorite show. I can relate to so many of the characters on different levels. My sweet in-laws came to stay with the girls and let us go enjoy. It was also my debut into maternity clothes. That kind of felt weird and I think I look a little like a Target bag, but I had a cute headband that matched. I'm obsessed with my clothes right now (see the minivan mom entry). Sorry. Anyway, if you've never seen Les Mis you should go see it (after you've seen the version of the movie with Liam Neeson that will fill you in on all the details you'll miss from seeing it on stage). It might change your life. If not, you might at least cry. If not, you might at least enjoy a good night out. Get the lemon freeze if you see it at the Muny. It will definitely enhance your experience.

All Worn Out

Big Sissy crawled in my bed mid-nap this day, which is very rare. I thought she looked so cute in her little pigtails, all snuggled up with all her sleeping friends. It was actually a cool day (clearly not from this week!!!), and we had had a picnic and played in the park with our friends Beth and JJ. I think she's just the cutest thing. :)

Minivan Mommy

Well, it's official. I'm a minivan mom. I always pictured myself as more of a jeep mom. I thought minivans were just for moms with bad haircuts and too-short jeans. I should just stop that list right there....anyway, we traded in my cute little Honda Accord for a used Honda Odyssey. I have to say that I'm really liking it so far. Sunday I sat in the floor and fed Little Sissy lunch after church while we were driving home (not safe, I know). But the point is that I had room to do that. And cupholders everywhere...it's heaven on wheels. If I really got to pick what I wanted, it would be newer and have leather seats and one of those systems that tell you where to turn to get anywhere (although I have Hubby for that). But it does have a built-in DVD system, which we haven't even clued the girls into yet. We're taking an overnight road trip this weekend, and it has room for both a big double stroller and luggage. Woo hoo! I'm really excited about all this room. As I think about it, I might have a minivan haircut right now. Ughhh... I went out and bought some new clothes just in case I was dressed like a minivan mom too. Aren't I vain?! (no comments to that, please). I felt so sad to drive away from my little red car. I think our young salesman is buying it for himself. It looked so shiny and familiar in the rearview mirror. This is why I could never break up with anyone when I was younger. I have a hard time giving up anything even for something better. So...I'm forcing myself to move on. I am switching my loyalties to our cute, gently used silver Honda Odyssey. And I'm tugging on my pants at this moment, just in case.