24 Weeks

Sometimes, it's still hard to believe that a fourth member of our family is arriving this fall. I know it's just around the corner, but I just can't picture what our life will look like then. Right now, I just know to trust God, and savor this stage. The simple joys of loving one child- being able to pay attention to everything he says, indulging in long outings at the park, taking time to explore almost everything he's curious about, resting during his marathon afternoon naps, being very portable, restful nights, one wake-up and bed-time routine...and yet I trust that God has immeasurable blessing in store for our family with the new addition.

Here's a pic of me and my tummy these days... We're still stuck on a name, but we have time, right?

The Cupcakery

We decided this should be a tradition. A visit to The Cupcakery for any Lindsey birthday.

Yum!

Eli is TWO!!!

This little boy has some kind of intuition. Does he KNOW what a birthday is? He woke up at 5:30 this morning (versus his usual 8:00) as if to say, "this is my big day, and I don't want to miss it."

Then, he was snuggling in our bed, and Joel got up earlier than usual to take a shower. When he came back in the room, Eli said, "Daddy, pay gawf?" Yep, that's exactly where Joel was headed.

Then, Joel said, "Eli, we have a song to sing for you." When we started singing Happy Birthday, Eli sat up, put his hands in his lap, and grinned ear to ear. "I see big trains. Climb the stairs. Ring the bell." He was talking about the train museum we visited last weekend, which is where we are having his birthday party tomorrow.

More birthday updates soon...

Boy Stuff

Eli got an early birthday present from our neighbors down the street. They were moving, and gave him a very cool tricycle. The moment he saw it, he hopped on as if he'd done it a million times. He's got the steering thing down. "I tun ayound. I go dis way."

What was even funnier is that he STAYED on while Joel and our neighbor filled each of the tires.
He scooted along for the rest of the afternoon. We even brought it in the house for a while, but that didn't do great things for our walls- it's definitely an outside bike.

Ahhh, a boy and his bike. Good times.

Nonna

We have lots of fun Nonna stories and pictures to share. Words cannot describe the blessing of her visit.

Some highlights-

Eli woke up each morning saying, "Go see Nonna".

She gave him dancing lessons, and he loved it.

We got to go to church together.

We ate Ted Drew's.

He learned "Jesus loves the little ones like, me, me, me."

He now requests "da saints"...aka Oh When the Saints.

We visited the Botanical Gardens.

We ate Ted Drew's.

When we pass Starbucks, Eli says, "Nonna coffee."

Joel and I got to go on a two night retreat together.

We enjoyed an all-american block party.

We ate Ted Drew's.

Everything in it's place...

This is the kind of thing I could easily forget. But shouldn't. Yesterday was a long day, filled with trials, sweet moments, and prayer.

I woke up at 4:00 am. That's been a routine for about a week now. A trip to bathroom, a drink of water, and a quick prayer that I will be able to fall asleep again easily. But yesterday, I was wide awake and felt restless. I thought maybe God was trying to get my attention. Pray...for someone. There are lots of people in our community hurting right now. So I started praying. Then my tummy rumbled. Uh oh.

As is usually the case after getting sick, I felt better immediately. Then comes the waiting time. Was this a one time only thing? Or the beginning of a bug.

20 minutes later...yep, it's a bug.

Joel is leaving at 6:30 am for a 3 day trip to Dallas. He made a quick trip to the store to buy me some ginger ale. Sweet. Still, I try to think about an entire day of this with a toddler who surely will not understand why I don't want to play.

Around 10:00, I was dead tired, and since Eli still doesn't watch t.v., so I called our neighbor Liza to see if she could take Eli for a walk. She came over to pick him up. But he just layed across my lap, saying, "hug." He seems to have a sixth sense for when things are not quite right, and I didn't want to send him off in the wagon screaming. So we walked across the street, and got him started playing with her boys in the backyard. 10 minutes later, I headed home for a nap.

At 12:45, she brought him back over. He seemed cheerful. She said he didn't eat much lunch.

At 12:50, he was playing with his toys right in front of me, and he threw up. His eyes were wide as he looked at me, trying to figure out what was happening. He cried. "Falling out? Is falling out?" he said in between heaves. I felt helpless. Our everything-in-it's-place little boy does not like it when things spill. And he started trying to pick it up. I told him "No, don't touch!" and realized that I sounded like I was scolding him right in the middle of it all. How could I make him understand that this mess was okay, that I would take care of it?

The next time, he said "fall out again" right before he threw up. It happened another 10-15 times. It still makes me teary to think of it. He doesn't know to lean forward over a sink or toilet. He doesn't know that wood floors are easier to clean that carpet or a couch. He does know that he feels safe when his head is on my shoulder or he is laying in my lap. At one point, I settled for putting a towel on the floor and just letting him lay on my lap. More than anything, I wanted him to be safe and comforted.

How do you answer a 21 month old who begs for apple juice or water when you know they will only throw it up in 30 seconds? How do you tell them it is best for them to be thirsty and let their tummy settle down, so they can get better?

Just another reminder of the things I ask God for... when the answer is "no" or "not yet."

Is there anything in the world that will make a mother forget her own discomfort more quickly than the discomfort of her child? I guess somewhere I still new I was tired and thirsty and hungry, but it wasn't such a big deal anymore.

Finally, around 7:00 p.m., he kept a 1/2 ounce of water down. At 7:15, we tried another. I'd set the timer each time and try to distract him as he said, a million times, "Nore attel zuice? Nore? Mama, nore peeze?" My heart ached. Then the timer would go off, and it was time to ration some more.

At 9:00, he feasted on some banana and toast.

At 9:45, he was asleep. Peacefully.

He stayed asleep until 10:30 this morning, when I woke him up.

Today, I am thanking God for our health, and for the lessons.

The Potty

After Eli's bath last night, he said, "I go potty."

I said, "Yes, you went potty in the bathtub. Now it's time to put a diaper and pajamas on."

"All creatures, " he said. That means he wants to listen to All Creatures of Our God and King on the CD player.

"Ok, you can listen to it one time."

He went into the office, turned on the stereo, and pressed play. Disc 48 began. He was as nude as can be, slowly bending his knees and standing back up with a big grin on his face

"I dancing." Pause. "Ah-yay-yu-yah." "I go potty."

And he walked over to his little potty chair, sat down, and smiled. This was a big moment, since he was actually sitting on it. I got the camera and took a few pictures. He wanted to see them of course. He was proud. Finally, since it was after 9:00, I decided it really was time for bed.

He stood up, and lo and behold he'd actually peed in the potty!!! I congratulated him, and showed him how we empty it in the big potty and flush the toilet. He loves to flush. We called Joel to tell him the big news.

I don't think we're anywhere near saying goodbye to diapers, but I'm certainly not going to keep him from trying if he's interested. We'll see how it goes...