Stickers

Stickers have been a theme around here lately. I must say, there are few things as simple and thrilling to little fingers. Less thrilling to be pulling off the bottom of my feet!

Of course, there are so many different kinds of stickers to explore. Earlier in the week, I laughed as I pulled the sticker off the apple Zoe was eating. Why was this so funny? She was stubbornly trying to chew it up, and it was hanging out of the side of her mouth! Oh, the adventures of motherhood!

Later while I was sorting paperwork, I found Ian walking around the living room aimlessly with a star sticker in his hand. (I had just given him a full sheet to stick on his paper). I asked, "Ian what are you doing? Where is your paper?" He smiled up at me, and with a sweet little voice said, "I am making the house boooootiful, Mom!"

This little endeavor kept him busy for nearly an hour.

There.

Were.

Stickers.

Everywhere.

But, I was able to catch up on so much, I gave him another sheet the following day. Then regret set in, and I wondered why on earth would I create something else for myself to do!? (Removing stickers off furniture...oh boy). Encountering those stickers everywhere really made me think, though...because as I pulled them off, I couldn't help but think of the big smiles on his face as he did it! He truly considered them beautiful additions to our decor!

And now, I can't help but ponder, what sort of things have I been "sticking" in my mind (thinking they were fun and pretty), and what things should I go ahead and peel away?

It's ok, you can scratch your head on that one. Deep thoughts of a stay at home mom, right? :)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. -Philip. 4:8 (NIV)

My Independent Spirit

From the first moments, you could just see in her little eyes that she was on a mission. I know a lot of people attribute this to having a big brother, but I know that it's in her heart.

-She is my strong-willed, powerhouse.

-She wants to figure it out by herself.

-She makes her own decisions in her own time.

-She is a little bundle of independent thinking, a true free spirit.

I had in my mind a vague time line for things. Zoe pushed the envelope every time.

-She walked at 9 months, despite literally no encouragement from me. (Don't get me wrong, I was not pushing her down or anything, but this was 100% Zoe's doing).

-She weaned herself completely, in one day, at 10 months. She never nursed again, and refused breast milk. She was done.

-She chose her thumb and her belly button for her comfort. She didn't need anyone or anything to provide that for her.

-She doesn't forget what she was doing...no matter how many distractions you put in her path.

So, why am I surprised that she suddenly decided she was done with the crib? This past week, every night she has crawled into Ian's bed and pulled the covers over herself. She has asked us, "My bed, sleep."

Last night, she climbed out a couple of times and hurt herself. I finally acquiesced to Daddy, who at times is so much more in tune with Zoe the planner. The crib rail came down.

I admit to you, I was terrified. You may have heard me say that Zoe was going to stay in her crib until she was 16. Do you know why? TWO MONTHS of the MOST DIFFICULT period for Matt and I as parents was involved to bed train Ian. It was awful. Truly. Awful. I had vowed to myself that Zoe would stay in the crib until 3, and then we might try the switch.

I had the link on Amazon ready...to order the crib tent. I told Matt, "If she wants her big girl bed, she has to stay in it. One time out of that bed, and I'm ordering the tent."

Eleven hours later.

Ok, it's the first night, and it's new. The true test would come at nap time. I hardly believe this is going to work.

Twenty minutes later.

Oh, my little Zoe girl! This may not last...I still can't help but be mentally preparing for you to become the jack-in-the-box your brother was.

But part of me really wants to believe in you and your little independent spirit...determined to grow up on me. :)

Calling All Moms!

I need help. How can we stop this?

From Blogger Pictures

Threatening to show everyone in cyberspace clearly did not help. Nor did mentioning the fact that I will print this photo in his High School yearbook. So, back to the drawing board. What do I do? Suggestions are very much welcomed. :)

Gorgeous Day!

Picture this...an amazingly gorgeous day, the glorious warm weather proving that the hope in our hearts of winter's end are being fulfilled! I feel the outdoors calling me (I hit the "reject" button on those same calls during cold weather spells), to go somewhere and soak up the sun's rays and breathe in the coming spring...

I beckon to my wonderful family with joy and anticipation, imagining in advance the leaps of joy and excited cries to be headed out together into a beautiful day!

"I'm going to make sandwiches! Let's get ready to go have a picnic outside, guys!" I am the perfect image of glee uncontainable, glowing and happy.

Matt groans. Zoe screams and throws a toy on the floor. Ian yells back, "NO!!!! I want to stay HERE!"

I pretend that I just heard musical laughter and shouts of delight. "It's SO beautiful outside! We are going to have so much fun going together, and will even sit in the back of the van for the picnic!" (The kids treasure any opportunity to crawl all over the gargantuan cave that is our van).

Matt sighs and meanders off to get dressed. Zoe takes up Ian's chant, (because she can) "No! NO! NO!" Ian throws himself on the floor next to Zoe's toys.

I'll summarize the next 30 minutes for you. There was much screaming, gnashing of teeth, and overall protests of how horrible it would be to go outside. They wanted to stay home, they were tired, they needed all manner of toys and entertainment to come with them. (And that was just Matt, the kids were a different story, ha!). To put it even more simply, it was nothing short of an ordeal to get all 3 childr...I mean, all of us in the van and out the door.

The drive to the Marsh Boardwalk was no more enjoyable. Whining, questioning, and overall complaining that it was now time to go home.

Then we pulled up the the Boardwalk, and the worries about bugs began.

What do I say to this? I had run out of ways to share my excitement of this beautiful day! Now, what I really wanted to do was scream louder than all of their whining and crying combined...

SHUT UP AND ENJOY HOW PRETTY IT IS FOR GOODNESS SAKE!

But instead, I quietly unloaded, reminded that we had bug spray, and started walking.

Zoe started off with a run...nearly falling off the side because she wasn't watching where she was going. Ian had a little freak out about walking close to the side, and we assured him it was safe.

I think at that point, all of them suddenly noticed where we were. And it was at that moment, God was able to say something better than anything I ever could. After all, none of us can protest when faced with such beauty as He gives us. We just don't stand a chance against the majesty of creation.

All went quiet. They linked hands, and with smiling faces, began walking down the "bridge."

They loved it! They looked for crabs, tried to spot birds, tromped happily along a road with a beautiful view...looked at me and smiled. I breathed in the fresh air, and returned the smiles.

We met some friends at the very end, and walked back again. They didn't want to leave.

Our excursion ended with a little picnic in the back of the van, turned to view the gorgeous sun on its colorful descent below the horizon.

I'm so thankful for these moments when I have learned as a mom just to keep my mouth shut. Sometimes, God will do all the talking I need, with His amazing handiwork, and a gorgeous day. :)

Preggisms

Matt has declared my usual "Julie Moments" (JMs) to now be "Preggisms." It's funny to me, because it implies that pregnancy has something to do with my ditziness. Ha!

I had to share a couple of the latest ones. They're just too funny! (Although I am not sure I could beat when I was pregnant with Ian and was trying to open the front door with the car door remote...only realizing my error when I locked it and heard the beep from the parking lot).

Ian was in the back seat jabbering away about everything. He is constantly narrating, explaining, giving feedback, and questioning...anyway, always talking and telling us about something. Lately, he has taken this to the next level, and corrects us on things. "No, that is not a sea turtle, Mom. That is a leatherback turtle." OK! So, I forget what his latest correction was, but I turned to Matt and said,

"Ian is such a little know-it-all!"

He nodded agreement.

"I mean really. Like a know-it-all with a capital N!"

HAHA. Look on Matt's face: priceless.

Well, I'm having a "Preggism" again. I can't remember what the other one was! Oh well...there's always another blog post! I'm trying to capture more of these things since I have been so bad about chronicling the pregnancy for little brother. Ian and Zoe's pregnancy journals are full. Little brother needs more stories. Now, back to blueberries and strawberries. :)

Maternity Photos at 33 Weeks

It's hard to believe so much of the countdown has flown by. Why? Because at this point, with Ian I was still focused on finishing the school year, and was perfectly content with him staying in there until then. Zoe on the other hand...I was slightly convinced I would be pregnant with her forever. Little brother, I just don't feel like there's enough time to get everything done! Besides, I feel so amazing in general, carrying him has been a pleasure.

So, I stare down at my belly, and wonder, where exactly did the time go? And I look back at the pictures and marvel that there is a little boy growing in there!

My talented photographer friend, Amanda of Manda's Memories is also pregnant with a little boy...due just a couple of weeks after me. We took each other's maternity portraits. I wanted to capture some photos of both of us (which we hadn't really done with the others). You know, those blissfully happy photos that really show how excited we are, and happy to have a little one on the way...cute couple mushy stuff (we really are cute and sappy at times). Aww.

But, I also really wanted to capture the silliness that is "Team G"...how much our lives are blessed, crazy, and fun. It wasn't hard. Matt was really willing to let loose in front of the camera. He made funny faces at my belly, and talked about nonsense. You know, just the same as any other time we're not in front of the camera!

It was so much fun! Don't let him even suggest otherwise, Matt had a blast.

Of course, the problem was trying to get those shots that were just slightly more serious, because he kept making the most obnoxious faces. Or I was laughing so hard, I knew I would look maniacal in the photo. (I'm ok with that, but I would like at least a couple that are more flattering). Here's a great series that tells a story.

He was saying "NOOOOOO." I told him if he didn't behave, and the photos all came out crazy, we'd have to have a 4th child and do it over again. :D

I'm so thankful that we got to work with such a talented photographer that exactly got US. I'll forever treasure these photos as a glimpse into the 33rd week...and what an amazing journey of life God has blessed us with again! :)

You can click the album link to see more photos from the session:

From 33 Weeks Maternity Photos

Seeing Him Everywhere

Last week, a certain moment had a verse came to mind, Deut. 11:18-19:

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up...

Mentally, I couldn't help but add, "...and when you go to Burger King."

Yes, you read that correctly. Sure it's fine to talk about Jesus on Sundays, or times when you're actually on a religious topic/environment. But, this is an all the time thing! I want Ian and Zoe to look back on their childhood and think of me as truthful and honest, not just another Christian hypocrite! I'm not out to convert my children...I want to live a life faithful to what I know to be true, so they can see it for themselves.

And I wonder, am I living it? Do they see it?

I continued to wonder...until one day last week, Matt took the kids to Burger King to give me a break. (Ha, talk about hypocritical, yes I know, not really healthy and I hate the whole idea of the place). He even got them a *gasp* kid's meal.

In it, was this little Jack Black figure advertising the "Gulliver's Travels" movie.

Without skipping a beat, Ian opened his prize and exclaimed,

"Daddy! It's Jesus! He died on the cross for me! He's my friend!"

He saw this little toy man, bound & "suffering"...and thought of...Jesus.

I wish I could take credit for this. But as Matt told me the story, I realized there's more to it than just our example. (Especially because we really could work on this area a lot more!).

It's in Ian's little heart now.

You have heard the verse about having "faith like a child"? I think this means seeing Him everywhere...even in a Burger King kid's meal. :)

And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 18:3

32 Weeks!

As my friend Amanda just pointed out, it's now only 4 weeks until I'm full term, and can deliver at the birth center! WOW! I say it every month...ok, well maybe I didn't say it the first couple of months being sick...but, time seems to be going by the fastest this pregnancy.

At my check-up on Monday, I was measuring right on for 32 weeks, and am still gaining less than with Ian and Zoe (which is great, since I gained too much with them technically!).

Little brother's heartbeat was holding steady in the 140's again, and he's more than likely head-down. He was flipping back and forth (I could feel it), but I haven't felt him flip in the past week. Of course, it's still early and doesn't matter...but it's fun to actually be able to make out what body part is moving at times. Often, when he stretches, you can see the big bump of his little bottom, or the small lump of a foot poking out. Even though this is the 3rd time, it's no less amazing to imagine the tiny little person growing and living in me!

He even has his own little schedule. Almost like clock work, every 4 hours, little man is moving and shaking! I wonder if he will be like Ian & Zoe, predictable to this same schedule once he is out of the womb. It's easier to think more and more what it will be like to have him on the outside as it gets closer!

I'm beginning to feel slightly slowed down by the bump in the front. It's taking a little more effort to get up and down from the ground. I have to be more conscious to walk around at regular intervals and stretch when doing computer work, too. I know this is all part of the journey, and am so thankful that so far there's been no major body pains! At this point before, I had major back pain and a few other annoyances. Overall, I feel WONDERFUL, so blessed and thankful for this amazing pregnancy.

So...8 months. Here we are!

She Loves to Eat

Hi, I'm Zoe.

I like to eat all day.

In the morning, I have breakfast.

After breakfast, I go to the living room to play, and turn right around and have snack again.

Mommy cleans up after snack, and then it's time for something else to eat.

Finally I play with my toys and work up quite an appetite. Time to eat once more!

Sometimes, Mommy is playing with us or doing chores. I ask for "num-nums" and she reminds me that I just ate, and we'll have another snack in 15 minutes or so.

Mommy can't tell time. So after 15 minutes, I crawl onto the table and into the fruit bowl.

I walk around and snack, and then put it back in the bowl when I'm done so I can find it later. When Daddy got home tonight, he saw what's left of my snack on the table and took a picture for you.

I love to eat. All day. :)

The Adventure of Getting Dressed

Kristen and I were just talking on the phone about the morning routine...and how it can look (ahem) different in different households. It is at times like these that I can appreciate the hard work my mom put into teaching me the most obvious of tasks. Take getting dressed, for example. It can become more adventurous than you ever though possible.

Mom: Ok Ian, it's time to get dressed. Go pick out your clothes.

I: I want this shirt. (Points to white one).

M: Ok, get it and put it on.

I: It's stuck. (Points to green one on top of it).

M: Just lift the green shirt and then get the white shirt.

I: But the green shirt is on top of it!

M: Yes, take the green one out first, then get the white one.

I: (Pulls out green shirt). I can't get it. My hands are full. Can you get it for me?

M: Put the green shirt in just one hand and then get the white one.

I: (Puts the green shirt on the floor and pulls out white shirt). The green shirt is still out. Oh now, I have to put it away.

M: Ok, put it away.

I: (Puts green shirt away and unfolds white shirt). This is my white shirt.

M: Yes, put it on.

I: I don't want to wear this one. I want to wear the green one.

M: Then get the green one and put the white one back.

I: The green one is where this one goes! (He flaps the white shirt around in the air).

M: Take the green one out, then you can put the white one in that spot. Or you can put that shirt back and pick any shirt you want.

I: Oh, ok. I want to wear this white one! I got it!

(Puts on the white shirt).

I: I don't like this shirt.

SIGH.

He is now wearing a black spiderman shirt. Oh, the adventure of getting dressed! :)