On Joy

If you've ever been to my house at Christmas, you've seen a large painting above my fireplace that looks, well, a lot like the one perched on our kitchen table tree. I painted it when I was pregnant with Phoebe, and it is by far my favorite Christmas decoration. It's a 2'x3' reminder to be joyful. (Sometimes I think it needs to be billboard sized, just to get the message into my thick skull. Do you ever feel this way?) Every January, it hurts a little bit to take it down...and I always look forward to getting it out when the decorating begins.

This year, Phoebe was helping me decorate when I pulled the painting out from behind the crib. Phoebe was amazed (as has been her precious response for all Christmas decorations this year), but was especially delighted to know that her Mommy had painted it all by herself. Phoebs immediately wanted to paint one just like it (but in pink, of course). And since I happened to have a small canvas available, I happily obliged.

Phoebe did a beautiful job on her painting, and she was adamant that it need to hang on our Jesse Tree in the kitchen. So now, I have not one but two bold reminders to seek after joy this Christmas season. And since I spend about 80 percent of my waking hours in the living room or the kitchen, I'm seeing these reminders all day long. (See? Sometimes God does send us billboards...)

Last Christmas season, joy was hard for me to find. I wasn't sleeping at night, I didn't have the energy to "do" Christmas, and I was struggling with what I now think was some postpartum depression. I wanted desperately to feel the joy of Christmas, but I mostly came up emptyhanded.

I began this Christmas season determined to choose joy. And it was easy, at least at the start. Joy was all over the faces of my girls as they marveled at Christmas lights and trees and ornaments and music. My heart has been more at rest this Christmas. It's easy to be joyful in the loveliness of Christmas, isn't it? But enter a little trial, and I'm ready to let the grumbling creep in.

I've struggled with back and hip pain with all of my pregnancies, but this pregnancy has been the worst by far. Sciatic nerve pain has hit earlier and harder, and I'm feeling pretty sidelined right now. I threw myself a little pity party about it yesterday, and then today I am confronted by the verse in my kitchen leftover from Thanksgiving (yes, my chalkboard still says Happy Thanksgiving):

"In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:18

And then, I saw Phoebe's pint-sized joy painting that gave me an extra large hit of conviction. It reminded me of this verse:

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds..."
James 1:2

Being thankful in everything. As in, in the middle of back pain. In the middle of a whiny car ride home. In the middle of a sleepless night. In the middle of dust bunnies and diaper blowouts and skipped naps. And then? Choosing joy in the midst of trial. It's not the Christmas Joy I was thinking of, honestly... but perhaps it's just the joy I need the grace to choose this Advent season.

On Bodily Functions

The other night, I was straight up exhausted. Michael had to go out after dinner to do some work and Nora's nights were still pretty rotten, so I begged off dish duty and Michael graciously sent me to bed to rest for a half hour or so before he had to leave.

Phoebe was playing with babies while Michael cleaned up the kitchen, and this was the conversation I overheard:

Michael: Oh, Phoebe! Are you feeding your baby some juice?
Phoebe: Yes!
Michael: What happens to juice after the baby drinks it? Do you need to change her diaper?
Phoebe: No, I think she throw up.

I couldn't help but crack up from my bed. That, my friends, is a sign there's been too much throw up in the house. We so thank the Lord that that stomach bug is gone. (It's been gone for a while...but really, we talk about throw up at least once a day now.) I'm praying we see no more throw up for, well, a very long time.

Where's the Bunny?

Today's been a bit of a down day. Nora threw up on me - and my shoes - before breakfast today, and it sort of put me in a sour mood. But this picture made me happy. And naptime is really no small blessing on days like today. So here's a little happy for my heart - and possibly for yours, too.


(Can you find my little sick Bunny under all those babies?)

Also, help is needed:
Assuming no one is puking on Monday (please, please Lord...), one of Michael's clients is going to be doing family portraits for us. These will be our Christmas card pictures, but she's also doing a full session - family, just the girls, etc. I don't want to do "Christmas clothes", since I want these to be some all-purpose pictures for us to enjoy. What do we wear? Oh please, someone, help me here. Specifically, what do I wear... please advise!

The Plague

It all started innocently enough. Michael and I both came down with "the crud", but the girls managed to stay healthy. It was never enough to knock us completely off our feet, but it was really annoying to have to haul around the tissue box and a pack of cough drops for two weeks.

The thought crossed my mind that maybe, just maybe, the girls had some built up immunity that would carry us through cold and flu season.

Riiiight.

Shortly after that little thought crossed my mind, a stomach virus (both girls, though significantly shorter in Nora) set up camp for ten straight days. On day six (or was it seven?) of all that, Nora came down with the mother of all colds, leaving her absolutely miserable and unable to sleep. Mops galloped down the interstate to lend a hand, and I literally don't think we could have survived these past few days without her. We know she sacrificed a lot to come be with us, but it sure was a sweet (if somewhat sleep deprived) time! (The stomach virus is trying to make a return in Nora, but I'm still holding out hope that it's just something she ate.)

I'm hoping that the plague will be lifting soon; the thing about these kinds of illnesses is that they do end, eventually. I'm so very thankful that this is all we're dealing with right now...nothing chronic, nothing serious. God is both gracious and merciful to us, even in the midst of all of this yuck.

And for that? I'm pretty thankful.

"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Seeking Light

Yesterday, Phoebe woke from her nap delighted to discover a tiny rainbow atop our coffee table. She in fact found several rainbows, little spectra bouncing about our front rooms, thanks to a prism in the glass of our front door. She chased them, tried to grasp them, and giggled when she spotted them on her hands or dress.

After several minutes, we bid farewell to the rainbows. (I wanted to get the girls outside before we had to bid farewell to the sunshine as well.) I promptly forgot about them, thinking instead about the afternoon's agenda or perhaps the route we'd take for our walk.

Today, Phoebe woke ready to see the rainbows again. She bounded out bed talking about her colorful little strips of light, just knowing they'd be there. I gently mentioned that the rainbows were a special treat for yesterday, that we couldn't expect to see them again today.


Yet there they were. I'd have missed them altogether, scooting the girls out the door again for a walk, had she not been looking for them. Her joy matched that of yesterday, and she squealed when she discovered them: on her purse, on Mommy, on the desk. She was looking for the light, and she found it.

All too often, I forget to seek the light, to search for the promises held for me. In a hurry, or distracted by a lengthy list of things to do, I fail to slow down and seek His face. I am so thankful for the little ones in this house, who cause me to take pause and to notice...

"Seek and you will find..." Luke 11:9

Little Moments

I keep feeling as if I have nothing to say here anymore, and yet... my days are full of little moments that I want to treasure up, to record for my own delight. And so, here I am. Again.

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I had the girls gathered up in my lap this afternoon, just before nap time. Phoebe had chosen a book that both she and Nora would enjoy, and we shared a story together. (Story sharing can be difficult when one of the listeners is a very eager page turner.) And as if to say, "I'm here, too," the third sister kicked and flipped for the entire time we snuggled together. Oh, how I look forward to sharing stories with three little girls!

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This morning, Phoebe asked me to sing her a song ("Standin' on the Solid Rock") for the umpteenth time in the past few days. I'm battling a little bit of viral crud and I honestly just didn't feel like it, so I told her that I didn't feel well and that maybe I'd sing some later. Phoebe said, "Mommy, does your heart hurt? You sing from your heart!" And immediately, my excuse was busted wide open. Needless to say, I've not refused her requests for song any more today.

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Is anyone else loving this fall weather like we are? It was particularly blustery on the day we went to the pumpkin patch, but we've been delighted by the brisk air and the need for a coat. I am so thankful that God gives us seasons... what a sweet reminder that trials, like the oppressive summer heat, only last for a season.

One Year Old!

Nora, my sweet little baby (at least until March), is already ONE! I think I've been in denial about her growing up... but really, one?! Already? Evidently the seasons march on, even before a mama is ready for them to.

We celebrated Nora's first year quietly - just family, as has become our tradition - but Nora didn't seem to mind, especially since she got to smash cupcakes on two different days! I really cannot get over this little Belle...what a delightful little thing she is!


As is our tradition, here is what our little Nora is doing as a big one year old! Nora:

• weighs 20 pounds, 5 ounces (35%ile) and is 29inches long (75%ile).
  
• is napping twice a day -- an hour and a half (or so) in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. She still generally sleeps about twelve hours each night, although lately we've had some interruptions thanks to new teeth. (Nora has, however, learned to express her opinion about some of her naps; she throws her pacis overboard, and will occasionally even toss the bunny if she's really mad about napping.)
  
• is off formula! I'm thrilled that I can have a four and a half month break from buying that expensive, expensive stuff. She does still take a bottle, but inconsistently... I'm not in a big hurry to get her off completely, but her interest is definitely waning.
  
• has three teeth, and is working on getting at least two or three more.
• still loves food, but is starting to get more selective about what she eats and also eats a little more slowly. Her favorite foods are cheese, fruit (especially grapes), green beans, and pasta.
  
• says "Mama", "Dada", and "More"... or so I think. (Does anyone else think it's tricky figuring out when they're actually saying these words and not just babbling?)
  
• signs "more", "all done", and "please"... but not consistently.
  
• can stand unassisted for a short period of time and, as of yesterday, has taken one step! Crawling is still preferred, and she will seldom attempt a step unless she is highly motivated.
• loves to read, perhaps even more than Phoebe did at this age. She has a long attention span for short books, which means she'll read lots of short books in a sitting. Her favorites are Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, The Barn Book, and anything written by Tom Arma. Nora also really loves touch-and-feel books.
• has curly hair now! All of a sudden, her hair has really started curling...she even gets these sweet little "wings" over her ears!
  
• loves to play with blocks, sort through odds and ends, and to be a part of the action. She hates to be left behind!
• loves to play peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek.
  
• loves to do anything her sister does. We joke that Phoebe is her favorite toy...and it's true!
• is the happiest baby I know. Really!

Our little "Belle" is such a delight. She is really SO much fun, and it's a joy to spend my days with her (and her sister). We've had a wonderful first year with our happy little love, and I can't wait to see what this next year brings!