Growing Up

I love being a mom of young children. I love being a stay-at-home mom. I love having a nursing infant. Okay, I'm guessing you get that I am absolutely loving this phase of life. But in my all too familiar "not a big fan of change" mentality I am REALLY struggling with how fast my kiddos are growing up. I think this is intensified by 3 factors:

1. Due to health factors we are most likely done adding to our family through pregnancy. (that might sound strange, but we are hoping to add to our family through adoption)

2. My "baby" who just turned 5 months is the size of a one year old.

(Yep, I'm the mom of "that baby" the one everyone looks at and says-"He is SO healthy!" a.k.a. chubby)

3. At this time next year I will be getting ready to send my oldest, Grace, to kindergarten.

I am especially feeling dread about the third one. Just the word kindergarten is enough to bring a tear to my eye. Well maybe not quite that bad. But, next summer kindergarten is sure to be a four-letter word at our house.

The fact is my kids are growing up. And as my mom keeps reminding me I wouldn't really want them to stay this age forever. So, instead of buying stock in Kleenex I'm trying to truly enjoy where we are at right now. I'm enjoying each trip to the zoo, play group, pool, etc. I'm enjoying each hand picked bouquet of flowers, specially colored picture, each snuggle as we read books, each tea party.

King Solomon new the truth God is making evident to me, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot."

I am in a season of planting with my children. But, eventually their growing will slowly lead to "uprooting." I am seeing how clearly my kids growing up is going to "grow me up" too. Because with each bit of independence they gain I pray harder. With each new discipline challenge I am learning more patience. And ultimately I am seeing I'm not going to be able to hold on to my "not a big fan of change" mentality. God knows I still have a ways to go on that one. But, I'm sure I will have lots of learning opportunities as my little babies "grow like weeds!"

For now I plan on avoiding emotional meltdowns with the following strategy. If I feel a teary moment coming on I focus on things like the cost of diapers, sparse date nights, cleaning up puke, & two year old melt downs in public.... Try it. It might just work for you too.

But, even those aren't gonna work if I hear "Your Gonna Miss This" on the radio.

Grace, Faith, & Titus, I adore your dad and I LOVE being your mom! (Oh, And you can plan on me crying at your wedding... so don't say I didn't warn you.)

New Pics of Kiddos

Well, every mom with multiple children knows how incredibly difficult it is to get "the photo" of all your kiddos. Especially if they are under the age of 5! So......my mom took a slightly different approach and took individual shots of the kids this time. I love them. And surprisingly the girls even volunteered to pose for a shot of them together. I feel blessed to have such a talented photographer in the family capturing all these great photos of my kids as they grow. Thanks, Mom.

These of the girls really capture their smiles.

Thanks to Kinnick for sharing this brand new Illini onsie with us. Apparently his dad wouldn't let him wear it. I wonder why? I think its adorable!
Can you say- future football player?
Love how you can see my ring in this one.
Clearly Titus loves Jesus and is praying....okay maybe not. But, still very cute!

Surprised by Joy

This summer-smiling in co-ordinating PJ's...

Last Summer-treating the girls for lice...

I am loving summer. Like totally enjoying every day. We are having a blast. Road trips, entertaining, play group, pool time, it is seriously the best summer ever. And I am so full of praise for the way I see God answering prayer and blessing our family. I can't help but think about where I was at a year ago. I think last summer was the hardest summer of my life. When our small group got together at the end of last summer we went around the circle and were supposed to share our favorite thing about the summer. I couldn't think of one single thing. My life was full of tears, sickness, lice (ahh!!!!), stress, pregnancy, and uncertainty. Did I mention tears?? I literally felt like I was drowning.

I know so many people have been praying for our family. It is the prayers of God's people that have helped to sustain us. There have been several times in the last month when I have literally felt like I am overflowing with joy. And I just had to share it with you. I have been begging God to send us someone to walk through this time of healing and learning. And I am beginning to see how he is answering that prayer. I find myself totally surprised by joy. I think the best part is he isn't answering in any of the ways I expected. I think we have established by now I am a control, plan ahead, type A personality. But, everything good we are experiencing is from God's hand instead of my own plan. And I am actually enjoying it. I think they call that progress. I have a LOOOOONNNNGGG way to go, but God hasn't given up on me.

Last summer I felt like I was drowning in the ocean of tears over my life's circumstances. This summer I feel like that ocean has filled my cup and is overflowing all over the place. God is good. Not because he is restoring joy to our life. But, because he has been here all along.

Weekend Family Fun

The last two weekends we have spent seeing Grandpa Rick & Grandma Leeanne. The first weekend we went to a big family reunion. It was a very sticky evening, but that didn't stop the kids from running around having fun. They played with play dough, rode bikes, & caught fireflies with their extended cousins. Grace & Faith loved the battery operated four wheelers they got to try out.

Then last weekend Jeremy and I did a little van shopping. We are hoping to replace our mini van sometime soon. The girls loved spending time playing in Grandpa & Grandma's creek while we shopped. Some of the girls' favorite things to do at Grandpa & Grandma's house are feeding the cats, making tea with the whistling tea pot, seeing the train, & making their own train track in the living room.

Not long after this there was a HUGE flash flood storm. The creek flooded and this entire area was covered in water. It was amazing how fast it happened!

St. Louis Zoo

One of my favorite places to go is the zoo. I have loved it ever since I was a child. I will never forget when Jeremy and I were first married and we lived just south of Indianapolis. We went to the zoo and I was shocked to discover how much it cost! I loyaly exclaimed, "The St. Louis Zoo is free."

Even though it isn't too far away we have only taken the kids to the St. Louis Zoo once when Faith was still a baby. So, I have been excited to go back. My friend Felecia and I took our kiddos and had a great day. It was hot (over 90 degrees) but we survived and I was the only one who got a sunburn. I was a little nervous taking the three kids without Jeremy, but overall it went pretty smoothly.

Grace trying to get a butterfly to land on her. I was very excited we got to do this, she has been wanting to go to an observatory ever since she read Fancy Nancy's new science book.
This giraffe was VERY close. Some of the kids were actually petting it.
The tiny fuzzy camel was a brand new baby, only six days old!
Faith loved climbing on the fences to check out the animals.
Our friends Felecia & Sydney
Titus was such a good baby! Here is is snuggling with his blanket when we went to see the penguins.
Josie & Jake had already planned a trip to St. Louis so we got to spend a little time with them too.
Grace didn't like the penguins because she thought it was too cold. She was disappointed the polar bears were gone.
The girls had a great time. Now I am excited to go back when Titus is old enough to enjoy it!
Since I knew we wouldn't get to see the whole zoo I told Grace to pick a few animals she wanted to definitely see. She choose giraffes and elephants. She also wanted to see a crocodile, but we didn't have time for that. She has already started a list of things she wants to see when we go back. Faith was pretty much interested in all of the animals. I am loving summer and taking the kids lots of fun place.

Time to Get Moving

Well, its that time again and I need some accountability. Time to get moving and try and regain my body after having a baby. You know the time has come when you have the following conversation with your four year old:

Grace: Mom, is there another baby in there? (while poking my stomach)

Me: No, Baby Titus is here now.

Grace: But, your tummy is still big. Are you sure there isn't a baby in there?

Yep, pretty sure no baby. Just a tired worn out tummy from four pregnancies in five years. Each time I have used a different method for trying to get back in shape. After Grace I joined a class at the YMCA. After Faith getting to the Y was way to complicated so I did the Slim in 6 videos. But, those are an hour a day and with 3 kiddos I wasn't sure I was quite ready for that commitment....so I decided to try and give 30 Day Shred a try. It is only 20 minutes a day. So we will see what happens. I am already feeling sore. (so hopefully that is a good sign) I am also trying to work back into my healthier eating habits. I use the term "healthier" somewhat loosely. More veggies, mustard versus mayo, more water, less treats (a.k.a. a smaller bowl of ice cream- i LOVE ice cream too much not to eat it) but nothing too drastic. I tend to be the "move more eat less" versus "eat nothing no exercise" kind of philosophy.

I figure the fact that I am starting when Titus is 4 months old is pretty good since I started when the girls were like 10 months old. But, I am slightly motivated by the summer's agenda. Thing like the family pool pass, 10 year class reunion(maybe?), and my brother's wedding in August. So, if you bump into me or skim through my facebook updates be sure to ask me how I'm doing. I totally need some accountability...Did I mention I really LOVE ice cream?

Memorial Day "Camping"

You might remember that Grace has become fascinated with camping. For her birthday she received a sleeping bag and the promise that we would take her camping when the weather warmed up. Well, the weather was warm and we had yet to camp. So....for Memorial day we took her "camping." I use the term lightly because I realize most people would consider what we did a far cry from camping. But, it worked for us and the girls really enjoyed it.

We had a fire in my parent's backyard and roasted hot dogs & made smores. This was one of the girls' first experiences helping cook over a fire. Cody, Erin, Kit, Wesley, Josie, & Jake also got in on the "camping" fun. Then around 9 we set up the tent on the deck and Jeremy, Grace, Faith, and I tried going to sleep. At 11 p.m. everyone had fallen asleep except Grace who kept waking me up. So, we decided it was time for them to go inside and go to sleep.

Faith trying a smore- I love the look on her face.
I love Grace's face in this one- very excited about camping!

The rest of our Memorial Day weekend was spent going to graduation parties & then we went to the pool for the first time on Monday. It was a great weekend!

"28 Day"

With Jeremy's new job he works on a 28 day schedule. On day 28 he has a very long day, and then usually has to bring work home to input on his PDA. So, we have started a "28 Day" tradition of going to visit my family. We stay with my parents and also always try to visit my grandparents. It has been fun to have this monthly ritual. In May this fell right before Memorial Day weekend. Here is some of our fun...

Faith helps make macaroni & cheese.

We got to meet the newest member of our family. Uncle Kit's new puppy Louie.

Here Grace and the soon to be "Aunt" Erin in their matching shirts. Grace & Faith went to Great Grandma Holst's for a flower girl dress fitting this time. Faith twirled with delight. Grace's comment was priceless, "I'll be the pouffiest girl there." (Yes, she is definitely my daughter!)

One of the things my girls had been looking forward to was helping with "Pop Pop's Garden" They helped to harvest some radishes, lettuce, & spinach. We then had lunch and Grace actually ate a salad with all 3 ingredients. I'm pretty sure this is the only way I would have gotten her to try radishes is the excitement of picking them herself.



Mom-o & Titus hang out in the shade- it was pretty hot that day.