Our year started off with a quiet yet beautifully timed 'bang' when Kyren was taken off of breathing aids for the first time in his short little life, and proved himself ready to come home-- without anything but his own little skin. . . and some vitamins. We will never forget the morning of January 5, 2010-- and we will cherish it always as a special date.
The remaining months of winter were spent mostly inside at home, or out playing in the snow-- getting used to life as a family of 4, and getting creative with how to spend so much time indoors with a toddler and a 'newborn'. but mostly we were just daily grateful that we were home. together. healthy and whole.
Gramma Bernie went home to be with Jesus three days after my 31st birthday, and snowstorms across the country made it tough for family to get here. We celebrated her life with those who could make it here, and began a new season of life without her.
At the end of March, Baby William made his early debut-- as much of a surprise as his cousin's was only 6 months prior. We prayed him through the spring with much hope and rejoiced when he too was able to come home around his due date, with minimal complications.
Warmer weather brought more freedom to our family in terms of getting out and enjoying a little more of the world. I took several blogging breaks throughout these months, to enjoy my kids, catch up on sleep, and just live without it all on record.
Christian turned 2 in style with a firetruck birthday cake and his own Harley.
We made it through back to back stomach bugs in late spring/early summer and got well just in time for a little trip to Chicago, just me and the boys, to visit SKWW in their new home. Our crazy interrupted itinerary and the germs we brought with us from both plane rides were all worth it for the fun time we had there.
July brought a few heat waves that made even sitting by the pool miserable, and we all thanked God for air-conditioning on a daily basis. Both boys really enjoyed the times we were in the water, and those times were plentiful throughout the summer.
August brought a visit from Maddy and our annual trek to the Lake, where we got MORE willa/wyatt time -- and made a ton of memories as our first time together as an extended family.
September took Christian out of his comfort zone and into the world of preschool (or DAY school, as he will quickly correct you), where he flourished almost immediately, and couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised by it!
We celebrated Kyren's Miraculous first birthday with a small bash at Allison Wonderland with a few of his closest fans. What an amazing year he had-- and what a sweet time of reflecting on the miraculous ways he overcame the odds.
October brought SKWW east for the first time, to meet the great grands, and pack in some pumpkin-picking/hay-riding memories.
November filled us with thankfulness for all we've been given and (and spared from) this year. We celebrated with the Janes family -- and got to meet Baby William for the first time. It was a precious time of picture-taking for the little boys who've been through so much and come so far!
December flew by the fastest of all, with our first mild cold of the season, and preparations for Christmas-- which was all we could have dreamed it would be-- healthy, happy and harmonious-- ending with some dancing and instrument playing by all round the tree at Gramsy/Poppy's.
And now the new year is upon us-- and we are thankful once again for the many MANY ways we experienced God's grace, mercy, blessing, and peace throughout what could have been such a very different and hard year.
We don't know what these next 12 months may hold, but we do know that in everything, God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. (romans 8:28)
We live, not for hope that this world will somehow grow more peaceful or this life easier or more comfortable, but for that which is to come, and that which is unchanging, unfading, and eternally secure. Our peace of mind is found not in our current circumstances, though we naturally desire easy ones again this year, but in Jesus Christ Himself, who IS our hope amidst life's shifting seasons.
May we all be reminded of that as the year unfolds-- and may we encourage one another all the more as we see the Day approaching...(Hebrews 10:24-25)
Happy New Year!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
holly, jolly, and folly
Aren't children at Christmas just about the most wondrous thing?
Yes. And No.
This sweet little cherub in the box
may look innocent and full of Christmas cheer-- but rest assured that this expression was in response to my telling him NOT to get in the box full of fragile decorations for the 5th time. I was torn as to whether or not to take pictures of the child while he was directly disobeying, but therein lies the dilemma of child-rearing. They can be so naughty and so nice at the same time! In retrospect i'm glad i snapped the photo before sending him to time-out for the ?th time that evening. ... that beautiful evening that was supposed to be magical-- setting up our tree, and decorating it together by the fire as a family. ... our first Christmas together at home as a family of four. All those time-outs made it not so magical in the moment. but now that i'm looking back on the pictures a few weeks later, i'm realizing that those moments don't have to define the overall experience. The wonder in a child's heart is just going to be coinciding with the folly that is all bound up there too. Sometimes he just can't help himself. He was excited. Can you blame him? It's Christmas! And loving him (even enjoying his cuteness) while dealing with that folly can be the secret to preserving the magic.
Yes. And No.
This sweet little cherub in the box
may look innocent and full of Christmas cheer-- but rest assured that this expression was in response to my telling him NOT to get in the box full of fragile decorations for the 5th time. I was torn as to whether or not to take pictures of the child while he was directly disobeying, but therein lies the dilemma of child-rearing. They can be so naughty and so nice at the same time! In retrospect i'm glad i snapped the photo before sending him to time-out for the ?th time that evening. ... that beautiful evening that was supposed to be magical-- setting up our tree, and decorating it together by the fire as a family. ... our first Christmas together at home as a family of four. All those time-outs made it not so magical in the moment. but now that i'm looking back on the pictures a few weeks later, i'm realizing that those moments don't have to define the overall experience. The wonder in a child's heart is just going to be coinciding with the folly that is all bound up there too. Sometimes he just can't help himself. He was excited. Can you blame him? It's Christmas! And loving him (even enjoying his cuteness) while dealing with that folly can be the secret to preserving the magic.
Friday, December 10, 2010
christmas card photo shoot, take 1
ok, so how is it that having the cutest kids in the world and the greatest camera in the world don't add up to the best christmas card ever?
they are all soooo close. and yet, not quite right...
someone is missing... and someone is chewing on a choking hazard...
someone isn't looking at the camera...
no one is looking at the camera....
camera is not in focus.... (darn it!)
ok, we're done. . .
Merry Christmas.
they are all soooo close. and yet, not quite right...
someone is missing... and someone is chewing on a choking hazard...
someone isn't looking at the camera...
no one is looking at the camera....
camera is not in focus.... (darn it!)
ok, we're done. . .Merry Christmas.
tyranny of the urgent
i'm finding this first year with two little energetic boys on my hands to be quite the occupation. meaning, they occupy my time, attention, and heart 24/7. and that's not really too much of an exaggeration. don't get me wrong. there's nothing else i'd rather be doing (well most of the time :) ). in fact, someone told me the other day that i was 'soooo meant to be a mom'. i used to think that, back when i was single and dreaming of being married w/children. but i've been so 'occupied' by the practicals motherhood for the past couple of years that i don't believe i've really stopped to consider that this is indeed what i was made for. not just in the sense that i am a woman who has been given the task of raising 2 boys. but in the true colloquial sense that i LOVE what i'm doing... tho it is completely occupying my every moment.
i guess i'm saying all of this to somehow create a base for the excuse for not blogging much lately. i am still learning how to balance life with 2, and perhaps that is enough of an excuse. i do feel a little guilty sometimes for not writing more often. it IS something i enjoy, and actually helps to keep me balanced. but i have to remember that my family is my priority, and writing about them is a hobby. and in some seasons, hobbies are just not as accessible... or something.
the urgency of diaper-changing, potty-training, nose-wiping, time-out enforcing, meal prep and clean-up THREE times each day (which includes washing 6 hands, 2 faces, 2 trays, and the surrounding floor), laundry, vaccuming (ok so that doesn't really happen that often), errands, pre-school, playing trucks and the like-- take precedence over any kind of free time. and with the little that i have at the end of the day, all i want to do is crawl into bed with a bowl of ice cream.
...which i do.
in the midst of it all, i want to take time to recount all of the blessings i have been given, as a way of staying positive in the midst of what can often be trying mundane-ness.
i have 2 very healthy boys...all systems functioning beautifully.
they both usually sleep through the night.
they both usually go to sleep rather easily and compliantly.
they don't seem to have any allergies.
they are incredibly adorable and rather endearing.
they are both moderate to excellent eaters.
they often will nap at the same time for at least an hour during the afternoon. 2 if i'm lucky.
they are both rather easy-going, and when they're not, they're easily distracted and persuaded.
they both have a wonderful sense of humor and love to laugh.
Christian, though he is still suffering a pretty nasty bout of the terrible twos, is creative, conversant, and tender-hearted... when he's not clobbering his brother for looking at him the wrong way.
Kyren is developing right on track, gaining weight nicely (he's my excellent eater/bottomless pit), discovering the world around him with all of his senses, and learning how to masticate with his 3 new teeth. He is down to seeing his PT and OT once a month, and while he's still not a chatterbox, his comprehension of language and his use of sounds are both improving by the day. This week he learned how to wave and blow kisses.
Both of them are developing their emotional/sensitive sides. Christian becoming more in tune with how his (and others') actions affect his and others' emotions. He is learning that his actions have consequences, and emotions are impacted by them, big time.
Kyren will throw himself on the floor face down and cry if Christian yells at him or pushes him away. He's also learning to voice his opinion in a variety of ways. He wants to be where the action is, and is not happy when he's discouraged from participating. (for example, right now he can't understand why he's not allowed to climb up the step stool and onto the toilet with his brother).
our greatest challenges right now are getting them to both sit still and smile for a christmast card picture. . . keeping them both happy at the same time. . . . and maintaining our cool during meltdowns, defiance, and enforcement of the rules.
oh, and potty-training. which, for the past week has gone rather well. not without some resistance here and there. we've gone through half a bag of m&m's and several twizzlers-- and we are rather confident in this being a one way street to big boyhood. oh and who knew that hippos could be potty-trained as well? definitely a great tactic for getting him interested.
pictures to follow.
so that's the tyranny of the urgent in a very small nutshell-- now if you'll excuse me i think there's some ice cream calling my name...
i guess i'm saying all of this to somehow create a base for the excuse for not blogging much lately. i am still learning how to balance life with 2, and perhaps that is enough of an excuse. i do feel a little guilty sometimes for not writing more often. it IS something i enjoy, and actually helps to keep me balanced. but i have to remember that my family is my priority, and writing about them is a hobby. and in some seasons, hobbies are just not as accessible... or something.
the urgency of diaper-changing, potty-training, nose-wiping, time-out enforcing, meal prep and clean-up THREE times each day (which includes washing 6 hands, 2 faces, 2 trays, and the surrounding floor), laundry, vaccuming (ok so that doesn't really happen that often), errands, pre-school, playing trucks and the like-- take precedence over any kind of free time. and with the little that i have at the end of the day, all i want to do is crawl into bed with a bowl of ice cream.
...which i do.
in the midst of it all, i want to take time to recount all of the blessings i have been given, as a way of staying positive in the midst of what can often be trying mundane-ness.
i have 2 very healthy boys...all systems functioning beautifully.
they both usually sleep through the night.
they both usually go to sleep rather easily and compliantly.
they don't seem to have any allergies.
they are incredibly adorable and rather endearing.
they are both moderate to excellent eaters.
they often will nap at the same time for at least an hour during the afternoon. 2 if i'm lucky.
they are both rather easy-going, and when they're not, they're easily distracted and persuaded.
they both have a wonderful sense of humor and love to laugh.
Christian, though he is still suffering a pretty nasty bout of the terrible twos, is creative, conversant, and tender-hearted... when he's not clobbering his brother for looking at him the wrong way.
Kyren is developing right on track, gaining weight nicely (he's my excellent eater/bottomless pit), discovering the world around him with all of his senses, and learning how to masticate with his 3 new teeth. He is down to seeing his PT and OT once a month, and while he's still not a chatterbox, his comprehension of language and his use of sounds are both improving by the day. This week he learned how to wave and blow kisses.
Both of them are developing their emotional/sensitive sides. Christian becoming more in tune with how his (and others') actions affect his and others' emotions. He is learning that his actions have consequences, and emotions are impacted by them, big time.
Kyren will throw himself on the floor face down and cry if Christian yells at him or pushes him away. He's also learning to voice his opinion in a variety of ways. He wants to be where the action is, and is not happy when he's discouraged from participating. (for example, right now he can't understand why he's not allowed to climb up the step stool and onto the toilet with his brother).
our greatest challenges right now are getting them to both sit still and smile for a christmast card picture. . . keeping them both happy at the same time. . . . and maintaining our cool during meltdowns, defiance, and enforcement of the rules.
oh, and potty-training. which, for the past week has gone rather well. not without some resistance here and there. we've gone through half a bag of m&m's and several twizzlers-- and we are rather confident in this being a one way street to big boyhood. oh and who knew that hippos could be potty-trained as well? definitely a great tactic for getting him interested.
pictures to follow.
so that's the tyranny of the urgent in a very small nutshell-- now if you'll excuse me i think there's some ice cream calling my name...
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Hippo takes the plunge.
well, if hippo is going to wear big boy underwear-- so can i!!
now, Hiptoe, this is how you do it...
be sure to wash and dry your hands....
and you even get your own M&M for going on the potty!
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