Elliana Rose

Elliana Rose

She is four months old today, and I am barely sitting down to blog.  Not that I haven’t blogged in my head hundreds of times… but only now to sit and write.

She is beautiful. She is happy. She is healthy. We are blessed. We love her.

The boys have been great with her, loving and gentle (most of the time). We’ve seen a gentle side of Ezekiel come out that is so sweet to see. Ben has been a little slower to figure her out, but now that she smiles at him, he is definitely paying her more attention.

And Daddy, o how daddy loves her…

As the time draws near to meet this little one, I am so thankful that God allowed me to do it again.  Before this pregnancy I felt a little sadness at the thought of never being pregnant again and not experiencing all that miraculousness again.  And “God has answered,” and we are almost to completion.  I feel we have not rushed this pregnancy, or complained this pregnancy (too much), or wished it away quicker, but rather simply waited, enjoyed, and soaked it all in.  I am very grateful for such a smooth pregnancy, I know many of my friends who have quite a different burden to bearing children.  I receive this grace, and am thankful for what I’ve been given.  It was a much simpler pregnancy than with the boys, not many ultrasounds, not as uncomfortable, not as much weight, not as much babies!  

It’s been fun to experience it with the boys too, to see this miracle unfold through their eyes and catch glimpses of their perception of it all.  Ezekiel has said some memorable things this last month, 

“Mommy, how are you going to be able to snuggle me when the baby comes?”  I said, “Well buddy, the baby will sleep a lot and we’ll be able to hang out while she’s sleeping, but you can always tell me when you need some loving too.”

Another cute one was when the boys were at Aunt Katie’s house and Ezekiel told her, “We won’t come back to your house ever again.”  She said “Why not?”  He said, “Because when the baby comes we won’t be able to go anywhere ever again.”

That comes from trying to help them know mommy will slow down for a little bit after baby comes, but I did say daddy and grandparents would come to hang with them, but that wasn’t the memorable part I guess.  

Ben surprisingly has not had many questions, I feel he knows something is coming, but is not too sure about it. One of the things Ben said earlier on when he felt the baby move was “she’s trying to get out!” It was comical.  He also said after being away from me a few days, when we told him to say hi to sister, “I can’t hug her yet.” He is my snugglebug, so I’m sure this little girl will be well snuggled.

Neither one of the boys want to feel her move anymore, I think it weirded them out. Especially Zek, when he put his face on my belly one time and got a good kick.  He was done after that.  They have been super sweet though at times, being more gentle with mommy. One day I was running out for a class and they were staying with dad, Ben said, “did you eat breakfast?” I said, “I grabbed a bagel.” He said, “that’s not enough, you could have my oatmeal!”  

Another time Zek said, “I wish I was still 3.” “Why Zek?” “Because then you could still hold me.”  I said, I can always still hold you, I just can’t pick you up.”

So those are what I can remember of our memorable memories. This new season will have many more for sure. I can’t wait to see their face when they meet their sister for the first time.  Pray for a smooth labor. Pray for my strength.  Pray for our patience with one another as we enter this new season of life for our family. Thank you

All that to say, I am so thankful for the chance to do it all again.  Don’t get me wrong, if there was a new way to teleport this baby out, I’d probably choose that route, but all the glorious movement of having a life growing in my belly, all the beautiful wonder seen through the boys eyes, the joy in my husbands voice and anticipation of holding his new baby girl, it is making this such a sweet season for our little family.

I did meet with a surgeon this past week to discuss my previous c-section.  It was a little discouraging that it’s not a clear green light, perhaps it never is.  The surgeon that delivered the boys put in my file that I have a prominent sacrum, and probably wouldn’t be able to have a VBAC (men ask your wives).  So we have a choice to try to deliver and perhaps still have a c-section, or simply schedule a c-section.  We are leaning towards trying again, in hopes of avoiding c-section, but would appreciate to be clothed in prayer by you all.  That’s pretty much the route we were in with the boys and it was rough.

On a lighter note, the boys are sweet with my growing belly, hugging it, stroking it, being kicked by it.  They are really fun and we’ve enjoyed getting some one-on-one time with each one now and then.  They already know it all, Ezekiel informed me that he knows everything I know and Ben knows everything dad knows.  They keep us laughing all.the.time.

O and a special little treat for those of you that read to the end, we have chosen a name, at lease in part, Eliana …. Barrett.  It means “God has answered.”  And he has.

Though I’m exhausted and don’t get the luxury of napping whenever I please this time around, it has been very fun to experience this pregnancy with the boys. They are curious as ever and their questions and comments are often hilarious.  Zek looked at my growing belly one day and saw a line (probably a vein or “linea negra”) and asked if that was the umbilical cord.  Another time  Ben felt the baby move and said, “She’s trying to get out!”  The awe and wonder of their curiosity is precious and at times exhausting, but overall they are at such a fun age that adding this baby girl is going to be so exciting.  Did you hear that, BABY GIRL.  Yes, bring on the pink.  But I have a feeling she’s going to keep right up with these boys, she is on the move all.the.time.  She also seems sassy already, if you put your arm or hand on my belly she will quickly kick as if to say, “hey, get off!”  She’s not going to take any nonsense from her older brothers.  Though I can tell they will be great with her, protective, loving, and desiring to teach her all the things they know. Wait a second…

The boys are now 4 years old and lots of fun. The love to do crafts and “school” and if you ask them if they want to go to school, they’ll say “no, I wanna be homeschooled.”  While that’s still being prayed over, I am thankful to have another year with them, the thought of sending them off to Kindergarten can make this pregnant mama weepy.

Asher’s business is doing great, new clients every other week it seems.  With many challenges as well, we have enjoyed the benefits of having daddy a little closer to home.

As I look back through this blog, I am reminded of how precious these days are.  They are so quickly fleeting.  Too quickly.  Though each season brings it’s blessings and challenges, there is one thing that doesn’t change, God and his faithfulness to us.  We are so blessed. Enjoy the pics, a few of my favorites from this year.

Next we took family photos, thanks to Latisha Lyn Photography (www.latishalyn.com). She captured some great shots despite the inability of mom and dad to get the obedience we desired, we bribed, threatened, etc… did I mention she had her twins in tow as well? They are our buddies and as you can see in the picture, are very intrigued by these busy boys, who are very willing to entertain anyone watching.

Then Thanksgiving and Christmas. Lots of fun, lots of wonder, lots of awe. We had our first escapes from bed this past month. We are not ready for big boy beds. By we, I mean Asher and I. So far we haven’t been forced to take the plunge, and that is about the only way it will happen, when we are forced.

Ben saw himself in the bathroom mirror as I sat him on the counter to wash his hands, and for the first time, he really saw himself.  He asked what’s on my cheek?” I replied, “It’s a birthmark.” “Why do I have a birthmark on my cheek?” “Because God gave it to you specially.”  Then at the table he asked, “Where’s Zek’s birthmark?” I said, “He doesn’t have one on his cheek, his is on his back.”

“MORE SALAD!!” Oh they things that bring joy to a momma’s heart. So what if it was barked out like a drill sergeant with no please attached. For this one instance I didn’t mind. They finally will eat salad!! and some other veggies again, that haven’t got any farther than their lips in months. Thank you Lord.  I guess I was getting a little worried that they really only wanted “Steak and bacon!” (thanks to their daddy, yes they really say that when asked what their favorite food is, or what they want to eat no matter the time of day, and no they don’t really eat much of it.)

“Dessert is good for me.” says Zek

“You going to leave me?” Ben asks whenever someone comes to visit.

Lot’s of fun these boys.Click to view slideshow.

Ben says, “let’s go to chick ta fe” he means chick fil a.

Zek asked me yesterday, “Does God have a belly button?” I replied “No, he made everything, no one made him.”  I quizzed him on this later, and he remembered and said, “God made things” I was impressed.

They did get their first haircuts, which did not cause them to lose their strength, previously our concern… They did great, it was a fun experience.

They both love to sing, even singing their prayers before meals to the tune: “Thank you God for my fooood, and our many blessings, and our many blessings, aaamen, aaamen.”   I’m not sure if they learned it in church, but it is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.

They also are potty training, no accidents 2 days in a row, no more fighting to go, and the winner is…. M & M’s!!  Yes, 1 for pee, 2 for poo, 3 for no accidents all day.  I was afraid to use those thinking they would bug me all day long for them, but to my delight there’s not been one such case! They go potty and are totally satisfied with 1 m&m!! I know, how sweet and innocent, and if they are only getting one at a time, where are all those m&m’s going????  I am so proud of them, and though this was the hardest thing since infancy, I’m once again seeing the light of sanity.

The realization hit me this weekend, we are seeing less and less of our babies, and more and more of our little boys. They run (everywhere), jump (off of everything), they slide (down anything). They like to fix things, and if busy and you ask what they’re doing they’ll say, “I’m working.”  They are so much fun. Growing so fast. So sweet (and sassy).