Parental Slackers

Since we never did a baby pool, and now it is just too close to make it realistic to start a pool, I thought I would ask some "poolish" questions to see what everyone might come up with:

1. Name guesses?
2. What day and time of day will she come? (She is due April 5th)
3. Was the ultrasound correct, or is our little guy wearing pink home?
4. What will she weigh (in pounds and ounces)?
5. How long will she be from head to toe (in inches)?
6. What will the weather be like in NE Massachusetts when she is born (temperature in degrees F and general weather forecast)?
7. What will be the last thing Steph eats before her water breaks? (Pumpkin Tortellini Soup?)
8. What color hair does our littlest have and how much of it?
9. Will Steph make it through a natural birth, or will drugs have to be given? (I have been 2 for 2 on epidurals)
10. Who will be the first to be pee-peed on by this little one? (it is only a matter of time)

Any Day Now

She will be coming any day now and it really still hasn't set in at all. We are SO excited about this new little one, but the last months seem to have gone by so quickly, that now it is overwhelming to think that soon pregnancy will end, and our little one's life on Earth will begin.

Pray for our anxiety levels and for her health as she will be here at ANY moment!!!

Kid Answers

So Steph filled out a questionnaire type deal on Facebook. I think it's funny. Here it be.

Kid Answers to Mom Questions

Lizzie age 3 1/2 and Ellie age 2 answered the following together:


1. What is something your mom always says to you?
Lizzie: "Ellie, you need to wait to eat"

2. What makes your mom happy?
Lizzie: Birthdays

3. What makes mom sad?
Lizzie: When I get out of bed

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Lizzie: She makes funny faces

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Ellie: She made funny faces

6. How old is your mom?
Ellie: 2

7. How tall is your mom?
Lizzie: big

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Lizzie: brush her teeth

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Lizzie: type and wait for us to come back

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Lizzie: Pray and have her friends sing to her

11. What is your mom really good at?
Lizzie: turning the tv on for Ellie and me to watch

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Ellie: crying

13. What does your mom do for a job?
Ellie: Not crying

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
Lizzie: grill cheese sandwich

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
???

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Lizzie: Teacher Suzi from the Sid the science kids

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Lizzie: play outside in the snow

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Lizzie: Our hair

19. How are you and your mom different?
Lizzie: I'm a kid

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Ellie: cause she's my mommy

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Lizzie: They are nice to each other

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Lizzie: to a restaurant

Sharing

Lizzie informed Steph tonight that Steph and I needed to not break the humidifier in our room because we would be sharing it with Baby Sissy.

Louis CK

In light of the Presidential address last night, I thought the following clip might remind us of what we have to be thankful for.
I saw this clip from a friend's Facebook link, and it made me laugh so hard. It's a comedic routine of sorts so keep that in mind, but too too funny.



Note: In case you are like me and look to see if Louis CK has other video clips, there are plenty, but they are riddled with swearing that essential destroys his comedic value. Consider yourself warned.

Pooh Day

So the girls got a stomach bug yesterday. It wasn't pleasant and was pretty exhausting for Allen and myself.

We are now finishing day 2 (the recovery day) with a family viewing of the Walt Disney Classic Winnie the Pooh.

I had forgotten just how much I had enjoyed watching these same cartoons when I was little, and now that I am watching them through older eyes, I appreciate them all the more.

For example, who knew that Tigger was the first to use texting lingo in regular conversation, "TTFN...tah-tah-for-now" and before texting existed!

The things one learns from taking a sick day with your children.

Stones

Steph’s been having lower left of her stomach pain for a few days. Normally Tylenol took care of it. But yesterday was different. Nothing would work. We call the midwife. “You better come in.”

Great neighbor watches the kiddos. We drive to the hosptial; labor and delivery unit, simply because Steph is 33 weeks.

Pain med, couple of lab tests, diagnosis: kidney stones.

We got home last night to a wonderful homecooked meal (same great neighbor [who has three of her own kids] ! Thanks Ashley ! ). The pain is better (demerol at the hospital; then Tylenol with codine at home), but Steph is tired. The kiddos didn’t get a nap yesterday so they went to bed early and we are very grateful they went to sleep right away; no fussing. Steph and I went to bed super early for us (10pm).

Steph is recovering: the diagnosis helps mentally, the medicine helps physically. Little One is a-okay. Kicking strong and quite perturbed by the monitors yesterday thank-you-very-much.

We’re all tuckered out, but glad everything will be better soon. Thanks to those of you who saw my status on Facebook and prayed. God heard.

Between the Smiles There is Silence

Today I found myself staring, for sometime, at the pictures that cover our refrigerator. Pictures of family and friends from various times and places. As I stood there I reflected on the fact that most came to us in a Christmas card, and thought of the blessings each card spoke of, as they recounted the year. Then as I poured over the pictures I couldn't help but think of the things that went untold. The divorces, deaths, and heart wrenching troubles that brought so much pain to the author. Many who experienced these painful times sent no letter to tell of their year, but let the silence speak for itself, as quietly as it may. I began to ponder why it is that Christmas letters have become an art, and not a chance to be true to the realities of life.

People work tirelessly finding just the right way to paint the canvas of their year, and put it in just the right light, so that it looks beautiful to all who behold it. Yes, sometimes within that landscape is the mention of the politically correct ugliness of life, such as physical injuries, job loss and in certain situations death or even divorce. But, even these often get painted with a fine brush, gently stroked over the page, so as to blend nicely with the piece.

I thought longer and realized that one could also go too far the other way. Too much discussion of ones woes could lead to a very ugly and dark work that might lead to self pity and various other sins. Then you would have another piece of art, only this one would be more Gothic in nature and might frighten small children.

We need balance in our telling of the truths of life. We MUST tell of the blessings God has bestowed upon us, but we MUST also require the prayers of our brothers and sisters as to the matters which torment our souls and leave us paralyzed in a heap of a sobbing mess on our knees before the Father. And we should also be willing to share these moments of pain with the unbelieving people in our lives, so that they can see that even through struggles Christ brings us through to the other side in ways one cannot possibly make it through without Him. We need to tell of the pain between the smiles, with more than our silence.

I must admit that I too did not send a card this past Christmas. In part because of being in Washington for a month to visit family, partly because I planned to send a card with the announcement of our new arrival this spring, but if we are being honest, there was also part of me that couldn't bring myself to share my year with you. I struggled to think of how to paint my canvas, and then found myself bouncing between Gothic and Impressionistic. But all of it was kitsch art, because it wasn't my work, but my cliche inability to step away from the norm and tell the truth.

Christmas has come and gone now, but this spring when I send out my letter, I will attempt to find the balance between truth telling and struggle dwelling. I want to share all the amazing blessings of 2008 and the the beginning of 2009, and also ask for your prayers as I (and my family) deal with the struggles of life.

On that note, if you want to receive an announcement/letter please email me your address, and we will be sure to get one to you!

Gratitude

Background 1
Our normal bed-time routine for the girls is as follows -

1. jammies time
   
2. brush teeth
3. story time in Dora chairs
4. hugs and kisses
5. pray time

Background 2
We are in the middle of a manners campaign - Pushing the girls to: ask nicely for things in full sentences, say "Excuse me" after bodily noises, be quick with thank you's when they're appropriate, etc.


A couple nights ago during hugs and kisses, right at the last big squeeze of her and me hugging, little Miss Ellie tooted. Funny, regardless of the situation, but manners are manners. So I said, "Ellie, you tooted. What do you say?"

Ellie: "Thank you."

Name Game

Okay friends, Steph and I are still in our “can’t figure out what to name our child” slump. I’m asking for suggestions. Real ones. Well meant, at least. Lizzie’s suggestion today was “Princess Sleeping Beauty.” That could work, but what do you use for a middle? Ellie’s suggestion was “Toys.” “Ellie, pick up your toys please… no, not the baby, put the baby down!” So that’s a no go.

Whattaya got?

p.s. We’d prefer a name with a Hebrew origin (Elizabeth and Eliana are both Hebrew) and in a perfect world, the first and middle names would add up to five syllables (like her sisters).