how we summer

We are in the thick of summer here - a weirdly cool summer, all things considered. My kids are pretty lucky that we have friends with pools because their father is very resistant to the idea of them getting even a slightly larger pool here at home. 

River surprised me one day and somersaulted into the pool. It was so cute!

Both of my older two are into their goggles. Or in this case, someone else's goggles.

Little Mr. Finn, getting bigger and cuter and sweeter every day.

Shortly after Finn was born, Madeira decided that she wasn't into taking naps any more - not really the best thing for her or me or any of us...but who could resist that face? Not her mother, that is for sure. And it was temporary, fortunately. She naps now; she just requests that her door be left ajar.

We took the kids up to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago for River's 4th birthday. The kids really enjoyed it - River asked me when we could go up again. The sting ray touch exhibit was the favorite. I love that the kids are getting old enough to enjoy outings like this, rather than just being hauled around for the ride.

One of River's birthday gifts - his dad is all about him sharing toys and their accessories...

 

This picture kills me - River asked me what happened to her face when he saw it. :)

The first camping trip of his little life.

By dint of circumstances, we acquired a camper this year. This camping trip was our maiden voyage, thus explaining why we were only at Dawson Lake for one night. We had fun though.

You know how there are some days when you should just crawl back into bed? One of those days...

And I thank the Lord that toddlers and preschoolers being created as they are, that they need naps. The golden napping hour(s) at this home!

This is what Finn and I tend to do while the rest of the family is swimming. I got him a tiny swimming suit for vacation. :) Next picture will be of us in the pool, not basking pool side.

Not sure what is blooming here, but she likes to "do" my nails. With a hat pin. :)

Ah! Love!

He requested a helicopter cake for his birthday. I don't think he was impressed. Anyone have an idea how to make RED frosting? The pink wasn't very appropriate.

We went to the Children's Discovery Museum while Jen was out here. River said the train tracks were his favorite. I think Mad's was watching videos of cows on the ag floor. She's got dairy blood in her genes. :)

Our Two Blokes on a Bus lunch experience. The kids loved eating on the top.

hello, finn avery, good bye, heart

 Last baby bump picture - at least that's what I was thinking when I snapped this. 41 weeks.

I look...like I'm in labor. I guess that's fair to say. Jeremy is wearing the mask because he'd been battling some respiratory thing for over a week and the nurses thought it would be best if he used it.

I can't stop myself - if I'd have had the energy, I would maybe have tried to wake up my husband. By launching something hard at him. I mean, how dare he sleep if I can't?!?!

He arrived! Finn Avery, 8 lb 6 oz, 21 inches at 6:07 am May 21. And, just like twice before, there goes my heart.

The siblings first meeting.

Brothers! River wasn't sure how he felt about sharing a room and handing down toys and clothes to this little guy.

Admiring tiny little toes.

Back at home sweet home. I am always amazed by those women who like staying in the hospital. My bed is more comfortable, no one comes in my room at 5:10 AM to draw my blood, and my food is better. Also my shower pressure is better. And now that I'm done whining, let me say that I admire you nurse/nurse types that can put up with women like me!

Ah, the picture of delight! Someone loves babies as much as her mother...

A family of 5 now. Crazy how that happened...in some ways, it seems like we just came home from the hospital with River. Or was it Madeira?
Anyway, life is going pretty well with three. Finn is a sweet little guy. My older two have kept up their regular routine of spending most of their time outside, whining/fighting enough to prevent me from thinking I'm a great parent, and managing to be charming still.
I have a book that's subtitled "the abundance, mayhem, and joy of motherhood". That is so where I'm at right now. :) God has certainly been good to all 5 of us.

separate but equal

As the days wind down with life with 2 children (I live in hope), it's a little strange to me that I'll have two of a gender, what with things being separate but equal around here for 2 years. I had two of whatever but one for him and one for her.
We ate out at Red Lobster one time when Madeira was an infant and some lady stopped by our table and told us we had the "perfect family" with one little boy and one little girl. After she left, Jeremy asked me if that's how I felt. Sure. That's what I had. That's what was best. But yes, doubling up on something will be interesting.

I didn't bother taking pictures of the snow boots, rain boots, flip flops, toys, the sunglasses, the treasure boxes, her nail polish and hair things, his swords and guns.
I always thought it would be nice to have kids in pairs so they'd have each other to play with but these two get along just fine. Although he will not play dolls (kinda glad actually...), they do play "house" which involves hiding in the closet and making fake food. There is no game, however, that she's not willing to play with him. Sword fights, gun fights, army men, racing with a million little cars and so forth.
The bucket list:
I sifted through Madeira's outgrown clothes so if this little one is a girl, she will have some cute clothes to wear. I haven't gone through River's stuff yet but I have plenty of adorable outfits if it ends up being a boy. I have tiny diapers, baby nuks, the baby equipment out and assembled. My mom is in charge of making a few new burp cloths.
I even bothered to print out a birth plan sheet. Although I'm not really sure why. This is my birth plan: go into labor naturally, have an easy, peasy labor (like 4 hours or less, no other complications and we'll leave it at that), etc. Now how it will really be is...probably not that.
Also finish planting the garden, finish washing the windows, get a little more food in the freezer, defrost the freezer, can't even remember what else...I had some other things such as spring cleaning my laundry room but the organizers I was going to use for it have been backordered for (drumroll, please...) about 4 months now so it will probably have to wait until after number 3 gets here.
Oh yes, and she also had to give up her nuk. I snipped the first one. At first blush it might seem like she was cool with it but the second picture was more like the proper response. I think we're golden now.

The last little bit is typically the hardest, in terms of waiting and anticipation. 

Come on, my child, you are welcome here any time (in May, not that I see that being a problem).

 

**When I talked about planting the garden, Jeremy had a little work to do building a retaining wall before I could. Turned out pretty awesome, right?

the finest man i know

I grew up listening to a Grand Old Opry record that had "Father's Table Grace" on it. It starts out with the words "my thoughts go back to childhood and the finest man I know..." That always makes me think of my dad.
I seldom share something as personal as my memories about my dad - it's just hard for me.
But Jeremy and I have been doing a parenting Bible study so I can't help but think about my parents parenting techniques as we talk about things.
And two teachable moments about my dad keep coming to mind.
I hate my chin. Always have. I was in grade school when I remember whining to my dad about how much I hated my it. And he told me, "A strong chin means a strong woman."
I don't know if he ever knew how perfect of a reply that was. It would have been useless to try to convince me it wasn't ugly. And now I've gone for a long time thinking that it's better to be strong than it is to be pretty. Someday, if Madeira has similar struggles, I hope I take the time to address her little heart with such good advice.
Then there was the ordeal of me being in Brownies in 3rd grade. I really, really, REALLY wanted to be in Brownies. So as I was begging my parents to let me, I started crying. And my dad caved. I got to be in Brownies for a year. When my siblings tell this story, they make me sound like a conniving little wench. When I think about it, it makes me think of a tenderhearted man who was moved by the want of his little girl.
Listen to your children. Care about the things that make their little hearts beat faster. Because some day those little things will turn into big things. And you'll still need to care and listen.
I'm so thankful I was given such a good man as a dad. Actually I can't be thankful enough.

What a man!

I have no idea how many books Dad read to us over time. And, those green shoelaces are awesome!

This is why he did such a good job reading to us.

year 2 for my deira

So this year I found a party on pinterest that inspired Mad's 2nd birthday celebration. I didn't get anywhere near as fancy pants as whoever did the original but it worked for us. :)

 Cake, candies, and snack set out on Wendy's amazing chevron table.

 Mad's fat little owl cake. A Dotterer owl apparently...

 Uncle Wes helping put on her new TOMs. :)

 The spread.

 A certain someone had a rather hard time with the understanding that it wasn't his birthday quite yet...
At the end of every party, I get a lot critical of myself and think that things weren't quite as perfect as I was hoping. And River got a fever the night before and was dosed on meds for the party. And my house felt too small and too loud.
So also at the end of every party, I have to remind myself of this - do I have a birthday party because I love my kids and want to celebrate their growth in a way that they'll enjoy? Or is it somehow weirdly about me and how great of a hostess/party planner/cake maker I am?
Clearly it's not about me.
Enjoy the party!