You might be a Momma if...

... You hear yourself say something like, "I know you were there first but it's his toy. Well if you don't want him to step on you get out of the Exersaucer! Don't you dare bite him just because you want him out of the way!" .... And you're talking to the cat.

Happy five months my little toe muncher!

Wow, I’m really starting to feel like a Momma because I keep hearing myself talk about how quickly time has flown!  Just five months ago today we welcomed our sweet boy into the world!  It has been amazing to watch him grow and change during these quick months. 

During his first doctor’s appointment in Indiana, the pediatrician informed me that at 4 ½ months Eb is the size of an average 7 month old (which explains why he is burning through clothes so quickly!).  At this check-up Eb was 19 pounds and 15 ounces (so close to 20 that it must count right?) and 27 inches long.  He has been handling the transition into our new house like a trooper and has quickly settled into a new routine. 

In spite of continuing drool and other signs of teething, we have yet to see any pearly whites peeking through (maybe next month?).  His hair is starting to grow in again and his personality continues to develop.  He has a wide range of facial expressions and in just the last week he has really become more vocal!  He squeals in delight and “preaches” at his toys all of the time.  He has also added grunting and angry throat noises to his repertoire!

As he becomes more socially aware he has found a love of people watching.  When we are out in public he loves to just stare at all the people moving about us, sometimes he talks to them but often he just quietly watches.  He is also developing people preferences.  Even though he recognizes Grandma, Grandad and his aunts and uncles, and likes playing with them, he now wants to go to Mommy or Daddy for comfort!  The first time this happened my Mom was over holding Eb when it was close to his bed time.  He was quite tired and a little grumpy and started crying and reaching for Chris while my Mom was holding him.  It totally made Chris’ night! 

Ebenezer is also fascinated with food and cups.  He watches us very closely when we eat and really seems to want to try to do the same thing!  I have a big red water bottle that I drink from and he loves pulling it to his mouth, licking it and examining it very closely as though to say “what does Mommy like you so much for?”

While I’m not quite ready for him to start solids yet, the pediatrician assures me that the change in his bowls (which concerned me at first) simply means his digestion track is maturing and ready for solids whenever I am.  It’s good to know that Eb’s curiosity will make this introduction fun instead of a struggle!

He regularly rolls from his back to his belly, but once there he can’t figure out what to do and “swims” until he’s tired of that and wants rolled back over!  He is learning to sit up on his own.  Although he still needs a lot of help he likes to sit leaning up against Mom or Dad for balance and play with his toys from there instead of laying on his back or tummy.  Bathtime has finally become fun instead of distressing.  He loves to splash, grab his toes and eat his rubber duck while Momma tries to get him clean between all the wiggles.  His favorite is when Dad helps with his baths because more splashing usually occurs!

I finally bit the bullet and started some of the most vital vaccines this month as well.  Vaccinations terrify me.  I know both Chris and I had them all and on the usual schedule, but all of the controversy flying around the issue really gets to me.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I planned to never give him any vaccines.  I know vaccines save lives and am well acquainted with the theory that they should be basically harmless for your child… that doesn’t change the fact that I still have to sign a waiver accepting the risk (however small) that he might die after these shots.  I’m still not sure how many he will get before his first birthday, but we are at least starting down that path of decisions… more on that in another post.

We finally see evidence of Ebenezer’s neck!  He is lifting his head up more now to investigate the world around him and shows off his neck as he does so!  His uncles had started joking that it had been swallowed by the rest of him never to be seen again!

Another new addition this month is cloth diapers!  We have had the diapers since a week after Eb was born and were planning on starting to use them around 2-3 months, but with all the chaos of moving we have just now gotten around to that adventure.  After the first few days actually wrangling the diapers on Eb isn’t much harder than a disposable, those first few days involved a steep learning curve however!  More than once I took too long and ended up getting a yellow shower for my delay!  I am still working through the washing schedule, but aside from issues with my highly distractible brain we are off to a great start!

While he is no less of a miracle than when he first arrived five months ago, I am starting to feel like it is more real than a dream… most of the time anyway!  I still find myself putting off laying him down for his nap because I am just soaking up how beautiful and perfect he is while sleeping in my arms.  I hope I never forget those moments because they really are going by quicker than I imagined they could.  Oh that I could express how incredibly grateful I am each day that the Lord has seen fit to let me be Ebenezer’s mother, and what a good day his five month birthday is to reflect on that fact!

Practicing the pouty face on Grandma!

Eb Loves being outside with Daddy!

Working that sad face!

Mmmm.. toes! Cloth is cool!

Happy boy!

Reading with Daddy!

Five Months sure makes a huge difference!

Holding Mommy's heart in his hands!

My baby is already growing into man hands!

You might be a Momma if...

You are way more nervous about your baby getting vaccines than if you got the same shots yourself.

From Lizzards to Llamas!

When we first moved to Florida, I anticipated the need to adapt to new wildlife. Some of the wildlife was cool, and some completely freaked me out (remember the lizards?). Coming back to Indiana I did not anticipate needing to prepare for similar adaptions - how much could have changed? I already knew about deer, squirrel and the occasional woodpecker. What were those compared to armadillos, alligators and lizards? Imagine my surprise when I look out my window and see this...

Yep. That's right, llamas in my Indiana backyard.

They are really useful to Mom and Dad as guards for the cattle. There are a lot of cows that we aren't able to see and count every single day, like the dry cows (the ones taking a vacation from milking for a couple months before their next baby is born) and heifers (young cows that haven't had a baby yet. Since they are in more remote places of the farm they are vulnerable to predators like coyotes, wild dogs and cougars (yep, we have one of those roaming around now too). Llamas are really protective of their territory, and even if they aren't particularly fond of the cows sharing the pasture with them, they despise predators and will chase, kick, bite and spit invaders away, thereby protecting the cows in the process of protecting their turf.  They are supremely alert.  Nothing gets past those perky ears and keen eyes unseen.

We used to have issues with some neighbor's dogs chasing our milk cows, but after one run in with Bandito and Cantessa they learned to keep out of the pastures.

Despite their usefulness I still find them very funny looking. The long necks and fluffy rears are a stark contrast to the dairy cows they guard. The heifers in the pasture outside our house think they are interesting too! Even though Cantessa and Bandito would often prefer to stay a bit apart from the calves, the curious heifers love to play follow the leader, much to Cantessa's chagrin sometimes!




Cantessa has the greatest mad face! If I were a dog I woud not want to mess with her!


You will often see a procession of heifers crossing the pasture with a pair of llamas in the lead!

While odd they do add some fun variety to the pasture scene outside my window!

Happy First Father's Day!!!

Technically Chris was a father this time last year but it seems so much more real now that Ebenezer is here and we have a face to go with the role.

I have been so proud to watch Chris jump into this new season of life. I knew he was going to be a wonderful father long ago as I watched him with my brothers and sisters and because he has been such a considerate and loving husband to me, but that hasn't made watching him transition into this role any less fun!

Chris unashamedly squeals, sings, coos, cuddles, pulls funny faces and laughs in delight to entertain his son. He tackles dirty diapers without fear (or gas mask), has mastered all the baby toys and knows just what to do to comfort his Eb. He earnestly and carefully discusses and plans the future with me, thoughtfully considering decisions as simple as what to do about diapers to bigger issues such as vaccines and college. He has patiently waited for me to adjust to this new role called motherhood and picked up the slack around the house as I do so.

I cannot express how proud, delighted and thankful I am to call him my husband and know that he is the father of my son, and hopefully more children to come! Thank you Lord for letting me watch my husband grow more like You as he imitates You in this new role of life!

Dreams...

Quail have been a fun part of my life since I was little.  One of my first memories that I know is truly mine (not one someone told me about that I think is mine) is actually in the new house we are at now!  I remember playing in the kitchen and hearing quail calling outside, that was actually how I first learned to whistle because I wanted to ‘talk’ back to the ‘Bob White’!  It has been a pleasant surprise to find that the quail are still here!  I honestly haven’t thought much about them until I started dreaming about them.

I don’t usually put much stock in my dreams.  Don’t get me wrong, I believe the Lord still chooses to speak through dreams and know many people who have experienced this – I’m just not one of them.  I’ve only had one dream that I felt like was from the Lord, it wasn’t prophetic, just comforting.  Most of my dreams are just that, dreams - my unconscious mind working through the day’s events, often in weird confusing ways that I don’t remember five minutes after I wake up. (Or in the case of nightmares, I can usually directly relate them to something I’ve been reading.)

This dream I had a few nights ago is different, I’m still not sure it means anything, but it filled me with hope (that I didn’t realize I was lacking) and keeps popping back up in my mind, clear as a bell.  Let me know what you think…

In my dream I am out in an open area like a field, talking with someone (still don’t know who) about how pleased we are that the quail population is recovering.  We have both heard that there are a lot more quail in the area, and we’ve heard them calling every now and then, but we are disappointed that we haven’t actually seen any.  Just as we make that comment the scene shifts and I can see a stream that runs through a wheat field.  As I watch a mail quail comes out of the wheat and starts drinking from the stream, then he’s joined by two females, then I can see a pheasant on its way to the stream also!  I remember feeling elated and full of hope right before I wake up.

As I said I’m not sure there is any particular significance, or that there needs to be, but it did make for a wonderful start to my day!

How about you?  Any interesting dreams lately?  Do you think they have significance or are they just dreams?

Wordless Wednesday

So I'm breaking the rule by saying anything, but I wanted to introduce this new set of posts you will see every now and then. These are snapshots of life right now, some poignant, some funny, but all wordless. Feel free to create captions or just enjoy, but you won't hear anything from me... Starting now!

Six Years...

Six years ago today I married my amazing husband.  A lot has happened since then, not all of it easy, but I wouldn't take back one single day of any of it. 

Over the last six years we have prayed, laughed and grown together.  The passion we felt for each other six years ago hasn't diminshed, but it has changed, matured - like a fine wine it has grown stronger and deepened with time.  The trials we have experienced, trivial though some may have seemed, taught us how to work through issues together, reassured us that we really can depend on one another to be there for better or for worse.

We have shared amazing joys and triumphs over this time, all of which were truely doubled by having a partner who could appriciate what it took to get to that place.

Above all we have experienced God's amazing grace.  I love my husband, but neither of us are perfect.  It is only through accepting God's grace in our own lives, studying Christ's example of forgiveness, sacrifical love and extension of grace that we have made it this far.  As we abide in that grace we are confident that our marriage will thrive 'til death do us part'.

Thank you Lord, for giving me a humble, loving leader!  Give us grace and strength so that we continue to draw closer to you and each other over the next six years!