Zoo today!

My sister got here last Tues and she is staying for 2 weeks! Its really great having her here and getting to know my niece Giana. She told Sarah tonight that she loves "a-tee" - awwwwwh! She's precious.

We went to the zoo today with Carmen and her son Hudson. It was fun to take Sarah there for the first time and also be there for Hudson's first zoo trip. I took a ton of pictures. There are too many to share so here is the link to the gallery (this is my new site for sharing too. love it!)

Zoo Pictures

Tomorrow we are just resting and hanging out. My mom comes in at 5pm and then things will really get crazy - lots of people in the house and of course, lots of shopping :) (My mom's a shopper!)

I couldnt help it...I had to come back and share some favorites. Otherwise none of them will print when I print my blog. Here are a few ......





























Word spread quickly that Abram was one to stay away from :) Giana wouldnt get near them. She'd put her stick down for them to eat but Abram just went for them every single time!




I realize this is a horrendous picture of my face. But check out the bird flying away! My sister took this shot and it cracks me up!




My Huddy Buddy




Giana is the oldest of the "babies" but she conked out first. Traveling and the time change has been hard on her. She tried so hard to stay awake and stay with us but she just couldnt fight it any longer :)

Jesus

Nothing else compares to His love.

and now some random things I want to "write" down and remember.

- Abram is saying his first 3 syllable word: Bellybutton. He says it like "belly-buh-buh". It is so stinkin' cute!!!! sometimes he just repeats it, "bellybuhbuh, bellybuhbuh". Many of you know the trials we've gone through with Caleb and Jayng being speech-delayed. God did some miraculous things in them and has brought them a long way, but its still something we work on. I prayed from Abram's conception that he would talk easily and well from a young age (like Noah did) Its been such a joy to see the Lord graciously answering that prayer. Ill never speech for granted and I praise Him all the time when I hear Abram speak! Many times its just what the therapists call an "approximation" but I am more than happy with that! If he copies the initial sound and the number of syllables, Im a happy mama :)

- The other day i was doing some cleaning in the bathroom and I walked out to see the broom on the floor in the hall with spit up on it. Thats strange since Abrams pretty far past the spit up stage. So I called to the kids, "Hey, did Abram spit up!?!?!" Sweet Noah replied, totally calmly, "Oh he was choking on something, but I just shook him really hard" ......what!?!?!?!? He repeated it again, "he was coughing and choking so I just shook him hard". Um, ok, son ....thanks? That cracks me up. I dont think Abram was really choking on something, maybe he just coughed or whatever. Who knows. Strange. But funny :) Dont worry Abram pays Noah back, he's no wimp!

- today Jayna was playing with a Geoboard (make shapes with a rubberband on little pegs). I was preparing dinner (which I didnt cook - thank you Carmen!!!) and she came up and showed me a shape. She said, "mommy, what shape is this?" and I answered, "a square" and she said, "good job mommy" and smartly marched off. LOL!!! It was so cute :)

Today was a hard day. I had a headache, had a lot on my mind, and was just kind of lost and trying to make it through. But Im so thankful for my kids, for sweet friends that drop by dinner and cheer me up, for thoughtful emails from friends and family and the cake I had stashed in the freezer. There is a time and place for everything people :) Some days just need cake. every day needs Jesus though. community is a beautiful thing - God loves us through one another. beautiful. Im so thankful.

Loth Family Worship Band

They came up with this all on their own and came out to give me a "show". It cracks me up! Noah's always been great at making up his own worship songs, what a blessing to see him also leading the other children. So sweet for mama's heart!




Rachel

Big Day for Jayna!

Our sweet Jayna FINALLY hit 35 pounds and so today we turned her carseat around! Although the law is 1 year AND 20 pounds, children are safest rear-facing until they are 4 years old or 35lbs, whichever comes first. Most children are much younger than 3.5 yrs old when they hit 35lbs :) but Jayna didnt know anything else and never minded a bit! But she did have a great time being able to see out of my window today - it was strange to see her face when I looked back there! Im sure Abram will be turned around way before he is 3.

Just happened across a report from Dec 09 about the best booster seats available. Remember children should be in a 5pt harness as long as possible. Just because they are in the weight limits of a booster does not mean its a safe option. Noah and Caleb are both in Graco Nautilus which work for harnessing until 65lbs and then covert to a high-back booster. Noah is just about there but Ill keep him harnessed as long as possible. Being ready for a booster seat is about much more than size, its about maturity as well. They should only be in a low-back booster once they are over the weight limits for the high-back boosters because they are safer.

BEST BETS

GOOD BETS

Not Recommended


The reason many seats didnt make the cut is because the belt is not properly positioned on their shoulders and abdomens. Appropriate fit is crucial to safety! (Test Protocol)

Thankfully new laws mean many children will be in boosters longer - and that means many less children will die needlessly! This is good news!

*off my carseat soapbox* :) You know I just have to go there sometimes! If anyone every has a carseat question Im happy to help, just let me know :)

Where is your.....?

I often ask Abram to show me his nose/ears/tongue, etc. while I change his diapers - as many moms do. It usually does the job of distracting him long enough that I can wrestle him down and get him changed. There are some things he has gotten right for a long time like his nose and eyes. But today he got every single one I asked! They were nose, eyes (blinked them...sooooo cute), ears, hair, bellybutton, toes, and tongue! Actually Im not sure he did "teeth" but oh was he cute sticking his tongue out to show me for "tongue"!

just wanted to jot that moment down in my memory here.....

and just a reminder if you have a blog you can get it compiled into a pdf file at www.blog2print.com Then send it over to kinkos or somewhere like that to have it printed! I found a coupon online last time and got a great deal at Kinkos. Right now I found AFF014 for 10% off. Its a wonderful thing to save!

Several weeks ago we went to the Christmas tree lighting at Cooks Childrens hospital downtown. My friend Carmen's husband works for there and so we wanted to go celebrate with them. It was AWESOME!!! They had hot chocolate, cider and cookies. There was a playground, Santa came riding in in a fire truck and then they had a huge, awesome fireworks show! It was a really great night. Of course Hudson and Abram werent big fans of how loud the fireworks were, and neither was Jayna, but they still had a ton of fun. (Hudson is 9wks younger than Abram. I was Carmen's doula. I'd drive home, nurse Abram, then rush back to the hospital! So they have been friends their "whole lives" :)) And now....pictures!































Fireworks were shot at f/2.0, ISO 1600

(can you tell I had fun photographing them?! :))

Abrams Sleep

Well last night was night #8 and Im happy to report that Abram is sleeping through the night!!! Last night we got in late because of Core so he wasnt asleep until 10. Usually they get him to sleep at 8pm but we were in a new building for the first time and the kids wouldnt settle. So he slept 10 to 6! Im so happy with 8 hours without nursing! I nursed him at 6 and he didnt go back to sleep but usually he does. The night before he slept from 7:30 to 6 and then nursed and slept until 9! That was crazy, I was shocked! So its gone well and Im happy we did it. Really we only had about 3 bad nights where I had to comfort him a lot. I didnt pick him up, just gave him hugs in the crib or patted his back. And then a few nights he woke a lot and I comforted him with my voice "mommy's here, go to sleep", etc (his crib is right next to our bed). I think he did that once last night but I dont mind that. Im so proud of him! :)

I really dont believe its fair to leave babies to cry themselves to sleep. There have been times Ive needed to let Abram cry for a bit (10 mins or so) and then Ive gone in and comforted him, rubbed his back, etc. Im the one that chose to have him sleep with me and nurse at night for 17 months so it would be horribly unkind to just stick him in his bed and let him cry. Thats why I believe in being with them. Its what I learned from reading The Baby Whisperer 7 or so years ago and its been such a helpful too. I love being "attached" and letting things flow naturally but at some point there needs to be a change - when it no longer works best for you or baby. And it doesnt have to be cry it out or suffer. There are a lot of gentler ways inbetween.

I also totally believe in praying. Not just for it to "work" but for timing. Ive found that to be so helpful over the years. When I knew it was time to wean Jayna from the paci I was dreading it. For months I knew Id need to do it but I wasnt ready. So I just prayed. And then one day it seemed like time and we started telling her they were "all gone" and she was a big girl.....she NEVER cried. Seriously. It was a miracle LOL - and if you've weaned an older baby from the paci then you know I mean it! The Lord was kind to show me when she was ready and show me how to do it in a way that would work for her. And thats happened time and time again with different parenting situations. Pray and pray some more! :)

He is kind to be near us and help us, even in the "small" things - because they are HUGE when you are a mommy!

and because every post is better with a picture. Here is Jayna in the bath the other day. our tile is surrounded in yellow time. So there is a lot of yellow in this picture but I love the way it looks with her skin and hair. I love the way the light comes in the window and hits them when they are in the bath

f/1.8, 1/400, no flash, ISO 640



and in B&W

Night one - check!

I finally went for it. Abram is will be 17 months in a week and in two weeks we'll be leaving him with my mom and sister for a night (World Mandate and a night away. woohoo!). The problem? He still sleeps in our bed at night and is still nursing several times at night as well (they go together of course). Ive loved every second sleeping with him but the time has come to keep him in his own bed all night. So Ive been praying for grace (and mercy! if you've heard him scream then you know why) and the right time to start. So the first night of the new year, we went for it.....

God was very gracious. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. His crib is right next to my bed. He usually sleeps in there at naptime and to start the night. So it wasnt like he was in a strange place. I nursed him at bedtime and once, when he woke at 11. Then he woke around 1am and for two hours I just gave him hugs when he needed it and laid in my bed saying "its ok, mommy's here. lay down", etc. He had some water from his sippy and after 2 hours of crying, eventually fell asleep. He slept until 7am! Thank you Lord!!!!

Im going to cut back nursing in the day too. He's a feign ;) I dont want to wean, just probably cut back to before nap, before bed and maybe one other feeding in the day. He is funny - he says "milk" and he'll start making the nursing sound (if you've nursed you know it well!) and will throw himself down sideways in my lap. He is very persistant. I want him to have all the good stuff in my milk but I also want to nip that in the bud before it gets worse and embarassing in public :)

Here are some pictures of my big boy! Praying it gets easier and easier each night.

(photographers - these were taken with my 50mm f/1.4 at f/2.5, 1/250 I bumped up the ISO to 1000 instead of bouncing my flash like Ive been doing lately. He hammed it up for me, it was fun! Most of these are right out of the camera, little or no processing)







This ones a little soft on his eyes but I had to show you what he does with his tongue. He does this all the time!













(check out those lashes!!!)

Happy New Year!

Last night I stayed up alone to watch the ball drop. I do it every year, its a tradition that cant be broken. I glanced up from editing pictures at 11:52 and jumped up to go turn the TV on, and what did I hear??? Abram. Screaming. It wasnt exactly how I planned ringing in the new year. But I DVR'd the ball drop and I'll watch it today with the kids.

We had a rough night and a rough start to today. He was up many times, Steve woke us up this morning, Jayna broke something special from her room .... you get the picture.

But I choose to not be discouraged by this start to 2010. The Lord was exceedingly good to us in the last 10 years. Steve and I sat down and made a list of all the good that came in just the last year. And it was long and beautiful. And looking back to the last 10 years.....we were married, had 4 children, moved to Texas, had a lot, had a little, and our love for one another and for the Lord and His Church grew more then I could have hoped for when we first started out 9.5 years ago. He writes beautiful stories and I know that 2010 and the next 9 years will be just as beautiful, and even more so!

I cant imagine living on this earth just for myself, or for it all to end with death. There is so much HOPE in living and knowing there is a loving Creator here with you. There is so much good on this earth, reflections of Him and who He is and His love for us. Yet there is so much evil and yet still more Hope in Him. There is more than this world has to offer - praise the Lord!

Here are some pictures from a recent newborn session.....
(she is 5 days in the first picture and 1 week in the rest)
















Excited to see what the Lord will do in 2010! May He bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and may He give you grace. May He lift his countenance upon you and give you peace. In the name of Jesus, may it be so! :)