Comparisons

My baby girl is 1! I can't believe it. I've been feeling nostaglic with her birthday happening last week, on the actual day we had 6-8 inches of snow! It was so pretty, and fun to be home with my babies. Sadie made her a doughnut cake with white donuts and a candle, it was sweet (and smart since all those donuts were suddenly within reach). We celebrated with a little party on Saturday night, I'll post some pictures from that later. Today was her 1 year check up at the doctor and she was a whopping 15 pounds, 6 ounces. She's just riding right on her little curve, just like Sadie did. I went and found the rap sheet for the other three kids to compare their weights....and tonight got a little carried away with the comparisons. I can see a little bit of Mary Jo in each of them. 1 year olds are so much fun. 

 

The first picture is Eli, the next David, and the last is my Sadie, all around the same age as Mary Jo is now. At 12 months Sadie weighed 16 pounds, Eli 19, and David 20. It's amazing that I nursed all of them and they all grew so differently. As Steven liks to say, "they come from a long line of shrimps."
I was walking with the boys to the bus stop today, holding Eli's hand, when he started whining and saying his legs were tired. My first reaction was to lecture him about not complaining, etc, when he very sweetly said, "Mama, why don't you ever carry me anymore?" I stopped in my tracks and picked him up. He put his littls arms around my neck and after about 15 steps he said he was ok, he could walk now. It made an impresssion on me, after all he is nearly 5, and I have 2 children younger than him, but he still needs that TLC just as much. Tonight I was trying to catch up on my bible study notes in Matthew 18, where Jesus talks about having faith like a little child. I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach when I read "Children choose a parent's arms above those of anyone." I'm so thankful that I still have children that want to be in my arms... because I know this is fleeting. And what a great and humbling lesson that I should be dependent on the Lord, desiring His presence, like my children want to be with me. I hope I'll always remember those sweet arms around my neck, and even more importantly that it will always reminds me to cling to the Lord.

Fires and fevers

This is one my new favorite foods, a spinach smoothie. The childhood me would be shocked. As are my husband and kids when I make it "she's making that green stuff again that she says tastes like ice cream but we know it doesn't!! Ewww!!" It does have heavy cream and vanilla, mind you, it isn't exactly low fat or low calorie. But it's allowed on my diet and it's yummy. 

My kids have the best grandparents in the the world. Seriously, we are so blessed. I can't seem to remember to get my camera out as often for Steven's parents but they get on the floor and play with them, too nearly every day. Yesterday I told the kids it had gotten too late to watch Charlie Brown, which was met with severe disappointment. Eli actually said "You're the worst" (that one stung) and Sadie started talking about how I never play with them. I wanted to say, "that's what your grandparents are for, silly," but I refrained. I do play with my kids, although that night my mom self-confidence was a little shaken. Thankfully, they're little, so by morning I was great shakes again. I know, I know, just wait till they're teenagers, they'll hate me for a week, yada yada yada. 

Another perk of going to Charlotte - haircuts and popsicles. And I was so pleased that D did not scream bloody murder this time, I love when kids just turn the corner with maturity. Now if we can just get him to realize that pooping in his pants isn't cool, either. 

My little peanut gave us a scare this weekend. We went to a "jumpy place" Saturday afternoon (as my kids call it) then to eat dinner and when we got home she was burning up. I took her temp and it was 106.4! I sent Sadie upstairs to get her Daddy and tell him it was an emergency, which she likes to say her actions "saved Mary Jo's life." I was in a bit of a panic, called the doctor, and ended up in the ER getting her checked out. The little stinker wont take medicine well, but thankfully you can't spit out a suppository so her fever finally came down.  She tested negative for a UTI or pneumonia, it was deemed "viral" (the catch all for "we don't know what in the world is wrong with her"). Her favorite part of the night was taking the ride on my lap in the wheelchair (I felt really funny having someone push me to radiology in the wheelchair, not sure why I couldn't just walk and carry her..). She looked so cute in the gown I had to take a picture. We were so touched by all the concerned friends and family that prayed for us, the Lord is so good. 

This picture is the day after her ER visit, obviously a much happier camper. I was playing some hymns and looked down to see Mary Jo chiming in one one little note - if she gets on her tiptoes she can just barely reach....

but as you can see she is much happier on the bench, banging on all the keys.

 Sadie is such a good big sister! She's taking piano lessons this year and looks like she'd like to start teaching Mary Jo. 

OK, sorry, way too many pictures of Mary Jo. She's just at a good age for cute pictures. I was doing dishes tonight and she was truly "underfoot," before I knew it she had completely climbed in the cabinet. D of course thought it was hilarious to just shut the doors. Did I remove the potentially toxic cleaners from her hands? No, I grabbed my camera and took a picture. Mom of the year. 

I titled this Fires and fevers, not just for the alliteration, but because our sweet neighbors behind us had a horrible house fire exactly 1 week ago today. It was right as we went to bed, during the snow, and it was truly a surreal scene. Thank the Lord the couple was unhurt, it could have been so much worse. We've shown the kids the damage to the house and talked about fires with them, and fire safety, to make them aware of the dangers. I could see Eli's little wheels turning today as he asked me "can smoke kill people?" I said yes. Then he switched gears a little and said "can smoke kill deers?" (the boys are all about hunting right now). Before I could answer D (he's 2, mind you) piped in "I can kill deers!" Oh I love these little people. Goodnight!