November 2011 - A Time of Thanksgiving

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

And, oh my, do we have much to be thankful for!  These two little girls fill our days with such ABUNDANT JOY!!!  This does not mean that every moment of family life is peaceful; on the contrary, there are moments when parenting an opinionated three-year-old and a nap-fighting 5-month-old are exhausting, frustrating, and just plain exasperating!  But in the quiet darkness of night, when we visit their rooms to kiss and pray over both of these sleeping blessings before we tuck into bed, our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude.  We are acutely aware that there was a time when we thought those upstairs rooms would never be filled, and now they are...as are our hearts.

The highlight of November has been this:  ELIZA IS IN LOVE WITH HER BIG SISTER!!!!!!  When Susannah enters a room, Eliza is rendered helpless to do anything but stare, smile, and track her every move.  This baby absolutely adores this big, silly, noisy, fast-moving, frolicking, jabbering wonder that is Susie Joy!  And Susannah is exceedingly patient with our little "Sugar Packet," except when Lizey-loo slobbers on her fingers then touches Susannah ;).  To this Susannah recoils in utter disgust and runs to the nearest towel to dry herself.  This is a regular occurrence, because we have one drooly, grabby babydoll!  

Lizey is the happiest, most contented little one possible.  She delights in playing peek-a-boo with herself by pulling a burp cloth over her face, kicking and breathing heavily, then pulling it off with a "roar" of laughter!  Susannah did this exact same thing at five months, which we think is sooooooo funny!  Each night she spends upwards of 30 minutes on her changing table, her family a captive and laughing audience, playing this little game.  Her shrieks of delight thrill us, which spurs her on in her self-made routine.  She is chunkin' up on Mama's milk, and can roll from front to back.  Though she'll roll onto her side when she's laying on her back in order to grab a toy, she has yet to roll fully to her tummy.  She's getting better at rotating and manipulating objects on her Exersaucer, and loves sitting upright in her Bumbo chair to watch the world and grab chewables out of her basket of baby toys.  Overall, she is a FUN little delight, and we can hardly get enough of her cheeks and rosebud mouth and huge blue eyes!  This mama especially loves her baby "fluff," which is quite evident on her tummy and thighs.  

Susie Joy is such a patient, loving big sister.  She has her moments of jealousy, but overall she is eager to help care for her baby sister.  Now that Eliza is consistently showing excitement toward her big sister, Susannah's even more pleased to entertain with her creative three-year-old antics like dancing, making up silly songs, wriggling her face into various expressions, and producing wildly strange noises.  Susannah has become even more deeply interested in the inside of her body, as well as the concept of surgery.  This latter concept was brought to the forefront this month when both Rosie and our neighbor pup Alle were spayed.  Susannah loves books that show pictures of the inside of our bodies.  She's fascinated by the heart, and traces the path of the aorta with her finger.  (What other three-year-old asks for "the heart book" at rest time each day?!)  Now when she draws a person, she not only gives it a face, but also a heart complete with an aorta, a spine and ribs, and red blood cells!  The Magic School Bus book and DVD series are a real hit with her, and I'm thankful they have several episodes about the body on a library DVD.  She's practically worn it out!

Susannah's intensity toward learning and discovery extends into every area of her life, which can be a bit exhausting when it comes to dealing with disappointment.  Meltdowns are sure to happen when she is tired or hungry, and when her vision for what should be does not become a reality.  We love the fact that God has created her to be bright and driven, so we are working what seems like round-the-clock to channel this wonderful side of this feisty little creation!  We also seek humor in her constant expression of opinions and perspectives, and marvel at her [often excessive!] self-advocacy.  The day after Thanksgiving at Grammy and Grandpa's house in Colonial Heights, she and her cousin Sophie were playing and our tired-from-a-sleepover-party girl became grouchy and needed to go to a different room for a "break."  Upon her return, gentle-natured Sophie gave her a welcome back hug.  Susannah stiffened a bit, and when Sophie released her she came to me and said, "Mommy, I really didn't like for Sophie to hug me."  I asked, "Well, what could you say to Sophie that would be a kind way to tell her that?"  She approached Sophie and in a very serious voice stated, "Sophie, I'm a little child who needs a lot of space."  I think I'm laughing as hard typing this out as I did from the kitchen the morning she said it!  My mom and I almost wet our pants as we witnessed this mature (bordering on condescending?!) expression of need from this assertive three-year-old!

Harry and I both love seeing the world through the eyes of our little girls, and are soaking up every moment, both challenging and smooth, with these gifts!

Soon to come...OUR CHRISTMAS LETTER!!!!!!  I've gotta stop "waiting for inspiration" and just get the thing written in time, eh?!

Child's Play

Hi all....Susannah and I had some fun daddy/daughter time on the computer back in October.  Susannah directed while I drew pictures.  They are no works of art that would be displayed in a museum.  Nevertheless, they were a "work of art" in her eyes.  We enjoyed this time of drawing and laughing together.  Without further ado...

First was the dog that was thirsty!

This is a bug-eyed horse (or something that attempts to look like one) galloping in a field.




And the piece de resistance.....

The park !  That's Susannah and her friend Lily on the tire swing at the right side.  Can you guess which one is Mama?  And of course, Daddy's nowhere to be seen because he's too busy drawing this picture!

October 2011

October was a month full of adventures and growth for us all!  Eliza hit the four-month-old mark on October 20, and at her well-baby check-up measured over 26 inches long, placing her in the 92% for length!  She also weighed almost 15 pounds, which ranked her in the 60% for weight.  Not too shabby!  The measurements confirmed what I've been feeling all along:  this baby sure nurses HEAVILY!  She looks much like her big sister did at this age (except for the fact that her cheeks are larger!), and her temperament is also very similar.  She is smiley, laid-back, and exceptionally focused on whatever is in her hands.  She is a drooly, drooly, DROOLY girl, which is a major difference from Susannah!  We are getting used to having a burp cloth on-hand (or on-shoulder!) at all times lest we find ourselves soaked :).  Perhaps the most remarkable developmental advance this month is her desire to grab EVERYTHING, including our facial features!  Those little fingers are fast and strong, and letting go is a task she hasn't quite mastered.  She is hungry to learn through her hands and especially through her mouth.  She also CHORTLES regularly now!  She doesn't laugh or giggle...when tickled, jostled, or "raspberried" upon, she lets out the deepest belly laugh a wee babe could produce!

Susannah has been learning much in our days together.  Pretending is what she does best, so often I don't know if I'm talking to her or the critter or doll she is personifying at any given moment!  She develops full-blown scenarios, characters, and relationships in her little mind and floats off into a brilliant world of make-believe.  Dressing up is still a favorite activity, especially if the costume involves a leotard or tutu.  Clothes don't stay on long on at-home days!  She loves playing with Calico Critters in her dollhouse, creating roads out of wooden unit blocks (Daddy is far better at this than Mama and she seems to know it!), and is trying new strokes and angles with markers and paints.  Since our fall weather has been so mild, we've spent a tremendous amount of time on our swingset out back.  We are thankful Daddy built this back in April, as it has been well-used!  

Susannah has a budding interest in bones and muscles, which has launched us on an informal "unit of study."  Mama gathered many juvenile non-fiction picture books from the public library and her favorites include not only those that focus on bones and muscles, but also on the heart.  She follows the pathways of the aorta with her pointer, and knows it delivers blood all around her body.  Daddy brought home a small model skeleton from his science lab, and she explored this intensely, wanting to know the names of many bones and matching the skeleton's bones to those in her own body.  We are looking forward to more exciting discoveries as we continue delving into this fascinating topic!

Other October highlights included Mama's 33rd birthday (gulp!), a gathering with close friends to celebrate Eliza Hope's arrival, and a fulfilling family retreat weekend at the Bellfry in nearby Rockbridge County.  God is so faithful to have provided us with one another, and to have expanded our family with wonderful friends! 

Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoy taking them (and living out the experiences with these beautiful girls!)...

September 2011

The month of September brought a chunkin-up three-month-old Eliza Hope, an increasingly curious three-year-old Susannah Joy, and a plethora of adventures for our family.  Our days are full, full, FULL:  full of friends, full of laughter, full of young child emotion, full of infant smiles, full of learning.  LIFE abounds in a home with little ones, and Harry and I are so grateful for the abundance!

Susannah continues to be a chatty, curious, intense little girl whose mood can shift faster than you can say "tantrum." :)  She feels and responds to her world with both tangible excitement and extreme disappointment, rarely touching on the milder emotions on the spectrum.  She is wholeheartedly committed to her own plans and ideas, and like most children her age, detests being told to do something different!  She protests firmly with her very advanced linguistic skills.  (Both a positive and a negative side exist in every gifting God gives our children!)  I need to go ahead and invest in a t-shirt for her that says, "DELIGHTFUL...until crossed." :)    Ah, discipline in our home requires creativity and, above all else, tenacity!  Because she is such a "language kid," she can express her thoughts and feelings extraordinarily well, and also rationalize with the best of them.  She is hungry for knowledge, asking questions and wanting to know the background information and reasons for EVERYTHING in her world.  She pours over books and is expressing continued interest in reading and writing.  She knows the sounds various letters make, and is learning to write her letters and draw with increasing accuracy.  Each face she draws has eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows, cheeks, and a chin.  She's at the stage where the body doesn't exist; instead, arms with hands and fingers, as well as legs with knees and feet, come from the head.  (LOVE THIS STAGE!!!!)  Finding confidence in drawing, just like finding confidence in all new situations, is challenging for our slow-to-warm perfectionist.  

Susie Joy is involved in Musikgarten classes this fall, making it her second semester in this brilliantly-designed program.  We go together weekly, leaving sweet "Lizey" with our dear friend Aunt Jamie, who has been gracious as to give her Wednesday mornings to us.  We spend a tremendous part of our days listening and dancing to music, dressing up, pretending with her Calico Critters and dollhouse, building with blocks, and swinging on the swingset out back.  Animal figurines and stuffed critters get far more attention than baby dolls do, though she'll engage deeply with just about any toy she can get her hands on!

Eliza Hope is a DELIGHT at every turn!  Her cheeks absolutely BILLOW with strawberries-and-cream sweetness, and her eyes have become a sparkly blue and are lined with long lashes.  She is now reaching for objects with increasing frequency and accuracy, and flutters her arms and legs on her changing table and floor gym for periods of 20 minutes or more.  She is taking naps in her crib now (instead of the bassinet), as she's a sensitive sleeper (here we go again...!).  I find myself looking forward to the moment she awakens in the mornings, as her face absolutely BURSTS into the most precious grin and her body can hardly contain the joy so it too wriggles and scrunches with glee!  I know she connects me with milk, but I like to think she's starting to like me for me in addition ;).  Fall walks in the double stroller through the park are her favorite pastime, and she'll often become so mesmerized with nature and movement that she'll drift off peacefully...only to wake the moment I stop pushing!  Looking at the towering trees against the blue sky, the ducks and swans floating on the  park pond, and the children playing on the playground keep her contented for endless spans of time, it seems.  The joys of this little love are endless.  I adore holding and rocking her, listening to the rhythmic sound of her suck-swallow as she nurses and watching her eyes slowly close as she peacefully drifts off to sleep in my arms.  I also love to hear her "squawking practice" as she finds her little voice and practices using it at will.  I am fascinated by her every move, whether she's awake or sleeping! 

Finally, in late September, my mom was visiting their local animal shelter at my request.  Losing Rylie had left my heart aching all day, everyday.  Her loss left a void that time alone was not healing. Hard as it was for my mom, she honored my request to just go and see what was available at the SPCA.  She cried almost the entire time, longing for the impossible: Rylie's return so that a new pup would not have to be sought.  She did not find anything that suited the needs of a family with two very little children until, on her way out, she noticed an additional room of kennels.  She turned the corner to find a kennel with six pups...and in the corner was a "baby Rylie."  Her heart all but stopped upon seeing this polite little one sitting in the corner alone while her litter mates trampled one another, nipped, and yapped, as puppies are prone to do.  Mom asked the Animal Control Officer about that puppy, and she told her the litter of lab-hound mixed had just arrived a day or two before. She took and sent me pictures of this precious little girl who so shockingly resembled our Ryles, and had the ACO hold the pup a week for us to be able to meet her.  The shelter staff fell in love with this  puppy's meek, gentle disposition and eagerness to please.  And never mind the fact that she was adorable!

I spent the entire week feeling so torn, seeking advice from trusted friends and praying about whether or not we could even handle an extra family member while still adjusting to the presence of a young infant in our home.  I decided to trust that the Lord would let us know upon meeting this puppy if she would be right for our family.  Harry and I went to the shelter Saturday morning, leaving the girls with my mom.  Within moments of meeting that sweet pup I knew she would be a perfect addition to our family.  She became my 33rd birthday present from my parents :).  I named her Autumn Rose, "Rosie" for short, and she has been such a blessing of healing at a time when my heart was grieving so heavily.  At her wellness visit, the vet estimated her to be between four and five months old, and he and his staff could hardly believe her mellow disposition for a lab mix her age.  We have all come to love her, and she has more than filled the hole in our lives that Rylie left.  It feels good to take such a timid, vulnerable puppy from a cage and bring her home...to give her a family, constant love, her own cushy bed, a basket full of toys, a huge yard, food that is all hers, treats for doing any little thing, long walks, and neighbor doggies to romp with each day!  In return, she has been a gentle, loving presence with both of our girls, has been very quick to learn a few simple commands, and is continually trying to figure out which things she can and cannot chew on :).  Most of all, she is companionable and loyal, sitting at my feet when I prepare dinner or wash dishes, and always grateful to be rubbed and fed (she eats anything!) and even just acknowledged.  Our "Rosebud" is such a gift...

August 2011

Our first summer with two little girls was quite a whirlwind of an adjustment for everyone!  Harry returned to work in early August after 7 weeks off (teaching schedules are exceedingly convenient, especially when a new baby arrives!), and Mama and Susannah were so sad to see him go.  The first week of "going it alone" was a challenge, especially since Eliza still liked to be held most of the time and wanted to nurse for what seemed like eternal blocks of time when one has a three-year-old who wants to eat, drink, play with Mama, go potty with help, swing outside, etc.  I ended up doing a lot of walking around while nursing in order to cover all the bases, which makes for a perfectly functional existence up until your newborn hits the ten-pound mark, at which point this behavior is lethal to one's arms!  Mama Guilt (intentionally capitalized because I believe it's a very real type of "heart condition") set in big-time when the reality of "two against one" was freshly upon me.  I had to learn quickly, with the encouragement of those who have gone before me, that it is HEALTHY for big girls to have to wait for Mama to care for others, and it is PERFECTLY OK for babies to cry for a few minutes until Mama can free herself from the demands of the big girl.  (Still haven't quite figured out how Mama's needs get consistently met, but I'm managing to wedge in a bit of self-care here and there!) 

A major blessing during August was our friend Molly's invitation for Susannah to attend Vacation Bible School at their local church.  This allowed me to have mornings with just the baby, and it was an exceptionally wonderful experience for Susie Joy!  My visions of napping and/or accomplishing something productive in our home were dashed by Tuesday, when I realized that even with Susannah gone from 9-1 each day I still had a needy little 7-week-old requiring my constant care!  Eliza and I spent a great deal of time just sitting and rocking in Susannah's absence, an activity that is a rare treat with the second baby.  In the grand scheme, I believe my choice to savor our precious gift WAS the most productive thing I could do in my whole lifetime!  This little Eliza Hope just gets more beautiful by the second, and I want to make sure I don't miss a moment of her glorious yet fleeting infancy.

August brought a trip to Grammy and Grandpa's house, which was such fun.  Uncle Seth and Aunt Natalie got to meet Eliza Hope for the first time, and Susannah got to swim at the local pool for long hours.  We had a family dinner on the sunporch, and are grateful for the memories made.  Our visit to Grammy and Grandpa's ended with news of the tragic loss of our Rylie-dog.  Oh, I cry as I type just this one sentence three months later...  Not a day goes by when we don't think or talk about that wonderful furry girl who was far more like a child than a dog to us.

Grateful to God for smiles and tears, peaks and valleys...because in this lifetime we cannot have one without the other.  We are called only to trust Him and His ways, even when we do not understand them.  And we are called by Him to be grateful in ALL circumstances, a lesson that is hard learned and will not be completely mastered until Heaven.  Meanwhile, we'll savor the days of loving and learning with these little children who fill our lives and hearts with immeasurable JOY!!!!!

NJ 2011 Family Gathering

The first of many posts over the next several days.  Clearly life with two little girls doesn't leave much time for blogging!


Back in late July, we packed up our family of four and headed for our annual summer vacation in Somers Point, NJ, to visit my (Lacey's) Grammy.  Eliza Hope was just five weeks old and slept virtually the entire 8-hour trip!  Susannah is an excellent little traveler, watching DVD's and listening to music.  She's also into travel games such as finding letters on road signs and spotting colors.  Such a fun stage it is!


My Aunt Joni and her two daughters Chanel and Lisette live nearby, as does my Uncle Sam and his wife Susan.  My Aunt Holly was able to come down from her PA home for the weekend, my brother Seth and Mom came from VA, and Jenna and her family of four made it, as well. Grammy's W. Wilmont Avenue house was chock full of family members...and CHAOS since four children 3 and under were there!  We spent four lovely days in near-constant motion trying to meet little needs.  Not exactly a restful time for anyone, but we are grateful for treasured memories made.  What joy to see so many generations together under one roof developing relationships and savoring the time we have.  Days at the beach, evenings of simple fun meals, a visit to the Ocean City Boardwalk complete with a few rides for the "big girls," and a family gathering and cook-out at Uncle Sam and Susan's pool...what more could we ask for???!!!  Perhaps the best part of the entire trip was sharing with Susannah the experiences I had as child visiting Grammy and Grampy in that very same house.  Thirty-three years and counting for me!

Jiggle Time!

(to the rhythm of Hey, Diddle Diddle!)

Hey, Wiggle Wiggle!

Lizey's doin' the Jiggle,

because her Daddy's a loon!

Our Susie Joy laughed to see such sport,

and joined in with her own little tune!

Tidbits

July 1
After breakfast with my two girls while letting their mama get a little extra sleep, Susannah and I had a chat.  At first, she was excited to play with me and asked me out to the sunporch.  But when I got there, she just seemed to be a different person and didn't want to play with me anymore.  So I went upstairs to put Eliza down for her mid-morning nap.  Going back downstairs and checking in on her, she was happier and open to me playing with her.  Realized the first feelings of jealousy were entering and asked her if she didn't want to play with me because I was holding Eliza and got a nodding confirmation.  So we had a chat about these feelings of jealousy and how change is hard.  It's not hard for just her, but for all of us. I gave her some reassurance of our love for her.   Then we played some more that morning.  *sniff*  My little girl is growing.

July 19
We took a family friend, Molly, to see Winnie the Pooh at the new Zeus theater in Waynesboro.  Naturally, the movie was a hit with Susannah and Eliza slept through the whole thing (imagine that!).   You know she didn't follow the plot at all when Susannah's favorite part of the whole thing was Pooh's stomach growling constantly.  This made her laugh harder each time it happened.  So anyway, here's a family pic with the Pooh advertisement out front of the theater and a couple other pics, too.  The movie was great, but I got an absolute kick out of watching Susannah just enjoy herself.

July 20

Lemonade treats!  No pictures for this, but boy I enjoyed making freshly squeezed lemonade with Susannah.  Eliza was sleeping (again) so Mama was resting a bit also.  Susannah and I decided to make some lemonade.  Mixed sugar in with water and squeezed the heck out of some lemons and mixed the two together.  It was a sugary yummy drink (less sugar next time), but spending the time, laughing, and just being together gave me much delight!

Proudness All Around

June 29, 2011

We took Susannah's trike out to the Grace parking lot.  This is the kind of trike that has pedals and you had been trying for so long to use them, but it was too difficult.  You just reverted to pushing off the ground with your feet.  The trike also has a place where a pole can be put in the back and used to push the trike as you move.

Today, Susannah was feeling especially determined.  I could tell how much you wanted to make it go by yourself.  So after the initial push, I let go of the pole and sure enough, you were able to make it slowly go.  You didn't stop!  You pedaled all the way to the end of the parking lot and stopped when you ran into the sidewalk.  I can remember it clear as day - I saw your head turn towards me.  Your eyes were big and your face was all lit up.  "I did it by myself!" was your declaration.  You were beaming so strongly.  I began to cry a little because I was so 1) thrilled for you, 2) proud of you, 3) a  little sad because you are becoming a bigger girl each day.  If a simple bike ride does this to me, then I'm in trouble on your wedding day.....

Watching the Clouds

June 30, 2011

Susannah and I were in the Grace Christian Elementary empty parking lot this evening.  It was early evening.  We just laid down on the concrete sidewalk and looked up at the blue sky with the clouds here and there.  So we started doing what all people do when looking at clouds.  We played "That cloud looks like a...."    We had so much fun doing this!   You even amazed me with your imagination!  Mama and I always wonder what goes on in that mind of yours.   Well, I got a brief glimpse into that imaginative mind.

Here are just a couple of cloud pictures I took and the names you gave them.

Feather

Rabbit (facing left, ears at top)

Bird

I enjoyed every minute of laying down on the sidewalk and looking up at the clouds, then looking at each other as we named the clouds.  These are the moments I enjoy thoroughly!

Our Family of FOUR in July

Savoring every moment of hot summer days with these two beautiful girls!

Eliza Hope, whom we affectionately call "Lizey" and "Lizey-loo," is now 5 weeks old! She is an absolute dollbaby. She is just as mellow as her sister was as an infant...until she's hungry, at which point she goes hysterical pretty quickly! When her frantic cry kicks in, this mama moves quickly to give her a breast YESTERDAY! :) Bless her heart...can't seem to get enough nursing, especially in the evening hours, at which point she'd be just fine hanging out on the breast for hours on end. Can't say I mind it, especially as I am acutely aware that this is our last baby. I think of this reality often and it makes me deeply grieved; simultaneously, it leads me to cherish the seconds even more and be all the more grateful for this fleeting season of life.

Eliza now weighs 9 pounds, 9 ounces, and is 21 1/2 inches long. She is becoming more alert and readily fixes her gaze on nearby objects, digesting them with her curious little brain. As of late last week, at just over a month of age, she began to smile in response to our smiles! Oh, talk about the most heart-melting event in the UNIVERSE!!! Can you even imagine anything better, because I sure can't! At this point, she saves most of her smiles for Mama, which is a gift the magnitude of which she is unaware. She also turns to my voice when I enter a room and talk to her, and opens her mouth and roots for my breast whenever I hold her. Oh, being Eliza Hope's one and only Mommy is the BEST! I think the "romance" is mutual...

It is so easy for me to think of a million-zillion things I love about this baby:

her head that reminds us of a peach...her softer-than-soft skin...the "Angel's kiss" in the middle of her forehead (it will fade in time, at which point I'll probably miss this newborn marking!)...her eyelashes which fill in more each day...the little coating of fuzz all over her body--especially her "ear fur"!...the way her blue eyes cross when she tries to focus...her "O" mouth when she scrunches it beyond its typical rosebud appearance...her abundant cheeks...the distant look she gets in her eyes right before she loads her diaper :)...her gruntiness...the hiccups that always seem to accompany that final burp after a feeding...the way milk drips down her chin when she comes off the breast in that ultra-relaxed "milk coma" state...the way she consistently sleeps 6-7 hours at night, and awakens not with crying but with little grunts and vocalizations that peacefully let me know she needs nourishment...those wee hours of rocking and feeding when all the world around us silently sleeps, times when I pray over her and whisper to her my overwhelming love...her milky-sweet scent...her completely trusting p0sture when she is held in our loving embrace...her wildly flailing limbs when her diaper gets changed and she enjoys a few moments of nakiness...the swiftness of her breath as she "exercises"...the smiles and frowns and eye flickers she makes while she sleeps...the way she looks so tiny and helpless in her light pink swaddle...her scrumptious little feet and round little toes...her strongly grasping hands that have such long, thin fingers...her little head that bobs when she lifts it from our shoulders...the way she enjoys her baths which are almost always given by her adoring big sister...her attempts at using her sweetly emerging voice to "talk" to us...the way her beautifully small body conforms perfectly to ours when we hold her...the way my heart feels as though it might burst just by looking at her...

I could go on forever it seems! Grateful to God for all these things and so much more that we adore about this baby girl and her big sister! Cannot imagine life without them. At times, the love is so fierce it's painful almost to the point of being excruciating. Never in a million years did I ever imagine loving something so very much, yet I do...times TWO! These little ones are an awe-inspiring gift from Heaven.

Our Growing Strawberry Patch

June 19, 20, 21--Daddy's Perspective

          After weeks and weeks (years it seemed, considering the 34 weeks of nausea and, in the last two months, chronic heartburn and insomnia!) of waiting, preparing, waiting, packing, waiting, readying, waiting, cleaning, and oh, don't forget waiting, Eliza Hope finally decided to grace us with her arrival.  Despite our "waiting" she was actually on time--her due date.  After several days of contractions that were sporadic and misleading, Sunday night the 19th (Father's Day) became the official start of what became 23 hours of labor.  Susannah had gone to bed and we were going to watch a movie as a welcome distraction (especially for Mama).  The pulsing of uterine muscles became very consistent and close together (3 mins apart) around midnight so we decided to drive in the raining---no, pouring---night to the hospital.  We thought we were close to having our sweet girl, but Eliza had other plans.  Either she's laid-back or she's a procrastinator - time will tell - but after several delays, she slipped into our arms (ok, the doctor's then ours, but who's being literal?).  She arrived at 7:18 pm on June 20 and was beautiful at 8 lbs and 11 oz. and 20 inches long.  The birthing process amazed us once again - seeing new life emerge.


          Susannah, now a big sister, came the next day to see the new addition to the family.  Little sister was not much fun - sleeping the whole time - so Susannah was more interested in the Nemo characters that were on the glass wall of the nursery.  Grammy and Grandpa Hansen came by to visit with their 4th granddaughter!  After a family day of oohs and ahhs and talking about baby clothes, how to be a sister, and Florida baseball (sorry they didn't win, Hansens), Grandpa went home.  Grammy stayed for a few more days and caring for Susannah while we worked on welcoming Eliza to our home.  Much gratitude goes out to Grammy for all of her help, and also to Grandpa for letting us borrow (or steal?) her for a few days.


          Now without further ado, here are some pictures of our precious miracle.  Thanks to God for another incredible blessing to our family in addition to Susannah. We now have TWO when, five years ago, we were supposed to have none.

Mama's Perspective

          Upon reading Harry's perspective above, I decided it was far too factual and not nearly as gushy as it should be for welcoming a new baby! ;)  Sooooo...now that you've gotten the events, let's hear the "warm fuzzy" parts!  Pregnancies are exceedingly difficult for me, mainly because of the nausea that lasts almost the entire time.  Kinda makes a mama weary and unable to do much more than survive.  By the last couple of months, I was beyond ready to meet our baby girl!  Firmly believed she would come early like her sister did, but this was not to be.  She made it to her due date, which in our case is exactly calculated since we have IVF pregnancies and therefore the exact date of conception is known.  Pretty amazing!  I was ironically quite thrilled when the contractions came regularly, as the pain was the means to the end of my hard pregnancy!

          Labor was, as with Susannah, torturous!  I've deemed myself "cervically challenged," because both times I've gotten "stuck" at 5 cm and have had to receive the largest dose of Pitocin possible...and even then I stalled for many hours!  Praise the Lord for epidurals, as they stand between me and complete hysteria, especially after 12 hours of unmedicated labor!  By the time the anesthesiologist left I felt as if the lower half of my body was in a spa on an Hawaiian island.  Pretty much ROCKED!  Of course, when it faded many hours later and had to be boosted twice, well, I was hating life and ready to quit.  That is not an option, of course, but in the moment a suffering mama will think of anything to escape!  By the time I arrived at 10 cm and it was time to push, I had to rely solely on the grace of God to get through my hunger and exhaustion.  Jell-O hardly keeps a laboring body going after almost 23 hours and scarcely any rest!  

          But the moment our precious angel emerged from my body after just 15 minutes of pushing, everything I had endured to get her here was INDESCRIBABLY WORTH IT!  Oh, she is so beautiful!  Fair skin, blue eyes, a dimple in her chin, and strawberry fuzz all over her perfectly round little head (which we affectionately call her "lucky head" while encouraging people to rub it!)...simply breath-taking!  I experienced a prolonged moment of feeling as though I had the privilege of, once again, bearing the most gorgeous of God's creation.  What a humbling experience it is to be a mother not just once, but twice!  Such an awesome, incomparable gift.  Praise be to God, the Giver of Life!  He is also a God of Redemption:  Eliza arrived almost exactly a year to the day after we found out that our baby conceived in May of last year no longer had a heartbeat at not quite 8 weeks into the pregnancy.

          Despite my physical exhaustion, my spirit was soaring as Harry and I spent hours holding, kissing, and breathing in our Eliza Hope.  Was so wonderful to be able to cuddle and nurse a newborn baby again, especially when our infertility journey became so bleak with last summer's miscarriage. She is truly our last hope for a second child. Susannah's arrival to the hospital the next morning was such a thrill to my soul, as well!  She was in the excellent care of our friends Martha and Kitty Tillen, but I missed her like crazy and couldn't wait to see what her response to her new baby sister would be.  She told Daddy on their way to the hospital that she felt nervous about meeting our baby, and she was very reserved upon entering our room.  Once she saw me and the baby, though, her apprehensions faded and she was her normal observant, questioning, commenting self.  She watched the baby for a few minutes and then was quite eager to hold her, which thrilled both Harry and me.  Her interest in her sleepy sister waned quickly, though, and turned to Clifford on the TV, a special treat since we don't have TV channels in our home! 

          My parents arrived mid-morning to meet their newest grandbaby, who joins my sister Jenna's Sophie (she was 3 on February 22) and Lucy (she was born on February 25) and our Susannah (who was 3 on June 4).  So grateful Grammy and Grandpa were for her safe arrival, and so delighted they were to hold her!  When she opened her eyes after they returned from taking Susannah and Harry to lunch their hearts all but melted.  We had several dear friends visit throughout the afternoon and evening, brightening our stay with their joyful celebration of our baby girl's arrival!

          Eliza Hope arrived at her new home to take her place in our family on Wednesday afternoon, and was greeted by an anxiously waiting Grammy and big sister.  She wore a baby tutu given by "Aunt Roommate" (Jaime Roop) and her girls, which thrilled her big ballerina sister to no end!  Susannah was ALL SMILES when her baby came in, and posed for a zillion pictures in both her "I am a big sister" shirt AND, of course, her own tutu!  That evening, after a celebratory trip to Kline's for ice cream, Susannah told me, "Tomorrow, I will take Eliza Hope into my wading pool and I will help her on the slide!  But first we will dance like ballerinas together!"  Bless her heart...so anxious for a playmate, yet all she got was a sleepy "lump"!  Nonetheless, she showed such love for her sister in those early weeks, checking on her in the bassinet first thing in the morning, playing music for her, and inviting her to watch her be a ballerina.  Susannah has savored bathing, reading to, and singing "Jesus Loves the Little Children" to her new baby sister.  She picks out her clothes, brushes her hair (what little there is of it!), and wants to involve her in our family pillow fights on Mommy and Daddy's bed! :)  

          One night when Eliza was about a week old, Susannah wanted to show her love as she slept in her bassinet.  She turned on the bassinet's music, covered her with several blankets and burp cloths, attempted to shove her paci into her unwanting mouth, and then gave her a "lovey"--a feathery little chicky decoration with the sharpest chicky feet you could imagine...which she set right next to Eliza's tender little face!  How proud she was of herself for meeting Eliza's needs! ;)  And what a dear moment for a mama to observe...even if this big sister's good intentions were not necessarily carried out in the best way!

          Oh, thank You God for these gorgeous girls You have so graciously shared with us!

Big-Girl Britches (literally!)

February has brought so many changes for our Strawberry (and even before that, back in late December, Susannah started going peepee on the potty and wearing Disney princess panties!), this Mama all but gasps upon considering her growth! And I'll confess that, with every major milestone hurdled almost flawlessly, I am met with the reality that raising children is constantly bittersweet. The joy this child brings to our life is IMMEASURABLE...should I attempt to spell it out, I'd waste a solid eating-and-sleeping-and-bathrooming-free week typing and still fall remarkably short. Memories sadly become a bit fuzzy even in a short period of time, and pictures cannot possibly capture all of the emotion stored in the daily moments of our lives with her. Video clips are the greatest things in the world, as they allow us to revisit her motions, words, abilities, and affect in a particular season of her development, but still there is the inescapable truth of shepherding this precious life: we can't get completed moments back. So we live them, and Harry and I pray each day we are living them WELL: being present, giving our all, seizing teachable moments, sitting in quiet snuggles, laughing both silently and hysterically at the uniquely beautiful characteristics that make Susannah who she is.

This little girl is the absolute light of our lives in every way. Oh, she is willful and relishes being the center of our universe (she is a two-year-old, after all!). And knowing just the right guidance or disciplinary action in any given situation can be a mind-stretching, sweat-inducing, and ambiguous undertaking that requires countless hours of reflection and consultation with Harry and other wise, experienced parents who have gone before us (because my personality hasn't much changed since becoming a mother!). And months of pregnancy nausea and exhaustion, and now a cold-turned-sinus-infection, can certainly make caring for a needy tot exasperating when what I really want to do is curl up into a corner and wait til physical normalcy returns! Despite the fact that my inherently overwhelmingly selfishness is tested to the max on a regular basis, and that the balance between spiritual maturing, marriage, mothering, home, family, service, friendships, and personal growth endeavors is elusive, I cannot for the life of me imagine a more fulfilling title than that of "Mommy."

Thank You, Lord, for this privilege of mothering Susannah Joy--of taking part in and bearing witness to her daily blossoming, helping to ease her frustrations, and working to give of myself so that I may love her just where she's at. This little girl could not be more precious to us, and we pray consistently that we will do justice to Your calling for us as her parents...even when that involves pee-pee accidents and temper tantrums!

Cinderella

My Grammy (Susannah's Gigi) has for several decades collected porcelain dolls. In recent years, she has felt that they would be more enjoyed by others in the family, particularly each of her great-granddaughters. When Susannah was just an infant, she allowed me to select one for decorating her room. I chose a fair, cherubic-faced, subtly sparkling doll created to look like "Cinderella." Her sweet life-like features really delighted me, so I guessed they might also delight my daughter one day. When we began to transition some of her special belongings to her "new room" in anticipation of our second baby girl's mid-June arrival, I decided to bring out Cinderella and allow Susannah the joy of playing gently with her. Who knew that Cinderella would be a favorite character of Susie Joy? The movie, the sparkly blue princess dress and shoes Grammy and Grandpa gave her for Christmas, the books we've encountered...Cinderella is a true passion for our toddler! So imagine her delight when she opened the box to see what it contained...

She has been so careful with her Cinderella dolly, which stays on top of the hope chest (designed and made for me by my dad during high school) in her room. She asks to get her down almost daily, and loves touching her blonde curls and taking off her "glass" slippers.

Learning to Draw Faces

Susannah's fine motor skills are about as ambitious and accurate as her language is...VERY! It's no wonder, because she spends hours a day at the small green table in the living room drawing, coloring, snipping with scissors, and gluing. She's also a puzzle master, and loves to build creations with any manipulative she can find. Take her signing into account, and suddenly you realize just how much practice those little fingers get each day! At her chalkboard on afternoon I drew two big circles. Within each, and with minimal prompting ("How many eyes do you have?", etc.), she drew 2 eyes, a nose, and a smile. Next thing I knew she was spontaneously adding curly hair, cheeks, and a chin! The next day she repeated this on paper, only this time she added arms, hands, legs, and shoes! :) Cute little people she draws! In this particular picture, she was drawing herself and her best buddy Judah.

She also loves to paint! "Aunt" Jamie and Molly, dear friends, gave her a whole Disney Princess poster pack, which she has thoroughly enjoyed! Here, she is using the enclosed watercolors to paint Ariel.

"Angel Cake"!!!!

It's official...our little angel has been introduced to the abounding wonders contained in a box of Betty Crocker Angelfood Cake Mix. And boy, does she know good stuff when she tastes it! We made not one, but TWO cakes in the span of a week because, well, our growing baby girl was hungry for it... When Daddy came home from work one night, we all three sat at the dining room table and had a monkey-esque feast, grabbing at the white fluffiness with our hands and shoving rather large chunks into our mouths! We laughed so hard watching one another! We then got out the whipped cream and strawberries, both essential where angelfood cake is concerned :). Even Rylie joined in for the fun, licking whipped cream off of Susannah's fingers!

Mommy's Little Helper

Our sweet Strawberry is about as driven and independent as you can get, and this is not contained to just dressing herself (socks and shoes included, though she needs a little help with her shirts), zipping herself (she can occasionally do the whole process!), feeding herself, scrambling eggs "by herself," and engaging in a myriad other cooking, cleaning, and project-ing. She's FEROCIOUS about doing everything herself, so now you've been warned! :)

NOTE: Notice her new bangs in the dishwashing pictures! Our friend Melissa trimmed the back of her hair and cut her some bangs, and we are LOVING her new big-girl 'do!

She can even put on some of her own princess costumes! Tuesday, she was up in her room for a while after we returned home from the library. We had borrowed The Velveteen Rabbit book/read-along CD set, and she immediately took it upstairs, put it into her CD player, and listened to the story several times. When I called her down for lunch, there was a changed girl within my midst! :) Anybody want a sunbutter-topped English muffin under the sea with Ariel?

Reading her new library books while I finished eating my lunch. After hearing a story once or twice, this child retains GREAT DETAILS and "reads" them back. Soooooo fascinating to witness her mind at work!

Last night, she discovered the bag of spring/summer clothing I had earlier in the week brought up from the basement. She dug through until she found this, her "favorite dress." It's not only blue (her favorite color most of the time), it has two sparkly sugar cookies and a frosted cupcake on the front! She donned it throughout the evening, even while sweeping up the grass (floral moss) from her horsie stable.

Modeling her new fave dress! And looking a little more than forced in her smile :). Come soon, warm weather...I can't hold her off of these excitingly adorable new clothes forever, you know!

BIG GIRL BED!!!!

Our "baby" has officially moved into her big-girl bed, and I would like to confess in front of the whole world that I took the transition A LOT harder than she did! She was pretty hyped about the whole experience; I sobbed. I sobbed so hard I had to leave the room so as not to freak her out! Then Harry teared up as a result of my sobbing. And when she was finally asleep (by "finally" I mean an hour-and-a-half after we tucked her in!), we peeked in on her and almost lost it again. Composure was bravely kept...until I looked into her empty nursery and crib and then REALLY sobbed! The sole consolation was the movement of our sweet baby girl within my womb, a gracious and merciful reminder that our crib will soon be filled again with new life. Thank You, Lord God!

Testing it out...in her Ariel costume!

She has been telling me for months she wanted her big-girl bed to be "blue with white polka dots." I searched high and low, and the best I could do was sheets! And they were half-price right before Christmas, and match perfectly with the butterfly bedspread I thought would be a happy addition to her new room. She is thrilled with the result, but she has told me a few times in the past three days, "I'm not becoming a big girl, Mommy...I'm becoming a baby. I think I will sleep in my crib in my pink room." One reminder that babies can't eat ice cream at Kline's and she's suddenly all grown up again! Quite the little logician we have...and, boy, does that make daily instruction and discipline all the more FUN!!!! Rylie-dog has been sleeping at the foot of Susannah's bed, and this thrills her beyond words. Each morning when they wake I hear, "Rylie beastie on my big-girl bed! You're the best beast in the east, Ry-lie!"

So there you have it: big-girl panties, big-girl baking activities, big-girl chores around the house, big-girl drawing, big-girl clothes, big-girl room and bed. Must remind myself this is what she's SUPPOSED TO BE DOING!!! Doesn't make it any easier, but it sure is EXCITING to see her growing from a toddler into a GIRL!

Our Little Ballerina: Tutu much!

Susannah's latest fascination is with BALLERINAS! During the month of December, she spent countless hours in our room watching scenes from "The Nutcracker" ballet on youtube. She loved to copy what she saw the ballerinas doing, and especially loved to have Daddy lift her into the air as the male ballerinas do to the girls. Her little body is shockingly limber and STRONG! These daily adventures are great exercise for our whole family! :)

For Christmas, we gave Susannah an Usborne book and CD set called, "The Little Ballerina Dancing Book," along with a reversible rainbow and pink tutu...every little girl's dream! (The funny thing to note here, though, is that she wears her tutu and dress-up princess dresses while playing with her train set or creating elaborate block constructions. I love how she still loves EVERYTHING..."girl" things and"boy" things alike!) These were the hit of her Christmas morning!

We carve out time each day to dance together. Susannah has memorized the names, many of them in different languages, of all 15 instrumental songs on the CD...in order. She has such an inclination toward music and will take HOURS daily to listen and reflect on what she's hearing: the instruments, the tempos, the feelings the music evokes in her heart and body. She follows the pictures in her ballerina book illustrating various ballet steps for the first five songs, and makes up new steps for those songs without pictures. Daddy has become an exceptionally lithe ballerina with all of this practice! Three years ago, this sports-adoring man never imagined he'd be waving ribbons and scarves (and his daughter!) in the air while replicating ballet steps from "Swan Lake." Melts this mama's heart!

In January, we were delighted to have cousin Sophie (and Aunt Jenna) visit our home for the day! Susannah was eager to show Sophie her dance costumes and teach her all of the ballet steps she's been practicing for the past month. The girls were BEYOND ADORABLE dancing the afternoon away!

A final costume change before heading to MusikGarten class!