happy birthday

Dear Dinoboy,

It's your sixth birthday today. I am having a difficult time reconciling that to myself.

You were the one who first made me an aunt. You taught me what it was to love other people's children like my own. And you were the first one to melt my heart with your spoken word. You will always be the one who cracks me up.

You have become such a boy. You love Star Wars and dinosaurs and Legos and guns. You love to run and jump and play. You are expressive and always have a story to tell. I don't think a week has gone by since you learned to speak that you haven't made me laugh out loud. Your heart is tender and sensitive yet you are as sarcastic as they come. It is a unique blend that makes you oh-so-special. You are an amazing big brother as you continue to honor your little brother's life. You are a fabulous cousin. You are loving and protective (not to mention, a little antagonistic). The Cutie looks up to you and copies your every move. I know you find it annoying now, but someday you will see the compliment in it. You are a very special boy and I can't wait to see what the Lord has for you in the years to come.

Happy Birthday.

I love you,

Aunt D.

Because I Can't Actually Say it This Well.

Hi. I'm the other author of this blog. The one who has been, well, absent.

http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/2009/06/566-discounting-our-small-steps-toward.html

Techno isn't my kryptonite, but some other things are.

I had this conversation with someone the other day.

Her: You look tired.

Me: I know.

Her: (Pointing to the bags under my eyes.)

Me: That's just how it is when you have young kids. I slept from 10:30 to 1:30 last night.

Her: That's really great. I am sure you really needed it.

Me: Huh? (blank stare)

Her: (Blank stare back at me)

Me: Oh. I slept from 10:30pm to 1:30am. I got 3 hours of sleep.

Her: Oh.

Me: (in my head)...as if I could sleep until 1:30 in the afternoon...ever.

It was a good reminder that, someday, I will get back to a normal sleep schedule and forget about this back-breaking tired that is the life of a mom with young kids.

I am not wishing it away, however. That would mean my kiddos were grown up.

And I am definitely not ready for that!

I'll take the tired so I can relish in these days of cuddles and kisses and tickles, etc.

FIRE!

A friend sent me this link tonight. It really got me thinking.

My favorite line from the movie is when Caleb's friend tells him that fireproof doesn't mean that fires won't come, it means that you can survive the fire when it does come. My marriage has survived some fires. I'd like to say that it is fireproof.

We are currently in a fire- A raging, all-encompasing, 3 alarm fire. Some moments I feel as though I will suffocate from the lack of oxygen.

We are not the only ones present at the house fire. Our friends and family are there. Those who are standing with us through this time. Those who go to the Fire Marshall on our behalf. They stand on the ladder truck and fight with us, for us. They are willing to speak the hard truth, even when we don't want to hear it. They encourage us and pray to our Father. They feel the heat. Their hair is singed by the heat of the flames. They saw the flames begin to flicker. And they were right there with their garden hoses. They are the firefighers to our house fire. They refuse to give up until the flames are out. They recognize the intent of those flames is to kill us and they wage battle against them on our behalf. And I am oh-so-grateful.

There are others as well. There are the neighbors. They did not see the fire until it was fully raging. And, they are concerned. They see the firefighters are there and they are comforted. They see the fire, make some precautions to ensure the safety of their own home and come out to stand a safe distance away and watch. They send out a prayer for our safety. They want to be sure that we make it out alive. They smell of smoke.

And there are the onlookers. They work in the cafe across the street. They were too busy to notice the flames when they first began to flicker. And now that it's fully raging, they can see that someone else has already called 911. They stop what they are doing. They whisper a prayer of thanks that their home is safe and sound.

I have been each of these- the firefighter, the neighbor and the onlooker at times. And when our fire is out and the damage is repaired, I hope that I remember these lessons. God wants us to fight for marriage. Our own and others. There is no fire too big for Him. No fire that he can't "proof" us against.

As the fire still rages, the damage remains to be seen. But I am hopeful. Hopeful that when the last flame is snuffed out, our house will stand. Strong and steady. Fireproof. We won't have avoided the fires, but withstood them all.

Look who has a double chin!!

No...it's not me.

(I mean, I do...but that's not who we are talking about here.)

This little guy just blows my mind. 6 weeks ago today, he was just begining his life and he was skin and bones. Today, he has a double chin and some tiny rolls on his thighs.

It might be the extra calorie formula, or maybe it's all those mama kisses. Those add pudge don't they??

The best laid plans...

Yesterday was my due date. A few months ago, I was convinced that on this day, I would most likely be sitting here wondering when my baby boy's birthday was going to come. I figured I would be praying that I would not have to be induced again. And most likely, I would be hot, hot, hot - 10 months pregnant living on the surface of the sun. I figured that like his sister, he would keep us waiting and on this day we would be preparing for a LONG labor.

Well, I was wrong on all fronts. His birthday arrived 6 weeks early. I did not have to be induced. In fact, they had me lay in bed all day to try and slow the process as much as possible. I am still hot here on the surface of the sun, but instead I am post-partum. And, there was definitely not a long labor. With the Cutie I progressed from 2 to 10 in 18 1/2 hours. With Adorable- in 1 1/2 hours.

This baby boy rocked my world. I was in shock for days, maybe weeks, after his birth. He made it very clear that he was going to be his own person. He is not planning on copying his sister's every move. Not even close. And based on the past few months, I would say he doesn't want anyone trying to make plans for him. He is going to carve out his own way in this world.

A little bit about my little man:

The more noise, the better he sleeps. He is extremely portable. He sleeps well. He has himself on a strict every 3 hour eating policy. He has blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair. He is perfectly cuddly. He is strong and healthy. He is our little miracle.

Lord, thank you for loving us enough to deny our plans for our baby boy. I know that you have a bigger, much better plan for his life than I could ever come up. Thank you for our miracle. Please give us the wisdom to raise him in such a way that brings honor to you. And Lord, remind us to teach him daily about you that he would grow to be a man who loves and honors God with his life. Amen.