I’m determined to put these pictures up even though this family outing occurred almost 2 weeks ago now.  One of the things Rich and I love to do on a Saturday morning is eat breakfast at Crackerbarrel.  So, we get everyone ready as quickly as possible and enjoy a nice quiet (quiet because no one has energy to talk on an empty tummy!) 1/2 hour drive to our nearest Crackerbarrel.

We love being seated in the back corner of the restaurant, at a round table.  We all fit so nicely and we feel more comfortable being out of the main dining room, where we feel exposed (we do draw attention because of all our children….).  After we sit down, the waitress comes right over to take drink orders.  Our children always order hot chocolate WITH whipped cream on top.

At least, they always used to.  The last time we went, Jacob and Ethan ordered ROOT BEER!  They love drinking it from the icy cold mugs….but, for breakfast? 

As you can see, the others still went with the old familiar hot chocolate.

And got mustaches. 

After ordering breakfast, two of the children go off to play some checkers to make the time go by faster.

I sat next to this little man:

It sometimes takes a while to get our seven breakfasts done, and Seth started to fuss during that time.  I had to go stand in a bathroom stall to nurse him.  Not the coziest of locations.  But, I’d do anything to make him happy!

Rich usually tries to order something somewhat healthy.  My favorite order is the egg sandwich with a side of cheesy hashbrowns, although last time I ordered some pancakes with peaches on top (and whipped cream) instead.  They were good but in my opinion, the pancakes needed a touch of salt.

Jacob and Ethan never order off the children’s menu now.  They each got “Mama’s French Toast Breakfast” with four pieces of french toast, sausage, and eggs.  Grace had the same as me, pancakes, only hers were with apple topping.  David always always gets cold cereal because he loves the little boxes it comes in, and the little carton of milk just for him.  Caleb shared off Ethan’s plate, because they weren’t making the macaroni and cheese quite yet.

I think we make the people sitting around us a little nervous when we walk in and sit down with our family, because 9 times out of 10 we will get approached by visibly relieved diners after they are done with their meal.  “Your children are SO well behaved!”, they say.   One time Grace chirped in reply, “People ALWAYS say that.” much to my embarrassment.

But, they are good kids.  Rich and I enjoy taking them out to eat.  It’s fun.

After we were done with this particular outing, we went over to Old Sturbridge Village, because they have a really nice indoor play area for the kids.  They can pretend to be farmers, or a shopkeeper, or work in a pretend garden, dress up in old fashioned vests and aprons, and play house.  Jacob is 12 and still enjoys the make believe.  He likes to be in charge of the shop.

The little boys pretended to garden, in pretend dirt that had holes in it for the pretend plastic carrots.  And then, because they are very imaginative, they turned it into a game of golf, swinging those garden hoes and aiming plastic onions into the holes. 

The garden was inspiring to David.  After we got home that day, he spent a lot of time digging in my flower beds and burying empty SODA CANS.  I’m pretty sure he got them all back out, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I unearthed one later on this spring.  David SO wants to garden soon.

Here are Grace and Caleb, in the play house:

And, because the place was empty, I made the kids line up for a picture.  Grace is wearing an apron, and the big boys are dressed up in the vests.  Caleb is gripping his backside because the poor dear fell off the farmer’s milk stool and scrubbed his back.  His was the only injury of the day.

The parents:

When we left I snapped this picture.  The Papa with his six children.  There’s something so romantic about my husband being such a good Daddy to his children.  I love watching him interact with them.  Often I’m smiling in another room, as I eavesdrop on his instructions to them.

A walk through a parking lot wouldn’t be complete without a good long stare down the gutter with Caleb. There’s water down there ya know. 

How many times I have wanted to pull him impatiently away…but then I think, “Why not let him look”?  After all, he’s a just curious little boy. . . .I do hope he keeps doing it for a while longer.  It is rather cute.

Well, I can hear Seth out in his swing, calling to me.  And Davy-do is waiting in my bed for his turn on the computer.  I had the doula today from 10-2 and got lots of rest.  Tonight Rich comes home!  Oh I can’t wait.

Love, Shanda

PS, I have to share this one last random photo of baby.  I love it.

He’s stretching and it feels SO good!

This is the day the Lord has made,

I will rejoice and be glad in it!

(the verse I’ve been saying over and over to myself today……)

My sister and her husband are here.  There are children running around all over the place outside (theirs and mine).  We are about to make a big big batch of bacon and pancakes for dinner.  It’s been fun to spend time with Amanda, she always makes me laugh.  I am so happy to say that today has been a much better day for me.  **sigh of relief**

I had a doctor’s appointment this afternoon and my Doctor took the time to talk to me for quite a while.  She was so proud of the steps that I have taken to help myself get past this overwhelming newborn stage…for hiring the cleaning service and the doula, and for accepting help from my family and friends.  I felt great talking it out with her, which is also something important for me to remember when I’m feeling low…TALKING about my doubts & fears with someone I trust, instead of bottling them up.

I thought you might like to see a picture of me and the kids.  My sister took it just a little while ago.

Thanks again *so very much* for all the prayers, verses, and encouragement.  At some point I plan on sitting down with a big stack of index cards and writing the verses down on them. 

Much love and HUGS (I wish I could give out real ones!) ~ Shanda

I talked to Amanda today, my friend Kathy, read all your comments, talked to my mom, dad, and Rich.  Everyone is pointing me to the Lord, and saying so many encouraging things.  My mom told me to make cookies for the kids and so I did.  When I told my dad, “I just want to feel normal”, he said, “Well, this IS normal for you.  You’re like this after you have a baby, aren’t you?”  And I had to admit it was true.  Rich told me that he can see a difference in me, that I still have low points but I’m also having some good times as well. 

My friend Caroline stopped by with a gift for Seth and some cookies. 

My Dad reminded me that every bit of good stuff coming my way is right from God.  My heavenly Father is using the people in my life to help me get through this.  He said that God is helping me more than I even realize.  It’s true, I know.  I really need to get my brain thinking positively. . . . .

I got outside as much as I could.  I went on a small walk with Jacob and Caleb.  We saw raccoon tracks down by the stream in the mud.  We saw a robin.  Jacob took pictures and Caleb enjoyed the stream, as always.  I told Jacob we should name it “Caleb’s Stream”.

In the afternoon I went out with a blanket and watched David and Caleb play and make a fort.

Seth has been awake since 1:00 this afternoon.  Every time I think I’ve got him to sleep, he’s wide awake again. 

I just had all the kids go downstairs to play.  In another hour and a half it will be their bedtime.

Please pray for Rich’s safe journey…he’s on his way to Tennessee via Chicago.  Then, after his business there, he goes on to Tampa, FL.  I think the majority of my sadness today stems from him leaving.

The verses you left here all made me cry buckets.  I did cry a lot today.  I’m tired now, but at least the tears seemed to have dried up.

Here are the two verses the Lord gave me today, as I read my Bible outside:

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee;
yea,  I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”  Isaiah 41:10

“For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand,
saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”  Isaiah 41:13

Well, Seth once again did not sleep….and is making those little noises that mean I can’t ignore him!

Goodbye for now~I may be back!  LOL 

I’m feeling insecure and nervous this morning.  I’m so sick and tired of feeling this way.  It’s hard to be patient sometimes.

Rich left this morning and won’t be back until Thursday. 

I cried trying to help Jacob with his math.  I ended up just telling him to put it away for another day.  I wish I did not have to homeschool.  I feel so inadequate.

Seth is napping.  I got frustrated nursing him this morning because he was fussy through it.  I don’t know why he does that sometimes….maybe he isn’t hungry?  Maybe it’s gas?  All I know is that there have been several feedings like that lately, so that I do not know what to expect when I sit down with him. 

Caleb is playing out on the porch with his trains.

I just warmed up some soup and am going to go outside, hoping the sun and fresh air will revive me.

Saturday and Sunday were such nice days that we were able to be outside quite a bit.  I went on a walk on Saturday with Rich, David, and Caleb, while baby Seth took a nap. 

Walking with my husband is just like walking with the boys, only the dead trees that he picks to push over are much taller. . . . . .here is one starting to fall, just after he pushed it.

He had a fascinated audience. . .David and Caleb stood still, watched, and were quite impressed. 

And David immediately wanted to find himself a tree to push over.

So his Daddy helped him find one.

Very satisfying.

Caleb had the quote of the walk when he said, “OH!  THE SUN!  It’s shining in my eyes!  The sun is out!”  He was so excited and he reminded me of myself….I do the same thing when the sun appears after cloudy days.

On Sunday, the weather was even nicer.  The long pond is thawed, but the smaller swimming pond still has ice.  The children absolutely loved the spring feeling in the air, but Rich and I still did not think David should have stripped all his clothes off—all but his undies—to splash in the pond water.  Rich went right out on the porch to tell David to get his clothes back on.  Shocking.

It was a milestone day for the children, because they caught the first tadpoles of the year.  Jacob had a plastic dogfood scoop, David had an old cake pan, and Ethan had an old pot.  The water was so icy cold that they didn’t want to use their hands. 

Here’s the first catch.  Jacob made Caleb look at them, but so far Caleb does not want to be part of the action.  We studied the tadpoles to see if they were getting their back legs yet.  It’s amazing that these things turn into perfectly proportionate frogs later on.  They hardly resemble them now.

As you can see, Grace also tried going without warm clothes, too.  She wore shorts and a t-shirt.  She was the first one to go inside, “I’m cold, my hands are freezing from that water”. . .here she is, looking into the big plastic tub that they were putting their tadpoles in.  She made David upset because she dumped them back into the pond too soon.  I think she was feeling motherly and felt sorry for them.

Happy Spring days.  Good days to be a kid.  Good days to be a mom, watching.

As for me, I am hopeful that I am finally coming out of my week-long funk.  Yesterday at church I felt weepy and out of sorts, but my sister once again came to my rescue and sat with us in the pew…and went out with me when I had to go sit in the nursing room to feed Seth.  “Just sit and talk to me about happy things” I said to her, and since she is the talkative cheerful sort she did just that. 

When we came home from church, I was still feeling nervous and anxious, but by the end of the day I was relieved to be feeling calmer inside.  I kept a detailed diary during baby David’s early days and I took some time to read it yesterday.  It helped so much, because I felt so many of the same feelings back then, and I could read and see for sure that the heavily anxious times do go away with some time and patience. 

And, as a special blessing, Seth only woke up one time last night.  It was the most peaceful night I’ve had in a while.  We went to bed at 10, Seth woke up at 1:30.  I determined to enjoy t
he time with him, I got myself a snack and cozied up with him on the couch.  By 2:15 he was back to bed, with his suckie.  I went to bed, fell back to sleep, and the next thing I knew, Rich’s alarm was going off at 5:30.  He got up to go make coffee and found Seth just beginning to fuss and cry.  So, I got up and fed him, happy that he had slept so well.  5:30 may sound early, but it’s a good time for me because that way I can see my husband before he goes to work, and have some quiet time before the others wake up at 7.

This week my sister is coming over on Wednesday.  I have a doctor’s appointment scheduled for that day and she is going to watch the kids for me.  Then, on Thursday, the doula is scheduled to be here at 10.  Rich is taking Friday off from work and that is the day the maids will deep clean our house.  So, there are things to look forward to and for that I am deeply grateful. 

I am thankful for the prayers of my friends that read my blog.  When I think of all the people who are praying for me, from places that I have never been to, I am overwhelmed.  It just amazes me, that because of the internet, we Christians have the opportunity to support, encourage, and lift one another up.  Thank you for that, and please know that I will gladly do the same for you, when you too need some extra love and prayer.

Speaking of prayer, my parents have asked for some…..for their beloved Pastor Steensma.  Some of you may remember me asking for prayer for him this summer.  I even signed your names to a card for him, and he later told my parents it was one of his few memories of that time.  Anyway, he is a life-long diabetic, in his mid-50’s, and has been having some serious heath concerns relating to his diabetes.  Currently, he is in the hospital, seriously ill with a fever, having some trouble with a foot, and a blood clot in one of his legs.  He is in great need of your prayers, please lift him and his family up to the Lord, and ask God for healing for him.  Thank you so very much.

God has put this following song in my heart lately and I’ve been meditating on the words.  It’s the hymn, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” and there are other stanzas, but these are the ones that have especially touched my soul:

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen
How thy desires e’er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee,
Decked thee with health, and with loving hand guided and stayed thee!
How oft in grief
Hath not He brought thee relief,
Spreading His wings for to shade thee!

Here’s to a good week! 

Much love~

Shanda

This week has been a hard one for me, emotionally and physically.  It’s almost as if my body and mind said, “Okay, that’s enough” and just basically stopped feeling good…..it’s been so hard.  .

I started having nights of insomnia.  Take away my ability to sleep and I turn into a mess.  Panic, anxiety, fretting, guilt, tears…..why why why am I all of a sudden like this?

(Rich was gone this week…I had two days and two nights on my own, taking care of everything here.  I think that is what pushed me to my limits.  I had to go out with all the children on Monday, to David’s school.  The older kids had art and then I went to the library with the three little ones, carrying that heavy infant carseat.  I don’t think I should have done those things.)

Today is Friday.  I’m sitting in the chair in my robe, my hair pulled up in a messy ponytail.  Caleb woke up wet, so he has clean clothes on already, and his bedding is in the washer.

I made the kids scrambled eggs for breakfast.  David has been asking for them for days.  Grace cracked the dozen eggs for me.  They’ve all had their breakfast and their milk and/or juice and their toast and David is on his way to school on the bus.  Table is cleared, dishwasher is filled.

Jacob, Ethan, and Grace are busy cleaning their rooms.  I have someone coming here today, at 10:30, to look at the house.  I am going to hire a cleaning service.  I’m not sure how often I will be able to have them come, it depends on the price.  Rich said, “Do what you need to do, and don’t worry about the cost.”  (EDIT: The maids have been hired!  And they will come every other week for now.  The cost was much less than I imagined, and I am thrilled to say the least.)

I’m also in the process of trying to find a doula (thanks to my xanga friend Danielle for the suggestion!).  I spoke with someone yesterday who was encouraging to me, and she said that it would do me so much good to have some extra help for a few weeks (or longer).  The doula would come once or twice a week, for at least 4 hours at a time, and would help me with light housework, children, running errands, and meals.  I am somewhat hesitant about having a stranger in the home, but I hope and pray that whoever the Lord sends here (if it works out) will be a friend from the beginning and willing to work hard for me.

I’ve been working very hard here ever since Seth was born.  I guess I’ve been doing too much.  I like to work, because it makes me feel normal and gives me a feeling of accomplishment.  But this week I have gotten to the point of utter exhaustion, so tired that I can’t settle down to sleep and then my mind goes and goes. . .such negative thoughts, bad thoughts whirling around in my head that I can’t seem to stop.  I pray and tell God about it, but there are times when even that doesn’t seem to help.

The children still make me smile.  My heart still feels joy over my baby.  I do have times when I feel normal.  For that I am thankful.

My lips (this is sort of funny) are sore, I realized yesterday when they started to hurt, that I’ve been pulling my lips in and biting them in my stress, over and over until now they hurt!!! 

I started a low dose antidepressant medication yesterday morning.  I hesitate to admit that.  For some reason, it makes me feel weak and guilty to admit that I’m on medication, despite the fact that I’ve been on it 2 other times after 2 of my other babies.  During this time of my insecurites, I have relied on the judgement of the people in my life that I love & trust the most (my husband, my parents, and my closest friends) –they have all encouraged me and tell me that it’s a good idea.  I am so thankful that I live in a time and place where this option–of medication– is available!!  PPD is a very real thing!  And not fun to get through.

I just do not have the time to feel this way.  I have to be well.  I cannot spend any of my newborn’s early life a miserable mess.  I want to remember these days with fullness of joy, not heartache.

I thank you for all your prayers and encouragement here.  I know that God is answering them.  I don’t know why I’m in this low point, except that maybe God brought me here so that I would ask for help, and let people take care of me. 

My sister was here yesterday for about four hours and I spent most of that time resting.  She is coming over again today.  I can’t thank her enough. 

My angel of a sister:

Rich is working so hard during the day, but has found a way to help me at night and he is happy to do it.  He sleeps on the couch with Seth nearby, in his playpen.  When Seth wakes up, Rich brings him to me so I can feed him.  After his feeding, I take him back out to the livingroom and put him in his playpen.  Then, I get a snack for myself and go right back to bed.  If Seth is a stinker and doesn’t go right back to sleep, Rich takes care of him.  This takes so much worry off me, knowing that I won’t have to get up again.  Now, if only I can fall back to sleep, I’d really be in good shape.  Last night I just tossed and turned.  However, I think I did get about 5 hours of total sleep.

Rich actually ENJOYS the night times with Seth.  It is helping the bonding process, because Rich does not get to spend as much time with baby during the day.  Seth looks just like his Daddy and Rich is so so proud of him!

My mom is also a huge encouragement to me, she told me to start reading in bed again, which she knows relaxes me.  TeaLady, do you see what I chose to read?  LM Montgomery is a tried and true “friend”.  Just as cozy as a warm blanket . . . . .

Also, my friend Christie each day has sent me such reassuring, caring emails.  THANK YOU CHRISTIE

Hannah has sent me so many notes and letters, I smile whenever I get the mail and see another envelope from Alaska, thank you Hannah!

I will say, Rich has another business trip next week that I am aching over.  He will leave Tuesday night and get back on Thursday night….which means three nights of evening/night hours without him.  I honestly do not know how I will get through that.  Just thinking about it makes me panic.  Rich feels terrible but there is nothing we can do. 

Okay.  Enough.  Now for some pictures.

Oh the neck….is so cute!

Those happy eyes.  Who’s my pretty baby?

Look at his thumbs!  Gripped so tightly in those little fists!  Oh, the little love . . . .

Amanda just called me to see if I needed anything at the store before she leaves to come over.  She sounds bright and happy this morning and had another good idea for me—she said that our local grocery store has a service in which we can order groceries and pay for them online, and then all we would have to do is drive over to pick them up.  She also reminded me that I am doing great… and that any mom with five children plus a newborn would need help and a support group.  Silly me, I’ve been trying to do much on my own…and now I am in the process of surrounding myself with HELPERS.  Hope….is a wonderful thing! 

Okay, I must go……Seth is awake and ready for breakfast #2.

Love, Shanda

PS…….

Jacob took this picture, we are both proud of it.  I so wanted one, of my little Seth yawning. 

I’ll be back when my head clears. . . .I’m. just. so. tired. 

Exhausted.  Head is ringing.  Eyes hurt.  Can’t remember stuff.  All that.

  Shanda

Gorgeous early spring day today!

Several of my children went barefoot. . . . . . .

One of them ran around with just his pants on.

And one got all muddy.

Yes, it’s been a nice day.  Rich was home and we had a good time together, as a family.  I’ll have more pictures tomorrow or Monday, of our trip to Crackerbarrel and Old Sturbridge Village. 

Don’t forget to change your clocks!

~Shanda

Is my coffee done yet?

Rich reminded me this morning that it was Friday.  I had forgotten the day of the week.

I have also forgotten how time-consuming a newborn is.  This week has been a good week, but with sleep deprivation my emotions are sometimes up and down like a roller coaster.

For instance, the first thing I did this morning as I got out of bed, was cry.  I went to bed last night at 9:30 and probably fell asleep about 10.  Seth woke up at 12:20, and after taking care of him and going back to bed I probably fell back to sleep around 1:15.  Then, he woke up again at 3:30.  After that feeding, it took a little longer to get him back to sleep so I wasn’t able to fall back to sleep in my own bed until about 5. . .Rich’s alarm soon went off and he was in our room/bathroom getting ready for work.  He left at about 6 and I got out of bed crying (and praying!) because I knew there was no chance that I could get any more sleep.  I was crying and counting on my fingers how many hours I would have to get through until Rich came back home again (12).  Then, I tried counting how many hours of sleep I got.  There was too much adding and subtracting in that problem.  Math in the morning is never a good idea for me. 

So, my emotions were down but soon they were up again.  When Seth woke up this morning at about 6:15, I was instantly cooing over him and kissing his cheeks, and walking him around a little, he surprised me once again with how incredibly CUTE he is. . . .my tears soon went away as I fussed over my baby, changing his diaper, feeding him again, holding his little warm body close to my own.  Enjoying the 45 minutes of time with him before the rest of the kids got up.

See what I mean about a roller coaster? 

I love having so many children, because once they are up in the morning I have a hard time concentrating on my own issues.  I laugh at the things they say.  For instance, Jacob made himself some hashbrowns this morning.  They were the frozen kind that you have to fry in a skillet on the stovetop.  It was the first time he made them, and as he and Ethan sat together at the table eating their hashbrowns and eggs, Jacob sighed and said, “These would have been much better if a PROFESSIONAL had made them, like Mom.  For instance, as you can see, these hashbrowns are about 5 different colors, including black.”  My attempts to cheerfully tell him how good they looked, “. . .so nice and crispy!” . . . .did not convince him that they were satisfactory.

Caleb just said to me from across the room, “I’m picking my nose, and…..it’s starting to be better.”  Then he went back to humming a song.  (He scraped the bridge his nose this week and there’s a scab that I keep telling him NOT TO TOUCH.)  I think he felt a little guilty and needed to tell me that he picked it again.  “My boo-boo is getting smaller!” was what he said next (smaller b/c the scab is smaller?) 

Grace made herself eggs this morning and then came to me and said very quietly (I can’t hardly ever hear her when she talks). . . .“I think I’m sick.”  You’re SICK?  “well, I’m not going to throw up but I don’t think I can eat my eggs because when I tried to eat them I started to throw up.”  What?  I don’t understand what you are saying.  Are you sick or aren’t you?  “I think I am.  My stomach hurts.”   She went to bed sick for about 15 minutes and then she was back up, too bored and not sick enough to want to stay there.  She is now playing Army with Jacob and Ethan.  She’s the cook.  Jacob is back into playing Army men rather than legos.  I never thought he’d get over the lego phase but he did.  It’s now nothing but Army guys.

So, back to what I was saying.  A newborn baby is a full time job.  Now that Caleb (my old baby) is all but ignored by his Mama, he is best friends with Davy-do instead.  And I’ll tell you, there is no end to the things they come up with.  It’s cute so far, all the talking they do with each other and all the running around.  Caleb came to me yesterday and said, “Where’s DAVID?”  “He’s at school, Caleb.”  “I want him to come home so he can play with me.”   Precious.

I took this picture yesterday:

David plus Caleb, a fun combination.

See that strip of wood that runs down the left hand side?  They love to let cars go at the top of the stairs.  The cars go flying and then crash onto the tile floor at the bottom of the stairs.  They also love to say, “SUPER FAST!!” and then slide on their bottoms down the stairs like you see in the picture.

I had to keep getting them out of the bathroom yesterday, too.  I kept finding them locked in together, washing match box cars in the sink.  Perfectly CLEAN cars were getting washed over and over and my new bottle of liquid hand soap was used all up.

I also caught them warming up broccoli in the microwave.  David got it out of the fridge and put it in the microwave himself.  Then they got on the counter to wait.  Ido not know how Caleb got up there.

David considered, and decided it was done.

Once it was cooked to their satisfaction, David said to Caleb, “You stay there, I’ll go get us FORKS.” And then they snacked together….and when they were done guess what they did?  Yep.  They had a wild  “fork fight” that I quickly put an end to.

I’m secretly quite pleased, that they both love broccoli.

I have also been dealing with sickness.  Thankfully I personally am not sick.  But, Jacob had the stomach bug this week.  This week was also included “Days of Ethan’s Mysterious Rash”.  With being exhausted, coupled with the mama bear instinct of wanting to protect a newborn, th
ese sicknesses were enough to make me panic.  Ethan, poor boy, must have had some kind of allergic reaction because for 2 nights and an entire day he was suffering from terrible itch and terrible rash.  The mysterious part was that it started on his face and traveled down his body, clearing up as it went along.  It was terribly itchy but he had no other symptoms.  I was busy looking up rashes in my child care book and online, and filling my mind with hundreds of horrible things it could possibly be.  Rich kept telling me I was over-reacting and that it was nothing.  I was imagining my children all coming down with some strange unusual disease that would take the life of my newborn baby.  Is that horrible or what?  Thankfully Ethan was better in 24 hours and woke up yesterday on his birthday all better.  And I assure you, his smile was bright.  It took me a few hours to believe him, and to believe that Jacob and Grace were not getting it.  I kept jumping up to check behind their ears and asking them if they were itchy. 

Did you ever notice, when you think about itches, you begin to itch?  I bet you’re itching something right now.

And now I expect Grace is coming down with the stomach bug which means the last one to get it will be David.

Other random photos:

Seth is starting to notice the toys that dangle over his lamb swing:

Next is Ethan, with his cake.  Although I was a big grump by the end of the day yesterday, I still managed to take a picture and think sentimental thoughts about how wonderful birthdays are, with brothers and a sister to share them. 

I don’t know if you can see, but I am in the mirror in the background.  I have Seth up on my shoulder, which I had forgotten until I saw the photo this morning.  It makes me laugh, how many things we mamas do with a baby in our arms.  The only thing I can’t do, is type.  If you get a comment from me on your blog that looks funny (no capital letters, and funky abbreviations)  it’s b/c Seth is in my arms.

The cake?  It was an ice cream cake, and it was good.

Now we will talk about the weather.  It is mild outside this morning, and tomorrow we are supposed to have a high of 60 degrees.

We still have a snow cover on the yard but the boys are enjoying the milder temperatures.  I took these pictures about an hour ago:

This picture makes me laugh. 

My handsome boys, getting ready for battle.

Next picture is of Seth, this morning.  The outfit is a little large.  His feet don’t stay where they are supposed to.

He loves his pacifier (we call them suckies at our house) and I don’t know what I would do without it.  It makes him happy when nothing else works. 

Well, that’s about it here.  It’s after 10 and I still need to get dressed.  But, I needed to sit here and write more than I needed to be clean.  Blogging was the priority!  So, now it’s time to shower and I hope I can do that before Seth wakes up again.

Before I go, I wanted to share a quote.  I’ve been reading the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, (updated in today’s English) and my heart was so thrilled and lifted up as I read this about GOD.  Any trial, any trouble, anything in this world, seems so much smaller as I soak in these truths:

There is but one, and only one, living and true God.

He is self-existent and infinite in His being and His perfections.

None but He can comprehend or understand His essence.

He is pure spirit, invisible, and without body, parts, or the changeable feelings of man. (isn’t that comforting?)

He alone possesses immortality, and dwells amid the light insufferably bright to mortal men.

He never changes.

He is great beyond all our conceptions, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty and infinite.

His is most holy, wise, free and absolute.

All that He does is the out-working of His changeless, righteous will, and for His own glory.

He is most loving, gracious, merciful and compassionate.

He abounds in goodness and truth.

He forgives iniquity, transgression and sin.

He rewards those who seek Him diligently.

But He hates sin.

He will not overlook guilt or spare the guilty, and he is perfectly just in executing judgement.

God is all-sufficient, and all life, glory, goodness and blessedness are found in Him and in Him alone.

He does not stand in need of any of the creatures that He has made, nor does He derive any part of His glory from them.  On the contrary, He manifests His own glory in and by them.

He is the fountain-head of all being, and the origin, channel and the end of all things.

Over all His creatures He is sovereign.  He uses them as He please, and does for them or to them all that He wills.

His sight penetrates to the heart of all things.

His knowledge is infinite and infallible.

No single thing is to Him at risk or uncertain, for He is not dependent upon created things.

In all His decisions, doings and demands He is most holy.

Angels and men owe to Him as their creator all worship, service and obedience, and whatever else He may require at their hands.

Beautiful words, comforting promises, wouldn’t you agree?

seth woke up must go 4 now……..have a grt day!

luv, s

Happy Birthday Ethan!

One of the nicest, sweetest, bestest boys

in the whole wide world turns 11 today.