I hope we're like this absolutely precious couple. In this stage of life, with so many demands and needs facing me all day, every day, it's all too easy to focus more on the "to do" list and lose sight of how much FUN there is to be had in just living and loving and enjoying life together. This couple, 90 years old and married for 62 years!, seem to really be living their "golden years". I hope that Jimmy and I are every bit as spunky as these two when we grow up.
Song for a Fifth Child
Song for a Fifth Child
- by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton
Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.
It's taken me several babies to really get this, but it's so, so true. Maybe it took this author until her fifth baby to really get it, too! I don't know for sure, but I think it's the perspective that comes along with having a few older children that finally makes it all click in a mother's mind. The days of babyhood really do fly by and, before you know it, you're happy just to have those fleeting moments of quick kisses and rushed hugs as your bigger kids dash out the back door. For now though, I'm relishing in my sweet-smelling baby who wants nothing more than to be asleep in my arms (and yes, still thankful that he's also willing to sleep elsewhere when these arms are needed by another sibling! And thankful for good baby carriers when he's not...).
because I don't want to forget...
So many precious little moments since the arrival of our sweet Jack... because I don't want to forget them...
Travis bringing me cereal in bed one morning... "Do not get up before 10:00. You need to rest. But you can't wait that long for breakfast, so eat this first."
Sam staying home with us instead of taking a trip to Krispy Kreme with our neighbor on the afternoon of Jack's birth... "I just want to be here with you and help take care of Jack."
Caroline's absolute delight over her new baby brother, even though she had desperately hoped for a little sister... (said several times a day, with the same amount of wonder and awe each time), "Can you believe it?! Our very own BABY!"
Benjamin's gentleness and the way that he just accepts Jack as an "always there" part of our family... He seems completely unphased and loves "booba Ja".
That little Jack sleeps best when he's right next to me... I love hearing his sweet little squeaks and feeling his breath while he sleeps so soundly. These days go by all too quickly.
"Catching" Jimmy as he makes the nightly rounds checking on all of our sweet babies... He loves them and likes them so much. I love the look on his face when he contentedly reminds me that "this is our family."
These are good days.
Sam staying home with us instead of taking a trip to Krispy Kreme with our neighbor on the afternoon of Jack's birth... "I just want to be here with you and help take care of Jack."
Caroline's absolute delight over her new baby brother, even though she had desperately hoped for a little sister... (said several times a day, with the same amount of wonder and awe each time), "Can you believe it?! Our very own BABY!"
Benjamin's gentleness and the way that he just accepts Jack as an "always there" part of our family... He seems completely unphased and loves "booba Ja".
That little Jack sleeps best when he's right next to me... I love hearing his sweet little squeaks and feeling his breath while he sleeps so soundly. These days go by all too quickly.
"Catching" Jimmy as he makes the nightly rounds checking on all of our sweet babies... He loves them and likes them so much. I love the look on his face when he contentedly reminds me that "this is our family."
These are good days.
waiting for baby
My heart officially goes out to each and every expecting mother out there who has gone past that magical day, her baby's "due date", still waiting and wondering. I actually feel great and am sleeping really well and genuinely love being pregnant, so it has nothing to do with wanting it all to be over with (in fact, I typically feel a little sad about not feeling those sweet little jabs and punches on the inside anymore once baby is here!), it's all about the anticipation. The whole family is just so ready and anxious to meet this new little person! I've been very careful to not throw around an actual date with this pregnancy and have always responded with "mid-April" when asked about baby's expected time of arrival, but people want to know a date. They press hard for a date. There are a few people in my life who even have this date circled on their calendars and f
or the past three weeks there have been people at church who have been genuinely surprised to see me there, still pregnant, even though "mid-April" just got here! I could be annoyed by the constant reminder, but really it's great to know that so many people are just as excited as we are to meet our newest little one. Fifth babies could easily get lost in the busy shuffle of life, but not this one!
Because I'm such a planner and always want to be ready and prepared, we've been "ready" for weeks. Birth supplies are purchased and ready to go, baby clothes and blankets are washed and set out, diapers are washed, new little covers are purchased, little "sleeping stations" have been set up - one on each floor of the house - and the van has been re-arranged to accommodate our seventh (and final) seat. All we need now is a baby. And baby gets plenty of "pep talks" from his/her bigger brothers and sister!
We're all incredibly excited about the opportunity to have this baby here at home. The peacefulness that this brings to all of the uncertainty that surrounds waiting for a baby to come is wonderful. I'm looking forward to being able to announce the arrival very soon!
Tonight at midnight will officially mark the longest I've ever been pregnant. I'm really hoping that this baby has gotten the memo that Kyker babies come "early". After all, it is mid-April...
or the past three weeks there have been people at church who have been genuinely surprised to see me there, still pregnant, even though "mid-April" just got here! I could be annoyed by the constant reminder, but really it's great to know that so many people are just as excited as we are to meet our newest little one. Fifth babies could easily get lost in the busy shuffle of life, but not this one!Because I'm such a planner and always want to be ready and prepared, we've been "ready" for weeks. Birth supplies are purchased and ready to go, baby clothes and blankets are washed and set out, diapers are washed, new little covers are purchased, little "sleeping stations" have been set up - one on each floor of the house - and the van has been re-arranged to accommodate our seventh (and final) seat. All we need now is a baby. And baby gets plenty of "pep talks" from his/her bigger brothers and sister!
We're all incredibly excited about the opportunity to have this baby here at home. The peacefulness that this brings to all of the uncertainty that surrounds waiting for a baby to come is wonderful. I'm looking forward to being able to announce the arrival very soon!
Tonight at midnight will officially mark the longest I've ever been pregnant. I'm really hoping that this baby has gotten the memo that Kyker babies come "early". After all, it is mid-April...
A great giveaway!
Upon discovering a new blog that focuses on creating a nourishing home for our families, I also discovered that Nina Planck, author of Real Food: what to eat and why, has just released a new book called Real Food for Mother and Baby: the fertility diet, eating for two and baby's first food. Because I thoroughly enjoyed her first book (though it's been a little too long ago since I've read it to give an adequate review), I'm eager to get my hands on a copy of this one that focuses on nourishing mothers and babies during such critical times in the development process. If you're at all interested in reading it yourself, head over to Nourishing Days and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy (and then let me borrow it when you're finished! : ).
Tuesday morning excitement
Our garbage pickup comes every Tuesday morning, usually around 9:30 or 10. For about the last year, Caroline and Sam have immediately dropped whatever they were doing upon hearing his arrival in order to rush outside to watch him dump our trash (and the neighbor's trash). Benjamin has recently joined them and they sit right on the top steps and wave and yell, "Thank you!" to the trash guy every single Tuesday. It works out well for us because we've had to be "reprimanded" by our trash man on more than one occasion for various things (trying to sneak in lawn garbage, putting out an additional can when we've had an abundance of company...etc), so I like to think that their faithful gratitude keeps us in his good graces. He always humors them with a smile, a wave and a, "You're welcome!" I think he likes it, even if he can be a little grumpy over our constant need to use two garbage cans.
Another reader!
Yes, Caroline is officially reading! She's had letters and their sounds down for a while now but the light bulb just hadn't clicked on yet when it came to putting the two together... until this morning! And you would think that I would be the one to receive the glory and accolades for teaching her, but no, those would go to her biggest brother, Travis.
the teacher and student
He asked to "do school" with her this morning and after working on the letter "X" in her writing book decided to go for something a little more fulfilling (you know, like teaching her to read). So out came the BOB books and, lo and behold, she read it! It was really precious to see how happy and excited the boys were for her and how they cheered her on through each page and then really cheered when she finished the whole thing. And, true to Kyker kids style, immediately set out to organize a celebration.
The streamers came out (I convinced them it would be MOST special to only decorate her bar stool), some flowers made their way to the table and she received much praise. Once again, the only reason they need me is for the food - I'm on cookie baking duty this afternoon.
the decorations
the teacher and studentHe asked to "do school" with her this morning and after working on the letter "X" in her writing book decided to go for something a little more fulfilling (you know, like teaching her to read). So out came the BOB books and, lo and behold, she read it! It was really precious to see how happy and excited the boys were for her and how they cheered her on through each page and then really cheered when she finished the whole thing. And, true to Kyker kids style, immediately set out to organize a celebration.
The streamers came out (I convinced them it would be MOST special to only decorate her bar stool), some flowers made their way to the table and she received much praise. Once again, the only reason they need me is for the food - I'm on cookie baking duty this afternoon.
the decorationsIt makes me smile...
... when I open our silverware drawer and find evidence left behind by my very helpful (and completely adorable) toddler. His favorite thing in our home is the dishwasher and his favorite thing to do in our home is to unload the dishwasher. Clean or dirty, it does not matter to him. So I've learned that if I don't make sure the door is completely closed then I'm likely to find that my helper has taken the initiative and tackled this chore for me. A drawer full of dirty silverware has taken me by surprise a few times lately and I laugh every time. I know some older siblings who would love to hand this chore down to him....
The excitement in real time
My sister-in-law (and co-owner of the land!) posted a video here on her blog of the actual bid that won our purchase. I thought you might like to re-live the moment with me!
Speaking of celebrating....
We're land owners!!!! After thinking, hoping, planning and praying since before we were even married about moving out into the country on land of our own, and after more than two years of Jimmy searching tirelessly, we're now proud joint-owners of 16 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We are so excited and beyond thankful for this blessing that God had waiting for us all this time.
The auction was really intense and crazy exciting. Jimmy and Ron had formulated their plan that had to change every second depending on what the bid was and what was being purchased. Jenny-Lynn and I were glad to just get to watch and wait and not have to make those split-second decisions! Once we had a bid in that looked like it might actually go through it seemed like forever before the bid was closed. Our hearts were racing, the kids kept asking, "Did we win?!" and it felt like forever before we finally heard, "SOLD!" I'm not embarrassed to admit that we were the only winners to actually cheer upon winning a bid. But even the auctioneers were excited for us seeing how happy we were.
Here's a little pictoral collage of our very exciting morning.
The auction was really intense and crazy exciting. Jimmy and Ron had formulated their plan that had to change every second depending on what the bid was and what was being purchased. Jenny-Lynn and I were glad to just get to watch and wait and not have to make those split-second decisions! Once we had a bid in that looked like it might actually go through it seemed like forever before the bid was closed. Our hearts were racing, the kids kept asking, "Did we win?!" and it felt like forever before we finally heard, "SOLD!" I'm not embarrassed to admit that we were the only winners to actually cheer upon winning a bid. But even the auctioneers were excited for us seeing how happy we were.
Here's a little pictoral collage of our very exciting morning.