Weekend: Wrap Up

Photos courtesy of Aunt Erica. 

Afternoon: And Baby Talk

Here's a short snippet to remember how much we love hanging with Baby Hazel. Our house will soon be for sale and the thought of not having this sweet Baby Friend a stairwell away is sad. Hazel was born June 30th with Fields trailing after on September 13th. Fields outgrew Hazel quickly, and we love seeing their differences. Fieldsy's hands are big and firm while Hazels are delicate and soft. She make subtle movements and loves to whisper while Fields makes grunt and nearly scoots across the floor. Baby time is my fave.

We love you Miss Hazel Elece.

Kristyn

Encouraged: By This Good News

O my soul, bless God.

    From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!

O my soul, bless God,

    don’t forget a single blessing!

^3-5 

He forgives your sins—every one.

    He heals your diseases—every one.

    He redeems you from hell—saves your life!

    He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.

    He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.

    He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.

^6-18 

God makes everything come out right;

    he puts victims back on their feet.

He showed Moses how he went about his work,

    opened up his plans to all Israel.

God is sheer mercy and grace;

    not easily angered, he’s rich in love.

He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,

    nor hold grudges forever.

He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,

    nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.

As high as heaven is over the earth,

    so strong is his love to those who fear him.

And as far as sunrise is from sunset,

    he has separated us from our sins.

As parents feel for their children,

    God feels for those who fear him.

He knows us inside and out,

    keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.

Men and women don’t live very long;

    like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,

But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,

    leaving nothing to show they were here.

God’s love, though, is ever and always,

    eternally present to all who fear him,

Making everything right for them and their children

    as they follow his Covenant ways

    and remember to do whatever he said.

^19-22 

God has set his throne in heaven;

    he rules over us all. He’s the King!

So bless God, you angels,

    ready and able to fly at his bidding,

    quick to hear and do what he says.

Bless God, all you armies of angels,

    alert to respond to whatever he wills.

Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—

    everything and everyone made by God.

And you, O my soul, bless God!

Photo: An oldie of me (pregnant with Fields) and Hens.

Conversations: With Hensley

Hi Hensley,

We've been conversing for a while now, but more recently your sentences are getting longer. It's so neat to see you thinking it through. You'll start a sentence, pause, and then add another word or two.

Here are some of our recent conversations...

H: (During lunch today)Th-t looks good...or nasty!...I'm excited to eat th-t....More cheese? Yeah? Yeah? You like it? Yours good?

H: Shhh, "Gun-yea's" sleeping... (he's actually at school, but you were pretending he was hiding in the closet)
H: Mommy, I found a bug. Come! (I follow you to your bed, and you point out the smallest little fleck of wood.) 
M:Oh, that's not a bug, that's just wood.
H:It's jus wood, Mommy. Dat's jus wood, not a bug.

(I handed you your tooth brush this morning...)
H: Dat mine?
M: You got it, Sista!
H: I not sister, I Hens-ee, I Hens-ee Mommy! You Mommy, I Hens-ee!

H: Das Daddy, Das Hens-ee. (Pointing to Maisy the Mouse as "Daddy", who happened to be sitting on the potty, and you were Maisy's little friend, who was also sitting on a smaller potty.

Speaking of potty. We're out of disposable diapers (which you wear because Fields uses the cloth now.) This morning I told you we're out of diapers and you'd have to use the potty. Going well so far with no accidents and 4x in your potty. Yay! You and Fieldsy are on nap #2 and I best get back to work. 

Love,

Mommy

A Love Note: To Our Cookie

Dear Chocolate Chip Cookie made by Dear 'ol Daddy,

We love you, Cookie.
You are so good to us.
Sometimes you are there for an after dinner treat.
And other times you are Mommy's sneaky breakfast.

We are glad we get to enjoy you often.
A lot of our friends get to enjoy you as well.
Oh Cookie, Dear Cookie, thanks for being so yummy.

Love,

Happy Consumers with Messy Chocolate Faces

Our Children: Joy

Dear Children,

You are true joy to Daddy and I. Fields, you'll be scooting around the house soon. Your rocking and squealing are so cute. Tegegne and Hensley, last night we had the front and back doors open letting the rainy breeze freshen up the house. You two ran from front to back over and over with much laughter. Later we sat on the front porch for 2 hours. We were so peaceful and content. It was the calm before the storm.

We love you.

Mommy

A Connection: To Dirt, To Family

So I was just reflecting on the Lenten season and realized that since then I have been less "plugged in." I mean, I love reading others blogs and writing here and keeping up with fashion and design and new recipes via pinterest. Also love keeping up with friends photos on Instagram. It's all good, but a big part of me loves when I do less of that. What helps is a good book. And nice weather. And a conscious effort to be a good example to Tegegne, as I often tell him "no...he cannot play a game on the Ipad because it's a waste of time and he should be reading or playing instead..." 

I know eventually we should get smart phones, and maybe even an I phone...ooh, laa, la. But then again, I sort of like still having to write down directions and use my good instincts to get to where I need to go. Or do I? It would be really fun to have a nice camera on my phone. And video. 

There is just something about being connected to the real world, like reality, ya know? Makes me wanna go digging my toes into the dirt. I noticed the other day that I'm more productive when I'm barefoot. Is that funny? It's something about the feeling of my feet taking steps, the coolness of the hardwoods, the small crumbs from breakfast getting stuck to my feet that make me wanna sweep my floor. The day that my children (right now it's all Hensley) make less of a mess eating will be a glorious day. 

Speaking of Hensley, am pretty excited for you, Little Lady, to fall in love with underwear and realize that diapers are for babies. Two days ago I asked, "Hens, want to sit on the potty?" You replied, "Not today." Ha, not today! Your vocab is growing and it's so awesome. Not today was quite an honest answer. 

I guess you kids realize that I do expect you to read this blog someday. I better try to start making it into a book or something, just in case it would ever go away. I just love you kids so much, your dad and I do. And we hope that you can read and understand a bit more about your childhood. All the memories that you may be too young to recall...

Just last night we had some sweet backyard time. We had a Jones sandwich. It was Daddy, then Mommy (watch out kids!), then Tegegne, then Daddy's long arms reached and put Hensley on top. (Fields was sleeping already.) We opted not to go to the Arts District and walk around but have a back yard night. It was a stellar choice. It's funny, but you kids liked watching your dad and I cuddle. I know it's comforting when you know that mommy and daddy love each other very much. Tegegne you blush when we kiss in front of you, and we love it.

Once again, everyone in the house is asleep but me so I'd best get the memo. Tomorrow will be here before I know it and this is obviously the best time to catch up on sleep.

Love,

Mom 

Harmonica: The Dryer and Baby Pee

Hello Monday. Easter weekend was a great celebration. I attended a solemn and really wonderful Good Friday service and we went to the Sunrise Service Sunday morning. We remembered Jesus dying and celebrated Jesus rising, and today we humbly live in God's gracious love because of those events. A good time celebrating with family and friends. 

This morning started with Michael going back to school. Wah, waaah.  After a week together, we want him home longer. For making breakfast scones, bringing us donuts in bed, or for taking us to Soho Bakery. For relaxing together or for wrestling together. (We have discovered that wrestling is Tegegne's version of cuddling. It is in the choke hold that we sneak in hugs or love squeezes and we tell him we love him. He asked Michael to wrestle at least twice a day.) It's so good when all 5 of us are together!

Fields and Hensley were enjoying a morning nap while Tegegne and I hung out. With my permission, he decorated my eyes and face with bronze eyeshadow...

T: Mom, you should have dad take you on a date tonight. I know you would like that...He'll do it...Man! People are going to look at you and say, that lady's crazy, but she looks awesome.

Before that he painted with watercolor, then with acrylic. Now he's in the dryer playing a harmonica. 

Fields is now awake and diaper-less. Oh man. He just peed on me. All this action and one child is sleeping. 

Happy Monday to you. 

Kristyn

P.S. A friend captured this photo of Hensley last night as we hung out on the Nelson Lawn and finished our spring break well.