yesterday

Yesterday was one of those days. You know the ones... when you want to have a "do-over" and jump back in bed by 10AM. The previous night we were out late enjoying the Super Bowl with friends. The kids were great, even well past bed times.

The payback came the next morning. All those who kept commenting on how chill Hannah was Sunday night should have seen her Monday. The evil twin came out to play.

BOTH kiddos fell apart at the drop of a hat. Hannah ended up sleeping away most of the day - seriously she had already had 2 naps by 1:30. Her awake moments were not pretty. Jack reverted to being 18mo old and couldn't take no for an answer to anything... major crocodile tears over EVERYTHING. And the whiiiiiining. Ugh. He seriously hadn't been that bad in years.

Not the best day to be in public, yet I discovered we were down to the last 3 diapers and did not have a thing to eat for dinner except for leftover chicken wings. So I took the grumps for a quick trip to Target. Not fun.

The worst by far was having to perform the Heimlich maneuver on Jackson during lunch. I had finished my meal and was about to take a giant stack of laundry upstairs to put away. I looked in on him and saw him in distress. It was AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL! Praise God I was there, the Heimlich worked, and I knew how to do it! We both cried afterwards. (For years we have harped on him to eat slower, chew more. I am shocked this hasn't happened sooner. Hopefully lesson learned.)

Mike came home that evening in the middle of a giant Jackson tantrum. After dinner, I basically clocked out. How sad is it that I wanted to clean our bathroom and straighten our room just to have an excuse for time to myself. After that and some good time in Bible Study, I was good as new. Really could have used that 12 hours earlier.

Praise be to the Lord that His mercies are new every morning!

Snow, part II

We spent the last three days sledding and having a blast with the neighborhood kids (and adults)! Jackson became the master sledder... and we did runs from the top of the hill all the way to the street!

Hannah even got to try it out (see video at the bottom of this post)! She honestly had the same expression the whole time - not upset, not laughing... just amused. So funny!

She did love hanging out with the Isaac girls! She LOVES them and she snuggles right up to them.

S N O W ! !

Jackson has been praying for snow for months.  This morning he said, "Thank you God for working this BIG snow!"  We got somewhere around 5" so far and its still coming down.  We've been sledding, making snow angels, and playing with friends.  No snowmen or snowfights so far as it's not good packing snow for that.

We bundled Hannah up like crazy for what amounted to about 5 minutes outside. :)  She just stared in awe and didn't really know what to make of it all! 

I'm sure there will be more snow posts soon.  This stuff will be around for several more days!

Jesus loves the little children

Jackson has taken up an interest, or I should say curiosity, with death.  We've been getting lots of questions about death and heaven lately. 

Last week Mommy was watching some news coverage on the Haitian Earthquake when Jackson, who normally is very unattentive to anything not involving animation, overheard something about the children who had died.  His ears perked, his heart grew tender, and he asked LOTS of questions.  I did my best to be sensitive to him and answer in a way he could understand.  We talked some about heaven and how they were with Jesus now.

He sat quietly with a pensive face and I could feel the little wheels in his head spinning with all this information as he processed it.  Then his eyes widened, his arms flared out, and with a huge smile on his face he said, "Mommy, those kids are OK!".  Noticing my puzzled face, he continued, "Remember the Bible Story?  Jesus LOVES to take care of little children.  He lets them sit on His lap and likes to hold them.  Don't worry, Mommy. Jesus will take care of all those kids."

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. - Matthew 19:13-15

Fighting back the pools of tears in my eyes, I smiled and agreed with my precious son, who baffles me with such maturity at age five. 

Month Eight

After months of drooling and frustration, Hannah Elyse finally cut the first tooth!  (the bottom right one)

Now that she is sitting well, she is REALLY into playing with toys.  The favorites for now are the stacking cups, teething toys, and her baby doll.  Or just sitting and watching that crazy big brother run circles around her.  She really enjoys the JumpARoo and her exersaucer.

Each day she is getting closer to crawling.  She can scoot a little, and push up on her knees, but hasn't figured out how to make those knees move.  Hannah is still all about standing and can stand while holding the couch for several minutes all by herself. 

She gets ridiculously happy when mommy wears her hair curly.  She talks to my hair, strokes it and squeals with delight. 

Naps are starting to extend in time - anywhere from 1 1/2 hours to 4 hours (usually on Sundays... it's hard to be the preacher's kid!). 

She continues to be a pretty laid back and easy baby girl!

So Happy Together

Lately, Hannah wants to be wherever her big brother happens to be.  And, so far he doesn't mind it one bit.  I feel like I say this all the time, but I really am so surprised and happy by how much he cares for her.  He can't stand it when she naps!  (I know this will change oh too soon.)

Jackson was a great and gentle pusher for her.

Hannah loves watching him play at the playground... and now she loves to play a little too.  Here is her first time in the baby swings. 

ain't they the cutest??

Here's some more pictures taken by our pal Amanda from Mishmash Photography.  We love her and love the pics!

7 Months (and some change)

I'm a little behind posting this, but wanted to get down some of the highlights of our little girly at this stage.

• She's an inchworm - she's learned how to scoot around by hiking her bottom up in the air and scooting on her face. Not the most attractive or effective mode of transportation, but it works for her.
  
• I'm sorry to report that Daddy insists on calling her Hannah Lou and hybrids of that name like Hannah Lousky... and even worse Hannah Loogie. I think he does it mostly to pester mommy, who detests these names. [He calls her Courtney Jo - also not her real name. And also an annoyance to her]
  
• She LOVES balloons.


• She loves to play "Drool Monster" (aka Slobber Robber) where we hold her and chase Jackson around trying to give him a big slobbery kiss. Guaranteed giggle fit for both she and Jack.


• She does not like to sit. She totally can and does, but she would MUCH rather be standing ALL THE TIME. Often when I set her down to sit she will stiffen flat as a board. She can stand by herself while holding on to something for brief periods of time.


• She does not like baby food with meat in it. The other day Daddy tried to give her some kind of beefy one and she held it in her mouth and refused to both swallow or open her mouth for more.


• The best part of Christmas for her was the ribbons, bows, bags, and tissue paper.


• You'll notice in some of the recent pics a red spot on her left cheek. Silly girl has stayed chapped for weeks there with all the cold weather. That's the side of the thumb she prefers to suck - and the source of much drool.


• Our trip to TN almost ruined her... waking up in the middle of the night, insisting to be held all day, etc. Thankfully she is returning to normal!
• She is feeding herself puffs. No teeth is sight yet, so we'll hold off on more table food.

Cuteness caught

The kiddos being giggly and silly together. These moments happen often, yet it is hard to catch on camera!! (Plus, a good chance to take pictures of Hannah in her cute little bear coat.)

Birthday at last!

Poor Jackson was sick on his actual birthday and had to settle for a small celebration at home with the family. Today he finally got to have a small party with a few buddies. Five boys = lots of bouncing, laughing, running, energy, and FUN! Thanks, friends, for making his 5th Birthday so special.

make that 6 boys... daddy had a blast too!

Special thanks to Miss Lauren for the AWESOME CAKE!!