Category: the New Middle Child

For My Abi

It’s something in that startling reality. It hit me last year too. That here amidst the fuss of VBS, my baby has gotten older. I knew it would come. I’ve watched you stepping out, embracing your independence, and conquering your discoveries.

Two had to come. But there is still something bittersweet about that reality.

I wonder at who you will be with how far your little personality has grown in the last year. Your character blooms with each morning. Your stubborn little likes and vibrant joy. That smile that ignites a room and turns us all to mush. Those blond ringlets. Your sweet little baby-fat cheeks. Your dimple. How you look like a little Daddy – with meat on your bones. Oh, little Abi how you melt Mommy’s heart.

And the way you snuggle in close. And have those moments where only Mommy will do. When you first wake up from nap or sleeping through the night and you just want to sit with me – you come running to find me, many times fussing until you find me, just to sit. Just to breathe together with your head on my shoulder. Your little world is all right again. All is in order. Then after five to ten minutes you slowly slip off, announcing your desire to start your morning or afternoon. You just needed me. And how I love needing you in those moments too.

Abi your little brave heart – diving into the dirt, fully-alive… tasting, experiencing to the full. Your all-in bravery wells up within you until you just can’t contain it. It makes you run at full-force into the playroom, following the lead of your sister’s good idea. It makes you leave Mommy’s side all at once and dive into the paint with two hands. What once was anxiety is now completely acceptable and inviting. My little Abi… so full of life.

And your shy, quiet Abi moments, clinging to Mommy’s leg. A noise that was too much, an animal moving unexpectedly at the Zoo. I can hear it a mile away running down the hallway or across the room, “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!!!” You find your safety and reassurance in my arms again. The trust causing your body to calm. The fear releasing as safety and calm creep in. You make me feel like such a hero sometimes, Abi. I don’t deserve that kind of love and trust.

And even those little spit-fire independence tantrums. Things not going according to plan. Love, the passion in your little soul welling forth. Such promise it holds with a little self-control. I remember my own zeal. Justice is a need – even if right now it’s selfishly driven. Keep that spunk, little one, even when it feels more like rebellion and Mommy has to teach you the hard lessons of self-control and “being stubborn about the right things.” Your heart and passion are such a beautiful thing to watch mature.

So tomorrow as we celebrate you, my dear Abi, even if Mommy has a little tear as the birthday slide show scrolls through your baby and young toddler pictures, please know:

Mommy loves you beyond words. Your beautifuls and your discipling moments. You hold a precious little place in my heart, my Abi…. my precious Abi. And it has truly been a privilege to hold your hand, snuggle you close, and let you go as I watch you grow into a little girl.

Baby… you’ll always be Mommy’s baby… no matter how many other ones come into our family. And I hope and pray and look forward to the day when I will get to call you more than Mommy’s baby, but also my sister in Christ, Lord willing. Oh my Abi, how much the Lord has blessed us and me personally when He added you to our little family. And He is blessing me and challenging me and teaching me and growing me through the joy and the delight of you, my Abi Grace.

Happy 2nd Birthday, my Abi. 
Happy indeed. 

– I love you.

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WITH Chocolate!

The other night we decided to make some cookies. We had some free time so why not add in some chocolate, right?!

Here’s my THRILLED helpers who highly enjoyed the process. And are still enjoying the eating process. =)

Adding in the right amount is fun work. 
Stir the flour and backing soda and salt together. 
Sugar, sugar sugar. 
And more sugar of course! =)
Thrilled to be a “big helper.”
(Abi vetoed the scary blender noise help part.)
“Stick your tongue out…”
Could she open any wider? hehe.
Mmmmm, chocolate chips!
Concentration helps to hold the gigantic spoon.

I didn’t grab any pics of the eating part cause *ahem* my hands were preoccupied. But let me tell you what, the 14 minutes of excited waiting was well worth the yummies.

Good times had by all.

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Pool Play

This “Spring” has brought some wonderfully hot afternoons in which pool play seemed only to be a natural conclusion. So a few weeks ago on one such hot day we busted out the old pool from last year, borrowed a pump from a friend (thanks, Lydia) because of course we couldn’t find ours on that day, and “filled her up” for post-nap jubilation. Now by “we” I am referring to Matt in this case doing all the hard work because I was working on another project that day of the sewing origin.

So here’s some fun in the sun pool pics I have to share of our frolicking delights.

 Daddy spoiling our girls with a mix of freezing hose water and boiling water from the stove. 
 Water play: good. =)
 Frolic away…
 “Oh! It’s so cold!”
 Play, play, play.
 Taking serious safety precautions here. 😉
 Dump and fill, dump and fill.
 Never mind our recycling bin propping up part of the deflating pool. hehe.
[Guess we’ll have to spend an other whoppin’ $18 on a new one this year (dramatic sigh)].
And what better than Popsicles in the pool on a hot afternoon. =)
We had a great time. Thanks for sharing in the joy with us.
And by all means, next time come play with us! =)
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From My Monkies to Theirs

We had the privilege of going with Aunt Jes to the Zoo last week. [Thank you again, Lauren, for the tickets]. The girls had a blast and were quite good for staying up hours past their nap times.

We started our adventure early, having breakfast in the car to try to get down to the Zoo and utilize our morning energy stock. After bathing in sunblock and stuffing the stroller with dryer sheets (keeps bug away without the need for bug spray on skin [motions to eczema kids]), we hit the zoo. We organized a plan of attack when looking at the map and show times.

Abi was initially QUITE nervous about the animals themselves moving unpredictably. But with Mommy holding her, she only shuddered a little bit and eventually warmed up to the fact that the animals were in cages and not free to, say, bite her toes. It’s funny but while that little girl ADORES animals, the actual things make her nervous and she comes a little unraveled at first. Security is found in the trusted’s arms, though.

Rachael was her regular all-in three year old self. She took an extra step of independence in wanting to walk for most of the Zoo, with some stroller breaks. [Now, I’m a fan for her walking and she’s on the verge of being too big to ride in a stroller at “walking events” but for now if I have the option of getting her red-head skin out of direct sunlight under the stroller’s extended hood, I’ll take it.]

We re-slathered on sunblock throughout the day (Matt would have been so proud, Mr. Apply hourly to avoid 3rd degree white skinned man) and paced outside viewings with inside AC rechargings for this pregnant Momma. But I must say, while the on had some hot moments found behind the double stroller of 66+lbs of kids…. on hills, the breeze and the temperature when not “working out” were perfect! I was thankful. And the baby animals – especially the baby fox? A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.

The Zoo Park: YAY for burning energy with JOY!
Such a brave “jumper”. hehe.
Abi’s idea was to ride on Rachael’s lap. =)

My Spiderladies.



Turtle Petting:
Oooh… he’s slow and isn’t unpredictable in movements. I can do this!

brave in the trusted arms of Aunt Jes.
– despite her pain-labeled face in this pic, she really was thrilled. Just caught her in an odd-faced moment. –

It was a wonderful time. And while we were there all day, I only took a few pics so as not to be “the photographer” but instead to be fully there. =)

– Thanks for sharing in our Zoo fun!

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Straight to Bed

Yesterday I cleaned off the extra twin bed in the girls’ room. I had been using it as an “outgrown clothes” pile for a few months after setting it up in celebration of passing out of the first trimester of pregnancy with Hannah. Since Alivia never made it beyond the first trimester, I wanted to celebrate Hannah’s advancement and the Lord’s blessing us with a thriving pregnancy. The plan is for all three girls to share a room in the nursery (Rachael and Abi’s bed will eventually bunk together), and continue to leave our “new kid room” freed up for Respite care kids from foster care and, when the time comes, our new adopted child(ren).

With Hannah baking in the oven and Abi’s second birthday approaching, I set up the bed before I got too big and it would be highly uncomfortable to build a twin bed. Then it sat there… collecting outgrown clothes as a loading dock for storage in the file clothes boxes.

Life continued on as normal.

Looking at the calendar, I came to realize Abi will be two in a little less than 2 weeks. (Wow on many levels). See, 2 is the age Abi will be when Hannah arrives. This may not sound phenomenal to you all, but to me it makes September feel like tomorrow. And all the preparations and joys and anticipations that September holds right along with it.

So I started chipping away at the clothes on the bed yesterday: sorting, stacking, putting in boxes, and labeling some newly added boxes before shoving them under the bed until Abi grows into them, for Rachael’s outgrown clothes, or until Hannah will grow into them, for Abi’s outgrown clothes. Kinda crazy and fun the memories that flooded out of those little clothes as I enjoyed the folding and storing process.

Once the bed was cleaned off, Abi said, “Hannah’s bed” when becoming acutely aware of a new climbing structure in the nursery.

“No, Abi. That’s Abi’s bed…. this is Hannah’s bed,” I pointed to her crib.

She looked confused.

“Hannah’s bed?” She patted the new twin.

“No, that’s Abi’s new bed. Hannah will sleep in the crib.” I re-explained.

She carried on with life.

Today at nap time we followed the normal routine: new diaper, fan on, lights out, Rachael potties. And then Abi took a bold step of initiative.

“Abi’s bed” she said and began to climb up on the twin bed.

“Do you want to nap there?” I asked, a little startled.

A huge smile spread across her face.
“Abi’s bed.” She repeated.

So I let her pick out her sheets (she picked the striped hot-pink ones. hehe), dressed the bed, brought over the familiar loves (ducky, lambie and blankey). And my proud almost 2 year old had the biggest smile I’ve seen on her face as I tucked her in “just like Rachael.”

So proud of herself that it’s contagious.

She was still beaming as she fell asleep – no fuss, no need for verbal reminders of nap time. Just Abi – being huge… just like Rachael.

(shrugs shoulders) That was easy.

Abi’s private section of the nursery.
The nursery’s layout. 
Rachael’s close by for moral support. 😉

I was planning on having her try out napping in the “big girl bed” next week and then transition her to “night sleeps” at 2 years old. We’ll see if she doesn’t just transition herself.

Go, Abi, go!!!

– (Sigh) My growing girl.

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