What's new with our family?

A while back I posted on "What's new?" in our family, and oddly, it is one of my favourite posts; it's nice to keep a record of the happenings of each member in our household, and I look back and smile at how life has changed in what is in reality a short period of time.

I thought I'd go ahead a do another one. I hope you come along for the ride.

Isaiah

Isaiah is now 26 months old. He's just a teensy bit older than Noah was when Isaiah was born. That fact in itself is astounding to me, because as I look back on Noah's life as a two-year-old, Isaiah is definitely more talkative.

He loves to join in on adult conversations with the phrase, "My a off-highway dump truck!" (which means "I am an off-highway dump truck;" he hasn't mastered the personal pronoun.) What a funny fellow.

He also recently began singing excitedly when I had some guests over for dinner -- I had made lasagna -- "Lasagna in the highest!"

He also is still the Elemental Baby he once was. I took the boys to the beach today, and while Noah exhibited a healthy respect and fear of the water, only going in to dip his feet in and such, Isaiah just lay on the sand where the water was shallow and crawled backwards over and over.

He told me "My going away!"
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"Lifesite news!"

(Pray tell, where is that?)

Meanwhile, I had neglected to put him in a swim-diaper so his disposable diaper absorbed so much water as to become about four pounds. It was literally dragging down his bathing suit. As soon as he said "My diaper falling off!" I stripped him down, and boy was he thrilled to dance around in the toddler-buff on the beach.

Also, tonight he got a look on his face as though he was receiving a revelation and said, "Mommy, you a wife!" Previously, I guess he believed me to be a mother, nothing more or less. When I said, "Yes that's right. What's my husband's name?" he smiled impishly and said "Henry."

Patrick

(I couldn't resist using that last comment as a segue to my actual husband)

The chocolate chip cookies he made me tonight while I gave the boys their bath.

Chocolate is the sixth love language.

He is getting into the groove of life in our new town. I used to think he was shy when we first met, ha! No, Patrick is the extrovert in our marriage. He is more willing to have company over or accept invitations elsewhere than me, and after Mass 3/4 of the time it's me giving me a Look from the steps of the church to wrap up his chit-chatting and get in the car with the rest of us.

I guess you could say he's enjoying things greatly!

It looks as though he will be registering for his two final courses in his Master's degree in the fall, to complete our tradition of always doing at least two courses when I freshly crazy post-partem.

(Please understand, he is immensely helpful with me and the children, especially when there is a new baby around. I am actually not complaining about him taking these classes in the upcoming semester. I am glad that the end is so near, after nearly five years of working away at it! Also, the two courses he needs to graduate are being offered now, so strike while the iron is hot and the Baby is forth-coming! Right? Right!)

Also, he recently signed up for Pinterest, much to my teasing (I thought only housewives and women planning weddings used Pinterest, but I was wrong) and has been pinning away at chicken coop plans and ideas on reflooring the house.

Call it "manly nesting."

Noah

This little fellow is doing his own version of "manly nesting." At his insistence, we planted seed potatoes and wait (with little expectation, I am afraid to say {purple thumb}) for the results. I decided I can't perpetually use the excuse that "we just moved!" or "I'm pregnant!" to gloss over activities he really desires to do. Hence, we went ahead and did some gardening.

He also is determined that the old building on our property will be a bakery. He has such elaborate plans in mind for it. I will get up early and make all the bread (heh), and he will sell it. He also thinks we should dye it with various colours of food colouring, I suppose to establish a sort of niche market? Because how nifty would your morning toast be if it was bright blue? 

Nice thinking, Little Noah!

He is also loving having so many children to play around with. My shy little fellow isn't quite so shy, after all. Today he startled me by climbing a tree for the first time, because the boys he was playing with were all doing it.

When did he get to be such a four-year old boy? 

Me

(Photo by Noah)

Our summer here has been so much different than our previous summers in Nova Scotia. There we would go months without seeing any friends; here, it's Grand Central Station with almost non-stop vistors. I love it.

It. is. so. busy.

I am also trying to actually read a book. I know, big news, right? But I tend to read parts of books and put them aside and get distracted by another. I haven't read a novel since the winter, wherein I devoured "Strangers and Sojourners" by Michael O'Brien. 

As usual, I found myself reaching for non-fiction. This time it's "The Child in the Family" by Maria Montessori. It's challenging but exciting food-for-thought.

I can't say I have been the picture-perfect "glowing" pregnant woman this time around. I am finding the summer borderline unbearable in my hot, un-air-conditioned house. Also, I have never had to experience being so far advanced in my pregnancy with such hot temperatures.

The van here tells me it's 38 degrees!

Since the van itself is air-conditioned, it's tempting to find excuses for going on long drives!

 While carrying my first two, I felt like a magnet for people's enthusiasm for pregnancy, babies and family life, now I am a magnet for people's cynicism. Typically when I am out-and-about, I am with the boys, so I guess the fact that this is clearly my third makes me, statistically, unusual. To that end, I have had numerous people tell me "you're pretty brave." Yet they say it in a disdainful voice, which translates into "you're pretty crazy."

Also, what exactly is with strangers commenting on how "huge" I am? In our culture, is it ever acceptable to comment on a woman's size? I was even told I looked "awful stout."

It's hard not to feel discouraged by all of this.

Yet meanwhile, I have a beautiful baby growing inside of me. So despite what some naysayers think, I am amazingly, richly blessed.

Baby Lemon

This little one is so loved already! The boys are infatuated with the baby, and Noah gets so starry-eyed at the mention of being able to hold him or her. He said to me today, "And maybe you will let me rock Baby Lemon to sleep?" His face with lit up at the thought.

This baby is quite active. So said my ultrasound technician over a month ago, and so did my midwife when I had an appointment this week. The baby's heart-rate was fast and furious, which she noted. I looked vaguely concerned, and she said, "no, it's good-fast, busy-fast." Immediately I thought, "Busy like Isaiah...?! Boy is my life about to spin!"

I keep thinking about this little October Baby -- what it will be like to celebrate Advent and Christmas with a newborn. Will I find shoes tiny enough for St. Nicholas to bring treats to this child? (My two spring babies never wore shoes... either sleepers or they just went barefoot.) Also, what treats does one put in the shoes of an exclusively breastfed baby?

These are all just details of course, silly things that cross the minds of us mothers as we wash the dishes, correct the misbehaviour, straighten the living room, gas up the mini-van. While they could be just more details to worry or fret over, the thought of this child being born in a matter of months is giving me surprisingly great peace. 

I am blessed with uncomplicated pregnancies -- a few months of frequent vomiting, sure, but overall health and well-being. Because of this, I think I am able to be a bit more reflective on what a gift it is to carry a little creation of God inside of me. It helps to put perspective on the Grandness and awesomeness behind the busy-ness of raising my other two children.