What's New? (vol. 4)
The last time I wrote a What's New post was almost two years ago (here are the other ones. Tempus fugit!). I love these funny little snippets of our life, and of course, so much changes from month to month, let alone from year to year!.
Somehow I neglected to mention on the blog that he's finally finished his Master's degree! What a triumph and a relief this is for all of us!
He had been working on this program since Noah was only six weeks old. When he signed up he didn't have work, so more schooling seemed not only more feasible but even potentially necessary to help him find employment. Of course, he did find work soon thereafter, and that work developed into several promotions, more demands being made on his time, not to mention the birth of two more children, as well as the gestation of another. Hence, it took almost seven years.
But he did it!
In other news, he continues his work with LifeSite which takes up the bulk of his time.
That, and being a husband and a dad to very-soon-to-be four sweet children.
Ah, how refreshing it is to strike "and perpetual student" from that litany!
As well, he is so proficient at riding his bike now. I suppose he has been for almost a year. But the contrast is so surprising to me, that this spring, we can pop Anna in the stroller (and sometimes Isaiah too, if he's over-tired) and let Noah rip ahead of me and Patrick on his bike while we walk along. In fact with the two youngest kids contained and Noah half a block ahead, it almost resembles a "date." That is, an uninterrupted conversation while leisurely strolling along.
Soccer season is starting soon for our boys, and Noah is incredibly excited. I'm not sure how much time I will clock at the sidelines, giving the timing of soccer in conjunction with my due date. But I do hope to make it to a match or two. As well he's become quite an enthusiast for chess. He signed up for an inter-school chess tournament, and although he didn't make the team, he got chosen to be a substitute. Not bad for being only in grade 1!
His contribution? "I love eating cake. I love to go to the circus."
Dear, dear Isaiah. I am so delighted to see how many ways he has grown since starting school. Just this morning, he was tracing some words I had printed out faintly -- at his request, monumental in and of itself -- and his pen-grip which used to be more like a toddler's grasp was perfectly corrected. Heaven knows I tried, and tried, to teach him that but it took the incredibly gifted ECE at his school whom he practically worships to show him the proper way to hold a pen.
He also had been increasingly slipping into more picky eating habits, but another triumph occurred last night.
He has been of the mind for the past year or more that the only meat he will eat is bacon or sausage, or ground beef/pork. So a great deal of our meals have centred around ground meat -- Shepherd's pie, tacos, spaghetti with meat sauce, meatballs and rice. Last night, however, I absolutely needed chicken. I decided I would find something else for him to fill up on, but the whole chicken I had on hand would be dinner for the rest of us.
Guess what? Patrick coaxed him into eating a small piece with the promise that salt made it even tastier. And sweet Isaiah loved it, and asked for seconds.
(This may not sound like a big deal to most people, but it got me choked up.)
Today, he was in the schoolyard and was caught eating some dirt. Yes, actually.
His teacher asked him why and he said he was hungry. So she got him a small snack and then suggested he shouldn't eat dirt anymore because it isn't good for him. He calmly told her, "but I've seen my mommy do it. She's pregnant and that makes a woman do strange things."
I wish I could tell you he was joking. But yes, he did catch me eating a pinch, truly only a pinch, of soil from our garden, the reason being that I suffer from pretty intense pica.
There's nothing quite like being sweetly put in my place by my not-even-five year old.
She is the chattiest little two year old with whom I have ever been in company! It's a delight to converse with her. When we go out on errands, people are continuously flabbergasted by how well-spoken she is for her age. Plus, she has a great sense of (unintentional) humour. The other day, I overheard her speaking to a huge pile of unfolded clean laundry and said excitedly, "I can't wait until Mommy finally deals with you!"
She loves playing Cowgirl, which consists mostly of jumping off the couch and yelling "nippih-toadie!" This of course, means "yippi-coyote!"
She loves Daniel Tiger's Neighbourhood so much that yesterday when we were walking to pick up her brothers from school, I said "it's a beautiful day!" and she began to sing "in the neighbourhood!"
She also loves babies, loves them. She plays endlessly with her dolls, brings them to the table for meals, and sweetly folds their hands to say grace, and then gently spoon-feeds them. It's so very different to watch this in action, because my boys didn't really play so imaginatively with dolls.
More importantly, though, she loves real live babies. It makes me so excited to introduce her to her little brother in five weeks.
I'm just about 35 weeks now. It's the paradox of pregnancy, where on the calendar, it's such a short period of time left between now and my due date, but physically and emotionally, it feels like climbing a mountain.
This is a fairly accurate depiction of my life these days, especially placing the keys in the fridge. Except mine were UNDER a waste paper basket; yes it was me who put them there, and no, I have no idea why.
Other than the sheer toil of just trying to do things, I am pretty happy these days. Watching my children grow, realizing our marriage is getting more mature, and dreaming of another sweet little baby to love and be loved by his siblings and father fills my heart up.
Patrick
Somehow I neglected to mention on the blog that he's finally finished his Master's degree! What a triumph and a relief this is for all of us!
He had been working on this program since Noah was only six weeks old. When he signed up he didn't have work, so more schooling seemed not only more feasible but even potentially necessary to help him find employment. Of course, he did find work soon thereafter, and that work developed into several promotions, more demands being made on his time, not to mention the birth of two more children, as well as the gestation of another. Hence, it took almost seven years.
But he did it!
Celebrating in style at a local restaurant
In other news, he continues his work with LifeSite which takes up the bulk of his time.
That, and being a husband and a dad to very-soon-to-be four sweet children.
Ah, how refreshing it is to strike "and perpetual student" from that litany!
Noah
When he saw I was blogging, he asked what the post was about. When I explained, he said I should point out "I really like reading Redwall." He got the book in his Easter basket and it's our latest read-aloud. It's very enjoyable for both of us.As well, he is so proficient at riding his bike now. I suppose he has been for almost a year. But the contrast is so surprising to me, that this spring, we can pop Anna in the stroller (and sometimes Isaiah too, if he's over-tired) and let Noah rip ahead of me and Patrick on his bike while we walk along. In fact with the two youngest kids contained and Noah half a block ahead, it almost resembles a "date." That is, an uninterrupted conversation while leisurely strolling along.
Soccer season is starting soon for our boys, and Noah is incredibly excited. I'm not sure how much time I will clock at the sidelines, giving the timing of soccer in conjunction with my due date. But I do hope to make it to a match or two. As well he's become quite an enthusiast for chess. He signed up for an inter-school chess tournament, and although he didn't make the team, he got chosen to be a substitute. Not bad for being only in grade 1!
He does love selfies, this one.
Isaiah
His contribution? "I love eating cake. I love to go to the circus."
Dear, dear Isaiah. I am so delighted to see how many ways he has grown since starting school. Just this morning, he was tracing some words I had printed out faintly -- at his request, monumental in and of itself -- and his pen-grip which used to be more like a toddler's grasp was perfectly corrected. Heaven knows I tried, and tried, to teach him that but it took the incredibly gifted ECE at his school whom he practically worships to show him the proper way to hold a pen.
He also had been increasingly slipping into more picky eating habits, but another triumph occurred last night.
He has been of the mind for the past year or more that the only meat he will eat is bacon or sausage, or ground beef/pork. So a great deal of our meals have centred around ground meat -- Shepherd's pie, tacos, spaghetti with meat sauce, meatballs and rice. Last night, however, I absolutely needed chicken. I decided I would find something else for him to fill up on, but the whole chicken I had on hand would be dinner for the rest of us.
Guess what? Patrick coaxed him into eating a small piece with the promise that salt made it even tastier. And sweet Isaiah loved it, and asked for seconds.
(This may not sound like a big deal to most people, but it got me choked up.)
Today, he was in the schoolyard and was caught eating some dirt. Yes, actually.
His teacher asked him why and he said he was hungry. So she got him a small snack and then suggested he shouldn't eat dirt anymore because it isn't good for him. He calmly told her, "but I've seen my mommy do it. She's pregnant and that makes a woman do strange things."
I wish I could tell you he was joking. But yes, he did catch me eating a pinch, truly only a pinch, of soil from our garden, the reason being that I suffer from pretty intense pica.
There's nothing quite like being sweetly put in my place by my not-even-five year old.
Anna
She is the chattiest little two year old with whom I have ever been in company! It's a delight to converse with her. When we go out on errands, people are continuously flabbergasted by how well-spoken she is for her age. Plus, she has a great sense of (unintentional) humour. The other day, I overheard her speaking to a huge pile of unfolded clean laundry and said excitedly, "I can't wait until Mommy finally deals with you!"
She loves playing Cowgirl, which consists mostly of jumping off the couch and yelling "nippih-toadie!" This of course, means "yippi-coyote!"
She loves Daniel Tiger's Neighbourhood so much that yesterday when we were walking to pick up her brothers from school, I said "it's a beautiful day!" and she began to sing "in the neighbourhood!"
She also loves babies, loves them. She plays endlessly with her dolls, brings them to the table for meals, and sweetly folds their hands to say grace, and then gently spoon-feeds them. It's so very different to watch this in action, because my boys didn't really play so imaginatively with dolls.
More importantly, though, she loves real live babies. It makes me so excited to introduce her to her little brother in five weeks.
Me
I'm just about 35 weeks now. It's the paradox of pregnancy, where on the calendar, it's such a short period of time left between now and my due date, but physically and emotionally, it feels like climbing a mountain.
This is a fairly accurate depiction of my life these days, especially placing the keys in the fridge. Except mine were UNDER a waste paper basket; yes it was me who put them there, and no, I have no idea why.
Other than the sheer toil of just trying to do things, I am pretty happy these days. Watching my children grow, realizing our marriage is getting more mature, and dreaming of another sweet little baby to love and be loved by his siblings and father fills my heart up.
Oh, gosh, that pica incident is hilarious. You probably gave the staff room a huge laugh! And, congrats, Noah, someone didn't show up and you got to play at the tournament! Anna, wow, the laundry remark is classic and so very mature.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you were having a boy!! Yay! The dirt episode is so funny :) Ack, I want to meet your kids and hang out with you.
ReplyDelete