I want to remember....

...the way Graham climbed into our bed with a sick, feverish Hannah Reece.  I walked in to find him tickling her back and singing "You Are My Sunshine".  A beautiful and rare sight in a season of mild but frequent sibling rivslry.  

...waking up this morning to Camille sleeping deeply on the love seat face down, head pushed up into the corner, feet dangling off the edge.  Next to her?  A pile of nerf assault rifles.  That stuff they say about the adaptability of third borns?  All true.  :)  

...the way Camille tells friends and family "my momma's havin' anodah baby."  With the sweetest little smile and quiet, monotone voice.  

...how good it felt to bag up 4 bags of clothes from my closet last night.  I slept so well!  I did save  one rubbermaid bin of clothes for post-pregnancy.  I had been hanging on to clothes that I didn't even care for, plus my body has changed so much after three pregnancies and thirty-five years of living (what is it about thirty-five?)  I refuse to feel pressure after this baby is born from unworn clothes in the closet!  Thankful for a body that can carry babies and another year of life, even with it's sluggish metabolism.  Thank you for rewarding us with children, Lord!

...that I am SO happy to have my love home for a whole week!  We have a little trip planned to Atlanta toward the end of the week to visit the GA. aquarium and Stone mtn.  but even if we are unable to go with the strep and cold currently making rounds in our home....it's all good.  I love seeing sweet hubs' face all day long. 

...that I think this all-day sickness is winding down!  I will be TWELVE weeks pregnant tomorrow and glory hallelujah, I'm happy to say that I can usually make it through the day without intense nausea and headache for the last few days.  The only time I feel it intensely is if I take a long afternoon nap-then the rest of the afternoon I feel like junk.  

I want to remember...

...late night conversations with Graham.  He loves his "Action Bible" and while it's not a comprehensive Bible, I am amazed at the details of people, places, and stories that he can recount.  I would guess that he spends between 2 and 6 hours a day buried in that Action Bible.

...the way Camille prefers to be nekkid.   :)  Eats nekkid, plays nekkid, sleeps nekkid.   She says she's "hot".  And also, she asks to take a bath at least three times a day.

...Hannah Reece copying her new friend Ginger's (mom's cell phone) number on an index card at Chick Fil A today.  It is so cool to see her friendship with Ginger blossoming-her first friend beyond cousins!

...the way Graham talks to and kisses/hugs my belly multiple times a day.  His favorite thing to whisper (besides "I love you, baby!") is "Hi baby!  Puuuuleeeeze grow a penis!"

...the way Camille looks so small in her big girl  bed.  She has been sleeping with Dan and I for about the last 6 months. Even though we know better!  :)  Sleep is valuable and I think we just did what we needed to to ensure that everyone slept all.night.long.  Anyway, Camille usually cries out once or twice, I go in and rub her back, cover her up and she rolls over and falls asleep again.  It's so sweet to see the girls together in their big-girl room, thumbs in their mouths and looking peaceful.

...that Hannah Reece has been craving time with me lately.  She prefers to stay behind when Daddy takes the other two on errands (she used to love errands with Daddy!)  and we read books, watch a show or make crafts together.  Her latest creation was her first scrapbook!  She did an awesome job!

So thankful.

Presidential Election Banter....from a 6 and 8 year old's perspective

After a short discussion about the presidential election this morning, Hannah Reece told me that if SHE were president she would change the rule "finders keepers-losers weepers" to "finders give backers".  "I would make a lot of rules more godly rules," she said.

Several days ago Johnathon and Graham were playing Lego at the kitchen table.  I overheard Graham asking Johnathon who he'd vote for.  "Obama?" he asked.  "No way," Johnathon said, "I'm voting for Mitt Romney."  "I think I know why,  because he's funny," Graham said, and they both started laughing.

number four

It's official....we're expecting baby number FOUR.  It is so surreal to write this!   Each time we try to grow our family, I prepare myself for months of waiting.  (even though when Dan and I look at each other cross-eyed and get pregnant-ha!)  The Lord met our desires with a "yes" very quickly, once again.  We are so excited (and freaking out a little, too.)  :)

I had picked a three-pack of tests because I knew we were trying and they were on sale.  :)  ha!  My how things have changed-I remember I bought the fanciest test to be sure it was perfectly positive with Graham.  So funny.   Anyway,  I took one about a week and a half ago, another one on Tuesday-both negative.  On Friday evening, Dan suggested that maybe  I  should take another one in the morning.  When I woke up Saturday morning, I headed straight for the bathroom, remembered the test, did my part and left it on the bathroom window sill.  I then curled back up under the covers with Millie.  TOTALLY thinking it would be negative but highly entertained with Dan's excitement.  About 30 seconds later I hear laughter...silence....and then out of now where he appears right next to me. "We're going to have a BABY!"  I  thought he was joking.  I was practically asleep.  After all, it was 6 o'clock in the morning!!  I jump out of bed (wide awake now) and bolt to the bathroom to see the test.  "Oh my WORD!"  Totally shocked.  Like heart beating fast, light headed shocked.  It was nuts.  Then this feeling of panic.  How will I do this?  Can I do this?  How will we do this?  And then the tears. Dan, was so sweet and reassuring.  This was not the response I expected to experience from myself.    The truth is, I can't do this on my own.  I'm at the end of my own means.  I am leaning hard into the Lord's strength and mighty arms and it is the BEST.  Exactly where I want to be-running to Him.  Peace washes over me.  And I am GRATEFUL.  Thank you, Lord for this child!

I snapped a video yesterday of Dan and I sharing the big news with Graham and Hannah Reece.  Graham likes to play hang-man, so we made a little game of it.  Here's the final result of our little game:

Graham was sooooo visibly excited (as expected)  :)  and is really hoping for a baby brother.  Hannah Reece was smiling, but a little quiet.  She has to internally process things and I love this quality about her.  She's thinking it through!  :)  She is concerned that the baby might be allergic to dairy, like Camille, and also where this baby will sleep, etc.  We've reassured her that the Lord has planned this child for our family and we trust Him wholeheartedly to guide us through the details.  (I need to remember this, too!)  Today she kissed my belly three times.  I think sweet sister is excited.  And she wants a boy...her bedroom's already maxed out for cryin' out loud!  ;)  Miss Millie is still unaware, and we hope to keep it that way for a bit longer.  In her chattery, innocent two-ness she might spill the beans before we're ready.

We let the kids pick who they wanted to tell.  Graham chose to tell Grandma + Grandpa, Hannah Reece chose to tell Nana and Papa.  Graham played hang-man the same way to tell Gma and Gpa and they were so surprised and excited!  Mom stopped by today and Hannah Reece told Nana right away.  Papa called to talk to her this evening, and she shared the news with him over the phone. This baby will make #6 grandchild for my parents and #11 for the Oedy's.  It's a tie-breaker on the Oedy side, there are 5 boys and 5 girls!  So for now, the big kids and our parents are the only ones who know.

I still can't believe it's true, but I praise God for this amazing gift from above.  We trust that children are a blessing from the Lord.  It is a joy to surrender our lives to Him as parents.  I am grateful that He will never leave or forsake us or our children.  Our faith is in the Lord alone.

***
Dear sweet baby,

We are thankful and excited about you!  I can't wait to smell your sweetness and hold you close.  It is a privilege to be your momma.  I am honored to be able to watch  your life unfold from a front-row seat.  Daddy is beside-himself excited about you.  I'm pretty sure he was jumping up and down (all 6'4" of his big self) in the bathroom when he peeked at the test first.   :)  He's always envisioned four children for us, so you may be the grand finale.  I pray that your precious body and soul would grow to be strong in wisdom and stature.  Your life is already a blessing and  joy to our family.  Your brother and sisters can't wait to meet you tiny one!

We love you,
Momma

Mom, lets talk.

These are some of the topics of before-sleep discussions.  I love our bedtime chats!

Which holiday is more important, Thanksgiving or Christmas?

Why did they choose Christmas to be Jesus' birthday?

Which is more powerful?  God or Jesus?

Why did they call Christmas, "Christmas?"

aunt shirlee + uncle greg

This is a post from months ago...but I finally finished it...so here it is!  

***

Each year, Dan's Aunt Shirlee and Uncle Greg come to visit.  We always look forward to special time with them, and the kids think they are the best!  Here are a few of our last night together at Rog and Nancy's house.

Hannah Reece requested the above and below pictures with some of her very favorite people.

a peek at our week {in pictures}

My goal is to delete/edit my pics from the week on Friday nights.  Here are the first "fruits" of my photo purge/sort.  We're easing back in to some scheduled days and I'm trying to make sure to build it time for things that are energizing and enjoyable to me so that I don't slip into "Mom-the-martyr" mode.  :)  Organizing and journaling on our pictures is one of those activities for sure!  After the joys and challenges of the week, a little memory-keeping exercise like this reminds me of all I have to be thankful for.

Dan came home on Monday night after interviewing our new church preschool director ready to celebrate!  It's been quite stressful at work this summer and this was a huge relief..  He called the emergency babysitting squad (Grandma and Grandpa) and they scooted right over to watch the kids for an hour while we noshed on some cheese fries at Rib City.  No eating after 7 is out the window when you need to celebrate.  :)

Went to the library on Monday, which means a gigantic pile of books and 7 dvd's (the library's limit)   I think they were watching Princess and the Pop Star Veggie Tales with every blanket in the house piled on top of their bodies.  I almost forgot Millie was in this pic!  Can you spot her? 

This boy is so sweet on his sisters, and right now, Miss Millie has his affections.  The feeling is mutual! In fact when she got into some trouble she ran to Graham to tell on me!  "Grammy....momma....me feel so sad!"  So, so pitiful.  

Our little "pantry raider" is now the "panty raider"  ;) This pic is going to get me into trouble one day with Camille....I'm sure of it. (Don't worry, this blog is private only for you, family and super close friends!)  

Sitting across from these three at lunch...I was overcome with gratitude to God for entrusting me with their lives and hearts!  

Graham getting in Daddy's sermon writing process.  Dan is intentional about helping our children understand and be a part of the ministry God has called him to.  One of the many things I admire about him. 

We rearranged Graham's room and sorted out  all of the Lego (a friday morning tradition).  A clean slate in the Lego room always gets the creative juices flowing.  Here, Hannah Reece is demonstrating her awesome Hello Kitty village.  She is so proud of it!  She asked me to take pictures at every angle; here is another:

our blue-eyed beauty

our buddies Asher and Jadon came to play.  We loved how the kids all piled on the sofas right away and started looking at books and reading to each other.  Makes some homeschool momma's hearts feel happy!  I  enjoy stimulating conversation with their mom, Sarah, politics, theology...nothing's off limits.  Grateful for friendships like these.

So sweet!  This little cocked-head pose is how Camille poses for the camera lately.  

Thank you, Lord.