Esther Elizabeth

Okay, I know it has been a long time since I've posted. To be fair I have been a little busy. . . three little ones now in tow.

I love all my children, but I have never been so in love with one this early as I have been with baby Esther. With Ezekiel we were brand new parents; he was brand new and having issues figuring out how to nurse. I'd ended up with a c-section after a failed inducement and laboring and then had a terrible recovery. We probably spent too many sleepless nights with a new baby we weren't sure we knew how to take care of. (Shouldn't they have sent someone home from the hospital with us?!)

With Evelyn we weren't brand new parents, obviously, but we did have different body parts to try to clean. And again we had one that didn't quite know how to nurse. And again I ended up with a c-section after laboring over 20 hrs. (Better recovery for momma this time)

Then we come to Esther who we planned the c-section (no unnecessary laboring - yay!). She is a champion nurser – yay! She is already on a four hour schedule and seems to have a sweet spirit. I’ve also had my best recovery yet. These are answers to prayers – Praise God!

So I think it is a combination of things . . . no exhaustion from being up overnight laboring (for no good reason), not worrying about how to get the baby to eat, and to get the nurses to understand that supplementing doesn’t help the milk supply. God just allowed us to enjoy Esther in the hospital. He also poured His love on us by the love of our friends and family who showed up before and after to pray, bring food and/or meet our newest member.

God can make a new one?!

Just before nap Ezekiel said, with a smile, that Dad squeezes him. I tried to squeeze him, but I guess it wasn't the same.

At bedtime I told Dad what Ezekiel had said. Ezekiel proceeded to say that Dad could squeeze him and God could make him again.

Dad said that God only makes us once. (Would be really hard to explain that God makes us new when we are saved and then again when we go to Heaven)

Then Ezekiel said that him and Dad could squeeze Mom and then God can make me a 'new mom'. I said that God can fix me, but he doesn't make me again.


I thought this was pretty cool thinking. He has been learning at Cubbies that God made him and the earth, and . . .



This is definitely better than a few weeks ago. . .maybe he won't have to go to Walmart after all. (See previous post)

Moms for Sale at Walmart?

A few weeks ago . . .

Ezekiel requested oatmeal and asked to stay on the porch while I fixed it. He was given permission, but told him he must stay on the porch. I got the oatmeal started and then checked on him. He was just off the porch eating his cherry tomatoes (Dad planted one for Ezekiel - I don't know how much the neighbors appreciate our landscaping). I told him he must come in because he was not on the porch.

He then announced he did not want oatmeal and that I was a 'bad mom'. Now he didn't yell nor say this very convincingly. I asked to make sure I heard him right and told him that Evelyn and I would be eating oatmeal.

He pouted on the stairs for a few minutes then he came back and decided he did want to eat. I told him he needed to apologize because he hadn't talked to mom very nicely. He apologized.

Later somehow the subject came up again about being a 'bad mom'. I think I asked him about it. He said that he wanted a 'new mom'. I said, 'oh, and who do you want to be your new mom.' He said we would get a new one at Walmart. I asked if he was going to trade me in and he said yes.

I just want to know. . . if he decides to keep me and get a new mom . . . can I make a requirement that she cleans?! :)

SkyFort

Granddad very generously gave Ezekiel and Evelyn a SkyFort. It took Jason and Granddad (and me too) over 23 hours to put it together. Ezekiel loves it and want to go out and play on it everyday. He sadly asks if Evelyn can come out and play. She loves to swing, but obviously can't do much with the rest of the SkyFort yet.

Thanks Granddad!

Cubbies

Ezekiel is now in Cubbies. This is part of our church's AWANA program. He actually misses the cut-off by a month and a half, but since I am helping he can go.
He has a Bible verse to say each week. The three year old class doesn't have to know the reference (4 yr olds do). I was so proud! He said his first verse without help.
"God loved us and sent His son" (1 John 4:10)

I think this also had something to do with our email to Granddad. I was asking Ezekiel what to
say and one of the things was "God loves you". Melts my heart!

This week he will earn his vest. From there he earns patches for the verses he says. Although the three year old class is pretty lenient on them saying their verses without help . . . I'm hoping to continue encouraging him to learn them like he has so far! What a wonderful thing to learn so early!