Graduation Sunday

At church on Sunday we had the graduating senior celebration as part of the service. Each senior had a slide with the their baby picture and graduation picture. I’ve seen this kind of thing many times before, but this year I just sat and cried. I know it’s silly, but I kept thinking about how Joshua’s picture and then Mary Claire’s will be up on some sort of screen like that someday and how that someday will probably come much more quickly than I can even imagine. God reminded me to cherish each of the precious moments I have with my children and to cherish them just as they are in these moments. To cherish their emerging personalities, their blossoming bent toward independence, their laughter, their silliness, their desire to play outside all day, their messes, their requests for me to play with them…to cherish it all, the lovely and not-so-lovely altogether. Because they will not be as they are in these moments for long. They will be off before I know it. And I want to know that I was all there with them, truly engaged in who God was making them day by day and being a happy part of their childhood story.

So, here’s to the 14 and 17 more years (Lord willing!) until Joshua and Mary Claire’s graduation Sunday! May they be full of love and grace!

…just a few pictures snapped in our neighborhood today

Happy 1st Birthday, Mary Claire!

Our little girl is one.  I cannot believe it.  And I know that’s cliché, but it really is incredible that a year has passed since Mary Claire entered this world.  This weekend, we’ve been reliving those first few days and weeks.  Recounting stories and just plain being thankful.  We serve a gracious and merciful God.  We pray sweet Mary Claire grows to know Him and love Him well.

At 7:56 a.m. we sang “Happy Birthday” and recounted the quiet entrance MC made into this world.  I remember Brian bringing her to me to see for the first time.  She was so peaceful.  I kissed her, and then the nurses whisked her out of my arms as they began working hard to help her breathe.  Off to the NICU she went and the rest of the day passed in a blur of doctors coming in and out of our room, Brian going hourly to the NICU, and family reporting to me the events of the day…”she looks like a little doll,” “she has beautiful skin,” “she has Brian’s dark hair,” “she looks just like Josh,” “she looks just like you,” “she’s a fighter…”  I remember drifting off to sleep exhausted and wishing I could just see her for myself.  I remember praying desperately that she would be okay.  I remember crying with Joshua when he was so upset that he couldn’t hold her like we’d promised him. I remember hoping that our story would have a happy ending.

A few days later a merciful God kicked Mary Claire out of the NICU.   I began accessorizing, full of relief and gratitude.  Bows, pink hats, and so many kisses and hugs.  There were trials looming in the days to come…Brian getting the flu and being quarantined, MC getting pink eye, jaundice, thrush, not gaining back her birth weight fast enough, the need for hip ultrasounds and tests.  God was with us through every moment, both those full of delight and those dripping in despair.  He was with us always.  He still is.

Now Mary Claire walks and laughs.  She protests, she claps, she says “mama” and “dada.”  She waves goodbye.  She knocks on Joshua’s door during his naptime, hoping to play with her favorite friend.  She dances to music.  She loves being outside. She tries to walk on water and causes all of us a heart attack as she runs full speed towards the pool.  She is lovely.  She is a gift.  She is truly our little “chosen” (Mary), “bright” (Claire), “joy” (Joy).

From this very happy birthday weekend…

Happy Birthday, sweet Mary Claire.  May you grow to be all who God has made you to be.  May your hope always be in Him.  We love you!

Rainy Day Revelations

The last few days have brought an incredible amount of rain to Houston.  As it began to thunder and lightning last night, I was kind of bummed that our Saturday would be ruined by a torrential downpour.  Then today happened.

The morning started with strawberry pancakes, lots of syrup, and two shots of espresso.  We played some board games, did some writing, hit up some fun iPad apps, completed a Mary Claire photo shoot, and had a dance party.  Between rain showers, we fit in a bike ride and a “bubble walk.”  It was an unexpectedly simple and glorious day.

From the MC photo shoot (some of these pictures were actually taken by Joshua on his McQueen camera!)…

 

The day provided far more snapshots taken with our minds than with our cameras, and it was amazing all around.  The highlight for me was the bubble walk.  Brian was taking the big bubble wand and making bubbles as Joshua ran happily after them, laughing and popping them while simultaneously jumping in huge puddles and piles of mud left by the rain.  When we were almost home, he said this unprompted and out of the blue…

“Daddy, you’re fun.  Really fun.  I like playing with you.  You’re the best daddy in the whole wide world.  I’m never going to stop loving you.”

Beautiful day.  We’re thankful.

Nothing says I love you like…

Valentine's made with duct-tape--and lots of it.

Precious, sweet little hands...

The happy faces of those you love...

Happy Valentine's Day!

MC is 10 months old!

Time keeps passing so quickly, and our little Mary Claire is now 10 months old.  She loves JOSH, cruising around the house, her doll, riding in her bike seat with Daddy, doing anything with Daddy, going to the park and swinging in the swing, WATER (the bathtub or the spa), other people's pets, and snuggling her mommy right before bed.  She is trying to learn how to walk by herself, and when she tries she is so cautious it's adorable.   We just love her sweet smile.

Of course Joshua keeps our life lively and fun.  He loves running, riding his bike, playing cars, pretending to be a car and racing around the house, chocolate milk, hanging out with buddy Luke, and doing anything with his daddy.

We sure don't deserve these precious children, but we thank God for His great mercy made evident to us each day in the beautiful faces of Joshua and Mary Claire.  :)

Days to Remember…

Halloween

Favorite memories…

Watching Josh run at lightning speed from door to door with Luke-- listening to him yell “thank you” at the top of his lungs thereby diminishing the politeness of the effort--seeing sweet MC in her first Halloween gear (and I say “gear” because she had several costumes/outfits lovingly shared with and given to us by family and friends)

Thanksgiving

Favorite memories…

Josh and I sharing the excitement of “Sir Top’em Turkey” coming down from the attic and out to the front lawn (another thing shared with us from a kind neighbor from the old neighborhood)--celebrating with family--holding MC in our arms on her first Thanksgiving with us

 

Joshua’s 4th Birthday

Seriously?!?  How did this little one turn FOUR on December 6th?  We cannot believe he is already so big.  He is as energetic as ever and it is fun to be his parents.  We love and treasure all that God has put within him; it is a JOY to see him grow and develop.  We thank God for his little life every day and we cherish this precious time with him. 

Favorite memories…

The look on his face when he saw the bounce house in the living room--the polar bear swim party adventures shared with wonderful family and friends--Joshua saying “Thank you, Mommy and Daddy, for putting up signs and banners to celebrate my birthday.  That was very nice of you.”

          

            

Ordinary days…

Yesterday Joshua and I went on a little mommy/son date (one of the delights of being an educator are these periodic days off to be at home) and on the way to the bakery for breakfast this was the conversation …

Me: “Joshua, was Jesus rich or poor?”  (This was a question in response to lots of thinking about how we celebrate a poor teenage mom giving birth to our Savior in a manager by going ridiculously overboard buying tons of stuff…I was wondering if Josh was thinking of our powerful and awesome Jesus as more of a “now-you’ve-seen-my-crib-it’s-time-to-get-out” big-money ball-a kind of character…but, I digress…)

Joshua: “Poor.”

Me: “How do you know?”

Joshua: “Because he died on the cross.”

Me: “True.  How else do you know?”

Joshua: “Mommy, you know what?  Jesus is special.”

Me: “Yep-why?”

Joshua: “Because he is a solid AND a gas.  He’s a solid because you can touch him and gas because he floats around in the sky like a balloon.”

Me: Speechless, except for laughter.

I love being a mom to this goofy boy.

MC is 8 months old…

Sweet Mary Claire is just as lovely as always.  She is crawling all over the place, pulling up, and belly laughs at Joshua’s entertaining antics.  She calls him “ba-ba” and he is her delight.  We hit up the 9-month appointment early so we could benefit from hitting my deductible this year, and she is between the 50-75 percentile for height and weight and 80 percentile for her head.  She also has two ear infections, buy you’d never know it.  She just keeps on smiling and hooting along.  We love her laid back disposition. 

  

Santa’s Wonderland

For the second year in a row, we’ve journeyed up to College Station with the Penberthy Clan to take in the wonders of a zillion lights and Cafe Eccell for dinner.  This year the Lee’s joined us, and it was a blast.  The lines were MUCH long and the wait was made more manageable by a hefty supply of fruit snacks and gummy bears, but the company was superb.  We are thankful for wonderful friends who make our life richer.

Favorite memories…

Listening to Josh and Luke’s HILARIOUS commentary on the lights (seriously, these two carry on a pretty sophisticated and bizarre conversation for toddlers)—the look on Mary Claire’s face watching the lights—the random carol singing on the bus shuttle across Highway 6—all the kids playing hide and seek in the side room at the restaurant

Thanking the Lord for so many special moments, days, and memories…