DC Talk, Anyone?

So I went back in the archives today, looking for an old DC Talk cassette.  Turns out, I didn't save any of their good ones!  Woe is me!  Why didn't I think ahead to the day when I would have an 8-year old son who might think I was cool if I listened to rap!  Eli has recently become very attached to a Toby Mac song on a CD that Jen gave us.  (This song has been listened to so much that my top goal for today was to get it out of my head.)  Anyway, I was excited to tell Eli that I'm so awesome that I knew Toby Mac when he was a part of another (cooler) band.  I came across a box of cassettes and CDs in the basement and eagerly tore through it, looking for my oldies but goodies.  But, alas, they were not there.  I only found their Jesus Freak CD.  I brought it up to the kitchen anyway and rocked out while Eli folded his laundry.  Deep down, he thought I was cool.

This cutie, on the other hand, always thinks I'm cool:

Lydia loves loves it when I sing anything, whether an old hymn or a silly camp song.  And sometimes when someone else is holding her, I glance up to find her staring lovingly at me or just smiling a huge "I-think-you're-cool-Mom" smile.

 

By the way, any other cool music suggestions for a son with a growing appreciation for music?

This kid may have some sleep issues.  He is one sleepy dude.  It is not uncommon for us to find him in strange sleeping positions.  And when we sleep in the same room as him, we hear him say lots of interesting things.  But tonight tops it all...

The boys are in bed.  Kendall and I are sitting in the living room.  A bit ago, we heard a faint crying sound.  (I thought it was a wolf and I was freaked out.)  I went and stood outside Eli and Evan's bedroom door and I could hear someone sniffling.  I was surprised that one was still awake because they were super-tired tonight.  Kendall and I went into the bedroom just as Evan was crawling back into bed.  "What are you doing?" I asked.  In a rather forlorn voice, Evan replied, "I don't know."  I asked him if he had to go to the bathroom.  He refused to get up and go.  I asked him again if he needed to go pee.  He said no.  He wanted me to cover him up. 

Uh oh.  Something was not quite right.  Kendall got a flashlight.  I peered into the corner by his bed.  Nothing.  I ran my hand across the carpet.  Wet!  Aghh!  It would seem that in his sleepy stupor, Evan was confused as to which room he was in.  No wonder he didn't need to go pee.  Anymore.

(P.S.  I love that Evan is sleeping under his handmade poster.  It reads: "You are my hiding place.  You protect me from trouble.  You surround me with songs of victory.  Psalm 32:7")

An Afternoon on the Lake

The Garage

So here is the garage that has been going up in the past 2 weeks:

A great place for remote control cars!  Why can't we just leave it like this?  It's so much better than the kitchen!

Here the biggest wall goes up.  Kendall had 2 guys here helping him- his 70-year old buddy and his teenage grandson.  They called a couple others to stop in for this part.  I had no idea it was going up until I heard a lot of grunting through the open window.  Then I heard a cell phone ring and a teenage voice say, "That better be Jesus!"

Kendall has been great at involving the boys.  I think it was a good way for them to spend the last 2 weeks of summer vacation.

And as long as I was the photographer from the roof, I snapped a photo of our house from a new angle:

3 Months

Hard to believe this cutie has been with us for 3 month already.  Or maybe it's hard to believe that she's only been with us for 3 months...

Evan thought it was funny when we hiked her pants up so high.  He chose the headband and positioned it just so.  She wasn't so impressed with the whole fashion flop.

And here is the result of our little photo shoot on Sunday:

She's either screaming at me or trying to eat my nose...

At 3 months we are all in love.  Lydia is weighing in at just under 10 pounds.  People say she's so tiny, but to us, she's huge.  She's so active- hardly ever holding completely still.  She often prefers to be laid on the floor rather than held.  But she'll soak up any attention she can get.  She loves to lie there being talked to and played with.  At 3 months, I am noticing that receiving attention is becoming more important to her contentment.  She loves it when we talk to her and she talks back to us with lots of coos and gurgles.  What a great conversationalist!  Sometimes when things don't go her way, she makes a big show of coughing.  Kendall and I say, "Uh-oh...a budding Drama Queen?"  She has huge smiles ready to give out, but we have to work very hard for the rare giggle. 

 

Lydia is a tough little girl.  She has to be, with 2 big brothers.  She watches them closely and smiles easily.  Eli is known for running in a giving a quick, vicious kiss, then running off again.  He also blows on her belly to get her to laugh.  It doesn't work- she barely flinches.  Evan checks in often to see where Lydia is.  He sits and holds her for longer periods of time.  Both boys like to try to help with bathtime and diaper changes and choosing her outfits.  They are great big brothers.  She is one lucky girl.

Daddy has a bit of a reputation around these parts for the way he carries Lydia.  He often holds her in a football hold and it calms her right down.  Someone commented to me about how at-ease he is with his daughter.  It's true.  He's a natural.

And Mommy?  Well, I'm feeling like more of a natural than I expected to.  There has been some postpartum depression again, but we're dealing with it.  Overall, I feel like I've been able to roll with the punches and I am thoroughly enjoying this little baby.  She's pretty easy, so that helps.  And she's just so very, very sweet.