Little Tidbits

Mom: We are going to Kwik Trip.
Elliot: Where are we going on our trip?

Victor: What are the seven seas? Cat, carrot, coyote...

Josiah: I roded some of the way.
Victor: Rid.

Elliot, some time after the 4th of July, passing the corner where firecrackers were sold: Remember the tent with the fire cookies?

Josiah, at supper: Anything that is not Mom's is not really the best. *melting heart*

Elliot: I have a pickle on the side of my foot. (freckle)

Elliot: Smarshmallow (of course, eaten with s'mores)

Elliot: Can I have hopscotch and chocolate chips? (butterscotch chips)

Elliot, on a very cold day: Mom, I'm getting out the smoke in my throat (he breathes steam out of his mouth).

Josiah, when asked the best way to be a friend: Share the gospel. *melting heart again*

Calvin, trying to walk up the steps when his shoe got stuck (saying so, so many words now!): Owp. Owp. (help)

Other words from Calvin:
light
plane
shoes
foot
nose
mouth
apple
truck
puppy

Sweet Moments

Around 2:45am, some faint noise finally rouses me. I go into Victor's room.
Victor, calling: I have something to tell you. I have something to tell you. I have something to tell you.
Me: Okay, buddy, what do you need to tell me.
Victor: I love you. That was all I had to tell you.


In the mornings, Ben gets the boys up, and then they all crash into my room to interrupt my quiet time for a couple minutes. Josiah is always beaming and gives me a big, big snuggle with his head on my shoulder. Victor runs and jumps on my bed and plays peekaboo behind my back with Joey. It's the best.


Victor and Josiah, side by side in their little booster seats at snack time, ready to pray. And Josiah leans over, grunting and reaching until I scootch him close enough so that he can hold hands with Victor.


Just don't want to forget.

Funny Guy

Victor: Look at those big ice cream cones! (Bowl of pinecone potpourri)

Me: Grandad and Lori are running a big race tomorrow, like when Daddy takes you and Josiah out in the jogging stroller.
Victor: What are they chasing?

Me, carrying Victor into church
Victor: Mom, you're getting small.

Driving past the Minneapolis Ikea
Victor: There's our Zaccheus!

Victor, explaining how Dad took him to the library book drop (after Josiah ripped a page out of one of our library books): You drive around to the back, and then there's a place where you can put your books one by one, and it chops up all the broken books into pieces.

A Letter to My Boys

Dear Victor and Josiah,

What a bunch of little cutie-pie-pa-schmooty-pies you are. You just tickle Daddy and me to pieces.

Victor, you are heelarious. You've started making your Duck talk with his own special little voice (where did you learn that, I wonder?). And you grow quite distressed if someone does not personally respond to Duck. (We had to call Daddy back after ending one phone call because he did not acknowledge that Duck was saying good-bye...)

You like to give a little affirmative boost when you suggest something that seems like a good idea to you, like, "Sure, it would be fine to go to the zoo!" "Sure, it would be okay to eat an Oreo!" "Sure, it would be fine if we went to the Cub Foods store!" (You like the Cub Foods store because they give free cookies to kids.)

You are loving-up your little brother like crazy. When he comes out of the bedroom after a snooze, you want to kiss and snuggle him to pieces (parental supervision required). And you give him good encouragement when he rolls over ... or eats his cereal ... or has a poop. You love calling him, "You cutie-pie-ka-schmooty-pie!"

When Josiah starts to cry, you will sometimes sing him "our song" (namely, "Do all things without grumbling or questioning..."), and tell him, "You may not be a crabby pants, Josiah."

And you just crack yourself up with your own little jokes. Like today at lunch, while you were eating your soup, you kept saying, "I'm eating my rice cereal" (i.e. Josiah food). And I'd say, "Wait a minute!" And you would howl with laughter, and then do it again.

In the mornings, when Daddy comes in to get you (after a veery early wake-up, these days), you always say, "It's good to see you, Daddy. I didn't see you for a long time!" Tonight you told me that you'd be saying that to Dad in the morning. You are a bit predictable (like your mother).

And when he puts you down for bed, he says, "Have a good night of snoozes!" and you'll say, "Have a good work!"

You've picked up your mother's love for cookbooks, and most days when I'm feeding Josiah to put him down for a nap, you'll climb up on my bed with me and look at a cookbook or cooking magazine. Current favorite thing to cook is muffins (specially with chocolate chips).

You are so excited for snow. We got a new coat and boots, and you just can't wait to use the sled. A funny thing, since last winter you really wouldn't sit on it for anything.

You are very into pushing things. Your tricycle (you kind of scoot it with your feet). Your big wheel (ditto). Your lawn mower. The jogging stroller (with the handle partially collapsed so you can reach it). Josiah's stroller. The wagon.

You like baking projects and the "busy bag" activities we just got and playing with trucks and tractors and trains. You are fascinated by the book Dangerous Journey (the abridged, illustrated version of The Pilgrim's Progress), and you will listen intently while Daddy reads it to you ... as well as read it with Duck during your rest time.

You love your Sunday school class. You love reviewing your Bible verses. You really love doing "the papers" (which tell a prayer for each month of the year and a simple truth covered in class for each month of the year) every day. Those are simple routines and rhythms, but we pray that they will take root in your heart. We're starting to put connections together. When you'll start to throw a tantrum or grumble about something, we'll say, "No, sin! Go away! Jesus, help! Give me a good, cheerful heart to obey!" We need His grace, little one, and we never outgrow that.


Josiah, you are a perky little chubby monkey these days.

I just love your cheeks ... and thighs ... and chubby knees ... and the rolls on your toes. You get many compliments on your squeezable- and kissable-ness.

You like finding your thumb and sticking it jauntily into your mouth.

You are pretty happy kicking and exploring the world on your back ... but when someone looms into view and you realize that a real, friendly person is coming to see you ... well, you just beam with your whole body!

You're working up quite the appetite too. So far, you gobble down rice cereal, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, applesauce, pears, and peas. And your favorite is when I'll let you hold the spoon at the end (albeit watching you with an eagle eye, due to your propensity to jam it down your throat).

You bounce around in your exersaucer and spin around, then kind of lounge back, surveying the scene.

We love to hear you when you wake up in the morning. You have a funny old man kind of voice, and you just croon away to yourself with all kinds of inflections until someone comes to swoop you up.

You still love the Baby Bjorn best, but I have officially messed up my back from heave-ho-ing you around, so I'm afraid that one's out. But you're pretty content in the Ergo (much kinder to Momma's back), so we still have good snuggle times with that on walks or at church.

You have two little teeth on the bottom (first one popped through on the first Sunday of October). They are sharp little boogers, but so far you haven't given me trouble with biting. But you're still drooling to beat the band, so there are probably some more on their way.

You roll very expeditiously, have quick hands (and an exceptionally strong grip), and love to grab my phone when I'm not looking and stuff it in your mouth.

You are a little snuggle bug when you get sleepy, and I love to hold you when you're all relaxed and ready for bed. At long, long last, we're back in the groove of sleeping through the night (after a month or so of terribly interrupted sleep). Thank you, Jesus.

I love my little boys. It's just precious to watch the world unfold before your eyes and see the personalities God has given you. Every day has its challenges, but what a sweet privilege it is to be your momma!

Love you to pieces,
Mom

Grace

Dear Victor,

These past few days have been so sweet. I couldn't say exactly what the change is, but you have been full of grace.

When Josiah was crying, you prayed for him, "Dear Father, please help Josiah. Please give him peace."

When we were in a store, and you were touching candy bars at the checkout, I told you that you needed to stop. I needed to tell you twice. Then you said, "I'm sorry, Mommy. I'm sorry, Mommy." Actually, I think that has been the pattern, probably a dozen times in these past days when I've needed to correct you. The kindness of the Lord leads us to repentance. It is a lovely thing.

When you and Daddy were reading in The Dangerous Journey and you got to the part where Christian's burden rolled off at the cross, you said, "Thank You, Jesus!"

Last night, when you had a bad dream, you called out for me, and when I came in, you said, "Will you pray? Will you pray?"

After supper tonight, when we all got to eat out at a sandwich shop, you said, "It is good to be all together with my family!"

I was doing something goofy that made you laugh, and you looked at me and said, "I love love love love love you!"

After we sang On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, when we were talking about the song, you said, "Jesus covers over our sin."

I don't want to read into these sweet, simple little things ... but neither do I want to rule out the possibility that God is working a great work of grace in your heart, just as we've been praying.

Love you, my son.

Little Hypercalvinist

We were out for a walk earlier this week, enjoying fall and looking at all God's creation. Victor is definitely tracking with the idea that "God made everything," and we had fun thinking of all the different things He made.

"Who made toes?"
"God!"

"Who made birds?"
"God!"

"Who made bellies?"
"God!"

Later in the afternoon,when we were getting ready for a snooze, Victor and I headed into his room. It was an amazing array of trucks, cars, and pieces of road-track all strewn about.

"Victor, you really should be the one to pick up these toys, because you are the one who made the mess."

He looked at me quietly for a minute, and then said (quite seriously), "God made the mess!"

Feeling Sick

Victor, before bed: Should we have some medicine?
Me: No, I don't think so. God has blessed us with good health right now, so we don't need any medicine.
Victor: I have a cough coming. I should take some medicine for my cough.

Little hypochondriac? (Or, just really likes that grape Tylenol...)

Last Week and This Week

Breakfast Conversation
Victor, most mornings (or anytime during the day), very tenderly with concern: "How was your night, Mommy?" [A few rough nights have evidently made an impression on him!]

Not Sleeping
Victor, calling sweetly from his crib while supposedly napping: "Daddy, do you want to come in here and read a book?"

Sleep
4 nights ago: Josiah ate at 9pm... slept til 3am!
3 nights ago: Josiah ate at 8pm... slept til 1am!
2 nights ago: Josiah ate at 9:30pm... slept til 3am (when he woke up because I poked his face... oops)!
1 night ago: Josiah ate at 9:30pm... slept til 3am!

This is an extremely encouraging trend.  Yay, Baby J!

Back to Work
I'm trying to get back in the rhythm of work (still from home).  Wouldn't say I've exactly created an ideal new schedule, but it's gone better than I expected, even with the hiccups.  This week I had 2 days of training for our new church management system... Josiah did a stellar job of sleeping, and Victor had fun with Nana and Grandpa David on Tuesday and Mr. David and Ms. Karen today.  The Lord is very kind.

StrengthsFinders
On Tuesday Ben and I went to a little seminary meeting with a few other couples and Vince and Kathy Johnson to learn how our strengths could work together (or clash) as a couples and within a ministry context, using the StrengthsFinder survey.  It was fascinating, encouraging, very convicting, and challenging.  God has made His church full of very uniquely gifted individuals, intending them to fill uniquely crafted niches in uniquely personal ways.

Last Men's Connection
Last night we picked up Chik-Fil-A for the last Men's Connection (and young adult Connection) of the year.  Bittersweet to see the end of that season... but we're excited for summer Connections coming up!

Sneezer
Victor has come down with a cold.  The poor guy sneezed about every 15 minutes through the day... tons of snot and boogers all over the place.  Praying, praying, praying that Josiah may be spared (no fun trying to nurse with a plugged nose!), and thankful that God knows what we need day by day. 

But, looking at the bright side, Victor told me tonight, getting into bed, "I don't hurt!"  So there's something else to be thankful for.

End of the Tunnel
Today was Ben's last day of regular classes... Now just a week of papers and finals and then a beautiful 6-week break from school (before diving into Hebrew studies)!  P r a i s e   J e s u s!

This Week

Weighty
As of Thursday (3 1/2 weeks old), Josiah is 10 lb 10 oz.  Good work, little man.

Affirmation
Victor to Mom, waving his finger for emphasis: "You're a good girl."

Unproductive
Tuesday's trip to the office to print off membership certificates for the weekend:
- Finish lunch.
- Put shoes on Victor.
- Put Josiah in carseat.
- Wipe off Victor's hands, face, and tray.
- Put jacket on Victor.
- Put laptop in bag.
- Get diapers for Victor and Josiah for diaper bag.
- Go upstairs with Victor.
- Put Victor in the car.
- Put phone, purse, and diaper bag in the car.
- Put blanket over Josiah.
- Put Josiah in the car.
- Drive to the office (admiring buses, tunnels, tanker trucks, and answering, "Do you know what that is?" a thousand times for Victor :) )
- See Daddy's car and call him to see if he's at the office (he was actually Downtown for a meeting).
- Cancel the call to Daddy... because you realize that you. forgot. the. laptop. at. home.
- Turn around and drive home (admiring buses, tunnels, tanker trucks, and answering, "Do you know what that is?" a thousand times).
- Realize that it is now too late to go back to the office.
- Put kids down for naps.
- Sigh.

Mother of two.  Brain for half.

Cute Boys
Victor to Mom, pointing at Josiah: "I like Baby Josiah.  He's a cute boy."

Feeling Affirmed

Victor, after getting up on the glider by himself: "Good job!"
Victor, after putting a block back into its bag: "Thank you!"
Victor, in his crib for naptime: "I love you, Victor!"