Nie Nie Moon

I've always been a little creeped out by the pictures in Good Night Moon. I'm not exactly sure why. I just am. I never owned it growing up, but I'm pretty sure it would have given me nightmares. Why is the "little old lady who was whispering hush" just sitting there knitting, watching the little bunny in the bed? And why doesn't she take the "bowl full of mush" to the kitchen when she leaves?! And there's a mouse in the room! I mean, even though you are a bunny and maybe bunnies don't squeal at the sight of a mouse, don't you care that the mouse is peeking over the side of your "bowl full of mush"? Cooties.
Before you get offended by my critique of this beloved children's "classic," I will have you know that I actually LIKE reading the book with Charley now. I really, really do. It's grown on me since Eli received it as a gift at the hospital, and we read it nearly every night. Charley likes pointing out all the little things in the pictures (including the mouse). She even noticed the freaky little dolls on the bookshelf and the nobby-legged jraf (giraffe). The best part is the room darkening and the moon rising. "Nie Nie, Moon!," Charley exclaims. Now even the real moon gets a "nie nie" from Charley when she sees it. Presh.

5 and 21 mos

Elijah B. is five-months old!! Here's an update on his sweet little self:

• Eli is a very happy baby. He is my smiley boy. All smiles most of the time. Thanks to his schedule, he is very predictable and rarely cries.

• He loves loves LOVES his sister. Whenever Charley is in sight, he can't keep his eyes off of her and grins ear to ear.
• He is a biggin'. Eli weighs 20lbs and is 29 inches long. Charley was that size around 10mos (and she was considered big for her age!). I'm a little sad that he can't wear cute six-month outfits and stuff
• He has had a bad cough since January 17 (but who's counting?) and is now on a second round of antibiotics, this time for an ear infection. The first time I'm not even sure why he was on it. I just had to trust the doctor. Needless to say, we are sick of coughs and runny noses around this place. Or as Donald would say, around this piece.

• I mentioned this before, but Eli has a very sensitive gag-reflex. This makes it hard for him to swallow anything without vomiting. This is REAL fun when giving him antibiotics twice a day for twenty days. He also vomits if he starts coughing and gets gagged. He has thrown up twice in public due to coughing, and you better believe people looked at me like I was Satan. "How dare you bring your baby with the stomach bug out in my presence?!" One lady made me so mad that I wanted to tell her it was Swine Flu just to get a rise. But...WWJD?... I didn't. Anyways, because of all this, Eli is delayed on eating food. We tried the rice cereal at four months, but it didn't happen. I tried it again last week, and it went better, but not great. I am trying not to be fearful and worry too much about all this. I'm hoping he will grow out of it like many babies do.
• His newest trick is smushing up his face, which makes him look like a Sumo Wrestler. Hilarious. He had me in tears earlier I was laughin' so hard. I'm gonna try to get it on video.

Charley is changing before our eyes. Learning more words and phrases everyday. It is so amazing to watch (and sometimes amusing).

• She loves helping with Eli and playing with him. If he's missing a sock, she will say something like, "Ut-Oh. Baby's sock!" and then will go get one out of one of her drawers to put on him. It's usually pink.
• She still calls Eli "Baby." Donald and I have tried to limit our use of the word, and say "Eli" as often as possible. She called him "Lie" one or two times several months ago, but "Baby" is her preferred name for him. It's kinda cute now, but we don't exactly want a boy whose nickname is "Baby." Trying to break the habit while they are still young.

• Charley might have a future in Speed Eating, along side Kobayashi. She has been made fun of at two separate birthday parties for eating her cupcake in like 4 bites, in under a minute, while it takes other kids 10 minutes and 30 bites. She is not great about chewing her food completely, and crams the next bite in as soon as she swallows. We are working on slowing her down.
• She loves playing the piano. She likes to look at the piano music and turn the pages, like she can actually read it. Cute!
• Her hair is now longer than mine (but you wouldn't know it because of the curls). When wet, her hair is down way past her shoulders in the back and way past her chin in the front.
• Charley loves being outside. Swinging on the "wee" or sliding down the "wee" are two of her favorite things.
• Her favorite foods are any type of fruit, cheese, yogurt, oatmeal, broccoli, beans, oh, and waffles. I'm not quite sure why she'll eat broccoli but not peanut butter or a hamburger. She is missing out. I'm sure that won't last. I'm hoping that won't last. The girl needs protein! (and mom needs an easy food to feed her!)
• One of my favorite things about being a mother of a toddler is finding things in randoms places where they don't belong. For example, Charley's Lambie was missing for a day, until I spotted a big lump under a rug. And I will often find un-used diapers in the trash (I usually catch her in the act). In her mind, it's logical to put Lambie under a rug (a blanket) and diapers in the trash.
• After a six month hiatus, Charley has two teeth coming in. The two canines on the bottom (the pointy ones). I suppose the top ones will be next. Fun!

I know so much will change in the upcoming months with both kids, and it's so crazy to think that [probably] by Christmas, Charley will be speaking in full sentences and Eli will be running around chasing her. However, I am in no hurry for these things to happen! I am grateful for each and every day I get to spend with them and love their little quirks. What a joy motherhood is. Exhausting, but joyful. Thank you, Lord, for this gift!

This is How They Feel

I received this picture in a forward recently and instantly thought of my children. With two little ones, somebody is always waiting to eat (or get a diaper changed, etc). Charley is sick of me saying, "...once Eli finishes his bottle, we will..." But, at least they are getting daily lessons in patience!!

Suffering Well

Chances are, if you listen to Matt Chandler's Podcast, you know that he has a form of terminal cancer. Or, maybe you're like me and know who he is, but haven't podcasted him in awhile, and you're thinking, "He has cancer?" Or maybe you have no idea who I'm talking about. What's a Podcast, you may be asking.
Chandler is a pastor at a huge church in Texas. He's 35. Married. Three young kids. And preaches the Gospel in a way that attracts thousands upon thousands. Donald and I are following his blog and weekly Vlog (video blog), which you can view here (go back to November 26th, 2009). Also, I'd recommend reading this article, which was published recently in USA Today (among other places). It's a really great article that basically is the whole story in a nutshell. Man, I hope I would respond the way Matt Chandler is if I were in a similar state. He is "suffering well."

The Ad - Follow Up

Chances are you may have missed the ad I was referring to in my last post, even if you were paying attention. The Tim Tebow pro-life ad aired at the beginning of the Super Bowl, and for us, it was one of those "rewind... I think that was it" moments. There were actually two versions, but I only saw one. Definitely a big tease, and makes you wonder why people even bothered protesting. It was basically an ad for an ad (or an interview, really), which can be viewed online. Here.

Pro-Life Super Bowl Ad

Focus on the Family and football star Tim Tebow have teamed up to create a Pro-Life Super Bowl ad that will air on February 7th during Super Bowl XLV (that's Super Bowl "45" in English). What is the ad about? Apparently it's the story of how Tim Tebow's mom was encouraged by doctors to terminate her pregnancy with him (Tim) because the chances of her dying during childbirth were high due to a dangerous infection she had. Well, we all know the happy ending of that story (well, if you don't know, Tebow is a 22-year-old Heisman-winning superstar who played for the two-time National Championship winning Florida Gators).
Well, of course several women's activist groups are protesting and even passing around a petition to get CBS to yank the ad before it can run on the biggest commercial night of the year. A spokesman, I mean, spokeswoman for one of the groups was quoted saying that Focus on the Family was pushing an un-American agenda. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize having babies was un-American. Also, although I haven't seen it, I can't imagine the ad is suggesting that if you choose not to have an abortion, you will give birth to a future Heisman winner. Although, you will in fact give birth to a child, whether he or she grows up to be a football legend or not is besides the point.
Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing the ad and hope that it causes many people to think. To read an article about this "controversial" ad, click here.

Stomach Bug Tips

Things we learned the hard way:

1. If your child gets sick at the breakfast table at a restaurant, leave immediately (well, after you get to-go boxes of course). Don't assume they just gagged, especially if they've never gagged before in their life.
2. If you do assume that they just gagged on something, still take caution and put a bib on them once you're in the car. A big plastic garbage bag would be better, but a bib will do. And a towel on the floor board.
3. Buy a car seat that can be dissembled... for washing purposes.
4. If you think that maybe your child should be playing on the hardwoods instead of in carpeted rooms, go with your gut.
5. Do not, and I repeat, DO NOT wash clothes in the washer that have not been properly rinsed out. Otherwise, you will spend 30 minutes picking chunks off of the "clean" clothes (after our conversation Kelly, I think we should spare other mother's this trauma).
6. This belongs higher on the list, but... If your child gets sick at the breakfast table at a restaurant (or anywhere for that matter), even if you assume they just gagged on something, don't let them continue to drink milk. Milk turns into a solid very quickly in the belly. A very repulsive smelling solid.

Other helpful tips:

1. Pack a bag with an extra set of clothes for your children and leave it in the car at all times. Even if you think they are too old for that (I think being too old for a change of clothes is 16. And then they can put them in their own car).
2. Nature's Miracle is a spray we started purchasing for our carpet when Sadie was a puppy and had frequent accidents. Now she doesn't need it, but our children do. Also works on other upholstery, like car seat straps.
3. Pedialyte (electrolyte maintenance) makes individual packets that you add to water, which can be used on an as-needed basis. In mild cases, this may be better to use because you can save the un-used packets. If you buy the big jug, it may expire before you need it again. If you have more than one family member who's sick, go ahead and buy the jug.

Please feel free to share any other tips that you have learned (the hard way!).