New Phenomenon

Most children, once they hit that stage where they finally realize they have motor control over their hands, grab at things. This I know from personal experience with younger brothers pulling on earrings, hair, necklaces, etc. However, I was completely unaware of the tenacity with which my son would grab (and hold on to) such items. The child is like a pitbull with his favorite chew toy! Problem is, there's no "favorite" item to warn others about... or remember for ourselves for that matter. Anything and everything that comes within a half-mile radius of his hands manages to end up in his firm grasp. Todd, unfortunately, seems to generally forget this fact until too late. Case in point: Tonight we watched a movie. Todd made popcorn and we sat down to start the movie when I hear grunting and fussing from both the boys. I look over to find Todd pulling the bowl of popcorn (rather unsuccessfully, I might add) from Cooper's hands.

The battle that ensued (for it was the first of all the glorious battles/wrestling matches to come because Todd, of course, forgot how long the kid's arms could reach more than once) was hysterical.

There was more than one kernel of corn that had to be snatched from the jaws of death. Rest assured however, no popcorn was harmed in the making of this photo!

Todd finally resorted to just lifting the bowl above Cooper's head until he was finished eating. I'll let you be the judge of who won this time.

Girlfriend Can Count!

For the longest time, Em would say numbers but they meant absolutely nothing and were in no particular order. The last few days, she's been getting the order, but had a thing against certain numbers... like 3 and 6 and 7. Then today, as I was driving back from my MOPS brunch, she busts out 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and finally 7 in order... for 20 minutes straight (if you think I'm kidding, I was riding with a friend who can attest, 20 minutes of non-stop counting to seven).

Tonight, as we were cleaning up the living room so Emme could head to her bath, she started counting her books as she put them away, and then her puzzle pieces. Some days, I'm just in awe and amazement of my children! (Thanks Shannan for the, um, background music in the video!)

MOPS

A few years back a gal from South Africa moved with her family to the States. She moved hemispheres almost the exact same time in her life as my family did. Little did she know that God used her to bless (and keep) me. You see, while I'm sure there were bigger and grander things to be accomplished through uprooting a young family from their home in Africa and moving them thousands of miles away for a few short years than just my MOPS group, the reality is, I believe the whole move was just for me (I do serve the God of the universe who calls me His princess, so I'm allowed to be a bit egocentric at times!). Twice a month, I travel 45 minutes up the highway to a church inside of an office building with a guard at the gate who wouldn't let you in (or out for that matter) if you were the Queen if all your paperwork wasn't in order. I go for the soul purpose of chatting, praying and eating with other moms who, like myself, sometimes feel like the living room walls are literally closing in on you... but it's really just the laundry piling up that adds that effect.

I love these women... and the funny thing is, I can't tell you all their names and I am positive I couldn't spell all the ones I do remember nor do I have the first idea what their husbands/kids/dogs names are... but they are special. They are the unique blend of friends born out of desire and friends born out of necessity... they are those rare people who meet you at just the right time, in just the right place that when you're with them, you can hear the soft humming of the Hallelujah Chorus by the angels in heaven. If you've never had the opportunity to meet people like them, let me know so that I can pray that you will some day, because even if you have to wait half a century for people like them, they're worth the wait... and worth every second of prayer for them in the mean time!

A few weeks ago we gathered for the sole purpose of talking and laughing (and some crying was thrown in there, but that was not my idea... spontaneous overflow of emotions I guess) and painting of mugs. We were supposed to decorate the mug, which would be just for us. Novel concept to have something that was specific and designated for just me... shoes... nope, Em loves those... the restroom... nope, there's always people hanging out in that room of the house because of all the cool toilet bowl brushes and paper and soap and that thing that you can drop stuff into and it makes a grand splash! Anyways, we made mugs. They were supposed to remind us of things we love about being a mom. I could only think of a handful of times when I was just knocked onto my knees in sheer joy (plenty of times in prayer, but not necessarily in joy, gotta be honest) at being Emme's and Cooper's mom.

Em was in the hospital a total of 7 days before we were allowed to bring her home. It was trying for so many reasons, but I loved and still miss the bracelets they gave us that would sing this beautiful little song when they brought her to me. I know it was supposed to be some security measure and if the jewelry didn't sing, I had the wrong kid, but I always got the right one, and she always sang to me. It became habit for me sing back to her that she was all mine. And Cooper, well, Cooper got all the trauma out before he was born, and when we did finally get to hold him, I loved just talking to him about the beautiful garden patio just outside our room and how I was going to take him to the zoo just down the street. Then, he and I had a long, and still unanswered, conversation about whether or not there are zebras in the zoos in Africa. Thus, my mug bears the word "MINE" and the handle has zebra stripes... I'm not sure I would have remembered those moments in a few more months without someone telling me to.

I get to see my girls again tomorrow. We're having an Easter Brunch. I'm supposed to wear a hat, but as all things me, I don't have one and can't find one to borrow. So, you get a picture of half a mug taken in really bad lighting instead... but that's okay because by the time you read this, I'll be sharing crumpets with my girls, laughing about the crazy security guard!

Church Picnic

After church on Sunday we had a married couples picnic at the National Botanical Gardens. In true African style, we were told to go "straight there" after church. Church ended at 11:30 and we've been there talking with friends for awhile. So, we went home, got all our things together, ate a small snack, changed the laundry and then loaded back into the car. We got to the Botanical Gardens and commenced to eat another snack while we waited (we got there at 5 minutes before 1, seriously early). I thought giving Em a contraband potato chip would be a nice way to pass the time but she apparently, doesn't like the salty taste.

I LOVE that I discovered just this morning that her hair is finally long enough to go up in pigtails!

Anyways, by 3pm (when everyone had finally arrived) we all sat to eat and play and enjoy. Em and some of the other kids were intrigued by a turtle who was wandering around near our food... well, the others were intrigued, Em on the other hand was scared to death of the poor thing. See how she's running screaming from it? Yep, that's my kid.

By 4pm, it started to rain and we were all forced to flee from the downpour that ensued. It was wonderful to spend time with friends, and I would have given you more pictures, but the camera got buried when the waterfall from heaven opened up!

6 Months

I distinctly remember getting Em's 6-month pictures. I knew it would be the last of the $3.99 sitting fee and free 8x10 from JC Penny's, and that fact was totally devastating. So much so, in fact, that after driving half-way across Kansas City to the only mall that had a JC Penny's photo studio, I made Todd drive through the Chick-Fil-A and get a peppermint and chocolate milkshake to drown my sorrows. The reason why I was so sad was because I knew, from that point on, the free photos and cheap professional pictures were a thing of the past. Gone would be the days when Todd and I were merely bystanders in the photo-taking process. That also meant we would be responsible for PRINTING the pictures (which, sad to say, has not happened once).

Well, Em's first half year came and went with about as much fan-fair as Cooper's. I wanted to throw him a "half birthday party," complete with half a cake, but I was tired and frustrated with him, so he got no cake (a few weeks ago he decided sleep was for the birds, and let me tell you, this bird was not impressed or happy with the change!). I did, however, manage to find a good time (albeit, while still in my pajamas) when the lighting was good and Em was in a good enough mood to be content in staying in the house and playing with Lani. It was so sad to see the two of them playing back and forth with blocks and balls, each with at least one apendage stuck out of the metal security grating that is the South African version of screening. Coop seemed very happy to oblige me with great smiles and tons of giggles. Hope you enjoy the pictures almost as much as I enjoyed taking them!

Um... did you need something? Because you're seriously interrupting a major train of thought and a really good newspaper article.

And because I felt so terribly that Em was stuck inside for 20 minutes without being allowed out, we went for a 'picnic' while Cooper was napping and ate the highly prized graham crackers that a friend brought over and dropped off on her way to Swaziland with her church.

Incentive

Some days one needs incentive to get up and going. A fellow missionary here in South Africa left for the States and left behind not one but TWO of those lazy-Susan turn-style things to organize spices or whatever in your cupboards. My kitchen has been a disaster from day 1 because there was no official "move in." It was more of a gradual unloading as things came in (I finally just got cups that hold more than 4oz the other day). So, the gift was my incentive to get my kitchen in order... unfortunately, I was able to get it undone, but now am finding it hard to get it put back together. The worst was when I found all the baby food jars I insisted we save from the flight over (I packed for three days in our carry-ons because you never know). That reminded me that I saved them to use as storage. Well, Cooper is now eating solid foods. By eating, I mean inhaling-like-the-kid-hasn't-had-a-thing-to-eat-since-birth! So while the kitchen was a disaster (but, my spices were organized) I got the jolt of motivation to make all the things I'd bought the supplies for but hadn't done a thing with.

I must say, Todd wasn't too happy that the kitchen needed the label of "National Disaster Zone" but he was happy I'd finally gotten rid of the pounds and pounds of sweet potatoes, peaches, pears, apples and butternut squash. I must say with some degree of pride in my voice that my apple puree can rival the best of Gerber's organic line!

I think Cooper approves as well!

**In case you're wondering why this mother of two under 2-years makes her own food it's because 1) I like to know exactly what my kids are eating and 2) because I refuse to spend the same amount of money that it would cost to get happy meals at McD's!

Camp

I used to do camp. You know those kids, the ones who could have made a profession out of being somewhere on their own, meeting new people and doing new things? I think (and Mom correct me if I'm wrong) but there was more than one summer when I got off a plane late on a Sunday night to start the first day of school the next morning. Junior camp, soccer camp, volleyball camp, church camp, horse camp without-any-horses-because-I-was-too-young camp, girls camp, co-ed camp... seriously, I LOVED camp.

One of my favorite moments of camp was just before some meal and the director would start calling out names for the mail. It was fantastic to get something (especially those letters from Grams because they had confetti in them) but the ULTIMATE was to get a package. All the other campers would look at you, green with envy and you were so excited someone loved you enough to send you a package a week or more BEFORE you ever left home to get the thing in the 5 days you were gone.

As I grew up, I thought that was one of those childhood things that you look back on fondly, but then, in college, I realized it wasn't. My home church in California has this program, SOCKS (Support Our College KidS). I'd forgotten all about the program until one day, in the throws of my first round of college finals after a harrowing last-minute trip to soccer Nationals which put me a week and a half behind in regular work, let alone studying and writing papers, I got this glorious pink note in my little campus mailbox. It indicated that I had something which was too big to fit into the 2"x4" box and needed to retrieve it at the postmaster's window. I got the most wonderful surprise when I found quarters for laundry, Abba Zabas (West Coast candy you can't get in IL) and all kinds of other wonderful things. I found out that someone from my church had 'adopted' me. They'd been praying for me all semester and now wanted me to feel love from home when things were challenging. Oh how amazing it was to have snacks during those long hours!

I figured that when college was over, that was really IT... no more for me. But, God has a funny way of surprising us, even in small and (some might argue but I don't agree) silly ways. In the last two weeks, we've received not one but THREE gifts from home. (Maybe that's why I've been so neglectful of communicating... I've been too busy eating things from home!) I absolutely LOVE when Todd comes home and I see something like this...

(although we've never had one with quite so many, um, stamps before). It makes me feel like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde because on the one hand, it's like Christmas and I'm so stinkin' excited to get into whatever it is someone has sent but on the other hand, you can clearly see how the lack of sanity by the sender because of the outrageous price tag is attached to sending stuff. But, inevitably, the thrill outweighs the momentary guilt and every package gets opened (that's right, I'm thoroughly selfish and haven't sent a single one back!).

It's funny because both Todd and I have lived overseas before. We figured we'd be okay on that front, but you don't realize things you'll miss... For example, I didn't realize how much I loved Girl Scout Cookie season (you teachers out there know what I'm talking about- when all those kids hit you up and so you just throw a box or two into the teacher's lounge). You also don't realize you'll miss things like random "just add water" packages (oh how wonderful breakfast was this morning - thank you Mom!) Or Todd's favorite... he didn't realize how much he'd miss ordering biscuits and gravy at the local Denny's/IHop/Cracker Barrel/whatever restaurant that we would go to quarterly with friends after church (shout out to the SouthTaste Gravy mix- Lynn that stuff is sinful!).

Cooper loved the box, the contents, and especially the crinkly noise that the Moose Munch popcorn made while still in the bag. We finally just put him IN the box so that we could have some peace and quiet uncovering the rest of the contents. I wonder what my kids will want me to ship them months in advance so that they can get it for their camps? Hum... maybe by then they'll have enough teeth for some good ol' South African biltong.

Some Day

I'm sure someday I'll remember what it's like to sleep until 7 am, but until then, our house is up and awake much earlier than that, no matter if it's Saturday morning or not! Both kids woke up happy and smiling, so Todd and I thought it'd be great to have some family tickling in our bed. Cooper enjoyed hanging out. Todd enjoyed hanging out. I enjoyed hanging out. Em enjoyed it... until she remembered that it was morning and it was time for breakfast. It still amazes me how much she is her mother's daughter (how I cringe now when I think of all the early mornings I have made Todd get out of bed and make breakfast with me- I should have enjoyed every second of that under-down-covers time!) and how quickly we can go from this...

to Em demanding "yummy Daddy!"

But ah, the bliss that is food when you're starving! It makes me chuckle when I think somewhere, some mom is saying to her child at the dinner table, "Eat your food because there's starving children in Africa who don't have any food."

Little does she know, if my daughter doesn't get her food in the 3.7 seconds from the time she realizes she's hungry to her meltdown, that my daughter would count herself among those "starving" kids!!!

Incentive

Some days one needs incentive to get up and going. A fellow missionary here in South Africa left for the States and left behind not one but TWO of those lazy-Susan turn-style things to organize spices or whatever in your cupboards. My kitchen has been a disaster from day 1 because there was no official "move in." It was more of a gradual unloading as things came in (I finally just got cups that hold more than 4oz the other day). So, the gift was my incentive to get my kitchen in order... unfortunately, I was able to get it undone, but now am finding it hard to get it put back together. The worst was when I found all the baby food jars I insisted we save from the flight over (I packed for three days in our carry-ons because you never know). That reminded me that I saved them to use as storage. Well, Cooper is now eating solid foods. By eating, I mean inhaling-like-the-kid-hasn't-had-a-thing-to-eat-since-birth! So while the kitchen was a disaster (but, my spices were organized) I got the jolt of motivation to make all the things I'd bought the supplies for but hadn't done a thing with.

I must say, Todd wasn't too happy that the kitchen needed the label of "National Disaster Zone" but he was happy I'd finally gotten rid of the pounds and pounds of sweet potatoes, peaches, pears, apples and butternut squash. I must say with some degree of pride in my voice that my apple puree can rival the best of Gerber's organic line!

I think Cooper approves as well!

**In case you're wondering why this mother of two under 2-years makes her own food it's because 1) I like to know exactly what my kids are eating and 2) because I refuse to spend the same amount of money that it would cost to get happy meals at McD's!