For Christmas, can we have a bigger box so Reggie can ride, too?Love, Brett and Lydia
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
thankful
Not your typical thanksgiving post, top ten baby gear items I'm thankful for:
2. The Amby Bed. Only used for Lydia, but was a life-saver. Thank you, Shannon!
4. Booster seats. We have 2, Reggie asked Santa for one for Christmas.
5. Our triple stroller. Although cumbersome, it enables me to get out and about with the three kiddos.
Happy Thanksgiving!
1. My Ultimate Baby Wrap. All three babies have loved it, great for bonding, great for going about your life with a high-needs baby and a toddler, extremely comfortable!
2. The Amby Bed. Only used for Lydia, but was a life-saver. Thank you, Shannon!3. Cloth diapers. I crunched some numbers, and we are currently saving $19 a week, or $80 a month, or nearly $1000 this year by using cloth diapers (does not take in to account initial investment, but does take into account cost of laundering).
4. Booster seats. We have 2, Reggie asked Santa for one for Christmas.5. Our triple stroller. Although cumbersome, it enables me to get out and about with the three kiddos. 6. Bibs with "pea catchers".
7. Sippie cups. What did they ever do before sippie cups?
8. Receiving blankets also used as burp clothes also used as changing pads. Bet I could even use one as a diaper if I needed to!
9. SwaddleMe blankets. Another life-saver with Lydia.
10. Tied for 10th is the bouncy seat and the bumbo seat. Basically serving the same purpose, baby graduates from one to the other.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
but what can I do?
So, there are 143,000,000 orphans in the world. What can I do about it?
10 Ways YOU Can Care for Orphans
(This list was taken directly from the Hope for Orphans website. I figured they wouldn't mind...)
1. PRAY for them.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. -Matthew 7:7-8
2. SUPPORT those who support them.
…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds... -Hebrews 10:24
3. PROVIDE for their needs.
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food…and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? -James 2:15-16
4. SPEAK up for them.
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy. -Proverbs 31:8-9
5. PROTECT them from harm.
The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, but He thwarts the way of the wicked. –Psalm 146:9
6. VISIT them where they are.
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. -James 1:27 "
7. GIVE sacrificially to them.
Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. -2 Corinthians 9:7
8. ENCOURAGE them to press on.
We urge you brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. –1 Thessalonians 5:14
9. ADOPT them into your family.
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God is His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families… -Psalm: 68:5-6a
10. MOBILIZE your church for them.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. -Matthew 28:18-20
10 Ways YOU Can Care for Orphans
(This list was taken directly from the Hope for Orphans website. I figured they wouldn't mind...)
1. PRAY for them.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. -Matthew 7:7-8
2. SUPPORT those who support them.
…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds... -Hebrews 10:24
3. PROVIDE for their needs.
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food…and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? -James 2:15-16
4. SPEAK up for them.
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy. -Proverbs 31:8-9
5. PROTECT them from harm.
The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, but He thwarts the way of the wicked. –Psalm 146:9
6. VISIT them where they are.
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. -James 1:27 "
7. GIVE sacrificially to them.
Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. -2 Corinthians 9:7
8. ENCOURAGE them to press on.
We urge you brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. –1 Thessalonians 5:14
9. ADOPT them into your family.
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God is His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families… -Psalm: 68:5-6a
10. MOBILIZE your church for them.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. -Matthew 28:18-20
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
no walk in the park
Yesterday was so beautiful! Sixty degrees and sunny - that's rare for November in Minnesota and definitely rare for fall this year. I actually got to hang two loads of laundry on the line!
I needed to go to the grocery store for a few items, which is no simple task solo +3. My biggest challenge is I have three under old-enough-to-sit-in-the-cart-without-being-strapped-in. That leaves me with two options:
(1) Pray hard that a "car-cart" will be available. In this scenario, I buckle all three kids in their car seats, drive to the store, drive around the parking lot searching for a cart with a car in front for Brett to ride in. Then, if I find one, I park next to it, attach Reggie to me, buckle Lydia in the little seat facing me, buckle Brett in the car, do my shopping, unload the groceries, buckle the kids back into their seats, drive home, unbuckle three kids- two get carried to the house- and one runs away from me, and the groceries are still in the car.
(2) Take the triple stroller. With this option, I put Reggie in his carrier, buckle Lydia in, then buckle Brett in, then take Reggie's base to his car seat out of the car, fold the seat down, shimmy the stroller between the seats, put the seat up, reinstall Reggie's base, click Reggie in his spot, drive to the store, take Reggie's carrier out and set it on the front seat, take the base out, fold the seat down, shimmy the stroller out and set it up, take Brett out of his car seat and put him in the stroller, take Lydia out of her car seat and put her in the stroller, take Reggie out of his car seat and attach him to me, shop (can only buy as much stuff as I can fit in the stroller basket), and then repeat all of the above steps when I get back out to the parking lot.
Not liking either option tremendously, and wanting to spend the day outdoors, I decide to walk to the store with the kids and triple stroller. This is a big day, because the stroller is not newborn friendly, so it is the first day I put Reggie in one of the stroller seats. Lydia sat behind him, and behind that there is a spot for Brett to sit or stand, but not an actual seat with a back.
We have been practicing having Brett walk along with us around the neighborhood, so Brett starts out walking. Concerned about Reggie's feeding schedule and three diapers reaching their saturation point, I quickly grow impatient with Brett stopping every time he sees an interesting leaf or hears a dog bark. Brett finds a stick he grows attached to, cries every time he drops it, and for some unknown reason finds himself incapable of retrieving the stick on his own--requiring me to do so for him. I try putting the stick in the stroller basket. He's not satisfied, and continues the drop-cry-helplessness cycle every 15 feet until I decide even a big tantrum in front of the neighbor painting her deck is worth it, and I buckle him on the back bench. Fortunately, he concedes as long as he can have his stick. Although he continues to drop the stick every so often, at least I am walking faster now, and barely need to stop to pick it up.
By the time we arrive at the shopping center, Reggie and Lydia are happily riding, and Brett is falling asleep, nodding off, and nearly falling off his little bench. I consider my options, wishing I had brought my wrap so I could attach Reggie to me. It would be impossible to push the stroller and a cart. I decide to try Lydia on the bench seat and Brett in a regular seat where he can snooze comfortably. That plan fails miserably. So, I switch them back, at which point, Brett becomes quite alert and discovers he can escape the stroller every time I stop. I complete my shopping as quickly as possible and exit the store. Brett returns to his sleepy state. I try everything to keep him awake, and just in time, he looks up to see me passing by the playground. He points feverishly, saying "Help me, help me..." Still worried about Reggie's approaching mealtime, but loving the sunshine, we stop and enjoy 10 minutes of fall bliss on the swings and slides. Brett is not ready to go when I demand it, and many tears are shed, but we are back on the road toward home. Two blocks from our house, Reggie starts to scream and continues to do so until he is fed.
Our errand ($10 worth of groceries) took 2 hours. But, overall, we all enjoyed it and it was a nice way to spend the day. I'm sure people wonder why we would ever even attempt to leave the house solo +3 with the work that it involves. But this is not a temporary situation for us. Our reality is that there are a lot of challenges that come with all the joys. It takes a good dose of caffeine, humor, and determination to get through each day and keep our sanity. And we find it is easier to keep our sanity if we work at going about things life-as-usual, even though there is nothing usual about it.
I needed to go to the grocery store for a few items, which is no simple task solo +3. My biggest challenge is I have three under old-enough-to-sit-in-the-cart-without-being-strapped-in. That leaves me with two options:
(1) Pray hard that a "car-cart" will be available. In this scenario, I buckle all three kids in their car seats, drive to the store, drive around the parking lot searching for a cart with a car in front for Brett to ride in. Then, if I find one, I park next to it, attach Reggie to me, buckle Lydia in the little seat facing me, buckle Brett in the car, do my shopping, unload the groceries, buckle the kids back into their seats, drive home, unbuckle three kids- two get carried to the house- and one runs away from me, and the groceries are still in the car.
(2) Take the triple stroller. With this option, I put Reggie in his carrier, buckle Lydia in, then buckle Brett in, then take Reggie's base to his car seat out of the car, fold the seat down, shimmy the stroller between the seats, put the seat up, reinstall Reggie's base, click Reggie in his spot, drive to the store, take Reggie's carrier out and set it on the front seat, take the base out, fold the seat down, shimmy the stroller out and set it up, take Brett out of his car seat and put him in the stroller, take Lydia out of her car seat and put her in the stroller, take Reggie out of his car seat and attach him to me, shop (can only buy as much stuff as I can fit in the stroller basket), and then repeat all of the above steps when I get back out to the parking lot.
Not liking either option tremendously, and wanting to spend the day outdoors, I decide to walk to the store with the kids and triple stroller. This is a big day, because the stroller is not newborn friendly, so it is the first day I put Reggie in one of the stroller seats. Lydia sat behind him, and behind that there is a spot for Brett to sit or stand, but not an actual seat with a back.
We have been practicing having Brett walk along with us around the neighborhood, so Brett starts out walking. Concerned about Reggie's feeding schedule and three diapers reaching their saturation point, I quickly grow impatient with Brett stopping every time he sees an interesting leaf or hears a dog bark. Brett finds a stick he grows attached to, cries every time he drops it, and for some unknown reason finds himself incapable of retrieving the stick on his own--requiring me to do so for him. I try putting the stick in the stroller basket. He's not satisfied, and continues the drop-cry-helplessness cycle every 15 feet until I decide even a big tantrum in front of the neighbor painting her deck is worth it, and I buckle him on the back bench. Fortunately, he concedes as long as he can have his stick. Although he continues to drop the stick every so often, at least I am walking faster now, and barely need to stop to pick it up.
By the time we arrive at the shopping center, Reggie and Lydia are happily riding, and Brett is falling asleep, nodding off, and nearly falling off his little bench. I consider my options, wishing I had brought my wrap so I could attach Reggie to me. It would be impossible to push the stroller and a cart. I decide to try Lydia on the bench seat and Brett in a regular seat where he can snooze comfortably. That plan fails miserably. So, I switch them back, at which point, Brett becomes quite alert and discovers he can escape the stroller every time I stop. I complete my shopping as quickly as possible and exit the store. Brett returns to his sleepy state. I try everything to keep him awake, and just in time, he looks up to see me passing by the playground. He points feverishly, saying "Help me, help me..." Still worried about Reggie's approaching mealtime, but loving the sunshine, we stop and enjoy 10 minutes of fall bliss on the swings and slides. Brett is not ready to go when I demand it, and many tears are shed, but we are back on the road toward home. Two blocks from our house, Reggie starts to scream and continues to do so until he is fed.
Our errand ($10 worth of groceries) took 2 hours. But, overall, we all enjoyed it and it was a nice way to spend the day. I'm sure people wonder why we would ever even attempt to leave the house solo +3 with the work that it involves. But this is not a temporary situation for us. Our reality is that there are a lot of challenges that come with all the joys. It takes a good dose of caffeine, humor, and determination to get through each day and keep our sanity. And we find it is easier to keep our sanity if we work at going about things life-as-usual, even though there is nothing usual about it.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Reggie is 3 months old!
Reggie is 3 months old! He has just recently discovered his tongue! He has also discovered his hands and fingers and likes to chew on them (as if we aren't feeding him enough...) He is also tracking objects and people, turning at the sound of a familiar voice, and has recently discovered the TV. He is mostly wearing size 3-6 months clothes. He wears the same size diapers as Lydia! Our biggest concern at present is his plethora of skin-related issues, which I am combating with all the products I've used on Brett, but with even greater fervency.
Reggie has become a more content baby, enjoying sitting in the bouncy seat as long as there is lots of activity going on around him. He definitely still likes the babywearing thing, but he is already getting so heavy!
Sleeping through the night has become the rule, not the exception. How fortunate for us!
In adoption-related news, a court date for termination of birth father rights has been set for December 3rd. We are very confident everything will go smoothly, and yet will be happy to have this part of our journey behind us.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Orphan Sunday November 8th
Orphan Sunday is your opportunity to rouse church, community and friends to God’s call to care for the orphan.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Lydia is 11 months old!
The big news this month is Lydia is officially a walker! She took her first step at about 10 months and is now walking all over the place - with plenty of spills in slippery pj's on hardwood floors.She has also started saying a few more words: cat, dog, no no, all done, Mom, Dad, banana (nana), and dance (something she loves to do!)
I've noticed Brett and Lydia have started playing together more. Lydia will start to crawl away from Brett and then look back, expecting him to chase after her. They have also started fighting over toys...here we go! Lydia also loves to look at books, sing songs, roughhouse with Daddy, and play with stacking toys.
There are only a few things I have left to introduce into Lydia's diet - whole milk, tomato product, citrus... She is eating basically what we eat, though I'm a little more careful about heavily seasoned foods.
This is really a fun stage!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)