Sleeping Beauty Selah

When you come upstairs to bed and see your daughter has somehow crawled out of her bed and into yours and all you can think is, "wow. She's beautiful." 

Dear Hezekiah

Dear Heze,

Last month you turned one!!! In some ways, your first year was more challenging than others: baby blues, name change, and all the food allergies. When you were 7 months we removed all dairy, gluten, orange/red/yellow foods from your diet (I stuck with you for a month but the cheese was calling...). You've broken out in lots of rashes and vomited up foods that are bad for you. But through it all, you've remained such a wonderful and happy little guy. You are laid back, sweet, and funny. You are crawling and cruising and only this week began to take steps. You have four teeth and four more are emerging. You've made two trips to Cincinnati and were a trooper through one beach vacation (you LOVE the beach). You love to play ball, with a tool bench, and you love to mimick us. If we cough, you cough. We make a noise, you try to make it back. Ever since you were little you and I talk to each other in growers and clicks. It's a cute language I kind of hope we keep. 

You are such a smart boy! You clean up when you see us cleaning, you are aware of the word no, and you know when you are being left out. (We call you "an angry elf" because you scream and protest when you are left out :). you enjoy trying to color or do whatever your siblings are doing. Most of the time you sleep very well- all through the night and 2 naps a day. You can say: mama, dada, done, baba, and oh-no. You can hold up

One finger when I ask you how old you are. And you can sign: eat, more, all done, and pray. 

The other night I was praying over you before bedtime, and you threw your bottle down and made your hands into the praying sign. I was blown away thinking about how much you know that I'm not even aware of. 

My heart broke for you during your one year check-up. They had to do a blood draw for your food allergies and to check for celiac. Your lower lip sticking out broke my heart. Your results came back that you are allergic to just about everything. The dr. Said, "I've never seen a baby light up the results like he did."  We knew something was not right and now we are praying for the wisdom to know what to feed you. I also pray you grow out of these. 

You are dearly loved, Hezekiah Jason, and I love having you a part of our family. 

 

"You're the Baddest"

So, Asa's favorite comeback is "you're the baddest."  He sometimes says it when he's mad at a sibling or when he's talking about villains and super heroes. Sometimes he even says it when you say something is good just to be challenging. To me it is funny (even though he did call Jason that once and we really scolded him for that) but to his siblings it is mean and cruel. There is always lots of tears when he calls someone or something the baddest. I shouldn't laugh but part of me is glad that's the worst thing being said! Jason and I talk about how his words "cut to the quick" but we are just joking with each other. Other times when I am frustrated with all the drama over the words I will say, "no one is the baddest except Satan." Or "we are all the baddest without Jesus."  

Seabrook Island

KI In August we took a family vacation to Seabrook island. Seriously, it is my favorite place! It was a glorious week of pool fun, beach time, and lovely family time. Heze loved everything about the beach. Asa loved the sand but hated the water. The first several days he would cry if anyone got close to it. He would say, "the water bad. It get you!"  By the end of the week he would get close to the water but he would still never get in. Perhaps next time. :) here are a few of my favorite pictures. Be sure to check out my marriage blog to hear the shark story!!! 

Don't want to forget

The other day we were having a picnic at the park. A blue truck drove by and not much later a jogger passed. Selah said, "Daddy, why is that old man chasing that truck?" 

The kids then dialgued about why the ma was chasing the truck. Haha. 

We started soccer with the kids. Jason is coaching both Havana's team and selah and Jonah's team. It's been quite stressful for me... And Jonah had struggled to grasp it. He doesn't really like it. When jason tells him to go get the ball from the other team he said, "but dad, we aren't supposed to take things from other people." What a sweet boy... 

When you grow up...

At Jonah's 5 year check up, the doctor asked him what he wanted to be. He said, "Bull Rider." "What if you get hurt?" "Well, I run really fast!"

So today, at the breakfast table I asked the other children what they want to be. Here were their answers:

Havana- ballet teacher 

Asa- Olaf

Selah: you just have to wait and see!

Later, Selah told her doctor and Jason that she wants to be a mommy when she grows up. That made my day (although she never told me!). 

4 years old selah

dear Selah, 

Today was your fourth birthday... And I'm not going to lie, my heart is kind of sad right now. Time is slipping away and you are growing up so fast! I can't believe that it has already been 4 years since God entrusted you to our care! You are such a sweet and spunky girl and (scary enough) you remind me so much of myself! You have lots of emotions and words. You enjoy laughing and being the center of attention. You have these moments where you are so sweet and giving and maternal to your siblings (especially Asa). I am so proud of you and who you are becoming. 

This past year you became a big sister... Again! You've done really well with the addition of Heze... You don't really like his spit-ups, but you're doing well with him. You started dance and were even in your first recital. You danced to Spoon Full of Sugar! The minimum age is 4, but they let you go at 3 and you did awesome! And by awesome I mean you waived at daddy the whole time. :) 

Your favorites change often but right now your favorite color is Yellow and when I ask you what your favorite thing to play is you say, "with you." You enjoy singing "you are the only king forever" and "glory arise" which you call, "glory stills" You still sleep with your This (which you call Dis) and are freakishly good at memory. You love to dance and play cat and dress up! You enjoy watching Frozen and Octonauts. You are a sweet and special girl. 

You hd a special day with church, a pizza party at church (Silvermist theme), and presents. Tomorrow, you get to go on a date with daddy and mommy. 

Lately you have been on our hearts so we have been praying for you! Praying that God will captivate your heart and your will delight in Him! I pray that you will obey and be close to Him all of your life! he loves you so much, Selah Cadence, and I can't wait to see what He is going to do in and through you!

Love,

Mommy 

2.5

Dear Asa,

You are now 2.5! You're oh so funny! To celebrate, we moved you into your "big boy bar bed." You are mastering the art of potty training too! I'm so proud of you! Love you so much! 

Prideful Girls! :)

The other day I overheard Havana talking to Selah. She said, "why do you like me so much? Is it because I am so amazing?!" 

Hahaha

Recently we were all having a rough day so Jason led us through a time of family repentance. He went first, then Havana and Jonah. When it got to Selah's turn she said, "Dear God, thank you for today. Thank you that I didn't not disobey. Thank you that everyone else in this family did bad things, but not me. Thank you that died on the cross to their sins. I love you Jesus, amen!" 

Jason and I looked at each other and thought, "parenting fail!" 

Selah also points out that when anyone disobeys it is a good thing she didn't disobey. 

Great memories

At night, we say prayers with each of the children.. For some reason asa likes to say the prayers with us and shouts the last word of every sentence. I don't know why but it always makes me laugh! 

I told Selah tonight that she was "my selah" and she looked at me very seriously and said, " uh, no, it's everyone's selah!" 

Last weekend the girls were in a dance recital. Selah dances to Spoon full of Sugar and Havana's was Somewhere over the rainbow. Havana nailed it again and selah waived to jason from on stage. Haha. I was the backstage mom, which is something I love being and during rehearsal of the finale, selah melted down and refused to go onstage. Thankfully she felt better by show time! :) 

Dislike kisses

Selah got a boo-boo on her hand and so I tried to kiss it. She quickly pulled her hand away and told me not to kiss it. I told her it was my right as a mommy to give her a kiss. She then told me that I can never ever give her a kiss again. I can only kiss Jesus and Havana, Jonah, Asa, and Hezekiah... But not her. Then she said, "I don't like kisses they are so wet!"  Hahaha. 

Selah is a spunky one who recently told me my belly was so big I must have two babies in there! 

She's also the one who is always eager to say it is a good thing she obeys when I'm correcting another child. Ov vey! 

Great Questions

Havana always asks really great questions during family Bible story. Her questions usually imply that she has really been thinking about the story. For example tonight we read the story about when Peter denies Jesus. Havana's two questions were:

1. Is Peter really disobeying/lying when he denied Jesus three times since Jesus told him he would. Wouldn't that be obeying Jesus?! 

2. Why would Peter deny Jesus if he said he wouldn't?! Why do something you just said you wouldn't. 

I'm so proud of her heart, her mind, and her questions! 

5th birthday letter

Dear Jonah! 

I cannot believe you are five! It is such a cliche, but it is very true that it feels like just yesterday you were born! 

I am so proud of the boy you are becoming! You are funny and take lots of pride in bringing everyone to laughter. You seem to be in your element when you are the center of attention and you are doing silly things! I often find myself correcting you and telling you to "control your energies" but at the same time I am trying to remember that being funny is important to you. I just hope you can learn. To real it in when necessary. :). 

You've thrived this year. It's been fun to watch you be the oldest on the days Havana goes to school. You also have become very interested in school: what it means to go to school and important information such as your letters and numbers. You can count to one hundred and you know most of the letters and the sounds they make. 

Your daddy and I have gone back and forth on what to do about school for you next year. We can argue a case for why should go to Kindergarten next year and also for why we should wait until you are six. We have prayed and discussed, and have not felt a clear answer. I recently thought that perhaps it is because I'm not trusting God to take care of you. I feel like it is my job to keep you safe and make the best decision for you when really, I need to trust God to take care of you  whether we send you or wait. So, as we move forward, I am praying that God will prepare your heart for whatever the future holds for you. 

This past year you have continued with Karate! You are now an orange belt and and just this past week you were the only kid in the class still standing at attention at the end of the 30-second challenge. I am so proud of you. For the last testing cycle you were supposed to teach the class you loved to do the right forearm block! You also had trouble saying "ax kick"  which sounded a little like... Well, you can figure it out. :) 

Speaking. of speech, you have a funny way of taking. You mix up some of your letters. For example, "marshmallow" is "smarshmallow" and "poor unfortunate soul" is "for unportiante souls". 

You're favorite song right now is "you are the only king forever" which you love to scream it at the top of your lungs and play the drums and sing into a pretend microphone. We love watching you praise Jesus and I often wonder if that will be His calling in your life. 

You're very kind to your siblings often running to get them ice packs or their favorite toy if they are crying. You often talk about when you are going to be a daddy and I want you to know that I know you will be an excellent daddy some day! :) 

You still love David and Goliath.. Which makes me so happy to know how Much you love God's word. You also love Jospeh, Daniel, and Jonah... So I always pray that you to know that God created you to be a hero too! 

For your birthday, you asked for a David and Goliath theme. We acted out the scene and you enjoyed it. For our date, we went to CHuck-E-Cheese, toys R us, and Chick-fil-a where you told a girl you could help her up the slide because you are five now! :) 

This year you were a ring bearer, watched the Incredibles and loved being dash. You are into super heroes and coloring and Legos! You still enjoy fire tucks and trains from time to time! :) 

I'm so proud of you, Jonah. I love you. You delight my heart and are such a special person. God has a purpose for you! Don't forget that.. I'm excited to watch him work in you and use you!

Love you! 

Mommy! 

Easter and Christmas Photos

I don't think I ever posted Christmas Family photos... so here they are:

And now here are some shots we took last week on Easter... 

Dear Asa

Well, today is April 10th, which means you turned two a few months ago. I am sorry I am late in your birthday letter. I think part of my delay is simply not knowing what to write. What do I say to a little toddler who has captured my heart? Your boyish nature and fun-loving demeanor make you a complete joy. Your curls... oh your curls... and your smile. I love everything about being your mother.

During this past year you learned how to walk (last April) and went on a vacation to Disney World. You transitioned from a bottle to a sippy cup to now a big boy cup. You left behind your booster seat and you sit in a chair like everyone else. Truly, you've grown up so much. You also became a big brother... which I was very worried about as you were never very nice or welcoming to other babies that came over to play. With Hezekiah, however, you have become very smitten. From day one you are always giving him your toys and running over and giving him kisses. I firmly believe God gave you a heart for him and it is so sweet to watch.

You had quite the love affair with your pacifier (which you call "boppish") and we had to cut you from it cold turkey just a couple of weeks ago. It was heartbreaking to hear you scream for it, but after three nights, you were fine! It was getting out of hand because you would sneak it out of your bed and then cover your mouth with a toy so that I wouldn't see you with it. Funny, sneaky, little one.

It was kind of keeping you from exploring your words, but now that it is gone you are really trying hard to communicate. You came up with a nickname for Selah, "Say-Whale-Lee" and we've all kind of adopted it although she isn't a big fan of it. You refuse to be left behind and I love that about you. :)

I cut your hair the other night too! It was getting so long and everyone was thinking you were a girl. I hated doing it, but then a babysitter told me that she said, "I like your hair cut, Asa." And you said, "Yeah, mama did it." So, now I'm glad that we have that special bond.

You're really good at saying "cop it" (for stop it) when I'm singing or giving you too many kisses. You also are funny when you push my face away and say, "go away" when I'm smothering you. It's hard not to kiss you too much. You're such a cool boy. The other day it was just you and me down in the basement and we played in the tent and with the trains and every game was initiated and thought up by you. You are the only 2 year old who can play hide-n-go-seek with perfection. :)

I'm looking forward to what this year has in store for you! I love you, big boy!

Mommy.

Heze's half birthday

Dear Hezekiah,

He turned six months old today! I don't know when or how you got so big… You are such a joy! You spend your days content in whatever chair commands and I put you in. You'd love to laugh and be held. And you have a smile that lights up whenever anybody looks or talks to you. You were such a great addition to this family and I love you so very much. Your six months has already been filled with so much: A name change for one! :) You went on a little trip with mommy and and daddy! You had your first Halloween where you wore jonah's old football costum. Your first Thanksgiving and Christmas. You rolled over from your back to your belly on December 23rd and sat up for the first time on February 28th. Today you tried your first solid food, carrots, and hated every bite! :) 

You did have one night when you were throwing up... Dry heaves and bile and everything nasty. I think it was a bad reaction to formula because after three hours you were fine and never ran a fever. It was so sad to see you so miserable! 

we love you, Hezekiah Jason... You have brought So much to our lives!!You are such a special part of this family! 

Love, mommy