It's a BOY!

We found out today, via ultrasound, that baby number three is a boy! The tech was very certain, due to a prominent body part, that it is in fact a boy! We are excited. I was a bit nervous going into the ultrasound because I really wanted another girl. The only reason I wanted another girl is because I wanted Karis to have a sister, so she could have the special relationship my sister and I have. So, I was nervous that I would be disappointed at the news if it wasn't a girl. But, it turned out that I was not disappointed. I am just glad that, for now, everything looks good and healthy and I have a baby in there! And the more I thought about it this evening, the more excited I became. Think of how protected Karis will be from all sides with two brothers; Jesse will finally have someone to play soccer with (at least in a few years); I won't have to worry about middle child syndrome so much b/c Karis being the only girl, she is bound to get special attention; and for Matt's sake, only one wedding to pay for! Now we just need to come up with a name, we had a girl's name for sure, but we're not so sure on the boy name. But, we have plenty of time to think about it!

My heart is good

Karis made up a new song last night. She was practicing in front of the back door window so she could see herself belt out her new number. The words? "My heart is good, my heart is good, my heart is gooooooooood!" Precious thing. Only, not very Presbyterian of her is it? I smiled to myself and just let her sing her good little heart out. When Matt came home she ran up to him, "Daddy, I made a new song!" She was so excited. She sang her new song with all her heart to Matt and I could see the smile fade from his face into this puzzled look. He looked up at me, I mouthed, "Go with it."
Then at dinner it came up again and I thought this is too good of a teachable moment to pass up. So I asked both kids, "Guys, what makes our heart good?" They both immediately responded with enthusiasm, "GOD!" Phew. Matt continued the conversation to explain how Jesus' death makes us good and apart from him we are not so good. It ended up being a good conversation that I hope didn't squelch Karis' artistic freedom!

Worst Toy Award

We try to be pretty picky about the toys our kids play with around the house. We have, with a few exceptions, steered away from "character" toys and tried to get toys that make them use their imaginations. Today I got a forward from a friend of mine that I thought was pretty funny and so I will post it here for your enjoyment. I don't know much about the group that is sponsoring the worst toy award and I apologize if anyone has these toys, I just think the descriptions are hilarious!

http://commercialfreechildhood.org/actions/toady.html

Four year olds and church

Some people may disagree with me, but I find small children in church distracting. In theory, it is a good idea to expose little ones to the tradition, routine and content of a worship service but in my experience, it doesn't always work out that way. At least not for my kids. I like that the churches we have been to have been to provided safe, God-centered care for our children while they are too young to enjoy and participate in a full church service. I also appreciate the Sunday School classes that give my children a foundational understanding of why we go to church (as a supplement to what we already do at home). Since Jesse turned four I have been wanting to include him in the church service more as a way of introducing him to what goes on. In our new, small church plant we have been given that opportunity. The four years olds up through third grade remain with the parents for the beginning of the worship service through confession and a kid's sermon given by our pastor. I love our pastor's vision for including the children in the service and was excited to have Jesse start participating once we got the church up and going. But, as Jesse has joined me in the service the past few weeks I am growing more and more annoyed and not at all excited about the prospect. I have not been able to sing a song in it's entirety, pray a prayer with my whole heart or even confess my sins without tending to Jesse- telling him to stop making that noise, sit up, stop snoring, don't kick the seat in front of you, stop playing with your car, we are SUPPOSED to be confessing our SINS now, etc. Matt is usually leading or playing music in the service so it is up to me to make sure Jesse is not distracting me or others around me. Not to mention the kid's sermon. I never know what is going to come out of his mouth when the pastor asks a question. One week I felt like I needed to stand up and make a disclaimer: the views expressed by my four old do not necessarily express the views his parents have taught him. Not to mention the tattling he did b/c his friend wouldn't share this past Sunday.
So, I am wondering if I am expecting too much from my four and half year old son or if I have just done a lousy job of parenting him to sit through a church service. What am I supposed to do? I have tried to explain each part of the service to him, tell him why we are doing certain things, he doesn't seem interested. So, do I keep trying and discipline him when he gets fidgety? Is expecting him to sit and stand at the appropriate times too much? Do I let him lay all over the chairs and play with a car? Should I bring small toys or books for him to look at? I just don't know what to do! We have friends who have taken their child out of the service for some discipline so I thought about doing that this past Sunday. But that would require putting coats and boats on, trekking out to the car and then trekking back. It just adds to the exhaustion! And would I be disciplining him for something that is not age appropriate anyway? I haven't been able to look around and see if other people are having this issue b/c I am too distracted by my own son but I wonder if I am the only one?

Any thoughts?

How's my day?

In case you were wondering...

It's only 11:10am and I feel like it should be 4:00pm. Ugh.
I am tired, even after going to bed on time last night.
I am frustrated with my two year old. She's sweet but so ornery.
We have been practicing "school" for a few weeks around here to prepare for homeschooling next year. It may be more for me than the kids but it is really showing me alot! Mainly I have just been trying to structure time at home and spend intentional time with kids. For Jesse it's playing chess or math and word games. With Karis it is various sorting activities and coloring. I've been reading alot to both of them. I have started teaching Jesse how to read, hoping that I will have that out of the way before the baby arrives. He is also showing signs of being ready so I thought it would be pretty easy. Some days it is. Today it is not. Mainly because of said two year old. So, something I will have to figure out is what to do with Karis while Jesse and I are doing our reading lessons. And it needs to be something that isn't fun for Jesse so that he doesn't want to do what she is doing! I am feeling a tad overwhelmed this morning so the video went on earlier than it should have, I am trying not to feel like a failure for that. And all this is what all the homeschooling books said to anticipate, so I just take it a day at a time I suppose and learn, learn, learn. Isn't that what it's all about anyway?
Oh, and I suppose I should strap a sack of flour into a sling and carry it around all day. And then every 2-3 hours stop what I'm doing and sit on the couch for 20 mins. Then it may be a little more like next year will be like!!

Nostalgia

So, Matt was late getting home today and I wanted to do something to kill time. So, I popped in our wedding video for the kids to see. It was their first time seeing it and the commentary was hilarious. Jesse has been trying to figure weddings out ever since we told him we were having another baby. He heard somewhere that you need to be married to have a baby so he kept asking when Matt and I were getting married. We thought we had explained it thoroughly but as we watched the video he kept asking, "So is this your wedding that you had when you had me? When was the wedding you had when Karis was born?" And, "But I wanted to walk down the lane with you, can I walk down the lane with you?" Karis was all about the attire, "Mommy, I want to wear a princess dress just like you!" And, "Why were you wearing a crown?"
The best part was the family dance party we had while we watched the reception. Matt came home just in time to teach the kids some swing dancing moves, although it looks like Jesse has some practicing to do before he twists Karis' arm off!
Now, I know I am hormonal, but I kept tearing up the whole time, missing old, dear friends. And, my goodness we were all so skinny (not that we are overweight now, just healthy and we've had a few kids looking)!! So, I'm thinking we need to have a 10 year anniversary party to get everyone together again and of course, to revisit the choreographed dance to RESPECT. So much fun!

Joy to the World

Yes, I know, Christmas is over. But around here the kids are still celebrating with rousing renditions of Joy to the World. Here's Jesse's version:

"Joy to the World that God is good
On Earth receive your King
And every heart repair him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And HEAVEN (crescendo here) and heaven and nature sing!"