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Thursday, May 26, 2011

Happy

My favorite Mother's Day gift from my husband (besides spending the day at the beach), was The Happy Book:
I love writing.  I love journaling.  And when I get around to it, I love blogging :-)  This book provides writing cues to "practice happiness so it gets easier to find" (Kempster, Leder viii). 

Still in the thick of nursing a newborn, finishing my first year of homeschooling, and potty-training my son, I am hormonal, impatient, discouraged, and whipped.  I NEED to exercise my happy thoughts!  When the baby is wailing in the car, and I've been driving lost for 30 minutes with two other hungry kids in the van, I have chanted the mantra, "Happy, happy, happy, happy, HAPPY!" as I white-knuckle the steering wheel.  Yes, I have questioned my sanity in those moments.  Then I step out into the sunshine at our intended destination and exhale.  I made it- frazzled but with brain still in tact. 

It doesn't seem such an easy thing to make yourself happy in the middle of shoulder stress up to your ears.  Maybe it takes just a smidgeon of effort.  But effort towards happiness has got to be fun, right?

This books gives me permission to let myself BE happy.  Finding joy in the silly things that make me happy, like the color red, or glitter, or the saying the name, "Penelope." 
Fireworks
Baby laughs and gummy smiles
Coloring with crayons
Musicals....
I need to paint polka dots on our fingernails NOW, Bella!  Pronto!

What makes you happy?
Try this happy exercise: log every single thing that makes you happy throughout the day (i.e. stealing a nap, guzzling an ice cold glass of water, finishing a project, meeting someone for lunch, wearing your favorite shirt, finding a dollar in your coat pocket...).

This picture?


My return to blogging turns up the corners of my mouth and soul too. 
Happy Thursday!  :-)

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Four months

Four months ago, I was awaiting the arrival of our third child.  I was worrying about when and if I should schedule an induction after a false alarm sent us to the hospital then back home again.  Worry, worry, worry.  Who will watch the kids?  Will Jason make it home from work in time?  What doctor will be on call?

Two days after my last post, Boone Jameson was born.  One week after my first hospital stay, I delivered in the same room with the same nursing staff.  I opted for a wonderful epidural this time, and I couldn't have asked for a better doctor or labor story.

Here he is at 7 lbs. 4 oz.

Overwhelmed by tears.  Thankful for undeserved blessings.  God gave me another child to raise, despite my typical human errors. 

Big sister has been dubbed my assistant mommy.  She fetches diapers and has even changed a few wet ones!  She locates the lost pacifiers and holds him whenever she can.

Big brother is so sweet to the little guy too.  I am always impressed by his gentleness.

So many changes have occurred since January. 
Boone aged one month:
Then two months:
Three months:

And tomorrow, Baby Boone will turn four months old:

He sleeps for about 9 hours at night and is on a fairly predictable schedule during the day.  Slowly growing out of the cat-nap stage, he's snoozing for longer periods of time 2-3 times per day.  Boone has been experimenting with those baby vocal chords for a few weeks, but now he's testing the volume levels!  He likes to squeal LOUDLY, and I suspect it's because his siblings are regularly breaking the "inside voice" rule around the house. 

My family of five spent Mother's Day weekend at the beach, and I felt myself finally awaking from that newborn coma.  I think it took longer with the third one.  My brain has been short-circuting with the added responsibilities and schedules, but I still enjoy kissing those fresh cheeks dozens of times each day. 


There are several moments throughout my days when prayers for patience and grace float up through our rooftop. So far, I'm surviving.  I can't believe God has given me this much- a whole, healthy family.