The Easter Story

Since this is the week before Spring Break for Drew's preschool, they've been learning the Easter story piece by piece. His super, incredibly creative teachers have been teaching it through an Easter egg hunt. Each day the children have had to look around for 1 or 2 eggs (depending on which part of the story they were telling). The teachers would then gather the children up & open the eggs...inside was a small object representing a part of the story. Drew has really enjoying telling me what has been in each egg (a donkey, a palm branch, etc.) & what the story behind the object is. So today the conversation was pretty much the same...

Me: So, how many eggs did you have to find today?
Drew: 1
Me: What was inside this one?
Drew: Ummmmm...oh yeah, it was a pokey crown.

*pause for me to regain my composure as my stomach has hit the floor*

Drew (while Mom is still pulling herself together): And Jesus had to put it on his head & they pushed it down so hard that it made his head all bloody."

I am now sitting silently listening...hanging on every word that comes out of this sweet boy's mouth. I am amazed at the profound truth he is spouting off to me that he learned from two faithful women of God at school. I find myself thankful that, although these women are teaching young, tender, (super sensitive in my Drew's case) hearts, they are not going to "sugar coat" the Easter story. I find myself thankful that the Easter story has the most glorious ending of any story I've ever read or been told. And I find myself thankful that without the ugly, mean, bloody part of the Easter story, the story of my life wouldn't have the glorious ending that it one day will!

Ok, fast forward a bit to Brandon's nap time...I am working on my Bible study for the day & Drew is asking (quite politely) to play the iPad when I'm finished. I give it to him cautioning him that when Mom says, "time's up", he needs to put it away. Well, he decides one more game is in order when I say "time's up". Nope! I begin to walk over to confiscate the iPad when he decides he'll show me...he closes the cover & slams the iPad down on the couch. Oh no no no no no son...time out...

He serves his time & we sit down for a talk about why he was there, what he was thinking/feeling, what he could have done different, etc. He gives me his apology & recently we've begun asking him to pray, saying sorry to Jesus for whatever he's done, & asking for His forgiveness. He begins to pray...

"Dear Jesus, I'm sorry that I didn't obey Mom the first time she told me to be done on the iPad. Jesus, I'm really sorry that you had to have that pokey crown on your head & had to have it all bloody on your head..."

My thoughts drifted at that point...I found myself echoing his prayer, "I'm really sorry about that too, Jesus..."

That was an amazing moment spun from the faithful teaching of an incredible story...

I can't wait to hear the "rest of the story" from Drew on Friday! Thankful again it is such a gloriously happy ending!

Rhyme Time

I love when kids learn how to rhyme!
Not sure the exact reason, just think it's a pretty incredible concept & once they've figured it out, they can go on & on...

Tonight, my over-achiever 2 year old (I say that in jest of course) showed off his rhyming skills while reading a rhyming favorite of mine..."Go Dog. Go".
We've read this book about a million times so I thought I'd give Brandon a shot at one of my favorite early reading activities, "fill in the blank".
So, things were going along smoothly with him surpassing my expectations & filling in the correct word each time...then we got to the page that says, "Go by scooter. Go by skis. Bundle up so you don't freeze." I left out the word "freeze" & he confidently filled in the blank with "cheese"!
I did my best to stifle my laughter, paused, looked at him with a smile & he looked back & repeated "cheese!" He chuckled a bit & Drew & I could no longer hold in our laughter...
I looked back at him and said, "Brandon, you are..." Before I could finish he chimed in, "Mama, I funny!"

Yes buddy, you are funny indeed! :)

A Quick Bedtime Story

Here was the conversation at bedtime tonight...
Drew: Can we read one more book?
Me: Nope, it's already way past bedtime & you have school in the morning.
Drew: Maaaaaaan! (exasperated) oh ok, we'll just read more tomorrow.
Me: Sure thing...now please lay down & be a good example to your brother.

Brandon, meanwhile, begins his routine of flopping around the bed like a fish out of water...this routine almost always results in me getting kicked, punched, hair pulled, pinched, kneed, elbowed, or all of the above. I usually try to ignore it unless he really hurts me (since I know it's not intentional).

Well tonight, he got me good...a pinch on the forearm directly followed by a head to my lower jaw...yep, I lost it! I yelled out in pain (& frustration)...

Me: Seriously?!?!?! I am not a human jungle gym! I am your mother! I don't deserve to be treated like a rag doll!
Brandon: Sar...(sorry)
Drew: (matching my frustrated tone exactly) I know Mom! I know exactly how you feel!

Really? Oh good, I'm glad someone understands...

Never short on laughs in this house! ;)

The BIG #5

So, today is the day...
Andrew has been looking forward to this day for about the last 6 months.
I have been in a state of disbelief that this day was actually creeping closer & closer.
I mean honestly, I know it sounds cliche, but I really do feel like this photo was just taken...

...that baby in there turns 5 today!!

In just 5 years, he has gone from this...

to this...

In 5 years, Drew has grown a lot, and experienced a lot!

He's gone from being the sole occupant of any floor space...

to sharing every bit of floor space (and toys, etc). ;)

He's gone from having this four-legged friend be his faithful companion & best friend...

to having this little guy slowly take over those roles.

He's gone from being the baby who gets held...

to holding the babies.

Drew never seemed to mind change though...quick or slow, change was something he just readily adapted to. Evidenced by the fact that this photo documents the first & only time he ever used this form of movement...

In the next blink he decided walking was a form of transportation far more superior...and he never looked back! ;)

5 years...

When I look at some of these first photos of him it's hard for me to believe this is the same little boy who now speaks to me in complete sentences, sometimes far more sophisticated then I'm even prepared for!
It's hard for me to believe that the boy who walks into school without a glance back is that same little baby that I wasn't sure would ever detach from my hip!

Yep, he's growin' up, that's for sure! Drew makes me laugh on a daily basis...sometimes to the point where tears come rolling down my face. He is very serious when he needs to be, but is a ball of fun if he feels comfortable enough to "let loose".

That little baby turns 5 years old today!
I remember clearly the moment he was born, 5:33pm, he came out screaming his heart out...they placed him on my chest & my heart was overwhelmed with the love I had for this tiny human. My heart is still overwhelmed, 5 years later! This Mama could not be more proud of the little boy Drew is growing into & could not be more grateful that God saw fit to give me the privilege of being his Mama!

Happy Birthday Drew-ski! Love you to pieces!

Brandon Matthew

This day 2 years ago seems like yesterday...
This was me at about 6pm, 2 years ago, Feb. 3rd...

I was timing contractions that were finally becoming consistent and trying to relax by playing trains with my buddy Drew.
This was me around 10pm, 2 years ago, Feb.3rd...

I was begging Jim to please hurry up & take the picture before another contraction hit...they were pretty hard & fast at that point.

It was not long after this photo was taken that I was walking to a labor & delivery room. This labor experience was much different than my first.
I remember going from calm, breathing through relatively painful contractions to begging my
nurse to see if I was 5cm yet so I could get my epidural (my goal was always to make it 5), in
what seemed like about 6 seconds! Thankfully I was and they called for the anesthesiologist...this process took f-o-r-e-v-e-r, but as usual helped out in the end. I
remember not long after that...really what seemed like mere minutes after they let my Mom & my
best friend come back in the room, (Jim was the lucky soul to witness the good ol' epidural
stick) I was feeling very ready to push. The nurse paged the Dr. and one of med. students came in & calmly told me that the Dr. was on his way up from the ER and to try not to push just yet. Seriously?!?!? I laugh about it now but at that moment I just curled up in a ball on my side and whined and whimpered much like my little almost 2 year old does now. ;) I remember hearing the door open and the Dr's voice calmly saying "ok, Rachel you ready for this?" I remember my exact response word-for-word..."you're killing me Dr. Popp!" He, in all the calmness he could muster guided me through a very short session of pushing and at 12:51am,2 years ago, on Feb. 4th, Brandon Matthew made his grand entrance. In all of his 8lb, 15oz, 20 1/2in long glory, he came and let the whole world know he had a nice, healthy set of lungs. Every time he would cry, I remember my Mom saying "that's a beautiful sound to hear isn't it Rach?" And she was right, it was!

So, by about 1am, 2 years ago, on Feb. 4th, this was me...

...with a cameo appearance by my handsome hubby! ;)

But this Feb. 4th, Brandon is turning 2! He is my 2 year old, going on 5 or 6. I sometimes have to remind myself that he is only two! He wants to be just like his big brother & do everything he does. Drew takes a backpack to school, so Brandon has to carry his own backpack to drop him off. Drew brings a toy monster truck to the dinner table and "parks" it next to his plate, Brandon won't touch a bite of food until he has one of his own "parked" next to his plate. One of Brandon's favorite phrases is "me too, me too!" in reference to anything Drew does/has. I hope, as he continues to grow, his love & admiration for his brother never goes
away. You see, it's a natural path for me to want him on. He wants to be just like his brother, his brother wants to be just like his Daddy, & his Daddy tries his very best to be like Jesus! Can't think of a better chain I'd want him linked to...

Happy 2nd Birthday Brandon! We love you to the moon & back! :)

February

Well, it's February 1st. I am always in a super nostalgic mood when this month rolls in each year. Both of my babies are February babies, so every February they slam me with growing a year older all in the same month (I know, mostly my fault, not theirs). ;) This year seems all the bigger since it will be full of "firsts". First birthday in Illinois, first birthday without Bailey around, first birthday with all new friends...you get the point. These are all probably more significant to me than either of the boys.
I know this because Drew is going to turn 5...and if you've encountered him in any way over the last 2 months or so, you know this because it's all he talks about! Any 5 he sees must be in that very place "because I'm turning 5!!" he would tell any listening ear. :) Brandon hears any mention of the word "birthday" & immediately responds with "cake! Eat cake!" ;) So, as you can see, so long as we acknowledge the grandeur of the #5 & be sure to have cake to eat, we'll have very happy birthday boys...and isn't that really all that matters? I think so! Happy February! :)

30 years ago

What were you doing 30 years ago? I'll give you some help...the year was 1982...do you remember?

I don't remember what I was doing, but I do know I was seemingly content in the warm comfort of my mother's womb. I imagine I was as reluctant to come out of there as I will be to get out of my warm, comfy bed tomorrow! I imagine it was pretty crowded in there too, much as my bed will be in the morning due to my reluctance to get out of it. And though I obviously don't remember what my Mom was doing or thinking 30 years ago, I have kind of imagined the scenario...

See, at this very time 30 years ago, my Mom was pregnant with me, and going on 10 days overdue. 30 years ago, the whole "induce when you are a week overdue rule" didn't apply. I imagine my Mom was quite uncomfortable and probably didn't sleep much this night 30 years ago. It would still be about 23 hours before I made my grand entrance into the world. I had to wait awhile longer you see because it couldn't just be any old, dry, cold day in January. Nope, only the grandest entrance would do for me...I wanted the coldest, the snowiest...actually, just to make it unforgettable, let's have the biggest ice storm! Yep, that was the type of day I wanted to come out of my warm, comfy place! ;)

And that I did...on a bitterly cold January night, in the midst of an ice storm, I was born...30 years ago. A grand entrance I wanted & a grand entrance I got...not just with the backdrop of major winter weather...I also was born weighing in at 10 lbs. 1 oz. and measuring 21 and 1/2 inches long! My Dad always tells me I was born looking like a 3 month old...hehe! ;) My Aunt Mo always tells me I was the most beautiful baby and my Mom always tells me I was very good, & always a happy baby. So, all the drama created around the day of my birth was worth it in the eyes of those who love me!

I can remember being a child and thinking 30 was SO old...now I sit on the brink of turning 30 and think of how young I still feel! When my day slows down and I really think about my life, I think of all my years of grade school, I have my high school diploma, a bachelor's & a master's degree...I look at my handsome husband & my two beautiful boys and can hardly
believe this has all happened in only 30 years!

I look forward to my birthday every year & this year is no different despite the "milestone" year that it is. I know I will be showered with well wishes, gifts, treats, & more love than my heart can hold & that is something I will treasure no matter how old I get!