Happy Birthday, Avery!

This time last year, (yesterday, to be exact) a sweet friend said both hello and goodbye to her baby girl.  It was completely unexpected.  She was set to deliver, but before she went into labor, she felt Avery not moving like she normally did.  After realizing something was wrong when she hadn't felt her move in a little while, they went to the hospital where it was realized that their baby girl would not be coming home with them. 

How do you say both hello and goodbye to a part of you?  I'm not sure, to be honest.  Many of my friends have lost a child or a baby and I don't even know if they know how you can say goodbye.  We had a miscarriage early on with our first pregnancy and I still think about what that baby would have been like.  They are such a part of you that I think (or at least I've heard from many who have gone through this) that a part of you is gone as well.  Part of you longs to be with them.

If you'll remember, she went through this 3 days before I went into labor.  Then after I had Baby M, I felt guilty and sad.  When I first looked at her, all I could do was cry because this is what Fireman B and Mrs. A should be experiencing with their firstborn child.  It wasn't supposed to end like that for them. 

Over this past year, not a day goes by when I don't look at Baby M and think of them.  I pray for them constantly for God to bless them with more babies.  (You can pray for that, too!)  I pray for comfort and peace and for God's grace to rain down on them.  They are such an encouragment to us and I'm so thankful God has brought them into our lives.  I doubt that there will ever be a day when I don't look at Baby M and think of Avery and her sweet family.

Happy 1st birthday, Avery. You are such a beautiful little girl.  I know your family loves and misses you so very much, but you are being held in the presence of Jesus.  We miss you and will see you one day very soon.

Fireman B

A friend of ours is a fireman for the city and offered for us to come to his station and tour the fire truck and drive it out into the parking lot.  We took Mr. Fireman up on his offer and headed over there one morning.  B was scared!  I think it was because it was so big and tall and honestly, it was much bigger than I remembered.  He wouldn't let me go, which is odd for him, because he is so independent.  At one point, Mr. Fireman asked B if he'd like to drive it.  I knew B would regret not doing it so I told Mr. Fireman to just take him and he'd be fine.  He cried the whole time but when we got in the car, he kept talking about how he drove the fire truck.  (Just like he "sat" on Santa's lap, if you remember that whole picture!)

Mr. Fireman gave B a sticker badge and a hat, which he still plays with.  Every time he sees a fire truck, he asks if we can go see Mr. Fireman and ride in his truck again.  Next time, we're taking Mr. Fireman's wife because B just loves Mrs. Amb!  He won't be so scared if she's there, I'm sure.

Fireman B is "riding the range" with firehorse princess.

Sunny Days

I am so glad that a childhood friend of mine lives in the same place as us.  Jewels has grown up with me since they came to our church for her dad to be the pastor.  We have found ourselves living only miles apart now that we are married and with kids, too.  It's wonderful!  Her son, miracle E, and B are great friends.  Baby M and little C have the same temperment and we hardly recognize that they are there.  The 2 bigger boys keep us on our toes! 

We have been trying to meet once a week, especially since it has been so nice outside.  We've gone to parks, had picnics and have let the boys be boys, which entails rock throwing, getting muddy, running, and wrestling!  Needless to say, both boy sleep GREAT when we get them home!  This past week, Jewels and I met at a park and fed the ducks and threw rocks in the lake.  They loved it!  We sat for over and hour talking while they threw rocks.  Previously, we played on the playground and had a picnic.  They ate fast because they wanted to get to the ducks!

We had to keep the boys from throwing the rocks that hit the ducks.  Fortunately, the ducks were fast and the boys didn't have great aim. 

I'm so thankful that God has placed Jewels in my life.  She is such an encouragement to me when I feel like I'm getting nowhere with B or when I'm beyond frustrated!  It's great to know that she's in the same boat, too, with the same frustrations.  We like to bounce ideas off each other and talk about all that God is doing in our lives, which is a lot for both of us.  Thanks, Jewels, for your friendship!  I love that we have been friends for such an incredibly long time.  And how funny is it that our husbands went to school together and are from the same area?!  Small world.

What? Jump on the Bed?! Okay!

The song "Three Little Monkey's" is NOT a song to use when teaching your child NOT to jump on a bed!  We had a friend's son over to play and all these boys heard were "Three little monkeys jumping on the bed."  They turned deaf ears to "no more jumping on the bed."  In fact, when "one fell off," they would take turns falling off the bed and "bumping" their heads.  I'm going to piggyback that song with more appropriate lyrics.  Perhaps it'll be titled "If Mommy Catches Me Jumping on the Bed..."

By the way, when I caught them doing this, I had to take the video because it was too funny.  I did supervise them and there were thankfully no new bumps or bruises.

Japan

Please remember Japan in your prayers.  My brother and I have a friend over there that I went to school with through high school.  She's so sweet and funny, but her seaweed sushi smelled nasty and could smell up an entire car!  I'll never forget how stinky that was.  Anyway, please pray for Asuka and her family.  We haven't heard from her to know how she is.  We're not for sure how close she is/was to all of the disaster.  I think she was somewhere in/near Tokyo last I heard.