This made my heart happy

We were eating our lunch today when I asked Jackson about God. This is what happened.

Pretty much just made my day :)

posted by shara

Less than a month....

It has been a long time. A ridiculously long time. The difficult thing about not blogging for an extended period of time is that you just don't know how to put your foot back in. There have been plenty of things to write about, but then I just get so overwhelmed with the sheer number of things to say that I don't say anything at all.

Well, I am putting my foot back in the blogging pool. No longer will I sit on the side of my

friend's blogs with the words "5 months ago" underneath, mocking me.

Our last post told you that we were having our 3rd baby. Needless to say, a lot has happened since then. We are now less than a month from meeting our little girl.

Charlotte Monroe is scheduled to arrive by c-section in 29 days on February 10th. I am currently 35 weeks along. At 28 weeks we had the opportunity to sneak a peek at our little girl in 4D.

It was amazing to see her move, suck her thumb, and grab her little feet. She already had hair and chubby little cheeks. Our guess is that she is going to look a lot like her big sister, who we think is pretty cute. For now, she is a busy little bundle inside her mommy's tummy. Well, maybe not a little bundle. My tummy has gotten quite big!

Jackson & Isabella are so excited about the baby, although I don't really think they know what is actually happening. Bella loves to pull my shirt up to "see" Baby Charlotte. Jackson tells us every time we drive by the hospital that "that is where Baby Charlotte comes out of Mommy's tummy". They both love to hug & kiss my tummy, or just give it little pats. (Although they have also stepped, jumped, and pushed on it too!) Bella got lots of new baby gear for Christmas, so they have been practicing with swings, strollers, & giving binkies....although I'm not sure a real baby would be safe with either of them doing those things! In anticipation of Charlotte's arrival, we moved Jackson & Bella into a room together, which they love. As much as it is going

to rock their little worlds, I know they are going to love her and be so good with her. I can't wait to see all 3 of them together.

Did I mention that Jeff is amazing? I am so lucky to be married to a man that loves me and takes such good care of me. Whether it is helping with the kids, picking things up so I don't have to bend down, or making me whatever food is calling my name... he is just wonderful. I love watching him be a daddy.... God made him for it. It will be fun to see him with a little one again.

Since I am writing this post at 4:45 in the morning, you can probably guess that I am ready for our baby girl to arrive. I am terrified, excited, anxious, unprepared, and overwhelmed at the idea of a 3rd child. (But mostly excited!) There are days when I feel like I am over my head with 2 kids. How will I manage 3? I feel like my list of "to-do's" is a mile long and every time I cross something off the list, I add two more things. But regardless of how ready I think I am, at the end of the day, all that matters is a healthy little baby being born. The rest will take care of itself.

As I write, Charlotte is busy moving around in my tummy. It never ceases to amaze me how God decided to allow new life to happen. To know that this is the last time I will ever experience another person growing inside me.... I am trying to just enjoy and be thankful for every minute. Which, when my back hurts, or I can't sleep, or I'm using the bathroom for the 79th time that night, can be hard to do. But I am so incredibly grateful. I have watched life be taken away from precious friends, or never given at all, and I keep waiting for it to be my turn. For God to decide that I do not deserve to be a mommy again. For something to happen to this little one. I have a hard time understanding why He is allowing us to have a 3rd child when others can't have any at all. Sometimes the guilt is overwhelming.

The truth is that I will never know why things happen, but I do trust in a God that is sovereign. And He has given us this little life. I am thankful. I am excited. I cannot wait to meet her, to hold her, to introduce her to her daddy and her big brother and sister.

I promise to be the best mommy that I can to you, sweet Charlotte.

I hope the next 29 days go quickly.

posted by Shara

photos by the amazing Cori Derksen at www.derksenphotography.com

Our Third Child has a name...Thanks Jackson

It is fun to have a family. I would encourage you all to get one. Not like at the mall in a store or from a playground with candy and a windowless van. However, when the time is right, cherish the one that you have. For a pastor, a family is an endless amount of sermon illustrations, stories, and ooh's and aah's. Jackson proved this theory to be true once again.

We are beginning to talk with him about our third child. By the way, we are having a third child. Poor thing does not get the pageantry of the first two, but we are equally as excited. He knows that there is a baby is mommy's tummy (which we all know is not totally true. Shara did not eat a baby and is not growing one in her tummy...semantics). He points to the baby. Gives that baby kisses. He is becoming quite the older brother (again).

As we were walking out of the house the other day, we asked Jackson a question that he did not know the answer to. Try doing this some time. Ask a child a question that they don't know the answer to. Rarely will you get an I don't know. Usually it will be made up. Often it will be fun. So we asked Jackson, what the name of the baby in Mommy's tummy was named. He paused for about 3 seconds and proudly told us his answer. "Bruce". We lost it. Our unborn child has the name of a 75 year old man. Jackson, of course, enjoyed our delight greatly so it was locked in. He now associates the name "Bruce" with tons of laughter and joy. Our best guess is that Jackson has been bingeing on "Finding Nemo" and the 12-step shark is named Bruce. I am not sure if that is what Jackson thinks of this fetus, but that is the name he came up with.

Sorry Tres (which is what we had been called it before this new name). You have been given, and will have for a long time, the name Bruce. We will pay for counseling if necessary. Regardless of your name we love you and can't wait to meet you some time in February.

Talk to you soon Bruce.

-posted by Jeff

Late Night Activities

It seems like every day there is a new season in the life of our children. Some of those seasons are great ones. They learn to say "thank you" when people give them something or come up and give hugs without being asked. Then there are other seasons that prove to be a bit more trying...

Jackson has gotten into the pattern of not wanting to go to bed and also really looking forward to the time that he has...by himself...in his room...with the lights on until 11:00 at night. And yes we go in there and turn off the lights. Many times. Wanna know what he is doing? Yeah, I would love to know as well, but as far as I can surmise here is what he does:

• Sits in his chair and reads a book and then dumps it on the other side of the chair. After about 35 books you make quite a pile.
• Plays with the keyboard he got from Cam for his birthday. Turns on the demo song and dances the night away.
• Tries to set up his train tracks but isn't quite there yet.
• Pulls out his cars and drives them across the table to hear the crash...this one is a dead giveaway.
• Takes off his diaper (least favorite activity)
• Plays with blocks. I have come in and seen a stack 12 high. Well done Jackson!
• Kicks the wall, kicks the bed, kicks the floor, and kicks the door.
• Checking out the window for Jakie's Big Truck to show up and to leave. Either one will do, Jackson is not picky.

The night always ends the same. Jackson. Passed out on his bed. Waiting for the morning sun to come into his room at about 6 AM to start singing songs, reading, dancing, and waiting for Mommy and Daddy to rescue him so he can drink some milk and watch Dora the Explorer. He loves life.

We have quite a little boy.

-Posted by Jeff

Uh-oh....

We had spaghetti for dinner tonight.

After "eating" her meal, Bella proceeded to look at me and say,

 "Messy Mommy!  Uh-oh...."

Staycation!

After a crazy April, Jeff decided to take a few days off last week.  Rather than packing the family up and going somewhere, we decided to just stay home and enjoy our new home.  A staycation.  It was fantastic!

Some highlights of our staycation were:

A bouncing good time at Pump it Up

Games at Chuck E Cheese

A picnic at the BIG fountain

Followed by rides & lollipops in Riverpark.

But the best part of our staycation happened on Friday night. 

We had heard from lots of people about riding the train to Hanford, getting ice cream at Superior Dairy, and then riding the merry-go-round. 

This sounded like a fantastic idea.  So we purchased our tickets, picked up some McDonalds for the train ("O-Donalds chicken & apples & milk!" exclaimed Jackson joyfully), and headed to downtown.  We had been talking up the train for the past 24 hours, and Jackson was sufficiently excited- he brought his toy train to the station. Even Bella couldn't wait. 

We were waiting for the train to arrive at 5:20.  And then we kept waiting. And waiting.

Finally we found out our train was stuck on the tracks and wouldn't arrive until around 6:45, changing our arrival in Hanford to 7:15.  Considering our train back to Fresno left at 7:45... this wasn't going to work.

But we had a bag full of O-Donalds & a little boy that wanted to see a train.

So we hopped in the van and drove to Hanford, promising Jackson 

he would still ride a train, just a little later.

Once in Hanford, we found Superior Dairy.  We ordered a 4-scoop sundae for all of us... and were completely unprepared for what we got.  

HUGE!!!

The ice cream was delicious, and we barely made a dent in it.  Across the street was a fountain (do I even need to say that we had to go see it?) so we headed over to see it.  Both kids were delighted.

Finally, we walked across the park to the merry-go-round.  Sadly, it was closed.  Apparently you have to make reservations to ride it (??????).  

At long last, it was time for the train.  We found the station and waited behind the yellow bumps it to arrive.  When the kids heard the whistle ("CHOO CHOO!!!") they were in awe.  Jeff took both kids on the train, and I drove the van home to pick them up.  

Jackson stared out the window the whole time, looking away only to tell Jeff, "Daddy, train so cool.  Train so awesome."

All in all, a pretty great staycation.  So cool, so awesome.

posted by shara

Chris Martin would be proud

While Bella is growing so fast, she is busy learning her color.  That is not a typo, I did say color.  Or at least that is what she knows so far.  Check it out...

Posted by Jeff