Happy Birthday Chloe! Happy Birthday Claire!!

Chloe & Claire, you girls celebrated your 2nd birthday (a few days ago). There are two overwhelming feelings that describe how I feel about you girls getting older: relief & gratitude.

I feel a sense of relief because that first year was HARD. I can sum up a lot by saying that Mommy does not function well on lack of sleep. As you girls get older, I am enjoying you more & more. It is a pure delight to watch your personalities develop & to watch how you interact with each other & your sisters. I LOVE it!

The second feeling is a sense of immense gratitude to God for how He has blessed us with you two. You girls were 8 weeks early & spent almost a month in the NICU. Papi and I made it through that time because the WHOLE family pitched in - in every way imaginable to help us 5 young kids. I look back & just praise God, because in less than a year:

- we found out we were pregnant with you girls

- moved from the Dominican Republic to Florida

- lived with Grammy, Tio Frank & Tia Sara, Frankie & Micah

- found out the pregnancy was a monoamniotic-monochorionic high risk pregnancy

- Mommy spent 2 months in the hospital while pregnant (Papi visited me every day)

- Papi became Mr. Mom

- Visited you girls every day in the NICU for almost a month

- Took you girls home with NO complications/medications/machines/surgeries

- Papi got a job in Georgia

- bought a house & moved to GA

Grammy holding Chloe.

Tia Sarah feeding Claire.

Grammy holding Chloe's hand while she eats.

Tia Sarah holding both you girls.
Your first day snuggling together!

Eating cake on your first birthday.

Claire

Chloe

Claire strapping her baby in her new stroller on her 2nd birthday.
Chloe carrying her new stroller around.


May God continue to bless, protect, and draw you close to Him. Chloe & Claire my strongest desire for you girls is that you will know that God has a plan & purpose for your lives, that you will from an early age accept the gift of Jesus in your lives, and that you will be sealed with the Holy Spirit and stay strong in the journey of your lives to love to the Lord with all of your mind, heart, body & soul! I love you girls. Happy Birthday.

Water & Dirt = FUN

I know some mothers will watch this video & immediately break out into a sweat, feel anxious, or praise God this is NOT their backyard & these are NOT their children. I guess with 5 young daughters I have chosen to pick & choose when to say no to messy play. Didn't we all play with mud at one point as a child & LOVED it? If playing with mud becomes something the girls want to do on Friday nights when they are 18 - then we'll have issues. Sometimes I feel like I say NO so much that it is great to say YES, and watch you girls have a BLAST. Of course I carried each of you from the back porch directly into the bath - but it was worth it. I do have to admit that watching this lovely video has inspired me to buy lots of grass to avoid a muddy-messy summer. And ironically I just happened to steam clean the living room carpet this EXACT day. Lovely.

Happy Birthday Grammy

Yesterday was Grammy's birthday. I decided to ask the girls what they liked best about Grammy.

Abi said:

- The way Grammy reads us stories

- Grammy's kisses & hugs

- Her face

- How she sings to us

Jillian said:

- Her food

- Her stories

- How she tucks us in at night

- How she plays with us

I am sure Stella, Chloe & Claire would have some similar compliments. Even when we lived in the Dominican Republic and did not see Grammy often, when we were with Grammy you girls were always drawn to her. Grammy was always one of the first people you met after you were born, and a special bond was formed with each of you girls & Grammy. It is fun to watch.

Now that I am a mommy I cannot begin to express to you girls how much I have learned from & would like to emulate Grammy. Now, Grammy isn't perfect - no mother is (in fact Grammy has chuckled many times when I tell her of your antics and I think she has given you some candy/treats when I have said NO) - but Grammy has chosen to leave us a rich heritage. A legacy of love, service, and sacrifice - all because she is in love with Jesus. I know Grammy prays daily for you girls, and I am pretty sure her top prayer for you is that you will love the Lord your God with all of your mind, heart, body & soul. I am grateful for Grammy's prayers, and I know you will be too one day. I am blessed with a Godly mother, and you girls are blessed with a Godly grandmother. A woman who has chosen to follow God, serve Jesus, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Grammy would joke and say that she has nothing to leave us materially after she is gone, but the legacy she is giving us is more valuable than anything on this earth. You are blessed girls to have the love, example, prayers, support, wisdom, and so much more of Godly Grandmother. Happy Birthday Grammy!

Wordful Wednesday - a little girl's best friend

We got Guira (named after a Dominican musical instrument) while we were in the Dominican Republic. Jillian was not even a year old. I honestly have regretted getting her at times, only because it has been another living thing that I have to care for. Though every time I feel annoyed because she wants to go outside for the 20th time in an hour . . . I have to admit that she is an INCREDIBLE dog. Between all of you girls, Guira has been attacked & 'played' with in every possible way - some of which are slightly embarrassing to describe in detail. Even with all of this 'loving', Guira has NEVER once bit, barked, growled, snipped, or been mean to either you girls or any other children who have been in her presence. Stella seems to have an extra bond with Guira, and I often find her laying with (or on) Guira talking to her. Sweet!

Wrestling for Chloe

Chloe 'tackles' Claire a LOT. Claire loves to be chased & doesn't mind the initial tackle, but does NOT like when Chloe just lays on her. Honestly, I wouldn't either. Sadly I believe she has learned this unladylike behavior from her sister, Stella, who is the QUEEN of tacklers. Stella tackles everyone & the dog. Sadly I believe Stella has learned her unladylike behavior from . . . Papi. He likes to wrestle & though Abi & Jillian understand more the appropriateness with the littler ones - Stella does not. Until Stella and Chloe learn how to 'release' their victim, I guess I will be doing a lot of rescuing. Maybe I need to teach Claire some karate moves. All for future videos.

Tooth Fairy

Abi you have lost 7 teeth already.  Once you feel a tooth somewhat loose, you begin to 'work' on it.  You ask me to check how loose it is, and to give an estimate of when I can pull it out.  Now, you are the type of girl who screams bloody murder if I need to pull out the smallest splinter from your foot.  But, pulling teeth seems to tap into your courage & you will endure quite a bit of pushing, prodding & pulling to get that stubborn tooth to come out.  I am amazed every time.

Poor Jillian is becoming quite distraught that none of her teeth seem to be loose.  After all she is 5 years old, and these things should be happening . . . right?

Anyway, you were very good about finding an envelope & getting your tooth ready for the Tooth Fairy.  Something has happened with the past 3 or 4 teeth, and you are not as focused on the Tooth Fairy.  So, with this last tooth you asked me if we could put ALL of your past teeth into an envelope (thank goodness I had kept the past 3 teeth) for the Tooth Fairy.  After you placed your teeth in the envelope you looked at me and asked, "Mom is the Tooth Fairy real?"  To which I replied (and I thought quite wisely), 'What do you think, Abi?'  "Well, I think you are the Tooth Fairy."

What could I do but laugh.  You laughed with me, and I asked you if you still wanted to put your envelope with teeth under your pillow.  You said, 'Of course!'  

Sad to say, but the Tooth Fairy was a bit tired last night & completely forgot about all of those teeth.  So today you asked me, 'What happened to the Tooth Fairy last night?  She forgot to get my teeth!'  I replied, 'I guess the Tooth Fairy was tired.  She'll probably come tonight.'  What did you say?

"Mom, you are the tooth fairy - don't forget!'

So, before the tooth fairy forgets again - I have some teeth to get!

Mish Mash on a Sunday

Stella got sick on Friday night - I was NOT going to go into details, but . . . Stella has a habit of crawling in bed with Abi & GiGi. So I woke up to Stella crying, and the first thing I heard when I walked into the room was Abi. 'Stella puked on me a few times.' she said so calmly I almost didn't believe her. Well . . . to cut out a few chunky details, Abi had to change pj's, and I had to wash part of her hair & face. GROSS. I have never seen someone with such a good attitude after being puked on - truly amazing. I hope she got that from her mother. Stella spent the WHOLE day Saturday sleeping & woke up this morning slightly subdued, but definitely back to Stella. Yeah, we 'missed' you girl!

All that lovely info to say that I did not go to church, & stayed home with the younger 3. Now everyone is playing & am sneaking a few moments to post something. I took a fun video of Papi yesterday & when I uploaded it, I found some other fun pics on the camera. So I'll include it all today.

Chloe & Claire are teetering dangerously on the brink of giving up their daytime nap. I am VERY sad about this. Whether they sleep or not, they stay in their room for some . . . quiet time. Though I can hear them giggling, yelling, jumping, and rocking their cribs. Almost every day I go in & this is what I see - pillows, blankets, pacifiers & sometimes clothing on the floor. Lovely. I am thankful you girls have NOT taken off your pampers, and I have to admit that at times hearing you both in there together makes me smile (the smile does fade in the evening when you both are complete cranks though).

These next set of pics will be Jillian's. Jillian, you LOVE to take pics & I always enjoy seeing what has 'caught your eye'. I usually delete most - for various reasons. This day though, you decided to capture your doll house - I thought you'd enjoy these pictures later in life. I have, though, deleted the thousands of pics of people's butts that you think are SO funny. Mommy, especially does not desire this part of her to be . . . documented.

Papi was playing with you girls for a while, and then you went outside to play. He decided to 'watch' you from the floor. I know you may be shocked to hear this, but he fell asleep. Abi, being the caring child she is decided to make Papi as comfy as she could. I think she did a GREAT job. Sweet thing.

Over Christmas, Tia Sarah brought Gingerbread houses for you guys to make. You had a LOT of fun, and ate enough icing to turn your mouths toxic colors - cool!

Abi's friend Haruka came over, and her mom - Kazumi- brought some fun origami for us to make. A Santa & reindeer, and we made a few other fun random things. Alexa was here to help as well. (We'll be writing a post about Alexa soon!)

I received a GREAT devotional for Christmas called, My Utmost For His Highest Journal. It is taken from the bigger devotional of the same name by Oswald Chambers, and basically gives you the Scripture, a 3 sentence summary, and some space to journal. I have enjoyed this time. The other day said this.

'We look for visions from heaven and for earthshaking events to see God's power. Even the fact that we are dejected is proof that we do this. Yet we never realize that all the time God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around us. If we only obey and do the task that He has placed closest to us, we will see Him. One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn that. It is in the everyday things of life that we realize the magnificent deity of Jesus Christ.' (italics mine)

Girls as I post these pictures & write about life with you girls & Papi, I do realize I see Jesus in the mundane - the glorious mundane. You see girls, Papi and I KNOW that God has guided our family here - to Dublin - for a specific purpose & we are excited to see what God has in store. We have made an active decision - almost daily - to trust God for and with our lives. As we live out that trust we see God very clearly taking care of us - loving us - providing for us - changing us - using us - molding us - guiding us - God is amazing. I am amazed at how God uses the everyday to bless me. I admit that I don't always see it, appreciate it, acknowledge it - but that doesn't negate that He is there blessing me - us. We serve an awesome God, and He will reveal Himself to us - if we let Him.