My Mother's Day Gift to Myself

After I finished a new post last night, I went back to see how long it had been since I had written last.  I knew it had been a while, but... SIX MONTHS!?!?  How in the heck has it been six months!!  I know I say it in nearly every post, but MAN, time flies!

I have no grand ideas that I will catch up or keep up, but here I am again trying to record a memory or two.  I am starting to learn that sometimes you do things even if you can't do them 100%.  I am sure my future self will thank me for whatever I have time to do now, but she will be really angry if I just give up and leave her with nothing.  So future self, just remember, you did your best. :-)

Back in May I decided my Mother's Day gift to the Grandmas (and really to myself) would be updated pictures of my babies.  And over the course of three mini photo shoots, I was able to get some great ones!  Somehow I even got several of them framed and displayed within a couple weeks of taking them...yay for the small victories!

My goal over the next several posts is to dedicate a little time reflecting on each of my children and the milestones they have reached over the last year and share their individual pictures, before I start on that, here are some of my favorites of my kiddos all together back when there were only 3.  When I took these pictures, Jonah's birth seemed forever away, and now he is already 2 months old!  Like I said before, time sure flies!

As homeschool kids, my children get to spend their days together in a unique way.  Despite age differences, they are eachother's peers. Each day they play together, work together, and learn together.  I'm excited to see how Jonah will fit in the mix.  But no matter what,  I pray that the friendships they have formed in childhood will unify them for the rest of their lives.  From my own experience, siblings are the best gift a parent can give their child, and I think my children will feel that same way too.

Counting Blessings and Baby Toes

Unlike his 10 sweet baby toes, there is no way to count the blessings Jonah has brought to our family.   He is such a gift and we feel the light of heaven that he has brought with him every day.

I am continually amazed as I watch my other children as they eagerly love and serve their new little brother.  Jake has become my extra set of hands throughout the day.  I can always count on him to take Jonah for me and he looks like such a little man when he paces and bounces our fussy boy.  James is just as thoughtful and selfless as ever.  He is constantly trying to find ways to make my days easier.  He adores his baby brother, and he thinks it is pretty great that Jonah looks so much like he did as a baby.  Jake and Jamie have this big brother thing down, and I am unbelievably grateful for both of them!  

But it is the growth and changes in my Scarlett that have been the most surprising.  From the second that she met Jonah, she has never once been jealous of him.  That isn't to say that she doesn't ever act out or struggle as she adjusts to all of the changes in her life and her place in our family.  But when it comes to Jonah she has nothing but kisses, soothing words and a frequent requests to hold him.  Not once has she ever directed any of her frustration toward "her baby."  Instead she has become a little momma with him, and being Jonah's big sister is bringing out the best in her.  In the past several weeks, I have seen such a change in her.  The whining has started to fade away, the tantrums are far less frequent, and I can tell that the way she sees herself is also changing.  Becoming a big sister is helping our baby girl begin to outgrow the natural selfishness of childhood.  In little ways she is starting to put the needs of others in front of her own, especially Jonah's.  As I see her confidence in her new role build, her excitement to help increase, and her desire to show love and kindness grow, I am reminded, once again, of the infinite wisdom of our Heavenly Father to organize his children into families.  Families allow us to learn, grow, and love in a way that nothing else could.  And I am eternally grateful for mine!

* I took these pictures about 5 weeks ago.  The day before Jonah turned 1 month old.