a different kind of playground

Luke is getting ready to play. He is setting things up for his brothers.

Play what, you ask?

When the horseplay gets to be too much, we say, "go hit some balls."

and what have the other kids been up to lately?

I mentioned in my last post that Justus' most favorite thing to do is nurse. This has meant that things have been a little different around here as momma is in a chair a lot of the day helping Justus get a full tummy.

What have the other kids been doing during this time? A lot of fun things outside the house actually: swimming at the pool with Daddy & Grandma D., swimming lessons, golf camp, cub scout camp, a fourth of July picnic & golfing with daddy have been a lot of fun these past two weeks. And these deserve their own post.

While at home, I have seen the kids be really creative about coming up with activities to do while I nurse. Here are a few of which I managed to get pictures.

First and most obvious, playing all sorts of imaginative games outside. Here is Aidan day-dreaming on the trampoline.

Then there are the fun ways in which one can do chores. Ethan's job is to put away the clean silverware.

Here is an Ethan tip for you. It is more fun if you use an empty paper towel tube as a chute through which you can drop the silverware into place.

Ta-Da! Nice work E-Bo.


Ava enjoys the past time of dressing herself. Many times a day.

Note the shirt & pants (and under-ware too) are all on backwards.

Luke thought it would be fun to wrap "birthday presents." I told him he could use a roll of wrapping paper and the kids spent a greater part of a couple days wrapping up their toys and giving them to one another.

Whatever I paid for that paper was money well spent!

I also got a shot of Aidan talking on the phone with Aunt Helen and Cousin Shannon who were in Slovenia (I think... or was it Croatia?)at the time. Talking on the phone with them was enjoyed by all the kids. Aunt Helen, this pic is for you!

Ethan and Ava both can spend a great deal of time watering my plants for me.

One cup full at a time!

And Ava especially can be amused (for a LONG) time by being asked to clean things.

She loves to clean (I think because she was watched and helped me do so much of it) and she is actually quite competent at it!

For the record, she saw this seat in the bathtub and asked to clean it. It was her idea, not mine.

I love how they always have a great time no matter what they are doing. It is a good thing too, because I need to go nurse again!

two weeks of justus

We have had many requests for more Justus pictures. And rightly so, he is such a sweet baby worthy of many pictures! We just have trouble finding the time to upload and post them.

But here are a few shots of some of what our littlest man has been up to lately.

Here he is napping in his bed.

Taking his first bath at home.
I love it when they are still small enough to bathe in the sink!

Here he is napping by the pool while the other kids are swimming.

Napping is definately Justus' second favorite activity, nursing is his first.



And another frequent activity: being loved on by his siblings!

We are so thankful for the ways this sweet baby has enriched each of our lives!

justus and his name

The name Justus means just, righteous, fair. These are values that have always meant a lot to us. As we have gotten more use to saying it these last few days it has taken on more meaning.

It's a humbling concept. It is speaks about how God satisfies his own justice by sending His son to die for us. Every time we say his name we are reminded how God used this sacrifice to cover over the many ways we have wronged him. We love the mere mentioning of his name brings to mind a cornerstone of the Gospel.

We have chosen Micah 6:8 as the scripture to pray/sing over him at bed times.

"He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?"

His middle name is Beric; like Eric with a B. This name commemorates our family's love for the works of G. A. Henty. One of our favorites (so far) which we were listening to while choosing baby names is titled, "Beric the Briton." Henty has written about 100 books, all historical fiction written about the start of the 20th century. Henty possessed a deep faith as well as a heart to teach boys how to be men of courage and integrity. In every one of his stories, a young boy grows from youth to maturity and becomes a hero of his people. Set during the Roman Invasion, Beric becomes a leader of the Britons. Henty has already had a profound impact on our homeschooling and our family. This name honors both the works he left and the idea that boys need to be taught principles of courage and integrity.

It is also really fun for us all to give Justus a name from something we all enjoyed so much as a family and when he is a little older it will be neat for him to read Beric the Briton.

*Thanks to Christina for designing/making the adorable onesie; perfect for this post.

5

The day began at 5:30. Amy woke up and called the hospital to see if there was room. They said to be there at 6. We left the house at about 6:15.

Don't worry though. We got to the hospital just in time to wait.








But at least the food was distractingly scrumptious. Amy had been looking forward to it.







About 12 hours after we got there, the epidural man was given the okay to help Amy out w/ what had finally become painful contractions. A normal epidural takes about 10 minutes. We've had 3 of those. I wouldn't say this guy is the biggest failure we've experienced but he comes pretty close. He burned through three of the "epidural kits" and finally got through on the third hole. And it still didn't work out all that well. Not as bad as with Nora Fine who did the epidural with Luke. She was so bad I remember her name to this day. Coincidentally, Nora did the epidural for this anesthesiologist's birth and messed it up for him too. That made for some pleasant camaraderie but didn't help Amy's pain much.







So to help Amy deal with these contractions, I reminded her that I had already done all the hard work about 9 months ago. She found that even less funny in her altered state.





Fortunately, delivering a baby does a lot to lift ones spirits.






We had the audacity to weigh him. 8 lbs. 12 oz. He was not impressed. That was about the only time we were able to get him to cry. He is a very content baby thus far.









But he really enjoyed his first bath.







I took a turn with my little guy.







While momma took a well-deserved rest.







The rest was also well-timed. There were a few folks who were a little bit excited about seeing their new little brother.
































Justus Beric
b. June 18, 2009 8:51 PM
8 lbs 12 oz.

not the baby anymore

Two more nights and, Lord willing, we will begin the process of what the boys call "getting the baby out". Everyone is excited.

I think Ava is ready to not be the baby anymore.

Amy liked the combination of this dress, this chair and the pink barrette.

I like the light that streams through our 4 big windows. Some of you have probably thought, "why does he always pick the same lame backgrounds?" What... walls and bookcases, along with the occasion blurred vision of a messy office area isn't attractive?

I can't help it. That's where the light in our house is. I'll have to buy a nice backdrop some day.

Maybe I'll spring for a cool seamless backdrop for a "new baby" photoshoot.

I really should take more pictures of the other kids.

But they don't wear cute little dresses.

And if they did, I certainly wouldn't post pictures of it.

Oh who am I kidding... of course I'd post those pictures. I mean... come on...

I think she's going to enjoy having a larger audience.

what a pretty picture!

What do I think of when I see this picture?


Man, I really need to mow my field.


Blogging frequency will pick up once I get some outdoor stuff done.