On Nest Building

I read this poem a couple yrs ago and tucked it away to be posted on the blog at some future date. I planned on putting it in my "You don't know what you don't know" post but, forgot. So, now it gets it own separate post.

On Nest Building
by Carol Lynn Pearson

Mud is not bad for nest building.

Mud and sticks.

And a fallen feather or two will do

And require no reaching.

I could rest there with my tiny ones

Sound for the season, at least.

But

If I may fly a while--

If I may cut through a sunset going out

And a rainbow coming back

Color upon color sealed in my eyes--

If I may have the unboundaried skies

For my study

Clouds, cities, rivers for my rooms--

If I may search the centuries

For melody and meaning--

If I may try for the sun--

I shall come back

Bearing such beauties

Gleaned from God's and the world's very best.

I shall come filled.

And then--

Oh, the nest I can build!

Florida

May was fun! We decided to have a 5 de mayo par-tay with the Saavedras. Since Brian's bday was a couple days before we made it into a bday party. Charles bought him a Hello Kitty pinata.

On Tues. May 7th we headed down to Orlando for Charles' annual Infectious Disease Pharmacy Conference. Last yr Charles' parents came down with us and we went to Disney World. This year we decided to go to the Nickelodeon Water Park Resort. It was a lot of fun. We didn't tell the kids we were going so they were very surprised and excited about it.

We stopped in St. Augustine for a night and looked around Flagler College. So gorgeous.

And, of course, we stopped for my favorite dish that I've been thinking about for the past 3 yrs. Yum!

Florida beaches are so superior to GA beaches!

And, then we arrived...

 I LOVE babies! I really do. I used to not. But, the more babies I have, the more I just love them. Toddlers not so much, but, babies yes :)

He is so adorable! I can hardly stand it!

 Meeting the TMNT has started a new obsession for Azure and Vince. We watched some old clips together on youtube, but they are a bit too violent for my liking. However, we all sing the theme together at least a few times a week.

 Here's Vince singing some of it: (Loooook! The first video I'm posting in like 3 yrs!!! This is huge!)

We got to squeeze in a trip to the Orlando temple while we were there, switching off like usual. So beautiful. The Columbia, SC temple is one of the smaller ones, so it's always nice to go in a big one and really feel the grandeur of God. This one has a stained glass of the Sacred Grove in their chapel that I just love.

And, we also stopped at our favorite Cuban restaurant in Orlando. Always nice to go to bigger cities and eat food we don't get much of in Savannah. Mexican! Cuban! I made it a point to eat every 2-3 hrs on this vacation and felt so much better doing so. We also were very conscious of the protein/carb balance of the meals we ate and we felt a lot more patient with the kids b/c we were eating food that didn't make us feel like crap. It also helped that we prayed specifically over and over again to be patient with them. It was one of our best trips! We only had 1 incident which for us is very good.

We certainly couldn't pass up IKEA! Charles miraculously fit 2 HUGE boxes in our car- this bunk bed and a dresser for Azure. They've been sharing a room since Good Friday. That was when we decided to put Zeke in the crib in his own room. Vince was just sleeping on the floor on a sleeping bag for awhile. Then, we got a mattress for him but, he'd end up on the floor anyways.

At the Nick Hotel, Vince slept in a bed for the first time (it was a bunk bed). I can't believe he had still been sleeping in a crib almost 2 months past his 3rd birthday, esp since Azure stopped about 2 months after turning 2! I think he fell off it the first 2 nights. We would find him on the floor in the morning or under the bed.

It has been really tender hearing them giggling and playing together now that they have this bed. It is forging memories for them that I hope they will always remember. I love it! A couple weeks ago I sang the "Hello Pillow" song to Vince but, realized he didn't have a pillow. I changed that right away! I first made this song up for Azure I think around March 2011. It is sung to the tune of "Hello, Hello" from the Children's songbook.

Hello, Pillow. Hello, Pillow.

It’s time to go to sleep (goodnight)

Hello, Pillow. Hello, Pillow.

It’s time to close your eyes.

And climb inside your warm, snuggly bed and put your pillow underneath your head.

Hello, Pillow. Hello, Pillow.

It’s time to go to sleep. Goodnight!

Charles is planning on running his 2nd marathon in Nov so, Azure has gone with him a few times on his runs. He drops her off after a couple laps around the block and then keeps on going.

You don't know, what you don't know

A couple wks ago Charles got off early from work. We had just pulled up to visit him there, so I took advantage of the opportunity and had him take all 3 children home and I drove his car to do some shopping. My friend Courtney is an interior designer and I recently hired her to come help me re-design our living room and bedroom. Let me just say that again: I hired an interior designer. I have always wanted to hire an interior designer. Rearranging furniture and deciding on coordinating items for rooms is not a talent of mine. I can peruse Pinterest all day and find hundreds of things I like but, have no clue how to even make it work in my own home. Regardless if there is a tutorial.

So, Courtney and I went looking for some things together and she offered some advice as we looked at chairs. I took notes.

When I went back to look by myself, without 3 kids all over me, I felt like I had uncovered a part of me that has been dormant for a very long time. It felt so liberating to go to 6 stores in 2 hrs and GET STUFF DONE. In the middle of the day, I might add. I usually can go somewhere at night when they're all in bed but, by that time I'm exhausted. I would be lucky to go to 2 stores in that time had I taken the kids. Loading and unloading the carseat. Buckling and unbuckling. And it takes about 5 whole minutes to buckle Zeke in b/c of his ninja moves. He grabs the buckle with full force, thrusts it into his mouth, and will not let go. It's a literal tug of war, wrestling match every day with him.

I have not had enough brain space to think about how to decorate my house previously. Sure, I've had fleeting thoughts about it, but, never enough time to invest in actually doing something or the money either. I have been changing at least 1 diaper everyday for the past 6 yrs now! Usually, more than 1, but at least one. Every day. A lot of times I feel not only is my body not my own, but neither is my mind. I'm not allowed to sit and think without being constantly interrupted.

It is liberating to spend time cultivating interests and talents of mine that don’t involve the children. If you were to ask me how I’m doing with 3, I honestly would say, “Good.” I mean, it is a lot but, I don’t feel like I have PPD. It's such a blessing that Charles is so helpful and supportive now, too. I like not having a newborn while he's a student or resident :) But, I do have days when I just want them all to go somewhere else. Such is the life of a mother with small children. I know. And, I know I chose this, and I am happy with that decision. I'm just being real. This is hard. Having 3 at home is hard. But, at the same time 3 feels easier than just 1 did. Isn't that strange?! It's so nice to have Azure help me out with Vince and Zeke.

It's also nice to have like-minded mothers as friends who know and understand the value of some mommy alone time, instead of being judged for that. (One of the things that led to my depression that I am still recovering from.)

So, anyways I know I will get more me time in a different stage of life, but that doesn't mean I have to forgo it all now for a later date. If mommy has some time to herself, then everyone is happy :)

I originally saw this chair last week at Home Goods for $250. That was just a bit too pricey for our budget. I settled for another chair that I liked but, wasn't crazy about the color like this one.  Then, I went back to Home Goods Thurs night and it was on clearance for $175! The first thought that came to my mind was, "The Lord loves me!" This is my favorite color, yet we have very little of this color in our living room. I'm grateful that the Lord cares about the little details in our life. Just looking at this chair makes me happy.

And, I was reminded that my desire to create a comfortable, cozy home where the spirit can dwell and is inviting to others is something that He cares very much about.

I'll post again when we're all done with this room!

April

Charles and I finally got smart phones (him end of March, me beginning of April). Blessing and a curse I think. Like all technology. I'm now an instagramer and hope to blog more by uploading pics from there to here. Now, that I've finally figured that out!

Zekiel Baby was 15 lbs 12 oz at his appt on May 17 (8 days shy of 5 mos)! Porker. He has been trying to sit up all on his own before even turning 5 months. What the heck?! I was just rereading the blog from when Vince was this age and he was a little more developmentally behind. I think it may be b/c I had double swaddled him for so long- he didn't sleep very well if I didn't. He always had plenty of floor time when he was awake though, so I don't know. I never thought about it until just rereading now.

Here's some picture catch up from April.

Pie Plate Eyes x3 :)

Azure taking notes during General Conference. Makes my heart oh, so happy :)

She made her own superhero costume.

Charlie bought tulip bulbs for me for Christmas. I wasn't supposed to see them, but found them in his trunk. The week after Zeke was born he was out in the back and front yard digging and planting away. On Easter they started blooming. It was beautiful! Tulips are one of my favorite flowers. They don't last long here in the life-sucking heat but, here they are in all their beauty. That Charlie is sure charming :)

 10 days shy of 4 mos. He started rolling like crazy that week from front to back and back to front every time I put him on the floor!

Vince crawled into bed with Azure, so sweet!

 

 Zeke's first and only "couch nap".

 

This girl has been a reading machine lately! It makes me so happy that she enjoys reading so much. We skipped a few months homeschooling before and after Zeke was born, so we'll be working through the summer. I hope to do a post on all the things we've done for homeschool this past year before she starts public sch at the end of Aug.

 

Our monthly temple trip. It is difficult making the 5 hr round trip with these 3, but we have been able to feel the powers of Heaven blessing us as we make the monthly sacrifice to go. This time especially, Charles and I felt the blessing immediately in our marriage. A very memorable trip :)

Easter

It takes a lot work to make a holiday special. As a child, you never really notice all that goes into it. But, as a parent now of 3 children, holidays are a lot of work. Special meals means lots of cooking. Fun, meaningful activities take a lot of prep work and planning. And, we don't have any extended family around so most of it is up to me and Charles to do. And women are usually the tradition keepers in their families.

Easter egg bath on Easter Eve- new tradition!

Zekiel watching the bath fun and wishing he were big enough to join them. Next year, man!

Charles was in charge (ha!) of the resurrection rolls this year. Last year was the first time we made them and we used the crescent rolls out of a can which leaves a nasty feeling/flavor on the roof of my mouth. Yes, they are easier but, we have a bread maker and decided to make our own rolls. Charles is the bread master and he did a fabulous job with the rolls. They were delicious.

We wanted to make them ahead of time the night before but, we ran out of time. I was asked to speak on Easter Sunday by my wonderful husband :) Ok, I volunteered. I love speaking in church. Call me crazy. Then, I was also asked to sing. AND I had to prepare a lesson for my Sunday School class. I was released as Primary Chorister last May (but, was still filling in regularly until Aug) and got called last Oct to teach Sun Sch to the 16 & 17 yr olds. I was so happy to be with the youth again! Anyways, I realized on Easter Eve that I had committed to doing too much and was kind of stressing out.

Charles helped me to see that it would be okay to have our resurrection rolls when we got home from church for lunch instead of breakfast. I'm grateful that he helps me be flexible when I am being rigid for some reason.

At church we found out that our good friend Becky who Azure and Vince just adore was in the hospital. Right away I knew we should visit her. Seeing her there really made our Easter feel special, like the real meaningful holiday that it is. We brought her some Easter cupcakes that the kids decorated with special Springtime liners and toothpick banners that I got on clearance last yr after Easter. Charles followed my directions to make cream cheese lemon frosting.

We had a lovely dinner with Theresa and her in-laws who came from CA. We followed tradition and read the Easter story in eggs.

For our Easter gift this year, I bought caterpillars for our butterfly habitat that I bought last year for Easter. This is our new Easter tradition!

Watching these little guys (why are caterpillars referred to as male and butterflies female? thoughts?) grow and get into the chrysalides was emotional. I cried a few times. When they have grown full size the caterpillars crawl up to the top upside down and hang there. Then their body starts shaking like crazy and- get this- the bottom 1/4 of their body falls off! Did you know that?! I didn't. I imagine that that probably isn't a pleasant feeling. We could see their eyes and little faces as caterpillars. When they emerge as butterflies, their eyes and their face looks completely different! This was one point when I got emotional. Our potential is so much more than we can even imagine. If you told that caterpillar part of it's body would just fall off, and that it would grow beautiful colored wings and fly- it would probably boggle it's little mind. We are divine beings and our potential is limitless if we have faith in that Creator who created us.

Looking forward to teaching these lessons over and over again to our children (and myself!) by watching this amazing metamorphosis. You can order them here.

Oh, and I had a birthday. Now, I'm 32. Which is kinda weird. I told someone I was 31 last week and then said, "Wait. No, I just had a birthday. I'm 32 now. I think." I can see the signs of aging in my face and it's a little unnerving. Sometimes I still feel like I'm 16, and then I see a picture of myself and I'm like, "Wow. I'm getting old." We still have lots of wonderful years ahead, right? The best is yet to come!

And one last thing- last year on my birthday I made a wish...

and part of it came true that very week ;) The other part came true on Christmas day :) Remember, the Lord fulfills His promises! To you, and me.