Sprinkled

I was recently spoiled rotten by a few friends who threw the most adorable shower to celebrate baby Rhett.  Since we are having another boy in the same month, we really didn't need much for this little guy.  Even still, these sweet girls recognized the need to throw a special party in his honor, and I am so thankful that they did!  Not only was I incredibly blessed by the generosity of my friends, it was also a precious time to have so many of my favorite Memphians together in one spot before we move.  

My friend Leah hosted in her beautiful home and had this special touch on the door!  

These are some of my dear friends from church.  We only joined our church a little over a year ago, and these ladies have become so special to me so quickly!  I have to keep myself from playing the "shoulda, woulda, coulda" game where I wish we had found Redeemer the very first weekend we were in Memphis, but I just wish I could have had more time with these amazing ladies!  They were so sweet to all pitch in on the one "big" item on my wish list for this little guy: an Ergo carrier.  Can't wait to try it out!  

These ladies are my fellow optometry school wives!  Natelie and Sabra also hosted the shower (and are both expecting their own little ones!).  Who knows what we would have done without each other over the last four years?  We have commiserated over husbands with crazy study schedules, demanding board exams, and uncertain post-graduation plans, but we have also had LOTS of fun together.  I don't think any of us can believe that we'll soon be the Mrs. in "Dr. and Mrs.!"  

I hadn't even told our moms about this little "sprinkle" because I didn't want them to feel like they needed to make the trip to Memphis when they are already coming for Rhett's birth and Jonathan's graduation.  A couple of weeks before the shower, I was feeling overwhelmed and told Jonathan that what I really needed was some time alone in my house without a toddler running around.  Wouldn't you know, the next day my mom called and said she was thinking about coming for a few days during her Spring Break, beginning on the day of the shower?  She read my mind!  So not only did I get to have her at the shower, but she then spoiled me rotten by taking Riggins to the zoo and playground for hours while I got to run kid-free errands and do some final preparations for Rhett around the house.  Such a blessing!  

I'm not sure there is anyone outside of our family that Riggins gets more excited to see than, "Emmy," my dear friend from Fort Smith.  I have been so lucky to have her in Memphis for the past four years as she has completed dental school and a pediatric dentistry residency (and it doesn't hurt to have a professional to answer all of my teething questions!).  Seriously, my child thinks she is a rockstar and asks for her constantly.  Which is also why she is first on the list of people to call when I go into labor!  

I was so fortunate to meet Lori, Jennifer, and Sherry through my MOPS group.  These ladies have been so influential in my first few years of motherhood, always full of wise words, reassurance that I am not ruining my child, and offers to help and serve.  Sherry is the MOPS mentor for our chapter, which means that she has older children; she has taught me so much about training my children up in the Lord and instilling a love of God's Word from a young age...such a gift!    

Sadly, the only shots I got of Leah and me are of opening gifts, and I didn't even get a shot with the rest of our BSF/Bunko group (Leslie and Mandi, I'm lookin' at you!).  I started Bible Study Fellowship the first year we moved to Memphis, but it wasn't until the next year that I got to know this fantastic group of girls.  When Riggins was born, I switched to the daytime BSF group and was so sad that I wouldn't see that crowd every week.  Luckily, they invited me to their monthly bunko group, and I got to know them even better (along with a whole new bunch of girls!) over the last two years.  Our monthly Bunko nights are so special to me, and I am hard core about defending those evenings on my calendar!  

Building a community takes time and intentionality.  It can be discouraging, awkward, and exhausting.  When you know that your time in a place is temporary, it can be even more tempting to hole up with your husband and the few friends who share your circumstances, just hanging in there until you can move on to start your "real" life.  But, gosh, do you miss out on some amazing relationships when you take that approach!  Sure, it makes leaving that much harder, but I'll take that heartache any day when compared to the joy and growth these amazing women have brought to my life!  I am so glad that I'll be able to introduce all of them to our little man before we leave!

Note to Self: Go back and read this final paragraph in a few months when you're in a house full of boxes with a toddler and an infant and you feel like you have no friends and don't know if it's even worth getting out of the house to make some!  :)

Perfect Timing

On Tuesday, Riggins had a 103% fever and was diagnosed with a double ear infection.  $65 worth of antibiotics later...

This afternoon, Riggins woke up from his nap with both eyes completely crusted in yellow gunk.  A quick trip to Dr. Daddy at the pediatric eye clinic revealed bacterial conjunctivitis, a contagious infection that requires antibiotic drops three times a day.  (Sidenote: in my haste to get to the clinic before closing time, and before Riggins wiped away the evidence on his eyes, I didn't grab my camera and missed out on the cutest pictures of Riggs' first eye exam with his daddy!  Picture a cute little boy on his white-coated daddy's lap behind the slit lamp...adorable!)    

This evening, Jonathan came home complaining of body aches, headache, sore throat, runny nose, and general "I'm getting sick"-ness.  

This morning, my doctor's appointment revealed further progress toward delivery.  I left thinking that I was ready to get this show on the road.  Now, I'm thinking that this kid needs to wait until I don't have to keep all my boys quarantined from each other after delivery!  

Tonight, I'm resting in the truth that God's timing is perfect.  Ear infections, bacterial conjunctivitis, or flu.  Early delivery or late.  None of it is a surprise to Him.  May his perfect timing be carried out for this little family of mine.

Even still, prayers for a quick recovery for both of these boys are much appreciated!  It would be wonderful to have everyone in tip-top shape when Rhett arrives.  I'm ready to have all three of these boys in my arms at once!  And selfishly, pray that God will sustain my energy and compassion as I care for these guys.  It's hard to care for others at 39 weeks pregnant when you hardly have the energy to care for yourself!  

The Final Bloom

Until moving to Memphis four years ago, I had always said that my favorite season was autumn.  Cool weather, apple cider, and changing leaves are nice and all, but after experiencing my first Memphis spring, I was a changed woman.  Spring is my season. 

Memphis is a beautifully green city for the majority of the year.  I never get tired of the towering ancient trees that seem to form tunnels throughout the town.  But when those tunnels become dappled by brilliant yellow forsythia, hot pink azaleas, powder pink cherries, lavender wisteria, and stark white dogwoods, the city is simply breathtaking.  The humidity--and with it our mosquito dictators for the summer--has yet to take charge, gentle breezes flow through my open windows, and every day has a fresh energy to it that makes you want to get moving and spend its entirety outdoors.  

When we moved into our little rent house, we had no idea that some of Memphis' spring bounty resided in our own yard.  When our dogwood bloomed that first spring, it literally took my breath away every time I opened our front door or windows.  It was as though I had forgotten all about it in my sleep and woke up each morning to find the most brilliant surprise in my own front yard.  That spring, I remember thinking how thankful I was that I would get to enjoy that tree for four springs, and how sad I would be to see it bloom for the last time during our fourth year.  

Last July, when I discovered that I was expecting our second child in early April, one of my first thoughts was that this baby would likely arrive when the dogwood is in bloom.  I pictured a family portrait on the porch, my little family of four framed by brilliant white dogwood and azalea blooms.  Spring seemed very far away, as did the reality of all the changes it would bring.  

And now our majestic tree blooms once more.  As its tiny buds began to form, a little early due to our unseasonably warm weather, I found myself willing them to stop.  To slow down.  It was too soon.  The appearance of those full white blooms were a symbol of more change than I was ready to handle, and I wanted them to just stop.  Because when the dogwood blooms for the fourth time, it's time to go.  When the dogwood blooms for the fourth time, it's time to have a baby.  When the dogwood blooms for the fourth time, it's time to change life as we know it.  

But the blooms came anyway, of course.  I stood on the porch as Jonathan walked up the lawn for a quick lunch break.  He commented on the beautiful tree, and how much he will miss it.  And there, barefoot and nine months pregnant, I burst into tears.  I told him that it can't be blooming.  That it's just too soon.  That the blooms mean everything is happening.  That change is coming, and that I'm just not ready.  He hugged me, because even though I am hormonal, this was not a crazy pregnant lady talking.  He feels the same way too.  And so we stood for a moment, gazing at the tree that represents so much.  

I had been concerned that the warm weather would mean a less than spectacular blooming season, as had happened during our second year here.  But it was as if the tree knew I needed it to put on a show one last time; the blooms are fuller, thicker, and more fantastic than they have ever been.  Each morning I open all of the windows and the front door, and we spend as much time out front as we possibly can.  It will continue to bloom, of course, for many years to come (at least we hope it will, as this particular dogwood is very old), but we will not be here to see it.  Some other family will move into this house, and I hope they spend lots of time sitting on the porch swing, watching the cooky Midtown passersby, admiring the overgrown sunflowers across the street, listening to the neighborhood saxophone player, rocking their newborn baby, and later perching that little boy on the branches of the great dogwood tree to capture a beautiful springtime memory.   

In conclusion, does anyone know how to uproot a dogwood tree and move it across two states?  

22 Months

February 29, 2012

Dear Riggins,

Only one month left until you become a big brother and only two months left until you turn two!  Time is flying by, and you are becoming a little boy before my eyes.  Every day you surprise us with a new word, a new phrase, a new ability or skill, a new attitude or opinion, a new aspect of comprehending the world around you.  It is such a joy to watch you interact with this world and with other people, finding your place and your voice.  You continue to exhibit greater levels of independence and a strong will, and yet the majority of the time you are very laid back, content, and happy.  Basically, you show evidence of both your laid back yet stubborn and driven daddy and your positive, social, yet slightly sassy mommy!  Learning how to parent you in a way that maximizes those strengths and minimizes those liabilities is a challenge that fuels constant prayer in me each day!

Spring has sprung early in Memphis, so you and I have spent lots of time outside in the backyard and at the zoo.  I am learning that it is true what they say about little boys: you desperately need your time outdoors.  The days when I make vigorous outside play a priority, you take better naps and are better behaved in general for the rest of the day.  You constantly ask to go "owside," and most of the time I am happy to oblige!  I've told your daddy that one of my requirements for our future home is a backyard that is visible to me from inside the house so that I can just let you outside whenever you want!

Your other great love is reading.  We probably spend an hour total each day just reading books out loud, and I have been surprised that some of your favorite books are longer ones with lots of words, not just the touch-and-feel board books you used to love.  Dr. Suess became a favorite this month, and you love to read "Ham"and "Cat Hat."  You also discovered "One Morning in Maine" by Robert McCloskey this month, and ask for "Maine" all the time.  This shocks me since it is totally in black and white and is long!  A few months ago I made a commitment to myself that if what I was doing was not urgent, I would always stop to read to you when you asked; I think that commitment is starting to pay off!  The other plus is that it guarantees lots of lap-sitting and snuggles for me!

At 22 months, you wear size 24 month clothing and a size 5 diaper.  You sleep from around 7:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. and nap from about 1-3 p.m.  You have started to be more vocal about your choices with foods and often request waffles, veggie straws, kiwi, bananas, animal crackers, "cookies" (Kashi cereal bars...I'm a sneaky mom like that!), cheese sticks, and juice.  You have started to dislike diaper changes and changing your clothes (another show of independence), and hitting and screaming continue to be your biggest disciplinary struggles.  You still love motor vehicles of any kind, animals of any kind, the alphabet, puzzles and blocks, and stuffed animals.  This month your imagination has really begun to factor into your play time, and it is so fun to watch you make your animals move and your airplanes fly!

We are soaking up this sweet time with you before your little brother arrives.  I know that he is going to add so much to our family and that we won't be able to imagine life without him, but I hope you know that at this point in my mind, these past two years at home with you have been the best of my life.

Love you, buddy.
Momma

The Home Stretch

Well, folks, I am 36 weeks pregnant and entering the home stretch.  Let the countdown begin!  It is hard to believe that within the next few weeks we will be welcoming little Rhett Matthew into the world.  Honestly, Jonathan and I both feel a bit in denial that all of this is happening!  When you are expecting your first child, there are so many rites of passage during pregnancy that repeatedly remind you that a baby is coming.  You register for gifts, attend your showers, prepare the nursery, take classes and read books, and spend way too much time perusing the internet for information about baby gear, childbirth, and caring for a baby.      

This time, the excitement is still there, but since we are expecting another boy and we are moving about two months after his birth, there just isn't much to do to prepare.  All of the tangible tasks that reinforced reality the first time around have been replaced with the routine of caring for a toddler and finishing optometry school, both of which seem to make the weeks fly by.  In many ways, it is a relief to just enjoy pregnancy without the endless to-do list.  Sure, I've been purging and organizing our home to make our move easier, and I'll be washing baby clothes and bottles in the next week or so, but other than that I just spend a lot of time watching my belly move and thinking about what this little fella is going to add to our family.  It is a sweet time of expectation, and I think it's ok for me to stay in a bit of denial about all of the action that is going to ensue just weeks after his birth.  I'm going to keep this family's little cocoon intact as long as I possibly can!  

Each night, Riggins wants to "see baby" by lifting up my shirt.  He spends some time poking my belly button, patting my belly, hugging and kissing my belly, and saying "Rhett."  He has an "I'm the Big Brother" book that he requests often, and he is quick to point out babies, but despite the sweetness of it all, I really don't think he has any idea what is about to happen!  He is going to be a sweet big brother, but I am also preparing myself for some extra sensitivity and challenge in the weeks and months to come.  

On the actual pregnancy front, I am starting to feel a bit large and in charge!  I am still working out a few times a week, but I am definitely doing everything low impact and resembling the fat kid at a sports camp.  My Jazzercise buddies are my biggest cheerleaders, and we all get a good laugh when our routines have me dancing to songs like "My Girl's Got a Big 'Ole Bootie" and "I'm Sexy and I Know It!"  Other than my size, the only other hindrance to staying active has been my darned sciatic nerve.  I got a few weeks of relief from that pain, but it has crept back up in the last week.  I can also feel that Rhett is really dropping low, and there are times when I'm active that I feel like he might fall right out!  He has his little feet permanently wedged just below my ribcage on the right side.    

I definitely still have a big appetite and a very pronounced sweet tooth.  Frequent cravings include baked goods of any kind (seriously, my first thought every morning is of donuts), fruit of any kind, sushi, big loaded salads, Edy's Whole Fruit popsicles, big glasses of milk (chugged, never sipped!), and string cheese.  

Another interesting factor in this pregnancy has been some crazy hormone-induced emotions!  I experienced a lot of that after Riggins was born, but not as much before.  This time around, my emotions have been ridiculous, especially in the last few weeks!  Between our upcoming move, Jonathan's graduation and transition into a whole new chapter of life, mommy guilt for Riggins, and some frustrations with our future plans, I have been a bit of a basket case at times.  The whole experience has been an exercise in drawing nearer to the Lord and to my community of friends.  

And now, we wait.  My doctor's appointment last week showed Rhett to be head down and an estimated 6 lb. 4 oz.  I have continued to have ultrasounds at each appointment to monitor that fluid on his kidneys, and it remains stable.  I was also showing the beginnings of progress towards labor.  Until then, we are contentedly enjoying these last weeks of sleeping through the night (yes, I still sleep all night long and I do not take that for granted!), nesting, and soaking up our "only" child.  

Our Little Girl

I am about to be overcome by testosterone in a matter of weeks.  Lucky for me, there is still one other lady in the house.  With all the excitement of preparing for a new baby, I realized it had been awhile since ole Weber Sue received some attention on the blog!  I guess the Mommy Guilt that accompanies the arrival of another child is not limited to biological children but extends to furbabies as well.  

Weber is loving life these days.  Spring has sprung early in Memphis, along with the rest of the country, so that has meant a lot of time in the backyard.  I spend a lot of my time sitting in a lawn chair watching Riggins and Weber run laps around the yard.  But most of all, I spend my time blowing bubbles.  Like any little kid, Riggins loves blowing bubbles.  But the reality is that we are blowing bubbles for Weber.  To say that she loves chasing bubbles would be the understatement of the century.  I once blew bubbles for an entire hour straight and she never stopped chasing them.  She will jump a good several feet off the ground to catch a particularly high flyer, all the while being cheered on by her little brother.  The following pictures were only captured because she was waiting patiently for me to resume the bubble blowing.  Riggs is her partner in crime.  All day long, he begs me for "Ow-side?  Bo bub-bols?  Puppy?"  I typically oblige, because it is quite therapeutic to rest your 9-month pregnant feet in a lawn chair while leisurely blowing bubbles into a nice spring breeze.  And since the end result is typically a long-napping dog and boy, then we all win!  

I may have mentioned before that Weber sleeps with us each night.  When I was newly pregnant with Riggins, I figured it was only a matter of time before she got the boot.  Miraculously, she never did.  And here I am again, at 36 weeks pregnant, still letting this 65 pound pointer sleep with me!  Honestly, she is such a good bed buddy that once we all get settled into our spots for the night I hardly remember she's there.  Sometimes she steals the covers, but if I give her a good shove she hops up and lets me get comfortable before settling into a new spot.  Luckily, she prefers to snuggle tighter to her main man, so that leaves me more space!    

Unfortunately, Jonathan is probably the only boy Weber will be snuggling with for awhile.  While she is wonderful with Riggins when it's play time, she really will not tolerate him snuggling up to her when she is resting.  She doesn't get aggressive with him, but she definitely gives him a firm growl and hops up to find a new spot.  It really makes me sad, because he wants to lay on her and rest his head on her back so badly, but she just won't have it!  If only she could have seen him spooning with our friends' cat recently...that could have helped her see the error of her ways!  Maybe she'll come around when he's a bit older.  Until then, he is practicing his big brother skills on her by bossing her around, telling her "no," and shoving her away when she tries to take his food.    

This little gal brings so much joy and humor to our lives, and we can hardly believe that she'll be four years old this April!  As Jonathan approaches graduation, we have joked that she deserves to attend.  She has spent many nights sleeping next to him as he studies, and has provided priceless stress relief through their long runs together.  She still has that puppy spunk about her, which is one positive aspect of this energetic breed.  Even though sometimes you'd like for your pointer to grow up and act like a calm, mature dog all the time, it's fun to enjoy the playful disposition that comes with a hunting dog!  Even if all she is hunting is bubbles...