Photo Friday... Ode to the Avengers

 "Hmmm, I think I will be Captain America"...

 "Or maybe Thor..."

"Nope... I think I'll be the Hulk" (this picture was taken right before Ellie turned green and smashed through a wall.)     :)

Keep smilin' my friends and have a blessed weekend.

Photo Friday - A Few of my Favorite Things

The apple blossoms on the crab apple tree in the front yard waft their fragrance through the air as they bob and sway in the gentle spring breeze. And yes, that is my tree in the photo...  :)

My precious Tiberias fast asleep, hands clasped in prayer.  :)

 Miss Pickle Bottom came out of the bedroom with her baby doll and a makeshift diaper bag she had created.  Inside of it she placed one of Ty's cloth diapers, some plastic food, a key, and some toys.  She also had her purse slung over her shoulder... she was ready to take on the world with her baby. :)  I love the way she surprises me with her maternal instincts that God has given her, even at this young age.

 My precious Uriah read books to Ellie until they both clonked out.. fast asleep.

 Big goofy grins are definitely on my top 10 of favorite things.

 My boys love to create and build things together, I so enjoy watching them use their imagination.

My boys having a snuggle moment... melts this Momma's heart.

Enjoy your weekend and remember to find the joy in each day!

Not Me - Life with a Newborn

Welcome to another Not Me Wednesday where I pretend I have a normal life by denying what actually happens in the day to day.  :)

We are not getting used to a new normal in Sargentopia, which does not mean earlier bedtimes, simpler meals, and lots of dirty diapers to wash (we do not have two in diapers).

I did not mop my floors at 4am this morning, directly after nursing Tiberias back to sleep, just because it was quiet and I had a free moment.  I then did not hop right back in bed to catch a few more zzzz's before the crew started to wake up.

Life with four kiddos does not go exceptionally well until the "zoo hours" roll around (4pm - 7pm) and everyone goes a bit ape.  The following all did not happen within' a 30 minute span of time:
  1. Ty wakes up from his nap screaming just when I filled the sink with sudsy water to wash a few dishes.
  2. Uriah is in the bathroom while Ty is screaming and he needs me to wipe his bottom.
  3. While I am wiping Uriah's bottom (as Ty continues to cry), Ellie toddles in to tell me that she has pooped.  I tell her to wait one minute and then Mommy will change her.  She decides to reach into her diaper to provide tangible evidence that she has in fact done a #2.
  4. Ty screams on as I clean Ellie and change her diaper.
  5. I pick up Ty and realize he is crying because... he too has pooped.  I lay him on the changing table only to find out that I am all out of diapers and the clean ones are down stairs in the dryer.
  6. I lay Ty in his cradle and let the poor kid cry some more as I bring up the clean diapers.
  7. For those who are wondering why Ethan is not helping me... it is because I allowed him to go to his friend's house for a few hours.  Who knew everyone would poop at the same time... ugh.
  8. While I am carrying the diapers up the stairs I hear "Uh oh". I enter the dining room to see Uriah's glass of milk knocked over on the table and it's spreading rapidly across the table toward Ellie's snack.  Uriah is crying because his milk is spilt, Ellie is crying because her personal space is being invaded by a beverage and Ty is still crying because of the poop in his diaper.
  9.  I plunk down the clean diapers, grab a towel and wipe up the milk on the table while Uriah cleans up the mess under the table. 
 10.  Uriah brings the dirty towels downstairs while I pick up Ty, change his diaper and begin to nurse on the couch in the kids room so I can watch them play.
 11. While playing dress up, Ellie pinches her belly on a pop gun (she was Davy Crocket) and needs Momma to snuggle her and kiss her boo boo.  So she is on one side of me and Ty is nursing on the other.  When Ellie is satisfied she jumps down and decides to pick up a foam sword and start a sword fight with Uriah.

 12. Ellie and Uriah begin to argue, Ellie gets hurt again and Momma has to separate the children and take the foam swords away.  Of course I do all of this with a child attached to me like a plecostomus.

13. Ethan arrives home from his friend's house, he hears the kids crying because I took away their swords, sees me zooming through the house with a nursing pillow strapped around my belly with one arm around Tiberias who is nursing and with the other hand I am taking care of clean dishes.  He shakes his head and says "Wow Mom... I should have stayed to help you." I assure him that it was alright and that I was so glad he was able to have fun with his friend.  After a pause he looked at me and said " That pillow sure does come in handy".  :) 

Please DO share with me a bit about how your week is going, it's nice to commiserate with one another.

With love and laughter,
Dawna

Photo Friday, life with a newborn.

 The proud biggest brother.

 Uriah LOVES to hold Mr. Tiberias.

Ellie does not mind if Ty is screaming, she adores her little brother.  She is still learning how to be gentle.

 My three sons and Princess Pickle Bottom.

Isn't he cute?!

I definitely could not make it through the day without my helpers...

 Ellie keeps us smiling with her goofy antics and...

she rocks Ty to sleep.

 Uriah tells Ty stories and Ty coos in return.

Ethan helps keep the house running smoothly by pitching in above and beyond with housework and he even cooks meals.  Gotta love a capable ten year old.

 Well... soccer is in full swing.  We forgot to pull out the camera while Ri was playing but here he is, all muddy and regaling us with stories of how he slid across the field on his belly.

E-man is getting ready for the corner kick on this fabulously sunny day.

 Ethan took this snapshot of Tiberias in the van while we were on our way to church.

 E's self portrait... lookin' more and more like Daddy every day.

 Dedication Sunday... Uriah was zoning out, Ellie would not face the congregation and the rest of us were sweltering but smiling under the lights.  Oh... and did I mention that Ellie pooped on her pretty dress, luckily it was after we sat back down.

Yes, Tiberias does have a monkey on his sweet little buns.

 So that is life in a nutshell right now... have a blessed weekend!

Surrounded by Love

She lay next to me, content... peaceful.  Head on pillow, one arm tucked up behind her pigtails.  With eyelids heavy she stares at the ceiling with dark brown eyes and her long eyelashes begin to flutter.  I stroke her hair away from her forehead and speak words of love softly to her as I lie next to my precious Elianna. My sweet three week old babe is nestled between us, contentedly nursing.

As I stroke Ellie's hair her eyes begin to close and her breathing becomes deep and steady.  My baby boy continues to nurse, tucked safely against my side with one little arm wrapped around me.  He begins to doze off and I smile.  I can hear the older boys playing happily in the room next to me.

Life is full and blessed.

I pour out thanksgiving and praise to the Gift Giver, the one who created these children and knit them together in my womb.  His love for His people astounds me.  I let the praises continue to rise up like incense to His throne room until I drift off to sleep, surrounded by love.