Death Of A Delicate Flower

I knew it would happen. I just didn't imagine it would happen in THIS way. I made a true effort to rise this morning after Hope had her second feeding. It was 6:30am, and since my quiet time as of late has been out the window in the evenings, the early morning is clearly my only option. I showered. Had my morning coffee with some yummy coffee cake, and read all about Solomon during the peak of his days. Jack and Grace awoke, and we prepared breakfast. After that, I decided to get a jump on the chicken duty while the two littlest girls were still asleep.

With one foot out the back door, I knew there was trouble. Our rooster Silkie, Duke, was out. He was alone. And far from the coop. At a quick far off glance, I saw that the entire coop door was half open. NOT GOOD. With an "Oh, No.", I left Duke and headed toward the coop. It was empty. Not a single chicken. But enough feathers and tufts of feathers, to leave a tall story of what must of happened there last night.

Thankfully, I found alive chickens around the back of the barn. Hiding and clearly upset. At the looks of the coop, I thought for sure I had lost at least a few chickens. The girls were with Ernie, our alpha rooster. And he was not about to follow me into the coop at that time. So I went back out to see Duke, and see if I could coax him into going back to the coop.

Duke, was also very upset. It brought tears to my eyes, as I began to scan the scene, and realized that Daisy, our sweet Silkie girl was gone. Her feathers where everywhere, and made an obvious trail. Something had clearly gotten her. And then I heard him. For the FIRST time. Clear as day. A long sad, crow from Duke. He hasn't crowed until now. He crowed for a good while. Like a sad love song. Daisy was his lady. Since they both couldn't fly or roost, they would snuggle together at night in the corner. He was her rooster. She was his only concern. And now his life long partner was gone.

After questioning the kids, my heart sunk. Despite making the coop more predator proof than Fort Knox, I hadn't factored in human error. The chickens had gotten out of the coop yesterday, and for whatever fears, the children had purposely decided not to tell me. To my own fault, I hadn't checked in on the chickens that evening because I had been at the church. And, when Hope was finally settled at 10:30pm after a very fussy night, peeking in on the chickens was the last thing I wanted to do. Which means that the chickens probably returned to roost for the night, but they were all sitting ducks for something to waltz in and pick a dinner.

There is good news, and that is, that upon further inspection, Daisy is all we lost. We are very, VERY lucky. But we've learned more than one lesson at the expense of the sweetest chicken in the flock. The only chicken who was to be our pet.

Good bye little white Daisy...Why is it that the prettiest flowers are always the quickest to fade?

Riding Buddies

If Faith could talk, I think she might say one of her most favorite things to do with the baby is share the same car seat row. It could get a little lonely always being the one in the middle. But now she has a riding buddy. And she is frequently heard exclaiming in a smile with a point at her side, "BAHHH-BEEEE!".

Wrapping A Sack of Sugar

Two months after Faith was born, I discovered wrapping. Wrapping is simply using a long piece of cloth to wrap your child securely to your body. You can wrap your baby to the front of you or to the back in tens of ways. It is extremely comfortable and beats any kind of baby carrier by a long shot. Faith was the driving force to this discovery, as she craved a combination of being held upright while walking throughout the house - constantly. But it took me two months to find a solution to meet her needs, so I never had the delightful joy of wrapping a seven pounder onto my back and going about my day.

My first wrap jobs were so bad, they make me laugh out loud now looking at pictures of them. Thankfully, I've gotten so much better. That said, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about wrapping such a tiny nugget, but Hope has assured me, that she approves. And even though Hope is near perfect, she still has her own witching hour between 9:30 and 11:00 pm where nothing seems to work, except a close wrap and Mamma lulling her to sleep with the determined movement of finishing up chores. Just like in the womb.

This morning, in the chaos of running a household and homeschooling, I took a moment to breathe and capture our little duo. Every day I am reminded that Hope is bigger than yesterday. These days of tininess are so precious and go so quickly.

Pumpkining With Three Amigos

I have no idea why someone decided to decorate their pumpkin sale with sombreros. I never did take Spanish, so forgive me, but did I miss something in elementary school? Did the tradition of carving pumpkins originate in the remote hills of Chihuahua, Mexico?

That said, it sure did make for some festive photography around piles and piles of overpriced pumpkins, overshadowed by giant Mexican hats. Plus for as long as this kid sat down scrutinizing pumpkin candidates, he was bound to get sunburned without protection.

Maybe...there are only five degrees of separation between a pumpkin patch and a fiesta. I can vouch that there are just two degrees of separation between a pumpkin patch and an empty wallet.

Design A House Around This

Is there a place anywhere in my house where I can keep a newborn in sight, but safely out of reach from a one year old while doing the mad 4 minute dash in the shower? Behold, the marble bouncy seat - with a little less bounce and more seat. Kohler Faucets...eat your heart out.


Don't you love it when they do this in their sleep? I'm convinced these moments are little gifts from God for Mama.

Especially when Mr. Incredible keeps voicing things like, "She's still blind." or "Are you cross-eyed?" and "You've got a bit of a lazy eye don't you?". Poor girl really can't keep her eyes straight yet. But she's getting really good at grins in her sleep.

The Perfection of Pudge

It can't be happening already. Look at these cheeks! More than a week has already passed by since the birth of a human angel in our house and Hope is already fattening up.


I've caught myself on more than a few occasions wrestling with the idea of giving her the treasured first bath. Normally by this time, the bath has long since had its moment of glory. However, with Hope, I'm dwaddling. I don't want to clean her up! Bathing her would mean admitting that she's been around long enough to get dirty; conceding that time is already closing in.

With this little one, time could stand still forever and I'd be tickled. Because folks, we have our very much hoped for sweet potato! I'm beside myself in appreciation and adoration over the little package that God delivered to us. It is very possible that Hope qualifies as the easiest baby I have ever had. Her quietness in the womb had me thinking she was going to be a laid back baby, but really her perfect place in this family is stunning.

If I could have handpicked a few qualities for Number Four they would have been: a sound sleeper, a happy traveler, and smooth on the transitions. Without naming names, Number Three made sure I had paid my full dues and then some in those areas. She earned the name Princess of Wails. Revisiting that heavy of a routine again, would have been a challenge. But the Lord handpicked Hope. And lo' and behold guess what He gave me....a sound sleeper, a happy traveler and a daughter who is very smooth on the transitions. Praise God!

Guess where I was last night at 1:00 am? Sleeping. At 2 am...sleeping. At 3 am...still snoozing. 4 am and 5 am came and went with no interruptions. Finally at 6am...a peep, followed by a nursing. Only for us both to go on sawing logs until 8:30am. I rest my case. She's perfect.

Ms. TMI

Who knew that Mama had a whole 'nother set of bras? And of course, if you're going to try on bras, you might as well try on ALL of them. Being very careful to make a grand entrance fully bra clad in front of visiting church folk.

All Rise...For Her Highness Hope

Our little "Number Four" did it! Hope Evangeline arrived on the day of her choosing, October 15th. Her first little peals of arrival were heard at 7:35pm, 17 hours after we walked into Labor and Delivery. Weighing in at 7lbs 9oz, and 20 inches long, Hope is as sweet on the outside as she was hanging out with Mommy on the inside. We love her dearly already.


We promise to share her full birth story later, but couldn't leave everyone hanging much longer. She's just too cute not to share...

Labor! Labor! Labor!

I think my sweet little Hope is trying to pound her way out of here!

After many false starts throughout the week, that had me so frustrated I refused to blog about it, things took a new turn yesterday. With the morning sun and coffee, contractions began to settle in for the long haul. At first, it was the typical Braxton Hicks tightening (that had been strengthening significantly over the week), but as the day began to wane, things became slightly painful. The contractions relaxed after midnight and I was able to sleep through the night with only an occasional awareness of a contraction taking place.

By morning at church, I became distinctly aware that I no longer was experiencing any tightening in the stomach, and instead each contraction greeted me with a pure wave of pain. Dull pain. Not unbearable. Just different. By this afternoon, I got serious, and just about all of my doubts were erased. This was it. Time to pack the bags. These suckers weren't going anywhere regardless if I was walking, laying down or standing on my head. They still hurt. And that was just plain ol' exciting as I slowly grasped the realization that I just might be entering real labor. REAL LABOR! Without the Pitocin drip! Uncharted territory. :)

I was thinking I might be headed to the hospital by now, but the contractions keep playing musical chairs. I'm looking for that 5-1-1 combo (five minutes apart, 1 minute long for 1 hour). At first they were 7 minutes apart at about 30 seconds, but as the day has gone along, they've become much more painful at a minute or more in length, however now I'm out to 7 -12 minutes apart. So I could be here for awhile still.

I've got a Mommy pep rally going on for my little girl who has given me my first taste of laboring in the comforts of home. Way to go Hope! I'm so proud of you! Daddy and I can't wait to see your precious face for the first time and give you your first kisses.

Punch-It Faithy

Faith is 100% original. Apparently, she felt like we had run into a shortage of utensils for breakfast this morning. Making herself resourceful, she climbed up on to the kitchen table with a hole puncher and began systematically capturing her cereal bits with the puncher. She was so proud of herself and was thrilled that we had all noticed her mastery of fine motor skills.

Too Big For My Britches

And....here we are on October 9th. Me and Hope. Hope and Me. More specifically, Hope IN Me. On her due date. But I predicted this from the moment she was just a little bean. She will show herself to be a true blue Knucker Hatch, late out of the starting gate. My visit with the OB on Monday showed some progress in that I have gone from 0 to 50% effaced in seven days, however, I am still at just 1 cm. Overall the news is good for a woman who has accepted that she doesn't go into labor on her own. At least I can avoid the cervical prep drugs the day before hitting "The Pit".

This past weekend, I took advantage of a tradition I started with Faith - "The Pity Party Pedi". Which always turns into much more as I indulge with my last bit of quiet time for myself. And so it became the "Pity Party Pedi Mani Brow Waxy With a Haircut On Top". It was LOVELY. My last haircut? One year ago. Yeah. It was less about indulgences and more about necessities.

The toes are pretty. The nails are colorful. The brows have been magically lifted with waxing. And the mane is at least no longer splitting. But this belly is uncontainable. They don't make pants for ladies that exceed their due dates. Pregnancy pants weren't meant to fit snuggly around a planet. Overdue = Pants Problems = Mandatory 24 hour PJ lock down. Hope...come out sweetie...you're embarrassing your Mommy.

More Secure Than The Oval Office

OK. I admit, that those are my words not the words of my OB. But I'm quite sure that the White House has got nothing on security compared to MY oval office. The doc says I'm one centimeter and long. Sounds like football talk, doesn't it? But really, can you hear the sound of the Red Sea parting? No? Me neither.

The man of very few words tried to be encouraging and stated that this is when things can start to happen quickly. I tried to be sweet, and not remind him of my anything BUT sudden history listed on the chart before his nose. I continue to run my 4:00am insomnia streak, and as of yesterday, a horrid case of back pain and green snot. I'm feeling pretty disgusting right now, on top of being ill, but I remind myself about every five minutes that this is temporary.

The good news is...and there is good news I promise, that yesterday was "The Day". You know when you keep telling yourself if you can just get past such and such day it will ALL get easier. Well, yesterday was it for me. I have finished my three week run at leading our Bible Study, which takes up every spare minute of my time, and requires creating vacation days for the children's school just to prepare. But I'm done for the season. And I finally feel like I can breathe again today. And feed my family. And clean a toilet or two. So despite all of my complaints, I am beginning to feel more positive. (I know. I've got a long way to go still.)

Since I am still in sick bay around here, I'm going to usher you out of the sick and contracting room and encourage you all to visit Katy over at Treasured Chapters of Life and Family. She has a wonderfully creative post that I think just about every multi-tasking mother can identify with and should read...entitled "An Overworked Mind". Katy is one of those delightfully special friends that everyone feels like they completely don't deserve, and wouldn't trade for nothin'. If you've got a friend that's just naturally good at friendship, then you know Katy. Love ya girl.

Stuck In The Middle With Two

Really now people...what in the world is our family supposed to do about the results of Hope's "Middle Name" poll?? I am tickled we had such a great poll response, but I had no idea that we were going to have two middle name candidates so neck and neck.

I think we are going to need some more involved voter participation. And a good dose of honesty. (Not that Tom Builder and I can't make our own decisions...but the man has already suggested that maybe we should go with the name that has the lowest vote and say we wanted to be different.) So for Hope's namesake, leave us your comments as to why or why we should not go with Olivia or Evangeline as a middle name. And if you didn't go with either, send us your plea or your second choice. Be brutal. Be specific. Be biased.

Yep. Still here. And it is 4:00am again. So humor me.