Family News

It’s been cool and cloudy all day today.
At lunch, Natasha looked out the window and shouted,
“Look mom, it’s starting to snow! It’s the end of summer!”

Natasha has for a while now been “reading” familiar books aloud (something that Melody is also very prolific in), but in the last couple weeks she has also begun inventing stories based on the characters or components of what she’s read, and what she’s thinking about.
I used to say I loved the girls’ original songs [...]

She told this to me and Melody during lunch on Friday 4/14. We were at the church that morning for Jay to do some work, and sat longer together than we would have at home, having other things to do.
Once there were 9 children, all in the same family.
One day they they all [...]

Melody is talking more, more fluidly/understandably, and sleeping-in when she’s been up too late. All things I (because of Natasha) associate with being three.
She continues to have both a larger need for time alone and a greater (or at least more vocalized) need for one-on-one/touch/”snuddle” time.

Went to ride the bike for the third time (confirming which I wanted) and bought it tonight.
I told Jay it could be my birthday present, and he said, “Great. I had some other ideas, but hadn’t ordered anything yet.”
Sounds like me right before his b-day.
I’m silly-excited about the new bike, and looking forward to [...]

Jay and I are looking at road bikes. The skinny-wheeled, self-propelled kind.
Visited all three of our local bike shops today. Interesting how each of them have their own personalities….
I thought the one I test-drove was just *amazing* and probably would have bought it on the spot if dividends came in spiring.
Jay says [...]

Last night Elisha was down in 15-minutes.
The two nights before were only 35-minutes each, and two night-wakings (one each night– I was anoyed and convinced– because of whiny sisters).
Truly, he ate heartily both times, so it was probably needful.
He still hasn’t been eating many solids, and was actually getting a nursing blister for the first [...]

Yay!
Thank you God for a faithful, persevering husband.
Whew. Glad that process is over.

We are (Lord willing!) coming out of a black hole of sleeplessness.
Natasha was having frequent night terrors, Elisha would wake 4-6 times in the night, and Melody would take forever just to get to sleep.
Melody still takes the longest of anybody to pass-out, but she’s generally quiet about it, and now that I’ve quit trying [...]

Jay got home Tuesday from his 3-day snow-machining trip.
We did okay here, but I’m really glad my sister was in-town for the weekend. She helped with bedtime Saturday night then came back and helped with baths Sunday morning. She also joined mom in helping shine the house before Jay got home Monday night.
The [...]