tubby.

Chub is in the house.

Two of us in the family have recently become rather chubby.

First up is Mr. Micah.  In one month's time this kiddo has gained 4 pounds.  He weighed 22-23 pounds for almost a year and then he took this sudden leap.  I can't seem to stop kissing his cute pudgy feet and pinching his chunky thighs.

Then there's moi.  I got a load of my caboose in a Target mirror recently and all I can say is I ought to hang a sign on that thing. Wide Load.

Oh yes I have chub.  Equal opportunity chub.  It's spread out equally amongst all my body parts.

Fortunately there is a nice gym about 2 blocks from our house.  Shane kindly suggested that I join.  I tried it out last night for the first time.  I weighed myself after my workout and discovered that I have 20 pounds to lose.  T-w-e-n-t-y.  20.  Yowza.  Can I blame nursing? Time to get to WORK!

But seriously I don't worry about the extra weight.  In fact I love joking about it with Shane; I tell him I'm not chunky I've just been magnified.  I don't even mind when Sage tells me I look like I still have a baby in my tummy.  It's all part of being a mama to a darling little 8-week old.  And it's worth every extra flabby pound.

listen up

The Weepies sing it just right.

seven weeks worth of catching up

Kindergarten graduation.

A visit from Kass.

Short new 'do. Mama was tired of combing tangles so off went the hair.

A visit from Grandma Shelly.

a reminder.

Investment

How enviously I watched the rose bush bear her bud,

Such an easy, lovely birth.

And at that moment I wished the sweet myth were true,

That I could pluck you, my child, from some green vine

But now as you breathe, through flesh that was mine

Gently in the small circle of my arms, I see the wisdom of investment.

The easy gift is easy to forget.

But what is bought with coin of pain,

Is dearly kept

-Carol Lynn Pearson

listen up

Eddie Vedder's mournful voice is the perfect foil for the ukelele.  This song is from his new album called (what else?) Ukelele Songs. 

8

A candid by Sage...pardon the messy study.

We're best friends, we look out for one another,
We're best friends, we take care of each other
I know you and you know me,
We fit together like puzzle pieces.
When I wake up in the morning it's you I want to see...it's you I want to see.

--Frances England

We celebrated our eighth anniversary last month.  After almost a decade together I've decided that wine and marriages get better with age (just pretend I know what I'm talking about when it comes to wine).

Shane and I have become a real team this past year.  During this rollercoaster of a year we've clung to each other and tried to enjoy, and sometimes just survive, the ride.  We have agonized together as we've watched Micah suffer, sat together in the wee hours of the morning taking turns holding Micah.  Together we've pleaded with the Lord for help and direction.  We've worked together cooking and cleaning, caring for our little family and building a business.  We experienced the joy of Haven's birth, just the two of us.  We've laughed and cried (well I cry, he holds me) and been stretched in ways we never could have imagined.

Reflecting on this year brings a Quaker Proverb to mind: "Thee lift me and I'll lift thee and we'll ascend together."  This year I learned that Heavenly Father wants us to go through life two by two. And here's why: because sometimes I feel like I can't go on; I need Shane to take my hand and be strong for me until I can be strong again.  And then I do the same for him.  And together we grow.

a rose by any other name.

Cute Sage and Haven and an oh so round mama.

I wanted each of our kiddos to have a special name: a first name with real meaning and a middle name that belonged to a special someone in our family.  Shane, on the other hand, has only two rules for names: easy to say and easy to spell.

Sage Elea
Sage- one who is wise
Elea- Shane had the great idea to take the first initial of the name of each of my sisters who have died and create a name: Elena, Laura and Elizabeth Anne.  My sisters were each so precious and such an important part of our family and I'm happy we could honor them in a small way.

Micah Elias
Micah- one who is like God (boy has this proven to be fitting...he has the patience of Job)
Elias- Shane's maternal grandpa was a wonderful father and grandpa.  We knew he was coming to the end of his life and wanted to honor a man who did so much good.

Haven Theresa
Haven- A safe place
Theresa- When my parents married neither family was very happy nor supportive of the young marrieds.  Luckily my Dad's aunt Ricky (Theresa) loved them and opened her home to them.

P.S. Shane likes to tell people that I wanted a girl just so I could use the name "Haven."  And you know what?  It's true.