Sooooooo tired these days.  It seems like I have 1 or 2 good days in a row, and then I spend 3 just WIPED OUT.  My bed has an irresistible siren call.  The only thing is, when I trot obediently back to it to lay down “just a little more”, the Mommy Magnet seems to be still operating at full force, and within too many minutes, there are three little ducks clustered at my sides, quacking happily.  Lol.  Sweet, but just not so restful.  

Yaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnn.

Two more weeks until my first trimester is over.  

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Overheard in the kitchen:

Israel: “I have the STRONGEST muscles!!!” (lots of straining and striving and muscle display and fierce look on face)

Gabe: (interrupting loudly as is common when Israel claims to be strongest) “No No No!  The Bible says…” (pause) “whoever is the biggest is the strongest.”  (calmly goes back to meal)

Mommy: “Actually, Gabe, I don’t think the Bible says that.” (suppressing smile)

Gabe: (with moderately confused look) “Well then, what DOES it say??”

I mean, what else WOULD it say??  Seriously, Mom.

1.  I am 10 weeks pregnant with Miller Baby #4.  And very excited about it.  :)  Despite some staggering episodes of exhaustion and the worst experience with queasiness out of all of my pregnancies.  Usually it starts mild in the morning and worsens in the evenings.  NOTHING has tasted good.  The past several days have seen relief from the worst of it – which of course threw me into a whole different set of neurosis – WHY AM I NOT QUEASY??  Of course this was actually immediately after a direct prayer request that Tim and I prayed, for energy for me, as I had just been feeling so terrible.  And then I get worried when our prayer was answered.  :) But I have relaxed more over the last bit as I see my stomach get bigger and the queasiness still be there at least sometimes.  

I just will be really glad when we hear the heartbeat.  I have been a lot more anxious with this pregnancy, I think after Olive.  And then Quinn.  Just knowing that life is full of sad and painful realities, and tragedy can be a heartbeat away.  :(  Sort of morbid thoughts to start my pregnancy on, but there nonetheless.  

I did have one quick ultrasound at 8 weeks, and saw the heart beating.  That was nice.

Gabe and Israel are very excited, and eagerly hoping for a baby sister.  :)  It makes me smile, how much they want a sister.  The day we had found out, I was waiting to tell the boys until Tim came home.  Gabriel (who did not know about the baby) was praying for our supper, and at the end he added “Oh, yes, I almost forgot – and Jesus, please give us a baby sister.”  So we’ll see.  Honestly, it really doesn’t matter to me what I have.  A girl would be fun, but a boy is also a treasure, as I have experienced.

2.  Can I just say again how CUTE Zion is with his blanket.  Seriously.  He diligently searches for a corner of the blanket, and greedily crams it under his nose and hums a tuneless melody.  Sometimes he will cry and need rescuing because he can’t find the corner.  One night after I found it for him, his little arm shook with exhausted gladness as his tired little body got it’s blanket fix.  

3.  We have two little kitties living under our back porch.  :)  They just moved in and made themselves at home, and although they were old enough to eat dry food, they were still pretty little.  One is a dark calico, and one is a grey tabby.  The dark one is the friendliest, and has that look where you can tell it really wants it’s chin scratched and head rubbed.  The other day on my way in from the clothesline, he pattered out to greet me, and I sat in the prickly grass in the slanting sun, and spent a long time stroking his fur and rubbing his chin and feeling his resonating purr in his little kitty cat body.  I have really missed those sorts of cat happies, with a cat allergic husband.  

 

Olive Hope would have turned one year old today.  Thinking of her and Lynette and Rusty (my sister-in-law and brother-in-law).  

Gabriel turned six years old on Sept. 8th.

It was his special day, so he got to pick the activities.  We started out with presents.

I got him a Cars bookbag, some clothes, a Cars mini lunch box, and some other random things, but the MOST IMPORTANT was the much-longed for spy watch.  It was in the last pocket of the bookbag.  As he was opening the package he was saying over and over “Please let this be a spywatch please let this be a spy watch please let this be a spy watch.”  :)  Seriously, how irresistible is THAT??  And then it was “YYYAAAYYY!!!  A SPYWATCH!!”

I must admit.  He was a little bummed that it wasn’t the green spy glove he had drooled over.  I think it would have been ok if the replacement spy watch had a voice recorder and a flashlight.  But it didn’t.  He acted happy anyways, but we could tell.  So we ordered him the spy glove too.  A boy only turns six once, after all.  

Little marker painted Critter Cakes gleefully tearing around in sunglasses with Gabe’s new pencil box.

After presents, it was time for Chuckee Cheeses.  

Then we trekked to the Salisbury Zoo.  I was ready for my own stroller in which to be pushed at this point.  Phew.  

I couldn’t resist how Zion was propped up on Tim’s foot, and then with his nose poking through the fence.

We came home for a supper of macaroni and cheese and BIRTHDAY CAKE.

Yes, those are Pepperidge Farm Cakes, thank you very much.  The best yummy cakes in the world.  :)  

We finished up with a movie of Gabe’s choice – Sonic the Hedgehog.  

I love you, Gabriel Timothy.  I can’t believe you are six.  You are full of fun and laughter.  You are alternately tender and bossy, affectionate and distracted.  You love to think and love to chat, and you love your friends and your brothers and to be around people.  I am so glad to have you, my love.

The other weekend, we took a little trip to the park in Seaford by the river.  After a picnic of BBQ chicken and goodies

 

we lazed about down by the river…at least I did.  The boys worked VERY hard getting as many stones and sticks AS POSSIBLE into the water ,

and tromped around on exciting treasure finding excursions with their Daddy,

and had stone-skipping lessons.

It was a GORGEOUS, perfect fall day…sunny, blue skies, hint of cool in the air.  

One fun and fancy find was bottles to float or to fill with water or rocks.

Israel’s bottle:

Gabe’s bottle:

Baby.  Without a bottle, but cute nonetheless.  :)

Us.

Israel.

I can’t resist pictures of their heads side by side because of the difference in their hair color.  

Gabe finished up the time by shimmying up the pole on the playground.  I was duly impressed – the little monkey can climb!!

 

For the second time in less than a year, I am grieving with someone I love over a baby that has died.  Quinn Ruthie Weber was born in Atmore, AL at 3 AM today and died at 9 AM today from underdeveloped lungs and other complications.  She was a full term baby, with no expectations of anything going wrong.  Joyce was my roommate at Rosedale, a roommate at Cedarville University for a year, and was my matron of honor at my wedding.  Joyce and Jason, my heart is aching for you. 

Friday morning, at about 7:20 AM, after Gabe had been up about 5 minutes, he was sitting in the chair in the living room and I was getting him dressed for kindergarten.  As I was trying to put his shirt over his head, he suddenly made an annoyed growling noise and glared at his wrist.  I was confused.  

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“He keeps calling me,” Gabe answered.  ”And I don’t know why he keeps calling me.”  

Ah hah.  ”Oh.”  I said.  ”You mean on your spy watch?”

Gabe affirmed that his spy watch had been ringing yet again.  His invisible spy watch.  

I just couldn’t believe that his imagination was already running full force five minutes after he rolled out of bed, just sitting in the living room, waiting for clothes and breakfast.  :)  

That evening after he was back from school, I discovered that we had both an Oriental Trading catalog, what with all sorts of pencils and doodads to capture a kiddo’s fancy, and a Young Explorer catalog, and asked if he and Israel would like to look at them.  They were entranced.  

The boys have been mesmerized for two days.  We have been through almost every page of the Young Explorer’s catalog, discussing what almost every item does and is called.  Today Tim got a video of the two of them lying side by side on the couch, seriously examining the catalog together.  :)

The Young Explorer’s catalog contains a spy section.  Which INCLUDES a spy watch.  With a watch, a voice recorder, a flashlight, a telescope, and maybe some other snazzy additions.  It all comes in a very inconspicuous form.   

The Spy Glove.  Dunh dunh DUUUNNNHHHH. You would never notice that on the average spy.  It would just BLEND RIGHT IN to everyday surroundings.  

I found a cheaper imitation at Target in the form of a Spy Watch for his birthday.  It lacks the voice recorder and the telescope, but may do the trick.  We shalt see.  

Tim had a birthday on August 18.  He turned 32.

 

As is typical, he is making a strange face in his picture.  Shake of head.  We had his favorite, Dairy Queen Ice Cream cake for supper.  I worked very hard to make it.  

Harmonicas have been discovered around here by Zion.  Hello cuteness.

He puffs away on it, QUITE satisfied.

Shocker.  It’s ME in a picture.  I’ve gotten a mite cranky lately about how few pictures I am in.  My children will doubt I existed in their home based on photographic evidence if things did not improve.  Thanks, Tim.

I found these guys sitting in my fridge the other day.

Cute little buggars, I thought.  Zion’s doling out a hug.  Zion loves hugs.  And kisses.

I had a window washing crew hard at work in my living room the other day.  

I mean, I just sat back, propped up my feet, drank coffee and ate bon bons while they worked.  Such is the life of a mother with young, capable children.  Cough.

Favorite Zion-isms of late:

“Daddee wannee.” (I want Daddy.)

“Bishies!!” (Fishies!!) or “Bishies wannee!”

“Yah.”  ”OH-kay.”  ”Nae.”  ”Enh-heh.”

He has mastered the ear piercing dissatisfied screech, and is talking in some three word sentences.  I’m very impressed with him verbally.

I also love how he bats his eyes sleepily and inclines his head in for a forehead kiss at night.  

He used to suck his thumb and grab the corner of his blanket and hold it to his cheek.  Now he doesn’t suck his thumb anymore; he hasn’t since Christmas.  But he will take the corner of his blanket and rub it back and forth in the area between his nose and upper lip.  Makes me grin.  

After the final (functional) day of summer,

my oldest son started Kindergarten this week at Greenwood Mennonite School.  

He is going Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 8:15 AM-2:55 PM.  He is in a classroom with a total of 12 children, except on Fridays, when the Monday/Wednesday/Friday class of 13 joins them for a total of 25.  

He was excited about starting.  He was the most excited about recess.  :)  He likes the playground there.  

I took him in so that he could find his seat and hang up his book bag.  He excitedly skittered toward the door ahead of Israel and I.  

Israel and he made a beeline for the fish aquarium when they got there.  

Getting settled in.  

I wasn’t expecting to cry, since I have been excited for him, but felt the sudden hot sting of tears at the back of my eyes as I prepared to go.  Just another stage of life we’re entering.

Gabe’s is the Cars book bag.

When we were doing school shopping the day before, Israel was very insistent on his need for a lunch box, a pencil box, scissors and crayons as well.  He toted along his lunch box as we took Gabe in.  

He was pretty bummed the first day about not getting to stay with Gabe at school, but as we walked out to the car, he perked up and told me that he could play at home without Gabe being mean to him!!  Glad he could find the bright side.  

It was quieter at home without him there.  Israel and Zion picked right up where Israel and Gabe left off, and played happily.  Cute to see.  

Tim picked Gabe up after the first day, and he was most full of stories about recess.  The second day he got stung by a wasp on the playground, and he informed me that the second recess was a lot better than the first recess because he didn’t get stung that time.  

On Friday he told me that he loves school.  I knew he would.  

I had an oddly amusing and endearing afternoon with my boys today.  The four of us went to Salisbury around 2:30 PM, so that I could get the busily buzzing bee out of my bonnet that needed me to go to Goodwill and Target for some errands.  Tim takes his day off on Monday, and does not like to do anything too stressful on that day…shopping falls right into that category for him.  For me, it was much more satisfying to go by myself and take the boys than stay home and not.  So away we went.  

Both of these stores…wide eyes…not necessarily your ideal holding areas for three young boys 5 years and younger.  Zion, who was in the crabbiest of all crabby moods the entire time, squawked screaming protests at having to stay in the cart or on my hip.  When I set him down, he invariably took off, giggling wildly, which in turn prompted his older brothers to try to catch him, which was great screeching fun repeatedly curtailed by a cranky mommy.  And here’s another thing.  The Goodwill is Salisbury is great.  It’s huge.  I’m totally going to have to go back.  But somebody was NOT thinking totally clearly when they put the TOY AISLE, 4 shelves of toys high, directly across from and not nearly enough inches away from the CLEAR GLASS ITEMS AISLE.  What in the world.  Wondering shake of the head.  Fortunately, the most threatening-to-fragile-glass-items one of my bunch was entirely enamored of the toys and could see nothing else.  Gabe only cast one stray elbow into a clinking crowd of glassware, but all was well.  Phew.  

I let the boys pick out two toys each.  Gabe chose a hand held video game and flippers.  Israel chose an electric guitar and…something else??  I found a nice metal John Deere tractor for Zion for only $3.99.  I also discreetly tucked into my cart a $1.99 unopened set of Lightening McQueen school friendly ltems like pencils and notepad and pencil sharpener.  Later on, as Gabe was examining the cart, he came to me and said wonderingly, “Mommy?  Did you get those Lightening McQueen things for me??”  I smiled at him and said yes, and his face just shone with delight and he gave me a thrilled hug and told me “thank you!!!” and that he loved me.  Ahhhh.  Warms the barmy cockles of me mommy heart, it does.  

So Zion was a mess that entire time.  On the way to Target, he fell asleep for a few minutes, and woke up as I was carrying him in.  And wow, was he a cheery one.    LOTS of angry screaming upon containment.  When placed on the floor to relieve aching ears, off he went, with jump and a screech, to hide in the clothing racks and knock scads of clothing filled hangars to the floor.  I was pretty sure that having them there doubled my store time.  There were some angry eyes from Mommy. And some meaningful cheek squeezes.  And some wild-eyed frazzledness.  

After we were halfway done, we took a trip to the bathroom, where as I gazed at the three heads clustered together in front of me gazing in wonderment at the crazy toilet flushes that you find in department stores, I was just overcome with humor over the whole experience, and just thought with a huge grin how great these guys are.  I just love them SO MUCH!!!!! 

We returned to find Gabe some school shoes, and after that arduous experience was over and 92 boxes (or thereabout) of scattered shoes had been returned to the shelves (hey, at least Baby stayed in one aisle), we went to the little Target eating area.  The boys were TOTALLY thrilled by this.  They were SO excited.  When they had originally asked if we could eat there and I said I supposed we could, Gabe yelped something to the extent of “This is the best day EVER!!!”  They had marveled in wonder over the fact when we first walked in the store that you could smell POPCORN.  :)  My kids don’t get out to Target much.

We careened our way through dinner, as Baby squawked angrily about everything and ate hardly anything and veered around carrying his sloshing chocolate milk as his mommy raced after him with napkins…to all outward appearances it would totally not have looked like a good day, but I was ironically having a great time, grinning inside at the Crabby Pants Crankster and seeing Gabe tuck down his macaroni and cheese after being overcome with joy again at getting to have chocolate milk and Israel request everyones food but his own…  And watching them climb into the minivan, happily licking dripping icecream cones…We got home after 8 PM.  About six very strangely rewarding hours out on the town with the boysies.  And Tim had a great time too in the quiet, empty house.  

I just love them.  That’s just all I have to say for today.  They are such a joy in my life.  

Now, to temper all the ooey-gooeyness with some equally realistic shades, I get totally annoyed at them all the time at things I should have developed patience by now for.  Lately Tim has been asking me why I’m so cranky.  I don’t know, I just am.  So there’s the other side of me that is QUITE alive and well.  

Just was able to look past all the little things today and have fun and enjoy them.  It was good.  And that’s all I have to say about that.