These are a few of my favorite things

Recently I had "Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music stuck in my head (don't ask me why, I credit it to sleep deprivation) and it occured to me that Julie Andrews' character had a very strange list, I mean mittens...who wears those past the age of 4 anyway? But then I realized I might have a few strange things on my list. I mean, The smile Ensley flashes at me and the adorable way Scarlett says "bless you, dude" are definitely among my favorite things, but there are also some strange things on my list...
finding a treasure in someone else's trash
ice and water on the door (I waited so long for this!)

my down comforter
the smell of wet pavement
Diet Pepsi Vanilla (it is so hard to find that when I do it makes my whole day!)

people falling down (I'm a bad person, i know, but nothing is funnier)
any song Bob Marley ever sang
my new jogging stroller

So I guess considering my list, whiskers on kittens aren't really that strange at all..

Dedicated

On Sunday Nate and I invited our family and friends to church to participate in our baby dedication, where we pledged to teach our children about God and acknowledge that they are a gift from Him. We promised to put our children on a path towards Him as they are His. It was a beautiful service and we had a great brunch afterwards (thanks so much to everyone for pitching in...cooking for 20 is not as easy as you imagine it to be!) I had just been reading about Abraham and the gift he was given. God promised him a child even though he was very old. Finally after a very long wait, Abraham became a father at 100 years old. In the story, it is mentioned that Abraham and Sarai laughed at the news. I can only imagine how excited they must have been. Then when their precious son Isaac was a teenager, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son on the altar and offer him up. Abraham was faithful to do this and got his son up on the altar and was poised to be obedient when God spared Issac and produced a lamb to be sacrificed instead. Now I know that teenagers can be bratty, but this must have been so wrenching for Abraham. It was hard for me even to think about this. I dedicated my children to God, but could I truly offer them up like that? I pray that I am never asked to make that sacrifice. And now I can see what an amazing sacrifice God made when he sent Jesus to us.

she is a pistol

In the big sister department, Scarlett is the tops. She looks at little Ens and just wants to hug and kiss him all the time. She often offers him her sippy cup or whatever delectable meal she is enjoying. She loves to help by throwing away diapers and pushing the stroller. She does not get jealous when storytime is interupted by his fervent "feed me" cry or when he gets carried and she has to walk. Ensley could not ask for a better big sister.
But she does seem to be needing me a bit more than she used to. I hear her crying out "Help peeeeeeze!" so frequently that today I couldn't even remember why I taught it to her. Sometimes I have to remind her that she can do it herself. She has discovered that when she does not get her way, she can do more than just scream (a favorite tactic) and has added in throwing her body prostrate and kicking her little feet. One of her new favorite phrases is "no Daddy" and I've caught her practicing her scowl in the mirror more than once. She knows what she wants and she has unyielding determination to accomplish her goals.
One day, I will admire those traits in her.
One day...

Twice the everything

Life has certainly changed these past few weeks! A few of my observations:

I am back to carrying a purse AND a diaper bag. And no, its not a small purse.
I will never be on time to anything ever again.
I can never rewear anything--everything either has poop, puke or applesauce on it.
I have no idea what is going on in the world, but I did notice the guy from Blue's Clues got a haircut.
Two children screaming at one time while I am making dinner makes waterboarding seem like a relaxing spa treatment.
I find myself spending alarming amounts of time pondering shades of poo.
I fantasize about sleeping. Just sleeping.
I can carry amazing amounts of things-babies, strollers, bags and kicking toddlers all at once.
I used to saok in the tub so long I would have to drain off some water to refill it with warmer water. While I no longer enjoy these leisurely soaks, I often have to drain and replace bathwater--for much more sinister reasons.

So many things have changed I have been feeling like I can hardly keep up with my own life! But when Scarlett says "hug mama" and wraps her arms around me or Ensley looks up at me and smiles so big he dribbles milk, I am grateful for every second. Life before kids may have been simpler at times, but I can not imagine doing anything more important than being Scarlett and Ensley's mom.
And in the really hard moments, this is my mantra:
“I sing for joy at the works of Your hands.” - Psalm 92:4