Silver's First Birthday

It has been four months since the event, and this mama is determined to get back into the family record-keeping aspect of blogging which is why she started this blog in the first place.

So better late than never.

Silver's first year was crazy and wonderful. She wasn't crazy. Our circumstances were sometimes crazy. She was pure wonderful.

A couple of milestones:

Birth: January 9th, 2015

Loved by all siblings. Came home January 11th to all four siblings, a dad, and grandparents from Germany who were there specifically to welcome her into the world.

For months she just slept and nursed, slept and nursed. Sweetly, so sweetly.

Around three months she started batting at the hanging toys over her bouncy chair. glory of glories. There is always great rejoicing.

There was turning over, then rocking, sitting up, and crawling.

First solid food, around six months, in the upstairs room of our friend's house where we were staying in between houses... Her first solid food was squash from our friend's garden.

She first stood up at seven months.

We moved into our first home (that we owned!) when she was just over seven months old. Her first real home.

Took first steps around 12 months.

It took til 13 months til she was really walking.

She is a gorgeous little being, sweet and excited.

In the winter, Thomas found an old tiny little Elmo in our attic of our new home. He brought it down and I just nodded toward the trash can. It was cheap and dusty and of questionable origin. But Silver! I remember she was wearing green flannel footie pajamas handed down from her brother (with trucks on them, thank you, she's the fifth child...) And she just flipped over love for this elmo thing when she saw it! She screamed with such energy when Thomas threw it in the trash, that we fished it out, cleaned it, and now it is one of her most beloved toys.

Oh Silver.

Her first birthday was spent at home with the siblings. I made her fruity muffins in the morning, then we bought her a beautiful fruity cake at Whole foods to have with dinner that night.

Silver--how God has blessed you. How He has blessed us in giving you to us. The perfect addition, a spunky, sweet, and amazing being that brings more laughter into our home every day. Thank you for being you and showing us more of God.

You are my earliest to attempt to sing.
You are my earliest to attempt to dance.
You are my earliest to start kissing us!
You are my only one to care about fashion so young. Haha! When I put a new outfit on you, you parade down the hall proudly to show the rest of the family and are all smiles under their praise.

We love you, Silver. All my heart, Mama

Unexercised and Unshowered

You know, for somebody who wakes up early and spends the morning hours working, and doesn't turn her attentions to home and family until 9:30AM and then is starting from scratch...

And puts things like "exercise" and "shower" on her to-do lists...

And then finds herself at 3PM still unexercised and unshowered, perhaps I should just lower my expectations.

Maybe my to-do lists should say things like "brush teeth." And "get out of pajamas." Then little victories might snowball into great ones.

You might tell me "get up earlier."
"Just exercise first thing in the morning."
or
"For God's sake, give yourself a break and get some help."

You get up earlier. You do it first thing in the morning. You get some help. I am more than willing to hire a housekeeper... after we get all our bills covered. I've noticed that if I leave the work,the work that pays actual money, for any later than first thing in the morning, it doesn't get done. Too many variables. And by variables I mean children.

"Can't your husband help?"

No. He can't.

It's really all on me. I just don't know how to do it all. It's more than one person can humanly do.
Bear the children
take care of the children
feed the children
educate the children
work
take care of the house management
take care of bills
clean
cook
shop
and take care of self.

Too much. I quit. Stuff is gonna be dirty, y'all.
I am not doing it all. I am not going to be on time. I am not going to apologize. Y'all can ask me to be on time when you come over and help me get my stuff done. When you babysit my five children. Sure! Ok, ok, enough with the cynicism. That's enough. In 2016, I'm going to continue planting and cultivating my little seeds:

My children are the most amazing people on the planet.
We are called to be a sign and a wonder.
We are here to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
He loves us.
I am a writer.
My words have the power of life.
I can do this.

So scratch what I said about not being able to do it. I mean, I can't do it all, not all THAT. But I can do what's MOST important.
And that includes breathing.
And laughing.
And changing the world.
Hang the fact that there's dust under the bed and I haven't unpacked from the weekend trip.

I taught Golden a math lesson IN BED today. Cause we can. Cause it's cold.
I took care of the babies and fed everyone twice.
And did my morning work.
I did not do it all with style and grace but some of it did come off well. I never thought I'd say this. EVER. But math was the funnest part of my day.

Then I--FINALLY!--got in the shower and tested God in His Malachi 3 promise. I think I shouted til I was hoarse. So we'll see what happens with that. I also asked Him to prevent me from hitting actual insanity. And prayed for some people who are dear to me.

Now off to finish making the dinner. And finish the home school. And wash the breakfast dishes.

I love my life!