Onward and Upward

I have a mix of emotions as I'm watching Ella grow.  Her words are becoming more clear and she is stringing them together into sentences.  I love watching her read books, its still filled with so many words I can not understand, and I actually like that, it shows her innocence.  Everyday it seems another part of her babyness is falling off behind her and she is running to catch the next "big kid" thing.  She can't catch up with her brothers fast enough.  She has refused the high chair, and booster seat for almost 6 months now, and wanted a big bed like her brothers.  There are no more cribs in this house.  That is a mix of excitement that that phase is behind us and we can look to new and "bigger" things, but it is also closing a chapter in my life that I had longed for for as long as I can remember. 

There are no more babies in this house, and as fine with that as I am (really I want NO more babies) its still hard to see the little ones you grew in your womb changing, becoming independent, and having to let them make choices that will inevitably lead to heart ache.  But I have to let them learn, if not here, then where?  In the swarm of sinful options out in the world?  I have to sit back, be patient and let God give me the self control I need to direct and guide them without mopping up by myself.  I came across a statement from a book I've been reading, that most parent's goal is to take care of each matter at hand and solving the problem, rather then letting the child attempt to solve the problem first, which makes for a great learning experience.  This is more true for me than anything else in my parenting.  "Its just faster and easier if I take care of it myself", but then who do end up giving to the world?  Kids who can't do anything for themselves, who can't solve a problem, who can't even make a decision.  I don't want to handicap my kids or God's kingdom in that way.  And what do I end up giving to my kids?  A mom who is too busy cleaning up every mess to play with her kids and a mom who is so exhausted and frazzled after cleaning up and refereeing all those messes and fights to even enjoy them.  This is not healthy for anyone. 

So, if you come to my house this summer, and it isn't as clean as it used to be, its because the kids are helping.  This will inevitably take way longer and probably won't be done the exact way I would have done it, but we are spending time together (even while we clean) and we are all learning valuable lessons that they will need far beyond these four walls and piles of toys.

Wow...that is NOT where I intended to go when I started this post.  My brain must be processing as I write. 

Little Wonderful

Ella has begun stringing sentences together, and its so entertaining.  Lewis came home for lunch today and Ella was already at the table and saw his truck pull into the drive-way, upon his arrival she sounded "Yeah!!!  Daddy, Daddy is here!"  And just as clear as you or I would speak, that is probably what melted my heart more, and of course her excitement.

But it gets better.  Last night one of they boys was lounging shirtless and Ella, learning all her body parts, walked up and touched his chest and said "Booby", very matter of factly.  Then she was looking for her own, and continued to unzip her pj's and walked over to Lewis and said "Daddy, see my booby?!"  Oh boy, Lewis is scared now!  I'm so glad I'm keeping track of all these little moments my "little wonders" create.