Adeline teaching a song

The key person to watch in this video is Adeline. While taking the video I was concentrating on D not participating, but after I watched it Adeline cracked me up! Her top three songs to sing right now are "Oh Na Na," "Tonight's going to be a good night," and "I like to move it, move it (from Madagascar)." She was keeping it all in perspective though by adding "Jesus Loves Me" to her repertoire in this video ;)

Matthias talking 3mths

Matthias will 98% of the time respond to you with a smile or a coo when you talk to him. He is such a joy! He doesn't like being alone and when he's tired he doesn't like it if you try to hold him and do another task. He wants your undivided attention on putting him to sleep. He crunches his tummy muscles to sit up and he can rotate 45 degrees when you lay him on his tummy. He loves to suck on his fist and he's my first baby with chunky thighs and baby boobies! I'm quite the proud nursing mama for that one.
When I nursed my first two I restricted myself too much by the clock (i.e. could only feed every 3 hours). I've taken more of the on-demand feeding approach with Matthias and my milk supply has increased. I've yet to give him a bottle, and my first two had breastmilk bottles by the time they were six weeks. I've also been more conscientious of increasing my liquid intake as well as drink one cup a day of Mama's Milk Tea. I've been told that it is rare in the DR for a baby boy's nourishment to only come from nursing. In fact, whenever he cries or sucks his fist any Dominican nearby (including my gardner) tells me he's hungry! There will be a post later about having a newborn in the DR.

My Darton

There are many things I love about my son Darton. It's getting easier to block out the screaming side of him and remember the sweet side.
He usually goes to "work" every day decked out in his hat, jeans, and boots. His scribbling is always small and has a purpose. He is usually drawing an alphabet letter or a hambergy or chicken (depending on your request). He currently can't wait for Sundays to come because that means he gets to wear his dress pants and tie. This past week he began changing clothes multiple times a day. I've heard other parents complain about this...guess it's my turn to have a "normal" child. He continually asks if Sunday is his birthday, confusing the phrase "someday it will be your birthday." If he comes to get in bed with us in the middle of the night or early morning he asks "there is pace for me?" He's quite tender hearted and is a great helper with Matthias. Right before he turned two he always wanted you to sing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" to him before bedtime. For the past six months or so we sing "Jesus Loves Me" and "Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho" before bedtime. Shortly after he turned two he decided he could put on his own clothes. This meant he would scream at and/or coax his clothes for about 10 minutes without letting you help him. He usually had on every peice of clothing backwards. We have now graduated to no screaming, putting on everything the right way, and successfully putting on his scoks and shoes. There are many times his shoes are on the wrong feet, but that will correct itself with time too. I love you Dman.

Zoo & Date

We went to the zoo with our good friends Anastasia, Hartleigh, and Avonlea. Aren't those just beautiful names?
I gave french braiding a try and definately had beginner's luck...I've yet to have one look this good since!Adeline and I went on a date together. It was MUCH needed. Some good ole lovin' has really but the brakes on her pee accidents. We're not 100% accident free, but at least it's not every day. I'm really cherishing having a growing daughter. This year I'm finally getting better about praying for my children - Adeline to be a godly woman, Darton to bear much fruit, and Matthias to be a studier of the Word.

Exercise & Donuts

We are getting back into an exercise routine. The boys and I have gone the last two Mondays to the Botanical Gardens. My goal for now is a 20minute fast paced walk and 3 sets each of squats and pushups for triceps and biceps. Twleve hours after this morning's workout my arms are feeling the burn. We went to the zoo this past Saturday. Notice our strollors taking up the back row. I push Matthias in the single jogger while Scott takes the older two in the double.

My sweet Matthias 2 1/2mths

Adeline made Valentines for all of her classmates. She wrote her name on each one, cut out the hearts, and decorated with "sparkles" and stamps. We put John 4:19 "We love God because He first loved us" on her cards. I can't say if I would have had the nerve to put the verse on the cards if we were in the States. There isn't any threat to talking about God here, yet they have a HUGE problem with saying Oh Dios Mio (Oh My God). It's their way of saying "wow." The Christians I've challenged about it had no idea they were taking God's name in vain (3rd Commandment). My kids are having a very very hard time going to the potty. They honestly don't care if they are wet or not. So my new incitive is 5 days without peeing in your pants and you get a donut. Darton was the first to get a donut...it took 12 days! Adeline has 2 more days to go. Ironically we get to Krispy Kremes and it's the first day for an oferta (offer) - buy a dozen glazed donuts and get a dozen free. Do you know what that means???? We could stand in line for over an hour and the line hadn't even started outside the building yet. Ater not moving in line for 5 minutes I went to the front and gave a lady money to buy me one donut with sprinkles (although D's preference was a purple frosted donut!).

Our days are full with visiting friends right now. Trying to catch up with people we haven't seen in a while. Friend time is great, but it's also exhasting getting the 3 out of the house or having others over. I'm looking forward to getting back in a routine with our preschool material soon.

Darton praying

For the last six months Darton has done a great job praying. He mostly tells God what he did that day, but he also lets us guide him through his prayer to help him stay on track. Before this prayer Scott told him to ask God for self-control. Listen carefully for the word "control."

Giddy

Darton at 2mths

Matthias at 2mths!

Two weekends ago we stopped at a furniture store on our way to the beach. I've been wanting to stop and take a look for about a year. We made it a point to put into our schedule this trip. The style was exactly what we like and my hubby spoiled me with a bed set, coffee table, and kitchen table and chairs. They didn't have a round table on display, but made us one in 7 days. For the past year I've wanted a round table for this area, but all I knew was that I didn't want a glass one (which tends to be the most popular type of round tables). When they showed up with this table at my door I could not believe they had made a table that was EXACTLY what I wanted without even knowing I wanted it (I know this sounds crazy!). For the past 6 years I've wanted a substantial coffee table. This table was also custom made. The piano wasn't bought on the furniture trip, but we did buy it last November from a missionary family that was moving out of country. Totally in love with it! The bedset was Scotty's splurge for himself ;)

It takes 2 men to lift every one of these pieces of furniture. They are solid, handmade pieces that literally cost us only 1/2 if not a 1/3 of it's equal in the States.

Have you ever been so giddy that your heart is doing a little dance, but you don't want to show too much over enjoyment because it's just "stuff" that you can't take to heaven anyways? Can furniture really make me feel joy? Can furniture really move my spirit? Can anyone relate?!?

Don't worry I'm not too out of balance....but I am just SO VERY GIDDY!

An update on my 2 oldest blessings:

Adeline told me today that she is a horsiegirl; NOT a cowgirl. Priceless!

Darton is so expressive when he talks. I would love to know what he'd be like if he didn't have his sister influencing him!

p.s. I highlighted "want" throughout this post because I recognize I didn't need any of it!

Matthias Smiles