Mac tries out the Moses Basket for Baby Sister

Cupcakes

Some recent cupcakes. Mac takes them very seriously.

Nans' present:

Our son, the basketball star. He is obsessed, and actually pretty good for an almost 2 year old.

My Amazing Husband

My Amazing Husband...

-finished baby's room almost completely by himself, and it is beautiful. (By this I mean ripping out to the studs, insulating, installing new drywall on walls and ceiling, new molding, trim, baseboards, paint, repairing the floor, and all the tiny details that comes along with these tasks.)

-sweetly told me to put my chair down when I was reclining on two chair legs after supper. I was uncomfortable (is there any way to be comfy at all when you're 38 weeks pregnant?), but he was worried.

-makes coffee for me every morning.

-changes stinky diapers without hesitation.

-cleans up supper every night.

-baths our child (this is usually my task but it's laughable for this huge girl to try to do right now).

-holds my hand at the doctor's office.

-tells me when I'm wrong in a way that doesn't make me feel wrong.

-thinks about things. Deeply.

-is honestly everything I've always wanted in a man. I am so blessed!

-stacked hymnals on the floor under the pew at church last week so my legs didn't dangle.

Looking back over this list it sounds like Brad just "does stuff" for me...our marriage is not defined by this type of thing--but lately, his kindness in every day things has really meant a lot and doesn't go unnoticed. I love him more all the time.

Happy Birthday Mac

Mac turns 2 in 2 weeks, but we went ahead and celebrated Saturday so that he would get all the spotlight before baby sister arrives. We had a small party with ice cream and cupcakes, then we opened presents. He LOVED all his gifts. He LOVED unwrapping his presents. He LOVED all the people and attention. He really, really LOVED his chocolate cupcake.

I think when he woke up Sunday he worried it was all a dream. He jumped out of bed and ran into the living room to see if he could find his new gifts. He was so excited all over again!

Since Saturday, I honestly think he's spent at least one third of his waking hours shooting baskets with his new basketball goal. He's so happy when he makes a shot--he claps and smiles and cheers. When he misses (which is a lot, because it's a pretty tall goal), he's not discouraged. He just says, "Almost!" and tries again (and again, and again). I'm really hoping this diversion lasts at least a little while into the new baby phase!

abc mama!

This is what we hear, over and over again, every day:

"abc mama!" or "abc daddy!"

Translation: mom (or dad), please sing the abc's!

So, we do. Most of the time. But as soon as I finish one round of the abc's, a little toddler voice calls, "abc mama!"...and if I'm feeling patient and generous, I'll sing it again...but if I'm feeling worn out (after all, I've already sung the abc's 30 times that day), I say, "Mac, YOU sing the abc's!"

But he doesn't. Not yet. Oh, what a day that will be.

This weekend, there was a glimmer of hope: If I sing "abcdefghijk----" and stop, he'll shout a word that sounds like "elle-mmmmmm--elle--oh--p!" And when I get to the end ("Now I know my abc's, next time won't you sing with me?"), he repeats "Now I knowa, now I knowa, now I knowa!"

Oh--another detail of the abc's--if both parents are present but only one is singing, Mac will not be happy until BOTH of us are belting out the abc's. Sometimes we indulge this and sometimes we don't. We are SO looking forward to the day when he can sing them himself!

piñata

These photos should be in exactly the opposite order--but I can't figure out how to do it.

At a birthday party recently, Mac experienced his first piñata. Most of the other kids were older than him and knew the drill. When all the treats were revealed, Mac thought it was broken and was upset. He went to every adult at the party and said, "Uh-oh!". But no one would do anything to fix it. He finally gave up and gathered a few treats with the other kids...but was completely bewildered by the whole thing.