Baptism Gown

I know this post is more for me than anyone else, but I did a photo shoot today with K in her baptism gown, and I was pleased with the results. I wanted to get some pictures with better lighting and background, and less hustle and noise than last Sunday. Here are some of my favorites (I took about 30 pictures-- this child is not going to be able to complain I didn't take any pictures of her!!)

Snuggle Bugs

When K wakes up for her early morning feed (anytime after 5:30) I bring her into our bed. That way I can nurse her and catch some more sleep until the rest of the kids wake up, usually at 7:00. Some mornings K wakes up at the same time, but other times she is so cozy that she stays asleep in our bed while I shower, dress and eat. This morning E joined her for a little snuggle as well.

K's Baptism

This past Sunday we had K baptized. She wore the gown that my great grandmother made for my mom, and that E wore for her baptism as well. It was a wonderful day with family and friends as we celebrated God's promises for her. We had a party after church where we invited everyone back to our place for lunch. We were so thankful that we had some special guests from far away who were able to celebrate with us. My brother Andrew, and his wife Erin were visiting from Chicago. My sister Katherine, her husband Rusty and their two kids drove up from Virginia. And the Landis family who live overseas were also able to come. It just made the day extra special to have them all come.

Another reason it was neat to have the Landises there was because we had decided to copy something that they did for all their boys for K. A few years ago we went to a birthday party for their oldest son. Before we sang "happy birthday" we sang "his" hymn. Apparently George and Mardel picked out a hymn for each of their boys to sing on their birthdays. I always thought that was a neat idea, but at that point E and N were already 1 and 4, and I thought it was "too late". But once K was born, the idea came back to me, and I thought we could sing a song at her baptism party, and then at the other kids' next birthdays introduce their songs as well. So a few weeks ago Ed and I looked through the hymnbook for a song we wanted to dedicate to Ka. We wanted something to do with "love" since her name means "beloved", and we wanted the song to express God's love for her, and/or the love we hoped one day she would have for Him. I think we found the perfect hymn, and one day, I hope she claims these words for her own, and it becomes her prayer:


My Jesus, I Love Thee


My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.

I love Thee, because Thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree,
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.


Here are some pictures of the day:

Kaelin and Ellie before church


The Baptism


Family and Friends eating lunch


Kaelin slept through most of the party


Cranes, Spauldings and Landises


After everyone went home, she woke up!

There is nothing quite like the feeling...

of a tiny head resting on your shoulder



Some of the sweetest moments with a newborn are those when they are resting in your arms. You can feel the softness of their hair against your cheek, hear their squeaks and grunts as they sleep, examine their features in repose, smell that special baby scent... it is a complete sensory experience.

Last Day of Kindergarten

I couldn't have asked for a better year for E She had such a wonderful teacher- Miss W really loved the kids, was enthusiastic, motivated, committed and sensitive. She really was the key to making this first year of school a success. E got along with everyone in her class, and made many new friends, but it was special to see her solidify her friendship with Kyra. The two girls became "best" friends through the year, looking out for each other and being sensitive to the other's needs. In fact their teacher would have the girls sit together on days that one or the other was having a rough day, and they would comfort and cheer each other up. I am so thankful that E could have a friend like that, especially starting at this young age.




I was apprehensive at the start of kindergarten, sending her off on a full day seemed like such a big step, and she seemed so little. But I have been reassured throughout the year at the excellent education she is getting, as well as the assurance that this is right for her, and our family at this time. I was struck at the school fair at the number of people I knew there, from different circles (neighborhood, soccer, dance, as well as school). It was exactly what I had hoped would happen when we put E in public school-- that we would be a part of the community, getting to know and be involved in our neighbors' lives. As these relationships grow and we develop new friendships through the years, I am confident that God will use us in this community to draw others to him.

Big Strides for Little Feet

K is 8 weeks old, and has started to skip her middle of the night feeding. She had been going from 10-3 or 4 for a few nights, and then on the night she turned 8 weeks old, went from 9-5:30. Although last night she woke up at 2 to eat, I think we are heading in the right direction. She is also becoming more social-- smiling, responding to kisses on her chubby chin(s), cooing, gurgling, and looking around at the action in interest. As for her size, she has outgrown most of the little newborn stuff, and is moving into the 3-6 month size clothing. Our baby is no longer "newborn".



We have also started potty training with N this week. Monday morning we got out the sticker chart, potty seat and potty seat insert (for the regular toilet). On advice from another mother at church who successfully trained her 3 children (day and night) in less than a week, I waited until he was three, and then we completely took away diapers- day and night. We also are not using pull ups. N was very interested in the whole thing. I had been talking it up, saying that now he was a big boy and would use the big potty. He would get stickers and candy when he went, he'd wear big boy underwear, and eventually "earn" himself a toy of his choice from the store. So how is it going? The first day was an equal mix of accidents and successes, with a wet bed in the morning. Day 2 a little better, with alot of independence as he insisted on pulling off and on his own pants "My by self!", dry bed in the morning. Day 3 only 2 accidents, but still no pooping in the potty. Today, Day 4, no accidents before lunch, and as I got him ready for nap he said, " 'member? No poop in my pants? Poop in the potty?" I was lying down upstairs when I heard a noise from the bathroom. I went down and he was trying to clean out his underwear in the toilet because he had seen me clean out his soiled pants the past few days. I took the underwear from him, cleaned him off, and sat him down, hoping he'd "finish the job", but without much hope or confidence as we have had many times of just sitting with no results the past few days. As I came back upstairs after putting his pants in the wash, he was coming down with a big grin and said "I did it!" Now that he has taken that big step, I am hopeful that he will continue to make progress.



E has been doing so well learning to read and write this past year in kindergarten. She has 2 more weeks of school left, and I am so impressed with what she has learned this year. Yesterday they had an author's day at school and the parents were invited to listen their children read stories they had written. It was cute and the kids were very proud. E's story was inspired by a recent field trip to the planetarium.

"When I See A Constellation" written by E.C.

"When I see a constellation I will lie down in the grass.
I like looking at the constellations.
When I see a constellation I will go camping.
I will like it! I will sleep outside.
There is one that is shaped like a cat,
and there is one shaped like a number one.
Here comes one shaped like a letter A.
I like looking at constellations.
I wish you could be here!
I will go outside with my telescope.
The stars look like they are the shape of a circle.
They make constellations and I can see the moon.
It has a funny face.
I am a little sleepy now.
I will go to bed!"

5 Weeks Old

It is amazing how time has just slipped by me the past month. K is 5 weeks old, and I haven't had time to make any entries. I find that I barely have enough time and energy to make it through each day, and so I have been unable to blog.

K has proved to be a more demanding baby than my other two-- if she is awake, she wants to be held, otherwise she will cry endlessly. This kind of makes it hard to get things done, as I have to choose between holding her, either in my arms or a baby carrier, and listening to her heart breaking cries while I do what needs to be done. Sometimes it is unavoidable, like when I am getting the older children ready in the morning, or making dinner, or getting the house ready for visitors. But after these crying bouts, I find myself edgy and exhausted emotionally. There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to do what I am normally able to complete. I know it is just for this short time, when she is little, but it is still frusterating to have a dirty house, or to have a "to do" list of which I never see the end. I feel like I can't be a good mother, wife, housekeeper, and friend. I find myself having to choose which I will be that day. But that's the hard stuff.



The good stuff? Seeing how E and N put their own desires aside when I am nursing or taking care of K. They understand that I can't help them, and they will usually wait patiently until I can. Also, with all the time I have spent holding K, I really get a chance to drink in her infancy. The way she stares at me with her beautiful blue eyes (yes, blue!!), her indescribably soft hair, cheeks, ears, just the smallness of her body in my arms. So while I am not wishing these moments away, I am looking forward to when she is more mature, and able to sit on her own for 15 minutes in a swing or bouncy chair.

I believe that my time is up--the kids are stirring from their naps, K is calling for me, and E just got home from school.