Hey there . . . remember us? Hoping to get in one blog post between the kid's birthdays.



Family Update:

We enjoyed a week long visit from my younger sister and her two boys. We had a total of four kids in our home, aged 3.5, 2, 1.5 and 11 months. Melissa was brave on many levels . . . from driving the six hours between Albury and Wollongong alone (just her and the boys), to graciously hanging around when a nasty stomach virus hit Noah (mildly), and Ella (severely). I wasn't feeling great myself during this time, either. I'm glad she hung around and made the most of their vacation even though we weren't much fun. I was so glad to see the light back in Ella, even if it involved pushing her brother and having difficulty obeying and sharing.

Since my last blog post, we've also enjoyed time with my sister and her family from Brisbane. I always enjoy our time together.

Cousin Time




Ella is now speaking in sentences and it seems as though it happened overnight. I love the new level of communication and they funny, sweet and off-the-wall things she comes out with. She will be starting her second term of swimming classes and now loves it! If she ever sees her swimsuit or swim diaper/nappy around the house she starts saying "go fwimming!" And during bath time we get to sing the little welcome song that they sing each class. Ella loves to tell me who we get to sing for next. I love that she is making friends and learning to comfortable and confident in different settings.

She loves being outside. Loves picking basil and coriander to eat straight from the plant. Loves lizards and bugs. Just like her dad. And boy does she love her dad! Such a joy to watch their relationship.

Meet the Whaley version of Bindi Irwin (don't freak out folks, it's not a real lizard. Gotta love the princess attire + reptile combination)


Brave


Goofy


Focused


Noah is going to be one in just a few weeks. I just can't get my mind around how fast his first year of life has gone. He isn't walking just yet but walks confidently around furniture and he is a climber just like his big sister. If there is anything near the kids table or coffee table, he'll climb on it and then on to the table. Unbelievable. He is one expressive little guy. At least we're never left wondering if he's happy, sad or mad.

Climber


Note his climbing "coach" in the background :)


Little guy "helped" his sister with some painting




Blue eyed, Vegemite eating boy


About a month ago Noah and Ella started family day care. They spend five hours each Friday with Jasmine and three other kids. It was a big decision for us to make but we have not looked back. It is a fun and safe environment for the kids, they are together, and get to learn and play in a new environment. Ella loves painting and making pasta jewelry at "Jazzie's house". And it has been so helpful for us to know that we have this time each week to do whatever it is that is pressing and helps us keep work and home related things running a little smoother.



Ministry Update -- a few highlights

Jason and Corey continue to meet weekly in Port Kembla for Port Parables . . . reading and discussing Jesus Parables and considering what they mean for our lives. The parables are both simple and rich and I think they have meaning no matter where you are in your faith journey. Over the past few months I studied, with a couple of women, the book of Esther using material by Beth Moore. We wrestled four kids all under two years for a few months to complete the book, but it was well worth it! We'll be studying the book of Phillipians next if anyone is interested. Bring a child! The more the merrier! :)

In the New Year, we will be starting a group that will meet for discussion and support using the ScreamFree Parenting material. The materials (DVD, book and workbook if you're interested), present a "revolutionary approach to raising your kids by keeping your cool". Now who doesn't want that!? It will be an opportunity to discover Christian principles that will help strengthen family life and help us as parents keep our cool and stay calm and connected to our kids. I'm looking forward to getting alongside other parents and growing together and supporting each other. Don't worry, we don't think we have it all together after 26 months of parental experience, so we're not teaching, rather facilitating . . . using some great materials that present some excellent principles. If anyone wants more details, let me know and I can get you the information (time, location, etc) as it is available. Spaces for this first group will be limited.

But sooner than that is our October 16th tree planting at Greenhouse Park (Tom Thumb's lagoon). We've used a few trees recently in the printing out of applications for Jason's permanant visa application, so I'm extra glad to care for Creation in this way. It's pretty easy work because the ground has been well prepared for the planting. Again, the more the merrier, and kids are welcome, too. Send me a message or leave a comment if you would like further details.

Ella's 2nd Birthday

We celebrated Ella's 2nd birthday at the end of July. I feel like I'm in some crazy time warp many days as I watch her running around, playing and talking. How has time gone so fast from the moment we learned I was pregnant, to her arrival, to now?

We celebrated among new friends this year. Earlier this year I was welcomed into the most amazing Mother's group ever, and the Sunday before her birthday we had a combined birthday for all of our "bubs" who celebrate their birthdays within just a few months of each other. We partied at the Green Bean Play cafe. The kids had a blast with the whole venue to themselves, complete with party whistles, party hats, music and cake. And us parents relaxed, enjoyed some party food ourselves and didn't have to worry about any clean up.








On Ella's actual birthday we invited a few more new friends to our home to celebrate. We had six kids under 2.5 years old in our home. The older three kids (all girls) enjoyed the slide in our living room and the three boys (all 10 months old) seemed to have a pretty good time themselves. That afternoon we continued to celebrate with Corey, Emily, Enoch and Greg. Ella ate cake...with sugar this time, and blew out the candles three times just because she could. And what birthday wouldn't be complete without a couple of skype calls with grandparents who live far away?











It was a wonderful day all around but the highlight for me was rocking to sleep my worn out birthday girl. She was out in less than five minutes but I sat there for about twenty. As I held her I remembered praying and waiting for this little girl. I remembered tears that fell over journal entries and in midnight prayers. I remembered ultrasounds, baby showers and her arrival. The day we chose her name, her first words and first steps. I'm thankful for birthdays which help me remember and rejoice in the faithfulness of God.

How blessed we are to raise this little girl! Happy 2nd Birthday, Ella.

9 months IN, 9 months OUT, 9 months ON

Noah is now 9 months old. My friend Rachel inspired me with her 9 months in, 9 months out blogpost about her son. Ironically, Rachel just happens to be 9 months pregnant; awaiting the arrival of their third child any day now. So, as I did for Ella, I'll do for Noah. But FYI, the cycle is NOT on repeat! :)

9 months IN: I love being pregnant and carrying Noah was no exception. Surprised, yes, but not even that much shock could take away from the miracle of life within me. I loved reassurance of hearing the heartbeat and feeling the baby move. I loved the day I learned we would be parents of a son. I loved belly hugs from Ella! I missed Dr. Seeker but was thankful for socialized health care!

A few weeks before Noah's arrival


The day before Noah was born


9 months OUT: I was thankful for a natural birth in spite of the odds. (previous c-section, induction at 37 wks 5 days, cholestesis...) It seems Noah didn't stay "baby" for very long at all. He was on all fours right at 5 months, army crawling at 5.5, crawling at 7 and pulling up around 8 months. Now at 9 months he's walking around the coffee table and along the sofa. He adores his sister and loves his Mama. He self soothes by sucking on two fingers and has probably eaten more playdoh and paper in the past month than real food. He is a dream to put to bed at night but has a thing for waking at 3am. We're working on that.

Welcoming Noah Kai




Noah at 9 months


9 months ON: I loved carrying Noah on the inside AND the outside. I'm so thankful for the Sleepy Baby Wrap that spared my sanity while dealing with colic in the early weeks. It was one of the only places he was happy. At 9 months, Noah still loves to be wrapped and carried. And, I have to say, I quite enjoy it myself. I love the closeness, snuggles and the bond. And I love the "extra" pair of hands it gives me. They come in handy.

The early days of baby wearing






"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well" - Psalm 139:13-14

Lessons Learned

Tonight in a desperate attempt to keep my cool while feeding Noah and trying to contain and entertain a cake-hungover-ready-for-bed two year old at the same time, I started singing songs. We sing lots of songs in our house; the kids love it. The purpose was three-fold. I'd (hopefully) keep from crying, Noah might smile and allow me to sneak food through his lips, and Ella might "play" by singing the words I left out.

We do this all the time with books, but rarely with songs. Ella amazed me tonight. I sang songs she hasn't heard in some time. Songs full of big words and words she doesn't have much context for. But sure enough, when I paused, she filled in the blanks with just the right words. Words like "Canaan" and "spying" and "giants" ("12 young men went spying in Canaan). Next I started singing, "the fruit of the Spirit's not a _____" and without skipping a beat, Ella piped up "banana" then "eat it". It's a fun song that goes "the fruit of the Spirit's not a banana....so if you've got a banana you might as well eat it, cause it's not a fruit of the Spirit. The Spirit is...." And then without any prompting I heard Ella say "Joy" "Peace" and "Good"(ness).

I learned a few good lessons tonight that I hope I don't forget. For one thing nothing falls on deaf ears. Nothing. I often just think along the lines of things I shouldn't talk about in front of my kids, or words I shouldn't say. While that's important, the flip side of that is the things I should talk about to and allow my kids to hear! I have so many opportunities to love them, teach them and share with them things that I believe will bless them and help them bless others as they go through this life. And it's NEVER too early. They're never too young to learn, and never too young to teach their mama an important lesson or two.

The many faces of Noah Kai

Swimming Lessons

Today was Ella's first swimming lesson. Prior to signing her up, I was back and forth in my mind about the value in paying for a meager 30 minute class. Seemed kind of like too little bang for too big a buck. I learned today though, that there's a lot of wisdom in *just* a 30 minute toddler swim class. Time is relative, especially when you're walking around in waist deep water with a screaming toddler clawing you in an effort to reach dry ground. I felt like I got a LOT of bang for my buck. If nothing else, I possibly lost some hearing during those 30 minutes. Thanks to a water-safe Elmo doll who demonstarted "Humpty Dumpty's from the pool's edge, we did manage a break in the tears, a wee little giggle, AND a request for "more". Thank you, Elmo! Props to our sweet girl, though, as she's just days away from turning two and this was only her second time in the water. All things considered, I'll call it a success and predict she'll be loving it by the end of the term.

Ready to take on the pool (yes, we are still working on camera smiles) :)



Class begins

Imagination

Ella's imagination is soaring . . .

- a half eaten cracker is a giraffe
- a block creation is declared a tractor
- tiny balls of play-dough are eyes and noses
- animals in books eat her fingers
- an arch of toys from the swing is draped over shoulders and called a coat
- shoes are placed on hands to become mittens

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." -- Albert Einstein

Visiting the Jennings family

At the end of June we took our annual trip to Canberra. We hope that we can continue with the tradition of visiting each other twice in a year, plus spending the week at Challenge Camp. So far so good. It's so much fun to see Lily and Ella (just five days apart in age) enjoying each other's company. Even though 'almost-two' is such a difficult age for sharing, the girls did so well.





Catching the three of them for a good picture is pretty tricky.



Noah got a little extra loving that weekend, too. Since our June visit, Lily's baby brother, Eli, has arrived, so things will be a little more even for our Spring play date.

Its great to watch the kids play together, but also great to enjoy some quiet conversations while the kids slept. Though not before our little escape artist fled the Kindercot and headed UP the stairs.




Here's a couple of pics from our time together last year. Love these girls!




And . . . I always think Ella has "lots" of hair until I see Lily! Check out just how bald my sweet Ella was when we visited in June 2009.



We really treasure our growing friendship with the Jennings family. And thanks to the Mitchell family for having us stay with them during our Canberra stay.