Liam at 4.5 years old: Compassionate, perceptive, responsible, silly, and the most protective big brother around. Gives a hundred sloppy, wet kisses to baby brother every day. Keeps Lanie in line (or at least tries) and explains the rules and expectations to her. Is learning to read and can read simple sentences and books like "Go, Dog, Go!" Has an enormous imagination. Uses words like "obscure" in context ("Red and blue are basic colors, but gold and peach are more obscure.) Builds paper airplanes by the dozen. Aspires to be a race car driver, a singer, a doctor, and a builder when he grows up. Loves Lego kits, memory games, mazes, and dinosaur trivia.

Lanie at 2.5 years old: Spunky, vivacious, cuddly (on her terms), passionate, emotional. The highest pitched scream we've ever heard. Lover of string cheese and watermelon and "jelly" (Jello). Independent as they come. Has a constant song on her lips: current favorites are Holy, Holy, Holy; Oh Praise the Name; and Can't Stop the Feeling. Funniest Newby by far. Also the clumsiest Newby by far, tripping on something about every half hour. Thumb sucker and blanket hoarder. Says to the Trader Joe's employee who helps us load our groceries into the car, "Bye! I love you! Bye!" 

These two share a bedroom now and bedtime has become quite prolonged. The other night, I overheard Lanie singing (as usual) with some new lyrics to her favorite song:
Lanie: Oh praise the name of the Lord our poop! (Giggles)
Liam: Lanie! I know you're just singing that because you're not a Christian. But that is not ok!

The other day in the car, Liam told me this:
Mommy, I don't fink Lanie understands the Gospel. Can I tell her about it? Lanie, you are a sinner. Do you know what a sin is? It's when you don't obey God and stuff. But Jesus died so you didn't have to die... He died on the cross for all of our sins, not just one. And now He's alive! He's in two places at once: He's in our hearts and in heaven, behind those clouds over there. And when we get to Heaven we will be wif Him all the time.

As a mom, there's nothing more beautiful to my ears. Can't help but adore these two!

Our girl.

Our brand new middle child has been feeling the strongest growing pains of any of us since becoming a family of 5, wrought with tantrums and whining and overall neediness for attention. It's totally expected - she's two and she's trying to find her place since she's no longer the baby - but it doesn't make it any less draining. 

So after I nursed the baby one afternoon last week, I took her out for a rare solo date. We shared snow cones, and afterwards, I threw out lots of ideas for where we could go. Would she like a new book from the bookstore? A trip to the park? The library? The dollar store? 

Every time, her response was the same: "No. I just want to go home." 

"Why, Lanie? Don't you want to do something fun with Mommy?" I pleaded with her.

"I jus' want to go to my home," she said. "I missing my bruhvers."

Perhaps the Lord has been working in her little heart more than I gave Him credit.

Week one.

 

This little boy is a dream, and our first week with him has been nothing but a delight. We're tired, yes, but just rejoicing for his smooth transition into our family. Happy 1 week, Ellis Lincoln!

Welcoming Ellis Lincoln.

Ellis Lincoln Newby

Born 2 weeks early on June 12, 2017 at 12:57pm

7 lbs. 4 oz., 20.5" long

Not only did God so generously give us a healthy rainbow baby, He gave us the most peaceful spirit. And dimples. Thank you, Lord!

A habit of life.

"It is always possible to be thankful for what is given rather than to complain about what is not given. One or the other becomes a habit of life." - Elisabeth Elliot

When we moved into our house three years ago, the one drawback was the lack of outside entrance to the backyard. Sure, we could wander out the side of the house or through the storage room to the yard to watch the kids play, but it wasn't exactly convenient. So we just didn't use our backyard. We'd almost always pile kids in the car and drive a few miles to a nearby playground.

So Shawn and I began to dream in color, knocking out a window and turning it into French doors in our minds... and adding a deck that would lead to our unused backyard. After a year of saving up and another year of hiring out the work, that dream became a reality. A glorious, life-changing reality for our little family. The kids see it as another room in our house, freely moseying in and out at their leisure while I make lunch or catch up on laundry. We build a gate with a hidden latch so we know they aren't going far, and it's been such a luxury to enjoy the Spring outdoors. 

The Elisabeth Elliot quote about gratitude streamed across my Facebook page the other day and I couldn't help but think of these happy kids and our new deck. We live in a small house, much smaller than most of our friends. We try to live simply, well within our means. So when I watch Liam and Lanie and how they appreciate things big and small - from a new lunchbox to a new deck, a sunny day to a newly discovered popsicle flavor - I am convicted and enamored by their gratitude. And I'm inspired to have the same perspective: choosing awe and wonder at our very good, very generous God. 

PS - Lanie was also part of this near-daily pool party, but wasn't adequately clothed to make an appearance on the internet. ;)