Pants-Free Friday and the icing on the (cup)cake

It's been a wild week around here! Last week's wild miracle has become part of our family history, and it's even beginning to sink in as truth. (A little.) The week was filled with Bible Study and preparations for it, three photo shoots, babysitting, doctor's appointments, and, oh yes, keeping two children safe, clothed, fed, somewhat clean and, if they're lucky, even a little happy.


If you're like me, then you know how close these photos are to the very definition of the word happy.







The last picture shows the cupcake at ALMOST spent. Eden doesn't waste time or energy on the bottom half of the cupcake. What's the point if there's no frosting?

I can't blame you, kid.

But Judah might be skeptical. Snubbing chocolate cake?! Shame, shame.

Eden is ever our cautious, careful child, snubbing not only dry cupcake bottoms but also any activity she can not master on the first try. We're working on the try-try again mentality, but it certainly isn't her natural inclination! She impresses us daily with new words and phrases she has picked up God-knows-where. She exercises her conversation skills continually (ad nauseum.. oop, did I say that?) and has developed a flair for drama in all pursuits. For my part... let's just say I fervently hope the drama is a phase. Love love love my dear girl... and wow, what a girl she is!


Judah adores his older sister and wants to do everything she does. (Wow, I have read that so many times when people describe their children... I guess I could have tried to say it in a more original way, but, well.. that's it.) This kid is really coming into his own lately. Having gone through this passage with our elder child, I am attempting to record what I can when I remember to, as I know that tomorrow, next week, next month he'll be doing new things that will be the new normal, and I'll too quickly forget what THIS week looked like.

He makes a beeline for the front window to watch the robins on the lawn, pointing to them and exclaiming, in his most sophisticated vocabulary, "mmBuh! mmBuh!"

I have, on MULTIPLE occasions entered his room to retrieve him after a nap to find him standing with bare little legs, pants splayed across the crib or lying on the floor. I can't blame you, kid.




Also, he is completely capable of walking, but he is not convinced. In fact, attempts at "helping" him to walk are generally the impetus for the crumpling and subsequent collapse of those able little legs, so that he can CRAWL like a little machine to his desired target.

Thank you very much.

When I realized I'd left the gate at the stairs open accidentally, I hadn't even noticed Judah was missing. I did, however, know for a FACT he'd be up those stairs. Sure enough, he was up the stairs, around the corner, standing and gripping two bars on the stair railing shaking like a monkey in a cage.

Oh yes, with a crusty dead ladybug in his mouth.

Mother of the Year.

Not a baby for much longer...

Soon... a peek at what it looks like when you pile FIVE children under the age of 8 on a bed and tell them you're going to take their picture.

Wait for it...