Easter...A Week Late

I've been a bit lacking on the blog lately.  For the last few weeks I haven't felt great and when I went to the doctor last week he told me I had pneumonia.  There is nothing that will zap all your energy faster than hearing a doctor say that word.  I spent most of last week in bed with my eyes shut.  According to N, there may have been drool.  You know how guys exaggerate.

I'm finally feeling like I have some energy.  I thought I would post some pictures from Easter since I still think I'm within the time period where it's okay to talk about it.

This year Zoe was totally on board with egg coloring.  However, she's got rules.  They can only be one color and no decoration.  All the fun of coloring with the wax crayon or putting stickers on them is totally out the window. 

Her eggs are all plain.  Except if you let her poke a pipe cleaner into them.  That's apparently okay.  Grandma found out the hard way.

We got up early for church on Sunday.  N played on the worship team.  The Easter bunny came to our house while we were at church.  He's a clever bunny, that one.  He his all our plain eggs and plastic, M&M filled eggs in the backyard.

We had one girl who couldn't wait to seek.  I think we've hidden the eggs about 527 times since then.  It hasn't gotten old yet.

Even without M&Ms.

Tears and A Loss

Zoe didn't get hair until she was about 2.  She's followed my footsteps in that.  When she did get her hair, she's got her daddy's hair:  thick and curly. 

These past couple months have been full of hair fights.  She "doesn't like her hair combed" and will scrunch up her shoulders so you can't get to it.  Finally last week instead of tears and scrunchy, I started talking up a hair cut.  I told of a world with chairs that looked like trains and horses.  I had her at the word train.

Friday afternoon we took her to get her hair cut.  I forgot my camera, but daddy had his phone. 

The second that drape was put around her neck, the tears started to form.  Then the wailing.  Then the "get me out of her wiggle" that makes cutting hair so much easier.

I held her in place while Edith, the sweetest lady ever, cut hair faster than I knew possible.

Then it was time for bangs and a brave smile.

Now we are three inches shorter, much more wavy and have fewer tears in the mornings!

Will You Join Me?

Several months ago N and I joined a small group bible study at our church.  It's made up of 6 couples, including us.  We're all about the same age and so are our kids.  It's the highlight of our week, not only for N and me, but also Zoe.  She knows Sundays are the day she gets to play with her friends not once, but twice because of small group.

Neither N nor I have ever been part of a group like this.  To say this group is a blessing would be an understatement.  We feel incredibly fortunate to count each of these people as our friends, prayer warriors and accountability partners.  In just a few months they've managed to work their way into our hearts in a very tangible way.

One of the couples in our group is going through something that, as a parent, I cannot comprehend.  Their 4 year-old daughter, Sara, was just diagnosed with cancer.  The good news is the doctors are confident that it's treatable and they can get rid of it. 

This family is a family who lives by faith.  They have been an example to both N and me.  If you feel so led, would you pray for this family.  We know that the Great Physician will be guiding this process every step of the way.  We know His plan is perfect.  As a parent you don't want to see your child go through this, even though He knows how it feels to see your child go through difficulty.

Just makes me want to squeeze our girls a little closer and a whole lot more tighter.

Even when they do squeal, "mommy you're squishing me." 

Our Feeble Attempt

A couple weeks ago we had an office party for a colleague who turned the big 4-0.  One of her favorite things in the world is sushi.  That's what we had for lunch.  Since I'm trying to eat healthier and sushi is very healthy, I decided this would be an easy way to try it and test the waters.

I have to say I was a little overwhelmed with worlds like eel and roe.  Honestly, I just tried salmon for the first time in the last year, I'm not really ready to jump into eating raw eel.  I found a nice roll called the Tiger's Eye.  It had smoked salmon, cream cheese and avocado.  It sounded "safe." 

It was not only safe, but delish.  Every since I've been dying to have some more.

Which leads us, in a roundabout way to last night.  I decided I would try my hand at sushi at home.  I had all the ingredients to make a Tiger's Eye at home, so why not.  The only think I was missing was that bamboo wrapping tool, but I figured since I was a novice anyway, might as well use some cling wrap.

And have my sous chef help me.

Look at that attention to detail.  She's a natural.

They may have turned out a little messy, but they were good.  I still think we're lightyears away from anything with roe on it. 

The Sweetest Sounds

One of the things I love most about N is how he loves.  If he loves something, he's 100% passionate about it.  If it's something he can read up on, he does.  If it's something he can learn more about, he does.  He throws himself completely into the things he loves.

That's not just hobbies or interests, it's people too.  As a mother, there is nothing sweeter than seeing your children be loved by their daddy.  With Zoe being sick this past weekend, I saw N throw himself into caring for her.  He would cuddle her on the couch.  He would take her temperature.  He would help with the medicine.  He would make her giggle and laugh when she was feeling a little better.  It was heartwarming to see the love they have for each other.

This morning was the highlight.  It was about 2:45 this morning, just about the time N's getting home from work.  I heard Zoe in her room.  I couldn't tell if it was sleepy noises or if she was crying.  I came out of our room and N looks at me and says, "I think she's crying.  I'll take care of it."

He went into her room and sure enough she was crying.  We're not sure if she got scared or had a bad dream. The way he talked to her and comforted her was one of the sweetest sounds I've ever heard.  It was the love of a good daddy.

We Did Some Coughing and Resting

I count myself fortunate that Zoe hasn't really been sick.  I think it was God's way of giving her a break after such a rough start in life.  I also think she has her daddy's immune system.  I think they could kiss every sick person and maybe feel a little bad for a day or two.  If I did that, I'd be out for weeks.

All that changed this weekend.  Zoe caught that nasty cold bug that's been going around.  This one stayed right in her chest.  Poor thing was down for the count most of the weekend.  She spent her time cuddling with daddy on the couch, taking naps with me and coughing.  Oh was there coughing.

Just like her daddy, after 48 hours of soaking her sheets with sweat, the bug is almost completely gone.  How do we know it's gone?  Here's some signs that Zoe is on the recovery.

1)  Wakes up and asks to go shopping. 
2)  No longer asks to be held, but offers to race you to the bedroom/kitchen/bathroom.
3)  Wants to paint, then sew, then glue, then do Play-doh, then paint again, then cook something all in a matter of 15 minutes.
4)  Pretends to sleep and then wakes up going, "oh that clock!  Killjoy!  Get up you say, time to start another day.  Even he orders me around." 

Our Cinderella is back.  With more energy than ever.

Our Newest Family Member, Part Deux

Fooled ya for a minute!  I can't claim her as my own.  Believe me I totally would if given the chance.  Isn't she precious, sweet and entirely kissable?  She's also the biggest baby our family has seen in over 3 years. 

Meet Hannah-Joy.  She became my very first niece last night.  She weighs 8 lbs, 1 oz and is 21 inches long.  I now know why my sister-in-law Amanda was in so much discomfort.  This kid weighs about the same as Zoe did when she was 5 months old.  Amanda basically gave birth to a 5 month old.  That's totally impressive when you think about it.

Congratulations Brian and Amanda.  I can't think of two more deserving parents.  You both struggled to have H-J (is it alright that I call her that?).  I love seeing how God has blessed your life.  Having a daughter is one of the best blessings that has ever happened to N and me.  We treasured it so much we had three!

Enjoy the diaper changes, the feedings, the spit up, all the laundry and each moment you can count her fingers and toes again.  In a very short time she'll wipe off your kisses, learn the word "no" and make you laugh with her ideas.  Congrats mommy and daddy.  She's absolutely perfect.  Love you all.