noodles and noodles

She always giggles when I say it.

But first things first.

I sit beside her small bed and she leans her curly blonde head against my shoulder as we say our prayers together. Her voice is precious, and so are her words. "thank you God for bless, and thank you for God, and thank you for..." and here she launches into a list of every single family member she can think of, each one with their own special name pronunciation.

She lays back on her purple hippo pillow pet, her tattered blanky under her cheek, and looks at me with those large brown eyes. "Mommy, can we sing?"

I can't say no.

and so, we sing. First, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Then, Jesus Loves Me. She knows every word.

Now, it's time.

I tuck her quilt around her, and I say "Good night, Rosalie-roo, I love you so."

"I love you so" she replies, and a smile begins to appear, because she knows what is coming next.

"Well, I love you oodles and oodles and oodles!"

Her face lights up and there is the giggle. She tries her very best not to laugh as she says "I love YOU noodles and noodles and noodles!

"Oh, really? Well, I love YOU oodles and oodles and oodles and oodles and oodles and oodlesandoodlesandoodlesandoodlesandoodles!"

"That's a LOT!" She is breathless with giggling. But she says it back one more time, always, trying her best not to laugh too hard. "I love you noodles and noodles and noodles and noodles and noodles and noodles!"

I can't help but laugh with her. I brush her hair from her forehead as I say "oh my! That's a LOT!"

She nods emphatically, her eyes wide and her face still lit up.

"Good night, baby."

Another bedtime, another lovely gift. No matter what the day was like, we have bedtime and prayers and singing and giggles and smooches and cuddles and love.

Noodles and noodles and noodles of love.

and just in case you didn't know, that's a LOT!

the pregnancy: eleven things

oh, hey there!
remember that one time when I announced we were having another baby? our fourth one to be exact?
and then I mentioned it again like two months later, and included some pictures that didn't even really show a baby bump?
and did you notice how that was over three months ago now, and I have yet to even do a proper post about this pregnancy, like, at all?

I know. It's horrible. I'm horrible. Poor dear little baby #4.

To help make up for it (at least a little), here are eleven things about this pregnancy, accompanied by way too many baby bump pictures (I honestly do not need to look at this much of myself these days. but some of you have requested said pictures, so here they are. heh.)

one. I am now 29 weeks pregnant... but if anyone asks me how far along I am, I just say "oh, about six-and-a-half months". I can NEVER remember the weeks, am horrible at keeping track, and I totally had to get out my calendar and do some serious counting in order to label this picture.

two. the official due date is July 14... or wait, is it July 17? Seriously, people, I'm horrible. I'm due mid-July! There, that works. I can hardly believe how CLOSE that seems... the very fact that I'll be 30 weeks pregnant next week makes it seem like it is right around the corner. I'm glad for this fact, especially since it's starting to get warm in this part of the country and the discomfort level is already rising, but I am also equally freaked-out, just thinking of all that should be accomplished and happening before then.

three. It should be noted that these pictures of me in the skirt were taken after church one Sunday, and I must admit that I do NOT usually look like that these days. These next two are a more accurate representation of my day-to-day pregnancy style.

hair up in a messy bun. my favorite pair of jeans. a simple and comfortable top that hides certain curves just a bit. whatever makeup I have time to throw on before a piano student shows up at my door. a necklace, because it makes me feel like I tried. ha. and, of course, bare feet, because I only wear shoes if I'm going somewhere, and then it's usually my Toms or a pair of flip-flops. (thankgoodness messy buns and Toms are totally in right now.)

four. This little one is a very active baby, always kicking and punching and rolling around in there. I love feeling that every single day, and I'm soaking up the experience. I don't appreciate so much the vigorous kicks to the ribs or the bladder, but I can't blame the kid... I'm pretty short, so there's not a lot of room between one or the other in there!

five. I'm not sure what it is-- the fact that I started this pregnancy with a little bit more weight than my others? maybe this kid is going to be bigger in birth size? perhaps it's just the way the baby is sitting inside me? maybe it's just the fact that this is my fourth time around?-- but I feel so much bigger with this pregnancy. Large and in charge, folks. Sometimes when strangers ask me how much longer I have to go and I tell them I'm not due until July, they give me that look. The one that says "oh, pardon me, I thought you looked like you could be going into labor at any minute, you poor woman." I've honestly been pretty good about my eating this pregnancy, and have definitely been able to stay pretty active (that happens naturally), but it doesn't seem to matter: I'm big, and no help for it. Proof:

oh goodness. Angle is everything.

There, that's a little better. :)

six. My cravings this time around have ranged from the very good (mangos! strawberries! broccoli! non-fat frozen yogurt!) to the awfully bad (cheeseburger and fries! chips! lucky charms!). Once the nausea finally went away and I was able to give up on the saltine crackers and ginger ale that had become a daily staple, I was glad to have these cravings, and so, I must admit, I've indulged when they've hit. Thankfully, the healthy cravings have been much more dominant than the not-so-healthy ones. Whew.

seven. The girls are so excited about this baby, which makes my heart happy to see. Emma is always saying "I can't WAIT for July, I just want the baby to BE here!", Annabelle puts her hands on my tummy and kisses it, and Rosalie, while she doesn't fully understand, talks about "the baby in mommy's tummy" too. These three are going to be the best big sisters to this little one.

eight. Jeremy and I haven't chosen names yet... we're having a little bit more difficulty this time around, and part of it is that we haven't really even taken the time to just sit down and figure it out! Like I said, it's all going by so fast. My goal is to have that done... well.... before I go into labor, preferably. heh. We are open to suggestions, so give us some ideas if you have some tucked away that you don't mind sharing!

nine. Even though I know newborns bring an exhaustion of their own with them, I will be so ready and willing to trade that for this pregnancy exhaustion. I am quite literally tired. all. the. time. It truly is a tiredness you can't get rid of. And naps are few and far in between these days. Oh, how I love naps. I wish there were more of them in my life, I really do.

ten. we do NOT know the baby's gender, nor will we know until the little one makes his or her arrival into this world. I suppose it maybe would have made more sense for us to find out, since if this one does happen to be a boy we will quite literally have nothing for it, but for some reason I just didn't want to know this time. I love the extra anticipation and excitement that is there in not knowing, and I'm surprisingly laid-back about being prepared. If it's a girl, we're pretty much good to go, since I've saved lots of stuff. If we actually do have a boy, I'll have a couple of packages of white onesies on hand, and then we and everyone else who wants to can go crazy and have fun buying BOY stuff for a change! oh boy oh boy. We shall see... I'm so incredibly excited for that moment when we know who this little person is, this new addition to our family.

And boy or girl, the thought of a brand-new little baby to hold in my arms, another tiny person with which to fall in love, one more child to be nephew or niece and grandbaby to our dear family all around us... it makes me positively beam with joy.


eleven. This:

hi, little babe. even tucked away in mommy's belly, you're still awfully cute. you're such a blessing, and we thank God for you already!

ps. I know, longest pregnancy post ever. sheesh. does this get me off the hook for a while?

Written.

Last week, I bought myself a new journal from Target. It is pretty and pink, bound in a poppy-printed cover, and the fact that it's so pretty gives me great satisfaction (I have a seriousness weakness for journals and notebooks.) But even more exciting and wonderful to me is how thick it is with lined and blank pages. Just as if it is waiting for the words and thoughts to be poured out upon its pages. A space for my head and heart to speak, if only to myself and for remembrance's sake.


Since my pretty pink poppy journal entered my life one week ago, I have discovered how much I've missed really journaling. It's been so long since I've picked up a pen and written just to write, since I've truly taken the time to record thoughts and concerns, praises and prayers, what my life in a certain moment is like and what it brings to my mind. I needed this journal, and the space to write. I was shocked to realize today that I've filled nearly 30 pages already-- which would also explain why I keep going to bed far too late. The days and their busy-ness don't exactly lend themselves to time to write... so I stay awake long past when I should, my pen flying across the page, the words practically writing themselves, illumined by the light of my bedside lamp in the stillness of a house where all others are sleeping.

The other night, I wrote these words upon the page:
"I am so glad, so grateful, that it is my God, our heavenly Father, who is writing this story... This time is a chapter in it, and with Him as the Author, I need not worry or be afraid."

I've thought a lot about this truth in the past few days. I love to think about it, because it is a wonderful truth. A comforting thought.

In Jeremiah 29, the Lord declares "I know the plans I have for you."
In Hebrews 12, Jesus is called the "author and finisher of our faith."

Not only does He know what twists and turns each story, each life, will take... but He is the finisher. Our story is already written, and He is in it until the end. It continues day by day, each page covered with the fingerprints of grace and love, already written by Someone whose goodness towards us abounds, even when the plot might take a difficult turn or two.

It is already written. He knows the story, even when I don't, even if life and what comes next is breathtakingly unexpected. He's written it for me, for my husband, for my children, for the ones I love, for all of us.

And what a Writer He is. My own words are feeble and imperfect, my thoughts so unsure and jumbled... surely this blog post itself can attest to that.

But not God. His handwriting across our lives is more lovely than any scribe's, its content more pure and perfect than any sonnet could ever be.

I'm going to keep writing in my pink journal. And as I write, I will think, gladly, on the Author who is responsible for each new chapter in this life that we live.

The pages keep turning, the story keeps unfolding, and I know as certainly as spring will follow winter, that because He has written it, the end will be beautiful.

"with Him as the author, we need not worry or be afraid."
For this, my heart is thankful... beyond what words can write.

happy Easter, twenty-twelve.

dyeing Easter eggs with sweet cousins and Auntie.
pretty new dresses on our three girls.
joyful worship on Sunday morn, followed by Easter egg hunts in the warm spring weather, lots of good food, a delightful time for family and friends in our sister and brother's lovely home..



















so many reasons to rejoice...
and rejoice we did!

oh, children. {#3}

I can't believe it's been since October of last year that I posted about the funny things my girls say! Sadly, I know there have been many moments that made us laugh that didn't get written down for this blog, but here is a collection of some of them.

Annabelle is standing at the fridge, playing with some magnets, and Emma comes up behind her, stands for a minute, and then spanks her behind. Annabelle turns, surprised, and Emma politely says, in a thick French accent, "Merci, for letting me spank you. Eet was lovely."

It made the whole thing so classy, that I don't even think Annabelle minded.
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One morning I applied a thick green face mask before I took my shower. Rosalie came into the bathroom, took one look at me and exclaimed, "Mommy, you look like dina-soar!" teehee. Rawr.
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Emma and Annabelle are eating lunch, being their usual silly selves, and I'm listening from the sink, because it's always entertaining, and this is what I hear:
Emma: Guess what, I'm inside an apple right now.
Annabelle: Really?
E: yes, and guess what else. THERE ARE WORMS IN HERE.
A: That's disgusting. You should leave.
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I'm sitting at the table after breakfast, when Rosalie comes running up.
"Mommy, mommy, can I have some ooh-ooh-x-y-z?"
I stare blankly at her, trying to figure out what in the world this might mean.
She points to the mug in my hand. "can I have some? ooh-ooh-x-y-z?"
Then it clicks. "Oh! You want some of my tea? Is that what you mean? Tea?"
She nods. "Yes. T."

I love how in her little brain, it obviously made complete sense. X, Y, and Z are letters. So is T. How could I not understand? Duh, mom. :) (not sure why the ooh-ooh is there, but I'm sure she had a good reason for that too!)
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We had just gotten home from church one Sunday and were walking through the garage to go inside, when Annabelle says, out of the blue:

"so, what's going on with this short ladder?"

There WAS a stepladder she had just walked past. But it was so random, so casual, so completely unexpected and irrelevant, and so FUNNY how she said it that we all burst out laughing. Maybe you had to be there. But trust me. This kid is funny without trying.
Now, "the short ladder" is kind of a running joke around our house!
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One Sunday after church I was asking the girls what they learned about in Sunday school, what they did, were they good girls, etc. Rosalie, who recently joined the youngest class, had to pipe in her share too, of course. "Um, we learned 'bout a baby." Pauses. "Then, we all gave God a hug!"

Naturally. Why, what do you do in Sunday school?
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While shopping, in a store that was quite hot and stuffy, Emma says to me, as she fans her hand in front of her face vigorously: "I am so hot right now that I would happily and in a heartbeat visit the place where the penguins live!"
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When my brother, Uncle Elijah, comes to visit, there are always lots of funny jokes flying around (well, maybe only funny to us... but still.), and the kids especially always have a hilarious time. One afternoon when he had come up for the weekend, and we were trying to convince Rosalie to take a nap, he happened to us the word "nappy-poo." As in, "don't you want to go take a little nappy-poo now?" Coming from him, the older girls thought this was quite amusing.
So, that night at dinner, when going to bed was mentioned, Annabelle looked at her uncle and asked, "Yeah, don't you want to take a little bedtime-poo?"
Just say it out loud. Doesn't have quite the same ring as "nappy-poo", does it??

We laughed a lot. I know, our maturity is astounding.
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Me: "Rosalie, do you want to go somewhere with Mommy tonight while Emma and Annabelle are at AWANA?"
Her, with an excited smile on her face: "Yeah!!!"
She thinks for a moment, her face more serious, and then she lights up again. "Oh!!! Are we going to DISNEYLAND??"

I couldn't help but feel that telling her our destination was, in fact, Target and Yogurtland would be a slight let-down...
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Emma and Annabelle were in the bathroom brushing teeth and combing hair, when I overheard this conversation:
E: Hey, have you ever been to Fairyland and seen all the cupcakes?
A: No, I haven't. But I did go there and I did see Tinkerbell.
E: Well, I went there and saw the cupcakes (there are soooo many of them). But guess what else I saw.
A (eyes wide): What???
E: I saw a BALD Tinkerbell. She had no hair!
A: Oh my goodness. I can't believe that. Are you sure it wasn't just pink or something??
E: Nope. She was definitely bald. I felt bad for her.

I.... have no idea what to say about this. heh.
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These crazy, silly, wild, imaginative, weird, funny kids of mine. What goofy girls I have.

Life with kids.
It's never short on laughter, thank goodness!

our day in the magical kingdom

Friday last week at this time, we were in the midst of that most wonderful place, Disneyland. (I do realize I've been a horrible blogger lately, but do you see this?? It's only taken me ONE week to post about our trip! Not a month. Not six months. Not a year. ONE WEEK. That's got to be a record for me! heh.)

The last time we took our kids to Disneyland-- the one and only other time, actually-- was when I was pregnant with Rosalie and ohmygoodness, Emma and Annabelle looked like babies! It was so fun to take all three of our girls this time (especially since Rosalie was still free, woohoo!) and have an entirely new and different experience with them all. The only thing not different is that I was, once again, pregnant in Disneyland. I seriously think I've been to Disneyland pregnant more times than not. Just ask me what you CAN'T do there when you're pregnant-- I know!

Anyway. Prepare yourself, for I am about to bombard you with what is probably far too many pictures. (if you're my facebook friend, you've already seen these. but, come on, you know you want to see them again!)

The night before, with all three of them tucked into the cozy hotel bed, they were SO excited they could hardly sleep. Went to bed at 11:30, up by 6. Kids are crazy. I expected them all to be tired and dragging the next day, expected Rosalie to crash in her stroller at some point, but none of that. We had our tired moments, but considering the short night they had, I was so happy that they were all happy!

From the instant we walked onto Main Street the next morning and made our way back under the castle into FantasyLand, their faces were just LIT up, so joyful and excited and thrilled to be there.



This was Rosalie's first time at Disneyland, and I almost couldn't stand how cute she was, pointing everything out and smiling constantly. This kid kills me.

After the merry-go-round, it was time to take another spin... in the teacups!

Emma and Annabelle loved the teacups the last time, and it was no different this time. And Rosalie couldn't stop giggling as we spun round and round and round, all sliding into each other and getting dizzy. It was one of my favorites with these three too, I think!

When we got to the teacups, we noticed that one side of it and the pathways that led past it were roped off. Turns out that the show Modern Family was filming there. RIGHT THERE. Like twenty feet from us. Some of you out there are probably going "so?? who cares??" WE care! :) It's one of our favorite shows. HI-larious. The characters are amazing and quirky and so funny. So when were actually able to spot some of the stars only feet away from us, well, we got a little excited. (we don't see celebrities very often, you know.) But don't worry, we didn't turn into crazy weird stalker fans. I only snapped one teensy weensy discreet picture, just to prove that we were there and we saw them.

After the excitement of spinning teacups and celebrities, oh my, we headed off into calmer waters (ha! ha! sorry.) and took a ride on the jungle cruise. I'm pretty sure Rosalie thought 90% of everything in that jungle was real.
"Look, it's fell-e-phants!"


While we were there in Adventureland, my husband was kind enough to buy me one of the Dole pineapple soft-serve ice creams... oh my. It was good. I'd never had one before. But now I want more.  I snarfed that thing down.

Since we had park hopper tickets, we were able to head over into California Adventure for a few hours too, and the first thing we did there was to ride the new Ariel ride. So fun, so colorful. The kids (for the most part) loved it.
Right now, at the ages our kids are at, their favorite place in that park is the Bug's Land. We rode every single ride in Flik's Fun Fair, oh yes we did.
We went a-munching with Heimlich the caterpillar...


Daddy and Emma and Annabelle took a ride in Tuck and Roll...

we had MORE spinning fun on the scowling ladybugs...

and we flew up, up, up, and away in an animal cracker box!


Lots of smiles, lots of happiness, and absolutely no "scary" moments. Perfect.
We also took a trip through Monstropolis on the Monster's Inc. ride, because my kids adore that movie. At the end Roz (you know, the green oozy slimy monster who wears the glasses and is always onto Mike about his paperwork) is standing there to say different things to those getting off the ride, and she happened to tell us that we aren't allowed to take little monsters out of Monstropolis... at which statement Annabelle got very worried that we weren't going to be able to take Rosalie with us! Rosalie can be a little monster sometimes, so I understand her confusion. heh.

As we entered Disneyland again, Minnie and Mickey Mouse themselves were right there in the town square, practically waiting for us! I was SO excited, because I had been really hoping that we would get to see them, especially since it was Rosalie's first time and she loves all things Mickey Mouse.

Minnie was the first character she had been close to all day, and she actually hugged her! (I missed the moment by thismuch, unfortunately). However, after the hug, she decided she wanted nothing to do with these huge mice, or any other Disney character to follow. She would wave and smile and call out their names, but no hugs or pretty posing for pictures, thankyouverymuch.

Her sisters, thankfully, were more than happy to hug and to smile and to pose.

Rosalie looks terrified in this one. poor child.

While we were there we also got to see Ariel...

and Jasmine...

Princess Tiana...

Tigger!!!......

Eeyore!!! oh, I love Eeyore, he is the cutest thing ever.

The best part about watching my kids meet the characters they know and love is the look on their faces when they go in for that first hug. So precious.

We love Winnie the Pooh.

This picture makes me happy... all of us together and Winnie the Pooh too!


We were blessed by the fact that we didn't have to wait in line TOO much the day we were there... it was busy, but not overly so. Part of Disnyeland is the lines, though. The waiting and anticpating what's coming next, the people-watching while you stand there, the conversations you have with other folks who are just as excited as you to be there.

While the three girls and I stood in line for the princesses, a mentally challenged lady spent ten minutes talking to me about who her favorite princesses were and why, and how she HAD to be there at the parade later because Tinkerbell would be looking for her specifically. She was sweet.

More waiting in line, this time getting close to Pooh and friends!

Ready for our cruise around the world, and for the Small World song to become lodged in our heads semi-permanently.


Toon Town is another favorite place for the kids. They love just goofing around back there, playing in the characters' houses and being generally crazy.

Annabelle rode the Toon Town coaster with Daddy-- her very first roller coaster ride! and she loved it!

By this time, we were ready to sit down and take the train back to the other side of the park in time to watch the parade. I must admit, the parades are one of my favorite things, They're just so happy.
We found a pretty good spot and settled in (ah, it felt good to SIT) to eagerly wait for the start of it.




Unfortunately, right after I snapped this picture of Main Street all lit up, my camera battery completely died.

It's ok though, because after the parade, dinner, and the disappointment of a cancelled fireworks show (booooo), we were all ready to head back to the hotel and rest our tired feet and put some VERY tired girls to bed.

Next morning it was sleeping in, getting ready to go, checking out of our hotel, a very late breakfast where we happily talked about all of our fun the day before....


... and then on the road again, headed homeward.

I already miss Disneyland, and wish we could take our girls back! But I'm SO thankful and glad we got to have such a wonderful little family getaway, so chock-full of happy memories and fun.

oh Disneyland, you are always good to us. We can't wait to visit you again someday!