Blessings and Challenges

It has been a long and busy week already starting on Sunday where we went to church and met up with our new small group afterward and then headed to Gresham and Jen's house for a little birthday celebration for a certain girl woman who turned 37.

 

 Amazing how young 37 is when you are the one turning it, right? It was very nice to be together as a family and another reminder that it is such a blessing to live near awesome Aunts,

  

Sweet Uncles

 

and fun cousin dogs that we can love on since we are dogless for the first time EVER. 

 

 It is truly amazing how Keith and I constantly feel the void in our lives from not having a dog. It is the first time in 17 years that Keith nor I have not had a dog or cat by our side. We miss it terribly, but figure having a newborn is not the time to get a dog and when it does come time, we may have to get a dog that works with us versus and dog that we ideally want. Meaning that, we are big dog people, but may have to get a small dog so that both kids can control it easily since Mom and Dad can't have one more thing on their plate!

Yes, the plate has been full with our normal home stuff of making lunches, homework, quiet time, media time, work time, dinner, showers and bedtime. Then you add in starting soccer practice, open house at school, grocery store errands, appointments, creating and getting out baby announcements, laundry, dishes and cleaning and you have two haggard parents at the end of a day.

There was actually a point one day this week (I can't remember when since I can barely keep track of what the current day is!) as I was in the living room feeding Zane and Conner and Alaina were having and impromptu WWF match, that the thought occurred to me "What have we done? I mean really, WHAT HAVE WE DONE? We have created these THREE children and now we are responsible for them!!" You think that idea would have hit me before, but no, I tend to realize I am in over my head AFTER I am in over my head. However, the Lord is merciful and I believe he did work it out to preserve my sanity by me having my third later and allowing my other two to be safely away at an awesome school for the day. Not only away at what we feel is the best school for them, but right next to Keith's work, where he can take them every single day (and volunteer in my place this quarter) so all I have to do is pick up. That means the only true chaos I have to deal with is from 3:30pm to 8:30pm. Hopefully by the time track out comes in October, I will be more sane, more rested and have Zane on a schedule. Lord willing!

Speaking of Zane, he was a complete fuss pot Monday and Tuesday when he was awake, he just wanted to sleep. I did get a half smile on Monday (best birthday present ever) and it is emerging more and more each day. We have the "I am staring at my mobile and I'm serious" look,

We have the emerging smile!

 Check out that little dimple on the right cheek! Just like Alaina. Love it.

And then we have the "I am zoned out staring at you and nothing you do, especially acting like a silly moron with that voice, is going to make me smile." : )

Happy eight weeks old Zane David!