Wordless Wednesdays-What Forever Means

Five Minute Friday: See

Every Friday, I'm going to give five minutes to a word. I got the idea from Gypsy Mama. She's awesome...check her out. We write for five minutes without worry, just writing wherever the spirit moves you.

This week the word is

See...

I wonder what they see when they look at me...these five little lives. Do they see, "Mama" and "Wife"? Do they see "reader" and "poet"? Do they see "cook" and "cleaner"? Do they see my strengths and my flaws?

I remember watching my mother. I remember seeing what was important to her and where she spent her time.

And I know my girls are looking at me the same way.

I think about what they first see when they get up in the morning. Am I there and engaged? Or, am I buried in other things?

Do they see how much I love them?

Do they see how much I want to be a good mother for them...how much I want them to see Jesus in me?

Do they see all that I strive to teach them and have them become?

Do they see me when I'm failing or even when I'm floundering? Do they see the struggles that I go through to try to turn myself aright?

I am struck with the thought that I am their model for motherhood and that they constantly SEE...me.

Wordless Wednesday-Friends

 

 Starting another thing called Wordless Wednesdays. Just a picture and a title. We'll see what comes from it. :)

Updating the Blog

Something happened that kind of cancelled out the blog for me. We'll call her Madelynne. It just took a very back burner to life. I am finding myself at a place where I can work it in again or at least make it more of a priority to me. So, I'm going to be spending some time updating it and making changes. Looking forward to where it's headed. :)

Five Minute Friday

Today, I'm starting to participate in something to try to get a little bit of the writing juices back and flowing. Over at the Gypsy Mama she gives out a word and encourages her readers to write for five minutes and just let it come out. The word this week was OPPORTUNITY. Here's what came out for me:

Opportunity

I tell myself we can't. I tell myself, where would we put it. I tell myself. What if, what if, what if. Then I stop and I look at the five little souls already here. I think about when they came and who they are. Would they have been different if they had come to us at a different time? Would we be different? Would we have fewer? I have never regretted having so many, so quickly. And I know...I would not regret another. I told myself we wouldn't do it. I told myself that I couldn't do it.

And then I think...who would I miss. WHO am I closing myself off from?? What blessing from God am I saying NO to? What little person would we be meeting that was meant to come to us at this time?

I can't say no to that. The blessing that God might see fit to share.

I try telling myself we can and that we would make room. I stop saying What if, what if, what if and start saying, Okay.

Selling the House

So...last year, our plan was to find a new house and then try to sell our house after we moved. While holding two mortgages. We tried and tried...even going so far as to put offers in on a couple of houses. But, for whatever reason, those houses would be pulled away. We came to see that it was God's hand and we should see this as a sign that we're not meant to move right now.

So this year, we've decided to take some hard looks at our house and see what we would need to do to get our house ready to sell. Yikes.

The realtor came out and did a walkthrough the house and pointed out the areas of concern and what we'd need to change and fix. Thankfully, having just finished a round of scary spring cleaning, I felt up for the task.

Emma is Here!

After having contractions off and on for days, they finally got down to where I was feeling this was it. They were hitting about 2-4 minutes apart pretty consistently and after taking a nap, I got up and there was quite a bit of pressure. So we left for the hospital about 1:30. Once we were there, I was at a four and contractions were coming about every 2 minutes. I labored, walking around for a couple of hours, but only had progressed to a 5. The contractions were still coming pretty strong and the doctor thought breaking my water would help to progress things. (I don't know why I let them do this...for me, it really just seems to slow things down.) Anyway, I did hop to 6 right after, but then sat there only dilating a centimeter every couple of hours. Finally, just after 11:15, it was time to start pushing. It only took a couple of good pushes and she was out. Her shoulder did catch and tear me a bit, but not too badly. She was born at 11:32 and I was right that she was going to be a bigger baby. She was 8lbs and 13ozs, 21.5 inches long. So, a nice good size. As you can tell from the above video, her oldest sister, Anna loves her a lot. I think she's going to be a big help. :)

Still Pregnant...

Due date here and still no baby. Little Emily is taking her time. I know that she's already bigger than the other girls were because I have all these lovely new stretch marks. Yeah for badges of honor. Pffftt! I've been having pretty regular contractions about 5 to 10 minutes apart for the last day or so, but no sense that this is it. I'm just exhausted and ready for this all to be over.

Baby Number 5!!!

Joining us late March or Early April 2011!

Five Years Together and Best Christmas Present Evah!!!

This year marks Aaron and my fifth anniversary. So much has changed in five years, I cannot even remember how my life really was before. I remember it was a lot less full though. Now, four children later and hopes for more down the line; I can't imagine life without him. Sometimes I think it's not possible to love him more than I do, but everyday I fall a little more for him.

The above drawing is a portrait that Aaron's sister did for us for Christmas this year. I adore it and it will always be one of my most treasured gifts. :)

Four Babies

Less than 24 hours after giving birth to my fourth child a doctor from my OB's practice came in to check on me. She told me that she didn't see how it was possible to fully love and adequately nurture four children. I told her we would be just fine and made a mental note never to let this woman near me again and that if she was on call when I went into labor with my next child, I would, by sheer will power, hold him/her in until the shift change. :)

It certainly is difficult taking care of and having time to connect with each of these children; especially right now, when I'm so "connected" to the smallest one. But, it is certainly not difficult to love them and to make room in my heart for each new blessing. When I walk into Madelynne's room to get her in the morning and she's cooing and waving her arms and legs, my heart swells and I am filled with an overwhelming love for that child. This seems to happen with each new baby. My depth of love is stretched to a new level. My heart gets bigger.

As to my ability to nurture each one, I have learned what each one of my children responds to. Anna and Charlotte are both very much the same. They are fiercely independent (I DO IT!), but they also want you along for the ride...to be there to share the experience (I DID IT, MAMA!). Abby and Maddie have a need to be with people. Little Maddie is already quite the talker and those of you who have spent any small amount of time with Abby will marvel at her communication skills. My extroverts, they need their energy to be filled up by other people.

I love all my girls so much and love being their mama. I hope to have many more children and know that they'll each be different in their own ways. I can hardly wait to meet them. :)

My Sister and Crowd Come for a Visit

Madelynne is just over a week old and my sister, Amy and her family, came for a visit. It has been a lot of fun seeing all the girls. They have five girls: Alexis, Raegan, Ashleigh, Ryley and Sydney. So, yes, the girl thing is apparently contagious in my family. :) As are twins, notice Ryley and Sydney. :) This is the earliest my sister has every seen one of my girls which was a lot of fun. That is one of the hardest things for me having her so far away right now, is that we're not more able to share those special times in our lives; pregnancies and births. I am just thankful that I live now and not 100 years ago. Then, maybe, I would have been able to see her every 10 years. I just can't imagine.

As I'm sure you can imagine, our house was incredibly crazy. At one point, my cousin's wife, Holly, came over with their three children and it literally felt like a swarming tornado of children! :)

Amy's twin babies are getting so big! They seem to be developing at exactly the same rate. I still can't tell them apart. Maybe someday?

Everyone was playing so hard and I think Miss Ashleigh just needed a little down time.

Raegan trying her hand at the piano.

The oldest grandchild, Alexis is becoming such a big girl and I'm sure a real blessing to her mama.

Amy holding little Madelynne at only a week old. Unbeknownst to us at this visit, she is also pregnant with their sixth little blessing in February 2010!

Sharing Our Space

After Madelynne's birth, because the older girls are still so small, we wanted her to have her own space. That meant moving Charlotte into Anna and Abby's rooms. It seems to be going well so far. The only thing that seems to be a problem is Charlotte staying in her own bed. She is showing herself to be a little climber...even at 15 months old. She's also learned a new sound. She's mimicking my sharp intake of breath when I come into their room and find her perched in the top bunk. :)

The Girls

Anna and Abby are very interested in the new baby. They want to see her and are concerned about her. They always want to know where she is and what she needs. Charlotte could care less about her and doesn't really acknowledge her existence yet. Maybe this is a good thing. We were concerned about Charlotte showing jealousy towards the baby. Maybe she does realize the baby is there and just knows that that small "thing" needs Mommy an awful lot right now. She is becoming waaaaaaay more independent, which is also a good thing right now. Now, if we can just keep her out of the toilet. :)

Madelynne is proof to me that we should keep having babies. I love all my girls so much, but each one opens up something inside me that I hadn't yet experienced. Each one has taught me something about myself, creation, humanity and God's wonderous love that without these little beings, I wouldn't otherwise know. I praise God for seeing me fit to hold even one of these most marvelous of creations.

Madelynne is Here

After cooking for nine months and ten hours of labor, Madelynne Olivia made her grand entrance on May 31, 2009 at 7:05pm. She weighed 7lbs, 7oz and was 20.5 inches long. She is absolutely beautiful, and most defintely has her own look. I can see bits of all the other girls in her, but she is so different and special.

We thank God for her and His grace in bringing her to us safely. Aaron will be home with us the rest of this week to help out as the mama heals up a bit and we adjust to this new member of our family.

Full Term and Off to the Hospital

Here I am 39 weeks pregnant. Sorry to those of you who were hoping for more, but this is as good as it gets. I am leaning against the wall because that is the only way I could get comfortable enough for Aaron to take a picture of me standing. I have been having contractions on and off for the last three weeks, and making progress as I was dialated to a 3 at my last appointment. We now also have a labor-day. Because I have not gained any weight in my final month, my OB wanted to do an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed that there was a very minimal amount of amniotic fluid. That coupled with a recent jump in my blood pressure has set us for a delivery date of May 31st. We'll be going in at 7am to be induced. Wish us luck!

All Grown Up

I will be 27 years old this year. I am soon to be the mother of 4 (!!!) children. Sometimes when I pause long enough(or am allowed to pause long enough) to really think about how much my life has changed in the last five years, it is absolutely mind-boggling. Recently, I've been reconnecting with my cousin's lovely family. (My mother's brother's son) I can hardly believe the transition that he has made from the young man he used to be. He is now the married father of three boys running his own real-estate business. Seriously, that blows my mind, because when I think of him, or any of my other cousins, I still feel like I'm eight years old playing hide-and-seek in my grandma and grandpa Jackson's backyard.

We've recently done a couple of playdates and here are some highlights from our trip to the park. John (my cousin) is a true Jackson in his face and has transferred that on to his sons. I wonder if there is any of the Jackson features in my girls. I see it every now and then; more in a particular face or pose they make rather than a physical resemblance.


Beautiful Charlotte just chillin' out at the park, enjoying some water and fishie crachers. :)

This is the middle boy of the three, Enoch, with our oldest, Anna.


This is their youngest, Ezekial.

Their oldest, Elijah. (Notice a letter theme? :) )

Freezin' for Tomorrow

One of the things that I try to do before each baby comes is to stock up my freezer with easy and quick meals that someone could throw together with one hand tied behind their back, or in my case with a baby in one arm. This go around, it was my goal to go about this is a more organized manner. Here are some pictures and links to the recipes of the meals that Aaron and I made to stock up our freezer for after Maddie gets here. All of this was made much easier by my mother's day gift this year of a new upright freezer. I love my husband. This is something that will, as our family continues to grow, help enormously with meal prep and shopping trips.

First we made something called "Brown Bag Burritoes." These were so easy and are so yummy!


Here is my family's favorite recipe for Pumpkin Bread that makes sensational muffins. These are great for a quick breakfast or morning snack when everyone is hungry at the same time and you've got to nurse the baby. :)


This is "Chicken Tater Bake." A recipe that my sister introduced me to, it is also super easy to make and is a complete meal.

Our new favorite recipe for "Chicken Pot Pie." I've blogged about this before, but the great thing about it is that it makes two pies. I also have made up extra filling and mixed it with cheddar cheese and rotini for another pasta dish option.

These are "mini meatloaves", with the exception that I used my own personal meatloaf recipe. I know that everyone has their own preferred meatloaf recipe and I think the concept would work with whatever recipe, but this is the one that I used.

Robert and Tamara Get Married

This past Saturday, Aaron's youngest brother, Robert, married Tamara Knapp; adding a wonderful new member to this already wonderful Greenwood family. Robert and Tamara started dating when I was pregnant with Anna and I think we all knew pretty early on where their relationship was headed. Here are some favorite pictures from their big day.

How often do you get to see your hubby in a tux? Yes, I took lots of pictures of him all spiffed up.

Mary Jo and Bob, Aaron's parents, looking especially beautiful together; married almost 38 years. They are absolutely the best inlaws anyone could ask for. All of us daughter-in-laws lucked out tremendously with these two.

From Left to Right: Lee Greenwood, Bill Greenwood, Robert Greenwood, Roger Knapp (Tamara's father), Bob Greenwood, Justin Greenwood and Aaron. For whatever reason we forgot to get all the kids, wives and siblings together for a big Greenwood picture, but now with all the boys back in the states now, we should hopefully have more opportunities.

Such a lovely wedding and a lovely day. Aaron and I majorly lucked out with some great babysitters for our girls that enabled us to really enjoy the wedding. Four down, two more to go. I wonder who will be next. :)