A slingin' sister

Sweet, huh?

This was the other day when I was trying to do something and Elijah needed attention. Abigail said, "Here. Just put him in the sling. I'll hold him." She is so matter-of-fact about helping with him, like it's just the most natural thing in the world. I love it. So, I helped her put the Maya Wrap on, and we tucked E. down in there, and he was happy as could be. After this picture, she sat in the recliner and looked at photo albums with him for a while. It was pretty hilarious. She got tired eventually, probably due to his hefty self sitting on her and squashing her for so long.

If you're pregnant (like a bunch of you fellow bloggers), and don't have a sling or wrap for your baby, I would strongly urge you to try one. It is an incredible way to save your back and free up your arms, when you do want and/or need to hold your baby and still do other things. It sure makes shopping easier! Plus, snuggling this little bundle never gets old, but can be tiring and makes me weary if I don't have him in the sling. So, there's my commercial!

***[Important subplot - Yes, Abigail's face looks puffy, like she'd been crying. She had and was just getting over it. She had a wiggly tooth (#2) and it was hanging by one corner, pretty stubbornly, and was driving her crazy that morning. She'd worked so hard on getting it to that point, but then it started hurting, so she was tired and frustrated. She thought she looked like Nanny McPhee and was embarrassed by the way it was hanging and dangling awkwardly. I assured her she was way too cute to look like Nanny did, but it was a hard half hour. Thankfully, Abi asked that we pray about it to make her feel better, so we did, and she specifically asked God to make the tooth come out 'all by itself', since she just couldn't 'take it anymore'. I told her that doesn't happen really, but we'd just see. And, wouldn't you know, God let that crazy thing fall out in her sleep that night?!!! When we saw her that morning, and said, "Abi! Where's your tooth?" she didn't even know. It was in the bed, and had fallen out in her sleep, just like she'd prayed. I am amazed at her faith and my lack of it. Anyway, that was last Saturday/Sunday. She's lost another tooth since then, her bottom center left one - we're up to 3 empty spots in her mouth now. Just call her Snaggletooth.]***

Groundhogs, bicycles, and teeth

I'm late posting but wanted to share fun things we did this past weekend. My Mom came on Friday to spend the night and visit, as well as help me accomplish a few things that seem to never get done. It was a special, fun time, and we could get used to her being here a lot more! Our adventures included Abi and Gramma practicing the waltz, Gramma assisting Isaac and Abigail with gymnastics skills, Gramma snuggling Elijah a lot, and reading, playing games, and giving the big kids lots of attention. We went to the mall that night, and with a gift certificate we had, created the groundhog just in time for his own holiday. Then on Saturday, Dad came down in time for Isaac's basketball game, and our boy played really well. He's listening to the coach and really understanding the game very well. He didn't score any point, but assisted in some, and passed well, hustling the whole game. After lunch with my aunt and cousin who were in town, Granddaddy took Isaac and Abigail to the park and they rode bikes a long time too, and then he napped with Elijah - too sweet. During their naptime, Mom and I worked on baby announcements, since I am determined to still do them, though folks may not get them till Elijah is 6 months old at the rate I'm going.... :-( We met Jacob for dinner, so all in all, it was a great, fun day with family.

Sunday morning began with Abigail determined to remove the tooth that has been driving her crazy, because of its tenacity at hanging on to her gums. It was fairly loose, but she wanted so badly to pull it and show Mrs. Shellyn at church her "window," that we HAD to get it out that morning. I helped very little, though I am a champion tooth puller with lots of experience from my teaching days, and she really did it herself. The tear you see at the end, is actually from cries of joy. She was thrilled and has reveled daily in her snaggle-toothness. Who in the world loses a top tooth first, I just want to know? Only this funny girl, as far as I've ever seen. James even appears to have lost a lot of his horror of dental-related issues, because she's so happy, it's hard to be squeamish when looking at her gap-toothed grin. I'm so proud of him.