I’m Blessed

I’m so blessed.  This week I’ve been loving the time at home.  This little girl has been wearing me out a bit, but that’s what happens when little ones grow up.  They grow into moving little ones, and not sleeping during the day as much little ones.  She worked on 2 molars over Christmas, and I believe 2 more are working their way through now, hence a stuffy nose to boot.

But she completely wins my heart about every moment of every day.  Earlier this week she woke up (after a full night sleep!  Yeah!) around 6am (not-so-much yeah!) and so I brought her back to our bed in hopes that she would coo quietly as I just rested my eyes for a few more minutes.  She was so hyper, though, and just crawled between Knut and I giving us each big slobbery kisses.

She’s really into giving us kisses lately.  She means it too.  She’ll grab your neck, or hair by your neck and pull you in for a good face to face press with her mouth wide open. 

Anyway, it was dark and she sort of missed my face one time and we hit heads and I yelped “Ouch!” and she thought that was funny and tried the sound of that funny word, “aaaa-ch.”  We laughed at the clarity of it, and she’s been saying “Aaa-ch” all day ever since.

I’m so blessed.

I’m so blessed by David who has been just a gem lately, especially with Elias.  (Not only that, but he just begs to wear a tie every Sunday.  We give in sometimes.  He doesn’t have a lot of shirts that go well with ties.)  Anyway, he’s been playing with Elias all the time and has been so patient with him.  It’s nice when the fighting is at a lull and the play time is long.

I’m also blessed by this guy.

He’s had a bit of a cold but his whining has gone WAAAAAYYYY down this last week.  I’ve been trying really hard to get down eye to eye with him.  It’s a bit of a leg workout, but I’m finding that his whining comes to a halt when I do this, and I think he was just worried that we weren’t hearing him (even though we talked back to him always, and answered him always.)  It’s like when I get down to his level, he feels like we heard him wholeheartedly, and then he does what we say (even if it’s the opposite of what he wants) without any fuss.
Elias: “More cookies!”
Me: “Elias, that was your last one.  You may not have any more cookies.”
Elias: “COOKIES!!!”
Me (getting down to his eye level): “Elias, I said you may not have any more cookies.”
Elias: “OK, Mommy.”

It’s never worked like that with my other kids.  Goes to show each one is different.  It’s nice to finally skip the other methods of discipline, and he’s even using his pleases and thank yous more.

I’m so blessed to have found something that works…for now.  And I bet I’m getting some sort of leg workout thrown in.

Then there’s my Silje.  This girl has been hiding herself lately in books more than usual.  I snuck up on her for this picture.  She was that focused.  She’s been having a tough time lately with listening, and Knut and I have had several conversations about how to soften her heart.  I worry when I see her harden herself towards us, or to her siblings.

So this weekend Knut and I worked out for Silje and I to have some special 1 on 1 time together.  Silje and I had cookies and tea (she loves tea parties) and talked about all that was on her mind.  I don’t think it was anything huge, but she seemed stuck in an attitude funk. (Don’t we all get like that?)  We talked.  I gave her a project to work on that she’s really excited about and has stopped moping around.

I’m so blessed to be able to disciple her.  I can’t think of a better word for our relationship sometimes.

Lastly, for my hubby.  If I ever submit him for a “sexiest-man-of-the-year” contest, this might be the photo I submit:

Seriously people.  I’m so stinkin’ blessed.  I love this man so much.  O, does he ever put up with me and lifts me up when I feel like I’m drowning sometimes.  I don’t see this sight often, but when he is home and is able, he does take a crabby baby or a chore that normally is on my list. I know he’s saying “I love you.”  I may just print this off and put it by our old love letters from college.  When I’m annoyed with him I’ll take it out and look at it to remind myself that he does help out, and he’s really not so bad.

Thank you, Jesus, for letting me live with these sweet people.  I’m so blessed.

If you want to share how God has blessed you, either leave a comment, or if you blog, leave a blog link to your blog post about blessings.  Just be sure to have a link to this blog in your post.