Monday, January 21, 2013

My Three Little Birds






This kid-ified version of the wonderful Bob Marley song "Three Little Birds" plays on our Pandora in the van all the time, and I find myself incredibly moved by it. Something about those little kid voices singing about life being all right (not just alright) simply destroys me. And encourages me. And transports me. 

It goes: 

Rise up this mornin',
Smile with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Each by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou: ")

Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."
Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right! "

I guess it's because I have days when I rise up and start the day worried and exhausted, and then I see my "three little birds." They sing sweet songs over me -- so pure and true. They have a message for me, that every little thing really will be all right. 

They fill me with hope. I am so freaking blessed. 





Friday, January 18, 2013

Three Empty Books

My kids' baby memory books are empty. 


All three. I don't remember any of the details requested in these books. When did Ellie first eat solid food? No clue. What was Jack's favorite toy when he was a one-year-old? Um. . . drawing a blank. Woody's first haircut? Like, a while ago? 


But I can always explore my Facebook to see how far we've come. 

I opened that account while I was pregnant with Ellie, about 6 years ago. I also started this blog right after the boys were born -- almost 4 years ago -- in order to sort of blab about what I was thinking, experiencing, and feeling as a new mom of three, two of whom have physical challenges.

The blog has collected dust over the years, but I'm glad I can always open it up to look back at what was on in my mind at different points of the journey, which is wonderful. 

A few of my friends have resolved to blog more in this new year, and while I probably never will be a faithful blogger, I am inspired to keep this terribly designed and frequently cheesy blog up and running, since the baby books won't start filling themselves up. This'll hafta do. :)

Our 2012 Memory Book (According to Facebook)

-- Woody ate his very first and only piece of fruit, a chunk of banana. Newsworthy. 

-- We were reading the Hunger Games and desperately seeking to borrow the second and third books (thanks Angela!). 









-- Playing the kids' (including the boys') favorite board game, "Pretty, Pretty Princess."










-- Woody and Jack rode the trolley all around Natchitoches at their birthday party. A 3-year-old boy's dream come true.







-- Watched Chris finish his first 10K with his brother Scott, who had just returned from a deployment in Kuwait. 


 




-- I was terrified thrilled to read poems alongside Julie Kane "and friends" at the Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival in Alexandria, LA. 





-- Spending Easter with family in New Orleans and visiting City Park.








-- Quick trip to Tyler, TX to look at wheelchair vans and visit the zoo.










-- Chris began a string of work trips to California, and I had an opportunity to see how much he does for the kids when he's home . . .


-- Jack asking for a "blesshue" when he sneezed!







-- Welcoming a new cousin, Brenyn, into the world.








-- Celebrating Ellie's 5th birthday. She puts the sparkle in our family.


-- Jack calling the UPS truck a chocolate milk truck. Woody telling us not the let the baseballs bite when we go to bed. So cute it hurts.

-- My big boys got their new big braces (HKAFOs) to help them stand. Overjoyed to see them filled with pride.




-- Asking Ellie what I would do without her, and her replying, "Well, you would have to go get stuff yourself."

-- Chris reading The Foolish Tortoise to the kids in a British accent. So lucky to have him.

-- Still having three kids who nap at the same time and give their Mama a much-needed break during the long, hot summer.







-- Surprise 65th birthday party for Maw Maw Judy, at her own house. I gave her a huge Medicare card to commemorate -- because I am goofy!










-- Finally getting to announce that Nene was expecting a baby!



-- After fighting through her terrible stage fright, Ellie went on stage to perform a musical for Summer Music Camp in Fairview! She was so proud of her first performance, and so were we, of course.


-- My birthday visit from Sissy and Maw Maw Judy and the lights went out -- how exciting!


-- We finally have a wheelchair lift on the big Nissan van -- woohoo!


-- Ellie singing "Woah, woah, woah your boat, gently down the stweam. Melanie, Melanie, Melanie, Melanie. Like a pot of stweam." I can still hear her sweet little voice.








-- My little girl starts Kindergarten. No way!










-- We were sad to leave Ms. Paula when the boys moved to a new school, but overjoyed that the boys' fantastic new teacher, Ms. KimberLeigh, wasn't moving, and they could keep her all year! 


-- Checking out the NSU football game from the good seats with Bill and Phyllis was lots of fun. Thank you!


-- Riding in the big van to Florien, LA  each week with our friends Michelle and Phoenix to read books with families was always an adventure.









-- Taking a big family picture is a great excuse to visit with plenty of aunts, uncles, and cousins. 















-- Thanksgiving fun at Sissy's and with the New Orleans cousins, aunts, and uncles.







-- Baby Shower season began for Nene and her soon-to-be adorably rotten Isabel.








-- Flu x 3 kids= missing out on a little  of the Christmas fun, but enjoying a quiet day with Maw Maw Sheryl, Paw Paw Travis, and Maw Maw Frances in Zwolle when they were finally fever free was a Christmas miracle!








-- Just after Christmas #2 in Covington, we got to meet the best gift for the new year -- baby Isabel!