Babies, Brownies and Blessings

I'm super excited because in approximately 2.5 hours Mom is going to be here. She started the 382 mile trek after work today so her ETA is late. But it's today!! Bedtime prayers were full of concerns for Grandma's safe arrival: Please help Grandma to not hit other cars Help her to not get into trouble with the cops What if she has to pee? I couldn't help but chuckle...sounds like Grandma is a liability on the road in the eyes of our 3 and 5 year old! Tomorrow will be full of shopping so she won't have to bring the kids with her this weekend to run her errands. She'll have all three...without us. We are heading 385 miles south for my sis-in-law's college graduation. Kidless. 6 hours there. 6 hours back. 36 hours in between. Kidless. I'm really not sure who is more excited that Grandma's coming. :)

He was only in the tomb 2 days. Yet it seems I have already forgotten Him. It was not my purpose to forget. In fact, I purposed to remember. To remember the beatings. The whip-marks that were slashed upon His back. The quiet tolerance of the Man who had done no wrong. The blood dripping from his brow. His hands. His feet. His side. Oh how I cried when I pictured Him there. So distraught, for I realized I puth Him there. My sin. My disobedience. My stupid stubborness. I killed Him. Now, it's two days later and I'm ashamed to say that I have put from my head the things I did to Him. Life crept in. Easter eggs, Easter brownies, Easter cookies, Easter ham. Crowds and busyness. It's two days later and He is risen. He is risen, indeed! He has risen for me, victory over death! Victory over my sin. And yes, victory over my forgetfulness! For I carry with me His death every day that I live. It is only by His sufferings and then the power of our Father o...

It is little wonder my kids are picky eaters. Their mama is, too. I'm particularly finicky about textures. Onions, rhubarb, celery make me ((shudder)). I hate foods that have a crunch and stringy feel in my mouth. Other things just don't look good to me. Brussels sprouts...just can't do it. And I could go without foods that feel like pudding/custard but aren't pudding or custard. Today we had a brunch at Bible study and I was S.T.A.R.V.I.N.G. The day started with an early kindergarten orientation (7:45am!) so I was out the door with BigBoy #1 without breakfast. Ran from there, home to get Claire, then to church. The main course was quiche. Quiche is a little hit or miss for me. It's kinda fluffy and usually has stuff in it that I don't like. However, I was hoping (and praying if I may be honest) for a good'un. I was thinking cheddar cheese and bacon...mmm. Turns out we had one that looked a little, um, custardy. To make matters worse, it...

Sam doesn't call me "ponytail" anymore. Caleb calls a yellow dot a yellow dot instead of a red dot. Caleb says I love you even if we didn't say it first. Caleb no longer calls Bri "Daddy-o" Sam no longer puts his shoes on the wrong feet. The kids can both get up and get breakfast without me. Caleb doesn't pee his pants during the day anymore. I'm forever done breastfeeding. Caleb says he's hungRy instead of hungy. Claire has already said her first word besides Mama and Dada- Hi! The boys are old enough to know what they want and when they want it...NOW. Some days going to work is a "break". Some days staying home is wonderful. My "baby" is 10 months old... And in 13 days Bri and I will have 48 hours away to talk about our kids ( and anything else we want) without them interrupting us!

Every time I take my kids with me to the grocery store, doctor's office, church, I feel like I'm walking a thin line. One mis-step and the whole train derails. I just barely have control over my big boys. I think I can keep BabyGirl happy just long enough. But one strong gust of wind and we're toppling. One potty emergency. One hand stuck under the cart while it's moving (oh, it's happened!). One leg mysteriously wedged between the bottom of the cart and the iron rod that holds it in placed that took me and another delightfully helpful mother who recognized my plight (she also has a 3 year old) and came to the rescue of me and my crying and hopelessly stuck 3 year old all done to the tune of my double ear-infectioned baby girl's painful whine. I just wonder what a sight we are to behold...

Almost. Well, not really... As I was browsing through my emails today I happened to check out the subjects on some spam. Interesting, isn't it, what people think they can sell you? I'm a little annoyed that I need to have a separate email for people I actually want to hear from (due to the excessive spamsters out there) but such is life. So I have my spam account and my friend account. I must admit, the spam account is far more entertaining. Check out the subject-lines of a few emails in my inbox: Find out how Justin Bieber gets clear skin {Bieber-Fever anyone?} Cook, Boil and Strain with Ease! Cats Love this Scratching Board. {Not so big on cats...} Develop your passion for cooking {If they promised cooking would be easier I'd bite on this one!} Get your Snuggie Varsity today! {Already got it} Someone wants to buy your timeshare {Umm, don't have one} Are your Children Christian? You need to see this. {Hmmm} Wake up and Live! Find attractive singles o...

**The following post is rated PG-MWC (Married With Children). Read at your own discretion** I have birthed and fed 3 thriving children. While they have given me much, each has also taken something with them. Something I will never get back. BigBoy #1 took my D cup. BigBoy #2 took my C cup. BabyGirl #1 took my B cup. I do realize it could've gone the other way. I've heard complaints about the "endowments" some mothers get after nursing. While I don't want that blessing problem, my hips are looking larger these days. My chest and hips were much more proportionate before I was stretched out on the bottom gave birth and sucked dry on top breastfed 3 kids. Victoria's Secret Ubber-Padded Bra, here I come...

In the last 5 years my views on parenting have changed. Or should I say, my view on what makes a good parent has changed. When BigBoy #1 was BabyBoy #1 and then LittleBoy #1 he altered my thoughts on parenting. I discovered that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get him to sit still and play with a bucket of toys. I couldn't keep him from "being physical". I battled biting, hitting, tantrums. The things I was certain I wouldn't have to deal with. Because before I was a mom, I knew I could handle anything my kid could throw at me as I mentioned here . Prayers, tears, discipline, pleading, time-outs... Sometimes none of it seemed to work. I had ideas about what I would and would not allow. No McDonalds, no artificial colors and flavors, no video games, no Tom and Jerry... :) I have learned that a mark of a good parent is adaptation. The majority of the things I was stuck on were formed in my mind before I was a parent. It's sort of like t...

Big things have been happening at the Dickman residence. When we pulled out the bicycles at the beginning of spring (I'd like to think spring is here to stay!) we realized BigBoy #2 had definitely outgrown his 12" bike. At 42 inches he's the perfect height for a 16". Bri started browsing Craigslist for a high quality used bike. There are a few things we are willing to spend money on. Especially things we use often like shoes, strollers, carseats and bicycles. We found a Raleigh and 'though it required a drive to the northern 'burbs, it was perfect! A few days after surgery we surprised BigBoy #2 with his new ride. He was THRILLED! It didn't take him long to get used to the feel and he rode 2 1/2 hours the first day he got the bike. Nothing like the excitement of a child! BigBoy #1 is right on the edge of outgrowing his 16". After seeing how well BigBoy #2 fit on a 16" we knew for certain it was time to upgrade. He really fit bet...

On the heels of my last post  about feeling overwhelmed came one of the most difficult weeks for several people around me. Three families that I know have said goodbye to a loved one: baby, mother, husband. It has simply left me holding my baby more. Sitting with my children when they want to cuddle no matter how busy I feel. Telling my husband how much I love him multiple times a day. It is not until you say goodbye that you truly realize what you had.