Baby Boy

Baby Boy! Baby Z joined our team yesterday (June 25) at 1:39 PM. Weighing in at 7 lbs 10 oz and 19 1/4". He is so precious. Him and mom are doing great. His big sister and brothers love him so much already. We truly feel blessed.

Baby Z tomorrow!

Tomorrow we get induced! I can tell I am big and ready not only by the waddle but also by my 2 year old saying "Faster mommy, Go, faster!" We spent the night getting the house ready...as if the baby cares but it makes me feel like, okay, I can have a baby now! My parents arrived tonight and will watch the kiddos and bring them to the hospital as it gets closer to delivery. We leave for the hospital at 7:30 tomorrow morning to get the paperwork done and then I'll get my water broke and hopefully that will start contractions without any meds. I'm dialated to 4 and the baby is so low so hopefully that means a quick delivery. We'll keep you updated on Baby Z!

Parents are like God

During lunch today CZ asked, "Mom, are parents like God since they teach us what's right?" I said, "Yes, you are right, parent's are like God in that way." Proud! He's getting it! Then he added, "Except God doesn't fight." Humbled!

Actually, the thing I love about this child is also so frustrating...his memory! He doesn't forget a darn thing even if our last real argument was months ago. In my mind I'm thinking...please oh, please don't talk like that infront of your sunday school teacher...she'll think we have a bad marriage! Thankfully, right now his sunday school teacher's are Nick and Tricia!

Mine's Bigger!

CZ is the typical "almost 5 year old, older brother." He likes that he can run faster, that he is taller and that he is stronger than his 2 year old brother. After watching Popeye on Boomerang, he took eating spinach seriously..really believing he would be as strong as daddy the next morning. One day when MZ was taking off his clothes to get into the bathtub and CZ had to use the bathroom, MZ said "Hey, CZ I have a wee-wee like you!" And, CZ said in his lowest 5 year old voice "Yeah, but mine's bigger!" As a mother of 2 boys I can't believe how many times I hear them talk of that anatomy!

Real Moms... Real Jesus

I got this great book from the Mops Steering team called Real Moms...Real Jesus by Jill Savage (founder of Hearts at Home). They are going through this book as a study this summer. I'm going to miss being on the steering team! I've been reading through it (mainly as I sit at my weekly prenatal doctor's appointments!) and it has really challenged me and inspired me! One thought in the book really got me thinking and gave me a lot of hope as a young mom. In Chapter 3 it talks about minisitries. I know as moms it is hard to be in minisitries when our little ones take so much of our time. Jill Savage points out a new concept for me. "Jesus captures the opportunity right there in front of Him. Ministry for Jesus was the person standing in front of Him. And ministry for you and me is the person standing in front of us: our husband, our child, our friend, our neighbor (pg 51)." It challenged me to see each time I serve a drink to my kid's, bend down and listen to their stories, pack my husband a lunch or take a few minutes to talk with a neighbor, are all ministry in the eyes of God. That was so freeing for me! And convicting-I need to view just sitting and listening to someone as a ministry opportunity. Be encouraged! Your life is a ministry!

Strawberry-Rhubarb Jelly

Just wanted to share one of my favorite jelly recipes. This is from my grandma. It is sooo easy (the only kind of canning I want to do a week before delivery!) You don't even have to put it in a water bath to process it. This was JZ's first canning project-she is taking it to fair this year so we'll see how that goes!

Strawberry-Rhubarb Jelly

4 cups rhubarb, chopped
3 cups sugar
boil together for 10 minutes

add one 16oz frozen strawberry, sliced (I only added 2 cups sugar since the strawberrries had sugar added)
boil 3 more minutes

Remove from heat and add one box strawberry jello

Put in jars and place seal on top. Flip the sealed jars over for 10 minutes, turn them over again and you will hear the seals popping shortly letting you know that they sealed. So Easy!!

Favorite

This is one of my favorite video clips! Not only because it makes us laugh but also because it depicts what our life is like each day. I love capturing our every day moments on video. I know one day they will be priceless. Notice the wonderful background? It's amazing what a 2 year old can do during just one naptime!!! We bought more border last night and we are getting the nursery ready for Baby Z! I'd like to say this child won't tear wall paper down because my I'm a wiser mom by child number 4, but all I've learned is that I know better than to say that!

Don't Take Getting Dressed For Granted

Off to Camp

JZ took off this morning on the church bus for a 2 hour ride to East Iowa Bible Camp. I prayed extra hard for safety (and for sanity for the bus driver) when I saw twenty 7th and 8th graders (majority were boys) and lots of Mountain Dew! Poor bus driver! The boys were so sad to see their big sister go! CZ (who is almost 5 years old!) started a chant that JZ learned in softball but has become well-known in our family, "JZ we miss you! Come home! Come home!" They chanted it over and over, long after the bus had gone out of sight. Not ashamed, even as the mom's waving their children off, laughed. I miss her already!!!

Starting My Blog Finally

Well, we created this blog several weeks ago and finally I'm sitting down to get started! We have just two weeks left until Baby Z enters the world. But, I have a feeling it might be sooner! I've been feeling a lot of back pressure and contractions. Two weeks ago I was dialeted 2 cm. I'm hoping I don't go this week since JZ, who is now 13! will be at camp all week. In May we had a 3D ultrasound in Mason City on the way to the farm. We found out we are having another sweet little boy! The kiddos are so excited to meet their baby brother.

We are trying to prepare for the transition of adding a new family member. Last week the boys moved into bunk beds! It has been a blast for them even though we made a big rule that there is to be no talking after the door is shut. It is hard for a 4 and 2 year old to have that kind of self-control but after several nights of consistent consequences they are getting the hang of it!