Tubby time

Ephraim really needed a bath & i asked Cai if she could help me. Enthusiastically, she said, "GREAT!! Should i get on my SWIMSUIT??"
"Nah, let's just give him a quick dip, in & out..."
"Mom, we're running out of TIME for me to bath with my baby brothers!"
She looks at me like, "i'm entering puberty as we speak..."
Neil & i were remarking the other day that if she leaves home when we did, the littlest ones won't have very many memories of their big sister living with us.
Crazy eh?
i'm so grateful for this amazing 13 year spread in my children's ages. The little ones keep us all a little softer & the older ones remind us that this season is fleeting...


& just for fun, here's a picture she took of her other little friend. Our hero, mr. sunshine boy.
Till next time...
*other 2 pics from my sister stephanie

The Girls

The girls decided that since the boys got a new photo, they wanted one too.
i never thought i would be so *rich* with girls. Each one their own unique flavour...
God knew what he was doing when He knit our family together...

The View

i was *quickly* trying to nurse Ephraim.
It's a dumb idea to try to *quickly* nurse a tiny baby. It is something to be savoured and enjoyed, by both mama & baby - but i was trying to *get things done*...
Company was coming...
i needed to prepare supper...
We were just getting over the stomach flu...
i still needed to vacuume...
i hadn't done my hair - & i looked like a wreck...
Someone was yelling downstairs...

i gazed down at teeny Ephraim, in my arms, and i thought, "Hey, baby, why do you look so concerned?" i crooned love at him & smooshed our bodies together as i tried to kiss his soft little head. i concentrated on the task at hand & smiled down at my little babe...

& it made me wonder -

Had he read the concern etched on my face as i tried to rush him when he needed me?

Had his tiny beautiful face just mirrored my own?

It made me conscious of all my little ones.

i want their view to be peace, joy and love when they're lookin' at their mama.

i want little Ephraim to know that i'm delighting in him.

i want to *be* the view that is mirrored by happy, contented children...

the boys...

My sister took a new picture of "the boys" for me. She took so many cute pictures of Ephraim - i wish i had gotten her to take some of all 7.

Didn't she do a nice job?

In other news...

Neil's home.

Finally.

Could that week have passed any slower?

As soon as he got home, he went to the hockey game... i couldn't decide if i should wait up or not. Under normal, non sleep deprived circumstances, it would be a no brainer... but with teeny one only doling out 3 hour stretches if he's feeling especially generous, i wondered if i had better take any sleeping opportunity that came.

10 o'clock rolled around...

& i was still waiting up, despite my wee one sleeping.

Silly - i just can't help myself...

& then the phone rang.

"Hi! i'm coming - wait up for me would you?"

"What if i would have been sleeping?"

"i'd have woken you up."

He has the biggest crush on me... i can just tell.

Just admit it, adored one....

You missed me too.

& then, there was a moment...

More of the same today -
but now -
in the hush of evening, i can hear Ephraim's even breathing in his cradle beside me.
i hear Cairo turning the pages of her book in the room next door -
i hear... absolute silence from Gagey in his room - & no bumping or jousting or yelling... or worse, sickness - from the basement.
The laundry is done,
my kitchen is clean,
my babies are smooched & fed.
The cars are going by - but it's peaceful - no revving engines tonight - or noisy voices, or honking horns.
& in this moment.
i finally feel peace.
My little ones are tucked in their beds,
& it's time i tucked myself in my little bed too.

Hold me, Father - tuck me in too - breathe into me Your peace, Your calm, Your rest.