Ben:: 2 months

Happy 2 months, sweet boy!

We love you and are so glad you're ours!

 This month you are smiling a lot and cooing a lot.

 Wt: 11lbs 9oz (50%)

Length:  23 inches (50%)

 These legs are too delicious, soft, and squishy!

Lily's 5th Birthday

Five feels like its turning the corner from the toddler years to the childhood years.

We celebrated Lily this year, much like we did last year, with a pizza pool party in NY.

  Throwing her from four to FIVE (!) How can it be?!

 Pretty Brown Eyed Girl!

 Pizza Time!

 Hanging with the Boys

 Benny was there!

 Gifts- a jewelry box from Goo. 

I remember getting a similar jewelry box at a similar age.

The same butterfly ice cream cake as last year- just in pink & purple this year ;)

 The Perzanowski cousins- they all had the best time together!

A look back at her other birthdays:

One, Two & Two, Three

an Aug update on her 5 yr old stats:

wt: 38 lbs (25-50%)

ht: 42 inches (25-50%)

"Used to him"

One night we were walking into our church's VBS pushing the baby stroller, and Peter told me that he thinks he's used to the baby now.  Oh, my heart.  He is. He loves his little brother.  

We were just at a family reunion and Peter announced that his brother's name is Benjamin and he's 2 months old.

Seriously, who is this tall, handsome elementary aged boy who now lives in my house?!

EMU Check In

The week after school got out Peter had a planned stay at the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.

He was really pumped about it.  I am always shocked at how God provides for us in this boy's attitude.  He has always been able to tolerate the medical stuff and does it with ease. We had been telling him a little more about why he was going in and just more details about the situation in general.   He's done a great job at processing it appropriately.

 He had a 3 day, 48 hour EEG.  We found out that he continues to have generalized epilepsy with myoclonus.  However, his EEG on Keppra looks great.  While that isn't the outcome we were hoping for, we have to be thankful for the great way Keppra works for Peter.  And I have to trust God's plan for us, for Peter in this.  Honestly, Peter has been a delightful child this summer.  He is maturing before my eyes and turning into such a nice, smart, caring, loving, thoughtful boy.  We still have our moments but there is such progress.  He has learned so much and functions so well.  I am happy to talk about this to anyone who asks but I will probably keep it brief here out of respect for the handsome boy.

In a strange way, these scenarios are always clarifying for me.  It helped give me a better mindset as we went into summer.  This is our life.  This is his childhood.  It is my job as his mom to make him know how valuable he is.  It always gives me a softer heart towards him, more compassion, and helps tame my demands.  We don't do this perfectly AT ALL.  I fail DAILY.  But its been a joyful summer to love on this boy and help him to see how awesome God made him.  And He really did. It has been a rough life behaviorally with Peter but I think he is going to turn into the nicest kid.  He is so quickly repentant.  He thinks processes through so well.  I love his imagination.  He is so thoughtful of others.  

He put the castle together over the 3 days he was there!  Its no longer fully together.  There was too much play to be had... and toys were made for playing.

Skipwith House

I took some pictures of the house just before we started disassembling it.  I thought it would be fun for the kids to see and remember.  As I look back at these, I think 'should we just go and make friends with the new owners?'  Wouldn't it be fun to take the kids back for a visit, to see what the new owners have done?  But I'm sure it wouldn't feel like ours- ours is this stuff that is now at the new house. :)  As I looked back at the blog tonight, Mike and I both commented on the good memories from there.  These pics aren't a very 'thorough' job but still fun to have...  I am sure all of the other pictures here on this bloggy fill in what's missing from this particular post.

Dining Room looking into the (Galley) Kitchen

Standing on the stairway looking down

Looking into the upper hallway.

Bath was first door on left, Lily's room on left, Peter's room on right

 Lily's Room

 Looking across into Peter's room

Summer Week #1

Its been a great week.  We are moving out of post partum mode into fuller functioning mode.  Thank goodness- can't stay there too long or it'll make me crazy.  

After lots of wonderful help after the baby came, we have finally been on our own this week.

It's been nice to get into a little of a routine (afraid to speak too fast), walk again in the mornings, and I have enjoyed the time with alll of the kids.  I've tried to be intentional with our time, "plan the work and work the plan", and its been nice.

Its been a good groove with swim team in the morning, a late morning-midday activity, naps :), and then VBS in the eves.  Its been really sweet.  I've been trying to be realistic with what we can do and not overdo my expectations so I can be present with the kids instead of in my agenda. 

My Uncle Richard and Aunt Jane came to visit!!

 Morning swim team- Peter is second from left.

We made some progress into a baby routine and schedule.  

It worked well to feed this guy while the big kids were swimming.

We had playdates with friends.

Benjamin went for his first dip and slept through it- high maintanence I tell you.  ;)

 Mike got to play drums for VBS this week.  We all loved it.  The kids and I loved watching him and he got lots of comments about not knowing he could play the drums.  So more drumming may be in his future.

I love the community aspect of VBS week and seeing all of the grown ups act crazy to bring the Gospel and God's outrageous love to our kids.  And it was pretty sweet to sing and worship every night of the week.

Hail Jesus, You're my King.  Your life frees me to sing!

 The Village People led worship for Kingdom Come VBS 2014.

Mike got to wear his Moroccan Djalaba for his costume. :)

 And that is a wrap!

There could be less blogging in our future??

and more hanging out w/ this chubbiness!

"Special Drink" / Special Day

Pete woke us up this morning by telling us he had made everyone a "special drink".

It had bananas, Cheerios, marshmallows, water and milk.  He'd also set the table for everyone with their drink in a mug and a spoon beside it.  Sweet boy.

Doesn't that look appetizing?!

 Daddy and Peter went log walking.

The kids rode their bikes to and from a nearby park (with Daddy)!