My tummy hurts

Jesi has been waking up the past few nights crying and complaining about her tummy hurting her. At first, I thought it was due to her belly button hernia, although, it is quite small and has not bothered her since her belly has went down many months ago. I remember at the age of 8 having horrible stomach issues. My parents were worried sick about me and I actually had lots of testing done to figure out the problem. The problem was me and not my belly. (I was dealing with some difficult transitions at school and I was just sick with worry.) Jesi is not complaining at all during the day but then she is with me all the time. She is more clingy than usual if we go out anywhere. The only time she complains is at night when she is "away from" me. I realized last night that I need to encourage her that she is loved and safe; I need to do a better job at hugging and kissing on her during the day which is so difficult for me right now during pregnancy. I am so not physical when I am pregnant. Last night, after the second time she woke me up, I sat and rocked her a bit letting her know she was loved and safe and prayed over her. When I laid her down, I let her know again that her tummy was OK and then she needed to sleep. She did not wake up again the rest of the night. I am hoping and praying that this is what is going on and I am not missing anything. Thankfully Jesus knows her better than I do so I am praying that He gives me wisdom and that He takes care of her in the meantime.

But I want to look like . . .

Bella told me today that Jesi let her know that she wanted white skin like her. I immediately thought, "Oh no!" I quickly said to Bella, "Did you tell her that her skin is beautiful like swedish chocolate?" Bella reassured me that was exactly what she told her. But the more I thought about it, isn't that the w e all are. One child wants to be bigger like the other kid. Another child wants straight hair like her cousin. Then, yet, another child wants her sister's color of skin. It was a good reminder to me to be careful not to desire another one's looks, behavior, possessions or way of life over the gifts that God has blessed me with.

It's been a while

I apologize to all of you who follow my blog. I reasoned in my mind that noone was really reading this and I am not sure what to say anyway. Well, I was wrong. I had felt like I should be keeping up with it but never decided to start back and then I saw a friend today who confirmed the decision to begin again. Thanks, Janelle!
I have recently been made aware of some very harsh discipline that happened at the creche where the kids were. Knowing about this explains some of the behavioral issues we were having and still do, on occassion. Of course, taking a child out of the only environment he/she has ever known and throwing them into a new culture, temperature, language, textures, etc. is reason enough for a child to have difficulty adjusting. I am so thankful that Kenson and Jesi seem to being doing so well. They are precious and we are truly blessed to love them.
What some of you may not know, is that I am 5 months pregnant. This came as a shock at first but a wonderful blessing. I had asked all the children at one time if they wanted another child and everyone said "YES". Jesi would tell me often that she wanted another baby. Each time she said it, I would say in response, "Well, you will just after to pray about that one." Sure enough she did . . . in the grocery cart, at home, in the car, at night. Her prayer was answered and I found out I was pregnant shortly after she started asking. The only dissappointment came when we found out we were having a boy and all the kids really wanted a girl. Kenson is still holding out that there will be two. . . ummm, no!
Happy Mother's Day to all of you who have the God given privilege to carry this title!

"Thank you . . .

for eats, for Bella, mommy, daddy, noah, asher going to Mema's, hairs, brush teeth, vitamins, monkeys, cows, ducks, fish, fork, brush hair, wilkenson, cows reading books . . ."
You have not lived until you've heard Jesi pray!

Big Change

First of all, we have decided to officially call Wilkenson Kenson. He did not like it a while back but has changed his mind and that is what he likes now. Jes has had the easiest time transitioning over. She immediately called him Kenson.
Second, starting Monday, Kenson will be a student at Will's school. After much thought and prayer, we feel like this will be best for him. The time in the car going back and forth from school alone with his daddy will be worth it all. I really don't know how he feels about it leaving and attending school. He got excited about spending time with daddy and getting to help him carry stuff into the school each morning but wants all of us to go with him. It was quite precious!

No "see"food

Ok, so lately I have been trying to help Jes and Wilk understand that they need to keep their mouths closed while eating. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done. They literally cannot seem to keep their lips shut while the inside of their mouth moves. This is totally baffeling to me. Asher even shows them how to do it. But the more we show them, the faster they chew with their mouth open. We have not been able to make them understand that they need to keep their lips shut but can keep the inside of their mouth open so they can chew the food with their teeth instead of letting it dissolve. Wilkenson tries really hard. He has started holding his lips shut with his fingers and when all the food in his mouth is gone, he will say very proudly with his arms up high, "TA DA!!!"

A new natural "do"

It took almost 4 hours and 4 different set of hands, but Jes finally is extension free :-). Her hair looked so adorable in a little fro, that we have kept it like that for 3 weeks now. She loves wearing headbands and I have bought lots of colors and sizes with bows to match. Her curls remind me of the spring that you take out of a writing pen. They are so small and tight but extremely adorable. I don't know that I will get tired of this do anytime soon.