Life is a beautiful struggle

This is long overdue.

(We've been full-on potty training and then I've been sick on top of that---so exhausting!)

I wanted to thank each of you that has reached out with encouragement, good thoughts, and prayers for our little baby's heart.

We belong to each other. You've revealed that truth to me over and over and over again. 

In the minutes, hours, days after I posted about little Pat's heart, prayers, words of encouragement, kind thoughts and personal experiences came pouring in. We were embraced and uplifted in love by so many people---some we've never even met.

Amazing! (My sweet friend's prayers for me to be amazed have been answered in more ways than one)

The echocardiogram revealed that our baby's heart has healed. The perinatologist spent a lot of time looking at our baby's tiny beating heart. He said there might be an itsy bitsy, pin-sized hole, but the ultrasound couldn't demonstrate it definitively. 

He said our baby's heart was beautiful.

See? Beautiful.  

I'm thankful to have walked through this experience. The month of waiting for our scan grew and blessed me in ways I never expected or knew were possible. 

So. Thank you.

Sharing with Ann.

Dear Harvard,

I realize that the freshman class of 2028 may not be on your radar just yet, but I wanted to keep you apprised of two little girls that you are really going to want at your university. In fact, I would go so far as to say that you should go ahead and put them on your waiting list, right now.

You might be wondering how I can make such a bold statement when my girls are just north of a year. I'm happy to explain.

Parenting Magazine came out with a great checklist in their April 2011 issue to determine if your child is gifted, or just smart. This list gives me and thousands of other mamas the opporunity to determine that my daughters are gifted, just like that!

I know you need evidence. I've compiled a summary of my findings below:

1. The girls have impressive memories. Hadley only had to be shown one time how to blow kisses sign "thank you".
2. They both have great, very sophisticated senses of humor. Burps and toots don't result in so much as a smile.
3. They play intensely. They will pour over puzzles and books for hours.
4. They have unbounded intellectual energy. They will tirelessly try to figure out how things work.
5. They are great problem solvers too. Brynne will look at a toy under the couch from every angle before determining the best method of retrieval
6. They are self-starters--they practically teach themselves!
7. They have great creative instincts--they love making music and love to dance with or without music.

I can now say, with absolute certainty, that my daughters are geniuses. It really would be in your best interest to snatch them up before it's too late.

Sincerely,

Julia Jenkins

If You're Thankful and You Know It--Clap Your Hands!

152. Smooth sleep transition with Daylight Savings Time for the girls (and Mama too).

153. Playing in the leaves.

154. Eating the leaves.

155. Fellowship at church.

156. Brynne's two new teeth.

157. Pictures!

158. Hadley loving kale chips.

159. Devouring an entire roast duck with my husband.

160. Hadley kisses.

161. Playing outside in November.

162. Playing with blocks outside on a blanket.

163. Watching Brynne learn how to clap.

164. Hand clapping Pease Porridge with Brynne.

165. Exploring faces.

166. Brad getting to be the first one to see Hadley pull herself up to standing. 



So they all rolled over...

Today my daughter, Brynne, rolled over! It was very exciting--maybe only to me and my husband, but I'm sharing with all of you anyway! I had her up on the changing table, and she kept rolling to her side, so after I got her all ready for church, I put her the floor to see what she could do. Sure enough--within a few minutes she had worked herself to her side, and then--plop, she rolled herself on to her tummy. She gave a repeat performance a few moments later, so that her daddy could see her new trick. I was ecstatic--I don't think I could have been prouder of anyone in that moment than I was of her. I went on to share the news with just about everyone I talked to at church, texted my family and a few friends, and made her accomplishment my facebook status. Overboard? Perhaps, but I was pretty stoked, and graciously, people have celebrated this accomplishment with us with gusto!

Rolling over, I realize, is pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of one's life--I certainly don't recall the day when I rolled over for the first time-- but for our girls, it marks the first of many milestones, that I will lovingly journal about, with all the details that they aren't going to remember either. Then, one day, many years from now, they can know that they were a pretty big deal, and that we celebrated their first roll over, first step and first spoonful of smashed peas, among other things.

I have had the privilege of walking alongside a friend's last year with her son before he goes off to college.  I've listened to her both celebrate and mourn his last sporting event, last sport's banquet, last prom and last week of school. She has lovingly and painstakingly catalogued all his milestones and accomplishments, which were proudly displayed for all to see at his graduation party this afternoon. In the fall, she will experience the ultimate "roll over" moment as she takes her son to college, four hours away.

As I think about my friend, I think of where we are, at the other end of the parenting journey, with many more milestones and achievements yet to be reached by our girls--rolling over is just the beginning of many events to celebrate. My friend's journey reminds me that each one is precious, and should be met with great excitement--what a blessing and privilege to experience!