babies on the brain

That pretty much describes us these days.

The girls are taking a special interest in caring for their baby dolls and it is so much fun to watch them become little mommies. Their faces show such concern and tenderness. Then they drag them around by the heel or squeeze the doll's head in, which is not quite as sweet. But somehow still endearing.

Today we spent the morning at the art museum making prints, building towers, cutting and glueing and painting and enjoying being together. Later when we were home, we crowded into the rocking chair - not sure how we all still fit but that may explain the broken chair arm - and read classic Winnie the Pooh stories.

After dinner I watched them dance in the living room wearing tutus (with Sophie also insisting on wearing a "super fancy shirt" which almost created an apocalyptic meltdown). I love everything about them when they dance - the way their ponytails begin slipping down and to the side, the wispy curls around their faces, Aida's giant smile and Sophie's serious concentration.

The baby is currently doing her own little dance. Perhaps she's preparing for her grand entrance? A pink elephant can only hope.

peace

Even after a rough day, how can I not be head-over-heels in love with that?

We have had some rough days, but mostly are thankful for a little bit of peace that has settled over us as we spend these moments together. The girls have been extra snuggly lately and this colder weather we are having this week is perfect for gathering under a blanket on the couch to read or sing or tell stories or just sit and look at each other. I am soaking these sweet girlies in.

* * * * *

Related, in a round-about way, is the way my daughters help me come to peace with my - how shall we say? - rotund figure. Last night, as Elijah turned off the light in their room and the girls' nightlight cast our shadows on the wall, Sophie announced, "Mommy, your shadow is fat!" Which was the perfect compliment to Aida's comment last week when, after observing the color of my dress, she stated very matter-of-factly, "Mommy, you look like a pink elephant."

photo shoot

Some days are fabulous. Children play happily. Mommy plays happily with them. Everyone is (at least somewhat) well-rested. I delight in these sweet gifts that God has given me.

Other days...not so much. Children whine, push, grab, scream, cry, and act like little savages. (Who is raising these kids, anyway?!) Mommy has little to no patience. Everyone is exhasuted. I start to get very...grumpy (that is putting it nicely).

But we have found an antidote to that 2nd kind of day around here. We call it the "photo shoot". Find the camera, set the automatic timer, grab crazed children, and dare them to make their silliest faces.

Works every time.

Because how can I not delight in this?

And they think it is pretty fun, too.

Christ is Risen!

It's been a while since I've posted. I think I'm turning a bit inward these days - must have something to do with an impending baby arrival and 2 sweet 3-year-olds who are in need of constant reassurance (that the wind won't blow them away, that the thunder won't hurt, that the baby clothes being washed and cradle being pulled into the house don't mean they are any less important...). And a husband who is amazing and has been crazy busy. And a house that is a disaster area.

But what a joy, no matter what else is going on, to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. We were definitely those who arrived at the 11th hour this year (see the Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom if you're interested), unable to make many Lenten services and then missing much of Holy Week. Somehow we all made it to the midnight Paschal liturgy, and it was with such gratitude that I watched my girls hold their candles high and sing with gusto "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!" (Although I have to admit, I'm not sure they were singing those exact words. Whatever they were, they were certainly close.)

And as I sat in the liturgy with Aida and Sophie in my lap and baby Lucy making her presence very well-known, I remembered last Easter, when the loss of our 3rd baby was still new and raw and stinging. I remembered the feeling of surrender, the gift of comfort in the words, "O death, where is they sting?...Christ is risen, and life reigns!" Thank God for His mercy.

So now we are in Bright Week, which Sophie thinks finally explains why it is still light when she has to go to bed. We'll continue to devour our fair share of chocolate and ice cream and leftover Pascha cheese. We'll sing "Christ is risen" for 40 days. And I'll keep hearing conversations like the one I heard last night coming from our girlies' room:

Sophie: "Christ is risen!"

Aida: "Christ is risen!"

Sophie: "He was ALIVE!...and He was a real boy."

Aida: "...Noooooo..."

(Elijah says my explanation of the Resurrection to my children was somewhat reminiscent of the end of Pinocchio. Seriously?)

for fun

Last week we went bowling with our twins group friends.

This was the girls' first foray into the world of the bowling alley.

It was magical

and exciting

and super fun.

In other news from our house:

Sophie is rockin' the side ponytail...

Both girls are rockin' the "fancy dress"...
And I have made it past the 31 weeks 3 days mark at which these beauties were born. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your prayers for me and our littlest one. She is moving around like crazy these days and I love every second of it.

dancing

Yesterday we danced in the living room, all 4 (5!) of us. The girls begged their daddy to play them a song from his phone that had "sympasizers" (that would be "synthesizers" - they are their daddy's girls in this regard) and we all held hands and went really crazy.

I only lasted about 2 minutes, however, so then I got to sit in a chair and watch my children. I have been taking a lot of joy in this lately, doing my best to appreciate these sweet moments for what they are, these last days of "just us" before our hearts and lives are expanded by the arrival of another little blessing.

Sophie danced with purpose. She assumed a graceful, serious look and tipped her head. She hopped and kicked her feet in a deliberate fashion. Her princess dress swirled and she delighted in twirling (if you used to read my old blog and recall Sophie's first twirl, you'll agree that not much has changed).

Aida took a more relaxed tone. She plastered a goofy smile on her face and shook her upper body to the rhythm. She particularly likes to move her arms up and down in time to the music, wagging her head back and forth. It's what we call "The Aida." She did a lot of that.

And then these sisters caught each other's eye and started laughing, spinning faster and faster until they were careening through the living room like kids playing "Dizzy Bat" and I was practically going into labor watching all of the narrow-misses and almost-disasters. We finally had to cut them off for pj time - I think they could have gone all night. Or at least for another half hour.

Sweet moments. Precious days. Thanking God for each one.

(Yes, even the ones like today when we ended up with poop on the floor - what?! - and a little bit of banishment to the bedroom for yelling at Mommy. Even these moments can be redeemed. So I thank God for them, too.)

california: revisited

I posted some pictures of our visit to the beach in Santa Barbara a while back and fully intended to post more pictures from that trip soon after. But, as I am attempting to slow down where I can, things like this little blog have slowed down, too (as I'm sure you've noticed).

I also think that one of the reasons I am terrible about posting vacation pictures is that I don't want to offend anyone. Are there equal amounts of everyone? Does it look like I love one sibling more than the other? Am I being ridiculous? Yes.

I loved this trip because I felt like we had some special time with everyone. That's not necessarily reflected in these pictures. Sometimes it's nice to put the camera down and just enjoy life. Family, I love you and miss you and thank you for showing us such a fabulous time.

Here are some snapshots of our time in CA.

(Look at my dad, then look at Aida.)