Last week (maybe? POSSIBLY the week before) was picture day at school. I don't think I've ever purchased an actual school picture because we can take much better pictures, but they do go in the yearbook. So Sage always chooses her ensemble with care, and she woke up early this year to ask me to curl her hair. I think that they should take school pics the moment kids get to school and not 4 hours later after lunch and PE, but few take my advice. So THIS pic is probably better than the actual school one will be. I think Sage looks beautiful. Also, I am SO happy that she is currently into bows again!!! I don't even question it, but I most definitely go with it.
Our sweet friend, Cailin, celebrated her 9th (yikes!) birthday this past Saturday, and she chose something as unique as she is: a yoga party! We're kind of a packaged deal, so if you invite one kid to something, the other is going to show up. No one minds, and I think that they kind of expect that. Jaggar was up at 6:25 on Saturday morning, "Is it time for the birthday party???" He LOVES birthdays. Although, he was upset that Cailin wasn't allowing him to open her presents for her. The nerve. So, not really knowing what to expect, we headed to the yoga studio that morning. I didn't really know what Jaggar would do, but he grabbed a mat and plopped down right next to Sage. I had NO idea I'd be as thoroughly entertained as I was. Jaggar was SO into it.
Getting ready to begin.
And there they go.
Seriously, I've never laughed so hard.
He never moved. He never ran off of his mat or ran over to me. He was focused, and of course, Sage was too. ESPECIALLY when they did the headstands. She has been practicing those at home for weeks. For whatever reason, the kid is on her 5th year of dance, yet she will tell people that she's a gymnast.
Cute, cute. And don't you worry. I did take video. You are so welcome for this video here.
I am not shy about saying that dogs aren't really my thing, and that goes especially for my own. I just think that it's way too much work for something that isn't human. But I am far outnumbered in that sentiment compared to the other members of this family, particularly this little boy. Jaggar LOVES his dogs, and as far as our 2 go, they definitely fulfill their purpose in providing joy to the kids by letting them do pretty much anything to them. And we never have to worry about the dogs hurting them. Otherwise, the dogs' time here would have ended long ago. So they are good for that, and they ARE good dogs. They're just...dogs. Jaggar is ALWAYS saying, "Mayer's my friend. And Chanel's my friend." So cute. I tried to get that on video, but this is the best that I could get. Notice Jaggar would rather say his favorite word instead. I think part of why he loves to swim so much is because he can be outside and play with them (squirt them with pool toys while they try to run). I got some adorable pictures of Jaggar with Mayer the other day. Chanel wasn't into posing.
Jaggar is always trying to ride Mayer.
This picture is like a miracle. My mom suggested giving this to Travis for Father's Day. He'd probably love it as a key chain. Travis is crazy about Mayer. He just thinks he's awesome.
Sweet, sweet
This is the best that I could get of him with Chanel.
5 1/2 months (25 1/2 weeks)I had such big plans for chronicling my pregnancy...most of which have failed. :) Oh well. I can't even blame all of it on the past month and a half. It's just really hard to do those pinterest ideas when you have 2 other children. I'm not exactly the craftiest person alive either. That's what friends are for, right? Nonetheless, I am almost 6 months pregnant as of next Wednesday. People say, "Oh, you're getting a belly now!" Um...I should hope so at this point. Otherwise, we could have a problem. At my last dr visit 2 weeks ago where I took the glucose test for gestational diabetes, Dr Collins said, "Do people know you're pregnant yet? Because you're still so tiny." I think they tend to forget, but even so, I still have a close to full size baby in there, so...hold the door! Let me go first. Carry my bags. Let me sit down. :) Not that I'm demanding.
This baby is very active, particularly when I lay down. He's already falling right in line with the other two! God knows that the rule of thumb is to go hours without asking for a thing until Mommy decides to chill out. It's a born instinct clearly. I have no out of the ordinary cravings really. I eat to survive, basically, these days. Heartburn is starting to kick up a notch, and that's something I've always had with the others as well. I've always heard that means your baby will have hair, but I actually saw something on TLC where that is true. Something about a hormone...anyway, it's proved to be true with the other 2.
I did give natural labor a thought, not because I'm really into anything natural (see my appearance?), but because I didn't want to pay anymore money than I already am. But with Braxton Hicks having already begun, I can safely tell you that no price is too high for the good ole epidural. Travis already informed me that he wouldn't be in the room if I even attempted it. He'd be like the dads in the 50s or whatever that just waited to hear the good news. :) Let's see...even though you're not supposed to lay on your back after 4 months (because of the weight of uterus/baby pressing down on vital organs), I did it anyway for comfort. However, that isn't able to do be done anymore without feeling like I'm suffocating. Jaggar is STARTING to say that Sage's old room is the baby's room, but I'm still not sure he processes what that means. Because most of the time when I ask if we're having a baby, he says, "No, we have to get a doggy in my belly." OR, "We have to buy a baby." I think I'll just wait to show him in December.
I really enjoy pregnancy. I feel good. This is going to sound arrogant, I suppose, but honestly, I think I look great. I'm not that person that when complimented says, "Ugh...no way. I'm huge." because...it's not true. :) I love a pregnant belly, especially my own. In the hospital and the days and weeks after we came home, I wondered, "Why this? How am I going to do this?" It was already a challenge to be so close to Christmas, but then everything was turned upside down. BUT...in spite of all of that, I still trust that God had a divine time that goes above how I think and what I can see, so I trust that. When we first came home, I read a verse in my Bible that basically said, "God isn't worried." So if He isn't, I'm not either. And because of that, I enjoy pregnancy and have peace knowing it is well.
This really doesn't look that out of the ordinary to me, but maybe one day, it will. I read in my books (when I take the time to do it) that your belly button will be inside out now. That has never happened to me (grateful too, btw), but it's like not even CLOSE. Like my belly button ring isn't mildly tight or anything, which is odd, but I'll take it.
When Sage was 2 1/2, our church opened a Mom's Day Out, which is now that and a school. Sage was one of the founding members, and looking back, I would have never put her in as early as I did. She hated it up until she went to K4 preschool at another school all together. Granted, her teacher at our church acted like she never wanted to be there, but I still just think it was too young. Once she started in that, she never stopped going to SOMETHING. She only went 3 days a week, but it was still something she didn't have to do...I'm glad that with Jaggar that I've done things differently. I know now that once school starts...it NEVER ends. It's a driving force to your schedule and your life basically.
Jaggar and I are home a LOT, and I love it because it's a luxury that children don't get for long enough. I think people are nuts with all of the stuff that they put their kids in these days: dance, soccer, cheer, basket ball, tennis, golf, pageants...they never have time to just PLAY. I think that's a problem. I love being home with my kids, and it's a blessing that I don't take for granted. Jaggar will have to go to preschool next year because I think it's in his best interest to not be traumatized when he goes to kindergarten, as well as his teachers not being traumatized. :) I told Travis, "He needs to learn...how to listen." I mean, it's kind of true. He basically does what he wants here, so being seated and being told what to do and when to do it for 8 hours in school would be a shock. So, until then, we enjoy each other.
This ipad case is like the greatest thing ever to him. He calls it his "puter" because it looks like a computer to him. He loves the Disney Jr app on it because he can watch all of his favorite shows with the swipe of his finger. Sidenote: Sage tried to swipe the screen of our desk top yesterday. Technology is scary.
Daily. He hikes his pants up as high as he can and waits for all to laugh. :) This is a FUNNY child. The other day, he didn't take a nap, and I said, "I am not happy with you." He said, "Okay...well, tell me when you get happy," as he walked away. It was totally innocent on his part, too. What could I do but laugh?
We swim pretty much every single day, minus the past few rainy ones. It will be a sad day when it's officially too cool to do that.
:)
He plays a mean game of hide 'n seek. He really thinks that no one can see him. Too cute. He's literally laying in the middle of the floor and saying, "Come and find me!"
One of the reasons that I nag Travis so much to get things done that seem like big tasks...is because I know that he can do just about anything. When we first moved into our house years ago, there was something (I can't even remember what it was now) that was messed up for over a year. He knew it was. I knew it was. And then one day, he just came in and fixed it in about 5 minutes. I remember going, "Um, why the heck didn't you do that a YEAR AND A HALF AGO?" He laughed and said, "I don't know." He's done that to me NUMEROUS times, so now, I can pretty much drive him crazy about anything because I know he is capable to get done what I want done. I simply want him to fulfill all of his potential. :) So a few weeks ago, I informed him that I was almost finished with my 2nd trimester of pregnancy and reminded him that there are only three to make a full grown baby ready to be birthed. I've got several irons in the fire when it comes to this child's room, but very few of them are complete yet. (Translated: None of them are complete or even started.)
None of them could really even begin until the room was painted. Enter Travis. Everyone thinks I have it made being married to a painter. That would be false. Apparently, I don't pay him enough like his other customers so I'm not high on the list. But where I don't fulfill in payment, I can fulfill in causing misery. You ladies know what I mean. So since yesterday was LABOR DAY and Travis took off work early, I thought "What better day to paint HERE?" He didn't seem to agree. It was 5:00 before he got started. He asked me what exactly I wanted done. Really? Knowing we had 3 different paint colors sitting upstairs, I didn't really know why that question was necessary. BUT beginning at 5pm and being completely done at 9:30 pm (and eating dinner in the midst of that), he did complete 2 of the 3 tasks I had for him to do yesterday: painting the baby's room and the boys' bathroom. Completely. Two to three coats in about 4 hours or less.
The kids just thought it was AWESOME to watch him paint. Jaggar said, "Daddy, that paint is so beautiful." Ha! I love him.
The dresser that was Sage's was pulled from the wall, and we discovered this: her chewed up gum collection that she apparently hid...in the floor behind it for God knows how long??? We called her upstairs and said, "Sage, we pulled your old dresser out..." she said, "I already know what you're going to say." Chrissie said, "That is awesome and disgusting," which I found to be an accurate description of children.
Here it is...one last look at Kevin's work that he did 8 years ago now. Sigh... I just didn't think that pink giraffes were appropriate for this new boy. Travis sanded it down and put 3 coats on this wall so these are but a memory. The color I chose is called Winter's Day. Travis and I go round and round about colors. I wanted a very, very light gray, and he was pleased with what I chose.
And here is the boys' bathroom in Ocean Fog. This bathroom was hot, HOT pink. I have this color--Ocean Fog-- more than any other color in our house. It's in our family room, half bath, and Sage's room and bath. It's so soothing and pretty to me. So...we have a start. Up next on Travis' list for this week is the crib, and I have a really fun color picked out for that. Stay tuned. :)
If you've been on facebook, this picture isn't new, but I think this is the first time that I've turned my laptop on in a month. :) Look at the difference in Sage in one month. Travis could have cried seeing that picture on the left. This is from our beach trip in July, and the one on the right is about a month later. Travis said, "Why didn't God tell us, 'Hey, look at your kid. She's starving.'?" I said, "He DID. Because you know how most people realize there's a problem? Their child passes out or goes into a coma. OR at the least goes into ICU." He most certainly did tell us. I'm so grateful for her health that is PROSPERING in the midst of an ugly illness. Just to educate a little, because I knew nothing about diabetes and the majority doesn't either, let me give just a brief overview of what's happening. For whatever reason, which we know is evil, Sage's own body began attacking itself and destroying the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. Insulin opens up the cells so that food/sugar can get into the cells and be used for energy. Without it, the sugar stays in the blood stream, creating high blood sugars and, eventually, sickness...and even more eventually death. Sage was essentially starving because her cells couldn't use the sugar from food for energy. She's not eating more. Her body is able to use the food because it's now getting the insulin it needs. Without insulin, she would die. This is serious. And it's not right.
I don't plan on all of my posts being about diabetes. Don't worry about that. But it's certainly something we are walking through right now. Again, I say through. My stance on it will not change. This isn't lifelong for us. This isn't going to run through our family. Because you know why? God's word tells me it is NOT. And His word is so powerful that if He said that the sky was purple, it would change before your very eyes. There is everything in God's word to tell me that this isn't going to last. Would you like a few? I thought so. Psalms 103 "He heals your diseases--every one!"
You know what else He does? Psalms 103:6 "God makes everything come out RIGHT, He puts victims back on their feet." Diabetes...it's just not right. Psalms 103 says "God's love is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear Him, making everything right for them as their children as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever He said."
Isaiah 54:11-17 11-17"Afflicted city, storm-battered, unpitied: I'm about to rebuild you with stones of turquoise, Lay your foundations with sapphires, construct your towers with rubies, Your gates with jewels, and all your walls with precious stones. All your children will have God for their teacher— what a mentor for your children! You'll be built solid, grounded in righteousness, far from any trouble—nothing to fear! far from terror—it won't even come close! If anyone attacks you, don't for a moment suppose that I sent them, And if any should attack, nothing will come of it. I create the blacksmith who fires up his forge and makes a weapon designed to kill. I also create the destroyer— but no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged. Any accuser who takes you to court will be dismissed as a liar. This is what God's servants can expect. I'll see to it that everything works out for the best." God's Decree.
Nothing is going to come of diabetes. It just can't last. Some people, particularly those that seem to know someone closely with type 1, almost ignore me when I say these things. I don't understand that. But I also don't care. SOME...well, one I'm going to steer clear of like I would a stomach virus, almost revels in her grandson's blood sugars and dealing with this mess. My identity, nor Sage's identity, nor ANY of our identities are found in a disease. What is that? I can actually understand trying to find it in income or clothing or even drugs....but a sickness? Give me a break. Jesus is just the best thing out there. He WORKS. He fulfills. He cannot fail. He backed these promises up with His own flawless name, and I believe nothing less than what His word says. My stance on it won't change. So yes, ask me how Sage is doing. She's doing great! I appreciate that. But the best thing you can do is speak these very words over her because they are working and changing a very unpleasant current reality. I can promise you that.
So we step praise: Her sickness makes her healing. You don't experience healing without sickness. I'm so thankful that my pancreas WORKS. You don't think about those things. I'm thankful that I spent years of my life looking at food and measuring it...cause guess what? It's not something I had to learn on top of everything else for this time. That part was easy! Thanks, devil, for that. I learned a little something. I'm thankful I have the ability to learn all of these math problems to figure out how much insulin she needs. I'm thankful for discernment that goes outside of a book to say what I should really do on a given day for her. I'm thankful that I'm learning how to cook a little bit. I made a roast. Miracles abound. I'm thankful that Travis is working a lot and for good parents who are willing to help and being blessed with provision to pay for all of it. I'm thankful that I am a little obsessive when it comes to routine and organization. We have to be right now. I am full of gratitude because God, in all of His wisdom, saw hardship coming and already gave me what I'd need to get through it. Try it.
As of this week, we have a 2nd grader in the house. In my mind, I still keep thinking 1st. I don't really know why. With the past few weeks, this school year brought an anxiety that far surpassed anything I could have imagined when she went to kindergarten. Forget what she's learning. Are they keeping her alive? Do they know what they're doing? Can I trust them not to screw up? Of course, Sage is oblivious to all of that. I called the school shortly after we got out of the hospital to meet with the teacher and nurse beforehand and set up what's called a 504. This just legally binds them to do what needs to be done for her and basically not discriminate against her grades should she need to stop doing something (a test, PE, whatever) based on symptoms of high or low blood sugar.
God literally smiled upon us with the teacher Sage got this year--Mrs. Robbins. I instantly felt good about her when we got her letter in the mail welcoming Sage to her class. I felt her passion in reading that in how she felt about her job and children. In orientation, I watched her go around and individually introduce herself to each child. She reminded me of Sage's kindergarten teacher, who I loved so much. In the meeting with the nurse and teacher, Mrs. Robbins was taking notes, asking questions. I SO appreciated that. And the nurse is wonderful too. I let her show me what to do in drawing up insulin, and we talked about all of my concerns for a LONG time. She said that she wouldn't hesitate for a second to call me. And this week? They've all worked so wonderfully with Sage. The nurse called me twice on the first day of school and emails me regularly. Sage is doing great at school. I've never been more thankful for our first Friday because I am exhausted, but we have made it. And though it's a lot of work for now, I am thankful to have these people--Mrs. Robbins and Nurse Hubbard--caring for my girl and considering it a privilege. Because that's exactly what it is.
Ready for her first day. She was so excited, a complete contradiction of how I was in school.
And Jaggar? He was actually THRILLED with Sage at school. That's terrible, isn't it? He really loves to play alone. Sage is not like that at all. She wants Jaggar playing WITH her. So she tries to force him to play with her all the time, and if he's into a show or a certain toy, he is not interested. This causes for lots of fighting. So on her first day, I said, 'Jaggar, do you miss Sage?' Without hesitation, he said, "NOOOPE."
2nd grade. Jaggar's head is down because he chose that moment to spit. Awesome.
I am a full 5 months and a week...I think...pregnant now, by the way. I'm doing an awesome job chronicling that. I had so many pinterest ideas for photos and capturing pregnancy...and it's just not happening.
You can see how thrilled he is about this kiss.
Baby. She was so excited to have a desk this year. I walked her in because she SAID that she didn't remember where the classroom was. Turns out, neither did I because I passed it up. I'm glad that I was able to walk her in though and get a picture of her at her desk.
And here's Jaggar on our morning car rides to school. He likes to take a small toy in the car for the ride. :)
Sage started 2nd grade today. Can you believe it? I can't. I will post more pictures on that later. She was excited, and the nurse has already called me to let me know that she's okay. Thank, God. To say that this would be a difficult time for us...for ME...I speak for me, would be the understatement of my lifetime. My personality demands answers. It demands 1+1 to equal 2. And now? None of that applies. I guess you don't walk by faith living like that, which maybe you should do it beforehand. Because all other options are out for me now. I can read (optional) or listen to (sometimes not optional) the hundreds of bleak statistics of diabetes. The popular "It's just a lifestyle change" is funny to me. Yes, because my 7 year old clearly needed to straighten up her unhealthy habits. I just wonder if they have any idea the depth of what we really do day to day with Sage now just to live. EVERYTHING has to be thought out. They say you can live very normally, but when you take your kid trick or treating, do you want them to have only one piece of candy without a shot? Do you want to have to force your child to eat the food she said she'd eat beforehand but later realized she was full but has to eat anyway because she had a shot for it that will drop her if she doesn't eat what the dose was for? I don't always "preach" to all of these people, and I don't think I'm wrong for that. If someone came up to you and said, "The sky is brown. IT is not blue." Would you waste your time and energy trying to convince them otherwise? Why would you argue with a fool? If you did, maybe you have more time and energy than I do, but I don't waste my energy on things that don't matter.
We know where this came from, but as believers, we also recognize that God was and is in complete control. This can be assuring and at times difficult for me. There are days where it seems almost unbearable to think past the current day. God, hear me. See me. I've been faithful to you with my life. Not perfect. But I have tried. When I have blown it, you haven't even punished me like I deserved. Why this? Why now? Why now? Why HER? I waited so long for a 3rd baby, and now I don't even know how I'm going to do it. Instead of anticipating the countdown, I'm actually terrified of it, wishing it were longer and sometimes...not at all. Brutal honesty. Painful..pain. And yet...He is there. I have a relationship with God, so I can talk to Him these ways and He's not scared by it. He already KNOWS I feel that way, so why try to cover it up with some made up holy prayer?
But in spite of all of these feelings, I have to believe Him. I believe He is who He says He is. I have NOTHING else. People will tell you anything, but He...He's the real deal. And I just have to believe that we are going some place that we're not prepared for until we go through this. Through this. And there are some things on the other side that we didn't even know existed, and it required a death in what we knew. What we were comfortable in. Wow. But there are some things in us, in ME, that have to die before we get there. I stumbled upon this message by TD Jakes a few weeks ago, and it was exactly what I needed to hear. We know the enemy is defeated. Yes. I believe good things are coming our way in spite of the heartbreak we feel. And because we join in His sufferings, we will rejoice in His victory. No one wants to do that. I don't. I don't have to curse diabetes. It's already been done. So I simply have to say, "Not my will...I trust you.."and put my hands up and nail what I want to the cross. My terms. My timing. My way. It's a tough place to be...to die to yourself, but also exciting. Because God put His OWN name on the line at the end of the promise, and He cannot break His own word. And because He can't change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. So until then, I just have to let go. Daily. Hourly. By the second.
Right after Sage's diagnosis, it seemed that everything was a challenge. Everything. VBS at our own church was rapidly approaching, and I had major concerns about sending Sage. Sage didn't even question NOT going, of course, so I never voiced my concerns to her. I NEVER told her she wasn't going. I actually made it a priority to make sure that she WAS going. But it definitely wasn't without anxiety. There's no nurse there. And I don't expect anyone to have a clue about what we are experiencing unless they have a child or they themselves have dealt with type 1 diabetes. I have a difficult time not rolling my eyes when someone hears what we've experienced and immediately says, "Yeah, I have type 2." Night and day. No where NEAR the same thing. I'm not saying that's not an illness. But the overwhelming majority of these people are overweight, middle age, still eat whatever crap they were eating before and take a pill at the end of the day.
I talked with Nikki, the children's director, about my concerns and asked what kinds of snacks they were having. Anyway, I talked to Sage before about what snack they were having each day. I sent her own things with her if she wanted them or needed them, but she ate what they ate each day...just sometimes less...like the day they had 4 cookies with marshmallow cream, Sage had 2 without marshmallow cream. She was SO excited about the last day because they were having cupcakes. It was almost pitiful to me at how excited she was. We take these things for granted. If you love sweets like me, then you take your kids out for some without thinking twice. Sage can have cupcakes...but not without insulin right now. So I figured out what the carbs were, and she could have half of one because there was no one there that could give her insulin. If there was some type of nurse or I was there, she could've had the whole thing. She said, "I'm taking that other half home." And she did. She had a great time each day at VBS. And each day that went by smoothly gave me a little more confidence that she would be fine.
At the end of each day, they would draw out names for prizes. These included glasses, stickers, tattoos...just little things. I always got there during this, and I noticed a lot of kids getting called a lot. I asked Sage, "Have you been called once?" Nope. No big deal but I just wondered. They could get their names entered in the bucket several times for: 1. being there. 2. bringing a friend. 3. bringing an offering 4. bringing a Bible. So, anyone could have 4 chances. We were obviously there. I brought her offering the first day. I didn't even know about any of these "added names" until the day before the last day. Sage told me this, and I said, "OH! Well, we'll definitely bring an offering and your bible and you will be there." She wanted to invite a friend, but it was too early to call her on that morning. This day counted the most because the last day was the day they were giving the BIG prizes away. These included razor scooters (4 different ones) and a DS. And Sage said, "I really hope I get that pink scooter." They had one pink razor scooter, and she had her eye on it and was talking about it a LOT the night before the last night.
So we did all we could to get her name in. 3x. Was it LIKELY in the odds? No. And we just don't typically win that kind of thing. It always seems to be a kid I have never seen, and that's fine. It's more likely you WON'T get that kind of thing than you will. But as I walked in on that last day knowing they had already drawn for those big prizes or were getting ready to, I couldn't help but think, "God...if you were ever going to do something really cool. If she could win that scooter at this time of all times, it would be awesome. It would just be FITTING." She wanted it so badly.
So when I walked in, they were calling names for the little prizes: glasses and stickers again. Sage actually did get a sticker, which was nice. I'm glad her name was called. Then I watched them scoop all the names up and put them back in. Heather said, "OKAY...is everybody ready for the big prizes???" Kids screamed. She said, "Are we going to praise God if we win?" YEEEEAH. Are we going to praise God if my friend wins?" *cricket, cricket* Just kidding. They screamed then, too. Maybe the crickets were more in my head. And they picked up the bucket to draw. I didn't even know what the first prize was. I honestly couldn't bear to watch Sage's face. I was sitting at a table to the side talking to some friends. Heather reached in and pulled a name out....."SAGE SPENCE!" No way. But I had no idea what she won. Was this really the big prize? I asked someone, "What did she win?" They said, "The pink scooter." Tears came to my eyes. Lori and others were coming over to me saying, "Did you see???" I watched Sage come around wheeling her prize with such a smile on her face. She said, "God heard me. I prayed I'd win!" All the adults and workers were so glad for her. Heather said, "I was so happy to see her name."
I was so grateful. Because it was more than a scooter. It was hope at just the right time. Renewed hope that God heard us. Heard HER. And He'd continue to do so. You have never seen a more proud child. She wanted to relive it, she said. Be back in the seat and hear her call her name again. Every girl in that room wanted that pink scooter, and Sage won. She waited all day (which turned to 8:30 at night when he got home) to SHOW Travis, not tell him, and he was shocked and also so thrilled for her. We were so glad FOR her. Look at that face. It has already gotten a lot of miles on it.
In order to distract from the day from hell I've had and to shine some overdue spotlight on Jaggar, I wanted to put some pictures up that are beyond overdue. We've been swimming in all this other stuff lately that I haven't had time to do...much of anything, it feels. But Jaggar is still himself in all of his glory. He is such a BOY. His favorite word for months has been one I'd hoped would go away but, alas, it has not...it is..."butt." And I hear it a LOT. I expect these things from like a 7 year old boy...not a 3 year old. He says it 24/7. I've threatened him for it. Carried out the threat by spanking him for it. Raised my voice (yelled) at him for it. It doesn't matter. Some days, I just give up. Like at night when Travis says, "Good night, Jaggar." And Jaggar smiles and says, "Good night...butt." I can't help but laugh out loud. One day at dinner, he kept saying it, and I said, 'If you say that again, I'm going to wear you out." Well...he said it again, naturally. And I did what I said I'd do. He said, "But I didn't say BUTT!" I said, "What'd you say then?" He goes, "Um...I said....dinosaur." Sigh. Yes, so close.
He's a lot of fun, and even though he's a tough boy, he is very loving. I don't know if he's still oblivious or in denial about the baby...or both, but we are NOT having a baby, according to him. There is no baby in my belly. He told me tonight, "We just have to buy a baby in your belly." I said, "Well what's in there?" He said, 'Well...nothing....um I think I'm going to get a doggy in my belly." He has said that for months, and I truly believe he will be disappointed when we don't have a new puppy soon.
He loves his animals. This picture is truly worth a thousand words. He has to make sure that they are "all closing their eyes" and will ask me about each individual one and if they are following the protocol of closing their eyes. They cannot be laying down in the wrong direction and DEFINITELY cannot fall off the bed. That is devastation. They also cannot be overlapping one another. I don't know how he sleeps, but he can't seem to do it any other way than this.
This is older and at the beginning of summer. The good ole days, if you will. I feel sure that my best days ARE ahead and I won't long for times past like I do now...today is just not that day. Life was so SIMPLE here. Sage thought it was awesome to dress Jaggar like a girl, and I realized that I never got the pictures off my ipad. He looks embarrassed here, but he actually...
thought that it was hilarious and great. Sage took these as she was thrilled with her work.
When I took Sage to her pediatrician that Tuesday in July and ended up being sent to Children's, Jaggar was with us. But then Travis took him home, and Sage and I didn't come home from the hospital until Friday. I think that traumatized Jaggar somewhat. He was with a different babysitter every day that week, and he was too little to understand what was going on. Travis would work as much as he could before driving back to Birmingham. One evening, he brought Jaggar with him. Travis called and said that it took him longer to get on the road to the hospital. He was getting ready to walk out the door, and he couldn't find Jaggar. Where was he? Naked with sunscreen on himself ready to hit the pool. :) He had better plans than a hospital visit.
