A Happy Birthday Letter to Gideon

Gideon,
    Sometimes I feel bad that your birthday is on Valentine's Day. While the world is celebrating love, chocolates, and cheap stuffed animals holding hearts, we are celebrating you. Valentine's Day is a sweet day though, so your daddy always gets me those chocolate-covered strawberries I love so much along with valentine's for your sisters, because that's just what daddy's do. We bake you a cake, sing to you, squeeze on you, and get you presents too though, since your birthday will forever on trump Valentine's Day for me. You never mind sharing your birthday love, and I love that that's who you are. You really never mind sharing anything. I sometimes watch in confusion as you often sit next to a sister during a movie with a tiny corner of blanket to cover with, while the rest are bundled under wrinkles and layers of the same blanket. My heart swells when I'm handing out snacks, or dinner plates, or really anything and you deliver to everyone else before taking yours. Even playing with your sisters you are such a natural born gentleman with taking turns and sharing toys. You are the perfect Valentine's Day child. Such a lover, sharer, and giver of joy.

     As equally as you are sweet, you are courageous. Curious. Lover of wild things. You take risks that make my pulse race. At our non existent annual Kebodeaux award ceremony, you would receive the "resilience award". That's just a pleasant title for the award meaning you get hurt more often than any one else because you chase adventure, and often times split your chin open, bang your head, or bruise your tiny body while doing so. Then after a short cry you shake it off and do it again. Resilience award. At our award ceremony that is not even a thing. You're welcome son, but thank your daddy because you get this from him-not me.

  
You are smart beyond expectation. You drew the state of Texas on a magnadoodle at freshly 3 years old, when I didn't even know you knew Texas was in existence. I often think while Adeline and I are doing 1st grade school work you are jumping off of the couch saving Selah from pirates but really I think you are multitasking and learning to read as you fly through the air, past the ottoman, only to land on the dog/the pirate. Because when you pass by the table chasing Scarlet with a plastic sword and finish the sentence your sister is reading and she wants to punch you, please understand that it is only out of awe that you even had enough brainpower directed our way while fighting the lazy eye, underbite canine pirate in the living room. You are so bright my guy. You're welcome. Because I'm going to claim that trait.

    You are lover of the skies. The moon, starts, and sun. Every night you confess your dreams of being an astronaut, and I can't help but to listen to your stories of fantasies on rocket ships bouncing from star to star, planet to planet as I sit captivated by the way your eyes light up when you talk about exploring the moon. I can't blame you, dude. Space stuff is so cool. Like you. and your hair. because you have really cool hair. So cool that I get snappy at strangers who bend over to tell you it needs to be cut out of your face. You just swipe it to the side and hug them. Because that's how entirely cool you are, Gideon.

     Most days my mom uniform includes sweat pants, a tee shirt, and a messy bun. Some days I brush my hair, put some make up on, and wear denim. Every single one of those days you tell me I am beautiful. Every one of them.You usually don't want anything, and you always mean it. I'll never forget a few months ago, looking in the mirror at myself feeling pretty bad. Ryder was just a few weeks old, and I sat there with my tired eyes and observed a body I didn't even recognize. I took my hair down and started to brush 3 days worth of tangles as the lump in my throat grew and I fought tears. You walked in and saw me brushing my hair and you said with a gasp in your voice, "Mommy, you are so beautiful. I love you so much." and I love you way more than that sweet guy. I wish I could believe that this was exclusive to you and me, but it's not. On days that Adeline sits by her bedroom window playing dolls and the sun runs through her dirty blonde hair, you stop throwing pillows at her fan blades to tell her how beautiful she is. On days that Selah hijacks my make up and does some really interesting art things with eyeshadow all over her face, you tell her she is so beautiful even with make up that makes her look funny. Teenage girls walk in to Chic-fil-et next to us, and you charm them with compliments as they melt at the way you exaggerate your 'u' in 'beautiful'. You're going to make a stellar husband one day. Until then, I'm glad you're mine.

    You were my hardest pregnancy. You were my hardest labor. You have been the easiest baby, my Gideon. I'd do it all again and again for you. I don't feel a sadness because your older today, but I do feel an enormous amount of gratitude that I get the honor of watching your charm and love unfold into this personality I'm so in love with. You are so loved, Gideon. Happy Birthday.

A Sweet Spontaneous Summer Day

Philip and I were talking last night about how August is bringing a lot of transitioning for us as a family, but more importantly the kids.

Adeline is very much like me in the fact that she thrives in routine, prefers organization, and gets anxious when things aren't normal.
Philip and Gideon seem to be very opposite of us in that in the fact that spontaneity seems to bring them much more happiness and freedom than a schedule, plans, or routine. 

I know I struggle sometimes when things don't go how I thought they would in my head or when I'm out of my comfort zone, but I also know that some of my happiest moments came from out of no where. Nothing that I could have planned or controlled just spontaneous happiness free flowing in whatever form God willed it.

Last night in talking about how we will have to give the kids some extra grace, reassurance, and love during a month where a new sibling will be in the spotlight along with a couple of new places, programs, and activities for Addie. We are also suspecting our soft-hearted, cuddly, Momma's boy may have a rough time sharing some cuddles with a new little sister who will probably be in my arms a little more than he may be. Simple and common problems when adding a little change to a family, I'm sure, but just something we want to be sensitive to.

I hung up the phone with tears in my eyes and a heavy burden on my heart, so I just prayed it all away until my words faded off somewhere into sleep and dream. I prayed something I don't pray often, but should be prayed daily. I asked God for HIS will to be done in our lives. I relinquished control and my way to His way and complete contentment in it. I prayed for ease and peace through finding and fine-tuning what will soon be our new normal.

So this morning I made a really conscious effort to let go of some normals and do whatever it was came up. I prayed to let God's will control my day, and that it was filled with His glory.

and as usual. He showed up!

 We made a peach pie, and delivered it to someone we hadn't seen in a very long time.

 We brought the kids new tent/club house out from the living room into the back yard with [gasp] 90 degree heat, bugs, and grass long enough to be eerie about creatures lurking.

 Adeline wore her milk mustache/beard, and Gideon swiped my decaf frappe that I drove all the way to Thibodaux for after the kids woke up.

and when Adeline asked me if she could pick a flower for daddy, I told her she could pick a few.

 I can admit that it really bothered me that she insisted on putting these in water in her bucket. (Isn't that ridiculous?!!) I even told her no because flowers go in a vase or a jar inside on the table with water, but I momentarily revoked the veto since flowers really don't go anywhere except where ya want them, and the green castle bucket was fine.

Even though I was really ready to go inside and wanted to avoid swollen frisbee feet this evening, I decided the requested wagon ride would be fine too, and besides I had my camera already so I could take cute pictures. Bonus!

Right. Well while I watched brother wrestle with the wagon and so badly wish he were bigger
I turned to see why sister was quiet which was because of:

 which led to this:

 .....which is so wrong because YOU GUYS you don't play in the water hose in your clothes! You have to have swimsuits on to get wet!

 ....but I guess that's not really true either.

and I felt so content and my heart was so full as the day's moments went by uniquely--slowly today.
One by one and not a one on a check list or mapped out in my head.
I watched kindred spirits laugh and enjoy little things that are hard to notice in a mundane routine.

It was a really nice day, and I really needed that.

What I Love About You

Gideon Edition:

I love the way you say "elephant". eh, nah, nant
I love the way you give us your forehead when we ask for a kiss.
I love the way you are so giving and easily share with everyone around you.
I love how you destroy things I never would have thought you'd even touch. 

I love the way you run on your tippy toes.
I love the way you dance, and boy do you do it often.
I love that you love to read.

I love the way you end every story I read you with Amen!

I love that you are almost always barefoot and without a shirt.
I love that you are the only one in this family who loves my singing.
I love that I can feel you're going to be a strong man of Christ one day. 
I love that you are daring.

I love the way you raise your eyebrows and avoid eye contact after you've done something wrong.
I love that in passing me you recognize my presence with "Hey, mah!"
I love when you tell strangers hey and wave your chubby little fingers.

I love, love, love the way you play peekaboo,

 and I love how you really think I don't know where you are behind your hands. 

I love how you look at your Daddy in compete admiration.
I love that you never pass up an opportunity to rock with your Mommy.
I love how you play so well with your sister. 
I love to watch your little personality fine tune itself.
I just love you, boy boy.

The Park

It's always a good day when you get to go to the park, but when you get to go with friends it's pretty much equivalent in excitement to your birthday party.... or something else children think is really super awesome fun!

As professional park hoppers we tried out a new park (to us) across town, and lucky for me it was super shady and a little overcast so I was able to stay and enjoy friends and their babies for a good while! 

That's my kid, not Nina's, but I love that picture of her and Gideon. I also love Silas' face in the last one. We took so many of Candace and her three and in almost every one each one was making a funny face. Adeline and I laughed out loud going through all of the pictures. These kids are so fun!

I love these of Adie and Kole. They play so well together, and he's just the sweetest little boy you'll meet! From my observations at this stage in their mature toddler lives, I won't mind if they marry in a couple decades. 

This dude isn't allowed to get married though. He's all mine. To squeeze foreverrrrr!!!

We would adopt this little Lilly of we could. She enjoys playing the little momma role to Gideon, and she's Adeline's absolute best fwiend. Squig asks to play with her every single day, and when she isn't around many times she's imaginary around. Not that I have a weird kid who talks to someone who isn't there, but.... okay maybe I do have a weird kid who pretends like her best friend sleeps in her top bunk.

Precious children they all are!