Time flies to FIVE

This day, five years ago at 5:30 in the morning, I felt my first contraction.  I got up, ate some breakfast, took a shower and decided to wake Mike up around 7:30.  We called our doctor, got on the road and we were at the hospital by 9:30am.  The rest is history.

I remember changing my mind when they wheeled me back to the birthing room.  I decided that I was quite comfortable with Landon in my belly (although heart burn, bruised ribs and cankles the size of tree trunks would say otherwise).  I really wasn't ready for him to be out.  But when his little heart rate started to drop and they uttered the words "emergency c-section" i just wanted him safely in my arms.

There's something quite peculiar that happens when you see your child for the first time.  In an instant, a minutes-old infant changes your entire life yet it still feels like they have always been a part of it.

He was the most beautiful boy I had ever laid my eyes on.  He smelled like nothing I had ever known before.  I held him on my chest and felt his little heart beat knowing that somehow, just hours before my body was sustaining his and now here he is.  Pink.  Brown-haired.  Round nose.  Tiny Fingers.  My son.

Somehow, that baby is nowhere to be seen.  And what is left in his place is a smart, curious, creative, challenging, energetic, intuitive, sensitive, and passionate five-year old boy.

This year was so different than others.  We had a big note on our calendar marking his birthday and everyday he would ask how many days were left.  He was acutely aware that his special day was coming and amidst the craziness of our summer schedule, we wanted him to know just how special his day really was.  How else do you do that but light birthday candles on your morning peanut butter and nutella sandwich?  He couldn't believe his day was already starting out like this!

The next seven hours were spent in the pool.  Our friends Tim and Samira loaned us their big kid pool and Landon couldn't get enough.  Both Landon and Emi spent most of seven hours swimming, coming inside only to eat (and that was because I forced them too).

Landon's best friend, Hanani, came over to swim too and if his birthday would have ended right there, he would have been perfectly happy.  Friends do that for birthdays.

And then Daddy had the evening off and he swam too.  I'm not sure the smile came off of Landon's face the entire time they were all swimming together.

Poor little Emi just didn't get it.  She kept walking around the house saying, "Emi birthday, too."  Wondering where her candles were and where her best friends were and why she didn't have a pink cake waiting in the fridge.  But she made the most of undivided Daddy and Bubba time.

We ate cake and opened presents and you would never guess the thing Landon was most excited about.

Tape.

Yes, we got him tape for his birthday.  Duct tape, masking tape and scotch tape.  If you could see a picture of his room (which sometime I'll have to put a picture up here) you would know why tape was the best gift ever.  This kid LOVES him some tape.  He tapes pictures on the wall, makes contraptions with tape, finds sticks and toilet paper rolls and old game pieces to hang with tape.  He is insane for tape.  I couldn't imagine what he would have done had any of the stores here had the kind of duct tape with prints on it or in different colors.  We might have had to pick him off the floor.

Somehow we have a five-year old.  I hate to think how quickly time is flying by but with every passing year there is something more to love about our little guy.  Or big guy, rather.  Wouldn't want to accidentally say "little" in front of Landon.

It was quite fitting that one week, to the day, before Landon turned five, he lost his first tooth.  Every five minutes he'd stop whatever he was doing and run into our bathroom to look at his empty space one more time. 

I love you, little man.  I've never known anyone who can bring me such joy or challenge me the way you do.  Your Daddy and I couldn't be more proud of the boy you are becoming.  God blessed us richly with you and I couldn't imagine my life without you, my first born.

What's New

i always seem to skip over the fact that my kids are growing up right in front of my eyes.  and the reality is i get to see them growing up, at least.  family and friends back in the States don't.  so this quick little post is just for all of you (whoever you are) that follow our family blog.

these two have been a handful lately.  it's a 50/50 shot what kind of day its going to be.  they can be the best of friends; sweet, kind, helpful.  then they can be the worst of enemies; throwing things, hitting each other, slamming doors in each other's faces.  it feels a bit like a reality show for parenting around here lately.  i keep expecting that British lady to show up on my doorstep and tell me all the things i am doing wrong.  then out of nowhere i will get a hundred "please's" and "thank you's" and hugs and "i love you's."  i would call our house a ying and yang right now, if i believed in that sort of a thing.

emi is a princess with a capital "P."  she has me put makeup on her almost every morning.  she walks around in cinderella heels.  she gets really sassy when she wants something and stands there with her hands on her hips until she gets it.  and she is loving her some friends.  the other day my friend, audrey, came over with her little girl, ruby ann.  emi thinks she is ruby's mom; takes care of her, tells her what to do, puts her pacifier in her mouth if she's dropped it.

she has another set of friends, amelia and stella, who live across the street.  i don't have any new pictures of the three of them together but they all stand at their own gates and yell across the street at one another.  it is so incredibly adorable!

landon has come out of his little shell.  he is not nearly as shy as he used to be.  he says one of his favorite things are "groups" (or the missions teams that come down to the dominican), and he loves to see himself on the camera.  for example; the frames below.  haha.

things have still been a little difficult around here with some pretty heavy spiritual attacks, sleepless nights and temper tantrums but when i see photos like the ones above, i am reminded that His mercies are new in the morning and He guides us through the most difficult of times to joy on the other side.