Yes, Julia, There is a Jesus...

I do love Santa. I promise I love Jesus more, but I won't lie and say that the magic of Santa isn't fun for me now that I have kids of my own. I love seeing little minds dreaming up ways he gets to every house in one night. I love tracking him on the NORAD website Christmas Eve. I love the smiles and giggles of my children when they pass him at the mall. I love the movies and songs and stories and snowglobes and lights... I love it all.

Jason and I have been on the same page, though, that we would never lie about him. We know people who refuse to play Santa because it's "deceitful" and I know people who will lie through their teeth so their children learn the truth from their own spouse. So, our middle-of-the-road game plan was to answer honestly. Is Santa real? Why, yes he is (leaving out the part that he's your daddy and my daddy and all the daddies before them). It worked for us. Kind of a grey area, but my conscience felt clean enough.

Until Julia, a few months ago, pinned me.

"Mom, is Dad Santa Claus?"

The question we couldn't deny... "Yes," I answered nervous to what her response would be, proud she figured it out and completely oblivious to the implications.

"So what about the Easter Bunny? Is he Dad? Is he fake, too?" Yep.

"The Tooth Fairy? Fake? Huh, Mom, huh?" Yep. Fake.

"And then what about JESUS?" My jaw dropped. Heart stopped. Soul cringed.

"Jesus. Mom, is He fake, too?"

Did we just spend the past 7 years setting our baby up to question the existence of sweet Baby Jesus just so we could get a cute picture of her on the lap of a strange fat man with a beard? Damn those secular books and songs and lights that I loved so much!

But it dawned on me quickly that this question was a good one - one we all need to ask at one point or another regardless of Santa, the Easter Bunny, etc. Is Jesus real?

I got to anwer her who Jesus is at a point where she not only wanted/needed to know - she was demanding to know. It was a rare opportunity, to say the least, with my busy little lady.

My Christian school upbringing paid off in 4 minutes or less in a mini-sermon filled with Truth I've been taught and Truth I have seen and lived. Her dear life being one of them. It was precious -not perfect - but precious just the same.

Yes, Julia, there is a Jesus. He came as a baby to love you more than you can ever imagine bringing a gift Santa could never give worth more than a Tooth Fairy will ever leave and sweeter than the Easter Bunny, for sure. :)

Wii are Learning to Lose....

This past Christmas we got a Wii...Maybe a little behind the curve, but with younger kids I didn't think they'd have too much fun with it and I definitely didn't want to lose my husband to Mario Cart, etc.

Anyway, it has been so much fun! While I'm not that into playing it, I love watching Jason and Julia go up against each other and up until recently Josh has been content to pretend he's playing with them.

Last night, it all changed. God only knows how, but Josh has learned how to play the Wii golf trainer...you know, where you hit the ball onto the big targets.

Not only did he learn how to play, he somehow beats the heck out of Julia's score...everytime...and we have learned that hell hath no fury like Julia losing to her 2 yr old brother.

After the 3rd consecutive loss, she hurled her remote to the front door, walked over to an oblivious Joshua and gave him a 1-2 Rocky Balboa knock to the head. He cried and she was swiftly picked up by my 6.5 mth pregnant self and dragged up the stairs into her room for a very firm talking to...

I love that she hates to lose, but teaching her losing is ok, inevitable and absolutely no excuse to go psycho on her brother is going to take some work. I told her next time she doesn't win to tell Josh "good job." She said, "No way." So I told her she could add "but I'm going to beat you next time," which made her smile a little.

Unfortunately or fortunately, she has some time to perfect her response as she is in a Wii time-out for the next few days....as Josh continues to perfect his swing....

Julia's Heart for Missions...um, yeah....

This morning while getting ready to school, Julia ran across the invitation to her dedication service, which is similar to a christening or baby baptism except no water is involved. It's more about us as parents promising before our church family to raise our child in a home that loves God and seeks His will for our family....

I read the invitation to Julia and she goes..."I wish I would've been there."

I replied, "Sweetie, you were there. You were just a baby though....When you new brother is born you get to go up to the front of the sanctuary with us as his big sister. Won't that be fun?"

"YES!" she smiled with her blue eyes shining. "The sanctuary! That's where I want to do missions!"

My Jesus loving heart skipped a beat....My little girl wanting to do missions! I had visions of her serving the poor, the hungry...Giving clothes to the needy, etc.

"Oh Julia that's wonderful! What kind of missions work do you think you'd want to do?"

"Well, I'll start in the balcony...crawl across the back to the light switches....turn those off and run down the stairs to the stage where no one can see me....''

She continued on and on....ending with jumping out and scaring somebody....

Seriously, Rachel? Do you know your child, at all?

She definitely is more of a "Mission: Impossible"-type girl...but I do trust God has great plans for her despite it or maybe involving it! :)

Two Years of Joshy Sweetness

Two years ago today, I was so tired and so huge that Jason had me spend the morning on the couch while he and Julia tidied up the house. My ankles were non-existent, my wedding ring sat in my jewelry box as a fake one 3 sizes bigger squeezed my swollen finger.

After lying around all morning, we decided to make a Babies 'R Us run. Our crib had just been recalled and we were having a hard time finding one we liked. While there, I was checking out a rocker and a lady looked at me and said..."Girl you look ready. My daughter thinks she ready, but she doesn't look ready like you look ready." I laughed and told her I was sooo ready, but had to wait until Friday July 4 to be induced....

After the store, we stopped by Jason's parents to go for a swim. It was sweltering hot and a dip in the pool was just what this momma needed. Julia and Jason hopped right in, but I got caught up in talking to Barb, my MIL about the baby coming and their plans to remodel their kitchen...

Before I could get in the pool, a HUGE storm hit. Rain, wind, thunder, lightening, hail - this storm had it all. So we just had fun inside chatting as we waited for the storm to pass...

When the skies cleared, we got our things ready to go. I had just said good-bye to Jim my FIL, when I turned toward the door and felt a pop...followed by the gush of water like peeing your pants w.out peeing your pants.

It was 4pm. Everyone was in the foyer at that point and for a second I remember thinking "I'll just tell them later" - but not being about to hide my freaked-outedness, I walked to the door and said, "Um, I think my water just broke." My MIL quickly escorted my out of the house (who can blame her?!?) and asked, "Are you sure it wasn't from the pool?" - I didn't go in the pool. "Are you sure you didn't...um...wet yourself?" - At 28 yrs old, I knew the difference :) - Joshua Robert was on his way!

We called the dr office to let them know. Dr. Mary Ellen Leary was on call...All my OakCreek OBGYN girls know this lady is not known for her bedside manner. She delivered Julia so I knew first hand the chill she brings in the room. If we have a 3rd baby, I'm asking for Dr. Little and Dr. Patels home phones! jk.

She told me to go straight to the hospital. I said "OK" and headed straight for home! I had to have my bag and labor music...Contractions were light and far apart so I was confident we had a little time.

So we went from Springboro to Lebanon (where Jo and Matt picked Julia up at our house) and then on to the hospital. The storm had knocked trees over on St Rt 48 so we were going at 35 mph when contractions started getting stronger. It felt like a sit com for a while as I thought about the possibility of having him in the car...Thankfully, once we got into Centerville, Jason hit the gas and it was smooth sailing.

We got checked in to the hospital around 5:30pm. I was 4-5 cm, 80% effaced and convinced that it was going to be a loooong night. Around 6:30pm I was "allowed" to walk around (note to self with/if next baby: I will walk around when I feel like walking around), my contractions were coming closer and closer. I kept imagining each one like I was climbing up a hill and then running down a hill. It hurt, but with breathing and moving, it was bearable.

Our nurses switched at 7pm and I totally remember being under control thanking her as she said good-bye. The new nurse wanted to check me around 7:20pm so I got back in the bed and was about 8cm...That's when the HOLY $*#*% contractions started. I could not get up. I could not catch my breath. I could not think. One after another after another. I asked for an epidural. The schmuck anesthesiologist kept telling me to sit up..."you have to sit up...come on, it's time to sit up", but I just couldn't. I remember thinking, "I wished he got paid by the epi, cuz I am not getting one from him!" As soon as I had a 10 sec break from contractions, I sat up and at that moment I HAD.TO.PUSH! As I told the nurse, 5 nurses rushed in the room. One of them kicked the schmuck out (thank God) and the others got ready for this baby to be born.

I was 10cm and w.out any drugs, so let me tell you, I was ready to go...except the Dr. wasn't there yet...and the nurses told me I couldn't push (note to self with/if 3rd baby: tell the nurses to get their gloves on cuz I.AM.PUSHING!). I did some sort of feather breathing for 20 minutes of pure hellish pain when Dr. Leary flew in. I pushed once or twice and Joshua was born at 8:08pm weighing 8lbs 5oz and 21" long. He came out crying as they laid him on my chest. It was amazing and perfect...Jason was there holding my hand. My mom was somewhere behind me bc that was my rule :). It will forever be one of the most glorious moments of my life.


He truly is the sweetest boy to ever walk the earth...Being his and Julia's mommy is the most treasured title I could ever have...

So...Happy 2nd Birthday, Sweet Joshua Boy! I love you!

Redemption for My Last Post

I'm pretty sure Julia and Joshua got the point of last Friday morning's madness blog...They shaped up (or maybe I did) and we had a delightful afternoon reading books, making chocolate hearts and snuggling on the couch...I pray/hope/beg for that to be a sign of my life to come!

Maybe God sensed my distress, too, and gave our little family a wonderful weekend :) Saturday was a super-fun snow day. Jason, Julia and the next door neighbors shoveled, played and went sledding in the afternoon while Joshua and I spent some non-cry-cry pants time together.

Yesterday after church, Julia and I hit the streets of Lebanon...Oh how I love my little city - and I love that Julia loves it, too! We went through some antique and consignment shops before stopping in at the Golden Lamb for dessert. Something about that place turns my busy-little-go-getting-non-stop princess into the perfect little young lady. She sits down, puts her napkin on her lap, and uses manners w/out being reminded. She had the whole place charmed and I was so proud :)
We had a toasted pecan ball and the explored the 3 floors of hotel rooms that she loves so much. Then hit the library for some new books....

We got home and everyone suited up for more fun in the snow. Joshua LOVED the sled riding! It was a great way to end/begin the week! (((Smiles)))