Madeleine Rose Jennings

Madeleine Rose Jennings was born this morning, Feb 25, 2009 at 3:07am. She weighed 9 lbs. 7 oz. and is 21 inches long. Madeleine and Bekah are both healthy and doing well. In particular, Bekah accomplished her goal of having this child without any pain medicine or epidural. Way to go Bekah! I love you!

Lucky You

Still on a creating kick, and further inspired by Marily and Kathryn:
The first 3 people to respond to this post
will get something homemade by me!

Like any good giveaway, there are restrictions and limitations, as follows:


1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. I get to choose, you just get to receive!
2. What I create will be made just for you......one of a kind!
3. It will be done this year.....hopefully sooner, rather than later.
4. The gift may or may not be edible, wearable or recyclable!
5. In order to be a winner, you must re-post this on your blog. The first 3 people to do so and leave a comment telling me you did will receive one FABULOUS homemade gift by me! After I choose the winners, you can send me your mailing address!
Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you receive it!

Don't take these rules all too seriously.

For ideas of what I might make you, check out my Etsy shop. Or note the fact that I am on a flower-hair-accessory-making-kick.

Still Creating

9 days. [In case you are wondering how many days overdue I am.] I prefer to not use the word "overdue"--it breeds unhappiness in my mind. When the baby comes, she will be here, not a moment early or late, just here. So, yes, if you ask, I am still creating--creating this little life within me, creating positive thoughts, sack lunches for my kids school day tomorrow, banners for my Etsy shop, messes to clean up, laughter and smiles with my family and children. I was inspired by the short video below. Take the time to watch it. You will be inspired, too.

The Price of Freedom

Last year, Andy and I took our family to live in France for 3 months. Of those 3 months, the most meaningful experiences I had centered around visiting the beaches of Normandy--the D-day landing sights and the burned-out village of Oradour-sur-Glane. Both times, I had one big regret: that I had not brought along the soundtrack to "The Price of Freedom" to listen to in the car. As we drove the coastline of Normandy, I remember singing whatever phrases I could remember, and it made the experience real to me. The good news is you don't have to go to France to feel the emotions I felt. This weekend and next at the Mesa Arts Center, you can see the re-worked "Price of Freedom" for cheaper than a movie. So no excuses--unless like me, you might have a baby that day. If you need motivation, go read the blog posts above, then click here to get info and order tickets and hear some of this amazing music. Do it--you'll be glad you did.

February 15

7 years ago, on February 15th, I said "Yes" to marrying Andy. (I think I might have actually said, "Of course," but who is keeping track? Obviously not me.) Little did I know what other things I was saying "Yes" to:
3--almost 4--beautiful children
fulfillment of the dream I thought I was giving up to live in a foreign country
a lifetime of good conversation
nights full of romance
a little house in downtown Mesa
a lifetime of learning
I knew then Andy was great, I didn't know how fully his greatness was rooted in his goodness: his gentle heart, his calm personality, his sense of fairness, his desire to be independent, his patience.
For our "anniversary/Valentines Day" he gave me my favorite flowers--red geraniums, and I gave him this sign. Thanks Andy for (almost) 7 years of wedded bliss.

Only on Valentine's Day

I just went to brush my teeth, and this is what I found.

Handmade Love

"i luv DAD AN i LiC iT WEN WE EPO PLA GAMZ from warren to dad love warren"
Translation: I love dad and I like it when we [ ] play games.

On Thursday, Avery and I cut out sugar cookies. I was pretty excited because I finally got my friend's sugar cookie recipe--I had never loved the one I used. Wednesday night I made the dough and it was so good, Andy and I each ate more than our fair share. Avery and I had a great time rolling out our dough and cutting--stamping, it seemed, in her case. I pulled out some froot loops, chocolate chips and craisins for her to decorate her dough with. She made and re-made her creations several times, then sang, "Happy Birthday." The video is at the bottom if you want to watch. (To see the pics above, you probably need to click on the image and then you will get a better view)

I was due yesterday. All along though, I've been saying, "After Valentine's Day," so yesterday wasn't really a big deal. When people asked me, "When are you due?" at the AZ Museum for Youth today, I loved telling them, "Yesterday." So here is a picture of me, yesterday, in all of my 9 months of pregnant glory, wearing the fabulous slipper socks my little sister Emily was thoughtful enough to bring me.

I Like to Talk to You When You're in Heaven

"I like to talk to you while you're in heaven," said Warren last night, as he leaned over my 9-months-pregnant belly. Avery added, "I love you, baby Madden" (Madeleine). Abigail followed up with, "I love to feel you when you're in heaven." Then Warren asked me where the baby's spirit was right now: in me or in heaven? I told him I didn't know for sure. But I do think that the space between heaven and earth is not always defined by distance or place, but by the state of the heart. We have a hymn that sings, "Home can be a heaven on earth when we are filled with love." At moments like this, that is easy to believe.

This final stretch of pregnancy has been unique for several reasons: I am still sleeping great at night and the baby moves a lot. Usually my babies kind of "settle down" near the end, and it is hard to have the kids see or feel the baby's movement. Not this time. One of my favorite ways to keep my children still in church is to have them rest their hands on my abdomen to feel the baby move. They are usually rewarded with quite a show.

277 days down, 3 to go (give or take a few).

Surrounded by Little People

I was shoveling compost from my bin to my red wagon when I noticed there were a lot of earthworms in it. Having studied earthworms in the 3rd grade, I feel an aversion to hacking these helpful friends apart, which was what was going to happen next when I shoveled all that compost into my garden and then hoed it. So I called Warren over. He was more than happy to rescue the worms. So helpful.

Avery and Warren got cards in the mail from Grandma Lindy--funny since I guess it was Abigail who inspired Lindy to send the cards. Blame it on the Post Office. Avery saw Warren open his card and the resulting stick of gum that fell out, so it was with huge anticipation and glee that she opened hers. (The chalk markings are all the parking spaces Abigail drew on our driveway yesterday for bikes).

Andy just explained this picture to me. On Saturday while I was gone all day at a Let's Play Music training seminar (I'm teaching this fall! Do you have a 4-7 year old? Let's talk!), Warren emptied the entire contents of his clothing drawers onto the kitchen floor. Who knows why? Naturally, Avery went through the clothes and dressed herself. (While on the topic of dressing one's self, Warren told me today that he now can tie his own shoes; "I did the whole tying frame at school, mom!")
Lest you think Abigail dropped off the face of the earth, I have a story for her, too, but she forbade me from taking a picture. Abigail got the book "Pinkalicious" for Christmas. She has memorized the entire book and sings it to the tune of "Jolly Old St. Nicholas." She has also decided that her birthday--which is several months off--will be a Pinkalicious party. She even started making a guest list--which I am not allowed to take a picture of--she is very into writing currently. Sometimes I see her tracing letters in the dirt or sand. (Another aside, whilst on the topic of handwriting: Warren said to me yesterday, "Mom, I love handwriting so much, I could work on it all day at school!" and the day before, "Mom, I love going to school and learning. I want to learn about everything like--------" and then he listed off a whole bunch of stuff. And that is why I send my child to Montessori School.)

Finding Your Balance

Friday night we had one of my friends and her 3 kids over for pizza night. We made pizza, played in the backyard, roller skated in the driveway, and laughed at our silly kids. My favorite story of the night: the cute little girl on the left came in from skating, crying. Her mom asked, "Did you lose your balance?" Abigail--ever the optimistic problem-solver--cried out, "I'll go find it for you!" and ran out the front door. I watched her through the window, wondering if she really knew that "balance" was not an object to be found. She got to the front of the yard, bent over, scooped up something invisible in her arms off of the ground, and ran back inside. Then she commented, "I found your balance; do you want me to put it back on you?"
A few nights ago, Andy and I were discussing "balance" in life. A wise man had recently told a friend of ours (when he asked how to balance family, work, church work etc.) that there is no such thing as balance in life--that you just do what you have to do, and deal with it--that's life. I agree. Yes, I cover the basics everyday, but the illusion of balance can unwisely cause me to give equal weight to different aspects of my life when truthfully, some things are demanding to be done, and others are not. Each day is a constant mind-game of "good, better, best."