Tirzah's First Birthday

One month ago, we celebrated Tirzah's first birthday!

It's hard to believe that if she had arrived on her due date, we would have had a party this past weekend instead!

What's even harder to believe is that this tiny 5 pound 12 ounce bundle of pure sweetness is now an active, determined curly-headed toddler!

This first birthday celebration always contains so many emotions for me.

But the strongest emotion I always feel is JOY!

These little ones are such a gift, even though not every moment of that first year feels like it.

There are plenty of highs and lows, sleepless nights and milestones to celebrate.

My husband always jokes with me that the party is more for me than for the baby!

I just smile and say that he's probably right.

Getting through the first year of life with a baby feels like a pretty big deal to me! 😄

I had some (unrealistic) dreams of making a naked smash cake for her party.

It looked incredible...in my head!

Turns out, cakes have to be basically perfect if they're not going to be covered with icing. 

And mine never are!

I ended up just frosting a simple cake and adding flowers and this gold topper that my sister-in-law loaned to me.

I think Tirzah was just fine with it! 😊

This "first year stats" board was so fun to create!

After making some for a friend's twins, I decided I wanted the same thing at her party.

I made these vanilla cupcakes with strawberry buttercream frosting, and Eddie declared they were the best cupcakes he's ever had! 

I call that a win.

We planned a big party with both of our families and some friends.

The day of the party, there was a big snowstorm in the forecast.

And snow it did!!

After having two birthdays during the summer/early fall season, I'm still getting used to the challenges of winter celebrations!

Thankfully, my parents were able to make it here safely before the storm hit us.

Judging by the photo, you'd never know that some of us were happy,

but we really were so glad to have both sets of parents here to celebrate with us!

I love this picture of our happy little birthday girl! She was clapping her hands and enjoying all the attention that a one-year-old gets at their party. 😍

Earlier in the day, she was taking quite a few steps, to the delight of her grandparents and family!

Tirzah loved the icing on her cake, but she didn't actually do much smashing...

...not until she had some "help"!

I think her siblings ate more of it than she did!
(Notice the fingers in her brother's mouth!)

As you can see, she's often the center of attention around here! 

  

This is her "Why-did-you-take-away-my-cake" face!

It's amazing how much extra love one little person can bring to a family!

She's our feisty little snuggle-bug,

so determined, yet so sweet.

She's fearless, which has caused her mama more than a little stress.

She loves to climb the stairs, clean out the cupboards and go fishing in the toilet. (Why??!!)

She loves to dance, play the piano, and "sings" loudly when she hears us singing.

It's so fun to hear her say "Mom!" and chatter "Papa" when she hears his voice on the phone!

She's the delight of our family, and we love her so much!

Happy birthday, Tirzah Anne!

Embracing the Seasons

I bounced a fussing baby on my hip as I hurried around the house, collecting a bottle, burp cloth and change of clothes. Glancing at the clock, I realized that we needed to be left in 5 minutes if we were going to make it to soccer practice on time! One child was still looking for their water bottle and the other was upset that their favorite shorts were no where to be found. My patience was wearing thin, and the baby's whines changes to wails. "Just hurry up and put SOMETHING on!" I snapped to the frustrated 5 year old. "We don't have time to find your shorts! Put something on! Anything."  Inwardly, I wondered at my sanity for thinking it would be fun for the children to play soccer. Getting out of the house with a baby in tow requires some effort, not to mention having to make sure both children have all their soccer gear along!

Fifteen minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot and unloaded what felt like a days' worth of belongings. We slid into a bench, just in the nick of time, and I let out a sigh of relief! After the children headed to the field, I began chatting with another mom who was sitting near me. Her youngest daughter, who was playing soccer, was 11 years old. She also had two older children, in their twenties. She smiled wistfully at me and my baby, who was chewing anything she could get her hands on. “I remember those days”, she said. We talked about homeschooling and how quickly the years fly by. Her children are now in college, miles away from her home.
 She seemed to have happy memories of those busy years when they were little, and she was their mother and teacher. I tried to picture my life in 15 years, when my oldest is 22, and suddenly I wanted to just freeze time! The chaos of leaving for a soccer game felt smaller, somehow, as my perspective on this season momentarily shifted. Because that’s the reality: I don’t get it all. One day, my house will stay cleaner and I won’t be constantly changing diapers, breaking up fights and teaching letters. But I won’t get those sweet childish hugs and see the wonder in their eyes when they start to read or watch them take their first step! This is my season, the hard and the wonderful, and I get to choose how I live it.

As the leaves turned from golden hues and fell to the ground, leaving naked trees behind them, I found myself resisting the change. I’m not ready for the cold to set in, and the darkness that comes so early in the evening! I longed for color and beauty for just a few more weeks, please. But I don’t choose these things; I choose what I do with the long winter days. Instead, I think about how to declutter the junk that magically collects in closets and drawers, and find a few minutes to paint or play piano when I would have been working outside in the summer. I embrace the urge to slow down and focus on creating a cozy space indoors. Each season can be beautiful, although I have to convince myself of the fact quite frequently in January and February!

One thing I have learned in my 35 years of life is that whether good or bad, no season lasts forever. Motherhood - and all of life - is also part of the cycle of seasons: always changing, never stagnant. And while I have moments that I would love to escape my reality, (aka: fighting siblings and babies that don’t nap) there are so many others that I wish I could capture forever.
So I lean into this season, with its sacrifices as well as its wonder, praying for grace and for eyes to see the blessings that are all around me. This is my season, and I embrace it, with joy!

d

What I Learned during the Fourth Trimester

Until recently, I wasn't familiar with the term "fourth trimester",
and would probably have looked at you like you were crazy if you had asked me how that particular season was going!
It goes without mentioning that most of us are more than ready to be DONE with pregnancy by the end of the third trimester!
Since Tirzah arrived 5 weeks early, I skipped over part of that final stage!
But we all go through the next phase, whether or not the baby arrives early.
Typically, the fourth trimester is considered the 3 month time frame after the baby's birth.
I can hardly believe it, but we are just ending that phase as she celebrates 3 months earth-side today!
As I look back on these last 12 weeks, there are several things that I've learned - or maybe I should say "re-learned", since this is my third child!

1. Exhaustion is a real thing. Rest as often as possible!
I was so blessed with family and friends who offered to keep our two oldest children so I could sleep when the baby slept.
It was the best gift!

2. Vitamins are your best friend.
If you're one of those people who think vitamins are only for health nuts, hear me out! After giving birth, your body suddenly stops producing hormones that were necessary for the development of the baby. You are healing from said birth and producing nourishment for a tiny (albeit very hungry!) little human, all while being seriously depleted of sleep! A good prenatal vitamin is so important for you and your baby. Omega 3's are vital for brain health and aid in relaxation. I used a plant-based one that had Omegas 3, 6, 9, 5 and 7 in it! B12 is also wonderful in combatting those baby blues.

3. Accept help.
I think most of us have had great training in what it means to be a responsible adult, and that is such a good thing! But it can make it harder to admit that you do need help, and gracefully accept it when it is given. If a friend offers to come do your laundry and cook dinner, let her! And thank God if you have the gift of family close by, like I do! I had to swallow my pride when Tirzah was born, because I simply wasn't ready. The nursery wasn't even set up! But our family and friends stepped in and cleaned the house, including the refrigerator (which was an absolute disgrace!) and set up the nursery. My parents took down the Christmas decor and helped us get settled in. Friends brought delicious food. And I realized again what a beautiful gift community really is!

4. Remember that this is a phase.
My Mom has a simple piece of advice when I feel overwhelmed: "This too shall pass."
And she's right!
When  you wonder if you will ever get a full night's sleep again or the baby will ever move past their growth spurt and actually stay full longer than 1 hour, know that it will happen!

5. Trust your instincts.
Whether you're making a decision about sleep training, vaccinations or baby wearing, you will find there are as many opinions as there are people!
It can feel overwhelming, but as the mother of your child, you have a sense for what is best for your baby.
Every baby is different, and what works for another mama may not work for you...
and that is okay!

6. Enjoy your baby!
After having had 2 babies, I had an idea about how fast they really grow. But it still amazes me just how quickly they pass through each phase! Those precious newborn snuggles are THE BEST, and I cherish them even more because I know they don't last. I'm trying to savor the little grunts when she's eating, the way her chubby hand wraps around my finger and the softness of her cheeks.
I only get this chance once to enjoy her as a newborn,
and I'm soaking it up!

Little Man Turns One!

A week ago, we had a birthday celebration for Nicholas, who turned a year old!

From the start, we've nicknamed him "little man", and it seemed fitting to have a party with that theme!

I made some mustache sugar cookies

and decorated them with picks...mustaches of course!

The first year of a baby's life is so full of milestones, and I love to take their monthly pictures, 

so I compiled the two on a chalkboard I created.

The change from a newborn to a one-year-old is absolutely amazing,

and every stage is precious. I could get a little teary just looking at this!

Every party needs a "stache" of candy!!!

Gummies are my personal favorite :)

Cute little striped bags were perfect for the favors!

I added some mustache stickers and wrote their names on them.

She's sneakin' food again! Wonder where she learned that from?!

This little guy was a trooper at his party, even though he was teething.

I'm learning to take family pictures before the party, if I want them!

Kyra (my sister-in-law) was in charge of the camera

during the party and she did a great job!

The smash cake was made out of the abundant zucchini in my garden.

I was secretly worried it wouldn't smash as good as a regular cake, but I should have remembered it was Nicholas who would be doing the smashing! :)

This little guy is all boy!

He tore into the cake, and pounded on it like his life depended upon it!

His audience loved it!!

He demolished that cake, and wore the same mischievous grin he always wears when he's in trouble!

I love this little guy!!

She is his biggest fan. It's so fun watching them interact!

Opening presents is always fun, probably even more for the other children than for the baby!

A little man's first birthday isn't complete without a tractor from Grandpa Shenk :)

The besties loved their candy!

This picture is priceless! I want to squish them all!!

This handsome boy is growing so fast!

My heart melts every time I look at this.

My family. My world.

I am so blessed!

So tiny. So precious.

How are you one year old, little man?

I think he's the cutest little guy ever! But I am prejudiced, a little :)

Happy birthday, Nicholas Edward!

We couldn't love you more.