Adventure Part II-Read Part I Below First!

Two posts in one day...I know, I'm crazy! I wanted to give an update, though. I just wanted to show you that I take my own advice!

Think back to my last post. Remember how I asked about the last time you'd gone on an adventure? Remember, I quoted Webster and shared that the only necessary criteria was that what you were doing was exciting and remarkable. Well, I helped GG make her first cupcakes tonight!

Gabriella got a cupcake kitchen for Christmas and after making (and eating) about 1,000 imaginary cupcakes in the past 48 hours, I decided it was time to do the real thing. Sure, GG has helped in the kitchen plenty of times, but she's never done almost every single thing by herself...thus the adventure.

2 year old, in the kitchen, oil, eggs, icing...

Like I said...

Adventure!

We had the best time, though! In order to crack the eggs, GG just dropped them on the counter. Adventure! To stir up the batter it took about 45 minutes. Adventure! Some of our fairy toothpicks ended up face-down in the icing. Adventure! It was a great big lovable mess! I even told GG it would be our secret that she sneezed right over the batter. No one needs to know. (Say it with me) "Adventure!"

Anywho, my question is still out there. What adventure have you been on lately? What adventure will you plan?

I had an adventure in my kitchen tonight. Know how I know? It was exciting and...

remarkable.

Love,
Mary

An Adventure-Part I

Operation "Get Marielle and Genevieve's Nursery Ready" is in full swing and boy is it fun!
And overwhelming!
First, we have to figure out a way to fit two babies in one small room! Eeeek! Luckily, I think I've figured out a floor plan to maximize space. Next, we have to get out all of Gabriella's old things: clothes, swing, boppy, nursing equipment, etc. Since we already have little girl things, it's been a huge blessing to have a stockpile of supplies ready. Turns out GG had so many clothes, but when you're clothing two, you wonder if it will be enough. Technically, we didn't even start letting GG wear clothes until the third day of her existence because we were so afraid to move her! Their little heads do bobble so! And I won't even tell you about how long we waited on a bath. haha!

As I was sorting through onesies we'll use for the twins, I ran across one of our favorite ones...

So, I just had to come and find the pictures of GG in her Steelers gear! In these pictures, she was only 4 days old. The first thing that strikes me about the pictures is how much she looked like my father-in-law, Ramon. Next thing, she was so tan...that was the jaundice. Third, she was so little! That little onesie was actually too big for her so we let her curl her feet up in it to keep warm. Finally, in just a few weeks (10-11 if I deliver in mid-March like the doctor predicts) we will have TWO of these teeny tiny Steelers fans to hold and cuddle! I can't even imagine the picture above with an additional child in Rick's arms.

How do you even hold two babies?! And a two year old?! Hmmmm....

When you have a second child, people say things get easier. You've been around the block, so to speak, so you know what's coming and are more prepared to handle it. In many ways, having twins will be no different, I'm sure. Been there, done that. But in so many ways, it will be different. That's the part I like to think of as an adventure. Embarking on the unknown.

Did you know Webster defines adventure (Yes, I looked it up. What else am I gonna do at 6:30 in the morning while everyone in my house is fast asleep?!) as an exciting or remarkable experience?

Exciting
Remarkable

Operation "Get Marielle and Genevieve's Nursery Ready" is getting me pretty pumped up for this adventure. It's going to be a lot things, but two things for sure:

exciting and remarkable!

When's the last time you went on an adventure? Any kind of adventure? I don't mean something over-the-top and crazy like have twins...but something simple. You know, as long as its exciting and remarkable it counts. And I'm sure, if you stop and think about it, there are plenty of things you could do today that are exciting and remarkable. :)

I hear God as I write this post. Do you know what He's saying? He's telling me I'm not starting one of the greatest adventures of my life, I'm right in the midst of it.

Love,
Mary

Your Worth

One of my favorite Christmas songs is "O Holy Night." As Rick and I were on our way to one of our family's Christmas celebrations, the song came on the radio. For the first time, one line in the song stuck out to me:

"And He appeared. And the soul felt its worth."

What a powerful line: The soul felt its worth.

Having Christmas with 2 sets of grandparents, 1 set of great-grandparents, and, of course, us, it's no surprise that GG was overwhelmed with gifts this Christmas. We've all gotten such joy out of watching her so meticulously unwrap gift after gift. It's definitely been the best Christmas ever.

But, there's one gift I hope that we've already given Gabriella; a gift that we can continue to give her as she grows...

that her soul feels its worth

I hope she always knows she's capable, she's courageous, she's strong...

she's worthy.

I appreciate God's reminder this Christmas. He appeared so that every soul could feel it's unique and significant worth.

Do you feel your worth? Do you really know how worthy and deserving God made you? If you know it, do your children know it? I hope so. :)

I know I feel my worth and am so thankful that I do.

Merry Christmas,

Mary

I Forgot

So the past few days have been an adventure, to say the least. It all started Thursday. I'd been feeling sick. Nothing unusual there. Fast forward to the middle of the night Friday when I started throwing up so much that my doctor wanted me to go to the hospital. Rick hadn't been feeling well, so my mom rushed over and took me. I might add that my mom had been up all night because she had offered to keep GG so Rick and I could get some rest. Of course, GG thought it was party time and refused to sleep. at all. meaning she didn't go to sleep that night. neither did my mom.
But, my mom did what any good mother does; she answers to the call of her child.

I was admitted to the mother/baby floor. It was around 1:00pm. I'd changed into my hospital gown, answered the 100 questions the nurse had for me, and was signing the papers for registration. When I got to the line where I was supposed to date my signature, I said to the nurse, "What's today's date? I don't even know what today is."
She replied, " the 17th."

I looked over at my mother. You'd never know that the date had any significance to her at all. I waited for the nurse to leave and then looked at my mom again. Embarrassed and ashamed I said, "Today's your birthday."

I forgot.
I totally forgot.
I had been so wrapped up in my own world, that I didn't even realize it was my mother's birthday. Who does that?!
Honestly, I thought twice about even writing this post because I was embarrassed to even admit such a thing.

As I apologized to my mom, I told her how sorry I was that she was spending her special day in a hospital room. I mean, seriously. Filling up a cup with ice chips, helping me to the bathroom, rubbing my back...not exactly the most fun way to celebrate another year of life. Each time I apologized, my mom reassured me that she didn't mind.

And you know what? I believe her.

Here's why:

Last year, Rick and I had plans for New Year's Eve. We were so excited. We'd spent a lot of money on one of my favorite nights of the year. I'd gone out and bought the perfect dress to match Rick's shirt and tie (yes, we're that couple). We had our bags packed, champagne ready for celebrating and, as luck would have it, Gabriella started running a high fever and got really sick. Of course. So what did we do? We stayed home. It wasn't even a question.
Last New Years, instead of singing Auld Lang Syne and toasting the year to come, I was rocking a sick little girl.

I wouldn't have had it any other way. That's how I know my mom didn't mind. Because I didn't.

A good mother, a good father...

They go when they're needed. It's part of the job description. It's nothing you have to do.

It's something you want to do...

Because it's your child. And who better to love and care for your child than you.

So, needless to say, there's no picture for this post. However, I bet you can close your eyes and imagine the love a mother has for her child. It's the perfect picture to imagine this Christmas season. Imagine the love that Mary had for Jesus.
Mary was always there for Him,
just like my mom is always there for me,
just like I'll always be there for Gabriella, Marielle, and Genevieve.

I hope you can see God in the love your mother has for you. I know I do.

Love,
Mary

I Worry

I'm sure you don't remember, but when Rick and I first shared we were having twins I wrote that for once in my life I was not worried. Well, I lied. I mean, I wasn't lying then, but as it turns out, I've reverted back to my worrying ways.
Yesterday, Rick and I had our 22 week appointment and the 24 hours leading up to this appointment were an emotional roller coaster. Even though I'm only a month away from my third trimester, I still worry about both babies not being there. I worry about the $150 we pay each time we see the high risk doctor. I worry about the TWO cribs we've yet to order. I worry about how to nurse TWO babies. I worry about having a C-section and bed rest. I worry about my heart that beats so hard and fast lately. I worry about my class and making sure that, even though I'm carrying around TWO babies, they get the same level of energy, and love, and engaging lessons.
I worry.
Mostly, I worry in the middle of the night.
Like now.
When I can't sleep and there's nothing else to do except think.

Do you know what I really worry about, though?

The little cyst they found on Genevieve's head that is an indicator of Down Syndrome. I'm not worried about her health. I'm not worried about having a special needs child. None of the obvious so much as even rattles me.
I'm worried that somewhere along the way...
way down the road...
someone will make her feel different.
will laugh at her.

That's what I really worry about. I can't help it.

Please don't think you're being invited to a pity party, though.

Because here's what I'm not going to worry about...

I'm not going to worry about Genevieve and Marielle's relationship. Yesterday, while we were at the ultrasound, we got to see them have a little love fight in real time! Genevieve was kicking Marielle and Marielle was hitting her back! It was fascinating to watch! In the picture above, you can see Marielle's face, but that's actually Genevieve's foot in her face! They are already so close.

I'm not going to worry about being alone. There's not one night that I've been up that Rick hasn't gotten up with me, rubbed my back or feet, listened to me share my craziest thoughts, and reassured me time and time again. He lets me know, in so many ways, that he appreciates everything it takes out of me to carry the latest additions to our family. In fact, I think he just fell asleep. :)

I'm not going to worry about our little family. I think we give everything we have to each other and Gabriella. We were sitting on the couch the other night, watching TV, holding hands. GG crawled right up between us and said, "Hold hand." She stuck her little hand right in the middle of ours'. And sat there. Enjoying our company. Do we make mistakes? Of course! But if having a family means giving every bit of yourself, your time, your love, your attention to each other, then we're on the right track.

In Matthew it says, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

As I look at the pictures Rick took of GG hugging Marielle and Genevieve, I see her unfailing trust. She depends on Rick and me, like I should be depending on God. We've never let her down. We've always made sure she has everything she needs. If I'm honest, she has way more than she needs. In her two year old mind, it's that simple. Mommy and Daddy will always provide. Maybe I should remember that childlike faith at times like this...when I'm up in the middle of the night...
and worrying.

There isn't one worry I've had in the last few months that has been actualized. I worry. God takes care of it. I worry again. God takes care of it.
Again.
and Again.

You'd think I'd get the picture.

Actually, I do. Most of the time. There's just the few times when it's hard.
Maybe you can relate...

I hear God and I hope you hear him, too. Telling me, telling us, not to worry so much. He's got it all under control.

Love,
Mary

P.S. Thanks for reading. Even if no one did, I'd still write, though. My blog is like therapy...only I don't have to pay a co-pay! HA!