4 Weeks

Have 4 weeks really passed since sweet Jake was born? How I wish I could just freeze time right now. It's going by way too fast for all of my children. We've been on spring break this week. It's been a week of staying at home, but our home has been filled with friends each day. What a gift! It's been a delight to just be at home with all the kids for the week, especially since we've had visits (and most of the time, meals too!) to look forward to.

All warm and cozy after his breakfast

This week, Jake began to coo. His little "ahhhh" and "oooohhh" sounds are so sweet! He's eating and sleeping well, getting up once in the night to eat and going back to sleep. Last night I fed him at 9:30pm, and he slept till 3am! Getting a full night's sleep (for me) is (hopefully) just a few weeks away.

lEthan, Jake, Reid & Sydney

After school once a week for 6 weeks, Sydney & Ethan have been going to Mad Science. This term they are learning about outer space in a program designed by NASA. Last week, they made bouncy balls and then turned them into comets!
Sydney said something really beautiful a few days ago when it was so windy. "Mommy, the wind is God's cape. He's walking all around everywhere, and His glorious cape is the blowing of the wind."

The boys' hands...Ethan's on the bottom, then Reid's, then Jake's

Reid takes so much pride in being a big brother. Jake's umbilical cord stump finally fell off, and Reid said, "Oh, now he has a big brother belly button."

Another funny from Reid was a few nights ago. We were looking at his newborn pictures, and he noticed he was crying in them. Jeff asked him why he was crying in the pictures to which Reid replied, "I was cryin' because you cut off my cord!"

Jake's "bedroom" for now is in our living room.

After dinner tonight, all ready for bed

On a different topic, have you watched Food, Inc. yet? How about Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price? Both are available on Netflix instant. What struck me as one common thread between these two documentaries is how both the food industry and Wal-Mart prey upon and exploit the poor and the weak. While I've never enjoyed going to Wal-Mart (and will not shop there at all now), and for several years have only purchased local grass fed beef, pastured eggs, etc., I have made these decisions for the benefit of my family. After watching these films, I see how the choices we make do not just impact our families, but our communities and our nation.

Jake is alerting me that it is time for him to eat, so I'm signing off for now... he must have known his mother was about to get on her soap box! :-)