I have mentioned my friend Karen numerous times. She really should have her own category. We met at Briercrest Bible College back in the day, and were roommates in Vancouver until we got married to our husbands a mere three weeks apart.
We both ended up in the Okanagan with our hubbies. Seven years and five kids between us, we are still the best of friends. Our kids are so close in age that they, too, are close. So close in fact that there has been talk of marriage.
No, we are not arranging marriages. But our children are.
Over a year ago Graham and I were talking about nothing and everything all at once. He loves to look at my wedding ring and ask me about when/why I married Daddy. I threw out the question, “Who do you want to marry?”
He answered the question with no hesitation whatsoever.
“Sarah”
I relayed this conversation to Karen on the phone. It turns out that she and Sarah had just had a similar conversation. Sarah announced she would marry Graham.
We find the whole deal quite funny, especially since it was all their idea and not ours.
This past Saturday, Karen and her family brought their camping trailer and parked it in our yard. The summer has been extra busy for both of our families. Karen and I usually talk at least once a day. We have been lucky to talk once a week. It has been awful.
The kids have missed their friends as well. The solution? A stay out here in The Sticks.
Graham and Sarah have been inseparable. Holding hands and telling us that they are going to marry each other.
(Yes, they are wearing jackets. I had to go and complain/brag about the heat. Summer got all pouty on me and hid in the corner. Come back, summer! I promise to be good! At least until next summer.)
We have humored the two of them (and ourselves) with questions.
How many children will you have? Two.
Girls or boys? One of each. Sierra will be the girl and John will be the boy.
Where will you live? Graham: “Faulder” Sarah: “Westbank”
How old will you be when you get married? Sixteen.
HOW ABOUT THIRTY?
As I sat and looked through the photos that I took of the two of them yesterday I was hit with a small twinge of something foreign.
I think that while all of this talk of “marriage” and such is funny, and cute, and endearing.
However.
It is also a sign that my first born, my baby, my Graham really is growing up. He does not need me to tie his shoes (or wipe his bum).
He does not need me to bathe him, or to dress him, or to even make him lunch.
One day, he will not need me to be the primary woman in his life. I know that, and I get that.
I am just not ready for it to happen any time soon.
I have been offline for most of the past two days. The voting is on for the Hot Blogger Calendar, if you feel so inclined (Dutch Blitz) (In the middle of the list)(Not that I am expecting anything) (Though it would be kind of cool)(But only if you want to).
My friend Kelly sent me a link for Blurb Blog Books. I have been meaning to do something like this for myself, and these look amazing.
Four Years Ago. Today. And Everything In Between.
Date: Monday August 25, 2008Posted in: Family, Nathan
Four years ago today I awoke to the sound of drizzling rain. August had been sweltering and almost unbearable as I was in my final few weeks of pregnancy. The rain was a welcome reprieve.
I got out of bed with eager anticipation. Today was the day I would meet the baby inhabiting my belly. My first labour and delivery with Graham had ended up being pretty frightening; he was almost ten pounds and had gotten stuck. I spent three hours pushing. They thought I would need an emergency cesarean and gave me a full spinal to get ready. They tried the suction. It failed. They tried the forceps but it was not happening. Then! The forceps finally worked in the last few moments possible.
To prevent that situation from repeating itself we were going to be induced ten days early.
We headed to the hospital once we got the call that they were ready for us. I was hooked up to an IV and the doctor told me that by the end of the day we would be holding our baby. We walked the halls, talked about who we thought we would meet. For the very first time in my entire pregnancy I was utterly and completely certain that we were having a boy.
A few hours later it was time to push. I gave it my all and the doctor told me the baby would be out on the second push. I remember thinking, “Darned if I am going to prove her wrong”. I pushed again with all of my being and for the first time actually felt a baby exiting my womb. I thought all of my innards had come out as well. I heard the doctor shout, “It’s a boy!” and then a hearty cry. They wrapped him up in a white terry cloth towel and placed him into my arms.
Nathan.
He looked absolutely nothing like his brother and everything like his Daddy. We was long and lean with the sweetest little nose. While a tiny part of me had thought a girl would be nice this time around, holding this little man brought me pure joy. He and his brother are only twenty months apart. I had visions of two little boys wearing matching outfits, playing together, wrestling.
It has all come true.
Nathan is one of the neatest kids you will ever meet. If you want to make his day, ask him if he can give you a hug. His face lights up and he will run to you and wrap his arms around your neck. He is a lover, a cuddler, a true sweetheart. Friends and strangers alike are enamored with this lively, adorable boy.
How better to honour him than to share some of my most favourite photos of him from the last four years? I could post hundreds, but have kept it to the ones that I go back to again and again.
Happy Birthday, sweet Nathan.
You brighten my every day.
So. There’s a Hot Blogger Calendar contest, for which I was nominated. Apparently the people with the most nominations by the 25th get to go to the final round for voting. Those who win are going to NEW YORK for the photo shoot. I’ve always wanted to go to New York, so is there any chance you could nominate me?
