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just growin’ up

/ Jo Bird / 2 Comments

When I bought the shirt that Mira is wearing in the picture above it was so cheap I bought it in the 6-9month size as well. Here she is, almost exactly one year later. (Yes, still wearing 6-9mo. clothes.)
Normally, at this point I would sigh with regret as I mourn the loss of her infancy and reluctantly welcome her to toddlerhood. In the past I have commented to Richard about starting to feel baby hungry again. Hungry for the tiny little newborn. How lucky for me that I only have to wait 16 weeks! (Said with the slightest hint of sarcasm.)

tight jammies

/ Jo Bird / 6 Comments

I’ve probably mentioned Cameron’s love for tight-fitting clothing. His single fashion motto is “The tighter the better.” Unfortunately he is built like a string bean and tight clothes on skinny people just make them look more skinny. But because I love him I allow him to indulge himself in tight pajamas. He loves “tight jammies.”

Because he loves all things sleek, he hates his winter coat. He calls it the “puffy coat” and it is a fight each morning to get him to wear it.
Today is pajama day at school and of course he insisted on wearing his new fire engine “tight jammies.” I allowed it because it is what makes him happy but I have had anxiety all day that the other kids at school aren’t so impressed and that he might get teased for being so slim.

The combination of the puffy coat and the skin tight pajama bottoms was enought to make ME want to laugh this morning.

I hope he has a good day.

a [nearly] perfect Saturday

/ Jo Bird / 2 Comments
Last Saturday life afforded us the rare kind of day that epitomizes middle-class suburban America.

We all slept in. Then we went for a late breakfast at IHOP. Almost everyone in the restaurant was wearing blue and orange. I love that feeling of community unity. The kids were even well-behaved and actually ate their food. We went to pick out a Christmas tree and it had snowed all morning so they were flocked and beautiful. We listened to Christmas songs. When we got home we sat down together and watched the BSU football game. After dinner we cleaned up the house and decorated the Christmas tree. Then Richard read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” to the kids and I swear my heart grew three sizes as well.
I say nearly perfect because of course I didn’t get any laundry done, the kids dragged their feet when it was time to clean, and Eli didn’t eat any of his dinner. But it was completely satisfying in spite of it’s imperfection.

somehow Mira’s birthday post ended up about me…

/ Jo Bird / 3 Comments

I was the third child so I can relate to Miriam. But she has one advantage over me, she is the first girl. I was neither the oldest nor the first girl. I was also neither the youngest girl or youngest child. There was no novelty of parenthood with my birth. Nor was I adopted. (All of my siblings fall into one of the above mentioned categories.) I might still harbor some resentment over this, but we won’t dwell on my psychological issues.
One might think that having the middle-child perspective would motivate me to be aware of my parenting and be sure to lavish all the love and attention on my third child that my first and second received. Sadly, this is not the case. Take birthday parties for example.

Cameron’s first birthday party was an all-out bash. In fact, he was so tired by the time we got to his presents he was practically falling asleep and totally disinterested. So, for Eli we were a little less over-the-top.

A couple days before Mira’s birthday I sent out a last-minute email invitation to local family members. But there were no decorations and only two gifts. Let me clarify, there were only two gifts from her parents, but birth-order has no bearing to grandparents, they give all the devotion to each of their grandchildren that the first received.
I did make one effort to make her birthday special. I have some talents, but cake decorating is not one of them. I have tried and been embarrassed so many times that for the last couple years I have allowed a local bakery to provide the birthday cakes at our house. This year I decided I’d give it another go.
Just a plain chocolate cake with pink frosting couldn’t possibly go wrong, right? It could. It was just as embarrassing as every other cake before it. And my timing was terrible. No sooner had I finished globbing the frosting on the cake than I saw a picture on FB of my very talented friend’s professional looking birthday cake.

We women are great at feeling bad about ourselves. Especially when we are the middle child.
Anyway…

Fortunately I believe, there is still hope for Miriam. I have time to mend my ways before she is old enough to recognize these injustices. And in the mean time, she doesn’t seem to hold it against me.

one year

/ Jo Bird / 5 Comments
So begins the awkward hair phase. I take that back, the awkward hair phase has been going on for quite some time now.

Miriam is one year old today. Sunrise, sunset… time sure flies. The next think I know she’ll be graduating from high school.

She is walking now, she is gaining weight and she is always trying to make brothers laugh. She loves being around people and still snuggles when she is hurt or tired. She can be go-go-go or she can sit contentedly in her high chair or car seat. And of course, she still sucks her thumb as soon as a blankie brushes her cheek.

Oh we love her.

p.s. My new camera arrived yesterday!

home again, home again

/ Jo Bird / 2 Comments

We returned from ten days in Las Vegas last night to our wintery wonderland home. This morning the snow accumulation had doubled. It is so beautiful. The boys are all bundled up and playing outside. Poor Eli can hardly walk through the stuff it is so high. My camera is still broken and although I purchased a new one, it is in the mail.
Leaving the palm trees and sunshine made this blizzard all the more exciting, but incidentally I think we visited Las Vegas during the coldest week of the year. But the coldest week in Las Vegas is nothing to the coldest week in Boise, which I believe, we missed while we were away.
We had a great time visiting family, and Richard was able to make a client visit that extended our stay into the week after Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to spend time with my family, but what I really enjoy is watching the developing relationships between my children and their cousins. There is just nothing like it.
We are glad to be home, and I have a mountain of laundry. But first… a snowman.

making the ratio 4-2

/ Jo Bird / 5 Comments

Our chances to balance the gender numbers around here were obliterated this morning. Just as I suspected, we are having another boy.

But I have nothing to complain about. I’m thrilled actually. I always said I only wanted boys. Then of course I changed my mind. The Lord blessed me with a girl. And now I get another boy.

Besides, as I reminded Richard, even though Miriam has such a sweet disposition, not all girls come that way. My only concern is coming up with a name.

family pictures

/ Jo Bird / 6 Comments

Jo: saying to Richard “Are we really having another one?!”

Richard: finally able to laugh about having another one
Cameron: enjoying the moment while he is literally “front and center”
Eli: really could not care less about these pictures, or anything else in life for that matter
Miriam: thinking “the next time my mom tries to put these cute little boots on me, she will discover that she has left the tissue paper toe stuffers in them and right my my little feet are really squished”

FUNdraising

/ Jo Bird / 3 Comments
FRIDAY NIGHT
MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA
5:00PM

Over a month ago a group of people who cared about the Halladays got together to find unity in trial and to put their grief into action. Because friends and family closest to Mark and Kim wanted to be available for Kim’s more immediate needs, that left a handful of us in the slightly outer circle to put together this fundraiser.

I’ve learned so much. I’ve met amazing people. I’ve become closer to people I already knew.

I’ve worked really really hard.

So even though I don’t like to beg, I’ll beg. Please come tomorrow! Please make my efforts and the efforts of others who have worked hard worthwhile. But especially, come help out a family in need.

It is a Silent Auction at 5:00. Look for a football signed by Coach Pete and the #4 ranked 2010 Bronco team, BSU football and basketball tickets, day passes to Roaring Springs, season passes to Bounce in Meridian, and Meridian pool, restaurant gift cards, spa gift cards, family activities and a weekend stay at a beautiful cabin in Island Park. I promise there is something for everyone.

At 6:00 is the Chili feed with cornbread and dessert. The cost is $6/adult, kids $3, and only $20 for a family. Our Treasure Valley community is a small world and I’m sure you will see someone you know. (Even if it is just me.)

Thanks!

I believe in MIRACLES

/ Jo Bird / 5 Comments

I’m a cynic. Ask Richard. He can hardly get through a story without me getting hung up on some irrelevent detail. I think I’ve told you this before.

Getting personal, in my prayers for Mark I mostly prayed for Kim. To put it bluntly, I didn’t have enough faith to ask for a miracle. At least, until a few days ago. Two friends of mine who shared their tremendous faith with me, got me thinking. Maybe it’s possible. Maybe the faith of those praying for Mark (like Richard told me) would be consecrated on his behalf. So last night I prayed for a miracle. Of course I asked, that if it be the Lord’s will he would allow it. But I asked for it.

I’m not taking any credit here, there are hundreds of people praying for him. But what happened today made this experience personal to me. God hears and answers prayers.

Last week doctors were “keeping it real” with his wife. They even suggested that she start thinking about withdrawing the means that were sustaining his life. She asked them about miracles, they told her they had never seen one.

Today Mark spoke. He answered questions. He is still here. He is coherent and responsive. His existence is meaningful. It has been an amazing day full of joy and hope. I am so full of gratitude. And I’ve learned an important lesson. Doctors can present you with facts and science. But God can grant miracles.