April 3rd...

April 3rd was a day for the books at this house!

Jonah received his white belt in Karate (the very first level belt, but he was so proud he prayed at the Dinner table, "Thank you God that I got my white belt).

Selah moved from a crib to a toddler bed. She was very excited

And Asa... 

• Started walking!!!! He just took off unlike any child we've ever had. He took his first step a day or two before in the bathtub, but on this day, he was leaning on Selah's back... she tried to escape from him and he followed her... walking the entire way. He took several steps and then never stopped. He kept walking all night. It is a frankenstein walk, but a walk none the less! :) 
• Started eating with a spoon! I gave him a spoon with his dinner and showed him once how to use it... after that, he fed himself the rest of dinner with his spoon.
• He ditched his bottles. He winged himself from bottles and formula. It is sippy cups and whole milk for him now. Even before bed! 
• He protested his cookie being broken up... so we gave it to him whole and he ate it like a champ.

Basically, he decided to grow up in the course of a couple of hours!!! All of the eve of his 15 month old bday. Big boy, Asa J! 

Sickly Spring.

Aside from Havana's stomach flu in January, we had a remarkably healthy winter. I'm thankful for that and am sure that the Lord was protecting us (it also helped, I'm sure, that we rarely left the house). However, we had a sickly spring.

It began the Thursday before Easter. I had come inside from taking trash out and I noticed Jonah was crying. I asked him if he was okay and thought that perhaps the show he was watching upset him. He said, "yes. I'm not crying." I smiled at him and said, "okay, buddy. But's it okay to cry." He kept insisting that he wasn't crying.

That night I told Jason about it and how I thought Jonah was trying to be all big and tough and not admit to crying. That night, he woke up in the middle of the night and wanted to snuggle. I remember laying there on the bedroom floor thinking how sweet Jonah was and how these middle of the night snuggles are priceless.

The next morning, when I went to wake him up his eye was sealed shut and he was in pain. Poor guy had pink eye. He truly hadn't been crying the day before.

I had never experienced eye as a mommy... let's just say it is horrible. You can't take the children anywhere because of the big, pink eye. Yet, they feel fine during the day so cabin fever sets in. They are up all night because their eyes hurt. It was a lot harder than I realized.

Of course it spread. Next to Selah, then to Havana, and then to Asa. We had two weeks where we were unable to go anywhere or do anything. It felt like two months.

 

Then, in early May, Strep throat hit. Selah woke up in the middle of the night with a fever. The entire next day she continued with it and we began to notice that she was drooling and putting her fingers down her throat. We started her on antibiotics the next day. The day after that was Mother's Day. Jason left for work around 4:30am and at 5:30am Jonah woke up with a high fever. So began his journey with it. We ended up just giving Havana antibiotics as well... just in case. Ha.

Jonah at 5:30AM on Mother's Day.

In early June I came down with a terrible cold. We thought it was related to allergies, but it wasn't. A day or two later I was feeling great and the children came down with it.

three sick kiddos hanging out in mama's bed.

Germs never stop. Ha. I did try hard to "redeem" these sick days... lots of snuggling. Special shows. Lots of grace. No one had the stomach flu and so I did okay.... praying these small doses of illness will help me have confidence to get through the next vomit episode in my house... which is my constant fear. ha.

Inquisitive (and funny) Havana

Havana has been all over the "why" question lately... everything is met with "why?"

She is also super into spiritual questions. The other day we were in the car and she was talking about her grandmother. She asked about her dog, Rachel, and "are we always going to see Rachel when we go to her house?"

I said, "well, yes, until Rachel goes to heaven."

"Why will Rachel go to heaven?"
"well, when you are finished living on the earth - you go to live in heaven."
"Does everyone go to heaven?"
"No... all the people who have Jesus in their heart do.... and animals. I don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure animals go to heaven."
"Like horses and cats?"
"yes."
"Like Tucker?"
"yes."
"So, when I go to heaven I can play with Tucker?"
"yes." (okay, I don't know for sure animals go to heaven...)
"So which people go to heaven?"
"Anyone who has Jesus in their heart. He died for everyone, but it up to them to ask him into their heart."
"I don't think Norman Price will go to heaven."

And with that I busted out laughing... Norman Price is a character on one of their shows who is always the troublemaker. Then I regained my composure and said,
"Well, we don't know. We could pray for him... maybe he will come to know Jesus."

Then I felt strange having my daughter pray for a fictional character so I tried to restate that if we meet people "like" Norman Price we should pray for their heart. She was confused and wanted to know why Norman wasn't real. Then she asked about all of her TV show friends... wondering if they were real. If I said no she would ask "why not?" Complicated. Not sure I knew how to direct that conversation. She also then asked if the "Louisville Cardinals, Kentucky Wildcats, and the Buckeyes" will be in heaven. I refrained from making a joke that only an adult would understand and simply explained that those are sports teams and their are no sports teams in heaven. I can't believe I'm having these conversations with my 4.5 year old. When did she get so big?!

Tonight we were playing "shark" and I was the shark trying to eat some little fish and she said, "don't eat them... they want to grow up." Yikes!

She is a delight. Love being her mama!

Doctor Visits

Today Asa had his 4 month well check and Jonah had his three year check-up. It was fun to take both of my boys. Jonah was exceptional as he waited for the doctor. He enjoyed chatting with her and showing off how he can kick the ball and take off his own pants. He is such an easy going little boy. Asa was his content little self waiting to be seen.

Jonah was 37.25 inches (35%) and his weight was 35 pounds (80%). They said his BMI was 90% ... my little big guy.  The doctor asked him who his friends were and he said, "My friends are... David and Goliath." This made our doctor laugh really hard. He was such a brave boy and didn't even cry during his finger prick.

Asa, was 25 inches (32%) and only weighed 13 pounds, 12 ounces (12%). I have never, ever had such a tiny baby. He is soooo little. Jonah was wearing 6 month clothing at 6 weeks and here Asa is at 4 months still in 3 month clothing. My doctor suggested that I give him formula bottles after I nurse him in order to see if he is getting enough. I did that the rest of the day and he drank an addition 9 ounces! Poor boy - what if I have been starving him this whole time?!

He has struggled to sleep through the night. I've never had a baby go this long without learning how to sleep. A few weeks ago we stopped swaddling him.... and then it was a rough few nights because he didn't even know how to go to sleep without being all wrapped up. We resorted to the Dugger Bootcamp where he had to cry it out. It took several days, but the last two days he has been able to fall asleep for nap and bed on his own. Two nights ago we started giving him formula at night in hopes that he would last longer - it worked - he has now been sleeping until about 5. I hope that lasts and then extends.

After the check up, they gave Jonah a free ice cream cone coupon. I figured we would use it later, but on the drive home Jonah asked, "Are we going home?" "Yes." "Wait! We forgot to get our ice creams!"

I figured why not and I took my boys to Dairy Queen. We sat outside and at ice cream (at 11:30am) and talked about being brave, strong, men. Jonah would interrupt to tell me that his ice cream was "tasty" and "delicious"

I had left my phone at home - which is a bummer because I would have loved to have taken pictures of the entire thing. But, this blog post will have to snap a word picture. I hope I always remember this sweet morning I spent with my boy. I am so incredibly blessed!

Overheard Prayer

Dear Havana,

I was working on the computer today during your "rest time" -- you were playing quietly with a few of your toys when I heard you say, "Where is the monkey and lion? (I hear you move around trying to find them) Dear God, do you know where the monkey and the lion are? I can't find them. Will you help me? (You Look around some more). God, can you come down from heaven and help me find them?"

I wanted to bottle that moment up and keep it forever and ever. I love your faith. I love your innocence. I love you.

My sweet Havana - this is how she sits whenever she is watching TV. Love her.

Playing Catch up...

Well, it has been a while since I have posted on this blog. I've been trying so hard to keep my darbydugger.com marriage blog active that this one has taken a back seat - fear not, I have been keeping a running tab on my phone of all the cute happenings.

Jonah: Mommy, Do you have a penis?
Me: No
Jonah: well, why not?  
(hahaha)

Jonah walks into the room holding up his finger: Mama, I need a towel.
Me: why
Jonah: Tucker's penis is wet.
Me: Don't touch Tucker's penis.... let's go wash your hands.
(hahaha).

Me: Jonah, Your turn is up.
Jonah: No, my turn is down.
(I forget how literal they take things...)

One day I was cleaning the bathroom and I had told the children not to throw toys down from Havana's bed. Havana walks into the bathroom to tattle on Jonah who is throwing stuffed animals. I told her, "Havana, you really shouldn't tattle... why don't you use encouraging words and tell Jonah that he should obey."  I don't know when she walked out of the bathroom because next thing I know I hear her shout in a cheery voice, "Great Job, Jonah! Way to throw those animals down."
HAHAHAHAHA. I think she walked out after I told her to use encouraging words. So cute!!!!

With our children - everything is plural. It isn't, "Can I have a cup of milk?" it is "Can I have a cup of milks?" My kids don't eat cereal in the morning - they eat cereals. I don't know why this is, but everything is plural.

Every night when I tuck Havana in I always say, "Do you know that I love you? Do you know that I love being your mama?" Well, one night she surprised me and instead of simply saying yes, she said, "Mama, do you know that we always love being your children?" -- Ah! My heart exploded. 

At Dinner we play "The Bible Game" which is where we think of someone in the Bible, give clues about them, and then others at the table have to guess. Well, one day Havana impressed me when she said this, "I'm thinking of someone in the Bible who is very strong, and he died on the cross, and he lives in our hearts." I answered Jesus, but was impressed with how the Gospel really clicked with her. She has such a heart for God's Word!

Jonah loves to pretend to be Goliath. Every once in a while he will be David, but for the most part it is Goliath. He will clomp around in girly high heels, but claim he is Goliath because he is so tall. (Havana keeps telling him that Goliath is 90 feet high and I keep correcting her that he is 9 feet tall. Slight difference).

Jonah is also very into firefighters. He wears a baseball hat about 24/7 (he sleeps with it - not joking) and he calls it his "fire hat" -- he always pretends he is driving a fire truck, going to the fire station, or putting out a fire. It is cute to watch him be in his own little world.

A few weeks ago we moved Jonah from a crib to a toddler bed. He loves it. He has yet to get out. He calls his bed a fire truck. He also has a toy bus in his bed. He calls it his bed bus which I think is cute because it is similar to bed bug.

Asa is 4 Weeks old!!!!

My little baby is already 4 weeks old. I can't believe it. He is doing great and growing big! ;) This past week he started sleeping longer stretched through the night. His last feed is anywhere between 10-11pm and then he has been sleeping until 3:30 or 4:30! Not too shabby! I just need to learn to go to bed when he does. ha. Then he goes back to bed until about 6 or 6:30 an then is up for good by 8:30 or 9! He doesn't have consistent nap times during the day, but this past week he has laid down while the others are napping which is a big blessing. :)

Yesterday we gave him his first bottle and he took it like a champ! We gave him another one today and he also drank it down quickly. I'm excited because now I can plan important things like a much needed dentist appointment!

In his first month he has already been to church, the museum, playgroup, and the zoo! Busy boy! :)

Catching up!

Havana:
Havana continues to be my special, crazy girl. She is so funny and I love how innocent her thought life is. She is getting very good at "interpreting" for her siblings. They will all be playing in the play room and then she will come to me and say, "Mom, I asked Jonah if he would share with me and he said, (she begins to yell) 'NO! I WILL NOT SHARE WITH YOU. I CANNOT SHARE. IT IS MY TURN.'" -- to which I'm pretty sure Jonah didn't say any of that, but rather, it was just her interpretation.

She's quite the thespian. After we have our family devotion time every evening she wants to act out the story, which is fine by me, the more Bible we can get into her the better, but it is funny to me that she always asks, "Can I pretend to be that?"  as soon as we finish reading.

She has also  reached the "why" phase - which I enjoy because it is normal, but she usually words it, "Do you remember why?" Some of her other favorite phrases are, 'Okay, okay, okay" which she always says together. She'll ask to go to Chuch-E-Cheese and if I say no she will say, "Ok, Ok, Ok, how about chick-fil-A?" ha. She also likes to use the term "mistaken"-- She learned this this other day from me when I told her something I thought was true, but later found out that it wasn't. I said, "Mommy was mistaken." Then, a few days later I said something and then changed my answer later and she said, "mama, were you shakin?" I said - "No, I'm not shaking." She responded, "no, are you shakin, like with daddy and the fish?" So I realized she was trying to say mistaken and I laughed really hard. Now she loves to ask if we are ever mistaken. :)

First Hair Cut!

She pays attention to everything we say and do and will often ask us what we are talking about if she hears her name being mentioned. She also calls us out. The other day she hit Jonah and Jason was talking to her about why we don't hit and she interrupted him and said, "But mommy hit Tucker once with the remote control."Jason was trying to have a serious moment with her, but I just couldn't stop laughing. First of all, I never remember hitting Tucker with the remote control, but just the thought of her "telling one me" made me giggle uncontrollably. Jason informed Havana that I might be able to hit Tucker, but she isn't allowed to hit anyone.

She is also so silly-  loving to laugh - and like me when she laughs hard she always ends up with the hiccups. Just today she was laughing and then said, "I think I'm going to get the hiccups" and that just made me laugh even harder which made her laugh even harder. I'm so thankful for these moments of sheer happiness with my babies.

She loves to throw the "share" word out when she can use it for her advantage. If I'm drinking a soda and she asks to have a sip and I say no, she will then ask, "Can I share with you?"

She is also starting to talk about her feelings a little more. She is always sensitive to how everyone is feeling (are you happy, are you sad, etc.) but the other day she said, "Mom, I was frustrated at church." I wanted so badly to listen to her explain her emotions, but I couldn't keep from smiling as she explained to me why she was frustrated. What a big girl.
In May she got her hair cut for the first time (just a trim) and she did great. It was neat for me to watch her carry on a conversation with the lady who was cutting her hair. She does so well talking now. She did have tick in her head which caused a little bit of drama seeing as she doesn't like bugs or boo boos and, in her opinion, the tick was both. But she pushed through. She also has been loving the pool this summer. She is a very good swimmer and as long as she has her water wings on she can go without being held. It makes the pool so much fun!

She has started taking a dance class! A little ballet class. As she is dressed in the leotard and goes into the class without me I have to wonder where my baby or my toddler went? She is a little girl now and I love watching her grow into the girl of God she is going to be.

Jonah:
Jonah seriously deserves an award for how well he can play by himself and go with the flow. He's amazing. He's my little man and I can't get enough of him. He continues to talk up a storm and his conversations with Havana and Selah are fun to overhear. His favorite questions is, "Whatcha doing?" -- so he's constantly asking "whatcha doing" to anyone he sees.

He is saying some really funny comments these days. For instance, he calls peas - "penis" to which we correct him, but it doesn't take. We found this out one night when we were eating peas and he dropped one on the floor and said, "oh no, I dropped a penis." ha. He also will touch his penis when I'm changing his diaper and he will say, "What's that?" I'll say, "That's your penis." He'll respond, "We don't touch a penis." Then he will point to his toes and ask, "What's that?" I'll say, "Those are your toes." He'll say, "You can touch your toes." Silly boy.  He also has been trying to teach Selah how to talk by getting in her face and saying, "Say daddy, Selah. Say daddy." ;) 

He is all boy! He loves to run into you head first - I actually think that his way of saying hello or that he loves you. I do have to remind him not to run into Selah head first. He loves to wrestle, play ball, throw things, hit things, play with dump trucks, crash towers... you name it - he wants to do it. He's all boy. However, he is all boy who has two sisters -- so he will occasionally wear a sparkly crown, carry a purse, or want to wear the pink sun hat rather than the blue baseball cap. hmmm... :)

Last week in the car I gave Jonah and Selah their water cups and I kept hearing laughter from the back and finally when I realized what was going on Jonah was saying, "Hey Nana watch this." And he would take a sip of water and spit it out and then laugh really hard. Like I said, he's all boy.  He is reaching a new stage where he is trying to control thing and throwing a fit when he doesn't get his way, but we're not giving in and praying it is a short phase. :) He's also getting somewhat "cheecky" - an example is that when I tell him to say, "yes, mama." He will say, "Yes, daddy."

Jonah is loving the pool too. He is also a fairly good swimmer and can jump in, go under water, and bob right up. He loves it. He is such a big guy... I love my little man. He is a little cautious around other things (sprinklers, new things, etc.) but once he feels like something is safe he is okay to explore.

He turned two in May - we went to Chuck-E-Cheese on his birthday which is always fun for him and then the next week we had his family party which was a sports theme with baseball cake pops and baseball oreos. Super fun. He still talks about his basketball cake and when anyone asks him what he got for his birthday that is what he will tell them. Apparently, toys are no big deal, but a basketball cake is memorial. :)

SELAH:
My sweet Selah is almost one!  I can't believe it. She is growing up quickly and certainly not the "Failure to thrive" little girl she used to be. She is catching up in weight and height. She is also our earliest mover - always has been, but she is so close to walking. She took her first step attempt on June 13th and now will take one-three steps on her own - although she is still a little shy about it. She loves to walk holding your hand or cruising on the couch. I've never had a child cruising like this at 11 months old so I'm impressed. :)

She has four teeth total now - two on the bottom and two on the top. The ones on the top are really funny because there is such a huge gap between them. She has a funny laugh that is a true belly laugh - and keeping in line with all the Dugger girls she gets the hiccups if she laughs hard enough.

I call Selah my little "assumer" - she tends to be a little dramatic and always assumes the worst. If  I put her down on the floor she starts crying because she assumes I am going to walk away when really I am about to sit down next to her. If I give some food to Jonah and Havana she starts crying because she assumes I'm not going to give her any, but I just haven't gotten to her yet. She tends to assume the worst, poor girl, and so often throughout the day she cries often... although she has always been a little actress and when anyone else is around she is super happy and everyone comments on how she is the happiest baby they know. And she is generally happy, but she saves her "fits" for her parents. :)

She is getting to a fun age in terms of playing. She likes to wrestle, be tickled, read books,  and play with all the toys. It is fun to watch the toys that we have had since Havana was a baby gain new life with each baby. She is a lot of fun and often makes me laugh.

She says, "dada" and "All done" - she can sign "more" and "drink" - at times it sounds like she has said "mama" and "havana" - but those aren't very regular so I don't count them yet. The rest is just babbles. She loves playing outside and swinging on swings. She is pretty sure she can do anything Havana and Jonah do -- which can frustrate her sometimes when I tell her she is not really able to do everything they do. It is hard to be the younger sister. Overall, she is such an amazing little girl who I adore and can't wait to watch her learn more and grow every day.

I am so incredibly blessed to be the mommy to these three miracles. They were designed by God with a specific purpose and I can't wait to watch their hearts grow towards Him.