The Backyard

It's been nice out the past couple days. For the first time Stuart has been able to explore the backyard. This is a new world for him, he was delighted.
The whole family played out back, including Janna and Vivian. Needless to say, Vivian didn't have nearly as much fun as Stuart did.
I suppose it was only a matter of time before Stuart found the dirty old wiffle ball the dogs have been playing with for the last year or so. Deirbhile very much wants Stuart to throw the ball to her.
Give a little boy a ball and he's bound to throw it to his puppy. Stuart and Deirbhile had great fun playing fetch, although I'm not sure Stuart really caught on.
Miss Vivian took in the show, she wasn't all that impressed. I can't blame her, the back yard is a mess. The dogs have ransacked the place.
Seamus and Deirbhile were happy to have us as visitors to their backyard abode, but they were also very pleased to see us go. I'll be back though, we must get grass growing.

Minor Stuart And Vivian Events

Stuart has been sleeping peacefully in his big boy bed since late December or early January. Here he is playing in his big boy bed, with Vivian attempting to sleep in the corner.
Stuart loves Vivian and is prone towards random displays of affection such as this. We keep getting asked if Stuart has been jealous of Vivian. So far, he hasn't been at all. I think he's so young that he really can't remember a time without her and so she's just a normal part of his everyday routine.
Stuart tries to be a big helper around the house. He has figured out that when Vivian fusses Mom or Dad puts her pacifier in her mouth and she stops fussing. The pacifier falls out once in awhile, causing Vivian to fuss again. Stuart has taken to grabbing the fallen out pacifier and stuffing it in Vivian's mouth. He hasn't yet figured out which way is the right way, but he gets points for trying.

Vivian's standard expression seems to be one of annoyance. I think she gets that from Janna. I have yet to witness this child look at me with any look other than one of total disdain or general annoyance. We hope she grows out of it.
Stuart has come to really enjoy going to Griffins games with his old man. We've gone to three games without the girls so far. He cheers all the big hits, throwing his hands up in the air and roaring. He sits in his own seat or on my lap and hasn't raised any fuss at all. He watches the players skate around and such, he seems very interested in what's going on. We're hardly jonesen for compliments but at Friday's game everyone around us complimented Stuart. One said he wanted to have a son as cute and well behaved as Stuart, another said he had an Aaron Downey quality to him. In other words, he thought Stuart would be a mucker and a fighter. Dad was well pleased. So was Mr. Seamus.

Dinner With Loretta

Stuart is excited because Loretta is coming over for dinner. He also hears rumors we're making lamb.
Vivian always looks so annoyed. The prospect of Loretta coming over doesn't change her expression at all.
And here the lovely Miss Loretta makes her appearance to be fed. As you can see she only eats once a week. Eat, eat, you're getting to skinny!
We had a lovely Irish Lamb Stew all cooked in one pot over the course of three and a half hours.
The lamb, as you can see, was on the bone. I'm here to tell you it was falling off by the time we sat down to dinner. It was cooked perfectly. Such a good dinner.
For desert we had Profiteroles with a lovely chocolate sauce made by Janna. Also very good.
We always enjoy having Loretta over for dinner. Stuart seems well pleased to get to sit with her. Hopefully we can talk Loretta into coming back soon. After all, she needs to eat and Stuart wants someone to sit with.

Saturday At Home

Stuart has decided that the new best game ever is to stand in the laundry basket. What exactly his purpose is hasn't been figured out yet but he seems to have a grand time.
Vivian is down to one feeding at night. We're hopeful that at the end of next month she'll be sleeping through the night like her brother was at the same age. She's apparently growing like a weed, she's gained a pound since leaving the hospital.
Getting Vivian to look at the camera is like pulling teeth. I've also noticed that she always seems to have a very annoyed look on her face. Clearly she thinks we're all idiots and that she's vastly superior in intellect. I wonder who she gets that from.
Deirbhile just loves the new baby. While she hasn't adopted Vivian as her own as she did with Stuart, she is very sweet and gentle with her. She likes to sit in the nursery and keep tabs on everyone. She's a 25 pound gatekeeper I suppose.
Not to be out done, Seamus continues to try to round up Janna every time Vivian starts crying. Apparently he believes that Janna can't hear the baby and so it's his duty to make sure she does something about the crying. You think by now Seamus would have figured out that the crying will either be attended to in Janna's good time or it will work itself out on its own. Ahh well, I suppose we shouldn't expect great understanding from a well meaning dog.

Random Things

Stuart gets along well with Vivian. We are very pleased with this. He hasn't shown any signs of jealousy, at least not yet. We can only hope that continues.
Seamus continues to be very concerned about the new baby. Like with Stuart, every time Vivian starts to cry he tries to round up Janna. If she doesn't come right away he sits by Vivian and glares at Janna when she finally comes in to deal with the baby. Seamus is the original attachment parent, reason enough to reject the philosophy.
Yes, I admit I'm addicted to Gems TV. You wanna make something of it? In other news, Janna has lost 10 pounds off her pre-pregnancy weight.
Seamus and Deirbhile have been stuck inside a lot because it's been very cold all winter. The result is that they've been absolutely wild for a couple of months. Here is a rare moment of absolute peace between the two. Savor it.
And here we have Vivian sleeping, which she does a lot of. We are grateful to God for having blessed us with such nice children. It is our desire to raise these children for God's glory, we wouldn't have it any other way. How could we be so blessed and not glorify God?

Our Grand Return Home

This morning we returned home from hospital. Vivian has yet to wake up in her new home, so we haven't really had a chance to show off her new digs yet. Both Janna and Vivian are doing well. The challenge in the next week is two fold. First, we need to make sure Janna doesn't over do it. Second, we need to teach Vivian how to go sleep on her own. The first we will likely fail at. Getting Janna to rest is like pulling teeth. The second we will be successful at, partly because Vivian seems content sleep without raising a fuss and partly because we're ruthless about teaching babies how to sleep on their own.
The minute we got home I put Vivian on the floor so that Seamus and Deirbhile could visit with her. Both were very excited to see her. They were both very gentle with her, doing little more than sniffing her and looking to me for approval. Later on when Vivian wakes up we'll have to arrange another meeting.
When Stuart was a baby Deirbhile treated him as if he were her puppy. She would stand guard over him, trying to protect him from the evil dog that lives in the fireplace. We're hopeful that she does the same with Vivian. Speaking of Stuart, we expect him to come home tonight. Life will be different for him, but after a day or so he'll never remember life without Vivian. Thanks be to God for blessing us so greatly.

Vivian Day Two

So here we are at the close of day two in Vivian's life. Janna is getting along well. A little tired but that's to be expected. I say she's a little tired, I make an assumption in saying that. Janna won't admit she's tired nor will she let on that she's tired. She's never once complained during her pregnancy of any pain, lack of comfort nor has she complained of being tired. She lived her pregnant life almost entirely the same as normal life. I say she's tired today because I assume she must be. You have to figure after major surgery, a night in the hospital, a new baby and lots of excitement that she would be tired. Maybe she is, maybe she isn't. If she is, she won't tell anyone.
Earlier in the day Stuart came by to visit his new sister and his mother. He's had an eventful comple of days over at his Oma and Opa's house. He has taken to Vivian, though we're not sure if he understands that she is a baby. I'm certain he has no idea she's coming home with us on Monday. In any event, we'd appreciate your continued prayers for Janna's recovery. God has blessed us greatly. :)

In Which We Present Vivian Rosalind

Vivian Rosalind arrived at 12:08 this afternoon. Vivian and Janna are both doing fine over at the hospital.
Children are a blessing from God and we have been richly blessed indeed.
Janna has begun recover at the hospital. So far so good. We're not sure if she's going to leave Sunday evening or Monday morning. Either way, pray for her well being.

Happy Birthday Steve!

The Psalms

31

A Profession of Trust
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1	In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
2	Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for a house of defense to save me.
3	For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
4	Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
5	Into thine hand I commit my spirit: Lk. 23.46 thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
6	I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
7	I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
8	and hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
9	Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
10	For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
11	I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
12	I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
13	For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
14	But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.
15	My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
16	Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.
17	Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.
18	Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19	Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20	Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21	Blessed be the LORD: for he hath showed me his marvelous kindness in a strong city.
22	For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
23	O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
24	Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

New Years Eve

We spent New Years Eve at Van Andel Arena watching the Griffins. They played someone called the Iowa Chops and as you can see their logo is that of one very angry looking pig. If I were that pig, I would be angry with the way my team played. The Griffins smoked the Chops 6-0. Jimmy Howard looked great in net, dare I say better than Chis Osgood has looked in Detroit.
Stuart loves him some hockey. He watches the game and especially enjoys big hits, pucks hitting the glass and anyone falling down. He behaves himself as well, there were some empty seats around us so we sat him down in his own seat. He especially enjoyed this, getting to sit in a big boy seat. Now we have to transfer that to church. So far he sits through about a third of it in his own seat. We're hoping for more before Vivian is born. I'm not going to get excited over his sitting at the Griffins game transfering to sitting at church. He can make noise and jump around at the Griffins game, if he does that at church there will be tears and none of them will be mine or Janna's.
Stuart has a Wings jersey that is a couple sizes too big for him. He wore it anyway of course. And yes, Janna also wore a jersey last night. It was blackout night for the Griffins last night and fans were encouraged to wear black. Not many did but in the spirit of team support both Janna and I did. I wore my 2002 Steve Yzerman Team Canada black third jersey and Janna wore my Anson Carter Bruins jersey from a few years ago. AC is to this day one of my favorite former Spartans. He captained the team back in the mid 90's. Anyway, hope everyone had a nice New Years. May God be will you all during this upcoming year.

A Touch Of Winter

God has blessed us with snow the past few days, quite a bit of it. I for one like snow, I think it looks lovely. I love the colder weather as well. As you can see, at the end of my driveway is a mound of snow more or less as tall as I am. I fear for what it will look like come February.

Seamus and Deirbhile don't quite know what to do with all of the snow. They've made paths for themselves in the backyard. For the most part Deirbhile doesn't venture outside of the paths as the snow is basically taller than she is now. Seamus will leap outside of the path every so often, usually bounding for the door to come inside.
Deirbhile patrols the backyard looking for wayward dangers to protect us from. Or in her case, wayward squirrels to kill.
Deirbhile has always been a bearded lady but in the snow the beard is more pronounced.
Seamus has a love/hate relationship with the snow. He loves to play in it but he hates the ice clumps that form on his paws. He suffers through the ice clumbs for a chance to romp in the snow.
While Seamus and Deirbhile have fun outside, Stuart stays inside and pretends he's a dog by playing in Seamus' bed.
While it's cold outside, it's warm inside in front of the fire. Wood burning fireplaces are the best.

December Update

Stuart has started sleeping in his big boy bed, at least for naps. Said big boy bed is to the right of Deirbhile. We're hopeful that by the time Vivian arrives in January that Stuart will have transitioned completely into his new bed. If not, well, he'll have no choice once Vivian comes home.
Sometime next year we're going to move Deirbhile into sleep with Stuart. Not actually with him of course but in her own bed. Currently she sleeps in the basement in a cage while my beloved Seamus sleeps in his bed in our room. Stuart would love to have one of the dogs sleep with him. I think right now with the new bed and new baby on the way, adding a dog into his room would be to0 much for him right now. Maybe it wouldn't, but we're not going to push it.
Seamus meanwhile is concerned that if Deirbhile starts to sleep in Stuart's room that she'll become his favorite. I keep telling Seamus that she could never be Stuart's favorite. Seamus plays with Stuart, they romp around and get into mischief together. Deirbhile allows Stuart to pull her fur and ears and climb her like monkey bars but she isn't very interactive and she disappears when she can get away. Seamus will always be the favorite. Such a sweet little boy he is.