McClintock Family Reunion 2010

This past weekend we enjoyed some family time with the McClintocks at our yearly family reunion. It was a great time with multiple celebrations. Friday we had a baby shower for Christopher's sister Amy who is due with a precious baby girl next month. Saturday we had the family reunion and celebrated Grandma's 93rd birthday. It is a good time to catch up with each other and find out what everyone has been up to. Though there never seems to be quite enough time to talk to everybody. I am so thankful for the fun and loving family that I have married into. Not many people get blessed with two great families!

Big Man at The Bus Stop

Today is the day! Ristow's first day of Kindergarten. We are all so excited for him, but his biggest thrill was that he was going to get to ride the School Bus!
Getting ready this morning he hardly ate any breakfast. I thought this was because he was too excited to eat, then he says "My friend told me that I have to eat a string cheese on the way to the bus stop to be all set for school." So sure enough, he had to take a string cheese to eat while waiting for the bus, though his little friend isn't even in school yet ;)
One other little girl was at the bus stop waiting. His eyes lit up as he heard the bus coming and he couldn't wait to get on. The bus driver was wearing a Hawaiian print shirt and a big smile. He said all the kids call him English, because he's English. Ristow found his seat, the doors closed and we waved goodbye. I never thought I would be one of those super emotional mom's on the first day of Kindergarten, but I have to confess that walking back to the house, my eyes teared up and I cried with pride at the little man I am watching grow before me!

5am

Even at 5:00am, after not very many hours of sleep, laying a baby in the bed with me and then being kicked the face by said baby, there is still something that can make me smile....


Yep, that sweet face. The way she smiles from ear to ear when she sees us in the morning, the way she shares her open mouthed excitement at the feel of her first ride in a swing, her sweet contemplation of the world around her, I love them all!
And yes, even at 5am, after a quick sigh that she didn't sleep later, I smile too and am so thankful for this precious daughter laying next to me.

Appreciation of the Arts

For the last few nights, when I have been giving Jessica her bedtime bottle, we have been sitting in her dark room with just her night light on. It is a night light that was given to me as a gift a number of years ago and I love it. It has artwork created by Frank Lloyd Wright on it called Saguaro Forms. Jessica has gotten into the habit of taking a few sips of her bottle and then she stops and leans forward onto my leg and tips her precious little head to the side and smiles at the night light. She looks at it in such amazement. Then she takes a few more sips and repeats the peaceful admiration of the light. Now who knows if it is her own little way of stretching out bedtime, as you can guess that drinking her bottle takes quite an extended period of time, or if it is just a newly found appreciation of the Arts.
I am going to go with the second option and sit and enjoy admiring the night light right along beside her.

The Beauty of Development

July was a month full of development. Development is defined as growth or a way in which things are improving.

With a new baby it is easy to see the ways she is developing and changing and this past month brought exciting ones. I am happy to report that Jessica is no longer on her prevacid medication and we are no longer having to go to our reflexologist every week as she is not longer spitting up profusely. It has been a month full of NOT having to change my clothes 3 times a day and NOT having to keep blankets and burp cloths all over the house and NOT having to worry about if she got her medication. I have to admit that I eased into the change quite easily and really haven't thought about it until today when I was looking through my prayer journal and realized what was different. So I praise God for little one's development and growth of their digestive systems.
She is also developing her sense of humor and laughs when she makes me laugh. I am so thankful for her and the beautiful little 8 month old that she is.

I have also seen development in Ristow. Besides getting his third loose tooth, he is growing in his understanding of the world and conversation and caring for others. He is getting ready to start Kindergarten on the 12th of this month and will be riding the bus like a big kid. He is really excited. I am eager to see all of the different types of development that start to change in a couple of weeks.

Also in July, Christopher and I took a vacation to Jamaica to celebrate 10 years of marriage. It was a vacation that brought refreshment and reconnection and grew us closer to one another. Development can be displayed in many ways.
As our lives continue to change, which is inevitable, I pray that the change is a developmental change that continues to lead to improvement and growth. Growth in our relationships, growth in our spiritual journey and growth in our love for one another.