out of the mouth of (this) mom

I've been compiling the following list of actual sentences that have come out of my mouth for a while now...oh, say a day or so:

We don't wrestle in the bathtub. (1)

Do not put the asparagus in your nose. (2)

Poop stays in the toilet. (1)

You may not shut yourself in the refrigerator without telling me first. (3)

No, he doesn't have a baby in his tummy. (4)

No, poop is not healthy. (1)

We don't wrestle in the car. (1)

Take that pipe cleaner out of your brother's ear. (3)

Well, if you would just wipe your bottom better it wouldn't itch. (1)

We don't talk about poop at church. (1)

Let me smell those pants. Ok, they are fine to wear tomorrow. (4)

We don't wrestle in the library. (1)

You can't marry Daddy, he's mine. (3)

You can not jump out of the gator while it is moving. (4)

You can not ride your car off the back of the gator while it is moving. (4)

We don't wrestle on the kitchen table. (1)

You can hi-yah! your brother after breakfast. (4)

I'm sorry you are sad that you cut your barbies hair. Go cry in your room because I don't want to listen to it. (3)

Today is today. Tomorrow is tomorrow. (1)

Everybody poops. (4)

_____________________________________________________________________

Key: (just in case you couldn't guess, ha!)

(1) = Ezra
(2) = Jeremiah
(3) = Ella
(4) = Eli

Worth Your Time

Never one to disappoint, I love Kristen's post about homework. More specifically, her hatred of it. And her son is only in Kindergarten. Kindergarten. Yikes! There are many reasons why I choose to home school but one of the most compelling to me is that when our school day is over...it is over. Not so compelling a reason while Ella is just in kindergarten, but I am sure as all our kids get older, it will be one reason I return to quite a bit. And the comments on it are equally as interesting (in my humble opinion.)

In the adoptive community (especially the Ethiopian community) there is a lot written about the guilt one feels (or should be feeling) for adopting a child "away" from their home country. And while I feel every effort should be made to honor and respect an adopted childs heritage and culture, I loved the scooper's reminder that this adopted child comes from an orphanage...and even the best orphanage is no substitute for a family. Seemingly a no brainer, right. But something worth reminding ourselves of.

A video that almost-for-half-of-a-millisecond had me wishing for twins.

And because it NEVER gets old...I love hearing stories about how God has provided. What an encouragement to never let finances be the thing that holds you back from doing what God has called (commanded?!) you to do.

Recap: Eli's Fourth and First Birthday Party

From helping me make his cupcakes...
to getting to play all afternoon with his Nana, cousins, aunts and uncles...
to getting to eat his fill of his favorite food...
to being surrounded by all (well...most. we missed those that couldn't make it!) of his friends and family that supported us and loved us through every step of getting him here...

It was the perfect way to celebrate his very special life!













































































































A few side notes I feel I should mention:

He really wanted a mater cake (from the CARS movie) but if there is one area I am highly deficient in it would be the creative baking one. However, he was happily pacified with a mater cup cake.

I am actually highly deficient in many areas...not just the creative baking one.

His favorite food is salsa...and I finally cut him off at 5 bowls of it the night of his party. So, technically he didn't truly eat his fill of it. But I was afraid of the...um, after effects of allowing unrestricted salsa eating. Oh, and it took all the restraint I had not to edit out all the salsa remnants on his face in that first photo...but I figured this was a better picture of reality...mess and all!

We had been practicing singing the Happy Birthday song to him all week so that he wouldn't have any performance anxiety and he took all the attention like a champ! And there was no need to worry if he would need to be "taught" how to blow out all his candles. He did it like he had been doing it all his life.

I might have choked up a bit when I looked around and saw his happy smile and sparkling eyes when we were all singing him Happy Birthday. I know, I am a big hormonal pregnant mush...but the miracle of his life and his being here wasn't lost on me in that moment.

Not Me Monday

I did not ignore a "Mommy I have to go potty" request just because I was at the farthest opposite side of the bathroom in the biggest store in the world and I just needed to get one more thing.

Therefore I did not discover it was too late by the time we made it.

And I definitely am always prepared for these kind of incidents and had the appropriate equipment to deal with it.

Ahem...yeah.

And so I did not just throw away the evidence and allow my child to go around commando the rest of the shopping trip.

And of course it goes without saying that I did not lose my cool at any time during this occurrence.

Yep. Never happened. Not me.

Memory Monday: One Thing

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,
but I focus on this ONE THING:
Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God,
through Jesus Christ, is calling us.

Philippians 3:13-14


For last weeks one thing, click here.

According to Ella: How To Blow a Bubble

Step 1: "Flat" out the gum. (Holding your tongue just so is optional)




































Step 2: Spread it over the end of your tongue.




































Step 3: Blow!



































Step 4 thru 404: Repeat (and repeat and repeat...)

From Poppy Seed to Pumpkin: Banana Week

I have reached the half way mark and my little one is the length of a banana now, approximately 10 inches. And I have officially gained 9 lbs.

Incidentally, I have been craving bananas this week.

And that also explains why I am feeling this little one move all the time now. Quite the active little bugger.

This baby can hear my voice now. And probably his/her brother's as well...as they love to scream "wake up baby" into my belly button.

My nausea has 99% dissipated and my energy level remains pretty good. I remember the next few weeks with Ella and Ezra being almost quite enjoyable for me. In a pregnant sort of way. It is very crazy to think that I am halfway through. I cannot say this time has flown by...and I am oh so very happy to think I have less than halfway to go.

I am a month into my weekly progesterone shots which I am taking to hopefully prevent another pre-term birth. Jeremiah has perfected his shot giving technique...who knew he had it in him. Well, besides me. After all, I wouldn't have let him give me a shot in the first place if I didn't have confidence in him. Although I might have had an outer body experience at one point and fled the scene when it was time for one. But it was totally outside of my control. Really.

















I have decided that if this child ever decides to rebel I will remind him/her of what I went through to bring them into this world and guilt them into obedience.

Yeah. I already know that isn't going to work. A girl can dream, can't she.

And, as promised to the little one...a belly shot for week 20:






































And...I guess I should mention one very important detail. I don't need to refer to the baby as he/she anymore...because we know it is a GIRL!!!

Yesterdays ultrasound showed a very healthy and active little girl...modest too, as we almost didn't get to find out if she was a girl because she was very ladylike and kept her ankles crossed.

We are so thankful for the report a healthy little girl! Praise God!

Thursday Thoughts (and picture OVERLOAD)

It should be titled Thursday Thought today because there is really only one thought on my mind this morning...and that is my big 20 week ultrasound that is happening this morning!

Yes, I am more than a little bit excited!

My mom and a few of my siblings came down for the big day. Because not only is today the day we find out about the baby, we also have Eli's fourth and first birthday party tonight. Time to par-tay.

We will be doing a big reveal for those family and friends that are able to make the party tonight...the rest of you will have to wait till tomorrow. Please try to not let the suspense kill you.

And since my thought is singular this morning...I will leave you with photo overload of all the fun we've had this week. I think I just might have broken a new personal record for photos taken in a single week. What can I say...the inspiration has been flowing.

Enjoy and Happy Thursday!

birds of a feather

Every spring we have a pair of geese return to our pond. They make a nest along the bank of the pond and feast on the abundance of the spring onions and weeds around our yard.












































One year we were even lucky enough to have a gaggle of the cutest little goslings you ever did see. And by cute goslings, I'm not talking about these goslings.

The kids desperately want to make friends with them. Desperately.

We have tried to tell our crew that running after the geese scares the bejeezes out of our feathery friends and doesn't bode well for their future relationships. Even if they just want to "pet" them. Even if they bring stale bread and rolls from the pantry.

Only Ella ever actually makes it close enough. You can see how the geese just love the attention.
























Nevertheless, the kids continue to make their attempts at friendship. Every single day.

At least they have each other (and the stale rolls that the geese rejected) for consolation.
























Please note the following points in the above picture:

1) Ella is holding Eli's hand. Be still my beating heart.
2) Ella is wearing one of her newest spring outfit, um...creations.
3) They are all munching on the stale rolls that were designated for the geese.
4) They were rejected...but obviously not defeated. Go team Hambrick!

a day to celebrate

Today is Eli's fourth birthday.

Not according to his birth certificate, but according to his birthmom. And that is reason enough to celebrate around here.

It is also his first birthday, in a way, as it is his first as a part of our family and Ethiopian culture doesn't traditionally celebrate birthdays.

And especially the life of a little one whose mother struggled to provide enough food for him to eat on a daily basis. I hardly think he ever got a cake. Or a song sung to him on his special day.

But it is his special day. And his life is worth celebrating.

And so we will. In a simple four year old way...

Pancakes for breakfast.
Park for playtime.
A few simple presents. (He doesn't want or need anything right now...why mess a good thing up!)
Extra hugs, snuggles, and I love you's.
And a party to come later in the week.

And for me, as his second Mommy...time to reflect and pray for his first Mom, whom I can't help but think about today and wonder if she is remembering this day in her heart?

I can't even begin to put into words my thankfulness for this child the Lord has allowed me to love. For what his life has taught me. And for all the amazing things that he is...

His crooked head, costume wearing, gator driving, funny, quirky, stubborn, resilient, gentle, observant, and very much loved self!

Happy Birthday Eli Cade!

Not Me Monday

I did not pack bathing suits and towels and allow my children to swim in the baptismal pool after service yesterday.

That would just be wrong.

And sacrilegious.

And of course I don't have pictures because it didn't happen.

Nope. Not me.

Memory Monday: One Thing

One thing I ask of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

Lord, let this be my one thing this week.

I have much on my mind. Much demanding my time and energy.
But I want to follow the example of David, who despite having every legitimate reason to be consumed with the circumstances of his life at the moment he wrote this, was instead solely focused on dwelling with you.

I want you Lord. I want to gaze upon the beauty that is you. Help me to see it in the freshness that is Spring, the faces of my children as I serve them, and to find you in the intimacy of my prayers.

pause

In this stage of life there is so much I can find myself wishing to hurry along...

The boys learning how to wipe their own bottoms (ahem, ...effectively.)
Clean up after themselves,
put their shoes on the right feet,
or _________________.

But I've heard it said and I have to remind myself often that things don't ever necessarily get easier, it just gets different.

And so, today, I choose to dwell on the little things my favorite people do that I would love to pause.

Not fast forward. Not hurry along. Not wait for the next stage.

Just pause...

How Ezra calls a tornado, tomato, and potato... a "matatoe." Please never learn the correct way to say these things.

How Ella changes what she wants to be when she grows up every single day. And then finishes the statement with a "this time I'm not changing."

How Eli is always willing to go with his sister to the basement to "help her be brave."

How Ezra looks when he first wakes up from a nap with blanket imprints still fresh on his pink cheeks and his hair all askew. And how his first words are always "Momma, can I get up?" followed by "I'm hungry."

How Ella insists on sleeping in the boys room...despite her awesome own girly room...because she "misses her brothers."

How Eli chases the cat all around the yard...desperately trying to bestow his gift of a kiss on her.

How they all are so easily entertained by the journey of a ladybug across a window.

And come apart (in a good way) when they see their Daddy drive in the driveway.

And allow me to read them books all cuddled up in a heap on my bed for loooong stretches of time.


























What are some of your favorite things you'd love to pause?

Thursday Thoughts

Oh man. What a week. How can it be almost over?

We have the start of three swimming pools in our backyard. Otherwise known as a new septic system. Or the greatest temptation ever for my boys. Mud piles that lead down to poop...um, yeah, they are all about that. Oh, and a real live bulldozer right in our backyard. My boys think they have died and gone to heaven.

For me...cleaning poop that has backed up into my bathtub....yeah, not so much.

This baby in my belly must have hit a growth spurt because I am feeling huge this week. And those gentle movements I was feeling last week have turned into not so gentle movements. I don't remember my other babies being so active this early on.

Sidenote: Ella was way more active in the womb than Ezra. He was just faking me out.

We find out next week whether it will be a boy or girl joining our craziness. Anyone care to make a guess?

I realize I forgot to write about our quick trip to the Star City last weekend. Our highlights included taking a drive up to the star, playing on Meme and Poppee's conveniently placed indoor playgym (otherwise known as their stairs), and making homemade donuts with Meme. Yum.



































































































I hear rumors of temp's in the 80's for this weekend here in ol' North Carolina. Bring it!

Happy Thursday!

Repost: Top O' The Morning

A few little known facts about St. Patrick:

1) He wasn't a beer drinking leprechaun like most images suggest.

2) He wasn't Irish.

He was actually a Romano-Briton. Meaning, he was British. At the age of 16 he was taken as a slave by Irish raiders. He remained a slave for 6 years until he escaped and returned home. As an adult the came to know Christ and even became ordained as a bishop. Here is the power of Christ in this story: He then decided to return as a missionary to the very people that had enslaved him.

Christ, be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise,
Christ in the heart of every one who thinks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Salvation is of the Lord,
Salvation is of the Christ.
May your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.

- St. Patrick

(equal) ferocity

There is a verse in Proverbs that is sort of hard for me to understand...
Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool his folly (proverbs 17:12).

It's not that I don't agree that a fool in his folly is surely a thing to stay away from. Oh no. Stay far far away.

It's that I am unable to compare the ferocity that comes over me whenever I feel that my cubs might be robbed from me or that my children might be threatened...to...well, to...anything.

My personality is very non confrontational. In fact, it is a fault of mine. I will avoid confrontation at all costs. I even get uncomfortable when Jeremiah gets frustrated with something trivial like a computer on the fritz. (Not that he ever gets frustrated at things like that!)

However. This does not apply when it comes to my children. I have no problems whatsoever confronting you if I feel like you are hurting/harming/or doing anything negative to my child.

I have written a lot about how I have had to grow into my feelings for Eli. I chose to love him from the start and I do, I do, I do...but my feelings have taken some growing into.

This past weekend we took the kids to an indoor play gym to let them get some energy out on a cold and rainy day. True to their personalities, Ella took off to see if she could make a friend or two, Ezra took off to conquer every play apparatus, and Eli observed the perimeter before cautiously approaching his slide of choice.

Except that there was a bigger boy there...
Who was not going to let Eli pass.
Or climb up.
Or even just stand there and wait.

He was bullying my child.

I observed for a minute and watched their interaction because I wanted to see what Eli would do. Remember, I am still getting to know him and learn his personality and how he reacts in certain situations.

Well, I could see that he was getting upset and just going to back away.

And then the fierceness rose up in me. No, I hadn't been robbed of my cubs. But, one of my cubs was being made to suffer. And it didn't matter that this cub wasn't born of my body. And it didn't matter that I have had to grow into my feelings of love for him. And...really, nothing else mattered at this point.

I walked over to the other little boy and punched him in the face so hard he went flying across the room.

Kidding. Kidding.

I walked over to the boy and sternly (but nicely) told him that he needed to let Eli play.

And I can't explain the feeling that came over me after that interaction. I wanted to scoop Eli up and smother him with kisses. I wanted to yell to the world, "that is my son!"

Instead, I quietly smiled to myself.

And thanked the Lord for the gift of a son given to me from thousands of miles away that I would move heaven and earth to protect.

spring

John 1:1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

photojournal: oh, go fly a kite