the garrett blog

Number 4

I mentioned to the hairdresser tonight that I am pregnant with my fourth child. Her immediate response was "Why do you want to have four children?" What a strange question. 

I told her "God gives them and I love them, duh." (ok, I didn't know how to say "duh" in Azeri, but I wanted to.)

Any woman who has been blessed with a surprise pregnancy or any woman who has tried unsuccessfully to carry a baby to term realizes that we are not in charge of the miracle of life. It's simply not in our hands. 

A good friend of mine gave me an icon of the Theotokos and Jesus this week, and it has continually reminded me that the call of every mother is the same as that of the Theotokos. God gives and we say "yes." Every human is an icon of God, no less this tiny little icon in my womb. Yes, God, Thank You!!!

(The following excerpt is taken from http://www.roca.org/OA/155-156/155h.htm)

"We must be careful, however, not to over-emphasize this whole business of having children, having a certain number, etc. Saint John Chrysostom says, "Giving birth to children is a matter of nature. Far more important is the parents' task of educating their children's hearts in virtue and piety." Indeed, this puts the emphasis back where it belongs, rather than on negative things about birth control and family size. For what the Church wants us to understand and remember is that the children we bring into the world do not belong to us; they belong to God. We did not give them life; rather, God, using us as His instruments, called them into existence. In a certain way, we parents are really only babysitters for God's children. And so our greatest responsibility as parents is to bring up our children "in the Lord," so that they come to know, love, and serve their Heavenly Father."

sticky tack and banana splits

This morning -

Momma: Don't play with the sticky tack.    

Ava Raye (fingering the sticky tack): I'm not playing with it.    

Momma (hugging Ava Raye): Wanna go back to playing with your dinosaurs?    

Ava Raye (writhing away from Momma): No, I wanna go back to not playing with the sticky tack.

Later today we took the kids to Dairy Queen where they shared their first ever Banana Split. Here are some photos:

 

Cartoon Morning

The kids get one cartoon morning a week. I have strategically made this the morning that the babysitter/maid does not come. Ok, I said it. I've admitted it. It's out there. I have a full time babysitter/maid. You can all close your mouths now. Thank  you. 

The purpose of cartoon morning was originally to allow me one day to sleep in. That doesn't happen anymore thanks to my precious 5 month old. So now, it's supposed to give me that extra time in the morning to work on my online class and do other "important" school and work activities. Yeah, right. 

Instead I play. Either on the phone or online. This morning I've taken the time to read some blogs that I haven't looked at in months. And in so doing, I learned that a very dear friend of mine is in her second trimester of pregnancy, I found a cool old song that taught us all growing up how to spell the name of my hometown, and I read a lot of things that made me feel like a lame mother. 

It's been fun, enlightening, challenging, and a little depressing. All while my kids are glued to the TV. That alone should elicit some finger-wagging in my general direction. 

And so here I am. The kids are starting up just one more movie, and I'm going to take just a little longer on the computer. And as I do so, I'll utter the Jesus prayer one more time: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner! 

Which one will it be?

BASKETBALL....

 

OR FOOTBALL???

  

 

McAmerica?

Signs your kids eat too much McDonalds...

This morning Josh mentioned to Chicken Big that they might not have a McDonald's in the next country we move to. Her immediate response: "I think we should stay in China."

Then I came in the room and said, "Next summer you'll eat at McDonald's in America and they have all sorts of things we can't get here.... breakfast burritos, breakfast biscuits, apples with the kids meals, salads, and yogurt parfaits!" Her response: "Let's go to McAmerica!" 

Uh... it's America honey, not McAmerica!

Right now my kids are playing with their McDonald's Happy Meal Toys. My kids are the proud owners of action figures of the ENTIRE CAST of Shrek 3. Is that a sign we eat there too much?

But, hey, what can I say.... McDonald's DELIVERS in China! And we love us some McDelivery!!!!!

Chicken Tough-As-Nails

I know I neglect this blog a lot - but better to neglect the blog than my three beautiful chickens, right?

I guess I didn't realize HOW MUCH I neglected when I went to it myself to see that my last post had pictures of me and my preggo belly. Hmmm..... 

My belly is still fat, but much more deflated since I recently gave birth to my littlest Chicken (I wanted to call him Chicken Tender and Josh's response was - no way! More like Chicken Tough-As-Nails!)

I'm working on a post with all the gory details of the birth - including me on all fours of the delivery room floor yelling expletives at the top of my lungs - but until I can get the whole story put down on paper (computer screen, actually) you'll have to just get by the bare minimum details. :)

Turner Lawrence Garrett, aka Chicken Tough-As-Nails:

 BORN: JUNE 24

WEIGHING: 6 pounds and a few ounces

LENGTH: 19 inches (that won't last long with a dad over 6 foot 5!)

Belly Shots

   

Thank you Daisy!!!!

  
 
 

Beautiful Big Bellies

Aren't we beautiful??? There's Lainey on the left who is 37 weeks along, me in the middle at 33 weeks, and Damaris on the right at 33 1/2 weeks along. This pic was taken last night at Turner's baby shower. 

Disclaimer: This photo was shot after dinner but before dessert! ;)

 

Daddy Date Night

Josh recently took Annabelle out on her first "Daddy Date." She got all dressed up - asked me to do her hair... and I even let her borrow a string of Mommy's pearls. She was so excited. 

 

They went out to eat first. She ordered a burger and fries...

Then they went and played around the "Ariel" statue...

And finally ended up at Starbucks.

   

She had a great time. 

 

Style Over Substance

Nice, huh?