My Gifts

Lewis can be grumbly. Since things have to be done, he wants them done quickly. "hurry mom, get that wet diaper off of me, but don't linger about. Get to work, or I'm going to start grunting at you in disapproval." The grunting also ensues after too much cuddling and kissing. If he's tired he wants to be laid down. This amuses me greatly, but is also hard to stop cuddling him, even when he is tired and crying. It doesn't matter if he doesn't want kisses, he's getting them from his daddy and big brother and I constantly. He's going to have to get used to it. What a funny little personality already.

This is my other new gift. KC, I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you! What else can I say? You treat me like a Queen!

Lewis

I'm sorry for all these pictures, those of you that are desiring more than photos, but I am smitten with this little man and am having fun posting his sweet little self on my blog. Not only that, but KC got me a new present: a camera. It's going to take some playing, lots of playing, so get used to pictures.

The babe needs to waken from his baby slumber, the toddler needs to eat his pb & j, and the mama needs to assist in both of these affairs. This season in our lives is a true joy. I'm so thankful for this growing family of mine.

I love these boys!

Update

KC's mom spent the week with us. She was a super help as I'm getting adjusted to having an infant with my ever-so-rambunctious toddler. Colson goes a hundred miles an hour, talks nonstop, unless of course he's singing made-up songs, and plays so hard everyday. He is doing great as a big brother, loves to hold Lewis and sings to him when he's crying. I've only spend one entire day just by myself, but I think that we'll fall into a good routine in no time.

Lewis is such a sweet little guy and I can't wait to compare his personality with his older brother. It's going to be so much fun to explore with him his interests and countenance. He was a bit cranky for a couple days so I quit eating chocolate and drinking coffee. I'm guessing that had something to do with his crankiness because he's been much, much more content and relaxed. So I've hung up my coffee habit, but am enjoying an occasional alcoholic beverage nowadays. So it's a good trade. Lewis is a good sleeper, and I've been able to get 5 hr. stretches at night no problem. Praise God, Rumrey's are sleepers, all of us!

I also have to praise the work of the saints' hands from our Church. We've been so blessed and have had meals provided for us since Lewis was born. What a blessing this has been for me. I am so thankful, and well fed! I'm talking feasts prepared on our behalf every night! We are so thankful.

Introducing Sugarline

I am loving this diaper bag my super crafty friend Anna made for me. Let me just put in a plug. You can have a cool bag like this too, homemade, right out of Northern Idaho. Check out her stuff at www.sugarline.blogspot.com. You'll find nursing covers, bags, aprons for little girls, and more. Seriously people, it moved me from my internet silence.

I'm in love & post-Easter post

This kid has made his way right into our home and hearts as soon as we knew of his conception, and now to the utmost having him around to see and kiss and hold. He's gorgeous, and yes, I'll admit my own bias. He's still gorgeous. I have to say, from a mama's persepective, it's much much more glorious having him on the outside rather than the inside, but oh how the marks of pregnancy are worth every pound, scar, mark, and discomfort.

Our pastor's daughter has recently had twins and wrote an article relating a mother's sacrifice of body and Easter. "..A body that's been taken all apart on the behalf of others." She encourages us mom's out there, particularly on Easter, in light of what sacrifice Jesus endured for us, the marks he bore, the scars, the pain, the cross, all for the life of his people. What a wonderful encouragement and great perspective to have. Many thanks for sharing. You really should read the link above.

Today is my first day as mama of 2 boys alone all day in the home by myself. so far so good. Colson has/is adjusting to brotherhood better than I would have imagined. I'm so proud of him. He loves his brother, wants to be around him, and wants him around. It's incredibly precious to watch. My heart is completely overflowing with joy and love and pride. Praise God.

Morning Glory

Look who is resting on my couch.

Wow, he was born just yesterday morning at 5:53. Weighing in at 8 lbs and 4 oz, and stretching 20.5 in. long, he gave his mama a go for her money in the delivery room. It was the most laborious couple hours of her entire life, but who can focus on that, when someone so wonderful and glorious and beautiful is filling the air so sweet in our home? The air indeed is sweet, and they are caught up in the wonder and joy of new life. God has blessed indeed.

We are now 4!

Lewis Augustine

Lewis Augustine

GMC Stork Baby

GMC Stork Baby

A Little Tuckered-Out

Cecilia Bartoli - Agitata da due venti

Cecilia Bartoli - Agitata da due venti - personal commentary on the above post

I couldn't get this text to show up with the video so it is posted separately.

This opera singer is simply Amazing! Trust me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not pretending to be a conoisseure of opera vocals or classical music, but this woman, and the life that spills out of her when she sings is something to behold, even to a novice, such as I. At first glance I thought it was quite humerous, then it turned into something quite stunning and beautiful, even hard to describe, but now I'm freakishly moved everytime I see her sing. Her love of the music and charm pull you into a classical music head-lock. If you watch her closely it seems as if she's ready to get so swept away in the music that she could fly away, and then she pulls herself together and gets back to singing. To watch someone love to do something beautiful like this is a treat, therefore I couldn't help but share. And if you watch this video more than once, you may just get hooked. Don't say I didn't warn you, even my husband and 2 year old son gather around the computer to watch this woman. It brings me such joy. Let me know what you think. As for me, Cecilia Bartoli Rocks!

Fashionable Domesticity

Here are some pictures of my new placemats I finished today. They were SO much fun to make. Sewing has opened a whole new world of fashion and design for me and has my mind racing. I am either fast asleep these days at night with visions of baby, or fabric. :)

The Newest Arrival!

Meet Solomon Frank Lawson, my new nephew. He was born March 7th, at a jolly size of 8.3 lbs.
Congratulations Matt and Mindy! Can't wait to hold that stud.

The New Arrival...

...no, not the budding fruit within my womb. Believe me, baby is still there and making his/her presence quite known.

These are my new kicks, and I have to say I have waited patiently for them. I am very excited about all the upcoming adventures we shall have together. Getting a pair of shoes that sing your name when you put them on are a magic thing, and for me, these are one of those precious pairs.


In baby news: I feel like this baby could come anyday. It's a curious thing because when Colson came, I was completely taken off guard. Maybe I'm waiting in too much anticipation.

I feel like Spring time is the perfect time to have a baby. It's so fitting for the fruit of the womb to ripen at the brink of all things new and budding. Come spring come.

Last Month!

It's unfortunate this picture turned out fuzzy, but it still captures a big brother in waiting. "Come out, come out, baby, and play with me." Colson, I couldn't have said it better myself. I can hardly wait any longer to see who's going to fill out these tiny little clothes. The official due date is the 28th....I'm hoping for an Easter baby. You can never know, but who can keep from predicting and hoping for a slightly earlier birth? With a nice big belly there's not much else you can focus on. We've all got baby on the brain.

Meet Symba!

We checked out the Lion King from the library. Colson has been Symba ever since. Here he is pretending to be a big-bad Lion!

Budding Masculinity

From standing up on our couch, Colson, standing straight and proud, said this: "I'm going to jump down and hurt myself. That's what I'm going to do."

Me: "Oh no! You want to hurt yourself?

Colson: "Yes, I do mommy."

He didn't hurt himself thankfully, he is under the care of a mama afterall, but signs of reckless and silly ideas of jumping off of heights and hurting oneself is a good sign, I think.

------------

I was holding him in the bathroom the other night after we brushed his teeth when he said:
"Don't drop me in the potty mommy. Then I would be lost from you."

I think every child dreams of getting lost in the potty.

Pining for Spring

Today Colson and I were actually able to walk around our neighborhood in less than our most intense snow gear. It was fabulous. Colson had a wonderful time throwing rocks, hiding from mama in left over piles of snow, finding treasures (pine cones), and having an altogether wonderful time getting outside for a change. Another fabulous part of this adventure was all the available mud. The snow is melting and mud is plentiful. Why is it you don't have to teach a boy how to throw rocks or to play in mud? It's an inherent magnetic force between them.

Thoughts on Perpetuating the Gospel to Others

"We live not unto ourselves; we affect other people."

Edith Schaeffer

I came across this statement from Edith Schaeffer this morning , and have not been able to shake it. This is a simple statement, but one that rocks me to the bone. One that frightens me in light of the "otherness" of those that I come in contact with, whether it be daily, or just once in my lifetime. I should consider this statment as a wife, as a mom, as a friend, as a daughter, sister, citizen, and even as a stranger - and altogether as a Christian woman.

Surely we are not made to be all alone, to live unto ourselves. We are human. We are made for community. And what we do is going to have a direct relationship with those who are sharing that community with us. With this in mind, I am challenged to live truth. If I'm going to be living with others and others are going to be affected by my thoughts, words, and deeds, then I need to be thoughtful about what I'm passing on. In what ways are my actions affecting others?

This challenges me to live truth in order to perpetuate truth to those that I entangle my life with. In one enormous area of application is a way of the parent with the child. Am I passing onto my son a fasle gospel? Am I living out the truth before him? Or am I passing on to him a way of idolatry? Am I handing him the baton of faith and love, or am I handing him the baton of autonomy? Ultimately, the question comes down to this: am I following Jesus' example in giving my life away to others? A life of sacrifice, humility, giving and nurturing? or am I living "any damn way I choose." Which way is going to be liberating and life giving? Which lifestyle will he grow to love? How will "living any damn way I choose" affect the relationship between husband and wife, parent and child, or between friends?

And why do we listen to a cultural lie that says living "any damn way we choose" is our right in becoming original, and the individuality we achieve for living for ourselves has become more valuable than stepping outside of ourselves and loving our neighbors - seeing the world from anothers' perspective, walking around in someone else's shoes? This is much more interesting than always camping out in your own skin. In living for yourself alone all you get to experience is yourself, and chances are, if you are living this way, you know more than anyone how lonely you are, and how vile and wicked you are. You are lying to yourself if you think that your individuality and right to originality is more valuable than investing in the lives of others, and you are certainly deceived if you think that living for yourself is more interesting and fulfilling.

It is profound to really stop and think about how we are affecting the lives of others. It's an inevitable, inescapable truth to know that the things we say or don't say, the ways we serve or don't serve, the ways we love or choose not to love, etc, are going to have some kind of significance, even if it may be as slight as a kind gesture to the grocer or a drink of water for a child. We cannot live in such a way as to think that our lives have no impact, make no influence.To believe that you can live any way you choose with no regards or altering of others, is really an impossible persuit.

As a parent you are inherently going to have an impact on a scale unimaginable: just consider the impact a life of mercy, compassion and love has, it's not hard to imagine the life that comes from this. but think about the what's spilling forth from a life lived in sole selfishness? This is a perpetuation of autonomony, loneliness and death. It's not hard to imagine the kind of relationship that will occur between a husband and father who chooses to live a life with no regards to his wife and children. If we want to perpetuate and cultivate truth goodness and beauty, and to live the way Christ has called us, we are called to consider how our daily habits are affecting those that we love, and we are called to love all peoples, not just those we share our breakfast table with.

It is a good thing to consider the otherness of others. To consider the personality, the wonder, of being someone else, to try to walk around in their shoes, apart from your own self altogether. It's a good thing to meditate on ways we can pass on a life of beauty in all of our relationships. I am challenged today with these thoughts. For me, today, I know I can start in my home, with my husband and with my son. But I hope that I can also perpetuate this kind of living with strangers and with the needy. And maybe somewhere, somehow along the road the Rumreys will be entertaining angels unaware.

Happy Birthday Simeon!

All Aboard! Hop on the Birthday Train!







What a party. Somebody had a beautifully wonderful time.