As a parent, I LIVE for things like this...

Pumpkin still takes an afternoon nap each day. Kiddo usually doesn't. Every once in a while, though, he'll have "rest time" because he really needs it. Maybe he was up late the night before, maybe he didn't sleep well, maybe he's been whiny all morning.

And, I have to admit, every once in a while, he has "rest time" while Pumpkin's napping because Mommy and Daddy are tired, are about to keel over from sheer exhaustion, and desperately need a nap themselves.

I'll wait for a moment while those of you without children finish passing judgement.

Okay. Ready to continue?

This past Monday was one of those days. We had had a LONG weekend (VERY fun, but long) at a camp staff reunion, we had spent the morning taking care of things around the house, Sweetie's been nursing a cold anyway, and our eyelids were noticably droopy. So off to bed Kiddo went immediately after we had laid Pumpkin down for her nap, with instructions that he could read quietly or color pictures.

And off to bed we went.

When I got up to get the kids a little over an hour later, there was a picture Kiddo had colored sitting on his desk:


At the top, in 5 year-old phonics, he wrote "I AM HAPPY AT U R MI SISOODR."

"I am happy that you are my sister."

Yes, it was for Pumpkin.

It amazes me, honestly, that he never thinks of her as an intrusion in his life. She takes time and attention that we could be giving to him, she sometimes gets in the way when he's trying to do things, or plays with his toys when he doesn't want her to...but he ADORES her. I have NEVER seen a big brother with more love for his little sister than Kiddo has for Pumpkin.

Kiddo, I AM HAPPY AT U R MI SON.

LH

The Tiny Pellet of Concentrated Evil

So a couple of mornings ago, I walked into Pumpkin's room, only to be greeted by a wall of stench. The "extremely ripe overnight diaper" smell. Holding her at arm's length, I carried her over to the changing table and removed the offending diaper, ready for the gigantic poop that surely awaited me inside.

I kid you not, the poop was no bigger than a small marble.

By the time I had finished the diaper change, the smell had permeated our entire upstairs level. It was everywhere.

All from one of the tiniest poopies I have ever seen in a diaper.

It shall go down in LutheranHusker history as The Tiny Pellet of Concentrated Evil.

LH

Hop on Pop

Earlier this afternoon, Kiddo and I were rolling a ball to each other, when he decided to come tackle me. Pumpkin, not to be outdone, joined in.

Hilarity ensued. =)



LH

Pumpkin

Not much to say tonight but this one thing: as a dad, it really doesn't get much better than this...

LH

"That's one funny sheep you've got there..."

Tonight after dinner, we were playing with Pumpkin on the floor while Kiddo was upstairs getting ready for bed. Sweetie took this little soft rattle that's shaped like a multicolored sheep and pretended like it was running toward Pumpkin.

This was quite possibly the most hilarious thing that Pumpkin has seen in her 5 1/2 months of existence. At least, judging by her reaction.

I mean, we've heard little giggles from her before. We've heard her scream happily when she's doing something she enjoys. But tonight was the first full-out no-holds-barred belly laughing that we've heard from our daughter.

It was beautiful.

Enjoy the video:



LH

The Many Faces of Pumpkin

Tonight, while I was busy at church leading a high school Bible study, Sweetie was busy with the kids and the camera. And she got some great shots. Kiddo has a very expressive face, and it appears as though his sister may be following in his footsteps.

May I present to you, The Many Faces of Pumpkin:

Ain't she a beauty? =)

LH

Because I KNOW you haven't seen enough pics of the kids!

I've had this tension in my life the last month or so...I've been in an extremely creative mood, but at the same time I've felt extremely tired.

And based on my posting, you can guess which has won out pretty much every time. Yup. That's right, I haven't exactly displayed a whole lot of creative writing in my posts.

And tonight, that's not gonna change one bit.

Pumpkin is 4 months old now...she's 14 lbs 4 oz. and 24 3/4 inches long, and still cute as a button (which thankfully comes from her mother). And Kiddo's still the proud big brother. It's fun to see the bond the two kids are developing--Kiddo can make Pumpkin smile like nobody else can, and he just loves her to pieces.

I'm just a lucky guy. No two ways about it.

Here's some updated pics:

Happy little girl!!!

Smiling at Big Brother

Kiddo as the Hungry Caterpillar

Sure wish I knew where my kids got their silly streak from... =)

LH

At the font we start our journey...

Sunday was Pumpkin's (yes, that's her blog name) baptism. It was a beautiful day all around--some 30 friends and family were there, including Pumpkin's great grandmother. The worship service was incredible...once a quarter our church does a service of healing, and it fell on the same Sunday as the baptism--which was oh so right in so many ways. One of the great things our pastor does is break up the baptismal liturgy into sections that span the course of the entire worship service, making the baptism a part of the whole worship experience and not just a compartmentalized addition on the side. And as our opening hymn we sang At the Font We Start Our Journey, a relatively recent hymn by Jeffery Rowthorn. Here's the lyrics:

At the font we start our journey,

in the Easter faith baptized;

doubts and fears no longer blind us,

by the light of Christ surprised.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Hope held out and realized.

At the pulpit we are fashioned

by the Easter tale retold

into witnesses and prophets,

by the power of Christ made bold.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Faith proclaimed, yet still untold.

At the altar we are nourished

with the Easter gift of bread;

in our breaking it to pieces

see the love of Christ outspread.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Life embraced, yet freely shed.

At the door we are commissioned,

now the Easter victory's won,

to restore a world divided

to the peace of Christ as one.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Easter's work must still be done.

Promises were made. Promises by her mother and I, promises by her sponsors, promises by the congregation. And as the water was poured over her head, she was baptized into the death of Christ and raised to new life, she was sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.

Pumpkin, Mommy and I love you more than you'll ever know. But there is One who loves you even more, and with a more perfect love than we'll ever have. May you grow up to know that One, to draw your strength and faith from that One, and to serve that One by serving others.

LH