Girls' Update

Shiphrah slept 5 hours last night!!! (Hallelujah Chorus playing in the background.) She is 6 weeks old. I fed her at 11 p.m. and put her down immediately afterwards at 11:30. I heard her moving around about 2:30 a.m. but she was still sleeping. I woke up at 4 a.m. and pumped, then she woke at 4:30 and I fed her then. I woke her up again at 8:45 a.m. and she was still sleeping soundly! Yay!

When we came home from the hospital her days and nights were backwards and she would be up 1 out of every 2 hours during the night for several days. After this phase, I would feed her and attempt to put her down to go back to sleep, but instead she would scream for 2 hours until I fed her again. That lasted about 2 to 3 weeks or so. Jeramy and I worked it out where I would be up breastfeeding and I would put her back down. If she began to scream for more than 5 or 10 minutes, he would get up and rock her back to sleep so I could get some rest. Gradually this phase was eliminated and she would go right back to sleep after her feedings in the middle of the night.

Lily has begun having tantrums and refusing some of her food. She has always been a great eater, so this is a shift from the norm. She has also become very dramatic with her discipline and when she and Moriah fight over toys and other things. Her speech is coming along great and I noticed that she is learning to count! And G'Wanda painted her toe nails last week.

Moriah is teaching Lily to count and loves to dote on her baby sister. She must be going through a growth spurt because now she eats most everything set before her. She continues to have a great interest in learning and always wants to help and do big people things.

Recipes for Breastfeeding Moms

Our little one seems to have quite a bit of gas and it causes her a lot of belly discomfort. Jeramy and I refuse to call it "colic" because we reason that that term is just what doctors use to say, "Yeah she screams and we don't know why."

But since cutting my diet down significantly to eliminate the majority of known gas-causing foods, laying her to sleep on her stomach and keeping her over my shoulder during her wake times has brought about a better disposition and a somewhat more steady sleep routine. (And I'm more pleasant, too.) The list of gassy foods I found Here are:

• Apples
• Artichokes
• Asparagus
• Beans
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cheese
• Corn
• Fruit Drinks
• Ice Cream
• Milk and Milk Products
• Onions
• Pasta
• Peaches
• Pears
• Potatoes
• Prunes
• Soft Drinks
• Whole Wheat

Which is pretty much everything I eat! Also I had to eliminate caffeine and chocolate. *NO! Not chocolate!!* And I was very surprised to see some fruit on that list!

So, I've taken to making pumpkin bread for breakfast with grapes, melon, nectarines or oranges and an egg or bacon or french toast with jelly or maple syrup. For lunch and/or dinner I'll have white bread sandwiches with mustard, pretzels, Campbell's tomato soup, cucumber slices, salads with catalina dressing and brown rice. PB and J works too and buffalo wings. Spicy things seem to be okay when done low to moderately. I'm taking a calcium supplement and the white bread is fortified with calcium too.

About two weeks ago I made a chicken soup in the crockpot with 3 bouillon cubes, 2 white meat frozen chicken breasts, 1.5 cups brown rice, carrots, celery, 1 can of Leseuer peas, parsley, salt and pepper, cooked on high for 4 hours. Everything was raw when I put it in the crockpot and filled the remaining room with water. After it cooked I cut the chicken up into smaller, bite sized pieces and it was great. Give it a try. It was really easy and really yummy. It also doesn't cost a lot.

Last week I made another crockpot soup with 1 lb. hot italian sausage (which probably has some garlic and onion in it, I'm sure), maybe 1/4 cup of olive oil, a heaping handful of fresh basil, some oregano and parsley, about 2 cans of diced tomatoes, 1 can of Campbell's tomato soup, carrots, celery and I filled the remaining room in the pot with water and cooked for 4 hours on high. It was good but next time I think that chicken broth or bouillon will add more flavor instead of water and possibly a bay leaf or two. I wanted to add rice to this soup too, but we ran out. Only add one or two carrots if you add any. I really wanted something similar to sausage and lentil soup, but I'm unsure as to whether lentils are considered a bean. It's more like a pea, but aren't beans and peas from the same family?

If you have recipe ideas that don't contain those gassy foods -- PLEASE SHARE!!

Parent & Student Studio Review

"We love Mrs. Anderson and the Anderson Music Studio. She is professional and knowledgeable; at the same time is also incredibly patient and encouraging. I love to watch her interact with my daughter.

We are pleased with our daughter’s progress, and can’t wait to see what the future holds for her as she works with Mrs. Anderson."

Sherri, parent

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"I am so glad to be a student of Mrs. Anderson. She is a talented musician and a wonderful teacher.

Mrs. Anderson is understanding and intelligent and gives kind compliments and always gives me praise when I play a song correctly.

She is honest about areas where I need to improve, but very friendly about it.

Mrs. Anderson is very good at explaining new concepts and is excellent on telling me what to practice and how to practice.

She makes learning an instrument fun. I am happy with my progress and am looking forward to being taught by Meggan Anderson now and in the future."

Leah, age 15, violin student

Studio News: Updated Handbook

The Anderson Music Studio Handbook has been updated for Fall 2010.

There are no major studio changes however,

students and parents are encouraged to read it.

Endorsements and reviews are coming.

I hope to make hard copies available very soon for your personal files.

A Book Signing!

About 18 months ago, I was approached by a woman from SBTS as a female alumni to submit a devotional on an excerpt from the Psalms. I did so and it has been published and all of the authors have been invited to return to Southern's campus for a book signing Thursday, October 14th, during Heritage Week. Jeramy, the girls and I will be heading up to Louisville and take advantage of this unique opportunity! The book is titled: Women at Southern: A Walk Through Psalms (ISBN 9780984065707). The book cost is $25 and the proceeds go to an endowment fund that generates scholarships for women. Let me know if you would like to purchase a copy to have signed. If you want to buy a copy, let me know (and send me the $$).

Read the copy of what I submitted HERE.

Potty! (No Pictures)

Lily pee peed in the potty for the first time yesterday! She will be two years old on January 4th.

I usually change her diaper before her nap. Both yesterday and today she woke from her nap with a dry diaper. I also had to use the restroom and figured we could go together. I sat her on the potty opposite me and we both smiled and talked while Moriah made faces in the bathroom mirror.

After I finished up and washed my hands, I put the toilet lid down and sat opposite her again, reminding her to stay on the potty. Then her expression changed dramatically; it was really funny. From smiling she suddenly looked very worried and nervous, as if she was saying, "I can't hold it anymore!" Then I began to hear the wonderful trickling sound! She would go a little, then stop, go a little more, then stop again. I smiled and kept telling her, "It's okay," and "Go pee pee. Go all of your pee pee." Then the smile returns to Lily's face and we wipe and review the deposit. Celebrations commence. Pictures were taken. Phone calls were made and it was wonderful! Yay Lily!!

A Quote for Mothers

What a gorgeous gift--the gift of birth--placed within the realm of woman's possibilities.

Think of it.

Bach's mother gave him the gift of birth.

Luther's mother gave him the gift of birth.

Michelangelo's mother gave him the gift of birth.

Beethoven's mother gave him the gift of birth.

Without the conscious choice to make this often costly gift of birth . . . the gifts individual people have brought into the stream of history could not have been given.

Edith Schaeffer

Shiphrah at One Month

This is the first time Moriah got to hold Shiphrah today! She was so elated -- see her big smile. Shiphrah seemed to tolerate it fine for about 2 minutes.

Shiphrah turned one month old this past Friday the 17th. She is already 5 weeks and it's gone by so fast, but at the time it really didn't. When she was screaming at night for several hours, each minute seems like an eternity. She doesn't scream at night any more because we pick her up and rock her to sleep.

She has gained 2 pounds and 6 ounces since birth (9 lbs. 6 oz.) and grown 2 and 1/2 inches (21.5 inches). She smiles while getting her diaper changed and she doesn't mind her baths. She seems to struggle with pressure in her belly and finds sitting upright and lying on her back uncomfortable for any length of time. This makes her a little high maintenance for this Momma of three, but we continue to adjust. She's a little cutie.

Multitude Monday

Things I'm thankful for:

536. Evidence of an attitude adjustment.

537. Hearing less complaining.

538. Less stress.

539. Less conflict.

540. Less hours up at night.

541. A hubby who rocks our baby back to sleep at 4 a.m.

542. No more struggles with breastfeeding.

543. Help with the house work/chores.

544. More affection from my honey.

545. Winning Callie's giveaway. :-)

546. Regaining some sanity.

547. Catching up on much needed sleep.

548. Black cherry sorbet.

549. Smiling faces at church.

550. Any time that my children decide to obey without debate, delay or fuss.

What are you thankful for today?

Great Hymns Challenge Us

When Trials Come

When trials come no longer fear

for in the pain our God draws near

to fire a faith worth more than gold

and there His faithfulness is told;

and there His faithfulness is told.

This song has come into my remembrance lately as our family is still making adjustments to our newest addition. I was meditating on this verse the other night around 3 a.m. or so and considered this: God's faithfulness.

What is God faithful to do?

Or, to whom is God faithful?

God is faithful to Himself -- to His own will. It is by the nature and virtue of His perfect being and character. His wisdom is infinite and perfectly holy.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:25

So then the question is: what is God's will, as He is faithful to perform?

For this is the will of God, your sanctification . . .

1 Thessalonians 4:3

And since God is jealous for His own glory and in everything He does, He discloses some aspect of His glory, how is it that He would sanctify us? Not by our will and our way, because then we could have some room to boast in our own holiness. No. God is faithful to sanctify us using His means, His methods and according to His will, not ours. It's not about us. We are not in control. We do not have all power; if we did, we would not rely on Him at all for anything. There are no excuses we can make that give us a license to behave in an unholy, ungodly manner. We are still commanded and expected, as children of God, to obey our heavenly Father. "God says, "Obey."

Mommy Math

1 husband

+ 2 dramatic, disobedient toddlers

+ 1 nursing infant

/ 3 hours awake at night

x 3 to 4 hours sleep at night (x 4 weeks)

+ 1.5 hours of daytime nap

____________________

1 moody mommy

Callie's Giveaway

Callie over at Callie Gets Skinny is having a giveaway for a $45 gift card to CSN online store. Head on over to watch her go from flab to fab and encourage her along the way.

Help!

I need to find a new pediatrician's office in Lawrenceville, Snellville or Lilburn. I may be willing to drive to northern Duluth or Suwanee if they're really good. This is what I'm looking for:

• A real person answers when you call (or a real person within one minute);
• Separate sick and well child waiting areas;
• Child is triaged from the waiting area in 15 min or less;
• Ability to bring multiple children for appointments at the same time or back-to-back;
• Professional, courteous, time-efficient office staff, nurses and doctors;
• Doctors and nurses listen to questions and concerns without rushing the parents;
• Efficient check-out process;
• Ability to schedule the next appointment after any lapse of time - up to 6 months or a year;
• At least one male doctor in the practice;
• Some lab work done in the office (would be nice, but not a make or break thing); and
• No more than 20 min drive from my house.

Please help me out if you know or have heard of a practice meeting these requirements. Since having children the only place like this one has been Bulloch Pediatrics in Statesboro. They were awesome. I haven't found another practice like this one since moving. :-(

Smothering Sisters

Moriah and Lily love their new baby sister. They dote on her as much as I let them. They love to give Shiphrah kisses, hold her hand and pet her head. Here are pictures from one such smothering session.

Three Weeks Old

Shiphrah is already three weeks old. Generally she is more alert during her wake times. She has become more aware and interested in her surroundings and her sisters. She spends most of her time sleeping and screaming. Here are some pictures from this week. These pictures are after her bath, when her hair is still damp and curly.

Tricycles!

G'Wanda bought the girls some really cool Lil' Tikes tricycles. The seats are adjustable as they grow, there are foot rests for when they don't want to peddle and a steering column for an adult that can push them along. There is also an attachment for a child as young as 8 months as on Lily's trike. (I'll have to see the instructions on that one to verify.) Moriah and Lily have loved these!

Who's Who?

Shiphrah looks a lot like Moriah when she was a baby. Here are some pictures to compare. What do you think? Can you tell who is who?

Multitude Monday

So much has happened since my last Multitude Monday post, I feel like I've got a lot to catch up on.

I'm thankful

511. For another healthy baby girl.

512. That I didn't have to have a C-section.

513. That the epidural was successful and that I could still have some labor sensation without the pain.

514. That the epidural eventually wore off.

515. That my water broke on its own - without medical intervention.

516. That my mothers were able to watch the children during my false alarm and real labor experiences and they didn't have to go to the LDR with us.

517. That there were no long-term complications from my labor - not for me nor Shiphrah.

518. That we were finally able to get out of the hospital.

519. Great tasting hospital meals that I didn't have to prepare or clean up after.

520. Shiphrah's jaundice subsided.

521. That breastfeeding sessions are generally going better.

522. That the swelling is gone and I can see and use my feet again like normal.

523. That I can bend down.

524. That I can walk normal.

525. That I'm not pregnant right now.

526. For all the help my mothers provided while in the hospital and recovering at home.

527. For all the wonderful meals our church family has provided these past three weeks.

528. My husband's job that provides sick time (which he used to stay home with me).

529. Encouragement to continue breastfeeding.

530. For any time that Shiphrah doesn't scream.

531. For any bit of sanity that is left to my wits at the end of the day.

532. That the girls were very, very well behaved during Jeramy's ordination.

533. To be a part of a like-minded church.

534. For any and every moment God gives grace to be a patient parent.

535. Mrs. Nancy's lemon pound cake.

What are you thankful for?

Another Nursing Proverb

Only through patient, diligent work

will a nursing infant receive her reward:

a full belly.

It is better to live on the corner of a roof

than in a house with a screaming infant

at 4 a.m.

(or any other nightly hour).