Levi Hunter

I had planned to write today about my pregnancy with Levi, his birth, and his life. For a few months I've been waiting patiently for the opportunity his birthday would provide to tell his story, and to expound upon the depth of our love for him. I also envisioned sharing about the meaning behind his name, and trying to list all the words he now can say, and possibly how he pronounces them. And I wanted to spend a bit of time talking about our conversion to the idea of completely natural childbirth, specifically the Bradley Method, and the impact our childbirth education had on Levi's birth.

Quite lofty goals for one post, I know. Especially since I don't usually write in a particularly, shall we say, "concise" way!

And life happens. It's 1:45pm right now, and I've finally got Levi down for his nap about an hour late. A messy house is screaming my name. Bills needing to be paid are calling a bit more quietly, and there are several half-finished books waiting to be read. And Drake will be home in an hour and a half. Not to mention (or perhaps because of all this), I'm suffering from a bit of writer's block today and don't think I can do justice to the well-planned, thought-provoking post that has been swimming in my imagination for months. But such is life.

I spent most of this morning trying to slow down and live at Levi's pace - to look into his little face and try to understand how he sees the world. To play the way he plays and delight in the things that make him laugh...the stray doggie outside, the magnetic train cars that stick together and twirl around when you dangle the engine in the air, the thrill of freedom when realizing the back gate has been left open, the hilarity of repetitious games like going down the slide again and again or playing peekaboo.

I'm trying to love the growing up that I'm seeing. I'm sentimental by nature, and if left on its own, that trait could easily overshadow my joy in progress made and things accomplished, and could even chip away at responsible parenting. While mommies never really enjoy realizing that their baby isn't a baby anymore, it's definitely more sweet than bitter for me, this time around. God placed this precious child in my life to raise up in the way he should go, not to hold onto forever. I've heard it said by two different people in the past week: We're not raising children; we're raising adults. And that's a wise fact to keep in mind. I do well to cherish the sweet times with my children while they're young. But I do even more good when I pour into them everything I can that will equip them to be godly men who love and serve the Lord with all their being.

So. Since this is my blog, I guess I can do whatever I want! Plan to see some version of my originally-hoped-for birthday post in the future. Perhaps it will be chopped into smaller segments, however, rather than one gigantically long post!

And enjoy the photos...

37 weeks pregnant - this was about two weeks before Levi was born.

No words can express the heart-rush when one realizes that she can (and does) indeed love the second baby as much as the first, no questions asked.

Precious round little face

Ready to go home for the first time

Levi Hunter, I love you with all my heart. May you grow to be a faithful servant of the Lord!

Drake Adam

Six years ago today, I was coming out of recovery from an emergency c-section and meeting my tiny, 4-lb-15-oz-17-inch baby boy for the first time. It was about this time of day, too - early afternoon - when I first laid eyes on my sweet baby. He had been in the world for almost two whole hours by the time I finally met him, and his daddy had done a heroic job of keeping nurses with bottles of formula away from him - and oh, how they had wanted to give him one because of his tiny size! He had already had his first tub bath (given by Daddy), and was patiently waiting for his first meal from Mama with those alert and snappy dark-blue eyes. His features were so tiny and fine that he looked like a little doll. If ever there was a "button nose," his was one!

I was exhausted from labor, still a little groggy from the general anesthesia, and in great pain - I had no epidural to carry me through for a few extra hours. Every slight movement brought a sharp pain to my incision, and it seemed even lifting an arm somehow engaged my abdominal muscles, which were freshly closed with several layers of stitches and 21 shiny staples through the skin. All I really wanted to do was sleep. But here was this miraculous little bundle! Could it really be? He was alive! Healthy even. And he was all ours! He was tiny and perfect, and he looked at me with those knowing little newborn eyes.

And I have been hooked, ever since. Hooked on this little person who grips my heart like no other, who brings me unending joy at every new turn, who sometimes disappoints, and often confuses me. Drake is now all about shooting and destroying and battling! If it can be climbed, shot, swung around, or thrown, he wants to do it! But in a certain frame of mind, he displays great tenderness and care toward the underdog, the young, the victim. He especially cares for his baby brother, and has a conscience that is easily pricked. He is excessively energetic and silly, and he can be the extreme daredevil, but he's often afraid to go new places and try new things. He is a very "touchy" person, just like his daddy.

What a privilege it is to be a mother! To be awakened countless times each night to feed and change a newborn; to show a little person how to eat, to walk, to talk. What a responsibility to raise a child - to teach sharing, respect, kindness, compassion, honesty. I have never known anything so fulfilling, and yet so daunting.

And Drake is the one pulling me along on this exciting journey! He is so completely average, and yet so miraculous and amazing! It is my joy to watch him grow and mature, and yet to try to hold on to the memories of his precious babyhood.

There is no one quite like our Drake! My daily prayer over him at night is that he will grow in his understanding of God's glory and God's love (for him and for all people), that he will love the Lord with all his being, that he will understand and embrace the truth, that he will love others unconditionally, and that he will be used mightily by the Lord.

We are now one-third of the way done raising our son - a sobering thought - and we pray for wisdom during the next two-thirds!

Happy birthday, my dear son! You are amazing, and we love you beyond words. What an incredible six years these have been!

Adam

Happy birthday to the love of my life! Tomorrow is my husband's 30th birthday. I just want to share with you all a few of my favorite things about Adam... He is genuine and transparent - he doesn’t try to make something look like something it’s not for the sake of his appearance or reputation. He is very honest. He is one of the hardest-working people I know. He can read me like a book. He accepts personal criticism without becoming angry or defensive, even when the criticism is ill-founded. He will apologize to Drake if he has wrongly accused or disciplined him. He is fiercely protective of the best interests of our family. He's a great listener, and has a natural ability to befriend and counsel others. And that’s just a start. (Got any more? Leave a comment!)

I love you so much, Adam. May the Lord continue to abundantly bless you and grow you into the person He desires you to be. Thank you for being stable and kind, strong and patient. You are a great husband and father, and we're so blessed to have you in our lives.

Here’s a blast from the past for you all to enjoy today. Isn’t he cute? :) (Pardon the poor quality - we don't have a scanner, so I had to take a picture of a picture and then crop it.)

Happy 30th Birthday, Adam!