All Three Baby Bug Names

I have loved every second of picking names for my Bugs.  When I saw Amy's post about Naming Babies, it made me want to share about our name choices for Ladybug and Stinkbug last year as we waited for Doodlebug to arrive. I have redone this post to include our sweet third baby!

Olivia Grace

(Olive tree, Unmerited favor)

But I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
forever and ever. (Psalm 52:8)

When I was newly pregnant, I was reading verses and passages in Scripture about the blessing of children.  I read Psalm 128, which states that children will be like "olive plants" around the table.  That verse cross referenced Psalm 52:8 in my Bible, and I fell in love with the name Olivia, since it meant "olive tree".  What a perfect verse for my daughter-- I desire that she would be content to dwell in the Lord's presence, and I pray that she will always trust in His steadfast love.

Olivia being four syllables meant (for me) that we needed a succinct middle name, so her name would just flow.  (OK, so I'm a little nuts-o about the sound of names!)  I think Grace is a beautiful name, and even more beautiful is the meaning that "grace" or "unmerited favor" holds for me and Hubby.  God has given us so much grace in our years on this earth, Olivia's middle name is a tribute to His graciousness.

Hudson Isaiah

(Bright in mind and spirit, Salvation is from the Lord)

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25-26)

When Hubby and I were in college, we spent a summer working with students in China.  In preparation for the trip we read Hudson Taylor's biography.  We were both impressed with the man Hudson Taylor was and once we were married and pregnant, decided we liked Hudson as a boy's name.  The passage above from Psalm 73 epitomized to us not only how Hudson Taylor lived his time here on earth, but how we desire our son to live-- desiring Christ above all else.  So we chose it as Hudson's life verse.  (The actual meaning of Hudson is "son of Hugh" or "son of the hooded man", and Hugh means "bright in mind and spirit", hence the meaning above.)

Isaiah is our favorite book of the Old Testament, and we liked how it sounded with Hudson as a middle name.  When you add that Isaiah means "salvation is from the Lord", how could we not choose this name for our first son?

Jackson Luke

(Gracious gift of God; Light)

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works. (Psalm 73:28)

When we were choosing boy names, I had lists of names I liked and Hubby could not agree to any of them. Until I read "Jackson" and he said, "I like Jackson". It seemed like one of the few names we could agree on, and I liked both our boys' names ending with "son". I love that Jack means "gracious gift of God". I was pregnant and miscarried in January 2010... in March I was having health issues and before going to see the doctor took a pregnancy test just to be sure it wasn't that. Lo and behold it was positive! Jackson was God's gracious gift right after my miscarriage. I didn't even know about him until I was 10 weeks pregnant.

Luke is such a sweet boy's name, and we both love the Gospel of Luke. Jackson Luke truly is a light in our family and we are so glad to have him as part of us! His verse was chosen on his birthday as it was the only verse I could recall during his C-section. Just as the nearness of God was my good that day, I pray that Jackson would always seek to be near to the Lord.

Sharing Gone Wrong

Today, I came across this funny sequence of Ladybug and Stinkbug sharing a banana baby Stinkbug man-handling his sister to take her banana... 

I hope it makes you laugh like I did. Everyone should laugh on Fridays.

...a brother is born for adversity. 

{Proverbs 17:17b)

June 29, 2007-present

2007 (newborn)

2008 (1st birthday)

2009 (2nd birthday)

2010 (3rd birthday)

 June 29,2011

I am amazed that I have a four year old. I tried to convince Ladybug to cancel her birthday and stay three a little while longer, but she informed me that we could not do that. Oh well. 

Ladybug, I love you more than the number of questions you ask every day. I love you more than you love to eat ice cream. I love you deeper than the blue of your eyes. I love you bigger than your excitement for life. I love you. Happy Birthday.

Ballerina Girl

Before Ladybug's recital night, I had nightmares visions of her running from the stage screaming, "MOOOOMMMMMMMEEEEEEEE!", and me promptly melting into an embarrassed puddle. I am glad to report that she stayed on the stage and did (almost) all of the dance moves she was supposed to at (almost) the right time. Whew!

I feel like I've entered a new era-- my kids doing things without me. Ladybug attended practices, developed friendships with the other little ballerinas, (mostly) obeyed her teacher, practiced for a recital, and then performed on stage without me.

As wonderfully amazing as it is to watch these little human beings I grew inside my womb grow into their own little people, it's horrifying and ridiculous and annoying also.

Is this motherhood? A constant wistfulness about the quick passing of time, and yet a breath-taking excitement as our little ones grow to big ones-- tackling and conquering the world?

Ladybug's Due Date

Four years ago I was big and pregnant and hot and tired.

And mad.

Why the heck do doctors tell women their baby has a "due date" and not inform the fetus?????

Eventually, Ladybug did join our family, and my life hasn't been the same since!

Random Schmattering

• I think my iPod nano might be dead. This is a tragedy. (You know, if you're first world and have way more than you ever need and consider luxuries to be necessities, and never worry about things like where your next meal is coming from or if your water source is clean...) But I do like to listen to my tunes in the kitchen...
• Father's Day is coming. Can I get a whoop whoop for all the baby daddies out there who help their baby mamas out? Hubby is super dad, and I could not do what I do (raise the kids, keep the house, cook the food) without his help. (I would tell you I'll blog more about him being a great dad this weekend, but I probably won't, so I won't. Just know he's super.)
• I just went into the kitchen after laying all the Bugs down for nap and LADYBUG AND STINKBUG CLEARED THEIR PLATES FROM THE TABLE WITHOUT BEING ASKED. Oh my word. What a good feeling- they are getting it! (If you're not a mom, you're probably all who cares, and I care! Because small victories like the kids cleaning up their own mess is huge in a mommy's day!)
• We went to the park this morning. There were all sorts of things I could complain about (it was H-O-T even at 10am, the grass was wet and it was hard to find shade to sit in, the kids didn't want to play on the playground, the kids were afraid of bugs and dogs and kept complaining) but I'm still reading one thousand gifts and  instead I'll just say I love city-living where I can walk all three kiddies to a fabulous park and lay out a blanket and relax? This park trip (as well as any outing with three kids by myself) is brought to you by the Ergo Baby Carrier. Thank you Ergo.  
• And here are some more of my one thousand gifts...

45. grass squishing between toes

46. loving my little Bugs

47. shade to sit in

48. awesome playground close to our house

49. a baby so cute Mommy can hardly stand it

Mid-Week Momfessions

I have been thinking about but dreading
want to get into shape. And so inevitably I know I need to eat right and exercise. (That's really the only solution to anyone wanting to be healthy, if you want my opinion.)

Well, I've done a few exercise videos since Doodlebug was born, but haven't committed fully to becoming healthier. Yesterday morning, Ladybug crawled into bed with me and started talking to my belly like there was a baby in there. I promptly hopped out of bed and into some work-out clothes and got to work.

So, yes I have a mommy tummy. And having my three year old talk to my belly was embarrassing enough to me that it was all the motivation I needed to get on the wagon and get rid of the baby weight x 3.

Your turn, what do you want to momfess?

me + 3

[caption id="attachment_1772" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="in the elevator, heading out tonight"][/caption]

Some wise mama told me when I was pregnant with Stinkbug (baby #2) that it would take about six months for life to feel "normal". So true. At six months postpartum, new life seemed to enter my body because I knew what I was doing and I had the energy to do it. (Kinda.)

And after Doodlebug (baby #3), I found it to be true again... as we entered the sixth month, life just starting rolling... life with three kids was "normal". (Well, you know, if your kind of normal is saying things like "No, we don't put our hands in the toilet.")

And thinking back to after Ladybug (baby #1), I think it probably took about six months to get into a rhythm. Actually, I'm completely positive it did. Because at six months, she started napping more consistently, and we had entered our own groove of being mommy/baby.

So, I will go ahead and say that it takes about six months after you have a baby (whether it's #1, #2, #3...) for life to start feeling normal. So, if you're a sleep-deprived, un-showered, puddle of postpartum-ness, take heart-- and give yourself some time and some grace.

{And yes, I took all three kids out tonight. We walked to Burger King and had ice cream cones, and then we walked over to the super nice, new playground to exert some energy. And I felt great having three kids out by myself, hence the life-feels-normal-after-six-months-postpartum thoughts!

And another thought? I love living in a walkable place! I feel like I missed so much life when I lived in America because I drove everywhere.}

Growing

Planted in the soil of a family,

Roots grow deep

Stem grows tall.

Every day I watch them.

Hug them. Kiss them. Teach them. Show them.

Water them. Tend them. Protect them.

Then I blink and wonder how they grew--

Roots so deep and stems so tall

And blooms beyond description.

My Babies are Cute.

The top is Ladybug, the bottom is Doodlebug.  Don't they look strikingly similar?

And aren't they completely adorable?

Random Shmattering

• I administered my first glycerin suppository to an infant today.  It worked, and oh my word, THE POOP. That's about all I have to say about that.


• Today Ladybug was disciplined for lying to me.  She came out of her room crying with her hands folded and asked in her huffiest voice, "Are you ready to say you're sorry now?"  I told her that she was the one who needed to be sorry for telling me a lie.  She stomped off down the hallway while saying, "Fine!  I'm not gonna be your kid anymore!"


• Speaking of poop and Ladybug... tonight she had diarrhea and called it "coffee poop".  Haha!  Kids say the funniest things sometimes.


• I cut Ladybug's hair this week.  It started out traumatic for her... She thought a "hair cut" would hurt.  When she stopped crying and saying, "Mommy please don't cut my back with those scissors," everything went very smoothly.  Not a shabby first attempt, if I do say so myself!


• Dinner plans have been all sorts of re-arranged this week.  That's one thing about meal planning... it doesn't always go as planned.  It kinda irritates me.  And anyways... holy expensive groceries!  I feel like I either need to choose to cook for and feed my kids now or send them to college later because we certainly don't have enough money for both!


• Middle children.  How do you keep them from acting like... well, you know, middle children?Is that blurry?  Despite the blurry, doesn't that face just scream trouble middle child?  I've got to keep my eye on this one...


• Skinny jeans.  Not just for skinny people.  I actually own a pair now.  To go with my high boots.  It's a whole new me, people!


• And lastly, look at your web address bar thingy (go ahead, I'll wait...)  YES, I AM MOMFESSIONS.NET.  Wow!  It finally happened.  I carved out (and paid for) my own little corner on the web.  It's mine, all mine.  (She spins 'round and 'round with arms spread wide in an open field of high grass and wildflowers.)  Go ahead and change me in your reader, so you won't miss anymore of these exciting random schmattering posts!  (And I'll try to not have so many random thoughts about poop next time, I promise!)

 

Christmases Past

Christmas 2007

{Ladybug was 6 months old}









Christmas 2008

{Ladybug was 18 months old, Stinkbug was 1 1/2 months old}

Christmas 2009

{Ladybug was 2 1/2 years old, Stinkbug was 13 1/2 months old}