Truly, sharing our news with others has been one of the greatest sources of excitement for us as we continue to process and shift gears. We are so grateful for all the positive responses (yes, we have, in the past, experienced not so thrilled responses to pregnancy news) about our "shocking" news. Thank you for all the phone calls, e-mails, etc. from those of you who are sharing in our joy! I have to admit, however, I have noticed a good bit of shock coming from those around us as well. In past years, people would come up to me and say, "Isn't it about time for you to be pregnant again?" I suppose the 2 1/2 year gap from Timothy's birth until now is pretty notable for the Pontius family.
So now we will go from an average 18 month gap between each child, to a 3 1/2 year gap between the last two! The girls hope I am having twins so that they will have each other as playmates. Somehow, I don't think entertainment will be hard to come by for this little one. I have already "warned" the girls that they WILL be doing diapers and bottles. They are thrilled at the prospect. Seraphina even told me "It's not faiwr, mom. You get to spend the whole time in the hospital with the baby and we have to go home after we visit!" Then she asked, "Can we sleep with the baby sometime?" She, obviously, wasn't old enough to realize the implications of having a newborn in the house when Timothy was born. This is also the daughter who recently told me how she "weely, weely wanted a baby because they are so little and cute and stuff". She continued by saying "I just wish time would huwwy up and go by" (so she can have her own babies).
On a slightly different topic, I am pleased to report that Jonah is now officially potty-trained! I don't even have to ask him! AND he is almost always dry during the night and naptime. Only one accident in underwear to report, even. Ahhh. What a huge relief! Our new goal is to be diaper free by Christmas (Timothy should be easier to train). Only to buy up more stock in Luvs come April.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Implications
We took the kiddos out to Rita's and decided to share our exciting news with them there. They were all sitting on a bench and I asked,
"Do you think there is room on that bench for one more kid?"
"Well, sure mom!" was the reply as they started scooting their tiny bottoms over to make room. "Uh, why?"
"Is there room for one more Pontius kid?", I kept prying.
"Whaat, do you mean?" came the slow, thoughful response.
I watched as Grace's faced turned cherry red and her eyes welled up with tears. She got it. Then the squeals let loose. Grace's first verbal response was, "What about the van!?" Elizabeth said, "Wait a minute, how did this happen? Grace again, "Is this a dream?" Elizabeth blurts out, "We need a bigger house, like NOW!" Jonah, meanwhile, is shuffling along, doing his usual boy things, seemingly totally disconnected from the news at hand. The girls make sure he gets it. "Mommy is having a baby, Jonah!" In standard 4 year old boy fashion, he answers, "Well, sure!"
As we finally make our way to the van, we see an SUV parked next to us with 2 grandparent-aged couples inside eating their ice cream. Jonah walks right up to the passenger side door and knocks on it. The woman rolls down her window and says hello. Jonah says, very matter-of-factly, "Hey. I have to tell you something. My mommy is havng a baby." Brian and I look at each other is shock. He actually was listening!
The next morning, the big news was the first thing on the girls' minds. Seraphina says to me, "I know I keep telling you this mommy, but I am weely, weely, WEELY excited that you awre having another baby!" Grace starts getting worried about our small house and how we are going to fit another baby in the house and where are we going to get another van since we have no more empty seats in ours now. I stop her in her tracks and assure her that Jesus always takes care of us! "You're right, Mom. Man, people who don't know Jesus have trouble on their hands!" HA! I love it!
One thing is for sure, Jesus is going to get really famous-"er" in our corner of the world in the next 8 months! Stay tuned...
"Do you think there is room on that bench for one more kid?"
"Well, sure mom!" was the reply as they started scooting their tiny bottoms over to make room. "Uh, why?"
"Is there room for one more Pontius kid?", I kept prying.
"Whaat, do you mean?" came the slow, thoughful response.
I watched as Grace's faced turned cherry red and her eyes welled up with tears. She got it. Then the squeals let loose. Grace's first verbal response was, "What about the van!?" Elizabeth said, "Wait a minute, how did this happen? Grace again, "Is this a dream?" Elizabeth blurts out, "We need a bigger house, like NOW!" Jonah, meanwhile, is shuffling along, doing his usual boy things, seemingly totally disconnected from the news at hand. The girls make sure he gets it. "Mommy is having a baby, Jonah!" In standard 4 year old boy fashion, he answers, "Well, sure!"
As we finally make our way to the van, we see an SUV parked next to us with 2 grandparent-aged couples inside eating their ice cream. Jonah walks right up to the passenger side door and knocks on it. The woman rolls down her window and says hello. Jonah says, very matter-of-factly, "Hey. I have to tell you something. My mommy is havng a baby." Brian and I look at each other is shock. He actually was listening!
The next morning, the big news was the first thing on the girls' minds. Seraphina says to me, "I know I keep telling you this mommy, but I am weely, weely, WEELY excited that you awre having another baby!" Grace starts getting worried about our small house and how we are going to fit another baby in the house and where are we going to get another van since we have no more empty seats in ours now. I stop her in her tracks and assure her that Jesus always takes care of us! "You're right, Mom. Man, people who don't know Jesus have trouble on their hands!" HA! I love it!
One thing is for sure, Jesus is going to get really famous-"er" in our corner of the world in the next 8 months! Stay tuned...
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Just keep getting richer...
Well, we had the surprise of our lives (so far) over a week ago. I took a pregnancy test to confirm that I, indeed, was NOT pregnant, only to discover that I actually was. Every form of prevention has at least a 1% chance of "surprise". Someone has to be that 1%, right? Well, we are freaking out, and blessed, to be counted among that small percentage.
Truth be told, we really were planning to be "done" with birthing children. Our hopes were to consider adoption once we finally moved into a bigger house. After all, we already brought 5 beautiful children into the world. Its time to take care of the babies that are already in the world and need parents. Right? I guess "not yet" would be the answer to that. It's truly amazing how EVERYTHING changes in one moment. Some people, after hearing our news, have said things like, "God knew you needed one more!" Hmmm. That and comments of the like have stirred up even more processing. Supposing that the implication is that God made me pregnant with a plan in mind (which I realize was not necessarily the intent), I'm not sure I agree. My Daddy doesn't make me pregnant just like He doesn't make me sick or make me give money away. My favorite revelation of late: "He is in charge, but He is not in control." When sperm meets egg at just the right time, a baby is made. An amazingly creative God set this thing into motion way before I was a thought in my parents' minds. He knew Pontius #6 was coming and He has an unfathomable plan to love on and love through this new, powerful, little life.
It's obvious to us that Brian and I are one seriously fertile couple. Why can't we share this fertility with the thousands of couples who would be delighted with even just one baby!? I don't know. Probably never will. But for now, we are truly thrilled beyond measure. Shocked still, but thrilled. The idea is sinking in more and more. There are so many implications surrounding this news that we cannot even begin to wrap our minds around. I'm so grateful to finally have an opportunity to process some of this in writing. There is much more to come as each day goes by.
Another little Pontius face to imagine, another baby to name after what Daddy is already calling him, more "firsts" to anticipate, having a baby in this new season of life with older children.....wow. Be it unto me......thanks, Jesus.
Truth be told, we really were planning to be "done" with birthing children. Our hopes were to consider adoption once we finally moved into a bigger house. After all, we already brought 5 beautiful children into the world. Its time to take care of the babies that are already in the world and need parents. Right? I guess "not yet" would be the answer to that. It's truly amazing how EVERYTHING changes in one moment. Some people, after hearing our news, have said things like, "God knew you needed one more!" Hmmm. That and comments of the like have stirred up even more processing. Supposing that the implication is that God made me pregnant with a plan in mind (which I realize was not necessarily the intent), I'm not sure I agree. My Daddy doesn't make me pregnant just like He doesn't make me sick or make me give money away. My favorite revelation of late: "He is in charge, but He is not in control." When sperm meets egg at just the right time, a baby is made. An amazingly creative God set this thing into motion way before I was a thought in my parents' minds. He knew Pontius #6 was coming and He has an unfathomable plan to love on and love through this new, powerful, little life.
It's obvious to us that Brian and I are one seriously fertile couple. Why can't we share this fertility with the thousands of couples who would be delighted with even just one baby!? I don't know. Probably never will. But for now, we are truly thrilled beyond measure. Shocked still, but thrilled. The idea is sinking in more and more. There are so many implications surrounding this news that we cannot even begin to wrap our minds around. I'm so grateful to finally have an opportunity to process some of this in writing. There is much more to come as each day goes by.
Another little Pontius face to imagine, another baby to name after what Daddy is already calling him, more "firsts" to anticipate, having a baby in this new season of life with older children.....wow. Be it unto me......thanks, Jesus.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
You know it's time when...
...your 4 year old can put on his own diapers....and is proud of it!!! It's TIME to get this boy potty trained!
I must report, however, that he has been successfully using the potty to pee for over 24 hours now. This, my friends, is progress worth noting. On the flip side, his skin (which has been wracked with eczema since infancy) is flaring up again, probably due to the stress of potty training. Augh!
Now my 2 year old is ready to get trained from watching brother. He even wants to try and stand. Holding himself, with his knees slightly bent, he looks up at me and says "Is comin, mommy. Oh, is seepin. shhh." Upon my urging to wake up his pee pee, he looks down at his "package" and shouts, "way up!! Is not way up, mommy!?" Maybe next time.
sigh...so glad these are children numbers 4 and 5 I'm dealing with in this situation. I'm getting many more laughs and joy out of the process than I would have with number 1, 2 or even 3!
I rest assured that neither will graduate high school wearing diapers. We must be grateful for the simple things in this journey. :-)
I must report, however, that he has been successfully using the potty to pee for over 24 hours now. This, my friends, is progress worth noting. On the flip side, his skin (which has been wracked with eczema since infancy) is flaring up again, probably due to the stress of potty training. Augh!
Now my 2 year old is ready to get trained from watching brother. He even wants to try and stand. Holding himself, with his knees slightly bent, he looks up at me and says "Is comin, mommy. Oh, is seepin. shhh." Upon my urging to wake up his pee pee, he looks down at his "package" and shouts, "way up!! Is not way up, mommy!?" Maybe next time.
sigh...so glad these are children numbers 4 and 5 I'm dealing with in this situation. I'm getting many more laughs and joy out of the process than I would have with number 1, 2 or even 3!
I rest assured that neither will graduate high school wearing diapers. We must be grateful for the simple things in this journey. :-)
Friday, July 2, 2010
Impressive reasoning....
While walking through the parking lot of Wegmans, Jonah (my 4 year old) sees a gentleman in a pink polo shirt. Jonah remarks very matter-of-factly, " That man used to be a mommy with a pink shirt but now he is a daddy." I couldn't help but laugh aloud....for quite awhile. It's so amazing what these little ones observe and reason in their small world. Nature vs. nurture, eh?
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