Rebecca almost 5 weeks,on the airplane.

Gary B. almost 3 months, at Bro. Ronald's house in N. Carolina.

"These are nursery rhymes.  Humpty Dumpty was an egg and horses don't know how to put him together.  Momma's favorite one I say is "There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.  She made a beautiful house and was very little.  She had so much kids she didn't know what to do.  Then we all played outside."  It was too late for the aligator.  It goes "Hey diddle, diddle.  The cat and the fiddle.  The gator got hit by a car. And he got killed."  The itsy bitsy spider is not a nursery rhyme, it's a real song.  You have to know the difference.  It's not like Twinkle, Twinkle.  I'm not little boy blue, cause I sleep in a house.  I'm Britt."

So this week I finished up reading Deuteronomy and according to the chronological bible reading list I followed that with Psalm 91.  I'm not really sure why they put Psalm 91 next, according to what I was able to find online, no one knows who wrote it, or exactly when, but it's an older psalm with some of the same themes as the song God tells Moses to record in Deuteronomy 32.

I've always had trouble getting through Deuteronomy, by the time that you get there it's the third time through some of the material.  I know it's important, but it's hard to get stuff out of the law service sometimes when we know it's been fulfilled.  Chapter 32, and then Psalm 91 really stuck out to me this time.  They both have some pretty imagery to describe God's relationship to us.  He is our rock, our steady, constant, dependable God.  He is nothing like all the false "god." Both talk about how when we don't obey that he punishes His people.  The great part is toward the end though, where we are told if we turn back to Him,repentent, and seek Him, He will always avenge and protect His people.

There is something about Psalm 91, that I think I'm missing.  I read it through several times the other night, but I think I'm still missing something.  In the beginning it sounds like the "thee" is a child of God speaking about how he takes care of us, but then at the end it sounds like the speaker, the "thee" is Christ.  I'm still trying to puzzle out exactly what it's saying.  I don't see where the voice changes in the psalm, but it's been on my mind lately. Even if I don't completely understand the meaning, I really like the 14th verse, "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name."

Rebecca,

It's hard to believe that you are one month old today.  Of course, I could point out that February is such a short month, that of course, it doesn't feel that long.  Yesterday we missed your doctor's appointment because she had her little boy the night before.  I'm guessing you weighed in about 9 lbs now.  At a little over 2 weeks old, I packed up your newborn clothes, because you had already gotten too long for them.  You are wearing 0-3 month stuff now.  When we finish up using the last of the newborn diapers, I'm going to go ahead and put you in size ones.  You could still wear the newborn a little while longer, but I don't want to buy more, and waste them.  I think the size 1 will be more uncomfortable for you, because you have such a noticeable outtie right now.

We still don't have much of a routine around here, and probably won't for a while yet.  For the first week Ahna was here to manage the other heathens while we tried to sleep when you were sleeping (and they weren't).  Then Grumps, Grandma, and Unca Benji came to pick her up.  After that I was on my own for a few days with the three of you while Daddy went for interviews.  I locked down the house, and we survived.  haha.  Then Memaw and Mister came, and Memaw stayed almost a week.  This past week we got ready for Alabama, and now we are here visiting Grandmother and Granddaddy.  We are going down to Florida for Easter, and getting ready to move to Pennsylvania, some time soon.

You are quieter than I remember the other two being.  When you are awake you just stare around as if you are watching the world in wonder.  You are actually noisiest when you are sleeping, and you still sleep alot.  You grunt constantly, unless you are good and asleep.  You regularly go 3.5 or 4 hours between feedings.  We get a 5 hour stretch out of you from time to time, normally between 4 and 10 am or 9 and 2.  You are most alert between 8 and midnight or 10 and 2am.  I would prefer you sleep longer at night, and be more alert during the day.  Right now we are staying up till you eat at 11 or 12 and then trying to go to bed for the night, so that we only have to wake up once to feed you.  A couple of nights this week you have slept from about 1:30 or 2 until 7:30 or 8.  It does make it easier to get the other two going in the morning with you still asleep, but I will be happy to get more night time sleep out of you.  We are still having mixed results with you sleeping in the cradle.  You sleep during the day in the swing quiet a bit, and like to sleep upright in the car seat.  At night you seem to do better in the bed with us.  I think part of the problem is that the cradle doesn't have a real mattress, because you don't seem to have a problem with the crib.

You are holding your head up really well, for your age.  You never really went through the bobble head stage that Ruth did.  You would lift up your head for a little bit, and then sit it down.  You are holding it up longer and longer.  You seem to know where your limit is, and lay back down before you falling/bobbling all over the place.  Daddy managed to get two real smiles out of you last week.  I haven't yet, but I did get to see one of them.  I tell you a baby smiling, is infectious.  Britt loves to sing to you and kiss you.  Ruth likes to push the swing when you cry.  They both smile at you and talk to you.  You seem to be easier than the other two were for me.  Your latch isn't as rough, you seem to be pretty quiet and content, and I'm not feeling as zombified from lack of sleep.  We are enjoying life as a family of five.

We love you, little bit,
Momma

Last Tuesday Ruth, started her speech therapy.  Because she is dropping both beginning and ending sounds, not using tenses, using very few descriptive and action words, and because she has so few consistent consonant sounds - because of all of these, they qualified her for a one hour session each week.  They don't have enough speech therapist at the moment, so a developmental therapist, who has also has speech training is coming to the house on Tuesday mornings.  They mostly play a variety of games where Ruth is suppose to identify objects.  As far as Ruth is concerned she has a "new fwiend to pway wiff."  The first Tuesday Ms. Leah worked mostly on B and P with her.  She said, that she knows the sound because she says "peas" (please), but words like open come out owen or owwee.  She would make her sing O-Pen stressing the different syllables and making Ruth look at her mouth.  Then they would open the toy together.  They also worked on B because Ruth can say "Bit" (Britt) but ball comes out "all" (additionally so does anything that rhymes with ball, like small or call, or doll, hence the problem we have in figuring out what she is saying).  Yesterday, they worked on animal names and sounds.  She was able to give us some homework.  To help Ruth hear and see what she's missing, Ms. Leah wants us to make her watch our mouth when we are talking.  Part of her problem is that she's being lazy, and doesn't move her lips much when she talks.  Also, sing-songing and over enunciating is suppose to help her hear the sounds she's dropping, so she will start mimicking them.  Her only two constant consonant sounds are m and c, and she should have alot more constant sounds at this age.  Britt gets to play some too, but he gets in trouble for telling her the answers when she is suppose to be identifying objects.  Ms. Leah said that he can be a big help in teaching her how to pronounce things, but the problem with him telling her the answers is that often she won't then try to say anything, but rather says "uh-huh" or "yep" agreeing with Britt, rather than telling us what an object is.  We've already seen some improvement, and we better know how to help her, so I think it's a win-win.

Britt has added so many words to his vocabulary.  Of course, he doesn't know what some of those words mean, and other words he's just made up so we don't know what they mean.  He's pronouncing most things correctly these days too.  It's just further proof that he's not my baby any more.  I am not in a hurry to correct the few things that he still says incorrectly though, they make me smile.  I thought I would share a few today.

• "Mic-in-Donald's and Chick-a-way," known to the rest of the world as McDonald's and Chick Fil A.
• He often says, "P says 'pa-pa' like cacorn."  The rest of us just call it popcorn.
• "You're a bushy."  Best we can tell, this means that he is insulting you whenever you are angry or fuss at him.  He also uses it to mean you are crazy and silly when he is playing with you.
• "Roof" and "Abecca" are his sister's names.
• Abecca drinks "special milk."
• "Nuffan," which rhymes with muffin, is what he always answers when you ask what kind of trouble he's gotten into.
• On Mondays we go to the "lie-berry" for books and movies.
• "Sauce-shug" is one of his favorite breakfast foods.  (I prefer bacon myself.)

Does anyone see any similarities?  I don't.  I had no hair, she's got tons.  I had big wide eyes, she doesn't.  She's got a wide flat nose, I don't.  She's got a little round mouth, I don't.  I will admit that she's only 3 weeks in her picture, and I'm 3.5 months in that picture, but still.  I do think other than the nose, she looks alot like Britt.  In the picture below he is 2 days shy of a month old, and she is 5 days shy of a month old.  The picture of Britt was taken the night we moved from the apartment into the house on Pippin Road.

Today, she is 3 weeks old.  We took Rebecca to her weight check on Tuesday.  She's up to 8 lbs, 14.5 oz now.  Her cord fell off while Gary was gone for his interviews, so Sunday morning before Church she got her first real bath.  Gary has given all the kids their first bath.  In fact, as much as possible I let him handle bath time.  It's one of those almost nightly chores that I don't really care to do.  Before they can sit up, it's a pain to keep the suds out of their eyes, and keeping them from falling over in the tub.  Then when they are big enough, you still can't keep the suds out of their eyes, and they making a huge mess.  Then when they are actually the size of the other two you STILL can't keep the suds out of their eyes, and they make an even bigger mess.  Not to mention after 4 years of nightly bath time, your back is absolutely killing you.


Anyway, Rebecca got her first bath on Sunday, and she did really well, other than the initial shock of being put in water and Gary using my entire water pitcher to pour water over her hair she was quiet.  I don't know that she liked it, but she didn't seem to dislike it.  Memaw gave her another bath on Wednesday, and she didn't fuss at all.  Maybe she does like it.  In fact, it's unbelievable to me, just how quiet she is when she is awake.  Maybe it's just because Britt and Ruth are SO loud right now, but I swear she's alot quieter than the other two were.  When she's awake and alert, for the most part she just looks around so quietly.  Unless she's hungry, then she can get loud and mad fast.


Of course after bath time, Gary has to "style" her hair.  Rebecca's hair is alot like Britt's, she has two cowlicks up front, like he does, and it overlaps in the middle likes his does, so it sort of stands up on it's own.  Of course, just like Gary use to help Britt's mohawk out, he helps Rebecca's stand up on end too.

After almost 4 months, we got a job offer, which I accepted.  I'm really excited about this opportunity.  The position is located in Pennsylvania, and they've been fantastic so far.  Every time I've had a question, they have been able to quickly answer it.  They have been very understanding of having a family, and a newborn.  The relocation package is a dream.  They are willing to pay temporary living till we find a house.  The position doesn't come with a vehicle right now, but they have been very understanding of the fact that we only have one car.  They told us that they were willing to rent a car for up to two months, till I could get Danielle and the kids moved.  Then after we accepted the offer, they came back yesterday, and added a truck.  They said that they had found one for a good price and that they could go ahead.  Danielle is excited that they are paying a company to box, load, ship, unload, and insure our stuff.  All in all, it is a real blessing.
We have enjoyed being in Indiana.  We are definitely going to miss this house.  It's very nice, and Danielle has been especially happy with it.  We have also enjoyed the people at Fort Wayne Church, especially getting to spend more time with Bro. Joe and Sis. Elin than we've had a chance to in recent years.  Britt and Emma have become known as Bonnie and Clyde.  And yet, we are excited to see what's in store for our family next.

"I make a snowman wiff Mister.  He gone now.  Our snowman melted.  He all gone too."

Picture from my hotel room in Morgantown, WV

My flights got cancelled, so to make my job interviews I talked the HR manager into letting me drive out.  I left on Tuesday around 4, by the time, I left and then came back for my dress clothes, and left again.  I drove about half way that night, to make it easier driving in case of weather.  I stopped the night in Morgantown, WV.  The drive was fairly easy, some slight rain for the first hour and a half, but the rest was clear skies.  The snow started about 10 mins out from Morgantown, and continued over night.



I stayed at Ramada Inn that had the best hot breakfast I've ever had at a hotel.  They had tons of food, and even real eggs.  I took my time getting up to allow road crews plenty of time to clear the roads, and any morning traffic to clear out.  I made even better time, due to the pending snow storm, because no one was on the road at all between there and Salisbury, Maryland.  There was no weather on the road either.  I drove alot on I-68, where you go 3 miles up a mountain, and then 3 miles down the mountain.  So you are bouncing back and forth from 60 uphill to 80 downhill, I also learned not to drive in steel toe boots... you tend to go faster than you intended.

Clear roads and driving

I had a breakfast interview on Thursday, at Bob Evans at 7 am with Mr. Bob.  Then I had an interview each hour with four more people until 11.  The interviews went well.  I had a good time, but the only problem when you interview with five people separately, you get some of the same questions over and over again.  "Why this company?"  "Tell me about yourself."  "How do you feel you fit in this position?" After 5 hours of interviews done, I was then given directions to Palmyra, Pennsylvania, right outside of Hershey.  It was only a 222 mile drive according to the GPS.  There I meet with the grain manager for that location.  I really enjoy meeting with Dick, and we ate at a GREAT restaurant.  The chef is Ukraine and his wife is Greek, but the food was awesome.  I had crab, fish, and shrimp meatballs, with a linguine with roasted tomatoes and pepper sauce.  It was large enough portions that I could have split it with Danielle and us both been full.  With that came a lobster shrimp bisque.  It was incredibly creamy.  It's hard to describe.  We also shared two appetizers of crab rolls - crab meat, cheese, and cream cheese rolled in panko bread crumbs and roasted - and Sliced mushrooms with crab meat on top, and slightly melted parmesan cheese, drizzled with a wine sauce.  I don't even like mushrooms, and that was great.  I might have liked the crab rolls best of all though.  This meal was not cheap, in fact my wife might never be allowed to eat here, if she is she might be blindfolded so that she can't find her way back.  It was worth every penny that the company spent on it. I had another really nice hotel that night.

On Friday, I then drove over to Elizabethville, Pa, where the position would be.  It's a real small place, about 1200 people, but it does have a Walmart.  It was probably a little less than 15 miles from my hotel, but there aren't many direct roads, so it was probably a 45 minute drive.  Coming into town was a beautiful, scenic drive.  You have to drive about 6 or 7 miles straight up hill, just to come back down the other side to get to it.  I met with the office manager and team there.  I got the nickle tour of the whole facility, the silos, old turkey barns, and fertilizer/chemical buildings.  Everyone was really nice and courteous seemed to be hard workers.  Everyone seemed to like the company, not much bad was reported.  It seems to be a company that takes care of people both employees and customers.  I also drove around the area a bit.  I couldn't tell you where all I went with Dick, but I enjoyed getting a feel for the area.  I think it's a company that I could enjoy working for, and a nice area to live.  After lunch with them, I hit the road to head home.

Now granted I might have seen "Tarzan" a few too many times lately (it and "Beauty and the Beast" are Britt's current favorite movies), but I'm thinking this child looks a little too much like two of the gorillas in the movie...





Especially when Daddy has been styling her hair...

So, I've finished reading Numbers early this week.  According my chronological reading chart, I read Numbers 1-14, Psalms 90, and then finished reading the rest of Numbers.  Psalm 90, written by Moses, is thought to be the oldest Psalm, most likely written after the Children of Israel refuse to enter the promise land.  Thinking about it in that light, made a few things jump out at me.

Up until this point the people have complained over and over and over again.  They have complained and failed to obey 10 times, about the army of Egypt behind them (Ex. 14:11), about the lack of water (Ex. 15:24 and 17:2), about the wilderness (Ex. 16:3), about the lack of food, about the lack of variety of food, and then not gathering it all the way they were told to (Ex. 16:20, 16:27, Num. 11:4), and on and on (Ex. 32:7, and Num. 11:1).  The final straw, the tenth time, is all their complaining about the promise land and refusing to enter it (Num. 14:22).  Moses has complained a few times up to this point too, but the difference is that he carries his complaints to the Lord, and the Lord provides answers.  The people on the other hand complain to each other in bitterness against the Lord.  I heard a preacher tell in a sermon one time, that there is nothing wrong with complaining and pouring out our heart in prayer.  He said that God is a loving Father, and He can change things when we go to Him, or He can comfort us and give us strength in our circumstances.  HOWEVER, the elder was quick to point out, that we never solve anything by complaining to each other about our situation.  Numbers proves this.

God has been telling the people for some time that this is a great land, and that it's going to be theirs.  The spies report back confirming how great the land is.  However, in their report they dwell on the negatives, the strong cities, the giants, the fierce men of war.  After seeing all of the miracles, they doubt God's ability, and insist that they cannot take the land.  Of course Caleb and Joshua insist that God will give them the land, but the people desire to stone them, and still refuse to enter the promise land.  God initially threatens to kill them all, and make a nation of Moses, but Moses intercedes for the people yet again, and God condemns them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.  At this point some of the people decide they want to enter the promise land after all, and they go.  But, God doesn't go with them and they are defeated in battle.

The very night I read chapter 14, I saw a similar situation in our own house.  Britt gets to sit up a little longer than Ruth at night and play on his leap pad, to wind down before bed.  However, on that particular night, I told him that he needed to go and use the bathroom and be read for bed, before playing any more.  Rather than go, he pitched a fit and refused, and lost out on the opportunity to play on his leap pad that night.  As I put him to bed, he apologized and asked to play his leap pad after he finally went to use the bathroom.  I had to tell him no.  He wanted to fix it, but it was too late.  Likewise, sometimes we can't fix things, and the Lord still punishes us for our actions.

I found it interesting that much of Psalm 90 parallels the thoughts that Moses expresses in his prayer to the Lord, and to the Lord's answer to him in Numbers 14.  Psalm 90 starts out by establishing God is eternal, great, and that we cannot compare to him, as we are only here for a little time.  It talks of how the Lord sees all of our sins, like the complaining in the heart of the people, and in verses 12-17 seems to beg for forgiveness, that we might do better, "teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."  He then asks that they might be made glad even in affliction.  It reminded me that even in discipline and hardship we are to learn to walk closer.  Daddy use to tell me that he was spanking me so that I would learn to not repeat my mistakes.  God is no different.  We can chose to become bitter when the Lord rebukes us or we can grow.

You would think that this would have taught the people a lesson, but they continue on to complain at least 4 more times.  About Moses and Aaron having all the power in the camp (Num. 16:3), that Moses and Aaron killed Korah and the people that rebelled (Num. 16:41), again about the lack of water (Num. 20:2), and finally blaming God and Moses for them still being in the wilderness (Num. 21:5).  How often do we do the exact same thing?  I'm grateful for a God that is long suffering and patient with my many faults.

Yesterday, the two oldest enjoyed a snow day.  We got 13 inches of snow courtesy of Winter Storm Saturn.  It's a shame that Gary wasn't here to enjoy it with us.  I thought about buddling up the littlest member in the carrier, and wearing her out under my coat, but decided that there was no way I could keep my balance and help the kids, with her in tow.  So, after I fed her, I wrapped her up in the swing for a little nap, and out we went.



Now, you all know I'm from Alabama, and if you add up all the snow I've seen in my life time, it wouldn't equal 13 inches.  Tramping around in it was fun, and it was really fun to laugh at Ruth falling in it, and Britt doing nose dives, and trying to explain to me how it is that his snow pants are like a swim suit.  (Don't ask, I'm still not sure what the connection is.)  I pulled the kids a little bit on the sled, it was easier than I thought it would be.  However, I'm still sore enough from birthing the last one, that I wasn't up for it long.  I was relieved when Britt said he was ready to go inside, get a cup, and play on his leap pad a bit.  (This decision might have been hastened along a little by his Momma putting her old batting gloves on him, instead of his mittens, so that Ruth could wear his mittens, since her's were in the car with Gary in Maryland.)


Kita of course is loving the weather.  She's either running in circles on her line, tossing sticks to herself, or circling up in the snow to nap with her nose tucked under her tail.  I wanted to hook her harness to the sled and then put her on her leash to let her do the work of pulling the kids, and burning some energy, but alas, she chewed through her harness last week and I've not replaced it yet.

"I a doctor.  I cut hair.  I give pokes.  I a doctor.  I doctor Momma and Ahna wiff Britt's doctor tools."

Gary has had several job interviews since Thanksgiving, a number of them in person.  He was able to meet with two agronomy coops in Iowa and Illinois.  He interviewed with Monsanto in California, and a strawberry farm in Florida.  There have been even more phone interviews.  We keep applying to anything with in a couple hours driving distance to a Primitive Baptist Church, and waiting to see what turns up.  We trust that as we continue to apply, and Gary continues to have good interviews, that the right position will turn up.  We just keep doing what we are able to do, and pray for guidance from the Lord, after all that's all we can do.  (Can you tell I'm handling this much better this go round?)

My family left Sunday afternoon, and Gary's is coming in on Friday.  However, Gary is going for a job interview in Pennsylvania Wednesday through Friday of this week.  I'm going to be on my own for the first time with the kiddos this week.  I'm not not sure that I'm up to it yet, but Gary is convinced that we'll be just fine.  And for some reason, he doesn't want me to call every time that Rebecca wakes up for a night time feeding.  Not sure why he wants to miss out on all that fun.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Rebecca,

Today you are one week old.  It's been a pretty good week, thanks to all the good help from Ahna.  You still don't have much of a routine yet, we've had a couple of nights where you've had a good 3.5 to 4 hour stretch and only eat about 3 times between midnight and morning.  Then there have been a few nights where you are eating every hour and a half.  On average you have been more alert in the evening, and sleeping your longer stretches early in the morning.  I think your internal clock is off about 5 hours, since you seem to sleep better from 3 on to 7, and then another longer stretch from 7:30 on to 11.  You have slept alot with me or Ahna holding you.  We've had mixed success on getting you to sleep in the cradle at night, but that will come eventually.  You do seem to prefer to sleep on your side, and unlike your brother and sister, you seem to like being swaddled.  Britt never liked to be swaddled, and Ruth was only liked it as long as she could get her hands up and into her mouth.  You seem to like the whole tight burrito thing, especially when it's up around your face.  Even though you aren't sleeping when your Daddy wants you to, you are eating well.  At your check up yesterday you weighed in at 8 lbs, 7 oz.  We are suppose to come by next week or week after for a weight check, to be sure that you hit birth weight, but we don't have another regular appointment until we both go back when you are a month old.  You also passed your hearing test yesterday.

Your siblings are excited that you have finally arrived.  Britt asks daily if you "can talk, now?"  He has started your lessons on which dinosaur is which, and he is eager to show you how his leap pad works.  He wants to share his juice and food with you.  He asks to hold you, but fusses at you when you cry.  He sounds like Unca Benji complaining about your crying.  He tries to sing to you when you are sad, and you seem to enjoy it.  Ruth doesn't want to hold you, she says you are too heavy.  However, she does like to hold your hand, and help by bringing us new diapers, and throwing away the dirty ones.  She's very proud to be a big helper. She says that she is going to teach you to dance.

I sure do love to cuddle with you, while we are resting.  Daddy and I are all so thankful that you are here and healthy. You were a great surprise, little girl.

We love you,
Momma