{Here We Are}

It's been a long time since I've done a family update.  Anyone remember why I blog in the first place?  Because ain't nobody got time for scissors and stickers and tape and markers and glitter strewn all over the kitchen table (aka - scrapbooking).

So this is it, Gibson kids.  This blog is your scrapbook.  You're welcome.

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It was discovered at her six week checkup that Macy has some loosey-goosey hips.  Otherwise known as hip displasia.  Which basically means that her leg bones (obviously we're using very medically accurate terminology) weren't in the right place for her hips to properly form.

Enter: the Pavlik Harness.

You can tell she is terribly upset by the whole ordeal.

For six weeks, Macy wore this little contraption to hold her leg bones in place.  We made multiple trips to Delafield (about 1.5 hours away) to get x-rayed and ultrasounded :)

During those six weeks, we were allowed to take it off for an hour each day.  I think she had it off a total of 3 hours for the entire six weeks.  I knew that if we ended up having to wear the harness another six weeks, it would be easy for me to blame myself for not using it enough.  So we just used it all the stinkin' time.

When I brought her back in for her last ultrasound, her harness was filthy.  Like, really, really gross - because while it IS washable, it has to air dry.  So how do you wash it, and let it air dry...and then get it back on baby within an hour?  You don't.

The doctor was pleased to see a dirty harness...it means it got used.  And guess what?  It worked.  Her hips look perfect, and she is now harness free :)

Hanging at the pool with friends to celebrate our 'harness free' baby!

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Macy was dedicated to the Lord sometime in late May.

HA.

First kid - I would have documented this the day after it happened, and I would have noted the date.

Second kid - 'sometime in late May'.

But I'd say it really doesn't matter when.  The fact is that a bunch of people that love our Macy came together and declared that they would do everything in their power to point Macyn to Jesus.

And our Pastor (known affectionately as 'Poppy' around these parts!) cried as he prayed for our sweet baby girl, asking God to walk with her all the days of her life.

That's what really matters.

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We've been enjoying the extra tiny feet running around this place.  And I don't mean Macy :)

Mable, Madison, Carter, and Macy.  Four peas in a pod.  Sort of.

Even though Carter says "Nooo Bable! Nooo Badison", he secretly loves them.  He talks about them when he eats his ice cream and takes walks to the lake.

It has been so good to spend time with these families.  Know what I love?  Seeing our friends love our kids.  Know what else I love?  Loving our friends' kids.

It's pretty awesome.

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We've got something else pretty awesome happening around here.

Love.  The seeds we planted when Macy first came home are finally starting to grow and bloom.

We would tell Carter "Give Macy a kiss" or "You love Macy!" or "You are so gentle!".  He didn't know how to act, so we had to tell him.  He didn't know how to show love to this tiny little bundle of sweetness, so we had to literally show him how - hand-over-hand.

It felt awkward at first.  Like a baby taking its first steps, we were all a bit wobbly at this sibling thing.

But now.

Carter regularly chooses to lay by Macy on the floor.  He chooses to tickle her feet when I'm changing her.  He chooses to bring her a paci when she's crying.  He chooses to see her - smile at her - love her.

Love is a choice.  And Carter loves Macy well.

This little story reminds me of this little story, when Carter was learning how to be held.

Here's a secret: At 7 years old, Carter still loves to be held by his Mama.

I know that soon, he'll reach an age that he won't want to, or won't be able to.

So, for now, when he says "Mom, Carry!"...I carry. 

 
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Carter started his second season of baseball 'sometime in June'.

:)

He has the same teammates, but a new team.  He thoroughly enjoys running the bases, sitting in the outfield, running his hands along the fence, and hitting the ball.

But mostly, he loves the ice cream afterwards :)

This means Macy attended her first game, and did a great job charming everyone in the stands :)

You can read about Carter's 'First Ever' baseball game here :)

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That brings us to today.

Our little boat landing at the end of our road never disappoints, and we spend many afternoons there with a baby sleeping away in the stroller while a big boy plays with his trucks and boats.

This is my view 724 times a day.  And I love it.

Little Baby sleeping or pacifying or bottling or snuggling while Big Boy looks on, waiting for his turn to have my undivided attention.

Before Macy came, I spent many busy days wondering how I'd possibly make time for two needy kids.  Now I know.  It doesn't just happen, like some told me it would.  

It takes intentional work to say "That can wait" or "I can finish this up tomorrow".  At first, it felt a little like losing control of my well-manicured, tidy life.  

Now, it feels like freedom.  I don't have to be all things to all people all the time.

I just have to be mama to these little people, and wife to my favorite guy.  

Everything else can wait.  

Freedom.

One Thing I Know For Sure: This post brought to you mostly by iPhone pictures.  Another area where I'm learning to let go & say "It's okay" :)