Good Like a Medicine

… that after three babies we would have purchased a swing. Well, there were lots of reasons we never did, but we have quickly realized this time around that a swing is a verrrrry nice piece of equipment to have when you have two hungry toddlers, or you need somewhere to put baby down while tending to an all-of-a-sudden urgent task! The pack ‘n play and an old-fashioned floor quilt are still my favorite options, but it’s nice to have the swing because - well, you know, it swings!

I think I’m going to start calling my blog “Goodwill like a medicine.” I just love that place. I probably go there more times per month than a college student does laundry. I found this Graco infant swing (with 6 speeds and 15 songs!) in fantastic shape there for $3.99. Wow! You can’t get much better than that. I took the winne-the-pooh cushion off and whipped up a little one that matched our decor. I used a fun red gingham waverly remnant and binded it around with some sage velvet. I know if my dad were to read this, he would immediately poke fun at me and say, “So, I guess you’re taking the winne-the-pooh cushion back to Goodwill, huh?” Ha Ha ha - all I have to say is, “One day my family will convert!”

Too bad it’s midnight because all it needs now is an adorable baby inside. No, please wait! I take that back - I promise it can wait until morning! Today was a great day at home. I am really enjoying the sweet company of my kids as they help me work in the mornings and we read and play after naps in the afternoon. I still struggle daily with whining, arguing, and anger (me, or the kids, you ask?! ha), but I know God wants me to make these vital issues of prayer. By God’s grace I have finally found a nice, efficient schedule that fits our family. It took me several weeks after Meredith’s birth to lay it out, but thankfully it has been working for a couple of months now. Meredith is growing so much, and we have instant entertainment and laughter as we watch her try to grab toys and scoot across the floor. Around 4:30 to 5:30 is so much fun for me because I know they are thinking, “Daddy comes home soon!” We love to hear Eric’s diesel car drive up in the driveway and hide from him when he walks in the door from work. (Steven usually gives us away because he can’t wait to see his daddy.) Today I tried a new recipe sent to me by my midwife — stuffed green peppers in the crockpot - yum. They go well with mashed potatoes. Lydia helped me prepare them, and we called them “pepper houses.” After dinner I ran some errands, and this is what Eric captured while I was gone:

He dressed them and did the photo-shoot himself. Isn’t he great?! I will use this sidenote to sincerely praise my husband because he absolutely, totally, 110% LOVES being a dad. He just can’t get enough of our kids. He truly believes that children are a blessing, and I know that he loves them so much. He goes way beyond what some people expect a father to do/be, and I just love that about him. I also love the fact that tomorrow morning he’ll probably be taking a bag with a Pooh cushion in it to Goodwill. He He He