Chubba-Bubba Zachy Zu

Our little man has been fighting ear infections this week, and takes some serious power naps.

 Makes my heart sad that he's not feeling well...but I surely cherish him sleeping so soundly that I can watch him rest so peacefully...

Seeking His Wisdom

Typically, around mid-to-late January, I feel a little off my game--

• a little crowded (too much time with 4 walls and a roof, however thankful I am for those!!)

• a little claustrophobic (tons of layers of cold-weather gear, covered from head-to-toe)

• a little "down" (having gone months with very little sunshine)

• a little discouraged (wondering am I enough and am I doing enough for these precious people I'm so blessed to live with)
  

This is how I FEEL, but I have learned through the years that living by how I FEEL is not the best way to live. I can easily become held captive by these feelings, but I will choose not to. I am above self-pity. There's good work to be done, and by God's grace, I will continue in it! I cannot do this by myself, and indeed would not even want to.

Basking once again in this realization, I recently asked Him for a Word over each of our little treasures. I needed Him to give me a word of truth to hold on to, because at that particular moment my mind was just filled with all the problems I could see: "This one doesn't _____. This one needs to learn to _____. I need to do a better job with ____ with this one." You get the ugly picture! I asked Him to replace those thoughts with an affirmation over each of our little ones, along with a Word of Wisdom for me in mothering them. He is ever faithful and good.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously without reproaching, and it will be given to him." James 1:5


Word over Baby: "Contentedness"

Word to Mama: Cheerfulness + Healthy Scheduling



"Lovingkindness"

Cheerfulness + Firmness




"Curiosity"

Cheerfulness + Guidance




"Obedience"

Cheerfulness + Encouragement




"Justice"

Cheerfulness + Encouragement

Interesting how the Word of Wisdom to me, "cheerfulness," was part of my instruction x 5!

In Love With Infant Gowns

These little garments deserve their own post tribute! I've been in love with cotton infant gowns ever since bringing home our first baby eleven years ago. Even saying "infant gown" evokes the tenderest of emotions for me--it's such a beautiful, precious, fleeting stage when a child can wear these.

Infant. Infant. Infant.
How sweet!

Our little man fills his out pretty well these days, and it won't be long 'til they'll be packed up into the "newborn clothing just in case" box, or given away. Meanwhile, I stuff his little body into one every chance I get, and cuddle away!

Summer's Swan Song

It's been raining for 9 days straight, temps are dipping into the 40's, our heat has kicked in several times, and yellow hues are just beginning to show through. Summer is quickly coming to a close. It's been a good one for us--the highlight, of course, being that I went from this:

to this:

...the most obvious difference being that the baby is now on the outside! Zachary's birth and the welcoming of him into our family has been our most beautiful summer highlight. Our little Chunky Monkey is 8 weeks old today.

As the nickname suggests, he's been putting on plenty of rolls, which means, that my rolls are decreasing. It's a good arrangement! So the summer has been filled with LOTS of newborn-cuddling time...



One of the cuddlers was my Grandma Dorothy! She came to visit for 3 weeks, and we had some really sweet "Grandma time".

We appreciate her countenance and life experience so much. Love hearing stories about the extended family we've never known and accounts from the Great Depression. One of my favorite stories from this visit was about how she used to love to dance. This story was prompted by the classical music playing from Zachy's baby swing. She grabbed hold of Keiki's hands and tried to dance with him. Toddler-style, he just giggled and fell down onto the floor! Grandma then told of how one of her brothers and his friends would have barn dances...and she would waltz and waltz and have such fun. Her eyes sort of drifted off as she smiled...and then she said to nobody in particular, "I've had a good life."

True to Dassow style, we've kept things pretty low-key and free... We made sure to get in plenty of walks and bike rides

and we've spent a lot of time working and playing in the garden.



A simple but cool thing we added to the garden area this year is a little "knee-high garden for the tot! He is SO proud of his own little garden, which he can rake, sow, plant, water, and pick to his heart's content! LOVE this idea which I got from a Sharon Lovejoy book (more on those in another post!) Having their very own garden cultivates (pardon the pun) a love a gardening in a child's heart. It's so refreshing for little ones to have total control over their own little garden space.

Just look how proud he was of his first produce! He did this totally by himself. We're still amazed that anything grew in his little box, with all the prodding, plucking, and WATERING that went on!


We've also gotten in a little "tree fort" building...

...prompting this middle child to look for bargains on nails and screws at weekend garage sales!

We had a couple special events, including Little Brother's Infant Prayer Service at our church.

It was so special to us to have one of our elders and his wife, with our entire congregation, stop and take time to pray for us and our baby son.

We also celebrated Wise Bobcat's 11th birthday recently.




We're now proud parents of a middle-schooler.

what.
in.
the.
world.

Time just moves so fast. I'm enjoying all the sweet, fleeting moments...including this summer's swan song.

Zachary's Story

We're a blessed family of 7, basking in the "babymoon". Here' s our littlest son's amazing birthday story... Our God is mighty in His power and perfection!