Instagram Post

Be careful. If you have too many children, the little ones won't get
enough love and attention. 😏😉

(Follow the link below to Instagram to see the video.)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYd0MYclUqw/

Instagram Post

A little morning dose of snuggley sweetness. ❤ (How can he be two
weeks old already?!?)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYa2k3YFmBs/

Instagram Post

Not a fan of selfies yet. 😏
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYYeapzltG6/

Instagram Post

Twenty years ago this month, a young father and deacon in our church
(who is now our senior pastor) brought a coworker with him to worship.
Who knew two decades later, that church visitor (who is now a father
and a deacon himself) and I would be home from church, settling in
with our eighth baby?!? Would I have believed someone if they told me
at the time?

While we missed worshiping with our church family today, worship this
morning was pretty sweet. Hubby and I were propped up on the bed,
toddler sandwiched between us. Kids flopped on the end of the bed and
more kids on the floor. Singing Psalms, singing hymns, praying,
confessing sins, listening to and discussing a sermon together,
newborn nursing with mama and then various hands for holding, burping,
and changing. God is faithful from generation to generation.

(Side note: Those were my favorite sandals ever. Red patent leather FTW.)
#adayinthelife #greatisthyfaithfulness
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYTZ0_JFN-D/

Toe Spots

Hazel (age 4): What do you think is this red spot on my toe?

Me (looking at a small spot on the bottom of her toe that is slightly more pinkish than the rest of the skin around it): I don't know. Does it hurt?

Hazel: Well, it hurts when I do this [pokes it] and it hurts when I do this [pinches it] and it REALLY hurts when I bite it!

Instagram Post

Hard to believe we already have one week "behind" us. 😏

George has grown and changed so much. Perhaps not in ways you'd be
able to observe in pictures, but he's so much more awake, alert, and
observant. He's a champion nurser and has settled into his own little
routine (for now, at least). Postpartum is still postpartum, but he
sure is a delicious little treat, brightening everyone's days!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYJm2ZIF5Ab/

Instagram Post

Corn flakes in almond milk. And avocado toast. Or, as my chef calls
it, "Peppered avocado on a flame-kissed Wonder Bread crust." 🤣
Postpartum has done such odd things to my diet. Thankful for a
workable solution, a fantastic husband, and days and days of meals in
bed! ❤
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYGNxl5FwE7/

Instagram Post

Initiating six kids who've never experienced Star Wars before. Just a
part of the ongoing two-week baby after-party.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYEyxzvFDWo/

Instagram Post

Visit from my brother (@fizxwestcott) sister-in-love (@donnajean84)
and niecews. Plus, squishy naked baby. ❤
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYCZps_FT_-/

Instagram Post

Big brother, little brother. The new bookends. So thankful to have all
my lovies back under one roof. 😍❤🏠
https://www.instagram.com/p/BX9JgkYlJmT/

Instagram Post

All my "big kids" are staying with my parents at the moment. My
parents took this picture of them all climbing the tree in the front
yard of our old house (where we had our first four children). Such a
sweet and fitting shot!

The second picture was taken by Matt's parents when they visited the
three of us who are resting and recovering at home. We are truly
blessed to be surrounded by loving and supportive families!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BX6svOGFuki/

Instagram Post

God is good. George Douglas Sutherland was born at home at 12:15 pm
today after a very smooth and peaceful labor. He is 10 lbs. 5 oz. (our
biggest baby by nearly a pound)! Thank you to all those who have said
prayers and offered kind wishes over the past weeks and days. Much
appreciated!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BX3jYsUlbeN/

Instagram Post

When even the toddler wants in on all the nesting that's happing.
#pregnancynesting #41weeks
https://www.instagram.com/p/BX05wJolELG/

Instagram Post

My view from Sunday.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXvEqKWFEEP/

Instagram Post

Life at the moment. Tangible reality: an upside down toddler.
Emotional reality: feeling suspended upside down waiting, waiting on
baby. Wanting to embrace the moment. Also wanting it to be over
already!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXqnTq2l-Kz/

Title Confusion

Henry and Hazel were asking to watch "Finding Doofus". I thought maybe it was a new Pixar film I hadn't heard of. Turns out it's an old movie Daddy showed them: "Flying Deuces" (Laurel and Hardy). 🤣🤣🤣

Literary Criticism

Henry, who turned six in June, is eager to learn how to read. We've made attempts before, but he just wasn't quite ready. This week we've started working on phonics again and he seems to be picking it up well. He's excited when I call him to work with me. But yesterday after we finished a session ...

Henry: Mama, thank you so much for doing phonics with me! Um, I don't mean to be rude or anything, but this is really *not* helping me to read.

Instagram Post

Stinky toes and graphic novels. Love my boys. ❤
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXgbf52FudN/

Instagram Post

Happy "Due Date" Baby George. Co-sleeper waiting patiently. ❤ Did you
know that only 4% of babies are actually born on their due dates? So
here's a fun question. If George were a library book and we had to pay
ten cents a day over due fees (as we are very accustomed to doing at
our local library! 😏) how much will George's fine be?? Register your
guess below. 😀
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXc-ZN9F6Fk/

Instagram Post

A changing of the guard. Actually, we probably could have done this a
while ago because he didn't even have trouble starting the mower by
himself! Daddy is now serving in a supervisory capacity and the 2- and
4-year-olds are on the poarch cheering "You can do it! You can do it!"
😊
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXakAjHlKVD/

Instagram Post

Because Mama's nesting urges come in all forms. So, the 7-year-old
assembled a Target lamp by herself and vacuumed two rooms upstairs.
She requested both tasks and I was delighted to oblige. 👍🙋‍♀️💪
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXZC_jOl8Uu/

Functional Vocabulary

Me: OK, guys, we have a few extra chores we need to do this morning, especially now that our vacuum is functional again.
Hazel: What does "funsicle" mean?

Let's Face It

Henry picked up the phrase "let's face it" from the movie Ratatouille. I think from the context, he believes it has something to do with food. Remy (the rat) is talking about what his rat family eats and he says "We're thieves, Dad. And what we're stealing is - let's face it - garbage." So, here are some of Henry's recent attempts to incorporate this phrase.

"You mean last night when we had - let's face it - McDonalds?"
"Daddy, tonight can we have - let's face it - pizza and - let's face it - vegetables?"