Lori's Life: A Big Month

May is a big month for us! Not only does our "little" Zane turn 1, but we also get to find out whether the girls or boys will hold the majority in our family :) What excitement! Jared and I are both thinking girl, but Eben wants another brother and I have to say, he is 3 for 3 on getting what he wants. We shall see. I'm thinking selfishly and assuming that a boy and girl 16 1/2-17 months apart will be less 'high energy' that 2 boys, but who really knows. We'll be blessed with whatever God sees fit for our family. One last thing on that note: another reason I think its a girl is that even before we were discussing a 5th, I sometimes would feel like there was a little girl missing. Guess we'll find out if that was put in my head by God or just my crazy thoughts ;)

Zane got his first hair cute, has started standing up on his own in the middle of the floor and is walking better when someone holds his hands. Not sure if he'll be walking by 1, but I think it will be shortly thereafter. How this year has flown! His night time sleep patterns continue to be a mystery to me - I don't understand why he wakes up every night (at least once, sometimes several times) and just talks (often for an hr!). It is ridiculous. I'm hoping to get some information to help from the Doctor when we go for his 1 yr physical on the 30th. I just don't get it...

In other news, somehow Aliza got a staff infection in her leg. What's up with that!! We have done what we can and now we'll see the Dr in two days to see if we'll have to go to the hospital for them to really cut it open and clean it out. I hope not, but I feel like there is still more "yuckies" under the skin that we can't get to. Poor girl. She has been a real trooper throughout this painful process. I think she's my toughest kid too. I can't even imagine what Eben would have done...

Ah, Eben. He is quite the handful lately. I struggle with how to help him. Sometimes he is the sweetest kid, but other times (mostly when things don't go the way he thought they would) he melts down. There is so much attitude too, in almost every response to our requests. I feel at a loss with him right now. I'm trying to 'tap in' to the power that the Spirit has put in me, but it isn't always the easiest thing to do. Man, parenting the right way is wicked tough!! And beyond my grasping, God has seen us fit to parent 5 children! I'm so grateful for His daily grace - its what keeps me going :)

Guess I should say something about Nora. Good news: she cracks me up, makes me smile and I love to snuggle with that one. Bad news: she's been wetting the bed again, and I'll tell ya what - Jared and I are SO done with making that dang bunk bed over and over again. Back to the pull-ups again :( Someday both girls will be out of them (A is still in them too...)

Maybe I'll shoot another post up here before the end of the month with the gender announcement and some pics from Zane's birthday bash - BUT, lets not hold our breath on that ;)