Shepisms {Pregnancy Edition}

Early on in my pregnancy, Shep explained to my mom about how the baby eats in my belly.  It goes a little something like this.  There is a straw that goes all the way from my mouth down to the baby's mouth so whatever I eat, the baby eats, too.  Not far off, huh?!  He went on to say the baby can eat anything, but it really likes candy and sprinkles.

Another day Shep asked if I had three babies in my belly.
"No.  Why?" I replied.
He simply pointed to my belly bump then the "bumps" on my chest.
Ohhhhh.  Which led to an interesting conversation about how the baby will eat when she is born.

Another running theme is what is going to happen when the baby is born.  I have explained repeatedly that this baby is going to come out of my body and automatically be ours, that she is not going to be adopted like Liam.  I have even explained for the first time (he was never interested before) how Liam came out of his birthmother's body before we adopted him.  But Shep continues to insist that the baby will come out of my body, then we will need to fly to Ethiopia to "re-dopt" her before we can bring her home.  It really does seem too easy to me even that she will just be our's - no paperwork or waiting or international travel involved.  And, thank you, Lord, I will not have to fly to Ethiopia and back immediately after giving birth to a child!  Can you imagine?!

Shep also said one day that we would need to "trade the baby in" when she was born because we already have a baby (Liam).  I told him we would never do that, that we keep our babies forever.  This led to another interesting adoption conversation because he said, "But William was traded in" (by his birthparents).  I love this age and how he is beginning to make so many connections all on his own.

He was also sure even before we knew that this baby would be a girl because "we already have a William."  I explained that even if we had another boy, it would not be another Liam.  He would look different, act different, and have a different name.  I suppose in his concrete little mind brother is synonymous with William.  Sweet.

Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice

It's a win for Team Pink! That's right, the Clarks are welcoming a BABY GIRL this time around! As if we are not already blessed. God is so good.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17).

Shep's "Self" Haircut

A month or so ago, I walked into the bathroom to find Shep cutting his own hair - with his Dad's CLIPPERS!  This was the result - a bald strip right down the middle of his head.  Hard not to laugh.

Why do so many children do this to themselves?  Why???

He also took a pair of scissors (children's scissors, thankfully) to our dog.  I didn't get any pictures of the dog.

Obviously, we had to shave his head.  Glad he's a boy.

Liam and His Fork

Liam demonstrating his new ability to fork (read "stab") his food.  Pretty hilarious, but, hey, whatever works! We're proud of you, Buddy!

Note: Please ignore the out-of-control hair as this was right before a haircut.

What It's All About

Today I have had an epiphany of sorts.  The last several months I have been living in the haze of really-really-bad-morning-sickness.   Pure survival mode (and there is no energy for blogging in survival mode).

But the last few weeks I have gradually begun to feel better, eat more, enjoy being out and about, and had the energy to get things done.

And it's interesting because this coming out of the haze has coincided with the end of Winter.  The days are getting longer, the dreary weather is beginning to give way to sunshine and warm afternoons.  The birds are singing, nests are appearing, flowers are blooming.  It's Spring.

And guess what?  It's Easter!

You see, this is all what Easter is all about.  New life.  New beginnings.  Re-birth.  The end is not really the end, but the beginning.

A couple nights ago, Billy and I talked about a loved one who does not know this.  He doesn't see. And he doesn't understand our upside-down life.  He doesn't get why we aren't interested in the American dream.  He is worried for us, for our children because of our career and finance decisions.

He doesn't believe, as we do, that this world is only the beginning.  He is living for here and we are living for there.

Here is dreary and dark and often hard.  But there is going to be beauty like we've never known.  And because we know that, we cannot help but live differently here.  Because all that surrounds, all that we see, will one day be dust... just dust.

The only things - the ONLY things - we will take are souls.  And that is what Easter is all about.  New life.  New beginnings.  Re-birth.  Hope.  All ours for the taking.

Attachment Update: 2 Years Post-Adoption

Liam arrived 2 years ago today.  Our relationship has had its ups and downs since then.

And the honest truth?  We have yet to arrive.

A fellow blogger wrote a post here about her son, adopted from the same orphanage actually.  I couldn't say it better so please go read "Someday Up From Underwater" to better understand where we are at with Liam these days.

Free Online Devotional Book for Lent/Easter

Ann Voskamp is one of my favorite authors and she offers some amazing free tools for the spiritual walk on her website.  Go here to download her free online devotional book for Lent/Easter.  You can print it off to have a hard copy or read it on your computer or other device.  Blessings to you on your Lenten journey!