A lot of new stuff going on in the Terry household. Greg sent me to AGWAY again this year... I came home with 16 new baby chick's 4 different breeds of chick's to be exact. Caleb, Hannah, and Isaiah just love these little fluff balls! I really like them myself, I know Greg enjoys watching them grow into adult hens. He can't wait to see how the new breeds look and act, nor can he wait to see what types of eggs we get. neither can I! Caleb has proved to be quite the responsible young boy... He voluntarily checks on the chick's and gives them fresh water and food when needed. Hannah has been a super helper when Greg or I change the bedding in their warming box. Isaiah, well, he thinks they are so sweet. He is very sweet with them and enjoys holding them!
Now onto bigger and better news. I now am privileged with being caretaker to the newest member of the Towle family. Baby Ashlynn has been a true and vibrant blessing to me and my household. I feel blessed to be able to help out my little brother James, it is my joy to care for his little princess while he is away at work. Caleb just adores baby Ashlynn, he thinks she is beautiful, but "very loud" at times! Hannah has been a miniature mommy to Ashlynn, she loves caring for her so much that I have had to punish her for her disobedience. I've caught her touching, or picking up the baby with out having permission to do so. Hannah too adores Ashlynn and "loves her with all her heart"! Isaiah is very inquisitive and often wants to know why I do the things I do. For instance, Isaiah asked me why I was 'cracking' Ashlynn's back. I explained to him that I was only 'patting' her back to release gas bubbles. Now Isaiah reminds me that she may only be crying because she probably has a gas bubble! Isaiah also likes to 'poke' Ashlynn, he too has been punished for excess 'poking'. Really though, it's been sweet to watch him interact with her. Ashlynn lights up when her cousin's are near. Greg has adjusted well to having an infant in our house again. Though this time it's not so much his job as much as it is mine to care for the baby. Greg still helps out when he feels he can and has even made a bottle or two for me. It's nice to hear him pray during grace about what a blessing to has been to have a baby in the house again. I've said to Greg that caring for Ashlynn will either cure my itch to have another baby or worsen it!
Baby Ashlynn has been a joy to care for. Honestly it's like riding a bike, you just don't forget how. I will admit thought that I completely took for granted the ability to breast feed. I now understand what a blessing that was for me when my three were infants. Bottle feeding has been a bit of a challenge. What formula to use, and nipples, and sizes, well that's a whole other story. But thanks to friends and trial and error I think I have found a suitable match. Now Ashlynn seems to be handling feeds much better!
Dear God,
First I'd like to thank you for allowing me to care for my little brother's baby girl. I'd like to thank you for creating her and putting her in our lives. Lord, thank you for the beauty she brings and the love she freely gives. Lord, I ask that you help me continue on this path I feel you have called me to for now. Lord, I ask that you continue to tighten the bond between James and me. I also ask that you help me find a balance between my duties of being a mommy, wife, homemaker, and now nanny to baby Ashlynn. Lord, you have amazed me by your answer to my prayers and the prayers of those I know who are praying for this little angel, her mommy, and daddy! Again, with all of my heart, thank you God.
In Jesus' name, Amen
