Welcome Indiana! (Actually, its John David, but don't tell Kathleen!)

Frequent readers of the Circus surely will notice a significant drop-off in style and eloquence in this post.  Kristen is resting and recovering in the hospital tonight so my best attempt at a post will have to suffice; fortunately, I have content on my side.  And I've got pictures!

This morning at 1030, we welcomed John David Golby into the world!  He's a big boy, weighing in at 9lbs, 3oz and measuring just over 22 inches long.  

Kristen was amazing, continuing her trend of producing over-sized babies with ease and grace.

Since John David joined us early in the day, there was plenty of time for a visit from his two big sisters.  They were thrilled to meet him and welcome him to the family!  Please don't mention his given name around Kathleen, however.  She refuses to concede that the baby could be named anything other than Indiana Jones Golby (as do I) so we haven't broken the news to her yet.  We actually have no plans to do so until she leaves for college!  As the saying goes, Kristen may have won the battle... 

Nan and Grandpa O'Connor, who bore the brunt of containing Kathleen and Madeline for the day, were rewarded with a chance to hold their first grandson.

Now, we officially are a Three-Ringed Circus.  If all goes well, we will be bringing Momma and Baby Indy home early tomorrow afternoon.  Please pray that our transition from man-to-man goes well.  We will be forced mostly to play zone defense now, but we plan to mix in some full-court pressure and strategic jump traps, too.  Kristen isn't convinced that my plan will work, but I don't think Indy and the girls will be able to deal with our superior wing-spans and physical presence on the boards for a few more years.  

Scenes from the Circus: While we Wait

First things first: if, dear friends, you're checking this blog hoping for news of the newest member of the circus, this post will disappoint you. At Mama's last OB appointment the doctor confirmed that Mama was nowhere near ready to have a baby. We'll check in again Monday (at 40 weeks!) and perhaps things will have changed by then.

Kathleen arrived 10 days early; Madeline was induced 10 days late (so that she could meet Daddy before he returned to Iraq). It'll be interesting to see when our little boy decides to join us. We've begun to tell people that we're just hoping to have a child before the 4th of July.

Until then, here's some of what we've been doing while we wait...

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Daddy shared some of his reading with Madeline the other night. If you can't quite make out the title, it's Mostly Harmless Econometrics.

Madeline listened quite politely for several paragraphs before deciding that econometrics (harmless or otherwise) weren't for her.

Eventually all pretense of studying was abandoned for play with Daddy.

At one point Daddy began singing "Tractor, Tractor" from Andrew Peterson's "Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies." The song has really simple lyrics, which are mixed around to be nonsensical. For example, in the beginning the lyrics are "Tractor, tractor harvesting the wheat." Later on that becomes "Tractor, tractor shooting to the moon." It repeats with a firetruck and a backhoe and a number of other things, each doing normal and then ridiculous things. The girls think this is hysterical.

Daddy began to sing "Tractor, Tractor" with the girls, substituting the girls' names and all sorts of whacky activities. Kathleen jumped up and down as she interrupted her father, "But, Daddy, I DON'T shoot to the moon!" The girls reached new heights (or would it be depths?) of hillarity when Daddy began singing "Kathleen, Kathleen walking on her knees" and "Maddie, Maddie walking on her knees."

The girls raced around the living room on their knees, singing along. If we tried to stop, Madeline pleaded for more, singing "tractor, tractor, MOON!"

At points Madeline was too amused to keep moving!

It wasn't the usual pre-bedtime activity, but we were all laughing so hard that no one minded when the girls got to bed a little later than normal.

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The girls have continued to spend their afternoons in the wading pool. They do occasionally take a break from the water play. When they do, they insist that we wrap them in their towels.

Sadly, the warm weather seems to have run its course, at least for now. The girls have loved using the wading pool, so they're disappointed by the change in weather. Mama is perhaps most disappointed, though -- the girls' love affair with "swimming" meant that Mama could spend an entire afternoon sipping iced tea and watching the girls run wild in the backyard... They were gloriously lazy afternoons.

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We also spent a morning celebrating our sweet friend Mei Mei's third birthday. We opened gifts and ate cupcakes and let the girls run around to burn off the sugar. It was a lot of fun.

And the party made for more than just a fun morning -- it made for great naps that afternoon! And a Mama awaiting a new baby especially appreciates naps!

Fun in the sun

We'd purchased a wading pool during a warm spell before Easter (largely because we've found if you don't jump on the summer toys in spring, they're all gone by the time you really, really want them in say, June or July) and brought it home (tied to the top of the minivan) with our delighted girls (who'd have rather been riding on the top of the minivan in the pool, water or no).  Sadly, though, once we'd gotten the pool home, the weather turned cooler and we spent lots of time explaining why it wasn't warm enough to "swim."

That is, until this weekend, when the weather suddenly became very warm.  (It's less like spring weather than summer, really.  In fact, the expected high today is in the 90s!)  It was the perfect excuse to bring out the wading pool!

I don't think it would be overstating the case to say that the girls dove right into the water play.

It took a couple of days for Madeline to warm up to the wading pool's little slide.  But once she figured it out, she didn't want to stop sliding!

But she did a little "hanging out" for good measure, too...

We're looking forward to lots more fun in the sun this summer!

Life These Days

Having celebrated Easter and survived the post-Easter, post-sugar-high, Easter-grass-has blanketed-our-house fall-out (honestly, that part was so much harder than Easter -- I think all Mama and Daddy did Monday was discipline little girls), the circus is mostly just waiting around for Baby "Indy" to make his big debut.

To be honest, we had high hopes that the baby would choose to meet us this week. He apparently had other plans, which, to the best of our understanding, involved swimming around and kicking Mama as much as possible. Having resigned ourselves to the fact that all our children have arrived on their own timeline, we've used the time to finish up the last-minute projects that probably should have been finished long ago -- washing and installing the car seat, setting up the bassinet, locating all the pieces of the pack 'n play, and packing a hospital bag (okay, so that last one's still not finished, but it's not like there's all that much we really need). Mama even managed a dinner out with her dear friend Jenny, who drove for an hour just to have dinner at a not-particularly-good Turkish restaurant, before turning around to drive another hour home to her little boys, who don't get up any later than the girls at the circus. What a friend! And Uncle Kevin and cousin Nora came for playdate (and to diagnose Mama's extraordinarily slow computer). What a family! Otherwise, we've been spending a lot of time walking around post, playing in the backyard, and doing the usual clowning around.

Obviously.

Easter Joy

Sleepers, awake!

Christ is now risen; 

Empty the tomb; risen the sun!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Easter morning dawned clear and bright.  The Son had risen and the world looked just the way we thought it should -- shiny and crisp and colorful.  Although our girls normally wake in shifts (Madeline first, Kathleen about an hour later), on Easter morning they woke at the same time. We hadn't spoken to them about the treats that'd be awaiting them downstairs until we were headed down, but that was apparently plenty of time to work up some excitement.

The girls found their baskets on the toy bench.  They each received a bit of candy (there'd be more than enough of that over the course of the day) and they shared a new copy of the Jesus Storybook Bible.

After they'd examined their baskets we told them that there were eggs hidden around the living room.  Kathleen raced off to find them (she'd actually spotted a few as she'd come through the living room to see her basket), but Madeline couldn't see the point in that.  After all, there were four tiny chocolate eggs in her basket.  Why collect plastic eggs when you could eat chocolate at seven o'clock in the morning?  She'd hold up the tiny piece of foil-wrapped chocolate to Mama or Daddy and exclaim, "Treat!  Help, please!"  Eventually she was distracted from the chocolate and convinced to join in the egg hunt, too.  She's a surprisingly accomplished hunter!

After hunting eggs, we sat and talked about the first Easter morning.  Our girls haven't yet associated the Easter candy and treats with the Easter bunny -- we are thankful that when asked about what we celebrate at Easter, Kathleen announces proudly, "Jesus rosed from the dead!"  And Kathleen practiced responding to our "He is risen!" with "He is risen, indeed!"  (Despite our success with it at home, she had no interest in the response by the time we got to church.)

We started what I think will become a new Easter morning tradition -- baking "Resurrection Rolls."  We started with some refrigerated crescent rolls, which represented Jesus' shroud.

Next, we took marshmallows, which represented Jesus.  We "prepared" Jesus for burial by dipping the marshmallows in butter and cinnamon sugar.  (You know, in case there wasn't enough sugar on Easter.)  Daddy read the scriptures to us as we worked.

We then wrapped the marshmallows in the crescent rolls and baked them.  They turned into nice, puffy little rolls.  And -- even better -- the marshmallow disappeared, just like Jesus!  Along with our normal Sunday morning fruit smoothies, they made for a lovely (if sugary!) Easter breakfast.

After breakfast we headed to church for Easter services, which were beautiful.  We spent time in the sunshine after church, visiting with friends and rejoicing in the resurrection day and the gorgeous weather.  Then we scurried home to finish preparations for Easter dinner.

That afternoon we filled our little house with family and friends to celebrate.  All told, there were 21 of us!  Nan and Grandpa, aunties and uncles, cousins, and friends from church and school.  We feasted and then the children (all girls, actually!) hunted for eggs in the backyard.  It was hilarious to see them racing around the lawn...

Apparently the early morning practice paid off for Madeline, because as the egg hunt started she raced out, cutting off our three-year-old friend Audrey to grab her first egg.  (Sorry, Audrey!)  Of course, after that she reverted to her normal candy-seeking (rather than egg-seeking) behavior, pleading with adults to help her open her egg!

Girls on the hunt!

We lingered in the backyard after the egg hunt, watching the children play in the playhouse.  (Where, I later discovered, Kathleen was surreptitiously eating egg after egg of candy!  By the time I went in to confiscate her loot, there was none left.  Whoops!)

We hope your Easter Sunday was filled with the joy and sweetness of our risen Savior and of family and friends!

Death has been slain;

Life is victorious,

Winter is past, springtime returns!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Lyrics from "Sleepers, Awake!" by Chrysogonus Waddell, OSCO , copyright 1996, World Library Publications.  

Awaiting Easter

We finally managed the last piece of our Easter preparations this afternoon:  coloring our Easter eggs.  Mama prepared a great big pot of hard boiled eggs and asked, "Who wants to color eggs?"

Kathleen was there in an instant.

Madeline was right behind her big sister, saying "Me!  ME!"  (This might be one of Madeline's favorite phrases -- although sometimes it comes in the form of "too, too," which means "me, too.")

Everyone worked together.

And then each girl worked on her own.

(Incidentally, we're pretty sure this isn't the future the law firm envisioned when they gave Mama that mug long ago...  Mama was probably supposed to stay at the law firm and do, you know, law.  Instead we do crafts.)

And after all the eggs had been dyed, the girls applied stickers.  Very carefully.  This is important work!

We can't wait for Easter morning!

Holy Thursday: Behold the Lamb

A hymn that's been on my heart today as we prepare for Easter.   One day we hope to celebrate our own seder meal on Holy Thursday, but I've had to concede that with a three year old, a one-year old, and yet another sweet child due to arrive any day, this probably isn't the year to begin!  Regardless, this hymn one of my favorites, and I thought you might benefit from it, too.

Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away,
Slain for us—and we remember
The promise made that all who come in faith
Find forgiveness at the cross.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of peace
Around the table of the King.

The body of our Savior Jesus Christ,
Torn for you—eat and remember;
The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life
Paid the price to make us one.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of love
Around the table of the King.

The blood that cleanses ev’ry stain of sin,
Shed for you—drink and remember
He drained death’s cup that all may enter in
To receive the life of God.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of grace
Around the table of the King.

And so with thankfulness and faith we rise
To respond, and to remember
Our call to follow in the steps of Christ
As His body here on earth.
As we share in His suffering
We proclaim Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of heav’n
Around the table of the King.

— Stuart Townend and Keith & Kristyn Getty, © 2007 Thankyou Music, 

Administered by worshiptogether.com (USA) and Kingsway Music (UK).

A new addition

But it's not a baby.

And it's not a dog.

It's a playhouse!

The girls received a new playhouse this weekend.  Mama and Daddy had hoped to time the playhouse's arrival to coincide with a brother, but the toy store had other ideas.  A sale on the playhouse ended Saturday, so we decided to get it while we could save a bit of money (and we got the last one, too!) and hide it in the garage for a while.  Unfortunately, the enormous box had to be opened to fit into the van, which made hiding the playhouse in the garage a bit more complicated.  We decided not to try -- and showed the girls the pieces right away!

Daddy started to put the house together on Sunday afternoon, after church.

  

Nan and Grandpa came to join in on the fun.  Grandpa assisted with some house assembly, of course.   The house has a lot going on -- a schoolhouse side, a gas station side, a store side, and a sports side (with a soccer goal and a basketball hoop) -- so Daddy and Grandpa had plenty to do.  (Mama and Nan helped, too, but only with the stickers!)  And when the house was finished, its little occupants were ecstatic!

Kathleen tests out the phone while Madeline crawls through the 

"tire" on the gas station side of the playhouse.

Madeline models Grandpa's ND beanie.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous.  Mama and Daddy and Nan and Grandpa lounged in the shade while the girls romped.  And when the afternoon became evening, we grilled some steaks and enjoyed a tasty dinner together.

How to top off a day with a new playhouse?  Ice cream cones after supper!

And we finished our night with something even sweeter -- storytime with Nan and Grandpa!

If only every addition were as quick and painless (and fun!) as a new, plastic playhouse!

Madeline's First Haircut

This weekend we took Madeline for her very first haircut.  Our girls don't grow all that much hair before their second birthdays, it seems, so I'm always reluctant to cut it.  But Madeline's hair had gotten a bit scraggly, and since she won't keep anything in it for more than a moment, cutting it seemed the only option.

Our shaggy little Maddie Beth!

I had thought briefly about trying to cut Madeline's hair myself. While we were visiting Nan and Grandpa I trimmed up Kathleen's hair, and I've been mostly happy with that decision. But it was a stressful process for me -- halfway through I nearly stopped, frustrated that I'd ever begun cutting. I'm a perfectionist. And trimming up a wiggling three-year-old with superfine hair is not a good project for a perfectionist. I can only imagine that a wiggling eighteen month old would be even more challenging! 

So we did a bit of research online about where to have Madeline's hair cut, settling on a children's salon about twenty minutes from our home.  We were quite happy with our choice. The stylist was sweet and patient; Madeline loved sitting in the little car and watching TV while her hair was trimmed. She spent most of the appointment looking rather serious, but when I pulled out the camera, she put on a big smile!

Cheesing for Mama's camera.

And we think the results were pretty darling!  (Of course, we'd probably think that no matter what!)

Green and Crunchy

It's April and spring is truly here -- at least of late.  The other morning the girls and I took advantage of the sunshine and moved our normal indoor activities, outdoors.  All that was required was carrying the girls' table to the back lawn!

(Can you tell Kathleen has been dressing herself?  I love the dress/tights combination!)

While I sipped a nice cup of coffee and wrote some notes, the girls entertained themselves with some green play dough and crunched on granola we'd made earlier that morning.  It seemed so spring-like -- the girls in their pretty pastels on the green lawn.

The morning was a treat for all of us.  We soaked up some sunshine and the quiet of a weekday morning.  The girls were amused by the novelty of using play dough outdoors.  And, in addition to the (practically unprecedented) chance to sip some coffee in relative quiet, I didn't even have to clean up the playdough crumbs -- I just left them in the grass!  

Spring Break in Brief

Last week (almost two weeks ago, really) was Daddy's spring break.  Mama and the girls did visit Nan and Grandpa for the end of exam week -- they enjoyed playdates with their little cousins at the park and the Bay Area Discovery Museum.  Mama and Kathleen even got hair cuts. (Mama at an actual hairstylist's; Kathleen in Nan's kitchen!)  And everyone enjoyed the time with Nan and Grandpa.   We reunited just after Daddy had submitted his last paper.

When the circus first checked out Daddy's academic schedule in the fall, we had thought that this spring break would be a great time for a bit of adventure.  We knew it couldn't be big, since Mama is so pregnant, but we thought we might be able to swing a couple days in Yosemite... or in the City (San Francisco)... or something.

We thought wrong.

Don't misunderstand me: we definitely enjoyed Daddy's week-long vacation.  But it wasn't adventurous.  For the most part, it was marked by sickness.  Kathleen was still recovering from what we'd thought was slapped cheek fever, but may actually have been an allergic reaction to her antibiotic.  (We didn't really figure that out until the Thursday night at Nan and Grandpa's where she didn't sleep AT ALL and complained of being itchy.  Good times.)  By the time Kathleen was getting back to normal, Madeline developed an on-again, off-again fever.  And when that receded, Mama developed sinusitis.  Just in time to head back to class, Daddy got a terrible, horrible cold.  It was as though we'd won some sort of viral lottery -- a lottery we certainly don't remember entering.

Still, we did manage a bit of fun toward the end of spring break.  Kathleen and Daddy went on a daddy-daughter date to the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose.  (Mama and Madeline stayed home for some marathon-napping.)  They had so much fun together that after they left the museum they decided not to come straight home, but went to Stanford, instead, to buy Daddy's books for the next quarter.  There, they took advantage of the sunshiny weather, calling Mama to let her know they were dangling their feet in the fountain and drinking Jamba Juice.

We kept up the fun the next day with another trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Because they knew what to expect, the girls were even more excited about this visit.  They couldn't wat to get to the sea otters!  And this time we caught the entire fish-feeding "show."  We sat on the floor with a gazillion school children, watching the scuba diver descend into the tank. Even Madeline was entranced.

But the highlight of the show -- at least for our girls -- was the greedy hungriness of the sharks.  When the diver wouldn't feed them fast enough, they helped themselves to her bag of food.  (Mama was glad she wasn't the diver!  And glad that the girls didn't know enough to be scared, rather than amused!)

Monterey was just gorgeous. We reveled in the sunny spring weather and talked about how the ocean made us "homesick" for Oahu.  (Just look at what's waiting for you, Starlings!)

The last few days of spring break were spent at home.  We ran lots of errands, trying to finish off the big "before Indy arrives" checklist.  But since Daddy was around, even the most normal, everyday tasks were more fun.  

We walked to the post office to mail off some packages.

We worked in the garden, planting flowers and vegetables. The girls helped mix the potting soil.

When we'd gotten everything planted, everyone was very dirty. The only solution? The first sprinkler-run of the the spring!

Daddy's now back to class.  We're hopeful that this quarter will be a little calmer than last quarter -- at least academically speaking... because we know God has big plans for our little family this spring!