Dear Aunt Heather...

Thank you.  Love, Jewel

Brothers

 

Getting to know each other...

WubbaNub

With each kid, there have been new items out on the baby market that are must haves. With Silas it was the baby bjorn and the jogging stroller with the swivel wheel. With Jewel we traded out the bjorn for an ergo and had to have the special swaddling blankets. For Trey, I am totally hooked on the WubbaNub. The name is rediculous, I know, but the invention is brilliant! The infant pacifier is attached to this little stuffed animal. It TOTALLY helps to keep in their little mouths. There is nothing worse than having to continually replace the binky of a sleepy baby in the back seat of the car (plus there is no chance I'll be able to reach this little dude from my captain's chair in the suburban)! Not to mention, how stinking cute does he look with his arm wrapped around his little elephant? They are much easier to keep track of than just the binky themselves. We also have a little giraffe WubbaNub...LOVE THEM!

T

Oh just stop it right now with the cuteness...it's too much. Just too much!

Soccer School

Last week Silas started soccer.  Once a week for 45 minutes we go to this awesome indoor facility (we do live in Oregon...) where he and 5 other kids have soccer practice.  The coach is really great and uses games and drills to teach them ball control, teamwork, the rules of the game.  Jordan was an avid soccer player all the way through high school, so this was a proud moment for Daddy-O.

We went to watch one of the practices the night before he was supposed to start.  He does best having a chance to observe and think about things before diving in.  If he can prepare himself a little, he tends to be more confident going into it.  I know I won't always be able to help him do this, but since Jordan was home and we had the opportunity, we decided to check it out.  While watching the other kids, he was adamant he would NOT go on the field and play.  He told me all the way home that he would not go back and would not play.  So we talked about feeling nervous about things, and asking God to help you be brave and strong and try something new.  I also told him we could think of a really special treat for him to have after he did his first practice.  By the next morning he had decided he wanted an entire Zone bar to himself if he did the practice.  We readily agreed to this very cheap and accessible treat.  He talked about going to soccer the rest of the day.

When it was time to go, Silas insisted that his t-shirt be worn with the giant number on the front (making it backwards), and since we couldn't find his tennis shoes at the last minute, he was wearing his 'church shoes' (black tennis shoes).  But thankfully what he lacked in style he made up for in stamina and strength.  We left the field with a sweaty, tired, sore little boy.  He worked his tail off!

Jewel and I chased each other around the outside of the field, she pushed Trey back and forth in his stroller, she made friends with other little siblings, and just looked cute.

She only watched about 5 minutes of the 45 minute practice...in the future this may be a Daddy and Silas event.  Uncle Everett's work is right across the street, so maybe next time I'll take the littles over to visit him instead.

He even got a sticker from the coach at the end.  I mean really, what can be better!? (Besides the Zone bar, which he devoured on the car ride home, claimed it was the best treat he's ever had)

Miles of Missing

For some reason, more than with my other kids, I find myself wanting to call Trey, Miles.  I never had this with Silas.  Silas was very fair, light color to his skin and blond hair.  His eyes were light blue from the beginning.  Silas was small, but even still when he was born he had these great, smooshy soft cheeks.  He was just 7 pounds, but wrapped up in a blanket he looked a little chubby.  I never did with Jewel, most likely since she was a girl.

But Trey seems so, so tiny to me.  Six pounds, thirteen ounces is not by any means underweight.  He was average size.  But his face seems more slender.  His arms and legs so thin.  His hands and feet are long and narrow.  He has a lot of dark hair like Miles did. 

Sometimes I look at him and am flooded with memories of Miles.  In so many families, there are some siblings that look more like one another than others.  I wonder if Trey and Miles would have looked alike the way that Silas and Jewel have so many resemblances.

Oh man, it makes me miss my first born son. 

When we were brainstorming names for Trey (which we did for nearly all 9 months of my pregnancy), the meaning of the name was really important to me.  I know that not all baby name books have the same meaning for each name, I know there are many discrepancies, but the meaning behind why a name is chosen is just really important to me.  When we were discussing names in the hospital room, with Trey in our arms, I prayed that God would give us a name that we both really liked, and that he would infuse it with Spiritual meaning for me.

Of course the name Trey means 'three'.  Throughout this pregnancy I prayed that this baby would fear the name of the Lord, have a personal relationship with Jesus, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  The meaning of 'three' touches on that prayer for me.  I have also been studying about redemption.  I believe that God, being a redeeming God, can use all things for His Glory.  His redemption for us personally has 'three' parts.  First he sent Jesus to die for the sins of his children, then he personally calls each of us to a relationship with him through the Holy Spirit in which we are engaged in the journey of sanctification, finally we all await the day that he returns to take us home.  The middle name Marten is after my younger brother, Everett.  He was given this name as his middle name in honor of my dad's mother, Martena.  The name means 'warrior' and spelled with the 'en' is the Dutch spelling of the name.  After we had picked both names, and the birth certificate was signed and sent off, I sat in the bed snuggling my little son.  It was then that God gave me the Spiritual meaning that I had been asking for.  Trey is our third warrior.  This name is not only honoring to my brother, not only a name we like, not only a tribute to my Dutch heritage, not only represents spiritual truths that have been significant to me, but it honors Miles, and is a promise from our boys' Creator.

Trey has been created to be a warrior for Christ.  I don't know what exactly that will look like for him yet, but I am positive of his calling.  Miles' fight was short but furious and it accomplished exactly what God designed for his life to accomplish.  Silas is on the journey now, being prepared and practicing for defending God's honor.  Trey, our third boy, our third warrior, will prayerfully do the same.  As his parents, we will teach him and guide him and train him and commit him to the greatest battle.

Oh Lord, these boys are your soldiers, your warriors, your sons.  Thank you for loving Jordan and I in such a personal way and giving us not only a name we love, but a name infused with your power and promise.  Please help us to be the parents our boys need.  Thank you for the loving reminder of the gift of Miles' life.  Thank you for a precious and healthy Trey Marten.  Thank you for the prayers you give a mother to pray, and the peace that you provide for a mother who trusts, and the life changing power that you alone posses to carry those prayers into fruition.  Thank you for sons, mostly for your son.

Miles David Bury

Silas Charles Bury

Trey Marten Bury

Working It

Well, as many predicted, we are starting to chip away at the ice berg of verbal communication. Pretty much every day she is adding a new word here or there to her sparse vocabulary. I have to say, as fun as it is to hear her attempts at naming objects and copying phrases, I feel as though we are being worked over. She is careful not to ever say things on demand. Even if she has used a word several times, if you ask her what something is she simply looks at you and nods. She will say some words that are really tricky (underwear for example), but still doens't say simple things (like ball or milk). She has accidently said 'water' outloud to us, but now if we encourage her to use it while we are at the table, she still says 'dat' while pointing to it...if I ask her what it is, she does the sign for water.

But, what really convinced us that she is following a plan, was the stunt she pulled earlier last week. It was nap time and I was getting ready to tuck her into bed. I sent her over to give Jordan a hug and kiss and tell him goodnight. She went right to him, smooched and squeezed him, and he said "Goodnight Jewel, I love you."

She turns over her shoulder, looks right at him and says "Love you".

Both of our mouths dropped open, and I said "Jewel, did you just say 'I love you'?" She nodded her head with certainty. One of the two parents got tears in his eyes...I won't tell which one :) We were so excited, it was the first time she has ever responded to this commonly used phrase in our house.

She could sense the excitement and without skipping a beat, she walks straight over to me and says "Treat?"

Oh Jewel, you totally know how to work it.

Trey Marten

One of these days I will complete the writing of the birthday story...it's a good one. For now we are taking every last moment to snuggle, kiss, and savor this tiny little guy. The first week has been precious, there will be many stories and details to come, but here are a few shots in the mean time to keep you acquainted with Trey.

Big Brother

He is already a seasoned veteran Big Brother, but this is the first time with a litte Brother. It's better than what he hoped for.

Big Sister

Being a Big Sister is EVERYTHING she hoped it would be.

Labor Day Weekend

OK, not gonna lie, we were hoping labor day weekend could have a double meaning for our family :)  I had prepared myself in all areas to be heading to the hospital for baby day at some point over the three days that Jordan was home.  But...it isn't time yet!  

So, we did what most other people were doing over Labor Day instead.  We went hiking, explored around a new state park (which, despite the title of being a park, does not have playground equipment, much to Silas' dismay), watched Silas zoom his bicycle down hills, off road and back again before we can blink (and yes, I hold my breath a lot when he rides, I try to be a cool mom, but two wheelers go really fast).  We grilled in the back yard, played on the slip-n-slide, hung out with good friends, and caught up on some yard and house work.  We all slept at every nap time, and still found ourselves dragging exhausted bodies into bed at night.  Jordan made delicious breakfasts every morning, and we had our first official 'family movie night' all snuggled up on the couch with treats and blankets.  

Some of our slip n slide fun since last time I didn't get any footage of Jewel being hurled down the slide...hysterical.  I also just love Jordan's laugh...he is totally super Dad. 

 Some of the good from the garden...we now have zucchini, tomatoes, and sugar snap peas coming out of our ears!  Soon there will be other summer squash, the plum tree will be totally ripe, and then the corn and pumpkins will be soon to follow!

It was a great weekend for our family.  I know in my heart that each day we have before the baby comes is a gift to the older kids.  Things are going to be very different around here shortly, and having time to do all the activities we did was good for them.  It's good for Jewel to have every last day of being the baby.  It's good for Silas to have special attention and time with just his Dad and him.  It's good for Jordan and I to have after bed times to spend together, without being completely exhausted from lack of sleep.  We thoroughly enjoyed each other all weekend long...and I still feel like we are trying to make up for the lost time while Jordan was away...so it was a huge blessing for all of us.  

It was still hard to not have 'my ideal plan' work out with delivery day.  I had a doctor appointment last Thursday, and things are ready, but the contractions just haven't been consistent enough yet.  I thought for sure by Sunday we'd be in business.  I also figured God would do something logical and let us have the baby when Jordan was already home and there were so many options for places for the older kids to go while we were in the hospital.  But, surprisingly, by the time Monday night arrived and the baby had not come, I started to feel more relaxed about it.  I know that God is cooking up a plan that is not only right for Silas and Jewel, but also for me and Jordan, and most specifically the right time for the baby :)  So I am sure that I will continue to power clean my house every night after I get the kids into bed (this has been going on for nearly 2 weeks, so why stop now?  Nesting is a powerful tool!), we will continue to wonder each night if this will be the night, and we will wake every morning facing whatever is in front of us.  And we still have a week until the actual due date, so this may go on for a while. 

I do make this promise to our family...I will not announce the baby in the blog.  We will call each and every one of you before I put a single piece of information on the internet.  We will not keep the events a secret.  When we go to the hospital, we'll call the grandparents and they can call the aunts and uncles, and we'll follow up with everyone with gender/name/weight/ and all the baby details.  Promise.  

We are anxiously looking forward to meeting this little one, so until we have more on that, you'll have to be satisfied with the remainder of this little family :) 

 

Silas is in the next level of swim classes and doing outstanding.  He swims pretty much on his own now and is learning the back float and kick.  He really enjoys it.

 

Jewel took lessons all summer, but isn't quite old enough to move on to the next class.  We decided to take the fall off for her so we don't have to pay for her to repeat the class she took this summer.  She'll start again in January...she does not like this arrangement.  This is us in the playroom next to the pool where we can watch Silas during his lesson.  She stood at the window saying "me, me, me...that!" pointing to the pool, for at least half of the lesson.  Should be fun to take her and her riots to the pool every week when the baby is born.  She also had her 2 year check today.  Above 95% for height and weight.  Everything else looks good.  The doc is not concerned about her lack of vocabulary, she'll talk when she's ready.  I would like to talk to all of my kids about doing things when I am ready just for a change.

Introducing!!!!

OK, I know the title is deceptive, this is not introducing the new baby, but it is JUST as exciting.  

This summer, my precious baby brother, Everett, got married.  After a little over a year of dating, Daniela became a permanent part of his life and our family.  There was no better way to celebrate than a weekend on the Oregon coast with friends and family.

In a setting that is made incredibly beautiful by our Creator, we soaked up the gifts of ocean air, bright sunshine, great laughter and delightful company. 

The weekend started with a mini bridal shower for our new sister.  It wasn't much, but it was intimate and special.  We got an opportunity, all of us girls, to tell Daniela how great it was to see her with Everett, what we appreciated about her, and what she adds to our family.  The rest of the weekend was just evidence of those things. 

With a happy heart she and Everett hosted their wedding celebration.  They wanted the time together to be a gift to the people who they have thus far shared their lives with, and with whom they hope to share the adventure of marriage.  So, they made the atmosphere relaxed, and beautiful, and warm.  They were not the aloof couple looking to be honored, they were there to connect with and share with their family and friends.

They looked amazing while they did these things...somehow still being the little brother I want to protect and yet somehow becoming a man, husband, and adult.

Daniela has embraced our family.  I watched my mom with her over the weekend, thinking ahead to the day when I will watch Silas with his new wife, such a delight to know the heart of the one he has chosen is completely for him...for your little boy.

They share a passion and delight for kids.  Daniela teaches first grade and is a match of perfection for everyone's favorite uncle.

Yes, even on the wedding celebration day, she is engaged in a serious game with my nephew.

They had games and activities for all the kids to do, and not just to keep them busy, but to engage with them.

It was a remarkable day.  It was a true reflection of who they are.  It was a joy to share with them.  We are delighted to add Daniela to our family.