Soren

Updated: I added a few more things about Soren that I forgot, but want to write down.

Before Soren was born his name was long debated. We knew we wanted another child right after Theo so 3 months after he was born we decided that whenever we got pregnant would be great with us, I was hoping that by the time Theo was 6 months we would for sure have another little one on the way. So we started talking names, but not with a lot of success, we couldn't agree on one we loved A year and a half later, a lot of tears, a lot of listening to other's 'announcements' of being pregnant, a lot of watching others have their second, a lot of wrestling with God, in the most stressful month possible out of that time of wanting to be pregnant, and I was finally pregnant. In the waiting we of course agreed on Soren, and this was a year before I even knew I was pregnant.
We love his name, we think it is a strong, masculine name, and it seems to fit his rough skinned, lots of hair, big build physique. But in my heart Soren will always be Samuel. I don't know if that makes sense, but in the waiting I often was reminded of Hannah, praying, and weeping in the temple, laying her heart and soul before the Lord, laying one of her deepest longings at his feet. And even though God didn't have to give Hannah a child, He did. He gave her Samuel. Even if he hadn't given Hannah her child, even if he hadn't given me Soren, He still would have been Good, but he chose to give Hannah, and me, what we desired. As my friend Aletha so wonderfully put it, "THIS child was chosen for you at the proper time in God's great plan." And my heart is often overwhelmed with thankfulness, to a God who would choose to give me such an amazing gift. In these moments of thankfulness I am often reminded of how Hannah also gave her child back to God, not just in prayer, and in her heart, but physically. I pray that God will make Soren into a great man of Faith, that Soren will not only be like Samuel to me, but that his character will be like Samuel, that in his heart Soren will also say, 'Speak Lord for your servant hears."
Soren is 3 1/2 months old now and here are some things about this dear boy that I want to share....
- He is the most content baby! He hardly EVER cries, sleeps for long periods of time, lays and coos and plays by himself.
- He will smile ALL the time, and at just about anybody!

- If he does cry, it is only if he is really tired or really hungry.
-He still has lots of hair, although he has lost about half of it, and I can't get it to stay down. It just sticks right up all the time.
-He loves to watch his older brother


-He almost always looks around for his dad the minute he hears his voice, and when he finds him, gets a huge smile on his face.
-Doesn't roll over yet, I think it's because he is just content wherever he is put. Theo never rolled much either.
-He laughs for his dad all the time. Started over a week ago, and I can get him to laugh a little, but Brian can sure get him going.
-Sucks his fingers, A LOT! I am pretty sure he will be a thumb sucker.
-Loves being sung to. Whenever I look right at him and start sing he just lights us, every time.
-Whenever I go to put the soother in his mouth he grabs my hand and holds on. It is so sweet, and I never want to pull away.
-Love's to be in the Ergo, or Moby.
-Overall just seems to love life. :)
If you haven't met him, I hope you do, he will brighten your day I am sure.


(I feel like I should add that we are also so thankful for Theo, even though we didn't have to wait as long for him. I don't feel the same urgency to get pregnant with a third. I don't know why it seemed so hard to wait on God for our second, but that was just my journey and I am thankful for the lessons from God.)

So we are into the full swing of winter months here and no snow yet. Which has been ok, but I am looking forward to some snow soon, just too see the ground white and see it sparkle when the sun shines on it. It would be nice.
I have to say that most of my blogs lack a 'theme' per say, so I guess could mostly be considered stream on consciousness blogs.
Daylight savings time came and so did a restless spirit. Each year I notice the lack of sunlight more and more, and this year was no different, although I think it hit faster. It is not that I struggle with depression, it is more that I just start to feel restless and agitated in the evening, or more like 4:30 when I realize that the sun is almost gone for the day. I'm not sure if Theo feels it too, or if it is just him sensing my restlessness but he has also been more challenging to deal with and more restless himself. I need to sit down and make a list of activities that I can pull out of my hat, that are new, and easy and will help keep him busy for a little while. I have a few ideas, but I need to have a back up plan for these evenings, cause they are not getting any better.
We put our Christmas tree up in an effort to add more light to our living room.


I know that may sound kind of funny but we only have VERY minimal lighting in this apartment, (small ceiling light in corner of the living room, and no overhead light in our bedroom) so we are dependant on lamps, which we don't have many of. And money is in short order right now, so we thought the tree, which is full of light, would be a good solution. Not to mention how cozy everything feels! In true American tradition I have always waited until after American Thanksgiving to put it up, so it feels a bit weird, but the light sure helps!
Speaking of American Thanksgiving, I am disappointed to not be there this year. This is always the hardest holiday to be away from my family for. One because it is a different day, actually a different month, here and so it is not like Christmas where I am doing the same thing, just in a different place, but I am busy and usually not as homesick. Second is because it is a big time family deal for my fam, if you can afford to be there, you are there. It is like a big reunion some years with all my aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents, not to mention they all grey up in Italy and know how to cook amazing meals!!! Every year I have missed it there has been hard, it doesn't ever get easier, and in some ways I dread the day, because the homesickness can be overwhelming. Maybe next year though..
I could write a lot more, but when you try and cram at least two weeks of posts you have created in your head all into one, it becomes way too long. SO maybe someday I will blog more often. :) Happy November!

P.S. Love having two boys, I hope they are always good friends.