Maggie is 13!

Another teenager! Maggie turned 13 in August. I’m glad I am so delayed in writing this as I can celebrate the growth I’ve seen in her since becoming the OAH (Oldest Available Hess) with both Anne and Abbey at Linville this year.

Maggie & cousin Georgia at Muddy Run, July 2023

To go back to August, we got to have a very fun pool party for her birthday. We don’t do parties every year since there are so many kids in the family. We try to do a party for “big” birthdays: 1, 5, 10, 13, and 16. It just so happens we have three big birthdays this year, and Maggie’s party kicked off our celebration of life. 

Maggie is the toddler whisperer. Whenever there’s a preschool age kiddo you can usually find her there. Sometimes I think Hans thinks Maggie is his mom and he would choose her over me. 

Sadly it was shockingly and unseasonably cold for her pool party but that didn’t stop the kids from swimming. We rented the pool for 2 hours and it was the easiest birthday party I’ve ever hosted. Probably because it didn’t matter how messy I left my house. I made all of Maggie’s requested desserts. Actually, she and Abbey made the one everyone liked the best (and the two of them happened to win 1st place in a baked French toast competition at church recently). 

Maggie continues to enjoy art. She won two second place ribbons at the Lampeter fair this year for her drawings as well as a first place for a hand sewn doll. 

She has taken on a tremendous role in our family this year. With five younger siblings, including a brother who is totally obsessed with her and a newborn sister, she has many duties at home. She has her school work to attend to, but also babysits for me several times per week as our other kiddos have many appointments and Heidi has ballet weekly on Tuesday mornings. 

I wanted to encourage Maggie to try a new sport or some activity to get her with her peers and making friends. She is uninterested in sports, but as I mentioned, loves art. I remembered a Christian woman in the southern end posting on a homeschool page about an art class with a Christ-centered approach. I knew I was late in asking but wanted to reach out to see if she had space for this school year or if I should wait. It seemed God ordained that she had one space remaining in her Art 101 class of all girls and that if Maggie wanted to join she needed to the next week or it would be too far into the year for her to catch up. It also “happened” to be the only day consistently open on my calendar. So we went for it. Yes, it has made my schedule busier for the rest of the year: however, I recognize what I’m asking of her everyday is a lot for a 13-year-old. Her two older sisters are quite jealous that they didn’t get an art class when they were homeschooled and helping me, but the truth is I hadn’t thought of it. I wish I had as an alternative to participating in a sport. 

(How Maggie can often be found)

A recent painting.

We love you Maggie! I’m so proud of you and extremely grateful for all you do for me so uncomplainingly. I’m impressed with your growth of character already this year. You’re such a special part of our family and I’m thankful you were born. 

Mary’s first Month

There’s something about a new baby that always makes me notice the passage of time; the coinciding of time dragging and also passing in a blink can make my head spin. 

This month has been extremely difficult. I’ve had more lows than highs. I don’t think I’m generally led by my emotions or feelings but that hasn’t been true this month. I have cried several times over my failings: my inability to feed Mary the way I want to, the physical and mental exhaustion that comes with triple feeding (breast, bottle and pump every 3 hours around the clock), my inability to comfort Hans easily, my inability to teach Ruth or determine the help she needs, my inability to be all things for all my children and feeling as though I’m placing too much burden on Maggie and Carrie because I cannot do everything.

Trent has been even more wonderful than ever. He’s been helpful through the nights with Mary, he’s encouraged me, gone above and beyond to help with the kids, meals, and housework, and loved me well. Our friends and church family have provided more meals and for a longer time than ever before. 

I came very close to giving up with breastfeeding. It’s always been a beautiful bonding experience for me, and while not all of my kids were easy to nurse, I didn’t have near the difficulty as I have this time. One night, with tears pouring down my cheeks, Mary screaming and not latching I wanted to push her away. I felt an emotional severing and in that moment didn’t even want to hold her. Even in that emotional moment I had a feeling this would make or break our future, that it would set the course for our success or failure together. And so I prayed. I prayed that the Lord would allow us to draw close, that I would pull her close and we would lean into this challenge together. 

That was less than a week ago. Since then our feedings have gotten progressively better; she’s latching quicker and more consistently. I don’t think I’ve cried since then. I’m so thankful I didn’t give up. 

I think our snuggles feel a little sweeter since having this success together. 

Happy one month, Mary Jubilee. I love you!

*At 5 weeks Mary weighs 6 pounds 4.5 ounces and is 20.5” long. As she was only 5 lb, 6 oz when she was discharged from the hospital the doctor was happy with her gain. She grew 1.5 inches from her birth length.