Growing pains

What a heckofa twelve months we have had at the Meeks house. A LOT of sleepless nights, too many tears (from all of us) and growing pains we thought just might kill us. Yet, only by the grace of God have we survived 12 of the longest, most challenging, exhausting, faith-changing, family-strengthening months of our lives. Praise Jesus we're still standing. (ok, maybe more like KOed on the floor from the utter beat down, but we have a pulse. yes, there is still a pulse)

The transition (ugh, just that word makes my head hurt) into a family of four was not a pretty sight. For me, especially, it was down right back breaking. I have experienced the complete biological overhaul that months without sleep and post-partum/lactating hormone wonkiness causes in a woman and...frankly...i was a real nut job. I know, I know...it may be hard to believe that cool, calm, never gets angry or raises her voice Brigitte could ever lose her mind and scream muffled profanities into her pillow through uncontrollable sobs while praying for Jesus to come and put us all out of our misery. Way too dark for this Susy Sunshine, right? Ha. I laugh in a really sad, that's-so-neurotic way.

And oh my poor husband. Does anyone remember that guy? He's aged. Yeah this year has definitely put a few more grays in that head of hair. Seriously...poor guy...I bet he wondered if we would ever be happy again or if he would ever get his wife back. I wondered it too. I mean we were normal and happy once. We have the pictures. We looked so smitten, in love and NOT EXHAUSTED! Who knew when I was young and would party until 3am that one day I would sell a kidney for a good nights sleep.

Micah did as well as any 2 1/2 year old could do when faced with the many challenges of having to share his parents with a sibling, beginning daycare, potty-training, and health issues. Bless his heart, he did the best he could. It was no easy task and we are so proud of the Big Brother he has become. Tristan adores him. I can already see glimpses of the brotherly affection that will bear such sweet memories like bloody noses, broken furniture, and misdemeanors.

Then there's baby Tristan...why wouldn't he just fit into the 'Micah' box that we as parents were already equipped to handle? I mean Greg and I are rockstar parents. We had Micah on a sleeping schedule at 6 weeks of age, sleeping in his crib all night without having to be rocked or cuddled to sleep. We gave him two naps a day each 2-3 hrs long. We really did everything right with that one. Something had to be defective with Tristan --it couldn't be our parenting. What. A. Mind. Blow. Seriously? The very fact that we believed for a second that we had this parenting thing in the bag is enough proof that we (ok, especially me) are waaaay off our rockers! Tristan...GASP...is NOT Micah. Who knew?

Little did we know that the quote on Tristan's birth announcement would be the unfolding of God's plan for our family over the next year: "Little brother. Big blessing."
Yep sometimes the biggest blessings come in the smallest packages...and put a whooping on you like Mike Tyson until all the stubbornness is beaten out of you.

Truly, what would our lives be without these two little guys? (restful, predictable, lots of free time and sex)  It woud suck. These two boys who are as different as night and day have shaped our family into what God has intended. Micah makes us laugh and play. He's so laid back and easy-going like his Daddy and makes a friend of everyone he meets. Tristan is so incredibly tender. He loves to live life in the midst of his family. If you need a cuddle, he gives plenty. He is, however, very...um...passionate (in a i'll-just-scream-until-these-two-dummies-figure-it-out kinda way)...I'm not sure who he got that from. ahem. ahem. excuse me, I must have something in my throat.

One year down and the fun has only begun. We are committed to each other and to following Jesus even in seasons of trial. I am so thankful for a Jesus-loving husband who hopes in times of trouble and brings calm into my chaos. Our God is good all the time, no doubt. He is rocking our world and growing the heart of our family to better serve his Kingdom. Me and these boys. Praise Jesus, it's a good life.