Another Date Night!

Happy Saturday, everyone! Since apparently I wasn't the only one who didn't get the memo about not taking baths post-partum, I decided that after two weeks I was ready to jump in the tub. It's been nice. I also feel the need to clarify that pregnant women are allowed to take baths, but you're not supposed to get the water too hot. Or maybe you get it hot anyway and just feel bad about it.

Yesterday was a big day for us. Jackson had his three year checkup and Annabeth had her two week checkup at 8:30 a.m. If you're thinking that was a little ambitious so early in the morning, you're right! When we were walking out the door, Curtis decided to tell me he thought he was going to throw up. Awesome! I was a little ticked, although that was ridiculous because he couldn't really help it now, could he? I told him to go back inside but he didn't listen. He said, "You cannot do this by yourself." I knew he was right. So off we went and we were even on time! Annabeth is now 7 pounds 2 ounces and 20 1/4 inches. (She's the same size as Jackson on the day he was born.) I was thrilled to find out that she had gained a pound in just two weeks. Way to go, sister! She is in the 10-20% for height and weight. Jackson is currently in the 80-90% for height and weight. When I was expecting him, Susan Kirby prayed for him to be "hardy" and the Lord surely did answer that prayer. (Which is why I was so pumped when she prayed for Annabeth to be a "peaceful presence" in our home.) I was extremely thankful that my boy didn't have to get any shots. Annabeth had one shot and her second newborn screening heel prick. Bless her heart.

After the appointment, we went back home and Curt got his sick self in bed. (After a nap he felt much better and never did get sick.) A friend from Sunday school dropped dinner by and that was so nice. (If you're not active in a church, you're really missing a blessing.) Soon it was time for me to take Annabeth to another appointment. This time we had to go to the hospital for her to have an ultrasound on her hip. The first doctor who saw her in the hospital after she was born noticed a hip click - whatever that is. Her pedi never noticed it, so I wasn't too worried about it. In fact, I never looked it up on the internet or asked what it meant. I'm glad I didn't borrow trouble because the ultrasound showed that her hips looked great. Praise God!

We dropped the little ones off at my parents' house a few hours later and headed to see the movie Slumdog Millionaire. Let me preface this by saying that it is very, very rare for us to see an R-rated movie. Curtis did a lot of research on this one and we decided it was something we wanted to see. It's about three little orphans - two brothers and a little girl - who grow up in the slums of Mumbai, India. At the age of 18, one of them makes it onto Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and is on the brink of winning it all. The police arrest him because they believe he's cheating. The movie takes you through each question he's faced with on the program and shows the circumstance that caused him to know the answer.

I missed the first 10 minutes because I was getting popcorn, but I was glad because the movie opens with a torture scene. This was not really a popcorn kind of movie. The brutality of life for these orphans was extremely difficult for me to watch. It's hard knowing that these kinds of things really happen. At one point I looked at Curtis and said, "I cannot watch this. I have to leave." Since he already knew everything about the movie, he knew the worst was over and encouraged me to stay. I'm glad I did because it was a very impactful movie. Slumdog Millionaire has been nominated for 10 Oscars and it's not hard to see why.

As you know, Curtis went to India last fall to see how we could partner with an organization called CharAsia. CharAsia takes in the children of prostitutes and gives them a safe place to live, be educated, and learn about Jesus. They literally save these kids (mostly girls) from being entrapped in prostitution themselves. Throughout the movie, Curtis kept saying, "I saw that!" and "I was standing right there!" He and Jerrell actually saw the slum that this movie was set in. I'm so thankful that I got a glimpse of that world. I cannot get those children off my mind. Lord, help me to pray for them daily and do what I can to help.

After the movie we picked up Annabeth from my parents' house. Jackson spent the night there, which he was thrilled about, so that we could get a little more sleep in the morning. What a blessing. On the way to their house he told Curtis and I not to walk him in the door. "You stay here, Mommy. You stay here, Daddy. You not come in." He just wanted us to let him out of the car and knock on the door by himself. Wow. This morning when they were bringing him home, he told my parents that his name was not Jackson Jones. His name was Little Boy and he could not go home to Jackson Jones' house. He is such a turkey.

Even though this post is already incredibly long, I have to say that I am loving being so close to my parents right now. My mom and Curtis keep commenting on how much better my attitude is than it was when Jackson was born. Praise God for that! There are a handful of things I can attribute that to, and one major one is being just 15 minutes away from my mom and dad this time. They have gone out of their way to help us with everything from bringing us food, taking me to run errands, babysitting at our house, babysitting at their house, to just keeping me company when I'm getting cabin fever. Mom always said throughout my pregnancy, "You have only begun to love me. Wait til you have that baby!" She was so right! Thanks, Mom and Dad!