Farewell, summer. Thanks for the baby. She's cute.

Only one week until we return to Austin. A few "highlights" of our summer, one child at a time (we have THREE now!)

A few weeks after Mary Clement's birth, Jackson was helping Bill fix the riding lawn mower and got his middle finger crushed under a large metal plate. After an ER trip and surgery which involved him having to "go under", he had a pin put in, which was taken out after 3 weeks of this bandage. Here he is in his surgery scrubs, which we got to take home, & he now calls his "hospital pajamas". Now we're waiting for the black nail to fall off - completely disgusting, but he thinks it's neat.
He's discovered games (mainly Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, War, SlapJack) and is learning how to lose well, quite the challenge for a competitive 4 yr. old. He'll "play" with Harry by moving for both of them while Harry wanders around the room in his own world. He still loves to listen to books on tape, and we work on his reading a little every day.

Jackson's biggest frustration is when Harry doesn't cooperate in whatever gameplan he's come up with for them both, so he'll tease Harry somehow to get him back. Harry responds usu. w/screaming "NO!" and hitting, which results in Jackson hitting back until we intervene. And then an hour later they're hugging and kissing after being separated at naptime.

I decided last week to potty-train Harry (changing a 2 yr.old's diaper after a newborn's will do that to you), and it's going relatively well (some good days, some not so good). His language has sky-rocketed. This morning when Matthew asked, "Jacob wouldn't let the angel go until he what?" (reviewing what happened in yesterday's reading) Harry, who usu. doesn't pay much attention (to anything - that boy's head is in the clouds!) surprised us by saying, "Blessed him!" We think the wrestling aspect of that story captured his imagination. Wresting and superheros are his current favs. He asks every morning if he can wear his Batman t-shirt, a gift from MC on her birthday. He regularly cracks us up with his cuteness.

My mom took this picture of Mary Clement on her cell phone when she was here (about 2 wks old), and we both thought it really captures her "look". So far she looks just like my baby pictures. I include the bottom picture so you can see the chub she's developed since then. She'll be 6 weeks old tomorrow! Not much to say about her (nurse, poop, look around, sleep) except that we're thoroughly enjoying her. I am loving having a girl more than I expected!

One blessing of the summer has been all the visitors. The Stokes arrive tomorrow, the Michelsons came through, Laurel/Clint drove up, my mom came for a week (and will meet us in Austin upon return), the Harris fam, and then all the local visiting of friends and family. We are so blessed!
And us. . . Matthew is plugging away at writing. His advisor thinks this fall is premature to go on the job market, as M's dissertation is such that it needs to be practically done to be explainable (for job talks, etc.). So we're thinking right now we'll just focus on writing/finishing this year and go on the job market next year (meaning 2 more years in Austin). But we'll see. Still pondering. I'm wondering if the Lord will cause a job to fall into our laps this year. Wouldn't that be nice! ;)
And as for me, I'm doing quite well for being in the newborn zone, as I've had Sarah's help, and will soon have my mom's when we get back, though this is telling - I was putting on makeup and jewelry for the day and Jackson asked if we were going to church. Um, no. Guess that was a little bit of abnormal behavior on my part. :)
Love, Us