Tucker is 6 and a half weeks old, and we are all learning our "new normal."  

Lana has probably been the BEST at adjusting!!  We have not seen one bit of jealousy, she is always eager to help, and she just adores her little brother without trying to smother him.  We have been so proud of her!  She has been a bit needier at bedtimes, and has been pushing some discipline issues since we can't always drop everything and handle them right away as we did when it was just her, but truly - those are the only issues that we are having.  She loves to lay with Tucker on the floor and talk to him, she pats him if he gets fussy in his carseat, and she loves to make suggestions about what he needs if he's crying.  (Lots of times she's right!)  We've obviously been spending a lot more time at home than we did before Tucker's arrival, and she has handled that remarkably well.  The only trouble she's had with that is when we missed several weeks of church and small group...that was HARD on her!  So precious to see how much she loves the local Body we're a part of.  

Dan took fewer classes this semester, in anticipation of this adjustment period.  He was so kind to know that the itty-bitty baby stage is difficult for me, and he wanted to be available to me as much as possible.  We're glad that he made the choice to lighten his class load this semester!  I can't imagine how we would have kept up with reading and writing papers for a full-time load.  He's having to learn how to balance loving his family well, helping me, spending time with Lana and Tucker, getting the reading done for his internship, making it to all the required meetings, finding time for accountability with his friends and mentors, working on his internship project, etc.  Just a new normal, and we know it'll all change next semester when he goes back to taking a full time load!

(With that in mind, please be praying for some of the MAJOR leadership opportunities the Lord is opening up before Dan: being at the head of beginning a recovery ministry, possibly helping lead a foreign mission trip, and helping to birth a small group.  We are so grateful for the way the Lord is growing Dan and helping him to develop his leadership abilities.)

I am getting adjusted to being the mommy of two, also!!  Besides dealing with the lack of sleep, the major adjustment for me has been in the reduced amount of time that I have with Lana, especially on the weekends. Before Tucker was born, if Dan was working, Lana & I stayed busy with lots of fun activities and outings.  That has obviously changed, and sometimes I miss that a lot - for both Lana & I.  I have really been praying through the discipline of contentment...I want my heart to rejoice in this stage of life!!  The Lord has been good to grant me peace in this area.  I could tell how He was working tonight especially.  Dan called from work just two hours after he had gone in and told me that he had the opportunity to VTO (voluntary time off) and come home early if I needed him to.  Tucker was crying, and I was in the middle of disciplining Lana, and would you believe that I told him NO?!  I felt confident that I had it under control, and that we were okay, so he could feel free to continue working.  A few weeks ago, I would never have done that....so grateful for the new rhythm we have gotten into!