surprises thus far

by Matt MooneyFebruary 7, 2010

With help from these guys, we redid the blog in order to have a space that better connected folks with the different pieces of our story.  The site remains www.theatypicallife.com, and we like it.  Hope you do as well.

We’ve been busy enjoying the adjustment that accompanies adding a person to the family.  In the midst of the chaos, two items have been pleasant surprises.  First of all- for eleven days at least- Anders has been a gentle, little man; quite happy with the baby work schedule of resting, eating, and creating diapers in need of change.  He sleeps, he doesn’t cry much, he goes back to sleep.  If this seems normal to you, then you did not raise Hazel.  Suffice it to say, we love every piece of both of them, but only one has exhibited a piece of peace at this stage.  Thus, Anders shares more with Eliot than just gender.  His familiar eyes make us weep.  His mannerisms and approach to life harken back to a boy we love.  And yet, he is his own man, and we are eager to know him more for who he is- in all the uniqueness that each child brings as a gift from where they came.

Secondly, the gal we most frequently describe as “fiesty” has surprised us by being enamored with the little guy whose name she cannot quite enunciate.  She shuffles in to meet him in the mornings, waving and saying, “baby, baby”- climbing his crib to view the one who never waves back.  I must admit nothing short of amazement to see her loving him the best way she can.  I’m sure there will be some bumps that accompany sharing mom, but so far my nightmares scenarios of using him as target practice for toy throwing have not played out.  Throwing away diapers and grabbing burp cloths, she has been a pretty impressive big sister thus far.

the climb

1st bath

the nap


2,174 Comments

  1. Tamara on February 7, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    Ohhh so sweet :)) we love you all and can’t wait to see you more soon… That sounds weird- oh well- h and a are both precious (and Ginny of course… Ok, you too matt)



  2. Cristina on February 7, 2010 at 2:13 pm

    Gave birth to my second child, a baby girl, in December. My first is a 2 and a half year old boy, so now with 2 kids in the house I can really relate to you. I await each post very eager, they give me strength knowing I’m not the only one dealing with 2 small kids, and all the joys and sacrifices that come along.
    I would also like to say that Eliot’s story reached my heart so profoundly that when trouble came into my own life, he’s where I got the necessary strength to overcome it. My second pregnancy came with bad news. My little girl had spina bifida and the whole package that comes along with it. Unfortunately, doctors here knew almost nothing about this illness and so gave the worst case scenario’s, telling me to give up my baby because she’ll be a vegetable, she’ll be retarded, unable to walk etc etc. It was such a rough time, especially with almost every person(including family) advising me to give her up. So then, besides my faith in God, I had Eliot in my heart, thinking of what a wonderful miracle and joy he was to you. I wanted that. No matter what would have happened, I was ready. I dare say that God, through this little soul prepared me.
    Fortunately, my baby turned out to be a healthy, beautiful little miracle. She’s everything they said she wouldn’t be. She will be able to walk, think for herself and do all the things a person does. Sure, there are some problems, but nothing that can’t be handled.

    So thank you, for sharing your story and life with us. You are people I look up to.

    God bless you all!

    PS. Awesome pics :))



  3. Jess on February 7, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    He’s perfect, you guys. Congrats!



  4. Amy Terral on February 7, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    Anders brought 6 inches of beautiful white snow to welcome him home. His arrival gave me the surprise of a snowed in adventure and love hugs from sister Hazel which I understand are not always freely given. I treasure the few days I spent with your kids. You know I love them dearly.



  5. Chris Milbrandt on February 7, 2010 at 11:30 pm

    and again, you speak the words that my heart longs to speak when we journey down the very similar paths. We already share similarities and i’m excited with every post, awaiting the joys you are experiencing today and tomorrow..knowing our tomorrow is just around the corner. thank you for reminding me of the joy that comes…and the hope of new life. (have i mentioned, our Elizabeth Hope will be here…is 12 weeks!)



  6. Brianna on February 8, 2010 at 8:21 am

    Hello.. I have been a lurker for sometime, reading, learning, and appreciating your writing. You both are amazing parents. Congratulations on your new addition. I am so happy for you all. 😉



  7. Bee on February 9, 2010 at 1:13 pm

    I think all your children are adorable..and your story has really touched my heart. Thank You. :]



  8. Lisa Hartsfield on February 9, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    Brings back such memories!! Your are a little closer together than Shawn and Reid, but not much! It is crazy now, but by the time they are a little older……it is really a great thing! I know you love all 3 of your babies…..they are all beautiful.

    Lisa Hartsfield
    Mansfield, TX



  9. Erin From NY! on February 11, 2010 at 8:38 am

    He is perfect <3 You make beautiful babies.

    Your always in our thoughts and prayers



  10. Emily Flores on February 15, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    I am so thrilled for your family! Little Anders is beautiful! I started following your story almost two years ago, when we were told our third child possibly had Trisomy 18. I found, and continue to find so much hope, peace, and celebration of life in your story. Thank you for sharing! Welcome, Anders!



  11. Lori @ The Davidson Den on February 16, 2010 at 6:31 am

    Sweet, sweet post.



  12. Leasha on February 16, 2010 at 11:42 am

    Love the nap pic!

    He is great. Thanks for sharing.

    When you bring a child into this world …Isn’t there just a sigh. a Deep breath a sense of relief? Doesn’t seem to capture it right…A release…I don’t know… but Yippie!!! oh and Congratulations. They are so unique, kids, I mean.

    Also thanks for getting info on T18 out there. Its important.



  13. Pradaysousy on March 4, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    I do think this is a most incredible website for proclaiming great wonders of Our God!



  14. oscignsolosse on March 25, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    i truthfully enjoy your writing type, very helpful.
    don’t quit as well as keep posting mainly because it simply just truly worth to follow it,
    looking forward to look over much more of your articles, stunning day!



With help from these guys, we redid the blog in order to have a space that better connected folks with the different pieces of our story.  The site remains www.theatypicallife.com, and we like it.  Hope you do as well.

We’ve been busy enjoying the adjustment that accompanies adding a person to the family.  In the midst of the chaos, two items have been pleasant surprises.  First of all- for eleven days at least- Anders has been a gentle, little man; quite happy with the baby work schedule of resting, eating, and creating diapers in need of change.  He sleeps, he doesn’t cry much, he goes back to sleep.  If this seems normal to you, then you did not raise Hazel.  Suffice it to say, we love every piece of both of them, but only one has exhibited a piece of peace at this stage.  Thus, Anders shares more with Eliot than just gender.  His familiar eyes make us weep.  His mannerisms and approach to life harken back to a boy we love.  And yet, he is his own man, and we are eager to know him more for who he is- in all the uniqueness that each child brings as a gift from where they came.

Secondly, the gal we most frequently describe as “fiesty” has surprised us by being enamored with the little guy whose name she cannot quite enunciate.  She shuffles in to meet him in the mornings, waving and saying, “baby, baby”- climbing his crib to view the one who never waves back.  I must admit nothing short of amazement to see her loving him the best way she can.  I’m sure there will be some bumps that accompany sharing mom, but so far my nightmares scenarios of using him as target practice for toy throwing have not played out.  Throwing away diapers and grabbing burp cloths, she has been a pretty impressive big sister thus far.

the climb

1st bath

the nap


2,174 Comments

  1. Tamara on February 7, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    Ohhh so sweet :)) we love you all and can’t wait to see you more soon… That sounds weird- oh well- h and a are both precious (and Ginny of course… Ok, you too matt)



  2. Cristina on February 7, 2010 at 2:13 pm

    Gave birth to my second child, a baby girl, in December. My first is a 2 and a half year old boy, so now with 2 kids in the house I can really relate to you. I await each post very eager, they give me strength knowing I’m not the only one dealing with 2 small kids, and all the joys and sacrifices that come along.
    I would also like to say that Eliot’s story reached my heart so profoundly that when trouble came into my own life, he’s where I got the necessary strength to overcome it. My second pregnancy came with bad news. My little girl had spina bifida and the whole package that comes along with it. Unfortunately, doctors here knew almost nothing about this illness and so gave the worst case scenario’s, telling me to give up my baby because she’ll be a vegetable, she’ll be retarded, unable to walk etc etc. It was such a rough time, especially with almost every person(including family) advising me to give her up. So then, besides my faith in God, I had Eliot in my heart, thinking of what a wonderful miracle and joy he was to you. I wanted that. No matter what would have happened, I was ready. I dare say that God, through this little soul prepared me.
    Fortunately, my baby turned out to be a healthy, beautiful little miracle. She’s everything they said she wouldn’t be. She will be able to walk, think for herself and do all the things a person does. Sure, there are some problems, but nothing that can’t be handled.

    So thank you, for sharing your story and life with us. You are people I look up to.

    God bless you all!

    PS. Awesome pics :))



  3. Jess on February 7, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    He’s perfect, you guys. Congrats!



  4. Amy Terral on February 7, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    Anders brought 6 inches of beautiful white snow to welcome him home. His arrival gave me the surprise of a snowed in adventure and love hugs from sister Hazel which I understand are not always freely given. I treasure the few days I spent with your kids. You know I love them dearly.



  5. Chris Milbrandt on February 7, 2010 at 11:30 pm

    and again, you speak the words that my heart longs to speak when we journey down the very similar paths. We already share similarities and i’m excited with every post, awaiting the joys you are experiencing today and tomorrow..knowing our tomorrow is just around the corner. thank you for reminding me of the joy that comes…and the hope of new life. (have i mentioned, our Elizabeth Hope will be here…is 12 weeks!)



  6. Brianna on February 8, 2010 at 8:21 am

    Hello.. I have been a lurker for sometime, reading, learning, and appreciating your writing. You both are amazing parents. Congratulations on your new addition. I am so happy for you all. 😉



  7. Bee on February 9, 2010 at 1:13 pm

    I think all your children are adorable..and your story has really touched my heart. Thank You. :]



  8. Lisa Hartsfield on February 9, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    Brings back such memories!! Your are a little closer together than Shawn and Reid, but not much! It is crazy now, but by the time they are a little older……it is really a great thing! I know you love all 3 of your babies…..they are all beautiful.

    Lisa Hartsfield
    Mansfield, TX



  9. Erin From NY! on February 11, 2010 at 8:38 am

    He is perfect <3 You make beautiful babies.

    Your always in our thoughts and prayers



  10. Emily Flores on February 15, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    I am so thrilled for your family! Little Anders is beautiful! I started following your story almost two years ago, when we were told our third child possibly had Trisomy 18. I found, and continue to find so much hope, peace, and celebration of life in your story. Thank you for sharing! Welcome, Anders!



  11. Lori @ The Davidson Den on February 16, 2010 at 6:31 am

    Sweet, sweet post.



  12. Leasha on February 16, 2010 at 11:42 am

    Love the nap pic!

    He is great. Thanks for sharing.

    When you bring a child into this world …Isn’t there just a sigh. a Deep breath a sense of relief? Doesn’t seem to capture it right…A release…I don’t know… but Yippie!!! oh and Congratulations. They are so unique, kids, I mean.

    Also thanks for getting info on T18 out there. Its important.



  13. Pradaysousy on March 4, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    I do think this is a most incredible website for proclaiming great wonders of Our God!



  14. oscignsolosse on March 25, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    i truthfully enjoy your writing type, very helpful.
    don’t quit as well as keep posting mainly because it simply just truly worth to follow it,
    looking forward to look over much more of your articles, stunning day!