February Bits

I braved eating out with three kids.  Having someone else cook AND clean up dinner was just too tempting. 

It went great.  Kids who played, baby who only squawked a little, and tummies were filled.  A win all the way around.  Thanks Chick-fil-a.  You are the only place I would take my littles all by myself.  I know, it was your pleasure, but it sure was a pleasure for me too!

Somehow we found ourselves at the new Wacky Tacky (think McDonald's play land times a million) three times.  How could we say no when friends extended an invitation?

 One of those days Luke played so hard that in the middle of all the noise and kids running everywhere he napped.

We're in that place where naps sure help with the evening grumpiness, but they also contribute to later bedtimes.  And with this mama on her own right now, I'm always aiming for an early bedtime.  

 p.s. I love going in and checking on my little ones while they sleep.

 Both boys are still cavity free and the hygienist was so impressed that this three year old held so super still for his x-rays.

Sometimes there's perks to going shopping with Mom.  It was too early for pizza at Costco, but no one complained about snacking on a churro.

I taught Joy School right before Valentine's Day.  We had a little party and each of the kids decorated their own cookie.

My seventh Joy Schooler was especially excited about all of those sprinkles.

And almost immediately after taking this picture it all slid off the plate onto the floor.  I'm still finding sprinkles in the kitchen.

Noah got 'drafted' to the Nationals.  He's excited for a new team and new season...if it ever stops raining. 

I'm so grateful for those quick, quiet moments a midst the chaos where I am reminded that our life is so good and our blessings are countless.  I was cleaning up the kitchen and looked over at this scene and that reminder came to me in the most crystal clear way. 

Luke.  

I've said it before, but he sure loves this sister.

 He finds all kinds of ways to spend time with Leah, including a Lego building lesson.

Noah sneaks in some time with Leah too, usually trying to be silly.

 I caught Noah in the bathroom one morning checking himself out.

 

 Noah has been quite the builder and creator.  Here he made an 'alligator human.'

 And later he built a sea turtle.

He was so excited to text them to Nate, who is always excited and proud of Noah's latest creations.

Just when I think Luke is for sure a lefty he switches hands again.  This time around I caught him using a crayon in each hand.  It sure makes for efficient coloring.

Nate spent three weeks in LA.  After an already late work night this super dad drove another half hour to Downtown Disney to find something his Disneyland loving boys might like. 

 

 Iron Man for Noah and Yoda for Luke definitely eased the frustration of an absent dad. 

The boys picked out their own flowers to plant, water and take care of.  Easier than a pet and I reap the benefits of having flowers in the front yard pots!

 We've all been Leah's cheering section when she does tummy time. 

 She's getting better and better every day at holding up that heavy head.

THREE Months

Leah is THREE months old!

Well, little girl, it's been one to remember...and to move on from. 

 Infant life is darling.  It's filled with so many firsts and discoveries.  Time really is just precious.

 But let's be real too.  It's a bit unpredictable, filled with fractured sleep, and your parents have now for the third time had a new baby right before Dad's busiest time of the year.

 Our family is so, so blessed, but we are also stretched quite thin in the energy department right now.

Nevertheless, you continue to melt our hearts and bring happiness to our family.  Oh, how we love you!

 Even after a night of waking up to feed a voraciously hungry girl, your smiles are the very best way to start the day.

Dad spent three weeks of the month out of town, so we liked to take cute pictures first thing in the morning to send him a little hello.

You've had a handful of nights where you slept for six hours straight.  But having a cold kind of ruined it.  You seem to be headed back in that direction.  Are you sure you don't want to just try for twelve?  You are great at eating and heading right back to sleep though, which is just what both of us need.

 

But naps are a different story.  You are a cat napper at its finest.  Your little brain seems to think that after 40 minutes it's time to be awake even though you are clearly still tired.  Promise me you'll grow out of it like Google and those parenting blogs say you will!

 You are chatty and love to be talked to.  More than once your brothers have been sure they've heard you say 'hi' and 'mom'.

We love hearing you talk, and I especially love that you seem to save your best conversations for me. I hope it's just the beginning of thousands of great talks we'll have together.  

 Oh, and while you're talking you use your eyebrows to be extra expressive, which is just adorable.

You were born with a herniated belly button, or an 'outie,' but this month that was completely resolved.  It looks like you've got an 'innie' for life now.

 The car seat situation is improving, but you definitely prefer the freedom of not being strapped in or confined in any way. 

 Being able to focus on toys and really getting good at grabbing them has helped at lot.

You are the first binkie baby in this family.  Neither of your brothers were interested at all, but you showed just hours after being born that your sucking reflex was strong and comforting.  It sure helps with that previously mentioned car seat situation and at lots of other times too.

 You have become very aware of your brothers and love watching them build, play, and wrestle. And sometimes you scream because clearly they are getting out of control.  Don't worry, sometimes it makes me want to scream too.

 Luke especially, continues to make sure he gets plenty of time with Sister. 

 Thank you, little one.  

Thank you for bringing more goodness to our family.  Because of you I'm more prayerful, more reliant on Heaven's help, better able to give others the benefit of the doubt (because I sure hope people are doing that for me right now!), and so focused on our family.

You may be a terrible napper, but you're still a dream come true that I hadn't even thought to wish for. xoxo

January in Review

January.  Well, you've been wonderful and horribly exhausting all wrapped up in one.  Both Nate and I agree that this has been one. LONG. month.  And it's not just the 31 days in the month thing. Thank goodness a lot of those long days were filled with some memorable moments! 

After a week straight of rain, the clouds dried up and the boys strapped on their helmets.

 We had all been missing some outside time.   

And thankfully, our anti stroller, anti car seat baby cooperated for just long enough so that we all could enjoy the sunshine.

I had to snap a picture of these cuties before church one Sunday.  Noah is really good at holding on to Leah but said, "Mom, she's a lot heavier than last time."  So true!

Before going to sleep I went in to check on the boys and found my Luke just looking a bit angelic.  Oh, this boy can be spicy sometimes!  I loved seeing him looking so peaceful and sweet, because he definitely is both of those things as well.

 

 Star Wars has take over our lives a bit.  The boys haven't seen the movies, but thanks to Golden Books, they're literal experts on each plot and story line.  At lunch Luke proclaimed, "Look Mom, my sandwich is a titer fighter!" 

He also declared one day, "I am Jango Fett Luke!"

And, on another day he used his Darth Vader deep breathing as we walked around trying to 'scare' me.

Luke doesn't discriminate when it comes to costumes.  He'll dress up in any getup he can find.

 One Saturday morning when I was rocking Leah in her room the boys came in and proclaimed, "We're going mountain climbing Mom!"

 This girl's smile gets me through days that start early and end too late.  She and her brothers are the best reasons ever for a long, LONG work day.

 Luke drew his first self portrait. :-)

 The boys love doing 'apple smiles' and this time asked me to take pictures to send to Nate at work.

 

I had a doctor's appointment one morning while Noah was at Joy School so Luke and Leah tagged along.  I looked over at this guy and just couldn't believe how grown up he looked in that moment.

That doctor's appointment happened to be not too far from Nate's office, so we stopped in there afterwards.  Luke was thrilled to get into Nate's Nerf gun arsenal and do some shooting practice.

 

 I love when this is what I find when I've realized that it's been too quiet in the house for far too long.

And finally, Noah is registered for kindergarten! He's so excited and so ready.  August can't come soon enough for him.