E turns Four!

Today you turn 4. Has it really been four years since you made us a family of four? We have been having so much fun with you that the time has flown by so fast. You are becoming such a nice young man.

You are almost always in a good mood, unless I just woke you up from a nap. You love to play with us and your imagination for make-believe is fantastic! You definitely love your mama and would choose to be with me all day if you could. The things you are interested in these days range anywhere from trains, to watching your brother play the Indiana Jones Wii game. If you were in charge for a day, we would play every game in our closet, set up an enormous GeoTrax track, and swing on the swings. Playing is your favorite thing to do (next to talking) and I just love watching your imagination come to life.

Speaking of talking, you got the gift of gab from your mother. You truly enjoy sharing your day and the moment's interests with anyone who will listen. And I just love listening to you. Another thing you enjoy is "soft tickles." This is also a trait that you inherited from your mom. Right before bed, or just relaxing anywhere, you ask for arm tickles, leg tickles, foot tickles, and belly tickles. My favorite is when you lift up your shirt in an inappropriate place (like church) and ask for belly tickles.

You manage to have a good time anywhere you go and tend to make friends with anyone who will listen to you. School is the only place that you complain about going to. But once you are there, you have a great time! Even though you enjoy school, you relish being home with me on the days you don't attend. You have been very patient with your new sister. More accurately, you have been very patient with me! Our time together can be interrupted from time to time while I care for your sister and you are very good at adapting and moving on to something else.

You bring so much joy to our home and we just wouldn't be complete without you. I fall in love with you more every day and I am so lucky that I get to watch you grow up. I am also so happy that I get to be your Mom.

Happy Birthday, Buddy!

Oops

As I was driving the boys to their schools this morning I realized I had left the house in my nursing jammie top. You might not think this is a big deal until you saw the top - gaping vee neck down to my belly button with breasts bursting forth (I did have a nursing bra on). Thank heavens I had on a hoodie with a zipper. Apparently getting two boys ready for school in the morning AND nursing a baby makes me forget to get dressed.

B's Birthday Party

B's birthday party was originally going to be at a park, but last minute rain forced us to host the party at our home. Despite the change of plans, we managed to have a great party. The sun came out for most of it, so that was great! The girls loved chasing the chickens. Unfortunately Lola's injury made her easy to catch. She was held a lot. A LOT. I wonder if they got pooped on.

Since we invited the entire Kindergarten class, we were lucky that we could stay outside. Our house isn't big enough for that many kids. Phew!

We played a few games, one of them being a favorite of mine. Cover a hershey kiss with whipped cream - a ton - and the first kiddo to eat the hershey kiss wins! It is really funny to watch and the kids thought it was hilarious.

We had a pinata of course. Most kids got to swing at it, so that was good.

E's face in these next pictures almost made me pee in my pants from laughter!

Here is the friend that knocked it off so that we could enjoy all of the treats inside!

E needed some help getting in the mix, so Uncle M gave him a lift.

B had a great party and really enjoyed having all of his friends over. It is fun being 6!

The babe

So, what has G-Love been up to these days? Eating, sleeping, pooping...repeat. I realized that so much time has gone by and I am not doing a very good job documenting her early days. She is one month old today. I kind of feel like I have been awake for a month. It has been just one really long day. We just love having her in the house. B loves to give her kisses and E is getting along fine with the fact that she lives here permanently.

G has been a nursing like a champ. I am sure she is over 10 pounds. Her 0-3 month clothes are still a bit baggy, but she is bursting out of her newborn clothes. Her wakeful periods are getting a bit longer. Where she used to be able to stay awake for only an hour, now we are up to about an hour and a half. The biggest challenge we face with her is avoiding the moment where she slips past tired to OVER TIRED. God help us if she gets overtired. Help our backs, help our endurance, help our sanity! When she is overtired, which happens pretty much every day at one point, she is hard to soothe and she is unable to STAY asleep for more than 5 minutes at a time. So as a result, I am standing, hunching actually, over her crib making sure the binky stays in her mouth and bouncing her mattress. Or, we are walking her and patting her bum all around the house. In worst case scenarios, Prince Charming could be spotted driving all around town in the wee hours of the morning. Then she just sleeps in the car seat for the night. Or, until she gets up to nurse. Lately she has been nursing around 8, 9, or 10pm and sleeping until 3 or 4am. Getting her back to sleep at that hour hasn't been as smooth as I would like. I am just waiting for the days when I can just pop her back in bed and she drifts off to sleep. Is it soon? I hope it is soon.

Speaking of the car seat, this child can live in it on certain days. I don't think she prefers this, but I am not taking a sleeping baby out of a car seat just to move her to a bed. If she is sleeping, she stays. Unfortunately, because I am a taxi service to the boys, she can be in it ALL DAY on certain days if Prince Charming is at work. Between school and gymnastics and swimming lessons, this girl is on the go. I feel bad sometimes because I know how great a good two hours down in a bed can feel. I think the car seat napping can lead to her over tired-ness but it is a necessary evil.

Aside from the chronic fatigue, this first month with G has been so nice. She is just our pretty little girl and we love her so.

The B Man is SIX!!!

You turn six today. When did you get so big? This morning you said, "Happy Birthday, Mom" before I even had a chance to wish you one! We enjoyed cupcakes in bed, our fun little tradition, and wiped our chocolate-y fingers on the sheets. You said, "I have a feeling this is going to be the best birthday EVER" and that totally made me smile. Dad has to work today, but you don't seem to mind too much. We opened presents before E could even say, "Mom, I'm hungry." We both know that "I'm hungry" is the first thing out of his mouth in the morning! You got a new Magic Treehouse book and a transformer. You were SO excited about the Transformer. I am glad that we got you a gift you are really excited about. I know that feeling and I am glad to share it with you.

During this last year I swear you have grown a foot! You are starting to be more helpful around the house and even can anticipate when I might need your help. You let Maylie in from outside when she scratches the door and you open the dryer door when it starts to beep. You have embraced the arrival of your sister and you just adore her. You love to give her kisses and don't seem to mind when she is crying. You have been patient with me while I am trying to learn how to take care of all three of you. You and your brother are getting along for the most part and you enjoy playing with him. I love it when you guys get creative with your play and truly enjoy each others company.

School has been challenging for you, but you are hanging in there. You have great days at school when you get to be the line leader or have some other job. You have a few friends that you play with daily, John and James. But, you really like playing with everyone. You seem to enjoy learning, but don't care so much for all of the "work." Your Dad and I are working really hard so that we can make school easier for you. I am hoping that we will find something that works for you soon so that you can take advantage of all that Kindergarten has to offer.

You have a wide array of interests, but your driving force these days is the Wii. Especially the Indiana Jones game. You would play that thing all day long if I allowed you to. You also love going on bike rides any chance you get. You enjoy your gymnastics and swimming classes and wish you could go more often. You love to talk about Transformers and Star Wars even though you haven't seen either of those movies. Your memory continues to amaze us and we enjoy hearing about what you learn on a daily basis.

You are a true joy to be around and are growing up to be such a nice young boy. I can't believe you're six. And I can't wait to see what your next year brings to us. You still remain the BEST birthday present I have ever gotten and I am glad that I get to be your Mommy.

Cookies and Brownies and Sweets, OH MY!!!

In a previous post I mentioned that there weren't enough baked goods in this house. Holy cow, the baked goods came raining down on this house! That very evening, after I posted, I received chocolate chip cookies from my sister in law. A day or two later I found some delicious Fairytale Brownies on my doorstep.

My mother sent home half of her birthday cake with me. I received another sweet package in the mail from the local Urban Cookies. Well, a friend sent them. I don't really know the people at Urban Cookies. But I did enjoy their treats.

Do I feel bad about indulging in so many sweet things? Not really. I do have a bit of a sweet tooth. My excuse is that I am nursing. I need some extra calories. I am smart enough to know that I don't need THAT many extra calories. But, I am still losing weight, so I will keep up the sweets.

Thank you to ALL of you who took care of me during my time of need. My sweet tooth is smiling.

Nine.

Nine years ago I got to marry my Prince Charming. I truly am so lucky to be loved by him.