Tuesday, January 25, 2011

C H A S E

Chase turned THREE this past Saturday! We're potty training and couldn't leave the house, so we just tried to do all his favorite things at home (puzzles, geo trax, playing outside, making cupcakes, and reading books). The Smith's joined us in the evening for his favorite dinner and chocolate oatmeal cupcakes .

 Chase got to take a treat to pre-school a couple days before his birthday and was so excited to take yellow sugar cookies -- yellow is his favorite color.
 Helping me make the cupcakes--
 Opening presents

 Enjoying an ice cream cone
 Entertaining himself by making faces in Granny's mirror--
 sledding in the back "yard"
Chasey --
*is a naturally happy and joyful soul
*loves puzzles, trains, and books
*Does NOT like to clean up!
*Loves his family and is naturally affectionate
*Will state that he does or doesn't want something and then will instantly change his mind and say "Maybe I do/don't" in the sweetest voice you've ever heard.
* Is completely and perfectly potty trained as long as he's naked from the waist down -- the second he has undies or a pull up on him, forget about it! Suggestions anyone?
* Loves music, has great pitch, loves to sing, and stole the show at his pre-school program last week!
*Seems to be in his own care-free and happy world a lot of the time (I'm working on instilling a sense of responsibility!)
*Calls me "my girl" or "my dear" a lot of the time -- melts my heart!

This boy brings me so much happiness. He delights me and I love to be with him. Happy Birthday, Chase! We love you!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

A 2 month old and some thoughts

 This is me. I have three kids. I have to remind myself of this occasionally because I still can't believe it. I have been asked constantly lately how the transition from 2 to 3 is. Usually by mother's of 2 that are looking into their near future with fear behind their eyes. I know this because that was me for the last year, gleaning all the advice I could from those who had already crossed this threshold. But this is what I've decided: Yes, it's hard. The small amount of free time I once had is completely gone. Relaxing with my husband in the evenings, also gone. I canNOT wrap my head around how in the world I'm supposed to get everything done that needs to be done. Returning phone calls, pretty much impossible (I've been struggling with this one since Chase gave up his nap).That's beings said, we're surviving. I'm incredibly content. I wouldn't even say that I'm stressed. Or maybe I'm happily stressed? One thing is for sure, it's easier in some ways than my transition from 0 to 1 or 1 to 2 and harder in some ways, only because of my individual circumstances. And another thing's for sure; I feel so blessed. So happy. So thankful. So in love with this little girl, her two big brothers, and their dad. Life is good.

 Cora turned 2 months old last week. Here are some things I want to remember:
-She's in the 99th% for weight AND height. She weighs over 12 pounds and is 24.5 inches. Not only does she look much older than she is, she just seems older, always has. As cliche as it sounds, "she has an old soul."
- Her head is only the 80th%!!! I say only because I have never had a child who's head was ever less than the 99th%!
- She is happy, content, smiling, cooing, almost/kind of laughing.
- She loves Nick! She smiles just when she sees him. I'm sure she loves Chase too, but he doesn't pay as much attention to her yet so I'm not sure the bond is as strong -- yet.
- She sleeps anywhere from 7-11 hours straight each night, eats quickly, then goes back down for 3-4 more. I'm not bragging because I've done nothing to deserve this except for keep her on a eat, stay awake, sleep very not strict schedule. I don't let her cry, I rarely wake her from her naps like I did with the boys -- I just got lucky!

While it's only been 2 months, I have to admit, I'm already sick of the color pink. It's never been one of my favorites, although I fully embraced it when I found out I was having a girl. I'm over it now and ready to broaden my color horizons. :) I am, however, still loving all the cute clothes and accessories that come with having a girl!  I just wish I were crafty enough to make some of the styles I love, as I'm certainly not rich enough to buy them.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Bored? Can't sleep? Procrastinating? Have a few spare minutes?

'Cause I just put up 4 new posts to help ease (or add to) all of the above ailments! Happy scrolling!

Aren't you dying to see what Cora looked like this morning?

I thought so...



PS- Someone tell me the secret to skpe. Whenever I do it with my family it freezes up every 10 seconds and is so frustrating! We replaced our web cam but it didn't help. Maybe I wouldn't feel the need to blog every single photo I ever take of Cora if I could show her to my family via skype! :) Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Soooo excited

First came Jack and Nick (8 months apart)

Followed by Cal and Chase (6 months apart)



And now, introducing the next great duo, Cora and Francis (2 months apart). So excited to see these 2 GIRLS together!

Welcome to the world, Frankie!! Congrats to Tim and Katie, Jack and Cal!

My blue-eyed girl and a new tradition

Random, but I had to document another one of Nick's 'projects.' When we were at the beach in Delaware he saw a man walking around with a metal detector and was fascinated by it. I don't know what made him think of it 3 months later, but the other day he made his own...
 With the birth of each of our kids, I eagerly anticipate the discovery of their eye color, hoping they'll get my husband's beautiful blue's. Both Nick and Chase started out gray and have somewhat settled on what I guess would be called hazel-ish. But Cora, so far, is a different story. They're not as light as Brad's, but they're definitely blue. Here's hoping they stay that way!








 Random again, but here's Nick's eye. :)
 When we made gingerbread houses at the beginning of December, my friend Jessica told me that they save theirs and smash them on New Years to bring good luck. We joined them this year (the boys LOVED it) and I think we'll add this tradition as our own!



 Nick put on this hat the other day and I couldn't help but snap some photos of my silly boy...


 He still loves his baby sister and holds her often--
Can't believe it's 2011! Happy New Year!

Christmas

As mentioned in my previous post, I've been a bit down this Christmas season, wishing we were closer to family. We are very blessed, though, to be surrounded by good friends that feel like family, and that's what really made the holidays for me. And Christmas morning with our boys was wonderful. I don't have any pictures of it, though, because we finally busted out the video camera -- something I'm always mad at myself about for not doing more often!

Here's Cora 2 days before her first Christmas...





 On Christmas Eve we had as appetizer dinner with the Smith's and then headed to another friend's house to act out the nativity and have some dessert. Here's Brad as the angel, Jess as Zacharias, and Owen as baby John the baptist...
 This was my boy's response when asked if they wanted to participate in the reenactment...they did enjoy watching it, though. :)

 On Christmas day we drove to OH to be with Brad's family. We made it for Christmas dinner, stayed a whole week, and had a great time. For some reason, the only time I took pictures was when we went sledding...





It was a great Christmas season and I am feeling abundantly blessed.