Pre-Birthday Celebration

In our house, it seems like it's not just a birth-day, it's more like a birth-week or longer!

So, Biggest Brother's birth-week began this past weekend. He had been asking to go to the driving range. He inherited some golf clubs from a family friend and wanted to put them to good use. So, we went...

After a couple of buckets of balls and (me) going cRaZy chasing the littlest one around, they headed to the putting green for some practice. This is where my middle guy yells- "Mommy, I just got a hole in 10!!!" We had a lot of talks about golf etiquette and how golf is a quiet sport. Then, it was just time to go. Next time, it might be best to leave this for the older crowd only!

And just because they are cute...

 Lastly, this has nothing to do with birthdays! My neighbor called me over the other day and wanted to let me know that he thought my boys were sneaking food and leaving the wrappers in my window sill. Well, this is what he was noticing...

These are actually full and not from the big boys at all. Each day, the Littlest Guy empties my pantry through the slats in our blinds. Applesauce, granola bars, etc- all basking in the sun!

Happy 1st Birthday

Happy 1st Birthday to our greatest surprise!

It was one year ago that the greatest surprise of our family joined us! Though you were a surprise to us, you were no surprise to God. I will be honest that I had many fears about adding another little man to our family. We had just turned a corner from baby/toddler hood into the early school years and things were starting to get just a bit easier. I was finally sleeping all night for most nights and we had said goodbye to all our baby gear and baby days. So we thought!

God took what I thought would be our little family and shook it up a bit. But, when he was done and life settled back in- it was settled in more beautifully and fully than it was before!

Being your mom has given me the chance to slow down and enjoy the moments of baby-life again. To experience all the firsts - just one more time. To cuddle just a little longer. To know love just a little deeper. To see the miracle of life unfold again. 

When your big brothers were little the days were sweet, but often it was hard to imagine a time when life wouldn't feel so demanding. Well, that time came and then I missed those cuddly sweet baby days so much! Being your mom has let me experience that all over again, but this time with a new perspective of how fleeting these moments really are. 

This year has been so full- full of change and growth; full of wonder and sweetness. We have watched you grow from a sleepy little baby who could hardly wake up to eat into a curious, on-the-go, into everything little guy toddling all over the place!

But, from the first moment we saw you - you have nestled your way into the depths of our hearts. What a great surprise you are!

Happy 1st Birthday Little Man!

Love,

Mommy

We actually celebrated your first birthday at Laguna Beach, in California. We were on our family vacation and it was a fun day to be with you. We went to my friend's house for dinner and they surprised us with a cake and your first cupcake (the bottom pictures). We waited until we were home to do our traditional family celebration and decorated your door (which you loved to walk through!)  We got you a basketball hoop and a really big ball- since that is the only thing you love more than food right now! We ended our celebration with some more sugar and mess! I'd say you were a lucky 1 year old this year. 

Now that you are one:

- You shake your head "no" when we tell you "no" and laugh and continue to do what we don't want you to do!

- You love animals, especially dogs, but you are afraid of them too. You get just as close as you can without touching and then cry when they come any closer!

-You are starting to be so much more aware of things and learning new things every day.

-You are falling asleep on your own for naps and bedtime. Finally sleeping in past 5:30 in the morning and slowly moving towards one long nap in the day.

-You love to play with your brothers and to be outside. You love to investigate everything by putting it in your mouth.

-You love balls. It's your only word so far. All sizes, all colors, all sports, all balls. You endured a long summer of baseball games for your brothers and now know how to set the ball on the "T"and hit it off. Not bad for a little guy!

-You would eat all day if I let you. You are always getting things you can't have out of the pantry and sneaking crumbs you find off the floor. You like pretty much everything you try, but really love watermelon, peaches and strawberries. Also, pancakes and smoothies rank pretty high too!

11 Months Old

He turned 11 months old on Father's Day. In just weeks he'll be one! I don't know where his first year went. Though he will always be MY baby, he really isn't A baby anymore. 

He started walking at 10 months and by now he's pretty quick on his feet. 

His only word is "Bau" for Ball- he loves them- any size, any sport, any color!

He has the cutest little "Ooooo!" whenever he sees food or something he's excited about. 

He is hungry all the time. Loves smoothies, avacados, graham crackers, any fruits, peas, brocolli, Cheerios, pancakes, and whatever anyone else might be eating at that moment!

We have to keep all the doors shut- especially in the bathroom. He loves the toilets... 

He's loved having his big brothers home from school this summer- so much to laugh at and so much to watch and learn from! 

He has a cute little wave- you can see it in the last picture on the bottom- turned toward himself and squeezing tightly! 

He is finally napping and sleeping much better. Still an early riser, but falling asleep on his own much of the time and not night waking much anymore- thank goodness for that!

Still loves to suck his thumb.

He is a really snuggly baby who is also very outgoing, will let most people hold him and explores and ventures out without needing me right there. 

His funny side is starting to shine through. He likes to make silly noises and have us copy him. He remembers things we thought were funny the day before and tries it out the next day- just to make sure we still think he's funny. He has a great memory!

It has been amazing to me how quickly he's grown and changed. When the bigger boys were little, it seemed like they'd be little forever. But, slowly and surely, they have grown and changed and it was so easy to forget what life was like with a little one around. It isn't all fun and it isn't all cute and easy, but it is so precious. He has been such a blessing to us and a reminder to slow down and enjoy because in just a few fleeting moments you forget what it was like. I wish there was a way to get it all on video or picture or in writing- but life isn't like that. As much as I look forward to seeing what God has in store for this little guy (and the big boys too!) I wish there was a way to slow it down a bit- to memorize what this day is like and who they are right now!

More Milestones

Little Man had his first haircut at the beginning of March. It was getting a bit shaggy. We get our haircut at a woman's house. She's great with the kids and super fast, so it's a big a plus in my book. We found out Little Man is terrified of dogs though. She has a lab and a golden retriever. They are sweet and gentle, but my little guy was so scared. Other than that trauma, all was well! The boys wanted him to have a mohawk and so it was!

Check out his chubby little wrists- gotta love em! I am currently working towards weaning him. We aren't getting there too quickly, but that's okay!

On St. Patrick's Day we had his Dedication service at church. A few of our friends came. We chose the verse Colossians 2:7 for his life verse. "Plant your roots in Christ and let Him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful."

This was the same pastor that did Big Brother's dedication too!

And just proof that we haven't forsaken the other boys- here's Biggest Brother after being awarded his basketball medal for this latest season of winter Basketball! They were the Neon Gators (hence the shorts and socks up there!)

8 Months Old

Little Man just turned 8 months old. I finally took time out to get some photos of him this morning. He crawled under our dining room table and I got these really sweet photos! Who knew the lighting was so good under there?!

He's getting so big- so fast! He started crawling about a week ago. He started slow and shaky, but now I turn my back and I can't find him when I turn back around! He's into everything and everything he's into gets put in his mouth. I will only say that the worst thing we found so far is a toenail clipping. (I'll wait while you try to get that thought out of your head!) He loves his food and especially loves these little cereal puffs I found at Sprouts. He shoves his whole hand in his mouth to put it in!

He spits when we spit and he gets a real kick out of that!

He loves when his brothers are home from school. He starts to get louder and louder and those little arms start to flail. He's loving plain whole milk yogurt (we add fruits). His most recent favorite is yogurt, avacado and blueberries (a little concoction I made up for him!). He still is my little thumb sucker and just a sweet little boy. He's entered that dreaded separation anxiety phase and naps and sleeping aren't great most days, but we're working on that!

He can pull up to standing, so we dropped down the crib mattress. This is how I find him sometimes after naps or in the morning. He has one of the cutest pouty lips I've seen!

Happy Weekend!

February - 7 months old

We had some fun in February. Little Man was 7 months old, learned to clap, eating his food, swinging at the park and just being cute! He started to say "Mama", though I don't know if it was about me or just a fun new noise! He was rocking on those hands and knees just waiting to crawl after all those Legos left on the floor. 

The big boys enjoyed Valentine's Day and some fun sledding in the park. One night, while Daddy was in charge as I tutored, the boys decided to sled down our slope in the backyard. However, the only thing to stop them was the back fence. Big Brother's face slammed in and we called him "Fence Face" until he was healed up. You'd have thought that would teach him a lesson, but 2 nights later I caught them doing the same thing. Ugh!

6 Months Old

Back in January, Littlest Brother turned 6 months old...

Here he was!

In his first fort with Big Brother- "No Girls Allowed!"

He was 28 inches (90th%) and 16 lb 10oz (40th%). 

He started eating solids- especially loves pears and carrots.

He also started sitting up unassisted. 

Bottom 2 middle teeth came in- finally sleeping again!

Still a sweet little munchkin!