My Heart is Full

As hard and long as this winter was, my heart continues to overflow with thankfulness and love for these three kiddos.  I have never been more tired or occupied and had a longer to-do list.  But in the middle of this season I want to remember the thoughts I am thinking of each of these precious babes.

G-money: I am always afraid of you getting bigger and growing older, and yet every new phase is more fun than the last.  You are 5 and learning so much everyday; definitely ready for Kindergarten next year.  I'm pretty sure if I sat down with you and taught you would easily learn to read.  But there is no need to rush that skill as you will have plenty of time for that in school.  For now you have all sorts of imaginative play with trains and spend hours lying next to and talking to your baby sister. We cannot believe how much of an extrovert you have become in the last few months.  You remind us of your Poppy: saying Hi! to all and making friends with everyone.  You love, LOVE to laugh and making others laugh.  I have a feeling you will want to be the comedian at school so we'll have to keep an eye on this.  Recently you don't want to hold my hand unless we are crossing the street and then always drop it when we get to the sidewalk.  This is of course sad for Mommy, but I do treasure how you still only hold one finger of mine instead of my whole hand.  Just like when your hand was only big enough to grip one finger.  And wow, you are such a great brother.  You are old enough to know that J has some special struggles and though you are desperate for him to play with you as a peer, you are so patient, loving and responsive to him when he does interact and protective of him always.  As for A, your love for her knows no bounds and you and I are definitely her "people."

Woo: You are such a beautiful boy with your big blue eyes and lashes that go on forever.  You are 3 and have come so far in the last year.  Constantly engaging us in play and always asking for more, you spend your days smiling and laughing.  When you run into my arms, eyes locked on mine, giggling, I am filled with joy.  You love school and work so hard every day.  For your age you are gone so long and I look forward to getting you off the bus at the end of the day and giving you a big hug.  We start every day with a song and when I get you out of your crib you always look deep into my eyes.  I have been so proud with how you are adapting to your sister. Recently you have been a lot more interested in her and tolerant of her cries.  You have reached for her a few times and kissed her twice. When G grabs your hand or hugs you, you mostly reciprocate and I love seeing you love each other. You have always held my entire hand, the total opposite of G, and you would be perfectly happy for us to spend hours walking hand in hand outside every day.  The warm weather pulls you outside and we always have a difficult time coaxing you back in for dinner or bath time.  

Ace: Our sweet, precious baby girl.  We never knew how badly we wanted a baby girl until we were pregnant with you.  I knew from the moment I saw the "positive" sign that you were a girl.  You are 5 months old and just darling.  Every day you wrap your Daddy a little tighter around your little finger and he has taken to calling you "my love".  G and I have a daily argument whether you are my girl or his. The first month and a half of your life you were fussy and not altogether agreeable.  However, you have learned your place as the third child (we are too busy for you to be a mess), and you are now the happiest baby.  All smiles at anyone who pays you attention, finally sleeping well and eating great. You are quite interested in your big brothers, spending more time with G, but definitely getting curious about J.  Because you will most likely be our last, I am taking the time to treasure each moment with you.  Time has gone so fast with your brothers, as I know it will with you.  I get quite emotional over you for this reason my baby, and I can't promise that this will lessen as you grow older.



I could weep over how much I love all of you and am grateful to our Lord that He has given me such sweet gifts.  I pray that I will be worthy of the calling as your Mother and that He will guide me in all I do.  

Well, He Has a Sense of Humor

Have any of you seen this?




Because G has.  About 40 times.  And I'm actually not exaggerating.

It all started when Joe and I were watching it real quick one night and G walked by.  He started laughing hysterically.  At the time, we thought it was just a courtesy laugh, trying to join in with the audience and Mom and Dad.  We didn't think anything about it.

Well.

The next morning G comes up to me, obviously tickled about something.  He then says, "Mommy, remember that funny video last night where one man was talking in English and one was talking in French?"

This question immediately brought more questions to my mind:

1. If he thinks Putin, speaking in a Russian accent, is speaking French, what does that say about Joe and my language skills?

2. While "cleaner" than most, is Jimmy Fallon appropriate for a 5 year old?

3. Is our 5 year old destined for comedic genius?

After he begged, I let him watch the video a few more times.  And then IT began:

-Running around the neighborhood singing/shouting "McCain in the Ukraine!"

-Telling the line behind us at the dry cleaners that "Barack says "Let it go, just let it go!"

-Explaining to the cashier at Target that "I take the candy and I crush it!"

-Singing, "Let go, let go, turn away and slam door!" (All in a Russian accent) to our small group the other night.

-Asking everyone he sees if they've seen the video.  And if not, he will want to show you:

Thanks for being good sports Chris and JJ!

(I should note that he thinks they are drinking juice in the video)

But perhaps it's all well and good, as we have seen some positive outcomes from this.  During church this past Sunday our pastor was praying for the situation in Ukraine.  Upon hearing "Ukraine," G's eyes popped open in excitement.

So Jimmy, we thank you for encouraging not only our son's sense of humor, but his spiritual growth as well.  

When You're the Third Child....

A List of Pros and Cons


Pro: Mommy and Daddy are desperate for rest from chasing my brothers all day and me being up all night, SO I'm the first child that gets in their bed.

Con: By now they are immune to the sound of crying.  So THIS happens.

Pro: One of my brothers is old enough to appreciate my awesome-ness, so I get LOTS of attention.

                                   

                                   

Con: Instead of looking at and holding me all through paternity leave, Daddy uses the time to build a shed.

                                   

Pro: Mommy is so excited to have a little girl that I get to stay up late and watch Downton Abbey after my brothers are in bed.

                                   

Con: I get dressed in blue boy clothes left over from my brothers.

Pro: Since it's been 3 years since the last baby, I am a novelty and everyone wants to hang out with me.

Even on Skype!

Con: I am not quite special enough to have my own boppy cover.

And finally,

Pro: I get to have lunch out with the ladies!

Con:  Mommy gets this text from Daddy an HOUR after we leave:

"Is A with you...because I can't find her anywhere."

Well, that makes us all feel really secure.

Our Little Valentine

I just don't know how these things happen so fast.

As of yesterday, A is already 3 months old.

It has been such a sweet gift to have a baby girl in the house and we have enjoyed every minute with her.  She is smiling so big and interacting with her brothers and thinks she needs to sit up tomorrow. Oh dear.

However, despite the good times with Sister, this winter has been something else.

The never-ending snow and ice days of no school.



The constant colds from adjusting back to germs in the States.

And a so sick newborn that almost has to be hospitalized.  (She has fully recovered)

Not to mention that 3 has turned out to be an awful big number of kids to Joe and I.  We really love being a family of 5, but the logistics of it all has us worn out.  I mean, they just keep wanting to eat. All of them.  Every few hours.  It never ends.  What's up with that?



Thankfully, the Lord knows when we are getting to the end of our ropes, and we have had a couple of small victories in the last few days: A has been sleeping 7 hours at night and J has been a little more cordial to his baby sister.



G was VERY into Valentine's Day this year.  He has spent all week making Valentines for, um, himself.  So we have a little work to do.  But we all agreed that Sister was the perfect Valentine.