Puddle Jumping

Pumpkin Patch

RJ & his kindergarten class

Telling Time

8:32
  RJ: Daddy, what's eight three two?
  Hubs: Eight thirty-two.

8:33
  RJ: Daddy, what's eight three three?
  Hubs: Eight thirty-three.

8:34
  RJ: Daddy, what's eight three four?
  Hubs: Eight thirty-four.

8:35
  RJ: Daddy, what's eight three five?
  Hubs: If you had to guess, what would you say?
  RJ: Ummm...
  Eli: Eight thirty-five!

Reaganisms

At three years old, this little man spouts 

some of the most interesting and entertaining musings:

• "Momma, I'm going to get bigger and bigger and bigger
  and be a daddy and get coffee. I do like coffee ...
  I'm going to get bigger all by myself. And eat a sandwich."


• "But momma, I don't want hair on my bottom!"
  (He was even more horrified to learn that
  everyone has hair ALL OVER their bodies!)


• "Daddy's a big strong man. He can get that boat down for me."
  (In reference to a kayak on display in a store)


• "I don't like meat. I just like chicken."

Three

Happy Third Birthday to my biggest little man!

Baptized into Christ

Eli, Daddy, Momma, RJ, Opa, Uncle A w/JoJo, Auntie K

Opa, Nana, Daddy, Momma w/JoJo, Grandma, Grandpa

JoJo with her sponsors, Uncle A & Auntie K

w/Big Brothers Eli & RJ, all dressed up for Easter

Three Under Three

Discharged from the hospital 26 hours after birth, we came home to sleeping boys and managed a fairly uneventful first night as a family of five. Our second night, however, involved toddler puke from the eldest, attributed to over-stimulus on his first day brothering two. Coupled with the now-middle-child's increased need for physical attention, it's not surprising that we're all a bit sleepy around here. We're taking these days slowly, treasuring our time with tiny people. They won't be lap-size for long, but for the next five weeks we'll have three under three, and I don't want to miss a moment.

Big Brothers

In the Quiet

One toddler breathing deeply in his bed an arm's length away,

another snuggled to my chest as he settles down to sleep,

and their sister stirring inside me, anxious to join them.

My hands may be full, but so is my heart.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Home

His first car ride, a waving brother, welcoming signs on the door - LittleE's day has been full of excitement already, and now we're home, together again as a family. RJ has decided that he likes this tiny person who has invaded his family, and is glad to have Momma & Daddy home with him again - three days with Grandma & Aunt Boo (and Grandpa) was fun, but he was more than ready to have us back. So we settle in, practicing our balance of two boys while we still have helping hands nearby. Twice the diapers, twice the feedings, twice the loves. My heart, which now resides in two little bodies outside my own, overflows.

Rocking

The slow rhythm calms. Back and forth, back and forth. Soft music plays in the background as his head sinks heavily into my shoulder. Back and forth. His legs wrap around my ever-expanding belly, perching himself atop his brother. Breath sounds grow slow and heavy as little hands reach up to hold my face. The scent of clean baby wafts up to me, and I lean in for a stronger sniff. Back and forth. I close my eyes and memorize this moment - this small boy held tight, in his last days alone. Soon my time will be shared between two, both in need of love - and rocking. But for now, I treasure these moments with my firstborn. Back and forth.

Big Boy Bed

It's official - my baby now sleeps in a Big Boy Bed, his crib sitting empty in wait of his little brother. I won't say the transition was seamless (we may have had one bad night, complete with puke-inducing sobs), but we persevered. On the third night, he discovered how to get out of bed on his own and has since needed some reminding that bed time is sleeping time, but a few minutes in the rocking chair are usually all that's required. We awaken to the sounds of tiny knocks on his bedroom door, letting us know that he's ready for a new day - even if we're not. And while naps are alluding us at the moment, we're optimistic that his sleep schedule will even itself out in the near future and we'll have a well-adjusted toddler just in time to introduce a tiny new person to the family dynamic.

Visiting

 

 

 

 

 

Laundry

Rain

Auntie K

Toddling

Independence Day