Merry Christmas

What a magical Christmas we had! From the pitter patter of tiny feet running across the hardwood floor early in the morning, to whispers of, "He did it! He really got us a Paw Patrol jeep, Ry!" To giggles and squeals as you played with new toys and humming of carols all day long. Every thing you did was full of joy and magic, and my Christmas loving heart was in heaven watching the joy in your eyes!

The love you three have for each other never ceases to amaze me. In the middle of opening your own gifts, you would both stop to check in on each other and Char. You would show her how to open something or how to play with one of her new toys. I truly pray that the love and friendship you three have for each other lasts your entire lifetime and just continues to grow.

After a morning spent playing outside with new toys and having countless nerf wars (with a casualty straight to my eye, thanks to Daddy!), we were able to enjoy some time with Nenny, Papa Donnie, and Boo. You were excited to show off your new toys for them before taking a quick nap.

Paka, Zsu Zsu, Tse Tse, Uncle Aaron, Uncle Kye, and Yaya all came over for dinner and presents later that day. Towards the end of the night Ry, you were in tears over stomach pain. You didn't want to open any presents and were hunkered over, groaning with pain. We stopped to have you anointed. Immediately, after amen, you were completely back to normal! It was such a wonderful Christmas healing! Energy back, giggles back, and riding your new bike around the basement. It was amazing to witness the complete 180 you did in a matter of seconds! Thank you, Lord.

Every year, I'm amazed at how quickly Christmas comes and goes. This year was no exception. But what a blessed year it was as our first Christmas as a family of five. I wish I could bottle these moments up forever. I pray that we hold on to and treasure these memories. Merry Christmas, my little loves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Eve

Unfortunately, we couldn't all make it to church on Christmas Eve. Saturday had been go-go-go and you felt the effects Char. So, you and I stayed home so you could get a really good nap and take it easy in the morning, while the boys headed to church.

Once home, we decorated Santa's Christmas cookies, before heading off to Paka and Zsu Zsu's house for dinner.

The highlight of my day, was sitting on the couch in the dark, below your bedroom, listening to your conversations as you drifted off to sleep.

"Ry, can you see the milk and cookies?? Has Santa drank his milk yet? Hey Ry, can I 'sweep' wit you so I can see Santa too?"
"No, you can 'sweep,' in you bed, Wy."
"Ok. Will you tell me when you see Santa, Ry? Then I can run on you bed and see him too?"
"Sure! If I stay awake, I tell you when I see him."

Oh the magic of believing! As a 30-some year old believer, I hope you never lose the magic little ones. I hope you never lose this joy and the sparkle in your eyes.

Christmas Eve Eve

Christmas Eve eve was spent surrounded by family! All week, we've each been sick. Boys, you were hit with a stomach bug on Monday, but bounced back pretty quickly. Daddy, Char, and I got hit with a nasty cold. Char you were so sick, we decided to keep you home from brunch at Grandpa's house. Close quarters with too many other little ones -- we didn't want to pass our germs on to anyone else. Thankfully, Paka and Zsu Zsu kept you at their house, so that I could go celebrate with Daddy, the boys, and everyone else.

After a wonderful morning with your cousins, we picked up your sister and headed to Nenny's house for Christmas celebrations spent with more family and cousins. It was such a nice day playing with your cousins, who you all adore, and spending time together. Considering how sick you've been Char, you were such a trooper! You'd really never know you were sick, besides a runny nose. 

It was a busy, beautiful day kicking off Christmas weekend.

 

 

Christmas Festivities

I cannot believe we are on the eve of Christmas weekend! December has just flown by and we have enjoyed soaking up the days and making lots of memories.

We kicked the month off, before December even began, by putting up the tree and going to visit ole Saint Nick on the Friday after Thanksgiving. It was a lovely day spent singing carols and enjoying the five of us being together.

 

 

 

 

Throughout December we have enjoyed lots of snuggles by the tree, watching some of our favorite Christmas movies, and plenty of hot chocolate!

 

One of my personal favorite traditions, is one spent with Zsu Zsu and Tse Tse. We find a day in December to visit your Great Grandma's favorite store in Kentucky, The Cherry House. She would go and admire the furniture and decorations every year she came down for Christmas. We keep her memory alive by continuing the tradition every year. This year was extra magical with a surprise and beautiful snow shower (and fudge Zsu Zsu snuck in in her pocket!!).

 

We began a new tradition this year, but it was an instant hit and one I'm sure we'll continue. We all piled into the car one evening to go on a Christmas light scavenger hunt! Dinner, fudge, carols, and lights all in the car! Wiley, you were especially focused, trying to find everything on your list (we never did find that gingerbread man or a stocking!). Char, it was fun while it lasted for you, but you decided to catch a little snooze too.

We kicked off Christmas break with your preschool performance! You were so excited to be upgraded to camels this year and sang your little hearts out. Prior to the performance, you let us know you couldn't stand next to each other because you talk to each other too much! As soon as they called the three-year old classes to the front to bow and be recognized, you gravitated right to each other, talking like you had been separated for days! You two sure do love each other.

 

 

And last, but not least, we started another tradition: Cousins' Polar Express Christmas! We all got together in our jammies for some presents, dinner, hot chocolate, cookies, cupcakes, and of course the Polar Express movie! Watching you stand in line, patiently waiting for Uncle Keal / Daddy, to punch your tickets was adorable. And then watching you each hold on tight to that ticket so no one got the wrong one (just like in the movie) was precious too.

The magic of Christmas through your all's eyes is just fabulous. This has always been my most favorite time of the year, and I didn't think it could be anymore magical, but you three have done just that! You have brought Christmas even more alive for us. You have such loving, pure hearts. All month long we have focused on doing good for others and sharing the Christmas spirit. I have loved watching you get excited to bring joy to others' lives - even as simple as you all wishing people Merry Christmas as we grocery shop. It has been a wonderful season and I am so looking forward to celebrating over the next few days with you and family!

 

 

9 Months

I think the months are getting shorter on us! How are we this close to a year already?! Your ninth month included your first Thanksgiving, your brothers' birthday, and the start of many Christmas festivities.

• You weigh 20 lbs even, 79th percentile and are 28 inches tall, 63rd percentile. You are still in size 3 diapers, squeezing into some 6 month sized clothing, but more appropriately wearing 9 and 12 month sizes now. 
• You were a dream sleeper as an infant, but not so much now. We are lucky to get six hours in a row at night. But, we can't complain too much because you wake to nurse for about ten minutes and then it's right back down. The doctor keeps suggesting we let you "cry it out." While we did that for your brothers, it just seems faster and easier to nurse you and get back to sleep, then to be awake listening to you cry for ten minutes and then having to be awake to feed you. You are also still sleeping downstairs in our room. So when you wake to see Mommy right next to you, it makes it hard for you to fall back asleep. Plus, I may have the mentality that you're our baby and this is our last time for each stage. You won't be waking to nurse at five years old, so what's a few more months of these quiet moments together in the middle of the night. You also aren't the greatest napper either, but we don't blame that on you though. You usually get one decent nap a day (lasting anywhere from one to three hours). A second nap is an occasional occurrence. Your schedule revolves around everyone else's schedule, so you have to be more flexible. The plus side is you never fuss. So even when you go without a nap or just a few catnaps, you'd never know from your mood. You are always so chill, a go with the flow kinda gal. You are able to put yourself to sleep both for naps and bedtime, but bedtime is your Daddy's favorite time with you. He loves to let you fall asleep on his chest and hold you for a few quiet hours before we go to bed too. I love how smitten he is with you.
• You are about over the baby food and are very determined to feed yourself. We've thrown a few more table foods at you this month. You love to feed yourself small banana pieces, cooked carrots, and green beans now. You still nurse every 3 hours or so as well. We are at the "fun" stage of nursing filled with constant distractions and looking around, while trying to keep you focused long enough to nurse for at least ten minutes. This is even more difficult with two big brothers running around. 
• You sign "more" and "all done." We have introduced you to "please" and "thank you," this month, but still working on you using those signs. You try to say "more" when signing too. You also say and call us "mama" and "dada." 
• You love basketball and have been to a couple of Uncle Kye's games now. You watch the entire game, following the ball and clapping with the crowd. Daddy was watching basketball on TV the other night and when you noticed, you started clapping, almost like you know, this is what we do when we watch basketball! Do we already have another sports fanatic in the family?
• You are no longer our toothless wonder. You have your bottom two center teeth and are just adorable!
• Your transportation of choice now is....WALKING!!! How?! How is this possibly that before even turning 9 months old, you preferred walking over crawling?! And even more impressive is that you are actually a really solid walker already too. You know when you're about to fall and stop to steady yourself. We haven't really ever seen you wipe out either; if you can't steady yourself, you just slowly plop to your bottom and try again.
• You can stand up now without pulling yourself up on anything either. So when toddling around, if you fall, you can pop right back up no matter where you are. 
• You are still just as sweet and pleasant as ever. We say all the time, has there ever been a happier, easier baby?! You are just a doll, Char, and we adore you more than you'll ever know.

 

4 Years Old

4 years old - and what a big fourth year of life it has been! You made all your fourth year memories in our new house, you welcomed your new sister to the family, you had two trips to the beach and fell in love with the beach (just this week asked, "Can we go back to the beach, pwease?"), you have started another year of preschool, and so many more. Your daddy and I will often look at each other and say, "Who are these little people?! Where did our babies go?!" Each new stage of life has always been fun to experience, along with new challenges and your fourth year was no exception. Holding real-life conversations with you is so wonderful, "How was school, Mom?" and "How was work, Dad?" are usually some of the first words out of your mouths when we get home. With this growth and maturity has come a need for independence too, wanting to do things on your own, wanting to make your own decisions and resist being told what to do, and needing some control. All in all, it has been an incredible fourth year. So without further ado, let's get to it!

• You are now 37 pounds, 64th percentile, 41.5 inches, 77th percentile, and wearing 4T clothes (it's still amazes me that you have completely caught up and in your age apporpiate clothes! You'd never guess you were a 3 lb, 30 weeker preemie)
• You have the sweetest, most sensitive soul. We have recently been reading, "How to Be a Bucket Filler," on repeat. You have been so focused on being a "bucket filler," and making others happy. You now greet your teacher with a cheerful, "Hi!" to fill her bucket before class. You have seen things laying around the house and will pick them up (not your things either) and proudly exclaim, "Here Mom, let me fill your bucket! I put dis away for you!" You have taken such pride in making others happy and filling their heart with joy. It truly could make me weep when I see this. We love your heart, Wiley!
• Your Curious George nickname, since being a baby, still holds true. You have to know what everything is. "Don't touch," "Don't reach," "Is that your's bud? Ok than don't pick it up," could be played on repeat all day. And it's not out of misbehaving or mischievous, it's just genuine curiosity. You have a need to know! You love to tinker, build and explore how things work. If we sit back and watch, I swear we can see the wheels turning in your head as you make sense of your world around you. I can't wait to see what you do with this curiosity with how things work as you grow. 
• You may look and act just like your Daddy, but don't be fooled, you have a lot of your Momma's traits too....which may be why we butted heads a little more this year. You are a strong-willed, determined, somewhat stubborn little boy. You want to do things your way without being told how to do it. You want to do things yourself without someone doing it for you. And if you can't, meltdowns may follow. Unfortunately for you, I'm a little strong-willed, determined, and somewhat stubborn too! Hence, the clash of personalities. In just the last two months or so, you have gotten so much better at controlling your emotions though! Instead of me being so stubborn with you and wanting to make decisions for you (decisions as simple as what spoon to use for breakfast), I have learned to let go of my control too. When appropriate, we let you make those decisions that are so important to you. In the mornings, you now get to look through the spoons to pick the one that you'd like to use. Together, we compromise and pick outfits together. You have also learned though, that sometimes the adults need to make the decisions (like which route we are going to drive to get home) and you have become much more flexible with this. So while these traits can be challenging at four-years old, I can't wait to see what great things you do with it as you grow. 
• You love to tickle things to calm yourself down. You have "tickle sheets," "tickle pants" (super soft jammie pants), and some of Mommy's clothes make great "tickle shirts." When I wear a "tickle shirt," you will follow me around tickling the ends of my shirt. You must have something to tickle to fall asleep too. Recently, you tickled gigantic holes into your two favorite tickle pants. We were panicked that you wouldn't be able to fall asleep without these jammies. But the mature little (nearly) four-year-old that you were, you said, "It ok, Mom. You can throw them away. I just tickle my sheets." 
• You have an incredible, creative imagination. I love to just sit and listen to you play. You become completely transported into the world you have created.
• You have more energy than we know what to do with! You have two speeds that you go through life with: fast and faster. With these two speeds, that means lots of booboos. I tease that I want to just cover you from head to toe in bubble wrap to protect you better.
• Dinnertime has become a little more challenging, as you want to just get up and play with Daddy who is finally home. But when we do get you to sit and eat, you seem to be our more adventurous eater. You like to try anything and so badly want to like everything. Before you've really even tasted a new food, you exclaim, "I like it!" The facial expressions that follow cue us in as to if you really did like it or not. 
• You love letters and numbers. You now know almost all of your letters and some of the letter sounds too. You can spell and write your name! You love to count and can count 29 objects. 
• Oh our little Wiley Bug, how we love you so! You are so fun and keep us on our toes! Happy Birthday, Bug! 

 

• You did it!! You finally broke the barrier and now weigh 30 pounds! You weigh 32 pounds, 19th percentile, 40 inches, 44th percentile, and wearing 3T clothes.
• You are our affectionate cuddle bug. You love to snuggle up, sit on our laps, and tickle our thumbs. I love that you ask to cuddle with us. You need to just get your little fix throughout the day and then you can go on with what you were doing.
• You are our rule follower (although you've been testing these boundaries a little more recently). You know what you are allowed and not allowed to do. If anyone breaks these rules, you are quick to let an adult know.
• You are very empathetic and worry about others. You have the sense to realize feelings may be hurt if certain comments or actions are made. You ask about others (especially family members) often, checking on how they're doing and feeling. 
• Along those lines, you can not be given one thing or do one thing without saying, "What about Wy?" It can be as small as, "Hey Ry, want to run to the basement with me?" You will answer with a shout to your brother who is upstairs, nowhere around, "Hey Wy! You want to go to the basement with us?!" I have never witnessed such a young kiddo so focused on making sure everything is fair. The bond you have with your brother is beautiful and I love how you care for him.
• You have an incredible, creative imagination which sometimes makes it difficult to differentiate between reality and imagination. You talk to us constantly about "your office" and what you did at your office that day. Apparently you coach baseball and basketball there, you have a refrigerator there with drinks and food to eat, you fix cars, you work there, you are a teacher there, and you can sleep there with your bed. 
• You are our physical little boy. You love all sports, but especially baseball. You like to play rough and wrestle, especially with your Daddy. You take your physicality out on your toys and play rough with them too. You are more destructive, knocking things over and hitting them (even to your brothers pleas to stop). You can also become physical when upset: stomping feet, hitting things, etc. Rarely do you take it out on people, but when especially frustrated you have hit or even bit your brother.
• You may look and act just like me, but don't be fooled, you have a lot of your Daddy's traits too....you are so outgoing and suddenly want to talk to everyone. Walking through the grocery store has become quite interesting as you now try to greet anyone we pass and ask how they're doing. I love how social and outgoing you are, but for your shy Momma it has taken me some getting used to! You are teaching me how to interact and make small talk with strangers too - something that could've given me a near panic attack in the past.
• You love letters and numbers. You now know almost all of your letters and some of the letter sounds too. You can spell and write your name! You love to count and can count 11 objects. 
• Gosh we just adore you, Ryan! You bring so much joy to our home. Happy Birthday, Monkey!

Super Readers - To the Book Club!

Saturday kicked off the birthday celebrations with your birthday party. We've been counting down for over a week now, so when that last paper chain came off today, you were both excited. "It's our party, it's our party, woohoo, woohoo!" was sung all day long. You were so excited to get your Super Why party underway and finally play your "secret, surprise game."

It's always nice to have family in our home, but especially on an evening like today where they are here to celebrate and love you. Our home was filled with loud shouts of cousins playing and giggling! I think I say this every year, but I just love that all your family is right here with you. Growing up away from my own family, I didn't have those relationships with my grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. So to see that you all get to experience that is so wonderful for me. You boys are so very loved by so many! It was a busy, fun day and great way to kickoff the birthday weekend!