Christmas has hit our house!

Well after weeks of Will begging us to put up the tree, we finally did! It took two nights. The first night we actually put it up and the second night we decorated it. This is the first year that we let the kids help with everything...so putting it up took a little bit longer than normal. They really got into it, and it ended up being really fun. The second night when we decorated, I got a little bit stressed because had Daddy not intervened, it would've become a free for all with the ornaments! Here is the finished product, now our challenge is keeping Caroline away from the ornaments.

The next morning, they came down and their stockings were hung, and Olivia wanted to know if Santa had been here and brought their stockings.


I really love this time of year, and love what it signifies to our family. Today at my MOPS group we made this cool craft. It's an advent candle to count down the days of Christmas. Each day there is a verse to read as well. If you want to make one, you need a pillar candle: use red, green & yellow paint to make dots to signify the days. (If you use the head of a pin, it is really easy to paint the dots on.) Make 12 green dots, and 12 red dots with the last dot being the yellow one. Each day, light it and burn it down to the next dot. I put it on our kitchen table, and we burned it during dinner. The kids loved it!

We're such good parents...

So what do you do with three kids (okay two, number 3 was contained in the stroller) who are going nuts at the mall?

Of course, we stop by a kiosk offering free samples!




I like that Olivia's turned out looking more like lipstick than chocolate. Such a glamour girl!



Just to clarify...Caroline kind of hijacked her treat from Daddy. We figured that was not a battle we wanted to fight!





Happy Thanksgiving!

My sweetie

My sweet Caroline is 15 months old! She is such a joy in our house. She has always been so good, and just rolls with the punches. I'm not sure if that's because she's number 3, or if it's just her personality. She is really easy, and just super sweet. Up until now, she's been pretty quiet, but she is starting to become really chatty, and even talks with her hands! She can say Mama (the only one who said that first!), Dada, Olivia (O-wa-wa), Will (Wa), baby, puppy (puppa, and she thinks every animal is a puppa), and hi (she says it with a southern accent which adds to her cuteness!). Olivia likes to tell her secrets, and Caroline just laughs and laughs. It's like she really understands what Olivia is saying.



Will & Olivia can make her laugh like no one else. She loves to dance when any music comes on, and likes to sing in the tub. She's really smart, it only takes a couple of times for us to show her things before she starts doing it. She tries to be sneaky, but then comes right to me, and shows me what she's doing. She tries to make us laugh by making silly faces. She's usually pretty mild mannered, but she's quick to let us know when she doesn't like something or something (someone is more like it!) is bothering her. In true girl fashion, she tries to put things in her hair, and her big sister has shown her how to carry a purse, and she likes to "talk" on the phone. The time seems to be going by so much more quickly with Caroline than it did with the other two. I'm blessed that she's in my life! I'm thankful for her smiles, giggles, and cuddles.

Revolving Door

I hate being sick, but I hate my kids being sick even more. This cold season has not been a good one. My kids are generally healthy, so I think it's catching us all off guard a little. They are good eaters, they love fruits and vegetables, and take vitamins. Fortunately I'm not one of those moms that has to hide the vegetables in their food in order for them to eat them. They don't drink soda, and we are big advocates of hand washing. (my hands are so dry right now from constant hand washing!) We try to teach them to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, and they go to bed early. I feel like lately my house has a revolving door...when one illness goes out, the next one is right behind it coming in. Fortunately they have been quick runs, and have been treated quickly. We try to protect our kids from being sick, but short of keeping them trapped inside the house (which let's face it, would not be good for anyone involved!) for the entire winter, I'm at a loss. As much as we try to teach our kids how not to get sick, how do you protect them from other kids? You know which ones. The kid that sneezes in their face, or the kid who's parent sent them to preschool with pink eye. (thank you very much to that parent by the way...Olivia & Will both got pink eye!) I'm sure that we've all been guilty of sending our kids to school with snotty noses or coughs, but really? Pink eye? I was actually the parent volunteer that day. I about croaked when I saw this little girl with dark pink eyes sitting (& coughing!) right next to my healthy, unsuspecting kid. Nice. So if you know of a way to keep my kiddos healthy, please share!

Trick or Treat!

We took the kids trick or treating this year. This is the first year we did strictly trick or treating. In years past, we've gone to the mall, or a fall festival. But this year, we wanted them to experience trick or treating like we did when we were kids. They had a blast! We went to Grandma & Papa's house first, and started on their street. Caroline lasted about 6 houses, so we came home, and the big kids & Daddy went out. They came back with loads of candy. (which has been thoroughly enjoyed by mom & dad!)






Will as Mr. Incredible



Olivia as what else? A princess of course!



Caroline as my sweet Kitty




the crew

Pumpkin Patch Fun

We went to two different pumpkin patches this year. We went to one with a good friend and her kids, and then a family trip. All three kids had a great time. Caroline was obsessed with the hay, and Will and Olivia had a great time running around!
*sorry, I couldn't get my pictures to line up!*

I've got my hands full....

Yes, I have three kids. That's three kids people, not thirty! For some reason, it drives me insane when I go out with my kids, and random people look at me with wide eyes and say "Wow, you've got your hands full!" Um, thanks for noticing. And let me clarify, it's never "wow, you've got your hands full, let me help you!" It's usually just a statement, as if they're making a great observation that I was not aware of. If it was the first statement, I don't think that would annoy me. I usually just kind of smile, and say "yeah, I do!" Now, I know three kids is more than one, but seriously it's not as if I have an obscene amount of kids! In fact, I would say that a majority of my friends have 3 kids. I'm not going to pretend that my kids are perfect, or that I am supermom, because frankly we are all far from that. But generally my kids are pretty well behaved. They like going to the grocery store, and going out in general.(this is not to say that I reserve my errands for when I have all three!) I'm not sure what it is about three kids that pushes people over the edge. Maybe it's because I'm outnumbered, or because I look young. (What do you say when people tell you you look too young to have three kids? Because I've gotten that one too! Ummm...thanks?) Although it doesn't happen as often, my husband and I get it when we're together too. Maybe our kids really are wacko, and we don't notice it since we're used to the chaos. Who knows! Hopefully when I get older, I will remember how much that annoyed me and instead say, "You have some beautiful kids!"

So tired...must...sleep

Possibly the only thing I miss from my pre-mommy days is sleep. My husband calls me a cat because if I could, I'd sleep all day. I could sleep until noon and not even think twice about it. I was a deep sleeper too, it took a lot to wake me up. In college, my roommate and I slept right through a fire alarm! (Luckily there was no fire, it was just a drill!) I could sleep through storms, people yelling...seriously, if they gave awards out for sleeping, I could have swept up.
But times have changed. Oh how times have changed! All it took was my son being born, and BAM! I'm now the world's lightest sleeper. I wake at any little noise. Someone coughs or sneezes, or takes too loud of a breath, and I'm snapped out of sleep immediately. I've always loved coffee, but now that I wake up through out the night, and my son is an early riser, it holds a special place in my heart!
Will is an early bird (who says God doesn't have a sense of humor!), no matter what time he goes to bed, he always wakes up at the same time. His usual time is around 6:30, but this morning, he strolled into my room at 6:00! Seriously?! It was still dark outside! He's the type of kid who wakes up ready to go. He might lay down again, but he's definitely not going to sleep. Olivia likes to stay up late, and wakes up late. (later than Will anyway!) She, like her mama, is going to need a cup of coffee before she can get moving.
If you still get the luxury of sleeping in, then enjoy it! Meanwhile I will mourn the loss of my sleeping in days...or maybe I'll go take a nap!

Mute Button

There's no denying that all three of my kids are loud. (My husband likes to point out that they get that from their mother!) I was kind of hoping that the baby would be nice and quiet...yeah no such luck. She may be quieter (for now!) , but she is definitely chatty. We are going to be in trouble once she and Olivia get going.
Even though Will is loud and super talkative, there is no comparison to that ear splitting shriek that comes out of my girls. If you have girls, then your eardrums are just as shattered as mine. I'm convinced that it is truly a female trait. Both of my girls have been doing this since they figured out how to make noise. And most of the time it's a happy sound...most of the time! I will never forget the look on my husband's face the first time Olivia screamed. I just laughed and said, "she's a girl!" And now, once one girl starts, the other joins in so we have a "chorus" of shrieks that leaves our ears ringing.
Jason told Will they would build a tree house to have their own little man cave to escape to...unless I find a mute button, I just may have to join them! ;)

Will the Thrill

Will is 6 today! I can't believe that 6 years have gone by so fast. It sounds so cliche, but it really feels like he was just born! I feel like I blinked, and he's six and in kindergarten. Pretty soon, I will blink, and he will be graduating from high school. I'm so thankful to be your mom, so here's to you my little man!

Dear Will,
God brought you into our lives at a time when we so needed you. I was struggling with sadness, and you were my spark of joy. Your daddy and I were thrilled when we found out you were a boy. We had a feeling that you were, and had never even talked about girls' names. We named you well when we named you Will!
You are so smart, (sometimes a little too smart!) and can be stubborn. I know with that combination, you will be a success at whatever you decide to do. Along with that, you are so thoughtful, you always complement people, and you notice all the little things. You are so funny, you love to be silly and make people laugh. Your sisters are your biggest fans, and you are going to be such a good protector for them.
I know that God has great plans for you, and will use you in a mighty way. I'm so thankful that He chose your daddy & I to guide you in your life. I pray that you will come to know Him, and let others see Him in you.

Your smile and laughter are infectious. I love the way your eyes sparkle when you think something is funny. You bring us joy every day that you are with us, and we are so lucky to have you in our lives. You are a true blessing in our lives.
I love you buddy!

Mommy

Daddy's Girls

I love my husband. God has truly blessed me with a great man. We have been together since we were in high school. Through the years, I have enjoyed watching him grow as a man and a husband. But I get the most joy out of watching him grow as a Daddy. I am so thankful that my kids have such a good Daddy who loves them, and is completely involved in each aspect of their lives.

Those of you who know my husband know he is a complete guy's guy. He loves all things sports, and is super competitive. I had no doubt that he'd be a great dad to our son. They have such a good time together. Dad is his hero, no one else can quite measure up.

When we found out that we were having a girl (and then another girl!), I think he was a little worried. He had two brothers, so girls were a whole new territory. That being said, our daughters have had his heart completely since he first saw their sweet faces. Since that first moment when we had our ultrasounds, his protectiveness kicked in. He was already making rules about dating and boyfriends and our tiny princesses were mere ounces. I pray that when they do get to that point, they will seek to find a boy that is like their daddy, and who loves them with all their hearts.

Their daddy is their world. When he comes home from work, they rush to the door (what a greeting!), to try to claim him first. It warms my heart (as I'm sure it does his!) that they fight over him, and who he holds first. They both love to snuggle with him, and take every opportunity to do so. I love to hear the giggles and squeals that come from them when they are getting tickled.

Each time I see my husband, I am reminded of how blessed I am, as are my kids.

On the go!

So lately, we've been full of activities! My minivan is definitely earning it's keep in our house! I feel like we are constantly going, and that is with only two out of the three doing activities (and only one each at that!). I don't know how families with lots of kids doing multiple activities do it!

Will decided that he wanted to give soccer a try this fall and he loves it! He has already told us (multiple times) that he likes it more than baseball. He is having a great time playing, and it is definitely wearing him out. He practices one day a week, and has games one day a week. During his last game he played goalie, and made a couple of great saves!

On top of starting preschool, Olivia is dancing. She's taking a ballet, tap, & acro class once a week. She LOVES it!! She has only been a couple of times, but I have a feeling this may be a lasting thing. I am not actually able to see her dance, they close the door, so the moms can't watch. But from what I can hear, they are having a great time. It comes out in pieces what they've learned that day. I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing her like this! :)

I know this is just the beginning of our endless activities. But for now, we're having fun!

Preschool, here I come!

Today was Olivia's first day of preschool! Olivia has been waiting for her turn for school since Will was there. She has made herself known, and all the teachers love her. (I'm not just saying that because she's mine, they've all told me so!) She was so excited to go today that she actually told me that I didn't have to drive her, she would just walk!



I know Olivia will do great there. She is super social, (big shocker, I know!) and loves learning and being around other kids. Her good friend Madi is in her class, (which she's so happy about!) and I know it won't be long before she knows everyone's name in her class. She will love it there as much as Will.

Today after I dropped Will off, we headed to preschool. True to form, Olivia posed for all the pictures I wanted to take and then she took off! She ran right in, and sat down like she'd been going there for years. I had to pick something up from the office, and I had to go back in through the room where she was. She saw me, and ran up to me looking totally worried. My first thought was "aww, she's sad!" That was short lived when she told me we forgot her name tag at home! So needless to say, she was thrilled to be there. (I realize she doesn't look too happy in this picture, but I think she was done with pictures and wanted to go!)

I left, and got teary. (again waited until I got to the parking lot, so she never knew!) Caroline and I went to run a couple of errands, and I kept my composure. After our errands, Caroline napped, and I actually sat and enjoyed a cup of coffee...I might be able to get used to this quiet house thing!



...Well maybe, I made Caroline promise she would not turn 4! ;)

Big Man on Campus

So today was the first day of kindergarten...we all survived!

As long as I have been dreading this day, Will has been counting down. He has been so excited to go to kindergarten. He's been ready for a long time. I know that, I've known he was ready, but mommy not so much! He actually cheered yesterday when he asked me when the last day of summer was, and I answered today. So last night, he picked out his clothes, and we got his backpack ready!

It's funny because, he's actually going to be gone less than he was for preschool, but I have been emotional nonetheless. I think it's because I've past the point of no return. I can't pretend that he's a baby anymore. I mean it's KINDERGARTEN!! He is in elementary school, he carries a backpack and rides the bus! (Well, he rides the bus home, I still drop him off in the mornings...Mom was not quite ready to let go of all control!) I know he'll love it!

This morning about 5 minutes before it was time to get in the car, he told me he didn't feel good. I guess it was just nerves, which did not help my already frazzled state of mind! But we loaded up, and drove (the whole 5 minutes!) to his school. He was excited when we got there, and we all filed to his class. Once in there, he greeted his teacher (she's really nice!) and put his bag up, and started coloring. I took a couple of pictures, (just a couple, I didn't want to prolong anything!) and said goodbye. I was fine the whole time...then I walked out of the doors. I could feel my chest ache, and my eyes get full, and a huge knot well up in my throat. As the tears fell, I dropped on my sunglasses so Olivia wouldn't see me cry. I don't want her to think it's sad to go to school! (Her turn is coming soon!) Anyway, it was good that I had Olivia and Caroline to worry about, otherwise I'm sure I would've been a mess. By the time we got back to the car, I had composed myself. I took the girls to a fun princess party, so that was a good distraction!

Since I'm going to be taking Olivia three days a week, we made the deal that I will take him in the morning, and he can ride the bus home. For some reason this freaks me out! My husband (he used to teach elementary school, and he's the practical one anyway) thinks I'm nuts. But, I guess the right of a mom right? He only goes to school for half the day, so when he comes home, it's only kindergartners on the bus. They told me what time the bus will drop him off, so I made sure that I left the princess thing early enough to be here a good 10 minutes before his bus was supposed to be here. So, as I'm pulling up to my driveway, the bus (with my kid still on it!) is pulling away! I met the bus at it's next stop where the bus driver informed me that on Tuesdays & Thursdays, they will be a little early. Good to know...too bad they didn't tell me that yesterday!

Oh well, he was fine, and LOVED school! He had a great time, and is excited to go. I'm fine, but I'm glad it's over!

4 is Fabulous!

Wow, so 10 days after celebrating my sweet baby's first birthday, we are celebrating another birthday. The princess is 4! I can't believe she is 4. 4 is so grown up! We are starting preschool in September, and dance lessons too! Can't you just see her in a little tutu? ;) It was actually right at this moment, 4 years ago that my water broke! That was the beginning of an exciting adventure. I will write about both girls' births in a different post, but I wanted to end with a letter for my Olivia.

To my beautiful Olivia:

You are such a precious gift from God. Your daddy and I are blessed to have you in our lives. From the beginning you have brought such joy to us. You radiate joy and happiness in all you do. Your laughter and smile are contagious. You have that mischievous little twinkle in your eye. I love that you are girly, and love to dress up and play pretend. But I also love that you can roughhouse with your daddy and brother. I have no doubt that you will be able to hold your own ground. You are so funny, and people are drawn to you. I know that you will be a leader. I love that wherever we go, you have at least one new "friend" that you have met by the time we leave. You may be small, but you can do so much!

You are beautiful. Never let anyone tell you differently. But you are just as beautiful inside. You have a sweet spirit, and compassion for those who are hurt. You try to take care of your baby sister, and you want to do what your big brother does. You adore your daddy, and I love to see you interact with each other.

You came into this world a tiny little thing, but I know that God has big plans for you. I am so thankful that He chose me to help you, and guide you through this life. I pray that I can be an earthly example of God's love for you, and a good example of a wife and mother that I can only hope you will strive to be like. I pray that you will have a husband like your daddy, and a rich God filled marriage.

You are truly one of God's greatest gifts, and I'm so thankful that He gave you to us. I love our relationship now, and I can only imagine it will get better as you grow. You fill my days with happiness, and our house with laughter, and squeals. I cannot imagine my life without you in it.

I love you Olivia!

Mommy

Time flies...

It has been 12 months. 52 weeks. 365 days.

It doesn't even seem possible that Caroline has been in this world for a year already. This has been one of the fastest years of my life!

To my sweet Caroline:

I am so thankful for you! God brought you into my life at a time when I didn't realize how much I needed you. I cannot imagine our family being complete without you. From the start you have brought us such joy. You have been such a good baby with such a beautiful sweet spirit. I am honored that God chose me to be your mommy.

As you grow, I pray that I will be a good example of how a wife should be, how a mother should be, and most of all an example of God's love. You have always been such a good baby, you warm my heart with your smiles, and giggles. You love your brother and sister very much, no one can make you laugh like they do! I love your snuggles, and sloppy baby kisses. I love the way you light up when your daddy walks into the room. I pray that you will someday have a husband who is like your daddy.

Always know that we will love you no matter what. You will always have a safe place with your family. My love for you grows as you grow. I know that God has great plans for you. You are His beautiful creation.

Each day I am amazed at what you can do and what you are learning. You are funny, you try to make us laugh! You pretend to talk on the phone, and are about to start walking. You chatter a lot, and I know you and your sister are going to be up many late nights giggling and talking!

I am eternally thankful that God chose to bring you into our lives when He did. You are such a gift, to both your daddy & I.

I love you sweet girl,

Mommy

Is it bad?

The past couple of weeks, I've had a very heavy heart. I've been sad for a friend whose life has been turned upside down. Her husband was fired, and they have three small kids. The oldest is Olivia's age, and the youngest is Caroline's. The way he was fired was completely wrong, and now they don't know where they will go, or what he will do. She is my good friend, so it has hit me pretty hard.

I've tried to keep this blog light, so I haven't posted anything. So to continue that way, my friend Kelli did this, so I decided to do it too. You can write me a comment with your own, or post it on your blog! Here goes!

Is it bad that sometimes I let my kids watch way too much TV for a day just so I don't have to hear them argue & whine?

Is it bad that sometimes I "forget" about the clean dry towels in the dryer, and they only get taken out the next week when I need the dryer?

Is it bad that I have no desire EVER to own a dog?

Is it bad that when I bake cookies with my kids, it's usually because I want cookies?

Is it bad that when I bake said cookies, I usually end up eating most of them?

Is it bad that even though I hated it as a kid, I get a certain satisfaction of saying "Because I said so!" to my kids?

Is it bad that I still get sucked into reality TV? (I'm so glad Jillian finally let go of Wes! What a jerk!)

Is it bad that my son (5) already knows that mommy is not a morning person, so he bypasses my room to come straight downstairs to watch cartoons?

Is it bad that right now I have two folded baskets of laundry in my room that need to be put away, but I'm writing this post instead?

Is it bad that if I'm home alone, I sometimes make bedtime earlier so I can watch TV?

Ok, now it's your turn!

9 years!

Wow, 9 years! It doesn't even seem possible that we have been married 9 years. We say that, and then realize that we have a kid who is going to kindergarten in the fall! I have been so blessed that God has provided me with a great husband who also happens to be a wonderful daddy to my kids.

God brought him into my life when I was 14 years old, and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was going to be my husband. I actually met him at church when I was in eighth grade, and I had an instant crush on him...he was so cute! The next year when I was a freshman in high school, we both went to another school's homecoming dance with other people. We ended up sitting across from our respective dates, but next to each other, and that was the first time we officially talked. The rest is history!

He proposed to me the summer after my freshman year at college. The next summer we were married. I was 19, (almost 20) and he was 22. We were such babies! Our wedding was so great, everyone told us what a fun time they had. It was raining that day, and I remember everyone (literally everyone!) telling me that rain on your wedding day was supposed to be good luck. We honeymooned in Mexico which was great. We were both full time college students, and working, but it didn't matter because we were in love! We lived first in a tiny (seriously, I think the whole place was about as big as our master bedroom & bathroom now!) apartment, then lived in crummy married housing through his scholarship, a nice apartment, our first house, and finally the house we live in now, our house which we plan on being in indefinitely.

In 2002, we were blessed with a pregnancy, but it ended in miscarriage. This was definitely a big low in my life, but not in our marriage. He was my rock. God used this to bring us closer as a couple, and also in our relationship with Him. We were blessed soon after with another pregnancy, our son. It was a joyous time for us! During that pregnancy, we had to trust God completely. We found out that our son had some markers for genetic abnormalities. Again, he was my rock! Our son ended up being completely healthy. Then we were blessed again with our daughter. She was born 2 1/2 weeks early, tiny, but healthy. We were blessed for a third time with our sweet baby girl. Since our babies have been born I have been able to stay at home. I'm thankful that God gave me a man who supports me being home even if it means he works a little more.

I have learned that my husband is the calm one in stressful situations, and in turn keeps me calm. He frustrates me sometimes, but most of the time makes me so happy, and makes me laugh like no other! I love to watch how he grows as a man and father. He is a great dad who thoroughly enjoys his kids. I am sure anyone who knows him is not surprised that he is the "fun" parent, however the kids know that when daddy gets mad, it's serious!

I am so thankful that God brought him into my life, and that he brought us together. He is my best friend, and love. There are still sometimes I can't even believe we got married. I am blessed to have him in my life, and share my life with him!

First time for everything....

Unfortunately, I wish this was a first we could have skipped! We've had 3 kids in 5 years, so I guess it was an inevitable first. Our first trip to the E.R. Surprisingly it was not our crazy 5 year old boy, our very brave 3 year old, but our sweet mild mannered 10 month old! Yup, Caroline was the first!
It was Wednesday evening, Jason & Will were at baseball practice, Olivia was playing in the family room, I was making dinner and sweet Caroline was in her booster seat eating cheerios. I had my back turned to her because I was getting dinner out of the oven, and starting to serve plates. Next thing I know, I hear a huge crash and Caroline is screaming. I run over to find her, still strapped into her booster seat, but the chair had fallen backwards. She had put her little, no tiny feet between the table and her seat and pushed off knocking herself and the whole chair backwards. I unstrapped her and was trying to calm her down. She stopped crying pretty quickly, but then laid her head down on my shoulder and started falling asleep. This freaked me out because you always hear that if there's a head injury, it's bad news if sleep follows it. I called Jason who was turning into our subdivision. He got home a couple minutes later and took her. She was awake by now, but not her normal self. She immediately began throwing up...a lot...
I ran to the phone and called the doctor who (very calmly I might add) told me he would advise us to bring her to the E.R. He said it sounded like a concussion, but he was not as worried about that. He said that since she was throwing up, it could be signs of something more serious, like hemorrhaging in her brain! Wait, WHAT??? He was very calm still and told me he would call ahead to the E.R. so they would be expecting us. So while I'm processing all this, I'm thinking of what to do with my older kids. Thankfully we have great neighbors. I called her and told her what was going on. Without hesitation, she told me to bring my kids over, and go.
The trip to the hospital seemed like it took forever. The whole time I was trying to keep Caroline awake. She had only napped for an hour that day, so I didn't know if it was from being tired, or hitting her head, but I wasn't going to let her fall asleep. We got to the hospital, and were put in a room. The doctor came in to check her out. She was awake and even alert by now, but still not her normal self. The doctor checked her eyes, and reflexes. She actually almost took her first steps in the E.R.! He said she looked good, but wanted to keep us there a little bit longer to observe her. He wanted her to eat to see if she could keep it down. If she did, we were free to go, but if she didn't he wanted to do a CT scan. I fed her, and our Caroline was back...she was laughing, yelling, and trying to grab everything in sight! About 10:00 PM the nurse came in and said we were free to go home. After a LOOOONG and scary night, we were relieved to find out that she was completely fine.
We also found out that sleeping when kids hit their heads is fine, it's the throwing up that should be cause for concern. The nurse told us to look at their eyes to make sure their pupils are the same size and that the kid can focus on something. So there's a little bit of advice for all you parents!
Hopefully that is not a trip we have to repeat anytime soon!

A day in the life...

...Of a 3 1/2 year old princess!

I'm Olivia, and I lead a charmed life! I wake up around 7:30 or 8, and my Mommy makes my hair pretty, and puts me in a cute outfit. I'm cute, and I know it. I'm super girly, and love to play pretend, dress up, and have my nails painted. I like to color and draw, (my favorite color is pink) and I'm learning how to write. I can write my name which makes me feel like big stuff. I'm a huge chatterbox, never running out of questions. I love to perform, and make people laugh. Mom & Dad think I will be an actress when I grow up. They say I'm a bit of a drama queen. I think I will be a chef and an astronaut when I grow up. Whatever I do, I'm sure I will have fun doing it! I am super happy most of the time, but watch out if I get mad! ("Pam" tends to come out when I get upset!) Mommy says that I can be a little bit sneaky sometimes, but it's only because she doesn't let me do fun things like drink her coffee, or fill up my tea pot with water in my room.

I have a big brother who is pretty cool most days! I adore him, and want to do what he does, which sometimes gets me in trouble. I have a baby sister too, and I LOVE her! I take being a big sister very seriously. I pick her up a lot, and try to feed her. For some reason Mommy usually yells at me when I do this, but that doesn't stop me!

After playing all day, Mommy & Daddy make me go to bed around 8. If it were up to me, I would stay up late! I might miss something exciting by going to bed!

Baby on the loose!

My life will never be the same! I officially have 3 mobile children! Caroline started crawling and pulling up pretty much on the same day. She started at 9 1/2 months. I was not eager for this change to occur. She has pretty much been attached to me for the past 9 1/2 months. She loves being held, and I was happy to indulge her. Now that she is mobile, (she's super fast!) she is into everything! She has already discovered the wires to the Wii, the TV, and the TV cabinet doors. Looks like the cabinet locks are going back on. She is pulling up on stuff, and has been so brave to let go in her crib! Jason predicts she will try walking within the next month. I hope not!

This will definitely be a challenge for us. There is almost always something on the floor that should not be. (think small toys from older kids!) I have told them all along that once she starts crawling, they will have to do a better job of cleaning up their stuff. I pretty much had to tell Will that if he did not pick up his junk, she could choke and die. Maybe a little extreme, but I want him to know how important it is that his stuff stay where it's supposed to. Olivia is not into the Polly's yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before she discovers those tiny things!

My days of plopping her on my bed while I get dressed are over. Now I put her down, and it as if she's thinking, "Ok, Mom has her shirt over her head, now is my chance to bolt!" I've caught her heel as she dives over the couch, (while I'm sitting there with her!), and the older kids have had to block her several times from getting too close to the edge of the bed. I'm not ready for this, but it's here, here in full swing!

The Great Debator

Ok, I think I've said before that Will needs to be a lawyer when he grows up. Seriously, the kid loves to debate...he might as well get paid for it right?

I'm not sure if it's his age or what but he argues with us about EVERYTHING! Some days it is incredibly frustrating...like today I told him we needed to go to the grocery store for a few things, and then go get our pizza for dinner. So we pull into Shop 'n Save, and he says "Mom, I thought you said we were going to the grocery store." Ummmm.... my response? "we are at the grocery store bud." Will, "No, we're not, we're at Shop 'n Save." Really? What do I do with that? I don't know if he likes to get a reaction out of me, but he seems to argue too when I ignore him. So I'm at a loss. If anyone has any advice, let me know! I guess we were asking for it when we named him Will, he definitely lives up to his name!

On the flip side, he is super thoughtful (when he wants to be!), and sweet. He will do stuff for us, just because he thinks we'll like them. If we are outside playing, he will bring out drinks for Olivia & I. He's funny, and loves to tell jokes. He has a great laugh, and makes us crack up when he laughs at his own jokes and stories. He can be a huge helper when he's in the right mood. He's super smart, and learns things really easily. I think he will do great in Kindergarten, because he loves to learn and ask questions. He is very social, and friendly. Anyone who knows Will knows that you don't ask him a question without having time for his response!

There are some days where I am at my wit's end, but I'm so thankful for Will, and wouldn't trade him for the world. I know one day he will be incredibly successful at whatever he does. Until then, I'm sure he will continue to debate his old mom!

My Sweet Caroline

*sigh* Caroline is 9 months old. It doesn't even seem possible that she can be that old already. She is my last baby and for some reason I seemed to think that time would go slower with her, but instead it has flown by. I don't remember time going this fast with Will & Olivia.

She is such a good baby! I'm not just saying that because I'm her mom. God has truly blessed us with her presence. Since the beginning, Caroline has been very content, and relaxed. She doesn't cry that much, and when she does, she is easily pacified. She is very happy and friendly. She started smiling at 5 weeks old, and they were real smiles. She began sleeping through the night at 10 weeks, which was much earlier than my other two. She put herself on a great schedule that worked out wonderfully for me, and she has stuck to it. She absolutely loves her brother and sister, and is mesmerized by them. She and Olivia are already like two peas in a pod. Olivia can get laughs out of her like no other! She has started waving, says "mama" & "dada", and is babbling all the time. She is on the verge of crawling...she's up on her hands & knees rocking back and forth. Don't get me wrong, she can get to where she wants to go by rolling or inching like a little worm. Her favorite foods right now are cheerios and bananas. She loves to be held (which I gladly indulge her in!), and is definitely a mommy's girl and that is fine by me!

Caroline was our surprise baby. We had not completely ruled out having three kids, but at the time we said we were good with two. God timing and plans (not mine!) are perfect, and he has made that evident to me time and time again. God knew that I needed this sweet little baby in my life, and he knew that I needed her then. I did not realize how much I needed her until she was here. She has brought so much joy to our family, and I cannot imagine our family being complete without her. God was with me through my pregnancy with Caroline, and through her delivery, (which will have to be another post in itself!), and I give Him the glory each day for entrusting me with one of his miracles!

I love you Caroline!