18 months!

Yep, he seems to have forgiven me for failing to post diligent updates of his growth and development.  Thanks, Bud.  I could blame you for my failure to blog, but that wouldn't be fair.  I'll blame me.  You are a firecracker, for sure, little man!  I can't believe what a little boy you've grown into.  You will be 18 months on the 3rd, but I'm posting early because I'm on a roll.

At 18 months, you have ALL your teeth and your 1 year molars.  In fact, you've had all these teeth for a month or two.  It still startles me to see ALL your pearly whites when you smile.  I've given you one hair cut, and I should probably think about a second ;)  You are a very good eater if you don't snack.  If I give you a snack, you're AWFUL.  You throw food, squeal, goof off... Then I wonder why I gave you a snack...  Oh, yea, it was because you're always STARVING.  Vicious cycle that Mommy has yet to beat.  In the mornings, you eat two to three servings of oatmeal and a whole banana.  Sometimes I feed you eggs, but serving you three eggs doesn't scratch the surface.  You really dislike meat, rice, pears, and peaches, but you'll chug a green smoothie and beg for more.  

You talk SO much.  I can't seem to keep up with all the new words.  You point to "boo-boo's" all over and ask for kisses... You ask for "crackers" and "cookies" all. day. long. :)  See above.. You talk on your play phones to Daddy all the time, and those were the first two words you put together: HI DADDY!  If your window is open in your room, you yell and wave at anyone passing by.  You say, Mommy, Emmie, Leese, Bye bye!, happy, obey, water, milk, and you will repeat just about anything I ask you to... albeit poorly :)

You love to put things in the trash... that might be your only chore as of now.  You find fuzzies on our floor, crumbs, rocks, etc... and get thrilled when I ask you to put them in the trash!  Your vices are light switches, buttons (STILL!!), toilet water (splash, splash..), pens/highlighters, playing in the trash, and just general disobedience.  Haha.  Seriously, though, you can be a stinker...  You sure are snuggly when you want to be, though, but unless you're sick, you'll sleep 12-13 hours at night and still take at least one 2 hour nap a day.  We're in the process of dropping your morning nap, but we're not getting very far. I think you will still need an hour morning nap for at least a couple more months.  You're favorite crib pastime is looking out your window at "car!"s and staring intently when they drive around.  Who knows how much sleep you get after all...

I love the way you play with your sisters... you LOVE to be in the mix.  You'll put up with them jumping on you and wrestling, then you'll move on to something safer.  You're very mobile, and though you crawl onto chairs every so often, you're fairly cautious.  Though you're ALLLLL BOY and can walk barefoot in rocks and mulch without a qualm, you don't seem to like mosquitos at all (NASTY reactions), but you're tough.  I love that about you!  You've outgrown the extreme sensivity to dairy, and now you're just semi-sensitive... I don't give you cow's milk, but every once in a while you can tolerate small amounts of cheese and butter without hating me.  

I love how playful you are- you love to have fun and giggle, yet you love to build towers and drive your cars around.  You really love to pick on Emily, Mister.  You know it drives her nuts, but you love it :)  Every little brother has to have someone to pick on, right?  

We love you, Jakob Henry- happy 1.5 years!  You've changed our home and given us lots of reasons to smile!  

Well, it's been a while.

Yea, this hasn't come as a surprise, but our summer disappeared!   The kids enjoyed it, we enjoyed it, but something about Fall brings a new resolve to find routine and embrace normalcy.  We're trying, but it's hard!  Three little ones in the house keep a normal routine somewhat of a mystery.  We haven't had all that many "happenings" around here that are super noteworthy, but the kids are always keeping me entertained with their goofiness, so here's a little of the fun that's been a part of life here:

Emily:

It's all I can do to keep a straight face with this girl.  She. cracks. me. up.  I don't know how to describe her at age 3.5 other than CRAZY.  She is goofy, stubborn, exuberant, hilarious, emotional, playful, shy, outgoing, ... :)  Yes, she's schizophrenic?  She wants to pray often before a meal, and this was one prayer I was thankful I wrote down:

"Dear Jesus, Thank you that I did two eyes with Minnie mouse {she had been working on putting together a Minnie Mouse puzzle before lunch} and then mommy said, let's eat!  Then we were fighting and guess what? She said we couldn't have gummy worms.. Then I got to wear a shirt and leggins.  Amen!"

Leggings (leggins) are STILL her favorite thing.  We have tears and despair when I haven't done laundry.  I don't know how this girl will survive winter!!

I love when Em says, "Mama, I had a bless you!" (A sneeze)  After several tantrums in a week, she and I had a big talk on her bed.  We talked about self-control and sin, and how we need Jesus to help us control our emotions.  Emily's response?  "But my heart is breaking!"  Aww...   

She brushed her teeth and exclaimed that her teeth were as shiny as a buffalo.  She entertains us over breakfast with her elaborate dreams... This one started with, "When I was a puppy, I ate butterflies, mosquitos, bugs, butterflies, mosquitos, bugs,..." REPEAT 10xs.

 

My husband resigned last week from his job at Capital One and started a full-time position with Cornerstone.  We had a talk with the girls about this change for us, and Emily's response was, "Is Daddy going to work for Capital 2 now?"  <insert smug smirk>

Emily's emotions are contagious.  I'm pretty sure she wants to pass on whatever she is feeling, and she does a pretty good job.  Inside is a precious little girl who is amazed at the big, beautiful world around her... she's captivated by nature, animals, tiny things, smoothies... leggins... :)  She is precious. We often say, "What would life be without Emily?  BORING."

Elyse:  

Well, this girl is ready for school.  Not literally, mind you, but she is so eager to learn.  She loves to write and "ATTEMPT" to read.  Pretending to do school is so fun for her, and the small amount of preschool that we do together leaves her hungry for more.  It makes me excited to think about sending her next fall, but I know I'm going to struggle with sending her off!  How I will miss this chatty little girl around the house.  She has blossomed into a sweet little lady.  She's eager to please, but seems to hold to her personality strong enough that I don't fear she'll be lost in the crowd.  She has a very tender heart, and she enjoys spending time with me in the kitchen, which is fun.  Elyse makes me laugh with the way she observes the world around her- always searching for the "why?" behind everything.  She is aware that she asks the same questions over and over again, so she will say, "Mommy, I KNOW you are going to tell me the same thing, but how old were you when you had me?  Were you a little girl?"  As with most 4year olds, the concept of time is painfully missing in her thought processes :)  

She moved out of her "toddler" class on Sundays, and it's so strange to see her in with the "big" kids. Friendships take on a new dimension as she gets older, and we have our moments of hurt feelings and hurting others feelings, but we're learning and growing together.  As of today, she wants to be an artist when she grows up, so much of her free time is spent painting, coloring, and drawing.  We'll see what tomorrow holds.  I think my favorite things about Elyse these days are the fits of laughter she gets into...  JUST like her mama.  She will get giggling and laughing over the silliest little thing, and in minutes, Jordan and I are in stitches with her!  I am really enjoying watching this little girl grow.  She's pretty special.

Jakob:

Well, then there's Jakob :)  I will save a whole post for him...