Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Jacob is 6!
Jacob arrived ten days past his due date. This gave me a week and half to really wonder what this little boy would be like...would he look like his brother? How big would be (a major concern at that time!) What kind of little boy would he be?
On the most beautiful winter morning, he slipped quickly and easily into our family.
I had nothing to worry about...he was my only baby under 9 pounds, he was beautiful and he has grown into the most lovely kind of boy.
Jacob is sensitive, quiet and introspective. He likes to play alone after a time of socializing though he does love his siblings very much and loves to play with them. He is very nurturing to Matthew. He is soft and gentle and loves to make him laugh. He is struggling with Elizabeth's turn from toddlerhood into a feisty and opinionated peer. The dynamic between them has changed from doting big brother and baby sister to that of friends which is so nice to see. Jake has always looked up to Ben and continues to do so but is also branching out with interests and strengths of his own.
Jakes two loves are animals and garbage trucks. This doesn't change much from year to year. He says he is going to drive the garbage truck in the morning and be a veterinarian by night. He just might!
He has lost two bottom teeth now and his front teeth which have been missing now for three years might grow in the next year. It will be exciting to see what Jacob will look like with teeth again!
Jake is a boy who appreciates the simple things. Less people, less noise and less excitement is what he gravitates towards. He enjoyed himself very much over the Christmas season and true to the nature of the holiday we tried hard to make it magical, special and memorable for the kids. We did lots of fun activities, visited all of his favorite people and he received many generous gifts. But it is a lot for him. We focused on quieter activities in the days after Christmas and on one sunny, cold morning we went for a walk around the neighbourhood. We were lucky enough to see not only the garbage truck, but then shortly afterwards the recycling truck too! We walked a little further and stopped again to see the mail carrier loading mail into the superboxes. A little further up we stopped once again to see the side walk plow dig into the snow banks that had accumulated at the intersection. On our walk home Jacob took my hand and grinned. "Mommy. This was the BEST day of my life!".
It doesn't take much for Jake:)
Jacob has a small circle of people who he claims as his. He is fiercely loyal to them and you would consider yourself lucky to be included in his inner circle. I told him we were going out one day to meet some new friends and he looked at me incredulously and said "Mommy I HAVE a friend!" Why on earth would he want or need more than Hannah, he couldn't imagine. And he sure loves Hannah. They met at the playground when they were two and a half. He threw woodchips in her face and they have been friends ever since. He was upset to learn that Hannah wants to now marry a child from her kindergarten class and Jacob is now in second place. I was talking to him in his bedroom and he said "can she EVEN do that?!" I told him she could and he was deflated. To change the subject a bit I told him that the tooth fairy would be visiting her house that night and he said..."I bet she will get $25.00!" (he only received $20.00 for his first lost tooth...) I asked him why he thought that and he sighed "she has SUCH nice teeth!".
Oh my Jake when he loves, he loves hard!
This loving nature, this sincerity, this simple gratitude, this love of snuggling with his mommy before bed, this sweet and quiet disposition, this eagerness that he puts into everything new he tries to succeed at are the unique qualities I wish I could have told the anxious and impatient mom to be about 6 years ago. He was worth the wait! It has been such a pleasure and a privilege to watch him grow into this special little boy. As we leave his early childhood this year and move onto "the big kid" years I have so many fond memories of him. I don't know why mothers have a hard time with their little ones growing up. There is so much excitement and milestones and fun to be had. And yet... I can't help but get teary at the thought of his little two year old voice begging "Pwease one more time mommy!" as he begs another round of "old macdonald" (I must have sang that song 10000 times in his second year!) I can remember the look of shock as he lay on the bottom step with plastic bags hanging on his three year old arms after the THUMP brought me running. Looking annoyed and confused as to why his "parachutes" didn't work at all the way he had hoped! I remember his belly laugh as a baby and how quick he always was with a smile. How much he loves the outdoors. He would lay on the grass and stroke the blades that tickled him and smile even as a very young boy. He becomes so relaxed and kind and in his element when there is anything or anyone that he can nurture or care for from a spider to a baby. He still loves his special baby doll he has toted around since he was a little over a year old. He will be a wonderful Daddy one day. He has been practicing for a long time! He lost it for awhile and I asked him what he was looking for. He said he was looking for his baby, I asked what baby and he said "my precious baby!". Another mom once asked me if I "worried what people thought" and I laughed because it was absurd...but also because of the paradox Jake presents. He would, if questioned or teased about his little baby doll punch someone in the face and walk away to push it on the swing. He is as tough as he is sweet. He reminds me of a tough burly biker who cries at greeting card commercials. No, Jake can look after himself and is rarely concerned with what anyone other than his mom, dad and big brother think of him. In those cases he very much wants us to be proud. And we are Jake. We couldn't be prouder.
Happy birthday my sweet boy. You are one of my very favorite people. I am so lucky to get to spend my days being your mom. Thank you for the lessons you teach me, I love you more than there are words to express. I am so glad you are mine.
Love Mommy xoxoxoxo
On the most beautiful winter morning, he slipped quickly and easily into our family.
I had nothing to worry about...he was my only baby under 9 pounds, he was beautiful and he has grown into the most lovely kind of boy.
Jacob is sensitive, quiet and introspective. He likes to play alone after a time of socializing though he does love his siblings very much and loves to play with them. He is very nurturing to Matthew. He is soft and gentle and loves to make him laugh. He is struggling with Elizabeth's turn from toddlerhood into a feisty and opinionated peer. The dynamic between them has changed from doting big brother and baby sister to that of friends which is so nice to see. Jake has always looked up to Ben and continues to do so but is also branching out with interests and strengths of his own.
Jakes two loves are animals and garbage trucks. This doesn't change much from year to year. He says he is going to drive the garbage truck in the morning and be a veterinarian by night. He just might!
He has lost two bottom teeth now and his front teeth which have been missing now for three years might grow in the next year. It will be exciting to see what Jacob will look like with teeth again!
Jake is a boy who appreciates the simple things. Less people, less noise and less excitement is what he gravitates towards. He enjoyed himself very much over the Christmas season and true to the nature of the holiday we tried hard to make it magical, special and memorable for the kids. We did lots of fun activities, visited all of his favorite people and he received many generous gifts. But it is a lot for him. We focused on quieter activities in the days after Christmas and on one sunny, cold morning we went for a walk around the neighbourhood. We were lucky enough to see not only the garbage truck, but then shortly afterwards the recycling truck too! We walked a little further and stopped again to see the mail carrier loading mail into the superboxes. A little further up we stopped once again to see the side walk plow dig into the snow banks that had accumulated at the intersection. On our walk home Jacob took my hand and grinned. "Mommy. This was the BEST day of my life!".
It doesn't take much for Jake:)
Jacob has a small circle of people who he claims as his. He is fiercely loyal to them and you would consider yourself lucky to be included in his inner circle. I told him we were going out one day to meet some new friends and he looked at me incredulously and said "Mommy I HAVE a friend!" Why on earth would he want or need more than Hannah, he couldn't imagine. And he sure loves Hannah. They met at the playground when they were two and a half. He threw woodchips in her face and they have been friends ever since. He was upset to learn that Hannah wants to now marry a child from her kindergarten class and Jacob is now in second place. I was talking to him in his bedroom and he said "can she EVEN do that?!" I told him she could and he was deflated. To change the subject a bit I told him that the tooth fairy would be visiting her house that night and he said..."I bet she will get $25.00!" (he only received $20.00 for his first lost tooth...) I asked him why he thought that and he sighed "she has SUCH nice teeth!".
Oh my Jake when he loves, he loves hard!
This loving nature, this sincerity, this simple gratitude, this love of snuggling with his mommy before bed, this sweet and quiet disposition, this eagerness that he puts into everything new he tries to succeed at are the unique qualities I wish I could have told the anxious and impatient mom to be about 6 years ago. He was worth the wait! It has been such a pleasure and a privilege to watch him grow into this special little boy. As we leave his early childhood this year and move onto "the big kid" years I have so many fond memories of him. I don't know why mothers have a hard time with their little ones growing up. There is so much excitement and milestones and fun to be had. And yet... I can't help but get teary at the thought of his little two year old voice begging "Pwease one more time mommy!" as he begs another round of "old macdonald" (I must have sang that song 10000 times in his second year!) I can remember the look of shock as he lay on the bottom step with plastic bags hanging on his three year old arms after the THUMP brought me running. Looking annoyed and confused as to why his "parachutes" didn't work at all the way he had hoped! I remember his belly laugh as a baby and how quick he always was with a smile. How much he loves the outdoors. He would lay on the grass and stroke the blades that tickled him and smile even as a very young boy. He becomes so relaxed and kind and in his element when there is anything or anyone that he can nurture or care for from a spider to a baby. He still loves his special baby doll he has toted around since he was a little over a year old. He will be a wonderful Daddy one day. He has been practicing for a long time! He lost it for awhile and I asked him what he was looking for. He said he was looking for his baby, I asked what baby and he said "my precious baby!". Another mom once asked me if I "worried what people thought" and I laughed because it was absurd...but also because of the paradox Jake presents. He would, if questioned or teased about his little baby doll punch someone in the face and walk away to push it on the swing. He is as tough as he is sweet. He reminds me of a tough burly biker who cries at greeting card commercials. No, Jake can look after himself and is rarely concerned with what anyone other than his mom, dad and big brother think of him. In those cases he very much wants us to be proud. And we are Jake. We couldn't be prouder.
Happy birthday my sweet boy. You are one of my very favorite people. I am so lucky to get to spend my days being your mom. Thank you for the lessons you teach me, I love you more than there are words to express. I am so glad you are mine.
Love Mommy xoxoxoxo
7 Months
We only have 6 more weeks left in our rental house. Not long enough to justify putting holes in the walls with baby gates so we have to get creative with barricading him in rooms where he can't escape. He is quick! His motivations are remote controls and newspaper. If we can keep those our of sight he is generally happy to stay put.
Teething was relatively easy for him as far as teething goes and he continues to almost sleep through the night from 7-7...maybe this will be the month! Matthew's favorite place to be is the bath tub! He loves to splash and watch the water come out of the faucet. He will stay in there as long as I let him! He pulled himself up to a standing position in his crib this month, and was awfully proud of himself but Daddy lowered it to avoid any falls!
He is very happy and beginning to get a little bit silly. He flaps his arms around or burrows his face into people and laughs and laughs. He is so great!
Monday, January 18, 2016
Elizabeth...3.5
Elizabeth-Queen-Elsa-Annabella-Joy as she calls herself is a force to be reckoned with.
She is as sweet and sensitive as she is feisty and determined. Her polarity keeps up on our toes that is for sure!
She is bossy- I mean a leader! She has real skills in this department. She loves to have a job and try and accomplish new things. She is confident and quick to laugh. She has a sweet little voice and loves to sing and retell her favorite fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood and Three Little Bears.
Ella loves to be my helper. She calls us "the girls" and loves being my assistant in everything! She wants to much to do things properly and can get so frustrated at her...three year old skill level. She is so intent and eager and focused when she is trying to learn something and her enthusiasm will often end in trouble (ie spilling the box of baking soda in the mixing bowl while she tries to carefully measure over a tiny teaspoon....) tears follow but she is up quickly for her next challenge!
She loves to come with me to the grocery store or run errands. She gets her purse and scribbles a little list and loves when I let her pay. She hates to be put in a cart. It is THE WORST thing! But she also really struggles with not wondering off even when she is trying so hard not to...I can even hear her muttering "I have to stay with Mommy...I have to stay with Mommy..." to remind herself...and yet even with her best efforts she will disappear so a cart is a sad fact of life for her right now and a damper on her independence.
I took her out for breakfast, a concept she was unfamiliar with and totally thrilled about. She was asking me questions all the way there and was so happy to have a smoothie and pancakes that I don't think she even ate very much she was too excited. She was squeeling "Look Mommy! There is little salt and pepper! and JAMS!!! little JAMS MOMMY!" "FORKS...AND knives!!!" it was awesome.
I think she is such a darling. She is just the cutest. Everything about her is...cute! I am not the only one who thinks so. She often gets pointed at and we hear whispers in public along the line of "Oh my gosh look at that little girl she is SO cute!!" and "Ohh look at her curls!" she says "Mommy! Why are those people staring at me!" and I tell her "they think you are cute, they like your hair!" She glares at them and one time she spit at a woman in the jewelry store. In her defense the woman was petting her hair as though she was a curly headed puppy and not an actual human child with a sense of personal space and dignity. I feigned scolding her appalling rudeness but was secretly pleased with her tenacity.
She also has a temper. Her feelings are hurt easily and she doesn't, like most three year olds, appreciate limits. I told her recently that she was not allowed to do something and she was SO angry with me. She would obey...but not happily.
"YOU. Are the WORST MOMMY I EVER had IN MY LIFE. I will NEVER dance for you AGAIN!" And she ran to her room and slammed her door!
I didn't let her see me laugh. Of course she came out moments later and apologized and said....yes, in fact she would dance for me again. Whew!
Speaking of dance...that is her love. She counts down the day until her 30 minute ballet class. She loves it more than anything and tries her very hardest while she is there. She had a little recital recently where she got to show off her moves. Her teacher said she had the routine memorized by her second class and would benefit from more lessons. In the spring I will find more classes for her. I am thrilled that she has found something she loves so much. If that changes again next year of course that is fine too.
Elizabeth-Queen-Elsa-Annabella-Joy you are my favorite girl in the whole wide world. You are a treasure and a delight and I adore you
.
She is as sweet and sensitive as she is feisty and determined. Her polarity keeps up on our toes that is for sure!
She is bossy- I mean a leader! She has real skills in this department. She loves to have a job and try and accomplish new things. She is confident and quick to laugh. She has a sweet little voice and loves to sing and retell her favorite fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood and Three Little Bears.
Ella loves to be my helper. She calls us "the girls" and loves being my assistant in everything! She wants to much to do things properly and can get so frustrated at her...three year old skill level. She is so intent and eager and focused when she is trying to learn something and her enthusiasm will often end in trouble (ie spilling the box of baking soda in the mixing bowl while she tries to carefully measure over a tiny teaspoon....) tears follow but she is up quickly for her next challenge!
She loves to come with me to the grocery store or run errands. She gets her purse and scribbles a little list and loves when I let her pay. She hates to be put in a cart. It is THE WORST thing! But she also really struggles with not wondering off even when she is trying so hard not to...I can even hear her muttering "I have to stay with Mommy...I have to stay with Mommy..." to remind herself...and yet even with her best efforts she will disappear so a cart is a sad fact of life for her right now and a damper on her independence.
She also has a temper. Her feelings are hurt easily and she doesn't, like most three year olds, appreciate limits. I told her recently that she was not allowed to do something and she was SO angry with me. She would obey...but not happily.
"YOU. Are the WORST MOMMY I EVER had IN MY LIFE. I will NEVER dance for you AGAIN!" And she ran to her room and slammed her door!
I didn't let her see me laugh. Of course she came out moments later and apologized and said....yes, in fact she would dance for me again. Whew!
Speaking of dance...that is her love. She counts down the day until her 30 minute ballet class. She loves it more than anything and tries her very hardest while she is there. She had a little recital recently where she got to show off her moves. Her teacher said she had the routine memorized by her second class and would benefit from more lessons. In the spring I will find more classes for her. I am thrilled that she has found something she loves so much. If that changes again next year of course that is fine too.
Elizabeth-Queen-Elsa-Annabella-Joy you are my favorite girl in the whole wide world. You are a treasure and a delight and I adore you
6 Months Old!
This little turkey is 6 months old! He is 18 pounds, loving food and has a smile for anyone who makes eye contact with him. He loves his family and excitedly waves his hands and squeels after his nap when someone goes to get him up or someone he knows comes through the door. He is a social and friendly baby everywhere we go.
Ben is very proud of how quickly he has met all his milestones and take credit for helping him learn so much (he read a baby development chart when he was born and was very strict about his tummy time regime!).
Matthews first food was avacodo, followed by carrots, sweet potato, squash and now he is eating most everything except grains. He loves baby food pouches and will eat two at one meal. He is on a pretty good schedule with a short nap in the morning followed by a 2 hour nap in the afternoon and then bedtime at 7. He wakes once in the night and then otherwise is up with a smile at 7am.
He still doesn't love his carseat but is tolerating being in the car a little more now. We will switch him to a bigger seat in the spring and hopefully he will be a bit happier in the car.
We love this little guy with his adorable grin and silly laugh and fat little knees soooo much! How lucky we are to have our little Matty-baby in our family!
Ben is very proud of how quickly he has met all his milestones and take credit for helping him learn so much (he read a baby development chart when he was born and was very strict about his tummy time regime!).
Matthews first food was avacodo, followed by carrots, sweet potato, squash and now he is eating most everything except grains. He loves baby food pouches and will eat two at one meal. He is on a pretty good schedule with a short nap in the morning followed by a 2 hour nap in the afternoon and then bedtime at 7. He wakes once in the night and then otherwise is up with a smile at 7am.
He still doesn't love his carseat but is tolerating being in the car a little more now. We will switch him to a bigger seat in the spring and hopefully he will be a bit happier in the car.
We love this little guy with his adorable grin and silly laugh and fat little knees soooo much! How lucky we are to have our little Matty-baby in our family!
December
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