TWO weeks...until birthday festivities!!!

CRAZY. Literally this has been the FASTEST year of my life. I remember being pregnant with the babe and the crazy emotions the night before going to the hospital like it was yesterday. How in the world has it been a year? My little 3 year olds already so wise for their age were days away from turning 4, and now they approach 5!!! In two weeks my girls will be the age that they begin kindergarten, the age when their mom turns 30! How are my babies, who were just 18 inches of sweetness about to be at this huge milestone of a birthday.

We have a lot planned for these amazing kids. We are headed to Disney the beginning of October. We decided to just do a day trip, and maybe an overnight in December.

Then, on J's actual birthday he has his Gymboree class, and then a trip to Toys 'R Us so he can have his birthday announced to the store and a treat (we did this with the girls on their 1st b-day too :) ). The girls will have a class party on Friday the 8th, and then the big party is on Saturday. I can't wait to celebrate all 3 of my babies. I do think I will be a hot mess though. I love the baby stage, and to know I'll never have an infant to cuddle with is a little hard to swallow. (Ok, friends, I'm counting on getting lots of baby time from your future babes ;) ). I don't agree with Joshua being a toddler at 12 mo. Maybe 18 mo., but at 12 mo. he's totally still a baby. Thank goodness he's a cuddler. He is the perfect last baby. He's sweet and giggly and cuddly, and everything I had wished and hoped.

Mikayla and Brianna are enjoying school...not the going every day part though. They are constantly asking when it will be the weekend and asking to stay home with me. At least this shows me I'm doing something right that they want to be with me ;). They are making new friends, and look so forward to recess when they can go on the playground and see Becca and Justine.

Joshua can now walk holding one hand. He sees the kids standing and walking at Gymboree and goes to find something to pull up on and stands and gives a look like, "hey, I can do it too!". He's started to have tantrums, over toys, food, basically whenever things aren't exactly how he wants it...so I am trying to redirect, distract, take away from the situation, not laugh :). The girls are big instigators for him because they are constantly in his personal space and he doesn't appreciate it. Naps are still a struggle. It's totally my fault for not doing crib naps early on. I used to rock the girls to sleep and said I wouldn't do that with the babe. Now the only way he naps is in my arms, or in the car. He's a rockstar sleeping at night so things could be worse :). The sippy cup is still not our friend, but it took the girls until 14 mo. when I got rid of bottles, so I'm thinking the babe is just on their time line too. Joshua is so interested in everything, and so unbelievably happy. He's the only kid in his Gymboree class to giggle throughout the class. He loves life, and I love soaking in his joy.

Class clowns?

The other day, the teacher tells me at pick up time that she had to talk to Mikayla because she crawled under the bathroom stall and left the door locked and started giggling with all the girls. Then, Brianna told me to look at her to see how she read her book at library time (with her headband over her eyes). She said everyone thought it was so funny. Oh goodness. I of course had the stern talk with them...we need to follow rules, make good choices, blah blah blah. As soon as I told Nelson he started laughing...yes, they are their father's daughters. My always sarcastic, always joking husband is very proud of his girls.

Brianna

Brianna is my sensitive girl with a big heart. The other day she went on and on while driving home from school. Literally 15 minutes with barely a breath...all because I told her she should make new friends and not just play with sister. She was worried that if she played with someone else on the playground it would hurt R and J (her best friends)'s feelings. We talked about how she could include everyone...how no one needed to be left out. Well, after going on and on she took a deep breath and said, "Thank you Mommy for listening to me". It was so so cute.

Well, tonight was Mikayla's night to pick the bedtime story, and she chose, Love You Forever. I read the book, and gave kisses and tucked the girls in. Then, Brianna got her serious face, and said, "Mommy, I want us to die at the same time". My eyes filled with tears, and I told her not to worry about that now. That hopefully we would go to Heaven when we're very old, and when Mommy goes to Heaven I will be in her heart and when it's her time I'll be waiting for her. She asked me how she would find me since your body stays on earth and just your spirit goes to Heaven (she's really listening when we explain things, huh!) I said, she'd know, and if not Jesus would direct her to me. These kind of topics are so so hard for me. I just want to scoop up my little, and tell her we are going to live happily ever after and nothing can hurt us. Though, I do want my kids to know about our faith, and trust that God has a perfect plan for us. It's such a fine line at this age though. Ugh...I'm crying now thinking about ever being away from my babies. Makes me thank God that I am their Mom, and pray that God's plan for us includes a long healthy life together.

Big, Big, Big

All 3 of the kids are getting TOO big. The girls like their new school. They don't like going every day though. Today, Mikayla cried about having to go to school. It was heartbreaking. She knows all my buttons and told me I'm the only teacher she wants. She was fine once she got to school, and was happy when I picked her up. It's just them needing to get used to the routine. By naptime and bedtime they are absolutely exhausted. Hopefully it won't be long until they are used to their new schedule.

Joshua is a bruiser and into everything. He crawls on his hands and knees now everywhere! He's so smart though and when he gets to the hardwood he switches to his army crawl so his knees don't hurt. He climbs everything...which is exhausting :). He got his first bruise :(. He was climbing onto my Grandma's chair, and lost his balance and hit his forehead.

I'm really enjoying the three of them playing together, and with the girls in school in the mornings our afternoons after nap have been really special. Yesterday we went swimming and it was so fun to see the girls giggle and "swim like mermaids", and hold the baby as he splashed and enjoyed watching his sisters play. Days like that are just perfect.

Big Girls

My girls turn 5 in 6 weeks. FIVE. September 9th was my last day working FIVE years ago. Then, exactly a month later my beauties arrived. The girls start Pre-K on Monday. Really?? This is the last year of preschool??? I taught pre-k for 2+ years, and can not believe my girlies are at this point. I was bringing them home from the hospital yesterday!

They aren't into cartoons anymore. They LOVE Selena Gomez, and her show on Disney, Wizards of Waverly Place. The Suite Life with Zach and Cody is a close second ;). It's crazy to me how big they are getting. They have opinions on EVERYTHING now, and talk a mile a minute. They question everything. Every time I discipline they say, "Please, just one more chance" Today Mikayla told me she just wanted me to give her hugs and kisses for Christmas. She was totally working me so she didn't have to clean the playroom, but I'll take it ;). Brianna still desperately needs a nap every day, so I'm loving having almost five year olds who still nap. I get at least an hour every day when all three of my kids are napping :). I am also signing the girls up for religious ed. classes at church!! CCD classes already!!! So excited to see them walk in God's light, and learn more about Him.

The baby is 6 weeks away from turning one and I'm totally in denial. He's getting So so big. I am going to be one emotional lady come the beginning of October. I just want my babies to stay babies! I am so proud of who they are growing to be. They are kind hearted, and thoughtful, and fun!

We are busy getting ready for school to start next week, and I'm anxious to start Joshua in Gymboree classes soon! October is already completely full, so I'm kind of hoping for a slow September :). Rain rain go away so that we can enjoy this last weekend of August :).




This picture was after the girls changed Joshua's diaper for the first time...I have to say I laughed for a good 10 minutes. He rolled everywhere, was giggling, they were frustrated, it was hilarious. I took pictures of the whole debacle, but due to my littles body parts all over I'm not posting them. I will be scrapbooking them and sharing with all future girlfriends though ;).

Vacation

I've had so much I've wanted to say about our 10 day vacay, but didn't know how to put down all the fun we had in one post. Our computer also has a virus, and will take bringing it somewhere to get it fixed...so for now I'm only able to get on when Nels brings his laptop home after work and the kiddos are in bed, and by then I'm so tired. I like my naptime computer time, and now I only get to surf on my phone...and I'm not typing a blog entry on my phone :). After that WAY too long explanation......


We LOVED our time away. It was my first trip I can remember where I didn't want to come home at the end of it. Yes, I did miss my bed and my kids in their own beds and our routine....but....we had fun, and enjoyed every moment of our trip.

We left on a Thursday at 10 am. I packed a lunch and stopped at a rest stop and we had a picnic and let the girls stretch their legs while the baby drank his bottle. Then, we were off. We couldn't find our portable dvd player, and the girls were WONDERFUL. Joshua had about 30 min. where he wanted out of the carseat NOW. Other than that he was great too. We got to the cabin in Black Mt., NC around midnight. The girls were SO tired that they didn't want to sleep alone so it wasn't until 1:30 that we finally got everyone settled, oy. After the first night they slept great and Aunt Cortney shared a room with them that the loved. (I think she loved the memory, but not the human alarm clocks :)). The cabin was so awesome. Cort, Ricky, Joey, his friend Josh, and my girls were downstairs. Nelson, me, and the babe were on the main floor, and my parents were on the top floor. It was the perfect cabin for our family.

During our stay we hiked to waterfalls, went mining, enjoyed a trip to a gorgeous lake, Western North Carolina Science Center, Arboretum, Chimney Rock, shopping in downtown Black Mt., picnics, my Mom's crock pot meals, Nelson and I got to white water raft with my Dad and Joey while the kids were with the rest of my family, s'mores, dinner with friends of our family, cute art show and playdate outside the Biltmore Estate, Apples to Apples, Spades, Lots of walking with babe in the ergo to get him in a deep sleep so he'd sleep in the PNP, Brianna announcing after Mikayla was flipping out for a good hour over the top I picked out for her and the hair bow I picked for her that her sister is "SO dramatic". We made so many memories and had so much fun!!

Almost a week later, on Wed, we packed up and left around 8:30 to head to Anna and Shawn's! We met at Discover Center in Charlotte, and the kids had a blast. It was like Great Explorations but triple in size! Then, we headed to their home and went out to eat with them and friends of theirs. Their friends came over after dinner and they have a 9 yr. old and 4 yr. old. The girls got along great with the 4 yr. old girl, and Joshua LOVED the 9 yr. old boy. He rolled a ball back and forth to Joshua, and he thought this was the best thing ever. The next morning we headed to a splash park where I got to meet one of my "molar girls". I have a group of ladies I talk to often who went through a molar/or partial molar pregnancy. Most of us have been talking for 2 or more years. It was so so great to meet Lisa and her kids. We met at a spray park...and then afterwards headed back to Anna's. The girls played with Buddy some, and then we had to get on the road.

The last leg of our trip. We wanted to go to Savannah on our way home. It was nice to just be our family of five. We had SO much fun. We took the kids on their first carriage ride and learned lots about the city, hit up all of the Savannah Candy Kitchens ;), walked the riverwalk, ate at Lady and Sons and the Pirate House, went to Tybee Island and to the top of the lighthouse.

We headed home after lunch and Garmin estimated our arrival to be around 5, well 8:30 we pulled into our driveway. The kids were great, but we were ALL ready to be out of the car :). I am so glad I'm a part of this awesome family. Our trips always leave me smiling, and I can't wait to explore more places with my favorite people.

When I asked the girls what their favorite parts of the trip this is what I got:

Brianna:
Being with my family, everything in our cabin made of tree bark (girl's not kidding, EVERYTHING, beds, tables, mantle, LOL), "finding a real potty at the art show so I didn't have to use the porta potty" (HA!), and seeing Aunt Anna.

Mikayla:

EVERYTHING!! Going on the hike to the waterfall, going on the carriage ride (which she slept most of the ride ;) ), and getting my nails done (yes, they did this with my mom while we were rafting ;) ).

Joshua:

Well, not verbatim ;), but he enjoyed all of his Daddy time. He loved not having Nelson leave. Ever since we've been home he cries hysterically when Nels leaves :(. He's quickly ok, but boy does he love his dada. He also got his first bite of ice cream on the trip, and was IN LOVE. So now I must hide all ice cream from him or he will leap for it. :)

Wahoo!!!

Joshua is moving! He's army crawling, and kind of looks like a fish out of water, but if he wants something he gets to it now. He is so much like Mikayla as a baby. She army crawled and then weeks later was traditionally crawling, and cruising. Mikayla also would sit back and take everything in and then exploded verbally. Joshua has 4 words in his vocabulary. He says, dada, hi, yay, and mama. MAMA--it really is SO sweet. He started last week, and now everyday looks into my eyes with his sweet grin and says mama and melts me even more. He's working on his two top teeth, they are taking their sweet time...poor baby :(. He also sits up on his own from a lying position, and pulls up on everything. He's such a little flirt too! Just had to hop on and blog about my boy because I'm so proud of him!

We leave for NC on Thursday. SO in need of this vacation!!