4 months

 Norah is 4 months old today. Its been a long day filled with talking to insurance, doctors, patient advocates. We're in a battle with the insurance who has no refused to cover her hospital bill.  So I haven't been able to write anything until tonight but was reminded all day that God knew exactly when we would get Norah.  She is worth it all and more.  We always wanted 2 boys and a girl - in that order and I'm still overcome most days when I look at my beautiful children - 2 boys and a girl in the exact order we would've choosen. 

 Norah is just the sweetest thing. Its sad she is growing up so fast but its also fun to see her discover things. The other day we were playing in her room and I was holding her toy and trying to help her grab it and she didnt want to have anything to do with her rattle.  She wanted the boys dinosaur.  She's already trying to lunge for the legos - life will get really busy once she is mobile.   She is also being interested in our food and tries to get it whenever I eat.

 She still doesnt like being on her back or stomach but she still loves to sit up.  She is my constant companion.  She is just happy being on my hip all day.  I think she's going to be my little shadow since she wants to always be where I am at all times.  Love it.  I'm not complaining although it does mean every things takes a lot longer. 

 Norah is still a big snuggler. And really so patient.  She gets dragged everywhere and doesnt complain.

 Our pretty girl.  Colin calls her his pretty girl all the time. 

 Such a sweet face. 

 Words can't describe how much we love this girl. 

 I love this picture even though its blurry and she's not looking, she is still our little baby. Kind of puts her size in perspective. 

 And this picture is just life around here.  My crazy Joel - tongue out and doing pretty ears to Norah.

Swim Meet

 He did it.  Colin swam in his first meet yesterday.  I am so proud of him.  He kept talking himself out of the stingrays group and then finally on tuesday he wanted to go into the stingrays lane and swim. That was a big deal since he had every excuse why he should stay in guppies. "well mommy, today the water was a little colder, or Mommy I just want this year to be a practice year, or mommy I'll do it tomorrow..." he had every excuse.  At first he was a little nervous and then just loved it. He's been walking around so proud of himself. 

 I signed him up for the swim meet.  I wasn't sure how it would go. You never know.  My brother and sister would want to do the meets, get up on the block and then refuse to dive off.  Colin woke up saturday nervous but I just walked him over to the pool anyways.

 This leauge does it so different from when I swam/coached.  Colin kept asking me about things and I told him I wasn't sure.   They had co-ed relays at the beginning and then  10&under relays and then went straight into freestyle.  Colin was the first event.  So he didnt even have time to watch other people do it.  Which was probably a good thing.  Brent and Joel got there just in time and right as Colin walked from the clerk of course to the lane Ma-ma-maa and Grandpa showed up.  And seeing how Brent was holding both norah and joel they got there just in time. (Joel wasn't sure of the whole thing)

During warmup Colin swam without stopping 3 times. The first time he's ever done that.  I told him he could rest on the lane rope if he needed just not stand up or he wouldn't get his ribbon.  I think that warmup gave him confidence to do the whole thing. All morning I kept texting Jeff and Ant Ant and I think my dad was doing the same thing.  Colin was so fast.  And loved it.  I can't wait to get his official time today.  So now I'm signing him up for our last swim meet.  Its an away meet and he's already starting to talk himself out of that but I keep showing him this video so that seems to stop his excuses.  Colin has a lot of talent (he might look like his dad but he is definitely part gouger with his swimming. I told him I wasn't that fast when I was his age) I'm hoping this is the first of many many years of swimming.

*** official time - 36.05 (fourth fastest on the team) ***

water park

On the hotest day this summer we went to a water park. Probably not the best idea but we had to get in before Joel turned 3 and we had to pay for him. It actually wasn't too bad. I was a little worried about Norah but she did great. Thankfully we talked Ant Ant into coming with us. We could not have done it without her. She took one of the boys and Brent took the other for the rides. The kids had a blast. Last year we took them to ocean breeze and there was only 2 slides colin was old enough to do - at water country they could both do pretty much anything- just had to wear a lifejacket. And Joel had no fear - going through a dark tunnel in an innertube he was all smiles. I sat most of the time int he shade with Norah. She was a trooper. It was so hot but I had wrapped icepacks in a towel and put under her so she could stay cool. That seemed to work pretty well. And then when it got too hot we would go in the water.  I wasn't sure how long she would last and expected to take her somewhere else during the day but she did it all. 

 I think she's going to keep her blue eyes - they look just like her aunt mary's.

I love how she puts her arm when she's sleeping.   

We were all in bed shortly after getting home.  I think we wore out Ant Ant but had a great day.  And thank you so much Ant Ant for coming.  Theme parks will be much more fun for the adults when the kids are a little older but it was worth it seeing how excited the kids got and how much fun they had. 

Big girl bed

 Norah has been sleeping in her car seat in the cradle ever since maybe the second night home.  I just lean over and rock the cradle at night if she starts stirring.  We finally put her in her own bed this past week. It was a little bittersweet for me.  My baby is growing up.  She isn't sleeping as well but each night gets better. We were afriad if she slept much longer in the car seat she would never sleep in her crib.  And really who wouldn't want to fall alseep under these lights:

My friend Clemma made them for my baby shower and I brought them home.  They are beautiful and it makes the room so cozy at night.

And I love her crib bedding that my mom made for her.  One of these days I need to take a picture of everything people made for her (a wreath for the door, bow holder, quilt, bumpers, hair bows, blankets) a lot of love went into getting ready for Norah. 

Purple Puppy

 A friend gave me this pink puppy before Norah was born. Joel immediately started calling him purple puppy.  (he gets purple and pink mixed up) and it was so cute how adamant he was that it was Norahs purple puppy that we've all started calling it purple puppy. Poor Norah will be so confused :) 

 But baby girl has discovered her hands are not only good enough for sticking in her mouth, they can also grab toys for her to try to chew on.  She gets frustrated when she grabs something finaly and then trys to stick it in her mouth and she can't get it in there.  But she does love to cuddle with purple puppy.

I just love those chubby little hands. 

silly faces

 Norah tolerates us putting these silly glasses on her. She actually smiles a lot - probably because her brothers are usually dying laughing at her. 

Dinosaur museum

Last weekend Brent took Colin on a Daddy/Son trip with some good friends of ours.  Colin was beyond excited and Joel was feeling a little left out.  So I took Joel to the living museum to see the dinosaurs.  We left Norah with Ma-ma-maa.  I think Joel was the most excited about the fact that it was just him and mommy - norah was staying home.  Unfortunately the dinosuars were a little too real for my little boy.  He kept telling me "get me" which means pick him up.  He did love the ones behind glass that were suppossed to be the underwater dinos.  Overall it was a fun morning with just my Joel. 

And then we went back to Grandpa and Ma-ma-maa's house where he entertained us all and then crashed hard later.  He was asleep before we got out of the driveway. 

Brent and Colin were gone all weekend and it was amazing how easy it seem now with just a 3 year old and newborn. 

Three

My sweet baby boy turns 3 today.  In some ways it feels like he was just born but in other ways it feels like he should be turning much older than 3. Joel does just about anything Colin does so he has acted older all his life.  I wish they wouldn't grow up so fast but all day I'd had this quote running through my head:

If I could kep you little, I'd keep you close to me.But then I'd miss you growing into who you're meant to be." ~ Marianne Richmond

I wish I could keep my children little but I have enjoyed each and every stage.  And I love who Joel is now.  He is our stubborn strongwilled child who is very determined to do things his way. There are days I'm at a loss of what to do with him. He is also very affectionate, joyful little boy who loves to make us laugh and entertain us.  He is very adventurous and has no fear of anything. Except woodpeckers.  He will be outside and then run inside and say "i hear dat woodecker"  haha so funny.  He manages to throw in the word poop all the time in random conversations and I'm afraid we've encouraged it since we can't help but laugh. Poopy doopy is a constant word in his vocabulary.  He is my artist and will sit and color/paint for hours.  Most of the time on paper - a lot of times on himself and a few times on the walls - have to keep an eye out for him.  When he's quiet you know he's into something - or getting naked and running around or just sitting and reading a book. I think every family should have a Joel. He makes our days anythning but boring and just adds so much to our family. 

Its fun to hear his conversations.  When he is hungry he will tell me "my tummy not getting bigger."  and when he can't do something he will say "I no can do..."  The other day I was putting lotion on Colin and Joel ran up to me and just said "I got skin!" so I would put lotion on his skin too. He loves to cuddle and rub ears still.  He is starting to sleep through the night maybe once or twice a week - haha norah might have him beat on the sleep department. 

Joel has been talking about his birthday party for weeks now and when I asked him what he wanted he just said he wanted his buddeeeeNathan and of course Noah and Adah and do water balloons.  Which was a change from his origional request of only kitty kats and doggies at his birthday party.  I told him he wasn't getting one so I think that changed his mind :)  We added a slip-n-slide and I hope he had a lot of fun. It was pretty laid back which I think we all needed after the past few weeks. 

Happy Birthday Joely Bean!  We love you so much and love the boy you are becoming and can't wait to see the man you become. 

Happy 4th!

pics

Its hard when you have little kids to get a picture with everyone looking at the camera.  But sometimes its those in between pictures that  I love the most. Joel has been running around most of the summer in just a diaper. Colin practically lives in his swim suit most days.

 Looks like Joel had to do 'pretty ears' to brent during the photo attempt. Colin just wants to shoot me

Sometimes Joel rubs ears a little too rough.

But then he'll act like he has no clue what you are talking about. 

 Lots of kisses for Norah.