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.

 

Sitting

Baby girl does not like to be on her tummy or back. The happiness will only last a few minutes and then she is done.  The boys loved being on their tummies - probably why the crawled so early. I'm ok with her not crawling as soon.

 But she does love sitting up and has great head control

 This is what she loves to do when she isn't being held. Going by this picture I think she knows she's cute and has us wrapped around her fingers.  Cute baby girl.

Oh and she says mama.  Its usually when she crying -"mama-mama-mama" but she did say it at a baby shower without crying. So I do have witnesses over the age of 6! I don't think she knows what shes saying but its mama all the same :)

He loves her

3 months

 Norah is 3 months old now. Why does time have to go so fast. Norah is such a sweet baby. In the words of Marilla Cuthbert of Anne of Green Gables "every baby is the sweetest and the best" And I agree. All my babies have been the sweetest and the best. And Norah really does have a sweet personality.

  Norah is starting to suck on two of her fingers. She loves her pacifier but more and more is wanting her fingers. She also loves to hold onto her dresses and pull them up by her face.

   So far she is very laid back - just goes with the flow. Nothing really bothers her but when she does get upset she'll wimper and produce real tears (the boys never had tears at this age) and her wimpering will last a LONG time. I told Brent to be prepared for an emotional girl. One time Joel was trying to give Norah some of his drink and accidently spilled ice and water all over her. Poor Norah. She let us know that was no acceptable at all. She stopped crying right away but did her little wimpering for a while after.

 Love all her rolls. A few weeks ago she was just over 12lbs and just under 24 inches long.  She hasn't grown as much as I thought considering how big she was at birth. 

  Norah will generally talk and smile to anyone who she makes eye contact with. She loves to be snuggled and held for hours and hours. I love it. I know it wont last for very long so I'm enjoying it while I can. I would much rather hold a baby than clean my house anyday.  She is getting better at being on her tummy and back but prefers to be held sitting up or in her bumbo seat. At night I will nurse her on the couch and then just snuggle with her for a long time watching her sleep.

 She also loves to be tickled and has the cutest giggle. Colin can get the most giggles and coos out of her.

 She is our best sleeper by far. I used to be amazed and wonder what people did to get their kids to sleep through the night and never thought it was possible but she's great. Joel is getting up more than Norah.  She's pretty consitent at getting up at 5am - going down between 8 & 9 and will sometimes get up once in the middle.  AMAZING.  Keep it up baby girl. We love you.  Its hard to imagine what life was like without her.

we made it

 We now have a first grader.  Where did this past year go? I need to compare the above picture from the last day of school to his first day of school.  Its been much better than I imagined.  Colin has done so well and we really had a great year.  I didn't realize how much I liked the school until I helped last week at field day.  I stopped volunteering in Feb since I couldn't waddle down the halls very fast :)  I had so many people come up to me asking about the baby when I walked into the school.  The administration has made the school feel like family so hopefully they don't leave anytime soon.  He had a wonderful teacher and teachers assistant that clearly adored Colin.  (Always helps when they love your son!) Colin has gotten so confident and grown up so much this year. 

Homework was not fun for either of us most nights.  I'm hoping that changes before 1st grade but I think God knew I couldn't homeschool him his past year or we would be butting heads each day. I still don't want him gone from me all day - I wish all the grades were all half day - but I'm excited for first grade. He will get to do art class each week and PE which he's excited about.  Its been fun now seeing kids from his class at the pool and getting to meet their parents.  He had a great class this year - can't wait to see what next year brings. But for now I'm going to enjoy having all my kids home each day.