December 2013 newsletter

Riley,

I don't think there's ever been a more mature 5 year old big sister. You are so grown up! When you're not playing with your Monster High dolls you love to play with Ella. You really love to play with her! Y'all are best friends.

I think you're the happiest that your daddy is home. You pal around with him all day long. He's remodeling our storage building right now, and if he's out there, you're out there. You are his big helper.

You also love to help me cook. It's hard to slow down and let you help me all the time, but it makes you feel very important to help. At times you do too much, like the other day when you got on top of the counter to put up dishes and accidentally knocked the coffee pot into the floor, shattering it into a million pieces. We had no idea you wanted to help clean up that bad! And other times I'll ask you to clean your room and you'll tell me you will do it later or tomorrow. Ha!

Ella Rae,

Well hello, Miss Talkative. You've really turned it on this past month. You can say: mama, dada, Riley, Nolan, no-no (meaning Nolan), no!, bye-bye, more, puppy, paw-paw and nana (meaning banana). I love hearing you talk! I think even more so since you didn't talk for the longest.

Several weeks ago I taught you two different signs to make when you wanted milk and "more." You picked up on both of these so very well. Your daddy couldn't believe it when he came home! He wanted to know if day care taught you that. Well, no. I did! I'm proud too. Whenever you want milk, you make the sign. When you want more, you make the sign. It's made life a little easier knowing what you want sometimes. Other times you still whine and point, but you're making great progress. We're working on a couple other signs now.

Ella, we think you're the most compassionate little girl ever! You hate for Nolan to cry. I had to use the nose bulb on him the other day to remove some snot. You were sitting right by us and when he started to wail, you started to wail. You were just as unconsolable as he was and it wasn't even you being worked on! You're also good about giving him his paci when he needs it, as long as you don't want it.

Nolan,

You're just the best baby! You get lots of compliments about it too. You don't cry much. You like to sleep. You love to play. I think that's the biggest development with you over the last month: play time! If you're hanging out, either on the floor or in someone's lap, you MUST have a toy. It goes straight to your mouth.

Laughing and smiling. That's about it!

I'm not sure at what point things around this house will get easier. I get bogged down in laundry, keeping the house clean enough, dishes washed, etc. It's hard! Even with Henry's help there is always someone who needs something and always something that needs to be done. I enjoy the time to myself and with Henry when every one is in bed. It's peaceful! 

We love our babies. 

Love you babies.

Love, Mama

November 2013 - newsletter

Riley: My right hand, my best friend, you see me at my best and my worst, but you never stop being there for me.

You are the most mature 5 year old I know. Are all five year olds like you? I've never lived with one, but Ella and Nolan have a lot to live up to when they are five years old. Your conversations can be very serious. You are very conscious of things you can do to help me out around the house and you try and do those things.

Maybe more than anyone else, you are ready for your daddy to come home. You always talk about what you and he are going to do together. When I mentioned Daddy might be able to go to your field trip with you, you just about went crazy. You were glowing with happiness. I have no doubt that you will be the happiest girl on the field trip.

Riley, you love to play with your brother and sister. You and Ella spend a lot of time in your room, and most recently, on your bed. You're happy if Ella play with you all the time. I know this stage won't last, but I do hope you and Ella are best friends.

Ella: Spirited. That's how I would describe you. You're usually either really happy or really mad. There isn't much in between.

I've put off mentioning anything about your speech development, like what words you are saying. The main reason for putting it off is because you haven't been talking. At your 1 year and 15 month check ups, you weren't hitting the speech milestones that most kids hit. At first, I was confident that there wasn't a problem and just kept waiting for you to pick up talking. It never really happened. The end of October came and other than Paw-paw and Dada, that was all you would say. According to your doctor, you should have been saying about 5 words. You had tubes put in last May and I assumed your hearing had been thrown off, and that had contributed to delayed speech. I think I felt the need for reassurance and I wanted to know if there was a problem that we could do something about to help you start talking, so I had a speech therapist come evaluate you.

I wasn't sure how much you would cooperate, and you mainly played in my lap the whole time the therapists were there. They asked me questions and observed you for about 45 minutes. And the results? Well, you do have a 2 month delay in your speech. Your perception and comprehension were also measured, and turns out you are advanced in those areas. You're just not talking! I'm relieved to know that there isn't a significant problem. The therapists said to keep watching and waiting for you to start talking, be more explanatory when I talk to you, and read picture books more often.

After a week home from day care over Thanksgiving, even your care giver at day care noticed the progress you made while out. For some reason you started saying several words over the break. No, Mommy, puppy, Ri-ri, Nolan, No-no (short for Nolan), and a clear no. "Do you want to get out of the bath tub?" "NO!" "Do you want to get down?" "NO!" "Do you want to eat?" "NO"! "Do you want to go bye-bye?" "NO!" Basically, any question I ask you the answer is and emphatic NO! I'll take it! You also like to point your finger while saying no. I don't know where that came from.

Nolan: Last week I attempted introducing cereal to you. You are at the point where your bottle doesn't really fill you up. You even have to be topped off after I drop you off at day care. I feed you right before we leave for school, and then you have to be fed one hour later. A little snack. Riley and Ella both ate cereal really well right from the beginning. Not you, buster. The first bite is about all you can manage. Anything after that and you clamp your lips completely shut. You refuse to even let the spoon in your mouth. I'm kind of at a loss about what to do next. I've tried sweetening the cereal with bananas, but nothing seems to appease you. Another factor is the chaos in the mornings before leaving for school. I don't have time to sit and mess with spoon feeding you. I just don't have the time. I'll try again in a couple weeks.

Your sisters are crazy about you. They both love to give you hugs and kisses. Ella is still a little rough with you, but she is so loving. I think she's your biggest fan. Won't things be fun in one year?

You've been very handsy lately. Your hands are always in your mouth. Consequently, they stay cold most of the time. Riley hates your hands being so cold and always asks why they are cold. You are starting to play with rattles. Most 4 month olds are rolling over, but not you. You can get to your side, but you have absolutely no desire to roll. You never even try. Honestly, you don't lay in the floor very often. Ella is just too rambunctious for me to let you lay around. She already steals your pacifier at every given opportunity. If you are in the floor, she likes to climb all over you. You get knocked around a great deal! Therefore, I hold you. A lot.

So last week over Thanksgiving break I made sure to let you lay around, thinking you would probably start rolling over. I guess you need a little more practice!

Mornings are pretty hectic; nights are fine after 5:30. Trying to have a supper cooked (quickly, since Ella likes to eat at 4:30) and kids bathed is a little intense. Once I've got the babies to bed I can do my chores and maybe relax a little. Riley and I spend our evenings reading and coloring. It's nice to have alone time with her. She's easy to talk to. When she goes to bed at 8:00 I really start relaxing! Most of the time I'm in the bed at 9:00. Worn out!

I don't think I will be able to write another newsletter if Henry isn't in it. I feel guilty when I tell Riley I can't play with her because I know her daddy would play with her all night if he were here. When he's gone I try to make decisions and discipline like he would want me to. He's always in the back of my mind around here. He should be home in less than a week, but I've said that more than once. I'm really hoping that this time, he will be home in less than a week. I need him!

To my kids: I'm so happy God chose me to be your Mommy. Riley, I couldn't make this life without you. Ella, you keep me on my toes every minute. Nolan, you're my handsome devil and sweet baby boy. Love you all so much!

Love, Mama (Ella says, "Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy!")

October 2013 - Newsletter

Riley: Two words: Monster High. You are obsessed. I saw a news story the other day that talked about how Monster High dolls are projected to replace Barbie; this has definitely happened in our household. Monster High is the only thing you want to talk about. I think it's also one of the main things you think about. You want to own every single Monster High doll made. There are only about 20 of them, but at $20 each you can imagine why you don't own them all yet. Keep working on Daddy; he will cave in.

When not consumed by Monster High dolls, you love to play with your brother and sister. You like to chase Ella around the house. With Nolan, you just like to coo and talk to him. He laughs like crazy at you.

You had a pair of shoes at Grandad's house in a back bedroom. You were supposed to wear those shoes today so I told you to go back there and get those shoes. It's sort of dark back there and the door is shut and when you go to the hallway you ran back to the living room, too scared to go any further. You ran right into Ella and apparently came up with a brilliant idea. The next thing I know you tell Ella, "Come on, Ella. You can come with me." I cracked up and there you and Ella went to the back bedroom after those shoes. You held her hand the whole time. I'm not sure how much Ella could do for you if something were to have gotten after y'all. With you sister by your side you can do anything! I hope it's always like that for you and Ella.

You've started spending the night at Grandad's house. It's no secret that there are no rules over there, so spending time there is fine with you. You take your videos and Allie and blanket and I don't think you think much about me while you're there. I'm so happy you love Grandad like you do, and that he is able to have you over for the night. He appreciates you being there, too. You're great conversation.

Thanks for not being mad at me when I sent you to school with crazy hair a week too early. I am trying so hard to give you every experience you deserve, but it's hard with the two babies. I don't want you to be cheated out of anything just because you have a little brother and sister. It does get pretty crazy around here though. Mondays are kind of our day. I take you to tumbling for an hour, and it's just nice to be able to go do something with just you. Those were the days! What did I do with all my time?

Ella Rae: Sweet big sister. You absolutely love to give Nolan attention. Hugs, kisses, and even holding him are some of your favorite things to do. I've even caught you leaned over him talking a little baby talk. You can't talk either so it was a bunch of jibber jabber, but really sweet and funny. 

You've gotten the door shut in your face so many times this past month. Riley's room is off limits to you and she does a good job of keeping you out. Sometimes you'll see Riley going back to her room and you do your best to keep up with her and get in the bedroom. It just doesn't happen! Sometimes you'll scream and bang on the door and other times you'll just toddle back out and find something else to do. Riley has too much small Monster High paraphernalia and puzzle pieces for you to be in there. The first thing you go for is her the cabinet where puzzles are stored. Merely pulling the puzzle pieces out and strewing them everywhere isn't the object: You need to sit inside the cabinet. 

You love to get new clothes and shoes. You like pretty things.  

We went to the fall festival at church. There was a bounce house for the kids to play in. I waited until the big kids were out and in you went. You thought you were really jumping around in there, even though you were on your hands and knees. After about 15 minutes a bunch of 12 year old boys got in there so it was time for you to go. Ha! No. Someone finally had to crawl in and get you out. 

If not following Riley around the house, you are right behind me. You like it best when I carry you around with me while I'm doing chores. Ha, I'm sure you do. 

Nolan: Sweet baby boy. I know I'll never have another baby so I'm just trying to soak you up. I don't want to stop breast feeding you because I know I'll never be able to feed a baby like that again. I couldn't ask for a better baby. You're a pretty good sleeper, even sleeping on your back most of the time. You're the only one who I've ever had any success with doing that. 

You take a lot of abuse from your big sister, Ella. Toys hit your head, she pushes on you to stand up, and she steals your pacifier and bottles. Constantly. I try my best to protect you, but it's hard because she is so little and determined. She does however dote on you a lot and if you are crying she's been known to put your pacifier in your mouth. 

You just love to watch Riley. You love to smile. You've got lady killer eyes. 

Even though taking care of you three kids is very hard and mentally and physically taxing, what your Daddy does is even harder. He works over 24 hours away from his family, lives in a hotel for months at a time, misses his family, and never complains about it. He takes care of his family. We both want to give you three kids what we didn't have when we were growing up. Your Daddy works hard to give you that. Henry is my hero, my best friend, and I couldn't have picked a better man to be my husband and father of my kids. There's not one day that he is gone where I don't cry, want him home with me, or miss him. It's so hard!

We both love you kids so, so much. I'd do this 1,000 times over just to see your smiles.

Love you, Mama.

September 2013 - Newsletter

Riley: You had a very big September; you turned 5 years old! No one was more proud than you. You were telling everyone you were almost 5, and now that you are 5, you proudly hold up your little hand and spread your fingers out when asked how old you are. You are so happy to FINALLY be five years old.

Your birthday party was at a local park. You've seen this park from the road many times but we've never been able to stop and play. So, to have your party there was a wish come true! You had several friends who were able to come and celebrate, most importantly, your best friend Mollie.

I took cupcakes to your classroom on your actual birthday. This was a big deal.

You are extremely mature, generous, and smart. You help tend to your brother and sister more than most five year olds would. You love to play with both of them. With Nolan, you like to play pat-a-cake. He cackles when you play with him. Seriously, he thought it was really funny and it's just about the only thing he laughs at. You are a tremendous help with him, whether it's running to get his pacifier, getting me a burp rag, or picking out his outfit, infants are so much easier to care for with you around! With Ella, I don't even know where to start. She is your shadow and you are hers. You love to play with her and you are very watchful over her. For instance, the street we live on gets very little traffic. It's only used for the four houses that live on it. We were outside raking and Ella wondered into the street. I was watching her and thought it was ok for her to be in the street because you and I were both right there. You almost had a heart attack running to get her from the street.

You take the role of Big Sister very seriously. Sometimes I do have to tell you to mind your own business or remind you that I'm the mom. I don't want you to feel pressured to take care of either of the babies. I know sometimes in the car and at home I do ask you to do a lot, but I want you to know it's ok to be just a kid.

Ella Rae: Sister, you are a handful! You are definitely the child that I will turn around for just a second and look back to see you hanging from the ceiling fan. You are a climber. Your newest favorite is to climb on the hearth and toddle back and forth. You're smart, and mostly only do this when I'm feeding Nolan and can't get to you. You don't play with toys. We have a basketful in the living room and for the most part they go untouched by you. You will play with them if Riley play with them. But only then. You just don't play with toys. You like to play with non-toys: my breast pump, my keys, phone chargers, Nolan's bottles, etc. So this creates an issue and you do not like to be told no.

You are at your sweetest with Nolan. Some days, you will spend 10-15 minutes just kissing him over and over again. One day last week you and he were in the same room all day at daycare. The ladies said if he started crying you would run over there and put his pacifier in his mouth. You're so sweet! But in the same breath, if you find his pacifier laying around at home, it goes straight to YOUR mouth. I guess you thought you were in charge that day at day care.

Mostly because you are always on the move, I have fewer pictures of you. If I do take a picture of you, it's usually very blurry like the one above. You are a busy little girl! Your favorite place to play is Riley's room. With her new birthday presents she isn't as willing to let you play there. You sat right in the middle of her doll house and this really upset Riley. Because of this, she keeps her door shut all the time, even if she's not in there. You will toddle back to her room and find the door shut. Enraged, you come screaming back to the living room. After this, you want to be entertained by me and I'm usually messing with Nolan. Thankfully he's started going to bed on a regular schedule and I have 20-30 minutes of alone play-time with just you. It's really nice and you love the attention. It's your favorite thing to sit in my lap but that time is hard to come by.

Nolan: You are growing like crazy. It's easy to see just how much when I look at pictures. I take the most pictures of you, mainly because it seems like I am always holding you. You require a lot of attention! I try and remind myself that both the girls got this much attention when they were little.

I snapped this picture of you during tummy time. You hate tummy time. It's fine with you to be held where you can watch your sisters, and really, that's about all you do at home. I don't have many opportunities to lay you on the floor and watch you wiggle around. By the time we get home it's time to cook, then baths, then feed you, and then you go to sleep. Your nights are getting better with each passing week. Sometimes you wake up and need your paci, but you usually go right back to sleep. You don't wake up to eat anymore. It's nice!

You get drug around everywhere we go. Riley's friend's birthday parties, Ella's doctor appointment, the grocery store, etc. As long as your paci is somewhere near you are usually pretty good on our outings.

While it is hard taking care of two babies and a 5 year old, it's not all that bad of a job. There is a good deal of work involved, but there's beginning to be more free time. Mornings are my weakness. I rarely oversleep and we are still late sometimes. I just have a hard time making myself wake up at 5:00 a.m. just to work, work, work before I go to work. Getting 4 people ready in the morning is hard. I like to sit down and eat breakfast but am not always able to. I like to put my make-up on at home, but that doesn't always happen either. Today, I had to paint my toe nails when I got to work. I've learned to put Ella's shoes on when we get to day care because she will just take them both off when we get in the car. When we get home, usually around 4:15, I have to start cooking. Ella likes to eat at 4:30. Demands is more like it. Hopefully things are going in my favor and Nolan is asleep while I get supper ready and eat. When he isn't, I just have to ignore a little crying from someone. Once supper is fixed and we eat, I give Riley and Ella their bath. They would prefer to sit and play for a while, but that doesn't always fit the schedule. I am sometimes able to fold clothes or clean the kitchen up just a little bit while they are in the bath tub. After they are out and dressed, it's Nolan's turn for a bath. He likes baths and is very calm. His is a short one and all business, though. He gets fed for the last time after his bath and is usually ready to go to sleep about 6:30. Then for 30 minutes or so I can play with Ella. Sometimes she is fussy and has to go to bed at 6. I hate putting her to bed that early but have to remind myself that it's better for her to be well rested. (And sometimes better for me to not deal with the constant whining.) When the babies are down for the night at 7, I get the cleaning, laundry, and yard work finished. Yes, I have time for yard work some nights. I shower after my chores are finished. Next, I can watch a television show, read, or start a movie in my room. Most of the time I go to bed around 9:00. At the end of most days I am exhausted. My floors don't get mopped or vacuumed as frequently as I would like, and there is quite a bit of dust build-up in different places, but I am happy and have a happy family.

Love my husband.
Love my kids.

Love, Mama

August 2013 Newsletter

Riley: you're now the big sister of a little sister and a little brother. You were made for this role. You love to play with Ella. You create mountains out of pillows, put all the toys together for "pre-school," and otherwise entertain Ella most of the day. 

You also started back to pre-k. You love school! 

You're very responsible and dependable. One of your fvrite things is for me to leave you alone with Nolan and Ella. For instance, if I run a trash bag to the dumpster outside, you proudly proclaim, "I'm in charge!" I can also leave Nolan on the couch with you and take a quick shower. You are my extra pair of hands. 

Ella: Whew! You are definitely the handful! You went from taking a few steps and falling down to running around the house! It's so much better than carrying you everywhere. This is the first newsletter since Nolan was born; a lot changed overnight for you. You've come a long way since we first brought him home. At first, you wanted to lay on him or sit on him, just trying to get a closer look. Now, you like to give him kisses and rub his head. Sometimes your rubbing is quiet rough but it's obvious you love him already. You don't like to hear him wail. 

You really like to read books and put lotion on. When you bring a book or a bottle of lotion to us, you throw it in our laps. You have a great arm already. 

You haven't started talking yet but communicate through whining and grunting. Lots of whining. You get really frustrated easily especially when we can't figure out what you want or if you want something you can't have. Telling you no starts a battle. You will shake your whole little body in anger. And scowl! 

We took a trip to Mamaw's a few weeks ago. It was her first time meeting Nolan. You marched over to him and kissesd him on the head and then looked back at Mamaw. You were so proud to be his big sister in that moment. 

Nolan: Mr., its time you start sleeping through the night. Or at least just waking up once. I guess you're still a little bit too young but I am more than ready. You like to eat frequently and that ties me up for a while. You still sleep in a bassinet in my room, and some nights you wind up in bed with me. 

You're a good baby overall. You don't cry much. Napping and sleeping in general could be better but I won't complain too much. You're definitely the noisiest of all my babies. You toot,  grunt and moan, sometimes throughout your whole nap. You are bad about spitting up too. Riley spit up some, Ella none, but you most of all. I go through almost all of our burp rags. 

People love your name. I do too.

You have the whitest tongue. 

I took two extra weeks of maternity leave with you. You will be starting day care when you are 8 weeks old. That's pretty little! I am ready to settle into our school routine and have a few minutes to myself. 

It's a lot of work raising three of you. When we go anywhere alone I have to carry Ella on my hip and Nolan in his car seat. That's a workout! It doesn't happen much either. 

Love my family! You are all my life's pleasure. 

Love, Mama