Emma’s big day

Last week was a big one for our spunky little Emma.  Or should I say BIG Emma because…

She GAVE UP HER PRECIOUS PACI!!!

we went with the “paci fairy” scheme just as we did with jack, but with a twist. 

we have been talking about it for a few weeks here and there, and scott and I both decided that it was just time…she really didn’t “need” it anymore, and it was becoming more of a problem than anything (acting out and using it for a big crutch, etc).  so, with the new year, and with her starting her 1 day a week “school,” the timing worked out.  earlier on thursday night before bed, i found the pacis that i could (have found 5 others since!) and snipped a hole in the end.  So, before bed when she went to find her paci, she sucked on it and said “this is broken, where is my other paci?”  I found that one, and again, it was snipped.  then we said, “Emma, I think the paci fairy came and did something to your pacis so that you could give them to her!”  She bought it.  we wrote a little note, stuck them in a pink box, had one last little suck on all of them (this was seriously so sad, she just looked at them mournfully), and put them on the couch.

I went to bed at 9:30 that night, as I totally underestimated her and thought i would be up every hour.  she only woke up once at 4:30, didn’t even ask for her paci, but got into bed with us and slept great.  that morning when she woke up, she found a Fancy Nancy game, a note from the fairy, and $5 to buy ice cream after school.  She was thrilled and SO PROUD of herself.  She has not had a problem sleeping every night since, but it is taking more time to settle down at nap and at night – i am hoping this gets better as the week progresses ands she can self-soothe again.

So then, after she woke up that morning, we had to get ready and organized, because Emma was starting school!  I signed her up for a Friday 1.5 hour class called “Totin’ Twos” through the park district, as she always says she wants to go to school with Jack when we drop him off, and I thought it would give her something on her own to branch away from me and have some fun without Sophia around to take care of.  We dropped Jack off at 9:15, rushed over to drop her off at 9:30, and she said “Bye Mommy, Love you!”, ran over to the baby dolls and never looked back!  Such a big girl!  She was SUPER excited to take her owl backpack and a snack…was excited when i picked her up and is telling everyone about how she goes to school.  

We ended the exciting day with a trip to Dairy Queen, compliments of the paci fairy, and then Pappaw, Nana, and Kitten came for our Christmas celebration with them.  Exciting!

 
GOOOO Emma!!!!  So proud of her!

rewind: florida!

 

we once again had a WONDERFUL time in florida in October!! we were there for TEN awesome days this time – so nice!  I am going to be SO SAD when we can’t go as long with school/sports schedules…I look forward and NEED this week so much!

TONS of swimming (the kids are absolute water bugs) – I think Jack honestly spent 3 days in a row, with 7 hours a day in the water.  He jumped in (naked, of course) right when he woke up in the morning, hopped out for breakfast, and back in until he took a break around 2-3pm.  He is also such a good swimmer now, that while we are around the pool area, we can trust him to get in on his own and swim, and not have to be in with him.  Emma will hopefully be there next year.  :-)  Jack learning to truly dive, totally swimming on his own, emma swimming on her own, and sophia experiencing the water for the first time (she loved it).  the weather was glorious – in the 80’s every day – and the kids were totally tuckered out at the end of every day…early bedtimes and sleeping in.  we all even got a few naps throughout the week. 

The highlight of the week was jet-skiing with dolphins and manatees in Ft. Myers.  It was such a fun excursion – even little Emma went and she LOVED going 82 mph with Pappaw on the jetski!  She laughed the entire time and kept saying “faster, faster!” – such a little daredevil she is!  The dolphins literally swam up to our jetskis brushed up against them.  They kept following Jack and he loved it.  It was very cool!

A couple of days on the beach wore them out, a few yummy dinners out including our yearly sunset dinner at Turtle Club and my favorite at Tommy Bahamas, and of course, our farewell lunch at Nana’s favorite – Iguana Mias. 

 

oh, and taking 3 under the age of 5 on an airplane?  it actually went very well, even considering that our dvd player wouldn’t charge and they couldn’t watch a movie!  tons of snacks, new books, breast-feeding, and i-spy games did the trick.  On the way home, I look over (I had Sophia asleep in the Ergo) and Scott, Jack, and Emma were all asleep in the row next to me.  I actually read a magazine and had a coke in peace! 

scott and i even got out a couple of times for dinner and a movie:  SO NICE.

once again, my dad, ellen, and aunt kitten were awesome.  I don’t know what we are going to do if aunt kitten gets “too cool” to hang out with toddlers when she is 16.  :-)  They love her to pieces and she is the only one that will go in the pool with them while we adults are too lazy to put our swimsuit back on.  :-)

thanks, dad – can’t wait for next year!

dear sophia

my sweet sophia mae,

i have written this in my head so many times throughout the past few months, as i feel my love and happiness for you pouring out of me.

you are the sweetest baby that i could have ever imagined being my third child.  while many said to your daddy and i “you are crazy!” for having our third baby in 4 years, we were very excited and ready for the “challenge.” yes, having three little lovies running around is very tiring and i NEVER feel like i am caught up, but also the most rewarding thing that i have ever done.  and you make it so EASY.  you have been a very content and HAPPY babe from day one, with the biggest, bluest eyes that melt your daddy’s heart.

as in love with you as i am, i think the feeling is mutual.  when i leave the room, you become very upset and when you catch a glimpse of me again, it is pure JOY on your face to have your momma back in your view.  i love that feeling.  yes, i know that your brother and sister love me, but i have to say that i have never felt this “needed” or loved by anyone before you.  you look into my eyes as i nurse you, and i smile and then make you laugh – it is one of my greatest moments.  i don’t know if i feel especially close to you because you may be my last baby, or we share an extra-special bond…guess we will find out in the years to come.  one of my favorite things to do is to kiss the side of your bald little head and smell your sweet baby breath – i know that i always remember what that is like.

you love to hold hands.  you reach for our hand when feeding you, when putting you down at night, you love to reach up and touch my face or grasp my hand, and even in the car, when you become upset, all i have to do is reach back and hold your hand (NOT an easy thing to do in a large SUV!), and you immediately calm down.  i will always remember the feeling of your tiny, sweet hand in mine.

your big smile, little dimple on the right side, and big cheeks melt me.  we all love to make you laugh and smile, which is not hard to do.  like i said, you are a very happy babe.  you are very ticklish, especially your tummy, and you laugh so whole-heartedly.  the only times that you truly get “upset” (if getting upset means crying for 1-2 minutes) is when i take your bottle or food away, or when your brother or sister get too much in your face.  you don’t mind getting your diaper changed, being in the car for long periods, or even getting your face wiped down.

you LOVE to eat.  you took to nursing well, and while we are down to 4x a day together (soon changing to just morning and night – my supply is so low – SORRY!), i still love it and love that sweet time with you.  and solid food better watch out – you are a vigorous eater!  you make the funniest sounds when you eat, make fists and shake your hands, and we can tell that you love it (video coming soon!).  you are doing great with picking things up, also, and your favorites are scrambled eggs and veggie straws – you eat with such passion (like your momma!)

you adore your brother and sister and they love you so.  when i bring you out to them in the morning, you are all beaming with excitement and jack always says “good morning, gophers, can i get my morning smile and snuggle?!”  and then they argue over who gets to hold you first.  you love him and like to kiss his cheeks.  jack makes your face light up and he is so very gentle and loving with you.  you love to pull your sisters hair and she loves to make you laugh (even if it means sitting on top of you or getting in your face – i promise she means well!)  i can’t wait to watch the three of you playing as the years go by – it brings us such JOY and i’m surprised that others can’t see my heart bursting with pride.

you have long legs and are starting to chunk up after being in the 10-25% for weight at your six month appointment.  you are starting to get up on your knees, and i probably do you a disservice by holding you too much, but i am addicted…my fault if you don’t walk until you are 15 months.  but i am okay with that – i want you to stay my sweet little baby girl!

so, sweet girl – in the past {almost} eight months, you have captured many hearts, especially mine.  your sweet, serene, happy demeanor and those big blue eyes and lovely smile melts me.  i know that i probably spoiled you by letting to sleep with me for the first 6 months of your life, and although it is great that you are now sleeping through the night, i have to admit that i MISS your smell and snuggles at 2am.  when i go into your room in the morning and you roll over, flash me that smile, and reach up for me, i know that i am the luckiest momma in the world – YOUR momma.

xoxo,

mommy

Rewind: family pics

Thomas again took some awesome family photos in November for us…I seriously did not think think that he got many good ones this time (the kids were nuts and it was another freaky cold, windy day), but was pleasantly surprised!  it was fun to do it at our new little home, and i especially like the ones of Jack playing soccer and our family ones on the front porch.  he always just captures their little personalities so well and the kids are so comfortable with him.

just don’t pay attention to the heinous wrinkles around my eyes…and remember that i have had 3 children in 4 years!  :-)

we used a few for our christmas card, and i actually ordered several for frames around the house (I am SO bad at actually ordering prints – they just sit on my computer!).

enjoy!  and thank you, AGAIN, Thomas!

 

Ummm…hello????

Well – a friend pointed out to me today that it has been 2 months since my last blog post. 

Yep…I fell off the blog wagon, but I AM BACK! 

The past 3 months have been an absolute whirlwind! 

Getting settled in our new house/neighborhood/town, Jack adjusting to school, our Florida vacation, starting swim lessons, fun visitors for the holidays, traveling for Thanksgiving, TONS of holiday fun, traveling for Christmas…so much fun to talk about!

Look forward to a REWIND set of posts:  Fall Fun, Florida, Thanksgiving, Holiday Adventures, Christmas, and most importantly – SOPHIA updates!  Poor girl – didn’t even get her 6 and 7 month official photos taken…the life of a 3rd child!  :-)

The truth is, I have had several things running through my head to talk about here, and miss writing.  The REAL truth is, that if I don’t start documenting my every day moments and photos again, my mind will forget – MOM BRAIN!

I’ll leave with a few sweet shots I managed to capture on Christmas Eve.  I am convinced that I am not capable of taking a great shot of all 3 of them smiling or even looking at me!