Growing Growing Gone

Our kids are growing up fast...ahhhh.  It takes a TON of energy and patience to have 3 young ones running around the house, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy every minute of it.  Sure, I wear yoga pants most days, I rarely even know what day it is, I'm lucky to have an uninterrupted potty break, and my house is not as pristine as it once was; but I'd rather be enjoying life with my kids and building our relationships while they're young, than stressing over the little things.  I know when we're old and gray, we'll look back with fondness and remember these years as some of the best and quickest of our lives.  So, Sloooooowwww down, please!!!!  I cherish the funny things they say, playing candyland, coloring with sidewalk chalk, blowing bubbles, doing silly crafts, reading silly books together, and riding bikes to the playground together.  I fear the day when they are too cool for those childish activities and simply too cool for their lame, out-of-touch parents.  So until then....

ETHAN   

Oh, what can I say about this precious boy.  He is such a joy to be around.  He is our obedient child who wants nothing more than the praise of a job well done.  He LOVES books, especially Mo Willems Elephant and Piggie series and Pigeon series.  He's started reading...yes, at 4 he reads Mo Willems books to us.  He is extremely intelligent and has a wonderful lust for learning, but this momma is not ashamed to say she's glad he missed the cut-off for Kindergarten.  Momma will certainly have a hard time sending this one off to a school ALL day long.  BUT, hopefully we'll never have to see that day since this momma is pretty certain she'll be homeschooling these kiddos.  Ethan still loves legos and does entire sets all by himself...sets labeled for kids 8-12 years.  We can't wait to surprise him with our trip to LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Chicago for his birthday this year.  Ethan is our super sweet, sensitive, out-going kid who makes friends with ease.  He still loves soccer, but loves just to run, or ride his bike as well.  He's a great big brother...probably because he's so easy-going, Claire's high-strung personality doesn't get to him :)  He loves to camp and fish, especially with his daddy, but is completely scared out of his mind of any kind of bug....and yes this drives daddy nuts. ha!  We love this Momma's Boy with all of our hearts!

 CLAIRE      

Oh, Claire, with those BIG blue eyes, an even bigger smile, and the biggest laugh you could handle; all  of which, will melt you to pieces.  She is our strong-willed, independent, opinionated child...which we will cherish in her as an adult, but makes toddler-hood a bit challenging for us as parents.  She is our little artist.  She LOVES to paint, and does so better than most adults, including her momma (must get it from daddy's side of the family).  She has an eye for color that makes us awe at even her sidewalk chalk paintings.  She loves music and is constantly singing or playing instruments.  She loves to be outside (especially swinging) and running off her immense amounts of energy, or riding her tricycle around with her "Claire-determination".  She is certainly determined in everything she does, and insists most times on "I do it myself Mommy".  It's fun to watch her do things herself and witness her determination and above-average problem-solving skills...she's certainly not a quitter even at 2.  She still adores cows and loves to play kitchen and tea parties.  Her new thing is she wants to help mommy in the real kitchen, so every meal I have to find some toddler-appropriate way for her to help me.  She really is mommy's little helper.  She wants nothing more than to help make dinners, mop floors, do laundry, etc.  And, while it may certainly take longer and not be perfect, I am more than grateful for the help! Claire is our shy and timid child when it comes to others (she's certainly not shy or timid with us), so she makes friends a little slower than her brother and would prefer to play by herself most of the time (unless it's with family or those she's finally warmed up to)...I like to say she's just a little more exclusive...you better feel privileged to be in the "Claire Club". ha!  She is also observant and intelligent which makes us laugh constantly at the almost adult, witty things she says.  She's a tiny little peanut packed with personality, and if she doesn't have us laughing at her adorableness, we're crying over her strong-willed stubbornness. ha!        

LENNIE

Our Little Lennie is 4 months.  I can't believe it!  She's 14lbs 13oz (56%), 25.25in (73%), with a head cir of 16in (42%)...Finally an "average growing" kid!  She is such a fun baby.  She is constantly laughing, smiling, rolling over, or squealing with delight.  And if she's not, then she's just sucking on her paci, observing everything around her.  She is our easy-going baby...thank goodness! I think we could only handle one strong-willed child at a time in this house.  :)We rarely ever hear her cry and she has been a great sleeper from the day we brought her home from the hospital.  The kids love to "help" and "play" with her, and she laughs and smiles at their silliness.  She has a ton of hair, just like Claire did, and just like their momma did as baby.  She is still looking like momma's little clone, and she is at her best and brightest in the morning hours after everyone is awake.  We are so grateful for her to have joined our family, and feel very blessed by her presence...a completeness, I guess you could say.  We've decided to celebrate Lennie's 1st Birthday at Disney World next year and at least mommy can't wait.  The kids have no idea and we're not telling them until the day we leave in May (can't wait to videotape that reaction :).  It'll be our first trip to Disney (except Daddy who went with band in high school, but when I ask him about it, he really only remembers making out with his girlfriend on the PeopleMover...thanks babe, very helpful. hahaha!), and we can't wait to make even more family memories there.  Love you Little Lennie!