Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving at Pine Lake was wonderful as always, but extra special this year because of our new addition, beautiful 4 month old little Lucy. The weather was incredible! 60 and sunny, making for the most incredible pink sunset that just filled up the sky. 

Jack was awesome, he literally played with a marble game that Aunt Deb had from her boys for 3 hours, no food or water break (or shall I say sausage and cheese because after all it's Wisconsin). Lucy was a little love button getting to bond with some more family members and giving me some free arm & chat time. Fabulous! 

So thankful for all of God's blessings in our life, He has truly only given us reasons to trust in Him and believe that He has a great plan for us. I have a very thankful thankful thankful heart! 

35 Months Old

Right around birthday time I always get so busy so 35 months is an odd age to document but it's better than nothing! Lately, it has become more apparent how quickly Jack is growing up. I thought he was still kind of a baby (I mean he poops in a diaper and still loves a nuk in his mouth) but since Lucy has been born Jack seems to be aging at rapid speed. I just want to remember everything about this age...

Like how you talk in full sentences, and when you can't say something you ask us to, "say that word". You are always asking us to tell you new words. Your Dad is really good at helping you pronounce them when you say "you can't", which you say a lot and we don't like that. You can do it all Jack!

The first thing you do when you meet someone is show them with your fingers how old you are. Just recently you started telling everyone how you are, "3 on December 8th".

And I want to remember how sweet it is when you come up to us and say "I need a hug" and then say, "Thank you Mommy or Daddy". It could be for getting you a new toy, starting a fire, or playing cars with you. Really anything. Your top "Thank you" or highlight of the day is always right before bed after night time kisses. I like hearing what you favorite part of the day is without even being asked.

You think when Lucy burps or farts it is the funniest thing ever. As a good brother should do you remind her to use manners like, "excuse me".

That cute face of yours is always a mess. But you make sure you are dressed to the 10.

You call me "the best prettiest Mom ever", and then you ask me, "do you like those words". Um yes little gentleman I do. And you kiss me on both cheeks and then my forehead like the godfather.  Also, you compliment me when I actually do my hair, put on make up, and a "pretty dress" which is really just anything other than a tank top to you. Your Dad is the "most awesome Daddy" to you.

Dutch is terrified of you. But he is your best friend.

Master of the pout and fake tears. Pretty sure you could be a child actor. You turn it on.

Love the outdoors. Dirt, bugs, leaves all of it. However when a bug gets indoors you run and grab toliet paper and try to catch it, then show me. Your success rate is about 10%. We have a lot of loose bugs in this house. The "girls" as you refer to them come around 4:30pm and the ring the doorbell for you to come play with them outside. You wait all day for them. 

You are really good at making messes. And really fast at making them. Then you say you clean them up, but really it is just moving the mess to a different area or spreading it out. Just about when I am going to pull my hair out you sing a "clean up clean up" song, so I can't get mad. It's too cute.

"I sure like that...." or "I sure want that"...is said about 20 times a day.

All of your booboo's still need to be kissed. And there are numerous booboo's a day. You even ask for me to kiss your bum after it gets swatted for misbehaving.

Disciplining you is so hard. You are better at disciplining us. You tell us, "don't yell at me", "say your sorry", and when I give you the evil eye "no Mom you so happy!".  Somedays there is only one time out, other days there are about a dozen.

 You are the best snuggle buddy ever. You love to snuggle up on the couch with your soft blankie. But you still won't have a sleepover with me in the big bed.

Our little negotiator. Always giving us other options. And when we give us one you don't like you do your master fake laugh. It makes us laugh.

You pretend play now with your toys and that you are "going to work to sit by the computer and make some money".  Never getting far though because you tell you can't drive and need a nap.

The first to compliment yourself on how handsome or super strong you are. But it's such an honest and sweet way that you state it, so everyone just agrees from the church ladies to the Costco cashiers. 

Jack Michael nobody can get under my skin like you do or make me as happy as you. Love you buddy!

I Wouldn't Trade It

Life has been crazy lately with lots of travel and living far away from family. But when I sit back count my blessings there are many more than I deserve. God has been good and He has it all is figured out. Pretty sure he is trying to teach me things...and I am trying to learn.

There are peaks and valleys in life, these past few months have been a mix. Peak that I have two beautiful children, valley that life is not how I had planned it.

Spending so much time with family has been wonderful. But I know having two kids an extra dog and your almost 30 year daughter under your parents roof is not the easiest thing. I planned that we would be seeing lots of family under my own roof for dinner and play dates. A five and a half hour drive makes that impossible. At times I feel so anxious wanting to settle into a home, to know we are going to live somewhere for more than two years. It is hard to decorate and get organized when you know that you just have to pack up again. I need to let go of that anxiety and just make a home wherever we are for however long it is. No one really knows what tomorrow holds.

I planned to start working out everyday too. I want too, it clears my head and gives me energy. But with a newborn and toddler that goal is becoming very difficult to obtain. Jack wakes up at 6:30 and Lucy doesn't go to bed until 11pm, and their naps never match up. And with nursing I am so hungry all of the time, so these 10 pounds I want to drop are just driving me crazy. But then I sit back and appreciate that I am healthy, Preppy is healthy, the kids are healthy. My jeans fit and tunics are in. The last 10 pounds will eventually come off, it is nothing to be anxious about. Nursing is such a sweet precious thing between Mom and baby, once it's over it's really over. I can diet at any time.

Then there is Preppy, I miss my time with him. Date nights are out of the question right now because Lucy won't take a bottle and he is gone so much that when he is around I want him to be with the kids. I long to get dressed up and go out, but I am the one who refuses to get babysitters. It's just a crazy time and one day there will be more time for just the two of us. We will eventually get to the place where a Saturday date night is always on the calendar. Kids grow up and leave the house but Preppy and I are together forever!

Even keeping up with pictures, videos, blogging makes me feel like a failure these days! The pictures below are back from September 27th and I am just getting around to them.  I love taking pictures, remembering these sweet times. But I don't want to sacrifice playing with Jack or snuggling Lucy. What usually gets sacrificed is the laundry (washing, folding, and putting away all included). If only there were more hours in the day or if I didn't need to sleep. But sleeping makes me happy and a nicer person to live with.

I need to get over the feeling of never being good enough. I know so many Mom's feel this way, that we can always do things better, do more. This time of life is short and fleeting, my goal is to enjoy it and fill my kids days with love. Not shoulda, coulda, woulda's. I wouldn't trade my life right now for the world.