3 Months Old

Naomi, you are 3 months old today!

- You are getting more expressive! Your smiles often take up most of your face. You are so close to laughing and you're trying to talk more.

- You enjoyed your first Super Bowl this month!

Zeke's 6th Birthday 

- You are starting to reach for a few toys and definitely follow them with your eyes. You like taking baths and will grab on to a few things if we give them to you.

You are beautiful! 

- You are holding your head up better all the time. If you are on your tummy, your legs are moving, I think you'll crawl pretty early. You roll onto your side with ease and have made it from back to tummy a time or two.

- You sleep pretty well, especially in the solly wrap. You nurse and take a couple of bottles from Daddy every day. You are getting better at riding in your car seat.

- You are starting to get too long for a few of your 0-3 month sleepers. I think we'll be moving you up on your clothes before long.

Naomi Irene, you indeed are a pleasant and peaceful baby. You cry, but not overly loud. You settle down easily and spend plenty of time quietly watching your family interact around you. Your hair still stands up and is dark and I'm excited to see how it grows and changes in the coming months. You like to be snuggled and warm and don't take a pacifier often. Daddy and I think you look almost like a doll with your perfect, delicate features. We're trying to capture as many pictures as possible to remember you at this age! We are so glad you are part of our family and look forward to seeing your personality develop in the coming months. Love, Mommy

Zoë is Two...and a half!

Zoë, this day snuck up on me... you are 2 1/2 years old! Here's what you're doing these days:

Pretty in purple on Zeke's 6th Birthday

- You count to 12 pretty easy, although you often miss '6'. You know your abc's pretty well and went through a phase of really enjoying your nursery rhyme book, especially "Baa, Baa Black Sheep". Naomi has a book of a few nursery rhymes and you like to "Jump over the moon" like the cow. Your little voice says, "See, Mama? See Mama?" followed by a giggle as you lift your leg to the sky. You also like for me to sing you "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" when you see the star in your "Hoot" book and I tickle you at the end. And at night you often ask me to sing "I wish..." which is "How Far I'll Go" from "Moana."

Your recent discovery of the delight of chocolate makes me smile

- You like to take sips of my coffee and seem to zero in on me whenever I'm eating chocolate. You are a pretty good eater, still drinking a full cup of juice when you wake up and eating breakfast rather slowly. I've started to leave it on the table and you finish it between 10-11 AM. Some of your favorite things to eat are hummus, chocolate, cookies, cuties, chips, turkey lunch meat, honey nut cheerios and the broth from all the soups I've been making this winter.

- You typically sleep from about 9 pm - 8 am and take a nap from about 1:30-3:30 pm most days. At night when we say prayers, you always want to pray for "Zekey and Marshall and the chickens and the birds." I'm not sure why you started thinking of the birds, but it has become a part of the routine. I enjoy our nighttime routine together, with you chatting away and "painting" books with your baby bottle, while I read or sing to you and feed Naomi and we enjoy having us three girls together. 

- You love your brothers and sister so much! When Zeke cries you often give him hugs (even if it was you that made him cry ;)). You follow Levi everywhere and copy most everything he does (for better or worse); you see him eat a certain way at the table, you do the same. He runs around growling? So do you. Sometimes you call him "Bubby" and every once in awhile you are referring to him as "Levi." You are very protective of Naomi, whom you lovingly call "No-mee". If she's not in the room at night, you ask where she is. You tell me when she's crying and needs help. You sometimes hold her, but not for long.

One of my favorite pictures of you, EVER! <3 

- You love to spend time outdoors, just like me. You like to run over and slip on your brown boots from Miriam. You are very independent and do your best to get yourself ready as much as you're able. Sometimes when I try to help you, you push my hand away and say, "Stop it!"

- I'm enjoying doing your hair. You got your first brush in your stocking for Christmas and you love it! You're so proud to go get it when I ask to brush your hair after bath time. Your hair is mostly curly, but on these less humid, winter days, it straightens out so I've braided it (once) and we put in barrettes and ponytails. You found your bows recently and have started putting in your pink one every day. You LOVE to accessorize! You received several sets of bracelets for Christmas and wear most of them, daily, as well as your my little pony watch. You also received a peacock necklace which you like to throw into the rotation every once in awhile.

- You are NOT a fan of brushing your teeth and I have no idea why. You are potty-trained! I began in October with you so you could be done before Naomi arrived. You are doing very well and can almost do it all by yourself most days unless your pants are a little too tight. You don't mind having Levi or Zeke help you if I'm not able to get there to do it.

Levi's fall soccer games were mostly chilly

- You enjoy going out with Daddy in the mornings, even if it's cold, to help with the chickens and take care of Marshall. You said just the other day, "Look Daddy, four chickie eggs!" If I ask, you'll put on your slippers and go to the garage and get food for Dora. Although if I forget to turn on the light you wait because it's "creepy" out there if it's dark :o)

Finding cats at Aunt Heather's is your favorite thing to do upon arrival

- I painted your nails for the first time in September! We've only done it a few times since then, and I think I enjoy it more than you do. But we still had fun. You have purple and pink polish so far.

- When I was purchasing school supplies for Zeke, I also got an activity book for Levi and an animal coloring book for you. You have taken it on as a loving possession. You didn't embrace it at first, but now you carry it everywhere with a pink marker and add to it throughout the day when the boys are doing their work, or even when they're not. The front and back covers are ripped off by now, but it's full of your scribbles and colorings and stickers. I think you're proud of your "workbook" and I love that you're enjoying it! 

My darling girl, what a treasure you are! A bright spot in our lives. You laugh loud and dance with sass. You've started to proclaim, "I love it!" to various items we ask you about and sing along to the Doxology with us before supper. You have lots of energy and jump well on the trampoline in the toy room. You are strong and coordinated; your big, blue eyes make everything you say and do seem more emphatic. I love this stage of life you are in and hope I can remember at least a few pieces through these pictures and words. Love, Mommy 

Six Years Old!

Ezekiel, you are six years old today! What a fun year we've had with you! Here's what you're up to:

- You are such a great helper, especially with your younger siblings. You help me by getting diapers and wipes for Naomi and are learning how to change a diaper! You help Zoë go potty. You clean off the table after meals and set the table, you sometimes wash dishes, clean the kitchen floor, hold Naomi and feed her bottles.

Christmas morning 2017 

Christmas eve we made rice krispie treats and dipped them in white almond bark and sprinkled with green sprinkles! It was a fun project I think we'll do again next year!

- You have begun some Kindergarten studies :) Everyday we look at the calendar and weather. You are learning addition, sight words, the sound of letters, and practice reading Level 1 reading books. In science we have studied about the first 2 days of creation and done several experiments based on dark/light/sunshine and water and wind. We've read about 3 missionaries during read-aloud time: Gladys Aylward, Hudson Taylor, and Nate Saint. We have studied the world map and made a map of "Zeke's World", talked about the United States Flag and listened to some traditional patriotic songs, studied traffic signs and symbols and are now working on character traits such as Courteous Communication and Self-Control. This spring we're going to work more on unit studies that focus on a theme for each month and study all of the subjects within the theme. I think it's going to be really fun!

Getting pretty comfortable holding babies :) 

Your first handicraft -- weaving potholders! 

- As much as ever, you love lights, strings, electricity, discovering how things work together. You received a marble maze for Christmas and you love configuring it in different ways to see how the marbles fall through. You want to get the stunt package to add on to it next. You also love to watch "Scott's marble runs" on youtube.

- When the weather is nice, we try to spend as much time outside as possible! You have begun climbing more and are getting more comfortable with Marshall. You like to dig with your construction vehicles and helped me plant tulip bulbs in the fall. I hope they come up for us!

Breakfast at the Big Biscuit with Mommy 

- You have begun learning to cook a few things -- pasta and sauce and cookies and have made sandwiches for us a few times. We bought you your first Raddish Kids kit and I'm very excited! It's a box full of recipes and equipment to make a meal based around a theme. The one we chose for you is called Hometown Diner. If you like it, we hope to sign you up for a monthly subscription because we want to teach you some of these practical skills that you'll use for the rest of your life. Feeding yourself and others is a pretty important one!

You loved your ice cream! 

-Before we moved back to KC, you had one of your wishes granted -- you took a month of golf lessons! You had been asking since you were 4, and then once the weather turned nice the Chilson Center offered lessons. On the last day your family was invited to come and play with you. It was a little crazy, but we all got ice cream afterwards :) While we were there, Daddy was loading up the moving van with a couple friends.

Amelia's 1st birthday at Grandma's house 

- You only nap once or twice a week and have become such a great sleeper (oh, how I prayed for this during your first year of life when I didn't think you'd ever sleep!). You like to go to bed around 9 pm and get up around 7-8 am. Occasionally sleeping until 9 am!

- You are still taking piano lessons, but have slowed a bit with Naomi's birth and the holidays. Hopefully we can get things started back up and you'll finish up your first set of books very soon! Your favorite song to play over Christmas break was Jingle Bells.

- You seem to enjoy science and engineering and experiments; we are trying to foster that in you and provide you with lots of opportunities to do just that! This is one of our favorite things about homeschooling because we can discover and focus on your passions and hopefully you'll learn about and excel at your natural giftings and grow up being confident in what you want to do as a grown-up!

- You like to tell jokes. Your grandparents are great at giving you new material in the cards they send to you. We have looked up a few at home too when we get tired of the interrupting cow :) You like to make some up on your own too.

Last year's birthday movie date 

Birthday Interview: 1/24/18

What is your favorite food? Raspberry Smoothies

What is your favorite movie? Octonauts

Favorite Drink: Orange juice

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Song: "Listening to "Trolls" while jumping on the trampoline."

Things to do: "Play with my marble run set and playing with Levi's airplane together."

Favorite Outfit: "My thinking outfit." {interpretation: his shirt with the light bulb on it}

Favorite Outing: "Play outside."

What do you like about Daddy? "That he makes fish tanks."

Mommy? "Playing with each other and being with each other."

Levi? "I really like him sharing his airplane {helicopter}."

Zoë? "That I help her with stuff and I help her go to the bathroom and being with Zoë."

Naomi? "That I'm going to almost change her diaper! And that I feed her milk."

Summer or Winter? "I like playing in the snow." 

Anything Else? "I {would} really like my birthday cake to be pretty." 

Our dear, sweet Ezekiel, what a wonderful boy you are! Quick to forgive and let us know you still love us, even when we make mistakes on you -- our experimental child ;) Thanks for letting us learn how to be parents with you. You are thoughtful, kind, and introspective and you seem to enjoy running! You say "Yes, Mommy" or "Of course!" when I ask you to do things for me which I really appreciate. You chose strawberry cupcakes with a Paw Patrol theme for your birthday this year and I think it's going to be a lot of fun! We are hoping you to take you to "Paddington 2" for your birthday movie and Pizza Ranch for lunch, but we will have to see how you're feeling because you've been pretty sick all week :( We love you very much and look forward to the year ahead! Love, Mommy

Two Months Old

Naomi. you are 2 months old today! Here's what you're up to:

- You are smiling and talking/cooing quite regularly, especially when your brothers and sister are asleep and you're spending time with just Mommy and Daddy and it's quiet ;) 
- You really enjoy bath time! You like to sit in the warm water and Zoë is often close by in the bigger tub entertaining you. The boys like to help with bath time too.

  

- You celebrated your first Christmas this month! You got some new clothes, bows, slippers, a book and a picture frame.

- You don't seem to enjoy the cold. You prefer to be wrapped up in a blanket and snuggling. Otherwise your hands and feet turn cold and purple before long.

Christmas Day 

- You are wearing size 1 diapers and mostly 0-3 and 3 month clothes. The newborn clothes are too short and the feet in the sleepers are too small. You are definitely growing!

- You don't do it often, but on Christmas Eve I had to lay you down to help Zoë and you were on your back and crying when I left. When I came back to check on you, you had rolled on your side and fallen asleep! You also rolled from your back to your tummy for the first time on Monday (1/8)!

New Year's Eve with Daddy at Aunt Teresa's house 

- You love to be held when you're sleeping! And most days sleep in the solly wrap from about 10 am - 1 pm. You are sleeping pretty well at night.

- Zoë is always checking on you. She wants to make sure you are in the room with her every night for bedtime. On Tuesday we went to small group and some of the grown-ups were holding you. As we were getting ready to leave and putting on our shoes, I hadn't taken you back yet; Zoë, concerned, asked several times "No-mee coming? No-mee coming?"

Naomi, you are a beautiful, easy-going baby. Aside from "asking" to have your diaper changed (which is probably actually a needed reminder for me since I'm pretty busy and distracted all day), you sleep and eat well, you often sit in the bouncy seat and watch the busyness of your family around you, and even spend a good amount of time on the floor playing while your siblings play around you and I get a few things done. You are such a perfect addition to our family and I so look forward to seeing your personality develop and watch you grow in the coming weeks. Love, Mommy