Walk for Arthritis Update

Thank you to everyone who contributed to Zeke's Walk for Arthritis this month! He raised $65 which was way more than I expected! His team won 3rd place for the highest amount raised among the groups that participated! He completed 2 full laps around the stadium which equaled 2 miles. He got pretty tired the second time around, but his Taekwondo coach Miss Tiffany was walking with us and encouraged him to use his perseverance and he made it the rest of the way!

It was a very warm and sunny morning, but the kids had lots of fun! They received balloon animals, played on a playground, drank new juices, received some fun swag, and Pop-Pop was able to come and cheer us on! 

Human Hamster Ball -- a big hit! 

Zeke was invited to test for his first Taekwondo belt the first week of June! We are excited to see him grow and learn. He is enjoying his class very much!

6 Months Old!

Naomi, you are six months old today! Here's what you've been up to:

 - You are grabbing your feet, especially when you lay on your back. You continue to hold your hands together as you sit watching and waiting for things. I think it looks so precious!

 - You are talking even more! Aunt Heather lovingly referred to it as "squawking" :D And you love to join in the singing, especially at night when Zoë and I are singing before bedtime.

 - You've started eating some solid food the last 2 weeks! We're sticking with applesauce, bananas, and potatoes (both white and sweet) while your tummy starts adjusting. But you are loving it! We got out your high chair and the bibs and you're sitting at the table with us at meals, in your chair. You are opening your mouth when the spoon gets close and trying to chew, at least a little bit. We did try some avocado one day and it did not sit well and I mixed in a cooked carrot with the potatoes one night, which you enjoyed. I'm excited to try new foods with you and see how you enjoy them! You like when we feed you pretty fast, just like when your Daddy was a baby!

 - You're about to outgrow the little sleeper in the pack-n-play! The other day I saw you stretching after you woke up from a nap and your little toes kept popping up from the bottom, it was so cute! You are taking a great morning nap, usually a couple of hours! And then your afternoon nap is shorter and your last cat nap is usually from 7:30-8 pm and then you'll sleep for the night from 9 pm - 7 am. It's a pretty great schedule!

Naomi, you bring even more joy to our family. You are gentle and I love when you reach up and grab my face. You laugh when we blow raspberries on your tummy or tickle you under your chin. Your legs are always moving and your toes are long! You are wearing size 2 diapers and I just purchased a couple new 6 month outfits for the summer (thanks great-Grandpa and great-Grandma!) because you are ready to move up! And surprisingly we don't have many dresses or outfits for the hot weather, just lots of onesies. You enjoy bath time and playing with the green frog. You hold onto one of his front flippers for a long time. You've lost some of your newborn hair, but I can see the new growth coming in underneath and it seems to be staying pretty dark for the time being. I feel like we're going to see some big jumps in development in the coming month. Your family loves you so much and we are so thankful for having you in our lives for a half a year already! It has gone incredibly fast and before we know it we'll be celebrating your first birthday. So I'm holding on to these baby days and trying to stare at your face a little longer and take pictures in my mind of these fleeting days. Love, Mommy

5 Months Old

Another month has passed, Naomi, and you are 5 months old today! You are growing and changing and here's what you've been up to the past month:

Today-- 4/11/18

- You celebrated your first Easter! It was the snowiest Easter I ever remember! Even though it was snowy, we had a lot of fun searching for eggs and our baskets as the snow came down. You also got to see Mimi's new chicks!

- You are laughing out loud now! Your smile gets so big and then it just bubbles over. You think it's funny when I bounce beside you on the bed, sometimes you laugh when Levi scares you (although I'm not a fan of this method), and your tickle spot is right under your chin. It's so fun to make you laugh!

- I still love the way you hold your hands together and play with them. You've begun to stare at your arm and sometimes when you catch a sight of your brightly colored socks. Bows are starting to fit on your head, plus you received some new clip-ins for Easter!

- We took you in for an extra weight check and you've jumped up to almost 12 lbs. hooray!! You are breastfeeding and drinking formula. We have tried a couple foods -- mashed potatoes and bananas, but you're not very interested yet, so we'll keep waiting until you're ready.

- You discovered your tongue on Easter and started blowing raspberries. It was sooo cute! 

- You are such a beauty! You have begun sleeping in your pack-n-play so well! I have to go in often to make sure you're still breathing :) You're starting to take more regular, consistent naps and it has been wonderful! Your morning nap, around 10 am, is usually the best one! You are currently sleeping and have been up there for 2 hrs. so I'm getting a few extra things done this morning :) 

One of your siblings took this picture. They all really love you! 

Naomi Irene, what a wonderful baby you are! Time is just flying by, so I am trying to treasure these little moments since I know how fast they truly go now. You are laid back and enjoy watching the bustle of activity of your older siblings from your bouncy seat. You are reaching up for the toys on the tummy mat and when we put you on your tummy your legs are in constant motion. You are getting stronger every day and sit in the Bumbo occasionally. We added toys to your car seat and you enjoy staring at them during trips in the van. You are one of our only children that seems to enjoy your stuffed animals. Miss Piggy (in the picture above) is one of your favorites, and you are starting to enjoy the bunnies you received for Easter. I try to give you one whenever I lay you down somewhere and you reach for it right away with your mouth open, ready to play. It helps keep you entertained a few extra minutes before you need our attention. Naomi, you are so loved and I look forward to seeing what the next month holds! Love, Mommy

Walk for Arthritis

Hi Family,

We decided to start Zeke in TaeKwonDo lessons. In just 2 sessions, I'm already very excited for him and what he will be learning. The couple that owns the studio, TJ and Tiffany, are a young couple who have a heart to serve their community and have a sister school down in Haiti to empower the children living there. I have really enjoyed getting to know them, as I have been taking jiu jitsu with them as well. If you'd like to learn more about them and what they do, you can visit their website here: https://www.kickma.com/ 

Zeke has signed up for his first walk for a cause! During each testing session (10 weeks) he needs to complete one service project in order to earn his next rank. For this testing session, we chose to join his TaeKwonDo team and complete the Walk to Cure Arthritis on Saturday, May 5th. I am excited to complete the walk with him! If you would like to support his walk and help his team reach their goal of $5000, would you please consider giving a donation? We chose to each raise $10, so any small amount or contribution will absolutely help us reach our goal! Here is his fundraising page: https://events.arthritis.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=14967

If you don't feel like contributing monetarily, that is absolutely ok! Another way you could support him is by sending cards to us and I will save them to read to him on the day of the walk on the 5th. Since this is his first one, I know he might struggle or feel like he can't finish, so any cards that encourage him or tell him what a great job he has done will really inspire him.

He lost his first tooth on Sunday, April 8!

I am super excited to get Zeke involved in this community with other believers who serve and do activities like this together. I think it will be a great investment of time and money and I can't wait to see how he will grow and flourish in a supportive and safe group! I will try my best to give you an update on how he is doing and when he completes ranks and such!

4 Months Old!

Naomi, you are 4 months old today! Here are some pictures from the past month and what you've been up to!

- You are getting long and starting to wear some 3-6 month clothes! We put you in cloth diapers every once in a while. 

Valentine's Day 

You were a sweet Valentine

- You take a long nap in the middle of the day, usually in the solly wrap. You usually sleep from about 11 am - 2 pm. You also take a couple of other shorter naps in the morning and in the evening. At night you're giving me some 5 hour stretches!

 - You have discovered your feet and like holding your hands together, which is super cute!

 - You are becoming so alert! You notice so much, like Marshall and Dora. You follow toys with your eyes and have reached for things a few times. You like to hold on to your little pink pig stuffed animal when you're waiting on the bed for someone to pick you up.

Picture taken by one of your siblings 

Big brother is getting comfortable taking care of you! 

Our first Girls' Night In

- You like taking baths, especially when someone else is in the tub with you! 

Looks like we're going to have an adorable thumb sucker! 

 - I put you in one of my old outfits for your pictures today. You look adorable and sweet with all the lace and ruffles and flower and bows!

Today - 3/11/18

Naomi, you are such a darling, perfect little baby. You happily watch your family from your bouncy seat; you take some of your naps in the pack-n-play. You have begun to giggle when I bounce on the bed beside you and we are starting to find your tickle spots. Your hair is staying dark and long, but it doesn't seem to stick up as much as it used to. Now that you're 4 months old we might give you little bites of fruits and vegetables and your first sippy cup! You are growing up fast and I'm trying to hang on to these baby moments because I now know how fast they go. I love snuggling with you and sometimes you just sit and rock with me in the quiet. I love you so much, baby girl! Love, Mommy

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