Santa Breakfast

This year we were lucky enough to go to our very first Santa Breakfast courtesy of Patty, AKA Grandma B, and the Hofmeister's.  The boys had so much fun visiting with Santa, watching the Nutcracker and playing with the clowns. What a wonderful event to be able to share in.
Thank you guys for including us on the special day.

Tyler may have even rubbed elbows with a certain Marcus Trufant.
Not sure who was more excited, Tyler or Dan.
 

Catching up and Little Lou Bug

I am severely behind in my blogging.  I've been in a funk and the further behind I got, the less I wanted to do it... until today.  Figured if I was going to be laid up in bed all day with the flu I might as well get to editing and posting.

A few weeks back we were lucky enough to get Lucy for 2 whole days, while her momma and poppa worked.  While it has temporarily put to rest my desire for a forth child, it still managed to be a lot of fun.

I even managed to get out for a run and staged a little photo shoot at Magnuson.  Miss Lou is smitten with our Graham Baby.
I may have even tackled the University Village at Christmas time just for some time out of the house.  Can't tell you how many looks I got and even some inquiries if they were twins.  Really People?

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours.

Christmas Pageant

The first of many!

So proud of my first grader.

{six} months

It's taking some serious emotional strength tonight (and some wine) to write this post.  I have been putting it off because I don't want it to be so.  My LITTLE man is 6 months old.  

One half of a year old.  

178 days old.  

4,272 hours old.  

256,320 minutes old.  

How is it so?

How is it that a year ago we didn't even know what this little bean was?  We were eagerly awaiting January 18th to verify that we were in fact having a girl.  I was SURE we were having a girl. 

Now, here we are a family of 5.  Four boys, one girl.  And I couldn't imagine my life any other way.  

Graham baby has made life with 3 boys better than I could have ever imagined.  He is the peanut butter to our jelly.  He made me regret every moment that I cried when we found out there was something wrong  with him.  He is perfect in every way.  His imperfections make him even more perfect to me.  To us.  Everyday his crooked little smile makes me thankful that he was given to us.  

He WAS meant for us.

Yes, I am eagerly awaiting all these days we have with him.  Watching him grow.  Watching him become the little boy that he is going to be.  But I am also cherishing these moments.  The moments of middle of the night snuggling, breast feeding and never putting him down (and I wonder why he is not sitting up yet).  He will always be my baby because, I guess, this is it for us.  I have all the infant toys littering our living room because I can't bear to put any of it away.  I still gladly get up with him 3-4 times a night because he still needs me.  I am still squeezing him into size 2 diapers because he is not old enough to be in size 3.  Right?  Who cares that I am doing twice as much laundry as I could be because he pees through his clothes like 3 times a day.  

And food, well he hates it and that's fine with me.  Because really, he's not old enough to eat solids, right?
And naps, well, he doesn't like them either.  After all, he is number 3 and prefers to nap on the go.  The louder the better.
Teeth.  Apparently we don't do those either, cause we ain't got none.

Weighing in at 17 pounds 10 ounces he is my chunk-a-monk.
And he's 26.5 inches short.
We love every. single. ounce. of him.  

Unfortunately, with all the good comes the bad.  Little man got 4 shots, oral rotavirus and a prescription for Amoxicillin.  It appears he's got a little ear infection brewing.  Now he's sporting a 101.6 degree temperature and a mean whine.  But it's cool.  I'm loving the extra snuggles.

Here's to a very slow next 6 months.
Momma needs some time to recover from the first 6 going too fast.

We love you Baby G.

Just one of those days

Today was definitely one of those days...

You know, the ones that are less than perfect.

The ones where your two year old does nothing but whine and cry ALL DAY LONG, demanding any and every toy that his brother has.

The ones that you just give in because you can't take it any longer and, let's face it, it's just easier.

The ones where you feel like sitting down in the middle of the grocery store and crying because your kids have managed to ask for something at every single stop made today, despite the fact that they were treated to a nice visit with reindeer, hot chocolate and a cookie.

The ones that you are pretty sure your kids hate you.

The ones that you are pretty sure you are going to be turned into CPS for being a horribly inpatient and moody mom.

The ones that feel like every single word coming out of your mouth is yelling.

You know... those days.  It was one of them.

So ready for it to be over.

Tomorrow is a new day!

Our child of God

A few weeks back Baby Graham was baptized into the church.  We couldn't have asked for  more wonderful way to celebrate our little guy.  Thank you to all our family and friends that were able to join us for this special day.  

Of course, this little guy was pure perfection for his big day.

The Godparents
Tom Bugbee and Colleen Foster

Graham is so blessed to be surrounded by a community that cares so much about him.

Thank-full

Even if they are not thankful for each other.
I couldn't imagine my life without them!

{five} months old

Graham,

You are five whole months old.  

You have definitely made the jump from infant to baby.  

Every day is a new adventure with you.  In the past 2 weeks you have learned how to roll over from back to front, you have tasted bananas (of which you are not such a fan), you fell in love with your binky, you are napping better and you have started sleeping through the night.  Phew, you are one busy baby!

You are such the happy little baby.  I can't get enough of your sweet little giggles, your chubby little thighs and your big toothless grin.  

I love you more than words can explain.

You have been officially signed off by the craniofacial orthodontics and will continue to see your craniofacial doctor each year.  At our post-op follow up appointment Dr. H was more than pleased with the results.  Your nose has healed perfectly and although there is a bit if a bump on your lip it may will take up to 2 years for the scar to fully heal.  Personally I am a fan of the scar.  It looks tough, and it reminds me of all that you have been through.  

Sitting in the waiting room before your appointment we met a little baby just starting the NAM, and 2 babies there for their post-op appointments too.  It was fun to see all of you together.  The work your doctors do is truly amazing.  We are lucky to have them!

Unfortunately, with all the good things comes the bad.  You have your first cold.  You are a champ though and sleeping your way through it.  Mommy is taking full advantage of the extra snuggles.

You are by far my chubbiest babe and I love it.  You are weighing in at about 16 pounds of pure cuteness.  

Tomorrow will be your first airplane ride.  Let's hope for a smooth one!  Grandpa Jan is anxious to meet you.

This year I am thankful that we have you!

I love you little man!

  

H-A-double L-O-W-double E-N

Thanks to the Hofmeister's we got to experience Halloween Laurelhurst Style.  There is a long standing rival between Windermere and Laurelhurst.  Which neighborhood could hand out more full size candy bars, how many houses provide beer and wine for the adults, who has the best haunted houses.  Well, I am gonna say Laurelhurst has a beat.  I have never seen such a production.  Maybe next year we will try out Sand Point Counrty Club, I hear they take the cake!
A very belated thank you to the Hofmeister family.  Couldn't think of any better way to spend Halloween 2011.

New tricks

Somebody

found their

and can't get enough.

...and despite mommy's efforts not to let him, he is rolling like a mad man.  Mommy just has yet to get it on camera.  I know... shocking!

Chew on this...

So, I have been a very bad blogger.  Things are busy.  Three boys are busy.
I have a lot of updates and not a lot of time to do them.  Until then, check this out.  These are our three boys, all between 4-5 months.  Can you guess which one is which?

Pumpkin Patch 2011

Last weekend we were able to make it our for our annual trip to Remlinger Farms.  The weather was beautiful, the boys had a blast and Dan and I couldn't ask for a better way to spend our sunday... together!

Happy Halloween!

My mom...

...she pretty much rocks!

She is the most kind, giving, loving and selfless person I know.  She has taught me everything from how to remove baby poop stains to cooking the best corn bread ever.  But most importantly she taught me to be the mother I am today.  Her love for her family is like nothing I have ever seen before.  Each one of us knows that she would do anything for us whether we ask her to or not.

Seven years ago our world was rocked.  My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I vividly remember getting the phone call while sitting at the dinner table with Dan at our home in Spanaway. 

 But, never once did my mother back down or feel sorry for herself.  

She fought with both fists up... and won. 

This week she is 7 years cancer free and finally able to come off her cancer medications. 

 Mom,
Thank you for being the best mom, nana, friend, babysitter, coffee companion, launder, seamstress, cook, and confidant a girl could ask for.  I wouldn't be who I am today without you.
We love you to the moon and back.
Here's to another 7 years cancer free!  

Still learning...

Being a mom to 3 boys comes with a steep learning curve.  Six years later I am still learning the ways of my little ones and just when I think I got it, they go and change things on me.  

A few of the things I have learned...

Sitting in a poopy diaper is much more fun than actually getting it changed.

Legos, inevitably, will end up in the vacuum.  

Boys can be drama queens too.

Star Wars is apparently a right of passage in the boy world.

Any toy, and I mean any, can be turned into a weapon.

And just because they turn barbies into guns doesn't mean they are going to grow up to be violent.

Apparently, wearing underwear to school is optional.

Putting dirty clothes in the hamper is a foreign concept no matter how many time you remind them.

They will find potty talk extremely amusing for many years, much to my chagrin.
They can be very finicky about what they wear.
When all else fails, send them outside.

There is a special bond between brothers.
 They love all things bugs, and like to use it against me.
They give the best snuggles.

No matter how big and strong they act, at the end of the day they always need their momma.

He's a playa'

This little dude, that is.

I headed back to work almost 2 weeks ago now.  I have worked a total of 5 shifts.  My mother and my bestie have done a tremendous job taking care of my littles.  However, it seems that this little guy has them both wrapped around his little finger already.  Prior to going back to work we were at least able to get into a better day time routine with at least 2 good naps a day, in his bed.  Well, apparently he has different plans when he is with Nana and Margaret.  As hard as they try (and they do!), G man is having nothing to do with napping for either of them.  He's playing them I tell ya', because he is a champ when it comes to napping for me!

...now if we could just get the night time thing down.