Eden at 8 months

My goodness, time is flying. At warp speed.

In parenting the saying goes the days are long but the years are short, but with our third sweet baby, even the days are short. I can barely believe we are rounding out 8 months!

Dear sweet Eden,

You've added so much joy to our lives. At eight months you've certainly found your voice- you narrate all day long telling us with your tones and excitement when you love things or are frustrated. Its fun to listen to you and we encourage you to keep on talking!

Eight months means steam rolling your little body all over the place- we can't put you on surfaces anymore because you are so quick to roll away (and potentially off!). It also means you are starting to pursue things- pushing yourself toward toys, reaching for jewelry and trying desperately to swipe food off our plates.

You continue to love food. This month we're getting more adventurous with what you eat, trying lots of new things and we're trying hard to get you enough iron. Your pediatrician has me feeling guilty about not getting you enough iron and so I've worked rice cereal into your diet because its fortified. I detested the stuff with the boys and here I am using it now! Who knew! But overall you are such a fantastic eater that you don't seem to mind.

At 8 months you've finally, FINALLY, landed back in a good nightly sleep schedule. You were giving us a run for our money for a bit there- for two months I think we were mostly at your beck and call, in your room 3-5 times a night until Drew cried uncle and brought you in bed. You were totally running the show! Then on a business trip I suggested the sleep lady shuffle since it worked for Owen awhile back and amazingly, in two days, he had you sleeping from your 6:30/7 pm bedtime to about 5 am! Hooray! For whatever reason we figured out you needed an extra bottle after nursing before bed (I think you might have been nursing just enough to cut the edge off instead of actually getting a good feeding) and that seems to satisfy you for the morning.

Our days at 8 months are lots of fun because you are so interested in playing. You think your brothers are hilarious and you start your day, often, with them coming in to my room and seeing you, where you always smile ear to ear to see them. Your first stop is breakfast, which you enjoy very much. You've learned how to drop things off your tray and its always fun to see your response when I pick it up and you drop it again.

After breakfast, during the week, the boys get ready for school. We help them make their beds and get dressed, you chatter and play. Once they are all ready to go they take a turn playing with you while I get ready. Both boys love to pull you on their chest and cuddle with them. You aren't a huge fan of this, but seem to tolerate it because they'll do about anything to make you laugh. You like to watch the growly car zoom across the floor and you love to chew on everything, especially the very hungry caterpillar toys. When we play we've been working on sharing animal sounds and labeling all of your parts- eyes, ears, nose, belly, and trying to wave. Its lots of fun and you are soaking it up. We read lots of books and you especially love the ones with the puppets that you can grab onto.

After I'm ready the boys play for a bit and I nurse you before I have to head off for the day with them. You like to still use my hair as reins and often pull. Lately I've made a fuss of it and its shocking to you if I whimper too much. You don't like that in the least, but so far, it hasn't stopped you from pulling my hair!

Then your day starts with Candy. You have such a sweet special bond with her and its fun to see you get so excited when she arrives. It makes my heart soar that you are in such good hands for part of the day.  When she's here you take a long nap, read books, play, lots of fun things! Then your dad comes home at 2:30 and you are usually napping, so sometimes he rocks you, and other times you are content in your crib and the house is quiet (briefly). At 3:50 you go get your brothers and the evening routine. The moms at pick up fawn over you and your cuteness and you are equally excited to see your brothers.

By the time you are home and settled its getting near to dinner- I come home and usually nurse you and you play for a bit in your longest stretch, usually 2-3 hours between your second nap and bedtime. Dinner is nestled in there and you don't let us forget. You love fruits so much and are just starting to try out puffs. Its so fun to see you discover new foods.

On your 8 months birthday grandma came to visit and I was worried your stranger danger would kick in, but you've taken to her and have enjoyed her reading to you and chatting with you today. Your eyes light up when you see all of the faces in the room who love you so dearly.

At eight months you are enjoying your ECFE class- you love to watch the other babies and are doing better during separation (albeit you still love to be held). I think a lot about how fortunate we are to get to share those classes and enjoy the time together.

Its clear at this point that you certainly have your dad wrapped around your little finger. You two are like peas in a pod and your face really does light up whenever you see him. I'm useful for milk, but he's your true love. I don't mind, I know that you'll volley between us, and its honestly adorable to see him so wrapped up and entwined in the happiness of a tiny 8 month old baby.

I'm also enjoying all the things you aren't doing quite yet- no crawling, no teeth (which means no biting!) no tantrums, no lack of naps. All in all, things are perfectly balanced. I know these things will all come in the future, but I really do wish for the world to slow a bit so I can savor each moment with you. We just adore you Eden Collette, and we can't wait to see what 9 months brings.

all our love
Momma and Daddy

Christmas 2016

We are blessed, and its always so apparent at Christmas. I think I continue to love the anticipation even more than the day of, and I find that Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the season, in wild anticipation for the smiles, joy and love that shines on Christmas day. If I could hang onto those hours forever I would be ride along on a stream of euphoria.

This year Christmas season included spending the holiday at home, which we always enjoy. This year was also the last year for Macy's 8th floor display, so we made certain to visit to get our first (and only) picture of Eden with the boys there. We'll miss this tradition, but of course find new ones to replace it in the years to come. We are so incredibly lucky to have such an amazing family, at christmas time and the whole year through.

Owen's 6th birthday

Oh little Owen, you are six.

Your sixth birthday represents so much- its a changing of tides for you. You are in Kindergarten this year and your independence is growing exponentially and I see so many strengths in your warm heart and socially welcoming personality. I love getting to know you when you shine in your own light, away from those you associate so closely, including me and your dad and Collin. At school you are such a leader- you are kind to everyone, play so well with all people, and lead with your heart. I feel like we've certainly done something right with you because you befriend everyone without judgement or concern. When a little boy put his hands on your neck this year because he was struggling with self-control I was concerned, but it was you who reminded me that we all have bad days too. When others in your class struggled to make friends with a student in your room who has a physical disability, your teacher reached out to let me know that you often connect with this child and really bring others to be open to playing and interacting with him. My heart swells with pride for how wonderful this is. How pure and lovely your heart is.

Your passion and fire is reigned in some these days, but in the best sort of way.  You still are intense in emotions and commitment, but you also are able to recognize when it is getting difficult to control your temper at home,which we appreciate immensely. Of course, it doesn't always work and you sometimes fight with your brother a bit  more than I'd like, but you are working on it, and consciously trying to reign in that fire. I can see you trying to manage it.

You funnel some of it into the things you love. I can see so much of me in you sometimes- you are an organizer and enjoy building and fiddling with things. You'll spend significant amounts of time on Legos, or Knex or Perler beads or coloring. We could do these things together for hours, I imagine. We are the same that way. You also have your dads interest in being handy, you always want to help in the woodshop. You enjoy cooking too and will often help out when I ask you to in the kitchen.

After a few years of ambivalence about your bike, you have committed to it this year, long before the spring has arrived, you've asked to ride. I don't worry about your interest this summer- I'm sure we'll spend much time on our bikes touring the city.

At six you are an excellent reader. Its amazing to me how easy it comes to you. You don't seem to try very hard at it but have a fantastic intuitive sense on how to figure out words. I am always amazed that you can figure out how to say words you've never seen before or perfectly guess how to spell words your brother is working on in 2nd grade. Its definitely a strength of yours.

You still do not love chores though. You are my negotiator always asking me, "why are you making me do chores?!? when you aren't doing them?!?" to which I often explain what contributing to our family means and what we all do to keep our family in working order. You don't fight me too much on it, but once in awhile I see a glimpse of a dead weight toddler in there wanting to just pout on the couch for a bit.

You continue to have a strong interest in soccer, and to some degree a few other sports, but nothing else as nearly as strongly as that. You are loving being a Lion Cub in boy scouts this year so you can join in and participate with the other kids instead of just watching on the sidelines. The continuous trial of your days is being the younger brother who doesn't yet get to do all the things that Collin does. All in due time, dear Owen. One day you'll be that age too.

Your heart is two sizes bigger, two sizes more generous and two sizes more transparent this year. I feel like I see more love from you, more hugs, more gratitude, but also more sharing of those emotions that are so hard on your heart- when you miss family we don't see often, when you feel unfairly treated, when you can't quite understand our decisions. My solution for you often begins with a hug because you continue to be so cuddly, just like you were as a baby.

This year for your birthday, we traveled to Michigan, so that meant a birthday party without friends. Typically I would say no to commercial characters, but since you weren't having friends and I couldn't do much to actually plan it in Michigan, I gave in to Star Wars, which I think just made your day. You've never seen the movie, but that didn't stop you from knowing and wanting to identify all the characters and plots.

When we traveled to Michigan things were pretty easy- we arrived on friday, had your party on saturday. You even got to spend time with GG Ruth, which we treasure. But on Sunday things changed- and the norovirus swept through our family, bringing a hellacious first 11 days to 2017. The only person to not get it was Eden, by some grace of God, and you poor dear Owen were sick on the flight home (literally) and on your actual birthday, which was so sad!

When you were finally better you chose the dinner location, as is tradition, and as typical, you chose the rainforest cafe- possibly my least favorite restaurant, but one of your favorites, so we tolerate it for your birthday. You were excited to finally be able to go after you were well and I was super excited to escape the wrath of the Norovirus, finally. So, six, will certainly be a birthday for you I never forget, and I imagine you'll recall it for a long time ahead too.

Six is so much fun for you. I love seeing you grow and I can't wait to see what seven brings. You are such a light in our lives and I'm so thankful God made me your momma. To another year of adventure and learning as we go, my dear sweet Owen. I love you with all my heart.

love
Momma (and Dad too!)