Easter for a non Easter Family

What do you do when you are fairly non-religious, faith believers who wander a bit when it comes to organized celebrations? You celebrate Easter anyway and help your children see it as an oportunity to understand other's perspectives and honor what it means to make sacrifices, like Jesus.

We went with no stress, low risk brunch. It was lovely.
I felt especially blessed to have such an amazing bunch to call my own.

11 months of Eden

You are 11 months, just shy of a year and you are growing so quickly that we cannot catch up. I'm always trying to hold on to the moments, but instead find myself watching them go by. This month has been a lesson in watching you lead the way, whether I enjoy the pace or not.

At 11 months you are so sweet and gentle. We can see your personality growing and  you just adore so many people in your life, giving way to hugs and cuddles often. I love your sweet squeezes and your calm cuddles that bring both our eyes to close so often. This month is the first time we've seen much of your sensitivity come to life. You are exploring, and for the first time you are hearing no. The most recent time I said it rather firmly and you melted in front of me, so sensitive to my correction.

This month you are babbling, frequently, but without purpose. I'm constantly on vigil for developmental milestones and this month you've given me pause- you aren't saying much yet or pointing, which makes a momma worry. Its still early to tell, but I'm anxious to see you move through these milestones so my brain can relax and enjoy the moments that are so dear to my heart.

Even though I have my worries, in other ways you lead with fantastic enthusiasm, especially in gross motor skills. You are a brave little girl, standing and leaning, testing the limits as much as you can to see if you can stand alone. You figured out the stairs this month, which was a surprise. We aren't much of a family to put up many gates, we instead monitor you closely and work hard to keep you from falling down the stairs. You are capable and excited to use new tools- you sip from a cup, drink from a glass, and have moved on to all real food this months. You like carrots, but have been turning down sweet potatoes lately. You adore water in a cup, and especially ice. Anytime we have a glass with ice you try to stick your hands in it and get a drink. Your love for water isn't exclusive to cups, you adore the bath and being in the pool- you had your first experience in an outside pool in March at grandma and grandpa's and couldn't get enough of it.

This month you also met your first experience with real pain, as you got your first owie. I was cutting up fruit too close to your tray and you grabbed the knife and got the tiniest little cut on your finger. It was so sad to me, but didn't seem to phase you very much, you looked at at it a bit and carried on with lunch.

At 11 months your near-mobility makes it quite a bit more fun for you, as you enjoy all things outdoors- swinging, playing in the grass, exploring while we are camping, staring at the leaves, all bits of nature you love to admire. You also finally are getting teeth, which is lovely!


While you are making these strides I'm still trying to get you to point at things and to clearly respond You seem to respond to the boys more than us, and turn some of the time, but not all of the time, which continues to make me worry. We'll see how your development goes, but its likely no surprise that I'm on high alert watching each moment.Your words sound like mama, dada, and nine, like a little German baby.

Even with all the excitement and worries of the month, you make us constantly smile. We adore you and we can't wait to see what a year brings ahead.

All our love
momma and daddy

10 months of Eden!

Dear sweet Eden,

Ten months. We've entered double digits, and your time here as now eclipsed the time we shared as I carried you. Its amazing to see how you've grown in these ten months and how your personality has begun to shine through. At ten months you are so interested in movement, you army crawl around on your belly, pulling with all your strength to heave your little body to the destination of your choice. Its adorable to watch and clear to see that you have such strength buried within your tiny body. Alongside of your new scenery as you drag yourself around, are the expressions that you extend. You now shrug your shoulders often. We certainly don't know that its with any real intention to convey confusion-- instead you do it simply as a matter of joy and excitement. We love it though, and enjoy seeing you making these antics as you are trying to communicate.

At the same time, your babbling is getting more focused. We hear many more ma ma ma ma mas and da da da da da and ba ba ba ba bas than before. You are taking notice that these sounds you produce elicit more attention from us, and in the most peculiar ways you try out how to change tones and intensity, as you find your voice.

This month, for the first time we are beginning to see what your attitude looks like. You've scolded us a few times and shown off your first bits of resistance and hesitation when we say no. Its endearing to see you develop these traits, and it remains adorable because you really are such an even-tempered and happy baby that we rarely see these emotional moments. Sometimes your voice sounds like you are trying to argue your point or tell us off when you are resisting what we want (which is often keeping you on the changing table).

This month we visited Grandma and Grandpa's house in Vegas where you had your first dip in the pool (not counting the time when you were six weeks old and I dipped your toes in the pool in portugal).You have always been a water baby, and continued to love it in the pool. You are now splashing around and trying to drink the water whenever you can, no matter what the container- bath, pool, if you are in it, you are trying to drink it. In the bath you've learned to pull yourself up on the side, which is lots of fun for you, but screams danger to us, so we are constantly asking and helping you to sit back down.

As you play with your brothers, who continue to be so good to you and just adore you, you are figuring out that toys can be tools too. You bang them together and toss them to entertain yourself with a fun game of cause and effect, where we (momma, daddy, Collin and Owen) do your bidding to pick whatever item it is up and give it back to you. You also love to pick yourself up on the play table and push all sorts of buttons and slides along with your continued love of jumping, where the jumperoo makes for a fitting favorite. You love being in there and hoping around while the boys play nearby. This often leads to fun interactions, most often between you and your brothers where you have such adorable and joyful giggle fits and belly laughs. Your laugh is so happy and we love to hear it. They make your world such a wonderful place, we are so lucky to have all three of you.

You routine continues to be easy going, you are a good sleeper, usually down around 6:30 and sleep through until 5:30 or 6, and then two naps, often totaling about 3 more hours of sleep. To complement your sleep routine, you have really taken a liking to eating on your own- shoveling all the bits of food into your mouth whenever you can. You love food and we have to cut things up very small because you try to take handfuls and place them in your mouth, without much consideration for how you might not be able to chew it well, given your lack of teeth. You love yogurt, meats (most except read meat like steak, which we think is due to the texture), water (from a cup!) and tons and tons of fruits and veggies. You continue to nurse every 4-5 hours and are gaining weight like a champ, so much so you are tipping the scales in the 75th percentile. You are a chunky baby, but as with your siblings, I'm sure you'll start to lose it once you start walking.


Speaking of walking, we aren't doing much of that, but you are very entertained and motivated to move by things you cannot have including cords and outlets. This has been our first real reason to say no to you, and its shown us your sensitive side, as you do not like it when we are so firm and are quick to tear up when we say no. Fortunately though, it usually works and you stop pursuing the highly coveted cords.

Really, 10 months seems to be the time when doors are opening and the world is in your fingertips. You seem to be able to see the many possibilities right ahead of you and I can almost see your excitement and anxiousness to go forth and explore.


So onward, we go. To 11 months, just around the corner, and full of tremendous adventure, we're sure.

We love you baby girl.
Momma and Daddy

Eden at 9 months

9 months! Time is zooming by.

Dear little Eden, you are such an amazing baby. This month you were heading into the new world with a full throttle- everything in your reach was of interest and you tried to take the world by the reins!

At nine months you are getting so much more interested in moving about. You aren't crawling yet, but you are definitely making an effort to drag yourself across the room if something is interesting enough for you. If I spill something or a cord is available, you'll try to haul yourself over. Its funny and honestly I'm in no hurry for you to put those knees underneath yourself. There are lots of stairs in our house and currently plenty of time for me to catch you before you even get close. I'm sure that won't be the case once you really start moving.

When you aren't moving you are trying out your voice. This month we are hearing more ma ma, and lots of baa baa baa like a little sheep. Its very cute. When you are extra animated you tell us babble stories that we adore and engage. I love your little voice so much.

Our days begin around 7 am. Sometimes you sleep until 7:15, but nearly always in my bed from about 5 to 7. You wake up, I bring you in an feed you and then you wander off into a dream until its time for the day to start. I appreciate your late sleeping very much. 7:15 feels glorious. There were days when I used to think that 7 was anything but late, but I'll take it. 7:15 feels like I get to sleep without any interruption and wake up on our own without an alarm, which is a win in my book. You always wake with a smile, which warms my heart. You are so happy and excited to greet the world. You feel like the closest thing in our lives to pure joy. Babies always do that to me, I know that now since we've done this three times, but its never any less awesome with each one of your beautiful personalities.

When we get up we head down to get the boys breakfast, and you join them usually with a variety of fresh fruit. I haven't started real oatmeal with you yet, but its in your near future. Instead you dig the fruit/grain pouches, yogurt melts and puffs. You like food and you are getting very good at manipulating small pieces to get them in your mouth. You are persistent too, and its fun to see you try again and again to land a sweet piece of raspberry or kiwi in your mouth. I cheer for your success. Raspberries are your hands down favorite. You'd eat them all day if we'd let you and when they are gone you let us know. You do not like it when I put them away if you are not finished. Your vocal opinions are so fun to hear and your protest is often successful.

After breakfast we head to get dressed and play. You get to play with a variety of toys. The boys drag out everything they can find, and you've definitely most recently been interested in mirrors and things that rattle and shake. Sometimes I see you admire yourself in the mirror, and its pretty adorable. You have this look about you like, who is that person in the mirror? Your little mind is certainly on the verge of so many discoveries. I want to capture each one and hold it in time.

While you play and your brothers fill your environment with new words, sounds, and books I take about 15 minutes to get ready for the day. I don't know what I would do without your brothers. Sometimes they are all boys, but other times they are the worlds best helpers and brothers. All three of you make our lives so full and happy. On weekdays, once I'm ready the mad dash to get the boys ready for school happens, usually with you on my hip. You enjoy just being part of the excitement and so we go to and fro, packing back packs, getting lunches, shoes, snow pants, all the things- and you look on and soak it all up.

Soon after Candy arrives and the day begins to be really about you since everyone is out of the house. At 9:15/9:30 you take your first nap, which usually is 1.5 to 2 hours of solid rest. We are so thankful you sleep well. Since Candy is a whirling dervish she's often cleaning the house or working on laundry while you sleep. Once you are awake around 11 or 11:30 its play time- books and crawling and dancing and singing. We can't wait to get outside as the weather gets warmer and warmer to let you enjoy outdoors. You love the attention and we're lucky to have Candy who adores you like one of her own grand children. At 12:30 you have your afternoon bottle and then at 1 its lunchtime. You eat all sorts of things- mostly from the Plum organics pouches, that make my life so much easier, complimented with fresh fruit or cheese. You certainly don't miss any meals and tip the scales at your 9 month appt at 22 lbs- in the 77th percentile.

Before long its time for your second nap, which overlaps with when your dad gets home. He's with just you from 2:15 to 3:45 when you go pick up the boys and he savors those moments with you. I wasn't certain how he'd take the girl gig- since both boys have such a special bond with him. But really, its no different, and he really has created a uniquely special bond with you. You adore him. I recall when you were just 4 weeks old and we were in Portugal and he couldn't quite figure out how to calm you down- he had not been with you all that much because he saved his paternity leave for our trip and I could tell he was frustrated and feeling defeated since you often quieted right down for me. I reminded him that he needed to get to know you and of course, it worked. Just a few weeks later he was on his game, and now when I see you get so excited you shake with joy when he comes in the room I am often reminded of that moment and so proud of him for all the work it takes to be such an amazing dad. He's so good about making sure you hear so many new words and always takes the time to be with you, which is so important.

Your second nap sometimes happens in his arms, but I don't think he complains so much because he knows he'll miss it when you don't need or want it anymore. Thankfully, after about 7.5 months you didn't need the swaddle anymore, so mostly you'll fall asleep with lambykins and your blankie tucked around you.

At 3:45 you wake up or he has to wake you to pack you up to go get the boys. Being the third means that sometimes you have to succumb to being part of the routine, unfortunately. We work hard to preserve your nap time and bed time, but it doesn't always work out. Luckily you are such a happy baby and so tolerant of when we mess with your schedule.

After the boys are home the early evening showdown begins. Its making dinner, preparing for whatever is going on that night, and the boys usually play with you while your dad preps dinner as I'm on the way home. We find time to help you play- you love the jumperoo and to roll about. Before long you've had dinner and its time to get ready for bed. You're still on a good night time schedule, you sleep from about 6:45 pm to 7 am and wake up for one bottle. You're nursing a bit less, which means more rest for me, but also a bit of adjustment in my pumping schedule.

We read you books, cuddle and snuggle and rock you to a sweet slumber. You are adorable, cuddly and amazing and we are so lucky to share our days with you. Happy 9 months, baby girl.

love
momma & daddy