Greyson's First Christmas

Today Greyson is 9 months old and I didn't even realize it until I started to write this post.  These days my brain only keeps track of who is eating wheat these days and who isn't.  It only registers poopy diapers and cries of pain... while little milestones get overlooked.  

And its his first Christmas. He loves the Christmas tree... but there isn't much he doesn't love.  I call him the happiest baby in the world, because he is.  I think I can count the number of times he's really cried on one hand.  

Grey got his first tooth last month at my sister's house. It was a rough night for him but it finally came through and he's chomping away at Cheerios and puffs these days!

He's a sweet boy. I can't wait to see what he's going to be like when he's older. He's definitely my most relaxed baby yet... and I'm sure he gets that peaceful demeanor from his mother.  :)

He is one of the most precious gifts God has given us and it is my prayer that I will learn to enjoy him more and clean less. That I will show him how great my God is and that he will call Him his Lord too.  That I will be the display of the grace of God to Him and that his memories of life at home will be joyful, full of the Spirit and fun.... not just efficient.

My little Grey-bee.

Glasses Girl

My girl got glasses.

My girl loves glasses.

My girls insisted on pink glasses.

I love my girl.

John Mikey

Yesterday while I was making my free Walgreens photo book I realized that I don't take many pictures of John Michael!  And I don't know why because he is my most willing subject.  This boy LOVES the camera and he is FULL of personality. He a full dose of the cheesy-nses that Johnny & I both have and its a non stop show for him in our house. He's a true 2nd child, laughing one minute, crying the next. There's nobody like him!!

A few other things about John Michael.

He loves school. He BEGS to do school... and while his fine motor skills aren't very strong he rarely gets an answer wrong.  (I couldn't resist the rhyme, I know, I know...)

He eats more meat than Cookie Monster eats cookies.

His hair is adorable if he washed it that day... if not people look at me strange.

He's cuddly and snuggly.

His first instinct when he gets hurt is to ask me to pray for him.

He *adores* Greyson... but is often a little too rough with him. :)

He's still very attached to his "b" (Blanket) and wants to take it everywhere even though we try to limit it to his bed.

Addy calls him John Mikey, Nicholas calls him John Yichael.

He's really, crazy tall. 

We love him!

How I spend my time.

Someone very dear to me is often teasing me about the fact that I don't always answer my phone or my texts. I assure them that its not personal... but it is. A while ago it occurred to me that if I put down a child or a book or a toy to answer the phone every time it rings that I'm showing my children that something is more important than spending time with them at that moment. I work hard. Most of the day I am working... so these times when I am sitting with my kids, playing, reading, pretending... are precious. And few things could be worth interrupting those times.  Those personal, one on one, or one on four :), times of personally connecting with my kids.

I have the privilege of connecting with my kids just about every day.  This year we made the hard decision to homeschool. It was embarrassing if I'm honest. I feel like I'm constantly defending my choice to home school (is that word one or two??) with, "Well, you know, private schools are just SO expensive." And they are. And we might've sent Adeline to a private school if circumstances were different. And that would've been fine and good.       But as it is, circumstances aren't different and through MUCH prayer and MUCH conversation we've chosen to homeschool.  I kind of went into it kicking a bit... and stressing a LOT. I wanted to be a stay at home mom whose kids were in school all day! What if my child ends up illiterate? What if he/she ends up completely socially awkward? What if they are DORKS!?  What if it doesn't work? What if I choose the wrong curriculum?  But what it comes down to for us is this: every day for the foreseeable future *I* have the privilege of being the one to personally connect with my school age kids. I have the opportunity to train them live for God and not themselves.  I have the delight of watching them learn to read, to write, to discover, to love, to worship.  I won't lie, its hard.... but its personal. Its connecting. And its my life right now.

I took the obligatory backpack picture because all my friends were doing it and I didn't want Addy to not have one (YES, I have ISSUES.) but this one is so much more us. :)

Someone stole my curls.

I used to think pregnancy robbed me of my curls. 

Now I know it was John Michael.

2 months later

Two short, sleepless months later and we simply could not imagine life without Greyson. He is such an easy baby. I am still surprised at how little he sleeps during the day but he has officially started sleeping through the night. My friend Rebecca is going to have to take the cake for the hardest baby #4... and I'll happily let her have it!

Greyson started smiling early.. maybe between 4 and 5 weeks. He started sleeping through the night around week 7. Its not every night but its more nights than not! He's avoided a stomach virus - even sleeping through the night with me while I had it! Sadly though, he does have his second little cold and is handling it like a champ. :)

There isn't much more to say! He survives all his sibling's violent affection, 

spends more time in his swing than I'd like to own up to, 

doesn't get bathed as often as he should, 

is beginning to enjoy his blanket,

smiles easily,

cries rarely,

and is the perfect addition to our family.

I'm planning on getting this one printed. :)

Nick, on the move!

Nicholas is 19 months. He hardly sits still these days! It makes it hard to get a non-blurry picture of him!

Nicholas:

1. Is my only green eyed child.

2. stands up in his high chair no matter how faithfully we train him.

3. Just started eating meat without complaint!

4. Calls his paci "Fwa-see go!"

5. Loves his b.

6. Won't let his brother and sister push him around.

7. Laughs at just about everything.

8. Keeps us VERY VERY busy.

9. Is average in height and weight.

10. Takes 4 hour naps - hallellujah.

11. Lights up this home with laughter and craziness.

12. Has shaggy, poorly cut hair.

13. Cries more than he needs to.

14. Calls bananas manas.

15. Warms my heart.