some sibling love

Greetings bloggy world! It’s been a while. I barely had time to catch my breath after Daniel was born, and now we have a 5 month old! Those precious newborn moments are all but gone, and replacing our sleepy, snuggly, pink infant is a very happy, cooing, rolling, wiggly little baby who just adores his siblings. This little guy is the most content, happy baby that we’ve ever had, and such a joy to have around.

I’ve been a little (a lot) camera lazy, so Daniel doesn’t have as much documentation of his early days as the other children, but that’s what Grandmas are for, right? By the way moms, I’ll be wanting all those pictures you take of the kids when you’re here. :)

Just a recap on where all the kiddos are:

Jake: 5 1/2 years old (I know! Can you believe it? Cause I can’t) This is one lean, mean, reading machine. He devours any and all books he can get his hands on. This was really amazing for me to see because we had started a kindergarten phonics program at home, and halfway through it he had all the tools he needed to take off with reading. It really became clear that he was a reader one day at my sister’s house. We were in their kitchen and Jake saw a picture on the wall and said, “Hey, that says, ‘Enjoy a little taste of Italy!’” Well, needless to say, I sure never taught him to read “Italy” and “taste” and “enjoy”! You give this kid a little tiny bit of fuel for his brain, and he takes off like a rocket. Amazing.

Warren: 3 1/2, he’ll be 4 this summer. Warren is, and always has been, the wild child. He cracks us up with his goofy facial expressions and funny sayings. Yesterday I asked him if he had to go potty, and his response was, “No, I just went 2 weeks ago.” Warren is the Awana Bible verse expert, and memorizing comes very easily to him. I wish I had his brain.

Aubrey: 2 in three months! Gah! This little girl is still very girly, and enjoys choosing her own clothes. Her vocabulary exploded all of a sudden (wonder why, with 2 older brothers constantly gabbing at her) and she surprises and delights us with the words and sentences she comes up with. Aubrey is a little ball of fire, and the challenge is teaching her to control herself, especially with the screaming. She loves giving kisses to us all.

What a joy all these children bring to Ryan and I. Sometimes it feels overwhelming being responsible for so many precious lives, but His grace is sufficient.

Look at this face!

Hope you’re all well, I would love to hear from you!

mr. fix-it

Or, perhaps he is more aptly titled, “Mr. Take It All Apart and Can’t Remember How to Put it Together Again.”

Either way, the Jakeman seriously enjoys unscrewing his toys and finding out what’s inside.  So far he’s taken apart this saxophone and a remote controller for a robot.  A new hobby, or a calling?

da-du

That’s what Aubrey calls Daniel, anyway.  She doesn’t quite have the “L” sound down yet, so it comes out Da-du.

Here are some recent Da-du pics.

(is this Jake, or what Mom?)

And as a grand finale, this post-sneeze picture cracked me up:

a boy and his grandpa

“I sure love you Grandpa!”

This was taken at Christmas when my parents were visiting.  Daniel had just started smiling at people and my mom captured this perfectly! 

on having a daughter…

She completely understands the need to feel girly in a house full of boys.

I just love this girl.  She has the ability to go from total ham to cuddling in my lap to shrieking at something her brothers did in 1.4 seconds flat.  I love that as she gets older we’ll be able to do all the fun girly stuff together like shopping and getting pedicures and drinking lattes, and that I’ll also be able to teach her what true beauty is; loving the Lord with all her heart and possessing a gentle spirit that is precious to God.

It’s nothing short of amazing to know that this little tiny girl will one day grow up to be a woman with a heart full of dreams and passions that hopefully line up with the Lord’s will for her life.  What a great responsibility God has placed on us as her parents to guide her into adulthood.

I look forward to knowing her as an adult and sharing that special relationship only mothers and daughters can have.  I look at my dear friend Missy and watch the interaction she has with her adult daughters and am eager for that to be Aubrey and I.  And of course, the treasured relationship and love for my own mom causes me to long for the same kind of special bond as Aubrey gets older.

But for now, while she’s still my little peanut, I’ll treasure these little moments of toenail painting and cuddling, as well as the ever-present screaming and temper tantrums, never forgetting to be thankful for my great gift from above.

a girl and her horse…and her hunting hat

(the hat says, “Hunting Princess, if the Camo fits”, a gift from Grandpa)

Aubrey started making this goofy face whenever she sees a camera.  Observe:

teach ‘em early

Even little girlies can carry in wood for the fire.

Our New Years Resolution

To eat more Krispy Kreme.  Done and done.

We started out the new year right!  We drove up to Issaquah and had lunch at Fat Burger (a close rival to In-N-Out for you Californians) and dessert at Krispy Kreme.  We got there just in time to watch the batch being made and enjoy doughnuts as they ought to be: warm and fluffy. 

mmm…a fountain of glaze.

(Sorry ‘bout the pink paci Daniel, it was all I had.)

Happy New Year!