And Last but not Least...

A baby-sized update. I was at the doctor this week and was able to thoroughly enjoy the wonderful taste of Glucola for my glucose tolerance test. I was shocked (as I have been before) to be at the end of my monthly visit period. As I'm just about 30 weeks, he's having me back in 3 weeks when I'll be around 32 and then onto twice monthly for a month, then weekly! It makes it seem close. Well, 10 weeks is not too long in my timeline these days anyway. I sometimes still can't believe it's happening. Sometimes in the evening after I finally sit to take a break from the day, the baby will start moving around a lot. It's then that I think, "Oh yeah, the kids are all in bed and this little one is saying, 'Mom, don't forget about me. I'm here, too.'" It is sometimes still hard to imagine how things will change again, for the better, this summer. Dr. Snider says I'm measuring a bit ahead, for whatever that is worth. I'm feeling well; no complaints.

Big Boys Update

Well, with the updates on Jacob & Leah, I just couldn't leave out my big boys. Preschool is almost over and I am looking forward to summer! It will be fun to have the time to goof around with them. They are really growing and changing, too.

Nathaniel is such a great helper. He's always willing to help, especially helping Patrick with real projects. I'm often amazed at the depth of his logic and problem solving capabilities. He really does think things through and understands cause/effect more than I would expect. He (and Leyton) have also become quite the handsome little men at church. I bought all three boys suits recently (they've been wanting them "to be like Dad" and to wear to Aunt Bethy's wedding). Well, let me tell you we will get our money's worth. We've had them about a month or so and every weekend other than when we were out of town, at least the big boys have worn their suits to church. And, with the suits, we have new belts, shoes, and we need gel and cologne as well. You know, to be like Dad. Patrick made a cute comment and realized that he needed to really cherish that because apparently kids won't always want to be just like their parents? I know, sounds shocking, ha. Nathaniel is also very encouraging. Jacob has been working on his bike riding lately and Nathaniel has just been so helpful and encouraging to him that I can't help but sit back and enjoy. What a neat kids.

And Mr. Leyton. Aunt Beth swears he's not 5 because of the way he conducts himself in person and on the phone. On the phone, I'll admit, he does sound older with the flow of his conversations and phrases. This week he's also been into doing a lot of chores to earn some money. That is lots of fun for me! I'll welcome the help anytime. He truly is a wonderful big brother, also. He is so sweet, especially to Leah, whenever she needs anything or needs out of her crib. His greetings to her are still a highlight of the day to hear. She will smile and just be so happy with him.

18 Months Going on 3 years!

Leah, Leah, Leah, please don't grow up too fast. She seems so "wise beyond her years" considering her age. Not in majorly extreme ways, but it has really been different having a little girl. She is just growing, growing, and so is her hair! I really think it's grown a lot in the last week or so. Nice cute little curls in the back, and the color is starting to look a bit highlighted as we've been outside more this spring. Maybe she'll be my white blonde this summer - seems Nathaniel & Jacob both had that for one summer at this age.

She is really branching out with her communication! She can't say the words to much, but she'll answer all your yes/no questions with gusto! She also realized on vacation that swimming was pretty fun. She was very good at staying on the steps and sitting/walking/crawling around the area. It was nice - good hope for summer. Last time she swam, she clung on for dear life and didn't enjoy it at all.

She has also been our best eater lately! She has been eating all her meals so well that I use her as an example with the boys when they just want snacks & no meals - almost daily. She's ready to eat at meal times and always eats pretty much whatever we have - not overeating, but just willing to try anything.

The final big deal was at my parents' before leaving for vacation. Patrick was near the restroom with her and she was acting like she wanted to go in. He asked her if she wanted to, she said yes, and so he propped her up on the seat. Low and behold, she went! I couldn't believe it. We've never had an event like that at this age. For a while, though, she has definitely been big on having her diaper changed (even when not needed really), getting & using wipes, and then, my favorite - the going in the restroom like her brothers - she has been known to walk in there, stand by the toilet, and pull up her shirt. That is, afterall, what she sees her brothers do. What a hoot.

The other week when Christine G. came over to watch the kids while I was at work, she even mentioned how when Leah really starts talking that she'll likely start with full sentences. I'm sure she's pretty normal, and I truly think are boys are bright, too, but it just seems there is something different with her development for sure.

Now, if I can just get the time & schedule done to get her 18 month pics done. She'll be 19 months before I know it. She is a gem.

Mischievous Little Drummer Boy

Jacob is starting to follow in Patrick's footsteps even more. He has recently determined that pretty much every object in his path is either a drumstick or a drum and he pounds incessantly: pots, pans, paint cans, canned goods, with paint sticks, silverware, pens, etc., etc., etc. I can't even think of all the things he's used lately. Patrick does have an old set of drums in the basement...they may get more use soon! I don't really need everything all dented. The pots actually have some indentations!

And onto the mischief (other than the wall art). When we returned from vacation this weekend, I was pleased to see all my pretty tulips blooming in the front yard. I must say, I was hoping to enjoy them a bit longer! But my cutie 3 year-old was helping me trim some weeds on the side of the house on Sunday. It was about 3 minutes after I realized he was no longer on the side of the house that I went to the front yard to see that my flower bed did not have one standing bloom on any tulip stem. He clipped them ALL off. Although I had to laugh, really, I do really like tulips and was bummed they were gone. I told a neighbor and he asked if I put them in a vase...I said it would have been nice, but Jacob decided to clip them all right at the bloom, so they had no stem. He is so cute, but we did have a little discussion about this. We planted some more flowers today and he already told me he wouldn't pull off the blooms. However, it appears his younger sister may have noticed the fun and we'll just see how many flowers we end up with!

I suppose these kids are all the blooms I truly need in my life. What fun.

Jacob's Views on Wall Art

Today Jacob was reminding himself about writing on the wall on the stairs with chalk. I think it's been a few days since it happened, but since it was chalk, I wasn't too worried or hurried to clean it off. I actually thought maybe Leah had done it. In any event, he was thinking this out and Patrick actually heard him talking about it. I recently had cleaned some ink off his walls in his room and I guess he noticed because today he said, "Oh, there's the chalk on the wall. But, it will come off like it did in my room." And I thought he didn't even notice the wall art in his room. Silly me, cute boy.

Crazy Week

So this has been a super crazy week. More details later, but I ran across this, and it was perfect...a good reminder to stop, take a breath, and have a little fun! Check out this dancing link.

Rich with God's Love

Last week we were outside playing and saw a neighbor walk by. In talking to him, he told me that he was recently laid off from his job. I told him how sorry I was to hear that and then the boys started asking a lot of questions about why I was sorry. I took some time explaining to them that his job told him not to come in anymore and that he had to look for a new job so he could pay his bills - like for his house, his food, etc. It seemed they understood it from that description, but didn't really know why it would happen. As we talked, the boys were telling me about how they thought that wouldn't be very fun and such. Then my sweet Nathaniel told me, "Mom, that's ok, he can still be rich with God's love."

Yes, Nathaniel, you are 100% correct, and we should always remember that no matter the curves life throws to us.