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.

New Suits

Yesterday we ran several errands in the morning. One of which, Nathaniel was eagerly awaiting - to get a suit like Dad's. We found new suits for all three boys and they sure look great on them. They're looking forward to wearing them for Easter, Beth's wedding, and I think Nathaniel is planning to wear his to church this Sunday! He also told me he wants new black shoes and shoe polish for the shoes - "but not too shiny, just like Dad's." Precious. They do have a great Dad to look up to and it's sweet seeing them want to be like Dad. Sure is cute seeing them all decked out!

Great Day

Not a lot to say, but today was really a great day. The kids were all so happy, playing together, being nice to each other, etc. It was like I didn't even want them to go to bed they were so sweet. One of the cute things was when the boys were getting their teeth brushed and Nathaniel was going to get a drink of water. Leyton reminded him, "Nathaniel, don't forget, no more drinks tonight since we're going to bed & want to make sure you stay dry."
Nathaniel said, "Oh yeah, thanks. I'm all done."

It was just so sweet and a day I enjoyed so much. We didn't do a lot other than spend the day together & play, etc. All days are truly good, but this was even more a treasure.