Our growing family...

I have been telling myself for months that I am going to just start writing things down for the girls regularly, but honestly, I haven’t.  I have journals for each of them that I add little funny things they say to and that I write letters in on special occasions, but the blog was definitely the best for semi-regular updates.   

So, since I was here last, another precious baby girl joined our family.  Amelia was born in July, and she has just been the most undeserved blessing.  She is almost six months old now, which I can just not believe.  I cannot even describe how much she is adored by every member of our family.  Jesse holds her every second he can.   Annabelle loves to make her laugh, hold her, and keep her entertained.  Charlotte voice goes up a couple of octaves when talking to her in the sweetest way.  She has been nicknamed Mia (by Charlotte) and Millie and Millie Bug (by Annabelle).  She cries so rarely – sometimes an entire day passes with no cries from her, just the occasional little whimper to let us know she needs someone.   Over Christmas she has had RSV and just been miserable, but you would not know it with all of her smiles. 

She is eating and growing well, and we have started a little bit of baby food.  Bottles have been refused repeatedly but I would love for her to take one occasionally.  Taking the time to nurse during the day has become inconvenient for her lately– she is afraid of missing the action!  She has been rolling for a couple of months now, and is working on sitting up now.  She loves baths, napping in her swing, songs, watching her sisters play, and being held.  We are on the go a lot, so she has adapted to napping in her car seat and stroller.  Precious third baby - I hope she always knows how adored she is even if there aren't as many things written down - there just isn't enough time.

Charlotte turned two in October.  She has become the most delightful little girl. The words that come to mind when I think of my Charlotte are mischievous, hilarious, loving, bright, spirited, brave, and independent.  My mom likes to say she is a “rounder”.  I have started calling her “chicken noodle” because she is just so funny.  We all still call her Charlotte Grace and Gracie. 

  She always has this little twinkle in her eye that just pulls you in and makes it impossible to be upset with her for anything.  She has been very physically capable for a long time now; trying to keep up with Annabelle’s every move.  Lately, her speech has just taken off with full long sentences, songs, and a great memory.  

She loves her people so much, but she has no interest in strangers.  If someone she doesn't know well touches her, she immediately removes their hand from her.  I kind of love that.  She goes to preschool two mornings each week now, and she has really blossomed there and loves telling us all about what she does. Her favorite school activity is painting.  At home, she loves baby dolls, running, playing outside, crafts, play dough, bath time, brushing her teeth, helping cook, playing hide and seek, reading books, playing kitchen, and drawing.  She also loves princesses, Minnie Mouse, and Doc McStuffins like her sister. 

I usually tell her “I would be happy to…” when she asks for my assistance, so now she asks if she can “happy help me” anytime she is offering her services.   She loves to do something silly or make us laugh, and then say “I am so funny”.  Thankfully, she is the least picky kid ever, and thinks everything she eats is “very yummy”.  Milk MUST be warm, and she still loves her paci for sleeping.  Anytime I leave the room, she comes looking for me and says “I find you!” like we have been apart for days.  She plays hard, loves fierce, wears you out,  and just steals your heart!

Annabelle is 4 ½ now, and is just such the little lady.  Daily, I think both “she is growing much too fast” and “I love this age because she is such an incredible kid.” Words to describe Annabelle right now include – observant, compassionate, interesting, kind hearted, sensitive, funny, and conscientious.  Shy with those she doesn’t know well, she is a chatterbox at home.  She is a natural care taker and is always helping and checking on her sisters.  She loves to play with Charlotte and includes her in everything.  I just love her company – she is a better conversationalist than many adults!

She attends pre-K four mornings a week and has learned so much.  I am extremely grateful for her preschool – she loves being there and doesn’t want to miss a minute.   The thought of her going to kindergarten next year at our big public school is almost too much for me to bear, but she is just so excited about learning and school.  She says that they are working at school on being “kindergarten ready”, and I know she will be.   

Annabelle’s current favorite things are:  playing dress up, dolls/dollhouse, crafts, school, baking, board games, Barbie dolls, giving Charlotte instructions (ha!), going on the occasional date with mommy or daddy, and anything princess.  She loves all things feminine - especially dresses, bows, jewelry, and anything she perceives as being fancy.  She loves to accessorize and would prefer to be in a dress every day.

 She is taking ballet again this year and looks forward to it each week.  It has been neat to see her strength, coordination, and gracefulness develop.   Jesse and I both think that she has an incredible memory and might have an aptitude for music.  She can hear a song once be able to recall the correct tune.  After going to see The Nutcracker several weeks ago, we later heard one of the musical pieces.  She immediately identified it as from The Nutcracker and knew which scene. Today we got the soundtrack to the movie Frozen, and she knew each song’s spot in the movie – we listened to it all day.  It is excited to start seeing areas that might be her gifts – we don’t care what they are…we just love everything about her.   Of course, as with every child, we have areas that we are working on, but she is such a gift to us.

The transition into life as a family of five has stretched us all.  There have been some hard days and even weeks.  There have been work trips, an unexpected appendectomy, sleepless nights…just life.  From the minute my eyes open each morning, there is a line of needs that must be met to take care of the little humans entrusted to me.  Some nights I am too tired to even form a coherent sentence.

 But beautiful things come from being stretched.  I am learning to trust myself and my instincts as I mother my three daughters.  The girls are each learning such important lessons:  to wait patiently, to look out for each other, that others’ needs sometimes come before their own, to look to each other for help, fun, and comfort, to offer those things back.  Each day I am incredibly grateful for the three of them will be to each other. I know that we are blessed beyond measure… and that maybe, just maybe, someday everyone will sleep all night.