February 2011

January 2011 - or My Kids are Crazy!

Me

A New Year!  A time to start anew - make changes, avoid the same pitfalls!  Or...forget all that in a few days and go back to the same ol' habits.  So far, we have been doing a bit of both.  Being better, doing better, changing - it's all harder than we think it will be.

When Aaron and I sat down to list our goals for the year, I had a hard time coming up with anything.  Not I feel complete by any stretch of the imagination; I think it's the opposite, actually.  Feeling so inadequate that the list of improvements I wish to make is completely overwhelming.  I am working on, though.  I really am.


Since I am going to be the only one who reads this here is my list:

1) Start school in the summer.  Still not sure on what career path to choose, but am narrowing it down.  The current choices are either an elementary school teacher or a therapist.

2) Run another half marathon and then a full.  The next step would be a triathelon, but we will see...

3) Regain my spirituality and reconnect with God and Jesus.  I have been gone too long.  I miss it and I am lonely for it.    I have maybe been going once a month - if that.  But that needs to change.  I have been going more and I need it.  I feel so different and recharged when I do.  Aaron once told me that church was for weak people who can't get by without it, so I guess I am one of those people.  But I can own that.

This is a bit off the topic of goals, but I have to write this down.  I know several people who are atheist or agnostic - something I can understand, to a point.  But other than the basic marvels and majesty - the unnecessary beauty in the world; other than looking in my kid's eyes, here is why I believe: because when I had my first seizure I was 4 months along with Avery and nothing happened to her.  I didn't fall on my stomach; it didn't happen when I was walking by the lake; it didn't happen while I was climbing rocks with the boys; it happened right on the path - right where my brother would see me.

When I had my second seizure, I had been driving the kids around all day and was moments away from walking out the door with Avery to get in the car again.  Aaron just happened to be standing next to me and was able to catch Avery in one arm and me in the other.

When I had my third, it happened minutes before I would have been taking a boiling pot of pasta off the stove.

When I had my fourth, I was lucky enough to be sitting down, even though mere moments before I had been walking around with my baby girl.

I could have hurt them!  I could have hurt someone else!  But we are safe; we are OK!  That is not coincidence, it just isn't. I don't pretend to know God's will.  There are times when I think of the world and all it's tragedy and cruelty, the widespread pain and disaster and I feel so insignificant and almost arrogant to think that I am even a blip on the radar.  I have no idea why some people are forced to suffer the way they do. But I know what I know.  I know what I've felt, what I've seen.

Sooo...this definitely did not end up being a post about resolutions, but I have been running all that through my head for a while now and it feels really good to write it all out.

Gabe is a Raging Football Machine! Who woulda thunk?

In this pic Gabe is in the back, charging after the ball carrier.

Here he is continuing the charge, even though there are three much bigger kids in the way.  This kid has no fear!

It's hard to tell, but Gabe is right in the middle of this - blocking #3; and look how much bigger that boy is!

12 months! (Let's pretend it's December...)

Her first baby doll!

 Gazing at Great-Grandma

11 Months!

My beautiful baby girl is 11-months-old!  It is hard to believe, but she gets more delightful and lovely every day.  Thank you, Lord for blessing us with this little one!

10 Months Old

Ten-months-old already - crazy, fun and adorable as ever! As seen above, her new facial expression is the squishy face!  She is crawling, pulling herself up and into absolutely everything.  She hates to be contained or sit still - she only sits on her play mat for periods of 30 seconds to a minute.  The pot of our ficus tree is now in now covered in a trash bag, since the leaves and the dirt are a favorite snack.  Something we had to do with the boys, too.

I am very proud to say that "mama" or "momma" as the case may be, was her first word!  But that has its downside, because when I put her down for her nap and she cries, she says "Maa, maa" - breaks my heart!

Avery thinks that Gabe is the funniest person alive - all he has to do is look at her and she cracks up.  We joke that it is 'cause he's so funny-looking!  She loves to snuggle and she, Dylan and I have lots of family hugs.  We are currently in the 'attachment' phase and even though I feel a little bad when she doesn't want to go to other people, I secretly love it!  I know the time will come all too soon when she will want nothing to do with me and all she will want is her Daddy, so I am trying to soak this in.  Avery is into her hands and loves to clap and poke her fingers into them.  She pats my shoulder a lot and I say "Pat, pat, pat", which makes her laugh and do it more.  She is doing this less than she used to, but she gives me lots of "kisses", very aggressive kisses, where she will grab my face on each side and suck on it, usually on the chin.  It hurts a little, but it's worth it, as I am the only one who gets kissed like that!

She has brought more love and joy to our lives than we could have imagined - we thought our family was already pretty perfect, but now we know it was incomplete.  I thank the Lord every day for my beautiful little girl, my wonderful boys!  I am so very blessed!

Soccer!

On his way to a goal!



Stealing the ball from five other kids? No sweat!



Look at him defending the goal!

Dylan has loved soccer this season! You can see the thrill of it is all over his face. He worked hard, never gave up and wasn't afraid to go up against the entire opposing team!

9 Months Old and on the Move

In a few short weeks, Avery has started crawling and pulling herself up on furniture. The girl is mo-bile! AND she has also started sticking her tongue out in the cutest way...

Avery is honestly the joy of our lives! She just spreads sunshine and happiness wherever we go. All she needs to do is smile at someone and their faces light right up. We are always being told how sweet she is and we couldn't agree more!

First Campout!

7 months!

Sitting up and eating her toes! Avery is a busy, busy girl!

Leapin' Lizards!

Swimming! Or Gabe Was a Fish in Another Life

Long Overdue

We are still pretty blissed out over Avery. She is a little ray of sunshine in our lives and she shares that with everyone she meets. Honestly, you can see peoples' faces light up when she smiles at them and their moods improve. But how could it be any different? Avery Sono is a joy.

Gabe and Dylan have actually gotten into fights over who gets to talk to her and make her smile. They never walk by her without a sweet word, kiss or their declaration of love! Dylan told me he "loves me to the moon and back ten times", but he "loves Avery to the moon and back twenty times." And that "I love her more than anything" "More than me?" "Yes." "Good. Always remember that and look out for her." Said with a smile and nod, "Okay, Mom." I think she is in good hands.



Summer is in full force! We have had lots of fun days and are looking forward to more, now that I can drive! One of the boys' new favorite things is to lay a blanket out on the grass in the backyard (something I did as a kid) and have a snack and read books or play games. We have also had "backwards day" where we ate dessert (brownies) and dinner (homemade Macaroni and cheese) for breakfast and breakfast (French toast) for dinner! Jammie day was a hit, too, although I could only handle it until about noon. We have quite a few more things planned. Lots of fun to post about soon!

Love

My Babies

From an embroidered saying my mom used to have on her wall:

"Cooking and cleaning can wait 'til tomorrow
For babies grow up, I've learned to my sorrow
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep"

Things My Boys Are Saying:

Gabe: "Oh, I had no clue..." or when asked something "I have no clue."
Upon having something explained to him: "That makes sense." or "Good point."

He sounds so grow-up in the things he says and the ways in which he says them!

Dylan: "Mom, can I tell you something (but sounds like sum-peen)? (Big sigh) It's just that..." "Mom, can we talk? (Big sigh) It's just that..."

Dylan is so very taken with Avery! Every time she smiles at him, he says "Mom, I made her smile!" And I say "That because she loves you so much." And he smiles a big smile. Or when she smiles or laughs he says, "Isn't she just so adorable?!" And yes, they both are.

Avery Sono, The Prettiest Girl I Know

My baby girl is changing day by day - here are some of my favorite pictures of her:


One week old


My little bug, all swaddled up with Daddy on Christmas morning


Two weeks old and already taken with Daddy


One month

1 1/2 months - look at the difference two weeks makes!


2 1/2 months! Cooing as big brother Dylan sweet-talks her


She's smiling!