the third has his second

Dear Ezra,
   You are two! We had a party yesterday with grandparents and it was so much fun watching you eat cake and open presents.

As I sit here and write this, I think back to all the moments that I will always hold in my heart of when you were a baby. The vivid memories I have of baby and one year old you are things such as:
*You being born on Good Friday. We were still in the hospital on Easter, and Daddy bought you some little yellow chickie socks from Meijers. (also, your birthday is earth day. talk about being born on a special day... a combined good friday and earth day hah)
*The way you loved to snuggle and sleep by us when you were bitty. You still take naps with us, and every time I see you tucked in between Daddy and I  for a Sunday nap, I think, "Do you even know how loved you are?" You are so, so loved.
*The way you were born after a few very hard months for our family. When you were born, you brought sunshine into our life and so much joy. Your birth was a rebirth for our family.. we were so much stronger, happier, and complete after you were born. It's fitting you have a spring birth.. spring gives hope, and so did you.
*I will always remember how you were so good at nursing. I was nervous about this since Judah was not, and you were awesome from day one.
*You got your first tooth at 3 1/2 months and had all of your teeth months ago. You had all your teeth up to your two year old molars at 19 months, I was glad since I do not like teething.

                Wearing the birthday crown mama made for your 1st birthday


You are what I call "Sweet and Spicy". It's not that you try to be naughty, you are just a very curious little boy, which gets you into trouble at times. You have been getting into things I would never dream a child would get into. You found.. and opened... and spilled... my nail polish all over the bathroom and yourself. When I walked in, you were brushing the brush across your whole foot saying, "Painting, mommy." I suppose I should have thought of a better place for my nail polish than a cupboard you could reach into, but since none of my kids so far have thought about touching it, it really didn't occur to me. You best believe it is up high where you cannot reach now : ). You are constantly climbing, touching, exploring. You love to "help" cook. You sample as we go along!

     When we have talked about your birthday for the past few weeks, you immediately shout, "Cake!! Grandpa! Grandma!" You wanted Grandpa or Grandma to make your cake, but unfortunately for you, mama is possessive about getting to make my kids birthday cakes. Your cake was chocolate with chocolate ganache and raspberry sauce on top. Gotta say, it was pretty yummy.

As for the sweet part of your personality, you know how to schmooze your mama. You love to cuddle. If I have a blanket anywhere near me, you get it and say, "Cobers." (covers) and then snuggle. You still love to stick your hand up my (or anyone, really...) sleeve and say, "Arm..." as you do it : ) I can't wait till you get older so I can ask you what in the world that is all about!

You are one of the most hilarious people I know. I'm not even kidding. You love to grab my face with both hands and try to lick me because you know I will try to wiggle away from you. It makes you laugh so hard and you only try harder to do it while I laugh. You have such a big personality for being kind of a peanut size-wise.

Even though you are a peanut, you are STRONG! Daddy and I always say that Judah better be nice and watch out because we totally think you will win when you get older and wrestle. Even when I was pregnant with you, I knew you were strong because your kicks hurt me way more than Judah's did! You are very scrappy!

Blowing out your 2 candle. We have been singing "This little light of mine" a lot lately to prepare for blowing out a candle hah!

 

You seriously have the best personality, and while it is very tiring trying to parent such a curious little boy, I wouldn't trade you for anything. Your curiosity makes me smile most of the time and it will be such a great quality as you get older.

 

Here are some things you are up to at 2!

*You are crazy good at climbing/jumping off of things. You get out of your crib like it's no big deal and just walk into the living room.

*You are in 24 month or 2T clothes, and just moved up to a size 4 diaper. You have size 6 (or so) feet.

*You love babies and if you see them you say, "baby! cute!"

*You love balls, play dough, puzzles, reading, painting, trains/trucks and music.

*Playing with Judah and Hope is one of your favorite things. You all are pretty good buddies.

*You do not talk a lot, but you are starting to more in the past few weeks. You can say any word we ask, and will say 1-3 words together yourself. You use descriptive words a lot. (Stuck! Hot! Hurt!) A few days ago you said, "Mama, come here!"

*You go to sleep around 8p and wake up around 6a. You take a nap from 1p to 3 or 4p most days.

*You are an amazing eater. You will eat most anything I give you. Your recent new favorites are raw broccoli and carrots. You do have a sweet tooth and love to chew gum (and do a great job at it!).

*You know quite a few abc's when we sing the song or show you the letter book, can identify shapes, and are starting to learn colors.

*There are pictures of your buddies on the fridge and you are always talking about "Kai, Ethan, Asher, Isaiah, and Jackson" You especially always want to talk about Ethan's mom, Auntie Ann!

 

        That little hand holding the present hurts my heart in a good way.
What else can I say except that it is a privilege to be your mama, to get to teach you and watch you grow. I am so proud of you and cannot wait to see who you become. Love, your mama

A teacher, a learner, and an egg cracker

Hope is spending Easter and spring break at her mom's this year, so I knew that if we wanted to dye eggs, it had to be done early. On Monday we pulled out the boiled eggs, dug around for the dyes, and sat down to dye eggs together.

The older Hope gets, the more I am impressed with her. Her personality is that of a teacher. I find myself invisioning her as a teacher one day-- or maybe just a really good mama. After I explained to the boys how to put the eggs into the dye and leave them there, she took charge of the situation. We kept the dye a bit out of reach so Ezra wouldn't be taking a bath in it, and she would bring a cup to him and hand him an egg and he would go for it. She is growing up so much and has been asking about taking babysitting classes this summer!

                     Hope holding the egg for Ezra so he could color on it with the crayon.

I finally gave Ezra a bowl of water so he could feel like he was in on the action all the time-- not just when he was setting an egg in. He loved dunking it in water, and then after a little bit decided to try to crack it on the edge of the bowl-- must have seen mama or daddy do it a time or two! (good thing they were hardboiled!) He loves watching me cook dinner, so it made me laugh and then invision HIM as a chef when he gets older.

And Judah? He was soaking it all in, placing eggs in different colors, learning and loving doing activities with his favorite people.

St. Pats

Today was the day for the annual St. Patty's parade. We headed to an early lunch at a favorite brewery around our house (kid friendly, even better!). After lunch we grabbed a few coffees and found the perfect spot to parade-and-people-watch. So fun to watch everyone sporting kilts, green, and leprechaun outfits. Thankfully, I had the foresight to buy us all green coats this year just for the parade. (kidding... we were on a walk one day and I looked around at us all and realized we were all in dark green. Not planned at all, I just must have a thing for it : ))

                                                                    Coloring at lunch

                                       Pretty sure most shades of green are being represented!

                                                                 Lunch with my loves!

                                 Ezra loved the parade, he did such an awesome job sticking by us!

                                                    Jude not so sure about the loud trucks

                                                  Ezza boy holding out his hand for candy hah!

the house (before and after)

Before:

Looking into the kitchen (perhaps I'm a little overwhelmed?)

The living room

                                                                       Dining room

The hubs and I moved into our house in 2007. We had big plans for it. Room by room, it slowly started to look less "Old man who collected rocks and put them in every corner and was a genius but perhaps a little creepy" and more "Young family who loves color, life, kids, and fun".

Starting with our room, we (mainly John...) remodeled each room. Then the kid bedroom downstairs. The living room, the roof, the room upstairs/steps going upstairs, the bathroom, the front porch, the dining room, the kitchen. The only room that has not been touched for the most part is the laundry room.

We love this little house, but are feeling like we need some room to stretch a bit. I'm having a hard time reconciling in my heart the fact that we have more than enough space compared to many places in the world, yet I feel the need to have a place to have my kids roam, possibly another kid bedroom. Maybe if things get wild, a room downstairs for toys and running around in the winter. I have no idea where we will end up or what our life will look like in a year, but room by room, I am getting more excited about the prospect of finding a place that fits our family.

                                              After: (this is keeping it real, we have 3 kids, ya'll.)

Dining room

                                                                         kitchen

                                            living room (yes, the Merry Christmas sign is still up!: ))

Lately

We have been super busy for the past few weeks. A girls weekend for me with some of my best friends, a work trip for the hubs, a work trip for myself. A new niece born, extra hours at work, and the snow is finally melting!

                                        (the four year old on his birthday, opening presents)

 This little dear (who is almost 2, what!?) for some reason loves raw brocolli. The other day, I bought a cheater-tray of veggies on clearance at Meijers, and pulled it out for lunch. While I was pulling plates out of the cupboard I hear him say, "Bocolli. Bocolli." I turned around and saw him going to town on this huge brocolli stalk. He seriously ate the whole thing minus the stem. Crazy kid!

Speaking of crazy kid, this guy still likes to put things in his mouth. Not as much as when he was one, but guaranteed if he is playing with paint or playdough, he will have some in his mouth. he loves sporting an awesome paint-goatee.

Judah Elm at four!

My dear little (almost) four-year-old,

Judah, just like the past three years, I am sitting here the night before your birthday thinking about February 12. You were born on February 13th, but the party actually started on the 12th... we even thought you would share Auntie A's birthday. And so, today I had many thoughts throughout the day. Thinking about that very last doctor's appointment when she told me she might be seeing me soon. I waddled through Walmart buying some last minute things and had to stop every 20 feet or so to catch my breath because I seriously felt like I could have you right on the wet and waxy floors of the Walmarts at any minute. I came home and called Daddy-- who was at his LAST day of his old job and told him to get home. (what a way to end the last day of a job... and he started his new one when you were only a few days old.) I think about heading into the hospital and being hooked up to monitor your little heartbeat. Since I now have had Ezra, I sometimes get certain moments confused between the two of you, but I remember one very vivid moment so clearly. The moment they laid you on me and I saw what you looked like. I remember touching your face and saying, "Hi!" over and over. Daddy and I sang you Happy Birthday for the first time that night and took you in--all to ourselves-- until visitors started to show up at 8am.

 

 

Everyone tells you it goes fast, and it is very cliche to even mention that it does. But my goodness, how it does. Some days seem never-ending. Like the day that you would NOT pick up your blocks and I told you that you had to do it all by yourself if you dumped the whole thing over. (rookie mistake. I now know to only tell things if I'm willing to make you follow through with them. It was not a fun HOUR getting you to pick up those blocks! :)) Some days at the beginning of your threes, I just did not know if I would make it through to the next day. You were typical "terrible 2's-3's' and man, some of those days were rough!! We are now seeing the benefits of standing firm, and you are such a wonderful little boy.

 

You are such a good brother. You love to play with Ezra, and only have hit or pushed him a few times. (That is saying a lot, because he is in your business all the time!) You play with Hope most of all and you two are awesome buddies. When she is at her moms, you do play with Ez a lot more, and it is the best thing to see you two laughing together. We tell you kids all the time that you are best friends, and the brainwashing seems to be working ;).

 

Judah, you warm my heart with all the things you do. Your daddy is an amazing servant to our house, and I am sure you have his heart. You tell me all the time "thank you for dinner, mama! best ever!" The other day, you asked me if you could vacuum for me. You love to help out doing chores and pretty much will do anything I ask of you around the house. (put your clothes in your drawers, you fold the dishclothes for me, vacuum sometimes, take care of your dishes and push in your chair.) Today you got the vacuum out and vacuumed the chair because you took the cushion off to do tricks on and you noticed that underneath were a few crumbs! :) You now can also dress yourself. At first, it was a struggle to get you to try to do it, but now you are so proud of yourself. You like to list off the items of clothing you put on yourself that day.

 

Speaking of lists... this morning for breakfast you at a whole banana, a small bowl of oatmeal, raisins, a honey sandwich, and an egg. You constantly are telling me you are hungry-- even after a meal where you eat everything. I know you need it though-- you are getting so tall! If anyone asks how old you are and I tell them they say, "Wow, he is tall for his age!"

 

At four you know all your letters and can write some of them (J's are your favorite!), you know all shapes, you are doing much better with counting.. it has taken awhile to get down for some reason, but can now count to 20 and recognize most numbers, you know our home address, our city, and state. You can tell us your birthday (and Ezra's, too, because we have been working on it with him. When we ask Ezra, you jump in and say, "APRIL 22!!") You have excellent gross motor skills and love to do anything outdoorsy. You like your scooter, jumping on the trampoline, playing in the snow. You are still a bit picky about food but are getting better. You love to ride grandpa's snowmobiles. You are picking information up all the time from who-knows-where. You told me the other day your leg hurt and I asked why. You said, "Maybe an asteroid hit it!" I asked if you knew what an asteroid was and you said, "Yes! A rock!" You also know what an omnivore, herbivore, and carnivore is because you ask the difference every day at lunch.

 

 You have been waking up at 6am (or earlier.. today you were up at 5:47a....) but you quietly get up, get yourself a banana or make a sandwich, and turn on the tv for a show or two before mama can make herself get up. Mama doesn't do well waking up at 6am :). You do take a nap most days still... maybe it's why you wake at 6a? But seem to still need it and when you fall asleep, you sleep for a good few hours.

 

You love to be silly. You love for me to "check on you" at bedtime. You are so loving. You are getting independent, but you still love your mama, too, and talk about how you don't want to go to school or get married because you don't want to leave me.

 

You made me a "mama", and I will never forget how good it was to have a little one who helped make our family more of a family. It just seemed more grown up when Hope had a sibling, and I was officially "mama". We love you forever, Judah, and can't wait to see who you become! Happy 4th Birthday!

Love, Mama

things to remember

*How during 99% of meals, Jude will say to me, "Thank you for making this food for me, mama!"
*Ezra loves to rub his hands along arms. He even slides his hand up sleeves to feel arms.
*Hope wakes up at 6:30a each day and does not complain about it. She gets breakfast and out the door by herself most days.
*Our work schedule (the hubs working one night, me working the next... no days are off b/c one of us works every.single.day) is wearing me out. We have been at it for almost a year, and although I will probably kick myself for saying this later, I can't wait for the hubs to work a "normal" hours job.
*Jude loves to climb into Ezra's crib and they bounce and laugh at eachother. Ezra is super tough and if J bangs into him, he just gets up and laughs.
*Jude has been saying to me, "Mama, can I be the boss of Ezra??" (I always ask him who the boss is... Mama!) I tell him he can be as long as he is a nice boss.
*Hope loves the new youth group she is going to and looks forward to it. She also started playing the clarinet this year and is very good only a month in!
*Judah pronounces Ezra, "Esh-rah"
*The boys are sleeping well in a shared room. They sleep through the night MOST nights! The only draw-back is that Judah wakes up Ez around 6:30a each day.
*Ezra has almost all his baby teeth-- he just needs he 2 lower 2 year old molars.
*We are planning on spending the winter doing touch ups on different things in our house so we can hopefully put it up for sale in the next year or so.
*We are on a very tight budget and it's super annoying but makes me appreciate any extra money we make.
*Judah takes the cushions off the couch or chair most days. He props them up next to his bed and calls it his "Holy Spirit Water Slide" (NO idea where that came from!!)
*I'm teaching 3's at church once a month and really like it.
*Hope is getting tall and is growing out of all of her clothes! We will be able to share clothes soon!
*The hubs is growing a massive beard-- partially for hunting, partially just to see how it looks.