Tis the Season...

Funny how when your a kid from Thanksgiving to Christmas is the LOOONNGGGEESSSTTT time of the year. I remember years when I thought Christmas would never get here. Now as an adult, especially a parent, it goes 463x faster and I feel overwhelmed and would like it to slow down just a bit so I could savor that Christmas magic in my children just a bit longer. There is something so magical and fun about their innocence and imagination this time of year.

It's been especially heightened with the presence of Freddie, our Elf whose keeping tabs on the boys and reporting to Santa. I think he's had to tell Santa we have a few listening problems in our house lately. Oye! But Freddie turns up somewhere new every morning and the boys love discussing where that might be the night before and then hunting for him in the morning.

We're probably a year, maybe two away from Carson figuring all this out. That makes me sad and nervous. I hope when those questions come to the surface we can discuss without ruining it for his other brothers. But for now we'll revel in their Christmas spirit.

Carson wrote his first song the other night, complete with notes and a song number. All about the true meaning of Christmas.Wow, this little boy is growing up and learning so much along the way. He's participating in church, excited to go to Sunday school, eager to learn cursive and reading like a champ. His first big Christmas concert is tonight at the high school on a BIG stage. He's pretty excited about the whole thing and we can't wait to see him perform.

We tried to take some pictures of Max the other day. That soon intrigued his brother's who wanted to join in.

All wearing a hat of some sort and being silly of course.

Bennett's speech is moving along pretty well. He's showing Sue(speech therapist) his stubborn side when she's here. We may up our appts after Christmas to see if we can't get him going.

Declan also has a Christmas concert on Monday. He's pretty excited about it as well. Rumor has it he's playing Baby Jesus.

And this little squirt turned 3 months old last week.

He's talking and cooing and taking in all his surroundings as best he can. He loves having someone talk to him or just look at him.

And now we try to enjoy the next 10 days before Christmas. Ten, very busy days. And we are going to jam as much as we can into them, of course! But we're also going to enjoy the season and be thankful for all it brings, even the hustle and bustle.

The Stockings Were Hung....

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas in our house. And outside there is the smallest dusting of snow. The boys (that includes Trevor) couldn't be happier.

Taking a break too pop some packaging bubbles. 

Declan's favorite ornament. I might have to pull the batteries before the weekend. We've listened to two toothless chipmunks (or maybe badgers?) sing "All I Want for Christmas" at least 82 times since Saturday. 

There she is in all her glory!

Maddox's ornamnet. 

Bennett's ornament. 

Declan's ornament. 

Carson's ornament. 

Freddie taking on Woody in a game of Connect Four.

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas.

This is Freddie, our mischievous Elf on a Shelf. He's been keeping an eye on the kiddos for a week now and reporting their behavior back to Santa. The boys think it's hilarious and are quite entertained by his whereabouts in the morning. We've caught Declan more then once whispering to little Freddie....I wonder what he's telling him?

We went and cut our tree down the other day. Bennett cried from our entryway, through the entire 25 minute drive to the farm and then all the way through picking it out. Serenity now! Trevor and I often talk that it's a good thing he's so cute when he's not losing his mind because it would make his 2 year old crazies much more difficult to handle.

He even missed out on the first few pictures with our tree.

An 8 ft tree for our8ft ceilings.Daddy has big eyes! This is the first time in the 4 years that we have been cutting ours down that there has been no snow, no below zero temps and no 47 layers of clothing. Aside from some wind it was glorious out! Pictures too follow of its decorating.

Child of God

 Maddox was baptized a few weeks ago. He wore the same outfit that his daddy and brothers wore. Some fit in it better then others but all were adorable. Now the outfit is put away for our grand kids.

Carson 2005

Declan 2006

Bennett 2010 

And some pictures from the service,

May God Bless you Maddox.

Go then, and make disciples of all the nations, giving them baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:  Matthew 28:19

Boo!

I'm at home tonight with a baby. A cute one who doesn't look like a newborn anymore.

We're doing laundry, sweeping floors, peeing in our eyes (him, not me) and passing out candy to the neighborhood kids. The boys are out with Trevor collecting as much sugar as they can, I'm anxiously awaiting their return so I can enjoy some goodies I remember so many Halloweens that involved winter coats, hats and mittens but not tonight, it's in the 60s!

I started the day out dealing with this. That's the school parking lot and that's where Spiderman landed after I drug his thrashing, flailing body through the parking lot. This fit, which is more common lately, lasted all the way home and through my attempt to feed him lunch. He missed lunch and instead was thrown in his crib. Two year olds are awesome. And you know what the best part is? I get to do it all over again in 2 years. Yay us!!

Luckily Spiderman woke up on the right side of the crib.

 

Luigi!

Darth Vader!

We carved pumpkins this weekend. The boys had a blast, mostly Trevor.

Our creations!

The boys are back....time for me to dig into the bucket!!

One Month

Maddox is already a month old.

 Technically he's 5 weeks but I'm in denial that he's growing so I'll stick with 1 month. To say that this last month has been crazy, busy and a blur would be a vast understatement. It's been a struggle to adjust and find our new routine, something that is always common with a new baby. However, this time around I feel like it's magnified and maybe that has to do with the fact that there are 3 other little boys running around my feet, demanding my attention, but maybe it doesn't, I guess I'll never know. We've been struggling with jaundice, a horrible infection, breastfeeding, gaining weight and sleepless nights.

 I've breastfed 3 children until they were one. Breastfeeding is such a natural enjoyable thing for me to do, but honestly, this time around, I've come close to quitting more times that I can count.  It's been an uphill battle and we've yet to reach the top. I've cried, pumped, met with a lactation consultant, pumped some more and sought advice from my wonderful girlfriends and nothing seems to make this any better. I can't seem to figure out why I have so much trouble this time around. Is it me? Is it Maddox? Am I not patient enough? Mother's guilt can be a horrible burden. I'm trying to be patient but right now that is being tested to the limit. What doesn't kill us can only make us stronger.

I'm also convinced at this stage of the game that Maddox will be 16 before he sleeps through the night. Good grief child, you need to sleep longer then 2 hours. Your killing your mommy! While it seems there is lots to complain about there is also lots to rejoice in. Like his little fingers and his little toes, his fuzzy hair and wandering eyes, his clean baby smell and his tiny little diapers, and mostly, the way he snuggles in his big brother's arms.

It's going fast and I'm desperate to enjoy this time and remember his tiny little body. So while I'm struggling with many parts of being a new mommy again, I'm also delighted in being a new mommy again. This ride called motherhood is bumpy but I'm holding on tight and trying to enjoy the ride. 

Apple Picking

I love fall cooler temperatures, pumpkins, sweaters, boots, apples, football and falling leaves.It is my favorite season. This past weekend we ventured to the apple orchard to do some apple picking. I was finally feeling well enough to do some walking, the weather was perfect and there was no reason to watch the Vikings on tv...it was the perfect afternoon. 

To say Bennett was a fan of freshly picked apples was an understatement. He ate somewhere along the lines of 4 or 5 apples, we quite counting. 

Daddy and his boys. 

 

Our first picture as a family of 6. It only took 2.5 weeks!