Davis: 10 Months

It's a really good thing I have been planning his birthday since about the time I first met him face to face. Because....it's coming. In less than 2 months (since I'm late AGAIN on getting his monthly update written up) my baby boy will be a whole year old.

I still remember this time last year, eating my way through the holidays...anxious, yet enjoying the little life that was growing inside of me. Ready to meet him, but not ready to be done. Oh, how joyful the past 10 months have been, getting to know my sweet boy. I'm so very glad he came when he did.

This was a BIG month.

He went from, pushing my hand away, to standing on his own, to taking his first step, to taking 3 steps!!!

How is that even possible? My other two babies were 14 and 19 months before they walked! I think someone is just a tad bit anxious to keep up with the big boys.

He still loves to eat. The only thing that is a hit or miss is peas. He usually thinks they are more fun to squish that to eat.  He can put away a serious amount of food. I'm pretty sure he put away half an avocado. And is going strong with his nursing...although those teeth....ouch. ouch.ouch. To all the mama's who had a horribly painful time with breastfeeding....I'm feeling you, and I'm sorry.

Speaking of teeth, he got both his two top teeth. Yeeeeeaaaaahhhh, that was fun. Once again, long nights. But always happy boy during the day. (technically, this will go in his 11 month post...but he just popped through tooth #5 Christmas morning! Can I get a hallelujah?!?!)

We've had a few nap skipping here and there. Some days he just won't have it, and fights it until I throw in the towel. And would you guess who is happy as a clam those days? He cruises around, giving me extra big grins and laying the sweetness on thick. As if he knows that he weaseled his way out of his nap.

We also tried having his grandparents put him down for bed for the first time this month. Kyle had his work Christmas party and so we thought we would give it a go.

Davis would not have it. He usually goes to bed around 7-7:30PM, we got home around 11. I walked into a Davis sitting on his Grandpa's lap, not upset, not happy, not even making a peep....just sitting and waiting. His eyes were red-rimmed, and he was clearly tired. But he waited for me. I took him upstairs and he was out within a few seconds.

If he does get upset, which is very rare. His "tantrum" is him putting his forehead to the floor. Once he kicked his legs and cried a little...and then was done. I could get very used to those kind of tantrums. Too bad his older brothers didn't get the memo.

He says "mama" very clearly and it seems very deliberate. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

His newest trick aside from walking is pointing. Oh. My. It has got to be the cutest! Both my other boys pointed with either their fists or all fingers. But Davis makes a perfect little "L" and points on command. You say, "Davis, point to the light" as soon as he hears "point" his thumb and pointer finger snap into position. It's fun to see what really catches his attention.

I still can't keep him off the steps and out of the bathroom. Yesterday morning, I was running around trying to get everyone dressed to get out the door. I had to run upstairs real quick to grab something. I asked Cole to watch his brother (I know, I know, terrible idea....five-year-old's are NOT made to be responsible) I ran back down, to find Cole had gotten distracted and wandered off (surprise, surprise) to the living room. And Davis.....well, I found him in the bathroom, grabbing wads of well marinated toilet paper out of the toilet. ALL OVER MY BATHROOM FLOOR. I'm guessing some made it into his mouth...but I've tried blocking that thought from my memory.

He is persistent and determined (hence, the above toilet episode) But he has a quieter way of dealing with it. If he wants something, he will exhaust all avenues until he gets it.

He loves to dance. And is drawn to toys that make sound and music.

Hates cats. Definitely likes dogs better.

He loves to turn the TV on and off. This makes his brothers really happy.....and he just stands there smirking and seemingly proud of the rise he gets out of his brothers.

He is so content. Content to be held, content to walk, content to play alone, content to be in the middle of big brother chaos, and content to just be.

Always super content to eat. Goodness....the food, the intensity, the passion, the bottomless pit for a tummy. He loves flavor, spice, sweet....all of it, any of it. Most of the fits he throws are because his plate has been licked clean (twice) and he wants more.

What a fun month it has been. Other than the teething, he just couldn't be any sweeter if he tried. I told Kyle the other day that I'm really enjoying this stage, he isn't old enough for the back talk and throw big tantrums, but young enough to still light up when I walk in the room. I still long for time to stop every now and then. But I think mostly, I'm just loving every second of every moment of  being this boy's mama.

Happy 10...er....almost 11 months (now). Love you my sweet little one.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Have I mentioned that I have a son named Cole who is a Christmas-a-holic. He is, sometimes i wish there was a therapy for it. But mostly, I try to live through his enthusiasm. Because he has a lot of it. Every day he asks what we are doing for Christmas. We have drawn countless Christmas trees, wrapped presents, made snowflakes, used glitter until it was banned from our house until next year....we have about 30 different advents going on...some of which I have secretly set aside for another year, because it was making me all sorts of confused and feeling neglectful. We have made Christmas cards, walked around with our Christmas stocking on our feet, found oranges and half eaten crackers at the bottom of said stockings. And some days those stocking get nicely folded and hidden away from little eyes. Because sometimes I get Christmased out.....is that such a thing?

Some days I've had enough of Rudolph, enough of frosty, enough of sugar-crazy children dumping smoothies while bouncing off the walls of my home. Sometimes when a little boy named Bennett finds a whole stash of christmas chocolates, and melts them between his hands.... and well, the rest is history.

I'm tired.

I'm joyful, yes. I'm happy and excited and love the special family times.

But I'm tired. And sometimes I get grumpy and snappy and Christmas cheer is the last thing that is on my mind.

Unfortunately getting our tree was one of those times.

I was slightly miffed that we didn't take advantage of the prior beautiful weekend and instead we had to trudge around in the wet rain and cold air. This mama does NOT like to be cold. Sadly, I think my mini personality me was feeling the same way.

I had to be sneaky because every time he saw me or the camera he would grunt and turn his head.

And this is when I was so thankful for my Christmas-cheer-pulsating-through-his-blood Cole boy.

He just trudged on through the mud and rain, smiling and laughing and asking to sing Christmas carols, wanting hot cocoa, and picking out our tree. Not much can squelch his sweet spirit. Except if you tell him he can't have a Christmas chocolate or play with his new toys at 4:45 in the morning....that never blows over well.

Buuuuut he really did a great job choosing a tree. The second we got home, he drug out all of the ornaments, and was not too happy when we told him he had to take a nap first.

So a power nap he took. And then got down to business getting our tree all decked out.

I don't think I had to even lift a finger.

 Even Davis got right in there, pulling out ornaments.

Surpringly, He hasn't really paid much attention to the tree and all the dangling ornaments since.

And Bennett, well he did his thang.

Hung about one ornament and called it good.

I have a feeling Christmases may not get any less busy, but I think they will continue to get sweeter and sweeter with time. Especially as they grow in the knowledge of what Christmas is all about. Already, they will say that Christmas isn't about the presents but about Jesus' birthday.

Cole sang in his first Christmas service, and did soooo incredibly well. He knew all the words, all of the motions. My heart about burst watching him up there.

We have already been able to celebrate with both sides of our family. The boys are getting a 3 week long Christmas celebration, and love it. Unfortunately, with all the celebrating, comes extra sweets, extra late nights, and toys that they go bonkers over. We have been trying to wrangle in the tudes and some of the toys have found there way in confiscation because of it.

Regardless, we have had such sweet times with family.

At my parent's we did out annual hockey puffs, presents and then something a little new this year.

The kiddos all acted out the story of the Nativity as my dad read it out loud. It was a hit, and all the older ones played along perfectly, while the lamb (Ellie, my niece) and the chicken (Sadie, my other niece) had other ideas. Davis played baby Jesus. I can't think of a better baby for that roll. Cole was Joseph, and loved snuggling up to his favorite, Na (Mary). And Kara was the cutest Angel there ever was.

Even Bennett cooperated. It was a Christmas miracle!

Yep, they loved it!

How I look forward to watching them play this out in many years to come...although, I have a feeling eventually the "I'm to cool" for this will come sooner than we will be ready for. How they all keep growing too quickly.

On that note, I need to remember they are only this little for so long. I need to suck up my bad attitude and embrace this season with the joy that fills my little's hearts. because nothing is as magical and pure as that.

From my Shepherd, Joseph and baby Jesus, may you find the true joy and meaning of the season. May you feel the warmth of Christ's love, and the strength of His arms.

We wish you a Merry Christmas.

Christmas Pictures.

I'm convinced in motherhood if you choose to not laugh, you will for sure be in a puddle of tears and pounding your fists on the floor..... and probably more often than you would like to admit.

And for a perfectly queued example. let me introduce you to my morning.

Which actually seemed to have began last night. All the boys went to bed an hour late because it was our Bible study night. And as every mother soon discovers, those that go to sleep late NEVER sleep in late. Ever.

The littlest was up at 4AM, the middle at 5 and the oldest at 6 on the dot.

We made a new smoothie and muffins while I drank the equivalent of a gallon of coffee.

Things were going about as well as they could given the time of day it all started.

BUT then....

Bennett decided it would be a great idea to use his undies as his own portable outhouse. Only his outhouse was defective....I will leave it at that.

While I was cleaning him up, gritting my teeth, and trying not to breathe....the actual toilet decided to start overflowing. And I had to grow a third arm to try and keep Davis from crawling in and out of the mess that was now covering my bathroom floor.

Cole jumped off a chair and hurt his ankle.

Bennett slung his body over our couch and landed on his head.

They tore my entire living room to shreds, and I declared it a movie day.

There were many moments when I wanted to cry this morning. There were times I probably could have spoken softer, sweeter, and kinder. But after all was said and done, I found myself giggling to myself as I replayed the string of events in my mind. Probably helped that everyone went down for their naps at the exact same time, and mama got a much needed break.  

I wish that I could remind myself to laugh more when dealing with the moments that are less than ideal. Such as how life pans out when trying to raise 3 little boys.

Or when I thought it would be fun to try and get some Christmas pictures with the boys.

I learned very quickly my patience is super thin when trying to take pics of my own little herd.

I forgot to bring Cole a regular pair of shoes.

Kyle missed the memo that he was supposed to be my assistant and fix stray hairs, help perfectly pose and calm the wind and the cold.

I felt like I spent most of the time running around, trying to get them to stay close enough to get them all in the same picture. Not surprisingly we had one little boy who kept running off....not gonna name names, but porta-potty might steer you in the right direction.

But he picked that bouquet for me, and softened my heart a bit.

Cole was actually a pretty good ham as usual.

And Bennett, after getting him to look in the direction of the camera, leave the flowers alone, and cooperate a tiny bit....we got a few good shots.

I may have been talking through gritted teeth.....but, we still managed to capture a couple.

Just to give you a taste of the personality I was dealing with....

Bennett. There really is no one quite like him. Something I'm quite thankful for.

And Davis. I felt bad because it was cold, so he spent the majority of the time wrapped up in daddy's arms with a wool blanket, while I worked up a sweat chasing after the boys.

Just the sweetest thing. I can literally hear that giggle through the picture.

Then bam.

The three of them. All together. Just don't look too closely at Cole's hair. Let's just say, I went straight home and tried to resurrect that bad hair cut.

By the time we were done,  I was in a horrendous attitude and the last thing I felt like doing was wrangling the boys yet again, and smiling for the camera. And later after looking through the photos I wished to myself that i could have laughed more. That I could have had more fun capturing my boys, it probably would have made the whole experience way more pleasant for everyone involved.

I need to learn to laugh more.

To not take everything so seriously.

My boys are teaching me that, daily.

And Thankfully, we coordinated our outfits for Thanksgiving and my dear Mother-In-Law snapped a few family pics. We literally ran outside, snapped them in 5 minutes, ran back in....and still had genuine smiles on our faces. Ironically. they actually became some of my favorites.

Again. Laugh. Relax. Stop stressing the details.

My motto for this next year.