Happy Two Years, Jean-Margaret!!

"NEVER!!" ... "GIVE UP!!" ...


I am not sure where she got it from (probably Toy Story) but Jean-Margaret loves to repeat this phrase throughout the day and I think it captures her tenacity for so many things in life. She may be small, but she is a coordinated bundle of energy. She likes to grab my face with both hands and command: "LOOK AT ME MAMA!!" And I am so glad she does this because I enjoy witnessing every milestone she accomplishes in life. Her smile is so contagious and her tender little heart and precious brown eyes have our entire family wrapped around her finger. It is hard to believe that we only had 20 months of life with her before Abram entered the world, but in so many ways I believe she was born ready to become a big sister. She is so caring and precise with her actions. Although she spent the majority of her first year bonded to mommy, she has become quite the independent toddler. The week Abe started sleeping through the night, she decided to climb out of her crib--and has since transitioned into her big girl bed. Lucky for us--she cannot reach the doorknob yet, otherwise I'm sure we'd have two little "creepers" in the house :)

Little Jeanie loves cupcakes, cookies, and brownies--and is definitely a meat eater. She loves to play dress up and read books (especially Bernstein Bears). This year, she told us she only wanted a cupcake and a bear for her birthday :) Glad we can make that happen for you sweetie. Happy 2 years little love!!

Regarding the JLM monogram, she likes to point and say: "It got my name on it!"

Happy Three Months, Abram!

Dear Abe,

Since you were born three months ago, life has ceased to stand still. I crave those first few hours we had together in the hospital when life DID stand still and I could just admire the little life that grew in my belly all year long! I cannot believe three months have come and gone. I have a billion and one things I could occupy a blog post with, but instead--I would like to devote this entire post to YOU. You make me SO HAPPY. I joke your daddy all the time about how I feel like you are my little boyfriend. I love to take you everywhere with me. I love your coos, cuddles, snuggles, smiles, spit ups, whimpers, and kisses. You make my heart feel so full of love that I cannot imagine one single day without you. (I even joke your daddy about homeschooling you so that you never have to leave me!)

Your brother and sister are amazed by you. They want to hold you all of the time. You smile at them whenever you hear their voices. You crane your neck to see Van whenever you hear his guitar. You stop crying whenever Jean-Margaret cries (which lets me know she will definitely always have her way in this house!) You spend many early mornings smiling at daddy while you play.

I can tell your soul is gentle and sweet. It does not take much to make you smile and I hope thats always the case so that I can see those adorable dimples that melt me every time.  You are sleeping through the night, starting to hold your head up, roll side to side, and growing every day. You clench my hair and/or my shirt whenever I feed you. I feel these precious "newborn" moments sliding right by. I am trying to soak in everything I can. I have never felt so lucky to have so much love under one teeny roof.

We love you Abe! Happy 3 months!!
Love, Mommy

Merry Christmas! ...and a HAPPY New Year

Okay lets be honest. I am writing one phrase then tending to a child so my train of thought is a little choppy. (See "chirstmas" typo in previous post title).   I want to at least attempt to capture our first Christmas as a family of 5.

Leading up to Christmas, Abe gifted us with lots of smiles! (Reminds me of his big brother's first Christmas gifts to us!) Van and Jean-Margaret entertained us with many Christmas dance parties.

We had a visit with Santa (Jean-Margaret was not interested).

 Van reinforced to Santa what he has been telling Larry (our elf) all season: I need a double guitar, an electric guitar, a microphone...etc.


To which Santa replied: "Wow, who is so musical in your family?"

Van said: "My uncle...Don Henley."


***********************************

Christmas Eve we went to the bell service (we arrived about 10 minutes before it was over! Better late than never!) then to G-Mommys for delicious dinner and presents...AND A DRUM SET!

Our Christmas started out pretty well...lots of fun toys and full bellies...

How come I cannot fly?

Then we piled into the Volvo wagon to head towards Granny Rhombus's for some Christmas day brunch.
About 2/3rds of the drive to her house we hear an awful sound...and realized Jean-Margaret was getting very very sick in the back seat. We pulled over, stripped her down in a parking lot, and I held her in the front seat bundled in my coat all the way back home.  I'll insert a cute picture here:

Since having sick children is inevitable...the next day we decided more vehicle space would do us well...

Despite the flu, Miss Priss bundled up in her new robe and high heels.

Time to upgrade!

Merry Christmas, mom!

My favorite post-Christmas stories come courtesy of Van. When he saw his Christmas loot, his first comment was: "We should ask the Easter bunny for the double guitar since Santa forgot."

The next morning he saw Evans unloading box after box into the dump. These boxes just happened to be an empty guitar box, an empty microphone box...etc. Van (who misses nothing) exclaims: "Mom!? Why does daddy have my guitar box? Look--there is the microphone box!!??"

Mom, sleep deprived...thinking on a whim... "Santa must have put all of his trash in the back of daddy's truck!!" Crazy Santa.

 This Christmas taught us how VERY important good health is, especially with a big family. It is by far my favorite gift of all--to have our family back to good health in time for the new year. Which, in keeping with our tradition of posting favorite photos from the year, I'll just sum it up with my one favorite photo from this year:

Our family is complete. And everyone is here. In one place. And healthy. Deep breath. Thank you God!

Here's to a healthy, fun, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!