Tricycle!!!

So we were leaving Walmart and saw something that caught our eye. Jes has been DYING to get one for Gianna...when we saw it was on sale, I asked if he wanted to get her one early for her birthday...he was like a kid on Christmas morning. Gianna was too. Now she wants to ride it all over the house as well (or never wants to leave the great outdoors). At least she has something to play on while the other kids are out front...Has to be one of the cutest pictures ever taken of her!




And another one of her collections...see what I mean?!

Evie...

Beautiful sleeping little girl...

Visit to KC/Topeka

At 36 weeks, I took one last trip up to KC/Topeka to visit some friends (coming from Des Moines and St. Louis) not knowing how long it would be before I could do it again...having four kids...I also got to stay with Kelly! I was very grateful for the time with all of them...Still need some pictures with Jen! Pictures, anyone?!






Julie, Kenny, and Raymond






She was so tired. This shot was literally taken before we'd even left the mall parking lot!


Took quite the coaxing to get her to touch this "fur real" monkey. She had me sit next to it and started easing her way from my right side. She told ME to pet the monkey while sitting at my right. Then, once she knew it wouldn't "bite", she sat between me and the monkey...hilarious!

Gianna update

So both little ones are asleep AND I've managed a shower...we'll see how long this lasts (kids are upstairs playing...yikes!).

So, an update on Gianna's progressions...

She can now count to 10! Needs a little prompting, but she can do it. The little booger remembers a LOT and hides it from us because she doesn't like to perform on cue...little sneak. Periodically we catch her filling in sentences, songs (ABCs, twinkle twinkle, etc.) She manages the sign of the cross much better now...still needs some work though. She will come into the kitchen when she is hungry and start saying "Fadda, Jesus Christ" with her head bowed, knowing this means food comes after ;) The funny thing is, she associated Jesus Christ all on her own. Boggled Jes and I for days trying to figure out what she was saying in the very beginning...She points to Jesus, but we had never put the two and two together, or taught her "Christ" for that matter...interesting...

She loves piling things together. She will clean up a room and pick up anything she can to put in a certain place (as the pictures show). Amazing...anything we are missing? check her current pile. One held make-up (she loves "putting it on" using a powder brush) and even my glasses case! Ha!

She loves the baby. I am amazed at how maternal she got before the baby was born. She LOVED carrying her "baby dolly" around (thanks to the generosity of Maisy giving her hers). She fed it, gave it her blankie, etc. She wouldn't go ANYwhere without it. This carried over to the baby. Evie was born, and she automatically knew who she was. She does the same things...kisses her, hugs her, brings her blanket, binkie, etc all without prompting. She will look at me very concerned when tears errupt and say "ss (is) baby cying (crying)." If I am not there right that second, she will try to do the binkie job herself ;) I once laid Evelynn down to change her and automatically she went to get diaper and wipes for me (she knew :) She loves throwing diapers in the trash too! The jealousy has only manifested itself in the sharing aspect, and only slightly (she's never really had to share before).

She has developed more into the terrible twos...she crosses her arms, drops her head, and will even go hide her head in a corner or against a wall, bowed of course, if she doesn't want to do something! Ha! Jes and I have to hide our laughs, as it is too cute (bad, but SO cute!). Thus time-outs have started...

Ironically, she is very polite though! She has just started saying "solly" for sorry...the cutest thing! She says bless you, please, and thank you regularly...

We have recently gotten a swingset, so this will provide hours of entertainment I am sure! We are terribly excited...God is good! A neighbor of my parents made us an excellent deal after he said he was wanting to get rid of it...he even helped us move it! The trick will be keeping Gianna INSIDE!

Potty train, as suspected, came it a halt for the time being...she generally goes once or twice a day, but that's it. She doesn't even want her diaper changed though! I don't know what to do...and think this has affected her wanting to train (she doesn't care if she is wet...and disposables, don't work). Ideas? Thinking of waterproof pants...don't know what size though (the 2T pack, from Gerber, HUGE!) and some of the thicker panties for training?! Again, don't know how many. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


Her new hat ;)


After Church with Grandma and Grandpa while we were in the hospital...I love this picture...


First time with the ice cream van man! Now she knows what the music means...darn


First rain puddle!




Her collections


Crawled up all on her own to type...ha!


Helping baby dolly ;)


Zoo with Kelly!




LOVE this picture


This was BEFORE the petting zoo...not so happy afterwards...oops!


Swingset and "Mima and Papa Stan's" house...


Easter morning with Maisy!


First experience of the music lover with a REAL piano...

Catch up

St. Patrick's Day


First swim of the season

Chase's 9th B-Day

Life is rolling...and we are hanging on! It was nice having Jes home for a week all to ourselves. And then reality hit ;) He has been working so many hours, and he is terribly frustrated by his job. He has heard he was over-qualified for two positions at other places, and the third was almost a sure thing with Koch's IT department, and a last-minute internal candidate applied and was priority. So we keep hanging on...Prayers for God's will in all this would be marvelous!

The kids are home for the summer. This has been helpful with the new one, but I am trying to find a balance between the four kids and maintaining the house (especially since Jes can't help with work the way it is)...I feel as if I am failing! but keep thinking it will get better. I just wish I had more one-on-one time with the kids. There is too much to be done!

I am very glad school is out. I feel as if it is much harder going through grade school the second time round ;) They demand so much out of those kids, and I often felt as if all we do in the evenings is school work, eat, bathe, clean-up, and go to bed. It is even harder because of Maisy's unique artistic learning styles that are not met or understood...part of why we plan to homeschool the younger ones...many MANY more reasons come to us every day! I pray I have the strength to go through with it!

Soccer just wrapped up for the older two the week Evelynn was born. They are both doing well...I would love to get them in other things...

More to come...crying toddler...;)

Baby Evelynn

So sorry it has been so long...
Here at last is baby Evelynn Marie. She was born May 15th at 8:01 pm (just one day after brother's birthday!) weighing 8 lbs. She is doing wonderfully and so far has been a very easy-going baby...but we have hit three weeks now, so we shall see!!!

A Week and a Half before being born

Mom, Dad, and Evie

Grandpa, Gianna, and Evie

First night...she's a cuddler, the only way she'd sleep!

Apparently, she likes her tummy...don't worry, only for naps when I'm watching! and she can move her head from side to side ;)