Dilly Man

Our little man isn't so little any more. We are, of course, happy he is strong and healthy but this momma sometimes misses that little baby boy. Dylan is busy riding his scooter, shooting hoops, drawing race cars and beating us at Sorry. I asked him if he'd like me to sign him up for soccer or t-ball this spring and he told me he would like me to sign him up to drive race cars. (Still looking for the sign-ups for that.) It's hard to believe he will be heading off for Kindergarten this fall and we'll have to figure out buses and school lunches and all the rest of it - I'm sure it will be a harder transition for me than for him. He loves his little sisters (although sometimes he has a funny way of showing his love for Ella ;) ) and he knows most of the lyrics to U2's "Elevation". He likes talking cars with Matt and asking us is-this-number-bigger-than-that-number questions. He's such a big boy in so many ways but he'll always be my first baby in my heart.

Classic Ella

When I saw Ella in this get-up, I just had to grab my camera and try to capture the moment. This is Classic Ella - always with food on her face, messy hair, a bag in hand (or on her back) and a baby. We love our little girl with "the lello" [yellow] hair. She is every bit three and every bit a little girl. She gives us a run for our money sometimes but we can't imagine our family without her. We are constantly shaking our heads in amazement. She is growing up fast and learning like crazy (she told me the other day that to make an "E" you make a line and then put stripes on it). She still loves going to 'Nastics and she can't wait to be in Uncle Chad and Aunt Katie's wedding this summer and wear her "princess dress" (if you ask her what her job is at the wedding she'll tell you it's "dancin'"...and then she might add "throwing flowers, but NOT picking them back up"). Her current idol is Taylor Swift. She's starting preschool in the fall and I'll miss my little girl during those mornings.

4 months old!

Mady is four months old now which means it's Exersaucer time! It was a major event in our household hauling it up from the basement (it's about as exciting as it gets around here - so exciting in fact that Dylan and Ella insisted on getting in on the action). At her check-up she was 14 lbs., 10 oz. and 23 1/2 inches long. Mady still has the sweetest cheeks and the cutest little coo's. We just can't seem to get enough of this baby girl :)

spring is in the air

I love spring as much as the next girl. HOWEVER, three fall babies in the past six years = morning sickness during three of the past springs. These first few whiffs of spring are making me feel positively ill. I have to keep reminding myself, "You're not pregnant, you're not pregnant." Phew.

Go Eagles!

Matt's little sister's team (Hudsonville) made it to the competitive cheer state finals this year. I'm a former cheerleader and former coach and this is a big deal! They ended up getting 3rd place and it was a terrific end to a great season for her and her teammates. I know there are a few former cheerleaders out there who might enjoy this (and others who can't help themselves but watch!)

[Cara is the petite dark-haired girl mostly on the left side in the 2nd and 3rd cheers. And I have no idea who that is in the background singing/rapping :) ]

Enjoy!

same hat, different baby

Chinese New Year

We celebrated Chinese New Year with my dad's side of the family last Saturday. One of these girls is 100% Chinese and one is one quarter Chinese. Can you tell which one is which??

the winter blahs

It's winter in Michigan in case you haven't noticed. (I'm realizing winter was more fun before I had three little ones to drag through the slush every time I need a gallon of milk.) To keep busy, there has been a lot of fort building, Curious George watching, and Mom yelling, um I mean politely stating, "PLEASE. STOP. RUNNING. INSIDE."

I will say this winter is moving along better than last winter - two out of three kids being able to put on shoes and coats by themselves is wonderful. (Almost as good as the day the baby learns to go up and down the steps by herself and you can finally take the baby gate down. Such freedom.) I also am able to toss the two big ones out in the snow every day around 4pm when the neighbor kids get off the bus. It really is the simple things that get me through the day.

Here are a few pictures of the kids. Mady and Dylan enjoying a morning snuggle in our bed - it's starting to become a morning ritual to have kids coming and going through our room in the morning as we all try to get ready for the day. It's so cute how Mady lights up when she sees her big brother.
Crazy little Ella. She's becoming quite the diva. She found my sunglasses and jewelry the other day and she was ready to accessorize. It seems like we shake our heads in wonder at her many times through out the day. She is such a little wonder.
Sisters - I think they were watching figure skating with me (I DVR the Olympics and catch up during the day). Have I mentioned how much I love having little girls??
Fort building at its finest.
Precious little Mady, all clean after a bath following The Great Poop of 2010.
I hope you are all surviving winter too. Just remember, it's almost March, it's almost March, it's almost March. Only three more months of snow and five more months before the temperature hits 70!

Kidding.

I hope.