A very Merry Christmas

In some ways it seems like just yesterday we were crawling into the attic to pull out boxes of Christmas decorations and yet in other ways it feels like they have been up forever.  I am ready to clean up the house and un-decorate but in some ways feel a little sad that that too means the kiddos will be another year older the next time these things get pulled out.  Peter will be running around next year reaching and pulling after everything and Eli and Finn will be happy to have a wild trio:)  

This year was special in so many ways.  It truly was the first year where Elise was really into Santa Claus and was excited writing a list to Santa, making cookies and waiting for Santa to come.  It was also the first year that I was able to use Santa as a bribe for good behavior:)  Finn, with the lead of his sister, loved the holiday traditions too.  Although his favorite part was pretending that the Christmas presents, wrapped with ribbon, were vacuum cleaners and when I wasn't looking would pull them by their ribbon all across the room saying he was vacuuming!   Peter happily watched, drooled, smiled, cried and cooed in excitement too.  Owen joined his cousins in excitement and chaos too and the 4 of them, all 3 years and younger had a fantastic time, as did the adults watching them.

We are so incredibly blessed having both of our families living close by and sharing the holidays with them.   It has been special too, over the past 3 years seeing the changes that come with now a family of 5.  A blend of old and new traditions to mold to our wonderful and crazy life, one that I feel so incredibly blessed and fortunate to call mine. 

We were spoiled with love, food and gifts from all around and like last year and the year before, our hearts and bellies are both stretched and excited for next year.  

After a little break from this holiday cheer;)

(I am sad I didn't pull by camera out at grandma Connie's on Christmas Day and on Saturday, but these days free hands don't come often and I find myself living in the moments more than trying to capture pictures, but still bummer I don't have any.)

Poor Owen fell and scratched his nose the week before Christmas.

Santa balloons made their way to the ceiling before too long!

The only photo with all 4

Peter's first present

Mom and Dad have it decorated so beautifully

Peter 5 months

Peter 5 months old

Sweet and smiley boy about sums you up.  

Peter you are smiling and laughing at the sight of your family, especially the youngest two.  You LOVE to be in the action, especially with Elise & Finn, and make it very known when they run off to play somewhere else.  You also like being in the bouncer and are starting to play and reach out for all of the toys, yet you still mostly just drool all over them.  No teeth yet, but I have a feeling they aren't too far away.  Your are still so tall and skinny and with all those long limbs very wiggly.  You love to snuggle, especially when falling asleep and you wrap your little fingers around one of ours so tightly to make sure we don't move.  Your hair, growing in very slowly, seems to be a light blond just like your brother and sister's but your eyes are definitely turning brown.   You are occasionally rolling tummy to back.   We love you so so much our littlest peanut.  

Peter 4 months

Peter 4 months old

Our sweet tall, skinny boy.  You are so so smiley and happy... if you are full and rested; if not you definitely have very strong lungs and vocal cords:)  You are by far the earliest rollers out of your siblings, rolling both tummy to back and back to tummy at 3.5 months.  You don't love being on your tummy but are getting very good at lifting your head.  You love to reach for things and grab on, even coordinated enough to move them towards your mouth.  You still are a binky lover.  You love to sleep snuggled next to me and are quick to sense when I quietly move away and start to cry.  I think some sleep training is in our future.  You smile and squeal at Eli and Finn and I think you are already scheming how you are going to chase after them.  But, don't grow so quickly, you are absolutely perfect being 4 months old for a little longer.  

Love you little monkey

2 month check up

Weight: 14lbs 8 oz (28th %)

Height: 25.5" (66th %)

Head circumference: 41.9 cm (58th %)

(1" taller than both Eli & Finn and right in between with weight)

How quickly you forget

I have been envious, three times now, for the mommies that have babies that sleep through the night, actually anything over two hour chunks.  I have created this sleeping pattern now for the third time and how quickly I forgot that I promised myself I would be smarter and firmer with sleep discipline this time around ;)   I found these photos earlier today and was reminded that all three kids have been exactly the same, waking every 2 hours until they were 14 months old.   Do I actually have it in me to start some kind of "cry it out" method this time, out of despair perhaps I do.

This is Finn around 4/5 months

Garden fall clean up

Cleaning up the garden for winter just in time before the frost came this week.