school

The kids have been in school several weeks now and we're settled into our weekly routine. When looking back through photos, I realized I didn't post about their official first day. This was the night before school started...a night the kid's talk about and anticipate throughout the whole year. Our backwards supper night and only night when dessert comes first. Even baby cakes got in on the deal having no idea why...but certainly enjoying it.
Early risers that first day...excited and ready to go.
Kaiya started Pre-K this year. She goes everyday for half of the day. She absolutely LOVES school and is sad when the weekends come around because she'd rather be at school.
Don't ask me why I get a backpack shot on the first day of school...it's just a crazy mother thing I guess. Her teacher, Mrs. Rose, is a jewel and Kaiya adores her. I didn't cry when sending Kaiya to school like I did for Caedmon when he started a couple years ago. I knew she was ready I guess...so grown up and excited.
Caedmon started first grade this year. He took a big jump academically over the summer. We worked consistently with a workbook his Kindergarten teacher gave us through the summer and it helped him tremendously.
Mrs. Witmer has been a fun and excellent teacher for Caedmon this year. I appreciate her desire to see him grow and to challenge him. I also appreciate how well she communicates with us...keeping us informed of ways we can help him succeed. Spelling tests started this year. I was envisioning long hours and late nights of practice...to our delightful surprise, we have a star-speller. I'm so thankful that it is almost an effortless task for him to get an A+ every week on his tests. His strengths this year are reading, spelling and verse memorization. Math has been more of a struggle and he has to work a lot harder at it...that has been where the long hours of practice have come into play. We're proud of the strides he is making.

six and a half

He's six and a half...almost seven. He's a deep thinker...sensitive. When he was two, I thought he would be the strong-willed child. It turned out he was just being a boy and really has a pretty soft and sensitive heart. He likes people, but it takes him longer to warm up and talk to others he doesn't know very well. He loves it when the family is all together. He likes to play by himself and can spend hours in his room building some amazing Lego structures.He's been so sweet through my pregnancy....so excited, asking lots of questions and talking to his baby brother. He loves to draw and has made books for me and Kevin. Books about when I deliver the baby at the hospital and books of him with daddy going hunting.




He made these praying hands at church and was supposed to draw pictures of things he would like to pray for. He chose to pray for his mom with the new baby growing in her belly and his church.Here's a closer look at the drawing of me with baby inside. I love it!He keeps us laughing. I love his sense of humor and joy. He's loud...very loud. :) Funny how his personality is such a mixture of quiet sensitivity and loud excitement at the same time. I love how God designs us all so unique.He loves sports. Loves watching football with his dad. He played on a team this Fall. He did great...scoring several touchdowns at each game.

He plays well with his sisters, well not always. He likes to tease, which causes little girlys to squeal.
He loves to read...especially books about animals. He knows all kinds of facts about animals that Kevin and I don't know. It amazes me when I think back to last year...reading did not come easy for him and it was a challenge to make him practice. He made huge progress over the summer and now his teacher tells us she has to make him put books down at school.

I love this boy that is quickly growing into a young man. So proud of him.

Seven Months

I had Kevin shoot a few quickie photos to mark the seventh month milestone of my pregnancy. This month has been a "feel good" month with good energy and great enjoyment of my pregnancy. Although, it was during this month that reality hit me and I realized that the countdown is beginning. I also realized how much there was to do to get ready for this little guy...how quickly things were going to change and how much work was ahead of me with two babies to care for and a busy family to keep organized and running. I'm up for the challenge, but know it will be difficult. There is an amazing sense of peace in the midst of all the chaos. It's hard to explain. Just that I know this is what I was created to do and what I've always wanted...a family. I get this sense of joy even in the mundane and frustrations throughout my days as I'm helping with homework, packing lunches, sorting laundry or cleaning up the crumbs for the 100th time. And believe me, there are moments of stress and feelings of being overwhelmed because of all that is needed from me as a mom. I crash every night...exhausted. I've had my breakdowns too when I feel like I just can't be all that everyone needs...and that's when God tells me I don't have too...He is there...He is my strength...He will help me care for this family He has given to me. I I'm in love with you, my little man. Can't wait to hold you in my arms.Not sure what I was trying to portray here...guess the sassy hormones kicked in. :)Thirty week ultrasound.One of the many great joys of this pregnancy has been sharing it with my children...hearing their excitement and laughter when they feel him kick is just amazing.

one-year-old on the go

There she goes again! This was how most of the photography shoot went that day. Putting her somewhere for somewhat of a pose....then through the camera this is what I would see...a little one-year-old running in the other direction. Thankfully Daddy and her brother and sister were there to help distract her at times while I got a few shots. This one is my favorite. :)

She's one and on the go more than ever. She loves to explore her world. She's talking more and more everyday. She says, "amen", "bible", "baby", "Grandpa", "mama", "daddy", "bye", "hi", and tries to repeat anything we say.She is daddy's little girl. She cries for people she doesn't know well and even those she does know. This is so hard for me since the other two were so different and went to others so easily.
She weighs 22 pounds and is in the 75th percentile for both height and weight.
She loves to eat and thinks she has special privileges on what anyone else may be eating. :) She does not like playpen time, the nursery at church or taking long naps. We're working on all of these right now in these last few weeks before baby boy comes along. She's making strides...and we know this too shall pass :)
She is loved beyond measure...a jewel in our family. We love her so passionately...all of us. She makes us laugh, makes us do funny things to make her laugh, melts our hearts when she talks with her high-pitched little voice.
And we can't imagine life without her.