Let it begin

Today is the start of a very, very busy time for us. It will also be a very good time as well. My mom arrives today from Florida. I haven't seen her since August when she came to help with Atticus! She's also bringing with her my grandmother and she will stay with us for a few days which I'm looking forward to since she's my only living Grandparent. We'll open presents here at our house on Christmas Morning with the kids and then see My dad and then see the Erbes. Paul's sister comes in from Texas on December 28th. Sebastian's birthday is the 30th and then New years is the 31st. Thank goodness Paul is off starting today all the way through the 3rd. He was going to lose days if he didn't use them so he is using them! Didn't I say in a previous post that it's the most tiring time of the year!

You know your three year old is really tired....

When she cries at the top of her lungs that we lost a sticker we haven't seen in three days.

My Tough Girl

The Boys had Dr. Appointments today and I knew i was going to need reinforcements since I figured both boys needed shots. Thanks to Grandma Erbe for the help. The Dr. recommended that Alexandra and Sebastian get Flu shots. The Dr. went out and told her she'd need to have a shot. So she proceeded to tell Grandma she wouldn't cry. She went first in the room. I had to hold her hands and we sang the A B C song and before we knew it it was over. She had a grin on her face when she came off the table and she never shed a tear. I was so proud of her. Both the boys did really well too. Atticus needed 4 shots but a bottle from Grandma helped calm him down.

It's the most tiring time of the year

I won't write much tonight except to say we had a great holiday party with the Grimes' today and then a great meeting a church with a potluck but it was all very exhausting. Keeping up with the kids is a full time job and then throw in a lot of different people and places and its only more tiring. Our big news is we bought a van and it's really nice. Here's a first look at it and we love it. I'll write more on that later.

Let's hum a tune

Today in the car, a song came on the radio that we have heard many, many times at home. Atticus was quiet and Alexandra, Sebatian and I were all humming the tune along with the song. It was so cool. I pretty amazed at how quickly they pick up the tune to songs.

I need to stay on top of those holidays

Did you know that it was sit on your brother day? Me either, but Alexandra and Sebastian did! Alexandra is jumping around the living room today and she sits right on Atticus. Of course it scares him so he cries. Then Sebastian tries to climb on me while I'm trying to calm Atticus down. I get Atticus settled down and then Sebastian wants to sit on my lap. It's time to put Atticus down for a nap and Sebastian tries to sit on Atticus instead of sitting on my lap.
It's just been one of those mornings. I spilled formula all over the counter this morning trying to get Atticus' bottle ready. Then Alexandra is just really lippy today and Sebastian is really needy! I just keep telling myself, just make it to 1 PM when at least two of them will be down for rest time!

A trip to Cookieland

I decided to try and make christmas cookies with Alexandra this year. She was so excited to make cookies. I tried to include her in as much as possible. She did the decorating the best. The funniest thing is that she decided to have a different kind of cookie after Lunch. So I explained to her that if she had a cookie now she couldn't have another one when we frosted the cookies. We're decorating the cookies and Alexandra says to me "Mommy, I should really be eating one of these cookies". I responded by reminding her that she had a cookie after lunch. She slumped her shoulders forward and sighed. "Maybe after Dinner". It was pretty funny. I'm also not sure either why she's holding her neck in the second pic. The cookies were made from a mix and are pretty good!

Why does it only take him 2 min but me 10?

Tonight we had some friends over for dinner and Sebastian ate before they got here. So while we're enjoying our meal Sebastian gets his hands on our laptop. He always seems to change something when he gets on here. Tonight, he re-sorted my inbox on my Mozilla Thunderbird. See i can say that now, but I had no idea what he had done and how to undo it. I shut down the program in hopes of resetting things but no luck. So I had to search and search to figure it out. So again how does a 2 year old change something in 2 min and it takes me 10 to change it back. We might just have a genius on our hands! :)

Who knew he'd fall in love at such a young age

Sebastian has developed a love for Dora the Explorer and a fondness for Boots. When we have TV time, he always wants Dora. This irritates Alexandra because now she doesn't get to watch anything she wants. Sebastian has started doing the movements, also saying map and backpack. It's pretty cute I have to admit.

You can tell it's Winter

And it's not just the cold and snow! Alexandra has the same problem that I have in the winter, staticy hair! She gets so irritated that she now asks me to put her hair up so It's not in her face! Who knew it would only take winter to get her to ask to have her hair put up!

A ride around town

When I was pregnant with Atticus, one of my friend's had just had her third. We would have them over and she would just be so taken with her new little guy. I even mentioned to her that it was so cool that she thought he was the greatest thing! I thought to myself at that point that I never felt that way about my kids when they were really young. Don't get me wrong, I loved them a bunch and I did everything to take care of them but I wasn't totally taken with them. Tonight while I was out running errands after work, I realized how taken I am with Atticus. I think he is just the sweetes thing. What I realized is that It really isn't about him, it's about me. It's not that Atticus is any sweeter than Alexandra or Sebastian, it's that I'm more comfortable with being a mom. With the first one, I was totally overwhelmed with the fact that God intrusted me with this little person and what if I don't know what to do. With the second it was about keeping up with the Toddler and managing the baby. I don't think I was really sure for quite a while that I would be able to do it. With Atticus I have experience with two and I know there's nothing I can't handle even if its hard. I know it will get better, cause it always did. It's like I'm enjoying this stage more because I know he won't be this small for too long. It's a nice thing to realize that I'm changing for the better through this whole mothering process.

I know this is just the beginning

Tonight I'm finishing up sweeping the dining room and I hear a shreak from the living room. Alexandra comes running in to me crying saying her and buddy bumped heads. Nothing new. Then I see blood running down her hand. It was hard to keep her calm and keep myself calm at the same time. It was her first and mine as a mom. She actually thought it was pretty cool after all was said and done but as I said in the title, I know this is just the beginning!

I had great parents, this story proves it!

I found this story about a mother having her son arrested for opening his christmas gifts early. I loved to snoop around to find where my mom hid the presents and then did a fine acting job on Christmas morning to show my parents how suprised I was at what I got. I even remember one year telling my older brother what he got as well. I found out when I was older that my step mom hid my presents in the trunk of her car knowing that I wouldn't find them there. Here's a shout out to my parents for not having me arrested! Love you guys!

Rollin, Rollin, Rollin....

We now have a rolling baby! He was pretty proud of himself as well.

Oh the woes of Motherhood

What a couple of days it's been. I started to come down with a cold on Saturday. A day that was out with the girls for Lunch, facials and my first pedicure. I can tell you it won't be my last pedicure. What an awesome thing, although I felt pretty bad for the lady scrubbing on my feet! Anyway, we had church on Sunday and a bridal/couples shower at church in the evening. Then Monday morning rolls around and am I sick, with a head cold. It seems to me that whenever I'm sick the kids are on their worst behavior. None of them have totally come down with it but all show signs that they might. So I'm up in the middle of the night, not with one of the kids but with my pounding head and sore throat and I hear giggling coming from the kids bedroom. I figure Sebastian woke Alexandra uip with his banging and now they are giggling together. I ran up there to find Alexandra dead to the world asleep in her bed and Sebastian having a great time all by himself. But there's a familar smell that hits my nose, it's a full diaper and it can only be Sebastian. He giggles the whole time I change him and then he goes back to banging and then back to sleep. I'm tired and sick and it's really cold and snowy outside, plus it's only December. This is one of those days I have to remind myself that it won't be this way forever. And for that hope I praise God!

Everyone has a bad photography day

Alexandra begged to take a picture of Atticus today. Here's what she came up with:





Everyone has an off day now and then.

Our last day of freedom

From what the weather people are saying this is it. It will be 60 here today and then the snow comes for the rest of the week. I thought it would be good to get the kids out today and enjoy the nice weather. It rained last night so there were puddles and boy did they have fun in those. It's one of those times when you just let them play in the mud and water since you know they won't be able to do it again anytime soon!

The Game night that wouldn't end

We had our annual (or at least that's what it's become now) after thanksgiving game night. We had 8 people total and played Cities and Knights first and then this new game called Power Grid. Alexandra stayed up and played with other kids that were here. We started the new Power Grid game at about 11 PM. Needless to say, it was a long game and everyone left at around 2:30 AM. Yes that's right, AM. I couldn't believe it. Alexandra was so tired. I was amazed at how great the kids did for as late as it was. We had a good time but I told Paul never again will I start a new game at 11 PM.

Thanksgiving Celebration

We headed to the Erbe's of Otsego (Paul's parents) for Thanksgiving. It's fun and tiring at the same time when we get together with all the kids. The Twins (Ethan and Evan) are just a week younger than Sebastian and it's busy when all 4 kids are together. Thanks goodness that Atticus can't join in quite yet. Dinner was awesome and so was the pie! As you can see we tired Atticus out and got a picture of the youngest Erbe grandchildren with Grandma and Grandpa. Looking at the pictures reminds me of how much we have to be thankful for!

It's been three months today

It's amazing to me how after such a short time you can't imagine your life without this new little person!