"Fall"ing into the season early...

Because we knew the plan was for baby G4 to arrive in mid-October, we decided we best get a jump start on fall/pre-halloween activities so that is just what we did!  What we didn't plan on, though, was having such amazing weather in late September allowing us to wear shorts!

 

We made three trips to apple orchards/pumpkin patches, put decorations up in the house, and also did some fall baking to include making caramel apples and apple crisp in addition to fall crafts.

 

There were a ton of pictures and Mama was having a hard time picking her favorites, which is why there are a quite a few included in this post.

 

The one thing we haven't gotten accomplished, is figuring out what we want to be for Halloween being we basically change our minds with the wind!

 

Enjoy what appears to Papa and Mama are 3 kiddos growing up way too fast!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Fall all!

Love,

M, E, and T

Say it isn't so...

ME started preschool this fall!!!  Where in the world did time go being it seems like just yesterday we were welcoming you little peanuts into this world?!?!  Thank heavens our school is at our local church, only 5 minutes away, being Mama isn't sure we'd make it there by 8:15 am if we had to travel much further!

 

The tradition of the first day of school photos has started with a photo together...

 Our individual pictures...

 A photo with our little brother of course...

 A photo before entering the building (note the smiles still)...

Finding our cubes...



And then what you don't see (or hear) as Mama and Theodore gave us hugs and kisses and left the room...the crying and calling for Mama which started.  Ugh, Mama's stomach sank and tears started for her as well.  Mama says she and Theodore walked quickly to the entryway, went around the corner, stood for a bit and it took all she had to exit those doors and leave us, but she knew we would be fine.  So that is exactly what she did and when she returned 3 hours later we all welcomed each other again with tears, but very happy ones this time! 

Note:  It did take about 2 weeks of semi-tearful drop offs before we got into our 2-mornings a week routine.  While we have slowly begun to intermingle with our 7 other classmates, we still prefer to stick closely to our teacher and to each other.  Papa and Mama thoroughly enjoy hearing about all the things we are learning about from bible verses, stories and songs, as well as all the fun artwork we bring home.  Papa and Mama are extremely proud of you two girls!!!

Happy 17-months to Teddy!

Crazy to think this is the last month I will be considered the true "baby" around this household.  Seems like just yesterday I was the new kid on the block and look at me now!  I have been enjoying the mild fall we have had thus far which means a lot of outdoor time still.  

I transitioned quite easily to Mama going back to work part-time for a bit before the arrival of my baby brother being it means extra time out at Grandpa and Grandma's house...and more specifically time with Grandpa outdoors.  I have a very specific routine of Grandpa taking me for a ride in his pick-up when I arrive at their house.  I also enjoy rides on the four-wheeler, watering trees, sitting on the tractor, and pretty much anything else I can do with him.  Another change for me is having my big sisters away at preschool two mornings a week...also an easy transition being it gives me some alone time with Mama and more time to engage in books by myself which I really enjoy.

My big sisters, though, are still my fav to look up to and do as they do...which includes insisting I have a caramel apple on a stick as well (they were trying to sneak this snack in while I was napping but I woke up early, haha)! I was closely supervised and enjoyed it tremendously. 

 

My vocabulary is also continuing to expand and there are no worries in this household that I won't reach the 18 month marker of approximate number of words.  In addition to saying foods I like such as banana, apple, pretzel, "treat" (used too much); animals such as cow, sheep, kitty; vehicles such as truck and tractor; I am also tackling my sisters names which are a wee bit tricky.  There also are many others Mama is forgetting to list at the moment...so no worries I am not at all a quiet boy.  

Look out 1 1/2 years old, here I come!

Love, Theodore

Summer 2012

Summer, as always, came and went way too fast...but we still had a ton of fun and tried to enjoy every available moment.  Each morning usually brought "What are we doing today?" or "Where are we going?".  Busy as bees we typically were, though there were a few too hot days which kept us inside. 



 

Being Mama has fallen way behind in blogging, and more time isn't going to be in her hands in the near future, she felt the best way to display our summer was with a few picture highlights.  

 

Good times at home outside...



Good times at the cabin...



 

A new Olympic ritual?  Watching them nightly after baths and falling asleep in Papa and Mama's bedroom...

Plenty of trips to Oxbow zoo and local parks...

 

 

 

Many evenings spent outside after dinner enjoying our princess bounce house (thanks Uncle Geoff!)...

Fun at parades (we made it to three this summer and got plenty of candy)...



Good times even when stuck indoors...

(P.S. This is why I need a brother sooner versus later...)



Whew!  Reflecting on all that fun is tiring...

Love, MET



Happy 16-months to Teddy!

Well all my persistence in moving upright in all instances has finally paid off being I am officially a pro at climbing up onto pretty much everything and anything.  Below you can see a recent stunt I tried, but was prevented from making it onto the table thanks to my lovely sisters who told on me...

I forgave them rather easily, though, and they continue to be my fav playmates even though it usually involves dolls and lots of pink-colored things...

The outdoors still rules in my book and I have to be where the action is...for example, not content watching Papa mow the lawn, not content using my play push mower outside near him, I needed to be carried by him while he mowed!  A favorite word of mine is "shoes" and I will happily bring you yours and mine if I think it may be a ticket to going outdoors.  I also like to find Grandpa Ken's hat and take it to him as another hint...take me outside please!



I also enjoy dancing and singing to music, and am very nice to go along with what my big sisters prefer (including Justin Bieber).  And, I am working on my jumping skills...yikes!  Overall, I continue to be a happy, happy little boy who everyone likes to have around!



Love, Theodore

 

Anticipation on the rise...

Maybe it is because we are ever so excited or maybe it is because Mama's belly seems to just keep growing, but we literally were asking everyday, and multiple times during the day, as to when our baby brother would be arriving.  So, we decided it would help to make something to help us count down the number of weeks we have to left to wait... 

And we are happy to say it hasn't made a difference at all...we are still every bit as anxious!  Papa and Mama haven't shared names this time around with us being we spilled the beans too easily with Theodore's name, so instead we have picked out our own name for our baby brother...Monkey.  Very cute we think!

We also must share Theodore's response to the growing excitement in our house...he truly has no clue what is going to arrive sooner versus later.  We assure him, though, that being there are two of us that one of us can be with him while the other one can be with our other brother...and we promise to share you both (these conversations are very sweet to hear Mama says).  If you ask Theodore where the baby is, he will point to and pat (more like a little boy hit) Mama's belly while saying "baby" but that is about the extent of things.  He also likes to pull on Mama's belly button which is sticking out these days. 

Crazy to think October is not that far away!!!!  Love, M & E

Happy 15-months to Teddy!

Since beginning to move upright last month, I now feel everything I do should be performed while in this position...such as attempting to go up and down stairs, curbs, etc. You name it and I will try it, so I require a close eye at all times!

 

I am absolutely loving summer and would likely live outdoors if one would let me.  Whether out on the deck in my baby pool, at the cabin, playing outside, or at a park, I prefer the fresh air over being inside...which often results in happy (not) transitions when it is time to go in the house!

But as you can see, I still manage to have fun even when I am stuck indoors...

My teeth are popping in all over the place now which is making eating new things even easier.  I continue to be a great eater (except am not a fan of eggs) and have especially been enjoying the fresh fruit of summer.  I also enjoy sweet treats much like my sisters and have eaten more sand and dirt in my short life thus far than my sisters have in their first 3 1/2 years of life...but I am a boy you know!

I passed my 15-mo check up with flying colors, coming in around the 80th percentiles for height and weight and also impressing my MD with my fine motor skills of scribbling and stacking blocks...but likely need to give my older sisters some credit for these skills being they have assisted me with extra exposure.  My favorite words to use are no and stop (often telling M & E them when needed), mama, dada, and more, with my frequently still pointing and squealing for my wants and needs.  I know my body parts of nose, eyes, mouth, hair/head, ears, fingers and toes, and am also enjoying learning animal sounds...though I still mostly love pretending to be a monster. 

You'll notice I haven't mentioned anything about my sleep habits/patterns and instead will just say that those close to me, such as my Mama, still think I am the best snuggler ever...and I'll leave it at that for now!

Hugs, Theodore