Baby Noah

Our sweet Baby Noah is here!! He was born on May 31 at 3:51 p.m. He weighed 8lb 11oz, two ounces more than his big brother and two pounds LESS than his big sister! I had a c section this time since his big sister was so big and they had a hard time getting her out. My new doctor thought it would be easier, and safer for Baby Boy if we just did the c section. Although it's a much longer recovery from a regular delivery, and more painful afterwards, I'm glad I went with the section. Big Brother and Sister were at the hospital when Noah was born, along with Soma (my mom) Papa Kirk, Grandma Bonnie, Tahti (Dani) and Uncle Obi (Colby) Papa George came into town on June 3rd. It was so great to have our family there waiting in the other room when he was born.
Jaxson and Ella absolutely LOVE their new baby brother, they love to hold him and give him lots and lots of kisses! I was worried that Miss Ella might be a little jealous when Mommy was holding a baby all the time, but she seems to be doing great and Jax can't go more than a few minutes without giving him kisses. I love watching them with Noah, their little faces light up when they see him in the mornings. Jax was still in school for a few days when Noah was born and he couldn't wait to go to school the day after he was born and tell his teacher and all of his friends about his brother!
I know I'm a bit biased, but, Noah is so perfect! There is a sweetness about him that just melts my heart. He looks a lot like his big brother and it makes Jax grin from ear to ear to hear that. Noah is such a little cuddle bug, when he gets fussy, he likes to be snuggled close and rocked until he falls asleep. He is sleeping great at night (so far) and he is a very good baby. He has all of us wrapped around his little finger. The second I heard his precious little cry, I fell in love, and I continue to fall more in love with him every second. Nick and I are so blessed to have three amazing, beautiful, perfect children!

                                             Big feet just like Daddy!

We love you so very much, Baby Noah, and we are so thrilled that you are finally here safe and healthy. You have melted our hearts with your sweet little disposition and those chubby little cheeks. I love it when you stare at me when we are snuggling. I can't imagine our lives without you, Noah Bug!

Coloring with Sister

Ella was coloring in her giant princess coloring book today and she said she wanted someone to color with. Jax, being the good big brother that he is, said he would color with her, even if it was a princess coloring book. They were coloring together, only fighting occasionally over a color the other one had, when Jax looked at me and said, "Mom, when im coloring and I see Ella's cute face, it inspires great ideas. Even if I am coloring princesses!" Where does he come up with these things!?!

Undies in the toilet

We went to pick Jax up from school and while we were waiting, Ella says, "Mom, I REALLY, REALLY need to go potty right dis minute!" I said "Ella, why didn't you go a few minutes ago when we were getting ready to leave the house? I asked you if you needed to go." Ella: "BECAUSE MOM, the pee wasn't ready to come out then! I told you that!!" I told her she was going to have to wait a few minutes until we got home. Needless to say, she didn't the "potty dance" the entire car ride. When i was getting her out of her carseat, she told me that a little bit had accidentally come out in her underwear. I told her that it was ok and that I would go get her new clothes. She ran into the bathroom and Jax and I were in the kitchen talking about his day at school. We could hear her in the bathroom saying something to us, so Jax went in to see what she needed. He came out of the bathroom a few seconds later laughing so hard he could barely talk. This is why he was laughing....

Those are Ella's princess underwear in the toilet. Still not entirely sure how they got in there since Ella was laughing so hard at herself she could barely tell me. But from what I understood, between her laughing fits and the hiccups she gave herself from laughing, she was swinging them over her head like a helicopter and they flew out of her hand and into the toilet. Between Jax and Ella giggling and seeing the undies in the toilet, I was laughing my head off too! She is such a silly little monkey!

To my children

Since one of the reasons I do this blog, which I am horrible at actually doing lately, is so that hopefully my kids have this as a sort of keepsake of their childhood. So, I decided to write each of them letters on here once a year, hopefully, so that they can read these one day and know how special each of them are to me.

To my sweet Jaxson,
You just turned 7 a few weeks ago. I can't believe how quickly you are growing up. You are in first grade and you love it. You weren't sure how liked it at first, you would get a little nervous each morning, but now you look forward to going every morning. You are learning how to read so well, you have improved so much just in the last couple of months and I can't tell you how proud of you I am. You are really good at math, too. It was your favorite subject until you figured out how much you like to read. I come to your class every Thursday morning to volunteer in your class, I love watching you work hard in centers, and I love watching you interact with the other kids in the class. At first, when it was time for me to go home, you would get upset and not want me to leave. One time, Mrs. Lloyd, whom you absolutely love, had to pry you off of me and talk to you while I snuck out of the classroom. I hated it, but, I knew that once I was actually gone you would be OK, and you were. Now when I leave, you quickly say "Bye Mom" as you and your friends hurry out to recess. Sometimes you wave to me from the playground as I'm getting in my car. I like to drive away as slowly as I can so I can watch you playing and laughing at recess. When I pick you up from school, you always jump in the car with a huge smile on your face. It's one of the best parts of my day! I always ask you what you learned that day, and your response is always "Um...I forgot." Even though I know you didn't forget because you usually tell me after we come home and you have a snack, but, you can always tell me who you played with at recess and who you sat by at lunch! If someone asks you what your favorite subject is at school, you always tell them it's recess, and when I tell you that's not a subject, you roll your eyes at me. You are a definitely my little monkey!

You are becoming such a little man, you love to entertain me and your Daddy and Sister. You have such a fun, happy personality. You love to tell jokes, some of them you make up yourself, and you love to make people laugh. The other night, while I was making dinner, you hopped up on the counter and started helping me. You asked what every ingredient and spice was, and we had to smell each one before we added it to the food. You helped me stir and measure everything. Ella was upstairs with Daddy and it was just you and I for a few minutes. We don't get to spend very much time just the two of us, and I loved every minute of it.

You are doing more and more things for yourself, becoming more independent every day. It makes my heart swell with pride to watch you, and at the same time, it makes my heart ache because you don't need me to do as much for you anymore. You are calling me "Mom" instead of "Mommy" more and more, but, when you do call me Mommy or Momma, I melt, because no matter how old you get, you will always be my baby boy. Although at some point, I promise to stop saying it out loud so I don't embarrass you, which I'm sure I will do on numerous occasions, whether I mean to or not.
You are such a sweet, sensitive little boy. You can't stand it if someone you love is upset or hurt, especially your little sister. Even when someone at school gets their feelings hurt, or hurts themselves on the playground, you always tell me about it, and you are always concerned about them. You have such a big heart and I love that about you. Don't ever change that, not for anyone. It's just one of the many things that makes you so special. Before you were born, I had no idea I could love someone so much, so unconditionally. You are my pride and joy and I love you more than you will ever know, my Sweet Boy!!

My beautiful, sassy Princess Ella,
You are 3 1/2 years old and you are such a beautiful little girl. You love to play with your baby dolls and pretend to take care of them. You put them in their stroller, fill up one of your many purses with as many random toys as you can, and announce that you are going to take your babies on a walk to the park. When you come back from the "park" you tell me all about it, leave the stroller in the middle of the kitchen or family room, despite me telling you to put it away, and you move on to the next thing you feel like playing. You love to get as many bags as you can, many of them are empty beach bags you find in my room, and fill them to the top with whatever toys you can get your hands on. Then, you bring them into the family room and line them all up, you usually bring out 5 or 6, then you get sidetracked, leave the bags in the middle of the room, and get out some new toy. When I tell you to clean your toys up, you give me the sassiest look have, which is pretty sassy, and you say "Mom, I'm BUSY right now." You are hard-headed and unbelievably stubborn, you know what you want, when you want it, and you don't hesitate to let anyone and everyone know when you are mad. I wouldn't change your stubborn, sassy, independent ways for the world. It's just part of what makes you so special, although it can be rather frustrating for your daddy and I. We love you just the way you are!

You absolutely adore your big brother, and he adores you. When he does his homework, you are right there next to him doing yours, which is usually you coloring a picture, or practicing writing your name, which you are getting so good at! You love to copy what Jax says, and even though sometimes he huffs and rolls his eyes at you, he really loves it. Sometimes you do it just to make him mad, and when he does get mad, which you know he will do, you get a mischievous, sassy little grin on your face, which only makes him madder. You know how to push his buttons and melt his heart at the same time! But, most of the time the two of you play so cute together, I love watching the two of you together, even when you are at each others throats. Jax is very protective of you.

Next year you will go to preschool, you are ready, and you will love it. It will make Mommy so proud to watch you as you walk into your preschool class for the first time, but part of me will be sad because my little girl is growing up. I have no doubt that you will make lots of friends with your darling personality. You love to entertain us just like your big brother does. You love being funny and making your own jokes, and you have such a sweet little laugh. Your smile can light up the room, and make my day.

You, my precious little girl, are my pride and joy. You are beautiful, don't ever forget that and don't ever let anybody tell you any different. I love you to the moon and back!

My sweet little Noah,
You aren't even born yet. I don't know what color your eyes will be, whether you will have blonde or brown hair, or what your little personality will be like. But I already know I love you so very much. When you kick, even when you use me as a punching bag, you melt my heart and I fall in love with you even more. I can't wait to meet you and kiss your precious little cheeks, to watch you grow up, to see you with your big brother and sister, and see what your little personality will be like.

Your big brother and sister are anxiously awaiting your arrival. They love to talk to you through my tummy, and everyday they ask how much longer it will be before you are born. Ella says she is going to help change your diaper, and Jax says he is going to teach you how to walk and talk. I have no doubt that they will love you and that you will love them! Everytime I think about meeting you and holding you for the first time, I get so excited that I don't think I will be able to wait another 4 months, it seems so far away, but I know the time will fly by and before I know it, you will be walking and talking. Just don't grow up too fast! Everyday is a little closer to when I will be able to hold you, kiss you and smell your sweet baby breath. Until then, I will savor every kick, even the really hard ones, everytime my entire stomach jumps when you have the hiccups. I love you, precious boy, and I can't wait to whisper it in your ear every night when I tuck you in.

All three of you little monkeys are the reason I get out of bed every morning, the reason I was put here on this earth. All I have ever wanted is to be a Mommy, and I am so lucky to have each of you. I love you unconditionally and more than you will ever know. There isn't a day that goes by that you don't amaze me. I am so proud of every little thing you do, even the little things, like Jax walking into school like such a big boy, or Ella playing make believe with her toys, or feeling Noah kick. I love you all so very, very much, don't ever, ever forget it!!!

Love, Mommy

Girls trip to the nail salon

Miss Ella and I went to the nail salon today to get our nails painted while Jax was at school. She was so excited when I told her we were going and that if she was a really good girl, she could get her nails painted too. She picked a sparkly blue, because blue is her favorite color. She sat there nice and still like a big girl and asked the lady all sorts of questions about why she was using the file or why she had a towel under Ella's hands. When she pulled out the nail clippers Ella said, "Oh! we have some just like that at my house!" she couldn't believe someone else had nail clippers too! All of the ladies thought she was adorable (of course) and she kept all of us well entertained with all of her questions and the funny things she was saying. She even made up a song for all of us too! I love the time that her and I get to spend together, just the two of us while Jax is busy learning at school. Even though we miss Jax like crazy and we can't for him to get home. She has such a cute little personality and I can't get enough of her!

Her nails turned out very pretty and she even got a beautiful little flower on two of them just because she is so special!

Pirate Party!

Jax decided he wanted a pirate birthday party this year. For his friend party, I found little treasure chests for each of the kids to decorate with all kinds of pirate stickers and pirate jewels. They all turned out really cute! We had "pirate pigs in a blanket" and green pirate juice that they all drank out of goblets. We had pirate cupcakes and played pirate games. The kids all had eye patches and hats they got to wear and take home, along with their treasure chests they made. It was a wild, crazy party and I was exhausted when it was over. Thank goodness I had my Mom and Sister here to help me. But, Jax had a blast and he loved his party! Last Sunday we had a family party for him and he got spoiled once again and loved it!! He was sad when all the pirate decorations had to come down, but at least we got pictures of his fun parties!

                        The darling treasure chest cake my best friend, Janelle made!!!! Thanks Janelle!

Jaxson's 7th Birthday

On January 20th, Jax turned 7! Where has time gone and how did he grow up so fast? I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. When they laid him on my chest for the first time, I couldn't believe that this perfect, precious little angel was mine! He was more beautiful than I could have dreamed and I was so so proud and thrilled that I got to be the one to give birth to him, and to raise him. The night he was born, I hardly slept at all, I just kept watching him sleep in the hospital bassinet next to me. I couldn't quit looking at him. After we were home from the hospital, my Mom was holding him and she said, "Remember how tiny these hands are, because they will never be this small again." Boy was she right! I sat there that night holding his small, soft little hand as he slept peacefully in my arms, and I tried to soak it all in. The smell of his sweet baby breath, the peaceful look he had on his face when he was sleeping, the shape of his lips, everything. When he would wake up in the middle of the night, no matter how tired I was, I couldn't wait to hold him. In the mornings, when I was so tired I could barely walk, and he had been up half the night, as soon as I would hold him in my arms, I would forget how tired I was because I just couldn't wait to spend the day with him. And now my precious little boy is 7 and becoming such a little man. That little baby boy is in first grade and reading, quite well I might add, and growing up more and more each day. He has such a cute little personality.
When I drop him off at school, and watch him walk into class, my heart aches a little bit because he is growing up so fast, meeting new friends and learning new things everyday. I love seeing the big smile he has on his face after school as he walks to the car. He grins at me and waves and I absolutely love it.
When he does his homework at night, and I see how well he is reading, and how much he is learning, I am so proud I could cry. He loves his little sister and she loves him. I couldn't be more proud of the person he has become and the person he will be. Both of my babies, and little Noah in my tummy, are the reason I wake up every morning and I love that Nick and I get to be the ones to raise them and love them with all of our hearts!

Happy Birthday my sweet boy! Mommy, Daddy, Ella, and Baby Noah love you more than you will ever know!!