Scratchy Ny-Ny

Molly has a Ny-Ny...it is a green fuzzy frog mini-blanket. She has had it since she was a baby and sleeps with it EVERY night. She sucks two fingers and holds it up to her nose. I try to keep it contained to the crib, but that doesn't seem to go so well. Somewhere along the way, I purchased three more ny-nys, in case we misplaced ny-ny somewhere along the way...then we'd have backups. For a while she didn't seem to notice that original ny-ny had different colored eyes than the other three, and I would rotate all of them. I'm not sure when it happened, but all of the sudden she started to prefer the original one over the other three. I thought it was the eyes. A couple of months of ago, she kept saying "no...not that ny-ny...scratchy ny-ny"...which I soon figured out was the original one. It took me a while to figure out why this is now 'scratchy ny-ny' and not just ny-ny. Yep, it's so gross and dirty and stained all the time, that it has become scratchy ny-ny. It is such a task to get it away from her to get it into the laundry. I had successfully snuck it into the washer, but she wanted it while it was still wet, so taking pictures was the only that it would work this time around to get it into the dryer. Take a look:


Scratchy ny-ny going in...


I can do this...


I think...


Now I'm sad...


Ahhh...all better now.

PS - Charley has a pink bunny too, and she thinks its hilarious to steal Molly's from her when she is not looking.

Ice Skating!

Charley all bundled up to head outside


View from our back deck of the lighted rink

In the commons area behind our house, there is a pond that is now frozen over. Matt and the neighbors have been flooding and shoveling, and flooding, and snowblowing, and flooding it to get it to the perfect smoothness for ice skating. In the fall, Grant took a Learn to Skate class, and it has proven to be very useful this winter. He rips around on the ice and has a great time with his dad, who also rips around out there. Matt purchased some lights, so we can also enjoy night skating. Although, this also means that I've been spending a lot of time alone or with the girls. I do take the girls out from time to time and pull them around on the sled. They love it. The guys have enjoyed a rowdy game of hockey and kids from all over the neighborhood come to skate. Hoping this warmer weather, doesn't start the flooding process all over again...

Hope to get some pictures from outside soon!

Charley ~ 9 Months!

Charley was nine months old on December 20th. And with the season being so busy with birthdays and Christmas and New Years, I'm just now getting to her post. She is growing up so fast. I really can't believe in three months she will be a year. Why can't nine months go this fast when you are pregnant? She is still the most happy baby that I have had, and she is always smiling. She really is a joy. Here's what she's up to:

Cruises everywhere. I think she may be another early walker. She can stand alone for a second or two, but then will fall to her butt. She will bend down to get things while barely holding on. She can walk while holding one of my hands, but usually better with two. Otherwise she crawls everywhere.

She really is starting to dance to music, which is adorable to me.

At the moment, she has four teeth, two on top and two on the bottom. I think two more on top are coming through...the only time she is unhappy.

Her hair is starting to grow into a baby mullet, ew, and it might almost be time for a trim...Rachel? Its kind of strange color, and unfortunately will probably turn out to be like mine, a mousy gray/brown. So sorry for that one sweety.

She LOVES to eat. And sometimes doesn't want to stop. I feel like she is getting tired of the mushy baby food and wants to move on to the real thing, as she just seems to blow raspberries through anything that is not solid. Still so much easier to get vegetables down this way though, so we may keep trying.

I am done nursing. :( I just quit this past week. It makes me very sad. I really wish I could have gone longer but when the well dries up, what can you do. She is doing fine with the bottles, but I really miss her snuggling up to me, since she doesn't really snuggle otherwise. She woke up in the middle of the night a few weeks back, which is a rarity, and I was THRILLED. I jumped out of bed knowing that once I calmed her down she would probably fall asleep in my arms, which she did, and it was wonderful. She won't be a baby much longer. I can't believe it.

She is 28 7/8 inches tall, and 18 pounds 1 ounce. The nurse forgot to put the percentages down, so I don't know exactly, but I know that they are not worried about her weight at all now, and think it was close to 30%, and her height was 90% I think. Tall girls. Got me.

She is stinker and always goes to the things she isn't supposed to, like the gate at the stairs, the stairs going upstairs (and climbed one or two...and fell), the cords, the DVDs...you know all the things she is not supposed to. And I tell her no or ah-ah, and she just smiles and laughs. Funny.

We call her Charley, Binks, Binksy Cat, Monkey Girl, and whatever else comes to mind. Matt sometimes calls her Charles or Chuck and it drives me crazy. I have been trying to call her Charlotte from time to time too, as that is her real name and I do like it. I can't seem to get her middle name down though. I keep calling her Charley Lynn or Charley Ann...Weird huh. Those were other possibilities.

She is a SCREAMER...at the top of her lungs screamer...whenever she wants something or just wants your attention. It is very frustrating and VERY loud. I don't know how to get her to stop. I keep trying to get her to sign, but we are not there yet. She does babble some sounds and is very good at HI, Da or Dad and sometimes Hi Da together, something that kind of sounds like All Done...Al-Dah, Ba sound, La Sound.

If you ask her for a kiss she will make the kissy noise, and still gives high fives, and now waves bye-bye on command.

I think she will be a very positive person, very outgoing and quite laid back. But we'll see when TWO comes around. At the moment, she is the sweetest thing with the most contagious smile and bright blue eyes.

So sorry to bore you, but this was more for me than you.

Nona and Papa Christmas

Watch out...Grant has a Nerf Gun


Rachel and Mini Rachel, otherwise known as Sofia


Still smiling


Blowin on Papa's Trumpet (I have a picture of me doing this same thing, at about this same age...awww, how sweet right?)


Princess Stella


Mags


And Papa in a Box

After our Christmas Morning celebration, we headed over to my parents house for the Sheldon family Christmas. With eight cousins running around, we have a blast. We are so thankful to be able to all get together and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior! Presents, white elephant, leg massagers (don't ask), yummy food and drink, trumpet playing, reminiscing, and of course poker! Great time as always!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve


The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...


Christmas Morning...waiting on the steps


Zhu Zhu Pets (Matt scored these cheap, but huge toys of the year, at CVS...good work hon!)




Charley's Gift from Santa...and where she happily stayed while the other two opened presents

Christmas at Grammie and Grandpas

Lily


Evy


Molly and Uncle Wade


Matt and I


Santa Matt and Grant


Who's next?


Molly Girl


Princess Molly


Happy Birthday to Jesus!

We spent Christmas Eve at Matt's parents for Christmas this year. Their home is so warm and inviting at Christmas time. Matt's mom has a definite talent in decorating, especially for the holidays. The kids had a great time, waiting for Santa Matt to tell them who was next to open a present. We had a wonderful meal and a great time together. Happy Birthday to Jesus cake and all!

My Baby Boy

Not so much a baby boy anymore...Grant turned SIX today! I cannot believe that it has been six whole years since we came home on that Christmas Day with our new baby boy, our firstborn, our best Christmas present ever. I still remember driving home from the hospital with him on Christmas morning, through the snow...pulling off into Walgreens parking lot to get some pain medication...sneaking a quick peek in the backseat to make sure that our baby boy was doing okay...only to see his poor little head completely slumped over into his chest!!! I screeched and jumped back there make sure he was still alive! Obviously he was fine, but I'll tell you this, I thought I was to be the worst mother ever, not even able to keep my new baby safe just on the way home from the hospital!! I rode in the backseat from then on. :) It has been a whirlwind of changes. He is growing up so fast, enjoying kindergarten and tormenting his sister. He'll make you smile and laugh and in an instance make you want to scream. He is a charmer, a joy...and challenge. He loves to build things and make things work, and says he wants to be an artist when he grows up. He's never short of 'I love yous' and gives really good hugs.

Happy Birthday Grantster! We thank God for the gift of you!

Opening gifts at Nona and Papas house


Celebrating all the December birthdays (Dad, Peter, Drew, Ryan, Grant and Stella)


Celebrating at Grammie and Grandpa's House...(Grant and Grammie share the same birthday!)


And one more time at our house...


The birthday boy!

Lovin' the Leonards

Two...


Three...


Four...


and Five...(Zach, Charley, Molly, Taylor and Lauren...missing is Grant)

A few weeks back, we had the chance to go visit my very good friend Carrie for the day. We always have a great time chatting and catching up...even when one of my kiddos decides not to take a real nap. It's been so fun to watch our kids grow and change and have fun together. Who knows, maybe a couple of them will end up at Hope together!

Chocolate Covered

As I have mentioned, I am not a cook...baker...chef...what have you. But I do like to try to be creative. So for Grant's teacher's Christmas present, in addition to gift cards, this is what I've come up with. I really have a lot of fun doing it and its so easy! And I think its pretty too! All you need is Candiquik, colored chocolate melts, pretzel rods, a microwave, wax paper, and plastic baggies to drizzle the colored chocolate. Package and decorate any way that you'd like!!

Mommy and Me

 

A couple years back, I went looking for a picture of my mom and us three kids. Honestly, I think I found one, and it was not a picture of us when we were little. Now I know picture taking was a bit different back then, but I am determined to get a picture of me with my three kids every year from here on out. The mom is always the one taking the pictures, which is why you hardly ever see pictures of her. So here is our first go...Grant is nearly six, Molly is two, and Charlotte is 8 months old. I Love being your mom!

Because She Makes Me Happy

 

Timber!

Okay, so not really timber...we did not cut down our own tree...but we did go to the tree place behind the liquor store to pick out our fancy tree! This is actually where we go every year. It's quick, and unfortunately pricey, but it's easy. We had a litte "discussion" about the size of our tree this year. As we are in a new house, Matt thought we should try a taller tree...which I said was too tall. But he won and we took it home. And we brought it in. And we stood it up. And it touched the ceiling before it was even in the stand. So we snipped off the top branch. Still too tall. I was trying SO hard not to smile. Matt said, Oh I'm sure you're loving this...and I was. So back on the top of the car it went, and he brought home a suitable sized tree. They were very kind to let us exchange it. The kids had a great time decorating and our first tree in this house looks beautiful!

 
 
 
 

Christmas at Meijer Gardens

 

We had a nice night last week at Meijer Gardens. Its a family tradition for us to go there at this time of year to look at the trees, watch the train, see the lights, and this year, sit on Santa's lap. As you might see from the pictures, it didn't go so well...we had two screamers. But Grant got a good moment with Santa. He was a bit nervous at first, and I had to ask why. He said, I don't want him to tell me I'm on the naughty list! HA! Maybe I should stop saying that so much. :) Santa told him that it was pretty hard to get on his naughty list...ahem...Santa...don't you know what I'm trying to do here. It was beautiful night and trees were lit up so beautiful outside too!