rain puddles, steps and the chicken dance

So this time around in parenting (remember my husband and I have a 26, almost 12 and a 9 year-old and now a 16 month-old too), I am stopping a bit more to enjoy little moments that to others might seem insignificant but to me it’s a gift.

The other day she unceremoniously stepped off a small cement step all by herself.  She usually turns around and scoots safely backwards off the step or holds my hand while I help her carefully step down. I nudged my husband to look at our little girl and we praised her new skill. A list that continues to grow each day. I feel so blessed to be a part of her life and that I can be home to raise her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This girl is such a joy in our lives. She makes us laugh, grow, smile, hug more, sing more and dance more! She loves music and knows the sign for music. We taught her to sign music because she kept going over to the computer keyboard and trying to turn the music on herself. Her favorite song is Greater by Mercy Me! It has great words and is a great dancing song too! She also loves The Chicken Dance, as well, which her grandmother introduced her to!

She keeps us busy but a good busy and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

Here is a picture of her running in rain puddles for the first time! She was thrilled and fascinated! She did this continually for fifteen minutes. She didn’t want to go inside. What a blessing!

siblings

Time is flying by. I see it in my eleven-year-old’s face and voice. His pants are short again. He asks me to measure him. We find that he is now two inches taller since his birthday! That was only eight months ago. My nine-year-old’s desire to dress-up grows less and less with each passing day. I found a cardboard, sheriff badge I quickly made when he and my husband were playing dress-up years ago. I unexpectedly felt a lump in my throat when I saw it; they are growing up.

This past year has been a whirl.  When I look at pictures of my sons holding their tiny, new sister I can’t believe how much they have grown and matured; all three of them.

They have been such a great help in so many ways. Although they are growing up, they have a tenderness for their sister. They adore her and are so good with her.

They sing to her, read to her, dance with her and make her laugh like no one else.  She searches their usual nooks to find them in the mornings. When she wakes up from a nap they gently pick her up and hold her.

  She walks around putting toys to her ear and talks to her oldest brother on the “phone.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Now, at thirteen months, when they get their coats on to go ride their bikes, she insists on getting her coat on so she can be with them outside.

   She watches them swing and chase each other out the sliding glass door.

 When they see her adoring smile and small frame pressed up against the window they can’t resist running over and giving her a kiss and talking to her!

She watches them, studies them and is now beginning to copy their laugh, expressions and movements. She calls for them from the other room and her gaze quickly jumps from my eyes to where she thinks she hears them.

This bonding is so beautiful to watch.

She loves them so!

Wow!

Wow! 2015 is right around the corner and I can’t believe it! This year has flown by so quickly and it’s been crazy busy but crazy fun too!

My little girl is eleven-months-old today! Eleven months! She is such a delight and joy in our home and our hearts!

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas! My oldest came up and I have enjoyed the whole family being together under one roof! Outside of salvation, this really is one of the best gifts a mother can receive…her whole family, healthy, joyful, together! Everything else is just extra!

So the house has exploded with baby stuff: a diaper pail, changing pads, tiny pink clothes, a highchair, a tub, strollers, toys, books, gates, teething rings, spoons, bowls, bibs and bows! Bows…that’s a first for us! It’s crazy as I step over this stuff and I have to laugh as I remind myself this too shall pass! I’ve already passed along the play mat, swing, bouncy seat and all the clothes under six months!

This little girl is a sweetie! She is a very happy girl! She loves her daddy and her brothers! I am like a baby magnet…when she sees me she automatically smiles and crawls towards me! It’s so cute! She is a very strong and determined wee one! I’ve been so fortunate that she has been very healthy, except for the colic (which was gone early on), she has had a couple colds and that’s it! Praise the Lord!

She is holding on to things while walking but hasn’t taken those first solo steps yet! Soon, very, soon! She babbles, smiles, laughs, giggles, dances and loves to play hide and seek! She loves daddy playing the piano, playing with her brothers, reading books and listening to Baby Einstein music! She recently learned how to point and wave bye-bye and loves to show off her new talents!

My two youngest boys have been a HUGE help! They have moved into this big brother role so smoothly! They play with her, help me when she is fussy, or watch her when I need throw in a load of laundry! They are so gentle with her! She looks for them first thing when she gets up in the morning! My oldest comes up as often as he can so they can bond.  And they Facetime as much as they can too! She absolutely loves her oldest brother!

We can’t help but fall in love with her more and more each week! We feel so blessed!

I am excited for what this next year has in store for us!

I hope that this New Year is filled with adventure, joys and blessing for you!!

Blessing to you all!

Inge