I keep thinking that I should blog. I keep wanting to blog. And then I think I don't have time. Or, I do have time but there is so much that I haven't shared yet and think that no, I really don't have time. And so it goes. But, since I miss sharing little tidbits (that are written more for my memory than for anything else) I figured a little, "What we are up to now" post was in order. It may not get done in one sitting. In fact, I think this is already the third (okay, make that fourth time now) time I have put a big chunk of time into this. Here we go...youngest to oldest.
KATELYNN:
So so SO cute and so sweet! She has been a little like Caleb -- it has taken a while for her personality to come through and for us to get to know her. But she is showing herself to us more and more and we like what we see. She is a sweet little wiggly thing who loves to try to keep up with her siblings. She isn't walking yet, but I don't think it is too far off. She crawls everywhere (her favorite place is up the stairs) and she is standing on her own. However (again like Caleb) she loves falling so much that her attempts at walking are more an excuse to lunge toward me and have me catch her.
She has two words that she uses all the time "YEA!" (said very loud) and "UP!" which she says anytime she is going from squatting to standing and whenever she crawls up the stairs. All day long I hear, "up, up, up" as she climbs or 20some stairs.
She also likes to park herself on the first landing of the stairs and play jailbird.
She is also the queen of sweet mischief...like when she pulled the peanut butter and the chocolate covered spoon off the counter and then helped herself. When I tried to get the spoon from her, she hid it behind her back!
I love this little girl to pieces! It is hard to believe that in two weeks we will be celebrating her first birthday! I can't wait to get to know her more and see how she fits into this little family of ours! She seems to be making herself quite comfortable!
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LEVI:
Oh this kid! I don't even have words to describe him. He is sweet, charming, adorable, antagonistic, and in it all for the laughs! I remember him being just three months old and listening to his deep belly laughs. And since then -- anything that will make him laugh is what he does (even if it means doing a few things that make others NOT laugh!) He is so cute and so sweet and that little dimple gets him far in this world! I mean just look at that cheesy grin in the picture above -- anything to make people know he is adorable and irresistible!
In the picture above he was running back and forth through the house saying, "you can't get me!" as I pretended to "get" him with my camera.
He also has a ridiculous obsession with running around n.a.k.e.d. Every time we change his clothes he runs around like a wild man singing, "I'm nakey, I'm nakey, I'm nakey nakey NAKEY!" I LOVE this kid!
One great thing is that I get to have mornings with him -- both Alaina and Caleb are at school and Katelynn takes a morning nap. So, we get to hang out. So fun to give him some one on one time!
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CALEB:
Man I love this kid! His life and his heart totally fascinate me. He is sweet and compassionate and obedient and snuggly and I LOVE it. The highlight of my week is going to his weekly therapy sessions and watching all of himself come out. He LOVES going and I love how much it helps him and makes him feel so good. All the crashing and spinning and playing just makes him come alive and really calms him.
He is doing so well! He has gone from not being able to color at all to being OBSESSED with coloring! He loves it SO MUCH. He is very detail oriented and colors in every little bit of space on a page.
Yesterday we had a full speech evaluation and I am so excited to get to start working with him on some of those issues. He is very receptive to correction and practice, so it will be good to focus on this now that some of the other issues are under control.
One thing we are really working on is his fine motor skills. Basic things like getting dressed and writing are still very hard for him. But he is working so hard and making so much progress! He even signed his name to 14 Valentines last week!
In the afternoon I get to spend lots of time with both of the boys. They like to hang out on bed if I still have some work to finish or they can be found around the house doing crazy things (like golfing in a baby pool!) Seeing them interact makes my heart happy!
ALAINA:
I can't believe my girl just turned SIX! WHERE does the time go? Wasn't she just a sweet little smiling baby? Wasn't she just learning to walk and talk? Ah! Crazy how the time flies.
I MISS this girl! With her being at school from 7:45 until 3:30 I feel like I never see her! I miss her inquisitive little mind and her sweet compassionate ways. Now, i DO like the quiet that seems to come with her NOT being here, but still, I would rather have her AND her endless questions!
She is loving school and of course excelling. I think this girl could do anything she wanted to do! She is a light to everyone she meets! She loves to learn about EVERYTHING and she loves all things craft related. Last week she asked to use a few paper bags and ended with with three puppets for her and her brothers!
Here is a note she made for one of the boys in her class. So sweet (and funny!) I've always wanted a best FRED! Ha ha!
And her FAVORITE thing to do is help me cook! She made these pizza quesadillas all by herself!
She celebrated her sixth birthday a few weeks ago. During the day I came into her class and we all decorated birthday cookies. So fun (and so messy!)
At her request, we had some of our good friends over and enjoyed a night of pizza, presents, and fun. She even made the invitations!
She didn't know what she wanted for her cake (other than impossible things I couldn't make) so we left it with me promising to come up with something she would love. Here is what I came up with (only being able to use what I could find in the house -- a trip to the store takes HOURS).
And some matching decor...
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ME:
Well, I am doing good! Other than waiting for the mommy amnesia to subside (I hear that you have to wait until you haven't been pregnant or nursing for one to two years!) I feel like things are really good. I am staying happy with my website, my kiddos, and dreams of all things I would love to have time to do! I love doing fun things with the kids like color, cook, and craft. Last week we made homemade chocolate dipped marshmallows for Valentine's treats. We then wrapped them each in plastic and made a Valentine's Day bouquet!
I am also loving my PHOTO A DAY project! It is good for me to make sure I capture the little things that make our life so BIG. I know it will be a treasure for years to come!
In more personal things...God is doing a lot in my heart. He is reminding me of the AWESOME responsibility I have for these little people who call me mom. Their hearts are so moldable at this age and so much of what I do NOW will affect them for the rest of their life. He is showing me sin in my own life and how it is already being passed to my kids. The Word tells us that it is "better for a millstone to be tied around [my] neck and [me] be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble." That is a HIGH calling! I am seeing things in my and my life that can cause these kids of mine to stumble. And I don't like it. I never want to settle for being a "good enough" mom. Yes, my kids are SO GOOD and so well behaved (most of the time!) and a joy to be around. But, there are little things -- the deeper things -- that I have neglected in myself and therefore in them. It is tough stuff to digest but SO GOOD and SO LIBERATING! I am just so thankful that He found me worthy of these four little ones!
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JASON:
Jason is doing well. He stays really busy with his role as PE teacher and athletic director at the school. I am so proud of him for all he does (tons of multitasking involved -- something I don't do very well!). He loves what he does and from what we can tell, the school is thankful for his quiet, unobtrusive presence. The school went through a few years of endless problems in the athletic department so Jason's "be quiet and get it done" approach to work has been a breath of fresh air.
I also appreciate how well he fits in his role as dad. He doesn't insist on "unwinding" when he gets home. He gets home and hangs out with the kids, helps with the house, helps with baths, etc. and is basically just a really good dad! They are lucky to have him!
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US:
As a family unit, we are doing well. We are enjoying life in Indonesia very much and everyone seems to have adjusted very well. The one thing that is really lacking is time alone for the marriage part of "us." With work, kids, and day to day life our relationship has taken a beating. Nothing bad, just no time to build into the relationship that will hold all the other relationships together. Finding a babysitter is hard since I feel bad asking anyone to watch FOUR kids. And to get two people in makes for an expensive night! Anyway, you can pray for some creative solutions to this problem and that He would hold us together even when we don't get much quality time!
So, how is THAT for a blog post! LOL! Maybe if I can pop in a few times a week I won't have to spend a week trying to do one post!
Thanks for taking the time to update! I always enjoy reading what your little family is up to! How fun Katelynn is saying 'up'. My almost 16 month old still only says 'mama' and 'papa'. I guess if his four-year-old brother ever stopped talking for more than a few seconds he might actually have a reason to say more...
Posted by: Jennifer | February 19, 2009 at 05:38 PM
Ah, this post was really sweet and your photography skills are excellent. What camera do you use? They all look like such happy kiddies. Thanks for taking the time to share your life with us strangers. It motivates me to do the same and capture those little things which mean so much.
Have a great day.
Posted by: Antoinette | February 19, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Love the update Janet!!! Great glimpses into your awesome life! Cute family! I LOVE the rainbow cupcake idea - totally might have to do that for Braelyn - she thanks God for rainbows almost everyday (even though we RARELY see them!). LOL! I will for sure pray for a creative marriage rendevous for you and Jason - it is AMAZING what it can do for a marriage! I totally know what you mean about leaving that many kids with someone and the cost that it can induce. I only have 3 kiddos, and I have two sets of parents around, and it is still hard, so I can only imagine how hard it can be for you guys!
Posted by: MandaKay | February 20, 2009 at 04:40 AM
It's so wonderful to hear (read) positive things being said about children. Too often I hear mom's grumbling about them. (Um...guilty as charged). I really need to sit down and make a list of the things I love about my own.
Posted by: photojenic | February 20, 2009 at 05:05 AM
Great update. That rainbow cupcake was gorgeous! You have such a neat family. Thanks for sharing with us!
Posted by: Stephanie | February 20, 2009 at 06:33 AM
I love your pics! Looking at them makes me a little (ok...a lot) green with envy! My shots of my kids still are not turning out 1/2 this good (especially indoors where most of them happen!!)
Love that you still have time to blog a little of your personal life. Thanks for sharing :) I check in here occasionally, but TheDailyDigi is in my (firefox) Morning Coffee :)
Posted by: Randa | February 21, 2009 at 05:03 PM
Hi Janet, I'm Ruth from Malaysia. I love your blog! You are so blessed with a wonderful family:) and you are really fabulous mom who can do so many thing in one time with four kiddos. (I'm SAHM with only 2 kiddos, but I used to feel too tired with house chores and spend my full time with kids!)I thank God that I found your blog, and what you shared in this post, remind me to be thankful with ALL the God gave me today and how to be a JOYFUL & POSITIVE thinker mom!!! :)
Posted by: ruth | February 22, 2009 at 04:32 AM
Janet,
I also have four kids (11,10,7 and 4) and wanted to share some advice on the marriage building issue...as the older two get older, it will be easier to spend time together...even it's at home. My older two can entertain the younger set while my husband and I have an uninterrupted conversation. But, this didn't happen for a while...so HANG IN THERE! I'll be praying that the Lord sends you the perfect babysitter that can handle four kiddos without a problem!
Posted by: Tracey | February 22, 2009 at 04:30 PM
Janet, you have four wonderful kids and God has blessed you with many talents!!! I look forward to keeping up with you:) I'm going to add you to my blogroll! Many blessing.
Posted by: Jean Miller | February 24, 2009 at 05:07 AM