First Wrestling Tournament

We had a full day today. It began, as my days often do, with a sleepless night and an early morning. I don’t mind though, because the baby boys that keep me up are both just so stinking cute! After breakfast I decided that a little rest time was in order so we all snuggled in my bed and watched an episode of Curious George together.

We got chores done in the morning. The kids worked slowly, but the kept at it and finished everything. We worked on homeschool next. Our workload has been fairly light this week though so it didn’t take too long.

At 1:30 I took Jacob to the doctor for what I suspected was an infection in his left eye. It seemed like horrible timing because I had just taken him in the day before for his two-week check. But, timing also worked in my favor- Rick had gone to bed around 2am the night before so he woke up much earlier than usual and kept the older kids while I took Jacob to the doctor. He was even able to finish up their school work with them. Jacob does have an infection and most likely a blocked duct as well. Prescription drops should clear up the infection quickly and the blocked tear duct should open within the next year or so. (Braden had a blocked duct and it opened when he was around 6 months old.)

After the appointment, I met Rick and the kids at the rec center for Brenna’s gymnastics practice. Rick went to a meeting at work and the kids and I stayed with Brenna.

Immediately after gymnastics (but in the same rec center, thankfully) Joshua had his first wrestling tournament of the 2009 Folkstyle season. He was so excited! Braden, our little “wrestler in the making” was thrilled too. We recently bought him a wrestling singlet as bribery to go poop in the toilet. He has potty training down fine, but has really struggled with the bowel side of things. He absolutely fell in love with this singlet (size 4XS and WAY too big) so we decided that it might be just the motivator he needs right now. Braden pooped in the toilet today and got to wear his new singlet to the tournament as a reward. He was thrilled!

Braden insisted on joining the big boys as they stretched before the tournament. It was hilarious to watch. He was always a step or two behind the boys, but he was trying so hard and he seemed so pleased with himself. He even ran laps with the team, proudly wearing his new singlet and Joshua’s old head gear, which were both way too big on him.

The tournament went well. Joshua wrestled four kids, but he spent less than a minute on the mat all together. He pinned every single opponent in 5-15 seconds each. Needless to say, he took first place at tonight’s tournament. What a great way to start the season! Afterwards Joshua got a team t-shirt.

This was an “in house” tournament with just kids from the rec center’s team so it didn’t take long. We are used to hours and hours of wrestling tournaments so it was nice to have a short one for a change! Josh made quite the name for himself tonight. We overheard lots of dads talking about him after the tournament, saying what an amazing wrestler he was and how he’ll be a state champ someday. (He actually took state last spring!) Josh is such a talented, natural wrestler and he loves the sport so much. We were proud of our little guy and he had a great time.

After the tournament we all went out for ice cream together. I stopped and got Jacob’s prescription (it wasn’t ready when Rick tried to pick it up at 4:00). Rick was already going in late to work (with permission, of course) so he came home with us and helped me get the kids cleaned up and into pajamas.

It was a fun, busy day. I especially enjoyed the wrestling tournament.

Guess What?

November is here and this curly-haired, bright-eyed, dimpled little darling…

… will be turning 16 months old this month!

He looks happy about it, don’t you think?

It’s hard to believe that 16 months have come and gone so fast. And it’s incredible to realize that when his official 16-month birthday rolls around, Asher will have already been a BIG brother for several weeks! I love close age gaps and I love having two babies at the same time! Who says you need to be BIG to be a BIG brother?

And just look how super, duper cute Asher is! His blue eyes are constantly changing colors, depending on what he’s wearing, the way the room is lit, and so on. I just love the way the afternoon sunlight caught the gorgeous blue and the hint of green in Asher’s beautiful eyes! And those eyelashes! They may be blond, but they are so, so long!

 As he approaches his 16-month birthday, Asher does have some big news to share. He’s been *this close* to walking since last July. He’d stand up from the ground, walk ten steps, and then drop to his knees and crawl. I don’t know what held him back for so long when he obviously had the strength, balance, and coordination he needed to be an official toddler. His pediatrician speculated that his vision, which was absent in his early infancy due to DVM, was still underdeveloped and that this inhibited his ability to walk. I, on the other hand, felt pretty sure that his vision was fine and that it was the speed and ease of crawling that really kept Asher on his hands and knees for so long.

I really hoped that Asher would walk before the summer was over. Then I hoped that Asher would walk before fall came and the weather got colder. Then I hoped he’d walk before the new baby was born. Finally, I just shrugged and decided that he’d walk when he was good and ready to do so.

And now, after months of being *this close* to walking, Asher has officially started walking. Over the last few days he’s been on his feet a lot more. Yesterday he finally started to use those two chubby feet as his primary mode of transportation. I don’t think I’ve seen him crawl since. After spending so many months as a “half-time walker” Asher has made a very sudden transition to “full-time walker” instead.

Funnily, Asher walks the same way he used to crawl when he first became mobile on his hands and knees. He had a very bouncy but also methodical crawl, and he always reminded me of a little wind-up toy. His walk is so similar that it makes me smile. He has a bouncy little march, like a cute little toy soldier with springs on his feet. I know that soon he’ll be walking “normally” so I am soaking up his adorable little saunter while it lasts!

Look how cute he is on those two little feet! Way to go, Bug!

Lazy Days

We’ve had a lazy day today. We all got up early and got our chores done quickly. And from then on, it’s been nothing but laziness and relaxation around here! My little ones (obviously tired after being up all night) took extra long naps, my middle kids spent the day playing quietly, and my biggest Brenna has been off at a friend’s house all afternoon. I’ve snuggled with Jacob a lot, taken pictures of my kids, spent some time online, and enjoyed the peacefulness of the day.

The house is spotless except for the toys that the kids are currently busy with. Each room is bright with afternoon sunshine. I’ve had the windows open today so the air feels cool and fresh and autumn-y. It’s a good, good day.

Wrestler in the Making

Asher loves to wrestle. He tackles Josh whenever Josh is willing to wrestle with him and Joshua is always a good sport– laughing good-naturedly, toppling over easily, and praising Asher for his efforts. With only a few pounds between them, Asher and Braden are a more equal match. Asher jumps on Braden every chance he gets, and Braden returns the “favor” just as often. The two of them just wrestle and roll around and giggle like crazy. It might sound odd that I let my little boys wrestle this way, but they have so much fun doing it that I don’t mind. They are never, ever rough with each other and their wrestling is always so playful and happy. It makes me giggle to watch them. I love seeing their brotherly relationship in action, even if it is in the form of giggling, tickling, and rolling around on the floor. I am sure that in another year, Jacob will be joining in on the wrestle mania fun. I love having four sons and I love that they have each other as well!

Burp!

Braden started burping a few days ago. At first I thought that his tummy was upset, but after a few days I realized that he is actually burping on purpose. I thought this was kind of funny, but the longer he does it, the more it grosses me out. Now my angelic three-year-old is burping constantly. Since he won’t quit doing it, we’re working on “Excuse me.”

Tag, You’re It

I had a long night last night. It was one of those nights where the kids (Braden, Asher, and Jacob to be specific) seemed to just tag team each other, taking turns getting up all night long. I’d get one little boy asleep and settled, only to have another little boy wake up before my head even hit my own pillow. I started to wonder if the boys had held a little meeting yesterday to plan out my sleepness night. I could almost imagine the three of them pouring over a detailed hour-by-hour plan of attack and giggling mischievously while they did. I got about three hours of sleep total, but I didn’t mind at all.

The sun came up brilliantly this morning (I know because I was awake to see the sunrise). The kids all woke up cheerful and there is nothing like the sound of children’s laughter in the early morning. It made me feel great in spite of my long night. And then I ate a big, yummy brownie for breakfast (’cause, you know, I like to eat healthy and stuff). And that boosted my spirits even more. It’s going to be a great day. I can feel it already.

Someday, in about 30 years or so, I am planning to sleep again. I plan to have babies for a while so I’ll be up with newborns for quite a few years to come. And as my youngest ones begin to sleep through the night, I’m sure my oldest ones will be teenagers and I’ll be up waiting for them after dances, dates, and late-night social gatherings. So I figure 30 years from now is a good estimate for when I’ll be able to get a full nights sleep again.

So eventually all my babies will be grown and I’ll be able to sleep all night long. I’m not looking forward to it. I know I will miss these long, sleepness nights and the little ones (and big ones) who kept me up for them. That’s why I don’t mind nights like last night. Motherhood is far too fleeting anyway; I refuse to wish away even the sleepless nights!

Silly Ash

My silly Asher is being quite the goofball this morning. He is giggling like a wild man and keeps throwing a small fleece blanket over his head. Then he takes off walking or crawling as fast as he can, with the blanket still covering his head. Unable to see anything at all, he keeps crashing into doors and walls. He thinks it’s the most hilarious thing ever. The static from the blanket has electrified his hair, turning his soft, freshly washed curls into what we loving refer to as “mad scientist hair.” So between the crazy hair and the uncontrollable giggling and the constant crash-and-tumble routine, Asher is very entertaining this morning!

A Little Party

Tonight I found myself missing my kids. I’d been with them all day and knew I’d be with them tomorrow. They hadn’t even been in bed for that long. But I missed them anyway. I also had a major craving for chocolate. So what’s a mama to do when it’s 8:45pm and she misses her children and she’s craving chocolate? Luckily, I found the perfect solution.

In a spur of the moment move, I got out of bed and tiptoed into the girls’ room. Brenna was tucked into bed. Maddie was playing quietly on the floor and leapt headlong into her bed when I entered the room.

“Come on, girls,” I whispered and motioned for them to join me in the hallway. They seemed perplexed, but followed obediently.

I poked my head into the boys’ room. Braden and Asher were sleeping, but Joshua was still awake. I whispered for him to follow us.

The kids were obviously confused as they followed me down the dark stairway. I actually found great enjoyment in their confusion because I knew how excited they’d be when I told them what we were doing. I even let the suspense drag on a little; I just couldn’t help myself.

We made brownies together. The kids were delighted. 9pm to a 6-year-old is like 2am to a teenager. They were all excited to be up at such a late hour and even more excited to be making brownies. They cracked eggs (and did great too- no shells in the batter), took turns using the mixer, and licked the beaters when we were finished.

While the brownies baked (for a whopping 52 minutes!) the kids and I played one of our favorite card games, In a Pickle. It’s great for grown-ups and kids alike and we all love it. I highly recommend it. We all giggled and talked and enjoyed each other’s company while we played. It was fun for all of us.

We played for about 30 minutes and then, as the kids began to feel tired from being up so late, we decided to watch NickJr. I love that their kid shows stay on all night long. It is really helpful to have Little Bear or Dora or Backyardigans available when a child is sick in the middle of the night or when a little one is wide awake at 5:30am. And it’s nice to have appropriate kids shows during an impromptu middle-of-the-night brownie baking party as well. We snuggled up and enjoyed the show.

By the time the episode was finished, our brownies were cooked and partially cooled (I pulled them out during the show). We gathered around the table and enjoyed our tasty, warm brownies with nice, cold milk. We were all in good spirits and there was lots of giggling as we ate our yummy treats.

When our brownies were gone, we all hugged and kissed and the kids thanked me again and again for our fun party. I thanked them right back because it meant just as much to me as it did to them. I tucked my three big kids into bed for the second time and turned on a tape of “Nana’s stories” for them to listen to as they fell asleep. (These are the stories that my grandmother recorded for me, the same ones that I listened to while falling asleep as a child.)

After some brief chit chatting and a reminder that it was late and they needed to sleep, all the kids got quiet and fell asleep easily.

It was such a nice, enjoyable night and such a great memory for all of us. It was the perfect cure for both my loneliness and my chocolate craving. I love being with my kids and I was so glad to spend several hours just having fun with them tonight.

Six Growing Children

Any frequent readers of my blog will know that I have been contemplating my growing family a lot these days. I feel like we are crossing over that great divide that separates small families with small children who are just starting out, from bigger families with older children who are more established.

It’s little things that remind me of our family’s growth. I was reminded when I watched Brenna expertly lift her tiny 8-day-old newborn brother with all the knowledge and grace of an older child. I was reminded when Joshua came downstairs in his boxer shorts and I noticed how lean and muscular his abdomen and chest are becoming. Madalyn’s sweet face is a constant reminder of her own growth as she is now losing her baby cheeks in favor of a more grown-up, slender look. Hearing the children practice their piano lessons reminds me. Knowing that Brenna will be baptised next year reminds me. Watching Joshua excercise every morning reminds me. Listening to Madalyn read out loud reminds me. Every time I buy 6 gallons of milk and know it won’t last the week, every time I wash yet another load of laundry, every time I clip 60 fingernails and 60 toenails that are not my own, every time I pack up the kids in our giant, 12-passenger van… I am reminded that we truly are growing up.

For the first time, I am seeing my older children as older siblings to Asher and Jacob, instead of their peers like they were when Braden and Maddie were younger. For the first time, they are taking on more of a caregivers role than the roll of a playmate with their baby brothers.

We are growing up- the children are all getting older, and more of them continue to arrive. We are growing in numbers and in age and it’s incredible to be a part of. Here is what each of my growing babies are up to…

Brenna is an incredible little girl. She is mature beyond her seven years. She is such a sweet, helpful girl and is often a second mother to her younger siblings. She frequently steps in to comfort a tearful Braden, tickle Asher when he needs attention, fix Madalyn’s hair just so that she will feel extra beautiful, or rock Jacob to sleep. I love watching her in her role as big sister. Brenna is bright and inquisitive, and everything seems to come easily to her. She is such an intelligent little girl and she really enjoys school. She loves to read and she reads far above her grade level. Brenna has an ear for music and an excellent singing voice. She’s a great little gymnast. Brenna’s always been a little timid, but she pushes herself for gymnastics because she loves the sport so much. It’s great to see her stepping out of her comfort zone and challenging herself. Brenna is dramatic and quite the perfectionist. She’s a social little girl, makes friends so easily, and is always eager to play. Brenna is a girly girl who loves dresses and painted fingernails and pretty jewelry and wearing bows in her hair, but she’s also a bit of a tomboy who enjoys sports and isn’t afraid to play hard or get dirty. Brenna is such a joy in our home.

Joshua is smart, athletic, and handsome. He is such a good kid. He has a good heart and an amazing work ethic. He continues to excel in his school subjects and I am constantly amazed by his abilities. Academics come easily for him and he is so far behind his grade level that I am shocked sometimes. He loves sports, wrestling and football in particular. He has started exercising to be in good shape for the sports he adores. Joshua is passionate about life. He has an incredibly strong will, an amazing sense of determination, and is very goal-oriented. Nothing stops him, slows him down, or holds him back. He loves games and is always ready to play. Joshua is an active boy, but he’s also very thoughtful at the same time. He’s such a thinker, and very analytical. He’s doing wonderfully in piano lessons, and is a really good sight-reader. I think the piano notes make sense to him the same way that a math problem does. Josh is our “saver” when it comes to money. He has saved about $200 for his mission and has another $30 of spending money saved.  Joshua has such a strong testimony and he is an amazing little boy.

Madalyn is literally growing up before my eyes. I am amazed as I watch her grow and change! She is changing in every way possible, it seems. Physically, emotionally, mentally… in every way, this baby girl of mine is growing up. Physically, Maddie is looking a lot older these days. Her legs are getting longer, her pudgy tummy is giving way to a more slender look, and she’s losing her round baby cheeks. Maddie is very excited about reading and writing these days, and she is so happy to be a kindergartener. She loves to cook and to color. She still makes up the most imaginative little stories and she is either talking or singing constantly. Life is a musical for Maddie and she is often lost in her own little fantasy world. Madalyn just has a cheery little personality and she is so fun to be around. She has been so helpful lately, pitching in with chores and younger siblings, and she is so obedient. She is the sweetest, most tender-hearted little girl and she just wants to please everyone. She is excited about cheerleading, and honestly she makes the most adorable little cheerleader with her petite size, her big brown eyes, and her cheery little personality. Maddie is such a sweetheart and she radiates joyfulness.

Braden is delightful! I love three-year-olds, particularly this one. Braden is so sweet and so easy going. He’s just a mellow kid. He’s kind and playful, with a cute sense of humor. He is a smart little boy also. He knows most of his letters and their sounds and can recognize several sight words. He’s so bright and articulate. I am often amazed by the grown up things that he says. His favorite toys are still his beloved tools. He frequently fixes things around the house and it’s not unusual to find him with a giant plastic hammer in his pants pocket or his cool little drill in his hands. Braden loves to play with Maddie and he follows her around like she is the most amazing person he’s ever met. Braden also loves to play with Asher, who is becoming more and more of his buddy as he gets older. The two of them giggle and wrestle and chase each other around, and they often spend the first 15 minutes of naptime singing and playing together rather than going to sleep. Braden is getting to be a “big boy” these days. He’s getting better about dressing himself and he is brave enough to go down the big slide at the park. Of course, he’s still my little boy as well- he loves to snuggle and he says, “I love you, Mommy” over and over again during the day. He’s the sweetest little guy!

Asher is 15 months old and very much a toddler these days. His two favorite songs are currently Wheels on the Bus and If You’re Happy and You Know It. He knows the actions to both and he gets so excited when we sing with him. The other kids are just as delighted as Asher is as they sing with him and watch him eagerly mimic their gestures. Asher imitates everything lately. He especially loves to talk on the phone and brush his hair. He loves to read books and has a great attention span. He’s never watched much TV (not because I am anti-TV, just because it’s never been on when he’s awake), but when I tried to get him to watch it recently, he didn’t want to. He’s much more entertained by a stack of books; he absolutely loves to read. One of his favorite activities is coloring. Asher loves balls of any kind and he can always be found with a car in his hand. He hates to be left out and follows the big kids everywhere as if he’s one of them. He loves to eat. He loves to cuddle. He definitely has a mind of his own. He is always climbing something. Asher is learning lots of sign language and says quite a few words. I love this age, when he is still very much a baby, but he’s also playing, reacting, imitating, and communicating like a toddler. He is the happiest little boy and still a miracle in my eyes.

Jacob is 8 days old. He is such a sweet baby! He is the easiest newborn. He nurses well and he is a great little sleeper. He sleeps through all the noise of our busy household. Jacob has frequent periods of “awake time” as well, when he’s bright-eyed and alert. I love seeing his big, dark eyes. He is still so, so tiny. No bigger than Brenna’s dolls, he wears preemie clothes and preemie diapers and they are big on him. The girls and I have even dressed him up in doll clothes, just for fun. Just like before he was born, Jacob gets hiccups constantly. I love holding Jacob, nursing him, feeling him curled up against my chest. I even love getting up during the night with him. It is so incredible, so peaceful, so precious to have a newborn in our home again. 

I am so thankful for SIX incredible, growing children. What a privilege it is to raise them. I am head over heels in love with each of them!

8 Days

Man, I feel great. At 8 days post partum, I feel fabulous!

I usually have very quick and easy recoveries after the birth of a baby. The exception was after Asher was born. He came by emergency c-section and the physical recovery from that was long and difficult. I was never upset about having a c-section and had no emotional issues afterwards as I have heard some women have. In fact, I was incredibly grateful for my c-section because it most likely saved my baby’s life. But the recovery was still difficult, long, and painful.

The contrast between my last recovery- my c-section recovery- and this one is amazing. It’s incredible to feel this incredible, and at barely a week post partum. I actually feel better right now than I did when Asher was probably four months old. I’ve always been thankful for my easy recoveries, but now I appreciate them so much more! I feel so good and I am so grateful for that!