Raingutter Regatta

Josh was able to participate in the Raingutter Regatta last night. He made his boat himself (an hour before the event) and had a great time. He took 2nd place. Kid’s got some lung capacity.

 

Black and White

Allison Nathylie, 11 months old

Allie’s Little Mess

Today Allie pulled about ten wipes out of the container. She had a marvelous time!

   

I’ve dealt with years of baby and toddler and preschooler messes, but “messes” like this I could really get used to!

I love this sweetie pie, with her blue eyes and her cute little nose and her enormous grin. She is such a love!

   

 

I’m so thankful for this little sunshine in our family. She is precious! We were blessed a thousand times over when our sweet Allie was born.  She came to us with the sweetest little soul, so peaceful and so full of love. For many, many months we were wrapped up in the sweetest, most perfect kind of new baby bliss that I’ve ever experienced.

Now she’s almost one. I still am so overcome when I look at her. She is absolutely precious, the greatest gift to all of us, a perfect little tenth piece to our family puzzle. She is so, so sweet and peaceful and happy and full of love. What a truly beautiful little soul!

   

Allie

Sometimes I just can’t resist taking pictures of this sweetheart. She’s too cute! I snapped this close up right before I got her out of the van. What would I do without a phone that can take pictures?!

Little Big Girl (Allie, 11 months old)

Our sweetheart is 11 months old!! (tomorrow)

She has her first tooth with a second breaking through. Her hair is getting long. She eats like crazy, both solid foods and nursing (still lots and lots of nursing because she refuses all bottles and cups and because she’s a big comfort nurser as well). She weighs about 15 1/2 pounds or so. She is sleeping through the night sometimes now, which is awesome after almost a year of getting up every 1-3 hours, but it’s also a little sad because I really miss seeing her on the nights that she sleeps.

She loves to be in the middle of the action with all the kids around, and she loves to be outside. She really loves people, and she’s always lifting her hands and reaching out to people to try to engage them. She loved touching faces. She brings such a feeling of peace and love to our home! She truly has a special little soul.

It’s almost been a year since she joined us. I still get emotional thinking about what a sweet, precious miracle this baby girl is! I’ve learned a lot with each of my pregnancies, but I think I learned the most before, during, and right after my pregnancy with Allie. What a blessing and a gift she is!

We love you so much, sweet Allie Cakes!!

Track

Heading to track practice with her cute mis-matched socks.

Fashion

I love it when preschoolers dress themselves! This morning, Asher came down wearing this:

He was so proud!! I didn’t make him change.

Dress shoes with no socks, blue plaid shirt, brown and white plaid shirt that is inside out which is why the buttons are sticking out funny and with the collar popped, and his brother’s hat on sideways.

How we get the crazy out

I love, love, love hanging out with these guys! After school, when all the older kids are off at activities or playing with friends and Allie is napping, I get to focus on these crazy little boys of mine.

We play hard, and it’s always a blast! There’s nothing like energetic little boys to force a mommy to be energetic herself! The trampoline is a great place to burn up energy playing, giggling, tickling, and jumping together!

I love this line up: Jacob with his inside-out-and-backwards shirt, Asher as Spiderman, Braden in Josh’s old football “cold gear” (when it’s 90 degrees out), and Drew with his crazy trampoline static hair!

Love that hair, Drew!!

My Girls

I love it when she wears this shirt. It matches her eyes exactly.

And my second little girl, with her beautiful brown eyes:

Smiley, Smiley, and…

Smiley:

Smiley:

And…

Not-So-Smiley