Nutcracker Ballet

Our first Nutcracker Ballet...such a magical evening.  The kids were in awe of the sites and scale of the Wortham Center.  They spotted the gift shop right away and selected a Nutcracker doll for Nathaniel and Clara doll for Lily.  They were both attentive to the entire show but the last few minutes.  Lily loved Clara and followed the story carefully.  She was concerned to see the prince dance with the Snow Queen and other characters in the Land of Sweets.  She also recognized some of the music that has been played in her dance class. Her eyes lit up with every new scene.  

Nathaniel wanted to know, "Mommy, can we do this again soon?  Like in January??"  I'm so glad their first ballet was such a hit!

New style

I found Caleb sporting his new tshirt style in his crib after nap this morning.  He's pleased with himself ;)

Nelf the Elf shenanigans

Sweet dreams on a (not so) Silent Night

She fell asleep while Nathaniel was practicing piano before dinner.  Now that's a tired (and mildly ill) little girl!  She's still recovering from a nasty cold after a nonstop fun-time visit to Mimi and PapPaw's house for Thanksgiving last week.

Jokester

Nathaniel's first witty joke:  I asked him to get his clothes on, and he asked me, with a straight face, "did you say 'put your clothes on', or 'eat a donut'?"  His sly smile when I laughed was adorable.

Kids say the darnedest things

Me: I'm sorry you were left at the table alone.  I thought Daddy was coming back (I had gone to bathe Lily).  Were you lonely?

Nathaniel: No.  I have Jesus with me in my heart, so I wasn't lonely.

Lily came into our room one morning and found Aaron and I still in bed (N had opened the gate).

She said to Aaron, "Hey!  That's my spot!  What are you doing in my spot?"

Me: I picked up something for you at the store today.
Nathaniel: Oh, what is it?!?
Me: A puzzle book!
Nathaniel: Oh, I was hoping it was an iPad.
#myboythinksbig

Nathaniel wants to be hang glider when he grows up (close second was race car driver.). Lily wants to be "super pants". 

Lily: Bubby, do you want to drink some of my mommy milk?  

Nathaniel:  But you don't have mommy milk.  Your chest is too small.  Only big mommys have mommy milk.

Thank goodness for the voice of reason from our 5-year-old!  That could have made for some awkward memories.

Nathaniel: I figured out the difference between mommys and daddys.  Mommys hatch the babies, and they have mommy milk in their chests.

Aaron: lily, do you see the moon?

Lily: yeah, it's missing a piece.

Aaron: that's called a crescent moon.

Lily: it's a banana moon.  Ba-na-na moon-y.  Ba-na-na moon-y!

After a difficult start yesterday, when the morning felt long while my patience ran short, today God showed me a glimpse of His beautiful grace.  From the backseat out of the blue, Nathaniel said, "Mommy, I like it when you stay home."  When I asked why he said, "I like when you play with me."  Made my day.  To be clear, he also says he likes playing with Daddy, Jonathan, and Jackson better, but he also likes playing with me :)

Caleb's Arrival

Caleb William arrived on January 7th at 1:55pm.  After expecting him any day for about 3 weeks, then finally having labor induced, he still managed to surprise us with his size.  The same length as big brother, 21.5", but a whole pound bigger at 9lb 12oz, he was quite a shock!  We were expecting him to be the smallest of the three kiddos based on the latest ultrasound estimates.   But he is perfect in every way, and already adored by us and his two siblings.

Sweet memories of our first days together:  Lily coos repeatedly, He's so cute!  She helps out by covering him with a blanket…Nathaniel sings Jesus loves me to Caleb.   Caleb smiles in his sleep….Lily asks many times if there is another baby in my tummy.  Nathaniel wants to know if not, why is it still sticking out?  (Ha! Give it a little time guys ;)…Birthday party with gift exchange was a big success.  Daddy bought enough chocolate cake to last nearly a week….First trip to Godwin park at 5 days old.  He slept through but the kids had a blast….The umbilical cord stump fell off on 1/14….Newborn portraits with Marissa Miller on 1/15, during which he tried out the pacifier for the first time in order to be a more cooperative photography subject.  He liked it at the time, but hasn't fully bought in.  He only takes it here and there, every few days.

We're all getting acquainted, learning Caleb's funny faces, sounds, and favorite sleeping locations (in Mommy's or Daddy's arms).  From the previous two kiddos, I know that so many moments of the early weeks home get lost in the cloud of sleep deprivation, but we're savoring this baby bliss and the sweet snuggles of our newest little love.