My Big 4 Year Olds!

Wow, I can't believe it has been 4 years since the boys were born...and we are all still here and alive!! :) Honestly, now that I just have 1 baby I seriously look back and wonder how we did it. Most of their baby days are just a blur to me. We just went day by day and somehow we made it!

So last week the boys celebrated their 4th bday and were so excited. Luke for whatever reason woke up the day of his bday and very proudly stated that now that he is 4 years old, he can do whatever he wants to....he was very disappointed to find out that that was not the case! :) This statement pretty much sums up Luke! He is mr. independent and VERY strong willed (I don't know where he gets either of these qualities....)!! While these can be great traits to have at times....it makes for some long days around here. Luke is much like his daddy in the fact that he can sometimes look like a big ole' meanie on the outside, but he is really just a big ole' snuggly teddy bear. That boy loves to snuggle and I just eat it up!! He is constantly asking me to rub his back or his belly and he will often say "mommy, you wanna snuggle!" Of course I do!! I love this boy and his big brown eyes and dimples. He can be so sweet sometimes to be so defiant other times! At home, he is definitely the loud, dominant one of the two boys, but he completely changes out in public. Once again like his daddy, he becomes very reserved and often acts shy. He is quite the observer and he observes a situation for a long time before he becomes comfortable in it. Once he gets comfortable though....game on!! Of course I am biased but he is one smart little boy. The things he comes out with and remembers are just amazing to me. Luke is such a special little boy and I wouldn't change anything about him. He is perfect and I am so happy God blessed me with him!

Blowing out his bday candles at his Bounce U party!

So Cade is pretty much the opposite of everything I just said about Luke! They really are very different and I am glad. Cade is very much a rule follower...much like his mother. He wants to make people happy and proud of him so most of the time he does exactly what is asked of him with no trouble. Much like Luke this can be a really good trait, but I do hope as he gets older he will know when to stand up for what he believes in even when it is against the "flow" of everyone else. Cade is very dramatic and will let everyone know if he is hurt in anyway. If he just stubs his toe he screams like his toe was completely cut off!! Everything is a big deal to him and he wants everyone to notice. Although Luke is the dominant one at home, Cade just shines when he gets out in public. Most of the time he likes to be the center of attention and he has learned that being and saying silly things will get him a lot of attention so this is what he does. Cade just has the cutest face and it is very hard to resist when he wants something! He is very determined and if he has his mind on something...he is going to go for it! This definitely shows when Cade is playing sports. Cade is definitely a natural at sports and has been since his was wee little. He loves to play pretty much any sport and he would play it all day long as long as someone will play with him. Again, I know I am biased, but he is a great little ball player. We are constantly amazed at how good he can hit and throw the ball! Cade is such an amazing little boy and I wouldn't change a thing about him.

Blowing out his candles at his Bounce U party!

I am so thankful God chose me to be their mommy! What an honor to get to raise these 2 incredible boys!! I can't wait to see what God has in store for their lives. I know they are each going to do some amazing things!!

Happy 4th birthday guys!! Mommy and daddy love you Luke and Cade!! You mean the world to us!

At home the day of their birthday

Celebrating at Bounce U!

Words of a 3 year old

I have more wise words to share with you....

Luke was in and out of the bathroom many times yesterday while he was dealing with the stomach bug. About halfway through the day, he walked out of the bathroom, threw himself on the floor and said " Mom, when is Jesus going to heal me. He sure is taking a long time!!" Aaaa to have faith like a child...although he was getting a little impatient with Jesus he knew he was going to heal him he just wanted him to move a little faster with it!! I loved it!! I am so glad they know and believe that Jesus can heal...even the little things like the stomach bug! I am happy to say that as of today Jesus has healed him from the stomach bug!! :)

Happenings Around Here

As you can see I am still having a hard time staying caught up on the blog...been a little busy! I thought I would fill you in on what has been happening around here!

Allie was still such a good little baby up until she turned about 3 months old....

Then all of a sudden she just became a very irritable little girl. Although we had only known her for 3 months it just didn't seem like her little personality. I didn't know what was going on and just thought we were maybe going through a rough spot. Long story short....after about 2 weeks of this I just knew something more was going on. I took her to the doctor and they said she had a little acid reflux and was probably not getting enough to eat (she is a big girl :) ) After adding some medicine to her daily routine, changing to expensive formula and adding cereal to her bottle...our sweet baby girl is back!!! Thank goodness!!!! She is sleeping so much better and just so content. She is wonderful and her brothers are still in love with her as you can see!!!

Allie has been enjoying her exersaucer!! Thank goodness for

2 older brothers with hand me down toys!! :)

I was sooooo excited to see the weather report for this week!! I had such great things planned for outside....

We got to enjoy some of those things on Sunday, but then it all went down hill after that! Since Monday we have been battling a stomach bug around our house. :( It started Valentine's Day morning with Cade (so romantic) then moved on to Luke today. I would love to think the rest of us will be spared, but I'm sure we won't be so lucky. Here are some pics of us playing outside before all the nastiness hit!!

I think Allie is still a bit of a momma's girl, but she sure does love her daddy!

I had cute little outfits picked out for all the kids for Valentine's Day,

but with all the sickness I only got pics of Allie in her Valentine's outfit.

This is the look I get when Luke sneaks into the room and makes eye contact with her...

she loves her brothers! :)

Now, I'm off to wash more clothes and clean up more mess!!

Wise Words of a 3 Year Old

So I have decided I am going to start a new segment for the blog called "Wise Words of a 3 Year Old." The boys are forever saying hilarious things that I want to remember, but inevitably after a few days I forget what they said. That is why I am going to start this segment so I can document the funny things they say and look back on it someday! So here is the first one:

About a week ago me and the crew loaded up in the car to take the boys to school. It was a very cold morning and they boys did not want to get in their seats because they were cold. I quickly convinced them to just sit down and told them their seats would warm up soon... A few minutes down the road, Cade very seriously looked at me and said "Mom, I know how you can warm your seat up...just toot in it." I started cracking up. Then I gained composure and asked him if he had tried this and if it worked. He quickly replied "Yes I tried it and it did work!! I told Luke to just toot in his seat too so it would warm up." I couldn't help but hysterically laugh for a few minutes and enjoy my stinky, warm seated :) ride to school!!! Gotta love the things kids come up with!! So next time you have to get in your cold car with a cold seat...just toot and it will warm right up!!!

Allie is 2 months old!

Well we survived all the craziness of the holidays and had a great time celebrating Jesus' birthday!! As usual, I took way to many pics and could spend hours posting them all, but I just don't have the time! :) Just know that we had a wonderful Christmas with our family and Joe and I spent a wonderful New Year's Eve having a nice dinner without children!!

I can't believe we are past all of the holidays and Allie is already 2 months old! Time flies!!

Allie had her 2 month check up yesterday and here are her stats:

weight: 12lbs, 4oz (90th percentile)

height: 22.5 in (50th percentile)

Whoa she has gotten so big!!! I had to already box up her newborn clothes because they don't fit her anymore. I was so sad to already be done with that phase. :( It goes by so fast and I just want to relish in every little joy of her being a baby. A few nights ago, I walked in the boys room to check on them before I went to bed and I just sat there watching them sleep with mixed feelings. I was sad because they are just getting so big and growing up so fast, but I was also happy to think of all they have become and will continue to be! I am excited to see the little person Allie is going to be, but I sure don't want to rush it!!! Anyway....

Allie has been the greatest baby. She rarely gets upset or cries, but when she does...she makes it loud and clear!! She has been sleeping through the night for a few weeks now and I am so thankful for that! She likes to take small naps during the day, but if you know me...you know I am already working on getting her on a napping and eating schedule!! We have the eating schedule down pretty good, but the napping is a little harder! We'll get there!! She is really starting to smile and laugh which just melts my heart! Her favorite time to "talk" is when she is laying on her changing table. For some reason, she always has a lot to say after her diaper is changed! Her brothers are still madly in love with her and still continue to tell me that they want to keep her! (Thank goodness because I think I want to keep her too!!) Now that she is 2 months old, we are starting to take her out with us a little more. Every time we leave the house now, the boys ask if Allie can come and if she can be around a lot of people yet...I think they are just so excited to show her off! :)

She watches their every move!

(BTW - I realize the flower on her head is the same size as her head and looks a little silly...but I still thought it was cute/funny!!)

Love this smile!!

Still Alive!!

It has been a while since I've had a chance to blog, but we are still alive!! Everything has been going great since the arrival of Allie, but it has been a change and we have been busy getting into our new routine! I can't believe Allie is already over a month old. Time just flies by!

I don't know what she would do without superman and iron man to protect her!! :)

As busy as it has been I am trying to slow down and enjoy the little moments with Allie....her little coos, her smell, her brothers loving and kissing on her, her smile, the list could go on and on. She has just been the perfect addition to our family! I sometimes tear up just seeing how much the boys love their little sister! I think every parent fears how the other children will take the addition of a new baby in the family, but they couldn't have done better. They understand when I sometimes have to meet Allie's needs before I can play with them or read them a book. They have nothing but love for her! They are such great big brothers as I knew they would be!

Allie has already had many first in her short little life...

First Bath

First of many photo shoots :)

First Thanksgiving

First time getting a Christmas Tree

First Santa visit

and we are getting ready to celebrate her first Christmas!!