piles can be fun...when they aren't laundry

Fall

Around here we have been enjoying fall...the porch is decked out with corn stalks, a bale of hay and pumpkins galore. The leaves are glorious blend of gold, red and bright orange. I will treasure the walks the kids and I have taken around our neighborhood, exploring the different fallen leaf shapes, the beautiful weather and the talks we have while strolling (Kate is now riding her bike all over the place, but the boys I manage to contain in the double stroller). We are in transition-good transition, just like the season around us. I will soon become contingent at work, which means more time a home with my munchkins and more time that Michael can enjoy just being Dad. Joseph's voice, both sweet and boyish, sings "Jesus Loves Me" and "Hallelujah" to me every night as I tuck him into bed. Kate is becoming a young girl and her toddler days are now gone. With creativity and sparkle, that always surprises me, she has filled the "big sister" role in so many ways. Thomas is 6 months old today! He is healthy and HUGE for a Molloy baby. He is at least 17 pounds, eating cereal and baby food of all types (zucchini, banana, amaranth was a gobbled down before my eyes). He now enjoys playing peek-a-boo and belly laughs when he knows you are being silly. Squeals of sheer pleasure come from him when he has the attention of his big sister or brother. He sits with support and never wants to miss out on what is going on around.

Kate was supposed to go on a class field trip to the cider mill, however, I was not quite brave enough to maj=ke the trek with three kids with the weather prediction of 100% change of rain, thunder and lightning...so we opted to get our own cider and donuts, set up the tent inside the house and have a grand picnic. in Kate's words it was simply "delicious".

quotes by kate

Earlier today while swinging: Mommy, I did a cotton ball in Grandma's pool yesterday! Then while playing with Thomas I hear her exclaim: Mom, Thomas has 4 headlines (meaning he has creases on his forehead)

LT is 4 months old

levi THOMAS: 4 months old . smiles . coos. babbles . rolling . we love you SO much! how quickly you have become a tremendous blessing with your laid back personality, love for being included, contagious smile and soft cuddles!

What bored mommies to in their spare time... Thomas' First Haircut BEFORE:

AFTER:

9 weeks

Thomas continues to be a fantastic baby and addition to our home. He is so well behaved, he even slept from 8pm to 6am! Some may say that it's a fluke, but a mom can be hopeful, right?!

Family Time in TC

If I could have my husband plan everything I definitely would...I have to admit that he single-handedly planned most of our wedding, the honeymoon getaway and every vacation since. He has a fantastic gift for choosing great destination spots and excursions once there while still getting the best deal possible. His most recent locale was Traverse City, Michigan. We rented a cute cottage across from Lake Michigan and had a relaxing "up north" experience. The first full morning of our trip we were loading up the car when Kate comes out of her room, declares that she feels "sick" and runs into her bedroom (side note, her room has a bunk bed which she shared with Joseph...She was ecstatic because she got the top bunk and Joseph could not have been happier that to share a room with his big sis on the "cool bottom bunk"). I was acutely disappointed because we were heading to the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes and I knew we would all enjoy it, so I followed Kate into the bedroom only to fin her on the top bunk with the most forlorn face imaginable. I asked her if she really truly felt sick to which she replied in a very sad voice," Mommy, I really am not feeling sick, I am just full of sadness". Trying to hide my smile and keep from laughing, I asked the reason for this sadness. The answer? "Because I do not want to leave this home." Needless to say I was able to convince her that she would have a lot of fun and that we were definitely coming back to the house...She not only made it up the dunes but wanted to go further and proved to be quite the explorer. We also had a fun family member/photographer join us for a few days...Thanks Auntie Li for all your help! A canoe ride with the older two kids, round of golf with Michael, multiple stops for amazing ice cream, late night grocery shopping with Li at Tom's, pirate's put put, rainy day shopping and good ol' movie time as a family when the weather did not cooperate...we had a great family getaway!

2 months with Thomas

2 months . 11 pounds . 22 inches . perfection. Thomas, it is as if you have always been a part of our family...you are so well behaved and relaxed, you only make a fuss when it is time for you to eat, if crying does occur you settle down almost immediately upon hearing your big brother or sister trying to soothe you. You began to coo and smile this week and we love, love, love it!

babushka

Babushka or baboushka (from Russian: ба́бушка; IPA: [ˈbabʊʂkə], meaning "grandmother" or "old woman") may refer to: A Western term for a woman's headscarf tied below the chin in the Eastern European manner. During her nap/quiet time, I recently found Kate in her room with one of my scarf headbands around her head. She was excited to show me her "bonnet". I re-positioned the scarf to cover more of her head and told her that she had on a babushka. Kate: What is a babushka? Me: (as I show her what she looks like in a mirror) It is like a bonnet that Granny (my grandma, her great grandma) used to wear to keep her hair clean when she was working hard in the fields as a little girl. Kate: (a tremendous smile coming over her expressive face, she responds, gleaming and voice filled with pride) I look like I am ready to plant in the fields, Mom!

Moments to Remember

...my toddler's hand dimples that show so well when he tries to "hide" by covering his eyes. JoJo you make me smile all day, everyday. You are quick to apologize when you need to do so, quick to help and perform your task at hand with such enthusiasm as if it were the most important thing in the world, you love your baby brother and adore your big sister. You started intermittently calling me "Mom" instead of "Mama", which means you are growing up much too quickly. Yet you still love kisses, hugs and songs at bedtime. ...the picture I saw while watching out my front window yesterday...We have new neighbors moving in 5 houses down from us and Michael took Kate for a short walk to say hello. Holding hands, chatting as they went and Kate dressed in a purple cotton summer dress and crocs, skipping along (more of a step, hop, step, hop than a true skip), I watched as two of my most favorite people disappeared down the street and felt my heart melt and smile. Katie Bug Lady Bug, thanks for being my girl! We could not have designed you more delightful!

6 weeks and counting...

Baby Thomas,we love you more each day. Your brother and sister smother you, literally, with kisses and hugs. Kate often tells me how you are "so cute I cannot stop touching him". Joseph always wants to hold you. Daddy likes to lovingly refer to you as "Thalmus" (he took lots of biology classes, sorry!). I am so completely amazed and grateful that you are so well behaved...eating every 4 hours and up only once a night since you were born, already have the best restaurant manners ,letting me eat my food without making a peep, you can fall asleep and stay asleep anywhere. Plus you are so handsome that I could stare at you all day. Keep growing, learning and staying healthy just as you are!

birthday boy

Happy Birthday to the best husband who is loved ever so mucb, to the daddy who is adored by his children, to the man who desires to follow Jesus with everything and fights fiercely for his family when duty calls...and to the golfer that lies beneath. Happy Birthday, Michael! We love you and are glad you had a great day doing one of your most favorite things!

just in case you were wondering...Thomas is saying, "You're the best, Dad! Wahoo!"

one week, a good week

so, i was supposed to be heading to the hospital to be induced tonight. my plans to have my hair cut and highlights placed, michael's plans for preparing for his message on sunday, a date night with my husband had been arranged with a dear friend asking to watch our kids, two more 12's working in the er...all changed in a moment. who would have guessed that last wednesday would start as usual, then shifting rather dramatically with my water breaking with a few "cramps" (i suppose they were coming in regular intervals of 5 minutes, but why should that keep me from going to work, right?) at 9am and having a baby 4 hours later. our sweet new bundle surprised us over a week early... Levi "Thomas" arrived april 18, 2012 at 1:13pm, 7 lbs 9 oz, 20 in long and is perfect, absolutely perfect. the Lord has been gracious to us, not only with a healthy baby, but with a transition that has so far been so smooth, a big brother and sister who cannot get enough of thomas and an infant who wants to eat every 4 hrs, not any sooner, making those early morning feedings not quite as bad as i remember. now that doesn't mean i haven't had my moments and that the kids have forgotten how to melt down, but at the end of the day, when all three sweet kiddos are tucked into bed michael and i can honestly just look at each other and marvel at the blessing of God.