Ryker

As always this kid is hilarious... Such a rough and tumble guy, yet still down with cuddling. At daycare he has been struggling with pushing/hitting kids, oh dear.  This AM he looked up at a picture of him and AJ in a train at the zoo. He told me, "Mom-look train! AJ! Goes ding-ding-ding" and made his hand swing back and forth like the bell on the train! Squeeze him!

Love ya lil Man!

Momma

It's official!

Im going to be a soccer MOM! Just signed AJ up!!! So excited! Just hope he can get into it too! He told me he wants to play soccer at home for awhile and then maybe he could play with other people!

:) momma

What.this isn't about baby/pooping/sleeping/cute kids/momma/stuff

That's right folks....the Mr. And Mrs.

Are back at it... 

Project time! You know we are feeling a bit settled when the paint/stain/tools come out!  Finished project coming soon....

And just because she's so cute:

I had to.;)

Muah.

Momma

Snow ice cream

With this recent snow I decided to make snow ice cream with the boys. So delicious , and fun for them too! Do it if you haven't!!!

 (And looking at this photo I can assure AJ was going back for thirds instead of loosing his cookies like the picture suggests:)

Momma

Monsters, bad guys, scarecrows, skeletons...

Those are all the things that AJ and I cleared out of the basement and main floor tonight, with our clothes-hanger guns of course!  And at the end, we took this bad guy to jail and locked him up; don't let his innocent look fool you.....

Momma got the first laugh tonight!

Sorry Grandma, Meggie got it this time!  Hiccups and all!

"Dad, take a picture of me"...

..."and my bow and arrow."

Grandparents Visit!

Now all Grandparents have visited us to say hello to Ms. Dempsey Snow, and as important to PLAY with AJ and Ryker!!    Lots of rec visits, lego playing, dates, and yummy food was had! Here are some snapshots of their visits!!

What a lovely family we have...so lucky!

Love,
Momma

These hands are small I know.

I've noticed that Dempsey likes to hold her hands while she sleeps.  Usually there is a finger or two that are completely interlocked.  Sweetest thing...

:)
Momma

Grammy Love

Here are some thoughts from Grammy who was here recently!  How lucky are these kids???!!!!???
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Hello my sweet Aylen John , Ryker Lee and Dempsey Snow!  Such little dears!  You all have such a special place in my heart...brings tears to my eyes just thinking about you and how much I love you! 

AJ, about a year ago you asked me to call you AJ instead of Aylen John so I am trying to remember to do that.  Anyway, AJ, one of the things that I always enjoy about you is your curiosity and interest in things.  When Grandpa Mark and I returned from our cruise to Alaska and we began speaking of the big ship we were on, you stopped in your tracks to listen with great interest in what we had to say about it.  When I sit and stitch at your house you have great interest in what I am doing...not just a casual interest in the colors or what I am making but you want to know exactly how to do it.  You watch me make the stitches, thread the needles, ask what the embroidery hoop is and how it works and want me to teach you how to stitch.  Amazing.

You have always loved trains and trucks and vehicles in general and somehow just innately knew how to make sounds for these various vehicles.  You LOVED to crash them yet you are such a loving and tender young man at the same time.  You are always so interested in coloring, writing, playing outside, running and jumping.  You are a very loving and caring big brother to your brother and sister.  They will look up to you the rest of your life. 

I love to visit with you.  It is fun to hear what you have to say about things.  One of my greatest memories of you is when I came to pick you up from daycare with Mommy the first time and when I walked down the stairs to where you were, you saw me and turned to your babysitter and friends and exclaimed with great excitement, "my Grammy's here!!"  That moment is etched in my heart forever.  Thank you, dear AJ. 

Now that you are a bigger boy you get to do different things than your little brother and sister.  I had the pleasure this year of going on an awesome date with you to the movies.  Remember that the theatre wasn't open yet when we got there and we got to go to lunch together and then later in the day go back to the movie for our movie date?  Two dates in one day!! 

I also remember when you and Ryker came to visit and stay at our house in Alexandria this past summer.  I was so proud of you!  We had so much fun in the country.  You helped Grandpa Mark feed the chickens and were so brave even though the chickens wanted to peck at your feet.  Remember when we went in to Fairbury and had a fun time feeding the ducks and geese at the lake with Grandad?  And then we went to the play park with Grandad and you climbed and ran on all of the climbing fort SO FAST?

 Ryker was trying to keep up with you and I was trying to keep up with him!  I love you, AJ.  Grammy

Ryker Lee, you are such a sweet, gentle little man with a sweet, quick smile and soft eyes...and you LOVE to run and jump and climb...on everything!!  Grammy has had to hold her breath more than a couple of times watching you play...jumping and running fast!  I remember that you are the only person I know who likes your waffles frozen! Makes it easy in the mornings!  I remember that you really love to read books...all books...especially those with airplanes and cars and trucks. I love that when I gave the little steering wheel toy to AJ for his birthday and turned it on, we turned on the radio to it and I started snapping my fingers to the beat of the jazzy/blues song and before I knew it you were snapping your fingers too!  I was honored to be copied.  It made me realize that you were watching all of the time and I should be a better Grammy. I love how you come and get my hand or Grandpa Mark's to play trucks with you.  Melts  our hearts...

I love how you sit on the dining room table to color and when I sat on a chair there with you, your little feet kept needling my lap like a kitten making a bed for itself.  You are a precious one, Ryker Lee.  I love you, Ryker.  Grammy

 Sweet Dempsey Snow...joy.  You are a sweet one! I loved holding you during your first weeks of life.  You enjoyed being held.  You have many adventures ahead and you have a wonderful family to help you learn the ways.  Your mommy and daddy are the best!  They love you dearly and they enjoy bringing fun and adventure into their lives and that of their family.  Your big brothers are already protective of you.  You have much extended family and all love you dearly.  It will be a pleasure watching you in the years to come.  I am your daddy's momma and I am so proud to be your Grammy.  I love you, Dempsey Snow.  Grammy

My running partner

Disappointment

Yesterday I picked AJ up at daycare and he hollered out, "Patrick!!"  He was referring to our plan to go to Patrick's house, but what he didn't know was that plans had changed.  We weren't going to Patrick's house and when I told him that I watched the news devastate him. I seriously physically watched his body shrink, a frown happen, and quietness overcome the little guy.  For those first few moments I wanted to do whatever I could to correct the situation. In my head I was running through ways to get AJ to Patrick no matter what. And then I realized we had a life lesson on our hands. 

Throughout my career and life I have been a witness to various ways that families treat events of disappointment with their children. I've seen all ends of the spectrum, from children who are constantly disappointing their children to parents who bulldoze/helicopter any situation so that their children are free of experiencing any type of disappointment. Obviously, I want somewhere in between for my kids.

So instead of giving AJ exactly what he wanted we talked about it. We explored his emotions of being sad, because he really wanted to see Patrick. We talked about how it's such a bummer that plans don't always work out. And then we made a plan to see Patrick another time. Lastly, we decided to make the evening into a good one-thus learning the skill of rolling with punches.

We/me are not perfect by any means...but I feel like this was a win for us. Instead of rescuing AJ from the feeling- we went with, explored it, and practiced some coping skills. 

Poor AJ-living with a Mom therapist! ;) Hopefully he doesn't get too sick of me...:D

-Momma

superhero.

i am superwoman. yes i am. yes i am.

no but seriously, last night as I was ping-ponging between three kids, I was thinking.  During the day I am rocking the maternity stay at home mom leave, and then at night I really, legit, turn into a superhero.  let me break it down for you.

i feed the hungry (nurse Dempsey).
i fight bad guys (put Ryker to sleep when he wakes up from what I presume to be a bad dream).
i save people who are injured (tylenol for AJ when his leg hurts).
i wear tight pants (sometimes, whatever, that's between me and me).

anyways. go us parents who are for real-legit-the real deal-superheros.

:)
Momma

Unibrow

Can we wax this?

 Just kidding. Ish .

;)

Momma

Grandma Chimes In!

Grandma has spent quite a bit of time with these kids and wanted to share some memories!!!

Lucky Grandkids!!!
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Wow, your grandpa has a great memory and an awesome ability to write!! I on the other hand do not have a flair for writing like he does.  I can tell you this though.....,

When you boys came to New Jersey to hang out with grandpa and I so your mom and dad could have a lllooonnnggg date, we were thrilled to no end.  We love spending time and creating memories with all of our children and grandchildren.  

You were such a trooper Aylen John.  It was you who made Ryker feel safe, comfortable and loved the most.  He really looked up to you (and still does) for guidence.  It was so much fun having you boys drive/ride the cars up and down the hallway, turn on all the Christmas lights, inflatables and musicial things.  It became a morning and evening routine.

One of my favorites was you AJ helping grandpa put feed out for the birds.  Soon we had a few turkeys so of course they had to be fed.  You (AJ) went out with grandpa and set up feeding tables for the turkeys with piles of bird seed.  Before long we were counting thirty plus turkeys!!!  You were so delighted.

We made mommies favorite chocolate cushion cookies, sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies and made plates for Santa out of mints.  Then you each got to paint a bird house to take home.  I enjoy seeing them hang on your fire place mantel.

Aylen, you were so excited to see the conductor on the train and he got his picture taken with you!  It was so cool!!

Ryker man I was one scared grandma when I went in to check on you and you were not in your bed!!!! Never want to feel that scared again!!  Maybe you were just that kind of scared when you clung on so thight to me when the tryannosaurus roared.  

I had so much fun singing and dancing with you both.  When you boys were babies and I stayed with you I would sing to you alot.  We had a whole list of songs to sing and sometimes you would ask me to sing a certain one.  I hope Dempsey will like me to sing to her too...., and dance with me.

Your poor mom had it so rough after you all got home what with everyone but her getting sick.  Grandpa and I knew one of us needed to come help out.  I told him I am the one who always goes and stays for months to help out so he should go this time.  He was making flight arrangements before I could finish telling him he should go!!!  You have a very special grandpa!:-)

Your mom gave grandpa the best birthday gift when she came and picked us up at the airport in April.  The news that you both were going to be big brothers!! How exciting!!!  Um, don't tell your mom but grandpa never uses the gifts with your pictures on them! He has them on his special shelf so he can see them:-). He is so cute that way:-)

Well, summer rolled around and you came to visit us.  What a blast!!  Grandpa and I had cleaned the garage and repainted it.  Who would of known this was going to be a great kid play area hang out!?! We all even ate breakfast out there one day.  When grandpa and mommy went into the city to see a Yankees game ( I know, right). You boys and I spent the day playing trucks and cars in the garage. 

We had a hammock that you loved to lay and swing on so that got lots of use.  Then we moved on to the green house.  Oh my gosh, now that was the most fun place to play!!  It was a house, a gas station, a garage, a store.  You name it!! You even ate some of your meals out there (asking no adults to join you).  

Both of you boys have enjoyed watching and listening to the water run in the creek behind our house.  So calming....if only for a short while.  There were trucks and cars to be riden up and down the sidewalk ya know!  And at night, marshmellows to be roasted in the firpit.  

We had gotten you boys shark life vests that you had so much fun wearing when we took you to the lake and the ocean (well being in New Jersey ya gotta say the shore)!!!  People would go by and say "shark" and Aylen John you would look out toward the ocean and ask "where".  I can not wait to take you whale watching!!!!!!!!!!!! 

So many great fun memories filled with activities, love, snuggles, kisses, hugs, eating, playing.  Whew, we cram a lot into one day.

I was so thrilled to get to come out to your place in October to go trick or treating with you.  That was the most fun time at Halloween that I have had since I went to Texas and did it with your cousins Arjan and Riya.  You boys were so brave and excited going from house to house and saying tick or treat. I'm not sure which was more fun you, getting the candy or giving it out:-)

Our date time was very special to me Aylen John. You were such a little gentleman and people were so impressed by your manners.  I was (and continue to be) one proud grandma. 

You had me worried when we would talk about your new brother or sister coming.  You would cry and just be so sad if we said it could be a girl.  You always said ,"no, I can only have brothers".  

Mommy had been in labor all day and you boys needed to be picked up from day care so I picked you up from the best day care place ever then we went out to dinner.  When we got home the midwife told us to go upstairs.  We went into mommy and daddy's room to see them with the baby.  I was so thrilled when mommy said it was a girl and you Aylen John made me cry. You were so smitten with her from the moment you laid eyes on her.  Then you looked at Ryker and said, " you have to be nice to her".  The perfect big brother you are!!

The next morning when I went up to mommy and daddy's bedroom I found mommy, the baby and Aylen laying in bed snuggled together.  Mommy had to get up to use the restroom and asked me to keep an eye on the baby. I laid down where mommy had been, placed my hand sort of on the baby's shoulder and Aylen, you moved my hand and pulled the baby closer to you.  While I was like, hey I can touch the baby, at the same time I was so proud of your protectiveness of her.

Ryker man, you and I finally got to have our date and went to Panera for breakfast.  No one knew that I was going to be picking grandpa up from the airport that morning.  I was trying to get both of you boys to come to breakfast with me but AJ you told me to have my date time with Rykie so I did.  He was so excited to see grandpa!!!!  Just as excited as all the rest of us for sure!  The look on your faces when you answered the door and there was grandpa was priceless.

The mornings away from you Ryker man just are not the same as the mornings with you.  I miss you coming into our room, grabbing my ipad and asking for struction (constuction), trains, planes.  It never failed to make me laugh when you leaned over putting your face right infront of mine and repeated these requests if I was too slow to meet your needs!

I am looking forward to coming out to take care of Dempsey when mommy goes back to work.  I'm looking forward to singing our songs to her, rocking her, going for jogs with her, feeding and changing her, snuggling with her, and watching her grow.  Just like I did with you Aylen John and Ryker man.  I have been blessed to get to have such quality bonding time with you and look forward to making many more loving memories with all of you.

Much love, Grandma Hoffman

 

Ps: while mommy and daddy were on that long date one morning we were all sitting at the dinning room table finishing up breakfast.  I stood and started clearing the table.  This little voice said, "I love you".  I turned back around and said, "I love you too Aylen John" only to be told by grandpa and aunt Joan that Ryker had said that!!!  We all just stared at him.  We were so dumbfounded!

Movie two floors down

Drum roll.... Tonight Russ and I watched a 2 hour movie-by ourselves- two floors down from our 3 SLEEPING (that's right I said sleeping) children tonight. 

Pigs are flying.

Pope is pooing.

True.

And btw this pic is not us right now at night. Nope. Because all 3 kids are sleeping in their spots. Which isn't in our bed.

So there.

Booya.

-Momma 

And yes I'm aware that this event may not be duplicated for weeks, perhaps months. But it did happen tonight.

Russ!!!! Where is he???

Last night during bedtime routine I left AJ to go put Ryker back to bed. What is up with Ryker-the kid can't stay in his bed these days!? Anyways. I go back to where I last was with AJ-his room- and he isn't in there. I head to our room, hoping he hasn't woken Dempsey up-and no AJ. I go to the bathroom, nope. I head downstairs, and ask russ "have you seen AJ?" he'd been in the bathroom and hadn't seen anything. I head back upstairs and look in every crevice. No AJ!!! I run downstairs and get Russ. I tell him, "help me find AJ. He has a legit hiding place!"

It took both of us searchig before we finally found the kid, straight and quiet as a board, in his closet.  I even looked at the other side of the closet!!!! That kid remained so darn quiet for at least 3 minutes!!!! AJ had this quiet smile on him, like he was proud of himself and also a little nervous he was going to get in trouble! Hah! Russ and I had a good laugh! This was the first time I seriously couldn't find that kid! Usually he hides but if I call him he'll giggle or somehow disclose his spot. Not this time. Little bugger....paying me back for all the times

I scared my Dad I suppose!!!

Momma

Passing the torch

In between cuddles and nurse sessions I am boxing up most of my maternity clothes (still need some of the pants!), pregnancy/birth books, AND Newborn outfits (that's right-she is mostly out of newborn stuff).   I'm passing this stuff onto my friends who aren't done or have yet to begin their family journey. 

It's funny how I feel like I should be a bit sad about this, but I'm not. I'm kind of excited!!!  

Three cheers to three kids and onward we go!

Momma

She will not be robbed....

Of the Harvell-Fruhwirth eyelash legacy!!!

They live on!!!

;)

Momma

Experimenting....

We had that awesome night, ya know that one I blogged about.

Well it turned out to be so awesome that I went awhile without nursing, which has turned into a mild mastitis/plugged duct situation. Luckily I'm not to the death stage, and with flipping my schedule so I sleep a lot of the day (big ups to Russ being a single parent on Sunday) I'll avoid full blown mastitis. So far I've been achy, wiped out, and in a bit of pain in certain regions.

I swear damned it you do, damned if you don't. Baby sleeps, I pay. Baby doesn't sleep, I pay.

Saturday this straight jacket didn't work-

so I decided to switch up my diet too! It's worth trying something. So here our my no-nos:

-wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, any gas producing veggies (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower), garlic.

Russ thankfully went to the store to get me meat, fruit, and veggies. I'll see what happens...she sure is worth trying something.

Lordy. She rules this house right now.

Momma

Success!

So little Dempsey Snow has been giving us a run for our money lately. Since a week before Christmas she has become increasingly upset at night. The past week it has been every night from 9pm-2am she cries and cries and cries.  And Sometimes she doesn't cry-she'll scream and sometime she is just awake.  Eventually she passes out around 2am. Lately we have just been switching off taking care of her at night, it's been a little rough. Tonight after her 6 week check (btw 10lbs 4oz!) I brought out this thing called a Woombie to try out on her. It is basically a straight jacket for babies. We've had it since AJ but no kid has ever  appreciated it. Well Dempsey is appreciating it tonight. Yes ma'am! This girl has been asleep since 745pm! No crying, screaming...the only peep I hear is her little snore noises. Russ and I actualy got some time to hangout with each other! Guh. So nice. Thank you Woombie, thank you Dempsey snow, thank you boys!!!

Love,

Momma

Well Hello 2014

Happy 6 weeks Dempsey! Crazy to think I would normally be going back to work if I followed the same schedule as the boys. Such a blessing to know that I still have over an month and a half left with this cutey!

Love,

Momma