Happy Half Birthday and First day back to school

Happy Half-Birthday, Roosers! You know, half birthdays are a big deal, especially when you are three and a half! 

Here she is about to open her little mini-present. Cinnamon rolls with a candle for breakfast

Today was "Back to School" day in our household. Here is Creed reciting a verse in Bible. 
And Rinn reciting a verse as well..
Science-Will it Float? Here Creed is really excited because the sugar cube did in fact sink. Mommy had guessed that it would float, so Creed got a point up on mommy. 

School was fantastic today. I was so worried about how it would go with Ju Ju. We started while Jude was still awake and it was hilarious. I was laughing out loud (literally) because he is such a little part of our family and so much like his big brother. He sat in the middle of the floor and sang at the top of his longs the books of the bible song as we sang it along with him. I think his must have either been in baby-ease or Korean, but he was sure confident with it. 

Then, he took a nap and we got some more serious work done. Naps today were fantastic-the last couple of days he has been fighting them less and less. Night time the last two nights have also been wonderful- waking only one time but I am not holding my breath that this is going to continue because you just never know. 

And, something else has changed. We are officially early risers (gasp, I know). This is a little change that the little black haired boy has brought. As many of you know, we are not early risers along this house hold. Every day the last three weeks we have been up by at least 7am-usually about 6 am. Yikers. I am so impressed with how much more we can get done though. Amazing. 

Randomness and JuJu update

It happened!!!! Here it is....One of our many daily walks...notice, I have been working on training the little one to wear a hat. (with little success, I might add!)
On our sugar shack day, KK and Will enjoyed a long walk with us. (side note: what is it about boys not being able to handle the sun in their eyes..urgh!)
Have I mentioned how much like me Rinn is in the area of sweets? We are addicted. I could probably count on two hands the amount of fits Rinn has thrown in her life. At least 7 would be about sweets (the others would be about me not letting her wear a dress). 

So, Rinn got a hold of our icing containers and had a ball.
Another walk day....We are trying to do a walk everyday that is nice enough. It is a nice little part of our new schedule.
Our first time out. I took myself and the kids to Panera to celebrate my birthday. I really needed a spinach and artichoke souffle and part of a cinnamon crunch bagel...I really, really needed it. The venture out with just me and the babies went very well, it took a very long time but went very well none the less. 

Also for my bday, Micah, Jude, and I went on a date (compliments of my buddy Kristi watching the other babies). Our date consisted of some very yummy food brought to us by our friends Vivi and David and a short trip to Target. Jude was mesmorized by Target as he sat attached to me in his carrier. He was a little lover and observer while we were there. I have to admit, I get a little glassed over when I walk into Target too..it's a bit like heaven, I think.
I just now brought myself to taking down the sign...it just brought joy to my heart everytime I saw it. I love our small group.
Rinn enjoying another of her favorite activities after one of our walks (blowing bubbles). 
Big Bro/Lil' bro...

On one of our walks, the big babies got to drive the car. Rinny is really, really dangerous when she drives b/c she gets distracted looking at things but forgets to take her foot off the gas. Watch out!
Jude Update:

Jude seems to fit perfectly with us. He is such a part of our family. Micah has been back to work about 2 weeks now and so we are starting to feel more normal although we have continued our vacation from school (back to school tomorrow though!)

Ju Ju is the sweetest, happiest little guy during the awake times but we are definately still working on nighttimes although he is still happy when he is awake at night for the most part. Still experiencing sadness at night and mostly just very fidgety. We are feeling a little sleep deprived although the last two days we have gotten naps and Jude had a fabulous night last night. 

I figured that the first week would be the hardest on adjustment, but I have found for us, it really was not. I was still on an adrenaline rush and Micah was still at home and we really stayed home 24/7 with no obligations/errands, etc. I have found that as the one month home is approaching (this is when I thought we would be back in the "world"), he is still adjusting (of course) and is not ready to really be out and about, running around yet. 

We have gone a few places and I have really, really found it makes a HUGE difference in his demeanor when we get him off his little schedule and take away the tiny little world of our house. I have never been a huge "scheduler" with my other babies but have found that Jude REALLY needs the same thing day after day after day. Especially during the afternoon and evening hours. we have kept his world so small, even now, but he needs it super small...as in our family and at home. We haven't been back to church yet (I miss it badly) or many places with lots of people, only a few times. When we have been to places like that, he usually does fantastic at the time but STRUGGLES that evening and especially at sleep time. 

I used to be out and about running around like crazy EVERY day with the other babies but I have found that those ways have probably changed for awhile. I think it is God's way of saying "slow down, my friend...take some deep breaths and enjoy your time at home."

I have many friends who are waiting to get referrals and waiting for their babies to come home and I hope that they soon will get to experience the tremendous joy (sleep deprivation and all) that we are experiencing now! Our little guy is asleep and as he was falling asleep and rubbing my arm and cuddlying as I fed him my heart melts (like it does every night) and I am so thankful to God for putting just the right little man into our family, what an honor. I'll stay home in my little house for the next 18 years if need be :)

What Valentines Looks like with a new baby!

The babies woke up to valentine's balloons and bubbles
and ended with some sushi....yumm-oh-luh
A little romance...kind of.

Seriously, have you tried gyoza? It is awesome.
Night wouldn't be perfect without a sonic drink.
While Creed was enjoying like a full 2 or 3 sushi rolls, Rinn was enjoying McDonalds and not ashamed a bit.
Mommy and baby baby.
And in the middle of our day....out to spend time with our buddies. Here is Creed and Cole giving the thumbs up on our yummy breakfast.


The daddies and their baby valentines...how sweet are they? The awesomeness of my friend, Rachel.... (notice also the cute kiddos)
Her adult table...
Her kid table...how wonderful to be surrounded by verses of God's love and a little place-card that said "Jesus loves____" with each child's name in it.
Of course, we didn't get a pic of the moms, I would have probably objected anyway but I did have a wonderful time on Valentine's morning spending time with two ladies that I love and admire. 

Sugar Shacks and Valentines

Rinny enjoying the paint on her feet...Creed enjoying the paint on his hands....
We've actually been pretty good on the arts and crafts lately...the formal schooling we are still taking a break but we are "back to school" tomorrow!!
Rinn's favorite part of edible snacks...
Focus, Creed, focus.

The theme for today (Will and KK were over for a few hours) was "teamwork". The boys worked on a team and the girls worked on a team. KK and Rinn worked so well together and their conversation was so sweet. 

kk: Do you think we should use pink or red candy, Rinn?

rinn: Pink

kk: Oh, Rinn, that's such a great idea.

The entire hour they worked on it, the conversation went about the same way. Oh, they are lovely!

Don't the boys look so cute? They actually did a great job on the "teamwork" theme until the end when I started to hear Creed bull-dozing Will's ideas...it finally ended with Will just giving in (reminds me of me bulldozing my sister as kids). I said "Creed, it doesn't look like Will is too happy, are you working as a team?" He basically told me, yep, he came up with the idea and Will didn't fight him too hard about it. Will was just like "yea, I said it was okay."

The boy house

The girl house

Happy 10 month birthday!

Things I love about my 10 month old:

How he is a cuddle bug

How he studies people and just stares them down

How he leans back in his carrier to figure out all that is going on around him

How he rubs my arm, chest, and face when he is falling asleep

His crunchy diaper in my face in bed

His wispy hair in my face 5 seconds later in bed

His little half-mouth smile

Those eyes

How he likes to play crawl away from mommy while she chases me and then how he stops right as I get to him and starts crawling like crazy to me

How he stares in my eyes

How he smiles when I walk in to get him from his nap

How he buries his head in my chest or shoulder

How he thinks it is a hilarious new joke everytime he signs "all done" at the high chair

How when he wakes up and he is laying sideways in our bed and stretches and kicks his legs and says "bub.bub.bub.bub" over and over

How he is content to sit in my lap

The way his neck smells in the crease

His buns

His little long and lean body type

His belly laugh

How he doesn't argue with me when I call him my baby (which I cannot say for his older sister)

How he loves me even more when I am in an ala-naturale state with no makeup, unbrushed teeth, no makeup, and in the same tank top I have worn for 3 days straight :)

and.......

about a million other things.

Happy 10 month birthday, little bitty boy.

AND...yes, that is a lollipop, yes, I did let him suck it, YES I said I would never ever do such a thing just for a good picture, NO I do not feel guilty about it, and YES, he did throw a fit when we took it away :)

What we are up to

Happy Groundhog Day (late)...projects are taking a few days to complete around here...sorry :)
What we have been doing a lot of lately...Movie Nights...Last night was Aladdin and Creed and Rinn each ate an entire bag of popcorn...the big bags, not the mini bags. Amazing. 
Jude during movie night...
Ummm...What mom? I'm not getting into anything.!.!
I still can't get over the teeth



He loves playing with the play kitchen.
Here's the real quick deal on what is going on (Jude is asleep but you never know how long that will last)....

Jude was still running a fever (like 103) as of yesterday, so we took him back in to the dr. and he has an pretty bad ear infection, also tons of junk in his ear that had to be scraped out. He is tough and didn't even cry. He has had 3 doses of antibiotic and you can tell he is feeling much better already, no fever. 

Jude has learned to fight sleep really bad. He doesn't want to miss out on what is going on. Luckily, once he gives in and falls asleep, he is good to go for the most part. Night-time is going well..usually like at least a 5-6 hour stretch each night. 

I'm exhausted...feeling really tired. I think the adrenaline rush from last week is wearing off and I am paying for it now. I'll make it.....tomorrow I am counting on a fabulous nap since the hubster will be home from work. 

Balancing three children and trying to make all of them feel special is still a work in progress for me. The kids all seem to be doing pretty well with it, though. 

I feel like I have no creative juices flowing out of me right now, so no catchy blog title, terrible pictures, and elementary descriptions...sorry:)

Sickness....

Micah's first day back to work and you guessed it...Jude is sick. Fever and acting sick. Alternating tylenol and motrin and cuddlying all day. Other two are doing groundhog activities. Poor guy.