I’ve feel like I’ve been slacking on my blog the past few months.  The last few months have been tough….I’ve always been able to balance being a working mom quite well….the last few months have been tougher to do that since becoming a mom and going back to work.  I took on a new role at work in September which has had its challenges and then in October my grandpa and Justin’s mom passed away adding to more time away from the office during busy times in addition to the normal grief process.  Add in the normal day to day activities of children (school, doctor’s appointments, playing nicely with each other followed by a fight leading to timeouts), constant runny noses and a sick mommy who was already having a difficult time accepting that turning 35 brought physical changes to my appearance that I truly wasn’t expecting coupled with the normal hustle and bustle of the holidays, there just wasn’t much time left over. 

As busy as I am, I am acutely aware that I will only ever have one moment in time with my girls when they are a certain age and while at times it is hard and some nights I look forward to the girls bedtimes so I can have a moment to myself (even if that moment is to clean up their toys or put away dishes), the flowers still largely outnumber the weeds and I want to remember these special moments with my little lady loves.

Emerson – Emerson is becoming quite the young lady.  She is such a helper around the house and has really taken to pretend play recently.  She likes to be the Mommy especially to Avery and Harper.  She also likes to be the Mommy figure for Harper especially when Harper is eating and needs more food. She enjoys school and loves talking about Ms. Kristen and Ms. Denise.  She loves doing artwork at school.  She is quiet and reserved; yet, when she wants to be the center of attention she can be often demanding that Mommy or Daddy or Avery or Karolin do something a certain way and if something isn’t done exactly as she says, hands go on her hips and her theatrical gestures are in full effect.  She is so animated and talks with her hands.  She loves to eat and is a slow eater…usually the last to finish a meal as she savors each bite.  She can be shy and sensitive at times and when she is she has the sweetest look in her eyes as she tries to look away from you. She speaks well although sometimes when she goes into theatric mode, she starts talking in another language…while it can sound like mumble jumble, Emerson has informed us, she is speaking in “Germany”. She is sweet and cuddly and lovable and her personality is just one piece of the puzzle that makes our family so incredible.

Avery – Avery is our jokester…our constant comedian….our child who always has an idea….the one who sometimes never stops talking especially in the car…the one who will ask the most random questions as mommy and Daddy are shutting off the bedroom lights at night just to procrastinate.  Avery is the one who tells us she has to go the bathroom in a restaurant and as soon as we get in the bathroom “changes her mind”.  Avery is so sweet and cuddly at times and knows just the right thing to say.  She is sensual and smart and speaks very well – often saying things that I can’t believe are coming out of a three year olds mouth.  Avery enjoys school and likes talking about Ms. Denise and Ms. Kristen and while she is doing great in school, I sense that she isn’t as loud and demanding in school as she is in home. Avery loves art and stickers.  Avery loves to procrastinate especially when it comes to getting her contacts in, getting dressed, or brushing her teeth. Avery still loves milk so much to the point that she will often not eat her meals if she has had milk first. Avery is somewhat of a picky eater and eats when she is hungry and doesn’t eat when she is not hungry. She is usually the first to finish a meal and is rather impatient as the rest of the family finishes their meal.  Avery is strong willed, but the truth is on occasions when she isn’t around (i.e. she is at Grandma’s and Papa’s), it is only a matter of minutes that Justin and I look at each other realizing that the silence is more weird than it is nice….and thus Avery too is just one piece of the puzzle that makes our family so incredible.

Harper – Harper is 16 months old already….and while not quite a toddler yet, not completely a baby anymore.  She is growing so fast…watching and learning everything that her sisters do, wanting to be a part of it.  She prefers many of her sister’s toys to those that are more age appropriate.  She sits back with her left thumb in her mouth and takes it all in.  She doesn’t yet speak…saying the occasionally mama probably only a handful of times, but she understands and is receptive to everything. She grunts a lot as a form of communication and sadly we all (including Avery and Emerson) know what her grunt is communicating, thus making it easy for her to not use her words.  She loves to be picked up by an adult especially when Avery and Emerson are near…she likes getting the special attention when they are around.  She also isn’t the best sharer….Avery and Emerson love playing with her and like to pick her up and Harper generally wants nothing to do with hugs and kisses and death holds from her sisters as she isn’t quite certain yet if their affection is going to be in a loving manner or in a manner where they are trying to manipulate her.  She loves to eat and has recently found the snack drawer and freely attempts to get her own snacks now.  She no longer likes milk as I stopped giving it to her for about a month to test if milk was the source of her stomach problems. After a few months off of it, she no longer wants anything to do with milk. Three out of her four first molars have come in and while there has been a lot of drooling the past few months, there doesn’t seem to be any true discomfort with teething.  This little girl who loves to snuggle with Mommy, Daddy, Karolin, or Grandma is growing up right before our eyes.  She completes our family puzzle.

Last night the five of us were eating at Fosters.  As Avery sat beside me, she asked for a kiss, which I gladly gave her on the cheek.  As I kissed her, Harper let out a grunt and leaned her body and cheek towards me – she wanted a kiss too!  Meanwhile Emerson was sitting diagonal from me quietly eating her onion rings – once she finished she gladly told us she was part of the “clean plate club”.  As Emerson was eating, she accidently bit her finger….with a pouty face she asked for ice as she does at home.  When I told her there was no ice, she responded by saying “there is…there is ice in my cup mommy”! As Avery finished her meal before everyone else, she asked for her hands to be wiped so she could go play in the back (the arcade).  Harper meanwhile sat in her high chair and ate with her fork.   Even the server at Fosters commented on how well behaved the girls were.  And both prior to the meal and after the meal, Avery and Emerson found the Santa’s and their faces lit up with pure joy and excitement as they told Mommy and Daddy what they had found. While times have been hectic recently, I truly adore my family and the times we spend together… dinner at a burger joint – such a simple thing – but so many wonderful memories being created and shared together.