One Year Later!!??

Well...it's been almost a year! We have some catching up to do!


Maggie (5) Ben (2 1/2) Kathryn (18 mo) Mary (7 weeks)

One year later, Maggie is 5, Ben is turning 3 in less than a month, Kathyrn is just under 19  months, and our Mary Jean has just turned 3 months.

 Maggie - 5 years old

Mary Jean- at 7 weeks old

 

 

 

I'm feeling overly sentimental tonight. Maybe it's because Kathryn requested I sing "Sunshine" as I laid her down to bed - or because I watched Ben drift off to sleep while holding his favorite rubber hammer (that's been taped together twice because he can not be "Fix-it-Felix" without it) -or maybe because Maggie is wearing her two favorite prince nightgowns and a princess Santa hat to bed tonight - or because I am sitting here next to Mary as she rolls over onto her belly at just 3 months old. The fact is, I love these little moments. I just want to bottle them up and keep them forever - and if I can get myself to keep up on this blog, maybe I can hold a piece of my babies with me for a little while longer.

Maggie turned 5 in September. She had a double birthday party with Lawrence who happened to turn 3 on Septmeber 12th - the day Mary Jean was born. Aunt Katie was in town and put the whole party together. It was a princess/super hero themed party, celebreated at the Emack&Bolio's on the river front. Friends and family were all there to celebrate.

Maggie is attending afternoon Pre-K everyday at St. Phil's this year. Her teachers are Mrs. Emerson and Mrs. Lewis. She absolutely loves school and really enjoys all her new friends.
She is an amazing big sister to Ben, Kathryn and Mary - and has a wonderul connection with each of them. Maggie and Ben are the best of friends. They play so well together (most of the time) - and really enjoy being together. They love to role play and pretend to be differnet characters - Maggie is usually some sort of princess and Ben is her prince - or lately - Ben has been "Captain Hook" or "Peter Pan" and Maggie is "Wendy" or "Tinkerbell".
Maggie plays the mother role to Kathryn and Mary - she tends to Kathryn's needs and tries to keep her out of trouble and is very affectionate to Mary. She loves to hold her and help care for her.

Ben is getting ready to turn 3 in just a month. He is such a joy and so full of life. The moment Ben wakes, he is bouncing out of his bed and out the door, ready to start his day. Every morning he runs into our room to say good morning and will cuddle with us until it's time to head down stairs. He is always ready to play and is usually wanting to pretend to be some character. Lately, he is into "Captian Hook", Peter Pan", "Fix it Felix" or "Woody" and "Buzz Lightyear" - and Benny always has to have some sort of prop to be the part - a hammer, hat, hook, sword - or anything he can come up with. He is such a sweet boy and always up for a fun time.

Miss Kathryn - or Tunes, as we like to call her - is our sweet and sassy little one. She is full of personality and has us laughing all day long. She loves mischief and is busy creating it every moment of the day. You can find her in the fridge, climbing on tables and chairs, and stealing everyone's food any chance she gets. Kathryn loves to dance and play, read books, sing sillly songs, and play with her sisters and brothers. She is talking more and more each day and is even showing interest in the potty too! We adore her to pieces :)

Our sweet Mary Jean is absolutely precious in every way. She is the most easy-going and well tempered baby. She loves her siblings and enjoys the constant entertainment that surrounds her throughout the day. Ben is after her piggy toes every chance he gets, and Kathryn is constantly at her side, taking her pacifier and giving it back, cuddling with her, or sharing toys with her - and Maggie is like another mother to Mary - always looking out for her needs and showing love and affection to her. Just yesterday, we all celebrated as Mary rolled over from her back to her belly for the first time - we love watching her grow . She is just a joy!

Wild imaginations!

Maggie and Ben's imaginations amaze us everyday. Maggie is really into telling elaborate stories about witches and princesses and a prince coming to her rescue. Ben let's his imagination run wild with pirates and alligators. This mornning I went to get him out of bed and he had created a whole world of fun. A blue blanket was bundled in his lap and "Bear" and "Floppy Dog" were laying on top. He was telling me that Bear and Floppy were in a boat - he pointed to a little bump in the blanket and said it was an alligator!! He preceeded to say that Bear and Floppy were pirates and the alligator was going to get them!

Everyday the couch cusions become trucks and tractors, boats and high climbing towers. The winter months are weighing on us as we wait for warmer weather, but Mags and Benny's creative imaginations help to make for exciting adventures during the day.

Kathryn keeps herself very busy. She is pulling up and climbing anything her little legs allow. We catch her standing alone quite a bit now. She is all smiles and loves the constant entertainment that surrounds her from her big brother and sister. Foods are so fun now. This morning she had french toast sticks with her baby food and she thought that was pretty great.

Love these moments!