Ollie First Year Picture

So here he is. The wild man that is taking after his older sister Amelia more and more every day! He is a little spitfire! He, at exactly 14 months, has cut 2 more bottom teeth, 3 molars and is taking 7-8 steps walking by himself. Yep, one day he just stood up in the middle of the kitchen floor and took off. Preston yelled "Ollie's walking!." He has gained 2 WHOLE POUNDS in one month since being on a gluten free diet! He does have a double ear infection and a cold but he is sleeping extremely well and our little hair ball is HAPPY! Here are his famous sayings and doings: "Uh-oh" Holding the phone to his ear and saying "hi" Taking both shoes and socks off the MINUTE you put them on him (thanks to GiGi) Getting in the shower when it is wet with all his clothes on and crawling around Unloading all of the tupperware drawers Falling asleep with ANYTHING hanging out of his mouth Giving a kiss with puckered lips when asked to do so Using sign language to ask for "more" "yes" I will add when I think of more. He is a lover, that is for sure.

New York

My husband travels all of the time for his job and I am always wishing that, for once, I could stay in a hotel by myself. No, I would not trade my "job" for his, but some adult interaction is my envy! It is very hard NOT to be jealous of the time he gets in a hotel room with a bed to himself and something other than Disney on the television. Therefore, my girlfriends and I decided that we would take a "done nursing" vacation. We decided on a 3 night New York getaway where we could enjoy fancy dinners, a show, shopping and sleeping without disruption! We had an amazing time! It was bittersweet leaving that Thursday morning with three of my children standing in a line at the front door waving, blowing kisses, and watching me drive out of the driveway. I so badly wanted to run back in and kiss them once more. At that moment, I wondered how I was going to get through 3 whole days without my babies! The weekend was filled with dinner at Tao (Sex in the City), Wicked (absolutely AMAZING), SOHO shopping, Canal Street (almost got arrested for buying a Louis in McDonalds) and just plain FUN!! We met Giada (Everyday Italian) while we were eating in the Rockefeller Center. We met Abigail (the "real" Kit from the Kit Kittredge movie), and we rode MANY blocks piled on one another on the back of a Rickshaw. I do not think I have laughed so hard in my life! This poor guy who weighed less than me, peddled 4 of us a very long way, up hill. Oh my. This was hilarious to say the least. Let's just say he may have retired after that trip... On Sunday, I was very excited to hug my babies and kiss their little cheeks as they were sound asleep when I got home. Cannot wait to do this again girls!

Meijer

Let's just say it is hard to get out the door with 4 kids under the age of 6. It is even harder when your almost 5 year old is more organized than her mother. Ok, I had my keys in hand, purse, grocery list, etc. I begin my walk to the cubby area and there I find Amelia, her bag AND her Blackberry in his cage ready to go to Meijer. I try not to discourage her because, after all, she is taking responsibility for her rat. I call my mom to relay this cute story and she is very insistant that I let her take Blackberry to the store. So, off we go with the rat in the back seat with Milla's purse filled with a flashlight and the container of rat food. How can I say no to that?

Happy Birthday, Amelia!

So this is the last of our birthdays until February. This makes me happy. Planning, buying, treat bags, cakes, chaos. It is all for the kids, and that is why we do it. Next year, we will combine celebrations. The boys can have a party together. Amelia is 5. Here are 5 reasons I love my little Moosie: Her laugh is contagious. Her smile melts my heart. Her genuine love for life and everything in it amazes me. I need to learn from her. The way she sleeps like she she is the spin cycle in the washing machine. The way she came into this world and the impatience she had just to introduce herself to us. I sit and ponder my life, my children, my friends, my hobbies, my family, my house, and more. I have to thank God for all of this and the health of all of us. It is easy to take this for granted. It has been 5 years since I had my second child and this time sped by me. I feel like her infant and toddler years are a blur and that saddens me. Sometimes I wish I could rewind and slow down and enjoy more of the simple things and not the running. Now, she sits next to me watching "Wizards of Waverly Place" and she is still my little baby girl. Happy Birthday, Amelia.

new additions

Well, with all of the birthdays this month (3 out of 4 children), they had been asking for hamsters. So, our dear friend Sarah decided she was going to get them hamsters. Scott and I decided to go get them each cages so we were ready for these little guys to move in. Unexpectedly, when speaking with the store manager, she educated us on these little rodents, explaining that the RAT is the best pet. Who do you think fell for this? Milla... So, 20 minutes later, we have a small black rat being held until the next day for her. Do you think she changed her mind? No, we ate, slept, breathed the thought of this rat for the next 24 hours. Belle, as you can imagine, stuck with her original plan to get her "Chinese Robo Hamster." Boy, he is cute. I still can not figure out how I feel about having a rat living in my home-I think of rats as vicious, garbage eating creatures. Sure enough, the next day we came home with Blackberry (the rat) and Crystal (the hamster). They are actually VERY friendly and are great with kids! Oh, and I failed to mention I had to let P Dog get something-a hermit crab in a skull shell. He just basically sits in his shell and is not very entertaining.

First Day of School

Well, this week has definitely been interesting. Isabelle was in the ER Sat night with wheezing, Ollie cried the next night for 5 hours straight and we then went to the ER at 4:00 am. Scott came back only to tell me that they sent him home finding nothing. Have you ever felt like you wanted to scream at the doctor because you KNOW there is something wrong and you have a mother's intuition? That was me. Oliver continued to cry the rest of the night, morning, afternoon. Finally, I called Rebecca (my friend, our doctor) and told her I was coming over. I had all 4 kids in the car and I knew something was not right. I also called Scott and told him he needed to get on the next plane home. We arrived at the office, my mom met us there, and Ollie and I were seen. Rebecca found several blisters on the back of his throat and sent us to the hospital for blood work and an ultrasound. He also had not eaten or drank really anything in almost 24 hours. So, we got the results back, and all fine. However, he is still very irritable and is not eating much. We are cutting out dairy to see if the constant abdominal pain and no sleeping gets better. Anyway, the first day of school was great for those who went! Isabelle and Preston were the only ones who attended. Amelia stayed home with a fever and sore throat. Isabelle loves her teacher, Mrs. Kelly and Preston loves Mrs. Summers. He is now in an all day program and so I am really only home with Ollie most of the time. It is bitter sweet... We have started Chore Charts since we have little critters (see upcoming post) and each child needs to care for them. We have also already had a case of the "missing backpack" and we need checklists in all the cubbies to remind each one to get their own stuff. Mom cannot remember everything. :) I have lists on my board of who wants hot/cold lunch, who has library, who has a field trip or school store, etc. Amelia could run her own household and is better organized than I, but we then have the other ones who are TOTALLY dependent on anyone who will help! So, we are in full swing, next week starts dance, gymnastics, ice skating, and piano. Gotta love schedules! Did I just say that I was ready for summer to be done? What was I thinking? Somehow I think I thrive on chaos...

Happy First Birthday, Oliver!!!

Well, my baby is one. Yes, one year old and he knows it. It is like the morning of August 26 he change into a toddler and began climbing the shelves, making boy noises (not all attractive) and just WILD. He is such a spitting image of Amelia, it scares me. I remember when Milla was a baby, I would have to just walk away and take 10 deep cleansing breaths. It took all my might not to lose it. It is still that way, except Amelia has the kindess, most genuine heart. She makes you melt. I could not ask for a more affectionate, empathetic daughter. Back to Oliver, he had his party yesterday with our family and friends and he LOVED the attention. He had the BEST cake ever and I could hardly cut it because it was so stinkin cute! He got some very special things including books, clothing, a monogrammed antique rocker and a pottery barn monogrammed chair. He is such a big boy and had a wonderful time with his cousins and friends. After the party, we went to Mimi and Papu's to the pool and have a barbeque. The kids also played with all the dogs and swam their hearts out. It is so nice that they live a mile down the road. We cannot wait until Sarah and Andy and Jon and Kristy live right down the road as well. We can have our tv shows nights and walks, etc. YEAH! Please enjoy the pics!!!