Wild at Heart

Jason bought me the audio book for Wild at Heart for Christmas. As long as we have been married whenever I would question some of his desires or interests he would say you just need to read Wild at Heart. Then I had two boys and once again when I just wasn't getting them he would reference this book. And as brilliant and wise as I think John Eldridge is, I have a hard time reading his books...maybe because he is way more intelligent than I am. So I had told him if he got it for me on audio I would listen to it. It was great, I highly recommend for everyone who has a husband, son, or actually and male relationship in their life. It gave me such insight into all of my boys minds and really helped me understand who they are and who God created them to be. So with all that said I'm really trying to embrace these 'Wild' boys and let them be who they are and not suppress these God designed longings for adventure. This is hard for me, as a few months ago when they decided they liked guns, my first reaction was to say no guns in our house or don't shoot anything. This is like telling a girl not to play dress up. And the wrestling and constant rough housing...yes I'm trying to let this go too. There are boundries and rules that I hope they will follow and I'm sure there are bruises to come, but I'm learning boys will be boys.

So this picture and video is of the boys with there HUGE boxing gloves Aunt Susan gave them. They love these things and beat the mess out of each other with them.

Holtanese

This is what Jason had called Holt's language when we can't understand it or to explain to others what he is saying. For instance, if someone says, "what did he say?", Jason will always say, "oh he's speaking Holtanese." We actually had him evaluated last month for his speach as we were noticing others could not understand a lot of what he was saying. I was getting most of it, but I also spend all day with him and have learned to decipher. However, he did great at the evaluation and the therapist has just recommended me doing some work on strengthing his tongue at home that will help with his articulation. But even in the last month we have seen huge improvements in his articulation and in his sentences (this is not due to me working with him..as I have started that yet other than straws, I do have plans to once I get the evaluation). Anyways here are some really cute things he has said to me in the past couple days...

"Mom, look at this , this is super cool."

Today I was talking to him while Pierce was at school and we were playing with Camden. He was loving on her and I said, "Holt, do you love your sister?" His reply was, "yeah, I wan to buy another baby."

One of the boys favorite words is "poop." They will use in any context, at any time, and it is so funny to them. So we have been working on not using potty talk, and we decided we would introduce them to the concept of going #1 and #2. They also think this is hilarious. The other day I saw Holt coming out of the bathroom. I said, "Holt, did you go potty?" He said, "Mom, I went #6." We couldn't stop laughing..what in the world is #6?

Philadelphia

Camden and I were bundled up for our walk to Mom Mom and Pop Pop's. It was freezing while were there and they still a little snow on the ground from the 23 inches they got the week before.

Camden with Pop Pop

Camden and Mom Mom

How Pierce is this picture?! Pierce got a dinosaur excavation kit for Christmas and has been working on it for 2 1/2 hours straight.

We went to Philadelphia for three nights the day after Christmas. We usually fly but decided to drive this year since we now have to buy four airline tickets which costs a fortune. I must say I was scared to death of driving and feared the worst. I am not a car person to start with and the weeks leading up to our trip Camden had come to hate her car seat. She was screaming every time I put her in no matter how short the car ride. So I was only imagining how bad the 10 hour drive would be. However, she was an angel and the ride could not of gone better. About two hours from Philly on the way up I started to tell Jason I couldn't believe how good they were and he told me not to say anything, we thought it was too good to be true. We left at 3:30 in the morning both times and the kids slept till seven. The boys did crafts, played their leapsters and watched one of their new movies on the way up. Megan thank you, thank you for the trays and extra leapster!! Camden took a two hour nap and then woke up happy and talking. I switched her to the bigger carseat, maybe this helped. Thanks Linds for letting us borrow Coleman's. I didn't even have to pull out half of my tricks or junk food. Holt was sick on the way back and still did great. We never hit traffic and made record time. We had a great stay with our family and loved seeing all of our cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Camden got to meet her Mom Mom and Pop Pop (great grandparents) for the first time and we got to meet our cousin Grace for the first time. We miss all of you and had so much fun!!

Christmas

Camden got her first baby doll. Although she found the wrapping paper and boxes much more exciting to play with.

I love this picture..I think she might feel this way a lot in her life with these two wild boys :)

Pierce was a shepard in the Christmas Even pageant at church. This was his last year to be in the pageant and he did great. I was telling a friend how different this year was from the past years. The first year he did it, mommy really wanted him to be in it and he wasn't so sure and wasn't loving it. Last year he was a little more into it but was still looking for me at the practice and the night of the pageant. This year he wasn't looking for us at all and was leading the little sheep down and encouraging a couple of his younger friends who were in it for the first year.

Christmas Posts

We had a great December and fun Christmas. I usually am ready for the season to come to and end but I must say I was a little sad for the excitement to end this year. The boys loved everything about the season and their joy was contagious.


I did Holt's Christmas party at school. I thought it would be fun to have them decorate sugar cookies. His class is six boys and they had fun in typical messy boy style! I think they each used an entire bottle of sprinkles on their cookie.

Pierce was a shepard in the school Christmas show and had a speaking part this year!

Holt's class walked in at the beginning of the program as angels...My little Angel!

I found this picture on my camera one day when I was looking through pictures..daddy had taken this one day when I was out, hilarious!

Rudolph

Camden had her 6 month check up last week. She weighed 15 lbs 3 oz and was 26 1/2 inches. As you can see from her red nose she's a bit miserable. Our usual happy, content, easy going baby has not been so happy this past week. She's cut one tooth, working on another, has a cold, and is constipated. She has passed her cold onto mommy so hopefully she'll turn the corner soon. Oh and start sleeping through the night again..that hasn't happened since my last post.

She crawled under the chair today and was stuck, but didn't seem to mind.

I have people ask me often, "Is it so different having a girl, or is it so much fun?" I usually say its really not that different right now with her being a baby, other than the clothes. However, I must confess I did play dress up this one morning. Yep, my baby girl has Ugg's and her mommy doesn't even own a pair.

Growing up

Every day I am reminded just fast my babies are growing up. I can't seem to find the time to journal or fill out the baby book lately so this is my outlet or record until I can play catch up.
-Pierce told me today, "Mom at Staples I saw one." When were you at Staples, "with Pop, he had to get some size D batteries." and when did he know what Staples was and start talking like an adult.
-Or "Mom, they are buy one get one free." Where did you hear that? "On the commercial."
-"Mom, this year maybe we can figure out the gingerbread house. (I guess I couldn't figure it out last year). And maybe while we are making it we should have some candy."
-Pierce had his five year checkup this week. He was 95% in height and ..ready for this...90% in weight. I'm still not real sure about that second statistic. If you have seen our boy lately, he's pretty tall and slim. I think the nurse missed the mark on the scale and added a few.
-I need some accountability this week. I've promised myself that once the Christmas decorations came out I would put up the baby swing and bouncy seat to give us some more room. I've always been so excited to put up baby items for the space but really struggling with it this time around. To think this could be the last time we would have a swing or bouncy seat sitting around brings me to tears. Camden was literally doing a handstand out of the bouncy seat the other night..it is time, like it or not.
-Camden is sitting up now, I think she ended up doing it the same day she crawled. She's eating lunch and dinner. She seems to like babyfood but when she is done, she's done. She pulls up on her knees and wants to play with anything the boys have left on the ground or they are playing with. Drumroll...she has slept through the night 4 out of the past 7 nights!!
-Holt calls many of people "bad guys." Ever since he was an army man for halloween he has grabbed on to this bad guy concept. We are not sure where it came from but we are working on it , as he calls certain friends bad guys, the pizza man a bad guy, and anyone military is a bad guy.