Nothing I'd Rather Be Doing...

I am relishing in how Drew (9 mo) just figured out how to go from his tummy to a sitting position. You know what to expect by the third child, yet these milestones never get old. Each child continuously amazes me.

I love how Drew can be into everything, squealing, and a maniac; then as soon as I put him on my hip, he pops his thumb in his mouth content as he can be.

I love how I find Alexa all decked out in princess playing with Star Wars action figures with Robby. I love her fighter spirit, even though that spirit is directed toward me most times! I love the affection she shows her brothers... even though there is that smirk of satisfaction when her overwhelming affection brings poor Drew to tears. =)

I love how Robby uses his imagination so vividly. I love his intense personality yet, gentle and kind spirit. I love that I actually have to tell him to fight back when his younger sister is going after him. He is such a good big brother...hard to believe he was all we could imagine the first

eighteen months of his life.

I love how different my children are and how my capacity for love has grown with each one.

I am not exaggerating when I say these children are a gift I wake up to every day. I'm not saying they are perfect and that it is always easy but, wow...is there a greater challenge, deeper joy, higher calling than being entrusted with the lives of our children?! There is nothing in this world I'd rather be doing right now than facing the daily challenges, joys, and call of being a mom.

Princess Alexa

Alexa (three in August) is now officially into princess. It is so sweet! She wants to "be princess" all the time! She picks out a dress to wear everyday, last night slept in one. As soon as she picks out her dress, she starts singing in her high-pitched, "I feel beautiful," voice. She continues to twirl and sing in her dress for the next ten minutes, at least, with her eyes peeled to the movement of the fabric. Just the other day I tried to explain to her that a princess changes her dress to go to the princes t-ball game and to go camping. But she insisted, "Princesses need to wear princess dresses to t-ball games and camping." Fair enough!

I'm secretly enjoying this since I was never one to dress my baby girl in dresses. I'm not the frilly, girlie-girl kind of mom. She'd be lucky if she got her hair combed! However, I'm loving watching her in all of her girlie-girl glory. And dresses are SO MUCH EASIER (hand-me-down flower girl and Easter dresses work perfectly), not to mention she actually wants to get dressed in the morning!

She has also informed me that she needs a crown. Well, I guess we'de better get on it!

Sweet Quotes

Is There Anything that Warms My Heart More?

Robby (five) is upset over something and Alexa (almost three) comes up to him, sits right next to him, puts her arm around him and rubs his hair from behind, then very sympathetically states, "Don't cry, Robby. Your my brother!" And repeats several times, "But, your my brother!"

Naptime

Alexa- "Mom, will you rub my back?"
Mom- "No, honey, not today. I need you to go to sleep now."
Alexa- "But, mom, you have to. It's your job."

Playing House

Alexa- "Mommy, Robby and I are playing mommy and daddy! Robby is the daddy and I'm sweetheart."