A Season of Thanksgiving

It has been too long since I have written a good catch-up post. Thanksgiving was forever ago. Christmas has come and gone--all twelve days of it!--and we are well into the New Year. 2012...wow!

I love the period between these holidays when we have a chance to reflect on the previous year and enjoy family time and traditions. I am starting to feel each season go too fast for my liking. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for my life and count my blessings daily...especially our three smallest, yet greatest, blessings: Maggie, Kate, and our sweet baby Emily.

In November, there was a lot of Emily adoration, tutu-wearing and ballet dancing going on here: Maggie would tell me to turn on Tchaikovsky and Kate would request "Tu-tu?". My mom came for several days to help me with the girls and meet little Emily: Emily rarely had to be set down, Mom and I made and ate lots of yummy chocolate-covered pretzels, and we all enjoyed the sunshine and warm weather. The girls loved spending time with Grandmommy. I even got a nap or two. Later in the month, Kate got a new trike and helped Dad put it together, so we had screws from the toolbox all over the living room for a couple days--now and then I still find a stray.

Thanksgiving was delicious, especially since I didn't have to make it. I just showed up with juice and soft drinks and some spinach-artichoke dip for an appetizer; Mike's wonderful parents took care of the rest--it's a good deal we have going. All the Kansas Gotfredsons were there for the occasion--Robert's, Lisa's, and Kevin's families. We spent the night so that we could spend more time with Kevin and Jenn's family, who had come up from Derby. (Emily's first overnight.) Two days were spent eating, shopping for Black Friday deals (online and in stores), playing games like Pretty, Pretty Princess, and reading Thanksgiving stories--we found I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson very funny. We also loved doing the...

Turkey Trot:

"First you turkey to the left, then you turkey to the right.
You heel and you toe and you scratch with all your might.
You flap your turkey wings, while your head goes bobble-bobble.
Then you turn around and say gobble-gobble-gobble-gobble."
(To the melody of "Turkey in the Straw" and with motions to reflect lyrics. I share because I don't want anyone to miss out next T-Day.)

December was here before we knew it. At every opportunity, the girls danced around the house in their tutus to the Nutcracker and we soon found ourselves picking out a tree and counting down to Christmas. The girls loved picking their tree and Maggie was so excited to have hot chocolate afterwards. I started to have dreams of making a fancy advent calendar, but I reigned myself in and instead we made a paper chain and took a blank Hello, Kitty calendar and filled in a simple activity to do each day. We ripped off a chain link and colored in one date square each night. Except for the nights we didn't, which is why there are still several chain links hanging by my front door and one uncolored square. We never did get to the gingerbread houses this year. Sadness. Kind of. I didn't miss the mess though. Maybe for Valentine's Day? What am I thinking?

We did get in a lot of Christmas cheer nonetheless. We kicked off December with a week or so of a half-decorated living room complete with an open box of Christmas decor, bubble wrap strewn everywhere, and Christmas lights dangling haphazardly from the tree, while bulbs hung five to a branch and were sprinkled on the tree skirt below (the girls and Mike decorated themselves). Eventually, Mike and I rearranged the tree and neatened up the house so we could properly enjoy Christmas (or at least so I could). We read plenty of Christmas stories, THE Christmas story, picked out our Christmas tree, visited a live Nativity and creche display, and sang Christmas songs.

We got in some Christmas caroling with our friends the Drakes and our cousins Sarah and Amy, though Emily complained we didn't prep her well for her first caroling experience--she didn't know the songs. We saw Santa at library storyhour and went to a Christmas book exchange at the Creaches. We went to our ward Christmas party at church, where I got to sing "Picture a Christmas" while Mike accompanied. The girls and I learned "the Reindeer Boogie" during our preschool time--much like the Hokey-Pokey, but with imaginary antlers, tails and hoofs. And we spent a half-hour or so one Saturday trying take a good Christmas card photo of the girls and keep my patience during the process, finally settling for individuals and more candid shots, which, truth be told, I probably like even better. We have never been good at getting pictures with everyone looking and it just keeps getting more difficult--we have yet to get a decent family shot since Em was born. :o/ (I know emoticons are kind-of dorky, but that is the face I was making.)

Things finally slowed a bit the week before Christmas. We made some treats for people and stayed close to home; I worked on Christmas cards, some picture projects, and finally monogrammed the girls stockings using fabric scraps; Mike was a dear and wrapped nearly everything. Sweet Tierna Jacobsen from church was home from college for break and came over to help me with the girls one afternoon while I addressed Christmas cards. The girls and I made granola and candied nuts to give as gifts and I made my first batch of almond roca, which was a success. (That was a particularly nice day when Kate and Emily's naps lined up and I managed not to crash myself but, instead, put Maggie in the highchair to paint watercolors and chat with me while I stirred toffee for twenty minutes. I've been wanting to make another batch ever since but somehow it hasn't happened...I hope this week. It's good stuff.)

We spent Christmas Eve with Mike's family, his sister Tina came in from Ohio and we had a grand time visiting with them and his brother Shawn's fam. We had a delicious Christmas dinner: the ham and potato spread was gorgeous and I wish I got a picture of the dishes lined up on Mom's beautiful new countertop and the Christmas veggie wreath my brother-in-law Jason made and the trifle Tina and Jason put together--again, easy eats for me. The weather was gorgeous; we found ourselves playing outside. Maggie loved running around playing tag with the older kids and Taylor was so sweet helping her run fast and feel part of things. We got to act out the nativity: Emily missed out on a role as she was sleeping, but Maggie was thrilled to be an angel and Kate was the cutest shepherd you ever saw--though her baby cousin was pretty sweet too.

Christmas morning dawned and we had another gorgeous day. Kate and Maggie were in heaven and are still in the adorable open-one-present-at-a-time-and-play-with-it-for-a-while phase that I love; Emily let the older girls open her gifts because she is generous like that. We took a break to eat cinnamon chip scones and drink wassail, then headed to church for an hour. Then it was back to gift-opening: The girls gained some momentum and finished up before too long and Mike scored big time with a few surprise Gap tops for me and a smooth edge can opener I'd been wanting. Mike finally got an electric shaver, a BYU hat, and some pictures for his office of the girls and me.

Overall, it was a great Christmas. I think my favorite activities were the Creche display, singing carols with family and friends, and reflecting on that first Christmas: I truly am so grateful for my Savior, that he came to earth and lived and died for me. It's always special to have a little baby at Christmas and consider the miracle of birth in general and especially the birth of that Holy One.

The next afternoon, my sister Becca arrived, followed by my mom and two other sisters, Catherine and Rachel. My girls were excited to pick up Aunt Becca at the airport, and we all were thrilled to see everyone else arrive. We had a blast with them here. We had a second Christmas morning, ate well, took silly pictures, danced around, and watched Miracle on 34th Street--I've been missing that Thanksgiving tradition the past couple years. We saw the lights at the Plaza in KC, played at the park (the nice weather has been crazy this year), and went running. My cute sisters and Mom watched the girls for us so Mike and I could go out on our anniversary (more about that later) and made it super special by decorating the basement so we could dance there when we got back--Catherine was the mastermind behind that one. It was so fun to stay up late with Becca and Cat and watch Rachel play with Maggie and Kate. Rachel really helped us move through activities--she loved my schedule cards--and Becca kept my girls entertained with her spontanaeity. And it was so nice to have some time with my mom again. They had to leave before New Year's, as Mom's break from school was not long this year. I just wished my dad and brother could have come too, as they had to stay back this time. I have such a great family. I wish we lived nearer to them. But also could stay here. Again I ask, why can't I live near everyone I love? Boo.

I shouldn't complain though. I was super spoiled and Cat stayed on before flying back to BYU--I got nearly an extra week with her! It was joyous: She is so fun to hang out with plus I got several days of help around the house. We were able to take the kids to Monkey Business one day, a children's playplace that my girls were previously terrified of--they're rather cautious types like their parents--but now never wish to leave.

New Year's was perfect: We blessed Emily. (Do you know she was three months today?!) Cat was still here and we stayed up on New Year's Eve making cookies for a post-blessing meal. Then we went to church on Sunday and were met there by Shawn's, Robert's, and Kevin's families as well as his parents, who were there to watch and participate. It was great to have them with us.

So yeah, twenty posts in one: That's efficiency for you. (Not for me--it took forever.) I saved you from having to click on our blog too much during your own busy holidays, condensed some of the dreary particulars, and passed on some pics. (I know you're thinking, "That's condensed?") You can thank me whenever.

L's and R's

I find Maggie and Kate playing with a bunch of small toys and wagon on the steps.

Me, upon finding Maggie and Kate playing with a myriad of small toys on the steps: "What are you doing?"

Maggie, matter-of-factly: "We're playing caw and sweep."

Me: "Caw and sweep?"

Mag: "Caw and sweep!"

Me: "Call and sweep?"

Mag: "Caw and sweep!"

Me: "Car and sweep?"

Mag: "Caw and sweep. And SWEEP!!"

Me: "Oh...car and sleep?"

Mag: "Yes."

Somehow I'm still a little lost.

Six Weeks

Dear Emily,

You turned six weeks on Saturday. We all adore you. Sometimes the love is smothering, like when it's trying to squish into the bouncer with you, climb into your bassinet or enclose you in a vise-like hug. Other times it takes more reserved forms: gentle kisses, soft pats, a quiet moment on the couch. You seem fairly indifferent to most of our advances, except for the few smiles with which you grace us. But that doesn't matter--we are enchanted oh so easily.

We love watching you grow. And we just can't get enough (we just can't get enough...).

Love,
Your family

Emily at six weeks...
likes: baths, long afternoon naps, eating, being held, the sling, the bouncer, being upright and looking over shoulders
dislikes: being awake for more than three hours, wet or dirty diapers (you have definitely been more sensitive to this than your sisters)

Mom dislikes: annoying case of baby acne that is now going away, how much you spit up after meals, the laundry you and your sisters create, not having scads of free time to sit and hold and adore you every minute
Mom likes: nursing and watching you for an hour or two in the night when she should be sleeping, your sweet smiles and alert looks, how much you sleep most days, holding you, being your mom

Two Years Today

My little Kate had a birthday today. It's been two years since that cold, snowy and rather stressful, early morning drive to the hospital. Two years since I held my dark-haired little darling in my arms for the first time. Two years since Maggie became a big sister. Two years of watching my beloved Katherine Suzanne grow. Two years, two years, two years. How can it be?

Kate at two is as affectionate as can be. She gives loved ones (and occasionally even acquaintances) her trademark running hug and continues to take her new role as big sister very seriously. Emily appreciates her reassurances, hugs and kisses, most of the time. She and Maggie love to hug and tussle and play. And Mike and I love her sweet hugs, snuggles and hand-holding at bedtime. Her affection is not limited to people and she loves giving stuffed animals and baby dolls a good squeeze as well.

She loves to count, knows most of her colors and recognizes many of her letters, as she proved today at storytime when she loudly claimed her place on the "K" (for Kate, you know). Unfortunately, that position on the rug set her grinning, facing all her fellow storytimers, directly in front of the librarian. Rather than have her take all the attention away from the story, I convinced her that "O" was another desirable spot.

Our birthday girl is also quite observant. A couple weeks ago Mike had been using his screwdriver for a project and left it somewhere. Several days later he needed it again and asked me if I had seen it. I had not, but Kate had. She volunteered her services, leading Dad to the misplaced tool. Then tonight we were using the scissors and needed them again but weren't sure where we placed them. "I know," Kate quickly piped up and retrieved them from their lost state. I am sure glad I have her around as I spend a good fraction of my life "looking for things I had a minute ago" (as my witty friend Samantha put it on a hilarious pie chart she made). No, seriously, I do. It's sad. Maggie routinely cheers me for finding my keys if it takes me a few minutes to get in the car after putting the kids in. One time I told her I didn't need to look for my keys every time, so logically Maggie asked me, "Well then, did you find your phone, Mama?"

Kate has an adorable little voice--I love to hear her call "Mom-mee!" And lately she has taken to calling Mike and me "Daddia" and "Mammia" when she is tired. She talks a lot. Mostly about what she sees. She loves opportunities to say grace and prays with her eyes open thanking Heavenly Father for the green beans or chicken and rice on the table and blessing Daddy and Maggie and Emily and me. And she is quite polite. She is always saying her version of thank you, "Daynt you, Mom-mee," for something. She also likes to chime in at bedtime now when Maggie is sharing her favorite part of the day. A couple months ago, Kate started saying, "Part, part!" When she has our attention, she says, "Ummm....swing," or some activity that she liked from the day. (Occasionally, she names an activity we haven't done. In those cases it's nice to know what she would have liked to do.) She knows tons of words and her language is growing more complex every day.

Our blue-eyed beauty also has a sense of humor. She is often laughing about something with her scrunched-nosed smile. The other day I wrapped her up in her towel after her bath and cradling her in my arms asked, "Are you my big girl or my baby?" "Pea-nut. Baby pea-nut," she said, waiting expectantly. I had to laugh. Sometimes I call her a little peanut and somehow she knew it would be funny to refer to herself as one. A couple months ago, she started a phase of pretending to be a baby. She says "bay-bee,"makes this little face and a baby coo and expects us to pick her up, cradle her and treat her like a baby. She loves when we say "Ooooh, baby." I don't know where she got it, but it is really cute.

As is common with two-year-olds, Kate is experimenting more with her emotions lately. Maggie would practice her sad face in the mirror. Kate likes to test our reactions to a little scowl. When one of us frustrates her (usually Maggie), she makes a little scowl and marches towards her room, usually pushing her doll stroller. "Home," she says, in a mildly angry tone. It's cute the times Maggie tries to appease her. Kate is also recognizing things that make her nervous and will run to my side saying, " 'cared" [scared] or "Hold you!"

Kate loves coloring in her Hello Kitty coloring book, is frequently humming or singing and can fill in words to many of her favorite picture books. Recent favorites have included Go, Dog, Go by P.D. Eastman and Tip, Tip, Dig, Dig by Emma Garcia. She finally got her own copy of the later, so we no longer have to monopolize the library copy, which we have checked out four times in the past couple months. Her favorite songs to request at bedtime are "Temple" ("I Love to See the Temple") and "God" ("I Am a Child of God"), both Primary songs from church.

Our little girl had a great birthday today, as we celebrated as a family. We went out for Chinese for lunch and made Mickey Mouse chicken nuggets and fries for dinner. We opened gifts and ate cupcakes. It was a little tough on Maggie to see Kate have a birthday all by herself, but she enjoyed helping direct my efforts to make it special for her sister (e.g., telling me to make Kate's cake, leading the singing of the birthday song, helping wrap, and making Kate a card). Kate was really cute blowing out the candle the first time before we even had time to start singing. Of course, we had to relight it so that we could sing to her with the candle burning. Funny enough, the second time she had trouble getting it out, so we had to hold back Maggie who would have been more than willing to do it for her.

Kate now has a few more things of her own making her less at the mercy of Maggie's whims and giving her more leverage in deal-making. She finally has her own Color Wonder book, her own stuffed puppy dog and a Curious George DVD. She loves her new purse. And she beamed every time we sung to her today. Here she is checking out her new train set with Maggie:

Oh Kate! How we love dear, sweet, irrepressible, little you. Where would we be without you prancing all over the house--or the latest "tip-toe, tippy-toe." I love your awkward arabesques, tight hugs and huge smile. Thanks for being my baby.

Two Mice and a Chick

In between enjoying our newest family member, we still managed to enjoy Halloween. Maggie and Kate were very excited to be Angelina Ballerina and her best friend Alice (whom Maggie used to call "Ah-miss" back in the spring when she couldn't say her L's as well...I miss that). At first, Maggie wanted Kate to be Angelina's little brother Henry (she wanted me to be Alice and Mike to be William, another friend), but Kate put her foot down and kept saying tutu, meaning she wanted to wear a tutu too. I was glad she stood up for herself. Luckily, we already happened to have a pink ballet costume in Maggie's size (Angelina always wears pink) and Kate's green tutu skirt from Uncle Scot's wedding still fit her (green is Alice's color). I whipped up some ears and a tail from some felt and costumes were born.

I got to take the girls to the library party a couple days before Emily was born; then I farmed out the rest of trick-or-treating duties to Mike, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law Nadine. Mike and Grandma took the girls to a trunk-or-treat at church (actually on the eve of Emily's birthday after the rush of delivery and meeting the new arrival were over). On Halloween night, wonderful Aunt Nadine took my girls out with hers, while Mike was at class and I stayed home with Emily. So Maggie and Kate ended up very satisfied with the amount in their pumpkins.

And of course, we had to dress up our newest little chickadee. We had a chick costume from when Maggie was a baby that we pulled out. Maggie was several months older, so it fit her a bit better on her first Halloween; but Emily was glad we didn't leave her out of the festivities, even if she was lost in the costume. We had fun visiting our neighbors Ed and Iris as a family before the girls went out with their cousins.

Emily Marie

It's hard to believe that our sweet little Emily Marie has been with us for nearly a week. That a week ago I was checking into the hospital with labor pains, squeezing Mike's hand in anxious anticipation of our newest daughter's arrival. That for a week we've been adoring her sleepy newborn smiles--which are frequent--enchanted with every move and noise she makes.

We've been on broadcast silence since Mike typed the big announcement from the delivery room. (I think he likes this new netbook.) But all is well. The girls just can't get enough of their new sister. They have been enthralled with her from day one. I love these pictures because they capture reactions to Emily perfectly. Maggie: [happy] "I am so proud of my sweet baby sister." Mike: [adoring] "What a little angel. She's so perfect." Kate: [intense] "Don't even try to take this baby away from me."

When I said the girls just can't get enough of Emily, I meant it. They are always hanging over her bassinet or bouncer, smothering her with hugs and kisses at every opportunity, running to her at first cry, begging for (at times fighting for) chances to hold her, and dropping her trinkets when she is sleeping (hence, the jack o'lantern next to her in the sleepy smile shot--they give that to her all the time--and the pacifier, baby and burp cloth in the shot below). Mike told me the first night after Emily was born, Maggie prayed for Emily to sleep through the night quickly so that she can move to the crib in their room. And Kate is Emily's self-appointed morning greeter (she heads to Emily's bedside first thing, calling "Hi Ehm-ly!") and is the most willing diaper fetcher you'll find.

And as for Emily. She takes it all lying down. I think she is the sleepiest baby I've had so far, which makes for easy cuddling. She spends most of her time sleeping, nursing and hiccuping, with the occasional staring spell or cry of discomfort.

I am still in disbelief that I really had a baby early. Maggie was one week late and Kate five days, so I didn't know I could go into labor without (a) passing my due date and (b) a good cry and prayer of desperation. The first hour of suspected labor was passed throwing together my hospital bag and pulling out the baby bin. (I know, I know...I had committed to do that already. What can I say?) And after that it was pretty smooth sailing. Called Mike's mom. Put kids to bed. Drove to hospital. Two hours later, baby in arms. And I thought my first two recoveries were pretty good, but this one has been the best yet. I didn't realize how uncomfortable I had been getting while pregnant until I wasn't anymore. Besides being a bit sore and tired from nightwakings, I am feeling just about back to myself.

Yep. I am a happy mama, with the three sweetest girls in the world. Mike took off the whole week to be home with me and the girls as we all enjoyed and adjusted to our new arrival. This evening, I was sitting on the couch after dinner, nursing Emily and watching my wonderful husband dancing around the living room with Maggie and Kate to She&Him. I couldn't help wishing that time would just stop. Or at least slow down. This is so nice. Life is so good. We are so blessed. For a moment, all is right in the world.

We love you sweet Emily! I still can't believe you are here. It is incredibly fun that my due date is tomorrow, when I'll have already enjoyed loving you a full week. Thanks for being here and thanks for being ours. Xoxo, Mom

Baby Girl #3

Baby girl #3 (name pending) was born this morning at 12:12 AM (7 lbs. 2 oz./19 1/4'') seven days ahead of her due date. Mom and baby are doing great. More pictures to come after they get cleaned up and get some rest.