Sweet success I blogged!

We picked out our 1st REAL tree! It looks a lot bigger at home...

Does this need a caption?

Oh sweet blog. How I have missed you. I would tell you I've just been to busy, but that is a lame and boring excuse.  The truth is, Matthew is like a cat and wants to sit on the keyboard anytime I come near you.  The more that I discourage him from batting at the mouse and banging on the keys.. the more that he is determined to do it. He is such a persistent little fellow.  He also challenges the vacuum to a dual every time I turn it on (which is a lot).  He gets into a 4 point stance and faces the beast head on.. then charges right at it without hesitation. I've actually vacuumed over his little fingers, sucked a bit on his clothes.. no fear was elicited.  So I don't think I'm going to win this one with the computer either.  And of course I could blog when he sleeps... if he EVER went to sleep. EVER! But anyhoo... someday he will be a teenager and I will wake him repeatedly- possibly poke him in the eye and scream loudly for good measure.  But at this moment he is happily exploring Jack and NonaJane's room.  Jack and NonaJane got a new set of bunkbeds yesterday.  I heard NonaJane jump off the top bunk to a delicate landing on the bean bag down below.  Jack yell whispered (you know so I wouldn't hear him) "Nona, you're YOUNGER than me! You are supposed to be afraid of things!"  After showing him that she indeed was not hurt, and gently encouraging him that he TOO could be brave and jump- he did. Despite what seems like a possible threat of injury- I hated to interrupt. I just read an article about how we are overprotecting our children from gross motor play and causing them to have poor body awareness, self-esteem, and coordination. SO.. I guess I decided to abide by their suggestions just NOW. Besides, the three of them are in one room happily playing, why interrupt a good thing?
So what have I missed documenting over the last few weeks?

Well, with Jack we have decided to remove the i-pad. The poor kid was so addicted to the game mine craft that it was all he could think about.  He was waking before the sun to play, he was begging to play before his feet hit the ground from the school bus, AND he told us he would rather play minecraft then join us outside to string the Christmas Lights! That was my final straw (besides the million meltdowns that we had already endured when his time was up on the iPad).  I decided we had a real addict here, and intervention was needed.  Jack is such a happier kid without the iPad! He doesn't know it, but we can all see it.  He is back to his playful self- imagination in full swing.  He colors and draws, plays with his sister, and runs around outside.  I'm thinking it will be a long while before we introduce any kind of gaming systems into our house. On a more positive note with Jack, his teacher sent home some enrichment work for fun.  It had some reading work up thru 3rd grade.  On Jack's first attempt- without any teaching or guidance- he correctly read 78% of the 3rd grade words!  The only problem we had was that if he did not get a word correct he had a bit of a meltdown- his perfectionism is still in full swing.
NonaJane has been so sweet and amazing lately! She cracks me up, because as Jack was struggling with his iPad addiction Nona saw an opportunity to leverage herself.  She would so sweetly comment "Mom, I'M not throwing a fit :)" or "Mom, I'M not being rude :)"  Even- "Mom, I loooove you :)"  in the midst of my frustration with Jack.  It absolutely cracked me up every time.  Just earlier as I walked into their room to put away their laundry she said "Mom, thank you for buying me these bunk beds!" - How darn sweet!!  Nona also just finished her 3rd modeling job thru Hoffman.  Each shoot has been with Hallmark (and booked alongside Jack!)- and she has been nailing them.  They did a Spring/Easter shoot, a Christmas ornament shoot, and over a year ago she did her first shoot with the clothing line.  The photography team at Hallmark has been raving about her with each job.. so I'm thinking she may have more in the future! She isn't old enough yet to audition for the acting/commercial gigs like Jack does.  But she loves seeing his commercials on TV and has confidently informed me that she too will be in a commercial some day. I have no doubt :)

Jack has been in a variety of these US Toy ads! Last week it was on the COVER of a local magazine!

My little "helper" was the worst elf ever. Just kept attacking
the wrapping paper and diving for my scissors!

Again, "helping" me clean up after Dinner by getting a ton more crap OUT of the cabinets :)

And Matthew.  10 months now! The kid is getting cuter everyday! He learned the word "kiss" and gives you a giant drooly lick any time you desire! It's the cutest thing EVER (unless you're not his mom. then it is probably just gross).   He let go the other day and took his first steps- he was at Meagan's house so I didn't see it.  He took a pretty hard fall so it may be a week or two before he tries that again.  He is definitely in a 'mommy phase' as he prefers to be attached to my hip at all times.  I don't mind it for the most part.  It's pretty nice to be loved to that extreme.  So I let him sleep on my face, and give me back problems from carrying him all day.  Wouldn't have it any other way.  I just love his fluffy hair, his giant blue eyes, and that concerning look that he continues to share with everyone.

Reasons Matthew T is the worst

 Reasons Matthew T Schwatken is the WORST (would you believe it???):

Pancake Mix...

A stolen cookie... in the LIVING room too!

1. Matthew is really good at not sleeping.  In fact, he wakes up every 2-3 hours at night just to make sure that I'm still okay.

2. Matthew loves to make messes. He is incredibly accurate at knocking spoonfuls of baby food out of your hands.  Pulling items off of every surface imaginable, and dumping baskets, boxes... etc.

3. He is sneaky and skillful at hide-n-seek.

front row view at the World Series Parade!

4. He gets into cabinets and drawers at a shockingly young age.

His inventive way of eating slippery banana slices

5. He grew 5 beautiful and healthy teeth by 7 months of age... which he can use to make very firm statements to me while breastfeeding.

He takes his driving very seriously

6. He is a crafty problem solver- discovering that rather than dropping his slippery banana slices he could simply slide them to the edge of the table and meet them there with his mouth.



7. Matthew is a wet, drooly, slobbery mess- and he isn't afraid to show it.

There is no reason why I CAN'T climb this Mom. I'm 8 months old you know!

8. He is relentlessly dedicated to not let a diaper change EVER be easy.  He has leg muscles like a soccer play, and thinks it is funny to repeatedly kick his pants off during dressing.



9.  He is afraid of nothing, and bold in everything.  He will tackle his sibling, attempt to climb ladders, and chase down the vacuum without flinching.



10.Matthew analyzes everyone- with a serious and concerned look.  Once he decides you're okay, he will give you the biggest goofiest grin you have ever seen.



11. Matthew is up for anything- always eager and ready to go.  He follows us room to room, and tries so hard to imitate us in play.  He will cautiously try to stack a block on top- only to have his jerky baby arms knock the tower over.  He clearly looks disappointed and awaits for me to build him a new tower.

12. He literally eats Jack's homework. It's like having a dog and a baby in one.

13. Leaves are his FAVORITE thing. When I stop him from eating them he looks at me like- who do you think you are?!

I'll eat these leaves if I want to! What's it to YOU?

Hello!

14. He won't stop growing up. He gets bigger and smarter everyday. He is my last little baby- and is he is making the most of it.  Matthew is making sure to challenge me in new ways, and I guess... by looking at these pictures it's pretty apparent that Matthew isn't the worst at all.  He is a pretty darn awesome, amazing, and entertaining blessing in our lives!  (But I'm still not sure why we gave Jack the middle name Wilder, or why we called Nona the Nona Monster... I'm thinking Matthew should be Matthew Wilder Monster Man.)

We LOVE you Matthew T!

I'm drooly and I know it!

Mommy brain? or plain crazy?

Three babies in, and this parenting thing isn't exactly getting any easier.  You would think, perhaps, that with each kid you would master some of those basic parenting skills. But instead, it seems that each child comes out with higher level skills of trickery and manipulation.  Either that or each one wears you down over time, and my ability to stand fast has ever waned? For example, I just spent the last hour trying to get Matthew to take a nap. An HOUR.  He is asleep now, but only after nursing multiple times, singing every lullaby song to infinity, rocking, and soothing.  I would try to leave the room and let him soothe himself... but my skin crawled up my neck as I heard him screaming and hyperventilating in his crib.  3 kids in, and the sound of my baby crying still rips right into my heart.  The small victory of his sweet face sleeping in his crib is a very small reward compared to the hour long battle we just endured! Which is why I so often don't fight him on his naps despite knowing how important sleep is to his development and health.

It isn't all fun and games. An exhausted attempt to get Matthew to sleep in the car and take NJ to the park... gone bad!

My bed on a Saturday at 6:00am. Not as comfy as you think!

 But we are making it along all right. Our days are full of play, exploration, learning, and growth right here at home! Nevertheless, Adam has been growingly disappointed with my rigidity about traveling, camping, and adventures in general. He is right, I avoid activities that involve packing, sleeping outside our own home, or excessive planning of any kind.  The bottom line is it is just TOO much WORK! I hardly get any sleep in my own bed, the idea of attempting to get Matthew to sleep somewhere else makes me panic!  I do daily loads of laundry at home, usually more than one load.  If we travel... my lord by the time we get home I'll have 4-5 loads to catch up on!  Then there is the fact that my brain can't seem to remember the basic needs and tasks in our every day routines. I'm always forgetting pump parts at work, or to send diapers to the babysitter. I forget to pack a jacket for a cold day or Jack's library books for library day.  My brain is a constant real of "don't forget" "need to do.." which then turns into "what was I just doing?" "why did I come in here?"  "where did I just put..?"  So the idea of packing all those things up, toting them along on our adventures, and then being able to FIND those items when I need them??? I have anxiety just thinking about it.  Which is bad news for my husband who thrives off of travel, camping, and adventures of every kind.

Adam's new form of excitement and adventure :) Protecting your UNO cards
from baby Matthew!

See, adventures in the mundane :)

I continually promise him that once Matthew gets a bit older that I PROMISE to resume our adventurous ways.  For now I am happy as a lark having adventures in our front yard.  Taking trips to the library or park are good to me. I finally understand why my mom had sticky notes all over our home with lists of things to do with the silliest of tasks written on them such as: trim finger nails.  Because my gosh... I can have been meaning to trim my finger nails for a week now.  A week!!! How does that happen? I should stop what I'm doing right now and go trim them.  But then I might forget that I was working on a blog. See my dilemma.
So, either this is normal "Mommy brain" stuff, or I should seek a counselors support :) But either way, I think these kids are growing up to be beautiful little people.

Painting our pumpkins

Pictures that were released by Hallmark!

Updates on the kiddos

Going on a bug hunt

 

Jack is 6 now, and he is already a quarter of the way thru Kindergarten.  How?  I dunno. But it happened.  Things have been changing so fast with him that I can't keep up.  He jumps off the bus after school and runs off into the yard to play.  He showed me how he can swing so high that the swings jerks back and forth.  He can even kick the branch in the tree by throwing his body backwards and extending his foot up into the sky.  He wants to climb trees, and runs around the yard with an active imagination that I have never before seen from him.  His interest in reading has exploded even more, and I find him reading every single thing that he can find.  He started driving. He did! I mean it's just a golf cart, but he is pretty darn good at it.  I even taught him how to take a shower, but I'm thankful that he is still enjoys getting into the bathtub and playing with his little siblings too.  I know our time it limited, but I love seeing their three cute little bods in the tub together :)  (sometimes I see how I could possibly turn into the Mom on the Goldberg's. That show cracks me up!)

NonaJane was excited to ride the ponies at Deanna Rose a few weeks ago. We sent a picture of it to her Aunt Nicole who sent back a picture from a year ago with NonaJane riding her horse.  It brought almost instant tears to my eyes, as I could barely recognize that little girl from the picture a year ago. How can she have changed so much? So I tortured myself and pulled up some baby pictures of NonaJane... and literally realized that I could hardly remember that sweet baby face. How could I forget?  Someday I will be looking at those baby pictures, and won't be able to remember which baby it is... I never understood how our parents or grandparents could ever forget which child it was in the picture.  But here I am, my daughter only 3 years old... and yet I'm already letting those memories slip.  Sometimes I catch a glimpse of NonaJane in her carseat, or running thru the house and I'm shocked by her beauty.  Of course, then she tells me to "stop looking at me!" or "I'm not talking to you" and I'm put right back into my place ;)

Your sweet face with what I think is a drool rash...

Your 9 month overalls that are like high waters on you at 7 months..

Matthew. My baby, who seems to refuse to be a baby. Turned 8 months old a few days ago.  He seems to be "growing like a weed" which never really happened with Jack or NonaJane.  Is it fair that at 7 months he should be forced to go to the library in high waters?  Well, it's your own fault kid for having ridiculously long limbs.  I'm not sure how I am suppose to dress your arms this winter. Baby clothes are all made for babies with short arms.  Your monkey arms are too long unless I put you in 12-18 month tops.  The same tops that your brother and sister were wearing when they were toddlers!  Plus, you already have 5 teeth! They are so darn cute when you give us your goofy grin and shrivel up your baby nose. You still puzzle me with your cock eyed way of holding your head, the way you crawl with one leg hitched up, and how you twist your body in our arms when we try to hold you. You're our strange little one, but amazingly talented.  You already wave and clap.  You discovered how to cruise up and down the couch last week. You already stand outside my shower door with your sweet little hands banging on the door to hurry me along.  Absolutely nothing phases you.  Your siblings dump water over your head by the bucket when in the tub, and you laugh.  Your sister tackles you and pulls you over backwards from behind.  You quickly crocodile roll and attack her with slobbery hands and a drooley face.  Have I mentioned your drool??? You drool SO MUCH. You soak several shirts a day.. and the continual stream of drool has soured some of your onesies to the point that I had to throw them away!  Your drool also has given your face, neck, and belly a strange bout of a rash. So I lather your face in aquafor or coconut oil and let your go on on your greasy merry way.  You still like to play hide and seek (see how I turn that on you instead of saying that perhaps your mom wasn't really watching you as well as I should?).  You're getting pretty good at it. I'm thinking I should teach you how to play 'marco-polo' instead. So when I call out, I could hear you and know you're ok? We'll work on that.

Preparing for your first bike ride :)

To the man of my dreams on the day after his birthday (close enough)

My handsome Husband on his 37th birthday

"OUR" Adam turned 37 yesterday.  He used to be "My" Adam... but not anymore.  Nona tries to claim that he is only "HER" daddy... it really digs under Jack's skin when she refuses to admit that Adam is also HIS daddy.  I know she knows that, but boy she likes to make her brother squirm.

A healthy game of UNO!

In the past Adam's birthdays have always been about Ice Cream cake, weekends at the lake, and outdoor fun.  This year... Adam's birthday was about an angry bird chocolate cake and watching Jack open all the presents.  Nona kept interjecting "that one is for Daddy" - when in reality there weren't any presents for Adam. Our 3 year old could see the clear injustice that was taking place. Guess that's the truth about getting older around here!  He did get to spend the entire morning golfing with his Dad and brother though.  I spent the day chasing after the kids, cleaning, grocery shopping, and preparing for our evening guests.  I'm not sure I really saw much of Adam on his birthday.  So in retrospect, I felt that Adam deserved a few kind words in honor of his birthday:

The engineer on the evening train

the partially smashed angry bird/golfing b-day cake

Dear Adam-

Our first weeknight evening together in YEARS. Adam thought he
would cook a nice meal and the children would magically eat it. HA!

 We love you. We love your playfulness. We love your seriousness. We're thankful for your sacrifice of working overnight to spend more time with us. We love that you are the ultimate 'handy-man'.  You fix all our problems- from changing light bulbs and batteries, opening those darn lids that are always on too tight, fixing bikes, fixing cars, soothing those 'owies' and calming those tantrums, tiling floors, refurbishing fireplaces, cooking dinners, installing car-seats, and building tables from scratch. You're the reason I never have to worry about things around the house.  You're smarter than the average Joe, you're more creative and crafty than my searches on Pinterest.  You're kind to every stranger, and you love every soul you meet.  You care about every story you read (and you try SO hard to make me care too).  You are a genuine listener- and the ultimate story teller. You sacrifice your toys and dreams (though there is a good share of kicking and screaming) because you hope and dream about the future of our family. You remind me how to have fun, you force me to dream- to think bigger and better. You are still MY ADAM- I just choose not to taunt the children as NonaJane chooses to do.  So even though I didn't buy you a boat, or a motorcycle (a camper, an ultimate cruise vacation,  a tractor, OR a diesel truck...) know that I love you more than all those items rolled together in one giant imaginary birthday present.  (and everyone who knows me knows that I am terrible at gift giving anyhow... so really no surprise that your
birthday present is imaginary now is it?)

Man at work

Happy 37th Birthday (belated) to my wonderful husband.  I am so THANKFUL and appreciative and HONORED to be your wife.  Thank you for choosing me, and loving me, and supporting me thru thick and thin.  We make a pretty good team- I still say you are better than any man I ever dreamed of.
Your wife,
Kelly

That Went Fast

Jack fearlessly running off... taking his first step onto the school bus. 

"That went fast," said Adam innocently enough.

 THAT went fast. That WENT fast.  That went FAST.

It was like a bad song stuck in my head.  A deafening roar of the same phrase being repeated over and over again in my head. It was as if every person who had ever told me "enjoy it, it goes fast" was suddenly right here with me screaming it at me.
And it went fast.  Jack took his first step onto that school bus and was off.  Adam, myself, Nona and Matthew sat in the golf cart in silence. Staring off into the empty highway where the bus had just been sitting.  A feeling of emptiness crept over me, a sense of shock- as if we weren't expecting what had just happened.  He was really off on a school bus, by himself.  I didn't feel like I had permission to cry though, it was a happy day for our Jack.  We put on a smile and headed back up to the house, just the 4 of us.

The weekend before school- headed to a casting call
(which he ended up landing the role!)

But then I did cry.  I felt like a cartoon character where the water fills up in your eyes like a swimming pool, and then the tears manage to sneak out and roll down your cheeks.  ...  I was going to miss him, and not just right now in this moment.  I mean I am going to MISS having my baby Jack. My toddler Jack. My preschooler Jack. I'm not sure I am ready for school age Jack, and all the responsibilities that come with being a school Mom!

Checking out Jack's classroom

Swinging at Meagan's house

But I turned my attention to my work day, and turned my sadness into anxiousness- anticipation of hearing about his day when I get off work.  I watched the clock and wondered what he was doing.
After school Jack did not disappoint. He happily answered every nosey question I had with gusto.  Then I turned to NonaJane and said "did you MISS your brother?!"  and in true NonaJane fashion, knowing how to get a laugh and lighten the mood- she replied with a mischievous smirk and a devious look to her eye "NoooopE!!!"  "I had the i-pad ALL to MYSELF!"   Sure enough, I asked Adam how NonaJane's day went without Jack, he reported he hardly heard a peep out of her. She spent the day in the playroom busily playing with her toys and the iPad- totally un-interrupted.
 
Matthew also did not want to be out-shined this week.  He decided he would start crawling at 6 months and 3 days old.  Officially our youngest crawler! He also got his first tooth this week!




















We went to the grocery store and he sat in the cart like a big kid... he seemed a bit worried- perhaps it was my cart driving? No, probably his sister who was hugging his head thru the whole store.

Shopping while Jack is at school just wouldn't feel right.  Wouldn't want anything to be too easy around here!

Matthew is thinking "what are you doing with my toy?"

already pulling himself up to climb into things

Well a week or two of school have gone by now, and somehow this blog never got posted... I'm still missing my Jack, but am thankful for his school and teacher.  Jack comes home with a spark in his eye every afternoon. His days are full of adventure and novelty, and he is loving every bit of it.  While I continue to mourn the change in our worlds, exciting things are happening at home for Nona and Matthew.  Matthew is discovering the world around him, underfoot and into everything.  He is already pulling up to his knees to reach, and tearing into his siblings stuff. (yesterday he ate a bed bath and beyond coupon that had been sitting at the edge of the coffee table... oops) Him eating things leads into the topic of his size! We discovered at his 6 month appointment that he is nearly as tall and heavy as Jack was at his 1st birthday!! What??! Granted Jack was a bit of a runt, or pip-squeak... but Matthew is ranking in in the 95%.

starting early with the academics

Little Miss looking exceptionally cute

Nona has become exceptionally close with Matthew.  We find her encouraging him to follow her, giving him toys, including him in her play schemes.  He thinks she is hysterical... but that eventually gives into annoyance once she has completely overwhelmed him ;)  Nona is also sitting down with me on my days off for our 'school'.  We are working thru some pre-k work books, spending extra time coloring, cutting, drawing, doing puzzles, reading etc.  Nona seems thrilled with the one on one time, and I appreciate feeling needed (seeing as Jack already informed me the other day that "Mom, you  don't know what you're talking about".... lovely)  It seems that Nona and Jack have flipped roles lately.  Nona being extra sweet and incredibly rule abiding... meanwhile Jack comes home from school in a state of physical and emotional fatigue- in turn he is acting a bit like a 13 year old girl.  Quite moody- a bit over reactive- we just have to hold on tight and hope that this wave too shall pass!