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Friday, December 16, 2016

Guess who is getting some sleep??!

The Holiday season is in full swing, and life is G- OO -D  GOOD! This year has brought so many changes to our household.. it's hard to even know where to start!

The face of a Mom who has given in!
Caught playing in the toilet... AGAIN!
Matthew is almost TWO. For real.  His birthday is coming up in February.  While I'm usually sad to see time pass, I am LOVING this age and honestly not missing having a baby in the house.  Matthew FINALLY started sleeping thru the night around 20 months of age.  TWENTY MONTHS.  That's enough to confirm the decision that we will not be having any more babies! HA!  But having two full months of consistent sleep has made me feel like a new person!! I honestly forgot what it felt like to sleep, and I love it!










Matthew is the biggest ham- absolutely hilarious.  He doesn't talk very much, but he can carry on quite the conversation with his huge personality.  And don't let that give you the idea that he is quite, because he is anything but.  In fact- he is very very LOUD, and determined, and smart.  He watches every move you make, and then repeats these activities once you have left the room ( because he knows you won't let him in your presence).  He is obsessed with trains, cars, and tractors and has already developed a passion for driving. He is constantly dirty- I'm not even sure where it all comes from.  He remains clean for about 5 minutes after his bath.. kind of reminds me of that "Pig Pen" character from Peanuts. You can comb his hair, put in some hair gel, hairspray, you name it.. and 5 minutes later it is back to a wild mane sticking out all over his sweet little head.  You just can't tame him!  Sometimes I think we should have named them Jack T and Matthew Wilder instead of the other way around!
Helping Mom at a Wildtree event
NonaJane is loving preschool this year. Her favorite part is "playing outside" and when asked what they did in the classroom we get a flippant "I don't know".  She loves to swing- and can swing herself so high that she rises above the cross bar.  I think that girl could swing for an hour if you let her.  She played Soccer this fall- which if you saw our video on Facebook... was entertaining.  NonaJane loved to run really fast "did you see how fast I was running???" But didn't have much (any)interest in the actual soccer ball.  We caught her on camera actually jumping over the ball while focusing on her fast running.  I asked if she knew that the ball needed to go in the goal- I think she felt that the rest of her team had that covered for her.  Now she has been begging to take ballet! We asked Santa to bring some dance clothes and ballet shoes/tap shoes... so here's hoping!!! She has been growing her hair out for most of the year- to my dismay.  I loved her sweet little bob- but she wants to have ponytails and braids like her classmates! Too bad she got her momma's fine and slow growing hair.  Poor thing! How old do you have to be to get extensions???
Halloween! Wore my old costume!
The family took a Christmas Train ride this year!
Too funny not to share...
Jack is flying thru first grade.  His academics just amaze me. Most weeks we never even look at his spelling words and he still gets them all right, we've started reading the Harry Potter series together, and we can take turns reading pages.  He just finished up another production with cornerstone performing arts where he played a young boy during the great depression/dust bowl era.  He was the youngest (and one of only 3 kids) in the play. He was the only child there without a parent in the cast, but despite the fact that the play was a drama, Jack still loved going to rehearsals and being on the stage! There is another set of try outs in January- and we're hoping for a bigger role and more lines for his 3rd performance!
Jack getting in costume
Adam is chugging away at the railroad still working evenings.  Those hours honestly just work the best for him! We tried the whole "day shift" route.  It just meant that the kids spent more time at a sitters, and Adam was tired and grumpy all the time.  Unpleasant to say the least.  He joined the gym again, has been running (intermittently). I've learned over time that he is kind of an "all or nothing" person.  If he is going to run, then it's like 9 miles.  If he is going to go the gym, then it's for 2 hours.  But if he doesn't feel he can devote the time to an "extreme" work out, then he chooses nothing at all. But at home he has been busy building and remodeling around our house again!! We (HE) re-did the dining room!!! We (HE) built custom benches for our bay window and a farm house table that I could not love more!!  We (HE) removed the old chair rail, put up ship lap on the far wall, and hung a new lighting fixture from the cool ladder that the previous owners had left! The whole renovation has completely changed the feel of the common area of our home.  I find myself just staring at it all the time, it brings me so much joy!
 Adam and Matthew with our new Truck!
The new Dining Room
And then there is me... so much has happened with me this year! My original position with Lakemary Infant Toddler came to an end in July due to Greenbush taking over the contract.  Greenbush offered me a contract position- so I was required to start my very own LLC! So here I am SELF EMPLOYED and loving it!! I devote 10 days a month to traveling and providing therapeutic early intervention services in children's homes all over our area.  Since February I have also been steadily growing my Wildtree business.  Wildtree has impacted me in so many ways.  I have gained confidence in the kitchen- learning new skills and creating dishes I never dreamed I could make! Wildtree has introduced me to wonderful colleagues and customers who encourage me, and have provided a new wealth of friendships! In just a few weeks I'm heading to St. Louis for a leaders retreat- and am very much looking forward to the time with friends and the extra nudge to continue building my business in 2017! Wildtree has also given us a wonderful financial break this year.  We were able to add to our savings, to pay things in lump sums in advance rather than making payments, and avoided the stress of being "tight" when bills were due each month.  I absolutely can not express how much stress that has relieved!
our very first pony tail EVER!
Such a loving big brother- always has been



Clearly fixing things

The Crabb Family!!!

My New Year's Resolution this year (with all this new found sleep I'm getting) is to get back in the swing of things with my blog! While I often fail at printing pictures, and keeping keepsakes for the kids... I feel like this blog is one thing that we can all look back on and enjoy. So here is to a busy 2016, and a hopeful and fruitful 2017!!!

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Guess who's back?! (it's just me and my blog)

The Crabb family- 4th of July 2016
Agh. How does it happen? My poor blog got lost in the busy.. and it is so hard to start back up again. Not because I don't have anything to say- but because I have several months worth of memories, thoughts, and photos... it feels almost impossible to catch up.

we had hand foot and mouth virus this summer... Fun! 
























I turned 33 last week, enrolled Jack for 1st grade,  and NonaJane for preschool. I've avoided thinking about the kids going back to school so much that I didn't even know when school started (and I actually missed the real enrollment date).  I know I complain that I'm overwhelmed and exhausted- but that doesn't mean I want my kids to be gone all day. I will miss them, and it makes my heart ache to know "real life" is coming.  I thought I was a "routines" person... but I'm NOT.  I hate getting out of bed every morning and having a schedule and trying not to be LATE.  It doesn't seem to matter what time I go to bed... this body does NOT like to wake up before 7. Never has, never will.
With a new purse and shoes... proof that we don't deprive her
But enough complaining- how about some humor from the kids?  So Matthew is 18 months old now- and he still loves to nurse. I did NOT see that one coming. The other two weaned themselves long before this age- and I didn't exactly intend to nurse this long.  For example, last week on vacation we went to Fantastic Caverns where you ride in a buggy thru the caves.  Part way during the tour Matthew starts screaming and trying to tear my shirt up to nurse.  He clearly DID not see what the problem was and was getting madder and madder by the second. As I would try to hold my shirt down around the large crowd of people sitting shoulder to shoulder with us, he began to fume.. steam could surely be seen billowing form his ears and his screams had a really nice echoing and megaphoning effect in the natural amphitheater that is a CAVE.  and yes, he won that battle.  But at home, he often times will find my bra's from my closet or the laundry and will carry them around the house.  He tries to sling them around his body or chews on the fabric.  So the other day we were at Target and NonaJane got so excited when she saw a wall full of "boobie things!" (and NonaJane is in a lovely phase where she wants us to buy her EVERYTHING). NonaJane began to beg me to buy her her own boobie thing.  I tried to explain to her that they don't make boobie things in a size for 4 year olds.  NonaJane rarely believes anything I tell her though.  So for the remainder of our Target trip and the entire ride home I heard about how devastated she was that Mom wouldn't buy her her own boobie thing.  But I feel pretty confident I made the right parenting decision on that round.  I spared her preschool classroom from a little girl coming in with a bra on over her clothes everyday.  So... ya- parenting win!
Adam and I made it to a Royal's game together!
NonaJane... keeping it real. 
This summer came with its own list of excitement and accomplishments- NonaJane has really started picking up how to swim! We've been practicing without her puddle jumper (floats) and she shocked me! She can jump in, pop right up, and swim over to the side.  Yesterday she was even swimming short distances under water! On our vacation, she was jumping off the back of the pontoon platform into the lake (with a life jacket of course!) but that is a good 5-6 foot drop!  She begged to jump off the cliff with Adam and Jack.. but we weren't ready for that.  The kids DID find a rope swing though and we all took turns- which was something I had never done before! Matthew's accomplishment this summer was losing ONE of every pair of shoes he had.  Seriously. How does he do that?  Sometimes we would get lucky and he would lose the opposite shoe from sets so he could at least have a shoe for each foot. He didn't care if they didn't match- and at this point neither did I!  But last week at Target I bought him 2 new pairs for the Fall (dear Lord help me keep track of these shoes) and NonaJane was devastated that I did not buy her any shoes (despite her overflowing basket of adorable shoes).   This summer Jack and I started reading the Harry Potter series together and he is loving it! We checked the first movie out from the library after we finished the book and he watched it about 6 times.  He does a great job of keeping up with all the characters and picking up on the plots!  It is really fun to have that time with him each night. OH and the biggest accomplishment of all this summer was taking Matthew to an allergist! We started him on some allergy medicine which has cleared up the eczema on his face, the EXCESSIVE drooling, the dry patches on his belly, the eye rubbing, the coughing, and the runny nose!!! But best of all it has improved his sleep to only waking once a night most of the time!!!! Poor kid- apparently he had been pretty miserable with allergies all this time.  This fall and winter we have to watch for asthma- which we are pretty sure he was dealing with last year.
Jack swimming at our old neighborhood pool where
we spent so many days when he was only a baby!
Overall I would say we had a wonderful summer.  Adam would have liked to go camping more- and hopefully with each year we will.  This year I'm still on the uphill battle of being crazy, overwhelmed, exhausted and moody. I hope to not stay this way! Everyone says three kids is a lot- um.. yes they are right.  But I know deep down our family is just as it was meant to be.  These kids are our everything, and we have so many exciting times ahead.  I'm so thankful they are all here- we've made it thru the infant stages and I can see little Matthew becoming more independent and aware everyday.  Before long our toilet paper will all be neat and tidy again.  I won't have a bra bandit, and maybe we will even sleep all the way thru the night.  Yes, the laundry will continue to grow, and the busy will continue to consume, but I'm thankful and excited for it all.
Me at conference in July. I became a Team Leader in July!
Now lets see if I can keep up with my blog a bit better! I don't want all the memories to get washed away with the busy!














Normal day with Matthew
Jack played T-ball again this summer

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

We've got our crap together!... most of the time


is it just me... or is he checking out that gas pedal in this picture?
Life sure knows how to take you on a ride. One minute, you can feel totally cool and confident- the next your hanging onto the back of a golf cart being driven by your 14 month old son. You may spend the next foreseeable future limping off a giant swollen and bruised thigh and attempting to comfort your ego.  I'm sure the 14 month old driving off in your golf cart is a totally normal experience that all parents go thru. My friend recently reminded me of a hilarious Jim Gaffigan skit where he relates having a 4th child to treading water and then having someone hand you a baby.  Well, we're not planning on finding out about the 4th child because I'm pretty sure Adam and I are barely hanging on here.  Not to make it sound like a desperate state over here... I mean most of the time we have our crap together! Just, "most of the time" doesn't really cut it when your 14 month old (yes the same one) comes around the corner chewing on your razor.

Seriously? What kind of houdini act does one pull to be able to literally mouth and CHEW on a  razor without causing oneself any harm whatsoever??? I remember "old" people always complaining how their kids "aged" them and gave them grey hair.  Ugh, why are old people always right!?!   I'm definitely feeling older here, but I'm also feeling wiser. And despite having numerous humbling fails with parenting lately... I actually do feel somewhat accomplished.  This Spring Adam and I have finally made it outdoors to tackle some much needed projects around the house. I had no idea how much I missed MULCH!  Seriously, mulch covers a multitude of things.  It makes the landscaping look so crisp- like "wow, those people have it together. I mean, look at their mulch!"  I finally feel like if people come over- they may take note of our landscaping and realize that we actually put time and effort into it. (cause I DID. So you better notice my landscaping and tell me how good it looks.) The biggest deal of it all, was that I did nearly all of it by myself! I tore out all the old plants, I worked the soil, I dug the holes, and I planted the plants.
It was empowering to get outside, to work hard, and accomplish something great. I even learned how to use Adam's zero turn mower, and used his trailer to pull around the gravel, dirt and mulch (until I broke the trailer arm because Adam said I "overloaded" it. Whatever, that trailer was crap and needed to Man Up to the demands.) Adam used that as an excuse to buy a new trailer... so between that and the mulch we are poor again.
Add caption
While I was diligently working away in the front yard, Adam was tearing out our screened in porch and building us an outdoor kitchen and living area! Jack and NonaJane played and helped us each out with jobs here and there. Matthew followed us around, hollered at us, stole our stuff and randomly deposited things around the yard (an infuriating game that will make anyone feel crazy) AND.... ate a lot of dirt.  Once Adam finished the bar and grill, we cleaned up the house, updated the lighting, and then spent a fortune on outdoor furniture (what good is an outdoor kitchen and living area if you have nowhere to sit?? I know I already said we were poor, but sometimes when the damage is already done you just go for it. We blame Spring Fever. Meanwhile, if you need us we will be at home on our back porch NOT spending any more money).
NonaJane wearing her FAVORITE dress. Valentine's
Day every day at our house :)
The good news, is I've started on a new endeavor that is helping us earn more "play" money and will hopefully continue to expand in the future! I went to a friends house recently for a "WildTree freezer meal workshop".  I don't know what happened, but I fell in LOVE with the company, the products, the mission, and the whole concept.  I signed up as a rep for a direct sales company! Which was weirder than weird because I have always avoided direct sales efforts and 'parties' like the plague.  Joining one has really changed my attitude and my perception- I mean, why are we ok with giving corporations like wal-mart a few hundred bucks, but if a good friend is selling awesome products we shy away like "mmm... I don't really want YOU to make money off of me". How backwards is that?  When in all reality, if our friends are selling something- it's probably because they really love it. If direct sales cut out the middle man expenses and instead allows individuals to benefit... it really does seem like a great thing! So my main point is, I'm starting a WildTree empire here so you should totally join me! Healthy food, that tastes great, and earns me money?! I know I know, but it's true!
Well, I can feel my creative juices waining.. the end of my day drawing near.  I guess if you made it thru this whole post you could probably conclude that our 3 children are doing well,  that you should definitely go buy yourselves some mulch, AND... that I shouldn't blog so late at night.


The kids all started gymnastics/tumbling classes this month

Matthew discovered the trampoline...


So good looking!



and he discovered the dryer



The kids helping me with the yard work!

Matthews 1st Haircut!!! What a sweet little face!!!



Thursday, February 4, 2016

A year gone by too fast... Happy early Birthday Matthew T

Seeing the beauty of this picture- our family feeling so complete
Here we are in the final few days of Matthew's "babyhood".  He turns one on Monday. Yet for some reason I feel a bit numb to the whole situation.  Typically birthdays hit me pretty hard, especially something as monumental as a first birthday.  Perhaps I have developed some new coping/defense mechanism? Doubtful, really I think it is just that Matthew hasn't felt like a baby to me for some time.  Particularly yesterday when we were at the public library and he scaled up a chair, onto a table and pulled a computer off crashing them both to the floor in a tangled heap.  The sweet soft spoken librarian came rushing out concerned over baby Matthews well-being. I had no doubt he was fine- that boy is made of rubber and steal but the computer!??? Luckily for me the computer was fine as well. Just a bruise to the parenting ego- reminding me that watching 3 small kids and attempting to accomplish a task (such as selecting books from the library shelf thus diverting my direct attention from Matthew for more than 30 seconds) is never going to be as easy as I hope. It also reminded me that I do not have a baby anymore- he is a full on toddler!
I think he was sensing the seriousness of what was about to happen to him. LOL
I have had a few ask me if we will be celebrating Matthews birthday this weekend.  While yes, of course we will be celebrating, I plan to do it in a very low key manner. No parties, no decorations, no giant baby smash cake.  As I type that some mommy guilt is starting to creep up on me. But I remind myself sometimes that the joy in a moment can be better found in the calm and quiet.  I can better cherish Matthew making the time to sit alone with him in his room playing with his toys,  or when he brings me his favorite book and backs his little tush up to sit in my lap.  Trying to make some quiet mental memories of my last baby turning 1.  I've told Adam that Matthew's first year has by far been the biggest blur.  I think when life is so busy, it is hard to take the time to be present and soak in a moment.  It isn't JUST Matthew in my life.  Moments with him are tangled up with the memories of Jack and Nona- so it is harder for me to remember the simple moments and details of just Matthew. So as we approach these final few days, I thought I would take  a moment to put some memories and details of Matthew down on paper- something for me to be thankful for down the road.
Toilet papering the house is just too fun and easy to quit
Our car seats were starting to expire- safety first for baby #3
Matthew T Schwatken is a bundle of determination, wisdom, and survival skills.  He makes sure that he gets the attention he deserves by demanding a significant amount of time in my arms.  He loves to be held. He will happily ride around on my hip and observe as I do laundry, vacuum, cook, etc. If my arms and back tire out and I put him down, he will make his presence known by charging the vacuum cleaner (literally walking straight into my path and attempting to disarm me from the vacuum), or climbing into the dishwasher to unload it at lightning speed (he has also figured out how to open it by himself to unload the dirty dishes all over our kitchen floor), OR into the washing machine (he literally heaved his whole body into the washing machine when he was probably 8-9 months old?).  If he feels left out of something, he makes sure to barge his way in - such as the time that he dove into the bathtub fully dressed to be with the kids when he was maybe 10 months old?  Was he crying?? Ha, no- he did a somersault into the bathtub, sat up (fully dressed) and started playing.  He has no fears.  In fact he will stick his head under the running faucet in the tub because he enjoys the water rushing over his head.  This winter when we got our 1 measly snowstorm (what you would call a dusting) we suited Matthew up and Adam shoved him off down the hill on a sled BY HIMSELF.  He was almost 11 months old.  Did he cry? Nope.  He was wide eyed and smiling.
your first time at the bowling alley. We spent 2 hours holding you back
from running down the lane after the pins


 He loves to sleep in my bed, he loves to sleep with Adam in the 'man chair', he naps on the full sized guest bed, but he hates to sleep in his own crib.  We discovered that if we laid him on the full sized bed he would happily nap.  Who does that with a baby!?- I'll tell you who, a desperate mother who will do anything for their baby to just TAKE A NAP!  He fell off once or twice- and quickly wised up. He learned to crawl to the edge and wait, and just yesterday he independently spun his body around and slid down feet first. So he's got it now! He is our first child to ever sleep in our bed as a baby- the others were closer to 2 before they came up with the clever idea of getting in our bed.  But not Matthew, he demands his time  with us and what better way to get in those sweet cuddles than by kicking us in the back all night long?  I can't imagine a more bonding experience.
keeping me company in our bed
As most near one year olds, Matthew is a disaster at meals.  Smashing food, smooshing it in his hair, feeding it to the floor, and generally having a hay day. He does seem open to trying most foods and I would not call him terribly picky -yet.  Around me he still relies on nursing for the most part, but I know those days are numbered as well.  He'll figure out those sippy cups and slowly rely on me less and less. I've wondered if he will be like Jack- and have to be weaned, or like NonaJane and just one day refuse me.  Too early to tell.  But one thing for sure is he is still the drooliest thing I've ever seen. He can soak a shirt within a few minutes.  Still has 8 teeth... hasn't had any new ones for a few months? Seems he got all 8 between 6-9 months and then took a teething hiatus.
your favorite way to nap
"Up Mom, UP" all day every day :)
It may be too early to say, but it seems Matthew is going to be quite the talker.  This kid babbles up a storm and seems to already have a few words under his belt.  They aren't clear enough to be certain but we often swear we here words such as "that, this, up, out, go, etc."  He has learned the routines around the house and makes sure not to be left out. Yesterday he was the first one to the front door attempting to reach the knob all ready to go to Meagan's house for the day- and when I put him in the car seat he grabbed the bottom portion of the buckle and held it up for me to buckle his straps in! So I'll call it now and say we have a baby genius on our hands.  He has also developed a witty sense of humor, and will do anything to get a laugh from us.  Such as stealing the diaper and running around naked while hollering at the top of his lungs and flapping the diaper around in the air.  Another favorite activity of his is to barge into Jack and Nona's room after they have gone to bed and entertain them by purposefully 'falling down' only to get up, run in a circle, and 'fall down' again. The kids laugh hysterically at him and he emits so much joy it might literally be glowing from his ears.  He has become particularly inquisitive of the hair clips in Nona's hair- waiting for just the right moment to snatch and yank it from her head... OR to wait and calculate the perfect moment to grab ahold of her necklace, pull it to it's outer limit before letting it snap painfully back to her neck.  Oh he knows what he is doing, you can see him crouching down and calculating the movement. Scanning her eyes to see if she notices his plan before jumping into action.
too small this year buddy
He has found a love for books, and cherishes a select few over the rest. He will demand that I read the same book over and over by repeatedly bringing the book back and thrusting it into my hands while plopping his cute little tushy into my lap. AND we are starting to see jealousy as well. If Nona is sitting on my lap he will rush over to sit too.. attempting to displace Nona at the same time.
Letting these moments spill from my memory, reliving the experiences... sometimes when I just take the time to be quiet it surprises me how many memories can flood my mind. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude, I have found myself smiling, at times with tears in my eyes as I type these memories that I can still grasp and relive in my mind.  Now they are spelled out on paper for myself, and for Matthew.  Something to hold onto and cherish of a year gone by too fast.  The third baby I knew I so desperately wanted.  A dream that I wouldn't let go of.  I knew Matthew T was meant to be in our lives.  Here he is in full action- and I love him.  I absolutely, cherish, admire, and adore every wild hair on his head.  His drooly grin, his giant hands and feet (he has always had hands and feet better suited for a 2 year old than a baby) his giant blue eyes, and his action packed soul.  I'm so thankful for this past year.  So as we move onto being a 1 year old, I'm happy.  I feel content with where we are at, and I'm going to make a real effort at making quiet moments to be present.  To put those memories away where I won't forget them.
While it appears he is kissing the baby here... I wouldn't be so sure of his intentions.
 He followed this action by repeatedly dropping her on her head.

growing up country style
I Love you Matthew T Schwatken.  Happy early Birthday.