Luke #5!

Dear Luke,

You are 5 years old! Each year it just sounds so crazy but 5 is a whole new crazy! You have done all kinds of new stuff this past year and will go to kindergarten in a few months! This year you tried all kind of new things including swimming lessons, soccer, and t-ball. You loved soccer the most (even though you wouldn't really touch the ball. You loved chasing it, but when it would come toward you, you would freeze. Or pretend to be "going after it." Pretty hysterical.) You HATED swimming lessons and still are super nervous around water now because of lessons. We will have to work on that this summer. You are REALLY good at t-ball! You started the season as a natural and all the mom's and kid's thought it was your second year. You think it's kinda boring though, so maybe when you get into coach pitch or actual baseball, you'll like it better. You are also doing a play at Hollywood Kids right now. Frozen! You play all the of male characters with all the boys, but you get to specifically be Olaf for some of it! We are excited to watch you perform in a few weeks.

You have learned so much this year. You know how to read small words and easily sound out bigger ones. You can count to 100+, you know all of your 3D shapes, and the alphabet in sign language. You had two great years of pre-school and loved every minute of it. (Most days.) We can't wait to see you do well in kindergarten as well!

We are moving to St. George this month and though I know it's going to be a BIG change for all of us, I'm most concerned about you. The only home you've ever known is Vegas, so I'm hoping you'll adjust quickly and won't be too sad.

You still love watching t.v. or playing video games and on the iPad. We have had to start a chore chart and "media" chart to limit your time. ;) You love Legos, Big Hero 6/Baymax, batman, power rangers, ninja turtles, and My Little Pony. (Haha). You still are obsessed with all things Disney and Disneyland, and you were lucky enough to go for your birthday a few weeks ago! We had as fun a time as ever and can't ever get enough of that place. Now we have to wait a few more years to go again, but in the mean time you'll watch YouTube videos of the rides. ;) (Another thing we have to limit.) You got a new bike for your birthday too! It was about time, because all you've ever had is your Strider balance bike. Once things slow down after dad's done with work and we move, we'll get practicing.

Favorite foods still consist of mac n' cheese and quesadillas, but you're starting to get REAL picky about specifics. (What kind of cheese/noodles, etc.) And now your favorite food is "fake chicken". As you are getting older we are starting to talk to you more about vegetarianism. Right now you're all about it, and you even told your grandma that you were going to save all the chickens, and bring them to our house, so nobody can eat them ;) But we'll see as you get older what you decide to do!

You got a new little sister this year too! You were a little sad that it was a girl at first, and still ask me all the time if you can have a brother now. But you absolutely adore Lennon, and you're a great big brother. Lennon adores you too and always smiles when she sees you or even hears your (loud) voice. You and Ali are best buds most of the time, but you definitely know how to push each other's buttons! Ali copies your every word and move, and though you might hate it, I think it's pretty adorable.

We love you so much, Luke James! You are sometimes a challenge now that you are getting older and have your own agenda and opinions. You talk back sometimes, and you're starting to whine. But at the end of the day you have the kindest heart, and are always concerned for others' feelings. You even got the "Mr. Goodbar" award at preschool for always being so nice and friendly to everyone, no matter what. It makes me so proud to hear that even outside the house, you show kindness to everyone. Now that you've been in primary for a few years, you are starting to learn more and more about the gospel and your testimony is starting to blossom. One of the coolest things to watch as your mother is how you react to the world around you based on what you've learned at home and at church. I can only hope that you continue to be the sweet, handsome, smart boy you already are. I love you little dude! Up to the moon, back to our house, around the whole earth, and then to heaven. (One of the things we do right now is compare our love to distances...it gets pretty cute. ;)

Love,
Mom

Lennon 3 months

Dear Lennon,

Here we are almost a week past your three month mark, and I'm just getting around to this! Life as a mom of three has totally thrown our groove off, but I wouldn't have it any other way. You make me so amazingly happy. You are seriously like a ray of sunshine every single day. So content and cheerful, and always happy to see me. (Unlike your siblings, now that they're growing up that's not always the case! ;)) We all adore you and are so thankful for you every day. This month you have really become alert and noticing your surroundings. You "talk" all day long, trying to compete with your always-talking siblings. You are holding your head up like a champ and LOVE tummy time. You love sleeping on your tummy too and have great naps that way. I always make sure I'm watching close by, but when you're more comfortable, I am too. You have gone 8-10 hours at night most nights, but we're still trying to get it set in stone. When you do wake up, it's just to eat a little and you're right back to bed, so I don't mind it too much. I've always loved breast feeding with each baby, and that love continues with you too. You're a champ eater and I'm sure when we introduce solids in a few months you'll love them too. You finally take a binky but you don't have to have it so it's kinda a win win! It soothes you but you can self soothe too ;) You squeal and shriek with happiness every time we put you in a bath. You're a water baby for sure. I can't wait to start swimming with you this summer!

This month you had a lot of excitement. We went to Disneyland, and you were so good. You had allergies and clogged tear ducts so you weren't feeling great but you were still so content and happy just to be looking around. We are making a big move to Utah in a few weeks for daddy's new job, and we are really excited to start a new adventure there. I know you'll adjust and not know anything is different, but as your siblings are sure going to notice, I hope we can keep the chaos to a minimum. I will have to start working once we move, so I'm really hoping to find something that accommodates me being a mother first. It will be so hard to leave you, and Luke and Ali.

Thank you for being you, Lennon girl! You really are the sweetest baby and I can't get enough of you.

Love,

Mom

Lennon 2 months

Dear Lennon,

2 months old! I feel like you went from a newborn to a baby over night. You're so alert now: talking, smiling, making eye contact and trying to grab stuff. You're smiles absolutely melt my heart and I can't get enough of your sweet little voice. You love to snuggle and I still hold you much of the day. :) We are kinda on a schedule finally but it is definitely more lenient and flexible since we are out and about a lot. Luke and Ali give you kisses and say "Hi Lennon" about 100 times a day. They love you so much, and you're starting to be interested in them too. You're pretty used to the constant noise and chaos around here. 

You're getting so big. You've been sleeping in your crib for two weeks and you only wake up once at night and that is slowly getting later. You rolled over from your belly to your back today. You're wearing 3 or 3-6 month clothing. And you're still the best baby ever! I can't believe I finally got a calm, chill babe! You really only cry if you have gas or its past eating time and we are driving or something. You put yourself to sleep easily and still prefer being swaddled. (though you'll sleep without!) 

You don't take a binky very well, it's hit and miss, but you do love your fingers and thumb if you can get them in your mouth :) You are still pretty little at 11.6 lbs, the 25th percentile! Much smaller than your siblings but that's ok! 

You have had a cold pretty much this whole month and you actually had your first ER trip. :( You got to the point you were coughing so hard that you were throwing up massive amounts and scared me so bad! We took you in just to be safe and after some meds you stopped throwing up. You still have a lingering cough though, poor girl. You are such a trooper! 

You also had your first road trip to Utah! You did great in the car and love Heber just like the rest of us ;) I will post about your special blessing day next. 

I could stare at you all day and would if I could! You're such a pretty girl and I love watching you learn and grow daily. You're the sweetest little thing and I love you so much! I am just so thankful for your sweet spirit and the happiness you bring to our home. Love you!

Love, 

Mom

Ali, 2 years!

Dear Ali, 

Your two year birthday came and went and we have been busy busy since then! I'm just getting around to writing this, but have been thinking about it for two weeks now. We celebrated just our little fam on your actual birthday. We got donuts for breakfast, played all day, then opened presents when dad got home. You got a fun roller coaster slide that takes up our whole living room, and some baby furniture. We also went to dinner where you are your favorite, grilled cheese and fries with "dip"! We ended the night with frozen yogurt. You also got to have a little party with all extended family after Lennon's blessing! You had a tinker bell cake and opened presents from grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins! It was a good birthday.

You are such a determined, strong-willed, emotional little lady. You're always an extreme of one emotion or another. Never really an in between. ;) You started out that way and have just continued on! We love you so much and although your roller-coaster personality keeps us on our toes, we wouldn't have you any other way. 

You copy every thing Luke does, from the way he sits to his stories. You don't pronounce words very well yet, so when you copy Luke exactly one word behind him, it's pretty hilarious. I'm pretty much the only one who understands your language. You also love being a big sister to Lennon. In her short 6 weeks in our family, you have adapted like a champ and only get jealous if you need me to cuddle you or hold your hand when I'm feeding her. 

You have no interest in the potty yet, but you despise getting a diaper change so we are kinda in limbo trying to figure out when to try. I think we will wait till summer when dad is off and can help ;) 

You are a SMART girl, even if you can't express yourself through words. You can count to 20, you know your ABC's, and you can sing about 100 different songs. You love to sing and dance and we have daily dance parties around here. You know most of the Disney princesses and tons of other Disney movies, mostly because of our obsession and Luke's obsession. We have missed our season passes but we are going to Disneyland in May! I can't wait to watch you as you will comprehend things better now that you're older. 

You really love playing on the iPad and I have major mommy guilt about that. The end of my pregnancy was rough, and we have had colds for about a month so we've had lots of "quiet" and "rest" time secluded from each other so we don't keep passing germs. Because of those things you have had lots of iPad time. So now I am trying to limit it each day and make it more of a treat every once in a while instead of a daily thing.

You still don't love riding in the car unless you're constantly entertained or eating. And speaking of eating, you LOVE LOVE food. You've always been a great eater and still are. You love "dip" of any kind. (ketchup, ranch, bbq sauce...whatever!) And you also love "juice" (any drink). 

 

You are kind, smart, and beautiful. Your eyes are so pretty and big and you often get compliments on them. I also love your pretty hair and the fact that you'll let me do it! You are getting into all things girly and you love painting your nails, playing dress up, and always make sure you have a "pretty" (bow) in your hair. 

We love you so much baby girl! You'll always be so special to us and we hope your determination and "on the go" personality never changes. 

Love, 

Mom