...and the rest will follow

Are you talking to me?

Hey! What's it to ya?

• I was re-reading one of my previous posts that said I hadn't gotten a lot of holiday cards. They did eventually come in hoards right on up until and after Christmas. I love getting them. It's the one time of year I get to see how everyone's kids have grown and read about what's gone on in each family throughout the year.

• I got a lot of comments on our card and the fact that the boys are all looking straight at the camera. Yes, this took a lot of work. I decided the picture MUST be taken in one afternoon and we would stop at nothing to get a good one. This led to crying, bribing, pushing, pinching, singing, eating, threatening, promising...you name it, I did it to get that darn picture! As you can see in the ones I've posted here, I had a hard time with Ben. He's either looking drunk, like rico suave, or a wise guy! I went through different themes as well. Cal wearing the reindeer antlers, Seth with a bow, the boys holding dreidels in a box wrapped like a present...I think it came down to "simpler is better".

• Since we don't send out a yearly update with our cards, here's our family 2008 happenings: We started 2008 off with a bang, finding out we were pregnant on January 11th, which also happened to be the 6th anniversary of our court-date wedding. This might be news to some of you :)
• In April, my hopes of a girl were dashed by yet another ultrasound tech saying...It's a boy! I allowed myself one shameful millisecond of disappointment before hitting the books for a boy baby name and being grateful we wouldn't need to buy any new clothes or go through that nasty teenage stretch with a girl :) Boys really are easier, aren't they?!
• The summer is somewhat of a blur. Cal successfully finished his first year of preschool and went to a day camp to keep him busy. I scurried about trying to get things in order for the baby. We went through a MAD frenzy of buying and building in the house. I can't remember a week when there wasn't a random worker here. There were so many that Cal just started addressing them by their job instead of by name (carpet guy, plumber, electrician). Somewhere in the middle, Ben went from baby to toddler, with virtually no help from me! It's probably also the reason for his very, very minor developmental delays (late walking, late talking). Depsite delays and sickness though, he is no less of a social being. I think he takes his cues from his older brother. Ben is warm and happy and full of life and captures a part of my heart that is reserved just for him so he needn't be worried about being the middle child, even if he does get forgotten once in awhile!!
• By Sept 12th, the baby's due date, I was more than ready to meet that little guy, and we decided to go ahead and be induced. I labored (haha) long and hard over the decision about HOW to labor and deliver this child. The first time - you don't have a choice, you just want that baby out! The second time - I thought a nice, easy, pain-free delivery would be optimal. I was wrong. No satisfaction there - I felt like I missed out. The third time was a charm. I had the right balance to make it the experience I was hoping for.
• The last quarter of the year has been the best. Even before Seth was born the older boys had started to bond the way only brothers can and they've become the best of playmates. It's sweet to see the way Cal nutures Seth as if it comes nautural to him and Ben has suprised us all with his tolerance and curiosity of the baby. I thought Ben would be a clingy, whiney mess once Seth arrived but he's instead become very independent!
• The year draws to a close with Cal turning 4 - oh my! He's able to write almost all of his letters and is very into "making up" stories that are quite believable! Ben just turned 2 at Thanksgiving time. He has an uncanny knack for jumping, loves to sing with his new-found words, and can properly cut using scissors. Cutting is his new obsession...while wearing his clown hat and slippers, of course. Seth is four months old now. He's not able to roll over yet, but we forgive him because he's just so darn cute! He babbles, coos, grins ear to ear, and I think I've even heard a giggle or two.