Frozen

We implemented a sticker chart system for the girls to encourage them to make good choices.  It was actually pretty amazing to me how well it worked for the months of November and December.  Daddy put the simple charts together for the girls and there were about 10 rows with 10 boxes in each row.  Once the girls filled up a row, they got to pick a piece of candy.  This was a GREAT way to slow down the consumption and request for Halloween candy, and eventually we just pitched most of what was remaining.  Once the entire sticker chart was filled, they got to go on a Mommy date to see the new Disney movie, Frozen.  That was a huge motivation!

 

They immediately picked up on what good choices were and how they could earn stickers.  At first, we awarded stickers for lots of things, to get them started and keep them interested.  Then, we started scaling back on the stickers and focused on the "true" good choices versus the obvious ones.  That concept was hard for Leah and she often would just ask, "do I get a sticker" when she would do things like say "thank you" completely out of context.  Though using manners is a great choice, we wanted to turn that type of action into a mandatory item used at the appropriate time.

 

There were some days we would take away more stickers than were given out and that was hard.  It often felt like a snowball effect, one sticker taken away would elicit a tantrum which would then mean another sticker taken away.  And on and on...  They would get so, so upset if stickers were taken away.  But, at the end of every day, we would sit down and talk about how "tomorrow is a new day, and we can make good choices tomorrow."

 

As the girls would earn stickers at different times and therefore fill their rows at different times, they'd often earn candy at different times.  That was hard for them to process too, but eventually they got smart and decided to share with each other.  "I'll share my candy with you today then when you earn your next sticker and get candy tomorrow, you can share with me."  Little problem solvers!

 

I knew we were getting close to reaching the movie date and saw a Groupon for the movie theater which included tickets and popcorn.  I snatched that up, then crossed my fingers they'd get to the end of the chart before the groupon expired.  We actually had to cheat a little just to make sure we got the movie squeezed in before the expiration and before Christmas.

 

 

The day we headed to the movies was a cold, rainy day so pretty much perfect on our last Saturday before Christmas.  The girls were so excited!

 

I won't say the movie was a complete success, though I really loved it.  Leah had to use the potty twice during the show which was annoying since I didn't want to leave the theater and felt bad making Lesley go with us to the bathroom.  Leah just wasn't as focused.  Then, poor Lesley, she got scared a few times and started crying.  I tried to assure her that it would turn out okay and she shouldn't be scared, but I also felt super guilty for making her stay.  I just kept thinking, "This is Disney, it will turn out okay if we just push through, right?"  And, selfishly, I was enjoying the movie and didn't want to leave.  We made it to the end!  And, now Lesley loves it and even picked out new Frozen panties with Anna and Elsa.  This is for sure a movie I want to watch again, and I hope my girls will grow up knowing the special bond between sisters, just like Anna and Elsa.

 

And, while we were gone, Daddy and Levi had a great afternoon.  Levi took a LONG nap and Daddy got to hang out and watch football, or something like that.

Dear Levi {4 months}

January 30, 2014

Dear Levi,

Four months.  Yes, that is right four months.  You have been part of our family for exactly four months.  Not long at all, yet you fit in like you were always meant to be part of our brood.  I am sitting here at my desk looking at my sonogram photos and remembering back in May when we got our first glimpse of you (i.e. when you finally looked like a baby versus a little bean).  I wanted to look at the sonogram screen so badly to see if we were having a little brother or little sister for Lesley and Leah, but your Daddy held strong and said "nope, we do not want to know."  I think had I known you were a little boy, I would have been scared.  Sort of like how I felt the moment Daddy said "it's a boy!"  I was a bit in disbelief.  To me, having a boy is so different and yet now I know I should not have been scared of what little boys do or what little boys require, but I should have been scared about how fiercely a mommy can love her little boy.  It really is unbelievable and indescribable.

This past month has had some ups and downs.  You fought an ear infection like a champ and it didn’t phase you after your first few days on antibiotics.  Then, you came with mommy to Kansas for a week since I couldn't bear the thought of leaving you overnight, and I couldn't figure out how to get away with not traveling for work that week.  Going back to work from maternity leave was hard enough, having to leave you for a whole week would have been unbearable.  I was nervous your ear would bother you while we were away since you had just finished the meds, and your skin was acting up.  And, I just didn’t know what your sleep pattern would be like or how you'd adjust to being at Chris's house, the girls' old babysitter, during the day.  But, in the end…it was a great week for us!  You loved being at Chris's and were such a good boy for her.  It was such a good feeling to leave you with her each morning, knowing you were in great hands.  So many good memories of your sisters being at Chris's house, and you fit right in.  You slept great in the hotel room with Mommy, and allowed her to work late into the evenings since you maintained your usual 7:30-8pm bedtime.  We visited some friends and went to see Cousin Luke a few times too.  I absolutely loved the Mommy/Levi time and I'm so thankful that I took you with.

You had been sleeping mostly through the night, going to bed around 7:30pm and sleeping until 5am.  Then, that darn ear infection messed things up and you started waking earlier and earlier wanting to nurse to be comforted.  Just as we were getting back onto a schedule, your ear infection returned and you got a nasty cough/cold.  So, I feel like we are back to the newborn phase where you are waking every 3 hours or so and just wanting to nurse to get back to sleep.  The doctor assured mommy that the congestion is only in your head and not your lungs, and not the flu.  Thank goodness for that!  Once this cold and the most recent ear infection pass, I sure hope you get back to your awesome sleeping schedule.  Mommy was sure spoiled!

During the day, you eat about every 3 hours, drinking 3 five ounce bottles while you are at school.  Your teachers love you and say you are the calmest baby they have had in a long time.  Mommy would love if you got into a better sleeping routine at school and do 2 long and 1 short nap each day versus 5-6 40 minute naps.  I think it's just hard with all the noise of your buddies and all the babies are slightly different schedules.  Overall, I think you are doing really good at school though.  Your sisters LOVE it when they get to visit you or when your teachers take you around the school to visit the other classrooms.  Ms. Ashley says you seem to get overwhelmed when you go into Leah's room since there are usually a lot of wild and crazy boys in there!  :)  Mister, that will probably be you soon enough.

You are mostly wearing 6 month clothes and we just moved the snaps on your diapers to make them fit a little better.  They were starting to leak and just seemed small-ish.  I think the extra space will do the trick and keep things contained.  At the doctor earlier this week, you were over 17 pounds.  Crazy how big you keep getting!  It's still a little overwhelming for mommy to shop for clothes for you.  Completely out of my element on the boy side of the store!  Thankfully we received several 6 month outfits as gifts when you were born and for your baptism.  Very helpful and lots of cute things too!  We also try to put a bib on you every day since you are Mr. Drool King.  Seriously, you drool more than one can even imagine.  As in, if I get you dressed, go out to the kitchen to grab a bib, your neck might already be soaked by the time I get back.  Teeth perhaps…or maybe a function of all that drainage in your head.

Levi, you are still such an easy going kind of baby.  You love to talk and get quite noisy at times, but you rarely get upset or cry - only that first day of the ear infection and if you are starving.  I love how you get excited when I'm about to feed you, or when you smile at yourself in the mirror.  You are starting to reach for things that hang in front of you, and getting strong in your back and legs.  We think you'll be rolling over soon with the way you pull your legs up and arch your back to look around.  And, I bet it's not long before you are sitting up unassisted too.  You can definitely balance yourself for quite a while for just being 4 months old.  It's great how the exersaucer or jumper can entertain for a while.  You are also a big fan of the frog toy that makes noise and the farm animal spinning toy.  Those were really handy on the car ride to Kansas and even now when we are waiting at dance class or just need to keep you occupied for a bit. 

One sad thing for Mommy is that you aren't much of a cuddler or snuggler.  So sad!  You prefer just being swaddled up, given a pacifier, and left alone to fall asleep.  If your pacifier isn't in your mouth, your hands are for sure.  Always.  And, if you wake at night and want to eat, or during that 5am hour…you do so much better if I put you back in your bed when you are finished.  Your big sisters usually just stayed close to me in my bed at that hour, and snuggled up against me, but that's not you at all.  I guess I should be thankful that I get my own space now, but it does make me sad and I often hold on longer than usual after I nurse you to sleep at night.  That's really my only time to get to soak in any cuddles I can get.

On the other hand, your giggles and smiles are amazing and infectious and maybe better than snuggling anyway.  Sometimes we just laugh at each other and have huge smiles on our faces.  I can't even count the number of times I've told daddy, "Did you hear that?  Look at him smile!"  Another funny facial expression is the lip quiver.  I haven't seen it too often, just a few times when you are near someone you don't know – Cousin Matt got it while we were in Iowa.  And, you really prefer Mommy just holding you whenever she can, though Daddy is usually acceptable as well.

You really are a trooper!  It always seems you are waiting on your sisters for some reason or another and it's not often that you upset.  We are very thankful for that!  You are a big fan of your sisters, that is for sure!  Your eyes light up when you see them and you really don’t care when they get close (too close!).  It will be fun to see how your relationship with them grows in the coming years.  Hopefully they will always be able to make you stop crying with some silly tactic.

Well little man, we sure love having you part of our family!  Who knew we had an empty space made just for YOU?  I really do get overwhelmed thinking about you and I miss you every day when you are at school.  It's this mommy – son relationship that I never expected in a million year that has turned out to be pretty awesome.

Love you buster!

Mommy

Christmas with the Carlins

Jason's family finally made it down to celebrate Christmas a few weekends after Christmas.  Honestly, I had put away all the Christmas decoarations except for the trees.  I was just ready to get the house cleaned up and move on....plus, I had just returned from maternity leave and decided it was now or never to get the house in good shape for January.

 

But, like I said, we left the trees up so it still felt a little like Christmas when Grandma Cheryl, Uncle Tony, Aunt Mo, and Kali came to visit.

 

They were supposed to arrive for lunch, but didn't make it until close to 2pm.  As you can guess, this late lunch didn't go so well for the girls and poor Lesley fell asleep under the tree while we waited.

 

 

I'm not joking, she was throwing a fit and pretty soon I look over and she was asleep. 

Couldn't pass up that photo opportunity!  She too thought it was hilarious when she woke up and realized what she had done.

 

After a delicious lunch mostly made by Jason (more amazing smoked meat!), we opened gifts.  Lesley had wrapped the gift for Kali and even used markers to put a rainbow on it.  It was a great chance to teach her the colors in order.  You know, ROYGBIV.  I'm not sure she understands the Blue vs. Indigo, so her rainbows just have one or the other.

 

Kali was impressed, can you tell!?

 

Lesley and Uncle Tony put together a new puzzle.  It was a fun one!

 

Then, Levi hung out with hairy Uncle Tony.

He wasn't so sure, but tolerated it for a while.

 

Aunt Mo was much better, right Levi?

 

Kali was very intrigued by Levi and kept wanting to touch and poke him.

 

She also liked chewing on extra diapers.  Great toys I tell you!

 

Grandma Cheryl got the girls some neat books and flash cards about the ocean.  Great learning items!

 

She also got Lesley a small telescope which has been awesome for our little astronaut in training.  If only we could pick the nights for the sky to be clear and get the stars to come out before bedtime....regardless, she gets really excited about it!

 

It was a quick visit because of the weather, but the girls had so much fun hosting.  And, we were super thankful that they traveled down to see us since we have done so much traveling the last few months to go to KC and Iowa.  We for sure know how stressful and time consuming it really is to pack up and travel with kids, so we appreciate their willingness to come down.  Hopefully we can host more family when the weather warms up and the cold, snowy days are behind us for this winter season.

They said "Yes!"

Right before we left for Christmas, Lesley and Leah got a very important letter in the mail.  And, very unexpected too!

Our cousin Austin is getting married this summer, and he and Ashley asked the girls to be flower girls.  

So exciting!!!! 

Leah isn't quite sure about what she has agreed to yet, but at least we are over the deer in the headlights stare she originally was giving us when we asked if she wanted to be part of Ashley's wedding.  Let's not kid ourselves, it's really only Ashley the girls care about at this point.  To them, Austin just plays 'baseball' and kicks the ball every once in a while.  Yes, we are still working on getting them to recognize football and not call it the wrong sport.

Leah carried around the letter for a day or so, and then we had to be sure and pack it for our trip to Iowa so they could personally tell Ashley they got her letter and say "Yes!".

It didn't go exactly as I had envisioned (you know, the whole running across the room at the first sight of Ashley and giving her big hugs and kisses, and using manners by saying "Thank you for asking us"), but they did warm up to her during the bridal shower during the morning of the Hoffmann Christmas.

One gift Aunt Jeanne wanted to give Ashley and Austin was a Christmas tree.  A great idea!  So of course, Aunt Denise decided that everyone should bring an ornament to hang on their first tree.  We randomly were looking at ornaments at the grocery store one night because I was too lazy to make two stops, and we found the most perfect ornament for them.  It was a car that said "Just Married" and was decorated as if it was leaving a reception.  Really cute, and only $2!!!  Score.  I was just sad I could only find one as I thought it would have also been perfect for Andy and Katie's first Christmas as a married couple.

In the photo above, the girls are giving Ashley their ornament for the tree.  They also gave her the one Grandma Nancy found, another perfect ornament for them.  It was a football!

Then, of course the obligatory bridal shower games.  Ashley makes a GREAT toilet paper bride, as does Jen who is marrying cousin Aaron in the fall.

Eventually, they warmed up to Austin too and Grandma Nancy snapped this perfect photo of the group.

We already knew we wanted to make it to Nebraska for their wedding and now we have no excuses!  Two little girls will be walking down the aisle.....and according to one of those two, "I'm an expert, this is my third time being a flower girl."  Regardless, we feel really lucky to have Ashley joining our family and we are thrilled to help them celebrate the big day.

A New View

As Levi has longer and longer awake periods, we've had to get a few 'new' toys out for him to start enjoying.  He's probably a bit young for most of these things, but I'm certain he will be loving them before long. 

The girls were ecstatic when we pulled out the exersaucer for Levi to try.  I think they have enjoyed it just as much as he has.

Leah even decided it would be okay to share her beloved, pink blankie with Levi. 



They thought he'd like to listen to some books too.  Good big sisters!

Lesley is always available to make silly faces and try to get some smiles.

He really is liking the new view and it gives mommy a break from holding him while trying to prep dinner or load the dishwasher.

Ringing in the 8 o'clock hour

We went all crazy celebrating the new year.  Seriously, crazy as in a bottle of sparkling grape juice and 6 sparklers that cost $0.75 total.  Big time folks.

Oh, and did I mention we started the festivities as 8pm, and were in bed by 8:30pm.

Lesley was pretty much making all the bad choices she could think of, and I finally said, "To bed, now."

Of course that was followed by more bad choices, and lots of tears and "I'm sorry, I won't do it again.  Please let me stay up."  But, it was much, much too late for apologies to count.  She was sent to her room and she did not get to participate in our New Year's celebration.

Yes, mean parents....but seriously, even at 4 years old, her behavior that afternoon/evening is not tolerated.

Levi was also in bed, not because he was naughty like his biggest sister but because his current bedtime is around 7:30p.  So, it was just Mommy, Daddy, and Leah ringing in the 8 o'clock hour on New Year's Eve.

It was chilly and windy outside, but we made it work.

Leah was excited until Daddy actually got the sparklers lit.

Then, it was all Daddy and Leah just watched, which actually worked out pretty good since we then had extra sparklers for Lesley to use the next night when she decided good choices were better.

Then, we toasted in our Big Bird, Abby Cadabby, and Belle cups.

It was fun to make Leah the center of attention this night, though I was still quite upset with Lesley.  I hated she had to miss out, but I was so disappointed in her behavior.  Frustrating!

But, then the next day, she made lots and lots of good choices because she really didn't want the same outcome.  I'd like to think the punishment of early bedtime and missing out on the festivities the night before helped.  And, I hope letting her use the sparklers the next didn't ruin the concept of punishment.

Celebrating Christmas at Grandma Nancy's

In an effort to continue to catch up on my blogging, this post will be more photos than stories....

The whole family and I think everyone is looking AT the camera.  Pretty amazing for it being on a timer.

The girls helped Grandma set the table.  Thought the photo was pretty funny with all their mouths open.  :)

And, a little more normal photo...they are always good helpers at Grandma Nancy's house.

I hated sitting at the kids' table when we were growing up while celebrating at Grandma's house.  Now, I'm thankful we can put the kids at their own table and sort of enjoy adult conversation.

The only problem is that the adults eat slower than the kids....but eventually the girls just disappear downstairs or somewhere (most likely the bathroom) and we just carry on eating like nothing is going on...until there are tears or blood involved.

Trying to be patient and wait for present time!

A crazy group!

Our new little family of 5...so much fun this year!

Whoever got the Anderson's this puzzle did a GREAT job.  Lyssa was occupied for a long time.  Putting it together in the kitchen, with her Daddy helping every once in a while.  Pretty impressive for a 2 year old to stay as focused as Lyssa did.

We also got her the Princess Candyland game which was a big hit.

Leah and Lesley both got princess sleeping bags that go in backpacks.  Another great gift!  They cannot wait for a sleepover in the tent once the weather gets warmer.

Grandma and the girls and Levi.  

We are needing more space even at Grandma's house to fit all these little ones who keep increasing in number.