McKinley - 10.5 Months

McKinley has grown up so much in the last month. She has started talking and walking. Her first word was Ma-Ma. She often says Bye-Bye and we're pretty sure that she says Da-Da in her own special way. She "talks" to the doggie and the kitties often and is definitely learning from her brother and sisters. She is such a cute baby. Her little dimple makes everyone smile. Her sisters and brother have missed her since going back to school and I imagine that if she could talk that she would tell us that she misses them too. Here is McKinley, caught in action on a typical afternoon.

McKinley, 10.5 Months - Youtube clip

Beau-tee-ful :)

The kids (well, and Mike and I, too) love this song!! The part I love most is hearing Jackson sing beau-tee-ful :) I've been trying to capture it on video but it's just so darn cute. Hope it comes through in this clip.
Beau-tee-ful Youtube Clip

School - Day 2

The three big kids have completed their second day of school! They are exhausted (and so are we)! Caroline is still having a hard time getting dropped off in the morning. It's absolutely heartbreaking for me. I know she stops crying soon after I leave but I still hate leaving her that way. When I come to pick her up at the end of the day she is all smiles and proclaims she has had a great day and loves school. Savannah and Jackson also had a great day. I find it so interesting to hear them talk to each other about their day. And I just love that they have the opportunity to see each other during the day now :) They eat lunch at the same time, have recess at the same time and their classrooms are right across the hall from each other. I'd love to "spy" on them and see what they do when they see each other. Do they get excited and say "HI!" or do they hide their excitement? In any case I encourage them to acknowledge each other and always be supportive of each other - you never know when nice words from a friend or sibling can help turn a bad day into a great day :) McKinley still hasn't taken more than 5 steps but she's doing it! And she just smiles as she's doing it like she knows how exciting this milestone is!

Here is Jackson and his friend, Logan Fuller.

Getting Started

I would love to start "blogging" on a regular basis. Is it wrong that I feel overwhelmed? I wonder if I know where to begin? Do I go back to the beginning? Or do I just start from now and move forward? Do I go back and try to capture the birth stories of each child, each funny or memorable story? There are so many! My goal this year is to spend more time documenting my beautiful family than I spend working from home at night. Shouldn't be tough, right?

I would love to start by saying that this year is off to a fast yet somewhat comfortable start. It's fast in that all of a sudden we're back to school. Week nights are no longer what they used to be the last three months. Fast in that nightly routines of homework, reading, getting clothes and lunches ready seem to come back too easily. There's something comfortable about a routine. There's something special about sharing the adventures of your day with the ones you love most. I love hearing about my kids' days and I love it even more when they ask each other about their days. It's so amazing to watch them grow into little people. They (at least the three big ones) are not babies anymore. They are beautiful children with hopes, dreams and fears. And they have each other and their mom and dad. Life with four kids can be crazy (I will never lie about that) but watching them care for and talk with each other is priceless. I'm so excited to watch them grow into the beautiful young people that I know they will become and I'm so excited to watch them grow together, by loving each other, caring for each other and being friends through it all. I just hope they will make room for McKinley in their sibling-friendship-love ring they have going on :)

First Day of School 2012

Today was the first day of school. Savannah started 1st grade (with Mrs. Maras), Jackson started Kindergarten (with Mrs. Davis) and Caroline started pre-school (with Mrs. Kessman). I am still in shock that we have three children in school. I am still trying to fully accept that Caroline is going to school. She still seems like my little baby girl. They have all gotten so big, so fast. I couldn't be prouder of all of them. Savannah is so excited and I know she will blossom with her new teacher and new friends. Jackson is excited to meet new friends and I am so excited for him to learn to read this year. Little McKinley is going to be a lonely little baby without the companion of her sisters and brother. When she saw them today it was obvious they missed each other and communicated (in their own way) about what they missed about each others' days. Kinners took several (4-5) steps today. I think by tomorrow she will be off and running...yet another milestone.