emmeline's two months

 

Another month in the books and my heart could burst! I can't believe it's been two months with our sweet Emmeline! People keep asking me how I'm surviving with FIVE kids, and truly, it seems like Emmie has always been a part of our crew, so I don't know how to really answer -- other than to say that we're all so in love with this little bundle, and life is busy and hard and natural and wonderful... All at the same time. 

Emmeline is:

... the perfect combination of all of her sisters, but still has her own unique look. She looks like a little Larson woman, but each day, she matches a different sister. It's so interesting to me! She's truly a beautiful girl, and I can't help but dress her up and down like a baby doll - she's our real life baby doll. [From the day we brought Emmie home, Matilda has called her "Sister Baby," which just seems to fit and delights my soul!]

... smiling so often! When she is awake, she is generally cheery. Her smile melts me into a puddle, and she grind biggest for her Mom and Dad early in the morning or late at night - she probably senses there's less distractions and chaos at those times and just shines away! 

... starting to coo and chatter with us, and let me just tell you how much I love those little sounds! I can listen all day long and never tire of the coos, and oohs and ohhs and every little squeak she makes! It's such joyful noise!

... sleeping so wonderfully. She's going 7-8 hours between feedings at night, which just feels like a direct blessing from on high, and we're so grateful. She makes up for it and seems to want to eat like every hour during the day, but it seems like a fair trade to get a good night's sleep.

... so snuggly. She'll nuzzle right into my neck or elbow and fall fast asleep. Snuggling babies is my favorite thing, and I can't help but feel like all is right in the world when their little baby hands grab a lock of my hair, and I feel their warm breath on my skin. It is heaven for me! [Also for Branson - within a minute of snuggling a sleeping baby, he is almost always totally asleep, too. He says his best naps happen while holding a sleeping baby.]

Our life is crazy and busy, chaotic and loud, and cluttered and messy. But is also simple and sweet, sacred and special, and beautifully wonderful. We're so blessed. God is good, and I am grateful for this plan He orchestrated for us to have joy. These girls are truly my joy!

Flashback:

Afton's Two Months

Goldie's Two Months

Phoebe's Two Months

Matilda's Two Months

emmeline's one month

Even considering it's Leap Year, [what with an extra day and all] I blinked and a month passed. It's hard to believe Miss Emmeline is already a month old, but also it's hard to remember what our family was like without her.

Emmeline is:

... a momma's girl. She wants me [and often ONLY me] all of the time. She sleeps best when we're touching - either in my arms, cradled in a sling or when I'm holding her hand. I've been feeling extra grateful lately for happy, healthy babies and I'm trying to soak in the snuggles and all of the little things that often get taken for granted or seem burdensome amidst the chaos and exhaustion of newborn life. So while my arms often tire, I'm holding this little close as much as I can, and thanking God for every second I get to do so.

... always putting her hands by her face. Swaddled? She wiggles until her hands are free and rests them under her chin. Sleeping? She'll sprawl the daintiest little ballerina hand across her cheek. Hungry? She sticks her fingers in her mouth - a habit we're really trying to break. [No finger suckers here!] She has tiny, dainty fingers and I can hold them and kiss them all the live-long day.

... fought over by her sisters. We're now quite the crew of little mighty women and each of them always wants to be first in line - to hold her, to kiss her, to help pick her clothes, to love on her. [Goldie has been making picture collages of her and taking them to school and ballet and everywhere she goes to show everyone how cute her baby sister is... Heart melting!] Tily calls her "Sister Baby", and I just love that so much. They are all so good with Emmie and so gentle and sweet with her.

... a mighty crier - she goes from 0-60 in no time flat. She has no "in-between" cry. She's either content and happy, or she's screaming like she's dying. But like most of our kids, she's quickly consolable and once she's alerted that she's in need, settles down quick. Maybe it's because she already knows the 4 older voices she's competing with and didn't want to come into this family and get drowned out? Ha ha I don't know. But she is most often sweet and snuggly and just a delightful ball of heavenly love.

... an answer to our prayers. Never did I dream of having 5 [F I V E !] daughters, but I truly can't imagine life without any of them. Emmeline is an incredible mix of each of her sisters - every day she looks like a different one, but also all of them at the same time... and comes from a long line and legacy of mighty women. We're so lucky that she is ours and so grateful she's here.

We're so blessed to have these little women.

God is so good to us.

❤️

FLASHBACK:

Afton's One Month

Goldie's One Month

Phoebe's One Month

Matilda's One Month

introducing miss emmeline

We are so happy to welcome Miss Emmeline into our [not-so-little] family!

 

She's beauty and grace and love and light.

And somehow we can't imagine what our home was like without her.

We are so grateful she's here and that she is ours.

matilda's one year

 A whole year! 

This Tily girl is one!

And she is the cutest and sweetest and most darling little darling there ever was! 

Matilda is: 

... walking and talking and moving all around. She's up and down so fast I can hardly keep up! She is everywhere. She thinks she's so big, and tries to do all the things her sisters do. She climbs in drawers and up on the coffee table. She summits laundry baskets and snakes her way in, over, under, and through tables and chairs and bed posts and furniture. She's getting so confident in her movements and skills. 

... so chatty! She talks a million miles a minute in the most delightful little babble. Her favorite words currently: Ma, Mom, Dad, Sisters, chocolate, milk, pretzel, cheese, tickle tickle... and water bottle - which she says with extra tongue flips and sounds just like Goldie did when she was little. It's my favorite thing!

... getting very good at communicating. She points at what she wants, she remembers where things are in our house, and has started trying to use words to help us understand. But my favorite is her head nod. When she enjoys something or when she agrees or is confirming what we're saying to her, she does this darling little nod with her head, led by her jaw. It's almost a whole body thing - she opens and closes her mouth and tilts her head simultaneously for a real emphatic "yes!"

... following suit of her sisters and popped out 4 new teeth over the past few weeks. Her cheesy little grin just melts me, and with each new tooth she looks so much bigger to me! With new teeth, she also loves all of the food. She wants to eat what everyone else is eating, and be big like her sisters. She likes to use silverware to eat, and is quite proficient with a fork. She loves cheese and fruit and nuts, and any kind of meat or vegetable. And so far, like spicy, sweet and savory alike. She's a fun little eater in out crew.

... playful. She loves to play games, stack blocks, and draw pictures. She loves to hide and play chase. She's getting really good at putting things away or back in a basket, and she loves to give kisses to all of the dolls in our house. Her new favorite is putting a big plastic bowl on her head and giggling away! She is great at entertaining herself for long periods of time. And she loves to explore! I've found her in cupboards or under beds or in an empty tub.. she's so fun!

... so happy outside! She loves being outdoors. She gets so bouncy and excited when we go for a walk or something of the sort. She kicks her legs and does this little excited squeal slash giggle and gives me so much life. Her excitement is contagious, and helps us remember all of the many blessings we have. We all love being around her!

... so taken by music. Songs will settle her right down. She'll dance to any beat she can hear. And she can't stand being left out when anyone is playing the piano - she comes right away and tries to climb and reach and have her turn to play the keys. (It's made for some fun piano lessons with the neighbor kids... Ha ha) She loves music! A girl after my own heart!

... still the most patient, wonderfully delightful girl in all the land. Watching the wonder through her eyes is exhilarating. Hearing her babbles and giggles give me new life. And her cheesy smile and beautiful grin are true sunshine to my soul. 

I don't know where all the days have gone, but I do know that having Tily in our family has made our world better. 

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl! 

We love you so much! 

Flashback:

Afton's One Year

Golden's One Year

Phoebe's One Year

matilda's eleven months

I don't see know how, but here we are....

One month away from our baby girl turning one.

Eleven months of Tily has been so great. She brings us sunshine every day! 

Matilda is:

... starting to walk more and more! Her balance is getting steadier and she's getting braver and taking more steps on her own. She definitely does not perform well, though. She does not like to show off her tricks. Ha ha I try to get it on camera or have her show off to family, and she plops right down and just sits still.

... a kissy face! She loves to give smooches to us and her sisters. And she has a darling little pucker she does to say she'd like to kiss. She is adorable!

... learning more and more words. And her nonsense babbling is my favorite sound. She talks a lot, and likes to join in all of our conversations. She tries to sound out words we say to her and I am pretty sure she's picked up words like "chocolate" "eat" "cheese" "love you" "Jesus" and "Grandma" - you know, the important ones! ;)

... a teaser. Like her sisters, she's figured out pretty early how to be silly and tease us. She likes to hide things from us and crawls away lightning speed with it when we ask where something is. She likes to tickle necks, and she loves to laugh and giggle. She truly couldn't be any more delightful!

... still the most patient, content, and happy girl. Its been a busy month at our house (aside from the usually holiday bustle, I've also done a wedding and Phoebe has had a concussion...) and despite cutting new teeth, this girls is so calm and cool so often that I've taken her for granted. She is the sweetest spirit in our home, she adds so much to our family, and she brings us so much joy!

We love these cute girls!

Flashback:

Afton's Eleven Months

Golden's Eleven Months

Phoebe's Eleven Months

matilda's ten months

 Time keeps on marching - or moving faster, it seems... But Miss Tily is ten months old!

Matilda is:

... standing for a few seconds on her own, but is reluctant to find her balance. But like some of her other milestones, she's doing things backwards! She took her first steps this weekend! Trying to walk before confident in standing still! This silly girl. She's all over the place - climbing into cupboards and up the stairs, and she can move from one room to the next as fast as lightning. She's awesome.

... loves real food. Her little teeth want to chomp on all the things, and she's started to complain when I don't give her the same food as everyone else when we eat together. She's smart, and has curated a refined palate already!

... starting to say more words. She's got "mom" and "dad" down, she's said "grandma" a few times, and has started to say "eat" and "more" pretty frequently. And I swear, she tries to say "I love you!" She's found her little voice, and its fun to see her try to form the same words we're saying.

... going to be a dancer or a musician -- or maybe both! The girl can't help but dance anytime she hears even the softest song or tiniest beat. She moves her little hips and her whole body just wiggles. We love it so much! She loves to sit and listen to me teach piano lessons, she jumps up for every song at church or in a show we're watching, and she loves to play the piano! A girl after my own heart!

... so sweet. She has such a content disposition. She is so patient while I help her sisters, or teach lessons, or make dinner, or plan a wedding... I don't know how we got so lucky to have her right now. Things are constantly crazy and chaotic at our house, it seems, and Tily takes it all in stride and is such a cheerful, kind, tender soul. She is just the best baby in all the land!

We love this crazy houseful of girls!

We're so blessed. 
And so thankful for these beautiful girls God has entrusted us with.

Flashback:

Afton's Ten Months
Golden's Ten Months
Phoebe's Ten Months