Mmm, Mmm good!

Need I say more?

42 days

Someone around here has been making a list. And no doubt, he's been checking it twice. He's also been making a list for his brother and his sister. Isn't that nice of him? Here is Will's list until I suggested that we should maybe ask Will what he wants for Christmas instead of just making a list for him. The solution? It is now a list for both of them.
And for those of you who might have trouble reading a copied Toys-R-Us or Target or Walmart catalog, here you go.
New! Tomica Hypercity
New! Imagniext
New! GeoTrax Imagniext
New! Thomas Wooden Railway
New! Tomica Hypercity (in case you missed that one the first time...)

And Avery's list
It seems that she's asking Santa for a Baby Alive and a Baby All-Gone. How about you? Have your toy catalogs come in the mail yet? Have you spent hours looking through them? What is on your Christmas list this year? If you're not sure, just ask Jackson. I'm sure he'd be happy to make a list for you too.

p.s. A note to grandparents...we'll soon be coming up with a more realistic, mama approved Christmas list. No doubt each of these toys would also require a small addition to the house.

p.p.s. 42 days until Christmas!

Bath-tized

According to Will we had a "bath-tism" on Sunday. (I think Jackson said that once up a time too.) Avery was her usual smiley self and looked beautiful in RoseAnn's baptism dress. It was a great service and wonderful to be surrounded by so many family members and friends. Our minister encouraged us to celebrate each of the kids baptisms to remind them that they belong to Jesus. I love the idea of this tradition and we look forward to celebrating each of the kids baptism birthdays through out the years. Happy Baptism Birthday, Avery Anne!

A boy

Boy (n.): a noise with dirt on his face.

3 months

I'm not quite sure how Avery is already 3 months old. Somehow we missed a 2 month post and we are already 3+ months.
Call me biased but I think she's pretty cute!


Avery,
You are still the most fantastic baby a mama could ever ask for. You are so happy all the time, you smile like crazy and on your 3 month "birthday" you giggled for the first time. You still love to tell stories however the little baby coos are starting to sound a bit more like screeching. You are grabbing the toys on your bouncy seat and can lift your head and tummy off the floor during tummy time. I think you are addicted to you swaddle blanket, I'm not sure what we are going to do when you are too big for it. But you've been sleeping 11 hours at night and taking 3-4 naps during the day, so bless the swaddle blanket. We had you at the doctor a week before your "birthday" and you weighed 13 pounds. Too bad we can't all double our weight in 3 months and be so cute! You still can wear your 0-3 month clothes but most of your fall wardrobe is 3-6 months. We are still working through the size 1 diapers but are ready to graduate to size 2. Fewer blowouts=less laundry for me. You are eating every 3-4 hours, usually closer to 4. My only small complaint is that you r.e.f.u.s.e to take a bottle. Choke. Spit. Gag. Wont even close your mouth. Naughty. But since that is my one and only complaint I'll keep my mouth shut. We love you so much and love to see the way that you are changing each and every day. We thank God for you and our hearts are full.
Love, Daddy and Mommy

The Big 1st day

We've had quite a few milestones around here in the last couple weeks, but this one deserves a post all of its own. Jackson has now graduated from being a preschooler to being a big time, hot stuff kindergartner! He LOVES it. Here are a few pictures that highlight his first day.



Some reflections on Kindergarten so far...
- We got to go out to the playground 3 times today!!!
-Chapel was my favorite part of today.
-I get to sit next to my new friend Harris. (I don't think he sits next to his friend Harris anymore...)
-But how come all the other kids get to wear junky clothes to school!!!!

His teacher Mrs. Johnson said he is doing very well. He is social and smiling. And therefore not sitting next to Harris anymore! :) He is also a very engaged learner which is music to his teacher mama's ears.

Apparently

Apparently the end of your nose is a great place to wear dirt.


Apparently you shouldn't ask kids to say cheese when taking their picture. You might just get what you ask for.


Apparently Silly Bands are so cool even babies need to wear them

Look-a-like contest

What is your vote?

Does she look like brother number one...

Or brother number two...

1 month

Avery Anne,
You've had a busy first month of life. You've had lots of people come to love on you, had your belly button cauterized twice, you sported your first bathing suit (see picture #2 above), I'm quite sure you've gained almost 4 pounds (mostly cheeks and chins), been to the beach (at less than 2 weeks old), been on vacation to Duck Lake (at 3 weeks old), and gone to Arcadia for the 4th of July (at almost 4 weeks old), and just last night you slept for 7 hours in a row! What a lovely surprise for me. :)

I'm guessing that you weigh close to 10 pounds, you can still wear newborn clothes but now fit in the 0-3 month outfits too. You wear a size 1 diaper, and still sleep for much of the day. You are often awake in the morning and again in the evening, but the afternoon you reserve for snoozing. You go to bed around 10pm and I usually feed you between 2 and 3am and then again between 5 and 6am. You've started giving us your first smiles which we LOVE. You have beautiful blue eyes and haven't really lost much of your hair. We are working on developing a love (tolerance is maybe a better word) for the car seat but are glad that you take a paci. Your brothers love to hold you and they often laugh at the silly faces you make. Jackson likes to help you out by covering you up and giving you your paci when you spit it out. Will has been renamed "Captain Obvious"..."Mom, she's crying", "Mom, she spit her paci out", "Mom, she just pooped".

We are more in love with you every day little girl and we are so glad you are part of our family!

p.s You might not know it yet, but you have the best big brothers in the world.

The proofs are in!

Oh how I wouldn't love to stop the hands of time. It is hard to believe that it is the middle of July already. I'm not sure where the days go, but somehow summer is half over and my baby is already 5 weeks old. I'm quite sure we were just in the hospital!

We had a newborn picture session done with Avery when she was 2 weeks old. The proofs are hot of the press so head to Photos by Kaity and check them out. (Go to Client Proofs, our password is avery). I especially love the pictures of all three kids together. These make my heart swell just a little. And my word has the girl gotten bigger since these were taken. Like I said, I'd love to stop the hands of time.

Soon to come, some pictures of the big brothers (no, I haven't forgotten about them) and pictures of the the chunky cheeks we have acquired in the last couple weeks.

A day in the life of a two week old

Our sweet princess has had a busy two weeks. She spends most of her day sleeping. I think the record for being awake (in one stretch) is about an hour. She is also growing like a weed. She is now weighing in a whopping 7 pounds, 4 ounces! This is the girl everyone was so worried about because she was busy loosing weight when she should have been gaining. She is up a full pound in one week. Good work, girl! We are loving on her every minute we get and feel so blessed.

A big brother update. Jackson is totally smitten with her. He loves to hold her and to give her kisses. He has transitioned into the role of big brother times two quite easily.

Then there is William. While he loves "sissy", he's a bit put out at the same time. He too loves to hold her but he's had his fair share of tears as well. He likes to play house and wants Avery to be the big brother and he wants to be the baby. He still calls her Sissy because most of the time he can't remember her name. I even heard in the middle of prayer, "Thank you God for Mommy, Daddy, Jackson, Me, Fudger and...Mama, what do we call her again?...oh yeah, thank you for Avery Anne Engbers. Amen."

Avery Anne

Introducing...(a tad on the late side, but so it goes with a newborn...)

Avery Anne Engbers
June 7, 2010
6 pounds, 12 ounces
20 inches



God has truly blessed us and we are filled with joy!

Fearfully and wonderfully made

While I am more than excited to meet our littlest one, my heart is heavy for my friend Katie and her family. They received news at their 20 week ultrasound that their baby Gabe is very sick. You can visit Katie's Blog to read more about their story here. I know they covet our prayers. I believe in the God of miracles and want to ask you to please join me in lifting their family up in prayer.

Katie, Kevin, Gavin, Anne Hope and Gibson, you have our prayers and our love. May you feel yourselves in the grip of God's mighty hands.

"For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be."

Psalm 139:13-16

Family picture

This is quite possibly my favorite family picture ever! Thank you Jackson.

Taking time to smell the tulips

Late last week, all three boys dressed in their finest dutch apparel and we headed downtown Holland to Tulip Time. They all looked stunning! (Me and my big belly were glad to not have to try and fit into anything but a stretchy pannel.) RoseAnn made each of the boys' costumes and the town of Holland was definitely impressed with her handiwork. My handsome boys (all three of them) made the tulips look all the better!

A free picture collage by Smilebox



Five and Fabulous!

I have been telling Jackson for weeks that he's not allowed to have a birthday because there is NO WAY we can have a 5 year old at our house. Really, where does the time go? I can hardly believe the boy is five.



Dear Jackson,

What a spirited child you are. You are full of energy, always full of ideas, creative, and playful. You have a vivid imagination and you have an energy that is contagious. You are a determined fella. You are often frustrated to be only 5 and not a bit older so that you can make more of the family decisions! :) You can also be so incredibly sweet. You like to tell me I'm beautiful (which I obviously love), you have a tender heart for young children, and you love our time to snuggle at the end of the day.

Your current favorites are riding bikes (and you LOVE your new big bike) and playing GeoTrax. You also like to color and love to read books. We are reading Charlotte's Web, your first chapter book and you have really gotten into it. You are starting to read some words on your own and I don't think it will be long before you start reading all on your own. Your teachers say you are doing so well in Spanish Emergency and you are more than ready for kindergarten.

Jackson, Daddy and I love you so much. We are proud of you and know that God has great plans for your life. We are excited to help you grow into the plans He has in store for you. We pray for you each day and we are so glad you are part of our family. Happy 5th Birthday!

Hugs and kisses,
Mom and Dad

Fresh Flowers...

...hand picked with love!



(p.s. These are tulips according to a certain 3 year old.)

Sweet William

It is hard to believe that it was 3 years ago that we welcomed this sweet babe into the world.




Will,

Three years later you are still our sweet William. Always good for a hug or snuggle, a bit of a mama's boy, and full of kind words. You get along easily with others, are a bit timid in new situations, and you like your routines. You still love your paci, you drag your blanket around the house like it is attached to your hand, and you play with your hair when you are tired.

You love to play outside and to wear shorts and short sleeves. You ask daily about when we can go to the beach. You are a boy after my own heart! Your newest favorite is lacrosse which makes your daddy proud. You are also a bit of a goof. It isn't unusual to find you wearing or doing something goofy. You dress for summer yet wear big fuzzy bear slippers. You wear my sunglasses around the house like they were made for your face. For your third birthday you requested a Christmas dinner and a Santa cake. You are your own little man!

Will, we are so proud of you! We thank God for the little boy he has created you to be. We pray for you every day and can't wait to see how you continue to grow in the coming year. We love you buddy! Happy Birthday.

XOXO, Mommy and Daddy


(Just in case you don't believe me that he's walks to the beat of his own drum...)

Because money doesn't grow on trees

The following conversation took place in the car yesterday afternoon.

J: Mommy, can I get a Gator for my birthday?
(We were recently at a friend's house and this friend has a Power Wheels Gator. This apparently is the most coveted toy an almost 5 and almost 3 year old can think of.)

Me: Sorry honey, Power Wheels cost too much money.

J: No, no, mom you don't have to buy it. Someone else will just get it for me.

Me: Oh really. Who do you think might get it for you?

J: Probably Me-ma and Papa.

Me: Do Me-ma and Papa have a lot of money?

J: Yeah, I think so. Um, maybe I better call and ask them.

Me: Sounds like a good idea.

J (Leaving a message for my mom): Hi Mima, this is Jackson. Do you have like $100 or like $1,000,000? Bye!

I'm still laughing just thinking about all of this. It's not surprising that he seems to have it all figured out! Right down to the number of dollars one might need to buy the coveted gator!

Happy Easter

Just a few of my favorites from Easter morning. Enjoy!






And just because we can't go more than 2 minutes without being silly...! :)