Daddy's work trips

Since moving to our new house, about once a week Kyle spends the night at my parents in terre haute. Usually nana (Susan) walks over to help me out. One week she was sick so papa (Steve) filled in!

Each time Kyle goes on his "work trip" Lucy and I pop some popcorn, pour us each a glass a juice and watch a movie in mama's bed. Lucy gets to sleep in daddy's spot. It is pretty special!

This week daddy dropped Audrey off at Nuna's (my mom) and she is spending the night there with Kyle and my mom. I felt bad making Nolan sleep downstairs by himself with Reggie, so he joined in on our sleepover :)




Lucy and Nana's understudy




Perfect!

Dear Nolan - 1 year

Dear Nolan,

In this past year, you have inducted me into the “mom of a boy” club. You are the cutest kid in the world, and the most evil kid in the world.

You are an amazing listener. When we tell you to stop doing something, you stop. When you are playing with the TV remote control, and we catch you, we ask you to give it to us, and you instantly oblige. I love how you walk around so confidently. You know where you want to go and you just go. You kind of have a “stomp” to your walk, especially when you are wearing shoes. When you were first starting to walk (around 10 months) you held your hands close to your body and looked like a velociraptor.

You are typically fine with strangers. Much better than your twin sister. You just want to be held and snuggle… a lot. And if I am ever in the room, you always choose me. You have become such a mama’s boy. Often, while your sisters play, you will want to just be held. You give the world’s best hugs. Lucy and I will often say that “Nolan gives warm hugs”. You will just wrap your arms around my neck and lay your head down on my shoulder and take a deep breath. Your hugs melt my heart.

I think you have a permanently running nose. You also usually have some sort of bruise to go with. You have no fear, and you often run without looking. You have taken some hard falls too. Sometimes you cry, but most of the time you just bounce right up and get going again.

Audrey and Lucy usually take your toys, food, etc. They just go up to you and as soon as you’re not looking, they swipe it from your hands. Sometimes it doesn’t bother you. Other times, you will sit on the ground and just cry… loudly. Your daddy and I laugh at how much they take advantage of you already.

You have the most charming smile. I just love your grins and your laughs. No matter how upset you are, I know that I can always make you laugh. And I know that if I have a bad day, that your smile will cheer me up. You like it when I hold you and scratch your back. Even better if I sing you a song.

You are absolutely perfect (your loud scream and all). I love being your mama. And I love that I can tell that you love having me as your mama. Please, just don’t grow up too fast. I want you to still want snuggles and hugs for a long long time.

I’ll always love you anyway,

 

Your mama

Snow day!

So we didn't get nearly as much snow as auntie Chris out in Massachusetts. Nor did we get as much as our aunties out in Chicago. But we did get more than most of the indianapolis area.

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed

Audrey loves jumping on Lucy's bed. She loves when Lucy wakes up from her nap, so she can go sneak in their room and jump on Lucy's bed.

Lucy also loves jumping on the bed.

Nolan is not as much of a bed jumper, but sometimes he joins in on the fun.

Dear Audrey – 1 year

Dear Audrey,

Happy first birthday! I’m sorry I’m about a month late writing this, but things got really busy. You turned one, and your big sister threw you a great pool party. All of your grandparents came; most of your cousins, aunts and uncles, and even some friends came. You loved splashing in the water with your Aunt Kelly and Aunt M, though I’m not surprised, as you love the water. You are usually the first kid in the tub and the last kid out. You also love to dance. I don’t know where you get your moves, but you have so many different dances. Some songs you do a fast foot shuffle, and on others you wiggle and shake your hips.

You have made being a mom so easy on me. You are such an easy toddler. I know that you were easy the first few months, and I appreciated that; I just didn’t think that it would continue for so long. Many times we will hear laughing from your room (you and Lucy share a room). It will be you, in your crib, wide awake, playing with your stuffed elephant or your toes. You can just sit in your high chair when you’re done eating and just be content (unlike your brother who will scream, until someone gets him out). You do enjoy feeding your left overs to Reggie, but you usually don’t have any leftovers; Unless it is corn, you do NOT like corn. Every time we have corn, I keep thinking that maybe this time you might like it. And every time you give me a look as if you’re saying “, You know I don’t like this stuff”, and you take it piece by piece and feed it to the dog. Luckily, Reggie DOES like corn.

You are so smart. When we ask you “, How big is Audrey?” You throw your hands in the air and say “SO BIG!” You still love to play peek-a-boo, and you like to put whatever random items you find on your head. When you drop something you say “, uh oh”. You can mimic most sounds and even say “how you doin?” You blow kisses and wave “bye bye”. I can already tell that you are very smart.

You are not really a fan of cuddling. Most times you would rather be walking around and exploring. You especially like to take part in whatever Lucy is doing. She usually lets you too, as you typically don’t take things from her, or mess up what she’s playing with (unlike your brother). The only time that you really cling to me is whenever there is any stranger around. You have major Stranger Danger. If it’s not mama, daddy, or nana, or Aunt Kelly, you are not happy.

You like to watch the Elmo Alphabet DVD and Daniel Tiger. You also like to play catch, and are really good at it too. You love to knock down any tower that I build. But many times your brother or sister beat you to it, but you still laugh. You are also our little dare devil. You will climb on a chair, ladder, ottoman, you name it, you will climb it. You have amazing balance, and typically you don’t ever fall. You just scare the heck out of me, when I turn around and there you are, balancing on something that I’m not sure how you got on top of.

You are my little independent thinker. When you decide you want to do something, you will find a way to do it. And you can get very determined (aka stubborn).

You are usually the first one to sleep and the last one to wake up. Sometimes you wake up early, and I love those times with you. It’s not often that it’s just mama and Audrey. Every night before you go to bed, Lucy and I tell you that:

Audrey is going to do great things.
She is going to treat others with respect.
She is going to love herself.
She is going to stand up for what is right.
Audrey Yoshiko Ring is going to do great things.

I know you don’t understand it now, but I know that you will do great things. You are such a smart and sweet little girl. You are surrounded by a family that absolutely loves you. You are kind to both your brother and sister, and your laugh melts my heart. You get so excited that it’s almost like it’s bursting out of you through your smile.

I love you so very much. I’ve had so much fun with you this first year. I can’t wait to see what this next year brings.

I’ll always love you anyway,

Love,

Your mama

Chef Lucy

One of Lucy's favorite things to do is to help cook.  Over the past several months, she has made pancakes, pumpkin bread, pizza (including making the crust!), brownies, cupcakes, guacamole, noodles, rice, and helped with quite a few other meals and desserts.  She is already planning her menu for the twins' birthday party.

 

Our littles...

Mama's little..



Daddy's little...

Dear Nolan – 10 months

Dear Nolan,

Your daddy has come up with so many nicknames for you. He calls you “Benadryl”, since just about any new food seems to give you a rash. He calls you “Captain Spit Up”, since you choke and vomit up well cut up, small foods. He calls you a “Mama’s boy”, since well… let’s just say your mama is your favorite person on Earth.

You are such a snuggler too. While your sisters want to go play, you prefer to be held and snuggled. You’ll let a complete stranger snuggle you (if they’re your only option). Miss Taylor (our nanny) loves when you just want to sit and snuggle. And you usually are more than happy to oblige.

You are such a happy little guy in the morning. You have finally started to sleep better at night too.

You got your first two teeth… finally. For a few days you kept grabbing your ear, so (assuming you had an ear infection) I took you to the doctor. They asked me if you had any teeth yet, and I told them “no”. Well we opened your mouth, and there were two bottom teeth. The teeth must have surfaced that night. Obviously, I’m not in the running for any Mom of the Year award. Maybe 2015 will be better.

You do make me feel loved and needed. You cry… a lot. Especially when you want to be held. I will be trying to potty train Lucy, or feed Audrey, or run a load of laundry. You will just crawl (and cry) and follow me around until I turn around, bend down and pick you up. You will smile, and give me a big hug and lay your head on my shoulder. When I hold and hug you, it reminds me that all of those little things in life don’t really matter. Thank you for the reminder. And thank you for loving me.

I will always love you anyway,

Your mama

Dear Audrey – 10 months

Dear Audrey,

My little Audge Podge, you are getting so big, too fast!

You love to do whatever your big sister is doing. When she is coloring, you like to hold a marker of your own. You instantly go to the refrigerator to take down whatever picture she just hung up. You are already trying to walk and talk just like her.

On the other hand, you fear whatever your twin brother is doing. When he starts crawling towards you, you look at him, and then you look at me, and give me this look of “, please save me!” And I don’t blame you. He likes crawling ON TOP OF YOU. He pulls your hair. He nudges you off the furniture that you both are holding onto. You are definitely much nicer to him than he is to you.

You can take about 8-10 steps in a row. You have excellent balance. You also like to applaud. Whenever someone says “Yay!” you instantly start clapping. You are Lucy’s personal cheerleader. She likes to cheer you on too. She will tell you “Audrey say ‘mama’” and you will respond with “, ma-ma-ma-ma”. Then you will both start laughing and cheering :)

You like to help load the dishwasher, and you are still such a little sweetheart. You’ve started to develop a “stranger danger” and you prefer to be held by your mama, daddy, nuna, or nana. When a stranger says “hi” to you, you just turn to me and cry.

Everything instantly goes in your mouth. You will try to eat anything. When Auntie Chris and Maeve were in town, you would make Auntie Chris laugh so hard with your “closet eating”. You had found a cup of cherrios that Lucy didn’t finish. You hid behind the chair eating them. You are awfully skinny for how much you eat. You get very angry if I give you a “taste” of something and not give you the entire plate. You have put your hands into a lot of your daddy’s plates of food, and spilled a few cups of beverages trying to get to more food!

I love you so much little Audrey. From you whimper and quivering lip to your belly laugh and cheerful smile. You are the most beautiful little girl. You light up my life.

I will always love you anyway,

Your mama

Well look who's 30!

Two very special people are turning 30 this week.
Unfortunately my sister lives too far away to throw her a party.

However, Lucy threw uncle Jason one heck of a party on Sunday.

As Lucy likes to tell the story...
First Nini and mama went to the store to buy balloons. We bought ones that Lucy thought uncle Jason would really like... An Elmo balloon and a purple balloon with white polka dots.

Then we picked out a birthday present and wrapped it in green paper. We practiced singing the "happy birthday song" at least 20 times. Then Lucy made uncle Jason a really nice birthday card. Our family then loaded up the xterra and headed to nana and papa's for the party.

Daddy, papa and I took Lucy, Nolan, Ben and Jacob to the park while Audrey stayed to help Nana cook dinner. We ate a yummy meal, opened presents and blew out the candles on the birthday cake and sang happy birthday. Lucy told uncle Jason happy birthday at least a dozen times and welcomed everyone to "the birthday party". A fun time was had by all.

Happy birthday uncle Jason! And happy birthday to auntie Chris too. We love you both :)