Stir Crazy

It's no surprise that having three kids brings a lot of energy and noise into a home. Add that to the fact that this winter has already included record low temps, record setting snowfalls, and four days off of school because of the weather, and you get a whole new level of STIR CRAZY!

I always loved winter as a kid and even loved it as a young adult. But as my kids have grown bigger and our winters have seemingly become more harsh, it's getting hard to live through it with the same amount of joy as I once had. The snow is beautiful and I think it would be great if we could actually spend some time burning energy by playing in it, but that can't happen when it is dangerously cold outside. So, instead, we sit inside and watch the beauty of it....all while trying to avoid killing each other with the excessive amount of "together time" that we've had!

Don't get me wrong, I love that we get to spend time together, but as human nature proves, people can only spend so much time together before they kind of get sick of it! My kids tend to be the best of friends and the worst of enemies all at the same time. For awhile, they'll play beautifully and then with the flip of a switch, they are on the verge of seriously hurting one another! We have oodles of toys and things to do, yet they fight over something that never gets touched. We have plenty of space to play, yet they can't possibly play in separate areas for more than five minutes. We have plenty of ways to burn energy, yet they run and scream through the kitchen as I'm trying to escape with a warm cup of coffee. No matter what, it is clear that they just need a break from this loooooooooong winter. Even if it was just one day, it would make all the difference. One day to sled, build a snowman, bundle up and take a bike ride - anything beside being stuck inside going stir crazy!

                        

Another Big Milestone

As if there haven't been enough reminders lately of how quickly my sweet babies are growing up, we hit another big milestone. Caleb lost his first (and a few days later, second) tooth! He had been wiggling the first one for what seemed like months until Tyler finally pulled it out. He was SO excited to have a visit from the infamous tooth fairy that so many of his friends have told him about. He also got to go get ice cream with Daddy as a way to celebrate the big occasion! 

Leah, on the other hand (as you can tell be the first picture), wanted nothing to do with the whole process. She was freaked out by the minimal amount of bleeding in Caleb's gums and was rather worried about the pain that she thought he was feeling (even though he said it didn't hurt at all). She also did not take well to the idea of a visit from the tooth fairy - she is afraid of all things magical and mythical. We set the pillow out on a chair in their room, but right as we were about to shut the door, the MAJOR freaking out began. Between screaming bloody murder and pleading for us to let her sleep somewhere else, we finally resolved to put the chair and tooth fairy pillow out in the hallway. That still didn't quite help as she managed to call out several other times in fear. I finally reassured her that if she was brave enough, the tooth fairy might leave something for her as well as Caleb.

And so, the next morning, we awoke to a dollar for Caleb and a sucker with a note for Leah. Even though she was quite excited and fond of the tooth fairy's special treat for her, she still made sure that tooth number 2 was placed in the hallway before bedtime started. Someday she might get over these crazy fears. Someday!

Not sure this smile could be any cuter! Thankfully, we don't have any other wiggly teeth to report on....so this smile will stay put for awhile!

Dear Joel,

Today marks a milestone in not only your life, but the in life of our family as a whole. We have a two year old in the house, which we've had before. This time, however, we have a two year old without another baby or baby-soon-to-be. So, it goes without saying that you are our "special" two year old. The one that still gets to hold to the title of baby for a bit longer (when your siblings were two, they seemed SO old compared to the new baby around the house). Truthfully, the baby of the house role couldn't be filled more perfectly than by you. Yes, you. Our sweet baby Joel. The sweet one who still wants to rock and snuggle his little face against your chest as if he still feels the heartbeat that soothed him for months in the womb. The sweet one that prefers to be carried wherever he goes instead of walking by your side. The sweet one that drags a blankie around all day while sucking his thumb (shhhh...don't tell the dentist).

But, with as much as you melt our hearts with your sweetness and baby qualities, your tiny little self manages to prove that you definitely have two older siblings to keep up with! You've become quite the attention seeker and absolutely love to make other people laugh. You're known for making incredibly silly faces, singing random songs, or just saying wacky phrases in order to get reactions from those around you. You are also known for being rather strong willed and you certainly don't handle it well when things don't go your way. Many tears have been shed by your siblings because of the biting or hitting that you've done simply to have things go your way. You are very observant and always know what is going on around you. Though you don't talk as much as your siblings, you manage to make yourself heard (usually through the most unique, high-pitched scream we've ever heard come from a human being). You also manage to comprehend everything being said and done in your presence. Oftentimes, you bring things up that we never thought you would've heard or understood from an event or conversation that didn't involve you in the first place!

With as busy as things get, and as quickly as you seem to be growing up, we've had to be extra sure to savor the moments of your babyhood as it becomes a distant memory. Not all of them have been pleasant, but it has all been enjoyed with a lot more grace the third, and final, time around. The dread of teething came with the sweet reminder that each new tooth helped form a darling smile that we've grown to adore. The challenge of separation anxiety reminds us that you trust us and desire us more than anybody else. The middle of the night cuddles when you're sick remind us that we are blessed to have a child who is happy and healthy with the exception of a few little viruses here and there. No matter what it's been, it's been worth it to experience it with you, sweet boy. You are God's way of reminding us how precious parenthood and childhood are. That it goes all too quickly. That phases come and phases go. That when God tells us (in Ecclesiastes 3:1), there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens, He knows just how precious each moment of watching you grow has been. We have loved every moment of the past two years with you, Joel. And we cannot wait to see so many more seasons come and go as you grow.

Love,
Daddy and Mommy

Dear Leah,

It doesn't seem right to say it, but you're four. We thought three sounded old, but this is just crazy talk! Four. Four years of a round little baby turning into a beautiful little child. Four years of a hard-to-please infant turning into a just-wants-to-please you child. Four years of smiles, giggles, hugs, and kisses from the most loving child we could ever hope for.

It's been a wild ride and the days just keep on getting crazier. We've known from early on that you wouldn't go unnoticed as the middle child. You are sneaky and most of the time, we can't turn our backs for a second. We still have moments when we know if it's quiet, you must be up to something! Most of the time, it's an innocent kind of "something" that you're up to, but yet it's still enough to push us right to the edge of crazy! Like, for example, when you're asked to go wash your hands before a meal and you take it upon yourself to also wash your 1-year-old brother's hands, arms, shirt, and anything else he manages to soak. Or, you run out of water and take it upon yourself to refill the water bottle only to end up leaving a puddle the size of a small ocean on the kitchen floor. The list goes on and on.

Yet, for every crazy moment you give, you also balance it with an equal amount of love and affection. You still love to be picked up and held. You give hugs and kisses constantly throughout the day. You are known for your random "I love you"s. You are always concerned about the welfare of others...the first on the scene when someone is hurt or crying. Your favorite past-time is playing with your baby dolls and caring for their every need. Certainly, unlike many preschoolers, you have an empathetic soul. Your world is not nearly as self-centered as that of a typical 4-year-old child.

For as sweet and sensitive as you are, you are equally as strong-willed and determined. You are rough and tough. Dresses are still not your thing, you love to wrestle, and you could play in the dirt for hours if nobody stops you. You always want to try doing things on your own before letting somebody else help. Independence has been your goal from early on. You are doing things quite a bit sooner than your older brother did them and it catches us off guard. We don't ever assume that you won't figure out how to do something that you've set your mind to! We still find ourselves laughing at your very first multi-word phrase, "Leah do it self". We laugh because those four words sum up everything about your strong will at age 1, 2, 3, and now 4. 

As such, we did worry slightly that your strong will might have an impact on how you'd do in your first year of preschool. Though you did attend last year, this was the first year where you'd be there for a longer period of time and twice a week. After weeks of picking you up and asking, "Did she do okay?", Mommy finally learned to accept and trust that the teachers really meant it when they said, "She's wonderful". And after getting the chance to volunteer a few times, it's clear that you are doing just fine. In fact, you tend to be a bit reserved and spend a lot of time just watching the people around you. 

It's no doubt that you are the child that keeps us on our toes. Just when we think we've got you figured out, you throw us for a loop. You are full of surprises and we love that parenting you is never a boring task. God has certainly given you to us as way to help us grow...in patience, forgiveness, and unconditional love. We love that as you grow, we grow. We love that your big personality is reflection of the big plans that God has for you. You will certainly be used in amazing ways as He continues to guide you and grow you into the beautiful person that you are.

We love you,

Daddy and Mommy

Merry Christmas

It's been a busy holiday season already. So much so that I've had moments of stress and many prayers for a sense of calm to come into the craziness of life lately. The calendar is loaded with stuff and my to do list has seemed a mile long. I know I need to learn to take on less, but I truly enjoy everything that we have going on. I think a majority of the added nuttiness was the fact that our bathroom and mudroom were going through a major remodel. Our house was somewhat in disarray for a couple weeks and that made it harder to live in peace.

Thankfully, that project is done, my to do list is getting shorter, and God answered my prayers for life to slow down. It wasn't in a way I would've expected, but was answered prayer nonetheless. We were hit with a nasty stomach bug that ran through all the kids and myself. It wasn't pretty, but it made for a great reason to stay home, relax, and just enjoy time in our jammies.

Now, we're all healthy (provided that Tyler doesn't come down with it). We're looking forward to a lot more celebrating over the next week....a trip to Wisconsin, cookie decorating (a tradition for more years that I can count), Christmas Eve at church, Christmas morning, Christmas evening with all the Lamonts, a visit from Grandpa and Grandma, my birthday, Leah's birthday, and a WHOLE week of Tyler being off of work!

Merry Christmas from the Sturms :)

Celebrating Thanksgiving

It seems crazy to be talking about celebrating Thanksgiving, but another one came and went. This year has just flown by. In fact, the years are flying by!

I feel like I was just helping at Caleb's first preschool Thanksgiving feast, and now I've helped at our 3rd one. This year I got to help prepare food in the kitchen, so I missed the chance to take pictures of all the fun and games. Leah loved her feast and spent most of the time just staring at all of the other kids watching them eat. Needless to say, she came home and immediately asked "what's for lunch?"!!!

We also had a great time celebrating on Thanksgiving Day with our Lamont family. The kids had a blast tearing apart Grandma's basement and eating the yummy food. We enjoyed the massive amounts of food as well! It's always so fun to kick off the holiday season with Thanksgiving. Getting together with family and creating memories is so special for the kids. As the Lamont family grows, it's harder to get everyone together, but incredibly important to us all. I'm thankful for an extended family that loves each other a ton and makes family time together a priority!

A Warm November Day

Without much of a transition from Summer into Fall, our weather lately has been cold enough to consider it Winter already! Luckily, we had a nice Saturday and managed to sneak out for a bit to enjoy the weather. I know the days are numbered and soon enough we'll be stuck inside for the long haul...and that gets harder with each passing year as the kids get bigger and have seemingly more energy to burn! Anyhow, I took my camera to capture some pics of the kids playing in the leaves. They loved it!