All done nursing

Our sweet Norah has been done nursing now for a few weeks.  :(  All the other kids finished around 14 months but she did it in less than 13.  With all of them I started gradually weening them after their first birthday, but she was just so fast!  It's bittersweet.  She was just so good at putting herself to bed without nursing anymore it seemed pointless to try and keep her doing it just for my sake.  Admittedly it is easier now for Gaetan when I'm not home because she doesn't need it, so that's a bonus, but I will always miss that special time, just me and the babes.  However, since she has stopped nursing she has been sleeping through the night... she doesn't even wake up and put herself back to sleep... just straight through.  Before she would wake up and put herself back to sleep after a few minutes but that of course would wake me up!  But she usually sleeps in til about 8... sometimes 9 if the crazies aren't too loud.  And, she is super easy to put to sleep.  You just get her in her jammies kiss her good night and in the bed she goes.  No crying.  No fussing.  Just silent.  It's awesome!  Dude was the same way... and it helps this Momma's heart knowing that they were definitely ready to be done!  I just cleaned out all the milk from the freezer I had pumped for Norah which was also a little bittersweet.  She's just growing up so dang fast!  But, it's good for the both of us... on to our next adventure and milestone!

She loves getting in boxes or baskets...

She has developed such a personality... just chillin and relaxin at the grocery store

Such a little lady in her dress

JVG

Children's museum

There was a day that Gaetan was going to be gone for the majority of the day, so I thought that I would take the crazies up to the children's museum.  It's a bit of a drive but that meant that some of the long day was cut by driving and we haven't been there in awhile, so I thought that it would be nice.  As soon as we parked Dude said that he had to pee and couldn't hold it the few blocks it was to the museum so we ducked into this salon that was by the car and they were gracious enough to let us use their bathroom.  Well, I guess it was everybody's idea to go to the museum because it was PACKED.  So much so that they had people at the door with the counters making sure that they weren't past capacity... and I have only seen them do that once before and that was at Halloween.  I'm not gonna lie, I was a little overwhelmed.  The crazies for the most part did a good job sticking together and staying where I could see them.  It was hard though because Norah wanted to get out and play but wasn't as good about listening and following the sibs.  I had just watched this episode on a show too where the Mom was just chatting with another Mom, just like any regular day and her kid gets snatched... just like that.  So, admittedly I was a bit more on edge about that, but I think the kids had a good time.

They had a new exhibit up about making your own sheet/couch fort.  It was really cool, but then the kids would disappear underneath it and I couldn't see them and didn't know where they would pop out... which didn't really ease the anxiety.  We played and had a snack until it was time to drive back and pick Papa up.

I thought his picture of Norah was so sweet... she looks like such a little girl!

At first she was just so interested in all the different kids and what was going on that she just people watched.  Also, I am so jealous at how easy squatting like that comes to kids!  Not so easy for adults!

This peg, light board was her favorite

Lucy is a crazy person!  haha

Doing some tangrams together... Norah thinks it delicious! haha

Hanging out in the tree house... one of the few moments they were all in the same area together

They were building their fort

had a cool slide in the middle of all of the fort building

Overall, it was a good day.  The kids had fun and it felt nice knowing that I was capable of taking them out solo :)  I think we are going to head back there this week so that they can play extra hard in that really cool exhibit.  After we were done playing we walked to a friend's business downtown and got smoothies!  A nice refreshing little treat to end the adventure.

Mango smoothies for all!

JVG

Papa/Goose Coffee Date

I know I've said this before but it just gets me that Lucy LOVES the taste of coffee.  I feel like a lot of people tolerate the taste because of the caffeine, but this girl genuinely thinks that it tastes GOOD.  For her birthday Gaetan wanted to take her out on a coffee date but her actual day was really busy... so they postponed and went the week after.  Next time they go I hope that they can try out this cute little place that has gourmet coffee/tea/cookies/treats called ChocolaTea... but this time was just a trip to Biggby.  She got a steamer with sprinkles and was quite pleased with herself.  I'm also glad that she gets to spend this one on one with her Papa, who loves her very much.  I try to be sensitive to the fact that she is the middle child and I feel like a lot of her stuff gets put by the wayside... so I want her to know that she is special and that she just doesn't get lost in the crowd.  She has such a personality that would lend itself to being self sufficient and not needing a lot of attention, but I know that just because you are independent doesn't mean you don't want to that individual time too.  So, I'm hoping that they can do it a little more often and that is something that is special just for them.  :)






JVG

Weird Saturday

Yesterday was a bit of a weird Saturday.  The kids started their new session in swim, which is now a pike/eel class and it's on a different day.  While they did that I took Norah and did some errands.  Got some stuff to do a craft with Jane's kids as a surprise Mother's Day gift.  :)  After that, I gave Dude a quick hair cut and then Gaetan took off to his mother's house to pick up a treadmill for Jane and I got the kids in the tub.  It was going well for awhile until Norah decided she wanted everything the crazies had and would shriek if she couldn't get at it... and I'm not exaggerating, she shrieks.  She is SO LOUD... and isn't afraid to show her displeasure.  After the ringing stopped I got the kids out of the tub and ready for naps.  It was very clear that they all needed to be resting in some sort of capacity, and I needed some quiet myself.  Norah went to sleep right away and Lucy only came out of her room once.  I didn't hear Dude reading to Hippo (which I usually do) and then I knew that they were all actually sleeping.  So, I took that opportunity to eat some lunch and make rice pudding.  I had to go and wake the kids up because it was getting later than I wanted them to nap... part of me just wanted to let them sleep until they woke up, but then I knew if I did it was going to be a struggle to put them to bed, so I begrudgingly got them up.  Gaetan still wasn't home yet, so I fed the kids a quick snack and then we went out to play.  We really couldn't do a whole lot inside because we had to take out all the car seats and then all of their car seats... so it was a bit congested... not to mention the double stroller!  But, the weather was beautiful out and we actually got the bikes and go kart out.  We doodled a little bit with some chalk and then blew bubbles.  We eventually went inside so that I could get dinner started.  The Mins were coming over for dinner after Gaetan delivered the treadmill... and I had also found out that i was going to the concert too!  Fun!  So, after the Mins got here Jane and I quickly scarfed down some dinner and headed out.  The guys stayed and played hard with the kids until they melted down around 9:30.  They did get the craft part done which was awesome timing!  It sounds like everybody had a great end to a busy Saturday.  :)

Dude's haircut

After it took me about 30 minutes to wake him up 

Goose and some rice pudding

The kids thought that it was so funny that the car seats were inside... so they got in them like we were driving

Norah loving the go kart

JVG

Lucy's birthday weekend

Miss Lucy had quite the epic celebration for her birthday!  It started on Saturday when Ingrid came to town.  For some reason Tristan and Norah got gold rings for their first birthdays (Korean tradition) but Lucy didn't... and when she saw Norah's ring it was obvious that she really wanted one.  I guess I could've seen it coming since she was wearing a hair tie around her finger and hadn't taken it off in months... so Ingrid promised her she would get her one for her birthday and she did!  It was a very sweet ring but it was a tad big, so we just put some string around the inside so that she would wear it without worrying about it falling off.  Ingrid had gotten lost so she was pretty late and after presents the kids were hungry so we tried a new sushi place in Kalamazoo.  It was good and we discovered that Norah LOVES edamame.  It's no Morado (which is sadly out of business) but it's the best place that we've found so far.  We tried a tatami table which presented as an interesting challenge with Norah, but we made it work.  The kids got flowers and herbs to window plant which they are really excited about... and I am too :)  Then, there was a huge storm that was rolling in by Ingrid's house and Mike called to say that they didn't have any power so she headed straight for home after dinner.  It was a pleasant... short and sweet visit.  :)

She was pretty pleased with her present

I think Ingrid did a very nice job picking it out

Momma and her Goose at dinner

The family :)

Then, on Sunday after church we went to Grandma and Don's for more Lucy festivities.  We had a quick lunch and then Grandma did it again with fabulous cake... this time, it looked like mammick!  Lucy was thrilled.  :)  They played outside for a bit too and then she got to open presents.  She got this cute outfit from Aunt Holly, and some hair styles and a necklace/bracelet from Grandma.  She got a Target card so use as well and Dude was adamant about using his target card to get Lucy a present.  So, they pooled their resources and got two board games.  Zingo and Sequence for Kids.  :)  Smart kiddos right there!

Everything green because it's her favorite color

Mammick cake!

Singing the birthday song

And blowing out the candles

Yay for cake!

Norah showing off her mad riding skills

Grandpa having a moment outside with the girls... Lucy giving Norah kisses

They were LOVING it

Makes this Momma's heart happy to see them together

Cute outfit from Aunt Holly

She thinks she's smiling 'hard'

Then, for Lucy's actual birthday she wanted the Mins to come over for dinner so they did.  :)  But during the day we got to go to story time and listen to Dude's music class.  (More on that later)  I asked Lucy what she wanted to have for her birthday and she requested salmon kabobs, cous cous (because the first time we had it she thought I said Goose Goose) and green beans.  We made brownies for brownie sundaes, to which she picked out coffee ice cream of course.  We also got some superman ice cream because we are aware that most kids who are turning 3 don't appreciate the coffee flavor.  The Mins baked these delicious cream filled pastries that you can only get in Korean/Japanese bakeries and this adorable bow.  Jane's friend makes them and sells them, so it was nice to buy local!











I think that Miss Lucy enjoyed all her different celebrations.  She is growing up so quickly.  I can't wait to see what 3's bring :)

JVG

Lucy's 3 year check up

Miss Lucy had her 3 year check up and she is doing great!  She is settling more into the middle of the age group, which is where I thought they would be to begin with... not off the charts like they where!  She was 33.4 lbs and 3 ft .75 inches.  Her dome is almost 20 inches around!  She didn't have to get any shots this time around, but at her 4th one she will have to get a lot of boosters... looks like Papa will be taking her to that appointment.  ;)

Also, that little stinker walked out of the house with no shoes on.  I was packing the car for a long weekend and getting Norah in her seat and saw her walk out of the house without them.  I just assumed that Gaetan had told her to go to the car and he grabbed them because she was taking to long to put them on.  Turns out she told him that she was ready to go so he told her to go out since I was out there already and since his hands were full didn't see that she didn't have her shoes on.  We were more than half way to Grand Rapids for her appointment when I looked back and asked him where he had put her shoes.  We both them just gave each other a puzzled look... so, the little stinker got a new pair of shoes out of the deal.  Cute ones for Easter!  :)



Also, it never fails our kids won't hurt themselves until days before a doctor's appointment.  This time I was taking the kids outside to enjoy a snack in the sun and I was walking behind Norah while Lucy and Dude took off out the front door and before Norah could even pass the threshold I heard Lucy crying.  I figured that Dude had run past her and bumped into her but she said that she just fell.  Well, she scraped her arm up and forehead and ended up with this ginormous bump smack in the middle of her forehead.  Poor Goose.  :(



Later that day she was having her downtime and it was awfully quiet, so when I went up to see what she was doing she had passed out with her backpack on haha.  It was really funny.  She was playing so hard she just fell over... at least she made it to her bed this time!




JVG

Mom Date

Last night I was surprised with tickets to see Ben Folds in concert!  My friend Jane said that her husband's boss gave them to them and she thought that it would be a fun night out together.  And... it was just what I needed.  The kids really like Ben Folds Five's version of "Rain Drops Keep falling on my head" so I knew what his sound was like, but as a performer he is quite different than his music! Jane and I were a little worried that it was going to be soft (because he's just on a piano) but his little life stories in between where HILARIOUS and they had his piano turned up so loud it actually hurt my ears a little.  He is quite the musician... beyond playing the piano he did an AMAZING drum solo!  And he said that he is now recording a piano concerto that he wrote with a symphony... and it sounded really nice.  This was both of ours first secular concert and we had an extremely fun time together... put on some make-up and heels and drove off in the mini-van haha.  We even got good parking, which is rare for downtown Kalamazoo.  What a fun girls night out!

Hot Mommas together

He is a bit unconventional but that's what made the show so sweet!

We had row 7 seats and Chenery was packed!

JVG