Sea Lions?

I just went into the girls' room to check on them and tuck them in before I went to bed.  Tess half woke up and I hugged her and said, "I love you, sweetheart.  Good night."  Her response, "I love you too, mama ... and I love sea lions."  

So expressive

During the past two weeks, Declan started cooing and being so expressive.  How adorable!

Trouble

Declan was up from 2:30 a.m.- 5:45 a.m. last night - not normal for him.  We were just having a discussion about his antics.  Apparently, he thinks the word "naughty" is funny.  Sigh.  
How can you be upset with this cutie?

Declan's First Word

Summer is here!!!

Summer is here and we couldn't be happier!!!  Tess and Claire LOVE the beach.  

Despite loving the beach, Claire does not like the sand.  She says, "it is messy."  But she sits on the edge of the blanket and plays in it for hours.  One plus is that diaper changing is much easier without all the sand in there.  I bet it will only take a few more trips to the beach and Claire will like the sand better.

You can see Declan under a blanket and umbrella if you look close.  The sound of the water lulled him to sleep on the beach.

Here is the sign of a successful beach weekend - sleeping kids the whole ride home:

Changing Everyday

Sick Claire Bear

A cold/fever has been going through our house, but it seems to have hit poor Claire Bear the hardest.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Tess found this bird on our deck as we left the house this morning.  She said, "Mom is that bird alive?"  Before I could answer, she said, "I think he is just napping on our deck ... he isn't dead ... his family would miss him."  What a sweet heart she has.

Happy Mama

Mother's Day Letter

Dear Tess, Claire, and Declan,


Your mom and I love our lives right now because the three of you make each day so wonderful. Each of you learn something new each day, say something we've never heard and fill us with your joy for life. Everything is newer and more fantastic, because we can view the world a little through your eyes.


One thing that makes me slightly melancholy is that these times will never happen again. Each day is new and wonderful, but soon is yesterday. Even sadder, when we grow older, we can barely remember these bright pre-school days.


Because you must forget these days eventually, I want to tell you about them. Specifically, I want to tell you about your amazing mother. She, more than anyone else in your lives to this point, has encouraged you to become the smart, inquisitive, generous and fun people you already are (as I am sure you will become shockingly fast, my 5 week old Declan).


Your mom did not believe it when her first pregnancy test was positive, then she cried and hugged me as hard as she could, and then she told me to go back to the store and buy another test to be sure. Needless to say, she was excited. She loved you, Tess, from that second on. Her reaction for you two, Claire and Declan, was exactly the same.


We would sit on the couch and wonder about you all: it was one of your mom's favorite pregnancy pastimes. Who were you? Boy, girl? We couldn't wait the whole time, nor could I resist looking during the ultrasound, so we knew that answer after 20 weeks. Other questions had to wait. Who you would look like? Always, in the end, like yourselves and no one else. Would you be outgoing (Tess)? Funny (Claire)? Handsome and healthy (all we could ask for right now, Declan)?


Pregnancy can be tough, but your mom was always tougher. She took good care of herself for you all. The only difference between each pregnancy was how she dealt with the inevitable tiredness. With Tess, she was working part for Crisham and Kubes, part for Judge Mason. She came home each night and fell asleep atop of me on the couch. I loved those nights, drool stains notwithstanding. With Claire and Declan, she mostly ignored it. Your mom has more fun on the floor with her young kids than anyone I have ever met. She didn't let being 20% bigger slow her down much, though we did laugh when you would slide off her lap because there was not enough room late in pregnancy.


I tried to help her. She often chided me for getting you wound up after I got home from work (throwing you up near the ceiling in the family room was always a favorite), but I tried to leave work as early as possible every day because I loved seeing my girls and knew she appreciated help with dinner and bedtime. Unfortunately, work kept me away, frequently overnight. She was often taking care of herself, growing baby, energetic kids and exhausted husband all at the same time. She rarely complained and never let anything important slip.


We are so lucky to have such an amazing mom and wife. Even though you girls are 3 and 1.5, you two smarties already appreciate this. (Declan, you stinker, have been trying to trick her into carrying you at all times.) We are humbled by the love you show your mom and I. Someday soon, I'll write you about how much fun our house is after the baby arrives. Until then, know I love you and your mother with all my heart.


Dad

Brave at the Farm

Tess had a friend's birthday party at a farm and took it upon herself to find hay and bring it to a cow.  I was screaming, "step back from the cow, Tess!"  She was not scared at all - look at how close she was to the cow!  She went back for more hay in the barn and did this multiple times.  Okay, the third picture is a fake cow - she wasn't that brave.

Cuddles

Sweet baby Declan has been a little fussy today.  He has not let me put him down all day.  I think it is his mother's day present - making me slow down to hold him for hours and enjoy that beautiful face.

Sneak Peak

The ballet recital is Saturday, June 9th.  Today, the girls got to practice in their costumes.  Tess is third in line.  Tess thought the costumes were just "amazing."

All Smiles at the Park

It's My Turn

As we shuttle Tess to and from school or go to ballet with her, Claire has been talking for weeks about how she wants to go to preschool ("I go in.  I go to p-school") and talks about ballet and how "Tessie does ballet."  I keep telling her that when she is two, she will get to go to school and that she is a ballerina, just like Tess.


Well, today is a rare afternoon at our house and Claire is already awake and Tess is still napping.  Claire just brought me Tess' ballet leotard, skirt, and shoes and proclaimed: "It's my turn."  So, I helped her into the outfit and shoes.  She immediately gleamed and said, "I happy!"


"It's my turn." I couldn't agree more, little one.