Life as five

Life has been very sweet here since Emma's arrival. I am stretched thinner than I ever have been but it's a good kind of stretch...most of the time:) Despite the moments in which I have wondered what I got myself into, in some fundamental way I feel that this is what I was made to do and I'm loving it. 

Because I'm a bear of very little brain I need to record the little doings of our lives right now or they will all be forgotten. 

Brett is adjusting to his new job at the CDC. The regular hours are wonderful and have allowed him to complete some projects around the house. He has time to relax and just enjoy being with us. Recently he finished building a beautiful kitchen table with benches. We can now provide seating for guests other than the sofas! The wood for built in bookshelves around the fireplace is already in the garage. We have big plans for this summer including remodeling the kitchen and some painting too. I've recently requested that a fort/swing set be moved near the top of the to do list because I'm tired of rescuing children out of the upper branches of small trees. 

When I am not caring for immediate needs, I'm trying to get my horse (and myself) back into a bit of shape. I'm focusing on eating healthy (THM:) to lose this baby weight! Along with that, I've been experimenting with baking with sourdough and coconut flour, and other ways of cooking that are new to me. Aforementioned house projects, with a little gardening thrown in, are also on my mind. We have 5 new chicks because sadly we are down to 3 hens after a hawk discovered us. 

Nate is growing by leaps and bounds!! He still loves to snuggle though, especially when he has just woken up. He recently learned how to climb trees (yikes!!) and pedal his tricycle. He still loves any vehicle, especially emergency vehicles. We have been reading a book series based on the alphabet and he knows all of the letter names and most of the sounds. He and Evelyn play together fairly well but he loves to play by himself too, lining up cars, building with Legos, doing puzzles, and recently playing more imaginary games too. Since Emma's arrival he has begun to drop his afternoon nap (mourn with me) but we still have a quiet time and he is very good about playing quietly in his room (after a little instruction). 

Evelyn has suddenly developed a huge vocabulary and is trying new words daily. She loves to sing and dance, play with her dolls, "read" books to herself, and try to climb trees as high as Nate (even though she can't get down). She calls Emma "Em-Em" and alerts me if her Em-Em needs anything. Her blonde bouncy curls are precious and she prefers for them to be floating freely. Any attempt to tie or bow them is ripped out as soon as I'm not looking. 

Emma is 9 weeks old! She is such a sweet easy baby, for which I am immensely grateful. I probably have just forgotten how intensely I loved my other soft squishy newborn bundles, but it feels like I've never enjoyed babyhood as much as I have this time around. Maybe it gets better and more precious each time? Of course, the enjoyment factor is greatly enhanced by the fact that Emma is a great sleeper and generous giver of smiles. She prefers to be carried or worn, but will sit in her bouncy seat for short periods. Just this week she has noticed the toys hanging over said seat and has started reaching for them. She is quite strong and holds her head up with ease. She especially loves daddy singing to her.