1 Month!

Well hello there, Mr. Handsome

You are one tough little guy to be surrounded by your loving sisters who smother you to death with squeezes and kisses...

Where has the last month gone??? Ah yes, to loads of laundry stained in poop, to 3 am diaper changes (nothing like being sprayed with urine in the middle of the night and you're half asleep), to mastering the art of getting 3 individuals dressed, groomed (fancy word for getting the teeth brushed. Hair combing has no chance anymore), fed and out the door in less than an 2 3 hours, to spit up, lots and lots of spit up, to 1 breast infection, to breathing in your baby goodness, to holding you and gazing upon your face. And of course, to feeding you, nursing and more boob flashing, giving you these nice, plump rolls in the making to show for it...

You are most definitely the biggest baby of the 3. Your sisters weren't your size until month 3. I just barely blinked and you went from wearing size newborn in the 1st week to being nearly too big for all 0-3 and 3 month clothes less than 3 weeks later. I had to add some 6 mo onesies to my shopping list because your wardrobe didn't go up that high and I thought I'd have much more time to gather some hand-me-downs before your buttons were unsnapping before my very eyes! 

Your temperament seems to be pretty simple. You're very content, very pensive, very sober for the most part...

(deep in thought here..."what's for dinner, Ma?")

...Unless of course something is wrong...

But you are easily comforted and I am much more apt to figure things out this third time around.

You have developed this bad habit though, and it's really quite embarrassing for me coming from such a young one of mine ...

You'd think I didn't teach the boy any manners! 

And for fun, here are the three Soto babes at week 4 in birth order...

  Spicy....................................................Sweet........................&.............Serious

Definitely related! :)

Batter Up

Since this is probably the last piece of newborn clothing Soren will be able to squeeze into, I had to snap a photo of him in this adorable sweatsuit (pants not pictured). 

With his baby acne and freshly spiked hair, and with the impressive stats at his check-up yesterday (11lbs & 22.5 inches, +2 points in both categories since birth) that caused the nurse to re-measure him 3 times, I'd say he's ready for some junior high baseball tryouts! (teehee)

Happy Friday!

2 Weeks!

We had a little photo shoot to commemorate Soren's 2 weeks of life!

 Our thinker...

 

It's quite fitting that his name means "The stern one". Much of his awake time involves a serious, contemplative look or a scowl that expresses a hundred words (I'm just not sure which words those are). 

And if you don't like it, well, he's not interested in pleasing anyone.

Classic (haha)

My Baby is 4!?!

I'm going to make this short because, well, the combination of post-pregnancy hormones with lack of sleep does not make it easy to reflect on the fourth year of your firstborn's life without getting all weepy and frankly, losing it.

Alizea Ann,

You are such a wonderful little girl! Your zeal for life is a very special, very unique gift and makes living this life with you, an absolutely exhilarating ride. Daddy and I are constantly and prayerfully attempting to help refine the passion within you and channel it from wild recklessness to virtuous love.  Whew, what a challenge!

This last year has been filled with changes. You started the CLAA Petty (Pre) School and are now reading in Latin, counting to 100 in both Latin and English, beginning to add and subtract and excelling in your writing skills. You make momma work for the title of "mommy teacher" but I am learning to love the fight  tantrums challenges you bring to the table. You also started the "Catechism of the Good Shepherd" program, did very well for being one of the youngest and have made some special friendships (mommy included which has been an incredible blessing). You welcomed another sibling with incredible maturity, pride and excitement and you are just bursting with love for your baby brother. You continue to thoroughly enjoy dancing and ballet and anything that involves painting and messy crafts. You can go from 0 to 10 in seconds and because of this (despite your contending because you now know the meaning of this nickname) you are still our Spicy one. Another big change has been in your relationship with Daddy. What a turn about from the difficult transition 2 years ago upon his return from deployment. Now, you prefer his arms, his company, his stories, even his My Little Pony voices. As you enjoy your special day with him at Disneyland, your mommy is having a hard time finding the words to describe how proud I am of you and how much I love you! 

You bring me life and love that keeps on giving and knows no end. 

You make me laugh and cry and experience emotions in the depths of my soul that could only come from God's love. 

Through my many mistakes and failings, you ultimately make me a better mommy and a better follower of Christ!

 
You are just beautiful! 
Happy Birthday, my princess!

18 months!

A little late but I figured it was time for an update on Sweet G. 

 ...Being that she is on the downhill march to a 2 year old! And being that she is the big sister now and has a lot more responsibilities these days.

Like handing me the wipes as she sits close by my side and watches in curious enthrallment as I change her baby brother or throwing his diaper away all by herself. 

 She is settling into her new role just beautifully.

This series of pictures says it all...

 ...Wiping the leaves and debris away so her baby has a nice clean seat to sit on

...Giving a gentle push with tremendous focus and a careful attentiveness

...Joyful when giving to others

...Perceptive and protective, with a wisdom well beyond her years.

... Simply. Sweet.

Oh Genevieve, you are an absolute doll! It is quite amazing to see your unique characteristics and God-given strengths developing and blossoming already at such a young age.
You are naturally nurturing. You are, oh so, gentle with little Soren. You are kind and caring. You love to share (unless of course you are standing your ground on an unjust dealing with big sis). You are unselfish. You are obedient (for the most part but we'll take it). You are my peace maker. You are incredibly independent, creatively finding things and ways to entertain yourself. You love to explore on your own. You are comfortable alone and enjoy being in your own presence: What an incredible skill that is that so many (adults) fight with and never learn to embrace and enjoy. You wave goodnight to me as I lay you in your crib for naps or bedtime every day without a fight or a fuss. Despite the multiple teeth popping up, your peaceful disposition has remained the same. You are incredible, baby doll!
I used to think that all babies were like you. Boy was that naive ignorant.  I quickly discovered after becoming a mom that wasn't the case and now I know (& your pediatrician agrees) that you are the exception. 

 I believe you are the primary reason this transition to 3 has gone so smoothly for me. 

Thank you for that. 

We love you, little darling.

Some recent words you have added to your vocabulary:

-Cracker

-Cheese
-Nana (Banana)

-Eye

-Ear

-Baby

-Elmo
-Dirty

-Agua

-Bye Bye

-All done

-More

-Grama

-Bapa

And you are putting words together, like, "Bye bye Bapa"
Speaking of.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!

These boots are made for walking

...And that's just what they'll do!

Yup Sweets, you are walking solo. The kind of walking that had both Daddy and I squealing at the top of our lungs to each other like we had just won the lottery! Actually, it started this past weekend. And it has continued and improved every day since. 

 Today, you walked from one end of the room to the other. Falling a couple times but getting right back up on your own and continuing on, arms slightly stretched forward or to the side for balance!

The coolest thing is when Spicy grabs hold of your hands and helps you walk (faster than comfortable) as both of you are cackling up a storm!

The other exciting milestone has to do with another set of feet. TreSoto, who we will have a name for very soon, I've been feeling you within the past few days and squealing (quietly) over your stomps and movements. This is by far my absolute favorite part of the pregnancy.

It makes the miracle of life all the more real and tangible.

Here's to happy feet!

A Super Sweet Sundae Celebration

This past Sunday we celebrated Sweet G's 1st beautiful year of life!

 (pictured in the same dress big sis wore 2 1/2 years ago)

After much dialogue on how to celebrate while staying within our modest budget, we set the date and time and made the notice to our immediate extended family and a couple friends who, are family. Once it was official, the SUPER Duo Team Emde (aka, Mimi & Bapa) pitched in for absolutely amazing results. This included hours of research, visiting 10 different nurseries, questioning, translating, working with the landscaper to finish our beautiful cottage style soft-scape backdrop. Meanwhile, Superdad is mixing and pouring cement, scoring on his hands and knees, installing patio covers, hanging lights, sealing floors, building a fire pit, cleaning up, hauling dirt and much more I am forgetting, to make our backyard a gorgeous place for hosting and enjoying. 

Late last week, I had 1 of the hardest days since becoming a mom which included passing out in the morning (in keeping with my pregnancy tradition) and a tantrum by a certain Spicy one so bad that had me considering performing an exorcism. Once that was behind me, somehow I pulled it together and with Mimi's help snatching the girls away for a day and a half, I was able to do some much needed deep cleaning, painting that was started and unfinished from over a year ago and lot of fun little projects! 

Without the constraints of feeding, entertaining, bathing, wiping bums & napping (that is, imposing forced naps, not partaking in them myself), my creativity let loose and the ideas kept coming! It started with this banner made from wooden pendants my dad cut that I covered in various scraps of fabric I already had. 

    
Then I found a font I liked, printed out the stencils and went to town with different paper. It was so fun to make, I even used a cordless saw for the 1st time but boy were my hands sore after all that stapling and cutting! It was definitely the 'centerpiece' and the source of much inspiration!

Since I am obsessed with themes (as you can probably tell by looking at every room in my house) I took the "Sweet" theme and well, ran with it... all the way to the candy store! The next idea was for the centerpieces. Re-purposed jars (originally filled with peaches which we enjoyed as a side dish) filled with a variety of candy with a few bright faux Gerber daisies. 

The best part about this? They didn't go to waste because once dinner was finished, the flowers came out, and the jars moved over to the "Sweet Sundae Station" for ice cream sundae's with lots of yummy toppings! 

 Add some over-sized lollipops and you're practically in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. 

 kidding. 

But the party prepping fairies were definitely looking out for me. The only thing purchased for this event was a couple cans of spray paint, dowels at 75 cents a piece and the styrophone circles for the lollipops. Everything else we already had! And while I was in line waiting to check out, wouldn't you know, I see leftover Christmas items in the dollar bin and some of them, even 1/2 off! 

I couldn't resist. A variety of sanitizers, body sprays and bath salts in "Sweet Candy Kiss" and "Frosted Berries and Cream" scents, they were the perrrrfect favors!

And pictures were cropped and displayed on an old cork board that got a nice coat of bubble gum pink!

The meal was centered around BBQ Beef Sandwiches on Hoagie Rolls in a sweet & tangy BBQ sauce

Side dishes were homemade and brought by loved ones such as Grama Emde's famous tomatoes & cucumbers in a sweet vinegar marinade

 ...Mimi's yams in a secret sweet syrup

and a sweet corn bread treat made by yours truly!

Even the corn dogs were transformed into a sweet delicatessen

We had about 30 guests. Less than half of the number at Spicy's party. However, it is important to note that her event had a dual purpose, namely to give mommy a major emotional boost to survive through the 2nd half of daddy's deployment. 

Needless to say, from young to old not so young, everyone had a great time!

Me & my Sweet G

Following in her sister's footsteps, Sweets surely did not disappoint when it came time for the cake...

        Getting her 1st taste from Spicy             Spicy getting a taste from mommy

That a Girl!

Another flashback

Pure Joy. 
What an incredible baby girl you are!

After dark, we inaugurated the fire pit by roasting marshmallows for Smore's with good friends. It was the perfect way to end a perfect day.