Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

We waited in line for you today at the Americana for 2 hours. I am not kidding. TWO HOURS. And I am thrilled (and still in disbelief) that all three of my children stayed on the "nice list" that whole time. William hung out in his stroller, ate, and took a nap. And Lucas and Charlotte ran around and played and were amazing kids.

It was absolutely worth it. After all this is Willies' first Christmas! And I am so, so happy that you are not a 20 year old Latino man this year. I love the Latinos, don't get me wrong. But last year, the 20 year old thing really got to me.

But that's getting off track.

What I was really writing to say is there is no need to get me anything this year. I have all I want for Christmas. The absolute best children, who bring me joy every day.

Muggles

Dear Lucas,

You are very, very, very, very into Harry Potter.

You were Ron Weasley for Halloween (your friend Julian was Harry).

You want Harry Potter legos for Christmas. You also want a Harry Potter pop up book, and "Harry Potter kid books" (which Santa is sad to report don't exist).

You love to talk about different aspects of the movies all the time. You have a running commentary in your head and will all the sudden burst out some random fact. It's pretty hysterical.

Just now while playing "Harry Potter" pretend game you said to Charlotte after a long discussion on weather magic actually exists:

"Charlotte, we're muggles"

Haha. I found this hysterical.

Love you kid.

xo, Mom

Jackie Jammies

My sister's bio mom has been making jammies for all the kids around christmas time the past couple years. This year they were especially cute.

They are 3 1/2 years apart. ;)

I love, love, LOVE Will's expression. The whole thing is funny with the hat falling off, can't see Luke's eyes, etc. It's just the story of my life - embrace it!

lazy jew

If you read my post from 2008  you know that Lucas decided he wants to celebrate Hanukkah each year. This year, I am sad to report we are lazy jews. This is my sad and despicable attempt at lighting our menorah on night two. We did not have the proper candles and so little tea lights next to the menorah will have to do. Getting out of the house with all three of you is still a challenge. 

I promise to be more on top of it next year buddy. Oi vey!

(By the way, after a quick lesson on low lighting photography you took this photo, not too shabby!)

Cuddle Trio

 You older two will often argue about who gets to sit next to, cuddle next to, hold, and kiss baby.

Luckily it all worked out here. It's a really nice problem to have.

I love you guys.

Presidential Hair

So I am doing Charlotte's hair this morning and minding my own business and Luke says:

"Charlotte, your hair looks like that president"

My mind is working to think of what the heck president he's talking about....I know Bush is weird and a little slow, but pony tail braid? Never witnessed that one...so who?

He then says "You know the one mom...the first president, George Washington!"

Muuuhahahhahaaaa I could not stop laughing. There is quite the resemblance going

And after lots of ensuring that she did not in fact look like a dead president I asked Char to strike a pose...

A few hysterical Charlotte-isms

Char: Mom, what does Santa Clause do?

Me: He oversees toy making, checks the list...twice, delivers toys
(internally I am cringing at the speed at which these lies are spewing forth)

Char: Hmmmm........mom?? I think I'm both.....naughty and nice" she looks very worried by this.
(I am LAUGHING on the inside)

Me: It's ok honey, you are mostly good and that's what counts

-----

A few days earlier

Charlotte's Santa Clause wish list:

"I want a...
real pup...
or...
a kitten
or any
thing that's
alive But
not something
that lives in water"

(written exactly like that, formatting, spelling and all)

Green & Adorable

 In my effort to go green (and save money) we are cloth diapering you Willsie.

I know, I know - cloth diapers!?! But the cloth of today is almost like a disposable it's so easy and they are adorable!!! I love this picture. And I love cloth diapering (never thought I would be saying that).

 And here you are, keeping me company with your talking "a-goo" and "oooo coooo" Thanks Wills.

 Love all the prints we've got going here. Polka dots, guitars, stripes. A bit busy? Never

Oh Wills - you are too cute. I love when you do this with your hands. Thanks for being my baby.

xo, Mom

Chubber Bubber

My dearest Chubber Bubber,

(aka William, Willsie, Wills, Bubber chubber, Handsome Boy, The cute Man, Wiggly Worm, Wiggly Squirm, The Big Squirm, and so on)

We went in for your 2 month well baby exam today. And my little man - you have put on some weight!!

6 lbs of adorable weight that is.

And FOUR inches of growth! That's 2 inches a month!

Then the Dr. asked if you were making "goo" sounds and you most definitely are. He asked how long you are sleeping at night (3-4 hrs) and he said "that's perfect!"

He then asked if you were a cry baby. I don't know why but I almost laughed out loud. For some reason a medical doctor asking if your baby is a "cry baby" cracks me up. And no...you most definitely are not a crybaby.

He then checked over your body and could not stop saying how big you are and how he can't believe you don't cry even when being man-handled.

He then asked if you could hold your head up, which is funny because you have been doing that for weeks, and I mean REALLY hold it up. So he flipped you over and tested our your neck and then you lifted it waaaay high and rolled over!! The doctor was shocked!

In conclusion - you rock! You are 95% percentile in height and weight, just like your brother.

So proud of you!!!

A-goo

"A-goooo"

This is your new, oh so sweet baby sound & the face you make when you say it. I love it so much. It takes me back to all the times your brother & sister started saying it as babies too. Those were good times. I can hardly wait for "ma-ma."

How bizarre

Dear children,

Here's the latest and greatest in our growing file of bizarre happenings around here:

 Luke: This is how I found you sleeping the other night. What's with the legs?? I tried to lay them down thinking I was doing you a favor - not so much. You raised them back up again...while sleeping. Bizarre!

This picture while bizarre in and of itself is William's head with two clips in it. I guess when you have an older sister and you are a helpless baby, clips are bound to find their way into your hair. Bizarre!

Back to work

I can't believe it's been almost 2 months already!!

But baby - it's time to get back to work. And luckily my job and boss are flexible enough that you get to come with

 Thank goodness for that because I don't think I would stand to be away.

Look at that chub! Your double chin (and mine) are out of control! :) So kissable (yours that is, not mine)

Esssss-periment

When my brother was little he used to do what he called "essss-periments" which translates to "experiments." He would rustle up all sorts of things from the cabinet and fridge and mix them together. 

 When I had kids I actually had the thought "I wonder if my kids will do that" and my Char - you are my first one to do it. I got a chance to tell you the story about Uncle J and you thought it was great.

 This is what you did when I said - "wait! hold still!! and smile!"

 This essss-periment is peanut butter, jelly, milk, lemonade and water. You mixed it, left it outside to "harden" and then wanted me to bake it....

That my lovely child is where I drew the line. I love your creativity!

3 baby friends

I am BLESSED with many friends who all had babies within a year of each other. Here are three of the 7 total.

Will on the left 4 weeks, Francesca in the middle 7 weeks & Owen on the right 9 weeks.

I love Owen's expression here. So delicious. And Will - toootally conked as only a 4 week old could be. Too cute.

2 lbs

We went to the pediatrician today and found out that Mr. Chubby Pants has not only regained his birth weight.............he gained TWO POUNDS!!!! You are three weeks 1 day old today little man and you weight in at 10 lbs. 5 oz. That some serious chub.

The dr. asked me a few times "it's EXCLUSIVELY breast milk right??" because you are now in the 75% percentile in weight. hehehe

Bring on the chub!! We like it!!!

And check out your super cute cloth diapers. Oh how I love them. 

Lucas the photographer

So Lucas has been really getting into photography. We had a training session on my "big camera" (that's what we call it because it weighs a ton and the price tag was big too :) and he is really getting the hang of things.

Exhibit A:

This is at the photo shoot my friend Johanna did for Will's birth announcement. 

(She's an amazing photographer BTW)

Anyway, Luke was in the background asking Johanna questions and generally getting in the way :)

But this is a pretty darn good shot he did.

And this one's not too shabby either. While snapping photographs this day he said "I want to be a photographer when I grow up." John and I both said "Well you picked the right family then."

 This one is kind of cool. I like the angle. Good job buddy.

And I don't know why exactly...but I LOVE this picture. This is Will's godfather Robert. He's also the kid's uncle (Cec's hubby). He came over to meet Will. Ain't he handsome? We like Robert.

I think you are making great progress Lucas. We are PROUD.

Crazy hair day

Our smiler

 Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

I have never known a baby to smile this much. Every day I get to bask in a smiles-fest from you my little angel. Oh how I love it. I hope you are always this happy!

Our baby

Meet baby Will. He is our new baby boy who we are all completely and totally and madly in love with.

William Edward James LeBaron arrived September 21, 2010. This is also the first day of fall (my favorite time of year) and the International Day of Peace. There is something so special about that.

And here is a link to the video of the kids meeting him for the first time. We are all being really quiet but you can get the emotion for sure!!!

Labor was about 4 1/2 hrs and assisted by all three godmothers of my children. Stephanie is Lucas', Calyn is Charlotte's and Johanna is Will's.

Here is our wonderful midwife Catherine. She did a superb job coaching me along and making labor and delivery as beautiful and safe as they could possibly be. We love home birth!!!!

This is the cutest little stork contraption that weighs the baby.

     

And this is me saying "WHAT? 8 Lbs???"

8 lbs. 4 oz to be exact. And 21 inches! Helllloooo baby!!!

1st Day of School

Oh happy day. School has begun!

You were both mui excited to return to school. Luke - of course - you are the only child making odd faces. Just keeping it real dude. So proud of you. I can't believe you are starting 2nd grade.

Look at you Char, such a big 1st grade girl!!! Love you!

That's a whole lotta cute in on picture. This is Char with her friend Anna.

This is the whole school. I love the small class sizes. And how individual they each are. Char & Anna are the only ones representing pink. Go girls!

This needs a little back story. Back to school shopping is a big deal for Charlotte. She loves shoes. Like really, really, really loves shoes. Like if she could just have 50 pairs of new shoes for Christmas (and maybe one stuffed animal) this would make her the happiest 5 year old around. So at our annual back to school shopping trip she took no less than 17 minutes to pick out a pair of shoes. Luke took 2. 17 minutes of angst and worry as to the right kind of shoe. Oh and nagging. Lots of nagging directed toward me because I would not allow her to buy high heeled shoes for school. Apparently I am in the minority as far as that decision goes (read "it's not fair mom, other girls have them"). So after all this ensues she finally picks these babies.

No, I am not kidding. These are the shoes she picks out of the several pairs of really cute, really girly flats. She picks THESE!!!! I had to laugh. And inwardly cringe. Luckily everyone at the school "gets" Charlotte. This is just the way she rolls. And yes, she insisted that tag must stay on all day.

                                                              And she loves these shoes.
                                                                    What can I do?