It's a ....

It's a ... GIRL!!! While, according to Monreau :). She is the only one who "knows" the sex of this new baby and according to her we are having another little girl :). She "knows, she just knows" that this is a sister. I'm beginning to believe her too. She is SO adamant... doesn't even want us to say "he or him" when referring to the baby and will only discuss girl names. She is actually very adorable about it and is so excited to meet this "baby girl." :) The tough part is actually waiting until July to confirm it for her! We'll just have to wait and see, but I wouldn't be surprised if she was right :). We are just praying he/she is healthy!!

Here's a few pictures of my little future teller :). It's amazing how much Monreau is growing up!

What I discovered when I asked the girls to unload the dryer...
So silly :)

"And Baby makes 4"

We feel so blessed, humbled, and excited that this summer we'll get to welcome a new baby! As Shaelyn said today "and baby makes 4... 4 kids mom!!" :) I'm 15 weeks pregnant and so excited to welcome this new little one beginning of July! Overall I'm feeling good. Tired, but I'm pretty sure I felt tired before I got pregnant :). As expected 4th time around I'm already feeling so many symptoms that I think should show up "late" in pregnancy, but after experiencing them earlier each pregnancy I knew to expect it :). I'm definitely not complaining as I feel like this child is such an amazing gift, one we prayed for and our hearts longed for. Early on in the pregnancy there were some complications and the doctors believed that the pregnancy might not be progressing, but miraculously they all resolved on there own and all is going well. We're excited to see him/her again in a few weeks and we're praying for good health. We are not planning on finding out the sex. We loved being surprised with the first three and I'm already looking forward to that moment!

The girls are very excited! They've known for a while now and talk about it daily. I knew that Shaelyn would be excited. She remembers a lot about when I was pregnant and had McLleyton, but Monreau's enthusiasm has surprised me. She thinks about and will talk about the baby a lot. She'll tell random people at the store that "we're having a new baby in our family." It's very sweet. McLleyton... well, I guess he'll find out the first week of July what it's all about :).

I'm living my dream and it's a gift to have a husband who will dream with me! I have no misconceptions that our life is already busy and this summer it will go up another "notch" :). This "job" is demanding. It's never ending. Repetitive. Exhausting. Progress unmeasurable. ... but is it?? Yes, I can literally go a full day with out sitting down (eating lunch while I load the dishwasher :))... cleaning the kitchen I swear 8x a day, folding load after load of laundry, driving to school again (and again), picking up the same pack of markers McLleyton dumped for the 4th time, searching for the missing mitten, running late (again)... but in my heart I know that this is not the "job." This all may be a slightly negative side effect to my job, but my real "job" is the heart of a five, three and one year old. My real job is to simply love. To teach them how to love. To teach them about Jesus. To help them understand and work things out. To help them appreciate the differences in each other and the people around them. To answer questions. To hug. To hold. To kiss. To giggle with. To discipline. To encourage. To believe in. I love this job. I fail. I succeed. I can be so patient. I can be short. I can have moments of great insight. I can question what to do next. It can be difficult. But, it is so rewarding. I love this job :) It's my constant prayer, that I'll be able to fully focus on them and hold loosely to the "never ending, repetitive, exhausting side effects"... for the moments with these three (almost 4) will pass all too quickly, but I know the kitchen and laundry will always be there :). It's an amazing journey that I feel so blessed to be on!

Here's a few picture my friend took for us this fall. (Laura is so talented, check out her site! www.cebulskiphotography.com ) It's exciting to think that next time we'll be a family of 6!!

Quotes of the day!

I was thinking last week how every day kids say the most random/funny sentences! Matt will often ask me if anyone said anything funny that day and sadly I usually can't recall one, even though I know that they did. So today I thought I'd write down a couple from the past few days that I did remember! This little phase of life is flying by....

Shaelyn:

Shaelyn's, comment on the clothes I had laid out for the day: "Yes, I love skinny jeans. Thanks, mom!" (I don't even know how she knew the term "skinny jeans!" She is actually not my fashion girl (that is much more Monreau) and she'll happily wear what ever I lay out for her... I know these days are numbered, I am enjoying them while they last! )

On the box of clothes that are too small: "Are you selling these on Craigslist?" (honest question since that is typical, but funny she know's "craigslist" :))

On McLleyton: "He's just so cute and I love him so much. I wished he loved me as much as he loves Monreau." (sad part it it's kind of true... she does love him SO much and he would always choose Monreau over her.)

Monreau:

Walking out the door to go to the gym: Monreau: "Mom are you going to run on the treadmill?"

Me: Yes

Monreau: "You'll be just like a little hamster, running around and around!"

Driving in the car: "What does humble mean?" (caught me off guard with this question. It's these little moments that I'm so thankful I'm home with her. Priceless conversations!)

Me: "Monreau why do I always need to remind you 3x to hang up your coat and put away your boots every time we get home?"

Monreau: "Because I'm 3. It can be hard to be responsible."

(Okay, point is taken...but it's still a little frustrating to have to remind her AGAIN! :))

McLleyton:

Matt: "You're a mess"

McLleyton: "I know!"

McLleyton: "Where's Shae Shae? "

Me: "Playing in her room. What do you think she's playing with?"

McLleyton: "Barbra" (or better know as Barbie :))

All day long you can hear McLleyton singing: "la la lala Elmo's world" and asking if he can watch "Elmo mooovie." It can be great when I need 15 minutes having him occupied, but is a little annoying when he cries about not watching it!

McLleyton's age is one of my favorites because of all the new words they learn daily. He continues to impress me. The new concept that he seems to have mastered is opposites. He will now say "in/out, on/ off, up/ down, on/off, hot/cold, light/dark ... all of those basics that really help out when he's trying to describe something. I continue to be so thankful that he is a talker. It seems to balance out his VERY busy personality :).

Sisters...

For a long time it seemed like the age difference between Shaelyn and Monreau was quite a gap (just over 2 years), but lately it's seemed to close even more and their little friendship is growing. They had the best time together over Shaelyn's Christmas break. They normally get along very well, but the past few weeks they've been attached at the hip! There is nothing that blesses me more than watching my kids love on each other! It's been fun to see Monreau take a little leadership and for Shaelyn to let her a bit. They bounce back and forth suggesting ideas to play and they really go with one another's suggestions very well. I know that there will be times in the future where they'll fight and struggle to be in slightly different phases of life, so I am truly enjoying this time and it's great to watch the two of them have so much fun just being sisters!!

About a year ago they moved into a room together. At the beginning it was a bit of a struggle to blend two very different personalities, sleeping patterns, and ages... but it's amazing what a difference a year makes! Now they'll talk for a little while and then go to sleep on their own. There new thing is sleeping together in Shaelyn's bed. At first I thought they would NEVER be able to do it, but they have :). I could resist snapping a couple of pictures a few different nights.

Thanks girls for being so sweet and for loving each other so well. I am so proud of you!

Goodbye 2010...

It's exciting to start a new year! Here's a few pictures from December that I never got around to posting...a few fun activities to pass the time during Shae's winter break! We had a very laid back, uneventful few weeks! It was nice!!

Decorating Christmas cookies with our good friends the Sharpe's (7 kids under 5... it was actually very calm and fun!)

Monreau has turned into my arts and crafts girl! She spent so long making her cookies just right!

Shaelyn making hers "perfect"...

McLleyton just liked to eat :)
Being silly and playing in the exasaucer we had out for Drew...
One morning we worked on our spelling and letters by writing in whipped cream...
McLleyton is not left out... he makes sure of that! :)

Playing the "Nutcracker" completed with doing each others makeup :)