Peek-A-Boo

Hey, what are you guys doing?

Perturbed, why yes I am perturbed that I am not included in your activity.

Hmmm...looks like you're working.

I'll just lie here and look cute instead.

Happy Birthday Jilly!

Jilly is FOUR years old today. She is probably one of the lazier labs that you'll ever meet. Cuddling up by us or by the fire in Steve's office are among her favorite pastimes. She will occasionally steal a ball for Jax to chase her and that is about the extent of her exercise on any given day. As cuddly as she is...she is ornery and stubborn as well. She likes things her way. Funny, sometimes Steve says that about me. We love her anyway...Happy Birthday Jilly Girl!

NINE months!

How can my baby be nine months old?
It just doesn't seem possible...

My time...

...in a basket. I think mom may have been doing some laundry?!?

All tuckered out.

What's up?

Come on Mom - I just want to play with my truck already!

Asher is nine months old. This time has gone lightening fast. It's hard to believe that he has been here as long as I was pregnant with him. (If only pregnancy went that fast!) He has been wearing his helmet for just about three months. We will have his head re-scanned at the end of this week to see his progress via computer. We can visually tell that it is working. His physical therapist is also noting improvements in his head movements and strength of the left arm which is delayed due to his torticollis.

He is a joy and delight and adds so much to our days. He lights up when he sees big Sis Saela and that is heartwarming to witness. At the end of the night, when I lie him down to sleep - I am reminded of how God has blessed us with his life and Saela's and I am overwhelmed with gratefulness every.single.day.

Snow Days

Getting Ready

Checking Things Out

Surveying Daddy's Work

Watching Dora With Her Baby
(note the snow pants)

Saela had a ball playing in the snow a couple of weeks ago while Steve cleared the driveway. She did not want to come in...but I bribed her with Dora the Explorer. Funny, she does not want to "walk in the snow" to get into school. Hmmm...a little tomfoolery I think!

Better in 2010

So, I recently came across some thank you notes that I wrote.............uhhh.................last July. I'm not sure on the timeline...I know you get a year to send out thank you notes from a wedding...does that pertain to all other gifts? At this rate - if you are one of those that I somehow missed over the last -oh- six months...you may get that by the time the kids graduate.

I also know that Christmas is long past and those thank yous have also not been sent. I really need to get on those kids - slackers.

So what I'm sayin' here is your gifts have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Sleepers, dresses (especially with hearts), books, CDs, puzzles, monkey socks etc...have all been put to great use and the kids, Steve and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity.

I really do hope to be better in 2010 about this...one can always hope, right?

P.S. My baby girl is 2.5 years old today - here's a pic from yesterday...a little messy with a boo-boo on her nose...kind of like life - a little messy with a boo-boo here and there.

Saela Catherine 2.5 years bringing joy to our hearts!

Everyday Life

So often I find myself waiting for "the perfect" picture to put on the blog...when sometimes it's the everyday moments that really capture who we are and, really, that is fitting since life is not perfect. Here are some snapshots of our "everyday life" lately.

I love these two babies more and more everyday. Saela has become a bit camera shy...so capturing an actual smile has become difficult...I often have to fool her by saying, "I'm getting Asher, not you." She is constantly surprising us with what she knows, has recently mastered her colors and continues to love her babies including her baby brother. Speaking of baby brother - he recently turned EIGHT months old? Where did that time go? His first tooth (bottom left) has emerged and in the last month he has started sleeping THROUGH the night!! Smiles are a constant for him unless he is hungry or tired. Solid foods are a hit if they are orange or fruity. Peas have been a gigantic fail on multiple trials. I am a bit biased - but they are the sweetest babies I know...I love them so so very much. I thank God everyday for giving them to Steve and me as they bring such joy and sweetness to this side of heaven.

2010...

Hellooooooo everybody and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This year, I have a new sidekick helping me out...so I will start with him. My brother, Asher William, was born on 5/29/09. I love to give him kisses and hugs and occasionally want to hold him when I am not busy doing other things. He is growing like a weed and Mom says that he weighs (at 7 months) nearly as much as I did when I was 12 months old! He is rolling over, sitting up, and showing the beginnings of a crawl. Mom is constantly taking things out of his mouth and he 'talks' all of the time - according to my parents he is more vocal than I was at his age. Recently he has strung together 5 nights of 7-9 hours of sleep and Mom and Dad are thrilled with the prospect of having two kids that sleep through the night. His helmet seems to be working to correct his flat head and Mom and Dad are hopeful that he won't have to wear it too long!

I have been busy myself. Mom says my vocabulary has exploded and she loves having conversations with me. I love to play with 'my babies' and am often found patting them 'night night.' Dora the Explorer has become a favorite of mine...I love my Dora Dollhouse, books, and will occasionally watch the T.V. show. Another favorite of mine is anything to do with monkeys...I love monkeys. My dressing/undressing ability is coming along...sometimes Mom and Dad find me after my nap with all of my clothes off (luckily I leave my diaper on most of the time.) When I take my socks off, I need to clean the 'fuzzies' out of my toes just like Mommy did when she was little. I showed some interest in the potty a few months back - but have not yet had the desire to make this a full-time commitment. Mommy and Daddy are not pushing the issue - but I am sure they will be happy to ditch the diapers when I am ready.

Jax and Jilly are doing well. Jax has had a few anxiety issues lately - but we seem to have these under control with some change in his medications and a little more activity. Jilly continues to be our prissy, ornery, cuddly little lazy lab - who would lay by you and be rubbed on all day long if we had the time. They often wait for the food scraps that fall from my spot at the table...Mom thinks they make a good broom replacement. :)

Daddy and Mommy are doing well. Daddy continues to work from his home office and although he occasionally goes stir crazy he did have a fantastic year. He was also able to take advantage of season football and basketball tickets to his beloved Michigan State Spartans. He really enjoyed going to the games and hanging out with his friends. Mommy still works in Flint, MI at both the hospital and clinic and PASSED her oral board certification exam in November. We were all excited for her accomplishment. To relax, once or twice a month - she has a "Mom's Night Out" dinner and this helps keep her sane.

We would like all of our friends and family to know that we are praying for their well-being in 2010...whether you are navigating a new road in life, caring for a sick child, battling cancer, welcoming a new baby or just trying to survive the status quo...we wish you well.

GOD BLESS YOU

the Greens

Steve, Brenna, Saela, Asher, Jax & Jilly