Mohawk Man!!

I have always wondered what E-man would look like with a mohawk- now we know! His hair grows soooo fast, and he really hates getting his hair cut, so we took out the buzzer. All we did was leave a bit on the top! A little convincing that it is cool, and we had a little stud-muffin on our hands! Look at him ham it up!!

Little Mommy Part Two

The kids got to open their gifts from Grandpa Greg and Grandma Janet today! We let them open them early, since they left them with us when the went back to Arizona. The kids were great to not open them for a month!!

Ethan loves his new Leap Frog book and pen. The pen actually reads the book with you. Want to know the funny part?? Wade had to bring it to work to figure out the technology! It even had him stumped- doesn't happen very often!

And my, oh, my, little Mommy now has a way to travel with her baby. She got a carseat and stroller combo. She hasn't stopped playing with it for days. Here is proof:

Crew is one month old!

Okay, so why did the last month of my pregnancy seem like a YEAR and this past month absolutely flew by! I can't believe my little man is already one month old! He is a very good baby- I get up 3 or 4 times a night, but that is to be expected. Not all babies are like Ethan- sleeping through the night at 2 months! He is a combination of our other two kids- likes to be in between mom and dad in bed like Ethan, but grunts all through the night like Emri. We are thankful Ethan doesn't wake up to his grunts- as the boys are sharing a room.

We turned the fourth bedroom into a tv/playroom for the kids instead of a baby room. Sharing a room never hurt any kid! Looking back, I cherish memories of my sister and I sharing a room. Speaking of sisters, I always thought I would like 4 or more children, thinking at least two boys and two girls. Now, I feel like if God is done blessing our family with children, that would be okay with me. I feel complete. Wade, on the other hand, is now talking that he would like more kids! He always said, 'just two'. Time changes us, I guess. Here is a video of the little man at one month:

The little Mommy.

This post is about the "little Mommy" in our house, aka Emri. She is such a loving caretaker of her baby. But, it is only one baby out of the 8 she owns that she really takes care of... the others are unfortunately neglected ;) Emmers changes, burps, cleans, hugs, kisses, and as of late, *ahem* nurses her baby. This, of course, has been ever since Crew was born. The girl says 'baby' one-hundred times a day (at least!) and her other words are coming so quick.

No jealousy for this new big sister!! As she says, "mama- your baby." referring to Crew. And, "My baby." for herself. Too cute.

Crew is Here!!

Yay! This morning at 4:20, Crew Allen Werder was born. 9lbs. 1 oz, 21.5 inches long! And, joy of joys, he was two weeks early!! Trying not to think about how big he would have been full term... haha! I am so very glad he is here- and he is beautiful. Brown hair (and lots of it!) and a perfect little face. He reminds us very much of Ethan right now, however, I caught a hint of a dimple just like Emri.

Labor went really really well- don't throw tomatoes at me ladies! I can't believe how well natural labor can go- didn't have any time for drugs and didn't need them I guess! I chuckle when I think about how I told mom before we left home, "I hope this is it!" and he was born about an hour later. It was an intense drive to the hospital, that's for sure!!

The kids were here earlier and Emri brought her baby with- I have a feeling she will do with her baby whatever I do with Crew. And Ethan had to hold him- he is trying to figure out where mom's belly went. They are all such a blessing and I can't believe how my family has grown!

Here is a pic of the new little guy (wrapped in Emri's pink blankie- oops):

Karate Kid!

Ethan started karate two weeks ago, and already is a little star (to us!!) He is learning very fast- it is so cute to hear his little 'haya' and 'yes, sir!' He is and always probably will be a little timid at first, but he is catching on and getting more brave every time. Now I understand, however, when people say that letting your kids do something on their own is like letting your heart walk around outside your body. And this is just a 20 minute karate class! Yikers!!

At the last class, Mr. Chad was asking each child the simple question, "How are you?" and then after their response, he would ask, "Why is that?" He was stressing the point that there are reasons why we are feeling a certain way, and that we have control over our attitudes. Ethan answered his first question with, "good." and then, *tear* he answered the second with, "Because I have been with my mom all day." Oh, my, what a gift! I can't put into words how that felt. I will treasure it forever.

Now onto a funny little story: Mommy, Ethan and Emri conversation:

Ethan: I have a spider web in my eye.
Mommy: How did you get a spider web in your eye?
Ethan: I don't know. A spider must have crawled up in there and died or something. (Hey, he is a boy!!)
Mommy: Oh, that is too bad.
Ethan: Emri, do you have a spider web in your eye?
Emri: Uh-huh!
Ethan: Emri, it will be o.k. I have one too.
Emri: Oh.

What precious times these are- God, help me to cherish them!!!

We have already had quite the day in the Werder household. Alarm didn't go off- woke up an hour late. Which I guess I needed, but still...

Ethan woke up needy today. Most days he is content watching a cartoon until mom or dad gets him waffles, oatmeal, whatever. Today was- "I want this, I want that."

While he is expressing his needs, I am trying to clean up the kitchen so I can actually see the counters to make the needed waffles while daddy is getting his lunch ready. Chaos. Then we hear Emri. She basically woke up like this:

Old picture, not so old facial expression. She is a bit more tricky than Ethan usually to get going and happy in the morning. I guess it didn't help that daddy went up to get her and found that she had overflowed her diaper in both ways babies can. Bummer for dad, score one for mom;) Mental note: start potty training soon, wake her up so she can do this duty in the potty.

Now the kitchen is clean, Ethan is downstairs playing independently, Emri is pretending to play the Leapster, and mom's adrenaline is going down. Oh, and the little guy I watch, Aiden, is sleeping and I didn't even need to rock him. Oh, the grace of God. I believe He will make the rest of the day easy for me! Hopefully he does the same for the daddy who doesn't handle the chaos as well. Bring on the day!!

Life Lately

DUNK! I just heard Emri's bottle bang on the floor above me. She is in bed and she drinks her bottle (I know, she is a bit old, but she looooves it) and then casually tosses it over the side, puts in her nuk, finds the tag on her blankie, and goes to sleep. What a creature of habit and securities. She is getting so big and soooo cute, I don't even know what we are going to do when she gets older. It is a serious and legitimate fear I am sure many parents of girls have. I am very much looking forward to Dr. Dobson's "Bringing up Girls" when it is available. I need it already! Just to prepare myself to be a mom to a beautiful growing up girl!!! What a little ham she has been lately. She seems to really enjoy making her daddy laugh. This includes balancing anything on her head, repeating what he says (or trying to) and making funny faces. She is still attached to me, though, and if I am away, Wade says that a little "mama" will come out of her little tulip mouth every now and then. Aaaaahhh. What a precious time in life!!

On to the little man- he is so clever and aware- just like his daddy I guess. The other day, in his way, he said out of the blue, "Mom, you are SO my mom. " Thanks?? I think that was a compliment!! I'll take it!! He tries anything and everything to get out of bed at bedtime- tummy hurts, legs hurt, needing snuggles, needing more prayers, needing a vitamin (!) It is so hard not to laugh, but be stern. I find him using the disciplinary tactics on Emri that I use on him.

Me, "Ethan you get back to bed or I will take away your blankie."
Blank stare in return.
Me, "Alright, no blankie then."
Little legs running to the bed, arms holding to blankie for dear life.

Ethan, "Emri, you want to come down the slide with me?"
Emri, "Nuh-uh."
Ethan, "Alright, no fun then."
Emri walks away unaffected. Doesn't quite work for him I guess!!

I even caught him threatening a time out if she didn't eat the "applesauce" he had "made" for her in their play kitchen.

But it is a lovely way to spend my life- sacrificially for sure! I never realized the work involved, but someday I will look back and not regret a single second of it.

Here are pics of us lately- including one of the little boy who is SOOO active in mom's belly right now:

I've been.... DUH Duh duh.... Tagged!!

What is being tagged? I guess it is when you are put on the spot to do something for friends that will make them smile, while at the same time making yourself out to be a weirdo.... I'm game!!


Here are the tagging rules:

1. Post the rules on your blog
2. Write 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post
4. If you're tagged, DO IT and pass on the tag

1. If I am eating something yummy to my palate, I shake my buns in my seat. As a kid, I had the nickname "wiggle buns". It is a totally unconscious movement and if I could stop, I would.

2. As a kid, I faked an allergy to potpurri so my mom wouldn't keep it in the house. I would pretend my nose was plugged and make myself cry. Good little actress, I guess.

3. If I would have told the "me" of 10 years ago that I would be a stay at home mom and wife, I would have dropped over and fainted right there.

4. I am obsessed with kissing my kids, and squeezing their cheeks. Mainly the lower ones.

5. I love fashion, scarves, and making women feel beautiful.

There is a little about me! And, oh, I have to break the third rule because I haven't read anyone else's blog but Rachel's and Jeannie's, and they both tagged me;) I just have to make more blogger friends I guess!

A vacation, a wedding, and an ultrasound.

I haven't had the chance to write in a month! Yikes! Chasing kids, cooking, cleaning, laundry, trying to make time for my hubby and myself.... And to put a huge spin on it all, we had the opportunity to stay in a camper for two of those weeks. Two kids taking a nap in bunkbeds when they usually have the peace and quiet of their own rooms with fans on for dead noise was.... interesting. Stressful to be honest. We had to try and rig up a towel on the outside of the window but little Emri always found a way to peek her little face around it- cute, yep. Make mommy frustrated? yep. She loves her own bed at home so much that her first nap back in her crib was for FOUR hours! A little creature of habit.

So one of the Saturdays, we had a wedding to go to. And, shocker of all shocks (?) we had to hire a babysitter. For the first time!!! Both sets of grandparents and Uncle Aaron and Auntie Billie were busy!!! So was my dear friend Rachel, who has watched the kids before but is more of an Auntie than babysitter. So, yep, we had an expensive day. Gift card from Target, check. Managed to lock the keys in the van so we had to use $10 more in gas, check. Pay the babysitter $40, check. Back at home after one dance because Ethan cried into the phone so we picked him up a 'treat', check. Guess what the little guy wanted? A spin-toothbrush. Nice!

So all this was 'news' for our family, but the biggest news is that we found out we are having a....baby.... BOY! Yay!! Ethan proudly walked into Grandma Peaches' office and announced, "We are having a boy brother." Classic.

Here are a few pics from our vacation- we got the kiddos dressed up and attempted some cool photos. We got a few out of all the hard work;)

Aaaaah. Beach Days.

Lovely lovely summer, how I love you. You make me tan and happy! Okay, so I am working on being happy no matter what circumstance I am in, but the smell of tan oil, sand in my toes, and waves splashing on my kids just does it for me. We spent the fourth out at my parents house cruising on the pontoon and over at the beach. Ate too much, got too much sun, and didn't do much of anything, but that's the beauty of it, right? Okay, I will try and NOT tell myself it is okay to have three brownies just 'cuz I am pregnant, but that is all I will try and fix.

I often wonder why we live in Minnesota if Wade and I share the same love of warm weather, but I do believe it is because we savor it. We get 9 months of the not-so-ideal for the thrill of the 3 wonderful ones. Do not ask me why we have chosen to be pregnant for three summers, because I have no smart answer. I tuck my round body into a swimsuit and play with the kids anyway.

The beach today was a lovely experience- complete with Ethan's first time with head under water, Emri's first time sitting and playing in water, and my Cousin Megan's son Carter's first time flashing the beach. Yep- the funniest thing- we were chatting away of course and Megan jumped up quick and my mom radar went up. Is Carter okay?? Of course. Just naked. What can I say, the kid just likes to be wild and free. And at three years old, who can blame him?? Well, some people I guess because 10 minutes later the manager of the beach came out and asked us, "This is a weird question, but is there a boy out here with no clothes on? Someone came in and complained about it." We were shocked. I had to contain myself- seriously! Who would be so cruel to a mom to do that?? It isn't like Megan was letting him run around like that! So please, if you are ever at the beach and you see a naked child, remember there is somewhere likely a mom who is completely embarrassed and doesn't need it pointed out. There. I have said my piece for the day. Thankfully Rita, the manager, thought it was a ridiculous complaint as well.

So my message is enjoy summer- I know we will be. And Carter will be too. Probably naked.

What's in a name??

About four days ago Wade and I noticed that Ethan was no longer calling us Mommy and Daddy. We were now Mom and Dad. Yes, he is three going on 13! I seriously didn't think that transition came until much, much later. I am trying not to view it as him growing up too fast, but somehow I can't help it. The other day he watched a video of himself we had taken just a year ago, and his speech has changed sooo much that he was actually laughing at himself and said, "I talked funny, huh Mom?" My response when he calls me mom is to call him 'E'. If he can shorten it, so can I. So there. Hmmm, don't think it phases him. I guess nicknames don't, as Wade and I have come up with some pretty interesting ones.



For Ethan: E, E-man, Little E, Wheat thin, Eepshton, Little Manley, Monkey Man, and Doug. Yes, Doug. That was from Wade. That nickname alone shows Wade's sense of humor. Dry and off-the-cuff. The first time I heard it, I doubted it would stick. But today, Ethan said, "Mom, my name is Doug-Ethan." Score: Dad one, Mom zero. Bummer.



For Emri: Emmers, Memmers, Memory, Munchkin, and Gremlin. You know who calls her Gremlin.



So what is a name? I guess not much as long as it is said with love. Even Doug.

Too smart.

The other day I had told Ethan three times to stop throwing things in the house. I was determined to discipline him the next time he did it, but didn't really want to have to of course. But, sure enough, there went a ball whizzing by Emri's head. He looked at me right away.

I said, "Ethaaaaaan!"
His reply, "I'msorry." As fast as can be.
Me, "What did I tell you??" Oh, I am so my mother.
Him, "Iloveyou."

He's got me all figured out.

I can't resist some of the things he comes up with these days. Saturday night we were at my parent's house and had a bonfire to roast marshmallows. He told Papa, "I am going to make my marshmallow golden brown and healthy!" ????

He is beginning to like the company of his sister and the other day I caught him calling her Peanut. Too cute.

All for now, more Ethanisms to come!!

Manners!

I have found it very difficult to get the idea of manners into Ethan's cute little blonde head. I tested him yesterday by letting him go by himself from the park over to Great Grandmas (about 50 of his little steps away) to ask her, "Please may I have a doughnut? And may I have one for Emri too?" He came back successfully with two doughnuts in his sandy little hands and his sister was very grateful.

Later on, I went back to my Grandmas to ask her what she thought of that. She said it was wonderfully funny to have Ethan come to the door by himself. Then came the test. I asked her what he said when he came in the door. She replied, "Well, all he said was, 'I want a doughnut!'"

AAARGH! Every day, probably every HOUR we practice saying 'please, may I'? I guess this is a battle of endurance that this mommy is determined to win!

My first blog!

So it took reading just two entries of my wonderful friend Rachel's blog to realize this was definitely something I wanted to do. I have always had a bit of guilt that I don't keep track of things that go on with my kids very much- pictures, yes, the occasional video, yes, but I get a pang of guilt when I see friends with their beautifully crafted scrapbooks- a talent I admire but am too busy and impatient to explore myself. So I am loving this blog idea!! I know I am way behind but, hey, time goes by so fast I will have a history here in no time.

So here is a little rundown on our family. I am the mom. I love it. I stay at home and wouldn't choose any other way right now. My hubby Wade is a 'Senior Electro-mechanical Designer' (gotta love big titles companies give ya to make you feel good!) but he would just say he designs circuit boards. We have three kids- Ethan is three, Emri is one and a half, and our baby is 4 months in utero;)

So let's get this thing started- I don't know if I am doing it right, but I will certainly give it my best! This is one scrapbook I can actually enjoy.