Thanksgiving

I love this time of year. I look forward to putting up my Christmas tree, I enjoy shopping on Black Friday (even Walmart at 5am), and I love making my Christmas card. Since Bryan and I got married (1999) we have made a Christmas card with a picture of our family. Until 2003, it was just me and Bryan and the cats, but now we enjoy taking a family picture to share with our friends & family. Each year, it becomes more of a challenge to get everyone looking at the camera & happy. Here are a few of my failed attempts at this year's card.

Laid Back Luke

Luke is so precious. He absolutely adores his brothers. The mere mention of their names brings a smile to his face. If they are touching him, he's happy. But, suprisingly he is a very light sleeper, which isn't good considering the noise level at home. And he's not the easiest baby - but we are enjoying every minute of his babyhood.

Nate

Nate...

He's so much like his Dad. He pays attention to detail. He has to know exactly how it works. He loves the science behind things. That is probably why his favorite thing to watch on TV is "How Its Made" on the science channel. He doesn't like chocolate, he loves raw vegetables. He will pick a pepper or a tomato off the plant and bite in.

He loves milk and vanilla wafers and it is crazy about his new brother.

I miss him so much while he is at school, and so does Henry. Luke misses him too, he just doesn't realize it yet.

O Henry

Henry has beautiful eyes. He is changing so fast right now, turning 4 was huge for him. He actually slept in his bed all night 2 nights this week (not consecutive nights). He is so loving. He wants to fall asleep with my arms wrapped around him. As I'm trying to teach him to fall asleep without me, I keep reminding myself that 10 years from now I'll probably give anything to get to fall asleep with him in my arms. Oh, in this picture he has on 3 pajama shirts, and I wonder why I have so much laundry...

The shower

It's a big event. The first time you (as a Duncan boy) get to take a shower with Dad. We have pictures of Nate's first shower, then Henry's first shower, and finally Luke's first shower. Luke seemed to like it, despite all the squealing & shouting. Although he does look a little nervous in this picture.

Luke has been sick this week. We spent 3 mornings going to the Dr. It started with a cold, then the croup, then a fever of 103.4, finally a really nasty ear infection. He's doing much better now. I guess he will catch every cold that comes through our house because Nate & Henry can't keep their hands off him! But what's a little bad cold now & then when you've got so much love from your brothers.

Luke at almost 3 months.

Settling into 3

Life here at the Duncan house has been pretty crazy lately. Blogging is very high on my list of priorities, and as you see, I am not getting to blog very much. These boys are crazy. I know it's not gonna get any easier, but I am expecting to get better at handling this chaos. Halloween was lowkey with a little trick or treating in the neighborhood. We were in bed just after 8. Outage at Duke Power means Bryan is at work most all the time. Nate & Henry are pulling out all the stops when it comes to trying to surprise me. I never know what I might find when I walk in the room. But, I keep reminding myself that one day, when I'm old & can sleep all I want and long for company, I will say to Bryan, "Bryan, you remember that day that the boys drew all over their faces with permanent marker? They drew moustaches & beards and even ear hair. Now wasn't that funny. Those were the good ole' days, right Bryan. Boy, I sure do wish I could go back & do it all again."

Maybe I will say that one day, maybe I won't. Maybe I'll just be enjoying the peace & quiet.

Henry you are so funny

Kia for sale!

I have done something many of us say we will never do. I bought a used minivan. I love it! I still have all 3 boys in car seats/booster seats and we were busting out of the Kia. I couldn't even fit the stroller. Now, I have so much room. I even have a DVD player. We may just spend the afternoon hanging out in the car. Take some cookies & milk, put on a movie. I don't like minivans anymore than the next person, but once you try one, it's hard to not drive one. Yippee! Be on the lookout for the blue Honda Odyssey.

brushing teeth?

I vividly remember a particular day 5/6 years ago - a few weeks after Nate was born: I was driving and suddenly realized that I hadn't taken the time to brush my teeth that day. I was so "floored" by this fact that I called my mama on the cell to say, "Oh, what a crazy morning it's been with little Nate. I am almost to Seneca, and I just realized I didn't brush my teeth! How could I forget to brush my teeth? Hahahah..."
Well, this morning, as I was delivering Nate to kindergarten, then Henry to preschool while Luke was yelling in his car seat, I thought to myself how often these days I not only forget to brush my teeth, but I don't even realize that I haven't until much later in the day.
My point is, if you call my house and you know I'm home & I still don't answer, don't get mad. Or, if I don't answer an e-mail promptly (or ever), be patient with me. I am loving this life, but it is really crazy right now.

Sweet smiles

Henry is such a big boy now. He's lost that baby face and has changed so much in the last few months.

Nate is a school boy now & is so grown up. I can trust him with Luke & actually leave the room when Nate is watching him.

And here is Luke with Silas. I love this picture because I can just image the 2 of them together next year this time. There will be no stopping these guys.

Luke meets Silas

What a great weekend it's been. My brother Mark, his wife Denise and their 4 1/2 month old, Silas & Buddy drove up from Florida to visit. They had never seen Luke and we had so much fun playing together. Silas was so sweet & fun, it's hard to believe that he and Luke are only 3 months apart. Just a reminder to me of how fast they change.

O so sad...

My heart is breaking this week. For the last few years I have been busy being a Mom. My days were filled with diapers, bottles, preschool, sippie cups, car seats, cooking/cleaning up meals, bathtime, and watching Noggin together. All of a sudden, I have been hit hard with what happens when your babies grow up.
Monday I dropped Nate off at school at 7:45. After school he had Mad Science Club until 4:00. We had a PTO meeting scheduled for 6:30. That leaves what, 2 1/2 hours for our family to be together? Needless to say, I skipped the PTO meeting. What has happened to our family time? I want to see my boys build a fort together in the living room, I want to let them play in the bathtub until the water gets cold. I am not ready for this busy life of running from one scheduled activity to another. I like downtime at home. Unfortunately, I know that this is going to be the way it is. Before I know it, they will be asking to participate in other sports and activities.
Everyone tells you that your children grow up fast, but I never realized just how right they were. I am so thankful for every moment that I have spent with my boys. I am even thankful for those days when I was longing for more adult interaction, when I was bored, thinking that I had only talked to a 2 & 4 year old all day.

Growing

2 weeks ago newborn size diapers swallowed Luke. Today, he can hardly fit in them. He is growing so fast. And he's yelling at me now....

Bedtime

Bryan always reads the boys a story before bed and last night this was the scene when I walked in the room. Luke was so content to be laying in the bed with his brothers. They were so adorable I had to take a picture.

Luke - 2+ weeks

Luke is 2 weeks now and is doing great. Henry started preschool today and had a good day.

Nate & Henry are crazy about their brother. In fact, Henry has been getting up with me for all the middle of the night feedings! He still sleeps in the bed with us and he wakes up when I get up with Luke. I knew it would be a problem before Luke was born but I didn't have the energy to deal with it. We are now working on bribing him into sleeping with Nate. Thank goodness I have one child who is finally sleeping through the night in his own bed.

I must say, though, that I don't regret a single night that I have shared my bed with the boys. They are growing up too fast. Before long, they won't even want to get in my bed at all. I try to remember that everything, the good and the bad, will pass.

Some cute boys...

Nate & Henry at Stumphouse Tunnel, one of their favorite places to visit.

It's Friday!

It's Friday and I am so glad the weekend is here. I have missed my family. Nate being at school has really thrown me for a loop. It was so nice to have an evening where the boys played together in the yard while Bryan and I watched. Luke joined us outside and was very interested in everything they did.

I am so completely overwhelmed with how God has blessed me with family. A great husband and wonderful sons. We laid down together tonight at bedtime, Bryan and Nate in Nate's bed, Me and Henry in the bottom bunk (in Nate's room) and Luke in the bouncy seat in Nate's room. All five of us in one bedroom of our house and I felt so content. I think God created children so we could catch a glimpse of how he feels for us. How he delights in our happiness, just like we delight in seeing our children smile. And, how His heart breaks when our heart breaks.


Here is Luke after his bath today. He is such an interesting baby. I can already see that he is going to be very different than his brothers. Much more laid back, but possibly the boss of the house.

What a Week!

Wow! It's finally Thursday and I feel so much better than I did this time last week. Me & Pregnancy just don't jive. Luke is amazing. He can sleep through the loudest, craziest noise the boys can make. He has had some jaundice and we've had to go check blood twice this week, but other than that he is doing fine. So, the other big news is Nate starting kindergarten. He loves it. I hate it. I miss him so much. 7:45 - 2:45 is a long day. When I catch a glimpse of "Deadliest Catch" on TV, it breaks my heart (Nate loves that show). Henry is lost without Nate. His best friend is gone. I know this is the way it is going to be now, and he will probably grow up very fast. I am thankful that he likes school. We are starting bedtime at 7, that sounds crazy, but he wakes up happy and feels good during the day. Until he gets used to going all day, we will go to bed early. Which suits me fine, I can go to sleep at 8 every night.
I only lost 18 pounds in the hospital. I came home and got on the scales and was devestated. 30 lbs. to go to get back to prepreg weight. I suppose he was worth it (haha).

We're home!

Check out this little man!