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| Happy Birthday to Phoebe today! Unfortunately for her, this year of blogging has mostly been a failure. I'm not really hanging my head due to great record keeping via other media (photos, photobooks, school books, printed Facebook quotes, baby books, baby calendar), except for missing a birthday post about Calvin on his birthday. I'll just have to do his pretty soon here as some testament to everything wonderful about Calvin this year--it just won't happen within six months following his birthday.  I did notice that I have April photos already uploaded and ready to blog, so only five months between then and now, and voila, I'm caught up. We'll see...
Here is Phoebe this month (September):
Just a shock of that original dark hair that persists on the top of her head. I'm getting better with barrettes and ponytails, and I'm sure things will be a bit easier when her hair is all one length.
What an adventure it has been having a daughter. I was looking at her newborn pictures today, thinking about how she was like a present to us in those early days, complete with a bow on top. What a sweet bundle! Now, she is still a gift, just bursting with joy, smiles, and a bold sense of humor for someone so small.
I'm sure most of Phoebe's unique characteristics have everything to do with her being Phoebe, rather than being attributed to her gender alone. She sounds like a girl. I've been accustomed to talking to little boy babies and having them yell and chuckle in response, and her small, high squeals and coos are much different. Her animal noises even sound girly. This is not to say that she isn't loud. She is certainly more vocal than the boys about letting us know what she wants. I have read that girls are more sensitive to when they don't have your full attention, and this is true of Phoebe. She gazes and babbles until she gets a response, whereas her brothers would chatter at us, and then go about their business happy just to have shared. She reminds me of Calvin in how she engages with others. This is not to say Isaac doesn't do his fair share of charming with his eyes and hugs, but Phoebe and Calvin seem to throw their whole being and vocabulary into it.
Phoebe is not a snuggler yet. She will cling to me when she is tired, sick, scared, or shy around someone new. Otherwise, she is always wiggling and darting away to the next adventure. She still will not let me rock her before putting her in bed, instead pushing me away and fussing with frustration until she is on her back with her beloved silky blanket in her mouth. She is warming up to listening to books on my lap. She loves books. Right now, she likes ones with animal noises and animal textures. Sometimes, she'll try to repeat the animal name or noise. She whispers them most of the time, but she can say a few of them ("duck", "quack", "cat", "horse", etc.).
Phoebe has been walking for a little over a month. She putters around the house, stopping for her favorite activities. Most of them involve opening drawers, cabinets, or tissue/wipes containers left within her reach by mistake. She feeds her dollies with plastic bottles, clucking her tongue as a sippy noise. She plays in her Fisher Price house, pressing buttons and opening the door. She finds small objects to drop down the stairs. She unstacks the wipe refills on the changing table shelf, heading to her dresser to clean out a drawer next. If she spies anyone relaxing on the floor, she loves to jump on them, laughing.
Phoebe loves MultiGrain Cheerios. She is a very happy snacker (just like her brothers). She likes all kinds of food.
I like shopping with Phoebe at this age. She waves at people and enjoys her stroller and cart rides in general. Phoebe is an escape artist in both strollers and shopping carts. I can't get her to stay sitting; it's very alarming. Her favorite shopping cart position is squatting, turned completely around in her seatbelt, and standing up every chance she gets. She is so strong.
I like to kiss her apple-cheeks. She gives me lots of smiles, and is very excited when Daddy comes home every day, too. She is a grandma's girl for both grandmas and will fuss for them as soon as she sees them.
So, that's Phoebe at one! We are very blessed to have her and love her more every day.
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| You've heard of March Madness, but have you actually seen someone suffering from it?
Isaac cut his own hair with school scissors. He is a self-starter when it comes to a lot of things, and usually that is a good quality. Do-it-yourself barber shop did not turn out as he had hoped.
After Betty the Barber fixed Isaac's haircut. Calvin seems fond of it.
Love these guys. 
Phoebe, in her very own towel, snuggling with Daddy after a bath.
Meeting Edelweiss:
Cousins. I'd like to see a photographer work with all of them at once. Maybe when they are older, they won't be quite as wiggly, even if they still can't smile at the same time.
Phoebe checking out Edelweiss, and Edelweiss is likely checking out the frames on the opposite wall.
This is a strange shot of Edelweiss, but very funny.
They're going to have some good times.
Trip to Ohio in March:
You would think if I took my camera to a wedding reception in Ohio, I would get some pictures of the reception, the bride and groom, and my family dressed for the event. You would be wrong. I guess I was too busy juggling the boys, the baby, and food for all of the above to fish my camera out of my purse. Plus, it was pretty dark at the reception, and their photographer was doing a good job navigating that. So anyway, congratulations to Uncle Josh and our new Aunt Amanda on your marriage!
I did get pictures of our hotel stay in Evansville, IN on the way to Ohio:
We watched the Illinois game, where they decisively won their first game of the tournament. It was fun to watch, and the boys made their own fun between wrestling and the iPad.
Yes, Happy Meals have a foolproof way of making you happy.
Eating babyfood on the bed in her Illini bib.
Phoebe models a swimsuit Kelly found for her at a garage sale.
In the elevator on the way to the pool.
Calvin, fresh off two rounds of swimming lessons, demonstrates his backstroke a.k.a. "monkey, star, candy bar".
More swimming fun:
A Warm Week in March/Trip to the Park:
Go, Spidey! I mean, Isaac.
Coming down the slide:
Ready to take his plasma car on the walking trail.
It was a struggle to keep up with Isaac!
Phoebe got this sweet ensemble from Elizabeth H.
Phoebe: 6 months! (already)
Admiring/eating her reflection.
The brothers enjoying each others' company.
Calvin plays swords with Phoebe after school. They are good pals.
Love this hat! Not sure if it will fit her next year, but it got plenty of mileage this winter.
Phoebe baby noises (I love this video):
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| Seems like this beautiful June day is the perfect time to blog about...February. Er, or not. Can't skip the month on our way to summer, though, so here goes!
We began the month with a trip to Kansas to see our Kansas relatives. I'm afraid I only took pictures in the car on the way there. Every mother can't help but marvel at the innocence and beauty of her sleeping children:
(Well, in Calvin's case, I usually marvel at how he can sleep with his eyes half open!)
Oh, Calvy...
February 'round the house:
Baby in a basket!
First cereal/solid food. It was a curiosity for her, but she finished it off without pause.
Phoebe in her Johnny Jump-up. She loved, loved her jumper until she started crawling at right before 6 months. Then, the jumper became an obstacle to mobility.  I enjoyed her joy while it lasted; this girl grows up so fast!
He melts my heart, but that doesn't mean he gets his way. Cute pout, though.
Phoebe wriggled an arm out of her onesie in a pre-nap fit. Baby wrinkles!
Isaac found this bouquet for me. Have I mentioned he knows exactly how to melt my heart?
Yeah, she's kind of cute, too. I'll leave the gushing to Daddy when it comes to her. Well, most of the gushing.
A Trip to See Bob the Builder at The Magic House:
Isaac's faces were cracking me up. He was very happy and excited to be there. These are his "posing" faces; a mixture of silly and tough guy.
I'm going to miss my little "Yeti Spaghetti" guy next winter when he's too big for this shirt that he wore every few days last winter.
We made a photo book of this trip, so I don't feel the need to get too "captiony". Isaac's enthusiasm and excitement while exploring the exhibit and elsewhere are well-documented by the pictures alone:
Summer In Winter Party:
Brad and Joy hosted a summer-themed party in February, where we put on our summer clothes and came over to their well-heated house to enjoy summer food and play/watch some games.
Isaac and the boys played with Nerf weapons, which swiftly topped Calvin's birthday wish-list.
Lana demonstrates a game on the XBox Kinect. We also played some board games. I think I already mentioned the summer food--grilled fare, strawberries, nachos, desserts, etc.
Finishing out February, back at the ranch:
Phoebe lounging on her changing table while I take pictures of the nursery for her baby book.
Five month-old photo shoot:
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| Calvin's Kindergarten class had its annual talent show in January. The kids performed a few songs as a group in the music room, followed by an individual talent of their choice.
Calvin is pictured with quite a few of his buddies. They started the talent show by reciting some things they had memorized. I can't remember which were recited here, but I know they ended the year knowing all of the Presidents (and a fun fact or two about each), States (and Capitals and flags!), and of course the alphabet and about a hundred "sight words". They sang "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain" with their music teacher, too.
Performing as a class:
Calvin telling a scary story about a squirrel, as told to him by Grandpa Woody:
Snowy Days:
Silly boys in the snow.
Intense games of UNO Moo; consistent rules optional.
Cozy outfit from Kelly...couldn't help but snuggle Phoebe when she wore it!
If you ask Isaac to show you his "ninja pose", you will get some variation of the above.
Verity kept me company as Mom accompanied Jason to the annual trivia night across the river. I think they won again this year!
Auto Show:
Yes, our double stroller supports three children. They ride that way by choice, too!
Checking out the vehicles.
"It's a Camry! A CAMRY!!!" Isaac identified the Camry from a ways off, and ran to it, excited to find the car his Aunt Candace was driving at the time.
Um, not sure what this was exactly, but definitely interesting.
A Mustang pool table.
Phoebe was super-stoked.
Funnel cakes to end the auto show experience.
Pics to wrap up January:
A photo shoot of Phoebe on the day she turned four months:
This sweet dress was a gift from Grandma R, complete with red dress shoes (not pictured).
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| I am back and blogging after a brief hiatus. It was spent trying to work out some bugs with posting video. Today when I logged in to try again, I noticed I now hove the option to post in "Rich Text: Classic", whereas before, it was either "Rich Text: New" and another option, neither of which allowed my videos to show up in a blog. Very frustrating, but I'm relieved I've finally found a way to do it. That said, I actually don't have any videos from December to share.
Heerrrrreeee's Isaac, a.k.a. December Birthday Boy:
He loves having his picture taken, can't you tell? I don't mind obliging, either.
Baby Phoebe resting with her Great-Grandpa R. This was at Great-Grandma C's funeral, in mid-December.
Isaac's 3rd Birthday Party:
Chowing down on ice cream with Grandpa Woody.
Opening a present. The bad thing about blogging in June about December events--no recollection what this present was exactly. It looks like something that was mailed, so possibly Martha? Just doesn't look like her usual wrapping genius from this angle.
The party theme was Hot Wheels. Isaac found it all highly satisfactory. I really love him at this age; he's a fun little dude. He has the best chuckle that comes straight from his belly, and when he's really amazed, he utters this breathy "W-oowww...". He loves to help, work hard, sort out the cool cars from the rabble he sees on the highway, dress up as different superheroes, arrange his toy cars in all locations of the house, sing songs (and pretend to lead them), roughhouse with his brother, draw/color/paint, play on the iPad (only when supervised and infrequently), go on errands/yardwork with PaPa, and give firm bearhugs accompanied by a huge grin and an "I love you SO MUCH!!". Things he dislikes: sleeping in bed (he's slept on the floor pretty much every night and naptime for months now), camping (doesn't embrace the outdoors quite like Calvin), eating balanced meals (huge sweet tooth--have to guard the pantry and monitor his plate), and he tends to get chased away from the television at least once a day after turning it on without asking. He is a delight, and we are blessed to have him as one of our wonderful, healthy kids!
Mid-December fun in the living room:
Those bumbo seats have rarely had much love from our kids. More of a novelty, really. The only definite use they were put to so far was helping Isaac stay upright for wagon rides when he was little.
Closing out 2010:
Out to eat with recently engaged Uncle Josh and Amanda.
Calvin was keeping Amanda on her toes in a game of Guess Who. He is still very much at the learning stage when it comes to games, but he's made a lot of progress since December. Calvin's favorite games right now involve a dragon cave (Dracon), an island surrounded by sharks and sea monsters (Survive), UNO (he plays on my Facebook account), and War, which he plays with Isaac using any numbered cards they can find.
Isaac loves Josh and Amanda's dogs. He and Athena (and Albert at other times) spent lots of time snuggling in the chair and on the couch.
At Grandma and Grandpa W's:
Waiting for ice cream...I think we had celebrated Moses' birthday that afternoon, and were just getting around to breaking out the cake and ice cream.
Sporting a pretty dress on a Sunday afternoon. This was one of the dresses I'd purchased when trading in the baby boy clothes after she was born.
Finally, three month pictures:
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