New addition coming this Christmas!!

Looks like we're expanding the family again! We are very excited to announce we are expecting a 4th child December 23rd, 2009!! Check back often for more updates!

Children Have a Language Entirely Their Own

Recently I've become more aware of the unique language we've become accustom to since having children. Everyday things have new names that we find too cute to correct. "Hamburgers", for example, are "happymakers." "Guacamole" is "mockamole", a "man-guy" is the beard you make out of the bubbles in the bath tub, "chickenbeef" is the new name for all things pork. I have no idea where that came from. I still don't know what "smuffing" is but apparently you do it to the cat. They are always asking if they can "smuff" the cat and they insist that Aunt Chrissy said it. She has no idea what it is either. My other favorite is the "washcar." Not "carwash" but "washcar." I can't wait to hear what they come up with next!

Birthdays

My babies are growing up faster than I can keep up with! I can't believe Grace is 4!! I never knew how smart a 4 year old could be. She has her own opinions, thoughts, feelings, and can carry quite a conversation. I can tell her mind is always working, learning, and questioning. She is a little princess now and wants to wear dresses which I think is adorable! I think she plays girly for mom but is daddy's little football fan when he wants her to be too. She is a people pleaser.

The boys, on the other hand, are completely opposite. Riley, 3 this weekend, is more energetic and destructive and Elijah, 18 months, is very inquisitive and likes to play quiet and look at picture books. But, you can tell they love each other and even though Riley is very rough and tough I am starting to see a tender side of him when he looks after his little brother and almost protects him. I can also see Elijah looking up and admiring his older brother and mimicking him already. ( Riley likes to slide down the stairs on his belly, like a lizard, and Elijah recently tried to follow!) It's amazing the emotions they can demonstrate at such a young age.

From the mouth of babes

I've noticed that over the past few years that with each age comes new rewards and challenges in raising children. These past few weeks I've come to love the little nuances and personality traits that are developing in each child. It's true....kids say the darnest things!

Grace is very observant and opinionated. She's quick to tell me when I'm making my mad face and even quicker to tell everyone about the goings on in a dressing room or public restroom. She loves to announce what color underwear I'm wearing...or " That's way too tight mommy!" I'm cherishing these few precious years when she wants to be doing everything I'm doing and wants to be just like me. I love when she notices that she's standing like me or interacting with her baby doll the same way I'm interacting with Elijah. She's growing up so fast!

Riley has always been full of energy and now that he's talking a mile a minute he too says the cutest things. I love how he calls elevators "alligators" and always want to be the one to push the "alligator button." We say a blessing before dinner, commonly called grace, and recently he started asking if we could say Riley before dinner instead of grace. I also love how creative and imaginative Riley is becoming. He loves to take the blue loofah in the bath and dunk it in the water and he says " Look out! The rain cloud's coming!!"

Elijah's vocabulary is slowly building. He says "mama," "Dada," "cracker," "ball," and now "car car." He loves any car...big ones in the parking lot or little matchbox cars. He is very excited and always has been a ray of sunshine. When he smiles you can tell it's pure joy.

Family News

I started this with the intention of sharing family news, fun tid-bits about the children or any photos to a mass group of family and friends. Most of you know that every Christmas I send out the Gressett Gazette Christmas letter. This will serve as it's monthly version.