Stuck in the Middle

From one middle child to another....it's not always easy, although I never felt cheated or overlooked. Thanks to Mom & Dad for that! Even though we technically don't have a middle child, our Ava Paige IS sandwiched between "The Bigs" (Ella & Owen) and "Goo- Goo" as Georgia has been nicknamed (by Owen). I try not to spend much time in the Land of Guilt, but sometimes as a mom of 4, I just do! Sometimes I wonder if Ava gets lost in the commotion, somewhere between homework, piano, dance, picking up kids from school, and caring for the baby of the family. Where does she fit?

The answer has been loud and clear...she fits right in! She is easy, happy, winsome, delightful, loving, a giver of joy. Maybe the middle child has to "go with the flow" because there is no other choice. Whatever the reason....she blesses us everyday. She says funny things, like "Owen just broke my feelings." She gives giant hugs. She dances and twirls everywhere like a little fairy princess. She tells us daily, "you are in my heart." She makes us laugh with her giggling.

Ava just went to the doctor for her checkup and we learned that she is in the 3rd percentile in weight. Perfect for her, because she loves and has all things tiny...tiny toys, tiny dolls, tiny food, tiny Tinkerbelle, tiny voice, tiny feet, etc. But we know that her heart is HUGE!! And she has filled our lives with so much joy and happiness. Happy 3rd birthday, Ava Paige!

Summer Fun!

It's so hard to believe that the summer is nearly over. It feels like it just started. And it has been sooooo nice to not be on such a tight schedule...I jotted down some goals for us in early June because, well, I have to have a list. I am a list maker. I have even made a list of things and included things that have already been completed just so I can feel the satisfaction of crossing out that item on the list. Sick? Maybe...

Well, we did accomplish some of those goals, like daily chores, some school time, reading goals for the kids, etc. But mostly we have just played!! Swimming, swimming, and more swimming. A visit from our precious Olathe cousins and Aunt Sandy & Uncle Troy. A few trips to Kansas and a trip to South Dakota. Throw in some swim lessons, playdates with friends, cousin time, VBS, and the summer is coming to a close.

So here's to warm summer evenings, playing catch in the backyard, road trips, ice cream cones, tan lines, staying up late, and wonderful memories. (Okay, there have been a few times I wanted to scream but who's counting?) I am SO blessed!

A year and 2 months later....

Okay, seriously. The last time I blogged was March of 2010. I had 3 children then. Now, I have 4...and baby is nearing a year old!! Unbelievable. But I guess we have been a little busy. So, let's see, to catch up on our world...

Baby Georgia joined our family last August! She is so much fun. She brings incredible joy to our lives and is such a good baby! She endures being carted around the world to her siblings' activities, and she doesn't seem to mind. She has dimples that melt you like butter...she has blue eyes the color of the ocean. We LOVE having her in our family! What a blessing. She wants to keep up with the big ones...crawling, pulling up to stand, and trying to wrestle with Daddy like everyone else!

What a fun year....

Ella completed first grade. She had a wonderful teacher and really enjoyed it. She even won a math award at the end of the year. This is a feat in itself because math is not her mother's strong suit. She also danced in her ballet's production of Mary Poppins. She was one of the toys cleaning up the nursery. It was really fun to watch.

Owen completed preschool at our church. He loved learning and his teacher, Miss Tiffany. He is becoming more interested in letters and numbers now and constantly gives me a digital time update: "Mom, it's five two five (5:25). Mom, it's five two six. Mom, it's five two seven." Get the picture? I never need to wear a watch anymore...

Owie also completed swim lessons, along with Ella. What a fish. He would swim in our soft sided pool for 8 hours a day if I would let him. And some days I do! Let's just say he is sleeping well at night!

For some time we have been amazed with Owen's questions about heaven, God, and all things spiritual. He prayed today at lunch: "Thank you, God, for all the things you give us; for Your whole love; for Your Holy Spirit; and for giving us Your Jesus. Amen." Ella said, "Good job, Owie." Ava clapped. And Owen was basking in the praise, and said, "Thanks guys!" And Ella responded, "I couldn't have said it any better, Mom."

Ava is our sunshine. She will be 3 in a few months. So many funny things...loves Mr. Golden Sun....wants to know where he is if it's cloudy; loves to sing, dance, wear high heels, put on lipstick. But she also wants to be rough and tumble with Owen. I can't wait to see who she becomes!!!

Eric worked like a dog all year...short on staff....a very refining fire for him. I am so proud of his dedication and heart. I'm so glad he is my partner on this crazy ride we are on!!!

February was a busy month for us. Well, that's silly to write because every day and every month feels busy right now. But, February was exceptionally busy, because of how it started, with:

THE BIG SILVER BOWL (insert scary music here)

We use the same silver bowl when our kids throw up. Yes, kind of gross, but you don't realize until you've cleaned up the carpet, the bedding, and anything else in its path that kids don't/can't aim very well.

Ella woke up and didn't want to get out of bed (very unusual, as she usually pops up) and didn't look very good. It was a Sunday and Eric graciously agreed to stay home with her...so I took the little kids and while we were at church, she began throwing up. So, Eric was quite the busy bee while we were gone. He did mounds of laundry, tended to Ella, cleaned the kitchen, etc. Have I mentioned how much I love this man? We were steeling ourselves for the dreaded, inevitable one kid starts throwing up and 4 hours later everyone else starts thing. But it didn't. And we were so grateful. And Eric, I'm grateful that your mom did such a good job training you!

On a much lighter note, Ella turned six on February 20. We had a fun day complete with swimming party, rainbow/ballerina cake (Ella's choice), and presents. Enough for one day? Oh, no! After our guests left, we began packing for an 18 hour trip to Florida with some of Eric's cousins in St. George Island. The kids traveled very well (maybe better than their mom) and we had a great time. Memories made. Sun soaked in. We needed that Vitamin D! Kids even got a sunburn (and baby Ava looked like a little raccoon because I didn't quite get the sunscreen all the way under her eyes). You would think that after three kids I would do better, but it was chilly that day, and they started out with hoodies on...I guess it warmed up enough for them show bare arms! Oh the guilt. One of the exciting parts of the trip was when a baby shark (dead) washed up on the beach. The kids touched it and Owen (who loves sharks right now but is also terrified of them) didn't want much to do with it.

A few funny things I want to remember that the kids are saying now:

Owen: Mom, I'm happy with you.

Ava: woof, woof! meow, meow. All gah (all gone)

Ella: Mom, I really want to ride a horse. I know how. You pull the reins back to make it stop.

Mom: Well, maybe at the family reunion we can try to ride a horse.

Ella: Mom, Jesus has reins too.

Mom: (thinking) I don't really understand what you mean.

Ella: Mom, you know. (sings) "Jesus reigns"

Mom: (trying not to laugh) Oh, I see.

And then I try to explain about homophones. or is it homonyms? I was a teacher! I've lost brain cells. But ask me to sing "itsy bitsy spider." I won't miss a word!

Finally, if you don't already know, we are expecting baby #4 in August. Funny how when I was pregnant with Ella, I recorded every movement, feeling, craving, pound, food eaten, milestone, etc. Now I really am not sure how many weeks I am. But oh what a blessing. We are excited...the kids are beyond thrilled... we are enjoying our sleep now. I can't wait to smell that little milky mouth baby breath again.

I don't want to be a big boy anymore....

We finally did it. Our dirty little secret of a 3 year old still using a binky was out....after a trip to the dentist confirmed what we already knew: 4 of the most adorable little teeth were starting to stick out due to the binky. We knew it was coming...we knew we needed to get rid of it...but life was just getting in the way and mama had her reasons....like, well, Ava joined the family and you should never take away a comfort item during a change. Okay, so she's a year and half now...so I guess that doesn't count....and well, he just loves it so much...and well, he's my little boy. But, I decided it was time and bravely concocted a plan: BRIBERY! The binky fairy would come visit Owie that night and leave him a gift for being a big boy. He had to leave all his binkies in a box so she could give them to other new babies that needed them. I was nervous but he did really well. He had a little trouble settling in and lots of questions, but he was so tired that night that he did go to sleep fairly quick and that was the end. After he went to sleep, we crept into his room and left him a train roundhouse and a little train (bought from a friend whose daughter didn't play with them anymore) and a note from the binky fairy, glittered all over. In the morning I heard lots of rattling and then Owie coming downstairs with his roundhouse and his little train. It was precious. He was almost hyperventilating, he was so excited. He is still sad and misses his binkies though at nap and bedtime and last night was the most sad I have seen him yet. He said, "Mommy, I don't want to be a big boy anymore. Can't those angels bring me my binkies back?" It was with such a sad heart. It made his mommy sad. Maybe one of the reasons I hadn't pushed him before now was because I didn't want him to be a big boy either. If I was psychoanalyzing myself, that would be my diagnosis. Just because I'm a sap, I saved the binkies. Growing up is hard. On the boy AND the mother!

It's all about teeth...

Well, the title of this post says it all...right now in the Lang household, everything seems to be revolving around someone's teeth. Last week Ella lost her first tooth. She had been telling us that it was loose for several weeks, and sad to say, we didn't really believe her until this last month. I actually think that she finally made it loose by her constant wiggling and sheer determination to lose one. It is a big deal in Kindergarten, because you get the fame and glory of losing a tooth AND you get to take home the "Tooth Bag." So it was fairly loose, but not hanging on by a thread kind of loose (the kind of loose that Uncle Montie wanted to tie a string to my tooth and slam the door and "it would come right out"). Anyways, she and Owen were wrestling around and he put a pacifier of Ava's in his mouth, Ella pulled it out and put it in her mouth (you're thinking, lovely, germ exchange) and then he grabs it out of her mouth and the tooth came too. So all this happens and they come running in and Ella has a tooth in her hand and a little blood in her mouth. For some reason, I squealed and then burst into tears...guess I was taken aback and not quite ready...but oh the wonder, the jubiliation, the conversations. So that night, she puts the tooth in an envelope, writes a little note to the "Tooth Fry" with her cute spelling, and puts it under her pillow. I am up late and just drifting off to sleep when I jolt awake and realize: I DIDN'T DO THE TOOTH EXCHANGE! So I scrounge around for a dollar and make the switch, tiptoe out of the room and go to bed. Our kids are really good sleepers. I mean, I know friends who have kids that are always getting into bed with them, waking up for drinks, waking up to get rocked, etc. We have been very blessed in this area. But for some reason, Owen wakes up from a bad dream, and Eric goes up to check on him. So he is sitting in the chair in his room with Owen (at about 3:00 a.m.) and Ella comes running in with the dollar flying overhead, as excited as can be. I slept through all of this. I love my husband.

It has been so fun to share this momentous occasion!

Secondly, Ava is really hurting with her teeth coming in. She has been such a sweetie all these months, but she is really miserable. So we will be glad when those next 2 teeth are in. She can say "doc" for dog, mama, dada, and sometimes she sounds like she's saying ELLAAAAAAA! She is quite the climber and gets around holding on to everything. (no walking yet) She seems to be growing up SO fast!!

Owie will be surprised this Friday: Eric is taking him to see Thomas the Train and ride on a train. He may pass out with excitement. It's been really chilly in the mornings, so I hope it's not too "brrry" and he says. I love all those little sayings.

Oh, and the cat lost a tooth too. Huh?????

Milestones

I guess that's what life is, isn't it?....a series of milestones that when put together...make up a whole string of weeks, months, and years. The last few years of ours can tend to be a bit of a blur: 3 kids in 4 1/2 years, 2 new businesses, a puppy, building a house. But every once in a while, the blur clears a little and I can spend a moment reflecting....sniff sniff. Our milestones in the last few weeks and the coming ones are big ones! Ella started Kindergarten, Owen turned 3 today!! and Ava will be 1 in just 15 days. So, mama is feeling a little sentimental these days. But oh they are good days!! In between the scraped knee, the before dinner meltdown, the occasional fighting over toys, there are so many good moments. Just wanted to share a few from recently and today....

Owen to Ella: "You shut the door on my feelings!" after she closed the playroom door before he could get out and apparently, hurt his feelings. He is so sweet and sensitive.

Ella at the mall for school shopping: "Where is the kids' apartment?" (department)

Ella: Mom, I promise I'll still be your little girl even if I grow up. I want to live with you guys forever! (me laughing now)

Ava is crawling and pulling up to stand and such a joy to us all. Always happy and smiling, except when her Daddy leaves the room...many tears...

Candyland today with Ella. Owen crying on the first day of her Kindergarten because he didn't want to "wose" (lose) Sissy. Ella looking so big and confident and saying, "Bye, Mom" and Mom was trying to swallow the lump in her throat when leaving the school on the first day. Ava patting my back when she hugs me. Those are my precious moments!! My prayer is that I can remember those moments when there are kids hanging on my leg, a dirty diaper is leaking on my shirt like today, or I am stressing about nothing that matters.

I know there will be many more milestones to come..they are wonderful and they hurt at the same time. Thankful that we are so blessed.