Ivie

Ivie has been on my mind. I love Ivie. She is beautiful, friendly, so willing to share her love, forgiving, creative, perceptive of the needs and feelings of others, tidy, silly, an expressive dancer, smart, a loving sister, very quick to compliment others, daring and adventurous, photogenic (and has a knack for posing in photos...), a fantasitc singer, and a one-of-a-kind daughter. It is my pleasure to be her mother.

Toddlers

I LOVE,
LOVE,
LOVE
toddlers! Terrible Two's? Whatever! I will mourn the day I don't have a toddler to admire. Norah has captured my heart as well as everyone's who knows her! She talks a lot, but we can't understand much of what she says. Her language makes us laugh though! She is happy, adorable, curious, adorable, silly, friendly, adorable, loving, and adorable. She loves to dance, eat salsa with a spoon, sabotage our cat's personal space, take baths, give kisses and wear everyone else's shoes. I'll let the pictures speak a thousand words about Norah, Norbert, or Norma (as we sometimes like to call her). My dad likes to call her Ignorah (when she's sick of people trying to get her attention) and Mary Lou Norah (because she has the cutest muscle-y quick little body). P.S. Norah has never liked a binkie, but temporarily adopted one when Jane was born. Doesn't Norah have the most beautiful eyes?

Jane

Jane has changed since I posted the swollen, but cute hospital pictures! She is 5 weeks old and is a wonderful baby. She sleeps and sleeps and sleeps. I've never experienced this before in a newborn! We love her.

Before Jane's birth, I spoke with my father about the chaos, tension and overall craziness we were experiencing in our home. Most of this was due to multiple children waking Wes and I multiple times during the night. My wise father suggested that things may improve after the baby joins the family. Often people (little people included) can sense when we need to 'step up to the plate.' How happy I am to report that my father was correct. I thought HE was up in the night, but my children have really stepped up to the plate since Jane's birth. Caleb literally woke us up every night for 7 years and usually ended up in our bed or on our floor. Now, he sleeps in his bed all night. Miraculous. I never thought it possible, but I miss his late night visits!

A good friend recently told me that when you have three kids, you realize you have kids. When you have 4 kids, you realize you have a lot of kids. That is true. I have a lot of kids, but I'm thankful for the opportunity to spend my days with ALL of them!

Jane Isadore

Jane Isadore
February 5, 2010 6:35am
8 lbs 11 oz

Cute, Pink, Chubby, Soft, Divine!

One week early was a pleasant surprise after being one week late with Norah! The labor and delivery was fast and comfortable. After 2 unmedicated births and one practically unmedicated birth, I now have a new respect for what my husband does for a living! I am grateful that I was able to be more calm and aware during Jane's birth. It was a beautiful thing!

I have to include ONE picture!

We are not thinking about Halloween right now, but this is such a cute picture of my cute kids. And I haven't posted pictures recently. Caleb chose to be a "sleepy old man brushing his teeth" (is that the most random costume you've ever heard of?), Norah was THE MOST ADORABLE pumpkin (you should have seen her strapped into her carseat!), and Ivie planned to be a witch but changed last minute because she wanted to wear her new birthday outfit from Grandma. We just said she was a little French girl. I love these kids.

Thoughts

I can't believe how long it has been since I've done anything with the blog. No time and lack of desire have been the culprits, and I find that keeping in touch through blogs leaves me wanting. It is a great way to catch up on the latest happenings, but promise me something, let's not let blogs interfere with really keeping in touch...I so love having an actual dialogue with loved ones (which often occurs through email, but that's OK). From now on, if you post a comment on this blog, I'll do my best to respond. Then we can have a little dialogue, you know, ask and answer questions and so forth. Maybe a dialogue isn't necessary, but at least I'll feel better knowing that I let you know that I know you are there and appreciate you checking in.
Wes is on call tonight and I needed a little break, so I called a baby-sitter and attended a Christmas concert put on by the American Festival Chorus and Orchestra directed by Craig Jessop. My father-in-law sings in the chorus. What a treasure for our community! I was really touched as I contemplated the efforts of the performers in creating such a wonderful event, and as I listened to songs celebrating the birth of one child, one special child that changed everything. I'm thankful for times like these where I can take a break from motherhood and think of lovely things not always associated with motherhood! The best part of my evening is that the babysitter had all my children sound asleep and snug in their beds. That alone is worth a lot of money!
My quiet reprieve is over. I'm headed upstairs to soothe a child and cuddle with her in my soft rocking chair. Life is good.

Estrogen

In about 12 years, we'll have THREE teenage daughters and ONE teenage son. Won't that be fun?

Announcing another darling Mortensen female mid-February 2010.