She's a Crawling!

In the past week, Emerson, our Little Baby Princess Doll has been moving her little self all over the house- from one end to the next. She loves to pick ANYTHING off of the floor, and DOES find even the smallest crumb. My job has become a bit more challenging these days- making sure I have cleaned/combed through EVERYTHING. Her crawling isn't the average crawl- she is an "Army Crawler." She will get up on all 4s and then move an inch, and uses her elbows the rest of the way. She is just like her Mama- I guess I never crawled, until right before I walked, I did a bit of the "Army Crawl." With this new found freedom, Emerson has also decided that she really doesn't care as much about sleeping (we went through a weekend of her fighting sleep: nighttime, naps, everything), sitting in her highchair any longer than she has to, being changed b/c she does not like holding still, and absolutely DOES NOT want to be held, she wants down and she wants to crawl. She also wants to walk. Her favorite thing ever is having her hands held as she walks around the rooms. She loves it, and has become quite confident and more sturdy. Any day, Any week, Anytime...we will see what tomorrow brings for this very excited, yet adventurous baby.

I

Jacob's 3rd Birthday Party

Jacob asked for his Birthday all he wanted was his friends...(Love it). So, we decided that we would have a "Friends" Birthday Party this year. I decided on a Play Center we have visited often not far from our home. I really like the place because it is clean, safe, and keeps the kiddos

b-u-s-y. Lake Zurich Tree House Playcenter- they did a great job with the party. It was very well organized, and the staff truly payed close attention to detail on everything. The kids even were welcomed with hand sanitizer everytime they walked back into the Party Area. They were "on top" of everything. Jacob had a wonderful time. Thank you to all of his friends who were able to join us as we celebrated his 3rd year. Everyone really made his day special. As Jacob says, "I love my friends."

We took lots of pictures. I tried to get a "good" pic of every kid, but it was difficult because they were all over the place having a great time.)

13.1

Still working on the arms. Okay."The Boy" throwing a tantrum as we take a Happy, celebratory family picture.
The Devich Family. Alyssa is used to those medals.
Tired Baby...missed her nap for this.

My Skinny partner just makes me look not so good.
13.1. That is the amount of miles I RAN on September 11, 2011 (who knew 10-years after the worst day we have ever seen in our country, I would TRY to be an athletic example for the futures of our country (my kids)). Now, I am not an athlete. 1 mile. I couldn't even run 1 mile 4-months ago. It all started during a conversation I was having with my Little Sister, Karen (THE Marathon runner of the family). The conversation can be summarized a bit like this:

Me: I am just fat.

Karen: No. Your not (because that is what everyone says to make me feel a little better)

Me: K- so anyway, I'm totally getting lipo in my stomach.

Karen: What? You're crazy!

Me: K- but, why do you care? You are skinny.

Karen: Because it's stupid. Are you planning on having anymore kids?

Me: Well at this point, the way I look, I couldn't get pregnant if I tried (totally being sarcastic- I am not planning on any addition anytime soon or ever, I SWEAR).

Karen: Well if you think you might, then that would just be stupid. How about this...Run with me. A mini marathon - its a half marathon

Me: What?!

Karen: 13.1 miles....

Me: Umkay....I'm just going to stop you right there. I don't run. I'm not a runner. Never have. Never cared to be. So thank you, but no thank you.

Karen: Listen, I guarantee you will LOSE the weight. If you don't lose the weight, then I will support you on Lipo- even though I don't want to-

Me: Right. Umkay...

Karen: If I can do it, so can you...

Me: Stop it!!! You are a runner. I am not.

Karen: I never ran before I trained for the Chicago.

Me: But your skinny

Karen: I challenge you. Just do it for the training. I PROMISE you will thank me

Me: (thinking- she's skinny) Can I walk?

Karen: You can if you have to- try to run as much as you can, do whatever you can. I have a training schedule (12 weeks) and we can run together- we will make it fun. Just do it for yourself. Forget that it is a marathon

***All I could do was look at Karen's flat abs, skinny butt, long legs, and I thought...well, I will try this....but, I am so going to walk it.

The day of the marathon, I did not walk. At all. We finished in 2:51. Not the best time. But, I finished. Completely trained religiously for 12-weeks...walk/run/run/walk, etc. And I finished. I was so proud!!! SO Proud to have a Little Sister to want to do this with me, believe in me, and love me enough to put up with my whining. We did it. I like running now. It is addicting. After the training, etc. it becomes a lot easier. I am not an athlete, but I did this. I lost some weight too...still losing.

I Love you Karen Jane. Thank you for believing in me!!!

Welcome to the World: Olivia Grace

Olivia Grace Hervas~Tia Lorraine, Uncle Rick, and Brenden welcomed a new Baby Girl to their family on Saturday, September 17th...Olivia Grace "graced" us with her presence at St.Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates (where Jacob was born) at a little past 5am. Lorraine is doing and looking fantastic. Rick is SO HAPPY, yet feels a little nervous, and Brenden is the very PROUD Big Brother. She is absolutely beautiful. Lots of hair...just enough for bows!!! Congratulations to the NEW Hervas Family. We love her so much. Emerson cannot wait to be best friends with her Little Cousin.

10-Months: Emerson Marie

Princess Girl has been in this world now LONGER than she was in my belly. Whataboutit?! How did that happen? She is 2-months away from being 1-year old. I cannot believe it. Emerson has been an absolute joy from the day she was born. I have said time and time again, if the setting was right and I could have every child JUST LIKE her, I would literally have 3 more! She is such a good. baby. How did this happen? How did I become so blessed? God decided it was time for a Girl. My dad said she is a dream now. Just wait. She may make up for it later. We will see. She is too angelic for me to think like that. (Note to self: Remember this time of love and peace and innocence in 18-years..) Emerson has been full of energy, exploration, and independence. She is officially army crawling- yet, still rolling to get to where she needs to be. She is starting to do the "cruise" thing around her play table (I am still behind her; however). She is now saying: "MAMA!!!!!" She is starting to point to what she wants, she is sounding out more "sounds" and words. She is eating everything we eat: rice, chicken nuggets, turkey chili, cantaloupe, bread, pasta, peas, broccoli, carrots, soup, yogurt, etc. She is "dancing" to music, squealing to get other kids attention, riding in the wagon with Jacob on walks, paying more attention to books, giving "5" to Grandma Joey, petting her kitties, and loving her dolls (yes, I said dolls!!! I am getting really excited). Auntie Laurie laughs often about the fact that - "No one can put Emme to bed ...Mommy doesn't want to share "- this means that every second with her is so important to me because it is her and I time (she takes her morning nap while Jake is at school, so that leaves us no alone time)- I LOVE putting her to bed. We cuddle and talk and sing and read and laugh...it is my favorite time of day. Happy 10-months to my Beautiful Little Princess. Thank you for coming down from heaven for Mommy and Daddy. We cannot wait for this FALL...we have so much to look forward to.


As I say to your brother, and as one day you will hear, as I say to you too..."I love you more."

My Jacob: 3 Years Old

My 1st Born is 3-years old today. Jacob Brayden is beginning a new year: the first day of Fall is a fresh start for everyone and it is a new year for Our Little Prince. This past year has been full of change. LOTS of change. Jacob kicked off the year with Halloween where he dressed up as his favorite character (at the time), Mickey Mouse and experienced his 1st true Trick or Treating fun. The next month, he picked up a new title; in November, Jacob became a "Big Brother" to his Little Sister, Emerson. Jacob's life changed drastically this year- from being the only child to the oldest. He has really taken on his new role perfectly. He loves his Little Sis so much. He is so protective, so loving, and so proud of her. He is still learning about "sharing" with his younger sibling...something we deal with on a day to day basis...work in progress. This past Christmas, Jacob was also able to really "get" the season...sang Christmas music, decorated the tree, enjoyed hot chocolate, LOVED Santa, and LOVED presents. It is all getting so much more exciting for him. He is starting to have memories from last year as well...so we are looking forward to this year, and see what his thoughts are from his Christmas past. This past winter, Jacob experienced his 1st BLIZZARD (of '11)...and really thought the whole snow thing was pretty fantastic. Daddy and Jake built snowmen, made snow angels, dug snow forts, and went sledding. I cannot wait to see how much more he will enjoy it all this year. Spring Break, we took our 1st family vacation to Florida- with the whole Morkes Family. Jacob's favorite part of the trip was the sand. LOVES sand. People were walking up to us saying- "he is in charge of the beach. He is the happiest kid here...in the sand." And he was. The ocean on the other hand...maybe next year. Jacob also enjoyed ice cream on a daily basis and hanging with his Aunt Cara- who he just absolutely adores. This past Summer, Jacob enjoyed time with his friends. His new fave- is his friends....all of them!!!

He has lots of girlfriends (well, because 90% of his parents friends have girls his age)- all his gals just want to give him kisses...pretty cute. Jake loves his big, tough, guy friends too- always wants to wrestle, chase, play hide and seek,

and now he is into action figures...this has become a new "pretend play" for Jacob in his 2nd year- he makes plane, car, motorcycle noises, converses with his toys, and has them "battle" eachother. He LOVES to imitate and reenact parts/scenes from books or animated Disney/Pixar Movies. It can get kinda crazy sometimes: especially if the "scene" entails sword fighting, etc. I digress- boys will be boys. The old days of a little bit of calmness are now gone.

My home is a wild place...this kid runs and rough houses everywhere. Outside is the place to be. Jacob loved swimming this Summer, loves the park: the monkey bars and "fireman ladder" is his new fun there. He also has enjoyed Theme Parks (Santa's Village) and Zoos (Brookfield and Cosely)...and cries everytime we must go home.

He is SO full of energy, luckily by the afternoon, Jacob is still ready for a nap (many times it is a 3-hour nap! Woo-hoo- time for mommy to re energize as well). This Fall, Jacob has started a new period in his life: School. Preschool has begun, and he LOVES it. He is meeting lots of friends, and a new sense of independence that he so desperately needed. (Jacob did miss his 2nd day of school; however, because he had his 1st bout of bronchitis!!!) This boy constantly makes us laugh. Every evening, we are exhausted by all of the excitement he brings to our days, yet, he is FULL of energy and ready for more when the sun rises again. The only thing I can do without are the--- "WHYs" -----in the car....the entire ride- "Mommy why did you do that? But, why did they do that? Why is it blue? Why did God decide that? Why wasn't I with you when you were a baby? Where was I? Was I with Daddy when he was a baby? Yes...I was!! Why not?"

Happy 3rd Birthday to our Little wonderer, our Little Lover, our Little Stinker, our Little entertainer, our Little Pretender, our Little adventurer, our Little Space Ranger (Buzz Lightyear). We love you so. Thank you for coming down from heaven for Mommy and Daddy.

As we say every night, "I love you more."

Last Days of Summer of '11

The pools have all closed down, kids are back in school, the temperature is going down, the smell of leaves burning is all around us (I am not talking about the smokey air from the Minnesota fires that decided to blow our way), jackets, sweats, and sweatshirts are in, shorts are out, leaves are starting to change. Next week, Summer will end and Fall will be upon us. (I do love Fall (the most of all), but the thought of what's next, makes me sad about Summer ending). We decided to make the most of the Summer season the last few weeks with a couple more outings.

We met The Smileys (Suzie, Ericka, and Kyle) at The Cosely Zoo in Wheaton one day. Sadly, I had not seen Suzie since Memorial Day, she was about to start school again, so we wanted to get together before the new year began. We had a nice day. It is ALWAYS great to see Suz- we always catch up where we left off. I feel so relaxed when I am with her, and miss her when we say goodbye. Her kids are now in 1st and 2nd grade and are SUPER busy with tons of sports and activities, it was so fun to hang out. Jacob, Ericka, and Kyle all looked at the animals, pet a snake, and watched the ducks and fish in the pond. We ended the day with Ice Cream- yeah! Jake LOVES "E"- they too always catch up where they last left off. It was a great day.

Another day, we as a family decided to make our way up to Lake Geneva for the afternoon/evening. We walked around, did the mansion boat tour (Jacob met friends on the pier and on the boat- he LOVES making friends with other kids), and had dinner at Popeyes...of course. Emerson really enjoyed the day, she LOVED hanging out on the boat with Mommy and Daddy and of course, big brother, she LOVED being at Popeyes while eating like a big girl, and she LOVED the taste of ...and yet again, the nice day ended with Ice Cream...It was a sweet day.

Good Bye Summer, we will miss you! Till we meet again...