Advent

The turkey is now leftovers, the mashed potatoes are gone, the food-induced naps are over, the football games are completed, and the madness of "black Friday" is over (Add that to the things I'm thankful for). Can you sense the anticipation? The shift of mind to the season of Christmas...Advent. As I began to think about all of the joys of Christmas, I wondered what it must have felt like for those that were anticipating the first Christmas, the birth of the Savior. What a glorious and exciting time it must have been, and how we can still be a part of that anticipation as we wait for the return of our Savior.

Our little photographers

Sylvia's picture of us...

Olivia's picture of us...
...not bad, right?

That dog

Meet Wrigley, Seth and Jenney's puppy. Joey taunted her from the safety of his play-pen. She wanted to get in with him...or for him to come out and play with her...in the worst way. Wrigley, you'll have to wait a few more years before wrastlin' with this beautiful boy of mine. I wonder if you'll always make him look so little.

Thanks & giving

Seth and Jenney hosted dinner again this year...what a gorgeous & delicious meal!

We can't THANK them enough for being wonderful host/hostess and GIVING us an excuse to travel clear to Chicago for a holiday together. It amazes me that the love of two can bring the company of many together. Joining us in the Fitch household were Mom and Jenney's folks, Randy & Carol.

Thanksgiving

It's that time of year when we bring to surface all of the things we are thankful for. A time to reflect of what we have. So I thought I would take a brief moment to acknowledge what I am thankful for.

My job: As stressful as it can be at times and as much as I'd like to find something else to do at times I am grateful for my job. Especially in times when some don't even have a job let alone a job that is fulfilling. I feel grateful that I have to opportunity to serve others every day through my job.

My extended family: I am grateful that I have a group of people that love me and share in life with me.

My kids: There are no words that describe the experience of fatherhood. I am thankful that I have been given three wonderfully beautiful children to raise.

My wife: If there are no words to describe the fatherhood experience, there are even fewer to describe being a husband. I am forever thankful that I have my partner.

My Lord: I would have none of this without Jesus. I thank the Lord every day for blessing me, redeeming me, shaping me and guiding me.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! God Bless!

Sample of naptime

After an hour of Sylvia singing during her nap today, I decided to catch some of her antics on video. I laugh watching it now, but I certainly tried to keep my "mean Mommy" face on when I finally went to her and found this.

Happy Supper

Joey's working on learning the sippy-cup and loves filling his fists with mushed up food. Most of the food still ends up in his bib.

Look at that happy plate. The happy girl is much more impressive:)

Olivia Storytelling

Here is a little clip of Olivia and Sylvia playing "school". Olivia is the teacher, surprise, surprise!!



Like Olivia's costume dress? She always picks the "skimpy" ones...don't like that so much. And yes, Sylvia does not have pants on in this video. She had just had an "accident" while in time-out, after throwing a tantrum because I wouldn't help her take off her shoes-hence the pull-up and no pants!! Can't wait to hear the comments:)

Puppy Love?

Joey has put just about anything he can get his hands on in his mouth lately but he has been especially fond of this little ducky with a ribbon on it. He loves to put it in his mouth and crawl around like a puppy. Too cute.

Joey's 9month check-up

Business as usual around here...sort of. Joseph passed his well-baby check with flying colors. Events included weight: 21# 10oz (around 50th%), height: 30" (around 90th%), and immunizations: 2nd fluzone & 3rd Hep B. Doc said he looked "perfect" and we feel the same!

Sooooo, any input on the sleeping patterns around here would be welcome. The 4 1/2 year old, who you would think would be giving up naptime any day now, is sleeping more than both other children. The 2 1/2 year old plays and sings her way through naptime, totally oblivious to mommy's harsh tone and threats, occasionally pooping her pull-up to really put the icing on...so to speak. The baby, Mr. 9months old, dozes during feedings and thinks that counts for naptime-oh and he wakes around 3 or 4am daily for quiet awake time with whoever will "rescue" him from his crib! Hello...I don't want quiet awake time with him, or any child for that matter, until somewhere a bit closer to sunrise! Ugh. (exasperated sigh) What's a mommy to do?

Maybe after we straighten these children up sleepwise, I won't feel the need for a daily nap myself! ...maybe.

Update...on everyone!

Joseph

• feeling much better now that he's off that nasty antibiotic (which he was on for a lingering eye infection...that we pray doesn't return leading him to require his tiny little tear duct to be surgically probed)
• continues to be a horrible sleeper and yet charms, even hypnotizes everyone who lays eyes on him
• growing like a weed, @ over 22lbs already and wearing 18 & 24 month clothes
• cutting tooth #4, the final central incisor (top left)
• still drawn to all electronics and their power cord if at all within sight
• enamored by his sisters and constantly following them around...happy as a lark to be sitting in the middle of a heap of their dress-up clothes, chewing on a Barbie doll head:)
• taking solids a little bit better now, still gagging on most foods with the slightest chunky texture
• entering the tag-fascination stage that all babies seem to go through, even preferring one specific block...the one with strings and tags hanging out of it
• finally talking more, using more consonants all the time
• crawls on hands and feet (not knees very often) like a little monkey
• most recently giving kisses (open mouth licks more accurately) and pulled himself to stand by a kiddie chair

Sylvia

• thankfully over her short-lived infantile regression (oh yes, she was suddenly no longer potty trained, throwing random tantrums, and even caught with Joey's pacifier in her mouth!)
• copying EVERYTHING Olivia says and does...like there's an echo in the room
• singing along to the radio from your car seat, the cutest is when she does the station intro, K-N-W-I
• learning her manners, colors, letters, and numbers (and anything else Olivia can quiz her on...like we quiz Olivia on:)
• would sleep late in the morning if her sister would let her, but takes forever to fall asleep at nap and bedtime
• requests to "nuggle wit you mommy/daddy" every night before bed
• precious and goofy as always
• relieved she doesn't have to go to daycare much longer (details below)

Olivia

• honing her letter recognition abilities
• requests to visit the library at least 5 times every day
• suddenly brave and curious about the outdoors, even plucking worms from the soil and holding them repeatedly (evidence in pictures below:)
• also suddenly has a veracious appetite
• loving her dance lessons and getting more confident in sharing her "moves" with the family after class
• always willing to sing along while daddy accompanies her on guitar, in fact...prone to break into song at any moment of any day
• helpful and patient with little brother and sister
• remains an early riser (like, 5:30am some days!) and a great napper
• excited about starting a new pre-school, 4 mornings every week

Abbey

• relentlessly tending to the children, and loving it (most of the time)...which is why I've decided to cut back on hours in the ICCU. I'll be working 24 hours a week, primarily on Saturday and Sunday. (so all week long I'm going to pretend I'm a SAHM:)
• trying to get some "alone time" with hubby...responsible, free baby-sitters wanted! (jk, they don't have to responsible...:)

Matt

• totally on-board with the schedule change and looking forward to having me around and AWAKE every evening during the week
• tirelessly teaching middle-school and working towards more parent-involvement in his district
• loving that the Cyclones have had some success this football season and looking forward to more wins
• preparing his musical repertoire for Christmas and anxiously anticipating the moment he can start listening to his Third Day Christmas album (he's mentioned it several times)
• cultivating his wife and children with the help of the Holy Spirit

Caught the kids looking adorable before church last Sunday.

Olivia showing me her "wormy".

He's not teething or anything...

The girls enjoyed the beautiful weather last week.