Growing Up Too Fast

Gracie was 8 months old yesterday, and time isn't slowing down at all! She seems to be growing up faster than the boys did! Her hair is past her eyes already too. It has been a challenge to keep it food-free during mealtimes. Here is a pic of her crazy hair after a bath.

Gracie loves standing now and also feeling her bottom teeth with her tongue. The top ones are causing her some grief right now--hopefully they'll pop through soon.

We have been playing outside as much as possible during the intermittent warmer and non-raining days that we've had.

What baby doesn't like to sit and bang on a piano? Gracie is no exception!

I've come to realize that life with three kids is busy just because there are now three small bodies that all need feeding, clothing, bathing, and loving and sometime all at the same time. Just getting a grocery list made and getting to the grocery store can be a huge undertaking! Then after carting it all home, I think, Wow, I won't need to go back for a whole month! Of course the next week, we are back again. =)

Then add to life with three home educating Ethan and now Cade with a baby crawling around in the mix, church activities, basketball, Wednesday Bible Study, several piano lessons and you've got a busy week for the Wassenaar family. I thank God that He is giving me contentment and joy to be at home with my children and also the desire to be responsible to teach and train them during these very formative years. Brady's and my desire for them is that they would "grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men".

Giving Thanks

"I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving" (Psalm 69:3).

Ethan & Cade say, We're thankful for...
~ our house
~ our family members, near & far
~ toys
~ Gracie Beth
~ the Bible

Baby Update: this month, Gracie has found her feet, started eating cereal, jumping in her jump-up, exercising in her exersaucer, and is getting ready to crawl.

Morning snuggle time.

jump-up time

exersaucer time

Happy Thanksgiving!

October 2008

What a busy month for the Wassenaars! A 6-day trip to the Midwest for a wedding in Racine, WI, two special birthdays, and a visit from Grandpa and Grandma Lachmann in Tennessee. Gracie continues to grow and get even cuter--as if that were possible! ;-) She was 13 lbs, 8 oz, and 24 3/4" today at her 4-month check. The reason I am able to finally post these pics is because she is taking an extra-long nap because of all her shots. Yes! View the slide shows to the right to see more pics.

Brady & Ethan, the birthday boys.

We had so much fun with G&G; they will definitely have to come again soon!

Ethan's birthday morning. Big brothers are so great at making sure little brothers smile and look at the camera.

Ethan and Cade really had to work hard at Grandma's house.

I don't know why everyone doesn't have one of these. They're so much fun. And so practical too.

Ethan's Baptism

Sunday, October 5, was an awesome day for our family! On January 22, 2008, Ethan had made the decision to ask Jesus to be his Savior. This past Wednesday, he decided he was ready to be baptized in order to make a public profession of that faith. It was all his own initiative and he was super excited about it! Brady was able to do the baptism and it was a blessing to see Ethan take this step in his walk with Jesus. Brady's family came to support Ethan and witness this special occasion.

All smiles!
A moment with Mom before the event...
I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Three months old and loving it!

Gracie Beth has turned a corner!. Now that she is three months old and rolling over, she is able to occupy herself for much longer periods of time. She is also very entertained by Ethan and Cade and is almost always happy if they are playing near her. She loves to sit in her swing and watch them do school or sit in her reclining high chair and watch their antics at the dinner table. She thinks she's a big shot. Observe the following pictures...

Watch out, world, here I come!
It is only a matter of time before she will be tormenting her brothers by following them around and getting into all their toys. Ethan is already planning ways to play and keep her out of his way. =)

Recent Photos

Time to spend on the computer is a rare commodity for me these days. I just have to post a few recent pictures of the kiddos, though, before I get Cade in bed for a nap and finish up school with Ethan. Then maybe I'll think about all the dirty dishes in the sink and the piles of clean laundry in my room. But then again, maybe by that time Gracie will be awake again and want to eat. At least I have happy, healthy and mostly clean children. That's something, anyway.
Gracie at 12 weeks.
the boys & their princess
i can almost roll over from my back to my tummy, but not quite
uh-oh, it looks like it runs in the family

School Daze

Ethan, Cade and I have been doing school for over a month now. Ethan started his new first grade books after Labor Day and--for the most part--enjoys school and learning very much. Here are a few pictures of some typical things that we do during the day here at home.

Ethan working on his phonics workbook.

Cade sorting plastics coins in an egg carton.

The boys and their princess. They are getting very good at entertaining her.

Fat baby barely fits on Cade's lap, but he still likes to hold her.

Ethan reading to Dad in the evening.