No one told me that baby number 3 was going to be the most active, adventurous of the lot. She falls right in line with the others, rarely complains, spends most of her day chasing her brother and sister around, and putting every single object into her mouth. She’s just shy of 9 months old and she has five teeth, cruises around furniture, and is ready to rock n roll. She loves to dance, tap on the piano keys, yell at the top of her lungs… pretty much makes her presence known wherever she goes.

She is into everything. Pulls down baskets. Eats dog food. Pulls things off the counter tops. Tries to climb the stairs. Dives right into a bowl of popcorn. Literally. She really is a riot.

And this is what best friends look like. Makena has made her first best friend and they are attached by the hip. Already sharing clothes, trading toys, and sleepovers. Staying up late dancing in her bedroom, girl talk, giggles. I remember those days so vividly from my own childhood and look forward to her making memories and friends that I still have today. Thank you Facebook for that.

They even let little brother in for a picture. Sweet, sweet girls.

We are going to be hitting the road in a little over a week for a Griswold style family road trip. We’ll be traveling the Southeastern U.S. for two weeks with three kids five and under. Call me crazy! It’s going to be one wild ride. So that means I have one week to keep chugging along on Craft Hope, get packed, and ready to roll. No time to dilly dally.

Makena just graduated from preschool and it breaks my heart just a little bit. I’m just so proud of the girl she has become. Lover of nature and life. She really takes it all in. I simply love this picture of her. It’s exactly what I want to do some days when it rains.  Her school did an end of the year party where the fire department came out for a water party. A beautiful way to celebrate a great year.

And now trying to decide what we are going to do with our last summer before Makena starts kindergarten. Looks like we’ll be spending most of our time at the lake and the library for their summer reading program. All the while balancing an 8 month old’s nap schedule. I’m still looking for other free things in the area. I’m kind of starting to get the idea that things really take off once your child enters elementary school so honestly I’m just enjoying these last couple of months with her at home.

The past two weekends have been spent down at the lake with family and friends. It really is my favorite place to be these days. Our neighborhood has a lake park in a cove on Lake Travis and it really is the central meeting place for everyone. And I certainly feel blessed to have this in my own backyard.

All of this lake time means that I’m marching around chasing three kids in a swimsuit. Not my favorite pastime, but I’ve been working hard to get my butt back in shape after being pregnant for the past few years. All in all, I’ve already lost around 80 lbs. since Chloe was born. I don’t really ever like to talk about my weight, but I’m kinda proud of myself these days and feel good again. I didn’t do some fancy diet. I still eat what I want when I want it! I’ve lost it all from cutting my meals in half and walking over an hour every night with Chloe. We do a sunset walk around the lake and it’s really my only ‘me time’ of the day. I need that. We all do.

This past weekend I met up with my first ever best friend. We were friends before we were born, our parents were best friends back in the 70’s.

We lost touch in junior high and ended up reconnecting on Facebook. Turns out she and her mom live here in Austin too.

So we went to lunch on Sunday, just us girls and our moms.  Just like old times, twenty years later. I missed her and am so glad she’s back in my life.

I feel like I’m constantly playing catch up in the space and I want to try to be here more often. I’ve started to feel so connected through Facebook that I’ve been ignoring my chikaustin blog and it’s really the only way I document our kids lives. I don’t scrapbook and I’m terrible with picture organization and photo books. The thought of getting my kids pictures organized gives me so much anxiety I just walk away every time. If any of you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.

Pfew! Well that was quite the post. Thanks for sticking with me!

My girls share a bedroom now and watching their relationship grow is one of the best gifts I’ve been given. Chloe laying in her crib at night, watching Makena read books by her night light. Not once making a peep, just watching. During the day, listening to their chatter and thinking about how it will change as they grow.

Yet holding on to these moments for today and hoping to never forget them.

This Mother’s Day I had three times the love. Three times the hugs. Three times the smothering. We got up early to go watch Makena sing in the church choir program. We’d been down this road one time before last fall. There was a Christmas program and Makena was front and center of about twenty kids. You never know what you are going to get when you put your child up in front of an audience. You send them along and hope for the best. Hoping that your kid is not THAT kid.

So right before Christmas was the Christmas program. The music started. All of the kids started singing, except for Makena. Oh no, was the first thought that went through my head. She had been given a charm bracelet and necklace for her birthday and she began play with the charm on her bracelet. For about five songs. Then the girl next to her is wearing Christmas light earrings that dangled just enough to get Makena’s attention. Mind you, she’s on the front row singing in front of the entire church congregation. Makena turns to the girl next to her and spends the next three songs swatting at the girls earrings. At this point, I just closed my eyes and put my head down. I could hear my mother-in-law to my left. “Jade… go get her. Jade… go get her.” I just closed my eyes, sat there and giggled.

Then on the final song, Makena turns to the girl with the earrings, lifts up her shirt and pokes her in the belly in front of God and everyone. I just sat there and smiled. That’s MY girl and I love her. She makes me laugh, she wants to entertain, she’s full of life and loves so hard.

This Mother’s Day, five months later, she stood up in front of the church. Sang her songs without batting an eye. Finally spotted me in the crowd about three songs in, raised her hands high in the sky and waved to me. That’s MY girl.

I love watching them grow up. I never want to miss a minute. I treasure those moments and will carry them with me forever in my heart. And promise to retell these stories when she’s grown and needs a bit of humbling and payback. It’s my job, it’s what I do.

Where was I? Oh yes, Makena’s birthday party. Makena turned five way back in early December. I had no clue what I was going to do for her party as the weather in December can be iffy. She asked if we could have her party at the pool. I think not.  Darby, one of the sweetest mamas I know, had just done a super cute tea party themed birthday party for her daughter so I thought what the heck. Let’s bring out the china!

Beads and pipe cleaners go a long way to keep kids entertained. And a quick disclaimer, very few ideas are mine. It takes a village.

Makena’s great grandmothers tea cup and saucer collection. Believe it or not not a one got broken.

A happily sleeping baby girl.

Well at least I got these pictures up before she turned six. I would call that success these days. Happy birthday sweet Makena!

Already?!? You look a little surprised.

Chloe, this is your signature look. Wide eyed and bushy tailed. Eyebrows raised. I imagine you are looking around at us and saying ‘really???’

Yes Chloe, this is YOUR family. Welcome, we are all a little bit crazy.

You are still a drooling machine (drooly sleeve above), but now you have added rolling to your repetoire. And somehow you scoot all around your crib. I’m still not sure how you are doing that. You share a room with your big sister and immediately stop crying when you hear her talking to herself or reading bedtime stories. Yes, she talks a lot.

This blue gown was made by your great-aunt, worn by your cousins, and also worn by Makena and Keegan. I will be very sad the day you outgrow it.

Happy four month birthday Chloe!

Watch me grow…

Month One

Month Two

Month Three

Yep folks, I’ve got it all under control. Nothing to worry about.

See that desk in the corner over there? Craft Hope World Headquarters… just in case you were wondering.

Happy Three Month Birthday Chloe! This is your pirate face. This month, you drool. A lot. You also fidget like you are going places. And you just started baby talk. You especially like it when you get a bit of saliva in your throat and gurgle. You are your very own sound effects machine.

Watch me grow…

Month One

Month Two

****

Yes, that is Chloe’s rocker and crib moved into another room. Always adapting and changing around here. Will show you the changes very soon.

Makena sat with her daddy and Keegan slept peacefully. Lulled to sleep by the Christmas lullabies in my brother’s lap. The service ended with the congregation singing Silent Night. It took me back to when Makena was a newborn, only a couple of days home from the hospital. She had an extended stay in the NICU. I remember, just like yesterday, holding my first born. Holding her as tight as I possibly could. Singing the same very song to her, home with our new family of three.

Right now we are home, tracking Santa online. He’s in Puerto Rico so it’s about time to hurry the kids along to bed. He’ll be here shortly. Here is a photo, taken only moments ago. Makena precariously holding Chloe, while I’m holding my breath. Keegan, not wanting to take a picture but rather wanting some juice. I love these moments. The frustration from a boy who is tired of his mama taking his picture. The joy of a big sister to have a little one to dress just alike. And the new baby, who we are just beginning to know.

Friends, may you treasure every moment of the season and hold these memories close to your heart. From our family to yours we hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

It has been unseasonably cold here in Austin. This summer it was unseasonably hot, and now it’s cold. It even snowed this week. Not enough to stick of course, but just enough to make us stop everything we were doing and run outside to play. Then quickly realize that pajama pants are not the best snow frolicking attire. The kids ran and twirled under the snowflakes. Savoring every last bit of it. And then the sunshine came out, not five minutes later, and we all returned to our normal routine.

This week my big girl celebrated her fifth birthday. I can’t quite put into words what she means to me. Being my first born, the thoughts of how my life has changed since becoming a mama gets me all choked up. This weekend is her birthday party and Christmas program at church so maybe after all of that is over I can sit down and write it out. I’ll probably need a box of tissues.

The newest member of our family loves her some Christmas lights. We all do. And I have to say that so far this has been the BEST holiday ever. Our little family of five. For the first time in my life I feel complete.