Kid Stuff!

I've got a bit of them written down and stuck on my computer in files....at least they are safe, though! Gonna see if James can get them for me sometime, lol.

My three do and say the cutest things all the time! Life with three is very different than life with two. I think having older kids makes it different too.....they are so PEOPLE-ISH :) not just little babies toddling around! It's a great adventure. 

Yesterday Nicolas painted a picture of "daa-ee's hop-i-sol" for James. When James got home from work, we gave it to him. (I think Patrick did, lol) Patrick came running into the kitchen afterwards telling me about it. I said something like "Wow, I bet Daddy liked that!" to which he replied "Yeah, especially since it's his OWN KID!" :)

Patrick found his notebook he and James made the evening Patrick was saved. He then quietly retreated upstairs with Nicolas, to the very table he and James sat at back in October 2010. I heard him talking to Nicolas about Jesus. I went upstairs and said "What are you doing?" Nicolas responded "We prayin' for my heart!"

Emma is so adorable walking all over the house, this tiny little person! I love love love it! Today she went over to the laundry room door, and I believe was looking for James. She said "Daa-daa". I picked her up and showed her through the garage door that Daddy wasn't home yet. So cute!

Emma and Nicolas love to scream together! Adorable and LOUD!

Here's Emma walking! This was right after I had four teeth (two wisdom) removed on December 30th, 2011. Emma started walking on Christmas eve!  

The next video is a great scheme of Patrick's! He is forever doing things like this! He tied Emma's beloved car from Grandma to her overalls with dental floss. He was SO delighted that it worked and seeing her pull it around! She was a good sport about it for quite awhile, too!

 

 and here is Patrick saying one of his many poems he has learned so far in 1st grade! He has a "memory like an elephant" ! :)

 the boys doing a marshmallow test together :) I like listening to them talk and sing together. Such sweet little guys!

Nicolas just turned three yesterday! How quickly those years have gone! He is a hilarious, sweet little boy. I can't believe he is 3! 

He got to start piano lessons, which he has been greatly looking forward too! With "Aunt Lissa". :) A couple months back he told me "I WISH I could!" (take piano lessons) and another time he told me "When I take piano lessons I'll take off my shoes and wash my hands!" (That's what all the students do at the teachers house, and he has seen Patrick do it.)
Of course on the BIG DAY when he did get to start (We told him when he was three he could) he was playing with friends and didn't want to leave. I think he was nervous, too. He cried and said "I don't WANT TO take piano lessons!" Then I told him he had to, and he said "When I'm big can I not?" As we made our ways downstairs for his lesson he tearfully said "Will you sit with me?"

Nicolas went through a phase of not liking pepperoni pizza. Patrick knew it and said to him "What do you think of the pepperoni?" Nicolas said "A tiny bit yucky." Patrick then replied "I need to teach you how to be polite. What you do is you say "Thank you" even if you don't like it."

Eating chips Patrick said "They're right, Mama - you CAN fit a whole one in your mouth!" I questioned what he meant and he said "It says BITE SIZE toritlla chip!"

Our milk had oreos on them for awhile...with the little slogan "Milks favorite cookie." Patrick was looking at the milk one day and said "Hey milk!" I said "Yeah?" P: "I said MILK." Me: "oh." P: "What's your favorite cookie?"

Patrick: "When God makes a new world, does He get rid of the old one?" Us: "Yes." P: "Where does He put it?"

Patrick to me: "Good job remembering that rule that Daddy told you, that you NEVVVVEEER leave the stove on when you go to the bathroom - or on a walk."

Quote from Nicolas last night as James was tucking him in and I was downstairs sweeping: "Daddy, what that broomin' sound?"

James was looking for his keys all weekend...Finally, we asked Nicolas if he knew where the keys were and he told us right where they were: In an oatmeal box in a drawer, where he had put them. 

Patrick: "Why is Gmail getting a new look?"

One day Patrick came into the kitchen and told me earnestly about something that had happened. I wasn't quite following what he was saying until I heard him say excitedly "I think it might have been a miracle!"

Patrick was eager to help write our Christmas letter....here's what he wrote:

"We Moved from TEXas. To TeNNSSEE. we LivEd in|a|NEiGhBorhood. That was called. MillWood. 

Merry Chrimas. and a Happy New! Year!"

Nicolas loves to praise his little sister for doing something good. He exclaims with great enthusiasm "Good BOY, Emma!!!"

After our move I was talking to Nicolas about Texas and Tennessee. Our map has TN in pink. For awhile there, according to Nicolas we lived in "PINK Tennessee!"

one day I was apologizing for something to the boys. Afterwards Nicolas pointed at me with a mischievous grin and declared "You a CRAB!"

one night I returned from a quick trip to Walmart. James had put the boys to bed while I was gone. I heard crying in the boy's room and went in to see what was up. When I asked Nicolas why he was crying he replied "I lost you!"

Patrick recently got a violin and began lessons with James. In the evenings when they practice, Nicolas and I have enjoyed somel time together. He always wants to read a book and play "wee wee wee all the way home!" His version of "This little piggy" goes like this: "This little piggy had none. (very sad face) This little piggy (had) root beer! This little piggy (went to the) gift shop! This little piggy go wee wee wee wee wee allllll the way home!"

Little Emma is acting more and more like a toddler these days! She LOVES her brothers, laughing, playing in the kitchen cupboards, looking at books and soft stuffed animals. She especially loves coloring, and has amazed us by just picking up crayons, pencils etc. and holding them very close to the correct way! She has the sweetest little personality, and is very laid back. She is tons of fun and brings so much JOY to our daily lives. We are still enjoying all the pink frilly girl clothes and bows!

My Gifts from God!

I sure love my little babies!! They continually say the funniest and sweetest things. I want to remember them all!

I'm trying lately to remember how quickly my little ones will be grown and gone. I'm trying to stop and look them in the eye, put my arm around them and say something to make them feel special and loved....for indeed they are both!

I'm trying to hug them more, and focus on the HERE and NOW. It's hard when my mind is so fuzzy and crowded....but HERE is where I am, and where they are - and I don't want to look back years down the road and think, "Where was I? What were they like? Now look at these adults before my eyes! I miss the little years!"

These are the best years of our lives! Days we don't get back. So soon they will be grown. Thank You God, for THIS season, and these three precious kiddos!

Sayings & Moments To Remember....

Nicolas wanted chips. I told him when he was done with his food he could have some. He then cleared all his food off his plate onto the floor & exclaimed "Yay!!!" I told him no, to put them back on his plate to which he replied "Oh No!"

"Mama, did you know, when I take a shower, there isn't any music, so I just sing." - Patrick

"I haven't seen that book - that green one. What is it?" It's a book about raising kids. "From the dead?" - Patrick

Nicolas was whining & fussing about his hair being combed. I was talking to him about how maybe he needed to go to bed, because when people are tired they whine & cry about everything, and out of the blue he said "No! Hap-py!"

Patrick quoted Psalm 139 as "Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your president?" - Patrick

Nicolas called Mimi and Poppi on our toy phone. He said "Pop-pop! Mimi! Oh wow! Eat. Wow! Eat! Bye bye!"

"For he was wounded for our transmissions" - Patrick

Patrick crawled into bed with me & Emma one morning. After awhile he said "She's so cute! I'm glad she was born."

Emma was fussing one day, and Nicolas told her not to worry & cry about the storm (that's what he seemed to think she was crying about! :) ) because he was there! He says that often. "No worry. Me here!" He also tells me "No worry" about things that I'm telling him not to do, like standing in dangerous places......:)

"Daddy, please look at your facebook and see this bug. Bye." - posted with my help on FB along with a picture of a bug that Patrick wanted Daddy to see.

Messy Memories.....Patrick loves to put tape on ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. He taped paper on the fireplace and used it as an easel. He also likes to experiment with glue :)

One morning while trying to prepare for an event at my house, my children dropped a brand new toy penguin in the toilet, spilled their C drink 2x, N poured foot powder out all over the bathroom floor and smeared it on his toy piano, Emma spit up on me and the floor and P talked non-stop (or at least A LOT! :) )

Other messy adventures.....coloring on the couch, stabbing people with pretend violin bows, etc.....all compliments of my little 2 yr. old! :)

I called Nicolas a "shopaholic" (he LOVES to shop!) and after asking what one was, Patrick said he was a "Churchaholic" :) They have this joke between them about Sunday nights, when P & J go to Church and N, E and I shop....they say "ME - CHURCH! YOU - SHOP!" mixing it up where it's not correct. Then the other one says "NO! ME - CHURCH! YOU - SHOP!"

James & P went on their fist camping trip a while back. P was so excited he started watching for J an hour before J even gets off work!

"My bones are growing and are owie, so I think it's better to watch a movie." - Patrick ;)

Emma LOVES her brothers. She thinks they hung the moon! ;) Today she was grinning her head off at a VIDEO of Nicolas! (he was in bed. I think she missed them!)

Nicolas just recently started saying Patrick's name! I waited so long to hear it! It is absolutely precious and melts my heart. He says "Pa-chick." But, with that, "Bubba" went bye bye. He never calls him that anymore! :(

Patrick is reading everything!!! He has even started trying (sometimes successfully) to put together words we spell out! Having to watch what I leave around more now!

Patrick Sayings & Memories of our Family

"I sure wonder if Poppi took my old tricycle that was red like this and smashed it and made a scooter...."

Patrick made a "fly trap" ie, his paper plate from lunch with some peanut butter on it & a chip. He wrote "FLY" all around the edges & said "I'm gonna write "FLY" on here, then he'll know it's for him."

"God, Thank You for my scooter. I like it a lot."

"Emma, I love you the best than ALL the sisters in the world!"

"I think spanking is an interesting thing."
Me: "Why do you think that?"
"because I wonder what would happen if you spanked blocks. hard ones."

"....and we put our eyes right close to each other to make four eyes" (I guess talking about one of his siblings & putting his face right against theirs....)

"In Heaven I wondered if people could just open their doors & thank God for their food."

He said he wants Daddy, Mama, Nicolas & Emma etc. to ALL go to Heaven at the same time.

He said sometimes in Heaven he would lay down on the floor of our house & take a nap. (upon hearing that there is no night)

I was changing E's diaper in another room while the boys were eating lunch. I heard a cough and said "Are you guys ok?" both of them responded that they were, then Patrick said "Are you girls ok?"

Singing a song together. Words in the song Nicolas can say are "Jesus" "Heart" "Me" "Day" I find it funny that right when they are singing about all they do being on "display" that Nicolas starts bothering his brother's hat ;)


He was telling me something he told his babysitters (Kathleen & Rebekah B.) and part of it was "....Mimi & Poppi, their names are really Dennis & Grandmerry"

I was explaining to Patrick how a reward system was going to work, and how when we finished it we would do it again. When I finished saying how we'd do it over & over again he said "over & over again until we get to Heaven?!!"

"Sometimes Chick-fil-a has yucky music, but I LOVE it. I'm never going to trade restaurants!"

Patrick was learning about Illinois & the Sears Tower and said "Why is it called the Serious Tower?"

We were talking about things related to picking your nose and Patrick told me: "I used to wipe them on my PJ's, but now I just throw them on the floor so you can
vacuum them."

Nicolas loves to say verses! He can say "Allll" with a hand motion, but he didn't do it here....


In the car one day Patrick said "Emma is doing this (made an up-turned face with nose high in the air & eyes fluttering shut) so she is PROUD!"

James has an owie on his leg, and Nicolas prays the most pitiful, sad sounding prayers for him. They go something like this: (with hands folded & eyes tightly squeezed shut, with a rather hushed & high pitched voice) "Daddy, Daddy, ow, ow, Ah-man" (sometimes he whispers the Amen)


"Bananas Gorilla has SIX WATCHES. Nobody needs that many watches!"

Talking about death & what happens to your body & soul: "....and your spirit goes to Heaven or hell...and your spirit is you?"

"look at that lovely green grass! I want to live in that house!"

"When I drink Juice it makes me SMILE!"

"I love my baby brother SO MUCH!"

(back from when I was preggo with Emma..) he is always watching out for me and telling me I "shouldn't do" such n such "because you're pregnant!"

Calls Nicolas "Little Fix It" & himself "Mr. Fix it"

Nicolas was wanting me to draw "woof woofs" (dogs) and pointing at the paper, Patrick said "He shows you where to make them! That's so CUTE!"

Eating a burger one day, Patrick said: "It tastes like it needs to cook a little bit more, but Thank You!"

About Emma "She looks like Poppi, Mom, with that little bit of hair!"

"Bless you Emma!"

P laid their food on a blanket and said "Camping! So we're gonna burn up our food and eat it, 'cause we're camping!"

"You just need a little love from your elephant!" P said to Emma, giving her a toy elephant of hers.

I asked who wanted to pray at lunch. Patrick said "Me!" and began praying. Of course right then Nicolas got upset that HE wanted to pray and said loudly in the middle of P's prayer "ME!!!" It was a bit humorous to see them "fighting" about praying....

We had not read this story before. He is taking off with his reading!

Life & BabyEmma!

It's been an interesting week, to say the least....

God sent a lot of rain, which was good for the parched ground, but not so good for a leaky roof.
BOTH our cars (which are too small for our family after Emma's arrival) broke down.
The Vacuum Cleaner continued it's breakdown which has been occurring for awhile, resulting in us borrowing my MIL's.
Patrick had a reaction to something (probably cat hair on something from a thrift store) and his eye swelled up really badly.
and as usual, finances were stressful :)

throw in with that all the normal day to day stresses of dealing with children, schooling, housework, etc. etc. - it's been an interesting week, for sure.

Counting our Blessings though:
God provided us with some unexpected gifts of $ for groceries etc.
God provided someone to tow one of our cars, which broke down at James' job.
God provided rides for James after his car broke down, and a way for me to have the car one day, so I could grocery shop (and as it turned out, take Patrick to the doctor for his eye.)
God helped Patrick's eye to un-swell, and there were no other problems.
God provided a vacuum for us to borrow.
There has been no sickness (aside from the eye thing) this week. I hate sickness in my kids or hubby! So grateful everyone has been well.
Sunday School & The Sermon were very timely.....on trials & Grace.
We were able to take a good look inside our hearts, and evaluate what's in there :)
We have three healthy children, who keep us laughing every day! We sure love them.
I sure love my hubby, too. He's a keeper, for sure.

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Aside from that, we are getting so close to Emma's arrival! I'm 33 weeks today. That leaves 7 more weeks! Not long, for sure!
I'm seeing my midwife, Dinah every 2 weeks now. Everything seems to be progressing the way it should.
I've reached the point of being ACHY and UNCOMFORTABLE! :) I asked James last night "Was I this miserable with the boys?" he said I was, and I forgot - and that I'll forget all this when Emma is in my arms, too :)
Sure can't wait for that day! I am so excited to have a little girl, and dress her up! I'm probably the most excited about HEADBANDS! Oh, I love them! I just want to put one on her cute little head and stare at her! (and take lots and lots of pictures!)
I'm anxious to see what she looks like, and if she has dark or light hair. I thought all my kids would have dark hair, but the boys proved me wrong! So, we say, maybe the girl will have dark hair? Who knows!
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Life with the boys is moving right along. Patrick is doing & enjoying school, and both are growing like weeds - and are SO MUCH FUN!
Patrick says the funniest things. On our way to Church one day we saw some cows, and P said "Why do people never take their cows to Church?.....If I grow up I'll have a cow Church. On the front it will say "Cow Church" and on the back "Cows learn about God""
One day Nicolas was touching the wall, and P said "Nicolas is being gentle to the wall! You don't have to be gentle to it Nicolas, because it's not real!!!"
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Fall teaching has started up. James works 12 hr. shifts at The Planet every Thur. Fri. and Sat., as well as e/o Wednesday. Then Church is Sunday, and James teaches/does the orchestra on Monday.
This year we had a child of a former conductor join the group! Some of my friends will remember the Fore family! So fun.
I wrote up a schedule for the days, and for what subjects we would do each day in school. I'm liking having them, although I'm pretty loose as far as some things are concerned.
Patrick "loves math" and he is doing so well with his phonics & reading! It's so exciting.
Nicolas loves Elmo. He calls him "La la" because of the song "Elmo's song" (on youtube, of course!)
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.....and that's about it. I am so grateful for the life God has given me. I am so happy to be married to James, and so grateful for the beautiful children God has given us.

Patrick Sayings & Memories

"Look Mama, there's pieces of sunshine!"

I sang a kids song, and patrick corrected the lyrics. I said, teasingly "Thanks for setting me straight!" and he replied "We're you bumpy?"

"Mama, I said a mean sound to the mopper, because I wanted my broom!" (He isn't supposed to make mean sounds to people when they do things he doesn't like, and the mop was in the way of his broom, so I guess he was confessing, or something!)

Looking at the sticker with a ladybug on his apple he said "I guess they kill ladybugs and make apples." (he has recently become more aware of how animals are killed to be beef, chicken, etc. - in fact, there was one conversation where he said something about "taping the animals back together" after they were killed - and how he didn't want to eat animals!)

sometimes when you have sprite you have a low burp! sometimes when I have the cup, when I have the sprite at Chick-fil-a I have a low burp and a high burp.

If we have a baby girl and she has red hair I think we should name her Madeline!

Patrick said when he grows up he wants to be a lizard! (usually he tells us he doesn't WANT to grow up!)

Nicolas was crying about having to sit on his potty chair, so Patrick ran and got a book and hurried over to show N pictures and "read" him the book. "To make him feel better!" (so sweet to listen to him read to his baby brother...."Yes, Nicowas! It's a BOAT - like in the bathtub....I'll show you! Meanwhile Nicolas is going "row row row!")

Patrick telling Nicolas "how to make a bellybutton":
"They take a string from your Mama's tummy, then they cut it and tie it, and that's how you make a bellybutton, Nicolas! You understand?"
and another time...."See Nicowas? It's a bellybutton! I have one, you have one, Daddy has one! Everyone has one - even mean people." Then a little later I hear "Mama, do mean people have bellybuttons?"

On the way home one day Patrick said "When Nicolas and I get married, we will still be brothers and we can call each other on the phone!......like Daddy and Uncle Joseph!"

We arrived home from shopping and I said "HI HOUSE!!" Patrick replied "It didn't say anything!"

Patrick says "Nicolas, I want to teach you a new word. Can you say "The. The Lord is powerful" Nicolas: "Bah!" Patrick: "You're supposed to say THE, not Bah....The, The, The!"

I heard laughter coming from the boys room and looked in to see Nicolas gleefully throwing binkies in Patricks direction :) (both in their own beds, of course! :) )

Patrick Sayings!

He told me that in one of his books there was a different lion with fluffy hair all around it's ears.....like Grandma :)

"We are sitting close to each other because we are brothers"

"When I didn't have Nicolas, I was alone. But now that I have him I'm not alone."

Driving past a funeral home "There's the place where you die!!!" "When you die are you sad or mad or happy?"

"Kanga, (he pretends I'm Kanga, he is Christopher Robin and Nicolas is Roo...and Daddy is TIGGER!) i have a lot of things to talk about."
me: Like what?
"Like everything!" me: Did you see that little girl at the park? she had a big flower on her head. Do you know what her name was?
"What was her name?"
me: Mia
"Well, I call her flower"
me: Wasn't she pretty?
"No."

"I take a bite, then i say goodbye to my peanut butter and jelly cause it's gonna go in my tummy!"

"My tears are big and Nicowas' are little?"

"When im grown up I wont need my toys." (but mostly he says he doesn't want to grow up whenver we talk about growing up! He used to say it was because he just wanted to be Nicowas' brother! :) )

"My little pretend sister that's called Sally Sue only takes ONE nap!"

Patrick heard the story of Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt. Later in the day he asked me "....Why did she have to turn into a peppermint???"

Talking to Patrick about having a soft heart (in relation to spiritual things) he asked me "Is my heart bumpy?"

Talking about a monkey's tail, and how Patrick didn't have one. Then Patrick asked "Did I have one when I was a baby?"

Will my birthday be for 40 days?

"Can i read the Bible today? Actually, it's kind of dangerous, so I don't want to. It has kind of dangerous stories."

"Gettin married is kind of dangerous." (seeing a pic of me and Rachel pregnant at the same time....) "Who was in (aunt Rachel's) tummy when (nicolas) was in yours?"
me: Daniel.
"I didn't care for that because I wanted to play with him!"

"What does it feel like when God is in your heart?"

"Is there vit. C in Heaven?"

(looking at "The little engine that could"....) "Some of these trains don't know God. But the blue one knows God."

Long Time No Blog! :)

I haven 't blogged here in awhile! As always I do have more current posts on www.live-with-patrick.blogspot.com if you are interested!

Since my last post we have moved! Our landlord got foreclosed on, so we had to move. We love our "new" house, and are grateful to God for giving it to us. We will Lord willing be here for 3 years. We were weary of packing up and moving every year to year and a half or so!
Our new house is in a nice little older neighborhood, only 20 min. from our old house. (we can still shop at our old wal-mart if we want to! :) ) It has three bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen with a spot big enough for a card table in the corner, for when I'm cooking and Patrick is eating or some such thing! It has two bath rooms, a laundry room and a converted garage....and a nice little back yard that is the perfect size for a 3 year old, and a wee one growing up. It even has a little covered porch, which we love!

In news of the boys - they are doing great overall. Currently we've had a bug, so that's no fun. Poor little guys were crying a lot today, and have stuffy noses/runny noses. I had it too, and I know it's no fun!
Patrick is such a little boy! He is such a goof ball, too. Still a cautious child. At story time he never wants to do what everyone else does (unless he really loves whatever they are doing (i.e - has had some exposure to the song or whatever beforehand) He never wants to march around with noise makers, and ever since he was 1 year old he has not wanted to go under the parachute during parachute play! He has to be comfortable with people and whatever is going on in order to participate. He does enjoy story time though. Lately we've been able to go just the two of us since it falls on a day James is off work. That's been quite nice.
He is so affectionate. He cares so much about his baby brother, and loves him so much. He has a soft heart for how people feel. He hates it when people are sad and/or cry. He is quite the older sibling responsible type, too! ;) He is doing great with his piano and memorizing. He also memorizes Cd's we listen to, which is so fun and funny to hear! He will sometimes recite "Angus and the Ducks, by Marjorie Flack" out of the blue....or "Clifford, the big red dog, by Norman Bridwell!" He is into making faces lately. Hilarious ones. He uses extreme big hand motions. He is so boyish - yet so un-boyish, too! He is a lot like his Daddy. But I'm seeing a lot of me, too. He is figuring out more and more how to talk like "real" people. He listens so closely to what we say. We were talking one day about something gross, and then he exclaimed with gusto "That's GROSS DADDY!" sooo funny!

Nicolas has been army crawling for about a month now, and will get up on all fours and rock back and forth, even taking one or two crawls usually (the other day he took several in a row!)
He is babbling, imitating, and quite the personality, fun loving little joker! He will bat at James on purpose to get his attention, or make noises to attract Patrick's attention. He laughs at funny faces we make, as if he gets the complicated joke! He has strong opinions and likes/dislikes, and can make them very known, if you get my point :) He LOVES water. He can sit up/get down from a sitting position as well as pulling himself up now. Pulling up on EVERYTHING, as of about 2 or 3 days ago. He loves to go get all the things he isn't supposed to. The Cd's, the cords, etc.
He still isn't sleeping through the night. Since our move things have gone downhill, however they have improved recently somewhat. Last night he got up about every 3 hours. I am really feeling exhausted and worn out.
He has dark eyes, and people are commenting more and more telling me how he looks "just like you!" He has a very unique hairline. In the back it has a little "curl" (place where you should part) on BOTH sides of his head! In the front he has a cowlick on BOTH sides of his forehead! (although not perfectly centered down in the middle!) I don't know what I shall do with his adorable hair! :) A friend recently shared with me that there is nothing you can do with such hairlines :) His brother has hair like that, so I guess he knows!
Nicolas is full of life and sparkle and seems to want to go get everything. He thrives on being with the people he loves. He squeals with delight, and "talks" loud about everything he may notice, even if it's something quite "mundane" to us. He is a joy! I am sad thinking he is so big already. Only four months until he is one. It has gone so fast! But, as I read recently "Don't be sad because it's over, be happy because it happened!" (Dr. Seuss)

And I shall leave you with Patrick sayings. I do write down things about Nicolas, too :) But it's more a journal of his first year.....just so you know I'm jotting down memories about both, lol! :)
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Patrick Sayings:
"God, thank You for my peanuts. Only my peanuts. Amen"

Yesterday I read to Patrick about Adam and Eve disobeying God. He was very worried about them doing that. He looked most distraught and said "but did they obey???!"

Today he asked me "Mommy, where are Adam and Eve?" I told him in Heaven. "Why?" Because they lived a long time ago and now they live in Heaven (trying to avoid the subject of dying since it upsets him)
He then asked if there were houses in heaven, so we talked about the mansions God is preparing. I told him God was making one for me for when I go there one day. He replied "I don't want you to die." Later he said "When you die Daddy and I will buy a new Mommy." He also said "When you go to Heaven I hope you will come back to our house." "I hope you will come down from Heaven."

Turning his little lamp off (new thing he learned to do 8/09) has huge grin, throws up hands dramatically, saying in sing-song voice "nobody can see my light anymore!" Climbs in bed, continues in same way acting/saying "because I'm going to bed." "Goodbye" cuddles in under quilt.
Love my little silly boy!

are we gonna have another wedding?
no, mommy and daddy aren't going to get married again, but we're going to watch the video.
"was I there?"
No, you weren't born yet.
"was I in your tummy"
No.
Where were I?

"Wait a minute. I think I hear a sound outside." ME: yeah. Maybe it's rain. P: "I think it's God"

Wakes up in the morning. all groggy and cuddly. then asks "Is my baby sister out of your tummy yet?" Also says he wants a big sister :)

I think our baby is tellin' us somethin'

Things to Remember....and some funny Patrick sayings!

Patrick and I went on a "date" to the Library this week...just the two of us! It was a very fun time. He is growing up so quickly. He makes us laugh and laugh. We love him so!Here's some funny stuff he's said over the last few months, as well as some stuff I want to remember about him....

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"Mommy, Sprite makes me BURP!"

"My water went ker-splat in my eye and I wiped it away!"

"I hope Jesus will help Rachel to have another baby." (said when baby Daniel was about a week old)

Me to Patrick: "You have such pretty eyes. Do you know who made them?" Patrick: God and Noah."

"This is a stir thing to stir this" (talking about his spoon and his cereal)

P asked if we had anymore jellybeans. I told him no, we ate them all. He said "We have to get some more from the jelly bean man!" I asked who was the jelly bean man and he said "Mimi and Poppie!"

We were talking about the things God gave us....eyes, nose, cheeks....hair. Then we talked a little about how some people have no hair. Patrick looked out the window and soon began a prayer...."God, help Poppie to get some hair. Amen"

"I don't know if I can eat that fat fish..." "It might make me fat."

He calls wilbur from Charlotte's Web "the famous pig"

Avocado look like grass, because it green!

I was crying. Patrick looked at me and said with a thoughtful face: "Maybe you like to take a nap?!"

When he hears or sees a 3 he says "That how much I are!"

Looked at his friend David's paper in Sunday School and said "Daddy start with D" also wrote a P on his paper in S.S

One week his teacher said how God takes care of (and named each child) Patrick kept looking behind him and pointing at me and Nicolas. Finally he said "And Nicolas, too!" The teacher heard him and said "Yes! He takes care of Nicolas too, and your Mommy!"

S.S. Teacher showed the class her old special lamb she slept with. She asked each child if they had something. P has a bear who he sleeps with, but said "I don't sleep with it, I just play with it in the mooorning"

Doesn't like the toilet to flush. Says "I runned away 'cause I flushed it. So I runned away to the KITCHEN"

singing about psalm one, all of a sudden he sings ..."but he says blah about his food..."

Mr. Elephant is Mr. Teddy Bear's BROther. and he like him to pinch him"

a toy was broken he said "I think I throw it away. It brokes ALL A TIME. so I better throw it away!"

"God says to the mailman "can you give Mama and Patrick some mail" and the mailman says "ok!" "

"I get TWO (holding up two fingers) sads. One for the ouchie from the cart (Heel got run over) and one from the flushing potty" (automatic flusher scared him and Nicolas to tears!)

Me to P: You were so tired last night. P to me: Yes, so I close-ed my eyes because I think I could because I was so very tired"

loves his stuff to be put in "a LITTLE bag" goes up to checkers at stores and asks "can you please put this in a little bag?" sometimes before they are even done checking out the other person. Too cute.

He rubbed my back just out of the blue. (6/30/09) I said that feels good. He was worried about my back hurting. He said "it is the first time I rubbed your back!" He is in to saying "it is the first time....." about stuff. He came in most excited the other day saying "I touched the rain for the FIRST TIME!" He was also thinking of reasons why God let it rain, after I told him a few. He was sad about it raining because he "wants to see out his window better!" but he liked thinking of happy reasons why God let it rain (like cooling off the house etc. etc.)


Picked up a bug in a tissue to throw away. Said "I did it for the FIRST time" "Mommy, can you write that down?" "He were a dead bug"

I asked him what he was thinking about. he said "about your --niversary." So we talked about it and he grinned and grinned when I said how we missed him and Nicolas and prayed for them. I told him what we did and how we got him a funny pen and came home and were happy to see him. he said "I like my pen very much. Thank You!"

Sometimes when we sad other people give us kisses. to make us happy.

I thinkin'. "What'cha thinking about?" About Mimi day. I want it to be....1,2,3,4,5" (ie, he wishes everyday were a Mimi day!)

out of the blue "Daddy, I like it when you home and you play with me!"

To Patrick, on the occasion of turning three and a half...

For my sweet Patrick.....my heart overflows with love for you! I love being a mother. It is so fulfilling! One of my favorite parts is putting you to bed. I lay you both down after or before some precious snuggle/bonding/close times, in your clean comfy little beds....music playing.....I feel such love for you, and I love feeling needed.

Patrick, you are 3 1/2 now. Where did those years go? You were just a baby! I remember riding in the pathfinder with you, when you were about 8 months old. You were in your car seat, just staring into my eyes. I stared right back, even though I should have been looking at the road. Your face lit up with delight at your mother....and my face mirrored yours, only in delight of you, my child. My firstborn child. You made such happiness well up in my soul that I could hardly hold it all in.

You are growing bigger each and every day. Your face is taking on a more boyish look....you talk away, using a vocabulary just like Mommy and Daddy, You listen to everything that is said. You have a tender and compassionate heart. You are near moved to tears when someone is hurt or sad. You are opinionated and smart. You work hard. I am very, very proud of you.

At night right now you prefer Mommy to put you to bed. This is just a phase of course, but I love it! You were so delighted tonight when I said that after I put Nicolas to bed I would put you to bed, too. I know you need your Mama's care....it's a special part only I can play in your life.

I cover you with your quilt and you snuggle in to Mr. Teddy Bear. Always laying on your tummy putting him on your left by your head. I pray for you and about you.

Then you say "Mommy, can you sing me a song?" and, even if it's past your bedtime I'm often inclined to say "yes."

These days will not last long. So I ask you what you'd like me to sing, and sometimes you say "Name above all names." Other times it's "Sleep my little one"....but always a "sleepy" or "night night" song. While I sing I rub your back and stroke your face and soft yellow hair.

I am reminded how quickly time passes, and that all too soon you will be a man. No longer will I be able to sit on the side of your toddler bed and tend to you in this way.

Some day when you are a big strong man, I want you to be able to read this, and know how much your Mommy loved you. I love you with all my heart, and my love will always be there for you, no matter what you do. I love you so much, my little P Pat Pat. Thank you for filling my days and nights with such meaning and truth. You have a special place in my heart.

With Love,
Mommy

I got a Bloggie Award! and more Patrick Sayings!

My friend Amy gave this to me! Thanks Amy!

There is supposed to be a little picture to go with the award, but I couldn't get it over here....so here's the award witout it! Sorry!

The award is as follows:"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated."

The rules are:

Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers (I picked 10 just because I wanted to :) )who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Each of the following ladies, I simply love. They each have faced their own challenges in their lives and the way they encapsulate their experiences endears them greatly to my heart.

Danya

Brenda

Rachel

Darleen

Ashley

Christine

Candi

Elisa

Ann

Susan

Patrick Sayings
I told him to go pick up the toys in his room. He loves to pretend he is a baby (talks in a high pitched voice) He went to obey, then came to me and said in his baby voice "I a baby that don't know to put them away - so you help me"

Riding in the car, out of the blue he said "It's just a mirace." I figured this was something he had heard on one of his animal movies from Dr. Jobe Martin, and after some questions I found out that was true. Then he said "I brake the miracle" he then went on to tell me "I tell Daddy I want to break the miracle and he say 'no, you don't do that' "

I some neosporin and a bandaid on his finger. The bandaid didn't cover all the neosporin and as he was looking at it he said "Why the medicine peekin' out???"

Daddy was joking about Patrick driving. Patrick said "How 'bout just you, 'cause I don't supposed to"

We were reading a book about baby Jesus being born. There was a picture of Mary's back, sitting on the donkey. I asked him who that was and he said "it's an angel gettin' a haircut" (I'm guessing her headcovering reminded him of what they put around your neck when you get your haircut???")

He calls short sleeves "up ones" and long sleeves "down ones"

After hearing "if you're happy and you know it say amen" he said "I don't want to say amen. I just want to say SKUNK amen." (loves to say silly made up words, and although skunk is not a made up word he uses it all the time as total silliness.)

One morning I took Nicolas' diaper off and made some comments about it. Patrick said "I smell it with my nose, because I have my nose to smell pee pee aned poo poo"

I don't like cold water, just hot, because my tummy say "I don't like cold, just hot" (made a different voice for his tummy talking)

Showing Nicolas one of the Ressurection Eggs: "Look Nicolas, Jesus not in the tomb!" (Empty egg) earlier he told his daddy about the empty egg. Jesus not here cause he alive and later something about up up up up in heaven.

Daddy gave Nicolas a cup to play with. He said Nicolas could eat cereal or drink water. (joking, obviously) Patrick said "No Nicolas you just need to suck on Mama’s tummy so you can grow and get big so you can play with Daddy and Patrick."

"Funny grape juice makes me go potty every time"

I read psalm 12 to Patrick. Vs. 3 says "The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:" Afterwards I asked him if he heard something about a different verse and he said while messing with his tongue "I don't want him to cut mine."

Riding in the car one day Patrick brought up the subject of dying. "I don't want to die." "I want to go home and play with my toys"

Patrick Sayings and a few questions.....

said while fiddling with Nicolas' belly button: "I playin with Nicolas button of his tummy"

The other day I asked him why he did something bad, and he replied with something to the affect of: "because God's not here" I then told him about how we can't see God but God see's us and everything we do and even think. He went on to say something about someday seeing God in Heaven.

Today after working on some Bible verses (one about not walking in darkness) and some discussion together about God's light he said "I want to be in God's light"

after hearing about a friend getting a "spank" as he calls them, he asked "why he not obey God?"

What is your favorite thing to do with Mama: play

What makes Mama said: not obeying God

What makes Mama happy: obeyin God

How old is Mama? 2 months old

What does Mama do that makes you laugh: hahaha hahehahe

What's your favorite song: Elmo's Song

We are loving how he can sing songs now (lots of the words, sometimes putting in the same words over and over again) with the correct tunes!

Patrick Sayings

"It's time to take down the Christmas tree Patrick" - leave it up 'till Miss-mus.

"We're going to take down the Christmas tree" why? "because Christmas is over" - maybe it come again.

Sings "Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord" after hearing it at Church that sunday.
Sings "Jesus Loves me for the Bible tell me so"
Sings "Elmo's song" and makes a big low funny face/voice for Snuffy :)
Sings "Winkle Winkle ittle tar, wonder what you are" (twinkle twinkle)
Loves certain songs, and gasps/grins is SO excited when they come on.
Chritmas song favorite were: Jingle bell, O chritmas tree/O tannebaum, also liked/still sings Silent night and Away in a Manger. Sometimes talks about angels and says "Glory to God"

Prays by self now, thanking God for "nice day" and saying "bless Daddy, good at work"

When things are messy he calls it "Messy Day" said "It messy day, Mama! We need clean up!" (about his room)

Why, why, why, why.....and WHY?

Last Saturday Patrick entered the well known and loved "WHY" stage. He used to say "a-do" when he wondered about something (I think) and at times I would tell him to say "why" this or "why" that.....well, out of the blue he got it, and it's been a long week of WHY ever since :)

It really is cute and funny, but it really can wear on you too, especially when circumstances are less than perfect and a sweet little someone just keeps saying "Why, why why?"

The really funny/not so funny part (depending on how your day is going) is when he asks you why about something and after you've gone on about the answer, he pipes up again with...."WHY???"

This evening I went grocery shopping about 4 pm. It was a busy time to go shopping I found out, and both Patrick and I were a little tired to begin with. Our shopping trips take a long time, as we go to the bank and then two different stores. I thought it might be a good activity to fill those last long two and a half or so hours before James gets home.....well, my idea worked. It filled the time all too well and left both Patrick and I rather stressed out!!!

From about a million (at least it felt like that many!) "WHYS" to Patrick wailing his eyes out in the middle of a busy walmart, to cherry tomatoes all over the floor of Kroger, things continued to be rather hap-hazard all the way to our arrival back at home.

I hadn't prepared Patrick's dinner before leaving, and it happened to be a day that I actually need 40 min. or possibly an hour for everything to cook. SO we arrive home, scurry to unload groceries, get a snack for starving P (rice cake, so crumbs fall all over the floor I just vacuumed today...) and I then proceed to try and unload/put away groceries/clean out the fridge and make Patrick's dinner all at once - which results in a lot of stuff on the counters (ICK) smoke billowing out of the microwave and some majorly burned sweet potatoes. I opened up the back door to air out the house and some little moth about scared Patrick out of his wits.

Speaking of Patrick his eyes were really itching him, so I carried him off to the bedroom to put drops in them - resulting in more wails.

Finally it's about 6:45 and I've got a different/incorrect menu for Patrick ready. Right as I'm about to set it in front of him the phone rings. I knew it couldn't be good news, seeing as James was supposed to be home 15 minutes ago. Apparently a major wreck had him creeping along, and (surprise surprise) he was running late :)

About 30 min. later the groceries were all put away, the kid was half way through his supper and James arrived home, right as I was starting on the pile of old food/dishes cleaned out of the fridge.

.....And in case you were wondering, Patrick was still asking "WHY?" :)


Other happenings I want to remember:

As I was loading up the groceries into the car, Patrick saw the moon. It was very large and darker than usual. He looked at it and said "Why moon yellow??!"

later as we were driving down the road I pointed the moon out to him again. It was higher in the sky now, appearing smaller. He said "baby one! (all small things are "baby") Big one - a-go?"

It made me smile. Surely it couldn't be the same moon - at least to a two year old it couldn't!


ALSO! Today Patrick came up to me and hugged me, telling me he loved me for the first time! So sweet. I love how he's been pointing things out to me and adding "Mama" at the end. He is so excited to tell me things, and have me see them too!


When I hit my brakes suddenly or hard, he says "Careful!" so funny and cute!

Patrick Moments to Remember...

Last week Patrick was looking at a photo album of his babyhood. He was making some comments about the various pictures, and when he got to some of him with wires and what-not attached to him, he got very sad. He kept saying "ow" or "owie" several times, and was practically crying over it. It was so heartbreaking! My sweet little tender-hearted boy.

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One day at rest time, Patrick was very upset about the fact that I was putting up his black window shade. He was throwing a fit, and I was dealing with him. All of a sudden, amidst the tears etc. etc. he said "Rocking chair" (or something like that :) )

I thought it was so sweet of him to want to rock with me! We haven't rocked in awhile, and the fact that he requested that melted my heart! (Even if he was being such a bad boy at the time ;))

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Patrick loves to dream about the "new bebe".

We talk about it, and what he will do with it. He wants to change it's diaper and show baby Nicolas his "pot" movie (Spot the dog) among many other things, like playing together etc.

He also has said that he will rock Nicolas.

I love to watch and hear him say these things. He is so expressive and tender.

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My MIL seems to think that Patrick is a lot like James when he was a child. Things Patrick does remind her of James. Things like the way he walks sometimes, or the fact that he sometimes sticks his tongue out when he gets excited :) and how silly Patrick is, too!

Also, James sees some of himself in Patrick. Patrick is very controlling. He has exact opinions about how everything is going to go, and gets extremely upset if we say otherwise. We are working with him, and we hope that God will do a work in his heart as he grows, but at times it is also humorous. (at times it's terribly discouraging, too. I didn't know children could be like this! James laughs sometimes and says "Gallagher children" :) )

anyways, the other night James and Patrick were looking at books to read before bed. James was thumbing through them, and Patrick reached out and stopped his hands, since he didn't want James to be doing that right then.

James told me that when he and his younger brother were playing, he would do things like that. Apparently Joseph would set up some thing with the play people, then James would say "no, they are going to do -------- and ----------" So opinionated! (aren't we all though!)

He cries too, when something doesn't go the way he planned or would like. The book we read today made him cry, because the baby threw the rubber duck out of the bathtub....a while back he cried because "dingle" (the neighborhood dog who he just LOVES) decided to put down the piece of trash he was carrying in his mouth!

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I love Patrick so much. He is talking up a blue streak, and I love to hear his sweet little voice, and the way he says things. He has started saying "yessss" now, instead of "yah" and I love it! To have this little person with me each day, talking to me, doing things with me.....it's a precious time.

Oh the things they do and say!

Having a growing boy is so fun! Patrick is trying to talk more, and we are so proud of him! We love hearing him say things.

Some of our neighbors made those lollipops out of saran wrap and sticks. Patrick really likes them - and calls them "Pop" - he even makes the "P" sound at the end of it, not just the beginning! (at least some of the time ;) )

Well, for Christmas one of the things Patrick got was a kitchen set, and some food. Amidst the food, of course, are some hot dogs. Yesterday I was thinking what he must think about that - it's two words he knows and can say (his own version of, that is) yet putting them together about a piece of food is pretty strange! Well, today he pointed at a hot dog, and said the word he uses for dog!

Poor child. Sometimes things just don't make sense in this strange world! :)

He is better at making sounds sometimes, instead of words. For Sprite he used to say "Sssssss" now he says something else, which I have a hard time remembering. For milk he says "Mmmmmm" (and sign language sometimes, too.) My mom got him a Fridge Phonics set for Christmas, and the other day he said his sprite word and got the "S" off the fridge! I was excited about that!

He is trying to say hamburger, too. And he tried to say one of Kathryn's nick names on New Years eve!

He is so expressive. He makes the funniest faces. The other day he had a little car from his Lego's. He drove it gently over my face, then acted so sad and hugged me. He also did it to his face-and of course I hugged him! It turned into (or maybe it was from the beginning!) a game.

Oh yes, something else he does that is pretty funny, but not always so great...When he gets in trouble and is sad, amidst the tears and wails he cries out "Bee-bee" (sometimes the last bee is higher pitched, so it sounds SO dramatic and miserable!) even adding sign language at times!

He jabbers away in his own language - I can't wait until he can talk even more!