Christmas 2010
By far, my favorite gifts this year
We had a nice, quiet Christmas at home this year. It was fun watching Matias's face when Santa visited and watching the excitement with all the new toys. The girls didn't really notice anything, but were happy hanging out watching Matias open his gifts. And thank goodness they like to share, because Matias played with all their new toys almost as much as his. :) I don't know what Matias's favorite gift was because he has played with everything.
Just hanging out, getting ready for Santa to come...
I like this Santa guy!
Sofia doesn't look too impressed with her gift
Someone is spoiled! 
Matias's gift-opening audience
Christmas morning (Matias was a bit tired from all the excitement :))I'm very optimistic that 2011 is going to be a good one. There are a lot of good things that I think/hope will happen this year:
-Matias will be potty trained
-The girls will learn how to walk and will say their first words
-We will be able to go out IN PUBLIC as a family (double yay!!!)
-We will find a house...finally
-We will be able to take our first vacation as a family of 5
-My stomach will get smaller thanks to surgery (yeah, I will be getting surgery for 'adominal separation'- basically my stomach muscles were ripped apart because of Matias's enormous size and now I have a gaping hole or big bulge depending on what position I'm in. Gross, I know...enough said.)
And tomorrow is January 1st, and Matias's 2nd birthday. He has been home with me and the girls this week and it has been so wonderful to spend time with him....exhausting (and sometimes a bit difficult), but mostly wonderful. I love that kid to pieces. Besides the recent beginning of the 'terrible twos' and some tantrums (which are actually not that bad, but just difficult when you have two other babies to take care of at the same time), he has been the easiest baby/kid I have ever known. A few examples: he never really cried when he was a baby, just snorted or let out a grunt when he wanted something; he has always eaten EVERYTHING that we've offered to him; he didn't make any fuss (or even really notice) when we took his bottle and pacifiers away; he switched to a big boy bed almost effortlessly; when it's bedtime, we just read a story, hug him, say goodnight, and leave....and that's how it's always been....no fussing at all; when we say 'time out', he just goes there by himself and sits until we say he can come out. He has learned some not-so-nice behaviors from daycare, but is starting to really listen to us when we explain why he can or can't do something. He's also giving instructions to Olivia and Sofia all the time, so we know that he's listening to us. The other day he yelled at Sofia when she was chewing on a toy and said 'put toys mouth, no!!!' And then when Olivia was kicking in her bouncy chair, he pushed her feet and said, 'no kick Olivia!!'. Funny. :)
I don't want to get all mushy and gushy, but I do have to say that I get tears in my eyes almost every single day because of how much I love Matias (and of course the girls too). I don't know what in the world I did to ever deserve such a sweet little boy. I guess it's really true in life that the longer you wait for something, the more you appreciate it. I think a lot of parents are worried that their kids won't know how much they love them, but I'm worried that Matias will think I love him TOO much. I know that one day he will get tired of the million hugs and kisses a day. I know that one day he will not dance for joy and shout his name when I ask 'who is mommy's favorite boy in the world?'. And I know that one day he will not run to me, put his hands on my cheeks, and kiss me right on the lips. I also know that I will never forget these days. I will never forget how cute his voice sounds when he sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Finnish (I could listen to it 100 times a day). I will never forget how he sings rong-a-nosy (ring around the rosy) and spins so much that he gets dizzy and falls down. I will never forget how he much he loves to point out numbers. I will never forget how I almost have to run when I pick him up from daycare because I'm so excited to see him. I was in love with him as soon as I saw his chubby little cheeks for the first time and I think I will be in love with him forever.
And on to the girls....they are doing really well and are as sweet as can be. They have been sick off and on all fall, but thankfully nothing extremely serious. Even when they've been sick, they've continued to eat well and have been pretty happy for the most part. Nowadays they are quite easy babies. They just sit and play and eat and sleep and sit and play and giggle and smile all day. They are not fussy at all, but they do of course let me know if they're tired or hungry (although their schedule is so rigid that I usually get around to taking care of things before that happens :)). They have their next developmental check at the end of January, and then we'll get more information about when we can start going out a bit more with them. We hope to start baby swimming in February, and I also hope to start taking the girls to a few baby groups. I'm not sure when I'll be brave enough to take all 3 kids on a bus or train by myself (especially since Matias is not strapped in), but I'm sure there will be a time for that this year too. I think most people who see me would either think I'm lucky to have such a cute load of kids, or then they'll feel really sorry for me....or maybe both. :)
We would like to wish all of our friends and family a very happy 2011! We're looking forward to getting out more with our family and hopefully seeing all of you very soon!
-Matias will be potty trained
-The girls will learn how to walk and will say their first words
-We will be able to go out IN PUBLIC as a family (double yay!!!)
-We will find a house...finally
-We will be able to take our first vacation as a family of 5
-My stomach will get smaller thanks to surgery (yeah, I will be getting surgery for 'adominal separation'- basically my stomach muscles were ripped apart because of Matias's enormous size and now I have a gaping hole or big bulge depending on what position I'm in. Gross, I know...enough said.)
And tomorrow is January 1st, and Matias's 2nd birthday. He has been home with me and the girls this week and it has been so wonderful to spend time with him....exhausting (and sometimes a bit difficult), but mostly wonderful. I love that kid to pieces. Besides the recent beginning of the 'terrible twos' and some tantrums (which are actually not that bad, but just difficult when you have two other babies to take care of at the same time), he has been the easiest baby/kid I have ever known. A few examples: he never really cried when he was a baby, just snorted or let out a grunt when he wanted something; he has always eaten EVERYTHING that we've offered to him; he didn't make any fuss (or even really notice) when we took his bottle and pacifiers away; he switched to a big boy bed almost effortlessly; when it's bedtime, we just read a story, hug him, say goodnight, and leave....and that's how it's always been....no fussing at all; when we say 'time out', he just goes there by himself and sits until we say he can come out. He has learned some not-so-nice behaviors from daycare, but is starting to really listen to us when we explain why he can or can't do something. He's also giving instructions to Olivia and Sofia all the time, so we know that he's listening to us. The other day he yelled at Sofia when she was chewing on a toy and said 'put toys mouth, no!!!' And then when Olivia was kicking in her bouncy chair, he pushed her feet and said, 'no kick Olivia!!'. Funny. :)
I don't want to get all mushy and gushy, but I do have to say that I get tears in my eyes almost every single day because of how much I love Matias (and of course the girls too). I don't know what in the world I did to ever deserve such a sweet little boy. I guess it's really true in life that the longer you wait for something, the more you appreciate it. I think a lot of parents are worried that their kids won't know how much they love them, but I'm worried that Matias will think I love him TOO much. I know that one day he will get tired of the million hugs and kisses a day. I know that one day he will not dance for joy and shout his name when I ask 'who is mommy's favorite boy in the world?'. And I know that one day he will not run to me, put his hands on my cheeks, and kiss me right on the lips. I also know that I will never forget these days. I will never forget how cute his voice sounds when he sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Finnish (I could listen to it 100 times a day). I will never forget how he sings rong-a-nosy (ring around the rosy) and spins so much that he gets dizzy and falls down. I will never forget how he much he loves to point out numbers. I will never forget how I almost have to run when I pick him up from daycare because I'm so excited to see him. I was in love with him as soon as I saw his chubby little cheeks for the first time and I think I will be in love with him forever.
And on to the girls....they are doing really well and are as sweet as can be. They have been sick off and on all fall, but thankfully nothing extremely serious. Even when they've been sick, they've continued to eat well and have been pretty happy for the most part. Nowadays they are quite easy babies. They just sit and play and eat and sleep and sit and play and giggle and smile all day. They are not fussy at all, but they do of course let me know if they're tired or hungry (although their schedule is so rigid that I usually get around to taking care of things before that happens :)). They have their next developmental check at the end of January, and then we'll get more information about when we can start going out a bit more with them. We hope to start baby swimming in February, and I also hope to start taking the girls to a few baby groups. I'm not sure when I'll be brave enough to take all 3 kids on a bus or train by myself (especially since Matias is not strapped in), but I'm sure there will be a time for that this year too. I think most people who see me would either think I'm lucky to have such a cute load of kids, or then they'll feel really sorry for me....or maybe both. :)
We would like to wish all of our friends and family a very happy 2011! We're looking forward to getting out more with our family and hopefully seeing all of you very soon!
Oh...and to end this long update, here's something that might make you laugh. This was the picture that didn't quite make it onto our Christmas card this year...but it was a close runner-up. :)
Beautiful update, Alyssa! Make sure you get Matias on video singing Twinkle, Twinkle and "rong-a-rosy"! :) Once it's gone, it's gone forever, except in your memories, of course! Thank you so much for sharing your family with us. Love, Laurie
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