Crazy Hair Day

My kids love crazy hair day!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Seth!

Seth is 3! We celebrated with friends yesterday on his birthday. At the beginning of the day when we tried to tell him he was now 3, he was very adamant that he was still 2. But by the end of the day, he had it figured out that the right answer was 3.

The best birthday present was Daddy coming home from Afghanistan just a few days before! YAY! (There will be a post with pictures of the big day)

Seth is so fun and everybody is just drawn to him. He has the cutest little voice and is hilarious when he tries to speak with authority like a grownup. He loves to give mommy hugs and kisses and tells me that he loves me. He is fantastic at putting puzzles together and recognizes most of his numbers up into the 20s. One of his favorite shows is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He loves to try and do everything his brother does, so I need to stay on top of Luke's actions so I can keep them both out of trouble/danger. Seth loves music and singing. He pretty good at kicking a soccer ball around and right now all the kids are working on their baseball skills. He has a big sweet tooth and would live off of candy and popcorn if I would let him. We are so glad to have him in our family! I heart my kids big time! Happy Birthday, Seth!

Halloween 2011 (Home)

Maya's pumkpin is on the left and Luke's is on the right. Both are their own designs (and Maya cut hers all by herself too)

Pumpkin guts!!

Halloween made a comeback this year in the Wilde household (though a big piece of the fun was missing - wish you were here to see all the cuteness, honey). Last year Halloween was on Sunday and so the kids didn't trick-or-treat (but they had a lot of fun handing out candy). This year they hit 2 different ward Halloween parties and got to go trick-or-treating around the neighborhood to their heart's content (or until their candy bucket was full to the brim - Maya).

This year was Seth's first Halloween that he actually participated in. He's 2-1/2 now and pretty dang cute. He was a dinosaur. It was actually a costume that I made for Luke when he was 2 but he wouldn't wear it. So I was very happy that Seth loved his costume. I pulled it out on Friday afternoon to make sure it would fit and Seth was as happy as could be. He especially loved his tail. It was funny watching him try to reach behind himself to grab it. No chasing it like a dog though. Once he had the costume on he was ready to go. He actually walked out our front door (2 in the afternoon) all by himself declaring that he was going to a party. No concept of time yet.

My little witch, Iron Man, and Dinosaur

Tonight is Halloween. We went with some of our friends that live right here on our street. Seth was so funny. After each house he was so excited about the candy that he would come running to me shouting "Mommy! I got treat!" in his cute little high-pitched voice. That happy little voice tugs on my heart strings like nothing else. Unfortunately at the first house he was a little too excited and running a little too fast and totally wiped out face first on the driveway. But I turned it around by not even mentioning the fall (the big cries were starting) and just excitedly asked "what did you get? Show me!" He instantly forgot that he fell and proudly showed me his bucket. It is so fun watching the first-time excitement of a little kid on a holiday. He loved walking with the other kids and seeing the decorations. And he was so polite at all the houses wishing everyone happy halloween and saying thank you. We tried to get lots of pictures for Matt. That was the only thing missing this evening. So here are our halloween pictures (the ones that seth didn't delete off my ipod at least - that wasn't so cute of him)

Happy Halloween!

(Thanks Marlina for taking pictures!)

You have a little something on your face

I was making cookies this afternoon. I always put the mixer piece on the table for those in my family who like the cookie dough. Seth was ready and waiting when I took it off the Kitchenaid. I put it on the table and didn't think anything of it. After I put the 1st batch in the oven I noticed Seth going to town on the mixer. It was smashed up on his face as he was working hard to reach every corner and not miss a spot of dough. I had to take some pictures.

Time flies

So much growing up has been going on in this house lately. I'm trying so hard to appreciate it and not let it pass me by, but it's all happening so fast and lots of times I'm just too plain exhausted to notice. Then the kids will do something that makes me realize how precious these young years are and how quickly they are going by. Who knows if we'll be doing these baby years again? I certainly don't - and there are no plans for the immediate future.

Anywho, I figured it's time to highlight each of my children and what they've been up to lately.

Maya is my absolutely amazing daughter who keeps losing teeth left and right. The tooth fairy is about to go bankrupt and I don't know how my can manage to bite any of her food. She is doing so well in school - I haven't figured out yet what her niche is because she's doing so well in everything. She loves to read and is going through books like crazy (I'll take recommendations if you've got em). Maya is in 3rd grade and her teacher said she is reading books at a 5th grade +6 months level. She loves to write stories and draw. But, she's not only good at reading and writing; She's really good at Math. She got her multiplication tables down and she getting pretty good at division too. She loves to sing and play the piano (that doesn't mean she likes to practice what I teach her for piano). She also loves to play whatever sport she can. She dominates the tetherball courts at recess (I witnessed her easily defeat a boy she was playing. I was so proud!) She just finished her very first season of basketball. She learned a lot really quickly and became a great defender for her team. She still loves soccer and is always asking to try new things. On top of it all, she is just fantastic as a person. She is kind and helpful and always tries to do her best. I don't know what her teenage years will bring, but for now she is a complete angel.

Luke. Luke luke luke. There's so much to say. He's so many opposites. Does that make sense? He's pretty fantastic and cracks me up every day. He's very clever and just like his big sister, soaks up information and it sticks. He's doing well in school and loves getting to play with his friends there every day. He and I get quiet time together in the afternoons while Seth naps and Maya's still at school. We love to sit and read together - most of the books that he picks are educational. We read about dinosaurs, frogs, fish, volcanoes... On the opposite end of the spectrum; He's got so much energy that sometimes I get tired just watching him. Lately he's got this weird habit of randomly making really loud sounds. We're trying to break this habit and it feels like a losing battle. He's really great at building things. He loves playing with Dad as much as he can. He's learning how to do things all the time. He's recently learned to make his bed (how neat it actually looks is all relative) and is very proud of himself when he actually does it. I'm just excited for the fact that he's old enough to help around the house because let me tell you - I can't keep up with how quickly the kids mess up. My absolute favorite though is his hugs and kisses and the sweet things he'll tell me. Some of the best words in the world are "I love you, mom. You're the best mom in the whole world."

Little Seth...he's not so little anymore. I still call him baby but he outgrew that without my realizing it had happened. Seriously? Where does the time go? He's walking, running, jumping, climbing, talking and screaming - just like his big brother and sister. He watches him and it's so crazy to see him imitate them in every way. Even in the way he gets put into time out. Luke gets angry when he gets put into timeout, usually screams "FINE!!!" at the top of his lungs, try and take a full swing punch at us and then sits in time out with an angry face. Seth has since learned to yell "Fine!" and take a swinging punch at us on his way to time out. Luckily Seth doesn't have as good of aim in the punching department. As much as I don't want him to learn this behavior, it does make me laugh. In a matter of the few months that we've lived here he's learned to walk, jump, run and climb on everything. He's finally starting to talk. When he says "need help" it sounds like the japanese word for hello and comes out "nee how". Cracks me up. He's pretty good at kicking a soccer ball and throwing things (once again - we're still working on aim). He's determined to learn to dribble a basketball. He tries all the time and for a not yet 2-year-old he's pretty good. He loves to pick out his clothes and help get himself dressed. It helps him feel like a big kid. I love his little kisses and the rare cuddling moments. He is always on the move.

I feel so blessed to have these 3 amazing chidren in my life and am grateful for every day I have with them.

No one's food is safe!

For those of you who have young children (now or in the past) you know that you cannot sit down and eat something without your little coming and helping him or herself to the food on your plate. Well, you can't leave your food unattended on the table and expect to come back to it later either.

I've learned how to make my favorite Jamba smoothie at home. (Saves a lot of money.) Everyone loves when I make up a batch. Unfortunately for Maya and Luke, they haven't quite learned that they can't leave their goodies on the table. Seth is our little smoothie addict. Here's a few occasions of him finishing off Maya's and Luke's smoothies while Maya and Luke were playing in the next room. He loves the stuff! (In the top left picture - fruit bits from the smoothie are all over his face including his eyebrow. We need to work on aim.)

Seth has also become coordinated and strong enough to move our chairs around the kitchen to get to whatever he wants. This Christmas season there has been a pretty much constant supply of treats on our counter and Seth pulls up a chair and helps himself. Chex mix and cookies have become the main source of nutrition for him over the past 2 weeks. We pop him a clementine or banana whenever we can.

Seth's Mad Soccer Skillz

I think I have another soccer player on my hands. This video was taken back on September 25th. That was the day Seth turned 18 months old. I'd say he's pretty good with a soccer ball.

I have one more video with him kicking a full-sized ball, but for some reason it won't upload. Anyway, he loves it. He tries to run onto the field and play with the big kids, he can't get enough. I can't get enough of watching him.

Balancing act

On our way back from San Francisco we stopped to for lunch. The restaurant gave the kids dough to play with (I love when restuarants do this) and Seth got a little silly all on his own. I love watching his personality come out. He can be quite the little cheesball. He cracks me up every day. I love his face, especially his eyes as he concentrates on balancing the dough.

Milestones - Walking

Seth turned 1 last March. He is very smart but has always liked to do things on his own schedule. He was my first baby that let me see and pass my due date. My others came a few days before their due date. Maya and Luke were also walking right around their first birthday. Seth was content with crawling - he was a pretty speedy crawler after all. Through the spring and beginning of summer he would take a step here or there, but much preferred to crawl where he needed to go. We moved at the beginning of July and during that month he became a pretty good walker. Now he's running all over the place trying to keep up with his brother and sister. He wants to do whatever it is they are doing.

(As you can see from the pic and video - he loves to where his sunglasses. Also a first for one of my babies.)

Below is a video from this past week. As I said, Seth likes to be doing whatever the big kids are doing (my husband is included in the"big kid" category). Luke and Matt were working on their super hero fighting skills and Seth decided he needed to show his off as well. It was pretty cute - er, I mean, amazingly tough.

Rock on

Future star in the making?

Wish I could do that

I've been here in the office working on some housing stuff. Seth's having a snack in his high chair and Luke's watching a show. I realize after a few minutes that the house is strangely quiet. So I go see what the boys are up to. Quiet usually = trouble in this house. But instead of trouble, I found this:

Ah, to be able to nap wherever I am. What would that be like? I am so not a napper. This boy takes after his dad for sure!

1 Whole Year

(2 days old / 2 weeks old)

I can't belive 1 whole year has gone by so fast! Last Thursday, March 25th, we celebrated Seth's first birthday. (Well, he turned 1 anyway - we celebrated on Saturday when Matt was home to celebrate it with us.)

Seth has been so fun. He's an amazing sleeper. At about 6 weeks old he started sleeping through the night all on his own. He is such a smiley little boy. He loves when he gets attention from his big brother and sister - and they have been amazing with him. He's got the same amazing blue eyes that his dad and Luke have. He's my blondest child. We'll see how crazy light it gets this summer in the sun. He is a complete momma's boy. Follows me everywhere and cries if I walk past him or out of the room for even a second. Sometimes it is tiring, but I love all the love. He's crawling and cruising, but he just doesn't seem to care about walking yet. That may be another month or two.

With each of my kids, they get their own little cake to eat/destroy for their first birthday. Maya and Luke had to warm up to the cakes and didn't really want to touch them and get messy. They both eventually did, but it took some convincing. Seth is our eater. He was not afraid to try his cake. Here's some pictures and a video of his strategy.

After

Happy Birthday, Seth! We are so glad to have you in our family. Love you!