Merry Christmas!! Part I

Merry Christmas from the Nebelsick family! We are having a WONDERFUL time on the first leg of our Christmas vacation! We have a few stories and a few pictures, so I better get started!

Dan and I had our "family Christmas" the night of the 23rd. We wanted to open presents with the kids, mostly so we didn't have to haul everything with us on our travels. I made a nice dinner for Dan and I, as I have every year for our Christmas together. We had ham, potatoes, corn, rolls, and a pudding pie. Not bad for a busy mom... and I give credit to Kara for coming over and helping with the babies! I wouldn't have done it without her! Eventually as they each fussed, all the kids ended up at the table with us and we had a nice family meal.

(Here is Kara and Kendra Kooiker when they came to help with the kids last Friday! Yay for being home from college!! These are some of the triplets honorary aunties! They are such a big help to me!)


After we had eaten our fill, we ignored the dishes for the sake of opening presents with content babies. We got down on the floor with them and got out their stockings. David, Aria, and Levi all got a book in their stocking. Mommy got a loofa sponge, a necklace and earrings, the latest Narnia DVD and a couple CDs. Daddy received some M&Ms, licorice and coupons for time away ice fishing, snowmobiling, and golfing (later in the year of course). The only condition for use of the coupons is that there have been no tears of exhaustion shed by Mommy in the past 72 hours before cashing it in! Mainly, our gifts to each other are the plane tickets we bought to go to Florida in April. Only 96 days to go! Yes, I am slightly looking forward to vacation. We will be entrusting our children to Grandma and Grandpa Rigsby and the rest of the Gillette clan. I hope they are excited to see the children as we are to have the children see them! I wonder what life will be like with triplets at 11 months old. Hmmmm.

Opening our stockings:



Each child got a chance to open a present and have a go at wrapping paper. They aren't very good at it yet. Someday I am sure that will change. We got some fun, hopefully entertaining toys. Some parents would cringe at how noisy they are but I know they will delight the kids. Anything that entertains them without my help is a benefit to me, noise or not. We only took video of that so there are no pictures yet.

Here are the babies and Mommy. Each of them got a Christmas sleeper from Aunt Donna and they all match! Levi is sitting up, David is in the middle and Aria is closest to the camera.



We were VERY blessed to have my aunt Marie come out to visit, even though she couldn't make it until all the babies were asleep. She helped us pack, wrap last minute presents and clean up. She saw the kids in the morning, although it wasn't as early as I thought it would be! The first sounds we heard were from Aria at 7 am. Levi woke up around 7:30 and we had to finally wake David up at 8:15!! I can't believe how well they are sleeping now. Dan and I may finally need to start setting alarm clocks again, because our 6 and a half month old ones are hitting the snooze on us! YAY!

Marie and I had the plan to have the van packed so we could leave after their first bottles. Ha. I wasn't even close to being ready. At least we made it out of there around 10:15 am. Not too shabby. I was able to bring the kids to Sioux Falls for the morning so I could run a few last minute errands before Christmas. Aunt Donna and Aunt Marie watched the trio before they both had to drive all the way to Wyoming. It was very generous of them to help me out like that. I got everything taken care of. Dan met us around 3:15pm so we could get to the Christmas Eve service an hour away in Mitchell. We wanted to leave around 3:45 so we would have plenty of time to spare. Well, that didn't exactly happen.

I was so excited for our Christmas evening... it was the first time we would all be dressed up in our Christmas outfits. Unfortunately, church had been snowed out on Sunday. I had a new sweater and skirt I was excited to wear. By 3:40, the kids were dressed and all we had left to do was get loaded up and I had to change. I planned on wearing black tights (which I never think of wearing tights but I saw somewhere they were "in" this season). I knew I had some somewhere in a drawer so I had grabbed them. The first pair was practically shredded so I tossed those. The second pair was in great condition! I tried to put them on. Then I looked at the tag. Size A!? Are you kidding me? When did I wear these? Oh yeah, back in high school when I was 15 pounds under weight. I stretched and pulled and yanked them on anyway. I was not impressed when they immediately started falling down and taking my underwear with them. I decided to pretend this was not happening to me and went to help Dan load the van. There was going to be no denying I had wardrobe issues, so I told Dan we were going to have to make a stop to buy some more. When he asked why, I showed him my predicament. Having already a strong aversion to anything nylon, he was pretty disgusted by my hose hanging slightly above my knees. No problem, there was a Walgreens on the way.

We finally got in the van at 4:10... already 25 minutes behind. Dan was getting agitated that we weren't going to have time to spare to get to the 5:30 service. About two miles down the road, I remembered my entire make-up bag back at my aunt's house. For a split second, the wife in me did not want to tell her husband she was about to make them even later. I considered going without make-up but then the pretty girl in me wanted to banish the tired mom in me. So, we turned around for my make-up and I believe there could possibly have been some grumbling from the back seat. Dan was sitting back there because I was going to be running in to the store quick for the tights. That was now questionable.

Finally we were on the road again, at 4:19. Keep in mind, Mitchell is 70 miles away on the interstate. We are cutting it close. I pray God will give us speed and safety to get there in time. Just as I am thinking this prayer, Dan remembers that he didn't grab his belongings from the truck he drove in from work. We turned around again. I am sort of smiling in the front seat because I no longer have to stress that I have made us late. I know we will get there when we get there and Dan can't be mad at me! I do, however, have to forgo getting new tights but I thought they would make it through an hour long service. Maybe. At least I had gotten the knee length skirt instead of the shorter one like I had considered. Thank goodness for modesty!

Finally, we headed off to Mitchell, SD at 4:27pm. Dan was sure we weren't going to make it. But the roads were clear and he got us there in the nick of time. We only missed the prelude/beginning song. I don't know how we did it because we were in the middle of Sioux Falls and had to get all the way to the other side of Mitchell, but I am pretty sure God gave us a small Christmas miracle gift of time somewhere in that hour so we could celebrate the eve of His birth as a family. I always feel like there is a stress and pull on us as we make our way to worship, whenever that is. I almost feel like the devil is trying to take away from our time with God by adding in arguments and anxiousness. It has been that way since our first month of marriage. Finally, Dan and I talked about how that is soooo distracting away from worshiping Christ on Sunday mornings or anytime, so we do our best to keep the peace. I also do a lot of praying when I feel that happening now, so it has gotten better.

The Christmas Eve service at Dan's parents' church was very lovely. We sang lots of songs as a congregation, which I am very thankful for. I have not sang enough this Christmas season and it was good for my heart and for my children to hear. I also loved how the story of our Savior's birth pointed toward the reason he came, and that was to live a sinless life and to be sacrificed as the perfect lamb for our sins. I appreciated how they tied everything in, from the cradle to the cross. It was very nice.

The babies sat very well and were relatively quiet. This was good because we were smack dab in the front row. There were babies passed back and forth between all of us sitting there, but Dan must have known something was about to happen when he handed Aria off to me. She started filling her pants and was not very discrete. She fussed just a little too loudly for it being the beginning of the sermon, so she and I went to go change the diaper. Good thing she was letting me know her needs! When we got to the bathroom, my first clue something was horribly wrong was the brown smelly mess on my sweater sleeve. Great. Then I lifted her beautiful dress to find it had gotten gooped and everything was up her back. Child of mine. I grabbed paper towel to put underneath her and got out the wipes. There were only two left! I thought it had felt kind of light. We used lots of wet paper towels and both of our Christmas outfits survived and so did we. I was just glad we left when we did. I would have never seen the mess because all the lights had been turned off and the only light was coming from one candle held by Pastor Nash. I love looking back and seeing those little nudges to act, and I believe God is sovereign... even over a poopy diaper.

My favorite part about the trip to the bathroom was after we were all cleaned up and I was washing my hands. I little girl and her mom came in and went in a stall. I am sure the girl didn't see Aria because she was too short to see up on the changing table. I heard her say to her mom, "Mom, I want to look just like her! She is beeeeautiful!" That made my night. I am glad I went back for the make-up. ;)

Here is our family after the church service:



After church, we went to Great-Grandma Titze's house for dinner and presents. They kids had fun with their second rounds of trying to pull on gift wrap and it was nice to get to visit Dan's Grandma. She made a nice dinner of lasagna for us and had lots of yummy treats for desert.

Opening presents at Great-Grandma Titze's:

Baby David helping Grandpa David

Grandma Titze holding Aria

Grandma Titze holding Levi with Dan and I on the couch too.

Uncle Jonny opening his present.


We got to Grandma and Grandpa Nebelsick's rather late and still had to unload the van. The babies were great about going to bed easily and all settled down for a long winter's nap. Well, as long as a nap can be with three 6 month olds in the next room. They almost made it to 7am, and this will probably one of the latest sleep in times for Christmas morning for many years to come. Once they discover there are gifts to unwrap, waking up will have a much bigger appeal than it already does. I remember I never stayed in bed. I believe it was still dark when I would trapse up the stairs to see our stockings filled.

Christmas day was wonderful and relaxing. I got to sleep in (thanks to Dan and family), wrap presents, shower and actually do my hair! We had the traditional steam bread and german sausage for Nebelsick family Christmas dinner. Soooo yummy! Then we opened presents that evening. Uncle Josh read us the Christmas story and then we had 4 hours of present opening! Of course part of that was the because there were four babies needing taken care of in the midst of the wrapping paper, but we eventually got everyone to bed... except David. He is such a party boy! He does not sleep when there is action so he was up until we were done.

Levi, who was entirely too big for that swing now, but was occupied during Christmas dinner.

Jonny holding cousin Will.

Daddy holding Aria and her very 1st little dolly.

Grandpa and David

Ben and Maggie. Maggie is holding little William.



This morning we woke up and had a big breakfast as a family. Then we opened presents from our stockings. We weren't able to do that Christmas morning because not everyone was here yet. This year we had 15 immediate family members here for Christmas. Five have been added to the family this year... David, Aria, Levi, baby cousin William and Uncle Ben's fiance Maggie. They just got engaged on the 19th and we finally get to officially call her Aunt Maggie, so that is exciting!

We were supposed to leave tonight for Gillette and the second leg of our trip, but there were winter storm warnings for our drive. Instead, we are leaving at 3 am so we can have a majority of the drive with sleeping triplets. What fun! Dan volunteered to drive first, so I agreed to the plan. So, I better rearrange the pictures and get this puppy posted! Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and we pray that you are blessed in the New Year!

Prayer

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for peace on earth... which, for now, comes in the form of peace in my heart because that is your dwelling place. Thank you for peace in my home and the three sleepyheads all snuggled in their beds. Thank you for the everlasting peace of salvation and the joy of entrusting my life in you.

Amen.

Ummm... Yuck!

**** Edited 12/19/08 ~ Dan said I had to add one more picture! :D

It's my lucky day! Poopy diapers galore! Three new outfits were needed. But, I am afraid David took the cake today. I have NEVER seen what I saw today, and if you are squimish, turn back now. I am going to share something that is rather disgusting, but I laughed. I laughed and gagged. It could be worse... at least blogging doesn't smell!

David had a good ol' time jumping in his jumperoo today. After he was tired of it, I picked him up and he was putting off a distinct aroma. Before even taking him to the changing table I checked for the level of damage. Sure enough... stains already up the back. Gross. I laid him down on his belly on the changing table and started to remove his sleeper. I found more than I bargained for. There was mess past the shoulder blades. I took off the sleeve and found more across to his arm! I knew my husband would have new appreciation for my job if I had evidence, so I took some pictures!! (Sorry, teenage David, someday daddy David will understand!)




There were worse pictures, but I'll spare you. At least you get the idea!

Unfortunately, I was a little lazy when all three were sleeping this afternoon and sat down for a long lunch instead of cleaning. This meant that when I went to change the mother-of-all poopy diapers, there was a big pile of diapers stacked up on our pail. I had been pretending they didn't exist all morning, I guess. I had no where to set the mess as I was trying to clean it up. Luckily, my laziness paid off because I had yet to get the laundry in the washer! David's sleeper was the inspiration I needed to get that going! While this was taking place, Levi decided that David used up his eating turn with the time it took me to clean him up and Levi was hungry! This was Levi's face by the time David was fresh:


You can't see them, but tears were hitting the changing pad.

Needless to say, Levi got fed first. David didn't mind too much. I think he was just grateful for new clothes, and a little peace and quiet with a bottle in Levi's mouth. So, that was my laughter for today and a fun moment in mothering. I learned I better take two minutes and take care of some household chores while the time is available. It's not so fun to deal with when there is a messy, rolling little boy up on the changing table! I also learned I can gag pretty hard without puking again. When I was pregnant, the gagging gave way to running for the bathroom!

Here are my precious boys and the new habit they have of seeing how far their tongues stick out! Someday I'll have to teach them it's rude. Until then, I laugh and do it with them!

Results of a hard days work

I'm not gonna lie, today was a hard day. It has been a hard week, when I've had them by myself. You see, we all have running noses, so we are all slightly crabby... Mommy included. But, seeing beyond all the crying (babies only, not Mommy... yet) there have been some very lovely moments that I want to treasure always.

Last night, Dan and I united forces to battle the freezing cold coming in our house. Our back door leaks warmth. The outside was literally coming in to get my babies! I walked by the backdoor and noticed frost on the window... inside. With a closer look, the hinges were also frosted over and there was a pile of snow on the floor by the threshold. This makes for a not very happy Momma of sick children! This door is three feet from where my babies play all day on the floor. It is no wonder we are all cold! Here is a picture of our improvised insulation.




As I lay in bed listening to the howling wind last night, I had a major urge to gather my babies and cuddle them between Dan and I for the night. They just seemed so far away and the wind seemed to be whipping right between me and them. But, my logic kicked in and I knew no one would get any sleep (and Dan would be a very unhappy camper) so I left well enough alone.

David has been trying to get up on his knees more lately. I think he will be crawling within a month. Levi has got a ways to go. Aria isn't really in the ballpark right now. She sure is cute though. Today she was playing with a little froggy toy and just laughed and laughed at it all by herself. She laughs and smiles so easily. As you can see from the previous video, she loves giving "kisses" lately. She has done this for a while, but never with the enthusiasm I saw that night. If we kiss her on the cheek, she will often try to give kisses back on our cheek. She is so sweet.

Levi always wakes up so happy in the morning. I love that about him. He is my little ray of sunshine in the morning. When I lay him on the changing table lately, he starts smiling and getting ready for me to play kissy face with him. When he is drinking his bottle, he always stares up at me with huge brown eyes and I wonder what he is thinking. He wanted to be held a lot today and fussed when I put him down. I was fine with a little extra lovin' on Levi today.

David has a hilarious new habit. I have to get it on video!! I am always afraid to whip out the camera because of the sorry state of affairs that is my wardrobe, hair and make-up lately. Anyway... he will twist in your arms until he finds some bare skin and then try to blow "raspberries" on it. You know... the tooting sound 3rd graders like to make. He has entertained us for quite a few evenings with this new talent. He cracks me up.

Speaking of David, we had a wonderful moment today, amidst the crazy/fussy afternoon. Aria and Levi had both gone down for naps. David was last but was putting up a good fight. I knew if I could get him in the dark and put him down he would work out his issues and go to sleep. Unfortunately, he shares a room with Aria. I did NOT want him waking her up with his mumble/grumble/squealy time, so I opted to lay down with him in my room. Too bad I had to lay there with him to make sure he didn't scoot off the edge. Ha. He actually didn't make a peep once we got in there. I always lay him on his tummy now because he would roll to it in two seconds anyway, and he laid there propped all the way up one his arms looking around. I tried to pretend to sleep but got sucked in by the sparkle of his blue eyes in the glow of the window. They were enchanting. My precious little baby and his big chunky cheeks would look at me, then the window at the sounds of the trucks going by on the highway. It wasn't long before he first put his tired head down. But, he resisted rest a few more times before giving in to me rubbing his back. He laid his head on my arm. It was so precious. He could have laid it down on the bed but he chose my arm. I started smoothing down his fluffy, blond, thin locks and he gave in. I couldn't help but thank God in that moment for my beautiful son and say a prayer for who he will be someday when he is not laying in my arms. I thought of the other two also and how full my heart is.

I realized the other day that the ache that my heart used to feel is gone. I would have to describe it as a mourning for a someone you have lost. That ache of not knowing what could have been. Except my mourning was always for that someone I had never known... children I may never meet. I did not know if I would have children, if I would get to see the product of my profound love for my husband. It was a daily thought, as I know it is for every woman who wants to be a mom. But, the Lord gave me grace and patience for those moments and now the greatest blessings in the world. I have to pause and reflect on days like today and see where I was a little over a year ago. The most awesome part looking back is seeing how God was setting us up for a story and a love greater than ourselves. We could not have chosen this because no one would give themselves such a daunting challenge. I would have picked an easier path with far fewer rewards. I would have never known the true depth of Dan's love and faithfulness. I never would have guessed that I had the perseverance or endurance that these babies have needed from me. It wasn't there before, I know it. The Lord knew he had angels standing by in the form of our family and friends to provide for our needs. I pray they each are blessed by being a blessing to us. So many people prayed for us. I just met the husband of a friend the other day and he told us that every night for almost a year, his wife prayed for us to have a child. That touched me to the core. Who am I that such thoughtfulness be given to me? How often have I failed to bring my loved ones and friends to the Lord like that? I pray I can pass on all I have been given and remember to pray often for those in need.

So, in the end, I guess I am happy for the trials of today. I always make it through the tough hours for some laughter in the evening, even if it is after the kids are in bed. I love that Dan and I have each other to wind down together at the end of the day. There is a collective deep breath when the three little ones go to dreamland. It's like the sigh of satisfaction after a job well done. I am not saying we always do the best job... don't ask me how many times we put off bath night from sheer exhaustion... but just getting three babies to sleep is a good thing. It just so happens that since Dan is out working on his snowmobile (the kids are in bed already-of course), my "sigh" for the night has come out as this blog and a bunch of pent up thoughts that have been swirling too long. Too bad it has come at the cost of the clutter on my floor and the dishes in my sink.

I was just thinking, Dan forgot to eat supper tonight. Good thing it was just burnt pizza that was previously frozen (because brunt frozen pizza makes no sense)! He put it in as we were feeding bedtime bottles and cereal. As he was walking upstairs with a sleeping Aria, he whisper yelled, "Oh yeah! The pizza!!" I happen to be changing David at that moment and ran to the oven, sure to find flames or at least smoke. Nope, just black crust and pepperoni. As it was halfway out of the oven I remembered my precious little rolling machine laying atop my changing table. I dropped the pizza stone and ran back to the living room in time to find him attempting his first roll. That was way too close. Not my proudest moment, but one that happened none the less.

Well, I suppose I will load up some pictures and get to beddy-bye. My husband just let out his sigh, but it was not of relief. I think this one is translated "I can't believe the condition of this house." That's my cue. Thanks for making it this far and here is your reward. (Poo poo on all those of you that skipped straight to the pictures!)

Daddy admiring his angel, David.

Aria, working on learning to use the sippy. We are just practicing for now.

Levi, working on his peas. Yummy!

David, chewing away on Daddy's finger.

Aria, looking way too long and way too skinny in her Daddy's favorite sleeper.


"Hey Momma! Does it look like I'm reading?" ~Aria

"Hey Momma! See me holding my own bottle?" ~David

"Hey Momma! Do I have enough peas spread around yet to look like the Grinch?" ~Levi


All three in the jackets Grandma and Grandpa Rigsby got them for turning 6 months old!

Attack of the Aria Kisses!

This was a moment Aria and I shared at the 80th birthday party for Dan's Grandma Nebelsick.

6 Months

I know, it's the typical question EVERY mom asks when she gets to this point (and many others along the way) but, can you believe my babies are six months old already?? I can't. In some ways, it seems like forever has gone by since they arrived in our lives, and in others it was just yesterday we were cuddling our five pound babies for the first time.

Six months is a wonderful age! They were official six months old Friday, the 28th of November. Dan said to me the other night that he thinks we have reached the easiest time of the year with the babies. He figures it can't get much better than three kids sleeping from 8pm to 7am while being mostly immobile. There is no chasing them around yet. They stay where we put them. We are having a grand ol' time! Their personalities are busting out and we love watching them grow and play. We love how they smile at us and everyone!! We went to the mall with them on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and everyone we saw said, "Oh!! He (or she) smiled at me!" For the most part, they are happy, contented babies and are a delight in our lives.

The mall trip was fun! We wanted to shop for clothes for pictures and thought they would enjoy getting out and seeing something new. We didn't get five feet in the door and three sets of shoppers commented to us about having triplets. We got, "Boy, you have your hands full!" and, "Twins, noo, triplets!" and, "Oh look, triplets! Three boys?" Aria was very much in pink between the two boys, but everyone assumes the three are the same. It didn't take long to learn that we had to avoid eye contact and keep moving or we would never get anywhere. The babies liked shopping and looking at everything. We ended touring the entire mall looking for the perfect dress for Aria (never did find one there) and Aria was the only one who lasted the whole time. She is going to be my shopping partner! I am exicted to have a little girl. The boys were asleep halfway through our travels, but no one fussed. We have such good babies.

We spent Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa Nebelsick's this year. It was a big day filled with lots of fun and visiting with our big family. There were 45 people over for Thanksgiving dinner. I was running into people I had yet to see after dinner and dessert! We visited with lots of cousins, aunts and uncles. It was too crazy and I didn't get my camera out that day. Hopefully someone reads this and sends me a few! (hint, hint)

Friday after Thanksgiving flew by too fast! I, of course, did not even consider going Black Friday shopping with Dan's sister and brothers because there is no amount of savings that trumps sleep right now. Dan got up for the morning shift, as per our agreement, because then he got to go pheasant hunting that day! I was excited for him. He loves the outdoors and was able to spend time with some relatives. His cousin, Kim, came over and helped me in the morning with babies. I got an awesome two and a half hour nap since she got the babies as they woke up from theirs. My nap seemed to draw a lot of attention from family, but I never feel guilty about getting a nap when I have help! Lest anyone feel the need to judge, come fill my shoes for a day, or a week, and you will need a nap too! That evening we spent dinner time at Dan's aunt and uncles for another big family dinner. I love how big and close the whole family is and I am so glad the kids will grow up knowing their family.

Saturday brought another big family get-together for David, Aria, and Levi's Great-Grandma Nebelsick's 80th birthday! We spent the afternoon/evening celebrating with her and the rest of the family. This was the third night in a row with a big crowd, but the kids did great. They are such good babies to be able to take places and know we will all be just fine. There are rarely meltdowns and if they get crabby, we usually know how to fix it right away. I am a blessed momma. We took some pictures Saturday evening, so I have some to share!

I am not quite sure where David was all night, but obviously Aria was being the social/photographic one. I feel bad when this happens, but it's hard making sure equal pictures get taken of all three babies. At least we got our picture of all the newest Nebelsick cousins together. Here are some shots:


Aria and the Birthday Girl!

Josh, Katie and William with our family.

Aria and Maggie

Katie & William, Daddy & Levi

Aria and Grandma

Grandpa and Levi


Here are some of the details about taking care of our six month old babies: We serve 15 to 18 bottles a day, depending on how sleeping falls and if they are extra hungry for a 6th bottle. We change at least that many diapers too. The kids eat every three hours, because that is when they are hungry! I know a lot of parents try to go to a 4 hour feeding schedule, but we always give them as much as they want and they have never seemed to stretch past the 3 hour mark regularly. This is fine with me because they sleep through the night, so I don't mind feeding them more during the day!

Our playland, formerly known as the livingroom, consists of lots of toys, clothes, blankets, a hamper, a diaper pail, and a changing table. The toy "stations" include two mobiles to lay under, a jumperoo, an exersauser, a Bumbo chair, two bouncy seats, and a blanket with toys for tummy time. These are all set up most of the day. We finally have three highchairs set up in the kitchen for mealtimes. Yay! The countertop in the kitchen is still covered in baby paraphernalia for making bottles, but we only have about 6 months left of that! The bookshelf decorations have been replaced by tons of books and the five-change CD player is filled with instrumental hymns and lullabies and Baby Einstein CDs. We have come so far in this wonderful adventure and every day brings something new.

David is wearing size 2 diapers, and size three at night. Levi wears 1-2 during the day and size 2 at night. He would be in 2 all the time but I am trying to use up our last box of 1-2's from forever ago. Aria wears 1-2's also, but will soon be in 2 as soon as the others are gone.

Here are their weights: (which were way back at the 6 month mark at the end of Nov.)

David~ 18lbs. 11oz., 27.75 inches
Aria~ 16lbs. 2oz, 27.25 inches
Levi~ 17lbs. 11oz., 27.75 inches

I am not excited about the fact that we will have to be shopping for new carseats soon. Getting a baby in and out of a carseat in the way back of the van won't be fun!


Now that I have procrastinated in finishing this and posting it, I probably have a couple more pictures to add. Here are my boys!
David~

Levi~He likes to tip his floor toy over!

Welcome to the World, William!

David, Aria and Levi have a new cousin! William Cooper was born yesterday and is so very cute!! Uncle Dan and Auntie Elizabeth got to go visit him yesterday. I will post some pictures. Dan and Josh are already planning for future 3 on 3 basketball tournaments to be played by these Nebelsick cousins. I am so glad the kids will have a cousin their age. How fun! Congrats Katie and Josh!!

To Great-Grandpa Dickey

Happy Birthday, Great-Grandpa Dickey! Sorry we didn't get you called before we went to bed and it got late, so we'll say it on the blog! Remember when we were this big? We're glad we got to see so much of you when we were in Gillette! Thanks for all the help and fun times playing!

Love,
David, Aria, and Levi



P.S.- Levi FINALLY rolled over to his tummy for the first time - just for your birthday! :D

Fun Moments

We've been having a lot of fun around here lately. Today was an AWESOME day! Dan's Mom stayed here on her way through last night so she got up with us and helped with the babies this morning. She had to go when we laid down for our morning nap. I got to sleep for an hour! After naptime was over, Dan's cousin Kim came to help us out today. We had a lot of fun with her here today and I got some laundry done and was free to actually make a meal tonight! We had dinner and as Kim was walking out the door, my aunt Donna arrived to help out this evening! YAY! Dan had to head back to the office for the evening (he had to move out of his office because of construction... yuck). Donna and I did bathtime and got babies put to bed. I could have never done it alone. The night ended with me finally finishing the ironing. That was a relief. I don't exactly find much time for ironing lately.

But, as fun as the ironing was, that wasn't the best part of the day. We have some budding personalities around here. Levi has become quite the thumb sucker. He has really found it and has become proficient at getting it into his mouth. He also had a lot of fun today "blowing raspberries". He spent much of the day buzzing his lips together. I am just glad he forgot that new talent when Donna fed him his cereal. He wasn't as kind to Kim during his bottle this afternoon.

David has taken up playing with hair. He was laying with me the two days ago and kept running his hands through my hair. He likes to grab it whenever he can. Tonight, Donna was feeding him and he would grunt at her if she tipped her head where he couldn't reach it!

Aria was laying by herself under her toy this evening. She had a blanket and she kept putting it over her face and taking it off. Donna noticed she was playing peek-a-boo with herself!! So, Donna started playing along and Aria kept putting the blanket up and taking it down and she started laughing. I can't believe how smart my babies are!

Here are some favorite pictures as of late. There is also a picture of Dan's brother, Jonny, holding all three babies! Speaking of uncles... Dan is about to become an uncle for the first time, making me an aunt for the first time too! We are super excited for his brother Josh and his wife, Katie. We ask for prayers for the baby's safe arrival... which could be at any time.

Love,
Elizabeth

The trio at Grandma & Grandpa Nebelsick's house.


Being held by Great Grandma Titze and Jonny. As you can see, we travel in footie pajamas - I know their feet are warm and I don't loose any socks!


Jonny squeezing in all three!


Grandpa Nebelsick got a good shot of each of them! Levi, David, then Aria.