Lucy Jean

My little Lucy....such a girly girl.  You gotta love a girl that takes longer to get ready than you!  Still always a dress/skirt and tights.  She now gets herself completely dressed, including doing her hair (most days before I roll out of bed).  She is very interested in what she wears, and what I do.  She loves to shop and browse through clothes. 

She is so creative.  She loves to design things, create, decorate, paint, color....anything that she can dream up.  She is an amazing colorer, and her medium of choice is colored pencils.  She has extraordinary patience when it comes to staying in the lines, and she autographs every page.  I have never seen anyone go through coloring books like she does....and every page is used. 

such a happy girl

She shares a room with Kady and sleeps on the top (but loves to use Kady's bottom bunk for naptime).  She still naps...more than Kadence.  She is always the first one up at our house....and definitely a morning person

We always ask "Lucy, why do you ask so many questions?" and she answers "because I am inquisitive"  This is her IN a box of old barbie stuff at my parents house.  She checked out every last little treasure that my sister and I had stored in there.  She has a "treasure" drawer of her own in her dresser...if you ever think you lost something, look in there first.  She is very into organizing and cleaning....and is very good at it.  Must be a Koops gene. 

Beautiful girl inside and out (and don't ask about the washer she is sitting in, this is what happens when I go to work)

We are talking about kindergarten already.  I can't believe she will be old enough to go next fall! She is enjoying every day that she spends in preschool.  She has made some good friends, and even had a no mommy playdate with her friend Susan.  Lucy makes me laugh every day.  She loves to tell jokes (mostly about things being in her tummy...her audience of Kadence rolls when she starts these), teach things to her younger siblings, color, play with barbies, read, snuggle, and be my big helper.  Lucy has always been wise beyond her years....for example

• You can just call me high heel fashion girl
• You don't even look like my mom today (I was leaving for my work holiday party)
• Oh, I thought you said I needed a bra, (me) no you don't need a bra, (Lucy) Not yet!
• Maybe he's crying because of your outfit (as we were sitting at the table eating breakfast, and TJ wasn't happy in his highchair, I was wearing pajama pants and a tank top)

already?

 Sweet baby boy...4 months old today

loves the outdoors

daddy's photo shoot with our lil drooler

can't get enough of his fingers and hands

all smiles

he's just super chill, usually with his feet up on the table as well

bear hugs for mommy

yeah, that's from sleeping in his cushy papasan chair...it's like he nestles his head in to get comfy

always smiling, and always moving

trying on daddy's hat

jumps like it's going out of style

Love you buddy!  You bring all of us such joy and we are thankful everyday for you. 

Birdman

hmmm...were they naughty or nice?

cookies and milk for santa.  this is what Lucy was most excited about, and the next morning that Santa actually ate those cookies. 

Theodore's first Christmas

We had to wake Kadence up, not unusual.  Looks like she was on Santa's nice list

Lucy had counted all the presents and looked at all the tags before she woke Jim and I up that morning.  She informed me that Santa did not bring her the dog she wanted.  I told her that we didn't even up the gifts yet, and she said there wasn't a big enough rectangle to be the dog....good thing Grandma's are just as good as santa, knowing what kids want!

Back to it

Note to self, or to anyone else looking for random advice.  Please finish Christmas shopping and other random projects prior to returning to work from maternity leave.  It IS an enormous adjustment...for you, and the rest of the family.  Do NOT pick up extra hours because it sounds good for the paycheck in the first 2 weeks.  Snuggle every chance you get with your kids. 

I could actually keep writing forever.  I feel as sleep deprived as I did the first 2 weeks Theodore was home.  And sleep deprivation leads to a lot of babbling and carrying on from me. 

Needless to say I am cutting myself a break this year with Christmas pressures, outside obligations, and blogging.  Shopping still to do, most of my wrapping, and still some baking.  I am very excited to try and finish it all in the next 2 days....christmas music on full blast...I'm ready!  Merry Christmas to you all!

The Koops family Christmas tree (insert Chevy Chase's voice here)

Theodore is so excited about his first Christmas tree

Awwww, so romantic

Our three little elves

Theodore's first ornament....sorry about the spitup

Jim did a great job picking it out.  I'd like to say what a great time we had parading through the woods finding the perfect tree, but then there is reality.  We were so cold from standing at the Ada Christmas parade (sorry I got the start time wrong), Jim went to flowerland and  picked it out while I stayed home with the 3 kiddos and started lunch :)  This may be our best tree yet!

The annual Koops Christmas party

 Someday he might not like me for making him wear this sweater....but I think it's super cute, and matches his sisters (another reason for him to hate it!)


My 3 precious gifts



waiting for Santa

TJ's turn with Santa, don't worry, he's not crying...the kid doesn't make a peep.  He was just stretching because we had to interrupt naptime so he could get his gift

Lucy was so brave this year, I think Santa even got a hug

They were both so excited to have matching barbies that can make pink streaks in your hair.  I have to say I rocked some pink for the rest of the night

Kady took the gift from Santa....but needed daddy's help to sit and open it by him!

Wow, polly pockets!

Gramps and TJ

We always have such a good time....we only see the whole Koops side two times a year, and it is so fun to eat well, catch up, and have a visit from Santa!