Christmas morning

Christmas morning we went over to Grandpa and Grandma's house for breakfast and a visit from Santa. Plenty of excitement for kids and adults alike!

Our Christmas 2017

We started our Christmas celebration on the 22nd, as our "Christmas Eve". 

We opened up stockings.

Each of the boys picked me out a bracelet...each so different, I love them all.

 All but Christian must have sensed the excitement...it was QUITE late before all these monkeys were in bed. Isaac was also climbing on my back, he was just hidden. We laid on the floor by the Christmas tree and had fun being silly (at least for a little while).

On the 23rd, we had our Christmas! Breakfast pancakes, sausage links, and Orange Julius. 

 And in the afternoon we played games...Bounce Off and Mario Kart Wii...some serious playing!

Our Year [ 2017 ]

Christmas is in just one week. 

This years feels as though it went by so quickly; new baby, growing children, new career path, and just living life in our Hershberger Home. 

 

To think, just a year ago, I was very pregnant with Isaac and anticipating his arrival, wondering what a house with four little boys would be like. And now he is 11 1/2 months old, taking his first steps, just as sweet as can be, and the house is indeed active! Christian, Noah, and Jonah are all still very gentle and patient with him. I'm sure when Isaac starts talking and REALLY stepping up his getting-into-there-things game their tune may begin to change. He gets called "Mama Baby" (from Noah), "Buddy" (from Christian), "IIIIIsssaaac" or "Sweet Isaac" (from Jonah). He is growing and healthy, and we are so very grateful for that. I hope I can just hold onto these last "baby" moments he has in my mind, as he is very quickly escaping them one new accomplishment at a time (which seems like daily). He is so playful, growls like a baby bear, and just a happy smiley little bundle of squishy baby boy!

Christian (8), is in 2nd grade and enjoys school. He LOVES to read. And if you ask about the best part of his day he will usually respond with "recess", and has been playing a lot of 4 Square during that time. He played baseball this summer and soccer during the fall. He also enjoys swimming at Grandpa and Grandma's house, and riding his ripstick (similar to a skateboard). He is growing up to be quite a young man. I have seen his appetite change drastically over the past year, which makes me laugh...as it doesn't feel like that long ago I was BEGGING him to eat anything..and would be grateful if that meant the same two things on repeat. I won't say he has outgrown his "pickiness" altogether, but it is significantly improved! He has also grown spiritually, last April he accepted Christ in his heart, and he has continued to have a passion for learning about what the Bible says and how he can not only "be Christian (just as his name)" but "be a Christian". He has an outgoing personality, a thinker, kind-hearted, a contagious laugh, and is very good at building creations. 

Noah (5), is in preschool and isn't maybe the biggest fan of actually going to school. He LOVES to learn, he has a wealth of information tucked in that five year old brain. I don't know if he truly has a photographic memory, but he has a mind like a steel trap...from months, even years ago. He is definitely more of homebody, let-me-play-with-my-own things kind of boy...he goes to the beat of his own drum for sure. He loves building Legos, drawing/painting/coloring, doing projects with hammer and nails, riding his bike, and playing in the dirt/sand pile. He comes across very timid, which he normally is in public...but he also has a feisty/rowdy side that he is not afraid to demonstrate at home. He is particularly strong-willed in the food/eating department...unlike Christian, he is right there in the thick of his picky eating habits and inability to try new foods with loud exclamations, including significant disgust that he "DOES NOT LIKE THAT FOOD"...weeeeelllll before even bringing it NEAR his plate, let alone his mouth! In spite of that not so endearing quality; he is sensitive (even able to clearly verbalize his emotions), funny, gifted at drawing, and loving.

Jonah (3), is in the 'terrific-thriving-super-independent-strong-willed' stage of three year old life! I feel like that might be sugar coating it a bit. I am hoping he will take this intense determination to either "do" or "refuse" certain things and really do great things! He is really good on the balance bike, thankfully he got a helmet for his birthday, because he can REALLY go fast. He got a pedal bike for his birthday, but hasn't mastered that yet. He is a helper, particularly in the kitchen..if I start getting things out to bake, he is at my side asking for the step stool! He is much become much more expressive in the last year, both verbal and non-verbal. He has an expansive vocabulary, picks up on anything he may hear from adults and brothers alike. As far as non-verbal, his eyes speak volumes...both the sweetest, loving looks and the ornery-I'm as guilty as ever looks. He is active and tough...there is no difficulty keeping up with his brothers, and quite possibility gives them a challenge to keep up with him! As much as he adamantly refuses to be potty trained, he also is very passionate about showing his love when he feels it. His kisses and random hugs are just priceless. He is very sure of his opinions, loves to play outside, put together puzzles, makes smoothies with his Daddy, draw/color, sings well (just not in front of people), and has just the best smile that makes his eyes disappear.

Another big change for our family this year, is Ben's new adventure in starting a construction business; Renew Construction and Remodeling. He has had a steady flow of jobs, and is enjoying what he's doing. This has been a new direction that neither of us really thought would happen, but then again we have been challenged and stretched to trust God has a plan...and it doesn't always mean we need to know what that is.

I continue to work around 10 hours a week in labor and delivery in Wichita. I really do love what I do. There are all kinds of people that have babies, with all kinds of needs!

So there's our family in a nut-shell this year. As far as wondering what it would be like with four boys..its active! We have four healthy boys with such different personalities and qualities...that sometimes creates chaos..but I really am so grateful for our own beautiful mess. 

As we enter into this Christmas, we all have excitement and anticipation. May this time of year bring joy and peace...but most of all time to reflect on the reason we get to celebrate, the birth of Jesus.

The greatest gift of all.

Christmas Program

The boys' Christmas program at church was so cute. 

Christian and Noah participate in the children's choir. And although Jonah knew all the songs (as we listened to the CD in the van frequently and he would loudly sing along), he had zero interest in joining his age group. 

 Christian (on the left), had a couple speaking parts..and did a very nice job. And Noah was just so surprising. He sang all the songs, but also did his own motions :)

I had to take a few pictures after church, as they all looked so handsome. 

And this one, with ALL my boys just makes me laugh. Oh I am a very lucky lady.

Our very sweet neighbors came outside and asked if I wanted them to take a picture of all of us.

So here you have it, a very impromptu family photo!

Ben's parents came over in the afternoon for a bit. It was so nice outside.

And look at my WAY too big of a boy looking all grown up! I love this picture.

Isaac [11 months]

Isaac, you are eleven months and going strong! 

I cannot even believe in a month you will be turning a year old!!

You have many faces and reactions. You've been clapping and giving the cheesiest smile when you get happy about something. You also have been trying to form your own version of talking, "ttta-ttta" that pretty much is the sound for all things. You seem to recognize mama and daddy's name, but haven't yet attempted to say them!

This picture was taken following your first bloody nose..you pulled down the bar stool on you! Thankfully, it didn't hurt you worse. You had just finished your baby food, and gave such a proper little pose for me to take your picture. 

The weather has been beautiful, and you enjoy being outdoors! You like to be on the move. You can crawl super fast (especially if you know we are coming to shut doors that we don't want you to get into). You are getting more comfortable by the day with walking alongside of things, or with a couple fingers. You even took a couple steps on your own just yesterday! Oh my dear boy, you really can slow down!!!!

 Christian had a music program at school, and you were just a squishy little ball of happiness. You seem to be teething for QUITE some time on these next series of teeth! Your hands are frequently in your mouth and you chew chew chew on everything! You love Mama and Daddy...but you also have a special connection for your Papa (and others too)!

I just love your laugh and big ol' smiles. You give out these smiles and get excited, followed by a squirmy session. You try to dig your toes into our bellies and climb up. I'm not sure if you think you are part monkey, but it really is hard to hold you when you do this! You are also a very gifted "growler"...like our very own baby bear cub. So all kind of animal similarities!

You love your brothers, and they love you. You are grabby, and relentless when it comes to getting ahold of their things. And..so...it...begins! They are learning that although you are still a "baby"..you are quick, and they have to be on their toes and sometimes they even give you a "buuuuuddddy!!" As demonstrated here, you will get into a sassy mood, and get ahold of Noah's glasses, snapping them back or just swatting like a grizzly bear and not letting go! But all is well, and Noah quickly forgives you with his, "no-no buddy, no-no baaaabby!" You guys..I think you will look ALOT alike!!

 Oh, my little ham, you are just the sweetest little boy. I certainly love you to pieces. You require eyes on you all the time...and if not, well you get into things!

Such as this! You took out all those stickers and proudly dispersed them. Fortunately, I have just the best assistants that inform me of when you are getting into things! So no longer do the drawers have things in them. The next day, Jonah came to get some stickers and exclaimed, "Oh no!!! Someone took all the stickers! What happened to them!??!"

Oh my baby, I just want to treasure these moments. Every bit. Just look at you sleep so sweetly. I can't say you know how to do this through the night yet, but it will come..someday. You love to snuggle on soft blankeys, not one in particular. You love to be nursed, rocked, sang to, bounced (sometimes), and although you don't require all of these to do in order to go to sleep, I don't mind doing any one of them...as all to quickly you will be no longer so little.

So eleven months...

We celebrated your 1st Thanksgiving this past month, and are preparing for Christmas soon!

I don't know exactly how much you weigh, but you are still healthy and growing! Although, its seems as though your weight is getting distributed differently, as you are on the move even more. I wouldn't say you are getting thin...but it just seems different.

You had to get antibiotics for the first time, for an ear infection...its been reddened for several weeks, but then when the fever came back and you were really just not you, it had been long enough and the doctor thought you probably needed the extra boost. I'm grateful you are now better!

You got your first pair of "real" shoes, walking ones, and you look so big and grown up in them! You have big paws, both feet and hands. I got you a 5.5 wide, you have a significant instep (and they are a little on the big side)...that's a whole 2 sizes larger than Noah's were when I got his first pair!

You like to feed yourself..the finger food type foods anyway! Cheerios, puffs, yogurt melts. You like those! You haven't been too picky about foods, not a big fan of green beans..but baby food green beans aren't exactly the best sounding anyway!