We spent the whole day celebrating our favorite 3-year-old. We woke early to have time for some festivities before 9am church, then continued the celebrating with cousins for a small Monsters Inc "party" when Tommy's sister's family came in the evening. Noah has asked for a Monsters Inc party for 6 months, ever since our trip to Disneyland. He never says anything about Monsters Inc any other time, but the Disneyland ride must've inspired him. :)

Noah is always the earliest riser, but of course on his birthday he slept in and we had to wake him up. Luckily his grumpy don't-wake-me-up face only lasted a minute, and we were able to convince him that something exciting was awaiting him downstairs.

We ended the evening watching "Monsters University". A good time was had by all, and Noah felt like he got his real birthday bash he's been dreaming of for half a year. :)

Noah has my heart. He is my constant by-my-side buddy, chatting full conversations about everything together. He has always been so calm, sweet, serious but with a sense of humor. He just seems like an old soul in a tiny body. From the moment he was born, Tommy and I both felt this. It's amazing how early you can see their personality, and how different each child is.

This month of turning three, he has suddenly taught himself how to go potty on a toilet like a pro (literally all by himself and out of the blue...we walk past the bathroom and he's sitting on the potty like it's no big deal). He also started drawing faces, telling jokes, and crawling in bed with next to his daddy every morning. I don't want this stage to ever end.

Oliver came late at night and it took a lot of self-control to not get someone to wake the kids up and drive them over to the hospital to meet their little brother right away. So they skipped school the next morning and came to the hospital to meet Oliver. This is my very favorite part about having babies. Their reaction was so sweet. So curious, eyes big with wonder. Poking at his tiny ears, fingers, nose. Unwrapping him to see his tiny diaper and funny-looking belly-button.

Oliver's due date was the 22nd, and Max's birthday is the 24th. The only thing I cared about was that Ollie NOT come on Max's birthday. And I'm so glad he arrived the 23rd. They can be birthday buddies, but not birthday twins. :) I want Max to have his special day. So Max spent his birthday morning meeting his new brother, and I told him it was his very own special birthday present. :)

I love Sydney's expression here, excitedly telling me something while gently caressing her new baby. And Noah's constant curiosity about everything in the hospital. The kids were the most curious about my tummy. It was such a shock to see the baby OUT of me. They kept pushing on my tummy and commenting on its squishiness. Max asked worriedly, "Is yow tummy wooind (ruined)?" ;)

meeting his Nana and auntie Kathleen

Kathleen was at the birth of Noah and it was so wonderful to have her at Oliver's too. I don't think I'm as private about this sort of thing as most - I would love to have all of my close friends and family there to celebrate the arrival of each new baby!

my heart melts seeing these two together

I love the hospital stay. Feeling pampered and special, and just staring at this new bundle in my arms every minute of the day.

My mom and Kathleen and her sweet Eden came to be here when Oliver was born. The kids were in heaven having their beloved Grandma and Auntie and "Baby-Eden" here (it's never just "Eden"). Poor Eden was smothered by hugs and kisses and curious, doting cousins all day, every day. It was a good distraction for the kids during such a big change and a lack of a Mommy around the house.  

My mom is brave and always lets the kids join her in cooking amazing dishes.

look at these flower-shaped apple puff pastries!

story time

their expressions say it all. :)