The brood

Every year or so I like to make an entry in my journal-a description of each of the kids. I am anxious, as I have been since before they were born, to watch their personalities and character, to see how it evolves, what changes, and what stays the same. They fascinate, they frustrate, they amaze, they entertain, they annoy and they love. They are easy going and fairly well behaved. I don't prefer to, but am not afraid to take all three to the mall or the store with me. I like to have them around and I miss them when we are apart for school or a trip. I love when strangers comment on what a hand full just so I can say "we love it" or "they're good girls".

Haley maintains her place and status as eldest child. She is quick to follow the older neighborhood kids around but when we're at home, she is the natural leader. When she is not bugging them, she is coddling her younger sisters and loves to help "mother" Mia (way more than Mia would like). Several weeks ago I was having a morning sickness moment and throwing up in the sink downstairs. While the other girls stood by and watched, on her own Haley ran and got me a cup of water (which she has done several times) and then ran back to where I was and held my hair. How did she even know how to do that? Sometimes she is so thoughtful and compassionate that it makes me want to cry. She loves to be praised for her accomplishments and still loves to climb in our laps and cuddle. She has a missing tooth that was knocked out on her cousins head but is excited to have her first real loose tooth now. Haley has always had a lower raspy voice and I get asked all the time if she is sick. I love it. She is sweet and funny and smart. She loves that she can read chapter books and begs to take them everywhere with her. She bites her nails constantly so I never have to cut them. She likes to help and be the biggest sister.

Abby is just a silly girl. She is the most spontaneously entertaining out of all of them. She has had dimples since the day she was born and is such a goof. She has developed a disturbing taste for mixed Ranch dressing and ketchup--and requests it with nearly every meal. She leaves her bed a mess during the day but cannot lay down to go to sleep until all of her blankets are folded and in their place at the end of the bed, and her stuffed animals lined up biggest to smallest. When we check on her before we go to bed we usually have to cover her up with something and put her shirt back on (that is a recent habit, we're not sure why she takes it off because its usually chilly in their room.) She loves to make people laugh but doesn't do silly things necessarily for other people. She does does it to entertain herself but is completely tickled when other people find her funny. This girl does not sleep. She would go and go and go until the sun came up. She climbs into our bed 99% of the time and is so cuddly and cute it's hard to kick her out. She has smiling eyes like her Dad but difficult hair that she doesn't like to keep done up. She also hates shoes and especially socks. She is shy but friendly. She also loves to cuddle up in our laps. She is just likable.
Abby's voice is high and cute. We repeat what she says all time just because its so funny--hopefully we're not causing any kind of complex.

Mia is a lot like Abby but in her own unique way. She is silly and goofy and has dimples too. She's a bright girl and has started talking much earlier than the other girls so we have fun teaching her new things to say (ie cheese-burger and fo shizzle) When she talks she is very slow and articulate, pronouncing each syllable clearly and deliberately. She can keep up with her sisters and tries very hard to do everything that they do. She also knows that as the youngest of three she has to defend her territory and does so mercilessly. However, all you have to do is ask her 'please' in a sweet voice and she'll give you anything that she has. The girls love to baby her and she lets them, most of the time. She has the worst hair to do of anyone with cal licks and crazy swirls all over the place. She is also a self proclaimed vegetarian and refuses to eat nearly any and all meat placed in front of her. She used to be an angel sleeper but life in our current home has hindered her ability to be so easy going in that area (ie sleeping in the "dorm" room with her sisters...very distracting.)

It's hard to imagine how the addition of another little squeeze will change the dynamics of this family but we have learned and loved so far.