4.

Well.  It's been awhile.  It's really incredible how weird time is.  The days can be painstakingly long (I've actually tried to count the number of times I can sit down in a day ((**not counting to feed a baby or change a diaper)) and then given up because I realized I actually didn't want to know) and then at the same time, I call a friend and realize it actually took me 2 weeks to call them back....or I look at my calendar and realize that it's actually Thursday not Monday and I've lost a few days.

Life with 4 is not too shabby though.  Just busy and requiring more energy than I have. HA!  Still enjoy it.  Wouldn't change it!  Here's a few bullets about life lately (because that's all the time I have)

-Jordan is 5 months old.  13 lbs.  We grow 'em up quick here.  I can hardly believe this is the same 3 lb baby I held just a few months ago!  She loves to smile, and be held sitting up, and she loves her sleep...girl will TELL YOU (read: scream hysterically) if she is tired.  God gave me a big gift with a premie as a last baby because I'm getting a little extra time while she is behind...all the things she "can't do" yet. What a difference from baby #1 where as a parent you are freaking out if your child can't sit up or Johnny down the street rolls over first....haha.  I love that Jordan doesn't roll over yet, still has a hard time holding her head all the time, and doesn't belly laugh, or play with toys.  She can't scoot or pinch you like other babies her age.  But then technically she is really only supposed to be 3 months old so what she can do is totally normal.  We are not worried :)  God has given me a gift, in a time of life where I blink and two days go by.  She.Is.So.Cute!

-Noah.  That boy is a light in my day.  (Except right before meals hahaha).  He is so sweet.  He's 18 months old.  The phase where he backs in to your lap with a book about 47 times each day.  If he needs you he's running full speed into your legs and holding on for dear life.  He's amazed at his own ability to walk backwards and it's so funny.  He's learning more words, trys to sing in the car, and Renae and Jack are starting to let him play with them a little more each day.  Two words: THIRTY POUNDS.  Yep.  He is so tall and tough!  I've been trying and trying to teach him to give actual kisses instead of the great open mouth slobbers that babies give...can't do it.  AND, after bath time every night when I'm getting him ready for bed we play hide and seek, only instead of covering his eyes he uses both hands to cover his mouth.  It's so funny.  I need to get it on video because I love it and it's so sweet.

-Jack loves outside.  And I'm telling you he can't get enough.  It's really been hot the last couple weeks (in the high 90s the last few days!) and he does not care.  The second he wakes up, "Can we play outside?".  He asks me constantly.  I'm pretty sure Jack is at least a year ahead of his age group verbally.  There is virtually no difference in talking to him or Renae and they are 17 months apart.  The kid sounds so old!  I realized the other day I only have a little while longer till I can't say he's cute and adorable anymore.  Jack is my snuggly-est kid.  He comes and asks me if he can sit on my lap or next to me or tells me he loves me out of the blue (**only while we're inside...outside I'm basically invisible).  Also Jack is the epitome of 2 year old emotional roller coaster.  But it's so helpful.  I have leveraged this fact to my benefit many a time.  If I'm feeling frazzled or frustrated, all I have to do is make a silly face at Jack or tickle him and he is laughing the cutest most infectious laugh.  He's wonderful :)

-Renae is a GODSEND.  Well, all the kids are, but really, God knew what He was doing when He sent her first.  She helps me so much.  SO much.  And she loves it.  She can do laundry, sort, start, change it, fold it, put it away....she knows it all.  She can do dishes, (well the ones she can reach).  She helps me cook.  She helps clean.  She wishes she could change diapers (asks me all the time) but I told her she can just wait to learn that skill.  Renae and I have been doing 'school' work for the passed several months.  Everyday we spend 15-20 minutes on a certain topic.  Mondays: letters and sounds; Tuesdays: math/shapes and numbers; Wednesdays: time, money, seasons, misc.; Thursdays: writing; Fridays: Bible verses.  She loves school and is pretty excited about her different activities she gets to do without the boys.  She still takes a nap which is another gift from God so we put the boys down for a nap, do some school, and then she naps while I soak in the quiet...or feed and spend time with Jordan.

-Josh and I :)  We are still feeling the tension of not knowing what our future is going to look like.  We have one more Army option to try...well technically 3 but one we are not interested in and the 2nd we almost 100% know the outcome to.  So we are playing the waiting game.  We've got a LOT of Army 'fun' on our plate right now.  So between that and the kids (the insanely high effort phase but high reward) our conversations are almost always a bit stressful with a hint of overwhelming.  But, God is good.  And He has shown Himself to be so faithful to us.  We are just waiting to see our future.  This week Josh is back wearing his "General's Aide" hat.  It's been a bit of a shock to the system to be back to those crazy work hours but its only a week and he got to ride in a helicopter so that always makes it worth it. Ha!  Also, we are a week out from our 8th wedding anniversary.  That's crazy!  We are excited for our date night!  We are also loving our church and the people God has put around us, once again God has given us a gift for such a time as this!