Hiking Adventures on Mountaintop Ablo

The other day, we were driving and had the most beautiful view of Mount Diablo. I told the boys that next time daddy takes them hiking maybe I would like to join them.

Lincoln: "Mom, there is moldy mountain lion poop on Mountaintop Ablo. Are you SURE you want to come? I mean, we didn't see any mountain lions, but daddy put his hand on the moldy mountain lion poop because he thought it was just dirt."

Hmmm. Moldy mountain lion poop on "Mountaintop Ablo?"


(Picture taken during the last hike with the uncles and big boy cousins)

Lincoln Makes A Call

Lincoln just picked up Hudson's new Christmas toy cell phone and I heard the following exchange:

Minnie Mouse, "Hello?"

Lincoln, "Hi, I was just thinking maybe you could go out on a date with me? ...Ok! That'd be great!"

Oy vay!

All Boone Wants For Christmas

Uphold Peet

Hudson has started consoling himself. I noticed it first in the Target shopping cart while I was checking out. He was crying, rubbing his eyes and reassuring himself, "I know. I know." He does this when he's getting his diaper changed if he has a sore bottom from teething. "I know. I know," through his tears.

When he would like to be picked up, he will now exclaim numerous times "Up. Hold. Up. Hold. Uphold. Uphold. Uphold peeeeet!" (Peeeeet means please.) Just this week, he has added to this and will squeal "Weeeeeeee!" as he's lifted off the ground. Even if he's crying while being lifted! Our favorite new Hudsonism!

To Lincoln On Your Fifth Birhday

Dear Lincoln,

As I lie here in bed, eagerly waiting for you to wake up, my eyes are filled with tears. It was five years ago today when your dad and I were changed forever. Changed for the better. It was the day we became parents.

You were born via c-section at 12:35 in the afternoon. When I heard your first cry I was done. Melted. Madly in love. Your dad brought you over to me, wrapped like a burrito, your gigantic blue eyes were pretty much the only things visible under that enormous beanie. You were very alert. I couldn't stop kissing your soft, perfect, little face as dad held you on me. Due to the surgery, I wasn't able to really snuggle you for a little over an hour. When I was released from recovery and finally rolled to my room, you'd met the grandparents and Auntie Casey. Already they were completely smitten.

Over the next year and a half I ate up every minute of our alone time together. It was an incredible time in my life. I know I was meant to be a mommy. Your mommy. When Boone joined us, you were such an amazing big brother. Loved helping, kissing and cuddling him. I could see your strengths and pure acts of kindness really developing.

Watching you mature with your brothers makes me unbelievably proud. Sure, there are tough times, days I feel more like a referee, but I know that this too is a season. A season I will never get back. I am constantly trying to remind myself to capture these moments, and hold them as long as I can. I was in awe of you last night, when you asked me to dance to Tangled's "I See The Light" because "This is your favorite song, right, mom? Are you gonna cry?"

You are such a tender, loving, generous young man. Countless bouquets of wildflowers, jars of bugs you eagerly bring me, these are the best tangible gifts. The depth of our conversations about God, His creation, and the random rabbit trails you go down are some of my favorite memories that I will forever hold tight to.

Whenever I leave, even to run a 20 minute errand, you don't let me go without a hug and a kiss. Sometimes multiple hugs and kisses. You've chased me out the door countless times, yelling, "Wait! A hug and a kiss!!" I hope that never stops.

You, my boy have moves. Watching you boogie to anything with a beat makes my heart weep with joy.

Your eagerness for learning new things is a wonderful challenge for me, one I hope to encourage and nurture, never to stifle.

Everyday, at some point you explode with a "I'm SO EXCITED we're having a baby girl!!! She is gonna be so cute and so little!!" Your joy is contagious. You are constantly reminding me what is truly important in this crazy season of our lives.

So often I let my emotions and my stress take over, yet you will come up to me, crack a little smile and stare at me with those same gigantic blue eyeballs. "Can you snuggle me?" Of course.

Please never stop asking.

Happy Birthday, Five Year Old. I love you whole heartedly. Let's not rush it to six.

Mom

Eenie Meenie Miney Moe!

We have a big announcement to make!  It comes in two parts.

This April we will have a new little Gillespie!  Wait...that's not all.  The most exciting news is...IT'S A GIRL!  I am still in complete shock.  After discovering that I was pregnant, Johnny and I were absolutely thrilled.  We discussed when and how we'd announce the big news, and agreed that it would be fun to do it differently.  In the past, we pretty much announced it five minutes after the second pink line appeared.  We could never contain our excitement!  This, being our fourth and final, "Let's have some fun!"  We did a pretty good job of keeping it a secret, didn't even tell the kids.  Around seven weeks the nausea and food aversions hit.  It hit hard.  We were about to spend a weekend away with both sets of grandparents, and Johnny's sister's family.  I knew I would not be able to explain my running out of the room at the smell of beans or if someone picked up a bell pepper.  I made shirts for the boys saying "eenie," "meenie," and "miney."  We had them wear their shirts into breakfast the first morning and waited for a reaction.  It didn't take long for Grandma to take notice.  What about moe?  What a wonderful moment.  My dad teared up and my mom screamed!  We swore them all to secrecy as we wanted to wait to announce it to the rest of the world. We had hoped to find out the gender first.

Last Wednesday was a big day.  I was going in for a 14 week ultrasound.  That was the magic week we discovered Hudson was a HE!  I knew it was still early for a confirmation, but the moment the ultrasound tech put that wand on my tummy it was obvious.  It's a girl!  I could not believe it.  My dreams of pink, now a reality!  Immediately after, I went to Target, bought a little pink dress, wrapped it up in a neutral colored bag and headed to Johnny's work.  I took video of his expression as he opened it, "It IS pink! Is it really?!?"  Priceless moment captured forever.  Saturday, I dragged him and the boys to a 3D ultrasound facility to have a confirmation ultrasound.  I wanted to be absolutely sure.  Again, it's a girl!  No doubt to any of us.  I could finally start announcing!

My parents were in Los Angeles visiting my sister, brother in law and new nephew.  Four boys for my parents so far. This is the first girl on the Pelot side in 27 years, me!  I jumped in the car early Monday morning with three sleeping boys and made the five hour drive.  I arranged it with my awesome brother in law, they had no clue we were coming.  I tied a pink ribbon around my waist and we quietly tip toed to their front door.  What an awesome surprise when they saw those little boy faces peeking through the screen door!  It was about a minute later after the hugs and "what are you doing heres" when my sister noticed the pink ribbon and the joy continued.

Since then a few close friends have been told.  Along with the congratulatory cheers, I've gotten questions like "What? Is this a joke!?  I thought you were done!" or  "Why did you wait so long to tell me?"  Ha!  Gotcha!  Ever since we were first engaged, four was our number.  When we discovered Hudson was going to be our third miracle boy, I had second thoughts.  Did I want four boys?  After much prayer and discussion, we both felt our family was not complete.  Someone was missing.  As for not announcing the pregnancy until the gender reveal?  The reason was twofold.  One, it would be a double surprise!  "We're pregnant and it's a ____!"  Two, it would bypass all the comments I received while pregnant with Hudson, "Oh, wow. I really hope it's a girl for your sake. " or  "This one BETTER be a girl."  People meant well, but it was discouraging.  To clarify, we weren't trying for a girl, we were trying for a fourth, and of course it would be wonderful it was a girl, but in no way would we be disappointed with another boy.  We completely trust that God knows what is best for us.

So there you have it! We're pregnant and it's a GIRL!!!"

It's a NOODLE!

Lincoln just ran in from the back yard, telling me all about the neighbors new dog.  "He's black and his name is Percy and he's a NOODLE!!"  Do I correct him?  :)  I think not.