3 months old!

August is now officially out of the sleepy-all-the-time newborn stage, and has assumed his role as dear brother and resident-baby of the family. He continues to be an incredibly laid-back, content and cuddly little boy. We are so thankful for this! Serene, is another word, that fits him quite well. Dream-baby is another that comes to mind. :-) God apparently knew my limitations, and thus mercifully gave me an EASY third child.

At three months old, August enjoys the following:


*rolling over
















































































*smiling and cooing






















*playing on his "activity" mat



















*gazing at his sisters





























*sleeping---you have no idea how much he enjoys this one in particular! He pretty much keeps himself on a three hour routine: he wakes up to eat, stays awake for about an hour, and then conks out for the next two hours, only to start the routine over again, and again. Like I said, he is an easy-peasy baby. Hallelujah!



















We thank God for you, August. You bring sweetness, simplicity, cuddles, and great joy to our lives everyday!

"What have the girls been up to?", you may ask....

for these past two months since baby August came on the scene, and their lives are now forever changed by a sweet baby brother??

Well then, here's a few snapshots to give it to you in a nutshell (since I do have two months to catch you up on).

playing in the rain....


holding baby August...alot

tromping around (alot) in new, authentically-French rain boots

(thank you to jess and joel!)

playing dress-up while watching (probably too much!) tv....yikes.

and, going to church! This is often the big outing of the week, since its still pretty crazy taking all three kiddos out together.

I think we've finally finding our groove these past two weeks, and we're learning how to live life well with three. (The answer is: Doing anything takes a shockingly-long amount of time!) I am definitely reminding myself, "My hands are full - full of blessings." . . . And they are. :-)

Thomas August Sasser

born September 21st, 2010

7 lbs. 7 oz. 19 1/2 inches

Melts my heart!

Bed-time stories

Philip enjoys telling Marielle bedtime stories. Marielle enjoys hearing these stories, especially because the heroine of the story is always...Marielle!...not to mention Genevieve as her trusty side-kick, of course. I usually hear about these stories the next day while Marielle is playing in her room and re-enacting the events of said-stories, and even while we're driving in the car. I usually hear things like, "But, Mom, I want to go into the forest with Robin Hood and climb the trees with him." Or, "Look, Mom, there's a clock-tower, just like the one I fixed for Mr. Eugene!"

Here's our enraptured student, and her sage:

Casino Night at the Sasser's

Tricycle outings

In effort to wear Marielle out before bedtime, I've been taking the girls out for a late-afternoon jaunt around the neighborhood pond--Marielle on her tricycle, and Genevieve in stroller. These trips begin so idyllicly, the sun shining down on the girls, my admiring eyes gazing down the sidewalk as Marielle speeds ahead, so full of her delighted determination. These trips, (as they so often do with a young child), sometimes also end in tears -- Marielle's that is -- mostly since we are teaching her that she can't give up and leave her trike two blocks away from the house and walk the rest of the way home. And this mom pretty much refuses to try and push a toddler in stroller and tricycle at the same time. And yes, I've tried shortening the trips, but it can pretty much happen no matter when we turn around. :-)

Nonetheless, we all look forward to these outings, and I am seeing this little girl grow in maturity and cheerfulness during them.

"Look, Mom, I'm using my muscles to push the pedals, and not screaming!", she informs

me proudly. :-)

I knew she was smart when . . .

at 15 months old, she learned how to do this:

I'll set the scene for you: Genevieve is politely eating her lunch, (Pb and J and mango), while Marielle is playing outside, not quite ready to eat her own. A tablecloth is down, both girls' seats have plates of food in front of them....This is how I left it at least. When I return, Genevieve has consumed her entire lunch, and deftly pulled the tablecloth toward her until Marielle's full plate of lunch was now within reach. She begins eating....

And somehow, I dont remember exactly how, we end our scene with this: crying baby eating her sister's lunch..I know, it doesnt make much sense.